I check to see if folks are reading my blog. and they are but no one leaves any comments. I am curious about why or how you found my blog and what do you think about the post you read. Right now I sort of ramble on with some of the thoughts I have while I am sewing or painting or just thinking about the realm of creativity.
Feel free to comment.
Monday, August 29, 2016
Saturday, August 27, 2016
ruching and ruffles
To me quilts should tell a story. Even if the story is not obvious to the casual observer.
Some of my fabric creations are made to sell. cat toys, sleep masks...
Some pieces are made as gifts. Baby quilts, pillows, some are made for myself wall hangings and such.
My present project from the needle arts realm is a challenge piece. I got a 1/4 yard of the challenge fabric and the only criteria were that you could not get more of that fabric, and that you must use at least some of it in your piece.
I added my own challenge to myself. I wanted to use some of the 15 yards of assorted fabrics I picked up at the dumpsters that very same evening.
And so I decided to make a pillow. I have been playing with techniques to add dimension and texture to strip quilts. I have made one pillow with 3 d twists and knots that will become a gift to a friend.
This pillow is using some different ideas. ruffles and ruching with some of the strips.
My hope is that these ideas will translate into a class I can offer at the retreat to get some discounts on the cost of the weekend at the hot springs.
Thats is the best thing about this kind of project there are stories and there are hopes and there are chances to play and learn.
Some of my fabric creations are made to sell. cat toys, sleep masks...
Some pieces are made as gifts. Baby quilts, pillows, some are made for myself wall hangings and such.
My present project from the needle arts realm is a challenge piece. I got a 1/4 yard of the challenge fabric and the only criteria were that you could not get more of that fabric, and that you must use at least some of it in your piece.
I added my own challenge to myself. I wanted to use some of the 15 yards of assorted fabrics I picked up at the dumpsters that very same evening.
And so I decided to make a pillow. I have been playing with techniques to add dimension and texture to strip quilts. I have made one pillow with 3 d twists and knots that will become a gift to a friend.
This pillow is using some different ideas. ruffles and ruching with some of the strips.
My hope is that these ideas will translate into a class I can offer at the retreat to get some discounts on the cost of the weekend at the hot springs.
Thats is the best thing about this kind of project there are stories and there are hopes and there are chances to play and learn.
critiquing
How do you offer an honest opinion of something you do not really like?
Not everything we create will appeal to everyone. I know that so I never ask anyone for their opinion. I asked my husband once, but that did not work out well. His opinion was not useful or helpful or in anyway a reflection on how I felt about my work. So I just put it out there and wait to see what others say. Usually if there is a negative reaction is is about the medium rather than the art.
"Skulls, not my thing", they will say as they go shuddering by.
Every once in a while though my creative friends will ask what do I think about what they have done.
I try not to sound like that second grade teacher trying to figure out if she is looking at a dog or a pirate ship or maybe a depiction of last night's dinner. "I see you have put a lot of work into your drawing". "Wow that is sure interesting". "I like the colors you used."
If I love it, I love it; if I like it, I like it and I just flat out say that. Sometimes though I feel a little more conflicted about their work and more often than not it is just a matter of my preferences. So I will try to devine their inspiration. "It really reminds me of ..." "it feels like you capture the essence of..."
Or maybe distract to the medium used. "I have always wanted to try... how do you like it?"
Now if some asks for my opinion about words they use or give me a choice of which color looks best I can always offer my opinion, but I do not classify that as a critique.
Not everything we create will appeal to everyone. I know that so I never ask anyone for their opinion. I asked my husband once, but that did not work out well. His opinion was not useful or helpful or in anyway a reflection on how I felt about my work. So I just put it out there and wait to see what others say. Usually if there is a negative reaction is is about the medium rather than the art.
"Skulls, not my thing", they will say as they go shuddering by.
Every once in a while though my creative friends will ask what do I think about what they have done.
I try not to sound like that second grade teacher trying to figure out if she is looking at a dog or a pirate ship or maybe a depiction of last night's dinner. "I see you have put a lot of work into your drawing". "Wow that is sure interesting". "I like the colors you used."
If I love it, I love it; if I like it, I like it and I just flat out say that. Sometimes though I feel a little more conflicted about their work and more often than not it is just a matter of my preferences. So I will try to devine their inspiration. "It really reminds me of ..." "it feels like you capture the essence of..."
Or maybe distract to the medium used. "I have always wanted to try... how do you like it?"
Now if some asks for my opinion about words they use or give me a choice of which color looks best I can always offer my opinion, but I do not classify that as a critique.
Sunday, August 21, 2016
Watch out for Number 2
This is my self discovery of the day.
When I get an idea I usually spend some time thinking about it, rehearsing the making of it, and then putting together the bit and pieces need to make it.
But then there are times like this morning.
I have some fleece scarves I made a few years ago that did not sell. They are spiral scarves and they did not sell because there were always at least five or more vendors with scarves that year.
So I decided it might be fun the have the twirls cascading down from the top of a fleece hat. Awesome plan:
Go inventory scarves and see what color fleece I would need to get. But hey wait! look I had fleece too. So I jumped right to the sewing machine and tried my idea. Awesome! Prototype looked cool and went together quickly and smoothly.
On to the next one.
Here I tried some short cuts, that did not save me time, I also tried changing the stitching as I did not need stretch stitching on all parts of the hat.
Ugh what a disaster. thread breaking and just a mess as my machine refuse to deal with 6-8 layers of fleece at a time.
OK so a rethink. it had worked the first time, right.
So back to the zig-zag on the heavy layers for hat number three and we were back to a sweet and easy project.
SO watch out for number two, that is where short cuts and logical changes might really mess you up.
When I get an idea I usually spend some time thinking about it, rehearsing the making of it, and then putting together the bit and pieces need to make it.
But then there are times like this morning.
I have some fleece scarves I made a few years ago that did not sell. They are spiral scarves and they did not sell because there were always at least five or more vendors with scarves that year.
So I decided it might be fun the have the twirls cascading down from the top of a fleece hat. Awesome plan:
Go inventory scarves and see what color fleece I would need to get. But hey wait! look I had fleece too. So I jumped right to the sewing machine and tried my idea. Awesome! Prototype looked cool and went together quickly and smoothly.
On to the next one.
Here I tried some short cuts, that did not save me time, I also tried changing the stitching as I did not need stretch stitching on all parts of the hat.
Ugh what a disaster. thread breaking and just a mess as my machine refuse to deal with 6-8 layers of fleece at a time.
OK so a rethink. it had worked the first time, right.
So back to the zig-zag on the heavy layers for hat number three and we were back to a sweet and easy project.
SO watch out for number two, that is where short cuts and logical changes might really mess you up.
Friday, August 12, 2016
Realizing the Vision
Sometimes its not about finding inspiration or vision because that just comes to you. the hard part is figuring out how to make it a reality.
This often entails collecting materials, sometimes over several days, weeks or months.
Then there is all the work of trying things to see if they match that picture in your head. and basically I do my best to match that though sometimes in unexpected ways.
and so here is my coyote vision. not exactly as I pictured it but in my best interpretation of what I saw in my mind when I awoke one morning 4-5 months ago.
This often entails collecting materials, sometimes over several days, weeks or months.
Then there is all the work of trying things to see if they match that picture in your head. and basically I do my best to match that though sometimes in unexpected ways.
and so here is my coyote vision. not exactly as I pictured it but in my best interpretation of what I saw in my mind when I awoke one morning 4-5 months ago.
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