OK, a New Year, with resolutions to be broken, but also a chance to fix all the broken parts of a body that has the spirit but not the stamina! So I got 2 more cortisone shots is each of my knees, an improvement over the last 2! I did weight myself but we are not going there there now! I finally got the abscessed tooth of 6 months removed today, pain, is all I can say after 2 hours of .....I don't want to know. Pills have helped but protective layer has already fallen out! I did catch up on a Material Girls Quilt Guild Inchies swap and now will catch up on television shows, maybe!
I am working on a 25 years of quilting quilt for the the Mat Girls quilt show in June, check my schedule. I donated those books to the last quilt show, anonymously, but unfortunately there were pictures of me, with clothes on, in one the them. Beware, check books to be donated before for names and pictures! I was skinner then, damn!
Currently working on the 25th anniversary of quilt with fabrics donated to me after I was no longer President of Material Girls Quilt Guild. Hard to do with all the different styles but I want to honor those who had faith in me then. I need to finish a Marcy Baker quilt, full size, for Jocelyn my 2nd grand daughter who loves purple and is my crazy haired purple princess! Next is her sister's, Elise, Karen Stone twin size quilt for the upgrades in their sleeping arrangements. 3 and 5 years old get bigger and so do their beds!
Holidays were great and so is the after holidays. I am getting all the body parts fixed and hoping that all have a great year and healthy too!
I am trying and so shoule you!
Jessica
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Life in the holidays
Well, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, some kind of slushy snow has landed. The quilt for a grand daughter hangs on a design wall in the kitchen waiting for me to stay home and design it. My sewing room is absolutely clean, why not, as I have not been in there at all! I pass through it on the way to ladies room but don't put the light on because I don't want to see the mouse traps with anything dead, dead or dead again in them!
My husband and I went to NYC to see the lights and the windows on 5th Avenue. A must at the holidays. They were worth the walk in the dreary, cold rain but the bright side to that is no people braving the elements with you. We did go to the theatre and saw a terrible play about Peter Pan and I don't have a clue what it was about as they all seem to mumble. I laughed along with the crowd with a confused smile all night! Many bags of Hersheys candy later, we appreciated the fact that all our family was great and OK. We must all embrace everyday and all, around us, always as recent events in Connecticut make us believe that everyday is precious.
Back to wrapping, what am I saying, start to wrap, must make cookies and decorate, must buy more and support the economy everywhere and must listen and sing holiday carols!
Fa lalalalalalalalalalalalalalalala
My husband and I went to NYC to see the lights and the windows on 5th Avenue. A must at the holidays. They were worth the walk in the dreary, cold rain but the bright side to that is no people braving the elements with you. We did go to the theatre and saw a terrible play about Peter Pan and I don't have a clue what it was about as they all seem to mumble. I laughed along with the crowd with a confused smile all night! Many bags of Hersheys candy later, we appreciated the fact that all our family was great and OK. We must all embrace everyday and all, around us, always as recent events in Connecticut make us believe that everyday is precious.
Back to wrapping, what am I saying, start to wrap, must make cookies and decorate, must buy more and support the economy everywhere and must listen and sing holiday carols!
Fa lalalalalalalalalalalalalalalala
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Blogs are meant to be written more often!
I love to write but I love to procrastinate so I procrastinate and don't write. Have you ever wondered why you wait to do the things you love? Thanksgiving Resolution, I never seem to last in New Years Resolutions, so I am changing the date. Make time to write my blog, thank you's, see my friends, update my Facebook page and figure out how to post pictures into this blog! In these, I don't procrastinate. I do make studio time to create, I do make time for my family and my quilt guilds, FAM and making the time to write should be easy. What will you do or stop doing?
My life is truly a Lifetime movie. Every week a new adventure. Yesterday a friend and I saw the biggest moose ever, with antlers and looping walk. The only other moose I have seen was also with her, although that one jumped in front of my car forcing me to come to a skidding halt. I do that a lot. I did a "Selvedge Queen" talk to the Proper Bostonians Quilt Guild in West Roxbury last month and I stopped to ask directions to the correct building, as there were many unmarked in this area with the same name, from 2 ladies standing in front of a building and they told me I had arrived. It was pouring rain and I said I had traveled for 2 hours and when asked where I came from I mentioned my small town, that no one ever knows, and the woman replied, she was from there too, lived only a few miles from my camp. How can this be? She was visiting her sister and decided to come to the meeting! Small world.
I went to a couple of Quilt Getaways a few weeks back, one,14 miles from my home. If you really want to be creative and actually create, you need to go to a Getaway. Friends, inspiration, projects, UFO's and dancing is sparkle boots, that was me, are all part of the adventure. Here, there is no procrastination as people, when finished a project, hang them on design walls behind them, and if there is nothing behind you and you begin to get motivated.
