I am happy to say that I will be teaching Inspired Journaling, every-single-day!, Soy Wax with Paint and Freezer Paper, Paint Oh MY! at CREATE! this coming August in Rosemont Illinois. This is an Interweave/Cloth Paper Scissors Retreat and I am really excited to be a part of it! I hope you will be able to join in on the fun and come out to play!

You all know that I am in the midst of a Stamp Pox outbreak. It is bad! These are the symptoms: It itches, it's demanding, it makes me stay up late and has the ability to make me purchase new art supplies. It stinks. It has the tendency to distract me, keeping me from SHOULDS that ought.

I hope you don't catch the pox, cough, cough, cough. I can't seem to cover my mouth in time.

So here is my hope. Are you going to Chicago? Make stamps inspired by your surroundings. Use then to make Artist Trading cards, trade your cards with me!

On the technical side? I would love it if you would share your stuff with the group(s) Whatever is easiest for you, do it! Have an account with Quilting Arts? Upload your stamp ATC's there! Know how to share photos on the Inspired to Quilt fan page? Upload them there! Just show us your stuff! Here are some links to older posts about stamps that I have done. They include youtube videos, so go, check them out! When you share, be sure to let me know, I might even post about your fab work.

I am happy to say that I will be teaching Inspired Journaling, every-single-day!, Soy Wax with Paint and Freezer Paper, Paint Oh MY! at CREATE! this coming August in Rosemont Illinois. This is an Interweave/Cloth Paper Scissors Retreat and I am really excited to be a part of it! I hope you will be able to join in on the fun and come out to play!

You all know that I am in the midst of a Stamp Pox outbreak. It is bad! These are the symptoms: It itches, it's demanding, it makes me stay up late and has the ability to make me purchase new art supplies. It stinks. It has the tendency to distract me, keeping me from SHOULDS that ought.

I hope you don't catch the pox, cough, cough, cough. I can't seem to cover my mouth in time.

So here is my hope. Are you going to Chicago? Make stamps inspired by your surroundings. Use then to make Artist Trading cards, trade your cards with me!

On the technical side? I would love it if you would share your stuff with the group(s) Whatever is easiest for you, do it! Have an account with Quilting Arts? Upload your stamp ATC's there! Know how to share photos on the Inspired to Quilt fan page? Upload them there! Just show us your stuff! Here are some links to older posts about stamps that I have done. They include youtube videos, so go, check them out! When you share, be sure to let me know, I might even post about your fab work.

Drum Roll Please....

Laura Lea is the lucky winner! Post a comment Laura and I will email privately to get your mailing address! Congrats Laura. And thanks to everyone for embracing this new feature and for commenting. It is the exchange, knowing that you are on the other side of the internet peaking in and commenting that makes keeping a blog so much fun.

And because Arrow is a member of Cuteness Central, he is featured once again.

You know it isn't cat talk all day everyday!

Went to Journal Study Group yesterday. My pimp was there. She supplied me with more sticky backed craft foam. This isn't weighed in grams either! It is more like a brick of the stuff! I will not be nervous of running out any time soon.

Please go over to Pat's blog and post a comment! She is so darned funny and engaging I could become addicted to her as an individual.

Yesterday we folded paper into books with pages. The first page of my book is stamped in the Pat's 'registered' style, described in this post. It is my stamp though, I just made it, all by myself. I wanted to 'get' her teachings deep into me. I want to incise some texture into the separate parts but I really needed to see how it would stamp up.

The stamp drama continues.

So anyway. While writing this post up I have been listening to Chester & Lester. This is an album my beautiful husband introduced me to when we first met. It is acoustic, upbeat and soothing and reminds me of those early love drenched days of new love.

Drum Roll Please....

Laura Lea is the lucky winner! Post a comment Laura and I will email privately to get your mailing address! Congrats Laura. And thanks to everyone for embracing this new feature and for commenting. It is the exchange, knowing that you are on the other side of the internet peaking in and commenting that makes keeping a blog so much fun.

And because Arrow is a member of Cuteness Central, he is featured once again.

You know it isn't cat talk all day everyday!

Went to Journal Study Group yesterday. My pimp was there. She supplied me with more sticky backed craft foam. This isn't weighed in grams either! It is more like a brick of the stuff! I will not be nervous of running out any time soon.

Please go over to Pat's blog and post a comment! She is so darned funny and engaging I could become addicted to her as an individual.

Yesterday we folded paper into books with pages. The first page of my book is stamped in the Pat's 'registered' style, described in this post. It is my stamp though, I just made it, all by myself. I wanted to 'get' her teachings deep into me. I want to incise some texture into the separate parts but I really needed to see how it would stamp up.

The stamp drama continues.

So anyway. While writing this post up I have been listening to Chester & Lester. This is an album my beautiful husband introduced me to when we first met. It is acoustic, upbeat and soothing and reminds me of those early love drenched days of new love.

This is the final post featuring Lyric and her fabu work and personality. If you go to this show, I hope I have proven to you that you really should take a class from Lyric and expand your skill set.

