A finish-- Ferns and Lace

 

I'd like to announce that I'll be giving a one day workshop, Monoprinting, on May 13th in Port Elgin at the Spruce It Up quilt shop. You can find them or the owner, Lorette Bellefleur Cole both on Facebook. We will be using a gelatin mold, fabric, paints, dried flowers, stamps, and textural elements to produce personalized pieces something like the piece below. The cost is $60 which will include the paints. A materials list will be provided upon registration.

The resulting fabric can be used to make art quilts or can be cut up  and sewn into little gifts such as the needle cases featured in Quilting Arts magazine, October/November 2016.

I'm sort of having one of those days--you know the kind where it feels like you're taking one step forward and two steps back. This morning I had an appointment to get the baby seat checked in the car. My husband couldn't figure out how to get it tight enough nor could the Mountie. He did show me how it was to be done and a friend told me about a good video so I think we can do it now. Then I went to pick up glycerin that I needed to make a homemade gelatin printing plate.  I planned to get that made before lunch and head to the sewing studio. In my usual way, I didn't read the recipe until I got home and hadn't bought enough. It will have to wait as I'm not planning another outing tomorrow. Before sitting at the machine and finishing the floral piece, I cut and laid out all the strips for my birch tree piece. I ironed down all the strips but the white trees are just lying there to give me an idea of how it will look.

I will draw out the tree pattern onto fused fabric.

Here is the finished -- I think-- Ferns and Lace. When I look back at the unstitched piece at the beginning of this post, I almost like it better. Hmm...

I still have to add a binding. I'm auditioning one on the right edge. Detail:

Message or email me for workshop info. Or look up the shop on fb. I had to switch blogging platforms and have yet to figure out how to add a link. Some research is needed.

Ferns and Lace

This week, I have only one appointment, foot care who will come to my house. I have vowed to settle in and have an artful and productive week. I did this doodle sketch of trees at lunch time in my journal. The green blue paint was already there from one of my printing sessions. I've had trees on my mind since I've been walking amongst them on my snowshoe excursions. Today's my day off, didn't even walk.

I put a wash in, cleaned up here and there, chopped a bowl of veggies for roasting and made rice pudding with coconut milk and cinnamon. I had a craving for it with raisins but forgot that I'd used them. Hubby will bring some and I'll add them later. I had to try a small taste with my chamomile tea. The whole recipe only has two tbsp's of brown sugar and of maple syrup.

I finally got all the background quilting done on the Fern's and Lace and added the appliqué lace flowers.

I had to be brave to stitch over top with the black! I think I like it.

While I still had the green thread from the quilting on my machine, I  stitched the stems to the appliqué flowers on this little piece that is the start of a needlecase. While I was cleaning yesterday I found it.

My daughter messaged me to tell me about Ollie's 4 month check up. He is 17 lbs 8ozs and 26" long! The doctor told her she'll probably have to start him on food earlier than is usual.

Of course while I eat, walk, or do almost anything, I'm thinking about my next piece of art. I want to do some mono printing on the gelatin plate this week, and so picked up some Knox gelatin and a tinfoil pan. Instead of using my 8 by 10" Gelli, I want something larger so I'm going to make it. I'm still working on foam stamps to use when I do get to some printing.

I've already done the larger one you see on the paper. Now, I'm planning a stamp with the three leaves and the circle with the leaves to go with it. Last up is my latest sock--ever since I joined the fb group, Addicted to Sock Knitting, I can't stop! I also go to a local sock knitting group where new patterns are always passed around. I have a hard time to knit plain stocking stitch anymore! Even though, it looks narrow, there is quite a stretch. They fit perfectly.

Well my week is off to a good start. I hope yours is too.

Another stamp design

Wow, it's beginning to feel like spring even though there's still lots of snow. There was a pretty cool wind blowing when I walked earlier too. Even so, the warmth of the sun can be felt.

I went out to pay my Portage Lake fees. They're cabins on a lake toward Mount Carlton, NB. I'm hoping to make it up a few times this year bringing my new kayak and my sketching supplies. This photo was taken two years ago.

While out, I picked up a bit of spring coloured foliage to do a makeover on an old wreath which I stripped.

I'm such a creature of habit. I realized this week that the decor on the back of my toilet had been there for years! It definitely needed a change. I found the simple little tray at a local grocery store.

At lunch and with my tea, I transferred another design onto craft foam. Im always excited to see how it'll turn out, so I just took a few minutes to try it. 

And as is my habit, I cleaned the stamp and the brayer onto journal pages. The left hand side below.

 

We'll have an early and light supper as we've tickets to a hockey game.

Free motioning a Gelli print, more stamp designs

 

It's been a while since I posted two days in a row. I finally got a day at home--mostly--an early test at hospital and then I was free! Today is not a snow shoeing or a walking day. It's sunny after our snow last night but cold and very windy. An inside day. As soon as I got home I made blender orange raisin muffins. Thanks for the recipe, Wendy.

