Category: 2009

Use for posts written in 2009

Art Everywhere

I have a thing about art vs. craft. People obsess about art vs. craft; craft vs. art. For me, it is simply about making stuff all the time. I just want to make stuff. I just want to make stuff all the time. If I can’t be making stuff I want to think about making stuff. As I have said on numerous occasions, I’ll let history decide whether I am a crafter or an artist. Or you. You can decide for yourself. I don’t care right now (may later!)

When I am pout and about, I look at everything with an eye towards inspiration.

Last Saturday, I went to Fisherman’s Wharf with my dad and sister. Dad had been in San Francisco in the 1960s with the Navy. He likes to show us how much he knows about the City and toss out names of fancy clubs he got into for free (The Pine Club?? Anyone heard of it??). He wanted cioppino and decided that Alioto’s on the Wharf, since Scott’s in the City is now closed, was the place to get it. I would, normally, never go there. That’s what he wanted and I didn’t have a better idea, so Alioto’s it was. He loved it and was so happy with his cioppino.

Alioto's Cioppino, June 2009
Alioto's Cioppino, June 2009

Afterwards we walked around with all of the tourists. I saw some flowers and walking around art that made me smile.

Garden Art
Garden Art

I love these starfish shaped garden sculptures. I love that they are a bit hidden, but if you look you can see them. I also like the glass rondelles embedded in the metal. I want to hide things like this in my yard. Sadly that means I have to stop sewing and start gardening!

To Infinity and Beyond

Infinity Blocks by Jaye, mid-June 2009
Infinity Blocks by Jaye, mid-June 2009

I got a little behind photographing and posting blocks from my Infinity project. (I think last week was just a bad sewing-posting-making week). Anyway, here are some of the newer blocks. I made a few more after I snapped this pic and will post those later.

I was attempting to try out a different layout from the layout in the May 13th post. I like the four white squares together. I am a long way from the end, however, so we will see once I get more blocks.

SIL said she was sending me some blocks via DH-transport, so I expect those on Sunday. As usual, stay tuned!

Quilt Layout Inspiration

Possible Quilt Layout
Possible Quilt Layout

The picture is of wrapping paper covering the door windows of a studio space. I saw the paper and thought the design would make a good quilt layout.

I noticed the four patch-like red block alternating with the  slightly tilted asterisk. I think that once could alternate the asterisk with a star block or some round design.

Art is Simple: Make Something

Linda M. Poole, part of the creative prompt ‘team’, posted this on her blog. It reminds me of another similar work by Dana Barbieri, which I posted about on June 8.
clipped from lmpoole.blogspot.com

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Taking simple elements, such as letters and making something out of them is a great place to start if you are creatively stuck.

Tarts Progress Nearing Finish Line

I was out of the house almost all of last weekend, which is not my usual routine.  While I had fun, I was disappointed not to get to spend copious amounts of time working on my projects. Still, as I mentioned on Wednesday, I did fit in a bit of work around the edges on the Tarts.

Tarts, Pie with no stitching
Tarts, Pie with no stitching

I played around with different looks for the piece of pie. I drew one, first, that the viewer looked at straight at, e.g. the viewer did not see the top of the pie at all.  It didn’t really work for me. I didn’t like the look, so I reworked it so that the view had a more angled view.

I didn’t have a good pie crust color that I wanted to use (‘wanted to use’ being the critical phrase, here) The orange makes the viewer do a double take, IMO. I will do something, perhaps, with the quilting on the piece to tone down the orange a bit. The orange does blend in with the other orange fabrics in the whole piece.

Tarts, Pie with Stitching
Tarts, Pie with Stitching

After I place everything the way I want it on the background, I stitch it down. In the last few pieces I have also been topstitching in addition to the machine appliqued zigzag stitching. I don’t think you can see the topstitching in this picture, but people who are able to view the piece in person will be able to see it, I think.

I picked the background to make a triangle with other purple pieces at the top of the piece. I picked it after I picked the ‘filling’ fabric. I wonder if they don’t allow each other to shine? I think this particular block looks better as part of the whole than by itself.

I left a bit of the fabrics above and below showing so you can see how it fits in close up.

