YOU WON’T WANNA MISS

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Just log onto www.toginet.com for a brand-new,

LIVE, 2-hour

Creative Mojo with Mark Lipinski!

3 pm -5 pm EST    2 pm – 4 pm CST 1 pm – 3 pm MST    12 pm – 2 pm PST

Call into the live show with your questions or comments  for my guests

(877) 864-4869

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CLICK HERE to join Mark’s FACEBOOK Fan Page!

CLICK HERE to follow Mark’s Twitter updates!

CLICK HERE to join Mark’s Pickle Road Studio Posse on Yahoo! 

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MEET

Author, Crochet Designer, Bocce Expert (!)

SHERYL THIES

About Sheryl…

Retired from a 35 year career in healthcare.

Author of several Martingale publications — Ocean Breezes: Knitted Scarves Inspired by the Sea; Nature’s Wrapture: Contemporary Knitted Shawls; and Get Hooked on Tunisian Crochet (more about THAT in a minute!). Her next book, Knitting by Nature, will be released in May.

Lives in Madison, WI, and is often found on the bocce court playing and referring. “We built a 60-foot court in our backyard,” Sheryl explains, “and we host ‘Bocce Sundays,’ where friends and neighbors drop by for a friendly game. Recently I refereed for the Italian Workman Club’s competitive championship games. As a bocce ref, I don’t use a whistle, just a tape measure—and as a knitter I know how to use it!”

Feast your eyes on Sheryl’s sumptuous designs:

Sheryl says, “I don’t really remember when or how I learned to knit. I do remember having plastic needles and some red yarn as a child. When I ran out of yarn, I ripped it out and knit again. In retrospect, I had a rather rocky start. I made my first sweater when I was in high school and didn’t understand how to put the pieces together. I used sewing thread to sew them together.”

“I love projects and managing them. I make a work plan and then work my plan. That way I can see my progress, and even when I get behind, I know where I am and what needs to be done. Yarn-related projects have few risks. When I screw up, which is often, I can rip it out and start over. For me, the joy of wrapping up a project is fleeting. I’m always ready to move on to the next challenge.”

Sheryl and I will be talking about her mega-hit new book

(and my new passion!),

Get Hooked on Tunisian Crochet!

CLICK HERE to see Sheryl’s designer page at Ravelry!

CLICK HERE for Martingale’s interview with Sheryl and links to her books!

MEET

Quilt Shop Owners, Fabric & Quilt Designers, and Authors

JEANNE LARGE and SHELLEY WICKS

of THE QUILT PATCH

About Jeanne and Shelley . . .

Jeanne Large and Shelley Wicks own a quilt shop in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada. Customers enjoy the continuing change of quilts in the shop, and there is always something new or a new idea brewing. Twice a year, Spring and Fall, brings a whole new collection of projects, large and small, with that ‘Urban Country’ look that appeals to customers of all ages.

The most rewarding aspect of designing is to share ideas with others. With their first book ‘Tis the Season (Martingale July 2010), the girls introduced their chunky applique style using earth-toned fabrics and easy piecing. Urban Country Quilts (Martingale October 2011) is a continuation of that theme and really is the basis of their look.

The opportunity to design fabric for Clothworks has been as exciting addition to the business! Are there lots of balls to juggle? Yes indeed! It takes a lot of energy and a true passion for fabric and design to keep The Quilt Patch rolling along. Is life wonderful? Yes indeed! With a fabulous staff at the shop and family and friends offering love and encouragement, Shelley and Jeanne just keep rolling along!

Here are some of Jeanne and Shelley’s finished works!

CLICK HERE to visit Jeanne and Shelley’s shop!

CLICK HERE to see SHASTA, their first-ever collection for Clothworks!

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Are you an emotional eater?

I am!

That’s why I’m thrilled to welcome,

fresh from her Monday appearance on CBS’ The Talk…

Celebrity Nutritionist, Author, Counselor

HEATHER BAUER

About Heather . . .

Heather Bauer says, “From a very young age it was my passion to help people eat well and live a better life. I knew that the strategies that I’d developed to help people eat well and lose weight were unique. I was determined to to reach as many people as possible with the same blueprint I use with clients in my office. Everything that I do with my company, whether it’s a book or another commercial affiliation, is geared to spreading the word that you can eat well and lose weight and be healthy. My philosophy is live your life, not your diet. My mission is to teach people how to eat in the real world .”

