Working on blog layout today.........

Sorry about any strange things happening :)

Yesterday I brought my new machine back (it had a cracked hande) and got a new one. The new one is now sitting in place of the old one in the sewing table my Father-in-law made just for me 20+ years ago. Norm only had to shave off a little on the wood free arm insert thing and make the hole bigger for hte electrical cord.
So, once in place, I sat down and tried it out................nice! It is not complicated (I like that in a machine - it doesn't talk back.)  Nice even stitching and I am just plain happy with it.
I started realy cleaning up the old one, mainly the accessories case, and foor pedal, things like that. Maybe tomorrow I will post it on Sew It's For Sale Yahoo group. I'll try there first, rather than E-Bay.

I really would like to make something...........a new handbag? Maybe a top? How about a machine cover - the one that comes with it has NO personality - I like that, a machine cover it is :)

What did I do yesterday?

After the jury thing and thinking about it a bit, I decided to go get another bobbin case.
I bought a new machine instead.  Bernina 1008 - nothing fancy, but very much like the old machine, except better.
I figured if the bobbin case didn't do it, then I was back where I began. I had been looking for another machine for about a year and never really getting brave enough to buy one. I also had just reminded a friend that if she didn't get her new car, then it would be on her gravestone.............she wanted one, but never got it.....or something like that, you get my drift?
So, I listened to myself and bought a new machine! TA! DA!
Now I need an embroidery foot as this one doesn't come with one, but that's fine too. Later I will go get one..............and the story continues :)

The day after my fabric/stitchery jury... and NEW work

So, went to my jury - they took a long time looking and talking about my work. I have been deferred until next jury in order to produce more work with a few improvements, mainly sewing tension and presentation of work. They really thought the frames overpowered the work.
Ok, so now I pick up my ego, dust it off and move onto more work before surgery next week.

I am introducing my Silk Vessels today! These are fun to make and has all the best involved: dyeing, sewing, shaping. Once shaped, I use a fabric stiffener/hardener and then - Voila!
You can see them on my Silk Vessel page. I have also changed the name of my Gallery page to Stitched Stories.........which each piece really is :)

Jury Day!

All is in readiness. I just finished photographing the finished pieces and posting them on my gallery page.I have a few more photos to put up of something else, but that will be tomorrow morning.

I have one scarf that just won't cooperate and I have overdyed it twice and it just won't! (scratches head has puzzled look on face.) I may never figure it out, but I am planning on just stamping and printing on it now, not really what I intended, but I'm sure it will be fine :)

Nervous? Not yet.

Just dying today!

I have some scarves that need color. These are the last things I need to do for my jury on Monday.
I will post some results later today or tomorrow, but I am looking forward to playing around........hoping they come out like I want :)

This one is ready to fly!

Blue Bird, process shot

So, after a bit of procrastination and a small argument with my sewing machine, I finally finished the Blue Bird. He still has his basting, but I usually put the piece on the wall and take a photo so that I can see on the computer what the camera sees. It's pretty amazing how differently we vs. the camera sees things.
I came to the conclusion that this one is done.
Now I start framing/hanging the pieces in readiness to show Monday afternoon. They actually don't hang, just have to be ready to hang = finished work.

To those of you that don't know how an art jury works, I will run you through the process...............
(This pertains to my upcoming jury.)
First off, you have to apply to the organization for whatever you want to jury. This application is like any other application, ie: requires statements from you, photos of your work, things like that.
Then you are contacted by the Chairman of Jury. A date and time is set for you to come into the headquarters.
Once you arrive, you tell the receptionist that you are here. All this is easy, right? So while you wait, you get to admire the latest exhibit.
The Jury Chairman comes to get you and escorts you to the jury room. You are introduced to your jurors and present you work. You discuss your work with the jurors. Then the hard part..........you are asked to leave while your work is discussed and decided upon.
You are then asked to return to the jury room. Your work is then discussed with you and the decision is presented to you. (conditionally accepted, deferred, or rejected) All work is subjected to a set of standards for that particular medium. These standards are a guideline for the jurors and for you to go by.
Some work is more emotional than other work. By that I mean, I have more of "me" in my fabric work than I do in my other work. I express myself openly and freely with fabric and really enjoy it.
So, now you see where the scarry part comes in........opening oneself to criticism and judgement.
I have a lot of confidence in my work, but that fails me when I am up against a situation like this.
I will take heart though..........one of my pieces sold as soon as it was seen by another artist I know and respect.........so it must be pretty good :)

Feeling the pressure!

One week from today I have my fabric jury. I am pretty much finished (only one piece to quilt) and then some assembly of hanging arrangements. BUT I am at the "am I good enough stage." I really hate that stage..............I seriously doubt my abilities and do realize that every artist goes through this at some point. Sometimes more than once.
So I will fall back on reading exerpts from "The Artist's Way Every Day: A Year of Creative Living."

>February 14th
As artists we often speak of our creations as our "brainchildren," but we forget that our ideas and dreams impregnate us. We are inhabited by a larger life than we know. As we doubt our own identity, that identity is still guiding us still nudging us to our rightful path. We may doubt our creative viability but, like children who will be born, our dreams and desires nudge us forward. Something larger and finer than we know calls us to be larger and finer than we dare. So we act on faith, descend into doubt, and watch in amazement as our dreams carry us forward with a knowing of their own. Sometimes our dreams feel born despite us.<

Even though this is helpful, it still does not banish those  nasty thoughts of self doubt.
Enough said for today...........I really should do some work :)