Humor, Life

Thought(s) for the Day or Why I Want To Take A Nap (reprinted)

Guila Greer

My Note:   I read this on the Quilt Art list this morning and thought I would die laughing.  With June Underwood’s kind permission I am sharing it with all of my readers.  Do yourself a favor and take a look at June’s work as well – wonderful!

Let’s see: why do I suddenly want to curl up in my closet — let me
count the ways:

1. I should keep a journal, an orderly journal, one which starts at the
first page of the handmade book (that I made, of course) and finishes at
the last page. Each page should have text and at least one drawing and
perhaps some photos and fabric as memorabilia.

2. I should blog every day, incorporating both text and photos,
inspirational sayings, links to other great blogs, and links to Amazon
for books I think others should read. I should also read books.

3. I should list my hopes, aspirations, and goals for the year, break
them down into daily, weekly, monthly segments, make up an excel sheet,
and write every day (in my computer, not in my journal) what I’ve
accomplished in these areas.

4. I definitely should do strengthening exercises so I can lift my
carry-ons into the overhead compartments, should I ever want to carry on
luggage again. Or use the airlines, for that matter.

5. I should walk at least 4 times a week, alternating days with swimming
or biking through Portland’s streets in order to sharpen my defensive
skills against open doors and crazed drivers and to keep my hair
straw-dry and my feet mud-wet.

6. I should vacuum the studio once a week. I should vacuum the kitchen
twice a day. I should be sure to get the dust mites up before they get
up me.

7. I should eat a good breakfast with protein and blueberries. I should
have only 1/2 cup of coffee if I think I can’t live without it, which I
can’t.

8. I should eat a good lunch with whole grains and citrus. No coffee. 16
oz of water.

9. I should eat a very very light dinner with no wine, no dessert, and
lots of fish. No coffee. 32 oz of water.

10. I should go to the studio every day, even if it’s only to vacuum.

11. I should blog on two blogs, one personal and one artsy. Both should
contain photos of my recent trips (walking around the neighborhood
counts) and my recent art (drawings in the dust mites is OK).

12. I should be on Facebook at least 5 times a day, posting about my art
as well as my vacuuming.

13. I should be on Google Plus at least twice a day discussing the
nature of post-modernism and whether Titian used holographic devices and
allowing Google to send these posts to all the email folks in my gmail
accounts (this in addition to my Google Plus Circle friends).

14. I should grow my own vegetables, particularly as I am fortunate
enough to live in a climate where year-round gardening is almost
possible, if one has greenhouses and cold frames and doesn’t mind hoeing
when it’s 35 degrees and raining.

15. I should prune my own fruit trees, when I’m not painting the parlor
and/or fixing the roof.

16. I should learn all the options on Facebook and set them according to
a complex set of rules about who should and who should not read about
the inability of my toilet to flush.

17. I should buy an iPhone so I can learn how to use cell phones in the
most sophisticated manner and thus be ready to join in conversations
about how wonderful the iPhone is.

18. I should buy an iPad so I can learn how it doesn’t like PCs, which
then would lead me to buying a MAC and starting all over with all my
documents, photos and email addresses, transferring these via the
unusable cable from PC to MAC as well as buying programs that I already
have for the PC that don’t transfer on the unusable cable to the MAC.
Then I can write blogs and post to FB and Google Plus about how
wonderful the iPad is.

19.  I should apply for grants, for residencies, for group exhibits, for
solo exhibits, and to be allowed to wrap the Sellwood Bridge in silk so
it doesn’t fall down before the new one is built.

20. I should learn musical composition, video recording and editing,
woodworking, encaustics, and the chemical makeup of dyes in order that I
can enhance my art. I should also buy a full set of drawers for beads
and feathers and bling-bling, which I can then buy and put away in
color-coded, size-delimited containers, and vacuum every day. Then I can
learn all about watercolor — brands as well as pigments — and oils
paints, which I should use.

