Crossroads or Crisis?
I often think about my art work in the “why” sense. Or I should say the “where is this all going?” sense.
Lately, many things have come up that have made me consider selling my art. Should I do it or not? In one case, the local farmer’s market invited me to join them, but I had no inventory to speak of to sell, and no tent, and no supplies, and in the end I think I made the right decision. I often get asked if I make my small weekly quilts to sell. Well, no. They are too personal to sell. I then think about patterns. “Oh, I’ll make patterns and sell them til the cows come home” and think about funding my hobby with the income. Right. Somehow, the art is still to great an emotional investment to part with. I haven’t found the price I would be willing to be paid to part with it (unless I was making it for a gift). So no selling for me.
I then thought at the beginning of this year that maybe I was meant to enter contests, and make art to show in that arena. I can’t seem to find the time to work on the project in enough time. The deadline approaches (or passes) and I’m not ready, or the work is very not ready. This was tough, because I wanted to “get out there” and “be seen” and “make a name for myself”. But if I work full time, how can I meet the deadlines? I love my career, but want to be an “artist” too. After several attempts at entries into shows this year, without any real success at getting the ENTRY done, I’m going to put this off until I have a year with a little less travel and more free time. I’m not giving up, just delaying a bit.
So that brings me back to “Where is this whole thing headed?” Why do I make quilts? Why am I making this art? It’s not to give away, it’s not to sell or turn into patterns, it’s not for a contest. It’s for me. Why does being an artist need to be for one of those reasons? I fi said I did it because I like it, it would be half truthful. It feels like there is much more to it than that, but I can’t put my finger on what.
I’m 35 years old. This hobby of mine has an average age of about 55-ish, so I have 20 years to perfect this craft of mine and get to a point of being comfortable with this in my mind. I’m not the first or the last who will go through this, but it kind of sucks when it’s happening to you.
No, I haven’t fallen off the planet…
I’d love to think you’re siting there wondering “Gee, where in the heck is Cheryl? She hasn’t posted on her blog in a while.” Ok, that’s what I hope you are doing.
Well, I got called into the home office suddenly, to work on the big project. (The points of data are not making a beautiful line.)
So, when I get back home, I’ll have a big update for you, including this and last week’s weekly quilt, and last month’s journal shrine quilt. I also have an art doll to show (I know! Shocker!) I will also have results from 2 online classes I am taking to further my quilt art.
So I will update on the weekend when I get home. I am planning to run a little contest soon too. So much fun to be had!
International Quilt Festival Chicago- Day 4
Well, it’s over.
I got up this morning to SNOW. Isn’t it supposed to be Spring?? Ugh. Off I drive to the show.
I get there a bit early, so I look to drop my stuff off in class to find that the teacher needs a “Teacher’s Pet”. Since I am first to come to the class, I get to be the one to do it if I want. Sure, why not? I am a sucker for volunteer jobs. This class is taught by Barb Broshous and we are making long stem 3-D roses. They are gorgeous on a quilt. She mainly does dimensional flowers so this is right up my alley. I thought this was a hand sewing class, but to my surprise, there are very expensive Huskvarna Viking machines in the room. The class was fun, and small, only 10 of us, which was a nice change of pace. I had a good time, and Barb is a kind and patient teacher.
I could barely bring myself to go to the show floor again, I was so tired. But I made it through the last of the journal quilts.
I was stopped by Pokey Bolton for a few words, as she folded her beutiful fabrics she just bought. (Yes, she stopped me to say hello. OMG!PONIES!!1!) I also stopped by to say hi to Frieda Anderson, who took my photo and said she would put it on her blog, as I am an avid reader of hers. We took Judy Perez’s class together a while back, so it was good to see her again. Her work is so nice, and her dyed fabrics are wonderfully bright. I also met a wonderful fiber collage artist named Lynn Krawczyk, who was so nice, and showed me some of her wool purchases, into which she plans to make evil plushies, once she saw my Uglidoll on my bag. She was very cool, and her work is so cool in person.
I met up with two of my “Fiber Divas” guild members, and shopped at a few booths with them. But after stumbling around the last few places, I decided it was time to go.
I’d like to invite anyone I met along the way to comment or email me to stay in touch!!
International Quilt Festival Chicago -Day 3
This morning came bright and early and I was off to the show before you know it. Traffic to the show was much lighter, though it has not stopped raining. I get there and parkin a good spot in the garage. It’s 8:20 am.
Anyway, once I was in, it was not as bad as I had thought. The quilt area was populated about like so:
So, I was able to the entire quilt area in about 2 hours, except for the small journal quilts, which I am saving for tomorrow. I read a lot of the current 2007 journal quilt artist’s statements, so that took the longest. While there are amazing works in the show, it seemed like there are fewer than before, and I mean about the larger works, the bed sized quilts, as it were. Could be my perception though.
I ran into a fellow guild member in the bathroom, of all places.
International Quilt Festival Chicago -Day 2
Driving in to the show this morning was tough, because last night seemed so very very late.