Definition: (transitive verb) 1. a: to form (as characters or symbols) on a surface with an instrument (as a pen) b: to form (as words) by inscribing the characters or symbols of on a surface c: to spell in writing <words written alike but pronounced differently> d: to cover, fill, or fill in by writing <wrote ten pages> <write a check>; 2 : to set down in writing: as a:draw up, draft <write a will> b (1): to be the author of :compose <writes poems and essays> (2): to compose in musical form <write a string quartet> c: to express in literary form <if I could write the beauty of your eyes — Shakespeare> d: to communicate by letter <writes that they are coming> e: to use or exhibit (a specific script, language, or literary form or style) in writing <write Braille> <writes French with ease> f: to write contracts or orders for; especially:underwrite <write life insurance>; 3 : to make a permanent impression of; 4 : to communicate with in writing <we’ll write you when we get there>; 5 :ordain, fate <so be it, it is written — D. C. Peattie>; 6 : to make evident or obvious <guilt written on his face>; 7 : to force, effect, introduce, or remove by writing <write oneself into fame and fortune — Charles Lee>; 8 : to take part in or bring about (something worth recording); 9 a: to introduce (information) into the storage device or medium of a computer b: to transfer (information) from the main memory of a computer to a storage or output device; 10:sell <write a stock option>; (intransitive verb) 1 a: to make significant characters or inscriptions; also: to permit or be adapted to writing b: to form or produce written letters, words, or sentences; 2 : to compose, communicate by, or send a letter; 3 a: to produce a written work b: to compose music.
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.
Lots taking place in the dining room recently. Not sure why. I guess I am obsessed with eating. I am really thrilled that Landscape Lady is participating; she has really re-motivated me. I did 3 prompt responses (still catching up!) on Monday. Check back later for the others. I won’t have my usual drawing time again until June 4, so I’ll have to figure out a way to keep up without that time.
Just spend 5 minutes developing a creative habit. it takes time.
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.
I think this project will progress in fits and starts. I made the new blocks (on the right) while I was piecing the Flowering Snowball. I used the Corner Store blocks as leaders and enders. Such a useful, productivity improving technique.
I find that I put the blocks up on the design wall and I become uninspired to make more. Not sure why. I like them; I think the piece works well, is interesting and pretty. As a project I work on steadily, it wasn’t working for me yesterday. However, as leaders and enders in between a different project, I make a lot of blocks. What is that about?
And, the other question is, if I don’t work steadily on the Corner Store, what should I work on? I need some bang for my buck. Can I finish another top next weekend? VIMH#1 says I have to enjoy the process not just go for finished product.
All Corner Store blocks - May
I put all the blocks up. I have quite a few. They are small, though, so it isn’t enough. There is still a lot of red and pink. I made an effort to make blocks with no red or pink, but I have a lot of red and pink triangles, so it is hard.
This is not the final arrangement. I slapped them up on the wall and did a tiny bit of rearranging.
I also have to buy some more Kona Snow as background. The Pure Elements Linen, of which I have plenty, is different enough to be noticeable.
This is related to the response to prompt #98. I wanted to use the same location. It is the other side of the dining room.
Just spend 5 minutes on your prompt. It will help you develop a creative habit. Developing a creative habit takes time. What you make does not have to be perfect or for public consumption. You will get better if you do something every week.
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.
I was back in pillow hell on Monday, except that it wasn’t really hellish. I made four pillows using embroidery panels my SIL and I created on her embroidery machine when I was in Maryland/DC last year. My part in that was saying yes or no to colors of thread and whether the letters should be curved or not. She is the embroidery queen and I was just her humble assistant.
Embroidery panel (1 of 4)
While I was in Maryland, we made a few pillows for the Native Daughters, of which we are both lurker members, but I took the embroidered panels home to make the Native Sons pillows later. As I have mentioned, my DH in on the Board of Trustees of a non-profit. When they are running for off their parlor (e.g. chapter) sponsors a hospitality suite at the Grand Parlor (e.g. annual conference). In the hospitality suite, they play cards, offer liquid refreshments and raise money for their Cleft Palate charity using raffles. For the past year or two, since DH has been running, I have made pillows for him to raffle off. They were wildly popular the first year and he raised a record amount for the charity.
Guess what?
“Later” is this weekend! Can you say last minute? I wasn’t planning on spending my day off making pillows, but this coming Saturday would be even more last minute, so I did the job. I was prepared for drama and there was none. I think I only had to rip out one seam. I measured correctly, counted properly and generally made 4 pillows in record time.
