Incredible, genie!  I appreciate your putting the link in so we can see.  I understand what you wrote there about the goal beginning to feel like an "obligation" -- boy, I get to feeling like that (sometimes about things like getting out of bed).  I'm working hard to see things as a Privilege instead of Obligation -- but it is constant and challenging work to do so.

I'm trying to download a picture of my quilt landscape that I referenced; I've taken countless pictures, and they just aren't panning out.  I must have the setting wrong, because it's still turning out flowers just great.  Nonetheless...

 I started doing this when we were in the last place "down the hill" -- a lovely home with space for my crafting and writing (in a reasonably organized fashion, even) because I once had a calendar where all the homey pictures were actually applique scenes.  Now, those were fantastic, and this is a first effort.  And, it isn't finished: one of the reasons, I keep thinking perhaps there should be a "bridge" from the cows that look like my Dutch bunny Holly (ha!) across the biggest expanse of lake.  Also, like I said, because it's an awkward shape and I don't quite know what to do with it.  I've had it thumb-tacked to the wall above the piano almost since we moved out here.

Here's a story you might enjoy.

I "saw" the little mountains inside my head, and cut them first. I bought the "sky" at JoAnn's, the slightest remnant package, fascinated at the clouds.  (I love that I added a little reflection of the sky within the lake.)  Then I went nuts because I thought of the name, "Farm at Five-Mile Lake" -- so added the cows, pigs, orchard, growing fields... the tan squares are supposed to represent a wall.  I used my new sewing machine, a Brother embroidery machine  simply to applique (that (a) I lost the hoop for in the move, and (b) the electronics eventually screwed up in the heat here, (c) but not before I spent a fortune to buy embroidery machine thread).  And it ain't great applique: I didn't "finish" the stitches well... if I ran out of thread, I just started there, backed up two or twelve times, and kept going.

Then I laid it on a table in our house and left it there.  I wasn't sure it was finished; I didn't know how to finish it; but I loved seeing it.

When we came to look at this desert property, we felt it was well worth what the man wanted, this old mobile home and its 2-1/2 acres: We were entranced by the open space.  It wasn't until we were well moved in and I came upon this piece in a box that it struck me: I'd made this sky! I made these little mountains! I'd put in this open dirt!  The lake, though, confused me -- and then folks started talking about Horton Lake and Twin Lakes, etc... Horton, by the way, is a competition-level water-ski school and performance arena.  And we noticed how many folks around here have a lake or pond or hole-in-the-ground-filled-with-water... and it was eerie (like, lake eerie) how much it seemed I'd latched into our home I'd never seen.  No livestock here, nor big trees -- alfalfa, pomegranates, and pistachios grow well here, although we have just one baby pomegranate tree.  But every time I look at this, it reminds me that this is, for today, exactly where I belong.

Perhaps now is the time to finish it.  I put lots of things away unfinished for various reasons.  Then later when I come across it again I have a new idea, new skills, new techniques, etc. or it is just the right time or the piece finally wants to be finished.  I really like your mountains.

Thanks, genie -- It just dawned on me: It isn't that the camera isn't working, it's that the piece just isn't that attractive. It represents something wonderful to me, but the "art" part has a long way to go.  I've decided this one wants to lose itself in a quilt this year -- That works!  Thanks for letting me "see" it.  cb

Oh my, I way trying to encourage you to finish it -- not give up on it.    My intent was never to say anything negative or discourage anyone.

Of COURSE you were being encouraging, genie!  And you are.

It still needs to find a place, to be sure; but you have no idea how many pictures I took with my wonderful camera, trying to do it justice... !  I kept thinking there was something wrong with the camera!  (I'm really laughing here!)  I didn't have a plan when I started this: just kept laying pieces out and stitching them on.

We change -- and as I said, for a first effort ever, I was happy.  But it reflects a very lonely and difficult time in my life, a yearning, I think, for simplicity and space, more than any attempt to craft artistically. 

After seeing the kinds of things you folks are doing, and your generosity and willingness to share, I can learn.  That's the beauty of community, isn't it?

Now, you said you like the mountains.

The mountains, and the lake and sky, are my favorites, too.

I thought I liked the stitching to "separate" the mountains, but I don't -- I'm inclined to remove the stitching and let them flow.

I wanted the cow-and-pig area to look like a little hill, but it looks ungainly to me, like a big bump.

Am I right?  Would YOU reconstruct? 

(I taught seventh grade, I can take it.) 

Affectionately, Constance

First, I think the sky, mountains and lake give you a great, solid foundation. 

