Alaskan Greetings From Judy W. (aka Jude)

Spring Fling (my SAQA 2011 Auction Piece)

Much appreciation to everyone for enthusiastically welcoming me into the fold, with a special thanks to Kathy, who knew nothing of my ongoing interest in joining the Mavens until she phoned me last week.  I’m extremely excited to journey artistically with each of you as we share our combined creative strengths.

Husband Kurt, our two daughters Kristen, Kari and Son-in-Law Joshua, and my parents all reside in Anchorage and have encouraged my art from day one.  Even my West Highland White Terrier Maggie Mae, who routinely fled from my studio when I machine sewed, now keeps me company in my basement studio since her hearing started failing this year.

My quilt journey began in a 1988 class which covered all the basics start to finish.  From that point on, I shelved most all other creative interests to pursue my quilt addiction.  I’ve taken and taught classes, had a few quilts published in magazines, developed four quilt patterns (retail) in the mid-90’s, offered my services as a consignment quilter/designer for four years, and worked in a local quilt store.  I also organized a local quilter’s (weekend) bazaar two years, with huge success. 

As an Anchorage Log Cabin Quilt Guild member since 1990, I have participated in several satellite groups through the years.  I’m currently completing a third year with a Round Robin Group.  A few years prior to Kathy’s move to Texas, she and I became SAQA members and ‘art quilt partners’ to seriously study fabric art techniques and surface design as they pertain to art quilting.  She and I produced three art quilt First Friday events.

I pursue art quilting for the creative challenge and a desire to combine the various fiber arts, beading, painting and sewing experience I've learned thus far, into mixed-media quilts. Bold colors, garden themes and texture frequently surface in my work,  and my personal goal is to try something new in everything I do.

Zentipede

This photo depicts one of my favorite, more recent art pieces.   The background fabric was a dyeing session with Kathy which I later doodled with fabric markers, machine free motion quilted and then heavily beaded - not my norm.  It is called Zentipede because it reminded my daughter and I of a centipede and the Zen comes from Zen art doodling which I'd been exploring.  I was glad to see Zentangle mentioned in a previous comment.  Zentangle and Zendoodle are the same thing.

I'm glad to announce the 'south' theme finally gelled in my mind this afternoon. I know the what, but have to work on executing the how.  This evening I completely caught up with reading ALL of the previous MM posts and comments.  So glad to be on board with all you Mavens!

Hi Everyone from Sara

I am delighted to be part of this group! I think it will be really good for me to grow by forcing myself to create rather than keeping busy while the creations stay in my head! I really enjoy those of you I met on this list and look forward to getting to know the rest of you.

Documentation is also going to be a good growth experience - it is something I've never done much of. I am tickled that I am actually writing a blog entry. I am computer literate but never anticipated blogging. I'm actually getting excited about it.

I must admit to a bit of fear creeping in - especially with this first challenge since discord and chaos are themes I seem to relate too! The ideas are percolating. My spouse just told me that Babe Ruth made strike out as well as home run records because he hit a lot. I am going to keep this in mind.

I will get my point and shoot upstairs to my studio space and try to get some posted. I have 2 rooms - one is a fabric library and the other is a work room - the workroom is tight but wonderful. I have a great design wall - there is a bank of tables under a window and then I walk around a long arm to get to a cutting table and pressing station. It is a bit chaotic lately because I have been blowing a going too much.

I joined a Lake Jackson, TX based fiber art group that has an exhibit in September - I just joined but decided I needed to get some of the challenges done. I am in a wearable art group and I am learning some techniques to get things to fit and I have been focusing on the garment construction rather than the fun parts (I started out wanting to do wearables but the fit part got me deeply into quilting). I've also been doing a lot of bead needle weaving to make jewelry.I have a "Lifekeepers" quilt on the machine right now and I hope to get it quilted today as it reminds me of sadness. It is a project of the American Society of Suicide Prevention to put a "face" on the issue of suicide and help raise awareness for prevention and help for those left behind. I think Harmony will be a happy change of pace once that is out of the house.

Now I am headed upstairs to quilt!