Wednesday, May 30, 2012

"I Will Wear It in Public" Challenge

When Rikka put forth this challenge, I jumped in feet first. I knew that I was going to be making a top for my painting final (hand painted fabric) and had hopes that the top I made for class would be a wearable one. I have made clothes before (not many for myself though) but wanted to tackle sewing with knits for this one.

I did wear it in public for class and then to work, but I wasn't all that happy with it. I still haven't tried to see if I can fix it to make it something I like, or if I will just rack it up to a failed attempt.

Here's a photo of me wearing the first one:


Painting Final

The big problem I have with this top is the fit and drape of the knit I used. I think it makes me look extremely large on top - more than I really am. I am busty and have an "apple shaped" body and this top just exaggerated that. If I had taken that photograph before leaving the house, I wouldn't have worn it to class and instead taken it on a hanger.

Before sewing up this version, I did make a muslin with a cheaper knit. I loved the fit and drape of the muslin but didn't like the length. Being tall, most everything is too short for me. Everywhere.

To make my muslin a wearable garment, I decided to cut out a second set of pieces in a longer length and make it a layered top. I was winging the construction of it and should have thought it through more before sewing, but it works. Chad isn't a fan of this one either but he is used to seeing me in form-fitting clothing and not something that hangs freely.

I'm doing my "I'm trying to be a serious model here but the annoying kids next door with not shut up" pose.


Finished Top

This top is very comfortable and I do see myself wearing it if it's not too hot outside. I do need to wear a cardigan or something over it because it is sleeveless and I don't care to show all of my arms off.

I won't be sewing with knits until I get a serger though. They were a challenge to sew on my machine and I think a serger would make the process better for me. Or maybe I just need more practice with them in general. The hem was the worst part of sewing this top up.

The pattern I used for both tops is the Tank pattern from Wiksten. This pattern seems to be written for woven fabrics based on the sewing directions. I pretty much didn't follow them after reading through because I used a different type of fabric. I also have their Tova pattern and will sew that one up one of these days.

Thanks again, Rikka, for the challenge! It was fun to participate in and I look forward to the next one.

WIP Wednesday

Usually Wednesday creeps up on me, but this week it feels like an eternity since my last project update. Maybe it's all the time I've spent working on projects versus being online.

A reminder to you all that I will be hosting the Monthly Quilt Challenge for the month of June. Candi deserves a little break and she gave the opportunity to three others, including me, to host a topic of our choosing. Mine is hand quilting. I would love it if you would join in on this little adventure this month and I will post more about it on Friday. If you already know the ins and outs of hand quilting, feel free to play along as well.

I'm going to make this a little quick. I will be double posting today as one of my completions really deserves its own post. Linking up with Freshly Pieced.

Completed:

"I Will Wear It in Public" Challenge - done! Post on this one will be following this one.

RATZ Swap - I will share what I sent my partner once she receives it and I receive mine. I did make a similar key fob for myself with the leftover HSTs. I'm sitting June out since I don't have a use for magents anywhere right now.


Key Fob for Me




Key Fob for Me

Progress Made:

Camp Loopy Project 1 - I'm on track as far as my self-imposed schedule goes. Here's my scarf with four repeats done. I love the texture it has going on!

Camp Loopy Progress

No Progress:

Garden Tote - this is sitting by the couch, but has been put aside for knitting.

Garter stitch scarf

Hand Pieced QAL

2012 Color Challenge: Jan-May

Sewing Machine Cover

Typography Challenge

Project Quilting Challenge: It's Where I Live

Project Quilting Challenge: Music

Project Quilting Challenge: Tools

Project Quilting Challenge: Barn Quilts

Tangerine Tango Challenge

1912 Project

Quilt Challenge of the Month: February (Cathedral Windows)

(Late) Wedding Present

Nesting Place class

Dessert of the Month Club: Jan-May

Drunkard's Path QAL

Zig Zag QAL

Kaleidoscope QAL

Embroidered Ornaments

Art Quilt

Zakka Style Projects

Curves Class Projects

New:

Cachou Cowl - I shared this photo the other day and have a made a little progress, but it isn't enough to notice a difference.


Cachou Cowl

One last thing before I post this and get my other post ready. I have been trying to tackle my emails (over 400 right now) and since I probably won't get to respond to all of them, I want you to know that I do appreciate your comments on my projects.