Batting Foundation
The big difference was that Cathy, my SIL, suggested using batting as a foundation. It makes the block look nice and gives the maker a goal. You cut the batting the size (including seam allowance, so if finished is 14″ you cut the batting 14.5″, etc) you want the pillow and then sew on top of it. I don’t know how this would work if you didn’t have a flip and sew friendly pattern, but I am sure there is a way to figure that out.
Anyway, the pillows are done and packaged ready to head to NSGW Grand Parlor. DH was pleased and I am going to the dentist and then am going to work on something fun that doesn’t feel like “quilt work.”
The Sunday Stash Report (a la Pam at Hip to be a Square podcast) is 2 yards. More on that later.
Nota bene: if you think there are photos missing, there are. I am having trouble uploading some pictures to the blog. Check back later. It will be resolved eventually.
Sunday was a nice day. It was Mother’s Day and, though nobody in my house said anything specifically, I did whatever I wanted and didn’t have to do too many chores. I received a depressing, if very true card and an iTunes gift card from the Young Man and then spent the rest of the day finishing the Flowering Snowball. Not finishing as in quilted and bound, but finishing the top and the back.
Flowering Snowball top
So, the top, back and binding for the Flowering Snowball are all done and will be sent off to the quilter soon.
I am pretty pleased with the top. Since the project spanned several years, some of the fabrics are fabrics that I would not choose to work with now. Also, since I wanted this to be a scrap quilt, I should have stuck to using each foreground fabric only once.
Still, none of the fabrics jump out and demand attention and the variety of fabrics is significant, so there is a lot to look at.
Of course, I can think of things I would do differently if I did the quilt again and the VIMH#1 is musing about making one on the machine and color schemes while VIMH#2 is getting ready to slap her. I have plenty of projects on the design wall that need attention before I can circle back and make another one of these.
I have to admit that after I started chunking the top, I thought that I could have made more blocks so that the center would be wider. I was thinking that two more rows of blocks down the center would be great. I am not doing it. What I have is enough and I will think about this as a lesson and carry it forward.
Flowering Snowball back
I am doing backs in a little different way now. I decided that the large Philip Jacobs and Martha Negley prints I love so much would be great backs. I am taking some of the giant pieces I bought recently and putting them on the backs. I am still committed to piecing my backs, but am taking a break from tiny pieces. I am trying to use larger pieces. This makes making the backs much faster to piece. It also means that those large prints are shown off to their best advantage.
In this case, I tried to pick fabrics that went with the Martha Negley print and, further, with each other. I ended up with a very pink back.
the librarian in me has to tell you that I called the pattern “Cross Blocks” until I found that Barbara Brackman had cataloged it. In EQ7, the notecard lists it as “Barbara Brackman’s Encyclopedia of Quilt Patterns #3081 – Aunt Kate 7/65.” It is from the Classic Pieced, Orange Peel family.
The Sunday Stash Report (a la Pam at Hip to be a Square podcast) is 8 yards. More on that later.
I can’t believe that this approximately 6 year project is finally done. this means that I am down to 20 projects which need serious work. Some of the 6 are still at the quilter or need to be bound, but I consider this to be good progress.
I don’t know what project is next. I’ll have to work on the Flower Sugar Hexagons again just to get some more of them sewn and added. I also have some blocks to make for the A-B-C Challenge.
Nota bene: the WordPress media uploader has not cooperating. I have been having trouble with it for the past few days so I added the photo of the top, but it is large. If I can make it smaller, I will.
I had to do this response twice, because people are hard and I wanted to get the swing of her hair right….or mostly right.
I am pleased with how this came out.
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. I am trying to keep all the artwork together and provide a way for others to see your work and find a link your blog or website. It is also a great way to see how your work relates to the other responses.
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.
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. I am starting to repeat myself and run out of ideas and since this has not been very popular, I don’t feel bad about ending it. I am going to try and make it to #60 so you have an even number with which to work, but we will see.
KQED, my local public radio station, has a feature called Perspectives. Perspectives are small audio essays by regular people on a subject. On Friday, in the half awake state before I have to jump out of bed and start my day, I heard a Perspective by PeiPei Zhou. Ms. Zhou talked about all the sacrifices her mother made for her so she could have a better life. Immediately my mom popped into my mind.
I knew we weren’t rich. I never had the trendy clothes and shoes that my classmates sported, but I never felt deprived either. I traveled, I went to college all because my mom made sacrifices. I didn’t even realize the magnitude of her sacrifices for me until I was an adult. I am not sure I can fathom them now. I only know I have what I have and have accomplished is due to my hard work, but the unfailing, unquestioning support of my mother.
