There are lots of thoughts swirling and twirling around these parts and I find myself with precious little time to contemplate. But, yes, here are some questions:
- Should one let naysayers have input on one’s creativity? If they previously disapproved, that is, should one take that into account in the next thing one makes? If so, how?
- Who decides what one makes? And by letting others have control of what one makes, is that a sign of buying whole-hog into ideologies, however repressive, oppressive and anti-intellectual they might be?
- Should one dig in one’s heels, have self-confidence, stick to one’s principles and make what one wants to make because it is meaningful and fulfilling? Or should one be hypyer-aware of who is watching and kowtow to their tastes instead?
- Should one bow to adversity, cowering in a corner licking her wounds and apologizing for her existence?
Of course, the answers are not simple “yes” or “no,” but rather acknowledge a simple “f*ck you” to those who wish to silence anything new, different or challenging, while also taking care to remain true to oneself. Next steps are difficult enough when walking into the Great Unknown. Seems best to shed the naysayer monkeys upfront.
Is it okay if I vent here? Just a little? Nothing too specific?
So…yeah…f*ck you. You know who you are. [If you have trouble parsing this line, I refer you to Carly Simon's enigmatic classic, "You're So Vain."]
I am here. I make stuff. I don’t need you to like everything I make. I do need you to see me as a fellow human being and behave accordingly.
And now we may go on.
The best fabrics I’ve ever laid hands on? Eh, I dunno. But Oakshott‘s shot cottons come close.
A gift of some scraps from Lynne came along about a year ago and then a gift of a little stack of fat quarters from the company directly. Fortunately, I’d already ordered some sample charms and a few FQs and half-yards, so I was already drooling and ready to pounce when they arrived. Honestly, after one canoodle with these cottons and you won’t be able to resist the motherlode.
Improv and precision piecing go well together.
I love that acceptance of the gift of fabric did not yoke me into a particular aesthetic. I was allowed to make what I wanted to make because it felt right with the fabrics. And when not using the fabrics, I was still able to be myself.
Oh, and I didn’t forget to make a little “mistake.”
Thanks again, to my friends, family and loyal critical critics. [Again, if you have trouble parsing, let me just say that you know who you are.]
The Details:
Pattern: precision and improv patchwork
Materials: all 83 colors of Oakshott shot cottons; plain muslin for backing; leftover cotton print for binding
Techniques: machined pieced; longarm machine quilted by Tia Curtis Quilts; and hand-bound
Finished size: 64″ square
Started: March 4, 2012
Patchwork finished: April 23, 2012
Finished: March 9, 2013
Yep, SHUN THE NAYSAYERS! Okay…now, that is one gorgeous quilt! The Oakshot fabrics are to die for! Wow!
Following one’s internal north star can be made difficult by the noise from the peanut gallery. That doesn’t mean that the star isn’t there or that you don’t know how to follow it. The noise can just be distracting.I think it’s a matter of focus; with a well-fed FUCKYOU in the pocket keeping you company on the journey- let it whisper it’s sweet nothings in your ear, not the others. Being eternally on the edge keeps one humble, so arrogance is not really an issue. That’s my nsho!
You go, girl. I’m right there beside you! Sew what you love; let your light shine through; don’t let the naysayers get you down! LOVE the new quilts – amazing work!
1st) The Oakshots are DIVINE.. first got to touch them at QuiltCon ..now I dream about them.. so yummmmm yummm to your awesome project.
2nd) I just woke up from a dream (cold medicine induced).. Edna Mode was in it.. she told me.. ” NO Capes!”.. I took this to mean.. let the other shit go.. and that includes people – while I always want to hear all sides of an issue I don’t have to have to give free space in my head to the haters.. so yes, F*ck Them.
You keep making all the awesome things that time and sleep allow. Fuck ‘em if the don’t like it, it’s your life-energy, not theirs, and they should sto wasting theirs getting bunched-panties about art.
I love the vibrancy of this quilt. Awesome job!