Heather is a nationally recognized nutrition expert, author, and founder of Nu-Train, a New York City-based diet and nutrition counseling center. Over the last decade Heather has taught thousands of people how to safely lose weight and keep it off for good. Her success stories range from those working long hours on Wall Street, to doctors, lawyers, mothers, athletes and celebrities.

Heather founded Nu-Train (short for Nutrition Training) in 2001 on the premise that in order to be successful and sustainable, a weight loss program must work with ones existing habits, not against them. As such, Nu-Train’s program goes beyond traditional nutrition

science taking into account critical and often overlooked factors such as lifestyle, taste, preferences and diet history.

Heather sits on Cooking Light magazine’s Nutrition Advisory Board and has appeared on popular TV and Radio shows such as CBS-TV’sThe Early Show, CNN, The Tyra Banks Show, FOX Morning News, and Martha Stewart Living Radio on SiriusXM.  She has also been a featured nutritionist in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Self magazine, In Touch Weekly, InStyle, Shape, Gothammagazine and Ladies’ Home Journal.

Heather received her BS and RD from the University of Wisconsin and is a member of the American Dietetic Association (ADA) and the New York State Dietetic Association (NYSDA). She lives in Connecticut with her husband, daughter and twin boys. When she’s not chasing after her children, she’s usually out running.

In 2008 Heather released her first book, The Wall Street Diet, a program designed especially for busy people that don’t have time to diet. This month, St. Martin’s Press released Heather’s super new book, Bread Is the Devil. This valuable book provides time-tested strategies and a 21-day plan to help readers overcome common diet pitfalls, what Bauer refers to as “Diet Devils”.Some of the Devils include “The Late Night Shuffle” (for those midnight marauders that just can’t stay out of the kitchen), “Road Hogging” (for travelers who decide to put their healthy habits on hold when on the road) and “The Plunge” (for anyone that wonders where that whole sleeve of cookies went).

Heather knows what ails us!

Here’s some straight talk:

Stop mindlessly inhaling the breadbasket and stop shoveling in the M&M’S–Bread is the Devil is the solution to all of our diet saboteurs.

Heather Bauer can count on the fingers of one hand the number of her clients who don’t already know what they should eat to lose weight. So why can’t they (and their best friend and their neighbor) lose weight? Because Bread is the Devil! Yes, that’s Bauer’s shorthand for the inevitable, demonic pull that certain bad habits exert on people who try to change their eating routines to drop the pounds. Many of us have been there: You had a sensible, healthy breakfast, high in protein with complex carbs. Ditto for lunch—soup and a salad with a warm rush of accomplishment and self control for dessert. But now it’s dinnertime and you’re out with friends: enter a large basket of warm, sliced, crusty sourdough bread with a little tub of chive butter. Suddenly you’re in the seventh circle of hell—the one reserved for gluttons. Bread’s not your devil? How about ice cream or chips or that big slab of buttercream-frosted birthday cake?

* Identify the top-ten Diet Devils that challenge healthy eating

* Provide specific, proven strategies that free you from these devils once and for all

* Offer up a simple, flexible guide that will help you reach your goal in twenty-one days andmake eating fun again

* Suggest an easy, affordable, and doable shopping list for eating at home as well as great meal choices when eating out

Bread is the Devil will help you say good-bye to your devils, for good.

CLICK HERE to visit Heather’s website…filled with great dietary advice!

CLICK HERE for Heather’s blog!

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During the show, call Creative Mojo with Mark Lipinski at

(877) 864-4869

with a question or comment for me, Sheryl, Jeanne, Shelley or Heather—and you will be eligible to win Karen Gibbs’ vibrant book from AQS Publishing, BITS OF BARGELLO!

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And, when your Mojo listening’s done…

Get your small-quilt thinking caps on (look, mine is fur-lined!!) and make a resolution with me to enter the NEW Alliance for American Quilts contest (the prizes are amazing – and your small quilt isn’t due until JUNE!!!)

THE CONTEST IS OPEN TO QUILTERS FROM ALL OVER THE GLOBE (yes, you too, Australia, Canada, Italy, France, England, Ireland, Poland — anywhere and everywhere there are quilters!)

CLICK HERE to read more about this awesome opportunity to let your craftwork shine! DO IT DO IT DO IT WITH ME, cupcake!!! And thanks! xoxom

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If you’ve never used Auriful Thread. . .

