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

  blog it

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.

Creative Prompt #18: Moon

Moonlight.

Howling at the moon.

Artemis is the Greek goddess of the moon.

You are the moon.

Paper moon.

Over the moon.

See the Creative Prompt page if you have questions about this project.

Post the direct link or URL to where your drawing, doodle, artwork is posted (e.g. blog or Flickr) in the comments area of this post. It is a good way to keep all the artwork together.

There is more information on the Creative Prompt Page.

Sketching #17: Here to There

Sketching #17: Here to There
Sketching #17: Here to There

I have been drawing studies in my journal as my designs get more complicated. I also have been doing studies of parts of the drawings as I try to work out the perspective and proportion of elements. In this drawing, I found that I didn’t know how to draw a bicycle. I had to go and look up where the main parts of a bicycle connect to each other before I could draw it.

Beach Town Progress

Beach Town, June 7, 2009
Beach Town, June 7, 2009

I spent 10 hours in my workroom on Sunday. I spent most of it machine quilting Beach Town. The piece is relatively small, so I was surprised that it took so much work. The really surprising thing is that I have more machine quilting to go!

It was surprising, because I thought I did most of the machine quilting during my last session. It turns out that I  really wanted the quilting much closer together. I filled in some areas I already done. The new areas were quilted much closer together – only about 1-2 stitches apart.

The skinny tree needs some more stitching. It is raveling away and I’d like to save it before it goes completely.

Beach Town, Machine Quilting detail
Beach Town, Machine Quilting detail

I really hope you can see the machine quilting in this picture, because that is how it is almost all over the piece. There are a few sections left to do, but the bulk is done.

I was thinking, for future Pamela pieces, that I really needed to get the machine quilting done before I start in on the hand stitching. Not that the hand stitching hampered my machine quilting at all. It just makes better sense to do the machine work first and finish with the hand work.

Warm Up Blocks

Zanzibar FOTY Blocks, June 2009
Zanzibar FOTY Blocks, June 2009

My warm up for Sunday turned out to be some FOTY blocks. I have not been diligent about pressing and cutting up my new fabric. I have fabric I washed a month ago still sitting on my chair. It isn’t as if I haven’t been in the workroom, though. I will get around to it eventually. These were the fabrics that were already cut up and ready to sew. I sewed them up and now have additions for the FOTY pile

Jinny Beyer Returns with The Quilter’s Album of Patchwork Patterns

One of my first quiltmaking books was The Quilter’s Album of Blocks and Borders by Jinny Beyer. It is also one of my favorites because it is just a dictionary of block designs. It is NOT a pattern book. When I first started listening to podcasts two or three years ago I heard Jinny Beyer interviewed and she talked about her new and updated version, which I saw today on Amazon. It isn’t coming out until August. I can’t wait to see it and look forward to hearing Ms. Beyer interviewed about it again at that time.
clipped from www.amazon.com

The Quilter's Album of Patchwork Blocks and Borders: 4044 Pieced Blocks for Quilters

Providing quilters, researchers, and design enthusiasts with a comprehensive tool for finding, identifying, and drafting more than 4,000 unique patterns, this encyclopedia of quilt block designs presents a method of categorizing designs that eliminates duplication and allows quilters to understand exactly how each one is constructed. Each design is analyzed in terms of the grid on which it is drawn, making it easy recreate the pattern in any size or color scheme desired. Each block is thoroughly researched and listed according the original name and date of publication. Double names and duplicates are cross-referenced for easy use. Packed with information and inspiration, this also contains photographs of full quilts, as well as a detailed bibliography and indexes.

  blog it

New Here 2 There Pattern

I am not a big pattern maker, but I like to point out the products of hardworking quiltmakers. I have not had this pattern in my hand. I looked at it on the Etsy site and noticed that they have extension and Jelly Roll directions, which I think is a step in the direction of making patterns that people can expand out to be more personal. Good luck to Amy and Opal on this new endeavor!
clipped from www.etsy.com

A's Strips Quilt Pattern
  blog it

CREATE Art Piece by Dana Barbieri




CREATE

Originally uploaded by dana.barbieri

Dana Barbieri has created this wonderful piece that is stuck, like glue, to my mind. I LOVE it and want to make one, perhaps two, myself.

My sister recently received the Cricut software which allows you to print letters out any size and any font up to 6″. My idea for my piece is to have her print some letters on scrapbook paper for me, find a rectangular frame at the Goodwill or other thrift store and then sit down with my art supplies and make something like it to hang in my workroom. I would also like to make one that says “Imagination.”

