Creative Prompt #161: Foam

packing peanuts

foamcore board

Soybean foam-core crib mattress

meringue

foam roller

foam mattress

memory foam

upholstery foam

Definition: The use of foam in cuisine has been used in many forms in the history of cooking. For example, whipped cream, meringue, and mousse are all foams. In these cases, the incorporation of air or another gas creates a lighter texture and/or different mouth feel. More recently, foams have become a part of molecular gastronomy technique. In these cases, natural flavors (such as fruit juices, infusions of aromatic herbs, etc) are mixed with a neutrally-flavored gelling or stabilizing agent such as agar or lecithin, and either whipped with a hand-held immersion blender or extruded through a whipped cream canister equipped with N2O cartridges. Such foams add flavor without significant substance, and thus allow cooks to integrate new flavors without changing the physical composition of a dish.[1] Some famous food-foams are foamed espresso, foamed mushroom, foamed beet and foamed coconut. An espuma or thermo whip is commonly used to make these foams through the making of a stock, creating a gel and extruding through the N2O canister.[2]

foam cushions

foam insulation

half foam roller

Blue Cheese Foam with Port Wine Reduction

closed cell foam

skinny decaf no foam latte

extra foam

 

Definition: A foam is a substance that is formed by trapping pockets of gas in a liquid or solid. A bath sponge and the head on a glass of beer are examples of foams. In most foams, the volume of gas is large, with thin films of liquid or solid separating the regions of gas.

An important division of solid foams is into closed-cell foams and open-cell foams. In a closed-cell foam, the gas forms discrete pockets, each completely surrounded by the solid material. In an open-cell foam, the gas pockets connect with each other. A bath sponge is an example of an open-cell foam: water can easily flow through the entire structure, displacing the air. A camping mat is an example of a closed-cell foam: the gas pockets are sealed from each other, and so the mat cannot soak up water.

Foams are examples of dispersed media. In general, gas is present in large amount so it will be divided in gas bubbles of many different sizes (the material is polydisperse) separated by liquid regions which may form films, thinner and thinner when the liquid phase is drained out of the system films.[1] When the principal scale is small, i.e. for a very fine foam, this dispersed medium can be considered as a type of colloid.

The term foam may also refer to anything that is analogous to such a foam, such as quantum foam, polyurethane foam (foam rubber), XPS foam, Polystyrene, phenolic, or many other manufactured foams. This is not the purpose of this page.

Make your response simple. It doesn’t need to be a masterpiece. Take 5 minutes. Just respond and create a creative habit. Please 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, and how your work relates to the other responses.

The Creative Prompt Project has a Flickr group, which you can join to post your responses. Are you already a member? I created that spot so those of you without blogs or websites would have a place to post your responses. Please join and look at all of the great artwork that people have posted.

Sketching #158

CPP Response #158: Bird
CPP Response #158: Bird

This is another prompt where I wanted to do something more elaborate, but I just didn’t know what. In the end I just did a kind of flock of birds.

I have been looking at birds lately and wanting to draw them. Amy from the Creative Mom Podcast did a project with drawing birds and that inspired me. I did the one giant budgie, but I need more practice.

There is always the opportunity to do another response.

Broadway Quilts Sonoma

Broadway Quilts, Sonoma
Broadway Quilts, Sonoma

As I have mentioned before, DH is on the board of a non-profit, which starting now will require more travel on the weekends for us. this past weekend we headed up to Sonoma for a historic building dedication, a commemoration ceremony and the reenactment of the Bear Flag Revolt. After all of that and the drive up there we got lunch. I didn’t get lunch, I brought my own, because of my food issues.

DH knows that one way to get me to go with him on these jaunts when I can is to not complain about visiting local quilt shops. Broadway Quilts in Sonoma was our first excursion. Broadway Quilts is easy to find. It is right off of 116 just as you drive off the freeway. From south it is on the left. On Sundays it is open from 11-3, which I made sure DH knew. We flew past in the morning to get to the dedication, but we saw it, so we knew where it was on our way back out of town.

The boys came in with me even though I, specifically, uninvited them. It was too hot to stay in the car, so I couldn’t really begrudge them wanting to take advantage of the air conditioning.

Broadway Quilts Interior
Broadway Quilts Interior

The store is light and airy and large! I walked in a heard a disembodied voice coming from all around me and welcoming me to the store. I thought I was being visited by God who happened to be a quilt shop owner/worker. 😉

The lady who was working was very nice, genuinely cheerful and nice. She helped me paw through their stash of Aurifil to try and find #2600 for me (no luck) without complaining.

