An Artful Life

New Website

I have co-created a new website with Intuit over the last few weeks.  You can check it out at www.lauriebrainerd.com.

 

 

1 of 500 Art Quilts

 
  
I just found out that my quilt, Now, was accepted and will be published in the book 500 Art Quilts.  Karey Patterson Bresenhan, of Quilt, Inc., was the juror of over 2000 art quilts that were submitted.  This book will be available in bookstores and Amazon in the spring of 2010.

I remember doing a visualization when I popped the application in the mail.  I saw myself at a Border's or Barnes and Nobel in the quilting section and opening the book to see my quilt in print.  In another 6 months, I imagine I will be doing just that!

Coming Full Circle

My studio search ended yesterday, right where it began. 

Several months ago, a friend and potential studiomate land I looked at the space that I eventually rented.  At that time there were several factors that made it an unattractive choice--too many stairs for potential students, door not sealed off enough for air-conditioning, purchase of air-conditioner immenent due to severe heat, and that basic gut feeling that this wasn't it, even though the price divided in half seemed fairly comfortable.

Then a couple of months ago, after hearing about it from different sources three times, I found a different space that I quickly shared with my potential studiomate.  In this other multi-artist facility, there were several offerings and one that we both liked the best.  It was huge.  We both would have had about 500 sq. ft to work with.

We moved to stage two--signing the lease.  At the point of signing on the dotted line, my potential studiomate didn't feel comfortable with the agreement, so we backed out.  The price was a little more for this one than the last one, but I could still swallow it. 

At this point, I had given up close attachment to finding a studio.  I have a small studio in my home.  It works.  If I'm going to pay money for a space, it has to offer me more than my home studio.  I had put a lot of energy and intention into the search.  I felt that it will either show up or it won't. There wasn't much to do other than wait and keep an eye on craiglist.  I had already "put the word out."

Another month goes by and I was offered another space in the second facility in which I would have a very near neighbor.  We were introduced and we thought we would be compatible near neighbors--as our leasing would be separate.  This space was much smaller, but a little more affordable.  So, I moved to the next stage--signing on the dotted line.  At this point, the lessor didn't want to sign on those dots.   While it had been previously discussed and liability insurance had been agreed to, the lessor wasn't comfortable with my secondary use of the space, teaching small art quilting classes that use sewing machines.

So, now I had pretty much given up on the idea altogether, even though I still checked craiglist regularly.  But I have also realized that where I want to teach ultimately is at Southwest School of Art and Craft.  But I feel the need to teach myself how to teach, so I will have offerings elsewhere as I gain experience.

Apparently, I wasn't going to be able to ignore this growth opportunity.  With the August rains came water down my studio wall!  I had to remove half of my things which cluttered up my apartment and made my studio unfunctional.  My energy during the last several months hasn't been great, but now I was finding myself having to work hard to not get depressed.

Then I was then blessed with a workshop weekend.  I got to study color with Maggie Maggio Friday and Saturday.  And on Sunday, I attended a workshop about our relationship with money with Susan Vittner.  I guess I got the little abundance boost that I needed.  I envisioned what the perfect studio would look like and how it would feel. 

After that, I saw another ad on craiglsist for the first facility.  The way it was worded made me think it was a different spot.  I called and made an appointment.  I brought my checkbook intending to make a deal and for it be easy.  I was tired of it being hard.

It wasn't a different space, it was the same one.  It is big enough, has tons of storage, has good light, and is in a building with other artists.  In the season, not-Summer, I can walk along the Riverwalk to get there or take a 4.5 minute bus ride.  There is a sink to clean brushes and dump dye bath--that I never saw before!  And even though the rent, by myself, is my whole monthly allowance, I continue to see myself with money to spend.

I left the meeting with keys and free rent until October.  Today I emailed the rental application and signed lease.  It was as easy as I had intended.

My husband, Chuck, has been extremely supportive about my getting an outside studio.  He said that I was a rocketship ready for take-off; I just needed a launch pad. 

Well, I now have that launch pad and my energy has soared!

Imagination

 

This is my latest word quilt.  I make the letters to spell the word, but then use the letters as shapes as I put the pieces together.  In this piece, I used Skydyes hand-painted fabric that I had purchased at the SAQA conference in Athens last month.

SAQA, Studio Art Quilt Associates, is an awesome organization that promotes the medium of art quilting.  Imagination is going off into the mail today to be included in their annual auction of 12" x 12" quilts.  The auction starts September 10 and you can see what they have collected so far, here.

