Pinterest is getting a lot of discussion lately. I see it as a lot of like-minded individuals scouring the internet for things that might interest me and putting them in a convenient place so the I can quickly review them!

I try to always pin responsibly and credit sources for art work. There are images that I love but the source cannot be identified so I don't pin them. Check out my pinterest boards at http://pinterest.com/suzanengler/

While in art school, I drew myself, my family, fellow students, and numerous uninhibited nude models. When I learned that the final project for the life drawing course was a self-portrait, I just could not face another charcoal drawing. Luckily I had just attended my first quilt show, The Houston International Quilt Festival, so I had an idea! Texas Big Hair, 1994, 36" x 30"

The instructor did not mandate the medium so I turned to fabric to “draw” the final project. I used black and white fabrics to create a background reminiscent of paper and charcoal; fused images formed the portrait. The hair needed more work to pay homage to true Texas Big Hair but my professor was intrigued with my unique approach. More importantly, the door to the fiber arts was opened.

Original Glamour Shot of me and my daughter in 1991 use as inspiration for self portrait.

I have a box filled with photos, sketches, and prototypes.   However, I find that they do me little good if they are hidden away in a box because I tend to forget about them.  I want to see them and be inspired by them.  What to do?   Make them digital of course!

I take a picture of each item and then upload all the photos to the computer.   Once I have digital images, I put them all into one directory on the computer.  The files in this directory will be displayed individually as my PC's background.  I also add inspirational photos taken at quilt shows, vacation, etc., to this directory.

On my computer, the path to define the background is start / control panel / appearance and personalization / change desktop background.   Disclaimer: the path on your computer may be very different!

Select the directory with the images and check each photo that you want to be displayed as a background image.   I have it set up so that the images are shuffled and displayed for 3 minutes at a time. Then the next inspirational image comes into view.  

The model for this piece was a black Angus bull calf at my parent's ranch in Oklahoma.