See you in a bit!

Sunday, May 27, 2012

What I've Been Doing

I didn't mean to take the last few days off as I did have some posts I was going to write up. But, I just haven't been wanting to even look at my laptop and instead, have been working around the house and chipping away at some other projects.

Despite all of that, I also started two new knitting projects. Both happen to be lace projects, which is something new to me. I am always looking to increase my knitting skills and these both fit the bill.

One is my first project for Camp Loopy, which was planned. Cast on was at 12:01 am today, and I was up because of a thunderstorm, so I did cast on and knit the first round of the repeat. I love the colors of this yarn (Lorna's Laces) and it is a dream to knit with. This project needs to be done by June 27th in order to be eligible for the contest and the bonus prize at the end of camp. I have no doubts this will happen.


Camp Loopy Project 1

The second, I started at the end of last week. I had to frog it twice before finally getting through the first part of the pattern without any errors. The first attempt there was a twist and the second time I messed up big time with the yarn overs, pass overs, etc. There was a twist the second cast on too, but I was ok with it until I started making other mistakes. So now third time is the charm for me on this one.


Cachou Cowl

The yarn for this cowl is from Tanis Fiber Arts, which is also nice to work with. The yarn and pattern are part of her Year in Color Club, which is in its second year. I have been signed up from the beginning but haven't knit up any of the kits yet. I had decided last week that if I went the rest of this year without touching any of them again, I wouldn't allow myself to sign up next year. Now that I have started this one, I am thinking I could get through all of the kits I have by the end of the year, if I am motivated to do so. The patterns are all something I want to knit up, so that's not the reason why I haven't done anything with them yet.

Anyway. That's what I have been up to the past few days. I have more posts in mind to do this week, including my work from drawing class last week. We made kites (!!!) and flew them on Friday. I am very pleased that mine flew like a champ. I always wanted to fly kites as a child, but could never get them in the air. My parents weren't much help either. I could go on about this more right now, but I will save it for later.

I also won a contest that Candi was having to pick topics for the monthly quilt challenges she has. Part of the prize is being able to host the challenge you proposed, so in June I will be hosting a hand quilting challenge. More details to come later this week.

Chad and are are no longer going out of town tomorrow, so I now have a completely free day. I spent most of the day today cleaning the house, including the tasks that I dread, as well as baking, in anticipation of not having time tomorrow. So now I can spend the entire day sewing and knitting and not feel guilty about it one bit!

See you soon!

Thursday, May 24, 2012

WIP Wednesday

I can't believe how quickly this day flew by! I was going to post this before going to work, but Chad needed my help with a project he is doing (converting a flat bed trailer that uses a regular hitch into a gooseneck trailer). So now here I am winding down from work before heading to bed, so I'm going to make this a little quick.

Linking up to Freshly Pieced.

Completed:

Sparkle Mini - blogged about here.


Finished Sparkle

Progress Made:

Garden Tote - I have three of the seven veggies embroidered. This is one pocket panel and the others are on the second panel. We are going out of town for Memorial Day to visit Chad's mom and this will be coming along with me.


Embroidery WIP

Camp Loopy Project 1 - cast on is May 27th and it is killing me to not start! I did wind the yarn and put everything into a project bag so I am ready to go.


Ready for Camp Loopy!

No Progress:

Garter stitch scarf

"I Will Wear It in Public" Challenge

Hand Pieced QAL

2012 Color Challenge: Jan-May - still on hold.

Sewing Machine Cover

Typography Challege

Project Quilting Challenge: It's Where I Live

Project Quilting Challenge: Music

Project Quilting Challenge: Tools

Project Quilting Challenge: Barn Quilts

Tangerine Tango Challenge

1912 Project: February Pattern - perhaps I bit off more than I can chew with signing up for this?

Quilt Challenge of the Month: February (Cathedral Windows)

(Late) Wedding Present

Nesting Place class

Dessert of the Month Club: Jan-May

Drunkard's Path QAL - despite wanting to show this in the BQF, I didn't touch it at all. I'm really dreading all of the trimming I still have to do...

Zig Zag QAL

Kaleidoscope QAL

Embroidered Ornaments

RATZ Swap

Art Quilt

Zakka Style projects

New:

Nothing is coming to mind right now.

