Never in my life did I imagine I'd be a "hockey Mom" but I am. Around here they play inline hockey, and the game has been good for our active boys, despite my reluctance at first. All I could imagine was one of them coming home with a missing tooth. That was years ago and now I can safely say I've come to embrace it. The game gives them a chance to skate fast, play hard and strategize while I get my yaya's out cheering like a monkey behind the fence. Nothing like kids to teach us to let go.

Last night marked the end of the fall season and we celebrated with a potluck and yet another round of trophy collecting. The boys could play on and on, week after week, but I'm happy for the break. All that driving and evening practices were beginning to seem old. I'm looking forward to more home-cooked meals and evenings in.

Not much sewing done this week. DH is away and I'm managing our tribe as best as I can. I often wonder to myself, how do other mom's do it! One day at a time... sometimes one hour at a time is the answer. My daughter slept in daytime clothes last night. I've been a little behind on the laundry. It nearly broke my heart when I went in her room to wake her this morning, only to discover her fully dressed under the covers. She didn't mind though, she pointed out to me she was after all wearing clean clothes. Hmmm, good point.

Yes, indeed, children do teach us to let go.

The Arrival of the Rainbows

I have been enjoying a change in the weather around here... the rainy season has finally begun! Good thing too, October was a miserably hot month and we were all scratching out heads wondering when the heat would end. With the rain - which I love, comes rainbows - which I love even more.

Turns out I'm not the only one whose noticed the arrival of the rainbows; each time I go out, I notice cars parked on the sides of the road, curious photographers leaning out of windows or tromping around trying to get the perfect shot. I was one of them today, these taken because I just couldn't stand it, I had to have a piece of this for myself!

This morning, on my way to school, it was a rainbow that jolted me out of my mindless state of being. I was driving along, my mind cluttered with that never ending "to-do" list that runs like a ticker-tape in the back of my head... drop the kids off, pay the bills, fill up on gas, purchase a gift for the coach, and don't forget the milk... and just as we rounded a corner, this amazing scene unfolded right before us. It was a double rainbow, the holy grail of rainbows, and our usual morning chatter was replaced with excited "oohs," and "ahhs." That ticker tape vanished, poof, and just like that I was brought to my senses. Our ride the rest of the way was calmer, my mind relaxed. Thank goodness! It was just what we needed...

just what I needed...

a beautiful way to start my day.

Self Portrait Tuesday - Large Sack Bag

I made the large version of the Mail Sack pattern by Pink Chalk Studio, and boy, it's big! I could see needing this if I had files to carry around or something like that, but mostly I'm good with the smaller bag. Actually, something in between would be nice, but let's not get too picky here! Wishing you all a great day!

Work of the week #32

It's Monday, cleaning day around here, a day which I both love and dread in equal measures. I love the simple rhythm of this day and how it sets the tone for the rest of the week. Having my house clean and laundry dealt with, allows my mind to be clearer to focus on other things that beg for my attention. The thing I dread is not the actual doing of the housework, but the feeling that this day is already spoken for. I spend the day engaged in work around the house and find my thoughts drifting to tomorrow, or the next day, when I'll have time to escape to the studio to create. It's silly really... not being able to enjoy the moment. So my mantra for today will be to be present with myself, be focused on the now and be thankful that I have this day to do the things I'm about to do. I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts because really, Mondays are great, and it will be over before I know it.

Elements #26

35" x 53"

I also have something special to celebrate today, the completion of my latest quilt! If I stay true to my goal, I have only five more quilts to finish before the end of the year. Honestly, it's not looking good. These are busy days around here with so many things going on, but I really can't let this stop me from trying... already I have ideas for two others! Cheers!

:: Today ::

I was so happy to spend the day with the kids and husband home for Veteran's day. I feel so relaxed now, not my usual for this time of week. I find when I'm in this frame of mind, it's easier to notice the beauty that surrounds me in my everyday. This picture was taken with my phone... it's a plant I've passed by before, but something about it struck me today. Isn't it lovely!

The International Quilt Study Center made a video of Nancy Crow's lecture that she gave prior to the opening of her "Cloth, Culture & Context" show earlier this year. This show was one of the museum's inaugural exhibitions. I soooo had wanted to go to this show, but being "geographically challenged," I was not able to. I thrilled that someone took the time to not only record her speech, but also submit it to iTunes for other to see. God bless technology!

While you are there, check out the other video and audio files the International Quilt Study Center has on iTunes. Some of them are quite interesting!

In the studio today... waiting for the rain.

We are supposed to be getting rain in the next few days... I can't possibly see it, the sky is clear with no clouds in sight. We really need it though, I moved the furniture around in my studio and from my new ironing surface I look outside and see how brown our grass has turned... it's sort of an odd site to see this lush red-ginger hover over essentially dead grass.

