Chi Chi

This week my new line Chi Chi was premiered at the Fabric show in Houston, TX. I wish I could have gone but...its kinda nice to stay in the background. My line has not been printed on fabric yet, it was taken to the show on paper...but it will be printed this week and placed in the warehouse ready to be cut and sold to the independent market. Im thrilled about this since my other line went only to Hancock fabrics that is nice but in the Independent market my fabrics l circle the globe!..

                                           The Lead piece is the Lost Ponies of Machu Picchu 
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Time to catch up...

My Whirl Wind week is over...we took my sis to the airport today and this afternoon is the first time Ive had to sit down and make a blog...since the show in Atlanta. I am so proud of my son and his hard work..and he got a promotion at work, he is now in manager of the fitness center..so he is climbing the ladder!

We had a wonderful week, going non stop and enjoyed a fabulous time...I miss sis so much already and her plane hasnt landed yet!...But this is the way of todays families to be scattered to the 4 corners of the planet. We had a wonderful time at the beach it was so refreshing to be by the sea again...and during off season with cheap rates even Better!..

We got a wonderful suite for 1/2 price..at the Palms Resort. We had a couple of nice beach walks, we played put- put golf, we went shopping, we dined out, we hit the hot tub, the heated indoor and the heated outdoor pools, we had coffee while relaxing on the lounge chairs and listening to the waves crash...it was perfect.

mom relaxing at the Palms 

I took a walk early on Thursday morning hoping to catch the sunrise but dark thunderheads had crept in during the night and all I saw was a pink tint for a few minutes then the black clouds rolled in threatening but it never rained! The fishermen were out in force and kites were flying it was Great!...many Canadians this time of year and no screaming kids, thank goodness for "after labor day" for those of us who have raised our families and dont really want to deal with all the teens and crying babies...Relaxing---it was no lines, no traffic, no problem!...

Flickr Ate MY Photos

We headed down to Huntington Beach State Park before we left and enjoyed seeing tons of egrets, woodstorks, alligators, crabs, fish, its a great place to explore.

NOW Ive got one week to get my artwork finished and thats the last thing on my plate between me and the perfect fall weather which I want to get out in and begin digging. Im hoping to get my new garden ground turned before it turns cold...so lots of work to be done there. Im sorry I know Ive missed a lot of blogs there is no way I can go back and read them all so Ill begin to catch up as I can...I missed all your great photos and stories! Ive been trying to get some of my photos uploaded to Flickr...and just winding down from a perfect week. Here are some thumbnails of our travels.

 

the Atlanta Supernaturals..

 Im having a cup of java in my motel and trying out the Wi Fi...its in n out I like the laptop for convience but the keyes are hard to find...I keep typing like this majgnlahugieah then  having to start over...here are a few pics from the show...

Thats my son ...and his trophy for 4th place..he was so tired and dehydrated... They go through this dehydration thing before the show....I will be posting all the photos I took when I get to my sisters I dont want to put all of them in this laptop.. My son goes in drug tested shows only! Im so proud of HIM, he works so hard to keep his body in this perfect condition. Those of us who dont are all to aware of the amount of work and discipline it takes to get to and keep this kind of body. Proud Mom here! :o)

Picture Perfect Rhyme Time

Picture Perfect Rhyme Time

A new day dawns Brisk & cool "Wake up, wake up" "Yeah, I'm talking to you" Grab your tripod, your coat & boots You gotta come see these droplets of blue.

Blue Dew

Rain drops on a blue Iris.

Camera:	Kodak Z712 IS Zoom
Exposure:	0.05 sec (1/20)
Aperture:	f/6.3
Focal Length:	70.2 mm
ISO Speed:	200
Exposure Bias:	0/3 EV
Flash:	Flash did not fire

Just Ask For It~

ITs cold!...I have to make a trip to Kmart to get some sweat pants for this upcoming weekend...Im not a jeans person, I have them and I wear them but they are too rigid and uncomfortable for me, and last yr at the end of the season I finally threw out the sweat pants I had worn for the past 8 yrs...they were worn OUT and I knew if I didnt get rid of them Id wear them yet another yr...so now its time to get some. Thats pretty trivial but its whats on my mind today. 

