This is Awesome | Off to Summer Camp

Fletcher Farm School of Craft - Ludlow, Vermont

My friends, I am so excited: On Friday I am headed to Vermont for 10 days to attend the Fletcher Farm School of Craft.  It's sort of a summer camp for grown-ups (though they do offer kids' classes, too), where artists of all different craft mediums converge for a week of creating.  I'll be focusing on quilting for the week (surprise, surprise)!

I plan to take next week away from blogging, but I will have so much to show and tell when I come back!

This is Awesome | Connect the Dots World Record

Mona Lisa - 6,239 dot to dot drawing from Thomas Pavitte on Vimeo.

Artist Thomas Pavitte created a poster-sized connect-the-dots drawing of the Mona Lisa in an attempt to create the world's most complex dot-to-dot drawing.  The drawing has 6,239 dots, and it took over nine hours to connect them all.  Check out this time-lapse video of the project!

This is Awesome | "M-provisational" Quilts

I recently came across a wonderful article on The Beautiful Chaos of Improvisational Quilting on Collectors Weekly. Here's a teaser:

What would jazz look like if it had a physical presence? According to Sherry Ann Byrd, a celebrated quilt maker who posts on Show & Tell, it might look something like the hand-made “M-provisational” quilts produced by six generations of her family, who descended from a former slave named Edward “Ned” Titus in Freestone County, Texas.

Like jazz, improvisational quilting is about letting go and seeing where your creativity takes you. “You can’t be uptight when you’re making improvisational quilts,” Byrd says. “You got to just be relaxed, take your time, put the pieces together. If you don’t like them, take them apart and redo them. Don’t be afraid to chop a piece out or add a piece on. That’s what it’s all about. It’s like mixing up a recipe; you just keep at it until you’ve got something beautiful. You can’t be afraid to experiment because that’s what improvisation is all about.”

Beautiful, historic, quirky quilts.  You have to check out the photos.  


Read the full article here.

This is Awesome | Sewing & Rocket Science

My friend Jess was telling me today about a story she heard recently on NPR about a seamstress at NASA.

Theresa Haygood worked at Kennedy Space Center, sewing small, quilt-like blankets using glass thread and special heat-resistant cloth.  The thermal blankets protected the shuttles during re-entry to the earth's atmosphere.

Now that the space shuttle program is coming to an end, she's looking for a new job.  But it's interesting to see the crazy and unexpected ways that sewing (and even quilting) intersect with fields I never would have imagined.  Quilting for rocket science.  Hmmm.

The full article, Crafting Shuttles: Labor of Love, Vanishing Art can be found here.

This is Awesome | Find Your Own Voice Challenge

Last week, the Modern Quilt Guild announced their fourth Project Modern Challenge:

Make a quilt that is all you!  Like all of the other challenges, use of other designers’ patterns is not allowed but this time, find your own voice.  Spins on existing techniques, improvisation, fabric manipulation – any and all of it is allowed and encouraged.  Stretch and push yourself to make something that you’ve never made before!  Why not skip using a ruler?  Why not be open to changing your initial plans and ideas along the way?  Innovate!  Make this quilt your voice and yours alone!

And the judge...is Denyse Schmidt, who is like, a really big deal in the quilt world!  

As I've been building my quilting skills, I'm starting to get to the point where I'm really ready to discover my own style.  I've got something in the works already...and I'm really excited about it!  

Are you interested in making a quilt, too?  Or, will you give me feedback on mine along the way?

Photos to come...

This is Awesome | Muni Pass Art

Source: Design Sponge

Saw this before and after post on Design Sponge recently - it's wall art created with San Francisco's public transit passes adhered to a canvas.  Beautiful, right?

What else could you apply this simple idea to?

This is Awesome | Tokyo Quilt Festival Partnership Quilts

Ayumi at Pink Penguin posted recently about Partnership Quilts for for the 2012 Toyko Quilt Festival (which I posted as a This is Awesome back in March):

Each year the Tokyo Quilt Festival exhibits lots of Partnership Quilts, which are made by quilt blocks submitted by everyone. A theme for partnership quilts is set by a popular Japanese quilter/textile designer annually, and she will put all blocks submitted into groups. Folks there will piece all blocks and make them into quilts accordingly.

Source: Pink Penguin

This year's theme: Triangles and Squares


Check out Ayumi's post for all the details on dimensions, where to mail them, etc. And join this flickr group to see blocks made by others, and post your own!  I plan to take part - will you?

This is Awesome | On the Go Project Pouch

On The Go Pouches by Angela of Sake Puppets

A few days ago, Sew Mama Sew posted a great tutorial for an On The Go Project Pouch - the perfect little baggy to take your projects to on the road...