. . .  then you haven’t really sewn!

Why not start off with my BASICS ?

Go to my web site to order YOUR collection — CLICK HERE TO GET STARTED.

Listen to a re-broadcast of all of my shows by CLICKING HERE.

You can also subscribe to Creative Mojo at iTunes.com!

HERE’S WHAT’S ON

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Just log onto www.toginet.com for a brand-new,

LIVE, 2-hour

Creative Mojo with Mark Lipinski!

3 pm -5 pm EST    2 pm – 4 pm CST 1 pm – 3 pm MST    12 pm – 2 pm PST

Call into the live show with your questions or comments  for my guests

(877) 864-4869

*****************

CLICK HERE to join Mark’s FACEBOOK Fan Page!

CLICK HERE to follow Mark’s Twitter updates!

CLICK HERE to join Mark’s Pickle Road Studio Posse on Yahoo! 

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MEET

Painter, Mixed-Media Artist, Writer, Farmer

KATHERINE DUNN

Katherine Dunn has been a full time artist since 1996, and moved from Minneapolis to Oregon in 2002 where she met her landscaper husband. They soon moved to their farm where they raise sheep and grow lavender.

While her early illustration career allowed her to work with clients such as Target, Neiman Marcus, Hallmark and others, it was only after moving to her Apifera Farm where her writing and art merged. Her popular blog posts of illustrated encounters with the creatures of Apifera have won her loyal following and she regularly raises money from her art to help abused donkeys and old animals.

Katherine’s first book, Creative Illustration Workshop [Quarry Books, November, 2010] is ranked 3rd in Arts/Photography Books 2010 by the Editors of Amazon. Her paintings are collected internationally and are also showcased on Sundance Online. She is currently working on an illustrated memoir.

Katherine will be talking about her current project,

Misfits of Love:

She writes: “Animal lovers, photo/art people and farm dreamers. And pug lovers too. A beautiful book of narratives, photos and art is trying to get out into the world. Misfits of Love is a collection of illustrated stories about the old and neglected animals that end up in the Apifera barnyard. In a world where the old and weary are tossed out or left behind, this quiet little book has stories that deserve to have a wider audience. Kickstarter lets you pledge [with a reward offered by me] and you only pay if the project is fully funded.

Misfits of Love is a book idea I have been working on in one way or another since I first moved to our Apifera Farm back in 2004. Here is a slideshow of how the book will look and ‘feel”. My farm is a final home to many of the misfits – the old ones and the crippled ones, creatures that were neglected, abused or left as useless. Their hearts live here with me and their stories are worthy of print.

Funds will be used [see specifics below] to get this quiet little book ready for publication. NOTE: Awards are sent if and only if the project is 100% funded. If it does not fund, you pay none of your pledge.

Ever since I can remember, I have had empathy for the elderly creatures, or the ‘discarded”, and that includes humans. Upon moving to the farm, my barnyard seemed to be a natural settling ground for wandering abandoned roosters, old donkeys, misplaced ducks and a variety of old and challenged goats. Oh, and a pig that came with a goat. And old mice in love. Many of the creatures were adopted from bad situations, rescued by another and then sent to Apifera- but some dropped out of the sky, so to speak.

We live in such a throw away society where old is not valued by the masses – but I see the beauty and soul in ‘old’ every day here….be it in the eyes of an old, misused donkey or the curve in the crippled legs of a handicapped goat.

When my father was dying in hospice, many states away, I was unable to go to him. Taking care of my old creatures took on an even more symbolic meaning for me. As I rubbed oil on the pig’s very dry skin each day, I was reminded of my father’s 85 year old legs and how dry and sore they were for him. I couldn’t help him, but I could soothe this pig with my hands and she in turn soothed me with her charm and pig beauty.

This fundraising stage is to get Misfits of Love ‘print-ready’, and having done that before, I can tell you it takes time, energy and money. I plan to work with the same editorial consultant who was a former editor at Chronicle Books to get the manuscript in tip-top shape. With 144 pages and $125 hour consulting fee, it is a major expense – but very important.  Funds will also help me get the layouts of the book prepped. Each chapter focuses on a different animal with a narrative, emotive sepia photographs and one full color art spread of a painting. Promo copies will be made at about $50 each that will be used to generate interest from publishers or help determine if self publishing is needed. My goal is to have the manuscript ready for first edits by January and first layouts will begin at the same time. I will be doing the layouts, but will need some expertise on proofs/layout print prep from consultants.

