Back to back injury- time to crochet!

Ha ha....sorry for the pun, though I'm not really laughing. Yesterday proved to be a stressful morning, and my back seized up after being OK for a couple of weeks. My allergies seem to be in overdrive today, and I am very stuffed up. I'm exhausted from stress, injury, and antihistamines.

In times like these, I crochet. I think this is one of the first kind of fiber arts I did. I was taught to crochet by a nun named Laverne who lived on my block. I grew up in Calumet Park, IL. This nun brought all of us kids on Ada St into her home almost daily and let us do crafts, color, and otherwise keep us off the streets. She taught me how to crochet, just one stitch, the single crochet. Laverne passed away not too long after teaching me, and my grandmother would not let us go to her funeral. I eventually taught myself the rest of the stitches, years later. I have never made a large crochet project, but plenty of small things.

When I am laid up like this, I usually crochet because it's easy and I can do it and watch TV at the same time. The past couple of weeks before getting back into the sewing room I made lots of washcloths from cotton yarn I got on sale at Michaels. Now I'm thinking of making some socks...

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!

Hanging out in Baltimore

I'm in Baltimore for work and decided to spend the weekend with quilt friends. Amy was so kind to let me stay with her and her family. She even put a nice brunch together with some guild friends. It was so nice.

We went to Savage Mill and I was able to go to Queen's Ink and the Treasure Trove antique linen store there. I could have spent a fortune there. We also stopped at Seminole Sampler, one of the best quilt shops in the country.

I had a great time. I hope to come back for the West River Retreat in November.

And can you believe these are back in season already?

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?

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.

No, I haven't fallen off the planet...

I'd love to think you're siting there wondering "Gee, where in the heck is Cheryl? She hasn't posted on her blog in a while." Ok, that's what I hope you are doing.
Well, I got called into the home office suddenly, to work on the big project. (The points of data are not making a beautiful line.)
So, when I get back home, I'll have a big update for you, including this and last week's weekly quilt, and last month's journal shrine quilt. I also have an art doll to show (I know! Shocker!) I will also have results from 2 online classes I am taking to further my quilt art.
So I will update on the weekend when I get home. I am planning to run a little contest soon too. So much fun to be had!

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...