My favorite thing to do is to teach. The back-and-forth that goes on in a learning environment is stimulating and uplifting and my students are so much more cooperative than my children!
I'll be at the American Quilt Festival in Paducah Kentucky next April. This is one of the "Big One's" in the quilt world so I'm excited to be going for the first time.
One of the funnest classes I'll be teaching there is a class called "Just Foiling Around" in which we play with foil (of course) but also do one of my favorites - painted Wonder-Under. It's fusible paint - you can tear it, cut it, play with it, and I'm completely addicted to using it in my work. I'm also addicted to the shine and whimsy of foil and it's so easy to apply.
There is still space available in the class. #6504 on Wednesday Evening the 21st of April from 5:30 - 8:30pm. Late in the evening I know - but I'm hoping to have enough room in my suitcase for .... chocolate! If that isn't worth coming for I don't know what is!? Hope to see you there.

"Three" uses painted Wonder Under and melted synthetics to achieve a very fun texture.

"3 Shells" Foil is lightly applied over a fusible and also accents the shells at the bottom of this piece.

"Spill" is all about the crazy fun texture achieved with painted W-U and melted synthetic fabric

"Friends" the square in the background is painted W-U

Zen by Lyric Kinard

The buddah face on this piece is screen printed with the foil adhesive then the foil is applied. We'll be playing with this great technique in "Just Foiling Around" in Paducah, Kentucky on April 21st at the American Quilt Festival

Post a comment! You can win this piece, but it is your job to come back and see if you are the winner! I will Draw a name on my next blog post!

P.S. I bought the purple shoes. They will come in the next two weeks! Just in time for Quilt Fest Chicago.

This is the final post featuring Lyric and her fabu work and personality. If you go to this show, I hope I have proven to you that you really should take a class from Lyric and expand your skill set.

My favorite thing to do is to teach. The back-and-forth that goes on in a learning environment is stimulating and uplifting and my students are so much more cooperative than my children!
I'll be at the American Quilt Festival in Paducah Kentucky next April. This is one of the "Big One's" in the quilt world so I'm excited to be going for the first time.
One of the funnest classes I'll be teaching there is a class called "Just Foiling Around" in which we play with foil (of course) but also do one of my favorites - painted Wonder-Under. It's fusible paint - you can tear it, cut it, play with it, and I'm completely addicted to using it in my work. I'm also addicted to the shine and whimsy of foil and it's so easy to apply.
There is still space available in the class. #6504 on Wednesday Evening the 21st of April from 5:30 - 8:30pm. Late in the evening I know - but I'm hoping to have enough room in my suitcase for .... chocolate! If that isn't worth coming for I don't know what is!? Hope to see you there.

"Three" uses painted Wonder Under and melted synthetics to achieve a very fun texture.

"3 Shells" Foil is lightly applied over a fusible and also accents the shells at the bottom of this piece.

"Spill" is all about the crazy fun texture achieved with painted W-U and melted synthetic fabric

"Friends" the square in the background is painted W-U

Zen by Lyric Kinard

The buddah face on this piece is screen printed with the foil adhesive then the foil is applied. We'll be playing with this great technique in "Just Foiling Around" in Paducah, Kentucky on April 21st at the American Quilt Festival

Post a comment! You can win this piece, but it is your job to come back and see if you are the winner! I will Draw a name on my next blog post!

P.S. I bought the purple shoes. They will come in the next two weeks! Just in time for Quilt Fest Chicago.

I thought these would be in the bag already. They are not.
I thought I would have bought them yesterday when I was in the city with my mother, but no. I found them in an online store that had a brick and mortar in Manhattan, but when we went, they say, "oh no, we only carry that online." I instantly disliked that good for nothing store.
Originally I saw them on my local street, My Man and I walk to the store, I say "I would like to try on the Wolky Strap Cloggy".

The nice lady says," Great! Come on in. What size do you wear?"
Me, "Size 8"
NL, "Oh, I am...
I butt in, "Don't say it!"
NL "...sorry..."
Me in a loud and urgent voice, "watermelon, watermelon, watermelon"
NL, "we are out of that size."
deflated again!
But

This could be my chance to have my first pair of Purple Shoes. They can order them for me! They will call me when they arrive.
Still.

I am off my crush now. Phew.

Folks have been asking me how I cut Plexiglas:

Olfa Heavy Duty Plastic Cutter

I have begun sample making for my Chicago Quilt Fest classes. This little piece doesn't totally satisfy, but I will keep going with similar pieces. I think the eye needs to be pushed forward, perhaps some embroidery will help.

In case you will be at Quilt Fest in Chicago, here is my schedule-I would love to have you!

Chicago Quilt Fest
April 16-18, 2010
Machine Quilting Sampler (#423 & 413) and Pretty Purses (#207) and Small Works, Big Impact (#311)

Please sign on! I would love to see you and make stuff with you.

