Week in Review 2016 - 02/12

Tips, Thoughts and Techniques:

The final assignment for Elizabeth Barton's dyeing class
was to select a photo, isolate some colors from it and
then dye fabric to match the selected colors. I chose this
photograph, taken by my husband, of a sunrise over
Lake Winnebago.

This week I have felt like student who has been gifted with multiple snow days in a row. I had thought I would be spending my days waiting around the courthouse with a 100 or so of my fellow citizens wondering if I would be asked to sit on a jury or not. Every time I've been assigned jury duty that is how it goes. Not this time. I called the night before, as instructed, and learned that I wouldn't need to come in the following day. Checked again the following night and lo and behold I wasn't needed at all! This meant the week was my own again. I haven't felt so gifted with unexpected free time since my daughter and husband went away for a school camping trip and my son was invited to spend the weekend with a friend. That was in 2000. How did I use my time in 2000? 100% in my studio except for when I was eating or sleeping. I began and nearly finished a quilt that I dubbed All About Time. It was sheer bliss.

These are the colors I selected from the photo.

Here is the same grid, but with the
colors that I dyed. Elizabeth kindly
told me that it is most important to
achieve a palette that works well
together vs. matching the colors
exactly. Close enough.

I didn't spend 100% of my week in the studio this time. I have too many other obligations to do that. However, knowing that I would have jury duty I had worked ahead or cleared up many obligations. How did I spend this bonus time? Pretty much like any other week but with a deeper appreciation because it was unexpected. Here's what I managed to accomplish:

I had fun using my newly acquired EQ 7 skills to good
use to design Sunrise Obsession. This is an EQ 7
rendering and NOT a pieced quilt or even my fabrics.
I have started a quilt based on the diagram using my
hand dyed fabric from the class. 

1)  Finish Deep Waters  by hand stitching the facing and adding a sleeve - (Due March 15) - Nearly done.

I have finished hand stitching the facing and begun to attach the sleeve.
2) Free motion quilting practice. - Done!

Isn't this a lovely floral motif. It is so simple once you
understand the concept of how the petals are formed.
The design is Faye's Flowers by Lori Kennedy.

It's been a while since I have treated myself to doing an Inbox Jaunt motif. Lori Kennedy tends to create images that can be repeated in borders or used in open spaces in a block. I love the look of her work, but have little practical use for it in my quilts. I just couldn't resist Faye's Flowers though. It was remarkably simple and fun to stitch out. 
3) Do some surface design work - Done!

After several very, very intense weeks of dyeing yards and yards of fabric for my class with Elizabeth Barton, I was expecting the final class to be more, if not twice as much of the same. Instead, I only needed to dye eight different fabrics and I was done.

4) Beware of when I find myself shutting down and find a way to stay open. - Done!

My favorite part of my twice weekly yoga class is shavasana. It took me many tries to reach the deep relaxation I achieve, but now I am there within seconds of getting into the pose. This week it was suggested that we try reclining with a block behind our spine and another behind our head to achieve a chest opener or expansion. My first thought was absolutely not. Then I realized I had shut down before even giving it a chance. So, I tried the modification. No, adding blocks to my shavasana is not going to become part of my yoga practice, but at least now I am making an informed, open decision.

I am anticipating carrying forward the feeling of abundant time I achieved this week into next week. Here is how I plan on spending that time:

1)  Finish Deep Waters  - (Due March 15)

a) Finish attaching the sleeve;
b) Create and attach the label; and
c) Add it to my website.
2) Work on Sunrise Obsession

3) Free motion quilting practice.
4 Do some surface design work
5) Beware of when I find myself shutting down and find a way to stay open.

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 - 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.

Week in Review 2015 - 1/02

Tips, Thoughts and Techniques:

Happy New Year!

Lola, my studio supervisor demanded that she make
yet another blog appearance. She is also in the video.

To celebrate the new year I have added a new feature to my blog, a video. I've been wanting to add a monthly video for some time, but was intimidated by having to learn yet more technology in order to do so. When I started facing Night Vision yesterday, I knew it was time to bite the bullet and make a video. I can't be the only person who tries  no fail facing methods only to be disappointed time after time. Between the video and the pictures accompany this blog I have assembled what for me our the trickiest parts of adding facing and the best method for sailing through these parts. The first hurdle is making sure that the facing is only visible from the backside. The solution to that is stay stitching the facing strips 1/8 of an inch inside the seam allowance. Getting crisp AND lump free corners is achieved by trimming the backing and batting away from each corner at a 45 degree angle. Do NOT trim the quilt or the facing. (See Kathleen Loomis's blog for an in depth how to on her technique. Finally, hand sew like a pro, by burying your knots and hiding your stitches. I demonstrate this on my video.

