Writing Set up

I'm writing a new how-to book (which is scheduled to be published in the Spring of 2013), and I'm amazed how much technology has changed since I wrote my last book.

In 2006, when I wrote The Uncommon Quilter, I worked at my desktop when working at home, and my laptop when on vacation. All of the sketches for the illustrations were created for the illustrator, not very well in my opinion, using Photoshop and my mouse, which for me is like drawing with a brick.

Fast forward to 2011/2012 and I'm working with very different tools. I have my ipad partnered with a wireless keyboard with Wingstands holding them together. I got the Wingstands via Kickstarter a few months ago.

While creating the samples for this book, I can sit at my sewing table as I cut and sew at my sewing machine, while I can type instructions using notes on my ipad, and I can also sketch the illustrations using Penultimate and a Bamboo stylus, also on my ipad.

Then I email everything to my self so I can access it to on my desktop, where I can edit, save for the illustrator, and etc. I like that I don't have to run back and forth from my sewing area to my desktop, which would be distracting. Thank you new technology!

Book Planning

I'm working on a new how-to book that's scheduled to be published in the Spring of 2013. To get myself organized, I've set up a spreadsheet with all of the chapters and sub-sections, and all the tasks for each. I was having trouble getting organized but now that I have this grid, as a person who thinks in grids, I know what I have to do, how to get it done, and how to keep track of everything.

Please note that I know nothing about spreadsheets, as technical as I may be. I'm sort of winging this, creating a system that works for my way of thinking.

Looking at the "art" in my spreadsheet is also starting to inspire me to design a series of paintings around it. Something to think about for the future.

What I Did On My Summer Vacation

I posted a list of my summer goals, with what I was hoping to get done between then and Labor Day, on June 21st.

Over the summer I knew I was busy, but I kept thinking that I wasn't getting anything accomplished, and I wasn't feeling good about it.

But as I was writing this post, I looked over my original goals, and my blog posts and calendar, I realized that I was a lot more productive than I thought. Really productive! Thank goodness.

Here's what I did art-wise this summer. I'm not including non-art stuff...

Art Created:

- Seasonal Fences - Summer #1 - #5, on 22" x 10" x 1" boards (to be photographed shortly)

- 12 x 12 x 12 July 2011 and 12 x 12 x 12 August 2011

- Altered Book - The Fence As Lace #14, which will be on exhibit at A Novel Idea at the Hampden Gallery Incubator Project Space, at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, MA from December 11, 2011 - February 20, 2012.

- Art Book - The Fence As Lace #13

- The Fence As Lace #12, which used leftover monotprinted fabric from my artist residency at the Vermont Studio Center this past May.

- Created the Squiggles and Squares postcard, for a group show of mixed media works inspired by abstract lines and grids I'm going to be in at ArtWorks! in New Bedford, MA from September 17 to November 7, 2011. (I'll post more about it in a few days.)

- Consulted in the postcard creation for the two-person show The Constructed Surface, which I'm going to be at the Krause Gallery, at the Moses Brown School in Providence, RI, from October 11 - 28, 2011. (I'll post more about it shortly too.)

Exhibits:

- ArtWalk in Natick, MA.

- Storefront window in Natick, MA.

- The Community of Artists Annual Juried Exhibition 2011 at the Danforth Museum in Framingham, MA

- deCordova Museum Corporate Art Loan Program - lent all 12 of the Traces of Fences Past Series

Writing:

- Book - I'm writing a new book that will be published by Running Press and will be available in the Spring of 2013.

- Numerous arts articles for the Natick Patch.

Misc art stuff:

- Submitted a RFP for outdoor art installation. (Received approval. Will work out size and artwork deadline in a few days.)

- Applied for 3 grants. (Will hear in December and February.)

- Applied to two residencies. (Will hear in February and an unspecified date.)

- Applied to a number of shows. (Will hear in the next few weeks/months, depending on which.)

