Blog

It is hard to believe that today marks the 30th birthday of Apple’s Macintosh computer! Wow! 1984.  1984 — I was newly into quilt making (still hand piecing!), almost three years married, and I just started attending college at night while working during the day.  I was listening to music like “Dancing in the Dark” by Bruce Springsteen, and songs by Prince, Billy Idol, Thompson Twins, Cyndi Lauper, Duran Duran, and newcomer Madonna. By way of movies, there was Ghostbusters, Star Trek III, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and, funny enough, Revenge of the Nerds.

Thirty years explains the older models that have piled up in the basement, including an SE in the original zippered canvas case.  I keep trying to clean out some of the stuff, but I just can’t bring myself to toss anything with an Apple on it, such as the many rolled-up posters in closets and under my bed from various MacWorld launching events, the boxes of  software, floppy disks, and manuals, and  the like.  And let me not get started on the years I worked part-time educating people on the original  iMac (that was me working in Datavision on Fifth Avenue in NYC introducing the original Bondi Blue iMac when it was released August 15, 1998).

Here’s part of a four-page ad for the first Macintosh

That was 1984 — fast forward 30 years, and I suspect it’s only a fraction who cannot!

The MacMotherShip website has a collection of vintage Macintosh ads. I’ve kept some that I’ve torn out of Newsweek magazines. However, my collection is way far from complete!

Here is Steve Jobs introducing the first Macintosh.

While this commercial certainly isn’t 30 years old, the Think Different campaign was my favorite. In this video, Steve Jobs is narrating the ad. In the end, Apple used Richard Dreyfus’ voice because Jobs didn’t want people to relate the ad to him. Of course in the end, he’s all I can think about when I see it.

The Macintosh absolutely changed my life, to which to say Happy Birthday and thank you!

I’ve been getting emails asking where I’ve been. I’ve been here! I took a break from blogging for what I thought would be a couple weeks and that magically turned into a couple months.

In any event, I thought I’d share information on a couple online classes that I took last year through Coursera. If you’re not heard of it, Coursera offers a huge selection of MOCCs — or massive open online courses.  It’s an incredible opportunity to take classes from over 80 top universities and organizations.

The first class I took was through The Pennsylvania State University (what I refer to as Penn State) called Introduction to Art: Concepts & Techniques. Although it was designed for individuals without any artistic background, I found it very interesting and believe anyone with any interest at all in art will enjoy. The seven week class covered art elements and techniques, fantasy, correspondence with memory (yes, mail art), stories through the lens (black and white portraiture), inside the space (installation and 3D art), personal collections, and the artist critique. Anna Divinsky taught the class, and she was excellent.  Each class contained reading material and a series of online videos.  Also, there’s a Coursera app which makes viewing the videos on an iPad great.

The second class which I finished in November was also through Penn State.  The 8 week class, Creativity, Innovation, and Change, was taught by three instructors: Jack V. Matson, Darrell Velegol, and Kathryn W. Jablokow. The class was so very eye-opening. One of the most fun concepts taught was something called “intelligent fast failure” and dealt with embracing failures because they eventually result in success. The success of one exercise was based on the number of failures, which was liberating!  Because the goal was to try over and over to come up with a large number of failures before you decided when to stop, I tried all types of things just to get my number higher.  But then I got into it, with me thinking, “but what if I try this, and that, and this, and so on.”  As a result, I came up with something that was much better than I suspect I would have had I not been required to come up with a number of failures!

Another aha moment for me was understanding the different approaches to creative problem solving and where one falls on the creative diversity scale.  After taking some tests, I learned I’m more methodical than shotgun in my approach.  No one approach or place on the scale is the correct one.  Rather, understanding how you work and recognizing how others work allows one to adjust how tasks are done to bring out the best of each in the creative team.  I’ve already been able to apply this in my professional life.
Topics included idea generation, idea evaluation, creative collaboration, research, metrics, experimentation, and synthesis of creativity, innovation, and change.

Here is one of the two certifications I earned.

I’m one of those people who enjoy getting some kind of proof of completion when I finish a class, and I’m glad that both offered a certification (not all classes do).  Such incentive tends to motivate me and keep me on track, which is especially important considering it’s a free online class. Each class had over 100,000 students — yes, that many — from all over the world.  Grading is done through weekly tests and, depending on whether you’re trying for an “Explorer” or “Adventurer” Certificate, can include participation in peer forums.  It was often enlightening to read the forums, both in how people from different areas of the world approach solving problems and interact.  For example, in one instance, a student created a beautiful final solution to an assignment that required one sheet of paper.  Looking at it, it was clear she used many sheets.  Even so, being it was a creativity class, I (and some others) gave her credit for creating something that was very good.  Others weren’t as kind, some slamming her for using more materials than stated in the instructions and saying things like she “cheated.”  She apologized, stating the country she is from, that English isn’t her first language, and that she interpreted the meaning of the assignment incorrectly.  She was so ashamed and suggested she drop out.  Even more then came to her defense.  It seemed such a slice of life!

