Creative Prompt #186: Frosting

Take 5 minutes to do any kind of artistic response: poem, doodle, quilt, pastel, pencil. ANYTHING counts. No rules; just do it!

Post the direct URL (link) where your drawing, doodle, artwork is posted (e.g. your blog, Flickr) in the comments area of this post. I would really like to keep all the artwork together and provide a way for others to see your work and/or your blog.

The Creative Prompt Project, also, has a Flickr group, which you can join to  post your responses. I created this spot so those of you without blogs and websites would have a place to post your responses.

basic frosting recipe

butter cream

fondant

  • To be covered with a coating of Frost; also Frosted. This was the original and primary meaning of the term; most other usages are derived from it, directly or indirectly. Derived forms would include references to anything frost-like in appearance (see below).
  • Icing (food), the sweet glaze used in confectionery
  • Frosting (crime), a form of vehicle theft
  • Frosting (decorative arts), a motif in decoration of objects
  • froSTed, a pop punk band
  • Frosting (roofing), the effect of frost on mortar as result of freezing conditions, causing it to crack as the moisture in the mortar expands limiting the life of the roof
  • Frosting (Aerosol burn), Slang for the freezing of skin using an Aerosol spray.

Frosting appears a white, salt-like substance on the paint surface. Frosting can occur on any paint color, but it is less noticeable on white paint or light tints.

 

Creative Prompt #185: Autumn

I know some of you are in the depths of winter already, but we still have a Fall/Autumn here. I wanted to use this word before another year went by.

Take 5 minutes to do any kind of artistic response: poem, doodle, quilt, pastel, pencil. ANYTHING counts. No rules; just do it!

Post the direct URL (link) where your drawing, doodle, artwork is posted (e.g. your blog, Flickr) in the comments area of this post. I would really like to keep all the artwork together and provide a way for others to see your work and/or your blog.

The Creative Prompt Project, also, has a Flickr group, which you can join to  post your responses. I created this spot so those of you without blogs and websites would have a place to post your responses.

Fall

Autumn leaves changing color

Jane LaFazio’s sketchbook

girl’s name

Definition: Autumn or Fall (play /???t?m/, /???t?m/ or /f??l/, /f??l/, respectively) is one of the four temperate seasons. Autumn marks the transition from summer into winter, in September (Northern Hemisphere) or March (Southern Hemisphere) when the arrival of night becomes noticeably earlier.

The equinoxes might be expected to be in the middle of their respective seasons, but temperature lag (caused by the thermal latency of the ground and sea) means that seasons appear later than dates calculated from a purely astronomical perspective. The actual lag varies with region. Some cultures regard the autumnal equinox as “mid-autumn”, others with a longer lag treat it as the start of autumn.[1] Meteorologists (and most of the temperate countries in the southern hemisphere)[2] use a definition based on months, with autumn being September, October and November in the northern hemisphere,[3] and March, April and May in the southern hemisphere.

In North America, autumn is usually considered to start with the September equinox.[4] In traditional East Asian solar term, autumn starts on or around 8 August and ends on about 7 November. In Ireland, the autumn months according to the national meteorological service, Met Éireann, are September, October and November. [5] However, according to the Irish Calendar which is based on ancient Gaelic traditions, autumn lasts throughout the months of August, September, and October, or possibly a few days later, depending on tradition. In Australia, autumn officially begins on March 1 and ends May 31[6] According to United States tradition[citation needed], autumn runs from the day after Labor Day (i.e. the Tuesday following the first Monday of September) through Thanksgiving (i.e. the fourth Thursday in November), after which the holiday season that demarcates the unofficial beginning of winter begins.

Band – Dutch heavy rock collective

2009 movie

“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.” – Albert Camus (Read more quotes about autumn quotes)

Creative Prompt #184: Cake

Today is the Young Man’s birthday, thus the word is in celebration of his special day. Thanks for playing along.

sponge cake

Victoria Pastry, North Beach

beefcake

fruit cake

cheesecake

Definition:

Cake is a form of bread or bread-like food. In its modern forms, it is typically a sweet baked dessert. In its oldest forms, cakes were normally fried breads or cheesecakes, and normally had a disk shape. Determining whether a given food should be classified as bread, cake, or pastry can be difficult.

Modern cake, especially layer cakes, normally contain a combination of flour, sugar, eggs, and butter or oil, with some varieties also requiring liquid (typically milk or water) and leavening agents (such as yeast or baking powder). Flavorful ingredients like fruit purées, nuts, dried or candied fruit, or extracts are often added, and numerous substitutions for the primary ingredients are possible. Cakes are often filled with fruit preserves or dessert sauces (like pastry cream), iced with buttercream or other icings, and decorated with marzipan, piped borders or candied fruit.[1]

Cake is often the dessert of choice for meals at ceremonial occasions, particularly weddings, anniversaries, and birthdays. There are countless cake recipes; some are bread-like, some rich and elaborate, and many are centuries old. Cake making is no longer a complicated procedure; while at one time considerable labor went into cake making (particularly the whisking of egg foams), baking equipment and directions have been simplified so that even the most amateur cook may bake a cake.