I'll leave you with a few shots from my studio this morning... I've been working on something new, trying to incorporate triangles and other shapes into the same composition. Before I go, I wanted to give a shout out to another hard-working artist, Candy, who just launched her new website! Go check it out and be sure to check out her giveaway! Already I see she has received quite a welcome! Way to go Candy and keep up the good work!

The PEN Story

As promised, a stop-motion movie made entirely of photographs. Soooo cool! I'd like to thank Maggie for giving me the heads up! Thank you Maggie!

Also, Josie was nice enough to feature some of my work on her blog today. A kindred spirit indeed. Thanks Josie!

::On Photography::

With my life as busy wife and mother, I don't always get the time to work peacefully in the studio. My creative outlet of choice in the little pockets of time that I do have is photography. Currently, I'm shooting with a Canon Rebel XTi, but I'm toying with the idea of upgrading this Christmas... I don't actually need a new camera, but I've outgrown my current one and find it limiting in so many ways. I'm on the fence, Santa has assured me he doesn't mind, I have a new camera all picked out... the biggest obstacle right now is me - Do I deserve it? Part of me asks, "What kind of question is that?" and "What are you waiting for?" Maybe you can relate?

But I digress... where was I?

I have a number of lenses I shoot with, my favorite being this wide angle lens. I'm also a huge fan of the Lensbaby, especially during the holiday season where colored lights from the Christmas Tree provide a glittering backdrop. For information on cameras, lenses, and the like I love Fred Miranda. I'm a huge fan of watching the "Buy and Sell listings" for purchasing equipment secondhand. And since I'm a Canon fan, their website is helpful as well.

For Photographic inspiration or good 'ol eye-candy, I'm partial to Chromasia, 3191, Photobird, Guy Tal, and this gem "A Walk Through Durham Township," which I'm absolutely in love with... makes me dream of living in that part of the world. Just click on the "best photos" tab and you will see, I dare you not to feel your heart skip!

Okay, there you have it! My photography roundup for the fall. I'm always on the lookout for new inspiration so I'd be happy to see what you like looking at. Someone sent me an awesome link... a stop motion movie made solely of photographs... very cool! So cool it deserves it's own post, so tomorrow, I promise to show you!

One last note: My partner Gail has a new quilt up today... I simply love it! I must add, watching her evolve has been exciting and her growth as an artist is apparent. I get ideas from her all the time and it's been nice tossing around ideas with her this past year. Check out her latest and compare it to work done earlier this year. I'm sure she would love to hear from you!

Have I told you "thank you" lately for keeping up? Well, from the bottom of my heart, Thank You! It means a lot to me to have a place to put this stuff, and people to show it to. I wouldn't be where I'm at right now without the support of you all. You guys rock!

Work of the week #31

Would it be cliche if I asked "Just where does the time go?" I'm sure you are feeling it too - almost a fourth of November has come and gone and I'm left asking myself just what have I been doing all week! I purposely took a break from quilt-making. Not only was I feeling creativity blocked, but I knew I'd be busy with school activities, event planning, meetings, and appointments. More than once I felt a longing to return to my usual work with patches of fabric in plain fields of color, however there simply was no time for that. I had other things to do.

And just what do I have to show for my time away? On Monday a friend and I canned 47 pints of pasta sauce! Good Grief! Crazy, I know, but it's for a good cause. Our school will be having it's annual Holiday Sale next month and this is our contribution. I'd show you photos, but you've seen me post pictures of the process before. So I'll leave you with shots from another round of canning I did this week - Apple Pie Filling!

It's fitting that I start this month with a flurry of canning. November, the month of gratitude, and gathering, brings with it a renewed focus on cherishing the season's offerings. Despite living in an age where I simply don't need to stock up and prepare for a long winter, I still lovingly participate in this age old tradition. It forces me to slow down and be mindful... other concerns simply have to wait as I'm focused solely on the task before me. It brings me closer to others, sharing the work is always easier, and pleasant chatter makes the task at hand go faster. It fills me with a certain pride of having something to show for my time. If gives me something unique to offer when friends come to visit or in the case of this week, as a donation for a community event. It allows me to feel gratitude for abundance, something hard not to do when surrounded by fifty-pounds of tomatoes or baskets full of apples. Mostly though it transports me out of my everyday; working in the kitchen my thoughts drift to the countless others before me who did this out of necessity. And as I tuck these jars away in my pantry, I can't help but think how much more than simple sauce that these contain. Like a time-capsule buried years ago, these jars serve to remind me that despite our usual fall-frenzy, these truly are peaceful days filled with warmth and gratitude.

Ms. January

I'm published!! Island Heritage accepted one of my quilts for their 2010 Quilts of Hawaii Calendar. This really isn't my sort of thing, since most of what I do is non-representational work, but still it's a thrill to be included here!

