RedBarn Studios

This quote by the Prussian poet and mystic, Rumi, is one I use at the end of my lecture presentation “Evolution of a Quilt Artist: The Life and Times of a Quit Addict“. One of my missions as a fiber artist is to encourage and  inspire others to be their own creative selves and to do the things they love to do no matter the neighs from others or their own personal doubts.

Here’s my latest journal I finished 2 days ago.It measures 6″ x 4.5″ and is filled with lots of beautiful papers. The cover  is a luscious brown ultra suede that I painted with brilliant green Lumiere paint, hand stitched french knots and a simple running stitch. To add a bit of sparkle I beaded  the flower centers on the front cover. I loved how it turned out.

And……it has been SOLD.

Last night I went to my evening guild meeting (Lake Norman Guild) and showed them my latest creations, telling them I am so hooked on making these new kind of art pieces. truly believe they are a part of my creative spirit.

As the journal was being passed around a wonderful friend just stroked the cover, looked up at me and told me she wanted it for herself.  I was awestruck. She wrote me a cheque right then and there. Needless to say I was very thrilled.

And I was thrilled even more when another guild member, clutching my Blue Vintage Journal (at left), told me me in a very plaintive but serious voice that she “just had to have it”.

WOW! Two journals sold…just like that. Rumi has it right. Do what you love to do and everything else will follow (gremlins are chomping at the bit to get to me for that statement but I won’t let them spoil my fun).

I am on the right path…for me.

Don’t forget to check my Etsy store for new pieces.

See ya next time “In the Hayloft”,

Tags: artful creations, journals, mixed media, paper art by k grace howes
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But not so happy.

Let me ‘splain things a bit ….I had on my to-do list last week to back up my files….photographs got done before Christmas and now I had scheduled the time to do my documents…finally!. In the meantime I was having issues with HP printer for a few days and computer was running real slow (computer couldn’t see printer on network….again) so I decided, in order to help the computer a bit, to clean it up and remove some of the gunk that had accumulated……cookies, temp file, contents of recycle bin (this last one was not good).

Little backtracking first…..the previous week I noticed that a copy of “My Documents” ended up in my photos file. One of the 1st commandments of Grace’s computer is no photo files and documents files shall mix!!! So I deleted the file that immediately went to my recycle bin and left it at that. When I went to my anti-virus software to clean up a day later, I clicked the button to remove all that gunk and it went away to do its stuff.

Last Friday, days after the antivirus software had done its job (so very excellently I might add), I when to retrieve the stamp carving workshop write up that I was teaching the next day and couldn’t find the file.

Pop-box said “NO SUCH FILE EXISTS” silly woman……no matter how many times you ask me to get it out for you”.

Can you say P-A-N-I-C !!!!!!!!

Went to get other files and noticed that ALL my files had disappeared. WHOA!  Little did I know at the time that the copy of “My Documents” I found in my photos file was not a copy of the whole file but was the actual file, with over 200 word documents (patterns, invoices, website files, presentations, etc.), that had been inadvertently moved to the photos file (how? when? why? I don’t know)…….. so…. NO other copies of my documents existed. Remember what was on my to-do list for this week……make back-ups of all my word documents! Ugg!

Did I mention that, the printer disappeared….again…..from the computer. Oh what a night I had last Friday. Left message for my computer guy and when he called on Tues he said to shut down the computer right away cause the more I used it the more my files would be overwritten and less and less of the files would be able to be retrieved. By that time I had been using the computer, like normal, for 4 days.

My guy came yesterday to fix me all up and…….I have some good news……he upgraded my memory and so my computer runs faster BUT….alas…..all files have been lost FOREVER!!!!! The anti-virus software had wiped out the memory of those files completely.

So today is a retrieval of sorts or rather trying to make a list of what I remember to be in the “My Documents” file. I am such a careful person when it comes to my computer, checking and rechecking before I hit ANY button but…….just this once….this ONE time I didn’t do that.

Oh well…moving on….

Moral of this story……BACK UP YOUR FILES…….regularly….please!