• consulting with editor, copy edits, proofing $3000+
• small run of promo copies $500
• layout/design/type/proofs $3500+
• cost of gifts for donors and s/h $2000+
• Paypal and Kickstarter fees will come out of the total too [10% for both]

You can read more about the old animals, and my farm, and all the animal work I do there at my blog.

The world is full of old beauty – help me share it with a larger audience. And thank you in advance if you help.”

CLICK HERE to view the Kickstarter website that is gathering funds for Katherine Dunn’s Misfits of Love

CLICK HERE for Katherine’s Apifera Farm blog

MEET

Designer, Author, Seamstress, Crafter

VANESSA CHRISTENSON

of V and Co. and Make It Sew Modern!

About Vanessa . . .

Vanessa Christenson is a mom of four who likes to quilt, sew, decorate, and organize the death out of anything. Her astro sign’s Scorpio, she’s a stay-at-home momma who loves sewing, socializing, walking, reading, thrifting, decorating…and all those interests are beautifully represented in her designs and her first book for Martingale and Company, Make It Sew Modern!

Vanessa recently wrote, “If you are expecting me to say that I started sewing at age 3 or that I watched my mother sew as I grew up, you are wrong. My mom doesn’t own a sewing machine and I started sewing 9 years ago. See, I had the fear of failing at something that I wanted so badly to be good at. So I put it off and put it off, till one day I decided “Enough!” I asked a friend to help me make a slip cover for a pillow. I failed miserably. Well, let’s just say it was less than pretty to be nice. Yet I was determined to press on, unpick and re-do.

Since then I’ve been in the stitchery pattern business and have slowly added making patterns for quilts, home goods, and clothing. It’s amazing once you get over the fear of making mistakes, and just knowing that you will because it’s part of the process… how much your creative world will open up.  I now am constantly creating patterns in my head at all times as life in general inspires me. A billboard that catches my eye with it’s color combination, or watering my plants and taking note of the leaves shapes. These have both inspired me in the past.

No I’m not here to tell you that I’ve been creating like this all my life, I’m here to tell you that I started creating like this when I finally decided that I could learn from my mistakes, press on, unpick and re-do.

A world is waiting for you to discover it if you just give it a chance.”

Be inspired by Vanessa’s designwork! Here’s some fab examples:

CLICK HERE to visit Vanessa’s website, where you’ll find tons of tutorials and ideas!

CLICK HERE to find Vanessa on Facebook!

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MEET

Photographer, Author, Crafter, Collector

HEIDI ADNUM

About Heidi . . .

Heidi is a photographer, crafter and author who lives in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia. Heidi’s first book, “The Crafter’s Guide to Taking Great Photographs” is newly released in the US (and there’s a UK edition too!). This book is the ultimate reference for crafters and bloggers looking to improve their photography on a budget!

Heidi established her photography business and range of Good Will Bunting just a few years ago in London, UK. She is 31 years old and now lives in Newcastle, Australia, with her husband, Will. Heidi specializes in portrait photography of children and families. Her service is a modern take on family photo shoots and portraiture, and is ideal for busy and budget-savvy parents who want to receive all of their fully-edited photographs on CD at a reasonable price. On-location shoots take place in the Hunter Valley on a weekly basis, monthly in Sydney, and other states of Australia and in Europe (United Kingdom and Sweden) on an annual basis, time permitting. Heidi’s photography has been exhibited at Riverside Studios, Hammersmith, London, UK. She was also a semi-finalist in the Natural History Museum and BBC’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition, 2008. In addition to her private clients and personal projects, Heidi’s portfolio includes photography for the NSPCC and Etsy.

Take a look at some of Heidi’s scrumptious shots!

And of course, after my own heart:

By the way, a little Internet bird told us that Heidi just married her Prince Charming, Will, a few months ago in Australia. Aren’t they adorable?!

CLICK HERE to visit Heidi’s website, where you’ll find a feast of images and design tips!

CLICK HERE for Heidi’s blog!

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AND for our final segment, do we ever have a HOT topic!

