Creative Backstory: Celebrating 20 Years – Year 2011

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.

Twelve by Twelve

2011 was a HUGE year for the Twelve by Twelve International Art Quilt Challenge group. Not only did we publish our eponymous BOOK featuring our Theme series but we completed our Colourplay series and all 288 artworks were on display at the International Quilt Festival. After years of working together online, it was such a thrill to meet up with the eight US Twelves in person in Houston.

For those of you not familiar with the Twelve by Twelve project, we are 12 art quilters that got together twelve via blogging back in 2007 and embarked on an online challenge. For five years, we set regular challenges based on a word or colour prompt. We shared our creative inspirations and processes on our group blog and showcased our art quilts on a dedicated website: www.twelveby12.org

Being a Twelve has had an enduring impact on my creative practice. I am so grateful to Diane for inviting me to play and for the support, encouragement and enthusiasm of the other Twelves. The internet is a wonderful thing!

Sharing Stories: Prompt # 7 & Giveaway

I invite you to share your creative backstory. Here is an optional prompt: do you belong to group, online or otherwise, that nurtures your creativity?

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.