done!

Last night I spent hours chasing my tail in circles while agonizing over which three pieces I should enter in Art Quilt Element 2014.

Of course Voodoo picked this time to be a needy feline codger and kept jumping from my side table to my desktop with a side trip across the laptop every few minutes. I had the distinct impression I was keeping him from an online poker tournament.

 I had my choices by one in the morning, images in a folder on the desktop, ready to go at the crack of dawn after a good night's rest and hot cuppa joe. But first I had to go ten rounds with Comcast.  I won't fry your brain with the details but know that my conversation with the retention sales rep on 10/18 will be one for the books.

Being a little superstitious so here is one of the three contestants, a fan favorite,

Inspired by Grace's little black and white kids last season.

Los Dados Encantada

rewind, backtrack and unpick

My ability to focus has evaporated.

I've had to take the extreme measure of typing my AQE entry into a word doc from which I then cut and pasted the info into the live entry form. Web entry forms are nerve wracking on a good day.

This little piece of hand music was appliqued this past weekend during a frenzy of anxiety and will be unpicked if only because I don't want to be reminded of the emotions.

I need to find my reboot button.

Again, deepest gratitude to the friends who came through with the patches for my little art ark. We will keep bailing and paddling.

it's come to this

Whoa, my dear people.... you are all too kind. I am overwhelmed and my goal
has been met, entry fee and, the fates willing, shipping too!  A mere thank you seems not nearly enough.

Ok my friends, I've given up trying to figure out where any extra money could come from. I'd like to make the final deadline for Art Quilt Elements but the discretionary spending account has cobwebs in it. And baby spiders.

If you can help financially in the smallest way, it would be deeply appreciated.
Here's my PP address.

And if you have an opinion about which of my most recent works should have a shot at AQE, that would be most welcome too.  All of the Karma series are eligible and Cephalopod (center below)  is first on my list.

gratitude

There was no clean out or restocking because this UFO reminded me that all its piece parts are still in the river basket. It was a good day to remind my fingers what they are all about for a little while. No housework on Saturday is my new rule.

There was my goodmans good company,  bright sunshine, cool breezes through the house, and manicotti and meatballs baking in the oven (cooking is not housework).
 Did I mention a gift of pumpkin cupcakes iced with cream cheese frosting and an invite to work with gouache for the first time? Thanks Crystal.

Right now, there's a sage & citrus candle burning in the studio and the Braves on TV in a short while. Life is good and I am grateful.

the comfort of the grid

The intention was to use these small canvases from HL for mounting stitched pieces but there's been nothing from the needle and thread department lately. It's very quiet in the river grass basket which really needs a good seasonal clean out and restocking.

On whim I decided to see how the various water color crayons would take to the canvas.  Nicely, as it turned out. Intense, vibrant. I'll seal this one with a clear matte acrylic later today.

The grid has made me think about pulling the commercial prints out of the closet and maybe starting something blanket-ish. Whats being called these day a Modern Quilt.