The 100 Drawings Project

Several years ago, I read the book Everyday Sacred by Sue Bender. One of the stories that she writes about made a big impression on me. A friend of hers taught a drawing class, The One Hundred Drawings Project, which was a graduate art class. The students had to choose an object that was familiar and portable and draw it 100 times. On the first day of class when she was describing the assignment, one of the students asked her if she had done the project and she had not, so she decided to work along with the class.

She chose a pot from her studio that she had for a long time. It was one of the few things that had survived a fire in her previous studio and she liked the shape and simplicity of it. Otherwise, it was just a pretty ordinary white enamel pot. Her first few drawings went easily but then she wondered what to do for the next 90+ drawings. As she went along, she realized that the pot's surface was reflective and drew that and what was reflected there and also she drew the pot in various settings and locations. It traveled through Europe with her. So many drawings forced her to try new techniques and to take risks and to push the idea further and further.

I started thinking about this because of my own 10 Purse Project. When I started, it seemed almost impossible, or at least not very realistic. But now that I have 8 done, maybe it will become a 100 Purse Project. The purses are getting better and better, not necessarily in a straight line but generally, there is improvement. Doing the 8 bags has generated ideas for many more and I have learned so much already. I have been successful at incorporating woven bands and tapestry and see huge potential for further development of this. I don't remember ever being this excited about my weaving and anxious to get to it every day.



Last week we were visiting Gabe and Amy in Kansas. We saw their new house and all the work they have done on it in just a short time. We also helped them build shelves and a workbench in the garage which Gabe was really pleased with. It was a fun visit but was over much too quickly.

On the 27th, there is a huge quilting event at Quilting in the Country in Bozeman. The shop is in a renovated carriage house, bunk house and barn and is surrounded by beautiful gardens. For this one day, quilters bring their quilts, and some come from as far away as Japan, and the quilts are hung all over the outside. They cover all the buildings and any possible place to hang a quilt. It is a huge event and people come from far to see it, even planning vacations around the event date. There are a few vendors and I was invited to bring my weaving so I am preparing for that now. I plan to also demonstrate tapestry weaving on a portable loom. It should be an exciting day and hopefully the weather will be good.

While we were gone, Jess got the new purses and scarves on the website and they look great. I have more already that haven't been photographed. Howard will have to take them to work for some quick shots but he never takes the time to set up a good photograph, so we'll have to see how that turns out.