Well I need to be off to bed. I'll be back tomorrow with a little confession. See you then!

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

FAL Quarter 2 Finish: Sparkle Mini

YES! Did you all hear me shout that once I finished stitching the binding? I had great hopes of keeping up with the QAL on this one, but got too busy and this project has just been sitting there.


Finished Sparkle

After making so many things for our house that are too feminine (Chad's opinion), I wanted to make something that would suit his tastes as well. It was going to be a surprise for him, but since it took so long, he did see it as I was working on it. Turns out, he loves all of the fabrics I used, but thinks the block is too "city" and modern for them. I disagree and love it all the same, but I am planning on making another mini for our table using the same fabrics. I just have to finish up other things and decide the design for it. I do think this Sparkle block is great for showcasing a large print. Thank you to Jeni and Megan for creating this design and hosting the QAL!


Sparkle Quilting

I didn't want the quilting to take anything away from the prints I picked out, so I decided on a simple outline of each block. The linen took to the stitching well and really showcases the quilting, I think.


Sparkle Quilting

It is backed in another large scale Western print, which I also have more of on hand.


Sparkle Backing

This is now gracing our kitchen table, though not for long. I do have a 4th of July themed topper next in line (for this area of the house, that is) and do want to get that one done before the holiday. Then I can work on a second mini made with these fabrics.

Big thanks to Rhonda and her FAL. I am pretty sure I have project ADD aka "New and Shiny Syndrome" so this is a great way to focus my energy on the things I leave in progress. Hopefully I can get to the rest of my list for this quarter by the end of June.

See you tomorrow for WIP Wednesday and on Thursday, I will be sharing a little revelation I had yesterday. Have a great day!

Monday, May 21, 2012

Studio Saturday on a Monday: Photography Final and First Week of Drawing

I have no idea where my weekend went. I had plans to do many things and didn't get to most of them. That includes this post (which was going to be split, but now is all in one). This post is going to be photo heavy so I will try not to ramble on as well.

First up is my final project for photography. We were to create five pieces using the techniques learned during the semester. They were to show who we are right now and did not have to be related. I decided I'm only going to share two of them here because I really don't like the other three.


Red River Valley Love

This one is about my renewed love of where I live. I finally realized why I always hated living here and since those circumstances have changed, I do like this area. Not to say that I want to live in town for much longer as there are too many people and not enough space for me. Here's my piece dedicated to my love for the Red River Valley.


Detail

There was a lot that went into making this. I started by painting the canvas yellow and adding blue along the edges to make a green. Then I transferred maps of Minnesota and North Dakota to the canvas. I whitewashed those to fade them a little and then added the gel lift of the satelitte view. (If you look really closely, you can see my house! Ha!)


Detail

I painted the stereotypical heart before tranferring an image of an anatomical heart. Then I embroidered the river, connecting it to the heart. Finally, I added the texture around the edges and painted the sides black. Oh, and I stamped around the piece to add more texture.


Detail




Corner Detail

The second piece I am showing you is my pocket full of dreams. My inspiration for this piece came from the book Personal Geographies by Jill K Berry. In the book, she made this to show items on a bucket list. Mine is more lifestyle based.


Photo Maze




Photo Maze

I gathered images that I have taken over my lifetime. Most are more recent (the past couple years), but there are two that I took as a child while visiting the Badlands in North and South Dakota (a must see if you ever get the chance). To pull them together visually, I exposed them as cyanotypes. I forgot how much fun I had with that in the beginning of the semester and am glad I picked that route here.


Photo Maze




Photo Maze

That wraps up the semester finally!

Now onto my first week of drawing class. I'm in level two, so I got to submit a proposal of what I want to work on during this four week class. I had already decided that this summer was going to be about play, so this is carrying over into class. I proposed to work with mixed media, as well as my sewing machine, and to explore how the mediums interact with each other. My inspiration is going to come from my day-to-day life and environment.

To start off, we had to create out best drawing. This instructor always does this and it is nice to have a benchmark to work from. It's been awhile since I have drawn anything other than sketches. I warmed up and did a few drawings before deciding on the one I was going to show in class. I just sat out on the deck and started drawing.

Here's part of one. I tried drawing Jameson and Angus, but they just wouldn't sit still.


