Wow, 2016, I have to give you credit. You sure were interesting! This was certainly a year of extremes, and I am choosing to focus on the positives, because– with much gratitude–I can say I had a lot of them.
A few examples…
My dream of building and completing the dream studio space and to share it with friends has become a reality. My studio space/ art barn is done.
The inaugural Craft Napa took place at the Embassy Suites/Napa this past January! We had about 120 students for the first go, and thanks to Meissner’s Sewing and BERNINA of America, we had such a successful first retreat!
We screen-printed, made improvisational quilts, free-motion quilted, collaged, laughed, cried, ate great food, and made wine together.
And students made some incredible art:
Soy wax batik examples from Melly Testa’s workshop.
And for those of us who have spent time together in this industry over the years, we reminisced during the reception in my art barn.
When it was over, some of us took a silly picture to commemorate the success. Yes, I am sitting in a piñata I commissioned to thank BERNINA for sponsoring. I had filled this piñata with Aurifil thread that every student had a chance to whack and grab during the retreat.
A few months later…we had a photo shoot for our first book: Playful Fabric Printing by Melanie Testa and Carol Soderlund. Picture below shows all of the step-out piles, in order (by chapter) to be shot.
It took nearly a full week to shoot and we were inspired during the shoot to take some other artful shots, too, like reflections of tiny mason jars filled with dye placed on cement.
Indigo Perez, location photographer and artist, doing her thing:
A detail of this styled shot ended up on the cover.
And as all good photo shoots should wrap, we had a pizza party with wine, swimming, and a dog on a fruit floatie.
This year, too, I was able to create a few quilts. Here are three that were extra special to me. One for a dear friend and special former colleague of mine, Carmen Beck for her newborn daughter…
Quilt in the piecing stage; I got the pattern from the magazine Quilt Moderne, by Michelle of Sew Demented.
This kid is going to be BOSS of quilting someday…look at the confident expression as she stares at the Best in Show quilt at Quilt Festival!
I made this too, for my new Godson, Hunter (pattern by Elizabeth Hartman, baby by Lindsey and Fergal McLelland).
I was very worried I would drop him during the baptism…
Thankfully, I did not.
And there was this art quilt, my quilt to honor Yvonne Porcella, for an exhibit I put together to celebrate her life. I dubbed this quilt, “Go Forth and Fruit.” Yvonne has been one of my greatest mentors and someone who challenged me and guided me in my career over the years.
One of Yvonne’s sons, Greg and his wife to see the exhibit debut at Quilting in the Garden at Alden Lane this past September.
And finally, just yesterday, I got one advance copy of Playful Fabric Printing. I am pretty happy with it.
Lastly, I feel so blessed I live here in Napa. I took this picture in early February of this year of the budding mustard flowers. I can’t wait to have everyone for the next edition of Craft Napa in less than two weeks.
I wish everyone a blessed new year!
Pokey Bolton
It’s been a wild, wacky and wonderful year! Looking forward to 2017 and I think Craft Napa will be a great way to start it off!
What a beautiful year with a mix of excitement and progress on your dream. Wishing you a successful 2017 filled with much creativity and of course, laughter. Happy New Year!
What a lovely review! Best (creative) wishes in the new year!
Pokey, YOU are an inspiration to so many! 🙂 Thank you for the review of this year, I look forward to receiving the new book and congratulations to you, Lindsey and Fergal!! Happy Birthday to Hunter! 🙂 You do look nervous at the baptism.
I chose two words for 2017… magical and easy. And so it is.
I start 2017 filled with gratitude for so many things, not the least of which was the experience of bringing forth a book with Melly and You, dear Pokey. All these photos bring it right back! Here’s to a sparkling 2017!
Like you, we opted to focus on the positives during our year. Last night we took turns sharing something good that happened to each of us. It felt better to end the year on a high note. Here’s to 2017!
This was fascinating to read good things about 2016
Thanks, Pokey, for all you do! Your emails are always such a source of inspiration to all us artists!! Lord knows that we need it, as we look around the world! Can anyone disagree with this?
This old hippie musician believes that as Spirits, we come to this earthly plane to seek to put beauty and love into the physical; for Love and Beauty seek physical expression, it seems.
The way I see it, this is exactly what you and all the quilters are doing. The beauty and harmony you create is like water to a planet dying of thirst. (And the disorganized musician in me LOVES how organized all your projects and studios are!! OMG, it’s so difficult for me to be organized! … I just fantasize about having a studio so organized!). And I think this affects the atmosphere to uplift everyone.
You and all the quilters are a gift and blessing to this poor, tired earth. You create beauty and inspire so many others to do the same. This really, truly is probably the most important thing anyone can be doing on the planet at this time; using their abilities to create and share beauty, color, joy.
May the new year bring lots of blessings and new creative possibilities to you and all your quilting friends! Tuba Jim in Seattle
And here’s to a wonderful New Year! Love your uplifting and creative posts and artwork. You Go Girl !!