Monday, September 23, 2013

Getting Past the Roadblocks


My dream is to create an art quilt that honors my Japanese American Heritage and have it publicly displayed. WOW! What an dream, but how to make it come true. What might stand in my way?

When I though about what I might stand in my way I thought of my very real insecurities about creativity. What has happened in the past is that when I try to create art and it doesn't look the way that I think it should look, I have gotten discouraged. What I will do often is just play it "safe" and copy other people's work. I want to get past this. So, starting from today, I WILL JOYFULLY CREATE WITH FREEDOM AND CONFIDENCE!

Here are the things that I have come to realize about creativity:

1) Comparing myself to others is not a fair comparison because everyone started out somewhere and worked at getting better. Putting in the time to practice and get better will pay off in the long run.
2) Creativity is individual - there are no rights and wrongs.
3) The work I admire most, is work that is straight from the heart. I need to just listed to my heart.
4) When kids first start out creating art, they are naturally creative. It is only when they start comparing themselves to others that they become to afraid to trust their creativity. Comparing yourself to others is TOXIC to creativity!
5) I recognize that I have been very creative in other areas of my life, such as in creating reunions, birthday parties, technology projects. I got there by taking risks and building on my successes.
6) I have the ability to create in art if I let myself experiment and know that it is a process which takes time to develop.
7) I can take classes to improve my artistic skills and quilting. There is a community out there to help me.
8) I need to be my own best friend in the area of creativity and give myself credit for taking risks and for my efforts to create. I must treat myself in the same way that I would treat my daughters or a friend.
9) I admire creative people. I want to be one of them. I admire musicians and people who honor and build community.
10) There are plenty of quilt artists that are self-taught and started out in the same way that I am. I plan to contact at least one of them and tell them about my dream.
11) When I look for a greater purpose to fulfill, I am motivated to forge ahead and be creative (example: Motivated by the goal cheering up a friend fighting cancer, I easily created a quilt).

I can do it!


Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Re-inventing Myself as a Narrative Quilt Artist


I LOVE NARRATIVE QUILTS!
Along my re-invention journey I discovered that I love narrative quilts! When I see narrative quilts,  I am in awe of their beauty and the stories behind them. Last Christmas,  I made this quilt for Dad & Barb. It depicts the two of them at home, with a view of the backyard, having an enjoyable afternoon.


Quilt I made for my Dad & Barb for Christmas 2012

My fascination for narrative quilts along with a close look at what I value prompted me to create a new vision for my life. Here is my new vision.......

My Vision (6/7/13)
I am a narrative quilt artist. I tell stories of people’s lives through beautiful quilts. I make quilts that hang in galleries. I have workshops in which I teach others how to tell stories through quilts. I am working on a children’s book that uses quilts as illustrations. I do library programs that include storytelling and quilts. I go to schools to help students build quilts about what they are studying. I have started a non-profit to help troubled youth to tell their stories through quilts. I have a loving family who is supportive of my work. I travel and love to look at fabrics from the places that I visit. I am an avid cell player and also a gardener and cook.
I tell about the Japanese American experience. I am mindful, healthy and kind. I have strong ties to the community and encourage others to create the life of their dreams. I serve as a model to others to grow and take risks. I am grateful for each day.
I can make a difference using my quilting in the following ways:
-give quilts to help non-profits with fundraising
-celebrate a person or organization by creating a commissioned quilt
-tell the stories of a community
-bring a community together by helping them make a group quilt
-teach quilting to incarcerated youth
-help adults to learn a new skill and grow
-teach kids quilting as an extension of their curriculum
I want to be the Nikki McClure of Narrative Quilting

I want my life to be about: creating, helping to improve the lives of others, learning about people’s lives, telling the Japanese American experience, less rush, a simpler life, being mindful, a healthy lifestyle, less reliance on technology, relationships, making the world a better place, appreciation of nature, art & music, organizing others, gratitude, kindness, community, encouraging others to create the life of their dreams, personal growth, self help, taking risks. 






My Own Story







This blog is about my re-invention!

My re-invention is something that I have put it off too long. I have spent the past 13 years of my life working as a technology teacher/coordinator at Torrey Pines Elementary School. After years of sitting on the fence about my job, I finally made the decision to move on. Prior to my technology teacher job, I was a stay-at-home mom and a computer programmer. I have also worked as a waitress at Yosemite, worked in HR and worked in the fabric department of a store.

In my free time, I like to take hikes, go biking, spend time with my family, travel, make crafts, volunteer at church and other misc (read, play cello, cook)

What I be creating on this re-invention journey is a life that excites me and as well as all those around me!

Here I go!