Pursuing passion--2012

Well, here I am, finally getting to another post. Guess contributing to my blog takes a little more planning than what I give to it. I've been pursuing my passion and forget that I should be posting more. My studies at the Gail Harker Creative Studies Center in La Conner, WA, have been consuming most of my spare time. I love the courses I have taken; currently finishing up a Level 2 Design & Experimental Stitch course in March. It has been a two-year-long class covering:

• Painting, printing and dyeing fabrics and threads, to create a portfolio of hand and machine stitched samples and techniques.
• Using embellishments such as beads, sequins, cords, and tassels as applications for art pieces.
• Studying of contemporary and historic artists is undertaken along with study of stitch in different cultures.
• An assessment will include the creation of an innovative stitch book from an original design.
• Learning the creative process of taking a work from design, to sample, to a finished piece, in a logical manner.

Throughout the two years of this class, I've attended a series of six, 5-day long class sessions (8am-6pm each day) of intensive instruction and learning at the La Conner school. Very hands-on and full of good stuff, if you know what I mean. I have also just begun a Color Studies 101 online course through the Gail Harker school. It will keep me busy through April 2012.

It has been very freeing and a pure joy to be able to devote my time to creativity and focus on what I am passionate about. After years of raising our girls amd nurturing my marriage--and everything that encompasses the business of daily life--I finally have time to spend on what I truly enjoy doing; and that is creating art.
I've also had some fun creating fabric portraits of my grandchildren and grandpug. These amazing 8 1/2 x 11 portraits look like black and white photos when they are matted and framed.

I hope to post more pictures in the coming months showing some of my work from the school.

"Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time." --Thomas Merton