Count Down to Spring--Only 20 more days

Can you believe it--the Vernal Equinox is Tuesday March 20 at 12:15 pm Eastern Time. So soon. And yet so distant.  I want crocuses NOW. Not another Nor'Easter.  Oh well. Time for a spring cleaning.

I need to go through my studio and find the quilts have been here too long. Maybe part of a series from a few years ago. Not quite what I am making now. Maybe they were at a gallery. Or maybe they were a direction that I did not continue. Certainly when I do a craft show, I cannot take everything with me.  I only have a mini-van and a designated space. I need to present a concise statement of my current work so I don't overwhelm my customers. So some of these quilts hang around and become even more dated.

Anyhow, I decided this year that I will post one work a day at a reduced price until spring actually comes. Some will be larger quilts at reduced prices. Some will be smaller items that need a new home. When they are gone, they are gone. If they aren't gone by spring, I may relist at the regular price. I do like many of these quilts after all.

So here goes. The first quilt is aptly called "colors of spring." I love the colors and the simple lines of this piece. Wouldn't it look great against a white wall? Maybe in your kitchen or sunroom? It could even make a statement in your office or hallway? At 38x38" inches it will fit in so many locations. Hanging is simple as I have sewn strips of looped tape on the top and bottom.

colors of spring--38x38"--Ann Brauer 2014

Don't you love all the wonderful colors in these piece. Here is a bit of the detail of the work.

Detail--colors of spring--Ann Brauer 2014

And the wonderful blues in the quilt.

Detail--colors of spring--Ann Brauer 2014

Of course it is signed on the back. You can also see the looped tape for hanging. I will send you the matching hooked tape and strips of faux wood for hanging. It is simple.

Detail--colors of spring--Ann Brauer 2014

Anyhow, I have reduced the price from $625 to $375. If you want it, I listed the quilt on my Etsy shop here. https://www.etsy.com/listing/208562454 Or as they say, tomorrow is another day and I will have another listing as I wait for spring.

thinking big

Sometimes a new year forces me to take stock and reconsider the quilts I am making. Now of course I love the intricate piecing with the suns and moons, the mountains and sky. The soothing landscapes with complex colors and patterned fabrics that tell countless stories. Oh I do enjoy all the possibilities that these present.

Quilts--Ann Brauer--2017

And yet I wanted more. I missed the scale of my large quilts. The ones that would take over a space and make a statement of strength and power. How big could I go? I was glad to take a break from large quilts--they take over the studio and most importantly my mental energy--but there is a power there that I wanted to rediscover if I dared.

Well, there was only one way to find out. Start. So one morning at the beginning of January--or maybe it was the end of December--the days do become a blur--I did a couple of experiments. After all a new quilt would have to include all the knowledge and skill I have gained with the smaller curved pieces.  Then without too much thought I made the first sample blocks and pinned them to the design board.

View from my window--work in progress--Ann Brauer--2018

That didn't seem like a lot although maybe it gives you an idea of the scale and size. One of the samples is on the bottom left.

View from my window--work in progress--Ann Brauer 2018

I had to keep moving forward. This took forever. Or should I say forever! But I knew that I wanted the color progression on the bottom to highlight the over all design. Keeping track of designs that will come is one of the hardest parts about going big--especially when it will be weeks before I see the whole. I need to keep faith in my work and my vision even though others told me to make more potholders and placemats for the Baltimore Show.

View from my window--work in progress--Ann Brauer--2018

Still it gradually progressed. Of course I had to test my methods to make sure that my idea would work. Was I really crazy. What would the finished quilt look like? Those are my first tests of joining the blocks on the bottom left.

View from my window--work in progress--Ann Brauer 2018

Slowly I join the rows. Yes, I am making this quilt one block at a time. After piecing I quilt the blocks individually and join them together. I know there will be so much hand sewing so I try to break it up a bit.

