A week or so into the new year, I noticed an uptick in the 414‘s I was seeing and decided to start documenting them. (Click here for the story of 414). When these 414 events cluster together, I try very hard not to see them as harbingers of trying times to come, but instead as encouragement and… Continue reading Encouragement
Following this past October’s retreat I found myself giving serious thought to the focus and direction of my quilting. I had reached a point of feeling stuck. There is an inner artist in me that lives in a rich internal environment of completed art quilts, where my ever unfinished Princess hangs fully stitched alongside the… Continue reading Shaking Up The Quilt Reveal
Candace’s random observation last year, that my newly moved into rural home would make a fine place for a quilt retreat, became a reality this past weekend. Five women (including myself) filled my house with fabric, projects, sewing machines, food, drinks and fun. The weekend commenced Friday evening with a walk to the back of… Continue reading A Retreat And A Reveal
How long can I take to finish a quilt that I think about frequently, have hanging on my design wall – that is actually out and ready to go at all times – and truly WANT to finish? Apparently, the answer is yet to be determined but suffice to say, a lo-o-o-ong time. The Princess… Continue reading Quiltus Interruptus
In my last post I mentioned that the number 414 is significant to me and a reference to my sister, Karen. There’s a story there and in the interest of putting it on the record and not leaving readers wondering, I’ve decided to tell it. Many of you know that Karen fought a 12 year battle… Continue reading The Story of 414
A smaller group gathered at the Soup Spoon Cafe this week for our latest challenge quilt reveal. Three of us – Brenda, Candace and I – took advantage of the opportunity to beat Michigan’s sizzling summer heat and slipped in to the Cafe for some cool beverages, delicious dinner and friendly conversation. Revealing our quilts to… Continue reading Self Portrait Challenge – The Reveal!
There are a couple of reasons that the phrase ‘the beat goes on’ is meaningful to me this week. First and foremost, my father underwent open heart surgery for a double by-pass and the repair of 2 leaking valves. No small deal, that. Happily, he is recovering well and at home as of yesterday. Secondly,… Continue reading The Beat Goes On
There is something fascinating about seeing where other artists work and how they arrange their creative space. Studios are often just as much a commentary on the artists who work in them as is the art that gets created there. Every individual’s space is a unique alchemy of their required tools of the trade, sources of… Continue reading In The Studio With Candace Winiarski
Many years ago, when I dabbled in portrait art, I ordered business cards from a local print shop. They were plain cards with a tiny stock illustration of a palette and paintbrush and I ordered the minimum number possible, which was still a ridiculous count. A few were displayed in a ceramic card holder in… Continue reading Playing Cards
This article is out of the ordinary for me, but I’m feeling compelled to write by tragic events that sadly, horrifically, have become ordinary. Hearing the news last weekend that 50 people had been killed in a nightclub attack left me feeling strangely numb. The horrors of Columbine, Aurora, and Sandy Hook, in particular, have shaken… Continue reading I Have A Light
Ellen Parrott 