The store has a lot of the latest and greatest fabric. I saw Vintage Modern, Echo, a great selection of tone-on-tones, which I thought no longer existed, and a whole room full of 1930s fabric. I am not an expert on 1930s fabrics, but I do look out for them, because FQs make good gifts for TFQ.

Broadway Quilts Notions
Broadway Quilts Notions

As I mentioned, the store is large and their notions selection was really good. They still have the regular full selection of Dritz, but they also have  a lot of Creative Grids rulers, including those with teeth to make half square triangles. I am not sure I have ever seen those in a shop before. They carry a modest selection of Aurifil, project cases, Omnigrid rulers, bag accessories – you name it. A very good selection.

There was a enough space to move around, which was nice. They also share space with a longarm business. The longarm is set up int he back of the store, but it is a separate business. I think that is a good symbiotic relationship.

It looked like they had a small classroom and I saw classes mentioned on their web page, but I didn’t see a class list.

Broadway Quilts Flowering Snowball
Broadway Quilts Flowering Snowball

One of the samples I saw hanging up was a Flowering Snowball! I felt like such a maverick when I started that quilt a dog’s age ago, but now everyone seems to be making them. This one is nice. I think it was made with Vintage Modern or, perhaps, Ruby.

I liked the store and would go there again. Yes, I bought fabric, but just a little.

Garden Progress

Garden full
Garden full

It is monumental that I am quilting. I hope you appreciate the momentousness of the occasion. 😉

Really, I do quilt small things, but most of my larger pieces are quilted by someone else. Part of the reason is an old injury, which doesn’t allow the pushing and tugging a quilt through the machine required. I also have an older machine (though I bought it when it was a top of the line machine) and the arm is the old normal size, not one of the super sized free arms that look so fantastic. The other part of the reason is that I quilt very densely. I quilt about 1/8th – 1/4 of an inch away from the nearest line of quilting. I don’t know why, but it takes a long time.

Still this is a small piece, perhaps 18×24″ and I wanted to quilt it myself. I have been working on the background in small increments. I am really nearing the end of that part of the project, which makes me want to jump for joy. There are parts that I would have free motion quilted, but my machine is not up to it, so I just did straight line stitching. I like the quilting to melt into the background so it works for me.

Garden sky detail
Garden sky detail

In order to melt the quilting into the fabric, I needed to quilt the sky in three different sections using different color thread.

Another reason I quilt this way is to reward the ardent viewer. If a viewer comes up and puts his/her nose to my quilt, s/he will get the reward of seeing some additional details. I like to try and layer my pieces in an overt way, above and beyond the textural quality of the quilting.

I don’t really use special thread. I have a number of different colors of Aurifil and I use those to quilt with. I like that the they are thin.

Garden Background detail
Garden Background detail

I was particularly pleased with the blue background. I used some of Libby Lehman’s Bottom Line purple thread and it just melted into the background. I get good results when I unwind the thread from the spool and lay it on the area where I plan to use it. I find that the color on the spool – when the threads are laying nicely next to each other – is very different than the color of one strand.

I am sure more experienced machine quilters have better tips for you than this, but this post describes what I do and since I am pleased with the results, I thought I would share.

I am pleased that this project, which is on the 26 Projects list is moving forward!

I’m A Winner!

Kona Challenge Prize
Kona Challenge Prize

Several BAMQGers got together and entered our Kona Challenge quilts as a group. My friend, Kathleen, went to the county fair today and sent me an email saying that I had won 2d place in our category!

I couldn’t believe it. I don’t make my quilts to win prizes, but when I do win a prize it is VERY exciting.

I am planning on going to the fair next weekend. I need my chocolate covered banana fix! I always spend a lot of time in the quilt pavilion and can’t wait to see what my quilt has been doing while it is out of my hands.

Kona challenge detail with ribbon
Kona challenge detail with ribbon

I don’t know what the hierarchy is for prizes, but I think this is the best prize I have won so far. I, once, won Judge’s choice and another time I won an Honorable Mention.

I am not going to become rich and famous from quilt prizes, but I can’t tell you how excited I am that I won this prize. Yay!

Block-a-Long #59: Squares & Rectangles

Squares & Rectangles #59
Squares & Rectangles #59

Those long thin rectangles aren’t very popular in classic blocks (that I remember), but I like them and thought I would give them one last hurrah before the end of this project.