The biggest thing that happened this month is while attending A Quilters Gathering Quilt show in Manchester, NH, during Saturday nights pajama party I was introduced the 25th Anniversary Wearables Fashion Coordinator and commentator. This is BIG!!!! While dressed in my election wear PJ's with "Patriot, Revolutionary War, "boytoy" and stars bottoms and Patriots, current, blanket and pirate hat made with stuffed boy toy dolls carrying flags I reminded all to vote as this was there right but also a privilege to do, even though the outcome may not be your choice you did choose to direct the vote a certain way by your vote. When I was Selectman in my town people, especially after a Town Meeting, taxpayers would accost me and say I spent all their money. The first question I asked was "Are you a registered voter?" Then, I asked if they came to the meeting. If they answered NO to both, well, they went away knowing that I did not spend their money but a collective group of concerned voters did. You must Choose to be heard, as this is how elections are done and money is spent. What the outcome is depends on the voter who came and was heard and sometimes these are the ones with issues if they don't want something or really want an article passed. Be heard and vote.
I also took a class and lecture with Kaffe Fasset. What an inspiring man and his books are so full of patterns and ideas and ways to be a creative. Although our quilting techniques are different we are all artists and appreciate the differences in each other. Kindred souls.
I was asked to make costumes for FAM, Fitchburg Art Museum, to make the paintings on the walls come to life for our Director of 39 years Retirement party. There were actors acting out the pictures, wearing my creations, and, what a night! Chili contest, he was called through Skpe by his son in Afganistan, whose birthday was the same night. So moving and surrounded by friends and people who love the museum it was a great wish you well kind of evening.
Today I took a class with Jane Davila, look her up! She brought so many old and new techniques that my pocketbook is empty but my creativity will go forward, maybe differently. So many new products, so many things you can manipulate and change and enhance and evolve to new things. Lots of sample and many ideas. I needed to come outside my box and this will help! Most people think I am way out there, out of normal range but define norm. I love that line from Wicked, the Musical! You can never rest on what you have done because there is so much more that is in you, so let it out!
So now I am taking out from Christmas tree. My 1st Blog was about the adventure I had last year with doing that, me and the rodent! This year, will be different, maybe.................
Until.......the next time......jessica
My life is truly a Lifetime movie. Every week a new adventure. Yesterday a friend and I saw the biggest moose ever, with antlers and looping walk. The only other moose I have seen was also with her, although that one jumped in front of my car forcing me to come to a skidding halt. I do that a lot. I did a "Selvedge Queen" talk to the Proper Bostonians Quilt Guild in West Roxbury last month and I stopped to ask directions to the correct building, as there were many unmarked in this area with the same name, from 2 ladies standing in front of a building and they told me I had arrived. It was pouring rain and I said I had traveled for 2 hours and when asked where I came from I mentioned my small town, that no one ever knows, and the woman replied, she was from there too, lived only a few miles from my camp. How can this be? She was visiting her sister and decided to come to the meeting! Small world.
I went to a couple of Quilt Getaways a few weeks back, one,14 miles from my home. If you really want to be creative and actually create, you need to go to a Getaway. Friends, inspiration, projects, UFO's and dancing is sparkle boots, that was me, are all part of the adventure. Here, there is no procrastination as people, when finished a project, hang them on design walls behind them, and if there is nothing behind you and you begin to get motivated.
The biggest thing that happened this month is while attending A Quilters Gathering Quilt show in Manchester, NH, during Saturday nights pajama party I was introduced the 25th Anniversary Wearables Fashion Coordinator and commentator. This is BIG!!!! While dressed in my election wear PJ's with "Patriot, Revolutionary War, "boytoy" and stars bottoms and Patriots, current, blanket and pirate hat made with stuffed boy toy dolls carrying flags I reminded all to vote as this was there right but also a privilege to do, even though the outcome may not be your choice you did choose to direct the vote a certain way by your vote. When I was Selectman in my town people, especially after a Town Meeting, taxpayers would accost me and say I spent all their money. The first question I asked was "Are you a registered voter?" Then, I asked if they came to the meeting. If they answered NO to both, well, they went away knowing that I did not spend their money but a collective group of concerned voters did. You must Choose to be heard, as this is how elections are done and money is spent. What the outcome is depends on the voter who came and was heard and sometimes these are the ones with issues if they don't want something or really want an article passed. Be heard and vote.
I also took a class and lecture with Kaffe Fasset. What an inspiring man and his books are so full of patterns and ideas and ways to be a creative. Although our quilting techniques are different we are all artists and appreciate the differences in each other. Kindred souls.
I was asked to make costumes for FAM, Fitchburg Art Museum, to make the paintings on the walls come to life for our Director of 39 years Retirement party. There were actors acting out the pictures, wearing my creations, and, what a night! Chili contest, he was called through Skpe by his son in Afganistan, whose birthday was the same night. So moving and surrounded by friends and people who love the museum it was a great wish you well kind of evening.
Today I took a class with Jane Davila, look her up! She brought so many old and new techniques that my pocketbook is empty but my creativity will go forward, maybe differently. So many new products, so many things you can manipulate and change and enhance and evolve to new things. Lots of sample and many ideas. I needed to come outside my box and this will help! Most people think I am way out there, out of normal range but define norm. I love that line from Wicked, the Musical! You can never rest on what you have done because there is so much more that is in you, so let it out!