I don't know if I would take it apart, but I will share a little trick I learned for using an animal print fabric. You might find it helpful later.  I sometimes cut the individual animals out and arrange them on the background till I like the look then applique them down.  That would give you more control over where you put the animals and might help acheive the effect you wanted.

I do my moutains a lot of different ways.  Sometimes I sew them down so the thread doesn't show.  Other times I use a buttonhole sitch with matching thread, sometimes contrasting.  That's really personal preference and is something you may do differently each time you make mountains.

I have a lot of ideas for artwork that I have no idea how to accomplish.  Sometimes it takes me a lot of trial and error to figure things out.  That's why I like the journal quilts so much.  You wouldn't believe how many times I've used those as technical samples.  I feel like if I'm trying to acheive a certain effect and totally blow it I haven't wasted a lot of time and fabric.

I have to confess that I don't "undo" a lot of my work.  I pretty much let it stand  -- even if I have a big "what was I thinking?" moment about it.  What I have learned is that sometimes people with a little more distance and perspective love what I hate  -- I don't know why, but sometimes they do. Of course I have a few in boxes under my bed that may never see the light of day. 

Several years ago I made an art quilt after returning to the midwest from a disasterous attempt to relocate to another state.  We were treated very badly there and I was angry.  So I portrayed the state border with a barbed wire fence and "keep out" signs.  An abandoned moving truck had been looted and broken furniture, dishes, etc. littered the ground.  I was very angry and it isn't very good.  And to make matters worse I decided to call it "We tried to move to (name of state) but it was closed."  No one has seen that but Bob and myself.  I'm not sure I have the nerve to show it to anyone else.  But it accomplished the purpose of letting me vent some anger.  So since your quilt is a very personal thing for you I would go ahead and finish it the way it is.

I, too, wouldn't like to think that you'd give up on this quilt, Constance.  I know that I have gone so far as to throw out old sculptures, paintings, whatever, simply because I thought I could have done soooooooo much better doing something else with it and then, given time, I've thought gees, wish I hadn't thrown it out and at least given it another chance! 

Personally, I wouldn't rip out one darn thread!  Simply enjoy it for what it was back then and its' meaning or if you feel you some embellishments might accomplish what you want - say, buttons, fibre, embroidery thread, photos, you name it -- then go for it, Constance, and have fun re-creating the quilt.

~ chameleon

Hi Constance!

I'm like chameleon - I tend to throw out or give away the things I do not like when I do any kind of art, but then later wish I hadn't done it...even if it is years and years later. I am just beginning to do free-motion quiltion or free-motion embroidery on my new machine, and if I do as well as you have done, I will be happy. I think as chameleon suggested that once the pieces are in place that you can do some pretty awesome effects with "deep encrusting" using some pretty beads, buttons, charms, fibers, or whatever you want. You can take a piece that no longer means the same to you as when you first worked on it and change it up, to the point where it either resembles something you are proud of or what you like now. I wouldn't take anything apart - remember the challenge Marney sent out to everyone to use "mistakes" and turn them into something new, without trying to fix the "mistake"?

Breathe easy, dear friend, and it will come to you. I'm willing to bet on that!

Gentle hugs,

~copper cat 

What wonderful, wonderful counsel!  Thank you ALL.  I have much to think about: leaving it as it is; deconstructing it; adding to it.  I hadn't thought of doing more than adding the bridge.  Now I have lots of ideas to consider.

Each of you managed to open not just a window, but a door -- into a great big room!  Hugs to you -- Constance 

All my journal quilts from 2005 are now online.  2006 will follow soon (hopefully).

http://anartistseyes.bravehost.com/gallery_j05.html

Hi Rogene!

Your collection of journal quilts are fabulous!  I especially liked the way you explained the process on the sidebar for those visiting, and thought your artist statement was crisp, clear, and meaningful:

"The stories my work tell are more important to me than the techniques used in creating them. These stories are presented to allow the audience to recognize our shared hopes, dreams, goals and fears. When people connect on this level and realize we are more alike than different, the world is changed."  http://anartistseyescatalog.bravehost.com/

Thanks so much for sharing your work with all of us, Rogene, and look forward to seeing more in the future.

~ chameleon

Thank you very much Chameleon.  I'm really busy and don't have a lot of time to spend around here right now, but thought I'd drop in for a minute to say hi and post the link to the journal quilts. 

I'm still planning to start journal quilts again in January '09.   I really have to focus on finishing a book -- but if I do journal quilts next year I will at least still be able to keep a finger in my fabric art.  They don't take much time.

 Anyone who is interested please feel free to join me.