21. I should subscribe to all the appropriate professional journals, on
and off the computer, and make up a marketing plan, having in place a
portfolio (fully up to date, and updated every day to account for what I
did the day before), a resume (see last parenthesis), and an artist’s
statement for each piece of art I do (see parenthesis before the last
parenthesis). The marketing plan should be separate from goals,
aspirations, and hopes, because it’s marketing, which must take into
account customers, fads, colors of the year, and venues that would
actually sell any art I made. These should be placed on an excel sheet
so the marketable elements can be checked off; this will save Medicare a
lot of money.

22. Oh, and I should make some art.

But before any of that, I think I’ll go lie down with a wet washrag on
my forehead.

Cheers,
June

Sorry. I couldn’t resist. I should be more humble, more laconic, and
more earnest.

June O. Underwood
Website: http://www.juneunderwood.com
Art blog: http://www.juneunderwood.com/weblog/
Personal blog: http://southeastmain.wordpress.com/

Haiku, Photography, Poetry, Poetry and Photography

Three Seasons

Guila Greer

  WELCOME AUTUMN

Suddenly it’s fall

The earth turns on its axis

Some things never change

  WINTER SOLSTICE

The winter solstice

starting now more sun-filled hours

Illuminating

   SPRING

Forest Canopy        

Clefts in rain soaked branches         

Sunbeams bursting through   


		


			
		
	






	
	

		Quilts, Traditional Quilts and Quilts for People
Sometimes the Setting Makes The Quilt
	


	

							

			 Guila Greer		
		
		

			
Happy New Year Bloggers and Bloggees :-).  (some people will wish you Happy New Year all month; I’ll stick to this week, lol)


Awhile back when we were talking about design walls I had the pieces of this quilt up to demonstrate.  Well it’s finally done – at least the quilt top is.  I still must lay it out, pin it, quilt it and bind it. Details, details.


This was an experiment.  I put these blocks on point just to see how it would work.  I think I prefer the on point to the traditional setting; how ’bout you?


I’ll put pictures of both settings up for you to see.




First is the traditional set – unsewn on wall.




And I just added this photo of the diagonal set without the outer triangles and border – again unsewn.




and finally:       The diagonal set with inset triangles and border – all ready for quilting:



		


			
		
	






	
	

		Life
2011:  The Worst and the Best of Years
	


	

							

			 Guila Greer		
		
		

			
I guess it’s traditional to contemplate the year just past as we look forward to the shiny ball falling in Times Square.  Please indulge me for a couple of minutes as I do that and get a little personal.


Remember Tale of Two Cities by Dickens and how it started?  …I will paraphrase…….it was the best of years, it was the worst of years……


This year, 2011,  lots of things came to a head for me as unresolved matters from years past piled up to the point where they had to start tumbling down. And tumble they did – with a resounding crash that woke me out of the doldrums and shook off years of accumulated denial and avoidance.  I had experienced numerous losses of loved ones including my entire birth family over the course of several years but had never allowed myself to fully grieve the way one needs to.  Well, somehow, my guardian angel recognized this and kicked me in the butt as much as to say get on with it already.


And so I did.  And here is where the Dickensian character of the year becomes apparent.  While going through the delayed grieving process was indeed painful – all those stored up feelings were allowed to surface – the result was unexpected and welcome.


I feel like the ‘real’ me emerged – the genuine Guila – probably more accurate to say the ‘rest’ of who I am.  I have always been someone who loves to be creative –to use my imagination and play with design, with color, with words, with ideas.  But this time I allowed myself to just go with it and to see where it would take me without self censoring without self criticism.  The discoveries that I made thrilled me no end – having an aptitude for art that goes beyond needle and thread is a new idea for me.


And that brings me to today and to anticipation of the year ahead.   While 2011 was a year of discovery,  I look forward to 2012 as a year to concentrate on learning, on practicing and refining these newly discovered skills.  And to focus on developing my art related business at the same time.  This isn’t Paris of the 19th century and I do not have a patron.  So the business part is vital to allow me the ability to stay planted on the creative path and to put down roots there.


