I created this canvas art for my daughter’s drama coach, Cynthia Ganter-Givens. Drama from the Soul is the name of her company. Mrs. Givens is a long time resident of Chicago's Westside. She has a strong passion for the theater and it shows in the training she has instilled in her students. The canvas measures 20” x 20”. I painted the background. The drama faces are made of silk and cotton fabric, and outline with a new product I purchased earlier this year fusible ribbon. I embellished it with a few colorful stars, and to give it that final bling, I added rhinestones to the name. Mrs. Givens was speechless when she opened her Christmas gift. She is one of the reasons I do what I do. “Make people smile.”

September is National Sewing Month and October is Chicago Artist month. This is the time of the year the creative juices get flowing. After enduring a hot summer, I can now get to business. To celebrate National Sewing Month, I have several outfits to make, alterations to complete, unfinished projects, I'm entering several contest and challenges and, prepare my lesson plans for sewing class which will begin in several weeks. For Chicago Artist month, I will look for venues to display my work. Check back soon for update to find out where you can find me.

Well finally it's completed! Prince of Peace Church will be celebrating their anniversary with new funiture, a new pastor and, to match the funiture, he will grace his new robe overlay which I have had the honor to design and make. Congratulations Prince of Peace!

The Ohio Valley Art League in Henderson, Kentucky is in the process if celebrating Audubon's life. I am one of about 13 fiber artist selected to participate in this exhibit. I have created two pieces to display in the "Audubon In Cloth" exhibit. I love celebrating and creating anything dealing with nature. The exhibit is running from June 12 to August 1, 2010. If you will be visiting the area during that time you can get more information on the website http://www.ohiovallyart.org/. To learn more about who John James Audubon is visit http://www.auduborn2010.com/.

It's been a year to the day since I last posted. Seems like I have not been doing much? Well far from it. Family life sometimes gets in the way of doing what you want to do. Here's a bit of great news I want to share. September 16, 2010 I will be leaving for Ghana, Africa. I am so excited. I am now working on sending my last payment and getting paper work together. The list of things I need to take is quit extensive. Why am I going to Africa? The purpose for me taking this trip is to experience first hand the crafts of the African culture and the role art plays in the society their and the disopora. I will be engaged in workshops, lectures from African artist, and of course shopping! I will aslo, visit other areas of Africa and experience daily life in that country. There is also a mission component to this travel. I will be visiting an Orpanage. I am now in the process of making items to take with me to give to the children who live in the orpanage. And Then there's the relaxing element. I will experience a spa treament on the beach. Looking forward to that.

Here's an update on the Breaking Traditions Art Quilt Exhibit. First of all, I finally received my copy of the book With One Voice. I had no plans on purchasing the book, but it dawned on me, this is my first work to ever be published in a book, so I went on and bought the book and it is just simply wonderful. My quilt "Angle Flight" is the first quilt in the book. This is something to be proud of. To see the quilts visit www.fibraartysta.com/breakingtraditionsmain.htm

The quilts are still traveling. They will be displayed at the 212 Arts Center in Saline Michigan for the month of July. July 17 from 7-9 pm there is an opening reception. If I'm not busy that weekend I just might take a trip up. I have not seen my quilt displayed in any of the venues yet. The 212 Arts Center is actually a center that focus on promoting fiber art. I definitely would like to see how the program runs as I too hope to open a venue as such.

Today I had an exciting time at the Chicago International Quilt Festival as I always do. This year I had a larger then usual group with me. My godmother Shirley, her granddaughter, Shataqua, my friend Shiryl, and my daughter Alisha, who has missed only one show and that was the year I worked at the show. We had a marvelous time. I honestly thought because Momma Shirley was in a wheel chair it would slow us down; it didn't. the girls took turns pushing the wheel chair and was able to maneuver through the aisles easily. I got the opportunity to visit the Quilting University Make It Take It booth. While I didn't participate in any of the projects I was able to take meet and take pictures with the cheif-in-editor Patricia Bolton, Judy Cortes, and These are a few of the very creative ladies of whom work I admire.

I was very conscious about my spending and did quilt will this year I must say. I bought some beautiful batiks fabrics which I plan to make blouses for one of my most loyal customer.

This week the pressure was on. I worked intensely on the prom dress for my niece Danielle. The dress she wanted fashioned after was a dress worn by Beyonce to the premiere of Obsessed. I out did myself this time. Danielle was so pretty, and her date, a friend she grew up with, was quite handsome. I have always seen her as little Danielle, but this night She looked like the mature young lady that has been hiding within.

The world, especially the African American are excited about our new president elect Barak Obama who, in a few days, will be sworn in as the 44th president of the United States. "Change has come." In celebrating our new president, I decided to make a quilted wall hanging of our president. I am so thrilled about how it turned out. This piece will be displayed in the teachers lounge at school. I will make another one which will be auctioned off to help raise money for the eight grade world studies trip to Greece and Italy.