I mixed up the squares and smaller rectangles as well. Have fun.

Directions for Squares & Rectangles #59 are posted.

If you have made blocks or a quilt from these patterns, please post a link in the comments section of the relevant block or on the AQ Block-a-Long Flickr group. I would love to see what you have made.

Nota bene: The AQ Block-a-Long is ending. This is the second to last week. As I have said, I am starting to repeat myself and run out of ideas. Since this has not been a wildly popular Block of the Week, I don’t feel bad about ending it. Next week’s will be the last block. I haven’t decided what I will post on Monday after next week’s block. Perhaps antique blocks? Perhaps inspiration? Stay tuned!

Color Relationships

I sewed some of the Corner Store blocks together yesterday in the 87 seconds I had to sew between political events, laundry and general keeping the house together stuff.

I do find that after a quilt has been around for awhile I don’t even notice the colors that cause such drama for me when I am making it. Perhaps, because I gave myself fits, the quilt is so perfectly balanced that it doesn’t bother me.

Corner Store detail
Corner Store detail

In the Corner Store piece, there is a lot of blue and red, actually aqua and red. There is also quite a bit of pink. It is a challenge to place the pieces in such a way that all the blues are not globbed together.

I accidentally placed the blue dot and reddish-pink flower print near each other and those two fabrics sing together. I knew I had to sew them together and I did. I placed them together even though there is quite a bit of blue int he neighborhood. I am sure I won’t notice a year after after the quilt is done, but I know now and, at the moment, now counts.

Sketching #157

CPP Response #157: Write
CPP Response #157: Write

Sometimes, I wish I could spread my papers around and kick off my shoes like I have drawn in this picture. often my desk looks slightly more orderly, though with no fewer papers than this.

Just spend 5 minutes working to develop your creative habit. It takes patience, but you can do it. You can start with the original prompt.

Then, please post the direct URL (link) where your drawing, doodle, artwork is posted (e.g. your blog, Flickr) in the comments area of the original prompt post. Keeping all the artwork together provides a way for others to see the gamut of responses. It is also a great showcase for your work and  way for people to find a link your blog or website.

The Creative Prompt Project, also, has a Flickr group, to which you can join to post your responses. Are you already a member? I created that spot so those of you without blogs or websites would be able to participate as well. Please join and look at all of the great artwork that people have posted.

June Progress on Corner Store

June Progress
June Progress

It is hard for me to sew during the week, but I am making some progress.The iron issue is not resolved, so I have to figure that out (return current iron, which stinks to high heaven when on), but I am trimming and arranging blocks. My design wall is starting to be too small, but I will have to make it work.

I have 289 blocks to work with and I may make more. I don’t know what size I am aiming for, but my mind keeps saying “BIGGER!!!!”

I probably have enough triangles to make at least 50 more blocks, I don’t plan on making 50 more blocks, however you never know what the muse will scream at me.

Stay tuned.

Creative Prompt #160: Dilute

to thin

dilute laws

reducing the concentration of a chemical

an equation to calculate the rate a gas dilutes.

Trademark dilution, a type of unlawful trademark use outside of the relevant market

Stock dilution, the result of new shares of stock being issued by a company, thereby diminishing the percent ownership represented by previously existing shares

Dilution gene, a gene that lightens the coat color of certain living things

Expectational Dilution, the second album by the metalcore band Overcast

When I lived in Austria we would buy (or make) juice in a  very concentrated form and then dilute it with sparkling (or regular) water.

dilute rules or regulations

From Latin dilutus, from diluere (“to wash away, dissolve, cause to melt, dilute”), from di-, dis- (“away, apart”) + luere (“to wash”). See lave, and compare deluge. (Wiktionary)

Definition (straight off Google; no real link): di·lute/di?lo?ot/

Verb:
Make (a liquid) thinner or weaker by adding water or another solvent to it.
Adjective:
(of a liquid) Made thinner or weaker by having had water or another solvent added to it.
Synonyms:
verb.  attenuate – water down – thin – rarefy – weaken
adjective.  diluted

Make your response simple. It doesn’t need to be a masterpiece. Take 5 minutes. Just respond and create a creative habit. Please 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, and how your work relates to the other responses.