This is a very exciting journey.  The support of my friends and readers and your encouragement is vital and I am so thankful for all of you.  Please stick around for the ride!  It’s going to be lots of fun.


My heartfelt wishes to all of you for a Happy and Healthy 2012.  May all your dreams come true!

		


			
		
	






	
	

		Art, Dreams, Life
Why Wait Until January 1 to Make Your Course Correction?  article by Lesley Riley (with permission)
	


	

							

			 Guila Greer		
		
		

			
Three Quick Questions


Lesley Riley writes about Artist Success (and I think her thoughts here can apply to all of us) and presents her thoughts on the time honored ritual of New Year’s Resolutions. More about Lesley (one of my heroes) at the end of the article.


Life is one long continuum. We need markers in order to assess our progress. January 1st is one of those markers. I’m somewhat of a rebel. I don’t like to do what everyone else is doing. That means I don’t want to talk about new year’s resolutions, setting goals for 2012 or how to make this your best year yet. I have already received way too many emails along those lines. How about you? It did get me to wondering though, why there is so much focus on new starts and fresh beginnings at the beginning of a new year? January 1st is the universally agreed upon time, a convenient reminder for us to pause and assess. Rather than focus on new beginnings (which, let’s face it, are very hard and doomed to failure), let’s consider this a time for course correction. The first question you should be asking yourself right now is, “Am I headed in the right direction?” Whether you admit it or not, there is something you want to be doing with your life that you are not doing…yet. The dream may be so far off or seem so out of reach that you’ve been going about it in a roundabout way, if at all. Or, if you are at all like me, you have more than enough ideas to last 10 lifetimes and you just can’t figure out which one to take action on. You are creating a tight zigzag stitch of your life, back and forth, side to side, with very little forward movement.


The second question you need to ask is, “Which ideas, which dreams, hold the most meaning for me?” Pick three. And make one of them a stretch, something you consider to be out of reach. Be sure that the ones you choose make your heart go pitty-pat, either from excitement and desire or fear. Fear is a good thing. It’s a sign that you want something that scares you. If you are not thinking outside of your comfort zone, you are not living up to your potential.


Question #3 is, “Did I act on those dreams?” Did you take actions that would move you forward and closer to the realization of your ideas and dreams or did you zigzag through the year and divide your time among too many things? Chances are you did both. It’s exactly the steady course most of us take through life. And it’s exactly the reason why so many of us die with our dreams still inside.


To paraphrase Wayne Dyer:


…Don’t die with your music still inside you. Listen to your intuitive inner voice and find what passion stirs your soul. ..


It’s time for a course correction. January 1st is a few days away. You still have time to make a course correction in 2011. Rather than wait until that official, agreed upon day, do it now. Waiting like everyone else for January 1st is just another excuse. It’s procrastination. It’s telling yourself that a date is more important than your dream. Find out where and how have you veered off following your intuition, your passion – and decide what you can do right now, TODAY, to get back on track.


The hidden bonus is that you don’t start the new year off commiserating over all of the things that you want to change or start or commit to. You won’t focus on what’s missing in your life because you have already done something about it. You have a head start on everyone else! I know you will feel really good on January 1st because you took positive action now. Promise me you will continue to take action and make the necessary course corrections for the next 365 days.


Do that and I guarantee that 2012 will be your best year yet!


Happy New Year!


Lesley Riley, The Artist Success Expert, is the creative founder of Artist Success, Solutions for the Struggling Artist. To receive her bi-weekly articles on creating your own success as an artist, visit ; http://www.ArtistSuccess.com.

		


			
		
	






			

			
							
		

	
	

		Art Quilt, Art Quilts, Fiber Art, Mixed Media, Quilts
I’ve Got Lips – Art Quilt using Extravorganza
	


	

							

			 Guila Greer		
		
		

			


I love doing these journal quilts – what a wonderful way to try new techniques. For “I’ve Got Lips” above I first did a pieced background and quilted it. Then I drew and cut out appliques of various “lips” – with a variety of pink and red fabrics. (I had to add paint to get the right color a couple of times) I looked for as many “lip” quotes as I could find and printed them out in various fonts using ExtravOrganza in my inkjet printer. I then cut out the sayings, frayed the edges and painted each one using a fabric marker. I adhered them to the quilt with a clear fabric glue.