As with any class, you only get out what you put in.  I did start a public speaking class that was excellent. However, there was so much work involved, and the videos were very long.  After several weeks, and knowing there was no certificate award upon completion, I goofed off and didn’t yet complete the class. Luckily, once you enroll, you have access to the class and can complete it whenever you’d like (although you don’t earn a certification for it; that is, unless you un-enroll, re-enroll, and start from the beginning).  You also have access to any class you completed so that you can revisit lessons.  It’s a win, win.

If you’re looking to study something new this year, I wholeheartedly recommend visiting Coursera and checking out their mind-boggling class offering (iTunes is another excellent resource of MOCCs). I’m scheduled for two more classes this year.  Anyone else?

The incredible animation is by Richard Swarbrick, and the original video can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYPggg…

Although this show has been going on since June, I recently received the show catalog for Duex: Two Ideas, Inspirations, Two Complementary Quilts in the mail.  This is a Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA)  traveling exhibition that was juried by Katie Pasquini Masopust (Kim LaPolla, managing curator).  The full color catalog is 106 pages, and I’m honored to be among the selected work.

“Deux, is a visual conversation that expresses the questions and ideas important to each artist.  Two works show side by side, inviting the viewer to find the connections between them, and see how the artists handle the challenges of composition and technique.”  Kim quotes Martha graham in her catalog essay, “It is not your business to determine how good it is, nor how valuable it is, omr jow it compares to other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, stating “I believe she was talking about being true to your voice and your instinct, filtering out the xternal advice of the voices around you.” Katie had the difficult task of selecting just 25 artists and 50 pieces from the many submitted to the exhibit.  Katie states she was looking for “two great works from each artist … I hope that the pieces that I chose will show the world that our art quilts can compete side-by-side with paintings for the eye of art collectors and art admirers everywhere.”

The selected artists

“The Journey”

“Another Journey”

The catalog is available for purchase directly from SAQA here.

Full exhibit: IQF-Chicago, Rosemont, IL, June 2013
Quilts selected for Deux-Europe:
Carrefour Européen du Patchwork, Alsace, France, September 2013
Vicenza Festival, Vicenza, Italy, October 2013
The show will also be at a variety of location throughout the US through 2014.

The winner is: Marjolijn … marjolijnquilts.blogspot.com.

Thank you everyone for leaving a comment!  Remember that you have other chances to win.

October 3:          Diane Perin Hock    http://goingtopieces.blogspot.com/
October 5:          Sarah Ann Smith   http://www.sarahannsmith.com/weblog

You can also purchase a DVD Sarah here or a downloadable video from Interweave here.  I highly recommend it!

Sarah Ann Smith’s new DVD

Always of interest to me is learning about the thought process behind a creative work — the steps between concept to creation. Short of being able to talk directly to an artist, DVDs have become very popular over the recent years because they can often fill in this gap.Thus, when Sarah Ann Smith asked me about being a participant in her blog hop and give-away for her new DVD, I said yes. Not only am I honored that she asked, but I looked forward to the chance to peak over her shoulders to see how she approaches her unique works of fabric and stitch art.

My relationship with Sarah goes back about a decade, and I’ve watched her growth over the year with much admiration not only for the stunning and award-winning artwork she creates, but for her open and hold-nothing-back approach to sharing her knowledge with others. Her book, Threadwork Unraveled, is an excellent reference on selecting and using the right thread for your piecing, quilting and applique needs (among other things). Her new DVD, produced by Interweave, I am very happy to say is among the best I’ve viewed!

Sarah starts with some encouraging words — namely, “learn and be proud of every project that you do.” Her DVD focuses on every step she uses from selecting a photograph right through to creating a finished work.

Sarah discusses how to select a photograph for use in an art quilt …

how to select fabrics …

how to enhance fabrics with pencils or paint, including why you need to exaggerate contrast …

how to fuse and build your quilt top imagery  …

how to select thread …

how to quilt/thread paint …

It’s clear that Sarah does a lot of teaching, and she packs a lot of good information in the 77 minute video. She speaks clearly, gives thorough instruction, and enthusiastically explains what she uses in her work and why (she wrote a blog post about some of her favorite products, which you can read here). After I watched her demonstration of why she uses the iron she does, and I immediately made a mental note to purchase one; the way she uses a skewer had me grabbing  a couple from the kitchen and putting them my workroom (a better tool than the tooth pick I was using).

In the beginning of the DVD, Sarah states that if you’re not learning, you’re not trying hard enough. Sarah reminds you to keep trying, to do the best you can, and to know that with work and time people will eventually be commenting that your work is amazing.  I have no doubt this video will put you on that road to amazing!

