[SoniaRose]

Just looked at your website -- the quilts are beautiful. You have a good sense of color and design -- please don't doubt yourself. I especially love the seahorse (the black lines give it sort of a stained glass look) and the patterned vase quilt. It looks like you have a lot of variety in your work! Beautiful color combinations!

I have a website too, but it has my name and city, and I don't want to be linked to this forum. My site is not professional-looking anyway.

I often fight the same insecurities when I do art. I am currently working on a stained glass window, and I won't really know how it will look until it is finished and held up to the daylight. But I think we're always harder on ourselves -- no one else sees the flaws in our work that we see. Like you, I trust my instincts and just do what feels right. With stained glass, I have to plan ahead, but with painting, I often find that I jump in before I've thought it out -- I paint first and think later -- somehow it all turns out okay. The finished product is always a surprise.

[sstuart]

Quantum
Your quilts are beautiful!

[quantum]

Thanks guys! I'm actually holding a class in Rochester in that seahorse technique if anyone lives nearby and is interested :-) plug plug...

I never really know how things are going to turn out either Sonia! I usually draw a sketch, pick some fabrics and hope for the best.

I love stained glass. I lived in a 100 year old house for a while in Boston that had a beautiful stained glass window. I took a class in it once as well! Well,I didn't know it was going to be stained glass. For some reason I never finished my project though.

We need to give ourselves permission to try things. :-)

[RavenSong]

I've always wanted to try my hand at stained glass. One of the reasons we bought our house 10 years ago was it had about 8 stained-glass windows. They were gorgeous! Unfortunately, we bought the house after it went into foreclosure, and the former owner ripped out the stained-glass windows, along with everything else you can think of, like the cabinets and bathtub.

Moral of the story: if you ever buy a house in a different locale, be sure not to let too much time pass between escrow closing and moving in. We let four weeks lapse before moving, and all the damage was done in that time period. The guy even broke up the porch and porch stairs for firewood.

[SoniaRose]

Quilting sounds like an interesting medium, but I don't need any new hobbies, especially when I have a long list of home improvement projects awaiting attention!

Raven, how terrible that the previous owners stole the stained glass windows, the bathtub, and cabinets -- unbelievable! When we moved 20 years ago, I left behind the installed glass art. The last time I drove by our old house, I was pleased to see that my stained glass front door was still there!

One doesn't necessarily have to be an "artist" to do stained glass. There are many ready-to-use patterns, and the store can help the beginner with glass selection. However, I think that some of the most successful stained glass pieces are made mostly with clear glass and very little color.

I find that I am excited to be back with a project. I need to reconnect with my artist self. This last year has been emotionally tumultuous for me since I learned the sad story of my bparents, and even though these forums let me know that I am not alone, I sometimes get depressed reading all the pain and hurt expressed by other adoptees as well as bmoms. And the postings by the aparents depress me because I realize this adoption madness is still going on.

I seem to cope best in life by escaping, and if art helps me to escape, then that's my route. At least when I accomplish something, I feel a sense of worth. Of course, everyone has his/her own form of creative expression: for me, it's the fine arts, for others it's music or poetry or ???

Julie Cameron also writes: "We take no step unpartnered...the Great Creator is an artist...the moment we open ourselves to making art, we simultaneously open ourselves to our maker." I have often felt that the creative process opens us to our higher self. And it's no coincidence that even as a child, I felt the most connected to God looking at the illuminated stained glass windows in the church -- oops -- I don't want to offend any pastors on this forum, but I don't think I ever listened to the sermon. My little artist mind was somewhere else, escaping reality once again.

[quantum]

I find it interesting because I don't really think of myself as a spiritual person, just because I don't go to church, but then doing the spirituality quiz on another thread as well as studying The Artists Way, I think I am quite a spiritual person.

:-)

[shadow riderer]

Quantum, IMO, whether we realize it or not, I think all humans are spiritual beings. IMO, God, however a person chooses to see him, is always present. We just don't always acknowledge it or "feel" it. I hope that makes sense. One thing I like to do, and some will think this a little wierd, but I like to just simply sit out in my yard alone. I live in a rural area with lots of wildlife of all sorts. I have a swing I usually sit in, but sometimes I go out to the pond, down to the barn, or sit on my back porch. The wildlife are so accustomed to my presence, and quiet stillness, that the birds will actually land right next to me. The squirrels have played at my feet. The rabbits hop around me like I wasn't even there. There are even a few skunks that, thank God won't come to close, but seem to pay no attention to me at all. Ha, I have to be careful when I get a whiff of them not to move too suddenly, if you know what I mean. While I'm sitting there in my silence, listening to all the little life things going on around me, it reminds me of just how great God must be, and how awsome creation really is. IMO, nature is the greatest work of art ever created.

