Time time time - who has time....

Well -- nothing to add to the blog lately! Time is my enemy -- isn't all of ours. Between real work planning meetings and planning my wedding next month is taking all of my time. Or so it seems, logging reply cards, dress fittings, accessories, bridesmaids gifts, thank you cards, rehearsal dinner arrangements, seating arrangements, finalizing flowers, finalizing menues, etc. I know it's normal bride stuff. You'd think it's easier for me as I plan meetings for 1500 -20,000 persons every day! But...it's not as cut and dried when it's your wedding is it?

In the midst of this I'm getting mini brainstorms for more things to make and really wanting to sit down and do some sewing or designing or finishing or or or. Well you all know the drill!

Really I'm not truly stressed out. It's more about finding the time to satisfy everyone's demands on my time!

Ciao for now....

Well, the long and short of it is that while we've not exactly done any public relations on this blog - I'm always looking for something to post about! Life for those of us trying to fit time for art in with the myriad of regular life occurrences is complicated (okay yes major understatement). I recently found at the library a book from Rice Freeman-Zachary "Living the Creative LIfe: Ideas and inspirations from working artist" which I'm reading cover to cover. The insights and methodology they all share is inspiring and a little daunting. Of course there is time for all of the wonders of our art in our schedules, it's the percentage of time devoted to it that I struggle with.

I find that right now I'm stretched a bit thin (oh were that true) with my full-time job and it's demanding travel schedule (just returned from two weeks abroad in Australia and Thailand) and planning my wedding in late April. Yes too much to do but I can't stop thinking about the quilt I have in progress and my creativity journal keeps calling me -- so much that I'm going to have to start carrying it with me daily.

That seems to be a common topic among artists yet we crave this time in our schedules as is feeds our souls! I know it feeds mine significantly. More later... hopefully some time to work on stuff this week!....

Here's another item from my "works" that is something I always wanted to try -- the cathedral window pattern. It was quite a bit of hand sewing but overall not too bad and incremental! I did enjoy it and loved the effect.

I know you all can sympathize....real world day to day items keep us from more creating, sewing and enjoying our craft! I really want to get back to finishing the quilt pictured in my recent post. I'm headed out the door again on a business trip and also planning a wedding in April. DOn't we all need more hours in a day! The creation doesn't stop though. I'm constantly seeing things that inspire me that I have to jot down in my design journal. Well here's to 28 hour days!

Real job is my current obsession.... has to be. The mortgage just got paid! It sent me to San Diego for 18 days in January which isn't fun being away from home... but since I live in the Midwest which got dumped on with LOTS of snow..... it's not too bad at all to go out at lunch time (in my 10-15 min to do so) and sit or walk quickly through the sunshine. But I really want to get home and work on that quilt! Oh well..... it's off to work I go...... :)

Here's the photo I promised.... A vibrant start to 2009! I'm really liking this one with the more elegant pinwheels and the varying sizes. But the one thing that pops for me is the ORANGE with the tiffany blue accents. I've trimmed it but am leaving on a 2.5 week business trip (for the job that pays the bills) and won't have time to assemble the quilt.

Between the business trip, the holidays and social occasions ...and my fiance's weeklong headcold, I'm almost amazed I got this much done!

What Now!?

We're both voracious readers including all magazines and books on art quilts, knitting, crocheting, scrapbooking, and various crafting techniques. We're especially fond of Quilting ARts and Cloth Paper Scissors for the various techniques they include.

The reading has inspired us to try to set up easy to use and well laid out work spaces. Mine was the second bedroom until my fiance moved in and we've split the workspace in half -- imagine putting into storage and/or sorting through items to get rid of (will I ever really use that pile of 1" or shorter miscellaneous pieces of fabric and ribbon?).... It was painful to say the least but I've made it work somehow.

Sue has been using her dining room with a fabulous storage area in the 2nd bedroom. But the occupant of her house would like the spread contained so to speak... thus the basement studio is born! It's in the midst of being setup (those paying jobs get in the way of course). More on these later.... we're both trying to setup up some organized/innovative ways to keep it organized.

Welcome!

This our launch of a site where we will celebrate our designs, share our opportunities, ask for suggestions, and generally share with all of you our creative process and art. We've learned that it's a slow process yet very fulfilling to create art -- both display and wearable. Please stop by often....

Artwork to us is something that touches our hearts and souls --- and hopefully yours too. While our creations are original, we do also work on specific designs for clients – with a twist of course!

We’ve delved into a multitude of mediums including wool, velvet, linen, silk, cotton, paper, and use just about anything to embellish --- charms, toys, yarn, thread, paint, ink, paper and more.No color is left behind – even if we have to create it ourselves in the medium we want! But we do have our personal favorites as you may see in our work.

Susan Marie’s primary focus is handbags – one of a kind handbags to be specific. Knitted, felted, fabric, embellished, vintage, large, small, special event or every day….. all describe what Sue makes. Sue also makes fabulous and heirloom quality christening quilts!

Shari Lynn’s passion comes through in her quilts and wall hangings. Vintage and luxury fabrics are incorporated throughout. While vintage designs and traditional patterns have been her focus, a more modern approach has become her newest passion! Let’s not forget the crocheted micro handbags that Shari is adding to her line.