View from my window--work in progress--Ann Brauer 2018

And also test colors for the bottom of the quilt. I have an idea. But will it work. Again I pin fabric to the design board to contemplate as I sew. It is hard to see the progress isn't it? Days of work and I have added one row. What was I thinking?

View from my window--work in progress--Ann Brauer 2018

Slowly though the quilt grows. As you can tell it is taking over the design board. If you note, I did finish the top row and joined it together since I know that when I finally sew the long rows together the quilt will be BIG and hard to maneuver.

Then comes the time of silence. The quilt is simply too big for the design board. Pins will not hold it up and so I have to rely on memory and faith. This part is so hard. After the weeks of work and struggle I just have to trust that my concept for the art is good. The colors will work. The blocks will add to the quilt and the statement. Day after day I go into the studio and do the hand sewing until I have to find a different task. Now is the time for potholders and placemats. Something simple I can finish when I can't face another long seam. (Did I forget to mention that I hand finish all the bindings. Well of course I hope you realize.)

Then finally. I can't wait any longer. Sure I have some threads to clean. Perfection is there but it can wait. I haven't named it yet although I know it's name. I simply must hang it up and learn from it. I need to absorb this quilt and wish I had time to make another one. Later as they say. 'Tomorrow is another day."

View from my window--95x95"--Ann Brauer--2018

And yes, each block is quilted individually. I didn't want the quilting to lessen the impact of the black outlines. This is  among other things a quilt about quilting.

view from my window--detail--Ann Brauer 2018

And for those of you who have made it to the end and are wondering, the name of the quilt is "view from my window." It is about 95x95". I can't wait until I have my wonderful photographer take even better images of it. But in the meanwhile, please let me know what you think. Thanks.

don't stop thinking about tomorrow

There is an apocryphal but oh so true story that I have heard for years--probably you have heard it also.

An artist is asked what she would do if she was given a million dollars. The answer of course is to keep making art until she ran out of money.

Isn't that the way it goes. Always there is another quilt to make. Another show to prepare for.

Next up is the Baltimore Craft Show February 23-25 at the Baltimore Convention Center. www.craftcouncil.org How I love this show. This is another large show with six hundred artists and lots of customers who are searching for an escape from winter. For me it is the first chance to define my work for the coming year. How can I create a body of work that carries on from what I have previously done, allows me take advantage of the insights from last year and reads as a cohesive whole. One friend noted that all of my square quilts reminded her of school bus windows. Interesting thought. Do I need to make more quilts that are other sizes? Another friend whose work I respect said she preferred my more abstract pieces. Hmmm. And of course there are all those who make comments about psychedelic colors. I hear these and put them in the back of my mind to gel.

I look at other art to feed my soul and to help me see new possibilities. What inspires me. What am I trying to say. I sketch lots of quilts that will probably not get made just to see if I could make them. After all,  I am not making quilts just to make quilts--I  want to make quilts that have a purpose. Although it can be important to understand the technique until it becomes my language, technique is not the content of the quilts--at least not for me. I want to speak with the viewer. What am I trying to communicate.

And I make lots of potholders and place mats as I think about it. There is no point in sitting idly by and fretting too much. That does not create art. Instead I sew and play with the fabrics.

This year I have decided to feature my quilt "mountain sunrise". I love the colors and the joy of this piece. So happy and confident. Definitely it will be a focus. But my booth is large and there are 600 exhibitors at the Baltimore Show. I need to WOW the crowd.

mountain sunrise--40x40"--quilt--Ann Brauer 2017--image by John Polak

I make a long quilt--it's a new day. Not large enough to be a showstopper but still it was a quilt I wanted to make in a shape that could look great over a sofa or bed. Size does matter sometimes.

it's a new day--17x63"--Ann Brauer 2017

I look at other quilts I have made. I love the triptych in notes from twilight. That could make a strong statement in my booth.

notes from twilight--40x80"--quilt--Ann Brauer 2017--image by John Polak

And I start sewing with a purpose. Yes this is a quilt that I want to make. A quilt that will look great. And a quilt that should dominate the booth. Now there is just the long slow road to completion. One tiny bit of fabric at a time. I'll try to keep you posted.