Some of other word quilts are listed on this blog.  If you would like a quilt of your special word, please let me know. 

New Design Wall

 

I know a design wall isn't glamorous, but this is the first time I've had a design wall that is fully functional.  The best example of one that I have seen was at Karey Bresenhan's ranch where Artists in Residence get to work. 

My wall is made with Dow Styrofoam R3 Insulation - Residential Sheathing.  It is a light blue color and comes in 4' x 8' x 1/2" sheets.  Mine was cut to fit my wall. 

I covered the insulation with cotton batting that I adhered with spray adhesive.  Make sure that you remove the film from the insulation first.  After ironing the batting, I sprayed a band of adhesive about a foot or a little more wide.  Then I smoothed the batting over that portion.  I pulled it back to where it had adhered and did the next band.  That really seemed to keep  the large piece of batting manageable.  I started in the middle and then worked outwards on both sides.  Afterward, I turned it over and sprayed the edges down on the backside.

To hold it against the wall, I made rails to wedge the wall into.  There is a 1/2" piece to match the width of the insulation and a 1/4" x 1 1/2" piece to hold it in place.  I glued these two pieces prior to drilling the holes for screws. 

The edges needed a little extra so, I cut a small piece of out of the batting and popped a screw in on each side edge.

All in all, a happy project done.  Thank you, Chuck, for being my second set of hands.

Tales from a Truck Driver

 

On my recent return trip from Athens, Ohio, on the greyhound, I had the opportunity to eavesdrop on a very long conversation between a career truck driver and a soon-to-be truck driver.  It was really fascinating to hear all of the advice that the senior truck-driver had to offer.  Advice ranging from what kind of truck to get, how to pay for it, how many miles it should have on it, how to merge lanes, how to find out about truck restrictions on the highways, to what to order at the truck stops.  Apparently, hot dogs are ok, but stay far away from the breakfast burritos.

But the most powerful thing that I heard this man share was how you get to choose the life that you want.  He chooses to have one good meal a day and to exercise.  He gave the details of how and where he fits the exercise in.  He says you don't have to get fat just because you sit on your butt all day.  He gets to decide what kind of life he has, not anyone else. 

I'm really paraphrasing here, but he also chooses to be happy.  You don't have to be all negative and complaining like a lot of truck drivers out there.  He avoids talking about religion, politics and his personal finances.  His advice was endless for this young man who wanted to be a truck driver.  It was all given very patiently, without ego, and with endless generosity.

Clearly, this truck driver lives in an abundant world where there is plenty for everyone.  And his knowledge wasn't something to be saved up, but rather, shared with anyone wanting to listen. 

I went to the SAQA conference with two intentions.  One was to discover what my next step is professionally, and the other was to find a new role model.  Who knew that I would find him on the bus.

Election Results

 

As President Obama's 100 days comes to a close, I think that there are more Americans feeling more hopeful, despite the shrinking economy and job losses and events happening that we never would have imagined.  There is a feeling that with all of these huge changes, our country will head in a new and better direction.  A direction of sustainability, truth and abundance instead of making money at everyone's and anyone's expense, lies, and fear.

This quilt kept me busy during the stressful time before my move from Blue Star to the Exchange Building downtown in December, January, and February.  I could feel the hope in the air as if it were a tangible, tactile thing.  Clearly, other people were feeling the same thing as Hope became the call letters for Obama's campaign.

Election Results, as this quilt is named, will be displayed over Memorial Day weekend at the Texas State Capitol in Austin, TX from 10 am - 5 pm each day--May 23 - 25, 2009. 

The Magic Corner

  

The Magic Corner is alive and well in the lobby of the Exchange Building in downtown San Antonio.  This picture is my latest score from some generous soul somewhere in my building.  Who can't use more extra virgin olive oil?  And I recouped a French Press that I had previously let go, not understanding its full value.

Since we have moved into the building, I have gotten cologne and a beautiful mirror for Chuck, and a whole slew of baking dishes for me.  I passed on the pie plate knowing that I would never, ever make a pie.

My first experience with the Magic Corner was when we lived on the corner of Allensworth and N. New Braunfels in Manchke Park, San Antonio.  That was the home where we liberated ourselves of too much stuff.  Plenty of stuff got sold and given away to friends, but a whole lot of stuff got placed on the curb--where it magically disappeared.  We were even able to get rid of an all-in-one kitchen stove- sink-fridge-cupboard unit that didn't work!  I put a note on it that said what was wrong with it, and poof!  It disappeared.