Angus!

Then I honed in on the danelions that are taking over our yard (and everyone else's). The one I brought to class is on the left. After our informal critique, he wanted us to draw the same thing again, taking into account the comments from critique.


Danelion

I spent the rest of the first day playing around with a few things. First was this ink drawing, which I didn't finish before class ended. I also did another piece, but realize right now that I forgot to take a photo of it. If I remember on Saturday I will.


Start of a drawing

Our first project for the week was to draw the same object three times: one photo realistic, one abstract, and one non-objective. I played around with more of my materials working with my object: this beautiful, old dress form. You may remember that I painted one in painting class as well.


Dressform

I worked with layering and textures here.


Playing with texture and layers

Then decided that I needed to get my go-to drawing style out of the way before digging into this further.


Dressform

The next day, we spent working on these and also starting another project. This new one is to use the computer and projector to create a series of drawings. I had to wait on this one until the weekend when I could get transparencies made up.

So instead, I worked on my abstract and non-objective pieces. The non-objective is pretty straight forward. I picked out the basic shapes of the dress form and used a variety of materials to create this.


Nonobjective

For my abstract piece, I started out by collaging a background of various cardstock and tissue paper. I covered this with a layer of vellum to dull down the colors of the papers. Then I painted the vellum a golden yellow, using a translucent paint. I put some pastel on the surface in the same color of the dress form and then added the charcoal outline. The final addition was the string. After seeing this photographed, I may go in and add more of the pastel.


Abstract




Detail

Both of these projects are due for critique tomorrow. I did finish the projects today in class, but may make some tweeks before I go to class.

For the rest of this week, we have a few drawings to do as well as play around with making a kite. The kite will be a challenge and is basically a pass (it flies) or fail (it doesn't fly) project.

That's enough for today. I hope your weekend was a good one!

Friday, May 18, 2012

More Mailbox Love

Sorry for the second post so quickly! It slipped my mind that I also got some fabric that I won in a giveaway earlier this week. This came all the way from Canada; Saskatoon, Saskatchewan to be exact. Monika from My Sweet Prairie hosted a series of giveaways to celebrate her birthday and I won these five fat quarters (quarter meters even, so they are bigger than a fat quarter in the US).


Fabric Winnings

Monika is a very gifted fiber artist as well. If you have some time, check out her work. Her inspiration comes from the very prairies that inspire me. Of course, her part of the prairie is a bit north of mine. Next year she is showing her work a little closer to me (in Winnipeg, Manitoba) so I'm looking forward to taking a trip to see it in person!

I could go on and on spreading love today I think! I am done for today though. More later!

Mailbox Love

I'm pretty close to finishing some projects but am not there yet. (And still hoping to finish my Drunkard's Path quilt before the BQL is over!) Over the weekend I will be sharing my final projects from my photography class as well as drawings from this first week of summer drawing. I also got my final grades and am happy to say that I got two A's and a B (would have been another A if not for one too many absenses) in my studio classes. Not bad considering how much I worked too. Definately made my day yesterday.

As for today, I got a few things in the mail (and I guess one package did come yesterday). There are a few more things coming to me, including my class kit for Rachel's Handstitched class, which you can see photos of on her blog. The other package is my monthly mixed media kit from Christy Tomlinson. I'm not sure how many of you are interested in mixed media work (or scrapbooking; she has a monthly kit geared towards that) but it is fun to get new things to play around with. You will see these things used in my drawing projects and I will talk more about my proposed work for that over the weekend.

I do want to share the things that landed in my mailbox though, in case you may be interested. I do have to say that no one sponsored this nor did I get these items for free (well, there were a couple of freebie gifts that anyone can get). I just love these items and know that some of you also embroider and/or knit/crochet.

First of all, I got my May shipment from the Year of Color Club from Tanis Fiber Arts. This is the second year I've signed up for the club and love getting a surprise in the mail every other month. Each month, Tanis sends a skein of her hand dyed yarn (usually a color/fiber combination not available for purchase) and a pattern for it. I do admit that I haven't knit any of the other projects (very, very bad of me!) but in my defense, it is because I lack small needles. I'm trying to remedy that but may have to order some online.


New Yarn!