Cake (band)

Gateaux

Kuchen

flourless cake

Cake Boss

birthday cake

sheet cake

cupcake

Take 5 minutes to do any kind of artistic response: poem, doodle, quilt, pastel, pencil. ANYTHING counts. No rules; just do it!

Post the direct URL (link) where your drawing, doodle, artwork is posted (e.g. your blog, Flickr) in the comments area of this post. I would really like to keep all the artwork together and provide a way for others to see your work and/or your blog.

The Creative Prompt Project, also, has a Flickr group, which you can join to  post your responses. I created this spot so those of you without blogs and websites would have a place to post your responses.

bundt cake

Hostess cupcakes

Wedding cake

Layer cake

icing on the cake

Cake Wrecks

Climate Adaption Knowledge Exchange

Cake decorations

2005 movie

clot

slice of cake

Nursery Rhyme (Wikipedia):

Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker’s man.
Bake me a cake as fast as you can;
Roll it, Pat it and mark it with B,
Put it in the oven for baby and me.[1]
Patty cake, patty cake, baker’s man.
Bake me a cake as fast as you can;
Roll it up, roll it up;
And throw it in a pan!
Patty cake, patty cake, baker’s man.[2][3]
Patty cake, patty cake, baker’s man.
Bake me a cake as fast as you can;
Roll it up, roll it up;
Put it in a pan;
And toss it in the oven as fast as you can! (common modern versions)

A-B-C Challenge Back

A-B-C Challenge back
A-B-C Challenge back

Sunday, I worked on the A-B-C Challenge back. I finished the top on Saturday and got busy with the back on Sunday. It took forever. Well, it seemed like it took forever.

I think I was just tired. I took last week, mostly, off, but with one thing and another, I did a lot.

Another thought is that I have really high expectations of what I can accomplish in a given number of hours. I don’t usually count requests for my chauffeur service, laundry duties, lunch, etc.

For once, I was very careful about pressing the seams open, though Colleen never says anything about that. I am proud of myself.

I am also pleased that I could use another giant piece of Martha Negley fabric. I love her prints, just like I love Philip Jacobs prints. Putting the large flower on the back of the Flowering Snowball was such a great experience that I wanted to repeat it. This particular print has some odd colors, but they go well with the Empire gold that Pat Bravo loves and includes with her collections. Also the green goes well with that border fabric.

I am trying to use larger pieces and make simpler backs. They take less time. Can you tell how simple this back is compared to the Stepping Stones back? I wonder what I was thinking!

#BFSI in Review

Yesterday I detailed all the BFSI comments you wrote (keep ’em coming!) and the prizes I gave away. I actually did get sewing done, which was great. I don’t feel like I got as much sewing done as I would have liked, but I got enough done. I guess.

As an aside: Is it ever really possible to get enough sewing done? I don’t know what enough sewing is, so I can’t say. I would like to try to figure it out, though.

Enough of that.

I know that there were a number of people who had to work, Kati had problems with her laptop, so could only follow along and others had family obligations, so I feel lucky to have gotten done what I did get done.

I started out the day by getting up a bit on the late side…for me. I got up around 7am and since we had 24 people over to eat the night before, I got the first load of non-china dishes going in the dishwasher while my tea steeped. There were also some things that needed to be soaked, so I put them in hot water as well. I could hear the call of Twitter, though, throughout the chores, so I didn’t stay away for much longer.. My phone has been acting up, so I gave it a good talking to, which encouraged it to work. I was able to use it during the day as well.

I kind of think that I did some #BFSI warm-ups earlier in the week with the cat beds and the donation blocks. Who doesn’t need a good warm up?

I promised to make two pincushions for the BAMQG raffle basket, so I decided to get busy on those. The meeting is next week, after all, so I didn’t have much time.

I used a charm pack from Sandy Gervaise called Objects of Desire and the Petit Gateau pattern from Fig Tree quilts. This is the pattern I used before and I liked it.

In general, I like Sandy Gervaise’s fabric designs. They are fun, generally cheerful or have a bit of humor. She also usually includes dots, which I love. I have found, thoughn that her color choices are usually a bit too beige for me. She often has a really good and fun print on the front of the charm pack, but as I pick through the fabrics (which is one reason charm packs are great!), I find many of the fabrics to be ‘Meh.’ I don’t hate them by any stretch, but they aren’t my favorites.