Lips Detail

		


			
		
	








	
	

		Photography, Poetry and Photography
Fine Art Prints and Note Cards Are Now Available
	


	

							

			 Guila Greer		
		
		

			
I’m very excited to be represented on Fine Art America.


This is a Print on Demand service.  I have placed select photography on the site and will add more. These photos are available in a large variety of sizes as well as note cards.  Matting and framing are optional.  Please take a look and let me know what you think.!  Thank you !!


http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/guila-greer.html


BTW, if you have seen other photography or art work on my site that you would like in the form of a print or greeting card, please let me know and I will upload the image to FAA.  I usually keep my original digital images and most of them are fairly high resolution.

		


			
		
	






	
	

		Accessories and Ornaments, bracelets, Jewelry
Festive Red Bracelet Added to Etsy
	


	

							

			 Guila Greer		
		
		

			
Remember to use your 20% off coupon on any item until the end of December/2011. No additional charge for shipping within the U.S. until end of December.


http://honeyquilts.etsy.com


When checking out enter coupon code:    20HOL2011      enter exactly as shown


This beautiful bracelet measures 7″ from bead to bead.  Add about 1/2 inch for the sterling silver toggle closure.


The list price (before coupon discount) is $29.00.

		


			
		
	






	
	

		Accessories and Ornaments, I.D. Tags, Luggage Tag, Tutorials
I.D./Luggage Tag – a Tutorial
	


	

							

			 Guila Greer		
		
		

			
Materials Needed


Cotton Fabric –for  tag –  cut 2 pieces –  4” by 6” each   (finished tag will be 3 ½ by 5 ½ “.)


              for loop attachment –  cut 1 piece         14 “ long by 1 ½ inches.


Vinyl –cut 1 piece 4 ½  by 2 ½ inches


Stabilizer – 1 piece of fusible batting or Craft Bond cut 3  ½ by 5 ½ inches.


Fabric Pieces


    

  1. Center batting or craft fuse on wrong side of one of fabric

    

    Stabilizer Fused to Fabric (1)
    

    rectangles – press according to package directions to fuse in place.
    2. 

  2. Place fabric rectangles right sides together and stitch with 1/4 inch seam around perimeter leaving a gap of 1 and 1/2 “ in the middle of one short end.  You will use this gap to turn the tag and to insert the ends of the loop.
    3. 

  3. Press loop piece in half (the long way).  Open it up and press each side toward the middle.  Then fold in half lengthways. Edge stitch both long sides.
    4. 

  4. Trim corners and turn the tag inside out through the gap you left so that right side is now on the outside.
    5. 

  5.   Push corners out neatly and press.  TipTime:  I have found that a wooden chopstick is helpful to poke those little corners out without going through the fabric.
    6. 

  6. Insert raw ends of loop about ½ inch into the gap you left.
    7. 

  7. Top stitch around perimeter of the tag. Double stitch the area where the loop is inserted to make it extra secure.
    8. 

  8. Place vinyl piece in center of tag.
    9. 

  9. Sew 3 sides of the vinyl using a longer stitch than normal.  I set my Pfaff at 3.0.
    10. 

  10. TipTime:  If you use too short a stitch you may cause the vinyl to tear.
    11. 

  11. TipTime:  the open end of the vinyl should be pointing toward the loop to make it more difficult for the ID card to slip out.

      

    • I bought my vinyl in the home decorating department at JoAnn’s  You’ll want one that has some body to it so that it will hold up better..
      • 

    • I made ID tag inserts using Print Shop – A regular size business card will fit nicely.
      • 

    

    These directions and images are the work and property of Guila Greer and may not be reproduced without permission.
    

     
    12.