Beautiful. I think the little quarter square triangles really make it.
“Of course, the answers are not simple “yes” or “no,” but rather acknowledge a simple “f*ck you” to those who wish to silence anything new, different or challenging, while also taking care to remain true to oneself.”
Amen!
Love this quilt, by the way. The precise quarter-square triangles with the improv piecing is just so fucking great.
Don’t let anyone stifle your creative voice. Be true to yourself and don’t worry what other people say. There are plenty who “get” what you are doing. There are plenty who stay long enough to understand why even if it is not something that they like or would do themselves.
I do love this quilt with its rows of little hourglass blocks. So. Good.
I do love me some Oakshotts.
not even necessary to hate, I think, don’t loose energy. I love your mix of of ‘fuck’ and “woman’S work” ! enjoy and work
Fascinating. I kept going from the close-up to the big picture, marveling at the contrast between the two. Oh, and the other stuff? I think that you should follow the muse where she leads you, because I love where you two end up. I look forward to more of your brave, interesting, aesthetically pleasing work!
Hi C, I’m new to your blog and so totally obsessed that I woke up in the night wanting to read on. I started in May 2011 and have read every post and clicked most links up until July 2012 (I’ll get up to the current one soon). I also subscribed, of course, and got today’s post. I may have to keep these new ones on the back burner until I get caught up. I so love everything you do. I can’t even imagine how anyone could be a naysayer! I love fully saturated colors, too, exuberant colors. I love to knit (and used to quilt until a bad back did me in). I love how incredibly productive you are. I have a mental image of you like a cartoon character with super speeded up hands a total blur as you work. I want to see everything you’ve done so I’ll probably go back to the beginning of your blog and read up until the 2011 starting point, too — after I reach the current ones. I’m excited to “meet” you and wonder why I never “found” you before this. I’d also love to know whose link I clicked on to begin with (on Friday) so I could thank that person for many hours of inspiration, excitement, introspection, and COLOR! Thanks so much.
I love it. It’s gorgeous. Honestly, I admire your quest to stay true to yourself, and the way you share that quest with us. There will always be naysayers. Don’t let them get you down or change you!
Eleanor Roosevelt Said
“Do what you feel in your heart to be right, for you’ll be criticized anyway.
You’ll be damned if you do and damned if you don’t”.
Thank goodness we all don’t cater to the dictates of a few otherwise it would be a bland boring world.
1. No. 2. Only you. 3. Yes. 4. No. Beautiful beautiful oakshott quilt, when you do what you want to do, you are bloody marvellous x
Cool Quilt! But even if I did not like it, I would say, ‘Be true to who you are!’. I don’t care if others don’t like my art. I do art to please me. ttfn :) Yuki
I agree, who cares what they say.
Love the quilt!!!
I wish I could reach through the screen and canoodle w/that quilt myself! It is so stunning and playful.
Read Kafka’s The Hunger Artist. Watch Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park with George. Both deal with the artist vs.society. Those artists who live closer to their own ideas and vision rather than with those of society are the ones who impact and matter. But there’s a price we pay for following our own muse. Keep on keeping on, Girlie!
One of my favorite sayings is “Fuck ‘em if they can’t take a joke.” that needs to be modified slightly (Fuck ‘em if they can’t take a quilt?) but boy does it ever work. Make what you want to make and no, don’t let anyone influence you negatively about yourself or your work. You decide what you make. Period. You can’t please everybody and you can’t even necessarily please a lot of people. Please yourself. If it is fantastic and wonderful to you, no doubt it will appeal to some folks as well. Be true to yourself.
I have never felt the need to comment on any blog until now. Love you, f**k them! Keep making what makes you happy, life is too short. You inspire me to listen to my own subversive crafter and to hell with the quilt police! Thank You!