The facing and quilt are folded back to reveal the batting
and backing. The blue triangle delineates the area that
the visible quilt top will cover. When trimming the corner
you want to cut just slightly inside the quilt. This greatly
reduces the bulk and allows for a crisp, lump free corner.

It was a quiet, but industrious week with lots of hand sewing as I started the finish work on two different pieces. I really relish the finish work. I find it one of the most relaxing aspects of making a quilt. That is why I choose to focus my video on how to tie an appliqué knot and the best stitch for hand sewing facings or bindings.

1) Night Vision - (Due January 31, 2015)

The facing was first seamed to the quilt right sides to
right sides. Next the facing is opened to the outside of
the quilt and pressed. Finally, the facing is stay stitched
in place using an 1/8 inch seam allowance. This
keeps the facing from rolling to the front of the quilt.

a) Face the quilt - Started

b) Add the split sleeve - Not yet
c) Take the formal call for entry photos - Not yet
d) Add the label - Not yet
e) Submit the call - Not yet

2) Free motion quilting practice. - Done!

Another FMQ motif from Lori Kennedy of Inbox Jaunt.
Not my best effort. I find midsize and large size free motion
quilting much more difficult than small size. This
is approximately 3" high.

3) Sunrise over Little Lake Butte des Morts (due December 31, 2014)

Sunrise Over Little Lake Butte des Morts

Detail from Sunrise Over Little Lake Butte des Morts

a) Finish the quilting - Done
c) Do the finish work - Just needs the label
d) Submit it for consideration - Not yet

4) Perform a random act of kindness - Done

We are head towards are coldest week so far this winter. Sunday night will be -13F or -25C . Perfect weather to hunker down and do some quilting. Here are my plans:


1) Night Vision - (Due January 31, 2015)

a) Finish Facing the quilt
b) Add the split sleeve
c) Take the formal call for entry photos
d) Add the label
e) Submit the call

2) Free motion quilting practice.

3) Sunrise over Little Lake Butte des Morts (due January 8, 2015)

a) Add the label
b) Submit it for consideration

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.

Week in Review 2014 - 12/12

Tips, Thoughts and Techniques:

Poinsettia tutorial is available on Lori Kennedy's
Inbox Jaunt.

If you live in the northern hemisphere my thoughts this week will be timely. If you are in the southern hemisphere, perhaps you can bookmark them for six months hence. In the past I would be currently kicking, pulling and dragging myself through this time of year when there is more dark than light. Now toss in the fact that most days in Wisconsin are overcast so that the sky reads the color of a mourning dove. Finally add in the hype and hyperactivity of the holidays and it is easy to succumb to depression. This year is different. My husband discovered the SlimStyle 65W LED lightbulb. He likes it for its energy efficiency. I love how it floods my studio with brilliant daylight. The initial expense feels on the extravagant side, but between the energy savings and emotional boost this is one luxury I can highly recommend investing in. 

My first mixed media piece made
during the year long course of LifeBook 2014.

Here is where I placed my energy this week:

1) Night Vision - (Due January 31, 2015)

The final mixed media piece made as
part of LifeBook 2014

a) Finish blind stitching the frog in place - nearly finished.
b) Square up the quilt - Not yet.
c) Start the facing process - Not yet.

2) Free motion quilting practice. - Done 

I debated about whether to take the time to practice my free motion quilting this week. Just as it can be tempting to roll over and go back to sleep versus getting up and exercising, practicing free motion quilting takes discipline. I gave myself a stern talking to and sat down at the machine. I'm so glad I did. Lori Kennedy's Poinsettia motif was just what I needed to put me in the holiday spirit.

Sunrise over Little Lake Butte des Morts
The photo was taken by husband from our balcony. 

3) LifeBook 2014 - Do the assignments. - Done!!

It is time to celebrate. I committed to completing all the weekly assignments in LifeBook 2014 and this week I turned in my final one. It was worth the dedication. I've learned quite a bit about composition, highlights, creating a sense of 3D in 2D work and how to use all kinds of tools and supplies. The growth is apparent when you compare Week 1's piece with Week 50's. 