So now I am taking out from Christmas tree. My 1st Blog was about the adventure I had last year with doing that, me and the rodent! This year, will be different, maybe.................
Until.......the next time......jessica
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| "Go Vote" A Quilters Gathering 2012 |
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| Revolutionary War "Boytoy" Alexander Henry fabric Election hat! |
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| I just supplied the mummy wraps and missing is Hosea! |
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| Costumes for FAM 2012 |
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| Greek Soldier |
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| Creative and muse |
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| Sarah Clayton and Sarah Clayton |
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| I made the "breasts" on this African aging fertility mother 2012 |
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| Director and me at party |
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| Porcelain teapot |
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| Challenge to create a quilt that is me, scary, like me! with storybook of Selvedge Queen |
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| 2500 yards of fabric from Trunk Show 2012 |
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| Garments old and new 2012 |
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| Trunk Show 2012 |
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| I get around and visit! |
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| Eleanor Norcross, founder of FAM, painting and actress made or recycled bridesmaid dresses! |
Friday, July 20, 2012
A story sometimes creates a story
Stories have a way of creating a story. Take last years bummer summer. I got launched off my boat, broke my wrist on my right hand, had surgery, broke my pinkie finger on my left hand, still hurts and had a black eye for 6 weeks! which led to my husband, hanging himself up in a hemlock after cutting sections of it down, with me, 3 weeks after my surgery, cutting the rope which dangled from my husbands wrist with a 5' section of the tree attached, heavy, getting hit by the section of the tree, which flipped me behind the ladder, both of us hanging by our limbs! Now it is fodder for my Selvedge Queen talk that has been very rewarding and I get paid to talk about myself for 1 Hour!!?
Now, I talk about past stories of my ever evolving life and one includes a story about a talk while talking about one of my stories. Whew! I did a talk and a lady in the front took offense to everyone laughing at my garments during my Runway Show. She came onto the podium, told the audience they were rude and to take me seriously. The problem was I am a comedic quilter and the coat the model was wearing had a tail on it! How serious is that? Not! Then she took the wireless microphone, clipped it to my shirt, picked up my Selvedge Queen vest and grabbed my pants elastic waistband and shoved the mics battery down my pants and then sat down. I had a quilt in my hands, a very silent audience that needed to laugh for me to be successful, so I opened the quilt. It was a Challenge that Material Girls Quilt Guild had sponsored over the summer where we had to use the first 3 letters of our name, Jessica, so JES. I did not want to even talk about this quilt after what had just happened and did not want to alienate the group but JES stands for, "Just Everyone Shutup"! You can imagine my thoughts and the never ending shock on the faces in front of me as I stood on the raised platform and then one brave women in the front asked, "DID you 2 coordinate this?". Shocked, I said no but it was bad timing already having that quilt in my hands but the group rallied on and were a great sport!
A story that creates a story. Isn't that what we should try to show in our quilts. A lot of my talk to groups is about imagining what you could do and just do it, personal experience shows in every quilt we create, garment or accessory we create. It delivers a piece yourself every time you show it! That's the best part of sewing as I can show people, yet keep something of myself behind.
Please think of me when booking your events. I will be adding another lecture, a Slide Presentation as my children have bought me a projector. Also I will be adding a Power Point Presentation for those places that are computer compatible.
No more bummer summer and hope your is great!
Cruising
Jessica
Now, I talk about past stories of my ever evolving life and one includes a story about a talk while talking about one of my stories. Whew! I did a talk and a lady in the front took offense to everyone laughing at my garments during my Runway Show. She came onto the podium, told the audience they were rude and to take me seriously. The problem was I am a comedic quilter and the coat the model was wearing had a tail on it! How serious is that? Not! Then she took the wireless microphone, clipped it to my shirt, picked up my Selvedge Queen vest and grabbed my pants elastic waistband and shoved the mics battery down my pants and then sat down. I had a quilt in my hands, a very silent audience that needed to laugh for me to be successful, so I opened the quilt. It was a Challenge that Material Girls Quilt Guild had sponsored over the summer where we had to use the first 3 letters of our name, Jessica, so JES. I did not want to even talk about this quilt after what had just happened and did not want to alienate the group but JES stands for, "Just Everyone Shutup"! You can imagine my thoughts and the never ending shock on the faces in front of me as I stood on the raised platform and then one brave women in the front asked, "DID you 2 coordinate this?". Shocked, I said no but it was bad timing already having that quilt in my hands but the group rallied on and were a great sport!
A story that creates a story. Isn't that what we should try to show in our quilts. A lot of my talk to groups is about imagining what you could do and just do it, personal experience shows in every quilt we create, garment or accessory we create. It delivers a piece yourself every time you show it! That's the best part of sewing as I can show people, yet keep something of myself behind.
Please think of me when booking your events. I will be adding another lecture, a Slide Presentation as my children have bought me a projector. Also I will be adding a Power Point Presentation for those places that are computer compatible.
No more bummer summer and hope your is great!
Cruising
Jessica
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