Tarts, June 14, 2009, with Pie
Tarts, June 14, 2009, with Pie

Here is the whole current piece. I kind of miss that big white rectangle at the bottom and am having trouble assimilating the pie. I think I will manage to get used to it. I can’t imagine a big white rectangle in the piece would be a great design decision.

Am going to try to get to some studies for the silverware next to the red cups. I am also thinking I will add a few more black and white squares to the checkerboard on top of the frothy drink.

Creative Prompt #19: Journey

Are you on a creative journey or a journey that involves planes and luggage?

What inspires you when you travel?

Here is a lovely poem about a journey which I found at Poem Hunter:

Journey to Be by Mark Slaughter

I think I’ll journey out some day to wondrous lands afar,

Or even chart a journey to a distant blazing star.

But rest assured that where my journey sees to take me to,

Always know that when I go, this journey takes you too.

–

We’ll start our journey out from here by horse and cart of old,

The seaside docks – and journey pauses – where we shall behold

A noble schooner for the journey primed to launch as planned:

To sail with dolphins cross the seas then journey back on land.

–

And so our journey goes by foot to conquer mountains tall:

A chapter hence the journey reached, with scenes that should enthral.

But when we tire, let’s rest our journey, stretched in fields of flowers,

And bathe atop the mountain from the journey – autumn showers!

–

Refreshed our journey takes a turn – we’ll venture back for home,

But first we’ll let the journey take a tangent just to roam.

And in the winding route, this journey’s bound to bide content,

But most of all take heed – let’s make our journey life’s event.

See the Creative Prompt page if you want to know how to participate in this project.

Post the specific URL or deep link where your drawing, doodle, artwork is posted in the comments area of this post. It is an easy and good way to keep all the artwork together.

There is more information and inspiration on the Creative Prompt Page.

Sketching #18: Moon

Moon #1
Moon #1

I did the first moon prompt response after doing one of the drawings with the facade of the building. I wasn’t terribly happy with it, especially as I did more drawings and became one with my PITT pen.

I have to say that I kind of like doing the same drawing over and over with minor variations. It gives me the opportunity to work through some kind of drawing. I would love to do series of quilts and I have some, but they take so long that I don’t really see it as practical. Of course, I’ll never be bored!

Moon #2
Moon #2

I did a second moon prompt response after I did the sun drawing, because I thought they needed to be a set.

The World Steppin’ Out in Quiltmaking Style

I recently listened a podcast (CraftSanity or Annie Smith, can’t remember which) where the hostess interviewed the Lizzie B Cre8tive girls about their new book, Whimsyland. I am not much of a pattern person, so Lizzie B Cre8tive patterns never really registered on my radar until I heard them on podcasts. Also, the whole applique’ thing is love-hate with me, though you wouldn’t know it since I have been working on the Tarts for months

Anyway, I received an email from Liz and Beth about the fun tour that their editor, Kent, is doing of Europe that sent me to their blog. I laughed so hard when I saw these pictures that I just had to share. Take a look.

clipped from www.lizziebcre8ive.com

trevi_fountion

pope
clipped from www.lizziebcre8ive.com

barack-obama-reading1

obama_and_the_queen3
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One Down, Two To Go

Flowering Snowball, June 14, 2009
Flowering Snowball, June 14, 2009

The weekend was filled with picnics. Both Saturday and Sunday included hot dogs and potato salad, chats and a bit of sun. It was nice to be outside, but I was pretty tired after all the sociability. Also, I didn’t get to work much on my projects.

Sunday was a beautiful day to be outside. After greeting lots of people, I was able to sit and do some hand stitching. I had some of the block (right) finished, but did most of it at the picnic. The completion of this block means that I have only two blocks left to make for the center of the Flowering Snowball quilt.

I still haven’t designed the border, but put an idea into the Sun Creative Prompt response. I know what I want; I just have to figure out how to make it a reality.