You will NOT want to miss:

The State of Sewing and Quilting Through the Eyes of 

[Designer, Writer, Crafter, Publisher, Entrepreneur, 

founder of Indygo Junction and The Vintage Workshop]

AMY BARICKMAN

About Amy . . .

I am an author, entrepreneur, and designer with a relentless passion for all things vintage—particularly sewing and fashion.

I was lucky enough to grow up immersed in the sewing and crafting business, as my mother owned a creative arts shop in West Des Moines, Iowa. Even in high school I knew the direction my life would take – running my own Teddy Bear business. After graduating from the University of Kansas (Go Hawks!) with a degree in art and design, I knew I wanted to make craft and art my life’s work and founded Indygo Junction, a fabric arts publishing company, to showcase the talent of leading sewing and craft designers. Over the years I have teamed up with innovative artists to publish over 800 pattern titles and write over 80 books.

My mother also passed on her “collector gene,” bringing me to local flea markets, tag sales and antique shops. She instilled a life-long love of the hunt for vintage treasures. Over time, I amassed a vast collection of period artwork, especially vintage images. In 2002, I founded The Vintage Workshop so I could share my favorite images with other crafters.

One of the aspects of my business life that I have genuinely come to treasure is the entrepreneurial piece of what I do. I have always been inspired by what people can make, using their own two hands, simple materials and of course, a creative spirit. I have, along with my talented staff, had tremendous good fortune – and a little luck – identifying dozens of designers whose work is simply exceptional. Over the years, we’ve licensed their work, given them a marketplace at IndygoJunction.com and featured them at trade shows. I was even fortunate to have this activity recognized by Country Living Magazine, which recently selected me as one of America’s most creative entrepreneurs. This side of me has become so integral to who I am that I’m exploring new ways to discover new talent, encourage their growth and bring them to people’s attention. [Note from Mark: More about that in a minute!!]

For as long as I can remember, I have loved to sew and work with fabric. I am particularly motivated by anything—and everything—vintage. I love the story of an old textile or a Depression-era drawing tells about our past. But for me, it’s not enough to appreciate these things, I must also share them with others. My goal has always been to provide everyone with imaginative and inventive information that allows them to discover their inner creativity, perfect their talents and skills and, if they so desire, help them to bring their talent to the marketplace.

I am also blessed to be a wife and mother. I live in Kansas City, where my businesses are based, and raise two active, grade-school children with my husband, Bob. Like you, I find it a challenge to balance family, work and friends, but the juggling act is much easier when you work around beautiful things, doing what you love.

Amy and I can’t wait to discuss her amazing contest!

Amy Barickman’s Vintage-Inspired, Modern Style Design Challenge was created to encourage women’s individual creativity and entrepreneurial spirit. Contestants are invited to design a wearable fashion project based on a pattern from Indygo Junc­tion , Amy Barickman’s Vintage Notions book, or one of four free e-patterns available at IndygoJunction.com.

This challenge honors the history of sewing by recognizing two premier brands, SINGER and Coats & Clark, who this year celebrate their 160th and 200th anniversaries, respec­tively. Thanks to the economy and technology, more people are trying their own hand at design.  This contest will help showcase that creativity.

VINTAGE-INSPIRED MODERN STYLE DESIGN CHALLENGE:

The DIY Revolution

Sewing has made a comeback, threading together generations of women who stitch for pleasure and profit. With the popularity of Etsy.com, “Project Runway,” and countless blogs devoted to do-it-yourselfers, the pastime of the past is now a trend of today.

Our culture embraces individual style, ushering forth a new generation of sewing enthusi­asts who take inspiration from yesterday’s traditions. By shunning store-bought fashions in favor of original handmade or authentic vintage, these pioneers are in part responsible for the modern-day revival of sewing.

The Competition

Amy Barickman’s Vintage-Inspired, Modern Style Design Challenge joins a rich history of handmade with today’s creative renaissance. Partnering with SINGER®, Coats & Clark, and Burdastyle, Amy invites sewing enthusiasts to show off their skills for a shot at winning up to thousands of dollars in prizes.

Participants will design a wearable fashion project based on a pattern from Indygo Junc­tion , Amy Barickman’s Vintage Notions book, or one of four free e-patterns available at IndygoJunction.com. Winners will be evaluated on originality, craftsmanship and overall appeal by a judging panel as well as the Burdastyle online community.

