Starting off with something new in 2010

One of my goals for 2010 is to blog more often.  I wasn't very good at this in '09 and I can be better in '10.  

To that end, and to try my hand at something art-y, I decided to try a little cartoon.  

I warn you, I CANNOT draw.  Really, I have no perception of depth or balance in this arena.  So these aren't going to be the best, but I can try.  I do work in the comic industry and have spent 2/3 of my adult life reading them, so I should be able to get some strips going.  I can do cutesy little faces and blobs, but real items and backgrounds are NOT my thing. 

My plan is to do one a week.  We will see how this goes!  

One of my next posts will be about my weekly quilt series in 2010.  I hope you'll stay tuned for my adventures.

Walking in Memphis

By the time you read this, I'll be in Memphis TN for the comic book industry job I have. Be there through Sunday. Missing my brother's birthday and my sister's candle party...

My back is not fully recovered so no sewing has happened in the studio. Lots of reading and crocheting, but little sewing. The ideas are building up, and the big IQA show in Chicago is looming with all kinds of ideas and classes to take and money to spend there...

I am teaching my Fiber Art Divas group how to make the Yo Yo Flowers (sorry for those of you still waiting on the pattern). I'll let you know how it goes. This is just coming off of teaching it as a half hour demo at the Riverwalk Quilt Guild's Gathering show.

I have a project to take with me on the plane, but we'll see how much gets done. I may just nap instead.

In the meantime, I submitted one of my sad February quilts for a "ghost for a ghost" project over on Astulabee's Blog and Flickr page. Go check it out!

Almost back from San Diego

Well, its almost over... I'm at the airport and ready to go home. I finished my weekly quilt and can focus on sleeping on the ride back. I had a frustrating roommate, but the rest of the show was fantastic. I will post a picture of my weekly when I get back. Its quite adorable!

Amazing but exhausting

I have had an amazing time here in San Diego at the comic con, but I am exhausted!
As for my secret news, I was a judge for the Spirit of Retailing Award for the Eisners this year. It was a very cool thing to do. I was sequestered for judging for many hours, and we judged the winner by assigning points. At the Eisner awards ceremony, we judges were named and it was a great night with real celebrities and everything. Working the booth is hard but fun. I even met a fellow quilter and talked crafts with a retailer/gallery owner. I can't wait to get home though...

On the way to the nerd prom

I'll be away from my blog for a week due to attending the San Diego Comic Con. I might be able to sneak in a couple of blog posts, who knows? I did bring the next work in the weekly series with me to sew on the plane ride. See you in a week!

Tough decision

I made a difficult decision on a juried quilt "call for art" last night. I am really disappointed with myself for not paying better attention to the entry dates, and I won't have my entry done in time.
With San Diego Comic Con next week, I won't be able to finish it. It's a tough decision for me, since I could spend every waking moment from now until I leave for the show to work on it, but rushing it will not be my "best work". And, I would be ill prepared for the comic show, which is the "nerd prom" and kind of a big deal in the industry. I'm even doing something super secret (for now).
I have the design sketched out, but no time to make it. I had really thought the deadline was Sept 1. My husband and I discussed it, and he has had similar painting deadlines he has let slip by for similar reasons, so it was very good to talk this over with him.
We both agree I still need to make the quilt this year by Sept 1 so that I can still accomplish the finished work. I wanted to focus on getting entries into shows this year, and this is one opportunity that I was really looking forward to.
I could write a whole blog post about "best work" and juried shows (and magazines) showing the same few artists over and over, and the downside of wanting to be an artist but working a (admittedly cool) full time job. Some other time perhaps. Later this weekend I will have a slew of art to show. That's positive, right?

My Delicious Mistake- Wizard World Chicago

Once again I attended a comic book show for work, and met bunches of artists. I had a few draw me some custom "chicken" art, for my work-related "chicken" theme. Thanks to Trin Gutierrez of Ronin Studios, Katie Cook, and Becky Grutzik, who all drew me a chicken.
Trin also drew My Delicious Mistake, which is what happened after eating a humongous Italian family style dinner at Maggiano's. We felt so stuffed we joked we could give birth to an Italian baby. It was our delicious mistake. I hope to post a picture of it soon.

