Week in Review 2015 - 03/06

Mondrian Tackles Fibonacci
with a little less than 50%
of the beading done.
Click on the image for a closer view.

Tips, Thoughts and Techniques:

Elizabeth Barton is a name I have been familiar with for some time as one of the luminaries of the art quilt world. Last year I followed several blogs of students taking her Master Class and I am doing the same this year. Lessons, critique and work coming out of these classes is so inspiring that it is tempting to put myself on the waiting list for the next available Master Class. This class is everything I look for in a class - valuable critique, a focus on design principles and it is taught on line so that I can do the lessons when it fits my schedule. So why haven't I signed up? It is easy to blame the work load. You are expected to create a new piece monthly. The size is up to you, but even 12" square pieces going from design to final stitch take 3 - 5 studio days for me to complete. If I dig deeper I realize that the work load isn't what is stopping me. It is Elizabeth's approach to designing quilts that I find abrasive to my own style. With Elizabeth, at least from what I have gleaned, much of the design is settled on before you start assembling the quilt. My method is to have a general idea of where I am headed, but to stay very open to the inevitable detours along the way. The piece I finish with is often quite different than what I was anticipating. This is what keeps me entranced about making art - the not knowing, coupled with problem solving. One thing I have learned is my biggest growth comes from doing what I shy away from versus doing only things in my comfort zone. Perhaps a Master Class with Elizabeth is in my future. :) For now I am committed to my beading and will be for several more weeks to come.

A closer look at the organic beadwork in the yellow section.

Here is how the week went:

1) Mondrian Tackles Fibonacci - (Due May 1, 2015) 

a) Continue beading - Done!

2) Free motion quilting practice. - Done!

I turned to Lori Kennedy for inspiration this week. I played around with her Doodle Heart motif. I am a sucker for patterns with different densities of quilting. Just can't get enough of that sculptural relief.

This practice Doodle Heart motif was done on
left over scraps pieced together from an earlier
project. It makes an interesting study to learn how
pattern fabric and thread color can make a pattern
standout like a neon sign or be more subtle.

3) Post the number of days I have worked in my studio in 2015 - 25.5/126

4) Perform a random act of kindness - Done!

5) Night Vision - 

a) Add the label - On hold until I need a second label

I'm taking a brief blog vacation. When I return it will be more of the same, as you can see from the plans below:

1) Mondrian Tackles Fibonacci - (Due May 1, 2015)

a) Continue beading

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) Night Vision - 

a) Add the label - On hold until I need a second label

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.