Be Creative Everyday

Being creative every day is a way to keep our brains charged and ready for the infinite possibilities that come our way. (in other words – to stay sane).

It's important and not as hard, or time consuming as you may think. How? 5 minute quick sketches, is how? That is sketches, not stretches - though you will be stretching your mind and imagination. I've been using these 5 minute sketches myself, over the last several years as a tool to kick start -- well, myself. They have proven to be effective and fun, and some have made their way into quilt designs - in fact there's at least one quilt designs that came about from this exercise that became a quilt in my latest book.

They are not meant to be pretty finished drawings --
just quick sketches that get things out of you head and onto paper.

So are you ready to let your imagination take flight, and you're ready to get a jump on creativity, I'm ready to be your work-out buddy!

Join me for the
21 Day Springtime Creativity Warm-Up Challenge!
In 5 minutes a day you’ll:

• improve your drawing skills
• loosen up-get your mind open for the day
• increase your creativity
• get your imagination stirring
• and, possibly produce new concepts

Here's how the challenge will work.

Each day there will be a new WORD (or phrase)
I will post them on my blog and also on our FaceBook Group page.

That’s your queue to grab your sketchbook or some paper & a pencil
1. Then draw anything/ everything that comes to mind when you think about the WORD.
2. STOP at 5 minutes.
3. (optional but highly desired) Snap a picture of your drawing and post it to our group page on Facebook.

Join in by sending me an instant message on FaceBook–
I’ll then send you an invite-and you’re in!

Are you needing a NUDGE?

How about a book give-away?!?

Join me on this challenge,
and for every time you post a picture of one of your own 5 minute work-out drawings to our group FaceBook Page,
your name will be entered to
win a copy of my book Design, Create, Quilt

(After all, it was in this book that
I first suggested these ‘artifying’ exercises).

The challenge begins
March 21st
and runs through April 10th
The drawing for my book Design, Create, Quilt
will be on April 11th.

Blog Tour for A Modern Twist (Natalie Barnes & Angela Walters)

The winner of a copy of A Modern Twist
is Walter 

chosen today- 3/15/15
Congratulations!
and thanks to everyone for joining in the fun.

The switches have been flicked here! Wheels turned! Buttons pressed! Levers thrown! Banners unfurled! Hats tipped! Winks winked! Angels sent!  And conga lines are forming below!

Why? Well, this is how it felt as I turned the pages of my good friend, Natalie Barnes’ new book. A MODERN TWIST.

photo credit for all - Brent Kane (Martingale)

Creating a book is like giving birth – there is a huge part of oneself that goes into designing the quilts, developing the patterns, deciding just what ‘other things’ you want to share --- then you get to write it all, turn it over to your publisher, and wait.

Being a close friend of Natalie’s I felt at times like a mid-wife during this long process, so as I turned the pages I felt wonder as one does in checking a newborn for all her fingers and toes and enjoying a giggle at the appearance of her dimples.

This book is a double WOW!
Incredible quilting projects, but with an extra punch of Natalie.
My favorite project is – CIRCLE SHUFFLE (boy, this one would be beautiful on my bed!)

Natalie’s background in designing pours out as you read the pages on color and composition. She gives these subjects an extra punch – leaving nothing out. Natalie's words will have you escaping your comfort colors with visions of possibilities. (comfort colors aka the colors that seem to pop up over and over again in your projects-my early ones were blue and yellow/ now days they seem to be purple and green).

So, if you are a beginner quilter or hmm, an experienced quilter you will find wonder and interest in how Natalie presents, and provides her own personal take on these subjects.

Angela Walters also share amazing information on color and contrast along with quilting that bring each quilt to life, and provides tons of design ideas for these Modern Twist projects.

I feel a lucky person to be able to call Natalie – friend for many, many years. After all, no one else was told me today ‘you should not be shoveling snow’ -

Lucky and proud to find my own books amongst some other great and informative titles she listed in her ‘include in your library’ section.

Lucky and proud, too to be able to offer you all a chance to win a copy of Modern Twist.

So, as I said at the beginning – ‘the conga line starts below’.

Leave a comment here telling
me what are your comfort colors?

Want an extra chance to win a copy of Modern Twist?
I’ll be posting about Natalie’s book on my
Facebook Rose Hughes-Quilt Artist page –
Like the page there (if you haven’t already) and leave a comment there telling
me where you like go to find quilting inspiration.

I'll be picking a winner on March 15th.



These other great bloggers are participating in this tour, so check out their sites and enjoy the fun!