Please…I Need a Pear

People are coming up with fabulous stuffed pincushion-like items. I saw a chicken not too long ago that made me want to start a collection. Now Retro Mama has a pear. I want this pear, but I am terrible at stuffing things. They always come out misshapen and too soft. Perhaps I will have to practice?
clipped from retro-mama.blogspot.com

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Small Tarts Change

Tarts, June 12, 2009
Tarts, June 12, 2009

I have been staring at this quilt on my design wall for months. I am glad it is progressing; the end is finally in sight. I will be very glad when I get it sewn together and off my design wall!

I made one tiny change to the arrangement of the Tarts Come to Tea. Can you identify the change? You can see the previous iteration on the June 4th, 2009 post. What do you think?

OK. I won’t keep you tortured in suspense. I moved the china cups up. I am still considering their new spot. It is less fabric and seams next to the twirly handle coffee pot. Also, it is fewer cups next to each other. The heart makes a bit of a break for the eye for the middle cups. My eyes were looking at all of those cups in a row and wondering if they would fly off the quilt.

Eye Spy Photos

Eye Spy, detail
Eye Spy, detail

As with the Nosegay, I wasn’t able to get the whole Eye Spy quilt in the photos. Still, I am happy that I finally got a mostly entire picture of the quilt.

The Child loves his quilt, which makes my heart happy. He doesn’t search out the pictures that I carefully fussy cut. He arranges the quilt and folds it carefully over him.

Eye Spy, Full
Eye Spy, Full

Nosegay Photos

Nosegay, mostly full
Nosegay, mostly full

On Sunday, the sun was right, I had an assistant and time to fool around, so I went outside and  made an attempt to take full photos of the Nosegay and the Eye Spy. They are large and hard to photograph in the house.

The session wasn’t quite as successful as I had hoped. I did get more of the Nosegay in one picture than I ever had before, but not all of it. I have to face reality that it is a HUGE quilt and I may never have the space to photograph the whole thing. I may break down and take it somewhere to be professionally photographed.

Nosegay, corner detail
Nosegay, corner detail

I took the opportunity to take some straight on detail shots. Right, is a corner – or most of the corner. There was a slight breeze that seemed to kick in just as I snapped the shutter.

Nosegay, center detail
Nosegay, center detail

This bottom photo is the center of the quilt. The whole reason this quilt is so big is because I put everything on point and had to have all the blocks spaced a certain way.  I hope it brings tears to the eyes of quilt historians someday, because at this moment the quilt feels like a big pain!

I am glad I got the photos I did. I had waited for a long time for everything to be right to photograph this quilt.

Making Inspiration Your Own

Batik Fabric, detail
Batik Fabric, detail

So, this post is about what inspiration can do for you if you look at an inspiring object you long enough. I have been in that kind of mood lately. The “What if” mood. The light has been the way I like it, too, not too glary and not too grey. I have been seeing everything through this light and have been inspired by it all lately. The machine quilting I did on Beach Town last weekend was a direct result of some lines I saw while driving the previous Friday. It is a good reminder for me to look around.

I pulled this batik out of the blue bin for the variety of projects that require blue. For some reason, it ended up on my desk with the detail (left) front and center. For days it lay there. For days I looked at it. For days it lurked in my peripheral vision.

Then, the other night, I just sat down and drew it. When in doubt, what else do you do?

Drawing the Blue Batik
Drawing the Blue Batik

This is what I drew. It doesn’t look the same without the color, other motifs and thicker lines. Still, I like the various elements. It is clear to me that having a variety of sizes of tips on my black pens would be very helpful.

In looking at this version, I wondered what the design would look like if I straightened the lines out a bit.

Blue Batik Extrapolation
Blue Batik Extrapolation

In the drawing to the left, I started too far to the right and had to cut off my drawing. I am trying to go with the process and be flexible. Again the thickness of the pen was a problem for me, but I can always do the drawing again later with a  thicker pen.

I thought I was finished, so I put the drawing book away and folded the fabric, though I left it on my desk. The way I folded it, however inspired me further.

Batik Ice Cream Cone
Batik Ice Cream Cone

I folded the fabric so that the detail motif (blue, above) was almost exactly in half. It made me think of a symmetrical version of the design. tried what was on my mind. Even though I didn’t finish the whole thing, I can see what I was envisioning. I just wanted to get the idea on paper.

As you can see, looking at something over a period of time can make your mind work with the inspiration in different ways.