I probably wouldn’t be writing this blog without my mother. She sewed a lot when I was a kid — at least I remember her sewing a lot. You know how kids and time are: they think you did something all the time when you only did it once? I remember her sewing costumes for Halloween, school play costumes and doll clothes.
Cara of TalknT said it very well this morning on Twitter. She said “Happy Mother’s day to all the moms, mommys, Grandmas, mom in waitings, Stepmoms and caregivers. Blood doesn’t make a family. Love and you do.”
If you like this blog, or tolerate it 😉 head over to Mary’s Art Musings and say hi to my mom, Mary, and thank her for everything she has done.
What I am Reading: Just finished Isobel’s Story by Jennie Walters on my Kindle; started An Age of Innocence, but think it might a better book to which to listen, which means I might jump to Creating Time: using creativity to reinvent the clock and reclaim your life by Marney Makridakis Audiobook playing on my iPod: Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand What I am Working On: Flowering Snowball, Corner Store, Garden and a lot of pressing and cutting of recently washed fabric
Design
You may be following along with the Design Series I am doing with Sandy of Quilting…for the Rest of Us. I came across a blog post about Rhythm recently in the Cloth Paper Scissors Daily. I thought my post was much more in depth, but they did use one of the sources that we used. Susan of the History Quilter had some nice things to say about the Rhythm episode in the History Quilter episode #24. Nonnie also did some of the homework and put her thoughts up on her April 21, 2012 blog post.
I came across an artist named Dottie Moore when I was reviewing a book recently. Her quilts are quite textural even in photos. Once you listen to the Texture podcast and read my blog post, go take a look at her quilt gallery.
Around and About the Web
Can’t make it to Paducah? Now you can purchase the lectures and watch them after the show. Purchase must be made before the end of 90 days after the show. I haven’t tried it, but if I do, I’ll let you know how it goes.
The quilts that were lost after being displayed in the C&T Booth last year have been found! Amy Marson wrote about a brief update in the C&T blog recently.
Sandi Colwell from Quilt Cabana Corner is upping the podcast game by posting a YouTube video instead of her normal podcast. the video is very similar to her podcast, but with images. During the vidcast, she dyes fabric, gives a book review and talks about some of her new patterns. I enjoyed seeing Sandi, her quilts, and another sewing room tour.
I wonder if I mentioned Lori Nix before? Deanna Raybourn pointed her out to me again and I just love her dioramas. It revives the love of miniatures in me.
I have a boatload of HSTs to use some way, so I was attracted this tutorial over at the Molly Flanders blog on matching points. I was attracted by the piece she uses to demonstrate. Simple, yet effective tutorial. Thanks to Adrianne over at Little Bluebell for pointing this out.
Jill, over at the Quilt Rat blog, has a great post about how Gels, Mediums and Extenders work.
Peeps
Friend Julie put up some photos of her very springy, cheerful Bullseye quilt. I love it! I alove that it is done, but I really love the color combinations she used.
Thanks to Deirdre for this link to a polka dot house! I would love to pain my house like this. The painter has done such a great job.
Tanesha of the Crafty Garden Mom podcast posted about getting through crafty temper tantrums. The fun part of the post was Tanesha’s biting wit with regard to stories parenting magazines publish.
Books
Dottie Moore, one of the authors in the review of Art Quilt Portfolio I did recently has a book out. I haven’t seen it, but will review it if anyone wants to send me a copy.
I heard about Creating Time: using creativity to reinvent the clock and reclaim your life by Marney Makridakis on Mark Lipinski’s May 2, 2012 podcast. Ms. Makridakis was a great interviewee and I went straight out and used a gift card to buy the book. I would much rather work through the book with her, but that isn’t possible, so I hope to start reading it soon and really get invigorated.
Media
Mark Lipinski had a great discussion about art (what is art? art controversies, censorship of art) in his May 2 episode with Luke Haynes and Nathan Vincent. The Modern Quilt movement does not leave the conversation unscathed. If you can stand a little heat in the quilt kitchen, I suggest that you take a listen. It certainly made me think.
Intellectual Property
Kate Spain has more explanations about the C&T/Emily Cier situation on her blog since last time I looked.
Completely Off Topic
And if you want something cool to look at various intervals during the day, check out the Cornell Lab of Ornithology Great Blue Heron web cam. Thanks to Leslie for sharing this. Aside from the fact that I love the large water birds, I don’t know why I like this so much.