Gorgeous colours, and I found the mistake :D Ach well, only Allah is perfect, they say. As for creativity – do whatever floats your boat. If you can walk away and come back and still love what you do then it must be right! All the best XXX
I have never understood why people feel the need to express a negative or hurtful opinion of someone elses’s work. There’s a lot of quilts that I don’t like but I respect the artist for making what she loves. Make what you love and don’t let anyone else take away your joy!
Please continue to ignore those who would stifle your creativity or shoot you down for whatever reasons.. You don’t need to make anyone happy with your art but yourself. (However it does make me , and many others, very happy! just saying…)
Love your work, even when it makes me a little uncomfortable — probably because it does make me uncomfortable. Sometimes your work encourages me to think, or to push the limits with my own work. Other times (like your latest quilt) it just brings me joy. Thank you for continuing to share with us.
I do love your perfect balance of improv and precision. And it’s made for a gorgeous and colorful quilt! I too love the shot cottons.
Keep up the fun good work. You can count me as a “yaysayer!”
You make art. Plain and simple. Keep doing it!
“Do everything with a mind that lets go.”
Big supportive hugs to you. I can’t believe that the dogs are still gnawing this bone!
I can’t believe people haven’t moved on. It amply demonstrates not only the smallness of their mnds, but of their lives; so we should just pity them and keep pointed towards your true North.
As my Beloved Spouse (BSP) always says: “Consider the source.” ;)
You have never been one to let anyone stifle your creativity and that is why we love you. I come here to be inspired. Why would anyone come here to find fault or criticize?
I’ll just repeat the what I said when I saw your magnificent quilt: “Oh, wow.” That is amazing. Thank you for creating it and sharing it.
This was what you were making when I first found your blog, and it drew me in immediately. It’s wonderful to see it finished, and so beautifully.
Absolutely gorgeous!
As for the rest, “don’t let the bastards get you down.”
It sort of seems as if the reaction of the haters only helps to make the quilt that much more meaningful. The quilt would have still been beautiful and fun without the negative reactions, but the haters’ very reactions breathe an extra life into the message. They turned the light and flippant “fucks” into a very stern fuck you. I wish that wasn’t necessary, but I’m glad that the quilt is able to rise to the occasion. (and you as well.)
You clearly know yourself and your process well enough to handle the difficult questions you’ve asked. I’m glad you put them out there for us, because it’s some good material for my mind to chew on. Thank you.
As for the quilt? Wow. Amazing. Gorgeous.
Such great considerations. They are something for everyone to think about whether we are making rule-bending craft or not. Sometimes just giving one’s self permission not to follow a pattern slavishly is empowering. :-) Anyway, you know I am a fan of yours and hope that you keep on keepin’ on doing your thing. BTW, Snuggleshott looks great (love those little hourglass blocks keeping all the crazy in line). Tia’s swirly quilting keeps up the bright energy nicely too.
The Oakshott quilt is wonderful!
I agree with a previous comment: fuck ‘em if they can’t take a quilt. And would that there were something to relieve your pain over the nastiness sooner.
Keep doing what you do, you are soooo talented.
Sha-ZAM!
I love the mix of improv and precision in this quilt. It’s wonderful.
first i love the phrase “thoughts swirling and twirling”…it’s what happens to me too.
as for naysayers…whatever…i’m over it and it sounds like you are too. and then to the great stuff…fab, simply fab quilt.
OMG. Let them find their own particular Hell to ruminate in. Sorry, but I’m so darned over people telling me what to do. Your art is what I stop here for, it’s ALWAYS inspiring, motivating, and so much eye candy that, even if normally I, personally, might refrain from some of words you use in the things you do, I will fight to my dying breath for your right to do as you will in the privacy of your own studio and blog!!
If folks don’t like it, then they can scroll on by…(which I say a lot on Facebook)
THIS quilt? There are simply no words. I’m standing in awe of the ARTISTE you are, C. I’m so glad I discovered you over the wondrous knitted blanket that you crafted of Jared’s gorgeous yarns…
You ALWAYS make me think. Thank heaven for that, hon.
