I guess I’m Catching the Wave…..the Word of the Year seems to be the topic of conversation in a number of circles I travel in. So….I’m going to announce mine. PLAY!!

Here I  am “playing” with my two wonderful daughters…..as you can see, we’re playing in Paris.  Let’s face it…if you can’t play in Paris, you’re in pretty sad shape!

My focus for the year is to play regularly……maybe not EVERY day, but very often.Now that might not seem like a challenge for many of you….after all, playing is fun!! But for we neurotic, compulsive, workaholics, taking time to play can be something to work at.

I don’t want to get too philosophical here, but maybe I’m just realizing how fast time goes by…..and each day had better be a delight. Of course, I love working at my art so that makes it even more of a challenge to make time for simply enjoying day to day things like going for a walk, visiting friends, reading (rather than always being productive….) etc. etc.

One thing that has always come first is playing with my grandchildren…no problem there. They’ve always been at the top of my Playing Priority list. It’s the “going for a walk in the woods by myself”  kind of things I’m focusing on.

I’ll keep you posted on how it’s working. For now, I’d better get back to work. Late night is my best working time!!!

We’d love to have you along on the trip! I’m thrilled to be co-hosting a fabulous trip to Ireland in June 5-14, 2012, along with my friend and fellow traveler, Susan Nelsen. She and I have had some wonderful textile adventures, both as members of a tour and as tour hosts. This amazing trip to Ireland and the First International Quilt Festival of Ireland promises to be another of those never-to-be-forgotten journeys.

  Just to warm you up with a little Irish flavor…..No, this isn’t a couple of escapees from a Lucky Charms commercial…..it’s actually Pam and Susan in our “going-to-Ireland-presentation” outfits.   We’ve found at least this elf-like approach draws a lot of attention when we’re about to talk about the trip to groups. They’re undoubtedly wondering how we could possibly be seen in public in these outfits. Oh well……anything to promote the trip!

Now for the details……we’ll be one of a number of tours to visit this unique quilt show held on a college campus in Galway, Ireland. Unlike any of the convention center super-shows I’ve been to here in the US, this one will be held in a number of the charming and historic buildings that make up the campus. Exhibits, vendors, Irish food and drink, and lots of quilters from all over the world will make up the show. Sound inviting? We’re totally excited and know this will really be something unique.

For all the details on the trip, the cost, the itinerary etc. etc., visit www.IQFOI.com. Once you get there…..click on the tours that leave from Seattle…..then click on the trip hosted by Pamela Mostek and Susan Nelsen. After all, we want you in OUR group! We promise you a fun and friendly adventure. We’re experienced travelers and hosts, and we know how to make you feel comfortable and at home…..even on the other side of the world …..or if this is your first European trip.

One of the things I enjoy about this type of textile tour is the opportunity to meet and travel with people who enjoy and appreciate the same things I do…..like textiles! It’s really a unique experience……but it’s not just a girlfriend thing. There have been husbands or male partners along on other trips I’ve been on….and I’m sure there will be on this one as well. I think they’ve enjoyed not only the places we’ve visited but also the chance to be surrounded by delightful and fun-loving women!  Just sayin’……!

Oh yes….and after three days at the quilt show, we’ll travel around the country for six days, visiting such places as the Ring of Kerry, Blarney Castle (yes, you’ll have a chance to kiss the Blarney Stone!), woolen mills, Dublin and way more. Check all that out on the itinerary on the website. We’ll travel on a comfortable bus with our own driver and guide who know the area well and will give us the inside information on the places we visit, which make it even more memorable.

Can you tell I’m trying to entice you with the Ireland photos? I haven’t been to Ireland before so I can’t wait to immerse myself in the “Green Experience”….everyone tells me how beautifully green it is. Can’t wait to see that. After all, green is probably my favorite color to use in my artwork. I’m sure that means I will totally love Ireland!!

If you have questions about the trip, don’t hesitate to email me at pamelamostek@gotsky.com or you can email from my website.  Susan and I couldn’t be more thrilled about this upcoming tour…..and we’re sure it will be one of those-adventures-of-a-lifetime. Thanks for thinking about joining us.

Check it out……Pantone has announced its color of the year……Tangerine Tango. A yummy, soft, orange/color color that I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot of this year.

Here’s the link to see examples and shades of the new hot, color…

http://www.pantone.com/pages/pantone/category.aspx?ca=88

You know…..this color….soft tangerine….is part of the orange family, with which I definitely have a history. As an artist and designer there were two colors I simply DID NOT like or use for many years….probably 20 years. That would be brown and orange. Ironically, I use both of them know and even wear brown!! Can’t believe it. Neither can some of my friends….in fact, I remember teaching my darling first grandson (now 12) that I didn’t like brown. I did feel a little sheepish when he told me one day, “We don’t like brown, do we, Grama.”……nothing like passing on your prejudices!

But today I include them both in my pallette. Actually, it’s the shade (amount of dark) in a color, not the color itself that makes the difference for me. The shade of Tangerine Tango is very nice.

Moral or the story……keep an open mind. You never know how your taste will change. Be open to it!

One of my favorite things about the season….and there are many….is the excuse to pile on the glitz and glitter. I’m a sucker for anything that sparkles, shimmers, or shines…and if it’s gold, even better!