RIP Michael Turner

While at Wizard World Chicago, I learned about the passing of Michael Turner, whose art I always liked and met a while back. Here is a great picture I took of him in 2006 in LA when I was introduced to him by one of our retailers, Chris Rupp. He lost his battle with cancer at 37 years old.

Charlotte Update

I'm back from Charlotte, NC only to RUN right back out to another show. This time Wizard World Chicago. I'll be staying at the show area in Rosemont rather than at the house which is an hour away. Less gas.

Anyway, Charlotte was a hoot. Lots of neat artists and creators. I will not have time to list them all but here are a few highlights:

Marc and Katie from Acme and FX International were loads of fun and we got to meet Katie's 'lil HellBoy!

Scott Campbell (not to be confused with other industry Scott Campbells) was so sweet and really cool. I love Pyramid Car! And this print!

I also met Donna from Steam Crow Press. So nice, and loved her mini pins.

Michael Wood is turning 35 this week, and from Pittsburgh, who I bought some indy comics from.

The folks at Imaginism were there, (Kei Acedera) and I chatted briefly.

Hilary Florido was sooooo cool. Yay! I love STUFF! "Stuff rocks!"

I bought a handmade pocket monster, which always amazes me the stuff you can find at these shows.

Todd of the Perhapanauts was very cool. Go Smelt fishing!

I also met Cully Hamner, Brian Stelfreeze, Jimmy Palmiotti, Amanda Conner, and Mike Weiringo's brother. I was getting coffee with this morning with Mike's brother and I asked if he had a good show, and after a few nice words and asking what parts of the industry I was in, I turned it around to find out he "was...is" Mike Weiringo's brother. I was stunned into silence and I can NEVER think of anything to say so I told him I hoped he had a good show and wished him safe travels. (Ugh, so terrible, I know.)

I really want to start a sketchbook of chickens, since that's my new work theme.

On Fire

I'm off to another comic book show this weekend. This time it's HeroesCon in Charlotte NC. I had to hurry up this week's quilt to get it done and not have to worry about it on my trip. And guess what? (Chicken butt) 3 days after I return, I'm at another comic book show.
Did you know there are 5 weekends in June? Ugh.
The flames didn't exactly come out like I wanted. They feel more "Dia de los Muertos" flames. But... It was an experiment, and that's what these weekly quilts are for!

RIP Rory Root

I know I rarely post about "work related" things, but I have worked in the comic book industry for almost 12 years, and yesterday one of the nicest retailers around passed away. Rory Root had great vision for the industry as a whole. When he made a suggestion to me for a change to our services or data, it was not just a good suggestion for his store to benefit from, but for all retailers. I was fortunate to see him in Las Vegas in March this year.
At my very first San Diego Comic Con last year I stopped by his booth, and he was there sitting on his stool with his hat and coffee cup, and we chatted for a very brief second. I'll miss Rory with his soft spoken voice and gentlemanly manners. His spirit for the industry will hopefully live on.

New York Comic Con

Hot on the heels of my chosen artform's huge show, I go to my profession's second largest US show, New York Comic Con. I don't talk about it often on my blog, but I do work in the comic book industry.
There were many highlights of the show, but I was mainly at our company's booth working the machines I was there to demo.
I did see a comic blogger that I read very often first thing on Friday morning before the show opened in the restroom. I recognized her from the enormous picture of herself in her blog's banner. I said hello, asked her if she was Valerie. She was a bit flustered, I think she was shocked to be recognized. I told her I read her blog, and said that I recognized her from her picture on her blog. (She did blog about getting a haircut for the show even..) Her version of events are here.
Anyway, I thought she was very nice. Would have loved to talk to her more, about women in comics who are not creators or editors or artists, but those of us behind the scenes making a big difference in the industry just the same. My point of sale project is pretty important, at least I think so, and as a long time fan and a woman in comics, I would like to had that conversation, even to see where it would have gone. Maybe some other day. I did finally join Friends of Lulu...
Anyway, I am in Baltimore until Wednesday, so no quilt art updates until I am back...