 Also on my mind today are the revisions Im working on to get my new line ready to show at the quilt show in Houston later this month. I do get flustered...at first on the one I call the Mask...I left the background open, just the Masks sitting on a background nothing filling up the open space..so they said there is too much dead space...so I added elements to fill up the dead space...now 4 weeks later they are saying Open it up a bit....GRRRRRRRRRR. Some of the changes have to do with resizing but some are quite major. And they want me to make 2 brand new prints...so Ive got a lot of work to do and right here while Big sis is coming for a visit and Im going to be out of town quite a bit. They had these designs before I ever went to Colorado..BUT now they want me to rush...I hate that but it seems that is the way it is so when I get back from K-Mart with my sweat pants...Ill be working this afternoon.

 I get very tense when Im doing revisions...because thats not coming from my head...it is working under direction. I already allowed the creative juice to flow when I created the designs...they look them over and they see it through totally fresh eyes and they see things they want to change. ITs very different to work from within and from outside. I get tense, my neck hurts, and it takes longer to do the revisions than to start from scratch..and when Im creating I go to the zone, you know that place where nothing exists except me, myself, and I. So today Im asking for guidance to help me make these designs to the liking of my constiuents...to make the job easier and better for all involved so everyone is pleased and fulfilled, and balanced.

I got this cool lap top. Ive mentioned it but here it is for you to see. Its not a brand new one but it works perfectly. I thought of loading Photoshop on it to use while Im away but I dont think Ill need to do that I am confident I can get all my revisions done even tho sis is here visiting. BUT imagine how this thing just dropped into my lap. Lap Top Drop...lol. DID I tell ya this before, if I did Im sorry to be repeating myself..over in a yahoo group Im in someone else mentioned a laptop coming into their life and NO money exchanged for it...and thats kinda what happened here. When I was visiting in Colorado I was taking so many photos..and my sister's PC is still running Win ME. And there was no software to download my photos. I tried to download the Kodak Software online, but got an error the Explorer she has...(5.0) was too old Update it, couldnt update to 7.0 due to Windows ME not supported...so it was a catch 22. I tried everything I could think of to get those photos out of my camera...took it to Walmart tried to put them on a disc and there system went down..we were on the way to Utah and had stopped in Glenwood Springs to do this...Well I ended up buying 2 more 2G SD chips instead. 

 They had a promo 2 for $24 great deal...so anyway I now had enough storage for my photos. When we returned from Utah I wanted so much to see my photos on a screen but couldnt. Later that day my sisters friend who was also letting me use her little bungalow came in for one night on her way to Denver. While we were out she sneaked in to do a load of laundry at my sisters and she left something for me. 

 We found this laptop in the living room when we returned...so we thought she left it there by accident...WHEN I went to thank her for letting me use her bungalow and give her back her laptop...she said "ITS YOURS IF YA WANT IT"...at first I said "YOUR KIDDING" but she wasnt...So it took me only a hour to get it updated, and to get my camera hooked to it and we were enjoying a great slideshow of all our vacation photos!..Ask and you shall receive..but be ready for the outcome, make sure you are clear on what you want.

Lines on a page...