If you want to go a simpler, more immediate route, I always save the bags that new curtains or sheets come in - they're wonderfully transparent, so I can see what I've got, and they zip closed so I won't lose any of my supplies!

This is Awesome | Building Creative Skills

My friend Deb shared this video with me - Ira Glass (swoon) of This American Life talks about how it takes time to build skills in a creative medium, and how you should persevere and keep creating...



Thanks for sharing, Deb!

This is Awesome | Quilting for Truckers

This just in: quilting is not just for grandmas and crazy young chicks like me - it's also for truckers.

Check out the sweet Wall Street Journal article about it here.  Here's the video:



I would love to have a chat with this guy!

This is Awesome | Creative vs. Business Brain

I recently came across this article on Balancing the Creative Brain with the Business Brain from Crafting an MBA.

I really identified with the divide between creative brain vs. business brain - I've been thinking about it a lot lately, but I call it experimental vs. entrepreneurial spirit.

For the past few months, I put on the brakes a bit with building my business.  I came to realize, as she says in the article, that I work a lot, and while my tendency is to make everything into work, maybe what I really need is a hobby.  I need to love, enjoy, and find relaxation in my time in my sewing room.  For now at least.

I've been experimenting and learning with quilts this year, and mostly letting my Etsy Shop run itself.  I've decided that I won't sell at any craft fairs this summer, but instead will attend them and find inspiration in them.

Right now I'm enjoying the freedom to explore a new medium, to follow my interests, and to fill my to-do lists with want-to's rather than have-to's...or even not to have a to-do list at all!

I'm sure the entrepreneurial/business brain will return, and when it does, I will follow it.  But for now, I'm enjoying this creative/experimental phase.

Where are you in the great divide?  Is there a divide between creative/business for you?

This is Awesome | Washi Tapes

Source: Sassy Talk Cafe on Etsy

Have you seen these totally beautiful and colorful masking tapes from Japan?  I want one of each.  Pretty please.

So. Many. To. Choose. From.

And check out this great post by Claire of Heart Handmade UK for some ideas of all the things you can use them for!

This is Awesome | New Fabric

I just got this beautiful stack of fabric, inspired by my Gallery post of yellow, black, and grey back in February.  Grey is suddenly my new favorite color!  I have lousy timing, since it's springtime and thus time for lots of color...

Even so, I'm having so much fun dreaming about what to make with these.  Any ideas? 

This is Awesome | Fabric Postcard

Here's a portable project - literally.

A few weeks ago I discovered the beautiful creations of Sew Upscale on Etsy. I spent far too long looking through her shop to pick out my favorite of her quilted fabric postcard landscapes, and finally chose this beauty. It's even more gorgeous in person! So cleanly quilted - perfect, beautiful stitches.

Check out her Etsy Shop and pick out your favorite!

This is Awesome | Earl Grey and Rose

Earl Grey and Rose owner Lydia Wood-Power

My friend Becky just send me this article about a tea shop/bakery in London that doubles as a rental service for sewing machines.

Tea and sewing?!  My two favorite things?! Why didn't I think of this?

Thanks for sharing, Becky!

This is Awesome: A new way of seeing it

I went to a training earlier this month on Deep Documentation: Interpretation and Dialogue, led by two amazing local artists/educators in Providence.  I attended for work, but was surprised to find some strong connections to my blogging life.

Here are my raw notes from what they presented as a framework for documentation:

1. Observe - what is key? (what is key?)
2. Document - the way you make meaning in the world: photos, notes, video, etc.
3. Interpret and make legible to others - reduce, refine, organize, group, put in to "form"
4. Exhibit, share - make meaning together with audience
5. Revise thinking - what's next? You are trying to understand what is possible


This routine is exactly how I go about blogging.  Here's my translation of those notes:


1. Observe - be open to and reflect on what's important to share from my creative life
2. Document - take photos of work, jot down notes, and capture links
3. Interpret and make legible to others - edit down photos, write a readable blog post
4. Exhibit, share - post on website, open for comments from viewers
5. Revise thinking - those comments inspire new ideas, excitement, inspiration

I love that these first three steps are so subjective, and so personal.  Every blog is so different because bloggers move through those steps in unique ways.


It's fun to see something in a new way.


How does this framework apply to your blog, or something else in your life?

This is Awesome: Blurkers

Source: Fine Tooth Comb

What is a blurker, you ask?  Well, you might just be a blurker yourself.