The rose is a rose,
And was always a rose.
But the theory now goes
That the apple’s a rose,
And the pear is, and so’s
The plum, I suppose.
The dear only know
What will next prove a rose.
You, of course, are a rose–
But were always a rose.
stocks rose on news that….
Symbolism: Roses have been long used as symbols in a number of societies. Roses are ancient symbols of love and beauty. “Rose” means pink or red in a variety of languages (such as Romance languages, Greek, and Polish). [In the classical era] The rose was sacred to a number of goddesses including Isis, whose rose appears in the late classical allegorical novel The Golden Ass as “the sweet Rose of reason and vertue” that saves the hero from his bewitched life in the form of a donkey.[1] The ancient Greeks and Romans identified the rose with their goddesses of love, Aphrodite and Venus.
In Rome a wild rose would be placed on the door of a room where secret or confidential matters were discussed. The phrase sub rosa, or “under the rose”, means to keep a secret — derived from this ancient Roman practice.
Stinking Rose (Garlic Restaurant in San Francisco)
Charlie Rose
color
Rose wine
Tournament of Roses
My SIL’s middle name
Definition: A rose is a woody perennial of the genusRosa, within the family Rosaceae. There are over 100 species. They form a group of erect shrubs, and climbing or trailing plants, with stems that are often armed with sharp prickles. Flowers are large and showy, in colours ranging from white through yellows and reds. Most species are native to Asia, with smaller numbers native to Europe, North America, and northwest Africa. Species, cultivars and hybrids are all widely grown for their beauty and fragrance. Rose plants range in size from compact, miniature roses, to climbers that can reach 7 meters in height. Different species hybridize easily, and this has been used in the development of the wide range of garden roses.[1]
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.
This word had such potential and I was really looking forward to responding to it, then, in the end, I ran out of time and just tossed something on the page.I can always go back and do another, right?
I guess done is better than perfect. Create your own perfect response and 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. I would really like to keep all the artwork together and provide a way for others to see your work and/or your blog, as well as how your work relates to the other responses.
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 and websites would have a place to post your responses. Please join and look at all of the great artwork that people have posted.
So cutting for the Fabric of the Year 2012 quilt continues. As I have said, I am really enjoying cutting up patches for this quilt. As you can see, I seem to be doing a lot of cutting.
I am cutting for other things as well, which is what I call the Hunting and Gathering stage. For scrappy quilts, it is better to cut for a long time and save up the patches until you have enough to make the size of quilt you want. I am doing that for a couple of someday projects.
The CQFA workshop for May was doing the next part of the Fabric Papermaking process that I described last week. We painted our pieces. I tried not to obscure the work I had already done, but it was very clear to me that the first step should just be done as fast as possible so that you can make a lot. The paint can obscure beautiful compositions, so I tried to use light washes. Julie was sitting next to me and we discussed using watercolors, but we weren’t sure if they would adhere.
Above (and perhaps to the left on your screen) is a picture of my workstation. I wasn’t sharing a table with Rhonda, which made me sad, but I was sharing with Friend Julie, which made me very happy.
You can see my high tech palette (the paper plate) filled with aqua, pink and lime. I also found some Sparkle Glaze in my cabinet of wonder in the fabric closet. I brought that along and all of my pieces have a slight glittery look to them, which I like.
The piece next to the palette is one in which I used a blue fabric. I wanted to tone it down a bit and, I think, if you look at the edges, you can see that I succeeded.
The lime paint wasn’t so successful. It made my pieces look yellow, so I added some aqua to it to get rid of the yellow cast.
Julie's piece
Julie was not able to join us for the Between Meeting Meeting at Sue’s to make paper, so she made some at home on her own. She has an excellent collection of stamps and brought a bunch. I just painted my pieces and didn’t use any textures on them. When I saw this piece I wished I had. She used a Duplo (the big Lego version they make for toddlers) to make the dots. I think it looks fabulous!
Julie's dots - detail
The reason I only painted my pieces is I wanted to do the simplest steps so I could see how they worked. I don’t know if I will do this again, but I like to have a good foundation. I think to use stamps successfully, I will need to make much simpler foundation paper/fabric.
I may ask Julie if I can print out her fabric paper on TAP or on fabric and use it that way.
Sue's Orange PieceAnother Pretty Piece
The pink/green/netting piece (below) was out in the hallway drying, so I don’t know who made it, but it was another really good one.
This is a technique with so many opportunities for creativity, because of all the layers.