(((hugs)))
The haters, friend, are being ridiculous. You make cool stuff.
I like this quilt a lot. The scrappy improv is very, very bright (in a good way) and the hourglass blocks give it a little sense of order without being too restrictive.
And the fabric looks like it’d be nice and soft and snugglable. Is it?
OT, but I just heard You’re So Vain this AM on the radio. I have always thought it a lyrical triumph. I can’t keep myself from physically cringing when she says, “wife of a best friend, wife of a best friend.” I mean, that’s a knock-out punch.
don’t worry – be happy!
I guess there will always be those that don’t like something but you need only be true to yourself. Make what pleases you and say what you need to say in your art.
there is a whole lot of people that love to see your work and appreciate it.
and then there is the whole other world of people who seem to exist only to say no.
look what our President has to put up with–all the negative and no people who refuse to see any view point but their own. they have basically shut down our country.
don’t cease to create and show your art just to please people like them.
your new quilt is so exciting and vibrant-love it!!!!
I like the way you word things! And this quilt is amazing!
Love your quilts! Plus your redwork projects! I love that you tell it like it is!
Bravo!!!!!
This is very fun. I love Oakshotts too.
Another delightfully eye-melting quilt! I am so glad I’m not a quilter, because I would be frozen with indecision when faced with so many colors (and all that ironing :P ).
I remember you talking about this fabric several times before- is the quilt just now a finished item, or has it been in use already? (And actually, how many of your quilts do you use as blankets? You have so many; do they have a rotation, or are they all piled on your sofa? Or are they rolled in a closet, heirloom-ready?)
The quilt is beautiful.
gorgeous – I could look at that for hours, tracing patterns and paths.
As for the naysayers, I think you know what I feel on that – fuck ‘em, without even a *
I love your quilts. And your other projects, but how much would I love to snuggle under one of your gorgeous quilts.
There are three rules:
1. Trust your instinct.
2. Trust the process.
3. Go for it!
Very interesting questions, and very human ones too. I personally think it is essential to stay true to yourself.
Sometimes being true to yourself brings you at odds with others. (ok, changing to I instead of you, since this is my oppinion and not an universal thruth)
While I won’t change myself, if I really think this is my true place to be, I try to accept what others think. I may not like it, and I certainly won’t necessary change my position, but I do try to be open enough to allow other people their place. If they try to budge me from my place, I’ll breathe deeply and say “that’s your choice” and move on.
I hope you can read throught this convoluted comment and see that I immensely approve of you (though this too shouldn’t budge or affect you in “your place”) and am proud to “know” you through you blog. You are an inspiration and you should always be true to yourself. And I actually love to read your thoughts on these issues of oppinion.
Oi! I got so caught up in the “stay true” thought that I forgot to compliment your truly beautiful quilt. I love the mix of improv and the little hourglasses, especially complimented by the quilting.
Haven’t tried oakshot, and am almost afraid to do so, because I suspect that it could quickly become a temptation beyond control :)
so glad to see this quilt finished..it turned out gorgeous! I enjoy how much you are willing to write about on your blog-I am glad you are so wise and strong that you keep on doing what you feel you must. Clearly you are not a lone voice and I add mine in saying love your art. Applaud you staying true to yourself and know how rocky a path that can be at times…and lonely. No matter what people say, negative or positive, at the end of the day, it’s just you looking yourself in the eye. Being true to yourself is really worth it.
This. is. glorious. Really. And having just touched my first Oakshott at quiltcon (and since then, purchasing a FQ to go with my tiny charm pack), I am hooked. I can’t wait to play with them. You really made them sing, and the quilting just adds an extra note of harmony.
I love your attitude. You rock, C. Lots.
I’ve always believed that we are the sum of our experiences – good and bad. So even though we may not change what we do when the shit happens, it can’t help but impact how we move forward. That can come in our attitude, our response, our turning our back on it, whatever it is, it can’t help but be a part of our lives now. That goes for beautiful fabric and a&*holes.