Art reflects life. I always enjoy creating from the bottom up. I love to draw but it has to come from inside...sit with pencil and begin. I have never sat before a sight and tried to draw it. Most of the time my art tells a story. There is always more behind the pencil than just lines connected on paper to create an image. Art reflects whats going on inside my spirit and soul. My drawing pad looks more like a scribble pad...I never did enjoy 'Painting' or adding color...too messy and took so much time, If I had a stuido maybe yes. But with no place to leave things out and having to clean up behind myself every time I painted I never really got into that. (my son did, and I cleaned up behind him..lol ) I did use acrylic pens at one time, and that was pretty easy, just put the pens away...but the pens are expensive as are oils and acrylics, and supplies. So I began to use software to complete my art/drawings. This one pictured here was inspired by my feelings or spiritual connection to Machu Picchu. I call this print the Lost Ponies of Machi Picchu. The main problems I had with this print was getting it to repeat, so it could be used for fabric designs. I did however after 3 weeks of work on this one print get it to repeat and it looks wonderful...its currently under consideration for development by Fabric Editions, I sent them some 2nd draft samples last week. So that drawing was the inspiration for my newest line called Chi Chi...(Chi Chi is the central market where all goods are brought to be swapped or sold in the villages of old like Machu Picchu) Here is the final draft of the Ponies of Machi Picchu.

For the color I went about creating my pallett of colors that jumped out at me many of which are new for me, like the purple...not a color Im comfortable with but it works very good here. I call it Regal due to the Royal-ness of it. The other lead pattern for his collection is the Masquerade. Masks were used/worn in ceremony in the Myan and Incan Civilizations.

"All rights belong to S. Hickman all artwork is the property of S.Hickman any reproduction or use is prohibited without permission or license."

Who is Counting?

Actually Im only 54 yrs and one day...if you get down to brass tacks. This week is the "hurry and gets things ready week"...First off my son cancelled his Boone, NC contest so he could do the one in Atlanta this Saturday and that's where Ill be headed early Saturday morning

                                                               JT and Nanny 

 and we have a motel for the night...then from there its on to Greenville. All the Wallings (Me, Mom, Lil Sis, and Big Sis is flying in too) are celebrating our birthdays together...mine was today, Lil sis is on Wednesday, Mom's is Saturday and Big sis is in January but we are gonna surprise her and have it a wee bit early...we never get to be with her on her birthday..

On Monday we leave Greenville to come home and then midweek we plan to take off for the beach if there is no rain in the forecast, for one overnight. Then back here and she flies out of Charlotte next Sunday...so a busy week coming up. I hope we can find gas...still have stations out of gas, or short on gas.

Anyways I got busy and printed out some of my art designs and made some gift wrap! It was kinda fun and meditational to not think about anything except what was right in front of me. One I made into a small gift bag..and the others I just printed and wrapped it like any other wrap paper. ITS definitely one of a kind.

This one I printed and then cut it out...I wrapped the gift in brown paper. I used some cool yarn to make the bridle and tail..attached it with double sided tape! We made Big sis a sweat shirt with a pic of her dog Jake on it...using an ink jet iron on transfer of a photo I took of him...in fact I made all the gifts too!

me and mom settling in our room at the Palms 

Since Flickr ate my photos Im trying to find as many old ones as possible on my storage devices...I found this one of Mom relaxing on the Lawn at the motel we stayed at.  

Monochrome Monday +12

Monochrome Monday Plus12

For the plus today...this one is naturally monochrome, green

Arches NP

My sis and I went to visit a lot of places when I visited her in the summer of 2008.  Flickr ate all my old photos so Im redoing this post and adding back the photos.

On the way we passed this truck,

Our visit to Arches NP, 

Right away we are dazzled by the beauty..this formation is called Park Avenue...

I forgot the name of this but I think 3 sisters is a good name....it may be the 3 Kings, or the 3 Wise Men...

North and south windows 

The Landscape Arch, has a very narrow place after a big chunk fell off several years back 

The Delicate Arch stands alone on the rocky landscape...

North Window up close,,

I believe this is called Ham Rock

the Sand Dune Arch...

And now Im just going to put up some sights I have forgotten the name of some....

the fiery furnace 

Of course I took hundreds of photos,,,,these are some of my favorites...I hope to add more of that epic 2008 trip.  