Pincushions in progress
Pincushions in progress

Why choose ‘meh’ fabrics for pincushions, you ask? In small doses they are a relatively cheerful and a nice combination of fabrics for a pincushion. It took me some time to get them together, but once I made the half square triangles, they went pretty quickly. I sewed a couple of charms together to make the gusset piece. I thought about digging around in my fabric closet, but have plenty of charms, so that worked for me.

I have a lot of charms from the pack left so might make a couple more pincushions as gifts. They are fun and cute.

I have some hand stitching to finish, buttons to attach, but I am pleased with the way they look. They are cheerful and I like the different scales of fabric.

I also worked on the A-B-C Challenge. I know I talked about it before, but in order to get to the stage of FINISHED top, I worked on the border on Saturday as well. I spent most of the time that I worked on this piece on the grey inner border.

Patchwork Wheel #7 & 8
Patchwork Wheel #7 & 8

I also always need leaders and enders. That is mostly how I am getting the Patchwork Wheel blocks done. I doubt I will get a quilt top from them finished by the meeting next Saturday, but I can finish it by January.

Sandy talked about her BFSI experience on her blog. Sarah detailed her progress and she had to go to work! Pam did a lot of sewing work, but admitted to finishing the Star Wars quilt during the Black Friday Sew-in. Katie made major progress on her Orca Bay quilt. She was being good and trying to finish it before Easy Street started.

Did you join in? What did you work on?

A-B-C Challenge Top Finished

A-B-C Challenge Top Finished
A-B-C Challenge Top Finished

I know I should wait until after the BAMQG meeting to crow, but I can’t! I just finished this top yesterday and am THRILLED with the way it came out. The border is much simpler than I originally thought I would make, but I think it brings out all the piecing in the individual blocks. So far, I am in love.

I am planning to work on the back today. I have a large piece of the Martha Negley Mum Toss print (lower right hand corner of photo, below) to put on the back. The main color is the same as the very outer border of the front. Also, that weird gold is included in the Martha Negley print. I have to do a label and a binding, but I think I can do both tomorrow.
New Pieces, October 2012

Black Friday Sew-in Giveaway Question #2

As I may have mentioned, I am posting questions throughout the day that will enable you to be eligible to win prizes during the Black Friday Sew-in.  Some of the prizes will be awarded in a random drawing, but if I really like an answer, I might award that person a prize as well. My blog, my rules. If you object, don’t enter.

Task 1 / Question #2: Make a gift bag. I have posted a link on my tutorial page for a few years that shows you how to make holiday gift bags. You do not have to make a Christmas gift bag (kind of silly, if you don’t celebrate Christmas!). You can make a bag to use for birthdays or general gift giving.

Reasons to make and use gift bags:

  1. Festive gift bags save time during gift giving times, because they are quick to use.
  2. Great use of all that festive fabric now that you have decided not to make a Christmas or ___fill in the holiday blank___ quilt.
  3. You are not using paper that will get ripped off and recycled in a month anyway.
  4. No tape.
  5. Easy to open and look in if the gift tag falls off.

Fair warning: You will can only win or be entered in the drawing if you make a gift bag and show a picture of it somewhere.

I have the following books to giveaway:
Master’s Art Quilts v.1 (see review)
Master’s Art Quilts v.2 (see review)
Art Quilt Portfolio (see review )
Quilt it with Love: The Project Linus Story
Shape Workshop for Quilters

+ 3 older charm packs

Thanks to Shannon at Lark Crafts and to Ray Hemachandra for sending along the books and being supportive of the Black Friday Sew-in.

Black Friday Sew-in Question #1

I will be posting a series of questions that will enable you to win prizes for the Black Friday Sew-in.  Some of the prizes will be awarded in a random drawing, but if I really like an answer, I might award that person a prize as well. My blog, my rules. If you object, don’t enter.

Question 1: What do you keep near your sewing machine or on your worktable to provide inspiration? Do you have a tableau? Do you have a shrine? Photos of your beloved?

Write it all out below. Optional bonus for posting a photo to Twitter or a link on Twitter to your blog where you post a photo.

Fair warning: You will not win or be entered in the drawing if you do not answer the question. If you say “please enter me in the drawing,” your manners do count for good karma. I thank you for saying please, but I will not enter you in the drawing. I want words, content and pictures!

11/23/2012 3:55 pm Update: Comments closed. Winner is Becky Greene!

Sketching #175

CPP Response #175: Needle
CPP Response #175: Needle

This is a little different than the previous few responses, but in line with some of the earlier ones. I really wanted to draw a threaded needle. I am trying to draw what pops into my head when I think about the word and am ready to draw. Within reason.

The thimble was an afterthought and I can’t tell if the thimble and needle are magically flying through the air or if they look like they are laying on the table.

Check out the original prompt and create your own drawing.