I do have the right needles for this month's project though, so I wound the skein into a ball so I can cast on soon. I don't have a ball winder so it takes time to do this by hand (and foot) and after yesterday, think it may be a good investment.

This club is a great deal even though it is one lump sum to pay at once. The yarn is beautiful and every pattern so far is something I do want to make up. If nothing else, take a look around her site and drool over the vast array of colors she has available. Yarn dyeing is something I would love to do one day but not until I get fabric dyeing down. I also would love to dye yarn that I spun myself, which may be something I start doing later this year.

The second package I got was also yarn. This time, it was my skein for Camp Loopy, hosted by The Loopy Ewe. The freebies here were the pin for participating and a handy knitting needle inventory. I was just thinking the other day that I need some way to keep track of what needles I have, so this is perfect. Now to gather up all of my needles and fill this out.


Camp Loopy!

My project for the first month of Camp Loopy is the CashSilk Fern Scarf. We can't start until the 27th so I have plenty of time to wind this yarn into a ball to prep. I just realized that the yarn I picked out is pretty similar to the photos in the pattern. That was not intentional at all. Just great taste. ;)

Finally, I got some handspun embroidery threads in the mail from Dragonflylotus Designs. I am a member of Liz's thread club, but this package was another order I had placed. Liz recently celebrated her 30th birthday and as a bonus, if you ordered on a certain day you could get a few mystery threads. I didn't separate this order from all of the threads I have received so far, but here they all are. I do also have more threads coming to me, but not until my next monthly shipment. (Thread club members get free shipping if other orders are shipped with the monthly threads.)


Handspun Threads

There are great bonuses in her thread club and my favorite is the sample card she sends every month. There are swatches of the monthly threads as well as any new releases coming up. This is great for anyone who likes to see something before ordering online. Members get access to a presale of the new threads as well as a discount (and the free shipping option).


Swatch cards

I am a believer in supporting indie businesses and would love it if you would check out any of the three here.

See you over the weekend with some artwork. I will also be finally catching up with everything here and checking out the submissions so far for the BQF! We are expecting very hot temperatures (for us and for this time of year... almost 100 degrees F today) and rain. Summer classes mean no homework either. Yay! Plenty of time to finish up some lingering projects.

Have a great weekend!

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

WIP Wednesday

I've been doing some evaluating and editing of various things in my life. This list is included in that, so there are things that have just dropped off, never to return.

I don't have much else to say because I want to get working on my list. Linking up with Freshly Pieced this week.

Completed:

Nada.

Progress Made:

Sparkle mini - I sneaked in some more quilting but it is still on my machine. Pretty sad if you consider the quilting I have planned, but I have been having trouble sitting inside lately. Here's proof that I have good intentions:


Still quilting

I do need to finish it up though because I am going to start bringing my machine to my drawing class to use. This project isn't coming off my machine until it is done.

Garter stitch scarf - more rows have been knit.

No Progress:

"I Will Wear It in Public" Challenge

Hand Pieced QAL

2012 Color Challenge: Jan-May - these are on hold for awhile, but will be completed since I do like the challenge presented.

Sewing Machine Cover

Typography Challenge

Project Quilting Challenge: It's Where I Live

Project Quilting Challenge: Music

Project Quilting Challenge: Tools

Project Quilting Challenge: Barn Quilts

Tangerine Tango Challenge

1912 Project: February Pattern

Quilt Challenge of the Month: February (Cathedral Windows)

(Late) Wedding Present

Nesting Place class

Dessert of the Month Club: Jan-May

Drunkard's Path QAL - all I've managed to do is pull out the finished blocks and pieces to be sewn into mega blocks. I forgot how many I have to trim (ugh) so I'm hoping to find motivaton to tackle that today. I am still keeping my goal to finish this one to show for the Blogger's Quilt Festival...

Zig Zag QAL

Kaleidoscope QAL

Curves Class projects

Embroidered Ornaments

RATZ Swap - I've been thinking about this one and will be making up a few things for my partner to comment on.

Art Quilt

Zakka Style SAL

Dropped:

Made in Cherry QAL - I was going to make a mini version of this, but am not feeling it anymore.

Embroidery Journal Project - catching up on past months is not really the spirit of this project and I'm not 100% certain on what I would do anyway. I just keep changing my mind, so the materials I bought for a previous plan will be used elsewhere. Maybe next year I can tackle a project like this.