Picture Perfect Old Fashioned

Picture Perfect Old Fashioned

This great antique/garden center is located in Basalt Colorado where I recently vacationed. We enjoyed rummaging around and taking lots of photos.

Kodak Z 712 IS

Pony Tails~

This little fellow caught my eye while we were traveling around upstate last week. The field was full of miniature horses. They are so small and cute but then I saw a FOAL, and she is just the cutest thing. I had to stop and ask the owner if I could take pics. They walked up a bit too close to the fence for me to get good shots, they are so short. The mare's name is Barbie the filly doesn't have a name yet...she is about a month and 1/2 old and she is about 2 ft tall. She kept hiding behind Mama but I got these...

This pony had the most beautiful eyes!

Once Upon a Time

Wow its been a while since I posted in this blog...time is not exactly my friend. I never seem to have enough of it! It's sort of nice to come back even after a short time and re-read your own words one reason I enjoy keeping a blog...my main blog is not here its at Multiply. But before that I was at Myspace, then Yahoo, and now Im at Multiply. Ive had this Blogger spot for a very long time back when they fist came out...but I never used it, I thought it was s bleak and lonely here and it is...I dont see anyway to have a friends list but thats why I chose this spot to concentrate on the art projects that I am working on. I dont necessarily want feedback, its more for me. Like I started to say its very educational to come back even after a short time and re read what you have written...and to see how much you have grown as an artist and as a person. Thats what this blog is about...growth. I wanted to post the rest of the pictures which I finished for the Unicorn Project. I sent the project off to one publisher but so far nothing. They said 4 months is normal wait to hear. Doesnt matter, for I was just thrilled to work with the theme Unicorn. While working on these I did some sketch drawings and then finished them in Photoshop and Paintshop Pro. These are the illustrations I made for the Childrens Story Once Upon a Time There Were Unicorns. ALL Artwork property of S. Hickman Designs.

Country Roads....

With spring upon us, it makes me think of growing things and most especially a garden. With that inspiration I added to my collection "Americana." This is the lead design, its called Down on the Farm, and what Farm would be complete with 

Mr.Crow to come stalking the corn field.

~Field of Dreams~

Note: all artwork is the property of S.Hickman Designs all rights reserved 2008. Although I would love to give my art away, there is the wee problem of food and shelter. So please dont copy, save or duplicate my art. Thank you. If you wish to purchase, or license my art contact me at dusteerhod@gmail.com

What do YOU see?

Expression through art means no words necessary. What is the message being relayed? This is what makes art great. No need to explain for several reasons. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, remember? I see it my way, you see it yours. There is no definitive narrative that goes with a piece of art be it an artists rendition or a photograph. Sometimes I think about the next thing I want to create all day long. A yearning deep from within, I guess you can call it a desire to create. Its like foreplay. I love to write. Writing is never complete until its read by another. Art is never complete until its viewed and the meaning deciphered. Its not easy to "explain" a piece. Take this one for instance... .....
When I asked someone "what do you see?" The answer I got surprised me. Maybe I see more, I'm into details. I stop to smell the roses whist others are more focused and more in step. I see the ladybug on the flower petal. I see the pink cloud created by the setting sun, I see so much with my eyes and my heart. So when the reply I got was "I see a big red moon." I was very tempted to say, "that's all you see?" Instead I said, "I see a setting sun, a full moon hanging low over a canyon pool... and I see a wild horse admiring his own reflection mixed in with all the heavenly bodies, I see a cloud whipped into a whirlpool, maybe its a night of cosmic display or maybe its an everyday occurrence in this magical spot, and its all in one night's end in a canyon somewhere."... That's what I said, then I asked "Do you see that now?" "OH YEAH I sure do. COOL." Note: all artwork is the property of S.Hickman Designs all rights reserved 2008. Although I would love to give my art away, there is the wee problem of food and shelter. So please dont copy, save or duplicate my art. Thank you. If you wish to purchase, or license my art contact me at dusteerhod@gmail.com

 Mystic Canyon