Here’s a preview of her DVD:

Leave me a comment, and I’ll randomly select a winner on the evening of October 3rd. Please make sure you leave your correct email so that I can contact you. If you are in the United States, you can choose between a DVD or a download (I like downloads, as you get immediate gratification). If you live outside of the United States, you will get information on how to obtain a download. Good luck! If you are not selected by me, you still have other chances to win. The blog hop continues:

October 3:          Diane Perin Hock    http://goingtopieces.blogspot.com/
October 5:          Sarah Ann Smith   http://www.sarahannsmith.com/weblog

Even if you are not selected for a free copy during the blog hop, you will be a winner by purchasing the DVD directly from Sarah here or a downloadable video from Interweave here.  I highly recommend it!

On Tuesday Rich and I went down the shore.  First we went to Belmar for pizza at Three Brothers (I’m sure he’ll appreciate this photo with his mouth full of pizza!). We love their pizza and often make a trip there just to get a couple slices.

Then, back on the road, and to avoid traffic on Route 35, we detoured and ended up in Mantoloking. Sadly, there’s still a lot of damage in that area from Hurricane Sandy, which in another six weeks will be at its one year anniversary. My sister-in-law’s mom owns a house there, but she was very fortunate in that her home is okay.

From there we went to Seaside. Ahh … Seaside.  The place where Rich and I spent many summers prior to being married a zillion years ago, many summers in our early marriage, and later we’d visit in the off seasons to avoid the crowds. We generally start in Seaside Park, at the Funtown Pier, and walk the boardwalk into Seaside Heights.  To us, it’s always been just Seaside.

While there are still areas that need a lot of work, there’s been a herculean effort of work done to rebuild vast areas of the boardwalk and open businesses in time for the summer season.

The Sawmill has always been a favorite place for us, and they reopened in the spring. After going up and down the boardwalk a few times, we returned to relax there and have a burger (yes, that was after pizza in Belmar!).

But look at all the progress made!

The new boardwalk looks great, and we like the new fence rather than the chain linked fence. For $500 you can get your name inscribed on a boardwalk bench, and for another fee on the boardwalk itself.  We discussed it and pondered whether we wanted our name on the bench looking at the ocean or looking at the boardwalk.

We had an excellent day, and we both left feeling hopeful, that, yes, things were looking up for Seaside!

How shocking that today, while going through pictures to add in my journal, the news broke of a fire on the boardwalk in Seaside. I watched and was shell-shocked.  When Rich walked through the front door after coming home from work he said, “Did you hear about Seaside?” We then sat in front of the TV and watched the news in sadness and disbelief.  Some 400 firefighters from around NJ battled the blaze. By late night the news reported that The Sawmill is gone. Some 32 businesses are gone. The remains of Funtown Pier are gone. After all the work of so many to rebuild, some 80% of the boardwalk apparently is gone. It’s all so very sad.

Rich and I visited three different gardens recently. This past Sunday we spent several hours at Chanticleer (once the home of the Rosengartens), a 47-acre estate located in Radnor, PA, of which some 35 acres are open to the public.  The literature says it  “has been called the most romantic, imaginative, and exciting public garden in America,” and it’s totally worth the $10 per person fee to enter the grounds. There are gorgeous gardens, including a teacup garden and a pond garden, lovely paths to walk, and some 5,000+ plants to peruse.  I particularly liked the “Ruin and Garvel” garden. Here are a few of the photos from the day.

A flower and vegetable garden on the left and the “Teacup Garden” on the right.

My favorite area!

The water on top of this table-like structure is very still and creates a deep mirror-like reflection of the greenery around it. We kept putting our hands in the water!

The bottom half of the photo on the left is a reflection from that same water-topped structure.

The pond garden has some of the largest lilies I’ve ever seen in my life. And, of course, I had to take some butterfly pictures.

I was only able to get two shots of that hummingbird before it flew off never for me to find it again.

Rich in the garden and me inside a small structure in which the entire interior was whimsically painted.

I suspect we will return again, as I know there is more for us to explore. Visit their website for more information.

I am finally starting to see some monarchs!  I’m glad.  I took hundreds this week, many flying in the air with their wings in various states of flap.  Fun stuff.  Yesterday I spent the final late afternoon of August at the a Rutger’s extension photographing some of the gardens and some butterflies.  I’ll post more of those in the coming days.

This weekend I went to several outdoor places to photograph primarily butterflies. I’ll post some images from those adventures in the coming days. However, I did want to post this guy.  Many times when I’m out photographing, I see these gorgeous yellow birds — American Goldfinches — which I learned happens to be the state bird of NJ (along with Iowa and Washington). These birds are incredibly active, jumping and flying at the smallest hint of movement.  Generally I can only take pictures from afar. However, yesterday as I was standing and scoping out the area, I realized it was sitting on a cone flower not far from me. I very slowly raised my camera and starting taking pictures.  I managed to take about 15 shots — looking left, looking right, looking over its shoulder, and feeding off the flower.