After a mild blizzard yesterday, today was such a contrast--pure blue sky, white sparkling snow, still and not too cold. I did my bit of house clean p and went out for a walk. The roads were well plowed and I manged 25 minutes.

The blue jays visited the feeder and the apple tree at lunch time. I did some quick sketches and took a few pictures.

I love the fluffy back lit feathers!

My student was sick today, so I've spent a few hours in my studio/sewing room.

 I also got word that my first baby quilt has been machine quilted, so I've been working back and forth between another baby quilt and getting some shanty drawings transferred to fabric. I need a few more strips for the lower right.

Meanwhile, in between sewing strips (it's good for me to move around), I transferred a couple of shanty drawings to PFD fabric.
This is my version of a light box.

 

It sure is pretty out there.

 I

I do a light drawing on the fabric with pencil. It won't show once I've painted, appliqued and stitched over it.

Then, I like to add a watercolor like wash using Neocolor II crayons to the sky and the ice. This time, though, I seemed to get a lot of bleeding.

I never like to give up on a piece, especially with the cost of the fabric, so I may simply change the color of the shanties to cover it up.

The second one bled as well but at least it's mostly into the background trees which can easily be covered.

In the meantime, I am pondering how to avoid the bleeding. I've got an idea when I get the time to test it out. Maybe a mask of freezer paper---wondering if it would still bleed underneath. ...Maybe an edge drawn with oil pastels. That would keep it out I think. Some experimenting is due.

Mushroom sketch and Fiber birch trees

 I started my day off right with a small colored pencil, Neocolor II crayon sketch while having my tea after breakfast.

 The mushrooms were picked up along the trail in the park last evening.
As I sketch, I'm sitting with ice and then a hot pack on my back..

After that, I went outside to put in a few more seeds for fall crops. I cleaned out the deck box and put in a fall lettuce mix. Then I put some spinach and radishes into my raised bed. Unbelievably, the mosquitoes were out!

It is still summer, I'm trying to hang onto it, (aren't we all?) but although I want to work on my beach themed piece, my head is into my beloved birches again.

Before doing any more crazy patch squares, I thought I'd move the piece along with  the ideas that are running through my head. As i move along with it pieces will come and go. This is just a design wall with my mix of ideas for now. I do believe if I continue with the busy crazy patches, that I will use the solid black narrow border.

 I'm thinking this time about adding a path leading into the grove, so I cut out a few pieces of fabric backed with fusible and tacked it up.Of course it will need lots of additional bits to give it depth and dimension. Do you get the idea?

Well, I've got to go change into my bike shorts.A friend is cycling this way shortly and I'll join her for my little 20 minute jaunt.

Happy Monday!

Still playing with rejects, shanties

This week, I've had several appointments and have thus been capturing bits of sewing here and there.  I am so thankful to have a space that I can walk into and pick up where I left off.

Before going out for my second appointment this morning--I got my hair cut-- I cut and backed a couple more pieces from my reject box.

This first one is screen printed with the fern and a repeat motif and colored with Neocolor II crayons just like in my last article in Quilting Arts magazine. (in the sidebar)

I didn't really like the effect or the colors but with the blue background added and some stitching, I think it will make a nice bag or maybe mug rug. It is about 4 1/2" by 6 1/2".

This one was a from a series of Gelli printed ulips that I did and it really wasn't working. Definitely a reject, but a little black free motion stitching and more color added to the tulip, and I think it will suit a small project.

I've almost finished the stitching on this piece and think I will add a border before adding the final quilting. In another post, I will show you the batik that I think is perfect for it.

As usual, I can;t get through a day without watching and photographing some birds.
The male purple finch visited briefly.

Sketching and Painting on Paper and Fabric

You know I really do go through my day lost in my thoughts and musing about my fiber art pieces and how I might proceed. Since my word for the year is 'focus', sometimes it seems I'm not doing a great job. I have been trying to focus on being present when I'm eating, doing yoga, and exercising at least. The rest of the time I dream away.

Like many Atlantic coasters, we had a big storm yesterday; the wind and the drifting have continued today, and so, many things including highways are closed. I ventured out for a while this morning to clear the front walk and the bird feeder on the back deck. No sooner did I close the door, the birds swarmed in. While making my lunch, I got caught up in the antics.

This goldfinch was sitting on the clothes line right in front of the window and seemed to be watching me

I really felt the curious stare of this pine siskin.

My kitchen window is such a bright sunny place and I've often dreamed of having a small bay window filled with plants. While this isn't affordable at the moment, some pictures on Pinterest inspired me to add some greenery around the area.

I dragged out a macrame hanger that I made some 30 years ago! I've seen a comeback of them on the net. My husband put a hook into the ceiling and I put it up this morning.

He's also going to replace the pine shelves with wider and longer boards so I'll have more plant space.

I want to add another small shelf on the lower right and then I'll have lots of green space.

I often don't know just what I'll pick up to work on when I walk into my studio.

My intention today, was to add more thread painting to my current fiber art, but upon entering  the studio, I got distracted by my open sketchbook with the sketch that I did of more shanties yesterday.

