Secondary Images

This is my most recent cane, a design based on the original designs of Ruby S Mckim. Ruby is one of the innovators in the Quilting world, in the 30’s she wrote patterns for the Kansas City star. I received permission from her family to reproduce some of her designs into jewelry.

This is a pieced rose, but if you look at it, there are bear paws, and in the center is an Ohio star. Isn't it great! I love when designs do this, include secondary images within them!

I have to say although, I like these colors, they seem to be flat, they don't "sing" as the colors in the last Celtic knot did. Because these canes are reduced into small sizes, I have to look carefully at the values of the colors I use; I want the designs to be seen even at a small size. However, I think I have been worrying to much about value, and not enough about the colors themselves. (Does that make sense?)

I have one more cane to do in the McKim series, which is my next project, it is a pieced pansy. I hope that I will do better color wise with it.

Cya
Jenny P

http://www.quiltedinclay.com/

Voices?

Let's Talk!


I am reading a lot these days about the Synergy conference and finding your "Voice.” I am not sure what they mean.

First of all the voice in my head is beating me up! I was going to go to this conference, but a mundane thing like needing work done on my bathroom took precedence. Now I feel like all my friends went to a party and I had to stay home. The voice is saying things like "you really did not need a toilet" and "FLOOR, what do you mean you wanted a FLOOR!" Therefore, I stayed home to make canes.

I did not have the opportunity to go to college to study art. I have a problem understanding abstract ideas, like making art that has a "voice.” I am just a simple farmer’s daughter, who has a need to create. I also need to feed my family! Now, do I have to worry about what my work is supposed to, "Say"? Goodness, if one of my quilt pins said something I think it would scare the bejesus out of the person wearing it!

Seriously, I don't know if my work has a "voice" or not, and I am not sure how I would give it that "voice" I just like to make canes, I get lost in the designing, choosing colors, the challenge of making a difficult pattern, and the Joy when it turns out just like the one in my head! Then I turn it into a form that I can sell, because as much as I would like to create just for the Joy of it, it is my job to keep my family fed. My work does fill a niche too; my customers are quilters, who have a passion of their own. They like my affordable jewelry, which represents their own passion.

I don't know HOW to give my work "voice"! I really do wish someone would explain it to me.

When I have time, I like to play with new ideas, try out new techniques I have learned, or heard about. I love to sculpt, but it takes so much time, that I seldom do it anymore. Maybe if I ever win the lottery and don't have to earn my way, I can take the time to work on the "voice" part. For now, I will just keep on doing what I am doing, because I don't know how to do anything else!

Besides, the wolf at the door really does like to eat!

Oh the bathroom??? Well the plumber ended up in the hospital with appendicitis, so the project is on hold until he recovers. Maybe I could have gone to Baltimore!

Until next time
Jenny P
http://www.quiltedinclay.com/