Three winners will be awarded. Prizes include SINGER sewing machines, Coats & Clark thread packs, Indygo Junction sewing patterns and books, and more. The winning design will be published as an Indygo Junction pattern.

Here’s one of the gorgeous SINGER sewing machines being offered: a limited-edition beauty!

A Rich History of Empowering Women

This challenge honors the history of sewing by recognizing two premier brands, SINGER and Coats & Clark, who this year celebrate their 160th and 200th anniversaries, respec­tively. Another important figure is Mary Brooks Picken, the American authority on fashion and sewing in the early 1900s, who worked, for years, with the SINGER and Coats & Clark brands.

Mary was also the inspiration for the award-winning Amy Barickman’s Vintage Notions: An Inspirational Guide to Needlework, Cooking, Sewing, Fashion and Fun. Published in September of 2010, this book was written to share the timeless teachings of Mary, who’s crowning achievement was the founding of the Woman’s Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences in 1916. Hear more of Mary’s stunning accolades and find out how to connect with her lasting legacy through the Vintage Notions book, in this exclusive interview with author, Amy Barickman.

By empowering women and encouraging entrepreneurism, the Woman’s Institute connected like-minded individuals with a passion for sewing, much like today’s online communities. This challenge was designed to forge such a connection among fashion-for­wards and skilled sewers alike.

The promotional video further details the historical inspiration for the Design Challenge and offers more information about how to enter the contest. 

For inspiration, check out just a fragment of Amy’s influential designs:

CLICK HERE for Amy Barickman’s website, chock-full-of patterns, inspirations and news!

CLICK HERE to join Amy’s page on Facebook!

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Call Creative Mojo with Mark Lipinski tomorrow at

(877) 864-4869

with a question or comment for me, Katherine, Vanessa, Heidi, or Amy—and you will be eligible to win Mary Mashuta’s book for C&T Publishing, FOOLPROOF MACHINE QUILTING!

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If you’ve never used Auriful Thread. . .

. . .  then you haven’t really sewn!

Why not start off with my BASICS ?

Go to my web site to order YOUR collection — CLICK HERE TO GET STARTED.

Listen to a re-broadcast of all of my shows by CLICKING HERE.

You can also subscribe to Creative Mojo at iTunes.com!

Deborah Kemball talks about her hot-off-the-press Twilight Garden Quilts: 2 Wallhangings, 22 Flowers to Appliqué Tips for Silk and Cotton.

On her website, http://www.deborahkemball.com, she writes: “Although I’ve been a quilter for nearly twenty years, it is only in the past five years that I have discovered my passion for appliqué. I have always loved antique textiles and it is these designs from the 18th and 19th centuries that inspire me most. This inspiration source, coupled with my self-taught appliqué methods result in original and highly textured quilts. The appliqué, embroidery and quilting is all done by hand and each quilt will take on average between 1000 and 2000 hours to complete. In addition, I sew on hundreds of crystals, beads and seed pearls to subtly enhance the design. My method of appliqué results in flowers that appear stuffed and I heavily echo quilt the background by hand to further enhance the textural look and feel of the quilt.

“I feel very lucky to have received such an appreciative audience for my work and I have won several major national (Canadian) and international awards. My work has appeared in many international quilting magazines, and I was the Featured Quilter in September 2009 for American Quilter magazine. Additionally, my quilts were selected to be the cover page for the American Quilter’s Society Winter/Spring 2011 catalogue, C&T Publishing’s Spring 2011 catalogue, Canadian Quilter Winter 2010 edition, and was featured in the IQA 2010 Award Winning Quilts Calendar.”

And you won’t want to miss it when Jim West and I talk about my bare-it-all centerfold article in the most recent issue of Quiltposium, the #1 online international magazine for quilters, published by quilt travel company Sew Many Places.

Jim says that Quiltposium is all about “living and traveling with a quilter’s eye. Here’s your opportunity to read articles written by quilters from around the world, download the latest and greatest complimentary quilt patterns, obtain recipes, learn gardening tips, find out the who, what, when, where, why and how about quilting, and hop onboard one of our extraordinary cruises, tours or expeditions designed by quilters–for quilters!”

