Sunday, April 1, 2012

Taking a Break

In my efforts to revive my joy for painting I have been pursuing other creative endeavors. These are things I've always wanted to do but could never make time for. Now I realize I HAVE to make time for these other things to retain my sanity.

Of course I am rather practical in what I make, so my first thought was - who can I make what for? So my first project was a stuffed "monster" for my son. This was my second try. The first was awkward. Apparently there is a learning curve for all new things. Duh. This was a good thing for me to realize. It humbled me a bit and refocused me on why I am taking this break.


My stepdaughter, Maddie, found a very cool fabric store here in Eugene (Piece by Piece) with all kinds of to-die-for fabrics. It is generally for quilting, which is something I am looking into. I wanted to practice first with some easier piecing projects, and so for my second project I put together this bag for carrying groceries (or whatever). It is a gift (shhh). I used a very thin kind of foam (made just for this) to stiffen the sides and bottom.


This next one is also a gift (shhh - it's a good thing these 2 don't check my blog). I found a general pattern online for this one that is modeled after a plastic grocery bag.


Next I wanted to practice stitching over my pieced together squares, so I figured potholders would be a good way to go. I am finding the fabrics to be like a kind of palette of colors. And I need so much more. Screw that limited palette!


Meanwhile I am also putting together some earrings.


And in my spare time I made a few pillows.


April Fools! Well, all but the pillows I really made. Thanks for taking the time to look. : )

43 comments:

  1. WOW! Look at you and all your non-painting creative explosion! I love that monster, and I am mightily impressed about your sewing skills since that is something I do NOT have at all. At elast with a machine, I can do hand stuff pretty good. Good luck to you Carol. :))

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  2. ahahahahah, love the April Fools joke! If you ever want to learn my artistic diversion of fused glass and bead making, I happen to live very close to the "carol marine" of fused glass....and we trade paintings for glass lessons....phenonenal....i know i spelled that wrong....but anyway...glass is my diversion from painting and it's NECESSARY....i'm thinking of painting on cookies too....look up painted cookies on Pinterest....I'm OBSESSED

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  3. You are SO funny! I was thinking 'wow, she's been busy', 'gosh she's been busy', scrolling down and down to the 'small' pile of pillows!! Good grief! Where does that girl find the time?!!!! Then I saw your joke ;-)
    I absolutely love the cutie robot! You are extremely multi-talented young lady! X

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  4. LOL. My eyes were bugging when I saw the pile of pillows. Very funny. You are amazing even sans the pillows!! (: I especially love the potholders... But the bags are brilliant too.

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  5. You're outstanding at whatever you touch with your creativity! Love the fabric work. I wouldn't put it past you to make all those pillows! Not bad on the April Fools joke- but I recommend feeding your kids Meow Mix with milk in the morning.
    Twenty-five years later and my kids still bring it up! Poor babies!

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  6. Carol, you sure don't let any moss grow on yourself! If I were "taking a break" I would probably be producing nothing. Love your monster! Fun! Looking forward to meeting you in person this summer, hope you are refreshed and rejuvenated by then. I don't know how you do it all, pretty amazing to have that kind of energy!

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  7. Carol, So good to see you just having fun and creating for the joy of it and the giving part of it. I love all the crafty sewing you are doing- love doing some of that myself. Earrings are so cool and love the pillow joke at the end:) My friend, Nancy Franke, talks about balance and keeping other things in your life to bring back to your art- That you have to be out there living life to then be able to put that into your paintings. Sounds like that is ringing true for you and I am so glad you are taking this time for YOU! Take care, keep creating and have lots of fun while at it:)

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  8. It warms my heart seeing you are being creative and happy. Everything you do is special. You have the GIFT!
    I bet the whole family is happy having you around...and I love the way we can still all stay in touch.

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  9. You are so productive even on your "breaks" I hope you are taking some naps, too! It is all beautiful.

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  10. I have a stack of fabric in my closet that excites me every time I look at it.(Much like those pot holders if you don't already have them allocated -haha). I did feel a bit guilty about it after I started painting and a wise friend said "Are you kidding, that's everyday inspiration!" So good that you're listening to your self!!
    xo

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  11. These are wonderful things, so bright and happy looking. You are full of surprises!!

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  12. You are something else, girlie ! I absolutely LOVE the doll, and the totes.... the potholders and jewelry, too.... Nothin' stoppin YOU ! I make clothes for my grand-daughters, baby quilts for all my friends grandbabies and my children's friends ! I also collage and make mini-journals to sell, as well as altered and folding books..... OH MY, just get YOU going on making books and we really may NOT get to see any paintings for a LONG while ! Whatever you do--- DO not be tempted to make books--- ha ha ..just kidding, I used to do it with my students all the time ! OH< also, how about getting those knitting needles out and making scarfs..... (also addictive- ha !)

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  13. Carol,
    You show the same creativity with color and pattern that you do with your painting. I am not a quilter but some of the large abstract quilts that I've seen are spectacular art. Great what you are doing and as interesting to view as your paintings.

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  14. Hi from Deb in Sydney, Carol! It's great to see you spreading your creative wings - your creations are gorgeous! I combine painting with making lots of other stuff: sewing, knitting, crochet, collage, embroidery, beading, decoupage, papier mache, I have a couple of mosaics on the go at the moment. I think everything creative contributes to every other medium - it's all talking to each other if you know what I mean. Looks like you're having FUN, which is the main thing! I still dream of attending a workshop in the US, in the meantime I have your books, and Artbytes :-) Thank you so much, you are amazing!

