Friday Finishes - Commitment to Myself. . .

It's the end of a busy work week for me.  However, I promised myself that I would finish my "Commitment" word quilt.

And here it is!  This is an unusual quilt for me as it is about being unplanned and just going with the flow.  I made use of items I had on hand, using organza (something I hadn't used before), adding charms, and just having fun.

My favorite of the three commitment quotes is at the bottom.

 The quote inspired me to draw the heart with the lock in the center.

Key charms and beads are enclosed in organza.  One of the other quotes was layered over a page from the telephone book, something else I haven't done before, using printed pages.

This third quote was printed on printable organza and layered over a drawing that is layered under the original quote and heart.

The whole piece is backed by burlap.  The most interesting aspect of this project was accepting that perfection was not required.  As such, I just stitched as it came to me, stitching by machine and hand, adding fabric as seemed appropriate, and any other embellishments I felt inspired to add.  The process let me try new techniques and be freely creative.  I need to incorporate this type of project into my quilt process to keep me open.  Be willing to try it yourself and see where the process takes you.


Until next time,

 

 
 

Friday Finishes - Out with the Old

This is the last of the Friday Finishes' column for 2011.  Out with the old is this year's word selection "Action."

I took action in small steps this year.  The small steps have added up and my professional life is changing.  There is still more action to take, but I now find that the word is part of my active vocabulary, a word I think about when new ideas are formulated.

In with the new is my word for 2012 of "Commitment," or follow through.  This word feels like the logical next step to action.  My mind works in a flight of fancy type way, plenty of thoughts and ideas.  Keeping to my action word, some of those thoughts and ideas became reality.  But my weak spot is commitment, following through on those actions.

I found several quotes about commitment that I am incorporating into a wallhanging using new techniques.  I have always liked the idea of drawing on fabric with pen and colored pencils and am playing with that technique for this wallhanging.

My background fabric is muslin.  I will be incorporating a phone book page and some organza and charms into this work.  I was "inspired" (you have to see the article to understand) by Lindsay Ostrom's article in ArtQuiltingStudio Winter 2012.


I have enjoyed having a word of the year rather than New Year's resolutions.  It has allowed me to feel accomplished and continually be aware of where I'm going and how I'm getting there.  There is lots of chatting about selecting a word of the year on various art/quilt blogs right now.  Browse around and see what you can find.  Then take some quiet time and consider a word that would work for you.  I wish you much success with wherever your word might take you in 2012.


Happy New Year!