4) Design the piece to follow Night Vision. - Done!

Sunrise over Little Lake Butte des Morts - deconstructed

The sunrise photo, coupled with my experimentation and play last week have led to my next design to tackle. I have several opportunities that require small exhibition pieces and one must be an abstract. Between the  solo exhibition in Oshkosh and a few other venues all my exhibition worthy work is spoken for. I needed something that would work up quickly. Sunrise over Little Lake Butte des Morts is still in its infancy. A portion of the original photo printed on fabric will be incorporated into the pieced background. Naturally, I will need to do some quilting and finish work. I am optimistic that this piece will be done before 2014 comes to an end.

Family commitments mean that I won't be working in my studio next week. However, the following week I will turn on the lights in the studio and go town. When I do, here is where I plan on focusing my attention:

1) Night Vision - (Due January 31, 2015)

a) Finish blind stitching the frog in place
b) Square up the quilt
c) Start the facing process

2) Free motion quilting practice.

3) LifeBook 2014 - Bind my best mixed media work

4) Sunrise over Little Lake Butte des Morts (due December 31, 2014)

a) Finish the piecing
b) Quilt it
c) Do the finish work
d) Submit it for consideration


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.

Weekly Report 2014 - 10/31

Tips, Thoughts and Techniques:

The poison dart frog after it had been painted with pink.

What a difference a little white paint can make!
I resisted the temptation to give it a french manicure. :)

BOO!! Today is Halloween in the US. It is time for children to dress up as witches, ghosts, zombies and other characters of their imagination, head out when the sun goes down and go door to door asking "Trick or treat?" I still recall how terrifying it was at young age to head out into my neighborhood with my friends on Halloween. It was a very safe neighborhood, but walking through it in the dark amongst zombies and witches was just plain spooky. What is it about "safe" fear that we crave? Is this why I create art? 
In order to create Night Vision I have had to face and overcome my fear on numerous occasions. I know how to work with cotton fabric, but working with vinyl is another story. Then there is committing to a free motion quilting pattern. I test ideas off quilt, but eventually if I am to make progress I must paint that frog, secure it in one place and start the quilting. Will the result be a trick or a treat?

The poison dart frog takes center stage
on his tropical leaf dominion.
If you click on the image you can see
an enlarged image that should allow you to
see the quilting above and to the right
of the frog.

This week has been a mixture of both tricks and treats. Most things have gone as planned and resulted in delightful treats. I conquered my fear and started quilting Night Vision. Stepping up to my machine and pressing the pedal sure felt like a strong potential for a trick.

My take on Lori Kennedy's Squared Flowers 

1) Night Vision - (Due January 1, 2015)

a) Finish painting the poison dart frog - Done!
b) Appliqué the frog to the quilt top - Done! Actually I fused it using Heat 'n Bond.
c) Prepare the quilt sandwich - Done!
d) Start quilting - Done!

2) Free motion quilting practice. - Done!

It was very tempting to skip this and count the free motion quilting on Night Vision as my practice. I didn't. The reason is simple. I find free motion quilting practice so liberating and joyful. The quilting on Night Vision hasn't reached that level of comfort. Free motion quilting is my excuse to just let go and breath. 

There were several challenges involved in this lesson.
First, was to work small. My whimsical wizard is just shy of
5" h x 4" w. The second was to create a face that read
male vs. female.

I modified Lori Kennedy's design, Squared Flowers. My quilts rarely have square spaces for quilting, so when I practice free motion quilting I like to practice it in an irregular, curvilinear shape.

3) LifeBook 2014 - Do the assignments. - Started

This week's LifeBook lesson was by Steven Speight. Do check out his site. He has a bold, detailed style that he uses to create characters that would be perfect for an adult Halloween party. His lesson was just as involved and creative. I devoted a full day plus and only finished 1/3 of the class. I would have kept going and I will definitely return to it on Monday, my mixed media day, but I had to be true to my priorities with hard deadlines.

4) Surprise for my sister (Due November 24) - Started

Step one - seam the 40 strips into two duplicate 20 strip pieces.

The first half sister I met about 14 years ago, my birthfather's daughter, was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer. She begins chemotherapy on December 1. Shhh! She doesn't know it, but I plan to surprise her with a throw quilt in her favorite color, purple with a stripe of colon cancer blue. I have started piecing together the strata.

