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by Laura Bundesen
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Why I haven't written in awhile...

2/21/2017

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I haven't written a blog post for months....

One of the BIG reasons I haven't written since October is what happened in November, AND my own personal angst over the election results. I don't presume to think everyone reading this will agree with my politics, and I have family members and friends who sit squarely on the other side, but nevertheless I do want to share that it has all been rather upsetting and to tell you why, just in case that is a mystery to you.  I believe in respectful dialogue and want to have this conversation.

Below is a list of my top concerns, and some of the reasons I have decided that I must become more politically active:
  • I have a close family member with a pre-existing condition who requires medication, and I worry that the Affordable Care Act aka Obamacare will be repealed and she will become uninsurable.
  • I worry about the constant beating up of our free press and the pervasiveness of un-truths that are told from the highest office in the land, not to mention a twitter feed that is embarrassing.
  • I worry about the temperament of the man who holds the controls to our nuclear arsenal and the potential for war. And I worry he will make decisions about what is good for his pocket rather than what is good for our country.
  • I worry that with the roll back of the EPA, and loss of long term government support to try and reverse climate change, our world will not be a hospitable place for my (not even yet conceived) future grandchildren.
  • I feel wretched about the loud anti-Muslim sentiments I hear. I believe that this rhetoric actually fuels terrorism instead of stopping it. And, I very much believe that our country was founded on immigrant hopes and dreams and that this is not who we are.
To fight my fear, I am getting active. I started by marching in New York City on January 21st with 500,000 others  on a day when millions marched across the globe.
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I'm also participating in a lot of online conversations, calling and writing my representatives, and just generally trying to keep the conversation alive with other people. It's easy to feel overwhelmed by all the news coming at us all the time so I'm also making a real effort to only read and quote reliable sources and to limit my screen time to avoid burnout.

One of the things that is MOST heartbreaking to me is how polarized our country has become and how difficult it seems to be to disagree with each other. One of my goals in writing this piece is to let people express their feelings. I want to hear from everybody! What are your hopes and fears?

Moving forward I hope to keep the dialogue going and one of the ways I'll be doing that is through a little #craftivism project that has sprung up on Instagram. Follow @hideahatandfightback to learn more. Below is one of her fabulous little finds and my own take on it with my 'Why?'.

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And, I expect to get back to blogging on a regular basis now. Some of these posts will be political and some of them won't. Some of my art may be political and some of it won't. My primary goal in artmaking is always to inspire and I think one of the ways artists can help the movement is to keep positive messages in front of others. My most recent take on this is below "What the World Needs Now" and you are most welcome to download and share this image in any way you would like to!
click here for jpg

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I hope you'll come back to see what I get up to and please do share your thoughts below. Let's start TALKING to each other respectfully and with care.

GO!

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Summer Travels - New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island

7/11/2016

0 Comments

 
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I truly have been all over the East Coast in the last month.

Mid-June found me teaching the Zen Of Embroidery workshop at the Art School at Old Church where I had a full class of 8 students who made brilliant progress in two short days! Look at their gorgeous work here. Free-style Samplers!

I just love teaching! Workshop offerings are listed HERE - Feel free to forward the link to any school or cultural center that might be interested in hosting me!

 And, then I had my last two art shows of the year! Rhinebeck, NY and Wickford, RI.  The weather was challenging in both locales - hot, hot, hot in Rhinebeck and the ever-present threat of rain in Wickford, both of them making me question the path I'm on....

However, despite the fact that it's grueling work to set up for an art fair, the weather is unpredictable, and the financial rewards are not always there, it really is the most satisfying experience to introduce people to my work in person and get to talk to them about it.

AND, I have to say I was completely flattered that in both places I was told by long time fair-goers that they thought my work was the most creative they had seen and the best in the show. WOW! Thank YOU!!!!

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Next up is my big 60th PARTY - I hope to have a houseful of folks helping me ring in the next phase of this creative life! Sign up for my mailing list to get the full invitation and all the details + a pre-party special sale offer

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Creatively Going Home

5/9/2016

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Where are your roots located and how strong is the pull to go home? I love the below quote from one of my favorite authors and it's exactly how I feel about my upcoming return to The Art School at Old Church in New Jersey, as a workshop instructor this time around.
Ann Patchett  quote about going home
An accidental encounter during a walk in the woods close to my home is how I found the job as Executive Director back in 1999. I thought I was happily employed for a documentary film company in NYC at the time, but... when my neighbor told me the local art school was looking for someone I thought, "what the heck" and threw my hat in the ring.  The next six years would be my happiest at work, outside of my studio.

I had joined a community of passionate creatives with a small staff, an army of volunteers, an active board of directors, and a devoted artist/founder, the potter Mikhail Zakin. For a real treat, watch this video about Mikhail's journey and the beginnings of the Art School at Old Church!

A side benefit of the job was that I got to take studio art classes, and I really took advantage of that! During my six years I would take over 20 classes at the school, from studying handbuilding with Mikhail herself to painting, collage, jewelry making and more, I was endlessly fascinated and learned so much!

All of it has helped inform my current path and I know I would not be here, working as an artist, had it not been for those years. I will be forever grateful for that accidental encounter in the woods.


Register NOW for classes at The Art School at Old Church :
The Zen of Embroidery - June 13-14, 10am-4pm
Creative Collage with Fabric - June 16-17, 10am-4pm
Full Summer catalog is here - and squeeee! look who made the cover :)

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JOY-filled imagery for myself and you

3/10/2016

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I'm smitten with sunflowers, sunshine and joy. In fact, I like to think of myself as a 'joy seeker' and my mission in creating and selling work is to spread joy and wonder.

So, recently I took a giant leap and made a very permanent statement in support of seeking JOY, and in support of this art business of mine. I had one of my embroidered paintings tattooed on my shoulder. It will serve as a daily reminder of my purpose every time I look in the mirror.

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Today, I used the same painting to make a birthday card for my favorite cousin, Alberta. She is a year older than me and we have been the best of friends since birth! When we were little we caught tadpoles in the creek, while in our teens and twenties we got wild and crazy together. And now, in our 60's (!!!), we live on different coasts and catch up with weekly supportive phone calls. This is what life is all about!

My gift to you, dear reader, is a copy of this digital card which you can email to anyone to celebrate a new baby or a birthday. Download it here for FREE! 

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Visit my Etsy Shop for one of a kind embroidered paintings and reproductions of these happy, joyful images and more.... and have a joyful day!!!
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