- Applied to a few art competitions. (Will hear sometime in September and October.)

Misc and vaguely art related:

- Read Steve Martin's book, An Object of Beauty.

- Week of vacation - saw as much art as possible.

Now "summer" is over. September is going to be a really really busy month, art-wise and other. All good stuff.

New Book!

I am very happy to announce that I am going to be writing a new book! It's going to include stitching, and will be of interest to people who like to work with fabric, paper and surface design, including those who like to collage and etc. It will not be a quilt book. I'll go into more detail about it in the near future.

Running Press will be the publisher, and the release date is scheduled to be in the Spring of 2013.

I can't express how excited I am about this! I really enjoyed writing my last book, The Uncommon Quilter, which was released by Potter Craft (Random House) in 2007, even with the six-week writing deadline. I'm really happy to have up to nine months to write this new book.

I have a few other projects I'll be working on over the next few months, including some fun web design projects, a few exhibits, and a possible outdoor art installation I'm waiting to hear about. All good stuff!

Writing about Natick Arts Events

Natick MA friends, I've started writing articles about the Arts for the Natick Patch, with the first one appearing here today.

Please send me info about arts events that are happening in Natick. This includes visual art, performing art, literary art and etc.

I'm also interested in possibly writing articles about Natick residents of (all ages) who are participating arts events that are happening elsewhere.

My email address is: jeanne@jeannewilliamson.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks.

Published Review

I wrote a review that's in the Surface Design Journal's Winter 2010 issue. It's about Elin Noble's show "Layered Affinities, Quilts and Hand-dyed Cloth," that was on exhibit at the Narrows Gallery in Fall River, MA from March 6 - May 2, 2009.

If you can get a copy of the Journal, please read the review. I also suggest that you visit Elin's website to see her work, be sure to check out a 360 degree view of her show, and here is a post I wrote after I visited her show last March.

The Surface Design Journal is a really beautiful and smart magazine, which I encourage you to read, not only because the review I wrote is in it. The Winter 2010 issue has many articles about felt, which is one of my favorites mediums. A must read for fiber lovers!

Eastern MA Artists and Art Events

I've been writing about Open Studios, Art Events, and Artists in eastern Massachusetts as the Boston Artisans Examiner on examiner.com.

I am interested in 2D and 3D in any media art or craft, art/craft authors, and etc, who promote their work whether it's online, at art/craft shows, open studios, for sale somewhere, or what ever. I also like to write about Art Events, Open Studios, and anything else art related. It's very flexible.

If you're in eastern Massachusetts, and are interested in free art publicity, please write to me. I will send you the info I'd like to receive in order to write an article. My email address is jeanne@jeannewilliamson.com. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Boston Artisans Examiner

I have a new writing gig (besides this blog). I am the Boston Artisans Examiner on examiner.com.

My focus will be on Boston area/eastern MA artists who create art work. I will be writing about 2D and 3D in any media art or craft, art/craft authors, and etc. My plan is to publicize artists who promote their work whether it's online, at art/craft shows, open studios, for sale somewhere, or what ever. I will also be posting about as many Artist Open Studios I can find information about, as well as other art happenings. Every now and then there will be an article about Artisans who are not necessarily Visual Artists, but are Artists just the same.

Please check Boston Artisans Examiner articles on examiner.com regularly, to see what's new.

Felting Article

I wrote an article that is in the just released Quilting Arts Magazine's December/January 2009 issue. It's about my 2008 Weekly Mixed Media project, and my experiences with felting from art school through the present day. The title of the article is "Journal Felting with Punch", and can be found on page 76.

It is a pleasure to see some of my 6" x 6" pieces printed in the article. I think their photography is excellent! It was also a wonderful experience working with everyone at Quilting Arts.

The felt images in this post are from my website, where you can see all of my 2008 weekly mixed media work (so far). Or, you read about it here on my blog.







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