The Creative Prompt Project has a Flickr group, which you can join to post your responses. Are you already a member? I created that spot so those of you without blogs or websites would have a place to post your responses. Please join and look at all of the great artwork that people have posted.

Nota bene: Daisy Yellow is having an Index Card a Day Challenge in June & July. I think this project fits in well with the Creative Prompt Project and I agree with Tammy that an index card is a great canvas size.

Various & Sundry #8

Around and About the Web

I just wanted to remind you about the Skillbuilder Series. I haven’t been by in a month or so and I can’t believe how much they have beefed up their class list. If you need basic skills or a nice refresher on a technique, take a look at Sandy and Jeanne’s blog.

I stumbled on Katie’s From the Blue chair blog on a day where she posted a truly fabulous project: a gorgeous, spiny New York Beauty. It is a pillow and has the most gorgeous quilting. Nice job!

You know I love Danny Gregory’s work. He posted a video recently that I really enjoyed. It is a short video, but shows him drawing and made me realize that his drawings aren’t perfect in the sense that all of the lines are straight. The lines are a big crooked and he goes over some of the other lines and makes them different. Very inspiring! He also, in the course of report on a visit to RISD gives some great insight into making art AND going to art school. It is one of those posts you need to read every once in a while to get back on track.

Lyric Kinard has the Kindness Chronicles. In a recent post, she shows a heart made by Beth Wheeler who has project called Joy Jam. Not only do I like the heart pictured in Lyric’s post, but, I also like the idea of it. It is a good way to spread some joy. It is a good way to just make something. The hearts are probably fast to make and you could use any technique, which means it is a small commitment to try out new techniques. The Kindness Chronicles post includes a recipe for White Bean Chili, FYI.

There are a plethora of pillow and piping tutorials posted on Katie’s Quilting Corner website. Great way to see different methods. Remember my pillow top tutorial as well.

Pam, of Hip to be a Square podcast, posted a video of her Timeless Treasures Plume quilt. Well done video, lovely quilt.

Jackie of Tallgrass Prairie Studio is starting a feature called Walking Foot Wednesdays to follow up on her post called Straight Line Quilting Hints and Tips. Want to get better at using your walking foot? This might be a great place to start.

Make Good Art by Neil Gaiman.

Quilt Market

Quilt Market was held last month. I did not attend, but will some time on a blogger press pass. I’ll put it on the list. Lots of great tweets and the blog posts are showing up as people return and get back to normal, download photos off their cameras and find their notes. Here are some:

I keep thinking of this blog as Diary of a Mad Quilter, but it is really just Diary of a Quilter. Really like the photos in her Market post.

Great photos: Pokey Bolton blog post.

Camille Roskelley’s thoughts. She also has a video and more photos of her booth. Lots of pretty pictures of fabric. Marmalade is her newest line. I’ll get some charm packs and see if I like it.

Little Bluebell slideshow definitely highlights Adrianne’s style.

Thanks to Oliver +S, here is a radio show about Quilt Market.

Little Red Hen’s post is up close and personal.

I love the Martingale shots of their crates. I can’t even imagine dealing with something that size filled with things I really needed.

Fabric, Tools, Spools & Machines

Amy of Amy’s Creative Side wrote a blog post for the Accuquilt newsletter and website. I never knew that Accuquilt had diamond dies. I am hoping to be done with diamond quilts, but if not, I have a perfectly good ruler. The thing I didn’t like about this post, which has nothing to do with Amy, but with Accuquilt is that they refer to the diamonds in the post as 4×4 diamonds. I don’t know what that means. I know what 60 degree diamonds are. I know what 45 degree diamonds are, but 4×4?

I like the look of this Paper Panache Design. I am not fond of the colors, but the design is great. Thanks to Gretchen for sharing!

People & Places

Sometime ago I reported the loss of Jean Ray Laury. I think of her fondly as starting me on the path to art quiltmaking. Recently, I read an article where a quote of hers from February 1985 was quoted. At that time Ms. Laury said

“Women in particular seem to have difficulty setting values on their quilts. That comes, I think, from the fact that so many of our major life works are not equated with income or price.”

I find this quote to be so profound, and also sad. What do you value in your quiltmaking?

I was irritated not to have my quilt chosen for the Modern Showcase Challenge, but I was very excited for Ruth, a fellow BAMQGer to have her quilt, Two Margaritas chosen. She must have shown this quilt at a meeting I didn’t attend, because it is new to me. I really like the curves and the way she used the color. Her blog post includes a list of all of the quilts chosen.