I thought these would be in the bag already. They are not.
I thought I would have bought them yesterday when I was in the city with my mother, but no. I found them in an online store that had a brick and mortar in Manhattan, but when we went, they say, "oh no, we only carry that online." I instantly disliked that good for nothing store.
Originally I saw them on my local street, My Man and I walk to the store, I say "I would like to try on the Wolky Strap Cloggy".

The nice lady says," Great! Come on in. What size do you wear?"
Me, "Size 8"
NL, "Oh, I am...
I butt in, "Don't say it!"
NL "...sorry..."
Me in a loud and urgent voice, "watermelon, watermelon, watermelon"
NL, "we are out of that size."
deflated again!
But

This could be my chance to have my first pair of Purple Shoes. They can order them for me! They will call me when they arrive.
Still.

I am off my crush now. Phew.

Folks have been asking me how I cut Plexiglas:

Olfa Heavy Duty Plastic Cutter

I have begun sample making for my Chicago Quilt Fest classes. This little piece doesn't totally satisfy, but I will keep going with similar pieces. I think the eye needs to be pushed forward, perhaps some embroidery will help.

In case you will be at Quilt Fest in Chicago, here is my schedule-I would love to have you!

Chicago Quilt Fest
April 16-18, 2010
Machine Quilting Sampler (#423 & 413) and Pretty Purses (#207) and Small Works, Big Impact (#311)

Please sign on! I would love to see you and make stuff with you.

I figured we would start with some Arrow Lovings. Doesn't he look yummy in that light? He had had some catnip... He was pretty wiped out. He was pretty.

So you know there has been a lil stamp drama going on over here. I...can't...stop...making...them! I wake up in the morning and instead of surfing the web over coffee... well. You get the idea. This has come to be known as the potato chip conundrum! I can't have just one, I need 50+.

So then I had to see how they would work! I used Tsukineko Memento Dew Drops Dye Inkpad-Gum Drops, Pack of 12

ink pads to ink up these lil babies. And they are small! Less than an inch, an inch. Lil guys.

I love the combo of colors in the bird and the plant.

And I am loosening up to make some samples for my Small Works, Big Impact class at Chicago next month! So I had to make some postcard sized art! Had to!

I figured we would start with some Arrow Lovings. Doesn't he look yummy in that light? He had had some catnip... He was pretty wiped out. He was pretty.

So you know there has been a lil stamp drama going on over here. I...can't...stop...making...them! I wake up in the morning and instead of surfing the web over coffee... well. You get the idea. This has come to be known as the potato chip conundrum! I can't have just one, I need 50+.

So then I had to see how they would work! I used Tsukineko Memento Dew Drops Dye Inkpad-Gum Drops, Pack of 12

ink pads to ink up these lil babies. And they are small! Less than an inch, an inch. Lil guys.

I love the combo of colors in the bird and the plant.

And I am loosening up to make some samples for my Small Works, Big Impact class at Chicago next month! So I had to make some postcard sized art! Had to!

Then it became an addiction.

Isn't that just the story of my life? Laughing at myself!

My friend Pat is the stamp pimp. I hope she is OK with my calling her that. It is true, though, so I can say it in all honesty.

When I hung with Shirley last week she showed me the project I was supposed to have participated in creating in our last Journal Study Group (I was busy finishing an important project). Yes, I study journals and journaling. Anyway, Pat, a member of our group, gave a tutorial on stamp making. I fell head over heels and had to start making multiples of stamps that could be inked separately of one another and fit into and around one another. I can't really describe it. I don't have time to... I now want to go into the city to The Ink Pad before my book binding class.
Bye!

Then it became an addiction.

Isn't that just the story of my life? Laughing at myself!

My friend Pat is the stamp pimp. I hope she is OK with my calling her that. It is true, though, so I can say it in all honesty.

When I hung with Shirley last week she showed me the project I was supposed to have participated in creating in our last Journal Study Group (I was busy finishing an important project). Yes, I study journals and journaling. Anyway, Pat, a member of our group, gave a tutorial on stamp making. I fell head over heels and had to start making multiples of stamps that could be inked separately of one another and fit into and around one another. I can't really describe it. I don't have time to... I now want to go into the city to The Ink Pad before my book binding class.
Bye!

It is another Check Her Out!, Monday. I remain focused on Lyric Kinard. In this spotlight I delve a little deeper into how Lyric chooses to work as an artist, I ask for explaination of a specific work of art and about Lyrics need to work on the go.

Melly: Right now my favorite piece of yours is The Women of God Know This, it gave me chills when I first saw it, read and understood it. Can you tell us more about this piece?

Lyric: Choosing to stay home and have children was not an easy decision for me. I gave up many personal hopes and dreams to do so. Intellectually, I knew that raising children was something vital and important, but it has taken years to fully understand why. I can have a greater impact for good in the world by teaching my children to love and to serve others than in any other thing I could do. I am doing my level best to teach them that they are here in the world to make it a better place by helping others. That even small acts of kindness can change the world. This quote, by Neal A. Maxwell, says what I feel so eloquently. The women are my Aunt, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, and Great-Great-Grandmother.