See ya next time “In the Hayloft”,

Tags: life etc. by k grace howes
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Yesterday, after making dinner (something I don’t have to do that often thankfully because my wonderful husband loves to experiment on us..yippee!) we decided we would head to the bookstore for a coffee and some alone time…no kids or appointments looming.

FOUR hours later…..yes a whole four hours….we rolled out of Barnes and Noble quite satiated, complete and whole again. Upon entering the bookstore hubby went off to commandeer the comfy chairs and purchased the coffees (although mine is usually a chai tea latte) while I walked the store gathering my stash of books and mags I wanted to read….all 20 or so of them.

We sat down, comfortably settled into our chairs, sipped our drinks and started reading, occasionally talking or showing one another something that caught our eye. I knew I would be purchasing that night cause for my birthday my friend and neighbor got me a B&N gift card so I was happy contemplating which book(s) I would be bring home to savor some more.

As I got to the cash register hubby noted the time with a horrified “Is that the TIME?????”. I calmly asked him what the offending time was and he broadcast to the unperturbed store clerk that we had spent the last four hours there. Her response, much practiced I’m sure, was “it happens”. Still, we left the bookstore at 10:15 pm a happy crew. The best part of this is that I got 2 new books and a magazine and only spent 45 cents (how flipping cool is that?).

A Creative Journey

I call myself the perpetual student because I am always on a constant quest to learn anything and everything. I gladly take in all I can to help myself succeed in life and in business and would take a course on a subject in an instant if time were on my side most times. So instead I devour books.

My new book that I’m recommending to all is….”The Creative Entreprenuer” by Lisa Senora Beam. Lisa takes you on a visual journey rather than just a read-what-I-wrote-here-and-follow-it journey.

The publisher says “…the book offers a dynamic left brain/right brain approach to developing a business focus. [Lisa] helps the artistic types develop and harness their business savvy and takes readers on an inner journey of creative exploration”.

At first Lisa has you answer a list of questions that explore different pathways about you personally and you the artist as a businesswoman. Catch is (which I think is so cool) you have to turn your left brain off when answering these questions and just write….write without  thinking…..without worrying about punctuation and grammar. I think they call it stream writing or some such thing.

As I get more and more into mixed media and paper arts, combining it with my love and use of fabric, I am encouraged by Lisa’s informal but strategic approach. I have read a few places where you are told to visually map out with magazine pics and such the life you want.

That is what this book helps you do…visually mind map what you wish for yourself.  And, as this is a year of INTENTION and SELF DISCIPLINE for me, this guidebook fits in well with how I like to approach things, without having to re-read my goals and aspirations for the coming year. They’ll all be in pictures on my wall just above my desk. Nice!

Mind you I have not even begun to get into the book (only perused it in the part of the four hours at the bookstore),  but from what Ive read so far…it’s gonna be a good ride. Go check it out for yourself.

See ya next time “In the Hayloft”,

Tags: Art, book club, defining one's art, down time by k grace howes
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I’ve added another journal to my etsy shop. My husband practically commandeered it for himself he loved the vintage quality of it so much. Like before it’s filled with 4 signatures of fantastic art papers.

Along the edge I stitched blue seed beads and then attached metal letters that spell the word “ARTWORK”. I really like this one. I know, you’re thinking….she says that about each one…but I really, really do! I can’t help myself.

See ya next time “In the Hayloft”,

Tags: Art, journals, paper art by k grace howes
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A few months ago I was one of 4 who volunteered to do a demo for my local quilt guild. That night the guild (about 45 members) was divided into groups, with each group traveling to different demo tables. Each person doing a demo had about 6 or 7 minutes to talk really, really fast about their technique so there was only so much I could demonstrate.

Well….a few of them wanted MORE!  The Graybarn Girls (isn’t that a cool name)  invited me to come to one of their meeting to do a more advanced workshop with them, this Saturday, the 17th as a matter of fact. I was so excited.  Stamp carving is fairly easy to do once you get the hang of it and know the tips for clean carving.

This year I intend (my word for the year remember?) to teach more workshops and have been working on a couple of new workshops that I will be offering but more on that in a later post. To that end, I’ve created a stamp carving workshop called ” Creating Personal Imagery Through Stamp Carving“. I feel that working with images that have personal meaning to you makes your artwork more meaningful.