A blurker is a blog lurker.  As in, one who reads blogs but never posts a comment.  Blurkers often resist commenting because they are intimidated, and they worry their comment won't be read or they'll be judged for a short or dull comment.

I found an article about Blurking on Fine Tooth Comb a while ago, and realized to my horror that I, in fact, was one.  The article helped me realize that I was missing a big opportunity to make connections, ask questions, and offer encouragement to my favorite folks who offer me inspiration and ideas regularly!  I posted about it here.

Julie of Fine Tooth Comb points out that if you don't comment:
1. You won't be able to share your feedback or add value to the blog.  
Asking questions and offering feedback allow you to participate and learn more. 
2. You won't be able to encourage the blogger. 
Comments are so encouraging - they keep me inspired and motivated to create and blog everyday.
3. You won't be able to spread the word about your brand.  
By making connections with other bloggers, you'll create more of a following for your own blog.

Now, I don't necessarily think that blurkers are awesome, but I do think it's awesome that there's a name for them, and that it sounds like a dirty word to me.


Learn about why you should consider changing your blurking ways here.


What do you gain when someone posts a comment on your blog?
What do you gain by posting a comment?

This is Awesome | Blogging E-course

My friend Moira recently sent me a link to this e-course by Elsie at Red Velvet Art.  She was one of the teachers when I took the Indie Biz 2.0 e-course last year and my experience with that course leads me to believe that the $32.00 to take the Blog Love E-course is well worth it.

Blog Love is my newest e-course. I love blogging, but never would have expected that it could become such a big part of my career! I spent the past month compiling tips, stories and ideas for young bloggers. This course was written with new bloggers in mind, but it goes way beyond simply 'getting started'.

It's a go-at-your-own pace course that covers finding your voice, increasing readership, stats, taking great photos, networking, branding, and much more.

Visit the Red Velvet Art e-course page to purchase the class.  And leave a comment here if you plan to take it - I'm thinking of diving in, too, so we can compare notes and ideas!

Thanks for sending this my way, Moira!

This is Awesome | Evolving

Part of having a blog that can be either really exciting or really daunting is the fact that you can tweak and customize how it looks until the cows come home.  

After two years of blogging here I've changed the look of the page quite a few times - varying columns, what's in the side bar, fonts, colors, background...and my content has also changed from "I made this" and "I made that" to reflections, features, series...

The thing about a blog is that it's always changing, never finished.  I hesitated for a long time before starting my blog because I wanted it to look a certain way and I wanted to really know what I was going to be writing about.  But I realized that you have to start somewhere, so I just started and allowed it to evolve over time.

My friend Julianne entered this mantra into the mini quilt giveaway:

"I am part of a process.  I am not failing.  I am evolving."  

She's using this mantra as she writes her masters thesis, but I think it really applies to how I've approached blogging.  I think it took about a year and a half before I felt like the content and look of my blog were really in a good place.  And even then, of course, the evolution wasn't over.  I've grown to really love the process, and how it has paralleled and documented my journey as an artist.

At this moment in time, I like how the blog looks, but I'm sure I'll see something someone else has on their blog sometime soon, and I'll want to figure out how to tweak my page to have the same feature. 

How has your blog evolved since you started it?

This is Awesome | Labeling to Preserve Quilt History

Source: The Storque, Photo by Georgia MacDonald

I came across a Storque post on Making Quilt Labels on last week.  It's written by Amy Milne, the Executive Director of the Alliance for American Quilts whose mission is to "document, preserve, and share our American quilt heritage by collecting the rich stories that historic and contemporary quilts, and their makers, tell about our nation's diverse peoples and their communities." 

Um, can you say dream job?!?

One of their goals is to encourage quiltmakers to document and label their quilts in order to preserve their stories.  Amy writes: "objects...have an undisputed inherent value. They can tell us (and future generations) about our culture, our communities, our families and our everyday lives, and whenever we carefully record and preserve information about these objects and their makers/users we are reinvesting in our culture and our history."

Quilts do carry such deep stories - when I look at the quilts created by Ian's grandmother and great grandmother, sewn by hand out of worn out clothing...I am in awe.  I humbly hope that someday my quilts will carry that same magic for others.

I've never thought about how important it is to label quilts.  I always either include a "Connect the Dots Crafts" or "Made especially for you by Carole Ann" label on my quilts, but the examples that Amy shows in her post are much more elaborate.  They include information like: the quiltmaker's name, date completed, the occasion it was created for, and contact information.  And they're beautifully handmade and so very personal.

It's something I'm thinking about moving forward.


How do you make sure the stories of your creations will be preserved?

Check out the full article here.