Week in Review - 05/08

Module #1 of Deconstructed Sunrise is assembled
and ready for quilting. I used Ann Holmes's
No Sewing Until You Quilt It  to turn under the
applique pieces. The pieces are then adhered
to French fuse. 

Note the upper left rectangle. This is Module #1
 of Deconstructed Sunrise that I
pieced this week.

Tips, Thoughts and Techniques:

You may have noticed that periodically I give credit to my husband, Dana B. Eagles, as my photographer. All the photos of my work featured in my blog are taken by him. However, the photos don't go directly from the camera to the blog. First, I select what I think are the best ones. He usually gives me at least four of each image to choose from. Once I have chosen this week's images I edit them through Photoshop Elements. I use three tools from Photoshop Elements on almost every photo. The first tool is the Straighten Tool. This tool is used to run a line across the horizon of the photo as you would like it to be. Once the line is set the photo automatically adjusts, shifting a few degrees right or left so that the horizon is correct. This fixes any issue with the work being hung slightly askew while it is being photographed. Next I remove any extraneous edges, generously cropping the work. This allows the work to shine versus the distracting, uneven edges that will ultimately get cropped on the actual work. Finally, because the image will be shared on the internet I Save for Web, selecting a resolution, usually high, that will load relatively quickly on computers, but still be clear especially should you choose to click on the image and see an enlarged version.

The idea for Deconstructed Sunrise is to piece it with
whole cloth sections, pieced sections and photo transfers.
Can you find the section I cut from the lower left corner
here in Module #1 up above?

This was a very busy week. May 1st was the kickoff of the National Bike Challenge. Dana and I are participating for the third year in a row. The weather has been so perfect that we couldn't resist taking advantage of it. We logged 123 miles over the past six days!! For the most part our cycling took place before or after work, but as you can see it did not keep me away from the studio. Here is what I accomplished between rides:

1) Deconstructed Sunrise (Due November 30, 2015) - Continue piecing - Done!

 2) Free motion quilting practice. - Done!

3) Post the number of days I have worked in my studio in 2015 - 39.5/126

4) Perform a random act of kindness - Done!

I will be interspersing sections of color with sections of
purple in Module #2 along with another photo transfer
from the original sunrise photo. 

5) Do some surface design experiments - Skipped

I will be taking some time away from writing Gwyned Trefethen's Musings. I will be back in June. When I return here is where I plan to focus my attention:

1) Deconstructed Sunrise (Due November 30, 2015) - Continue piecing

 2) Free motion quilting practice.

3) Post the number of days I have worked in my studio in 2015

4) Perform a random act of kindness

I took a few moments off piecing Deconstructed Sunrise
to work on my free motion quilting. This week I added
the highlights to the stalk and began work on the lower leaf.

5) Do some surface design experiments

I am now linking up to two blogs on Fridays. The first is Nina Marie's Off the Wall Fridays and the second is Free Motion Mavericks.

Week in Review 2015 - 05/01

Photo of Little Lake Butt des Morts taken by
the my husband, Dana B. Eagles.

Tips, Thoughts and Techniques:

A question that creative people get asked is, "Where do you get your inspiration?" A common response is "from nature." Although many of my artworks are drawn from nature, including the one that I embarked on this week, I honestly feel it isn't nature that inspires me as much as the curiosity of exploring uncharted territory, at least unexplored by me. Although I don't technically work in a series, I do find that working on one piece will suggest another piece. So it was with Sunrise Over Little Lake Butt des Morts. Ever since I made that piece it has haunted me. What else could I do with the photo taken from our bedroom window overlooking Little Lake Butt des Morts?

I typically begin with a general
blue print of the design. Click on the
image to see an enlarged version. You
will be able to see where I intend to
feature different areas of the sunrise photo.

I decided to answer that question this week as I launched into design mode and began making Deconstructed Sunrise. I was so focused, even fixated, a common state of being when I begin a new project, that breaking away to do anything in the studio other than work on this piece just didn't happen. Here is what I did manage to accomplish:

1) Design and start the next artwork - Done!

2) Free motion quilting practice. - Opted to go with my
obsessive need to work on Deconstructed Sunrise and take a week off from free motion quilting.

3) Post the number of days I have worked in my studio in 2015 - 37/126

4) Perform a random act of kindness - Done!

5) Do some surface design experiments - Not even
on my radar this week. :)

Rather than use a separate fabric for each piece of the quilt,
I have chosen to create log cabin blocks, that will be sewn
together to make new fabric for the pieces to be cut from.
This week I nearly finished the first twenty-five 3" blocks.

I like to use a mix of fabrics I have created myself by dying,
painting and last week inking, with commercial fabrics. I
used the original photo to audition which fabrics to use.

I am anticipating a few construction issues that will require resolving next week. Chances are as I circle around and eventually face these hurdles I will ease into the difficult work with some free motion quilting practice and maybe some surface design play. Whatever I opt to do, I find having a plan, such as the one I have listed for myself, helps ground me when I am feeling stuck or overwhelmed. Here is what I might accomplish next week:

1) Deconstructed Sunrise (Due November 30, 2015) - Continue piecing

 2) Free motion quilting practice.

3) Post the number of days I have worked in my studio in 2015

4) Perform a random act of kindness

5) Do some surface design experiments

I am now linking up to two blogs on Fridays. The first is Nina Marie's Off the Wall Fridays and the second is Free Motion Mavericks.