My modern quilting bee

I am not a quilter, but have always longed for the experience of a quilting bee- like pioneer women- sitting around, sharing one anothers company, engaged in creative, therapeutic exercise- creating something beautiful and useful. I am a great believer in the value of what has traditional "women's work" and craft. I believe it gave women from many generations past a sense of competency and accomplishment.

I have always been a project gal as my friends can attest- i like to help people do things- whenever i go visit family or friends the big question is "what is our project going to be?". My friend Catherine (who has since sadly moved thousands of miles from me) was the first studio friend. Our great painting times prompted me to start studio night. Last year, thanks to my expert sheetrocking at 37 weeks pregnant and thousands of my husbands spare hours we finished my studio room- it is heaven- 10 foot ceilings, dimmable can lights, yummy green apple paint, and 350 square feet of to store all my art "stuff"- oh and my favorite art daybed (courtesy of ikea the best hidden storage for stacks of canvases! )

So the other night i had 3 friends come for studio night. The fun begins we close ourselves off in my studio- which has a steel door ajoining the house which creates a nice soundproof factor and we paint away- most are new to painting, but everyone creates. We share our great feminine knowledge of buying, selling, building houses, jobs, kids, church responsibilities, great shopping deals, etc. I finished a commission piece I had been working on and worked on yet another crab painting, my friend donna did a fun piece in pinks and greens, erin did a great keyhole view of an animal back and grasses and my friend christy tackled a huge piece for over the fireplace in house thats being built.

all in all a great night- women supporting each other, trying new things, creating beauty for their homes-really you've got to try it!