With over 1050 cruises logged in his nautical diary, Jim West is one of today’s leaders in cruise planning. He has worked as a professional cruise director for over ten years, and has sailed on the ships of Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises and Orient Lines. Jim has written four cruise – travel books, including the best seller, The Essential Little Cruise Book, now in its fourth edition. He is also a contributing author in Chicken Soup for the Traveler’s Soul, with his story entitled, “Dancing with Isabel.” Jim has explored all seven continents, including Antarctica with Sir Edmund Hillary. When West wrote his first cruise book, containing over 750 practical cruising tips, Hillary commented on its contents, “A very practical book with sound information for everyone, from people planning their first cruise adventure to hardened travel agents.”

In 2004, the Travel Channel tapped into Jim’s cruise expertise and starred him in their television show, Cruise Ships FAQ, which still shows in reruns. On the show, Jim provided dozens of ways people can enhance their cruise, based on the knowledge he has acquired.

As the founder and CEO of Travel Alliance, Inc., Jim West has created an unmatched travel company which operates unique niche markets, such as: Sew Many Places for quilters, ScrapMap for scrapbookers, Catholic Trips for Catholic pilgrimages, On Holy Watersfor protestants, Bank Trips for banks who offer a travel program, Stonewall Tours for gay and lesbian clientele, Are We Hair Yet for hair stylists and salon owners, Tuscany Cooking Tours for people who travel to Italy, CME Trips for continuing medical education, Busy As a Bead for people who do beading, Away To Crochet for knitters and Travel West for independent travel planning.

How’s that New Year’s resolution to organize and purge going? I’ll be talking with Dr. David Tolin about his bestselling book, Buried in Treasures: Help for Compulsive Acquiring, Saving, and Hoarding. (Who, me?!)

Dr. David Tolin is the founder and Director of the Anxiety Disorders Center at The Institute of Living. He is also Adjunct Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine. Dr. Tolin received his Ph.D. from the University of Arkansas, and completed a predoctoral internship at Tufts University School of Medicine/VA Medical Center, Boston. A board-certified clinical psychologist and expert on cognitive-behavioral therapy, Dr. Tolin is the recipient of the award for Distinguished Contribution to the Science of Psychology from the Connecticut Psychological Association.

Dr. Tolin is the author of over 100 journal articles and book chapters.  He is author of the books Face Your Fears: A Proven Plan to Beat Anxiety, Panic, Phobias, and Obsessions, Buried in Treasures: Help for Compulsive Acquiring, Saving, and Hoarding, and Treating Trichotillomania: Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Hair Pulling and Related Problems. Dr. Tolin has been a recurrent guest on programs such as The Today Show, Good Morning America, and The Oprah Winfrey Show.  He was a featured expert on the A&E series Hoarders, and the host of the VH-1 series The OCD Project.

Call Creative Mojo with Mark Lipinski tomorrow with a question or comment for me or any of my guests, and you will be eligible to win Kim Brackett’s book for That Patchwork Place, SCRAP-BASKET SURPRISES, 18 Quilts from 2 1/2″ Strips (Jelly Roll Friendly). Creative Mojo with Mark Lipinski! It’s LIVE on www.toginet.com 3- 5 PM EST, EVERY Wednesday! xoxom

So I show up at quilting icon, Carol Doak’s, Salem, New Hampshire home one morning for a surprise door-knock for Quilt Out Loud (I sailed across Milford Lake, in a pontoon boat, right to her back yard!).

Well, what do you know, she had just baked a slew of baked apples in delicious pie crust and topped with the most fragrant warm sauce.  OMG!  I am so lucky!

I’ll get the recipe for you guys!   This Quilt Out Loud show airs in January 2012 on QNNtv.com

You guys! Jodie Davis turned me onto my very first genuine bowl of New England Clam Chowder this weekend. It was magnificent! We went to a place called, Al’s Seafood, with the Quilt Out Loud crew and Janet-Lee Santeusanio in Janet-Lee’s town of Hampton Falls, New Hampshire. I thought I died and went to heaven. Anybody have a really, really good and hearty NE Chowder recipe? (Oh, and a treadmill?)

This QUILT OUT LOUD episode airs all the month of November on QNNtv.com!

As of today, Pickle Road has electrical power but we still have no telephone, Internet or television cable service.

I’ll start posting again just as soon as were back up and running – most likely on Monday!

xoxom

If you are struggling to find time for your creative projects or find that your busy life has left little room for even a tiny bit inspirational musing, it only means that you might have to step back, reevaluate what’s going on around you, and infuse a little simplicity into your world.

