Third time's a charm

 (Above:  Large Stained Glass LXXXIV, detail.  Click on any image in this blog post for an enlargement.)

Tomorrow afternoon Steve and I will load our van with all the artwork, Pro Panel booth, track lighting, customer bags, bubble wrap, and everything else that is on a very long "packing list".  Bright and early on Monday morning, we head north to the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show.  Our load in time is Tuesday at 9:00 AM.  I'm nervous (as it is exceptionally expensive and sales are not guaranteed) and extremely excited (as this is widely regarded one the the two top fine craft shows in the nation.)  Obviously, we've been planning for this opportunity for months.  We also know that the way our van packs best requires an even number of Large Stained Glass pieces.  They sit side-by-side on top of the the booth walls.  Together, they create a nice, flat surface to support additional, packed artwork.

 (Above: Large Stained Glass LXXXIII. Framed: 63" x 23".)

All along, I've planned to take four Large Stained Glass pieces.  I finished the fourth one in September.  I never imagined that I'd need more of them.  After all, there are five in my solo show at Waterworks Visual Arts Center, a regional museum in Salisbury, North Carolina.  These five will come home in January ... in plenty of time to take to the ACC (American Craft Council) show in March.  So, I made four to take to Philadelphia.  Then two weeks ago, one sold at IAGO Gallery in Blowing Rock.  It's high season in the mountains of North Carolina and the gallerist wanted another ASAP.  I "jobbed Peter to pay Paul" the next day.  Then, I made Stained Glass LXXXII to replace it.

  (Above: Large Stained Glass LXXXIII, detail.)

Months ago, I was invited to be part of the Winter Show at GreenHill Center for North Carolina Arts.  It is quite an honor ... since I'm not actually from North Carolina.  I was invited four or five years ago.  It's a great show.  All my work sold and the gala was fabulous.  They wanted a Large Stained Glass piece and two smaller pieces.  The show doesn't open until December 3rd ... so we planned to drop off pieces when returning from Philadelphia.  Well, that plan didn't work. Last week I learned that they are hanging the exhibition next week.  We will now be delivering on the way up to Philadelphia.  Thus, I needed another Large Stained Glass piece ... which I started right away.

 (Above:  Large Stained Glass LXXXIV. Framed 63" x 23".)

As luck would have it, I got a great email on Wednesday.  Large Stained Glass LXXXI was accepted into Art Quilt Elements at the Wayne Art Center.  This is a really awesome international show.  I know!  I actually got into the show in 2010.  (Click here to read about it!)  I've generally applied every year since then ... but got rejected.  To be honest, I didn't really think I stood much of a chance this year either.  I thought to myself, "Susan, you were once a flash-in-the-pan with your Grave Rubbing Art Quilts.  Now, you're old hat."  When I submitted this piece, I thought to myself, "If you get in, you can always make another one for Philadelphia."  I never thought I'd be making "the last piece for Philly" three times!  Especially not two of them in a single week!

 (Above:  Large Stained Glass LXXXIV, detail.)

This is not the speed with which I generally work.  It's been almost exhausting but exciting.  Of course none of these pieces are actually SOLD, but one might find a permanent next week.  Fingers and toes are crossed! 

 (Above:  Large Stained Glass LXXXIV, detail.)