Open Studios Tour 2008 Weekend One!

What a terrific turnout and wonderful people...

I just love being an artist in San Luis Obispo County. Arts Obispo has put together another wonderful year of promoting artists here on the Central Coast. Though the mornings were a bit nippy as the mercury dropped Friday night - hot spiced cider hit the spot at the studios of myself, Dawn Perry and Lauren Birkhahn. Here are a few studio and gallery shots to whet your appetite for the Encore Weekend October 25th and 26th.

Consider yourself invited!

My work space and two of my newest quilts

Some smaller pieces and lovely work light!

ONE section of the marvelous stash!

Show results and new work!

The Atascadero Wine Festival was such a great experience and a terrific day, tho' a bit on the warm side. Attendance was terrific even with the temperature being high. (O.K., so high is high? They were icing the RED WINES!!!)

I met a lot of people who had never experienced my form of quilt art. The idea that I use found, non-fabric materials and artifacts was very intriguing to many people. I had two leads on future commissions which was a perfect end for the day. That kind of exposure is hard to come by and is usually found only when showing in a gallery or by word of mouth.

BTW, we raised money for the Charles Paddock Zoo, the only zoo located in all of San Luis Obispo County.

Here is a smaller piece I have just finished:

Showing at the Atascadero Wine Festival

A unique, boutique wine festival that does more than offer a fun day in the sun! The Atascadero Wine Festival is a terrific fundraiser for the Charles Paddock Zoo in Atascadero as well as other local programs. If you love a well-tended, caring zoo perfect for kids of all ages and have an appreciation for fine wine, this is the wine fest for you!

Besides featuring 85 of the finest local wineries of the Central Coast pouring at the park by the lake, over 20 fine artists and vendors will be on hand for a fine day adventure. I will be showing some of my latest art quilts as well as having lovely quilted handbags and quilted postcards. Come join us:

Saturday, June 21st, 2008
Atascadero Lake Park
9100 Morro Road - 2 miles west on Morro Rd/Hwy 41 after the 101 bridge
Atascadero, CA
More info at:

www.AtascaderoWineFestival.com

Monterey Street Wine Co. says "Yes"

I am so very pleased to say that Monterey Street Wine Co. in San Luis Obispo has offered to show my work. I made the phone call and got the 'thumbs up' and went in to meet the owner in person. John Stipicevich and his darling side-kick Donna (Donna has managed galleries and promoted artists) just made me feel so at home in this lovely wine tasting and fine cheese shop. I will be the featured artist for the month of August 2008.

Make sure to visit John and Donna at Monterey Street Wine Co. located at the corner of Monterey and Johnson Streets in San Luis Obispo. Have John pair up the perfect wine and cheese combination for your next get-together or special dinner. Give John a call at (805) 541-1255!

Establishing more of a presence on the Central Coast

Oh, the joy and anxiety of having a professional view my work!

I am currently awaiting news of a possible show in July/August here in San Luis Obispo, CA. The venue would be a perfect match for my work; and then, I could also create additional work that would lend itself to the atmosphere of the place.

Finding such a person that is truly interested in promoting the work of artists, with the knowledge of how difficult it can be to place work is a complete joy. Now, I have to sit back and see how we fit. This is the anxiety driven part for me and how I would love to hurry up the process!

How do you wait for that answer? The acceptance/decline letter in the mail... The quick, "This isn't really quite our style," phone call... OR, the face to face, "How soon can we have your work and how quickly can you produce more?" Oh, the memory of the elation of that moment keeps me going. Hoping, dreaming, creating, promoting - the full circle of the life that I have found and that I love!

Maybe I'll go ahead and make a check in phone call...

Launching Assemblage Art Quilts....

What is an Art Quilt? Why in the world would you associate this medium with Assemblage? Am I confused about how to explain my work or is this a new emerging medium?

I will attempt to explain, give examples and be happy to engage in discourse with artists, teachers and the just darn curious people who might find me on the path of their own exploration.