I heard back from Lark Books today, (see my post from February 7th). My baby quilt, shown here, was not selected. I think I knew in my heart all along that it wouldn't be. It's a lovely quilt. And very well made. But I knew that they originally approached me, asking if I would submit a design, based on my small art quilts. And I knew that the energy of this larger quilt wasn't the same. (Nor was my attitude in making it. Despite how much I wanted to succeed.) Throughout the whole process, my shoulders were hunched and I swore like a longshoreman who'd been away at sea way too long. Not very good mojo to put into a baby quilt!
I have always enjoyed expressing myself on a small scale. It suits me. It's my language. I understand it. But have me work on a large scale, and I lose my vision. I feel like I am sitting in the front row, looking at a mega sized screen. I can't take it all in, my body hurts, I want to move away.
Ahh, but it turned out there was a very nice, and unexpected twist. The good people at Lark Books said that they liked my small art quilts so much, that they decided to add some smaller scale wall quilts to the book. They have requested that I send them my "HoJo Space Spores", ( see post from February 14th) and have asked me to make two more quilts based on two of my other designs, and done in the HoJo colors! And by the way, they were kind enough to offer me another go at making a larger baby quilt, based specifically on one of my designs in my etsy shop. I really appreciated the offer, but respectfully said no thanks, and they graciously understood. I have decided that life and art are just too precious to me to try and force myself to fit into a mold that I just don't feel comfortable in!
Thanks to everyone for their encouragement and good wishes! The book is due to come out in the Spring of 2009, I will keep you posted on any more updates!
11 comments:
I like the big quilt, but the energy is really different that the one in the post below. You do beautiful work!
The quilt is still beautiful, no matter what! Its very cool they are adding the smaller quilts to the book and that you will still have a shot at being in the book - your work is so wonderful people should get to see it & be inspired by it! {Plus, I'm not a experienced sewer and big quilts are difficult for me to grasp - I like the idea of smaller, wall quilts & I'm sure others will too.}
Thank you, I really appreciate your kind words!
What are you going to do with the baby quilt? Save it for future grandbabies?
can't wait to see the book!!
Ha, Ha! I think I might just do that! In the meantime I have a wall in my living room that has been screaming for something big to be hung on it. I think the quilt will be just the ticket!
That's wonderful...glad they appreciated your other work so much!
how exciting, congratulations! That's brilliant that they found a way to include the work that they loved, what a compliment, it shows that they really did love your work!
: )
I'm glad they saw the light and accepted your work as you actually do it. Scale is so important, and the dynamics are so different. Bravo for a job well done on a project that apparently pained you a bit... It's still a lovely quilt. Interesting the difference between the large and small.
Thanks so much, and I agree. Scale is so important. I have had my socks knocked off by many quilt artists who work on a large scale. Just blown away, and left in complete awe. However, if you took any of those magnificent quilts, and tried to duplicate the design and it's energy into a little tiny quilt, it would never work. The artist intentionally selected a large format to convey their vision. I think the same applies in reverse, small to large. The POW! factor gets lost in the translation.
Congrats!!! That is a beautiful quilt and it will find it's place in the world. You are such an inspiration!
Hope you don't mind but TAG...you're it.
This is VERY nice! I love the stitch detail. Very simple pieces, but intricate stitch detail. Congrats!
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