New:

Garden Tote - I shared my progress with this the other day. Since then, I have only managed to finish the red outline of the tomato.


Embroidery WIP

Camp Loopy - yes, I do recall mentioning that I wasn't going to start any other knit projects until I finished that scarf up there, but I changed my mind. I mean, there's a free skein of yarn on the line and the pattern I picked for the first month is one that's been in my queue to make for a long time. Plus, I will be knitting a lace pattern, which is a first for me (thus fulfilling a goal of mine to expand my knitting techniques this year). My yarn is on its way and I can't cast on until May 27th. That could be enough time, if I plugged away at it, to finish my scarf.

Hope your week is going well!

Monday, May 14, 2012

A New Project

I say new project only because it is new to you. This is something that I meant to make over the winter but just wasn't sure the direction I wanted to go. The project is a garden tote for all of those hand tools, seeds, and miscellaneous items I bring out to the garden from our shed. The shed is within our fence and the garden is not, so it can be a bit annoying to go back for the one thing forgotten every time. Plus, a tote will be convenient for harvesting.

Ever since I planted last spring, I wanted to make one. It wasn't until I popped in at an estate sale, that I found the perfect "fabric" to make it out of. My hesitation came when I wasn't sure how I construct it using this seed sack. Unlike any other fabric, finding another one of these would be impossible. This is an antique and was part of a collection of local memorabilia. I'm sure the previous owner would roll over in his grave knowing I have chopped it up, but I am making use of every little bit. (I didn't think to take a photograph of it while it was whole.)


Seed sack

And yes, it has been laundered. There are stains that won't come out which won't matter as this is going to get dirty anyway.

Fast forward to the end of April when the ladies at the New Embroidery with Vintage Patterns Flickr group posted their May stitch-a-long themes. One was vegetables and I knew this would be the perfect addition to my garden tote. I remembered that I had a sheet of vintage veggie patterns in my stash as well.

So this is how far I got over the weekend. It took me until the end of last week to get the guts to cut into my seed sack fabric. I needed those pieces to decide how big to cut the embroidered pieces. They will make up large pocket panels on the outside that will be lined with a garden theme cotton. The interior will not have pockets and will be lined with either the same garden print or another (I have a few). I also cut out pieces to make a pouch, which will house my seed packets inside the tote.


Veggie #1




Veggie #2 in progress

There are seven vegetable motifs, so I have made pretty good progress. I want to get my garden tilled and planted this week, so this project has jumped to the top of my list. Once the embroidery is done, it will be a quick one to sew up.

Other than garden work, my summer class starts tomorrow and I have tons to catch up on online. I spent the bulk of my weekend taking long walks with my dogs, cleaning, and cooking. How was your weekend?

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Studio Saturday

I don't have images of my final photography pieces yet. I procrastinated a bit on them and so I was working on them up until I had to leave for class for critique. (Oops.) So, I didn't have time to take photos of them before and they are still at school. Hopefully they weren't thrown away and I can pick them up next week. There are two of them that I would be really upset to lose.

Instead, I remembered that I never shared the final product of our mold project in sculpture. I made these in March, but they weren't fired until the last week of classes. My mold was of a lemon and we were to make three separate pieces using the mold. The twist was they all had to alter the cast object.

First I made a bunch of lemons and put them into a stack. I should have stacked them in a more natural way, but at the time this made sense to me.


Stack of lemons

Then I sliced a solid lemon and carved details.


Lemon wedges

Finally, my play on lemonade. (Get it, lemon-aid... first aid... No?)


Lemon-aid

One idea I was given in critique was to have made the lemon into a car to play on that concept too. I never did make that and even though I still have my mold, I'm pretty sure I won't use it again. I will hang on to it until next summer and decide if I want to get rid of it then.

The one thing that I don't like about these pieces is the milky glaze on top. We were told it was a clear glaze but it isn't clear like I wanted it to be.

If I manage to pick up my photography pieces, I will share them during the week. I do start my summer drawing class on Tuesday, so studio updates will continue until June. I have the same instructor that I had for painting, and he was so fascinated by the sewing work I did for my final project in painting, that he mentioned I could do that for drawing. (Since I am in an upper level class, we propose all of our projects for the class duration.) I do love to draw with ink and charcoal too, so I'm not sure what I want to do. We do only have four weeks, so it's not like I can explore everything for class. I'll talk more about it next Saturday.