While they were in the oven I started onion, celery, garlic, and cardomum for a Thai lentil coconut soup.  

Added veggie broth, pink lentils, and carrots. A little salt and a masala chai spice.

Simmered until tender and blended with the immersion blender.

Supper having been taken care of, I still had time before my lunch to try making a couple coordinating foam stamps from the print I did yesterday.

After lunch, I moved into the sewing studio. Finally some stitching! With the batting and a muslin backing added to my layered Gelli print, I started the  free motion quilting.

It's a little hard to see where I quilted. Here is the back view.

I'm really anxious to get the quilting finished so I can get to the next step. I have this idea which I I quickly collaged and sketched in my sketchbook.

And which I really hope will work on the Gelli printed and stitched background. The fabric shapes will be Thread sketched on top with the heavy weight black thread.

I just stopped for my afternoon snack, tomato juice, celery and cream cheese, but printed off a few more designs before turning off the computer.

I enlarged a couple so I can do smaller stamps of motifs found in the larger design.

This next one reminds me a bit of a wrought iron fence.

I have been very creative today. I feel good!  Are you getting some creative time today?

 

 

More foam stamps

Everyday I've been planning to get back to some stitching but haven't made it. It's been one of those weeks with commitments and appointments. And then there is the call of the wild knowing that snow shoeing will soon be over for the season. I have had time to  draw out a couple  more designs onto craft foam and did test prints in my sketchbook. 

I like to do second prints into smaller journals as well as clean the paint left on the brayer onto the pages. 

They make great backgrounds for sketching, collaging and journaling.

 

I'd like to make some coordinating stamps to go with this last one for printing on fabric. I'm sitting next to my picture window and I can see that the snow and wind is picking up out there. We made it out for our snow shoe just in time. I've had a hot chocolate and heat on my shoulders so I think I'll take a wander down to my studio and see what happens.

Trunk show piece

I awakened this morning with a bit of dread that my day might go like yesterday. It wasn't a bad day; I just couldn't seem to relax. So, I resolved to slow down, take deep breaths and actually pause to let my body relax. I needed to get my 'self' back. I questioned what was important and what I needed to get done.

I used a page in my journal where I had cleaned a brayer to journal. I cleaned up my blog some-- I will need to do more there--and I write out my artist's statement for the piece I will contribute to the SAQA Atlantic trunk show. I even got the binding Finished. It will be ready to mail tomorrow.

I do feel better. I got some important things done that I'd put off. I put away a few things that distracted me in the studio. I had a hair appointment. That felt good!  After finding that no one had broken the snow shoe trails yet, I decided to avoid them and take a walk in the sub division. Feeling more relaxed. How about you? What have you been doing?

Snow day

I've had a few too many appointments lately, so today's snow day was a good reason to stay home. The snow let up late morning, but our narrow driveway which runs between two houses means that although we got plowed out, my car was buried in a drift. I cancelled my physio--I'm not supposed to shovel after all-- and stayed home. I've recently been heard to complain some about being in a rut, needing a change. Well, it wasn't exactly what I'd envisioned; our car blew the turbo on our way out of town to a doctor's appointment last Friday. It was a long and stressful day. I made my appointment, just a follow up, but didn't get anything else done except drop off a quilt for a friend, and get a few things at Costco. Also, we came home with a new car! A first for us. The old Subaru Outback would have required extensive repairs, more than it was worth. We did the deal in a day and made it home by 11:00 pm. I hate driving after dark so it was a tense drive. I'm beginning to settle down, especially when I get engrossed in my art. I've done some cooking today for a friend who has had a death in the family. I did muffins and a ham and white bean soup.

After that, I fit in some time in the studio. I wanted simply to experiment with a couple of the designs I did in the Amaziograph APP. I printed a mandala onto tracing paper and stitched the outline onto the reverse of some navy blue velvet.

I don't have a lot to choose from in heavier weight thread as I'm usually thread painting not quilting. I'm only playing here and thinking about the possibilities. This one I did on a piece of blue linen again putting the pattern on the reverse with tracing paper. 

I also added batting. Not finished yet.

I took a break for lunch and finished chopping veggies for the soup and some to roast later for our supper. I love colourful veggies and I'm hooked lately on roasting them with enough for leftovers. Before roasting I will add some tiny potatoes and seasoning.

After lunch, I got back to the tree with the nest. Upon looking at a photo and visiting the tree yesterday on snow shoes, I realized it's a birch tree-- not really a big deal; there is artist licence right? Anyway I'd already decided I'd use usible appliqué for the tree.

I added more color to the background. As it dries and fades, I may add to it.

It measures about 11" by 17" so appliqué will work well.

I started knitting a cardigan for Ollie. I'm doing size 1yr. I don't have a pic of the sweater. It's a button up with a rolled color. I call it old man style.

He is getting so big!