Other

A few posts ago, I talked about making a pillow top. My SIL and Mrs. K both, helpfully, commented on how to fill out the corners. Mrs. K found a tutorial to describe what she was talking about. the tutorial talks about about a completely enclosed pillow, e.g. not an envelope style finish, but I am sure you clever people could adapt it if you wanted the envelope style of closure. You can find it at Dixie Mango.

Deanna Raybourn, whose books about Julia Grey and Nicholas Brisbane I enjoy immensely, wrote a blog post recently on two kinds of people in the world: diminishers and enhancers. This theory might be a bit simplistic, but her words are worth thinking about.

In case you didn’t notice, I am making some little changes to the blog. Hope you find them and like them.

Swoon #7

Swoon #7
Swoon #7

As I mentioned the other day, I worked on small projects on Memorial Day. I had cut the background for this Swoon block a couple of weeks ago, but hadn’t cut anymore. Then I cut a bunch of 2.5″ squares before I remembered that I use the Triangle Technique to make the half square triangles and didn’t them. I added those pieces to the donation block pile and the Super Secret #3 project pile. Duh!

Even though I was tired, I was able to get my act together and figure out how to make this block again. I made some notes, so perhaps it won’t be such a drama next time.

I also took a photo of all the blocks I have made so far. Not a great photo, but I wanted to see how they would look together. Fun, huh?

All Swoon - May 2012
All Swoon - May 2012

I thought I would make 2 more and have a nice even 9 blocks, but am thinking about making 9 more blocks and making the piece larger. I’ll make two more and then I’ll see what I think when the Corner Store is off the design wall and I can look at these blocks on the wall.

Do I say this every time I make a block? I really like these blocks. YAY! Camille Roskelley!

Sketching #158

CPP Response #158
CPP Response #158

This is another one of the responses I drew on Monday. It doesn’t include the detailed bird I had hope to draw, but it includes a number of simple birds and will have to do.

Just spend 5 minutes working to develop your creative habit. It takes patience, but you can do it. You can start with the original prompt.

Then, please post the direct URL (link) where your drawing, doodle, artwork is posted (e.g. your blog, Flickr) in the comments area of the original prompt post. Keeping all the artwork together provides a way for others to see the gamut of responses. It is also a great showcase for your work and  way for people to find a link your blog or website.

The Creative Prompt Project, also, has a Flickr group, to which you can join to post your responses. Are you already a member? I created that spot so those of you without blogs or websites would be able to participate as well. Please join and look at all of the great artwork that people have posted.

Small Projects

Happy Journal Cover
Happy Journal Cover

I was tired on Memorial Day and think I needed a break from the Corner Store. We were out late the night before watching the Bridge fireworks, so I got a late start. My head was spinning from the work I accomplished on the Corner Store, so I worked on some smaller projects.

I finished my current journal, so I needed a new journal cover. I really like having a journal cover on my journal now. Need and desire convinced me to make a new for the fresh journal. I wanted to use one of the Philip Jacobs fabrics, but I also wanted to add interest, so I did a bit of piecing.

Journal cover open
Journal cover open

The back is all Philip Jacob, which means I can look at it whenever I want. The bits of pink peeping on the front make me smile.

I sewed on a merit badge, fixed my pants and listened to a book. I also beefed up my supply of donation blocks. I think I am up to 6 of the pink one now.

I also worked on the next Swoon block. Stay tuned for more on the Swoon blocks.

Sketching #159

CPP Response #159: Red
CPP Response #159: Red

I spent some time today catching up on a couple of prompts. I am continuing my series of this little curly haired girl in her various colored dresses. I really only had about half an hour, but drew out three responses. I had them planned out in my mind to a certain extent so it was easier. I like to formulate the idea in my mind before I sit down and draw it, then I can just worry about the details.

Just spend 5 minutes working to develop your creative habit. It takes patience, but you can do it. You can start with the original prompt.

Then, please post the direct URL (link) where your drawing, doodle, artwork is posted (e.g. your blog, Flickr) in the comments area of the original prompt post. Keeping all the artwork together provides a way for others to see the gamut of responses. It is also a great showcase for your work and  way for people to find a link your blog or website.

The Creative Prompt Project, also, has a Flickr group, to which you can join to post your responses. Are you already a member? I created that spot so those of you without blogs or websites would be able to participate as well. Please join and look at all of the great artwork that people have posted.