02 March - Victoria Findlay Wolfe + CONTRAST
Victoria Findlay Wolfe
www.bumblebeansinc.blogspot.com

03 March - Teri Lucas + COLOR
Generation Q Magazine
www.generationqmagazine.com

04 March - Julie Herman + COMPOSITION
Jaybird Quilts
www.jaybirdquilts.com

05 March - Jenny Wilding Cardon + COLOR
Martingale
www.blog.shopmartingale.com06 March - Rose Hughes + COLOR
Rose Hughes
www.rosehughes.blogspot.com

07 March - Amy Smart  + CONTRAST
Amy Smart
www.diaryofaquilter.com

08 March - Carolyn Friedlander + COLOR
Carolyn Friedlander
www.carolynfriedlander.com/blog/

09 March - Latifah Saafir + COMPOSITION
Latifah Saafir Studios
www.latifahsaafirstudios.com/blog/

10 March - Amy Ellis  + CONTRAST
Amy's Creative Side
www.amyscreativeside.com/blog/

Making a List & Checking it Twice

I was reading a newsletter from Jamie Ridler, one of my favorite creativity bloggers and ran across a reminder about artists dates.

I read her words and thought – WOW! how long has it been since I took myself out for a few hours of venturing or delving into something just for myself?

In LA it seemed much easier – so many choices,
and yet there are plenty of choices in Kentucky,
but I just haven’t thought about it such a long time.

It is time to draw up a list..

One with places near and far –
with inside opps
a few outside opps  - with snow and without…

Do you know what I mean by an Artist’s Date?
It was many years ago now that I was introduced to the Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. A well written artist’s guide to daily living and finding inspiration. For me I walked away with a couple of item – morning papers and the artist’s date.

Morning papers, where you just write --- whatever pops into your head first thing in the morning. This can help clear your head, identify new ideas, and generally loosen up.

and, the Artist’s Date is just what it sounds like -
permission to take time out for yourself.

I took myself out yesterday for the first of many such outings I am planning.

even the snow did not keep me away

the cart's first offerings

 

need a solid?

time to head to the cutting table - bolts falling out of cart

 

the write up....

I'm filling pretty inspired!!

How bout you?
Got an idea of a fun place for your own Artist's Date?

Soups On!!!

Funny how something as simple as a soup recipe can open a floodgate of memories.

A recipe came my way yesterday morning as I was going through my email -- it was enclosed within a fitness pal - 15 hearty soups note. One of them Crockpot Roasted Tomato Garlic Soup!

There was Valentine's Day trip that David and I took many years ago. We were headed for a weekend VD getaway to Cambria, CA and we took a little side trip to a small town just north of Solvang -- Los Olivos. It was a small town but had several galleries and as we made our way through the main street we ended up at the Fess Parker Hotel...

there we had a wonderful lunch -- mine was Garlic Tomato Soup....
amazing, and ever since that day I have searched for a similar recipe.

So, as I sit here there is a batch of this soup in the crockpot and it smells incredible -- and the memories of that side trip return.

The walk after that great lunch...
a couple of purchases made at the galleries that day...
and introduction to the artist Eyvind Earle whose work I still happily turn to today for delight and inspiration..... a true artist of CA's central coast.

All from a soup recipe...
You never know...

Hope your Valentine's Day is made special in some way today!
Meanwhile,
soup's on at the Hughes.....

Tea, Eagles & Sharing

I have been lucky enough to have been out on Vashon Island WA for the last week. It has been a fun filled week and I am leaving behind a whole gallery of quilts that will remain on exhibit through March 2nd at Island Quilter.

But, early on before the show opening, the workshop and the downtime with my sister we were invited to one of my favorite peoples' homes for tea.

It seems like I have know Christine for many many years, and I love the tea and conversation over at her home. This time was even more exceptional, for as the tea (always great) along with apple slices and something sweet warmed us up -- there was an uninvited eagle that flew close by and then right over the house for a closer peek.

Then the conversation became very special as we turned to chatting about how we each impart a bit of ourselves to other along our journey. As we chatted Christine shared a quilt with us.

It was in fact made from leftover blocks made a long, long time ago by me at a Nancy Crow workshop. These black & white blocks had been thrown into a bag and sent to my sister and she had passed them along to Christine.

Christine had then over-dyed them - and found an entirely new home for these bits in a quilt she was putting together.

It was a wonderful morning, one that will long be remembered for reminding us of how powerful each of us are -- and what the wonder of what comes to us and through us to others.

I'm packing this morning, heading home in a matter of hours....
with lots of goodies, and of course lots of good memories of this time on the island and in the Pacific NW.