And you--how do you choose what to make? How do you create a body of work?

it's a new day

Sometimes titles just come to me. The promise of dawn with the sun rising in the clear morning sky. The New Year. The open possibilities of fresh starts. The sun lingering longer in the sky. Here's wishing everyone a happy and joyous journey.

it's a new day--17x63"--quilt--Ann Brauer 2018

detail--it's a new day--quilt--Ann Brauer 2018

it's about color

OK--I know that my next show is the Baltimore Craft Show February 23-25 right when people are thinking the bright happy colors of spring. Indeed many people even now want the bright clear colors of hope and light. And I have several orders lined up ready to be filled.

And yet sometimes I just have to see what will happen. Color after all does reflect the depths of my soul. (Yes, that sounds maybe a bit profound but it still can be true for me.) Winter is just starting here in the North East and it is dark and cold. The holidays are over and so I decided to create.

What do I need to make? What intrigues me? For some reason it is the complex nature of browns in all their glory. Soon I know I must begin anticipating the season and moving on to light and warm days but I couldn't resist. Interesting how color can just lead me on.

brown flame--quilt--Ann Brauer--2017

Don't you love all these fabrics? Can you see what I had so much fun?

detail--brown flame--quilt--Ann Brauer

Does this ever happen to you? For more information on the Baltimore Show check out their web site. I'm in Booth 1309. https://craftcouncil.org/shows/acc/american-craft-show-baltimore And of course I listed it on my Etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/annbrauer

go big or go home--part one

Let's face it. Chicago is big. There are lots of people. Traffic from all directions. Buildings that stretch to the sky and then reflect it.

view of Chicago from Merchandise Mart

The lions at the Art Institute are big.

lions outside of Art Institute--Chicago

One of my favorite paintings by Georgia O'Keefe is so big they had to build a special wall just to display it.

clouds--Georgia O'Keefe--Art Institute

So last year after doing OK at the One of a Kind Show I decided that I wanted to go big. Wouldn't my work look great in a larger booth? They give me the hard white walls, the carpet, the lights. Sure the show is a long hard drive from home. The lines for load in and load out are carefully controlled chaos. And the price to do the show is--let's face it--big.

Still I told myself I wouldn't know until I tried. When I was offered a larger booth I decided I had to try. Let's face it, I decided to rebuild my studio because I knew I had more quilts to make and I wanted to make them. Quilts can be more than fine craft and I want to make big quilts that transcend the medium. I spent all autumn working for this show.  I had other fairs to do and orders to fill, but I kept imagining myself in this large space.

Of course I didn't have nearly enough time to get all the quilts in my imagination done. How delighted I was to read that Claude Monet was frustrated that his wonderful stacks of wheat paintings took much longer than he wanted to complete. Don't you love to read labels at the Museum.

stack of wheat--Claude Monet--Art Institute

I set up the booth. Thought it looked great in its largeness and splendor and then waited. Is it the kiss of death if other artists think your booth looks grand?  Or was it because it was Thursday? Did I forget to convey the idea that these are quilts? Does that matter? Should it matter? After all it only takes a couple of good customers.

Or maybe there is more I need to do to achieve my idea. My concept. I'll try to keep you posted. Meanwhile wish me well. If you are in the Chicago area my booth is 4123. I would love to know what you think?

booth--OOAK Chicago--Ann Brauer 2017

red sun

Sometimes, less is more. Up close and personal. For a while I had it hanging so I could see it every day as I sewed. Secretly I have always longed to make it as one big quilt in four panels. That would be a challenge and yet it would command attention. And yet eventually, I put it aside as I moved on to more landscapes. Still, there is a power here that may demand a space in my booth at the
One of a Kind Show next week-end in Chicago.

After all,  it would be fun to look at it again, wouldn't it?

red sun--40x40"--Ann Brauer 2015--image by John Polak