Have you ever been so inspired by a piece or the concept of a piece that you have made one of your own?

Magazine Indulgence

Last week I went to Borders to buy some magazines for the Wellness program at work. I couldn’t help stopping by the hobbies section and picking up a few bits of inspiration.

Magazines, May 2009
Magazines, May 2009

Yes, you do see an issue of  Quilter’s Newsletter Magazine in the batch. It had an article on pineapples. Despite my hiatus from my pineapple project, I still love them and couldn’t resist. One issue purchase doesn’t, however, mitigate my annoyance at their abrupt and sneaky change in publishing schedule.

In addition to the pineapples, QNM packs a lot into their issues. This issue has a lot of pictures of quilts. There is an exhibit of President Obama quilts, an article about quilting vintage tops (to quilt or not to quilt), which mostly interest me because of the wonderful photos included. There is a fun batik basket quilt as well as a Jewel Box that includes a self bordering technique. Luana Rubin also wrote an article on colors she developed for the quilting industry for the coming year and some paper piecing patterns of a bride and groom. Kaffe Fassett and Liza Prior Lucy have ‘designed’ a quilt that is included. It is a large-ish rectangle surrounded by borders.  The fabrics are, of course, fabulous, but I don’t see the need for a pattern. I also didn’t read the pattern, so there must be something special I am missing. There is an interesting Christmas tree quilt pattern with some Liberated Quiltmaking type stars in one border.  I, also, have to say that I do like the cheerful layout that QNM is using.

Stampington & Company has a new magazine called Art Quilting Studio. The words “premier issue’ caught my eye and I grabbed it. I haven’t been happy with Quilting Arts lately as they have mostly scrapped the techniques section and are providing only projects. Art Quilting Studio shows some avant garde pieces, has an interview with Denyse Schmidt and lots of detail shots. The colors appeal to me, though the layout colors are more subdued that the issue of QNM mentioned above. I liked the Layered Collages of Art article by DJ Pettitt, because the faces in her pieces are very appealing.

I also bought a copy of Stitch magazine. This is a product of the Quilting Arts family of magazines. I only bought it because I fell in love with the pillow on the cover. I glanced through it quickly and thought that was the only thing I would like in it. Later, I sat down at a cafe and looked through it page by page and found a few other things I liked.

There is an article about thread. I find thread to be completely mystifying so the more information the better, as far as I am concerned. That article talks about different types of stitching as well as the qualities of different threads.

The article with the log cabin pillow also has a round pillow called the Pi Pillow and a pillow called the Fabulous Floor Pillow. I think I might try one of those as well. I also saw a tote bag, which has possibilities without the fog grey bottom and an apron which might make a nice gift. There is a glossary of sewing terms, which I might dismiss quickly, except the stitch glossary which shows the reader how to make arious stitches.

Quilter’s Home also came in the mail recently. Mark is on the cover, as usual, with his son, Evan, which is not usual. I have enjoyed Mark’s story of his son in previous issues. The patterns in this issue are very ordinary. He recommends buying all the books he reviews so he must be getting pressure not to pan quilt books. He has the decorating section, which I can take or leave. I think the edge is wearing off of Mark’s style. It could be that CK Media is making him tone it down.

Fortunately, there is still thr3fold journal! This journal really makes me happy when I read it. It makes me really happy when the package comes! I know it sounds dumb to say that, but I feel an actual uplifting of my spirit when I read the articles.  The style is quietly confident. The colors are cheerful and interesting. The articles are well written. While I may not want to make every project or try every technique, I enjoy reading about their process. I also feel that I can try their projects if I follow their directions. I have written about this journal before and think that I will stop liking it, but having received issue 4 I still feel excited when I open an issue. I am looking forward to issue 5 already!

Tools and Supplies for Drawing

Words are very important to me. I like the shape of them – the way they look when written and the way they feel on my tongue, which is why the title is tools and supplies and not just supplies. Supplies would be more accurate, but I don’t like the shape of that word.

I saw this picture – found from a Twitter link – and really liked it. One thing I like about it is the abundance, but I also like the fact that the background is white. There are no distractions from the background in the picture. This style allows me to focus on the elements of the picture. Take a look at the website.

clipped from www.wilfreeborn.co.uk

Tools I use
  blog it