Cay Denise

American Quilter is currently conducting an online quilt competition. I entered Incadoodle which is based on a pencil/paper doodle drawn earlier in 2007. It is constructed using Jane Sassaman's technique. Voting is now open until January 11, 2008. Please consider taking a look at the online entries. There are some very lovely pieces (though the small image size makes it somewhat challenging to tell just how well they've been constructed). If you decide to vote, I hope you'll consider a vote for Incadoodle ! American Quilter link to contest: http://www.americanquilter.com/contest/entries.php

INTERTWINED: CONTEMPORARY BASKETS FROM THE SARA AND DAVID LIEBERMAN COLLECTION Location: Palo Alto Art Center Dates: January 27-April 27, 2008 Admission: Free with suggested $1 donation For more information: http://www.city.palo-alto.ca.us/depts/csd/news/details.asp?NewsID=830&TargetID=28 SILICON VALLEY OPEN STUDIOS - LINDA GASS, SILK PAINTER/QUILTER Location: Former Cubberly High School Campus in Palo Alto Dates: May 10 and 11, 2008 For more information: http://www.lindagass.com/Events.html

I've seen a lot of discussion about the value of marketing oneself via websites and blogs. But there is something to say about marketing through visual media systems like YouTube , especially if you're the Queen! Queen Elizabeth has delivered a nicely crafted 2007 Christmas video message for the masses. It begins with an image of her giving a holiday message over television 50 years ago in which she talks about changes happening so quickly then. My, what an amazing paradigm shift we've had since that time, and she's managing to bridge that shift and use it to extraordinary advantage! If you are interested in viewing the video, here is the direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0nmkYGCljE Note:  Unfortunately the video is no longer available for viewing.

Alyson Stanfield, the ArtBiz Coach, recently emailed her Art Marketing Action newsletter with the message that "It's time to acknowledge everything you have accomplished in the past year." So, what is that for me? Using Alyson's questions inventory, let's see. 1. How did you promote your art? I sent/distributed 5"x7" postcard announcements regarding my first solo exhibit to family, friends, contacts and co-workers. In addition, I took a stack of these postcards and left them at a local craft gallery, quilt museum, and quilt stores (2) in addition to talking up the exhibit as much as I could. Lastly, I even wrote a press release for my exhibit and received positive feedback on it from the person who submitted the information to various media outlets. 2. What did you do to enhance your online presence? I changed my blog name and its format, created a more user-friendly email address, have a consultant developing a website for me and purchased three domain

If you have an interest in the human body or medical science, this is a most impressive and artfully-staged exhibit ! This exhibit contains numerous human cadavers that have been plasticized in a variety of poses (e.g. skateboarding, ballet pirouette, ice dancing) to show what happens within the interior of the body when taking those positions. There is a morbid element to overcome in preparing to visit this exhibit, because these are real bodies of people no longer living. All the individuals' bodies on display have been donated to science, and this exhibit truly provides a scientific education to the people who visit it and does a magnificent job of making a disturbing topic interesting. This is an exhibit you must emotionally prepare for. If you are at all squeamish about the body or its' functions, think twice about going. But if you do go, be prepared to spend three hours with the displays and reading the signage. I also highly recommend the audio as it provides additional

A writer recently interviewed me for a magazine article she is developing. As part of that interview, I led her in making a fabric postcard to give her a sense of what the non-piecing process of creating in fabric is like. It will be really interesting to read her interpretation of our exchange and the slant she uses to develop a sellable article on the subject. As a quilter, what do I want people to know about my work? *What I don't know, may hurt me but then again, may not. *I can never make the same mistake again, even though I may have a similar opportunity. *I can be wild and free and still comply with rules. *My ideas don't stay around long if I think about them, but they do if they're acted upon. *There is a symbiosis between my idea-making and me (if I allow it); the more I have, the more I make. *Mistakes are an opportunity to find a hidden treasure. *Inspiration is a 24-hour activity encompassing delights, disappointments, adventure, failure, grieving, connecting

They arrived beautifully packed this past week. Thank you Houston!! The pieces look amazing to me. I haven't seen them in a long time. Looking at them now, I see a remarkable progression in the quality of my journal quilt work over the last three years. My technique and creativity has evolved! For anyone who hasn't seen them, here they are along with the month in 2006 they were made and a description of each. February - 'Starbirth' is based on Judy Dales' curves technique. Two blocks were designed in a finished size of 4.25" x 5.5". Two blocks of each design were then pieced. The identically-shaped blocks are opposite each other on the diagonal. Polydown batting has been used, and the piece is finished with appliqued circles edged with beads. March - This piece is a representation of a light pole from a personal photograph altered in Photoshop. The piece has a portion of the altered photo printed on fabric in it and incorporates raw-edge applique, Angeli