Friday, May 30, 2014

Week in Review 2014 - 05/30



Tips, Techniques and Thoughts:
Free motion quilting sampler using Leah Day's
Spoonflower.com goddess fabric.
 My husband and I returned midweek from 19 days away, first visiting our family back east and then hiking the Kerry Way in Ireland. It is the longest we have been away from home, work and our comfortable routine in years. We may have returned, but I don't feel back yet. Instead I find myself needing to ease back versus my typical modus operandi of instant catch up. I'm easing back not just with my household duties, but with my studio commitments. Typically I order my to do list by priority and do the items with the most importance first. This week I have focused instead on gingerly moving forward by working on what is easy as a way to prove to myself I can still handle mixed media and free motion quilting. So far so good. I am getting braver and more energetic with each day back. Even with this attitude I managed to accomplish a little on my one studio day. Here is how it went.

 1) Little Lake Butte des Morts in Fall (Due August 3)  - I chose not to tackle this project until I felt up to speed again.

a) Finish piecing the background
b) Start the quilting
Close up of the free motion quilting motif,
Zany Hearts.

2) Wild Apple 12" x 12" Opportunity - (Due August 15)  - I chose not to tackle this project until I felt up to speed again.

a) Create several more small works for the exhibition

3) Leah Day projects.

a) Baste the face, torso and arms to Express Your Love II. - On hold until the quilts with deadlines are completed.
My take on Serena Bridgeman's lesson:
Honoring Your Inner World.




 b) Do Leah Day's Free Motion Quilting lesson. - Done.

 I can't say enough about how much I enjoy trying out each new quilting motif that Leah Day comes up with. They are such a great/safe way to keep my free motion quilting skills up to snuff. Zany Hearts is perfect for practicing echo quilting and travel stitching.

4) LifeBook 2014 - Do the assignments. - One assignment from the three I missed is done. 

Serena Bridgeman focused the lesson on shadows and highlights. This is something I need to practice and play with again and again. The image is based on Serena's piece versus my own design. Still I am thrilled with the lotus flower. I really feel that I nailed light and shadow.

My rationale for easing back into the studio is jet lag. Hopefully, this will pass soon and I can get back to my pre vacation pace. Whatever my pace here is the work that awaits me:

 1) Little Lake Butte des Morts in Fall (Due August 3) 

a) Finish piecing the background
b) Start the quilting

2) Wild Apple 12" x 12" Opportunity - (Due August 15)

a) Create several more small works for the exhibition

3) Leah Day projects.

a) Baste the face, torso and arms to Express Your Love II. - On hold until the quilts with deadlines are completed.

b) Do Leah Day's Free Motion Quilting lesson.

4) LifeBook 2014 - Do the assignments.


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

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5 comments:

  1. Linda Wulf KoenigMay 30, 2014 at 3:14 PM

    It's obvious you are very intuitive and are used to following your inner wisdom, in this case regarding your projects in the studio...which to proceed with, which to postpone. Very smart. And thank you for bringing something back into my awareness, that being to stitch all of Leah's designs onto practice blocks (I have put this off, fearing that I'll be stuck forever on one design, trying to perfect it). I need to bite the bullet and just do it--and embrace the imperfections during the process--knowing that I'll eventually be a much better free-motion quilter for it.

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    Replies
    1. Gwyned TrefethenJune 3, 2014 at 8:52 AM

      Why, oh why do we feel the need for perfection? That is a rhetorical question that I am not going to even try to answer. What I can say is the longer I pursue my obsession with fiber art the better I am getting about allowing myself to play and practice. In fact that is why I seek out opportunities like Leah Day's site and Life Book 2014. With no final project due, just mini assignments and practice I feel totally free to try and zero need to keep on trying until it is perfect. Funny thing - most of the time things look quite good because I am not white knuckle creating.

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  2. Regina B DunnMay 30, 2014 at 7:36 PM

    Welcome back. I just got back from Greece. It does take awhile to readjust the mind and body.

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  3. Judy WarnerMay 31, 2014 at 4:07 AM

    And, it took me a bit to adjust when back from my overseas trip. I can't wait to see how Kerry influences your work. I am off to Mayo for a week in September and quite excited about it. Just love how all your works are progressing. Missed your presence while you were traveling!

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  4. MuvJune 5, 2014 at 3:49 AM

    Oh Gwyned, you lucky thing - County Kerry! We went there twice when I was very young and all the local children went barefoot in the countryside in the summer, so we did too. Seems centuries ago now.

    Your quilting, as always, is fabulous, so I just thought I'd let you know about the link up I have started on my blog... Would love to see you there!

    http://lizzielenard-vintagesewing.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/where-has-free-motion-friday-gone.html

    Love, Muv

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