So with the girls,we will be exploring a little bit more about the images that connect with us and hopefully carving a of few of these images for use later in the workshop project, an imagery journal.

If you and your group are interested in learning how to carve stamps consider booking me for a workshop  I would love to help you along in your art journey. (BTW, I don’t mind traveling but airfare is up to you…smile).

BTW, remember I said I wanted to carve my very own alphabet…take a look below at these before and after shots.

I have a file full of ideas for new stamps. Now I’m certainly not into insects but one image that resonates with me are dragonflies. Usually when I use them in my work they represent a transformation to me. I’ve long had an idea for a dragonfly stamp….but I’m keeping it to myself a little while longer.

See ya next time “in the Hayloft”,

Tags: Art, journals, mixed media, stamp carving, teaching, workshops/presentations by k grace howes
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It’s my birthday silly.

Happy Birthday to ME,

Happy Birthday to Moi,

Happy Birthday to ME-eeeeeeee!

Happy Birthday to Me!!

See ya next time “in the Hayloft”,

Tags: birthday, life etc. by k grace howes
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I have always made things for myself and for others. I had a clothing business early on in the Bahamas making clothes for the some of the expatriates who lived on the island…. then when we moved to the US, I started quilting and making custom bed linens and window treatments.

Last year I opened an Etsy shop  (for those of you who don’t know Etsy is a place where all thing handmade can be found to give as gifts or, even better, to keep for yourself, yummy!).

Here’s the thing……I knew I wanted to offer my handmade items for sale but never knew what I would like to make for others that would not turn into a sort of production line. I wanted to offer special items that were very much a part of who I am as an artist.

As you know, this past Christmas I made journals as gifts for my friends. I so enjoyed making these gifts that I thought…mmmmh…. others who enjoy handmade items would also like my journals.

Each journal is hand bound with  a fabric covered cover and contains 4 signatures that are covered with some funky scrapbook paper….which you know I absolutely love perusing paper and craft stores for.

I am busy making more journals so if you see one you’d like or you have in mind a specific one you want me to make for you let me know.  This is soooo way cool!!!  Now go over to my etsy shop…….go on, I can wait….. and take  a look. Let me know what you think.

Here’s a sneak peak at 1 of the items I have for sale.

I now make beautiful journals that inspire me everyday. So from time to time I will be posting a new one here to let you know I have added a new one to MY Etsy shop at redbarn.studios.etsy.com.

See ya next time “In the Hayloft”,

Tags: Art, fiber art, journals, mixed media, paper art by k grace howes
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Just a quick post to officially usher in the new year.

I would also like to say a very special thank you to all of you who regularly read my blog. I love your comments, advice and good words about my work and invite you to stay on this journey with me.

I wish for all of us another year of wonderful experiences, continued growth, spiritual blessings and much success in our art journey.

Happy, Happy New Year!

See ya next time “In the Hayloft”,

Tags: New Year, ponderings by k grace howes
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D I L I G E N C E.

My word for 2010. A few definitions that I’ve gathered are:

…constant and earnest effort to accomplish what is undertaken

...persistent exertion of body or mind

…steady and careful application

…proper attention or care

But first a recap.

I chose 2 words for 2009…Intention and Self-discipline. I found that by the end of 2008 I needed to seek out new goals, to define my INTENTION for the year to come and, by adding SELF-DISCIPLINE, I was able to keep myself on track. It was a year of thinking, redefining, repurposing, even if I came to the conclusion that I was to let go of art (yes, I even went there) or just do it for my pleasure – not to sell or exhibit.

I gave myself the whole year to clearly define what I wanted to do for me and how that would manifest itself through my art, while still creating art as well. This year was about clarifying my wants and needs and purging all the shoulda-coulda’s that I seem to always let come to the forefront and sometimes take over and block my creativity.

I realized that I not only did I see what others did to be successful but thought I had to do it that way myself, all this without taking the time to put ME in the equation.

Now that I have established intentions for myself in terms of life and art (will be keeping them to myself for now), I can now act more DILIGENTLY toward implementing them…2009 was definitely a year of finding ME in ART again.

In 2010 I will, with DILIGENCE…

Tags: word of the year by k grace howes
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