That’s my holiday home look…..here’s a couple of looks. It’s amazing how simple objects like gold balls and snowflakes can create an elegant glitzy look.Check out these amazing wire lights I discovered….just a little twinkle of light on a gold wire. No bulbs.

 One of my decorating tips…..I’m excessive in seletive spots….the rest I leave as is. In other words, I don’t try to cover every possible surface with holiday stuff…..just in a few places but in those places-total excess!

One thing about the glitz…..it seems to be a little addictive. More is always better…..

One of my latest additions to my Paintbox series…..meet Splash   aka Paintbox 17. The first piece in the series was inspired by an arial view I saw of dye pots in Africa. The rest is history. I’ve been working off and on in this style for about four  years. Of course, I do other styles  of fiber collage as well, but I really like working in this abstract style.

  Here’s a closer look. You can see I use all kinds of fabric from silk to mystery fabrics from the local Ben Franklin!  The fabric is the lower right corner in this photo was dyed in Africa….but I bought it in Scotland! Go figure. I’m always on the hunt for the unusual but I use plenty of typical quilt shop cottons as well. I love the mix….

Speaking of the mix….I did one all silk collage in this series…and the results were interesting. Since I loved to add the luster of silk, I reasoned, why not do one with all silk. Wouldn’t it be even better? Wrong….at least for me.  Without the contrast of other fabrics it just didn’t seem to pop. I added lots of hand stitching to save its life and that made it Ok….but I learned something. More is not always better….in silk as well as food. Unfortunately that’s not true for money…!

Here’s the all silk piece…..”Dancing on the Silk Road”…..the luster level is all the same which seems to make it look flatter and duller. Maybe it’s just me…but I’ll stick with mixing up the types of textiles that I use.

Keeping you up to date…..I will be selling my artwork at Spokane’s Inland Crafts, an annual sale and exhibition of fine, contemporary crafts. It’s really a lovely juried show with artists from around the Northwest……and I’m happy to be part of it all.

The photo above is of First Blush, a fiber collage that’s about 70″ x 60″. Definitely one of my largest pieces. That’s the good part…

The flip side is that I’m frantically creating art here in my studio, which at this point is kind of a Santa’s workshop kind of thing. I’ll have, of course, my hanging textile art, but I’ll also have some smaller pieces as well…….you know…Glitter Trees (which you can see on a previous posts) treasure boxes etc. etc. These are the things that take a waaayyy lot of time for what they seem to be. Good thing I like doing them.  After all….I know that everyone isn’t going to come in to my booth and pay hundreds of dollars for one of my fiber art pieces BUT they may spend $50 on a little treausre!

It’s all part of my goal of spending more time on my art…..less time on other parts of my work in the textile world. Wearing a lot of hats requires a lot of time. Translation: lots of late nights!!

So….if you’re near the Spokane WA  area on November 11-13, I hope you’ll visit me at Inland Crafts at the Spokane Convention Center. I’ll be the one with polka dot floor rug!

On another note….can you believe I’ve blogged two nights in a row!! Wow. I’m so impressed with myself. Don’t expect me to keep this up however……I need to get back to making Glitter Trees….

Hi  Everyone….here’s a bouquet of roses for you. Probably the last blush of summer. How sad. I hate the fall day I wake up and all the flowers are black and frozen…..it could be tomorrow.

I’ve said it before but I’m determined to be a Better Blogger. Thanks for hanging in there with me. I’m going to be spending less time at the computer and more in the studio….and I’ll share with you. More to come. I promise.

Here’s a little something I read the other day. You probably know I love to travel….(slight understatement)…….I can’t remember who said it but…..

Life is an open book. If you don’t travel, you never get off the first page…..

Something to ponder. I like it……..until next time (which will be soon!)

Pins are an essential part of my process when I’m creating one of my textile collage pieces.  People often ask me how close or how many I use…..so here’s an example.

My process is simple…..I call it  “painting with fabric” in which I use pieces of prints, solids, hand-dyes or anything else that strikes my fancy. I create a blended look by using pieces of different fabric, layered and overlapped to get the look I want. No fusing for this girl. I don’t like the way it flattens out the fabric. After I get all the pieces in place, I use a gazillion pins to secure it….then take it to my sewing machine.

I stich around each piece  with monofilament, taking out the pins as I go. I know, I know….it sounds like quite a process. I guess it is but I love the look I get doing it this way.

Here’s an in progress look at the piece. I’m just about to start stiching. It doesn’t have a title yet….sometimes that’s the hardest part for me. Stay tuned……I’ll put up a finished shot when I get it all done. Give me a few days!

Here’s a fun look and traditional quilt blocks with a twist of todays technology. It was sent to me and I’m passing it on to you. What’s old is always new again! Enjoy.

Check it out at http://www.nfb.ca/film/quilt/?ec=en20110209

No, I’m not on a great vacation.  I just finished a fiber collage that was inspired by a photo I took on a visit to Paris.  It goes without saying, that it’s an amazing place for inspiration. I love the beauty of the elegant mixed with the patina of age. Who can resist it!

Creating fiber collage is my passion….it’s what I call painting with fabric. My background is in painting, and that’s how I use my fabrics ….like paints. I layer and blend them to creat an impressionistic effect. Anyway, that’s how I work a good deal of the time. Sometimes I work abstractly and then the impressionistic approach is out the window!

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