editor’s note
I WELCOME DECEMBER ... cold and crisp afternoons and the creep of elongated
shadows at dusk remind me that while one year may be ending, another is about
to begin. Soon, the days will lengthen and the eternal cycle will start all over
again. December marks the month when we take time to review our personal and
professional goals before we set new intentions for the year to come.
Every year when it comes time to evaluate, I seem to focus on the negative. In
2019 I had a number of “arty” goals—most of them good intentions—but fell short
accomplishing them. Did I make time for art every day? Master free-motion quilting?
Keep my studio organized? Learn how to (fi ll in the blank)? No ... but I did try. I
started a sketchbook and kept at it for three months. I purged old art supplies and
recycled everything from craft books to fabric scraps. I may not have mastered the
feather, but I did practice free-motion meandering and took a class with a wonderful
instructor. I may only be able to measure my progress this year in baby steps rather
than giant leaps, but at least I moved forward artistically and am hopeful that 2020
will lead to more opportunities to hone my skills.
With this in mind, Mel Beach’s article “Make and Meet Your Artistic Goals” (p. 28)
is a great place to start. She has specifi c suggestions for making those goals realistic. Maybe choosing “mastering” free-
motion quilting last year was too overarching. With Mel’s advice, I may edit it this time around into a more realistic and
attainable goal like “mastering the meander.” Similarly,
Patricia Kennedy-Zafred shares her insight about the
ins and outs of entering your artwork in shows (p. 20).
Her tips are practical and apply to all quilt exhibitions.
My favorite? “Keep it clean. Only send work that is
truly pristine! Dog or cat hair, hanging threads (unless
deliberate), stains, smells, etc. are unacceptable. The
work represents you, quite personally.”
You’ll fi nd inspiration to guide your goal setting on
every page of this issue. From articles about hand
stitching, creating a three-dimensional village, learning
how to paint and stencil on fabric, and looking to other
cultures for patterns and imagery, we’ve got you covered.
I’m especially looking forward to taking some of the
(rudimentary) drawings in my sketchbook and applying
them to fabric using the information in Susan Brubaker
Knapp’s article about markers and pens (p. 82). Who
knows? Maybe 2020 will be the year when I evaluate my
goals and say “yes ... I did reach them!”
Best,
Vivika Hansen DeNegre, Editor
“Krackle Funf” • Cheryl Sleboda • 32" x 42"
A detail of Cheryl’s quilt graces this issue’s cover.