I can't wait for next week. I am eager to get to work on every project I have in the line-up that follows:

1) Night Vision - (Due January 1, 2015)

a) Continue quilting
b) Blind stitch the frog in place

2) Free motion quilting practice.

3) LifeBook 2014 - Do the assignments. 

4) Surprise for my sister (Due November 24)

a) Finish piecing the 40 strata strips.
b) Cut the strata
c) Start piecing the the cut strata.


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.

Weekly Report 2014 - 09/26

Two more leaves and a frog left to go
on Night Vision.

Tips, Thoughts and Techniques:

Have you ever noticed how the direction your art takes you reflects your non art life? I have. Even knowing that this happened time and time again I am startled when I "see" the connection when none was intended. My children are both in their 30's now. When they were teenage poster children of adolescent rebellion my work was abstract, but meticulously controlled. The titles were downright scary, reflecting my state of mind, such as Balancing Act, Hope Springs Eternal, Insomnia and Breaking Through Depression. When I gathered the images reflecting the last week's work I couldn't help but notice how much I am using green. Green is my go to color when I crave a long compassionate soothing hug. This summer has been particularly difficult for the seniors in my life. We lost my father-in-law, nearly lost my mother-in-law a few weeks later, lost her brother, one of my  sisters was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer two weeks ago and yesterday I signed the papers for the aunt whom I have been caring for for over 10 years to be enrolled in hospice. Just reading that sentence has me gasping for breath. However, studying the gentle curves of Night Vision and feeling the calming influence of the green, I can relax. How very fortunate I am to be able to self sooth through my art.

Bumble Bees in Flight
A free motion quilting design adapted
from Lori Kennedy's design

All three projects I worked on this week feature green. Here they are:

1) Night Vision - (Due January 1, 2015)

a) Continue the piecing - Done

Often at this stage of a quilt I am beating myself up over the fact that I don't feel the work is coming together. So far, so good. I am pleased.

LifeBook 2014 Lesson 39
Covering up old work to make it new

2) Free motion quilting practice. - Done!

Do check out Lori Kennedy's blog The Inbox Jaunt for a wonderful ongoing collection of free motion quilting designs. I'm fan. Can you tell?

3) LifeBook 2014 - Do the assignments. - Done!

This week's lesson was about salvaging old work intuitively, with the flair and confidence of a preschooler wielding the paint brush. It's done. I've done better. It is times like this when I need to remember that failure and/or disappointment in one's work is part of the process.


I expect my time to create art next week will be limited. Any time I do have will focus on:

1) Night Vision - (Due January 1, 2015)

a) Continue the piecing

2) Free motion quilting practice.

3) LifeBook 2014 - Do the assignments.


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 2014 - 08/29

The first leaf in Night Vision is nearly done.
The stem down the middle will be wider. I pinned
the narrow stem strip in place just for the picture.

Tips, Thoughts and Techniques:

Ernestine Ulmer, a little known, but often quoted author wrote, "Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first." Later Jaques Torres paraphrased the quote to the more familiar, "Life is short. Eat dessert first." No matter who said it or which quote you prefer it is an adage worth heeding. Too often the drive to take care of chores, work and that ever expanding list of to do items keeps us from our studio.

One question I and other artists are asked frequently is how do you have the time to do art? The answer for me is simple, I eat dessert first. I have made art and not dust bunnies my priority. By making art my priority and therefore making it a regular committed part of each week, the non art part of my week doesn't feel as arduous.

Nora's Rose 

My "dessert" this week was:

1) Night Vision - (Due January 1, 2015)

a) Continue the piecing - Done

2) Free motion quilting practice. - Done

I had been wanting to give Nora's Rose a try ever since Lori Kennedy showcased this free motion quilting motif on her blog. Once again, I tweaked the pattern a bit. My roses look more peony like and the leaves have been completely echoed from the inside out. It just happened that way. You can see the original pattern here. 

Detail from Nora's Rose practice piece.

3) LifeBook 2014 - Do the assignments. - Done.

I have no images from LifeBook this week because the assignment was to watch an artist interview. 


Some desserts never loose their temptation. Here is what I plan on "eating" for dessert next week:




1) Night Vision - (Due January 1, 2015)

a) Continue the piecing

2) Free motion quilting practice.

3) LifeBook 2014 - Do the assignments.


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.