There was one time, though, that was a bit of a rude awakening. I was sitting on my back porch one sunny afternoon, just enjoying the birds chirping and squirrels chatter, when something furry brushed up against my leg. I'm used to the animals scurrying and plaing around me, but touching me? I froze, my first thought being, "Skunk!". My heart stopped. My mind began racing, what to do, what to do? Then to my great relief, a little, "Meow." Whew! It was the neighbors cat. Scared the crap outta me. lol

Raven, Man, that is awful about your house. Sheesh, why do people always have to be so destructive?

Sonia, I never thought of myself as very creative. After rreading this book,, and especially keeping in mind what you said in your post about creativity being connected to God, well it opened things up for me. When I began learning to play an instrument, I would ask all these musicians I know, "How do you know what to play and that it will sound right." Most of them just improvise. They would always tell me, and I hated it because I didn't understand, "Just play what you feel." I understand now what they meant. It always surprises me when I'm playing at a jam, or at home by myself, and something, just comes out. I can't explain it, but my hands just do the right thing and the inside feeling comes out. I still have a lot to learn, but the more I learn the more feeling comes out in my playing. The hardest part of this is forgetting all that is around me, blocking out the negative thoughts, and just letting my self "feel" what is in the music at that particular moment. What surprises me even more is when others have noticed and compliment me. Wow! What a validation for me that is. The times I've really hit some hot playing have been the times I just got in the groove, forgot that I had to be perfect, and just simply tried my best to play what sounded good to me. It always amazes me. My best stuff: my mistakes that turned out to not be mistakes after all. Again, I hope this is making sense.

It only happens when I am in what I call "the zone". That's the place when the only thing is that moment. It's what Jackie would talk about...you know? Being in the moment at that time? I miss her. I hope she can get back online soon.

[SoniaRose]

Shadow, I agree with you totally. We are all spiritual beings whether we accept it or not.

Likewise I have always been intrigued that so many songwriters say they just sit down with their instrument and the songs just come to them. I think we all need to open ourselves to our gifts from beyond. To repeat a cliche, to be inspired is to be "in spirit".

As an imperfect human being with a billion things to do, I know it can be difficult to find time to get in the "zone". I find that sitting with my sketchbook forces me into a greater awareness of the world around me.

Speaking of cats, my cats love to jump into my lap when I'm trying to sketch. I wish the squirrels and birds would come closer to me. Shadow, it sounds like you're in a Disney movie with all the cute little animals at your feet!

[keds]

quantum, I wish I could be there for the class! I've done several "angels" in stained glass, most with wonky wings but I'd love to be in yours. best of luck, health isn't great but I'm holding fast. Kate

[quantum]

Hi everyone,

I've posted some 'sneak peek' photos on Facebook.
I'm going to try to link them here.

Impossible to see the entire quilt, but you get an idea.

Whatdya think?

The Quilt

[Janeytwo]

Quantum,

Hey! I'm going to go onto Facebook tonight and check out the quilt. I've been trying to get on there for days and it's been to nutso here.

Will look though!

This is so cool that you finished your quilt!!!

:-)

[-maggie]

Hey Quantum!!! Your quilt is gorgeous!! You are so talented!

[Jessiedo]

I am currently a non-participating member here, yet I knew Jackie back in the 'old days'

Her private email addy is no longer any good and I truly would like to get in touch w/ her.

If anyone is corresponding w/ her please let her know I wish to contact her and ask that she pass along her contact info in order that I may do so...if she wishes.

I imagine she simply needed a break from the forums, as we all do at times, yet I'm concerned about her.

Thanks!
~diane

[kakuehl]

Hi stranger!
I can't help; I don't have her email. I just wanted to say hi to you.

[Janeytwo]

Hey "Jessie"

Jackie hasn't been here in a while.

I would suggest contacting Ravensong via the PM option here.

She may know of a way to contact Jackie.

Hugs to ya!