Houston and More!

International Quilt Show, Houston
Hi all!
The International Quilt Show in Houston was amazing and quite an eye-opener. There are so many incredibly talented quilt artists out there- I was captivated by many quilts and thought the SAQA Exhibit to be just stunning. I had the opportunity to teach at Make It University! (photos) and to demonstrate my work at Open Studios, both through Quilting Arts. There were a total of 50 participants in my classes and we made the Pendart Ⓒ Jewelry which is a very mini version of my Telamadera Fusion process. I really love seeing how everyone takes off in my classes, creating artwork that is so uniquely their own. This project is one of 30 ideas in my new book, Collage Fusion: Wood and Fabric Art Using Telamadera Techniques.....and yes! It is almost here!

Collage Fusion is almost here!
The week before I left for Houston, my copy arrived here at home and I am so excited to share it with you all! I'm hoping for early November! I am really happy with how it turned out- the instructions are very clear and North Light did a wonderful with the design and layout. For now you may pre-order at www.amazon.com or pre-order a signed copy at www.almaart.com.

Interview and Stories

Do you know Kate Courageous? A multi-talented individual- she is a life coach, photographer, writer, traveler, teacher, who I had the opportunity to connect with recently. She gave me the opportunity to do some writing about my trip to Europe this summer on her travel blog and she also interviewed me. Please check out www.thecourageoustraveler.com/articles/ for the two stories and the interview.

Painting
Although the recent teaching and travel I've been doing has been enormously rewarding, I have been itching to get into my studio and yesterday was the day. Here's what's brewing.....

Sometimes a title comes with an idea and the word that came with this piece is "Tethered." A figure is in a body of water and she is 'tethered' by tendrils off a Lotus. There is more it will tell me I'm sure.

Enjoy the creative wanderings of your soul....
Alma

Make It University! (TM) Sneak Preview

Come and make Pendart Ⓒ with me! I'm heading to Houston in a week for the International Quilt Festival and I'm excited to be teaching how to make these fun and fashionable beauties. Sign up for my class at Make It University! and come to Open Studios where I will be demonstrating ways to expand the possibilities with fabric, paint and wood! See you there!

Art and Soul Retreat in Portland was Awesome!

Look at all this wonderful creativity going on! I am SO VERY IMPRESSED with everyone's BEAUTIFUL Telamadera Fusion creations! I was so happy to teach at Art and Soul in Portland. Everyone in class had such positive energy and enthusiasm. I appreciated the kind gifts of fabric and coupon too! I was infused with such good energy that I had intended to spend one more night in Portland afterwards because I figured I would be exhausted, but instead I decided to drive the three hours home because I was buzzing from the fun. Here you can see some pics from class- we are huddled under a small overhang just outside the hotel, woodburning away. Everone was really great about going with the flow. Even though we weren't allowed to burn inside, the hotel was GREAT in setting us up outside and no one said anything about the cold- which it was!

Glenny runs a really great event and I encourage everyone to check out an Art & Soul Retreat sometime- so many awesome classes taught by some very talented people. I felt privileged to be there and grateful for the people in my class who made it fun and a memorable first Art and Soul for me! Thank you!

Announcement! Artwork from Book is Available!

Hi Everybody,
I received six boxes of artwork today from my publisher and I am so happy to see all the pieces once again- we have been apart for many months now! I have selected 8 to show you here. I am planning to take them to Art & Soul Retreat for the Vendor Night in Portland on October 3rd. I thought, to celebrate their safe arrival I would post them here for you to preview for an opportunity to purchase them. If you purchase between now and the event on October 3rd, I will happily pay for the shipping of the artwork to your home. They are covering all my living room and studio surfaces and need their own wonderful space to hang. I have included the images below however, the descriptions will be listed first, in the same order as the images. Please e-mail me with any questions to alma@almaart.com. Thank you everyone!