I can't say enough about how much I love the idea of passing on--with ease--stuff that is no longer wanted or needed.  And it is pretty cool being on the receiving end, too!

Awesome Guy seeks Awesome Gal!

It was exactly 10 years ago today that I saw these headlines when I was scoping out personal ads on the Internet.  I had moved back to Wisconsin after living in Florida for 9 years.  And while I had intended to move to NYC, the Universe apparently had other plans.  Every door I knocked on was closed; every lead I had dried up.  Getting to NYC just seemed like swimming up a swift river. 

On the contrary, every magazine that I opened seemed to have an article about Austin, TX being on this Top 10 list and that Top 10 list as a great place to live.  In November 1998, my mom and I vacationed in Austin and surrounding areas of Texas.  It was so green and vibrant, I made a change of plans and picked a new landing pad for these restless feet.  I even opened a bank account in preparation of the big move.  The niece of an Eau Claire antiques dealer checked out the apartment I picked out online.  Everything seemed to be falling into place, like a hot knife through butter.

My departure date was dependent upon when I was able to finish setting up the accounting systems for my brother's first business.  I thought I could get it done by the end of February and made the arrangements based on that date.  I finished at the end of January, so I found myself with a lot of time on my hands in February.  I had consciously not dated while I was in Wisconsin, because I didn't want to get stuck there.  I had sold my beautiful purple pick-up truck because I wanted to live carless in NYC.  So, I only looked at ads in Austin proper, so that I could find my way on the bus from my strategically located apartment in Central Austin.

I saw a lot of ads that I would have responded to in the past, but I passed over to find something that had a little zing to it.  And then on February 14, 1999, I saw this amazing ad that completely knocked my socks off:

Awesome Guy seeks Awesome Gal!

I'm a 37 year old white guy who's looking for the right person to share the best years of my life with!  I'm a pretty dynamic kinda fellow who has all sorts of interests--I'm learning to fly a plane, I'm a professional actor, a software engineer, a world traveler, a poet of sorts, and the list keeps growing.

There's one very important thing I want to add to that:  A great lover!  What's missing?  You!

Who are you?  You're someone who is intelligent, with a sense of humor (very important), and the strength of character that allows you to set your own rules for you life.  I seek a fellow traveler in this strange journey called life, one who is vibrant and cheerful, and unafraid of the ridiculous.

I am a very passionate and loving man, and above all, seek a woman who is similarly passionate.  I am completely open-minded and unafraid of new frontiers in whatever I do.

Lessee.  Some physical details.  I'm 6' tall, dark hair and eyes, barrel-chested, and I'm currently sporting a devil-may-care goatee (although that comes and goes depending on roles I play as an actor).

Here's a little history.  A year ago, I weighed in at 275 lbs.  I was a computer geek, couch-potato, and it showed:  not only in my appearance, but my lifestyle.  I had no girlfriend, stayed at home all the time, and played video games on the computer.

Finally, I got sick of that, and began to make some changes.  since then, I've lost 60 lbs., began flight training, spent five weeks in Europe, and committed myself to running in a marathon by the end of 1999!  But I don't have a girlfriend, which is why I'm advertising.

This is a really exciting time in my life, and I'm looking forward to what the future has in store for me, most particularly in the prospect of finding the mate that I really want.

So, like this site says with each ad:  "I dare ya!"  Be awesome, and write back!

(Austin, Texas, United-States)

Who could not fall in love with someone who wrote that?  Well, I went to respond, and I quickly learned that you had to be a member of the match site in order to respond.  I had made it a rule to not pay for ads because there were so many free ones out there.  But I made an exception, and paid $14.95 to become a member for one month.  I spent a couple of hours writing a response and sent it off. 

And then I waited.  Waited some more.  And finally gave up from hearing from this guy.  After 10 days of disbelief, I got an incredible response to my letter.  Chuck had created a separate email for his personal ad.  And after looking at an empty mailbox since November and feeling rejected each time, he looked at it less frequently.  And then to his surprise there was a single response.  He traveled af lot for business back then, and it took him a few days to draft a response.

By this point, I was pulling the plug on my Internet connection as I moved across country.  I told him that I would email him when I got a new email address in Austin.  And I did.  I also gave him my phone number, which is something I hardly ever did because I hate sitting by the phone waiting for some guy to call.  Well, he said he would call on the weekend.  After sitting around the apartment all day Saturday, knowing deep down inside that he wouldn't call then, and a half a day on Sunday, I decided to go out.  Of course, that is when he called. 

