Ransom
Ransom ©1999
I made the above quilt many years ago in a workshop with Natasha Kempers-Cullen. We spent the first part of the week hand painting and stamping the fabric with Profab textile paints and the remainder of the workshop creating original work with our new fabrics. It was a wonderful workshop and Natasha is a fabulous instructor.
Although Natasha’s work at the time was very much not like my work (of course back then I’m not sure I knew what my work was in the first place). She did a lot of shrine type work and I just couldn’t wrap my mind around that style. So I made a big ransom note. While everyone else was working with iconographic images and thinking deep thoughts I was hand cutting letters out of my fabric with my scissors and giggling. It was better than kindergarten, although we didn’t have any paste to eat.
I have always wanted to make posters or note cards with this quilt because I think it pretty much sums up most quilters thoughts about their fabric. And their chocolate.
But back in 1999 that would have meant a lot of effort. So the quilt just hung on my studio wall and entertained my rare studio visitors. Fast forward 8 years and now we have cafepress. So with a few clicks - tada - I have a shop to sell t-shirts and posters and mugs and even a mousepad with this image.
I ordered a sample poster and t-shirt before offering it up for public consumption and I think it looks great. The poster is amazing. The colors are bright and clear. The t-shirt (I ordered a direct transfer one) isn’t quite as bright but it looks more like the original quilt this way. The mousepad is looking a bit iffy on the website but I might order one at some point and see. Ideally I would have created a unique image for each product to optimize the placement of the image on the product but with the free cafepress shop I’m limited to just a single image for everything and at this point paying $5 a month for more seems like a silly idea.
So if you are in need of a t-shirt or fridge magnet check out my cafepress store and get yourself a couple dozen of these. They’ll make great gifts, or at least I hope so because I know what my family is getting for Christmas this year.
I’m leaving early tomorrow morning (oops I mean today) for my workshop with Nancy Crow in Ohio and I have no plans to blog while I’m gone. I’m hoping for this to be as low tech of a vacation as I can manage. Although I hear there is a computer where I’m staying so I will probably check email a few times. Tomorrow is also my birthday and I think this will be a wonderful way to spend it. Well except the airplane trip, and getting up too early after staying up too late - but after that - it’s going to be great fun.
I’ll be back in 2 weeks with lots of images and adventures to share.
Posted by Lisa in: Abstract Contemporary Textile Art, Marketing, Quilts - Older Work
Sarah Jayne said,
April 29, 2007 @ 3:15 am
Have a great birthday and I’m sure you’ll have a great trip - can’t wait to hear how it goes and what you get up to.
cynthia said,
April 29, 2007 @ 9:10 am
Your work has changed quite a bit since 1999. I really love this piece - it is really fun and energetic.
Happy Birthday and have a wonderful, productive and inspiring workshop!
jafabrit said,
April 29, 2007 @ 3:18 pm
Hope you have a wonderful trip and birthday and look forward to hearing all about it.
Jaye said,
April 29, 2007 @ 10:47 pm
Best wishes for a Happy Birthday and a great time in Ohio with Nancy Crow.
Patty Altier said,
April 30, 2007 @ 6:23 am
Love the ransom piece and Happy Birthday!
Karoda said,
April 30, 2007 @ 8:01 am
I believe you will be at the Crow barn with Kathy Loomis…she describes such an intense time there…i love intensity…but love to laugh just as much. Happy Birthday!
shula said,
May 1, 2007 @ 1:06 am
That.
Is so good.
Julie said,
May 1, 2007 @ 8:13 am
Happy Birthday Lisa. Have a wonderful time in Ohio w/NC!!!
Mandi said,
May 3, 2007 @ 7:55 am
Too cute! I just ordered one of the little posters. I’ll hang it in my studio :)
paulaart said,
May 7, 2007 @ 9:22 am
congratulations lisa on the cafepress. thats really wonderful!!!!
I like that image alot, not used to seeing stuff like this on your blog, thanks for sharing it.
hope your workshop is going great!