Melly: How do you usually approach making a new piece, do you plan or remain open to new ideas? I know that you like to have handwork at the ready, do you create art with the goal of beading and embellishing?

Lyric: My larger pieces, especially the portraits, often begin with sketches and are refined into drawn patterns that I follow. The majority of my current work is improvisational and inspired entirely by the materials at hand. I often grab a little bag and stuff in a bit of batting, some scraps, threads, and beads, and see what I can come up with during hockey practice or orchestra rehearsals. I think I get more work done on the go than in the studio. I have come to appreciate the peaceful meditation of beading and stitching my work but most of the time I do it out of impatience. I can't stand to simply sit and watch something - my hands need to keep busy. It seems that I can better pay attention to what is going on in a meeting if my hands are occupied.

Melly: Your artwork really seems to run the gamut from realistic to abstract and geometric. This seems well rounded, is it intentional?

Lyric: Can you hear me laughing? Either well rounded or completely scatterbrained. Probably a bit of both. I've had many interruptions in my development as an artist. I didn't get much studio time when there was an infant in the house. I would keep sketchbooks at hand to jot down ideas when they came and often would take a class now and then simply to have a day to myself. Whenever I would come back to the studio there would be a jump in the direction I wanted to go.

With no more babies to come, I'm really looking forward to working in multiple series and building more cohesive bodies of work. I still enjoy a variety of styles and will continue to create both pictorial and abstract work.

Melly: Do you think about the basic concepts of art making as you work?

Lyric: I do think about the fundamentals of design as I'm working but often only in a fleeting manner. If a composition is not working I will put it up on the wall and methodically go through the elements and principles of art - trying to find where things can be improved. Of course having written a book on the subject and teaching it - I have to practice what I preach right?

It's funny now that I consider it - I think I am more conscious of design fundamentals during my non-art-making activities. I'll be driving and notice the amazing contrast of the dark grey edges and bright white centers of the clouds. I'll be at the bus stop and notice the amazing lines of the winter trees and the texture of the sidewalk. I can be watching a conductor and be completely sidetracked by the line created by the body, hand, and baton on an upbeat. There is ART and INSPIRATION everywhere! That's why I have to have my sketchbook at hand always.

One last thing. It's my soapbox message. I came to the visual art world after I had given up so many other things. I have been blessed with this opportunity to nurture my creativity even during the most demanding times of my life. I didn't pick up a pencil, a needle, or a paintbrush and just know what to do - I had to work to learn the techniques and take time to develop my visual voice. If I can find time to learn and create - anyone can.

Next Week Lyric and I will complete this Check Her Out! series with a postcard give away. Remember to leave a comment for your chance to win. You must also check back to see if you are the lucky winner!

It is another Check Her Out!, Monday. I remain focused on Lyric Kinard. In this spotlight I delve a little deeper into how Lyric chooses to work as an artist, I ask for explaination of a specific work of art and about Lyrics need to work on the go.

Melly: Right now my favorite piece of yours is The Women of God Know This, it gave me chills when I first saw it, read and understood it. Can you tell us more about this piece?

Lyric: Choosing to stay home and have children was not an easy decision for me. I gave up many personal hopes and dreams to do so. Intellectually, I knew that raising children was something vital and important, but it has taken years to fully understand why. I can have a greater impact for good in the world by teaching my children to love and to serve others than in any other thing I could do. I am doing my level best to teach them that they are here in the world to make it a better place by helping others. That even small acts of kindness can change the world. This quote, by Neal A. Maxwell, says what I feel so eloquently. The women are my Aunt, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, and Great-Great-Grandmother.

Melly: How do you usually approach making a new piece, do you plan or remain open to new ideas? I know that you like to have handwork at the ready, do you create art with the goal of beading and embellishing?

Lyric: My larger pieces, especially the portraits, often begin with sketches and are refined into drawn patterns that I follow. The majority of my current work is improvisational and inspired entirely by the materials at hand. I often grab a little bag and stuff in a bit of batting, some scraps, threads, and beads, and see what I can come up with during hockey practice or orchestra rehearsals. I think I get more work done on the go than in the studio. I have come to appreciate the peaceful meditation of beading and stitching my work but most of the time I do it out of impatience. I can't stand to simply sit and watch something - my hands need to keep busy. It seems that I can better pay attention to what is going on in a meeting if my hands are occupied.

Melly: Your artwork really seems to run the gamut from realistic to abstract and geometric. This seems well rounded, is it intentional?

Lyric: Can you hear me laughing? Either well rounded or completely scatterbrained. Probably a bit of both. I've had many interruptions in my development as an artist. I didn't get much studio time when there was an infant in the house. I would keep sketchbooks at hand to jot down ideas when they came and often would take a class now and then simply to have a day to myself. Whenever I would come back to the studio there would be a jump in the direction I wanted to go.

