Tips, Thoughts and Techniques:
Free motion quilting practice piece. The cheater panel is a Leah Day design. |
John Lennon, in his song, Beautiful Boy wrote "Life is what happens to you when you are busy making other plans." My research into where this quote came from speaks to the quote. Once again, one thought leads to the next and then the next and I have the itch to know just a bit more. In fact I can get so far afield that I nearly forget what started the research in the first place. In this case it was because I planned to use the Lennon quote as my opening sentence. Confession, I do not think about what I am going to write about in my weekly blog much more than a couple of hours before I sit down to write. Even then I just let my mind drift over the week hoping that it will snag on a subject. Invariably whatever I plan to write changes fairly dramatically from that first glimmer of an idea. What I did think about is that those of you who have taken time to share your thoughts about my blog have often wished that you could be as organized and focused as I am. Yes, I am organized and focused. However, every week and every day "Life is what happens to me when I am busy making other plans."
Three leaves of Night Vision have been pieced. Just three more to go plus the poison dart frog. |
1) Night Vision - (Due January 1, 2015)
a) Continue the piecing - Done
I would have liked to have pieced more. In fact I thought I could finish piecing two leaves, not just one this week. But then life happened… Sigh!
2) Free motion quilting practice. - Done!
I created a filler design that I tested in the circle that surrounds the goddess. On paper it looks like seed pods. It definitely needs more open space to shine. |
3) LifeBook 2014 - Do the assignments. - Done!
There were two life book assignments this week. I did them both!!
Lola is my model for Home is Where the Cat is. This photo could be titled The Cat is Very much at Home. :) |
After determining what I believed was my voice in fiber arts, I couldn't help but look for how this was influencing me in my mixed media voice, especially as the lessons have become less how to draw or what layer to put on top of what layer and are instead giving the student much more input. The piece I made for the topic, Artsy Abode, titled Home is Where the Cat is, does in fact share much in common with my more recent fiber art work.
Life is happening next week in an even bigger way, so I will be taking a week off from making and writing about art. It is good to take a break on occasion. At least that is what I reassure myself with. When I return here these are the projects I will direct myself to.
1) Night Vision - (Due January 1, 2015)
Love the piece - home is where the cat is bliss - so true! All of your free motion practice is really paying off. I see confidence in your stitches - smooth and even - nice :-)
ReplyDeleteYour free motion quilting is superb! It sure doesn't look like a practice piece. Also love the way the leaf is coming along.
ReplyDeleteWow! Just curious as to how long you've actually been practicing FMQ? This is awesome!
ReplyDeleteYour Lola is so beautiful, she reminds me of my beloved Gizzie. Love your FMQ, wish that I can do this with my new found retirement times. Will have to be as organized as yourself or I will just while away the hours doing this and that. Really enjoy your blog and love the art pieces that you create.
ReplyDeleteI do my share of drifting. My blog is my way of focusing on the glass half full. It is amazing how much any of us get done in a week when we take the time to catalog it. I do find it is easiest if I have plan. Leah Day's lessons on FMQ are fabulous for the self motivated. One trick I have learned is to allows have a quilt sandwich (batting, backing and top) ready to be FMQ. It is a great way to put all that fabric you have been collecting over the years to good use. I use solid colors so that the quilting shows for my blog.
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