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  16. You must visit Jane Lafazio's blog to see what she does with fabric!
    http://janeville.blogspot.com/

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  17. Love your new endeavors.....the designs, colors and compositions on all the pieces!

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  18. Congratulations on your choices, Carol. It is all part of the same journey and it is wonderful that you gave yourself the gift of a break to explore and experience. I look forward to your new sharing. Best wishes.

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  19. Good for you!
    Your paintings still look as wonderful as ever... this break will feed your paintings, and we will see something new in them when you get back to it, I'm sure! : )
    Your talent shows in everything you do!
    I went through a quilting, collecting palettes of fabric, period of time. I wish I had time for it all. Here's one of my fav quilters:
    http://www.kaffefassett.com
    his fabrics are so "to die for". The potholders you made are so fun, they almost make me want to start sewing again. And the monster too.

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  20. Hi Carol! I just wanted to say I think it's great that you're doing all this fun creative stuff. It's so easy to get in the mode of "paint paint paint" when you're juggling a painting career with being a mom. I was lamenting to my husband a few weeks ago that I wish I still had time for a hobby (like sewing, or scrapbooking, or making something other than paintings) but that I feel like I should be spending all my free time creating paintings. I'm sure that being creative doing other stuff will make you a better painter in the end. And now I want to take few weeks off and sew something, btw =)

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  21. You are too funny! I love where your heart is taking you - your pieces really look like your paintings (are other people saying this too - I haven't read all the comments!) and I just adore your color sense with the fabric - and the doll! You just go, girl. Your paints will not dry up. Nor will your creativity. Have fun - GOD. you deserve it!!! xoxo

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  22. Look at all the wonderful things you made, wow. Sounds like you are working very hard on your break though, lol.

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  23. Wonderful Creations Carol!! Wow--I don't think you left any creative dust behind--look what you accomplished already. Did you say you were on a break?!lol Your personality is shining through in these projects just like your paintings. So happy you are having fun. Enjoy and I look forward to more fun creations!

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  24. Carol, with your knowledge of color relationships you'd be a great quilt maker. If you can get ahold of a long arm quilting machine I guarantee you'll have a blast doodling with thread - so much fun!!!

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  25. I Love your crafts as much as I love your paintings Carol...you are the one that inspired me to start daily painting. It's great you are taking a break...you will find a balance in your life and be painting again soon:)

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  26. Happy for you!
    We all needs a break sometime!!!

    Your earrings look like the stone sculptures......COOL.

    Love the monster.

    Your fabric choices are similar to your still life choices.
    It all screams Carol Marine!!

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  27. Carol! Love these! Wow. So much colour, zing and spirit. Creativity spawns creativity in all forms. I love your colours/patterns and especially the monster. Kids' monsters are close to my heart ; ) Have you ever heard of crazy quilting? I did one a few years ago and they're a lot of fun.

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  28. What fun to do new things! You are so multi-talented. Nice to have this kind of break to get recharged. Enjoy and keep us posted!

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  29. Un grand sourire en lisant votre dernière publication...
    Gros bisous à vous.

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  30. Just love everything you have done, so full of fun and joy......no end to your talent!

    When I was under Dr.'s orders to stay put, and take it easy, I turned to jewelry making it satisfied my need to play with colors and shapes. It is a great way to be creative and quiet, sort of like meditating.

    Thanks for sharing your great projects, will look forward to seeing more:}

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  31. Hey there!! My Step-mom Belinda Del Pesco sent me over ;). I love quilting. I just posted my March Craftsy Blocks of the month on my blog ;).

    http://melaniehamdesigns.blogspot.com/2012/04/march-blocks-of-month.html

    Happy Stitching!!

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  32. Out of the ashes I see Phoenix rising!
    Lovely work - hmmm - play!
    Good luck with all the changes.

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  33. It's great to see you dabble in other mediums. I am a fiber artist foremost, specifically a rug hooker, but I dabble in sewing, quilting, and yes, I even took a painting workshop from you a little over a year ago. I just loved it, thank you. I do find that stepping into other forms of art refreshes me and triggers ideas that I take back into my rug hooking. Enjoy your break! Refresh and renew, and I'm positive you will come back with a multitude of fresh ideas and be better than ever.

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  34. What fun! And you are awesome at everything you do, Carol! I also have other creative outlets, including 'craft day' with friends that has pretty much turned into 'sewing day' once every few months. Even though I've just started my daily painting venture, I still enjoy going off in different directions every now and then. LOVE your last painting you posted too, and can't wait to see more!!

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  35. Love the fabrics and the bright colors. If I weren't so busy in school, I would be sewing too. I do keep a knitting project going all the time and between school projects try to knit a few rows. I can tell you are having fun and that's what counts. Continue to "sew beautiful".

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  36. You are the REAL DEAL! They're all super!

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  37. It's so nice to see that other painters are interested in other pursuits, as well. I love sewing, crocheting and fine crafts...just don't Push myself to take a break from painting...you have inspired me.

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  38. Oh my I love all your items you've made!! I also love to sew and create. I just started a blog come on over I'm having a give away of one of the Tooth Fairy Pillows I make. www.sewcraftykathy.blogspot.com

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  39. I love it Carol...I like to call it Creatively Capricious! I'm all about that...one day painting, the next sewing, the next painting furniture and whatever my creative whim wants...it gets! Makes for alot of mixed up days...that may seem unfocused...but the real focus is on...what makes me happy! And I am pretty happy most days...so there ya go! Your invited to check out my blog and see some of my creative ramblings...denisecerro.blogspot.com
    Enjoy your day!

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  40. LOL
    The pillows got me.
    You are just a ball of creative fire!

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