With no more babies to come, I'm really looking forward to working in multiple series and building more cohesive bodies of work. I still enjoy a variety of styles and will continue to create both pictorial and abstract work.

Melly: Do you think about the basic concepts of art making as you work?

Lyric: I do think about the fundamentals of design as I'm working but often only in a fleeting manner. If a composition is not working I will put it up on the wall and methodically go through the elements and principles of art - trying to find where things can be improved. Of course having written a book on the subject and teaching it - I have to practice what I preach right?

It's funny now that I consider it - I think I am more conscious of design fundamentals during my non-art-making activities. I'll be driving and notice the amazing contrast of the dark grey edges and bright white centers of the clouds. I'll be at the bus stop and notice the amazing lines of the winter trees and the texture of the sidewalk. I can be watching a conductor and be completely sidetracked by the line created by the body, hand, and baton on an upbeat. There is ART and INSPIRATION everywhere! That's why I have to have my sketchbook at hand always.

One last thing. It's my soapbox message. I came to the visual art world after I had given up so many other things. I have been blessed with this opportunity to nurture my creativity even during the most demanding times of my life. I didn't pick up a pencil, a needle, or a paintbrush and just know what to do - I had to work to learn the techniques and take time to develop my visual voice. If I can find time to learn and create - anyone can.

Next Week Lyric and I will complete this Check Her Out! series with a postcard give away. Remember to leave a comment for your chance to win. You must also check back to see if you are the lucky winner!

Such a good day! I met up with my friend Shirley, to draw at the Met (there are two links in this sentence). We went to see the Bronzino exhibit, and drew inspiration. Please go click over there.

Now if this naked man (is he naked if he has a messenger bag on?) was sitting around listening to any ol' dream, I would happily watch him listen. Were all men made that way, way back when? I mean he has some pudge, but they had better muscle definition back then. Just sayin'.

Shirley and I caught up, drew, had lunch and met up with a new pal. I love Shirley. She has energy. She draws people to her and has good instincts. She is super smart. I am glad I nabbed her when she came up to my table at Open Studio's last October.

I have been working on the Evening Grosbeak for The 20. Generally, I think I am doing pretty well. I like how this is progressing.

The one thing I now need to address is that I put the resist for the eye in the wrong place. Eyes, or points of connection are very important. I placed the resist higher and more to the right than it ought to be. I can fix this. I don't know how but it isn't major. Perhaps I should do a post on mistakes at some point. I would also like to see some random circular marks above the birds body but can address this when I get to the collage stage.

I am going away on retreat in a few weeks. I think I might work on painting a second bird in the series so that I have two options to work on while there!

Such a good day! I met up with my friend Shirley, to draw at the Met (there are two links in this sentence). We went to see the Bronzino exhibit, and drew inspiration. Please go click over there.

Now if this naked man (is he naked if he has a messenger bag on?) was sitting around listening to any ol' dream, I would happily watch him listen. Were all men made that way, way back when? I mean he has some pudge, but they had better muscle definition back then. Just sayin'.

Shirley and I caught up, drew, had lunch and met up with a new pal. I love Shirley. She has energy. She draws people to her and has good instincts. She is super smart. I am glad I nabbed her when she came up to my table at Open Studio's last October.

I have been working on the Evening Grosbeak for The 20. Generally, I think I am doing pretty well. I like how this is progressing.

The one thing I now need to address is that I put the resist for the eye in the wrong place. Eyes, or points of connection are very important. I placed the resist higher and more to the right than it ought to be. I can fix this. I don't know how but it isn't major. Perhaps I should do a post on mistakes at some point. I would also like to see some random circular marks above the birds body but can address this when I get to the collage stage.

I am going away on retreat in a few weeks. I think I might work on painting a second bird in the series so that I have two options to work on while there!

Sometimes I just have to share work that is not my own! Jojo, a reader and regular commenter to this blog, created these two purses, she created many more than just these two, actually. Jojo and I met when I taught in San Diego, she is a hoot! She was inspired by this post, to try her hand at Deconstructed Screen Printing.

She made her own cloth, used my Pretty Purse pattern, then added stitch paper elements inspired by Kelli Nina Perkins book, Stitch Alchemy!

Jojo has a poker playing pack of pink ladies that she enjoys and these purses were made for them! Say that 10 times fast!

I had to share, and besides! Who could resist these awesome photos?

Sometimes I just have to share work that is not my own! Jojo, a reader and regular commenter to this blog, created these two purses, she created many more than just these two, actually. Jojo and I met when I taught in San Diego, she is a hoot! She was inspired by this post, to try her hand at Deconstructed Screen Printing.

She made her own cloth, used my Pretty Purse pattern, then added stitch paper elements inspired by Kelli Nina Perkins book, Stitch Alchemy!

Jojo has a poker playing pack of pink ladies that she enjoys and these purses were made for them! Say that 10 times fast!

I had to share, and besides! Who could resist these awesome photos?