Some white cotton fabric was still resting near my iron ready to be drawn upon. What could I do? I quickly traced a few lines onto the cotton and then used my Inktense pencils, The Neocolor II crayons and my water-brush to add some washes.

The photo above is still wet; there is some bleeding (it's a challenge to know just how much water to use on the cotton) and the colors will fade some as they dry. I never know if it will work, but often once it is dried and heat proofed, the stitching will add definition..

Happy Monday! I hope you're having a good one, maybe with a bit of creativity-- even it's hanging a plant or making dinner-- wherever you live. I'd love to know what you're up to.

After retreat

My retreat had it's ups and downs! I arrived at 9AM Thursday morning and proceeded to work on my Queen sized quilt. By Friday I had it put together except for the white border strips. Typical for me, I thought I had the math all figured out, but, while it is plenty long enough, it could have more width. Because the sashings are done in one long strip horizontally, it would look funny to add a vertical row. I either have to accept the  width or add another border.

There is about a 10" drop on each side right now.

Of course at lunch I couldn't resist some bird feeder photography. These are pine siskins which I saw feeding off a ladies hand on facebook. I stood outside for about 10 minutes with no luck. I'll have to keep trying. In the picture below, I was attracted to the beautiful wingspan when I noticed the one on the right.

I also had time to put together this zippered pouch from a bit of my painted and stitched canvas.

Friday night, I did not sleep well and was very tired on Saturday. I seemed to be having some shortness of breath and decided to go home after supper on Saturday. I had enjoyed most of the retreat at least. As usual, we had lots of fun and laughs, along with quiet conversation, sharing of ideas, fabric and supplies (what a generous bunch), and good food-- a little bit too good!

Sunday, I went to emergency and an ECG showed an electrical block. Once questioned though, and  it was ascertained by the doctor that I could get my heart rate up to a good rate during exertion, I was assured that I would be fine to go and see my family doctor in a couple of weeks. I'll likely be referred for some further tests.

Today, I've been low key, spending the afternoon in my sewing room putting together a little baguette from this pattern.

I made the small one from a leftover screen print that I had painted with Neocolor II crayons, as in my latest article in Quilting Arts magazine. You can find the link to the issue in my sidebar. Following a bit of experimentation with the new machine, I added a bit of free motion stitch too.

Even though my intention was to make a couple of these for possible gifts, I also want to keep one for myself. Although it's not really noticeable, I put the print in upside down, blue on bottom, green on top, lol. Good enough for me; I have some binding clips that need a home.

I hope this Monday finds you healthy, happy and creative in some small way. Tell me about it if you like.

Shanties

This is what happens to me, and I know it happens to you sometimes too! I have a couple (putting it mildly) of projects that I'm working, on but the muse is calling me to do something new.

Yesterday, I posted a sketch of the fish shanties which I photographed last week on the river ice near here. The images were floating around  in my mind as I got the mundane housework and washing out of the way this morning. Oh, and there is a chicken roasting.

I rationalize it my saying to myself that I have to go with the flow when the creative spirit hits. I'll do a tiny piece, completely opposite from the larger rock piece that I'm still working on.

So, I traced my drawing onto white cotton fabric and laid on a quick wash using Neocolor II crayons.

 

I couldn't wait and used the hair drier and then the iron to dry it.

After I cut a piece of stiff interfacing to stabilize it, I started adding a few stitching lines.

I've accomplished a lot today. Clothes are washed and hanging on my rack in the laundry room--my effort to lower the power bill--and I just took the chicken from the oven.

I feel like time is slipping by even as I'm aware of being focused in my artwork. When I 'come to' and realize how much time has passed, I'm amazed.

It has been a satisfying Monday so far. I have to stop now for my tea and I'm going to sit and stitch back the binding on one of my cushions.

Seashells and a Big Old Pine Postcard

It didn't start out to be a great day--I went to bed with hip pain last night and awoke with it at 4AM. I took pain medication but couldn't get back to sleep until it was time to get up to drive my husband to work. My day for the car. I am thankful that I no longer have to go work; I was able to come home after a doctor's appointment and have a bit of a rest.
It is very hot and muggy here today. Thunder storms are forecast for later today. I haven't' ventured out except for my appointment and to water my plants. After the rain the other day, I took this photo of my lily which just came into bloom this week.

In summer, I always have a bouquet in the house although it's a little harder this year since I used some of my flower space for vegetables. I'll add wildflowers to the mix occasionally as well as fern or hosta leaves.
At lunch time, I still felt a little low, but the habit of sketching has become ingrained. It focuses me and takes my mind off the pain. I read somewhere just last night that the act of reating art can increase production of serotonin, so I guess it was just what I needed.

Something else that I saw  recently on Facebook (Martha Stewart, I think) was the idea of using a coffee press to steep loose tea for iced tea. What a great idea! Add some honey and lemon and put it in the frig when cooled.

While I was out this morning, I picked up a roasted chicken breast from the grocer and I made a corn and black bean salad to go with it. Easy. Gave me time to do a bit of stitching.

This is postcard sized 4" by 6". It is based on the picture you see on the I Pad screen taken by my niece.The background was done using the Neocolor II crayons and heat set.

It's going to be a little gift for someone.