Week in Review 2015 - 07/10

Dancing Scissors
10" x 8"

Tips, Thoughts and Techniques:

A few weeks back I was struggling with reentry into my home routine after multiple trips away. One way I find to ease my way back is to play in the studio versus work on something serious. So, when I received an e-blast from Lyric Kinard with an intriguing method of how to create abstractions, I couldn't resist. I was off and running with scissors. :) As an incentive, not that I needed one, to tackle this assignment, Lyric would select a few of the works created by her followers as demo pieces for a segment she was making with Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims. What's the worst that can happen? Another rejection. Not this time. Lyric accepted Dancing Scissors. It now appears permanently on her website and should air on The Quilt Show sometime in 2016.

Detail from Deconstructed Sunrise
The free motion quilting on this is so fun!

A second detail from Deconstructed Sunrise.
The combination of free motion quilting and
walking foot style quilting work well here.
I used my quarter inch foot to achieve such even
lines, evenly placed.

Now that Dancing Scissors is behind me, I am able to focus on Deconstructed Sunrise. This piece is growing on me. Usually when I begin a new piece of art I LOVE the idea of it. In the beginning phase I am eager and excited about the work. Then sometime during the process the work takes a turn for the worse. This is a dark place, when it is tempting to just throw the work and move on. Deconstructed Sunrise has felt as though sun hasn't risen for a long time. This week I started to quilt it and attach one segment to other. My confidence is growing. I feel the work pulling together. Phew!

Here is what a managed to accomplish in the studio this week:

1) Start quilting Deconstructed Sunrise - Due November 30, 2015) - Done!

I managed to quilt three of the panels. I had a lot of fun thinking of ways I could quilt the different sections. I was particularly pleased with the FMQ suns I achieved in a couple of sections. I love repeating ideas in my art, through the piecing, color palette and stitching, but with a different take each time.

2) Free motion quilting practice. - Done!

3) Post the number of days I have worked in my studio in 2015 - 50.5/126

4) Perform a random act of kindness - Done! 

Will I still be excited about Deconstructed Sunrise next week or will I be down in the dumps again? No matter my mood, having a plan keeps me moving forward. This is my plan:

1) Continue quilting Deconstructed Sunrise - Due November 30, 2015)

The top three panels of Deconstructed Sunrise
are joined using the quilt as you go method.
Click on the image for an enlargement.

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 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.