Of course, and how well I know, there are always, always more things to accomplish in a day than the hours allow, but if your relationships, focus, art, inspiration, and joy is diminished because of all that you are juggling, then not only are you wasting time on things that will ultimately not be remembered or matter, but the happiness and inspiration that you are due, the very breath of creativity, will be kept at arm’s length.

Stereotypically, artists and creative types like us are not known for their talent in self-care.  The neurotic, tragic, unsatisfied artist, struggling to breakout and jazz the world is what is expected.  I think that’s just dandy for those souls who wish to live and work that way.  It just doesn’t work for me.  Oh, it used to.  It just doesn’t anymore!

Each of us has our own maximum output, stress levels, and coping mechanisms.  What seems boring to me might be all you can handle while trying hopelessly to stay sane.  Keeping your life simple, and what choices you make to make that happen, is very individual and you cannot compare yourself to others.  You need to find your own pace and your own boundaries and limits, while absolutely making time to nurture your creative gifts.

Keeping in mind that taking care of yourself — not being to hungry, too tired, too hurried, too angry, or too lonely — allows you to become more creatively centered, thus permitting your innermost feelings to pass through you and into your art and process.  It’s a very simple concept, really, but until you get the hang of it, it may not be that easy to hammer home.   It takes practice as well as vigilance.  If you keep plugging away at being in touch with your feelings, and what you need, taking care of yourself and simplifying your life will become natural and automatic.

Simplifying your life, even just a little, will lead you to a better quality of life, better relationships with others (and yourself) and an enhanced, clearer inspired direction in your creative pursuits.

© Pickle Road Studio, LLC

 I hope you enjoy my creative thoughts for hobbyists and crafters. I post new blog thought entries every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Wednesday’s are reserved for Creative Mojo with Mark Lipinski’s guests and new creative personalities that you’ll want to know and learn about. Of course, I sprinkle things happening on Pickle Road throughout the week.

I invite you to subscribe to this blog by clicking the button on the left side of this post. Also, why not share my posts with your creative friends and co-workers by clicking on any of the share links? If something really resonates with you, print it out and tack it to your bulletin board or tape it to the wall of your creative space, sewing or craft room as a gentle reminder that you can re-read!

As always, I love to hear about your creative life, wins and challenges! Leave a comment here or email me at CreativeMojo@me.com. Create and laugh through this week. And , as always, always do what you love! xoxom

I didn’t come from a family who passed down words of wisdom from one generation to the next.  Where I grew up, it was graduate, get a job and stay at that job until you retire.  That’s what my grandfather’s did.  That’s what my dad did.  That’s what my brother’s doing now.

My uncle (a businessman who married into the family) was the only person who ever took me aside after I graduated from high school, and offered a few words of advice that actually changed my life.   He said, “If you want to be successful, surround yourself with successful people.”  And he was right.

You become who you identify with.  You are who you set your mind to be.  If you want to be an artist, hang out with artists.  If you want to be a writer, surround yourself with writers.  If you want to be a fabric or textile designer, seek out other designers and hang with them.   Surround yourself with whom you want to become!

Now, hooking in with those you admire isn’t as easy as it might seem.  Most of us who have “made it” in one career or another can smell an opportunist and a user a mile away.  You, too, have to be prepared to bring something to the party!  Don’t just become a sponge, become a giver, as well.  Learn through reading and class-taking and self-exploration what motivates you and what is new and cutting edge in the areas you are interested in.  Create blogs and tweets and Diggs and write articles and books, and produce simple YouTube videos that will attract the creative people you want to hang with to you.

No one makes it alone in any of the creative fields (no matter how much the successful ones would like you to believe that they have).  Relationships — solid, equal and sharing relationships, with those you admire and whose creative paths you hope to emulate, will bring you as much inspiration and artistic success, if not more, than a insular, nose-to-the-grindstone, all-work/no play crafter – who may have  a little, or even a lot of, creative talent.   And don’t sell yourself short.  Your unique spirit and new energy can be a welcome gift and revelation to the successful, “made it” creative as well!   Work it!

© Pickle Road Studio, LLC

TOMORROW ON CREATIVE MOJO:

Bev Rogan and Quilts for Japan

Fabric Painting with Cindy Walter

Wendy Johnson about her book, Wendy Knit’s Lace 

Colleen Exline with Bookkeeping for the artist and crafter!