The quilt that got in was one I did years ago after meeting Ms. Mel at Art Quilt Tahoe. I walked into the room where she had been teaching, because all week long there was a type of electric buzz about her class and I was curious to see for myself what the hoopla was all about. Wouldn't you know, she too is nuts about color and the work on the walls dazzled me instantly! Barely able to contain my enthusiasm, I inched up the the table where she was sitting and waited my turn to look at the beautiful fabric she brought with her and was offering for sale to her students. Trying to keep it cool and not sound completely desperate, I politely asked if I could purchase one of her silk pieces because somehow she had taught them to yell "Buy Me" when I looked at them. Of course she was ever so gracious and not only sold me a piece, but instructed me on how to use it even though I was not enrolled in her class. Thrilled, this was the first thing I worked on when I got home, a spiral, which sadly looks much better in person than it does here. N0w this quilt hangs on the wall in my studio and when people come to visit they almost always comment on it. It is a pretty piece, but hey, I started with nice fabric! Thanks Ms. Mel! Your magic lives on!!

Self Portrait Tuesday - My week away...

... from my usual work that is. I may come to regret it, seeing as how I've got six quilts to finish before the end of the year - a personal goal, which can easily be changed, but still a goal I've set for myself. No matter. I need this break from hand-dyeds solids, choosing instead to do a little play with commercial prints as well as more canning.

Yesterday I finished the (small) Mail Sack from Pink Chalk Studio. I don't consider myself a bag person, but I'm beginning to see why they are all the rage! This one went together quickly and doesn't it look fabulous! This form of instant gratification was so delightful, I made another form a friend who recently had a baby... I think I may have found my new "baby shower" gift! Feeling ready to tackle the "big boy" mail sack, I've already got plans for a third. This time with fabric from the Mezzanine line by Patty Young... LOVE IT! Ooh, and in case you were wondering, I found this photo collection of Mail Sacks on Flickr, which mine will be added to soon!

A couple of other things I LOVE right now... Little Folks fabric by Anna Maria Horner, which is now available in oil cloth! These would make amazing lunch bags!

...Pepe Romero music on Pandora...

... Tortilla soup from Rick Bayless... especially if you have authentic ingredients, like queso fresco, and pasilla chiles... good for warming the tummy on a chilly day. We "Americanized" it with Harvest Grains Bread from King Arthur Flour.

...and my new cell phone case from Hine, quite simply the coolest case I've had.

This Japanese illustrator / puppet stop-motion video artist is amazing! Check out this video:

That's enough links for now. I've been asked to write an article about my method of flat dyeing for a magazine... big gasp... can you tell I'm stalling?

::Halloween Goodness::

There were pumpkins, jack-o-lanterns, costumes and candy!

Hope you had a delightful Halloween too!

Spooky sight

I woke up this morning to an absolutely frightening sight - fitting given what day this is - its my latest work mounted on my machine, only half way finished. It's scary because for the life of me I can't explain where this one came from or what it means for my work to have taken such a divergence like this.

While it can be said I did start with triangles in mind, and I inserted a couple of long strung-out triangle-like shapes, when I got to quilting the thing, suddenly it was circles that were on my mind. I love how these circles glide and twirl around, like little dervishes spinning across the fabric. Making them was like walking a labyrinth, only much quicker and less precise.

To be honest, I'm a little freaked out. Does this mean I'm done with my elements series? Is my work getting more wild and impulsive? Does this reflect a lack of discipline, this gliding all over the surface that I've done here? I'm not even sure I like this. I'm not even sure I know how to turn it into something I like.

I know why I did this... my life lacks a certain sense of freedom lately. I think maybe you can relate? Life is droning on... the flutter of excitement over a new school year, new after school activities, and a new season have all passed, now we are in the trenches of driving to and from activities, helping with homework, cooking meals, and walking the dog. Good grief, I should have better things to complain about!

Do you want a little cheese with that whine, Robin?

Alright, I'll quit. I'll finish this quilt as best as I can and perhaps I'll take the next week off. There is that new bag I purchased fabric for and have been wanting to make for some time now, and I simply can't ignore the fifty pounds of tomatoes my neighbor dropped off the other day. I'll drop the caged-canary song and focus instead on things I'm grateful for... this usually helps. I'll forget about losing my mojo for now and trust it will come back... it always does. If it doesn't I'd have some explaining to do, "Ah honey, you know that big studio we built and all the machines and fabric in it? Well, turns out I've changed my mind and I don't need them anymore."

Yeah, right.

The Beckoning of Lovely

I'm thrilled to report a favorite project by another artist seems to have taken wings. The Beckoning of Lovely started with a YouTube video titled "17 things I made," where Amy Rosenthal showcases 17 things she's created. Next, Amy expanded on this idea by making an 18th thing with complete strangers in a spontaneous public gathering on 8/08/08, at "The Bean" in Millennium Park Chicago. This event was documented in another video called "The Beckoning of Lovely." Now the project has since evolved into the making of a full-length feature film and more information can be found about it here.

Amy made this video, filmed on 9/09/09 as a sequel to the one made a year before, where she shows her gratitude by giving back a little bit of lovely. Amy's story and her work on making this world a better place is an inspiration to us all. Enjoy!