Sketching #173

CPP Response #173: Water
CPP Response #173: Water

Repeating the flower and the counter after the previous response seemed to be the right thing to do. My kitchen window is similar to this, but looks out on the wall of my neighbor’s house. I’d love to paint a tromp l’oeil painting on the side, but I don’t know how they would react. I wonder if they would notice?

Check out the original prompt and create your own drawing.

Creative Prompt #183: Drink

have a drink

cool drink

What do you want to drink?

in the drink

Drink drank drunk

Definition: A drink, or beverage, is a kind of liquid which is specifically prepared for human consumption. There are many groups for drinks. It can be divided into various groups such as plain water, alcohol, non alcoholic drinks, soft drinks (carbonated drinks), fruit or vegetable juices and hot drinks. In addition to fulfilling a basic need, drinks form part of the culture of human society.

hot drink

soft drink

non-alcoholic drink

Drinkmaster

Eat, drink and be merry

Go out for a drink

How much water should you drink every day?

DrinkAware

Take 5 minutes to do any kind of artistic response: poem, doodle, quilt, pastel, pencil. ANYTHING counts. No rules; just do it!

Post the direct URL (link) where your drawing, doodle, artwork is posted (e.g. your blog, Flickr) in the comments area of this post. I would really like to keep all the artwork together and provide a way for others to see your work and/or your blog.

The Creative Prompt Project, also, has a Flickr group, which you can join to  post your responses. I created this spot so those of you without blogs and websites would have a place to post your responses.

Food and drink

Drink of inspiration

Energy drink

No drinking and driving

drink
drinkabilities
drinkability
drinkable
drinkables
drinker
drinkers
drinking
drinks
nondrinker
nondrinkers
nondrinking
outdrink
outdrinking
outdrinks
overdrink
overdrinking
overdrinks
undrinkable

Creative Prompt #182: Whisper

2007 movie

Definition: to speak softly with little or no vibration of the vocal cords especially to avoid being overheard.

Stage whisper

Whisper Club – Philadelphia’s Premier Venue For Upscale Nightlife (Hey! nobody told me when I was there!)

WhisperNet (Kindle)

Whisper is a fixed-size database, similar in design to RRD (round-robin-database). It provides fast, reliable storage of numeric data over time.

The .338 Whisper is a wildcat cartridge in the Whisper family, a group of cartridges developed in the early 1990s by J.D. Jones of SSK Industries.

whisper sweet nothings

Ever notice that the whisper of temptation can be heard farther than the loudest call to duty.” – Earl Wilson

Take 5 minutes to do any kind of artistic response: poem, doodle, quilt, pastel, pencil. ANYTHING counts. No rules; just do it!

Post the direct URL (link) where your drawing, doodle, artwork is posted (e.g. your blog, Flickr) in the comments area of this post. I would really like to keep all the artwork together and provide a way for others to see your work and/or your blog.

The Creative Prompt Project, also, has a Flickr group, which you can join to  post your responses. I created this spot so those of you without blogs and websites would have a place to post your responses.

Goodness speaks in a whisper, evil shouts – Tibetan proverb

“…speaking words of wisdom

Whispered Words, a Slash recommendations database.

Beatles Let It Be Lyrics

Songwriters: LENNON, JOHN / MCCARTNEY, PAUL

When i find myself in times of trouble
Mother mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
And in my hour of darkness
She is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
Let it be, let it be.
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.

etc.

Pincushion Swap

Pincushion
Pincushion

I was really on the fence about the BAMQG pincushion swap. I wanted to try it, but was concerned I would have trouble making it. I didn’t quite know how to deal with the button and I didn’t want to make myself crazy trying to get it right.

I decided to participate in the Pincushion Swap with BAMQG after I spoke with Joanna Figueroa at PIQF. Once I had the pattern, Petit Gateau from Fig Tree Quilts, and the know-how I picked out the most modern fabrics I could think of and really had a good time making it.

I liked the way the pattern said to make small blocks and put them together. It was kind of amazing the way, after I cut the circle, the top looks like I sewed it into a circle.

I had a little trouble with the filling. I wanted something with weight, but I wanted to be sensitive to people with nut allergies. I went to the store and as I was being directed around the store for different fillings, I came across the pellets they use for Beanie Babies. I bought a package of those, because I thought they would be good for the weight. I thought about the sharpening qualities that those old tomato pincushions have and landed on some wool roving. I bought a bunch of that and the combination ended up working well. The combination was easy to put in the pincushion.

Vintage Modern Pincushion
Vintage Modern Pincushion

It really didn’t take very long to make the pincushion and it was fun. I liked making it and kept thinking about who else needed a pincushion. Perhaps I’ll make one for a Black Friday Sew-In prize?

I am actually ok giving this pincushion in for the swap. I hope I get one back that is as nice.