This is part of the Check Her Out! series. Today I review Lyric's book. We are both Interweave authors, and we originally met through our contributions to Quilting Arts TV. I have come to know Lyric as an individual and am in awe of what she applies herself to and how much she accomplishes. Her writing style is gentle, encouraging, almost an embrace but like a good friend she also knows when to push and when to nudge. There are no excuses! And this makes for an even better creative ride.

Lyric Kinard's book Art + Quilt, Design Principles and Creativity Exercises is an absolute treasure. If you haven't added this book to your library already, here are a few reasons why you should.

Lyric's style is permissive and encouraging. She reminds us that we are all creative whether organizing our household or daring to embrace our own artistic selves, the basics are all within our grasp and ready to be shared with the world. Lyric breaks down the key aspects of art into 5 categories, Texture, Shape, Line, Color and Value and provides prompts to explore each idea.

Once these ideas are integrated into your repertoire, Lyric expands on these ideas by discussing some basic artistic principles; focal point, depth and space, motion and rhythm, to name just a few. She does all of this while peppering the text with ideas taken from major works of art, reminding you to place one foot in front of the next in order to become an artist in your own right, inspired by your very own experiences, armed with the basic concepts and ideas to keep you motivated, one piece of art at a time.

One of the best things about this book is the design game on pages 88 and 89. Just take your copy to a decent copy shop, ask them to print these two pages off onto card stock, cut them down to playing card size and play! Another great thing is that Interweave published this book with a perfect binding that conceals a spiral, this book will open and stay flat as you work your way through Lyric's exercises. It is a true workbook.

So. If you need to learn basic principles of design and composition or need a refresher course, this book will help you on your path, encourage and support your explorations and inspire you with the art contained on each page. And don't get me started on the quotes and essays by other artists!

You might consider purchasing a book directly from Lyric! She will sign in and (it seems) she will even tuck a little something special into it.

And as I said last week, Lyric and I will be making a postcard to give away at the end of the four week Check Her Out! spotlight. If you leave a comment on either of our Monday posts, you will be entered to win a postcard. Without knowing it Lyric and I sent one another a printed fabric featuring Gingko leaves! Please go check out the fabric I sent her! This is quite a coinkydink~

This is part of the Check Her Out! series. Today I review Lyric's book. We are both Interweave authors, and we originally met through our contributions to Quilting Arts TV. I have come to know Lyric as an individual and am in awe of what she applies herself to and how much she accomplishes. Her writing style is gentle, encouraging, almost an embrace but like a good friend she also knows when to push and when to nudge. There are no excuses! And this makes for an even better creative ride.

Lyric Kinard's book Art + Quilt, Design Principles and Creativity Exercises is an absolute treasure. If you haven't added this book to your library already, here are a few reasons why you should.

Lyric's style is permissive and encouraging. She reminds us that we are all creative whether organizing our household or daring to embrace our own artistic selves, the basics are all within our grasp and ready to be shared with the world. Lyric breaks down the key aspects of art into 5 categories, Texture, Shape, Line, Color and Value and provides prompts to explore each idea.

Once these ideas are integrated into your repertoire, Lyric expands on these ideas by discussing some basic artistic principles; focal point, depth and space, motion and rhythm, to name just a few. She does all of this while peppering the text with ideas taken from major works of art, reminding you to place one foot in front of the next in order to become an artist in your own right, inspired by your very own experiences, armed with the basic concepts and ideas to keep you motivated, one piece of art at a time.

One of the best things about this book is the design game on pages 88 and 89. Just take your copy to a decent copy shop, ask them to print these two pages off onto card stock, cut them down to playing card size and play! Another great thing is that Interweave published this book with a perfect binding that conceals a spiral, this book will open and stay flat as you work your way through Lyric's exercises. It is a true workbook.

So. If you need to learn basic principles of design and composition or need a refresher course, this book will help you on your path, encourage and support your explorations and inspire you with the art contained on each page. And don't get me started on the quotes and essays by other artists!

You might consider purchasing a book directly from Lyric! She will sign in and (it seems) she will even tuck a little something special into it.

And as I said last week, Lyric and I will be making a postcard to give away at the end of the four week Check Her Out! spotlight. If you leave a comment on either of our Monday posts, you will be entered to win a postcard. Without knowing it Lyric and I sent one another a printed fabric featuring Gingko leaves! Please go check out the fabric I sent her! This is quite a coinkydink~

Practice really does make perfect. I like reminding myself that art is a practice, artists practice art, in a continuum, one idea leads to the next. You question, seek answers and ask what if and why not. It doesn't just come to you, you have to ask it to come. I haven't begun to paint the Evening Grosbeak because I am unsure how to go about it. realistic, quilterly, playful, painterly?

I am unsure how to paint the bird, so I practice. I do not like my samples yet. I like the top most bird better than the bottom because the eye is not so round. Birds eyes are fairly round, but are affected by eyelids just like us. Their eyelids create a slight bit of squared off shape. The first trial painting captured this best (not sure the photo really captures this). It is these fine details that really affect the outcome of a piece.