I hope your weekend is finding you well! I am taking a little break and doing whatever feels right, but not pressuring myself to get anything big done.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

WIP Wednesday

Whew! I just had my last critique of the semester and can relax. Until next week when my summer class starts, that is. I've been told there isn't any out of class homework so I will have the afternoon to work on whatever I want to.

This update is mostly for me so no photos. Not that there is much to show for progress here. My sewing machine was pretty busy with my projects for school.

Completed:

Nothing from this list.

Progress Made:

Sparkle mini - I did take a break to baste this and managed to quilt one of the four sparkles. The binding is ready too so there is hope this one will get finished sometime soon.

Garter stitch scarf - I also knit a little on this too. I'm getting there but am really impatient to finish. My local yarn store is having a moving sale starting next week and I want to take advantage of it, but can't justify more yarn until I finish this one.

"I Will Wear It In Public" Challenge - I shared the top I made (and wore in public) but I'm not happy with it, so I will be making another one.

No Progress:

2012 Color Challenge: April

Hand Pieced QAL

Sewing Machine Cover

Typography Challenge

Project Quilting Challenge: It's Where I Live

Tangerine Tango Challenge

1912 Project: February Pattern

Quilt Challenge of the Month: February (Cathedral Windows)

(Late) Wedding Present

Nesting Place class

Dessert of the Month Club: January

Dessert of the Month Club: February

Dessert of the Month Club: March

Dessert of the Month Club: April

Drunkard's Path QAL - I kind of set the goal to have this finished for the Blogger's Quilt Festival that starts in 9 days.

Zig Zag QAL

Kaleidoscope QAL

2012 Color Challenge: January

2012 Color Challenge: February

2012 Color Challenge: March

Curves Class projects

Made in Cherry QAL - I was thinking of making a mini version of this but now I'm not sure. I haven't done anything with it so it may fall of my list next week. (Still not sure about it right now, so it stays until I decide otherwise.)

Embroidery Journal Project: January

Embroidery Journal Project: February

Embroidery Journal Project: March

Embroidery Journal Project: April

Embroidered Ornaments

Project Quilting Challenge: Music

Project Quilting Challenge: Tools

Project Quilting Challenge: Barn Quilts

RATZ Swap

Embroidery Journal Project: May

Dessert of the Month Club: May

2012 Color Challenge: May - I haven't had time to think about fabrics yet.

Art Quilt

Zakka Style SAL

New:

Nothing here either.

My dogs have been neglected a bit as far as long walks go, so to celebrate the end of the semester, I am off to spoil them with one. Then it will be catch up time online.

Have a great Wednesday!

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Studio Sunday: Painting Final

Today I'm going to show you my final project for my painting class. I do want to warn you in advance that if you are easily offended by foul language or sensitive to certain subjects, that one of my pieces is dealing with my past. It is going to be the last project I share in this post, so feel free to look at only the first project if this is the case.

We had to come up with two projects for our final critique. The first was our choice. Everyone had to submit a proposal, which was given feedback and only one person had to completely change their proposed project. My project was to hand paint fabrics and turn those in to at least five items. I did only get five done in time but would have done more if I could have fit them in.

I didn't think to take photos of the fabrics prior to cutting and sewing them. I also used different techniques to apply paint, which made for different results. The fabric bases were different as well. I pretty much wanted a variety of things to play around with.

I first painted yardage of a white cotton. I bought a quilting weight, though not Kona as it wasn't on sale, so there is a difference in the feel of it. I watered down the paint and applied it broadly, hoping for more color mixing than I got. I wanted a fabric that had reds, blues, and purples, but the red and blue weren't going purple easily. So instead, I went with the patriotic theme and added random stars and stripes.

Out of this fabric, I decided I could make two things. First I made a gathered clutch, which was adapted from Noodlehead's tutorial. Her tutorial makes a smaller clutch than what I wanted to make, so I basically just used her idea of gathering the front piece and placing a strip of fabric over it. I didn't follow her directions for assembly (or really even read them) since I just made it the same as any other zippered pouch I've made.


