I’m having my first solo exhibit of my work as part of Bayfield’s Art Escape in September and I’m counting down the days I have left to get everything sewn, mounted, and ready to hang.
It’s exciting and also I’m one to really push myself with ambitious goals and I’m definitely feeling it this time. But, I’m also a lover of to-do lists and spreadsheets are one of my love languages, so I’m getting it done, even if that means sewing at the beach and in the car!
Both those things were actually very fun, so I’m not complaining. I have also been staying up a little too late these nights, but with a family with two little kids, it’s the time of day I have. I’m sure many of you can relate.
In any case, I’ve been busy making new work around the theme of the Apostle Islands and Chequamegon Bay and I have endless ideas about the places I want to show off because we live in just such an incredible place. For instance, yesterday I was lucky enough to visit Stockton Island as a professional development opportunity through my work as the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa’s Food Sovereignty Coordinator. Already I had been working on a piece with Stockton in it, but being back on the island and seeing the wetland just makes me really want to take a deep dive into showing people what an incredible place this is!
This is another quilt I finished earlier this summer and it shows Madeline Island, Basswood Island, Hermit Island (what I learned yesterday was also called Wilson Island), and the mainland. This quilt will be in the show (and will be for sale!) as will a few other full-sized quilts and then plenty of framed pieces.
In fact, I’m also going to have this quilt–my very first map quilt which I started making as a toddler quilt in 2018 before my first kid was born. I didn’t finish it until COVID when I was expecting my second kid, and truth be told it hasn’t become the well-loved security blanket I envisioned it becoming when I made it. But that’s how it goes, we all have our preferences.
With that, I hope you’ll come check out my show next month! I’m even leading a workshop that you can sign up for through Honest Dog Books (register here) and giving an Artist Talk in which I’ll be showing pictures from some of the crazy pre-kid adventures I’ve had. It’ll be fun–hope to see you!