I look forward to making more of it. I think I will try to convince Angela and Rhonda to get together with me at A Work of Heart one day and work on a bunch of new pieces. I suggested to Sue that she should propose a class to Andrea. Once I figure out whether this fabric-paper works for the Remains of the Day type journals, that might be another draw. Sue has a full-time job, so there may not be time in her busy life for such an endeavor.
Show & Tell
There were some ‘Tells’, which was interesting and a lot of Shows. I showed the Food Quilt as it will be firmly ensconced on the Young Man’s bed by the next meeting. 😉 I hope I can drag it away to show at the next BAMQG meeting.
Angela showed her Travel journal, which is similar to my Red Journal, but a new class iteration by Andrea. I took very few photos of show & tell.
ATCs
Bron & Jaye ATCs
Thanks again to Maureen who organized us to make more ATCs. I haven’t gotten back on my series of inspiration cards, but perhaps I will again?
Mine were more using TAP. I did 8 or 9 last time and finished up the last 4 for this meeting. I should have done something new, but didn’t make the time. I won’t be at the next meeting, which means I have 4 months to come up with some spectacular. Perhaps I’ll use some bits of silk to really make them sparkle?
More ATCs
I really love the different looks that come together when we put our ATCs down on the table. Look how vibrant and bright and crisp Mel’s ATCs look compared to the rest of ours? I think I need to play around with color a bit more on my next ATCs.
Under the Sea Challenge
Mel's Under the Sea Challenge
I didn’t do this challenge even though I took the pieces. My excuse is that I couldn’t find them. Truly, I didn’t have time, though I do appreciate the organization that went into the challenge.
Mel’s piece (above) was inspired by the paintings of dogs playing poker. She has fish playing poker. Not only do I love the humor, but the workmanship looks wonderful, too.
I was so impressed with the quality of work that people showed. I am kind of glad I lost the pieces (they will turn up, I am sure), because I am not sure I could have come up with something to rival what others did. I know I shouldn’t compare my work to others, but it is hard when I am in the company of greatness. You know now why I drive to the back of beyond to hang out with these wonderful women.
Maureen's pouch
Maureen made a zippered pouch. She used some of the vinyl for the front. Remember my clear tote? She said she wanted to see how her new machine handled the vinyl. I didn’t hear the details on that, but will have to ask her.
There was a lot of discussion of creating depth using fabric and I was interested in the different ways that people achieved that look.
Sonja (piece on the left) created depth by using different layers of tulle and adhering the fish and other critters to the different layers. You can see that some look more obscured than the others. I really like this look and it made me think of the undersea piece I did in Pamela Allen’s class and whether tulle would be appropriate.
Ann’s piece is on the right. I noticed that she is attracted to plants (the motifs seem to show up frequently in her work), so I wasn’t surprised to see a lot of plants in her piece. She had a piece in the Olive Hyde Gallery recently.
Rhonda's Pillow
I was shocked SHOCKED! to learn that this was the first time Rhonda had used fusible. I have not yet begun to plumb the depths of Rhonda, that is for sure. She really did a nice job on her pillow. A number of the motifs looked painted to me, but I didn’t have a chance to explore further with her. I’ll have to ask her.
Another thing I think worked very well is that people did not feel the urge to use all the pieces they selected. There were a lot of minimalist pieces. I know I felt overwhelmed trying to think of how I could make a cohesive piece out of all of the different styles and colors. Why didn’t I think to select certain ones? I guess it is a good day when I learn something.
Virginia's Two-fer
Virginia, always clever, was even more clever this time. The blocks were from a previous challenge that she has stashed away. She remembered them and pulled them out for this challenge. They really make a perfect ocean looking background.
I know Virginia is working on finishing up some of her UFOs. this seems to be to be the perfect confluence of such an endeavor.
FabMo
FabMo Buttons
As I may have mentioned, we meet in FabMo’s classroom space. Bron, is on the FabMo Board and will sometimes open up the fabric space for us to gather supplies.
She said they had received some donations of buttons, so I went to look and picked out a few (left). I have an idea to make a fabric card holder (as opposed to felt like the ones I made in 2010) and I need a few more buttons to replenish my stock. I thought these would work for what I want to do and they are larger than the ones that TFQ bought for me as a gift, so I am not duplicating efforts. We’ll see if I actually do it.
The red buttons just appealed to me. I am sure I can find something to do with them.
I also plan to use them to continue embellishing the Christmas stockings. I started on it last year as a sort of in between project with no real deadline. I think there is a lot I can do to make those stockings look prettier. If I were to do them over, I would definitely use wool felt.
