For those who wish to knit or crochet, try starting with the larger needles. It makes the item go quickly. Big is anything over a size 15. Some needles are huge, almost broomstick size. I got into knitting a couple years ago, DD wanted a pancho for school. Panchos were just starting to get popular. I made it pretty fast, loose weave was pretty, so garment was light and not overly hot in school. Just a couple rectangles sewn together, so there was a point in front and back, head opening. I crocheted an edging with real fluffy yarn in a nice contrast color. Turned out well, she got lots of compliments on it. If you use synthetices, you can run it thru the washer. Wool FEELS so nice, but does take extra care and summer storage for moth prevention. For kids, synthetics are the way to go, keep clean easily. I also crochet, actually prefer it. But finding a large hook, size S, made it fun crocheting rugs with strips of old cloth. I have made a number of rugs now, and they are fast to do, wash wonderfully. I just hang them on a lawn chair to dry on the porch. I just make the pattern up as I go along. I have squares and ovals, all about 36" x 24". Seems to be a good lap size, bigger is harder to handle and heavy. Sizes will fit well in front of the sink, bathroom shower, back door for the dog to lay on. I might put a piece of no-slip stuff under it, to keep rug still on a vinyl or wood floor. So if you are considering doing knitting or crochet, try just doing some easy squares, in a large size like 36"x36", using a big hook or pair of needles. You might want the needles with a string between the ends, easier to use with wider knit projects. Knitting is just back and forth, so the string/cable needles are very handy with bigger pieces. You only need to know one stitch to start, get good at it, to finish the piece. I did some with knit on one side, purl on the other. Really basic, but pretty with nice yarn. Pieces that size or slightly longer, can make lap robes, baby afghans, or be put together for a larger sized afghan. Really go quickly to finish. I tend to watch TV when working, don't need a lot of attention to project with only one stitch on each side, just keep doing the same thing. Other good, fast projects are hats. They can go quickly, done in a couple days or less. Can be done knitted or crocheted flat, then sew the edges together to be round. I consider myself a beginning knitter and crochet person. Only have a couple stitches in my skill list, but you can do a lot with just basics. Very fun to produce an object, rug, hat, with these basics. I HAVE learned to do cables this winter, so am moving up the skill levels. Cables are surprisingly easy! Now on to learning to do pattern reading! My SIL was making scarves a couple years ago, just one stitch. Now she does FANCY socks, lookes almost embroidered. Needles are so tiny, that she can do pictures on the socks. Huge jump in skill, just trying new stuff. I think she keeps all her socks, wears them to show off! As well she should, they are amazing. The knee socks shown above, are very attractive. I will try some one of these days! I am planning to work on mittens first though. We can always use mittens around here. Have to get the thumb part down. Maybe then I will be ready for sock heels and 4 needles like my mother does them. I do some painting of items used in the gardens. Stepping stone enhancement, coloring some statues, ironwork that I have around. Not really original stuff, not the artist. Painting is a winter thing, too busy in summer. Also do some sewing, with fancy pillowcases being an inspiration this year. LOTS of elaborate lace trim, which is fun to look at on colored cases. Make good gifts at Christmas and other occassions. I am using the few inches left over as trim on a case for the couch pillow. Just many kinds of lace on a piece of material, to be used as an accent piece. Kind of fun doing fancy, after using the sewing to mostly repair work clothing. Made some tank tops for DD, all the kids need a lot of them to layer. I had the material, she chose the colors she wanted. I will be letting her do the next ones, pinning neck and arms takes all the time. Then she can make more when she wants them. About an hour each shirt. Rolling knife is a big time saver there. We used her purchased shirts as patterns, just cut around them, so they were just the right style and sizing. I don't want any clothing to look "homemade" because no one will wear it. My "Arty" skills come out in putting things together, some designing talents, not a pictoral art skill. I did a lot of picture framing over winter to get the art stuff up on the walls. We had gathered quite a lot, not hung it before. Priced getting it professionally matted and framed. ACKK!! The PRICES THEY WANTED!! I checked out mat cutters and got one, bought some frames to do it myself. That was fun, picking matting colors, cutting the mats, double layers or fancy cutting, framing it up. Very satisfying to see them all finished up. Those who have seen the walls of pictures, like it too. Good thing Art can cover a lot of talent and skills!

Use whatever you want, do whatever you want. The only stipulation is that there is a minimum of 9 blocks and each block must represent in some way a time of your life. Marti in Mexico

laura- the debate on what is art versus what isn't can only be resolved in your mind- as each of us makes our own, unique connection to what it is we are seeing, reading, hearing or (as in the case with quilts) feeling. As I mentioned on another forum (I forget where) I could spit on the sidewalk, frame it and call it art. And for me that would be true. Now for anyone else they make up their own minds. As an "artist" it is not (nor ever could be) my job to convince anyone else about the legitimacy of my work. The paths one takes internally to "get" art are as subjective and vast as art itself. Some people try to figure out what the artists was thinking while others internalize the art and try to unscramble their own reactions to it. None of these paths are the only way and every one of them is the right way. Does that make sense? So in the case with bare abstractions (a few yellow splats of paint on a canvas) perhaps the minimalist technique was only meant to evoke a minimal response. In other words, art isn't always "deep". My work- especially the abstracts- are always meant to show movement, balance and tension without being something specific. I like to think of them as short cerebral conversations between myself and the viewer: I present an idea represented by colors, lines and stitches. The viewer then has a reaction to it. Call and response. Usually, people have a much more tangible, visceral response to this next kind of work. The imagery is easier to internalize and therefore assessments on the work are easier to make. For most of my work I start with a solid piece of (black) fabric into which "windows are cut out and replaced with colored fabric. Of course, the edges are turned under and the pieces are joined with a zig-zag of clear or smoke monofilament.

Hi Airycat: I like art quilts and am trying to learn more. I belong to an art quilt group through my guild and there are some very artsy gals in the group. So far I have done a small vine-type quilt (saw a picture of it in an old magazine and copied). It turned out well (which surprised the heck out of me). I have done a lake scene (someone on this site was giving lessons...Teresa NC 7 listed under landscape quilts. I did an underwater quilt which everyone in the group liked and I was pleased with. I took a class in thread painting and have to finish that project (mountains, trees, lake, flowers, etc.) I must have ADD also since I have a problem completing anything large. If you want to pick my brain for anything I might know, send me an e-mail. Lynn