• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
Serendipity and the Art of the Quilt

Serendipity and the Art of the Quilt

Creating with Brenda Gael Smith

  • WEBSITE
  • About
    • Biography
    • Resume
  • Shop
  • Gallery
    • Serendipity Gallery
    • Contemporary Textile Art
    • Monthly Art Project 2019
    • Weekly Art Project
  • Workshops & Programs
    • Workshop Booking Form
    • Overview
    • Workshops Brochure
    • 3 Hour Zoom Workshops
    • Schedule
    • Lectures & Programs
    • Abstraction from Reality
    • Bound to Please
    • Creating with Felt
    • Circular Explorations
    • Improvisation Plus
    • Lines of Beauty
    • Logs & Ladders
    • The Modern X
    • Shibori Serendipity
    • Stacks of Improvisation
    • Strata Various
  • Resources
    • Copyright Resources
    • Tutorials
    • Melody Quiltalong
  • News/Events
    • Calendar
    • Newsletter Sign Up
  • Blog
  • Contact

Creative Backstory: Celebrating 20 Years – Year 2006

17 June 2020 Filed Under: Creative Backstory, Education

To mark the 20th anniversary of my first baby quilt, I  have been reflecting on what I have learned along the way. Creative Backstory is a series of blog posts each highlighting a different year. I invite you to share your creative backstory. Each day, I will post an optional prompt. Leave your response as a comment below or on my Serendipity Facebook page or use the tag #creativebackstory or Instagram and I will add your name to my Creative Backstory Giveaway. I look forward to reading about what has shaped your creative life.

Learning from Nancy Crow

I first retired from legal practice in 2004 but later returned for nine months while one of the other lawyers took parental leave. This was an unexpected work assignment. With some of the bonus income, I decided to invest in my creative practice by taking a workshop with Nancy Crow at the Crow Barn in Ohio in July 2006.

Here are some contemporaneous blog posts:

  • Improvising with Nancy: about Unplugged (pictured below)
  • The Agony & the Ectasy
  • More Photos from the Crow Barn
  • Reflections on Nancy

It was an exhilarating and exhausting experience. From time to time I pull out the working notes from those classes and still derive new insights and wisdom. Design commentary aside, for me the enduring takeaway is the value of a strong work ethic and removing distractions. Do the work. No excuses.

Unplugged

Contemporary Quiltmaking with Nancy Crow

In 2008 Nancy Crow presented a lecture at the International Quilt Museum that is available for viewing on YouTube:

Mastery: Sustaining Momentum

In this 2016 interview, Nancy talks about working in series and growth and connection:

Sharing Stories: Prompt # 5 & Giveaway

I invite you to share your creative backstory. Here are are some optional prompts:

  • have you ever had a “lightbulb moment” or value reinforcement in a workshop?
  • if you could take a class with any person, who would it be?

Leave your response as a comment below or use the tag #creativebackstory on Facebook or Instagram. I look forward to reading about what has shaped your creative life and will put your name into my celebratory giveaway. At the end of June, after I have completed Creative Backstory posts, I will select one commenter and, pandemic postal system permitting, this King Parrot textile sketch will wing its way to a new home.

King Parrot - creative backstory giveaway
King Parrot (15x15cm mounted on 20x20cm canvas) Creative Backstory Giveaway

Primary Sidebar

Blog Posts Straight to Your In Box


Melody 33

Blog Archives

Serendipity Studio Newsletter

Categories

Recent Posts

  • Australia Wide Eight Tour Begins
  • Circular Exploration Workshops: FUNdamentally Circles & Beyond
  • Invitation: Art of Finishing Zoom Event
  • Updated Serendipity Workshop Schedule
  • Abstraction in Action 2022 Student Gallery

Footer

Contact

Brenda Gael Smith
brenda@serendipitypatchwork.com.au

PO Box 4033, Copacabana
NSW 2251 Australia

Tel: +61 412530190

Serendipity Studio News

Sign up for periodic updates from my studio - new artwork, workshops, exhibitions and other news

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

New on Instagram

Looking forward to sharing my artwork in the Gosfo Looking forward to sharing my artwork in the Gosford Art Prize 2022 at @gosfordgallery from 20 August to 23 October 2022. The official opening is coming up on Friday 19 August. The gallery will be live streaming on IG from approximately 6.30pm.
#gosfordartprize #gosfordartprize2022 #brendagaelsmithart
I made these Pacific-inspired place mats years ago I made these Pacific-inspired place mats years ago for my family in New Zealand. It’s great to see they are useful and used. 🖤💚❤️

You can make your own variation with my free pattern. Link in profile.
#brendagaelsmithproject #utiliterianquilting #eatingtogether

Copyright © 2003–2022 All Rights Reserved · Brenda Gael Smith