I like the big photos I am able to use with this new blogging software. I wish I could get the Assets to work though. Oh well. Please excuse me while I spiff things up around here.

Practice really does make perfect. I like reminding myself that art is a practice, artists practice art, in a continuum, one idea leads to the next. You question, seek answers and ask what if and why not. It doesn't just come to you, you have to ask it to come. I haven't begun to paint the Evening Grosbeak because I am unsure how to go about it. realistic, quilterly, playful, painterly?

I am unsure how to paint the bird, so I practice. I do not like my samples yet. I like the top most bird better than the bottom because the eye is not so round. Birds eyes are fairly round, but are affected by eyelids just like us. Their eyelids create a slight bit of squared off shape. The first trial painting captured this best (not sure the photo really captures this). It is these fine details that really affect the outcome of a piece.

I like the big photos I am able to use with this new blogging software. I wish I could get the Assets to work though. Oh well. Please excuse me while I spiff things up around here.

Hello all. I am excited about my new approach in creating challenges related to my book, Inspired To Quilt. I am not going to talk you through the process, or teach it, rather I will show you how I work and reference the pertinent pages in the book.
I will have a few links to supplies here on the blog and ask you to upload photos of your samples to the Inspired to Quilt FanPage, where we can also start a discussion and talk among ourselves about technique and approach.

Bear with me as I figure out how to use all of the technology effectively. You may like to subscribe to the Inspired To Quilt youtube channel, they will update you each time I upload a video (not too often-you won't be bombarded)

Supplies you might use:
Faux painting rubber comb
Tsukineko Sponge Daubers
Advantus TAPE CLEANING SWABS

Hello all. I am excited about my new approach in creating challenges related to my book, Inspired To Quilt. I am not going to talk you through the process, or teach it, rather I will show you how I work and reference the pertinent pages in the book.
I will have a few links to supplies here on the blog and ask you to upload photos of your samples to the Inspired to Quilt FanPage, where we can also start a discussion and talk among ourselves about technique and approach.

Bear with me as I figure out how to use all of the technology effectively. You may like to subscribe to the Inspired To Quilt youtube channel, they will update you each time I upload a video (not too often-you won't be bombarded)

Supplies you might use:
Faux painting rubber comb
Tsukineko Sponge Daubers
Advantus TAPE CLEANING SWABS

I have gathered together a group of women whose work I admire and think will be an inspiration to you too. I am going to spotlight one artist for 4 Mondays in a row with Interviews, book reviews and more. I hope you enjoy the art and ideas that will be presented in these, 'Check Her Out!' Monday posts. In addition Lyric and I will be making a small work together, at the end of the 4 week spotlight everyone who has posted to any of the Monday posts will be entered to win. You must come back to see if you are the lucky winner.

The first time I met Lyric Kinard was on the set at Quilting Arts TV, and from the start I knew I would really like her. Lyric is honest, engaging and good. Last year we both taught and roomed together at Quilt Fest in Houston, I am happy to say I consider Lyric to be a friend, and that is a wonderful thing.

Lyrics' art is expressive, joyful and varies from photorealistic to abstract, she has a real sense of color and value. Lyric also has a great relationship to 'hand work', watching her sit and bead is a meditation in itself. And so, I would like to give you the chance to get to know Lyric through a question and answer session we've had.

Here you go:
Melly: What is your story, how did you become an artist? Was it something you wanted to do from a young age or did you take a more circuitous path?

Lyric: Circuitous. Surprising. I never imagined I'd be a visual artist. I wanted to be a musician. I did everything I could to be a musician right up to the point that I realized I wanted children and that symphony musicians were always gone when the kids were home. I have a degree in English Lit, took all the pre-reqs to get into graduate architecture, still spent most of my time in the music department. Then after college, when I chose to have children, I gave it all up. There were a few lost years there.

A friend introduced me to quilting and I learned the traditional skills. It was something creative I could do being interrupted every five minutes. It was the only thing I did all day that didn't need to be redone. When I saw my first art quilt it was a revelation. Who knew quilts could do that!? I took every class I could and learned any technique that I thought would help me express my vision.

Melly: Name a work of art you wish you had created, and tell us why?
Lyric: I wish I could remember its name but the piece is still haunting me. Life sized figure, barely showing until you stand farther away. It was a grey/white, torn strips of horizontal fabric... something about the mystery. It was like an impressionist painting - soft and brooding and full of light. Monet is one of my favorite artists but not for the lilies that other people adore. I like his cathedrals - and there was another winter scene - the values barely contrasting enough to be seen. I want to be able to express mystery and light that way.

Melly: What do you do when you are feeling creatively dull?
Lyric: Make jewelry. Go outside. Pull out my camera or play with digital editing. Go back through my sketchbooks. Take a nap.