"Rose," 15"x15," $500.-
"Love," 12"x 14," 350.-
"Watched Over," "14"x14," $400.-
"Peace," 11"x 5," $175.-
"She Transforms Worlds," 18" x 21," $700.-
"I Am the Drop and the Ocean," 9" x 15," $185.-
"Weave Your Web," 20" x 18," 700.-
"Cliff House," 18" x 18," $600.-

Quilting Arts TV

I remember getting my first issue of Quilting Arts Magazine as I began my artistic journey seven years ago. I was amazed at the beautiful artwork and the way the magazine was laid out. It spoke to my soul as each page I turned showed glorious color and wonderful layers of fabrics and embellishments. At the time I remember thinking I would love to meet Pokey Bolton, the editor and creator of Quilting Arts, because of her vision. She followed up with another incredible publication, Cloth, Paper, Scissors, and this seemed to parallel the changes that were taking place in my artwork as I began to mix up the media I used. The artists featured always inspired me, and still do, to push into new territory. I always read the Editor's Note at the beginning of the magazines and have enjoyed seeing how the magazines have grown. As I headed to Cleveland, Ohio to tape a segment for Quilting Arts TV , I was excited to meet Pokey, this person who had created meaningful touchstones on my artistic path. I marvelled at how incredible life is, bringing opportunities that link us to things we love- and in my case- FIBER ART!

I loved every minute of the Quilting Arts TV experience! Getting to meet special people..... Pokey (wonderful, dynamic energy!) and Helen Gregory (generous spirit!), Kathie Stull (skilled producer!), Katherine (thank you! :)), and all the talented artists and people that make the show a reality. I felt privileged to be there and I want to give a special THANK YOU to Dawn at The Warm Company for making it possible for me be on the show. I LOVE their product, Steam A Seam 2.

I included an image of the project I demonstrated which is Telamadera Fusion With An Art Quilt. The show will be on in January sometime so please look for it on PBS and for the DVD on Quiling Arts. TV

For My Sisters

Listen

Our time is ripe, our mother shines bright....

We stand at the water's edge, urn in hand
The lid is sealed and on my command-

Ashes lift, the drums beat loud. Hear me-
A life once lived has now been found!

The gale howls at the Moon. My Sisters, Hear that song!
Birth and death, Joys and wrongs.

"Yes, this happend to You my love," they say. I Listen.
They bear witness and the water christens.

A Sea of Tears, but dawn now breaks.
We hold each other. We laugh. We ache.

The sands shall shift beneath our feet
With Dance and Grace we rise to meet-

The Light, a Phoenix, but once a snake,
tail in mouth, coiled tight- make no mistake.

Even so, they slip their skins
For each other. One word. Akin.

The ring has widened, they gather 'round.
And with my Sisters,
a life once lived, has now been found.

Back from Spain and Italy!

Hi All!
Well, our seven week Spain/Italy adventure has come to a close and we are safely home. I feel so very fortunate to have had the opportunity to travel with my family through some incredibly beautiful places. I took over 2200 photos (insane!) and the ones I am sharing here are ones that I felt had a more artistic bent to them- I hope you enjoy them! Some artistic highlights for me:

A Matisse Exhibit at the Thyssen/Bornemisza in Madrid- I love an artist who plays BOLDLY with color!

The Picasso Museum in Barcelona- I did not know his early works and I was FLOORED by his use of color and space. I especially loved to see his evolution from traditional representation to cubism.

Gaudi's buildings and structures, Barcelona- One word- Genius.

Michelangelo's David- One solid piece of marble-Crazy Cool.

Providing inspiration for a long time to come.....The Alhambra in Granada, Tuscany, Venice and Cinque Terra, old gates, picturesque windows, and clothes hanging in the sun to dry.


Now that I'm back there is much creating to look forward to. I'm excited about events coming up....especially teaching at Art and Soul Retreat in Portland at the end of September. In a couple of weeks I travel to Ohio to tape a Quilting Arts TV episode where I demonstrate Telamadera Fusion with Quilts. I'll keep everyone posted as to when it airs.

I hope you are all enjoying your summer and you have made some time for nurturing your creativity :)!