When I was in art school, I used to spend a lot of time getting everything just right before I could be creative. A few years ago, I decided I had to adapt to a busy career and make art 'fit' into whatever else I was doing. I had to change the type of artworks I did -- from big paintings or sculpture to 'handfuls' of cloth and a needle and thread -- and I had to change the way I thought about art-making. Instead of being a 'special' state that requires separation from the rest of my life, I've learned to make best use of the 'spare' moments of my life. I make a lot of art on airplanes, taking advantage of quiet time in the seat when my hands are free and my mind is calm.
Completing the Wild Thing Doll Swap Quilt was a happy part of my vacation. It travelled with me from Anchorage to Fairbanks and back while I was still at work; from Anchorage to Portland on the plane and then on a motorhome trip around Oregon. I made the final stiches at East Lake in the Newberry Crater, Oregon -- 6400 ft. elevation and then we headed to sea level -- Siltcoots Lake by Florence, Oregon. We camped at Darling Resort where there were wonderful hydraengas and we travelled by boat to the post office at Dune City so I could put it in the mail to Lisa in Illinois.
I had two inspirations for the quilt. One is the waving sea grass on the Coastal Trail near my home in Anchorage. I've always wanted to include that design in a quilt. The other was a McCalls Pattern from 1943 of a series of stuffed animals. I am not sure exactly which animal this is supposed to be, but it's my favorite. It looks like a little Wild Thing in the grass to me.
I hope Lisa enjoys it as much as I valued having it as my travelling companion this past month. Small gifts bring great blessings.