Melly: I know that you have children and a husband, how do you also juggle being an artist and a teacher on top of that?
Lyric: One thing at a time. And these days when I'm doing one thing - something else is left undone. There are many times that the art is put aside because the family must be taken care of and I am at peace with that. What I do with my children now will be far more long lasting than any art I create, and far more important. There will be time to be productive in the studio later. When I had my fifth baby I took two years completely off - calling it my baby sabbatical. Now the children are on their feet and I'm able to spend more time in the studio. I teach because I love being with the students. I'm lucky to control my schedule and only take limited teaching engagements trying to balance it all.

Melly: What is your favorite part of teaching?
Lyric: Seeing the light come on in a students mind. To see that spark of joy when they realize that they have it within them to be creative - to be able to visually express themselves.

Melly: What are you working on right now?
Lyric: As always - discipline. I don't have a lot of studio time and yet I am terrible at forcing myself off the computer and to the cloth. Once I pick up the cloth it's difficult to tear myself away. It is a constant struggle to find the balance. The work I'm following right now is a series of whole cloth pieces mounted on stretched canvas. I love the layered imagery where dye is taken out of the cloth and color and image is added back.

Next week I an going to review her book, Art + Quilt: Design Principles and Creativity Exercises. I can already tell you that I think it is a great compositional and creative primer! Her writing style is really permissive and encouraging. So stay tuned.

I have gathered together a group of women whose work I admire and think will be an inspiration to you too. I am going to spotlight one artist for 4 Mondays in a row with Interviews, book reviews and more. I hope you enjoy the art and ideas that will be presented in these, 'Check Her Out!' Monday posts. In addition Lyric and I will be making a small work together, at the end of the 4 week spotlight everyone who has posted to any of the Monday posts will be entered to win. You must come back to see if you are the lucky winner.

The first time I met Lyric Kinard was on the set at Quilting Arts TV, and from the start I knew I would really like her. Lyric is honest, engaging and good. Last year we both taught and roomed together at Quilt Fest in Houston, I am happy to say I consider Lyric to be a friend, and that is a wonderful thing.

Lyrics' art is expressive, joyful and varies from photorealistic to abstract, she has a real sense of color and value. Lyric also has a great relationship to 'hand work', watching her sit and bead is a meditation in itself. And so, I would like to give you the chance to get to know Lyric through a question and answer session we've had.

Here you go:
Melly: What is your story, how did you become an artist? Was it something you wanted to do from a young age or did you take a more circuitous path?

Lyric: Circuitous. Surprising. I never imagined I'd be a visual artist. I wanted to be a musician. I did everything I could to be a musician right up to the point that I realized I wanted children and that symphony musicians were always gone when the kids were home. I have a degree in English Lit, took all the pre-reqs to get into graduate architecture, still spent most of my time in the music department. Then after college, when I chose to have children, I gave it all up. There were a few lost years there.

A friend introduced me to quilting and I learned the traditional skills. It was something creative I could do being interrupted every five minutes. It was the only thing I did all day that didn't need to be redone. When I saw my first art quilt it was a revelation. Who knew quilts could do that!? I took every class I could and learned any technique that I thought would help me express my vision.

Melly: Name a work of art you wish you had created, and tell us why?
Lyric: I wish I could remember its name but the piece is still haunting me. Life sized figure, barely showing until you stand farther away. It was a grey/white, torn strips of horizontal fabric... something about the mystery. It was like an impressionist painting - soft and brooding and full of light. Monet is one of my favorite artists but not for the lilies that other people adore. I like his cathedrals - and there was another winter scene - the values barely contrasting enough to be seen. I want to be able to express mystery and light that way.

Melly: What do you do when you are feeling creatively dull?
Lyric: Make jewelry. Go outside. Pull out my camera or play with digital editing. Go back through my sketchbooks. Take a nap.

Melly: I know that you have children and a husband, how do you also juggle being an artist and a teacher on top of that?
Lyric: One thing at a time. And these days when I'm doing one thing - something else is left undone. There are many times that the art is put aside because the family must be taken care of and I am at peace with that. What I do with my children now will be far more long lasting than any art I create, and far more important. There will be time to be productive in the studio later. When I had my fifth baby I took two years completely off - calling it my baby sabbatical. Now the children are on their feet and I'm able to spend more time in the studio. I teach because I love being with the students. I'm lucky to control my schedule and only take limited teaching engagements trying to balance it all.

Melly: What is your favorite part of teaching?
Lyric: Seeing the light come on in a students mind. To see that spark of joy when they realize that they have it within them to be creative - to be able to visually express themselves.

Melly: What are you working on right now?
Lyric: As always - discipline. I don't have a lot of studio time and yet I am terrible at forcing myself off the computer and to the cloth. Once I pick up the cloth it's difficult to tear myself away. It is a constant struggle to find the balance. The work I'm following right now is a series of whole cloth pieces mounted on stretched canvas. I love the layered imagery where dye is taken out of the cloth and color and image is added back.

Next week I an going to review her book, Art + Quilt: Design Principles and Creativity Exercises. I can already tell you that I think it is a great compositional and creative primer! Her writing style is really permissive and encouraging. So stay tuned.