Painting Final




Painting Final

The inside is lined with the same fabric. I thought about using something else, but in the spirit of making everything out of fabrics I have painted, I didn't.

The second item I made was the Pocket Clutch from Keyka Lou (though now I see she has changed her business name to Michelle Patterns). I did follow the instructions she gives, though I changed the interfacing and batting to just fusible fleece. Oh, and I also put the snap in prior to when her instructions suggest. There are some other construction steps I would change when I make another one of these. Again, the inside is the same fabric.


Painting Final

The second fabric I painted was a linen blend apparel weight fabric. I decided I wanted to have more control over what the final project looked like, so I first cut out the pieces and then painted them. I wanted more of a washed look so I wet down the linen before I started. I used another Noodlehead pattern for this one, this time the 241 Tote.


Painting Final




Painting Final




Painting Final

My inspiration for this one came from a photo I took while walking. I saw these bright tulips against some concrete and tried to portray them. Chad told me it looks like I dropped the purse in dirt and that's all I see now too. I do like the style of this bag and will make more in the future.
I then painted some yardage of white knit. I wanted to make a tank top using the pattern from Wiksten. The pattern seems to be written with wovens in mind, so I pretty much only used the pattern pieces and then assembled it as I saw fit. I did make a muslin first, using a cheap knit from Walmart. (I actually love the muslin so I will be finishing it to wear. I will share that once I do.) I'm glad I did because I did have to lengthen it and also cut the neckline a little higher.


Painting Final

I honestly don't care much for it right now. I have some ideas of how to tweak it to make it better for me. I think part of the reason I'm iffy is that I don't normally wear shirts that are so loose. I think this makes my upper body look incredibly large, and is only worse if I don't have a cardigan over it. The neckline with this knit is also pretty baggy.

I did wear it to critique though and the rest of the day. So, I could say this meets the "I Will Wear It in Public" challenge, but I know I can do better for that. Let's just call this one a trial.

The final piece I did for this project was an art quilt. I took a piece of canvas and started applying color to it. I went with the colors that I am loving right now: a deep red, mustard yellow, and gray. After the paint dried, I took it to my sewing machine to add some stitching. I used threads that matched each painted area and sewed a bit of each in the colors. To finish I then layered it with another piece of canvas and then zigzagged the edges together.


Painting Final




Painting Final




Painting Final

I love the look of it and am thinking of other directions I can take this.

Now for my second project. This one was a collaborative project with an assigned artist. Unlike a true collaboration, we did not meet with the other artist, but instead were to take something from their work and combine it with what we already do. This could have been materials used, a style, or philosophy. He didn't want us to outright copy the work of the artist (which some of my classmates did).

My artist was Sue Williams. Most of her art stems from the abuse that she suffered over her life. The worst of which was a boyfriend that shot her and left her for dead. My instructor had no idea that I grew up in an abusive household and also dated abusive men, until I decided it all had to change. I knew what I had to paint for this project, even though I don't like putting all of this out there for the world to see. This semester has been a reflection of sorts on my past, which has been helpful but also uncomfortable. I think I do still need to explore these issues but keep the outcome to myself in the future.

I had this vision come to mind of getting out the things that have been said to me that have stuck. These are not made up (which someone in class thought) and were said by my parents, step-mother, sister, some other family, former friends, and ex-boyfriends. I don't remember if I have shared that my mother is bipolar, which amplified what she would say to me at times. It's not an excuse in my opinion, just fact.


It felt really good to get all of this down and out of my head. I was really nervous about critique though because it's a sensitive subject and I am putting it in the viewer's face. This painting is about 6' high to give you an idea of size. Any smaller and it wouldn't have had the pow that I knew it deserved. To prepare myself for class, I just kept telling myself that there isn't anything a relative stranger could tell me that is any worse than any of the things on my painting.

Before I started the painting, I thought I might burn it to release the words but now I'm not so sure. I think instead I will burn the notes I made prior to starting it. That also holds these words, and more as I couldn't fit everything here.

That wraps up my painting class. Next Saturday I will share my projects for photography. Our critique isn't until Wednesday and I am still finishing up my pieces. We have to make five different pieces dealing with how we are now.

I hope your Sunday is a good one. We are off to rural North Dakota for a confirmation and then back to our normal Sunday routine.