After chatting for a few minutes, I told him I would call him back after my outing.  When I returned, we talked for about 20 minutes and then made plans to meet that same day for coffee.   Coffee led to dinner.  Dinner led to Chuck asking me if he could kiss me goodnight.  Of course, I said yes.

I met Caliban, Chuck's dog, on our date the next night.  I met Chuck's friend Chris on our Tuesday night date while we watched a low-budget independent film that Chuck co-starred in at a bar in downtown Austin. 

We both felt things were moving really fast, so we took Wednesday night off.

We made up for it Thursday.  Friday, I met a half dozen more friends while we attended a concert.  And by Saturday, I had met the rest at his friend's Marty's chili party.  Chuck was asked if I was "Plans."  My sweet Chuck is somewhat shy, and when his friends asked him to do stuff, he said that he couldn't because he already had plans.

Two weeks into this courtship, the "M" word came up in conversation.  Four weeks after after we met, Chuck proposed to me.  A year later, and after we had re-located to San Antonio, we got married.

A few months after we met, we had a dinner party with our friends, Marty and Linda.  Linda asked Chuck what he loved about me.  Being taken off-guard and not knowing what kind of amunition he was supplying me, he replied, "She's so organized." 

Well, I've been organizing my life with Chuck for ten wonderful years. 

Happy Valentine's Day, Love-Love.

What Comes First the Chicken or the Egg?

Or in my case, the itchy feet or the repaired bass speaker in the bar below us.  The speaker is our legitimate reason for moving this time.  And I have finally stopped feeling angry about the unfairness of having to pay to leave and have stopped feeling the frustration of not being able to affect a positive resolution.  And the truth is, I have a serious case of itchy feet.  I was able to talk my head out of the idea of moving, but apparently, not my co-creative energy. 

The first year of our lease at Blue Star was wonderful.  Through the creation of Fiber Artspace, I learned about the marketing, presentation, speaking about, selling of art.  I created my own internship.  Another voidthat Fiber Artspace filled was social.  Being an artist is fairly isolating.  I was feeling pretty lonely when I returned to San Antonio, and thought I might have to get a job to relieve my need to be around people occasionally.  Meeting with artists, hanging exhibits, and gallery sitting have saved me from employment.

Through Fiber Artspace, I had created an environment where I was washed in creative energy--every month being surrounded by art from a different artist.  I have made a lot of friends because of the gallery.  Internally, I became a validated artist, while living here.  Externally, I have sold my artwork because of the Space.

And then at some point, it seemed that it got harder to compact my studio.  It had doubled in size since I opened.  And the marketing, with its deadlines, seemed to take precedence over my own art.  And I started feeling squeezed.  I loved helping the artists that I had into my space and I felt that I needed to go deeper into my own art.  Running a gallery, with commitments to other artists, isn't something that you can just turn off at the flick of a switch.  I had commitments through the end of my lease in July 2009.

And then a miracle happened.  The bass speaker got fixed downstairs, pretty much right after we signed our new lease.  We are really only bothered by it when we try and sleep.  Our earplugs block all of the noises in the area, but not the vibration of the bass that runs into our bed and into our heads! 

And then another gallery at Blue Star subdivided his space into 6 micro-galleries.  There was one left.  The rent is $400 per month and that seemed more risk than Icould take on by myself.  But then the idea exploded into my head, that I could share Fiber Artspace with three other people.  Then I would only be on the hook for $100.  That seemed doable.  And I would have help running the gallery!  And my partners would get in on the magic that I have felt this last year and a half.

While I wasn't able to make a decision to move out of a distracting environment for my art, I was able to make it for my sleep.  We move into our new apartment in less than 4 weeks.  And the next adventure of diving deeper begins.

Growing Up

  

As I prepare to quilt my Obama quilt, I realize all of the care that I now take to better ensure my success.   These are habits that definitely weren't there in my early days. 

For one thing, I now back-track when I have to.  I don't like to, but I know that if I don't, I won't like the piece as much.  I repieced a tiny bit of green where there was a tiny bit of blue showing on the underside of the P.  I moved part of the H over an 1/8 of an inch and squished the O a bit.  I also ripped out more than one seam while putting the blocks together.

When I'm doing really putzy work like laying out these diamonds, I do it in the morning when I have extra patience.  That also goes for working on the tension of a new machine.  I am finally going to use this new beast for quilting a large quilt!  I will never, never give up my Bernina.  It is so easy to change out the feet, needles, and thread, I'm still using it for most things.

 

Here is an interesting little habit that I have started doing--making a practice sandwich to get the tension right before I start my quilt.  I think this baby artist is growing up!