Two days of hard work

Sorry but I don't have pictures.  I've spent the last couple of days working on some of those UFO's I spoke of. Periodically, maybe once a year, I set aside most of a day to do very abstract mono-printing.  I use fabric about the size of a fat quarter metre  (--20" by 22")  I don't pretend to be making fine art.  Just put the paint on glass or gel in a colour way pleasing to me, and take a print, often followed by a ghost print. I can usually produce between 20 and 30 of these  in an afternoon. (The rest of the day is spent getting ready and then cleaning up.) Some of these end up as embroidered and beaded, framed pieces--or at least, mounted and matted for sale.  But those that don't get used in a constructive way, are often machine quilted, and turned into small zippered purses.  This gives me a chance to practice different quilting patterns and designs, and experiment with different colour ways. Well, I now have five more of them--quilted, sewn together and ready for hand finishing--which I can do while watching tv.

Rough start

Getting back in the swing of things has been rough.  The last while has been spent reviewing and revising my Machine quilting class for early April.  A few days ago, I decided that enough was enough, and put it all away until a couple of weeks before the class.  Instead, I felt the need to do something just because I wanted to, not because I felt I should be doing it--not a chore.

Tuesday of this week I was speaking with a couple of friends about an upcoming show.  I wasn't intending to enter, but they convinced me that the item I had was quite fine.  So I plopped my money down and am now committed. One of these friends is in charge of a second show later this spring, and I offered an older piece, but one that has not been shown.  It was a soft sculpture reliquary, one I spent a great deal of time on. 

It was accepted and my mind turned to reliquaries.  They are my secret pleasure.  Something I love doing, even if each one can take two to three months of hard, fussy, detailed hand  work.

These thoughts lead to an unfinished one that has been around for almost two years.  ( Thinking of the Celtic Cross discussed in a previous post probably started this train of thought)  This poor thing has encountered just about every disaster I can think of.  The pattern ( my own drawing) proved inaccurate in a strategic area, I lost the fabric I was working with, and couldn't replace it.  Then I tucked it away in hopes of finding more fabric, and forgot where I put it!  I found it a couple of months ago, quite by accident.  I decided to finish it as best I could.

The fabric on the very bottom is not shot silk, but the colour is right and who's going to see it anyway.  I altered the doorway at the back of it, so it would fit better, and added a firm insert ( foam core) to the base for extra support.  The actual construction is not my best work, but I'm very pleased with the embellishment.

I have also pulled a few UFO's out of storage to work on over the next couple of weeks.  I sometimes forget that creativity has to be fed, or it shrivels up and dies.  I need to make things just for myself once in awhile.

A glimmer of an idea

The last week was spent in Cuba.  This is the fourth time I've been, and I've produced a memory piece after every visit, sometimes struggling to develop a concept.  This time the idea came fairly early in the trip.  The resort we stayed in had decorative images everywhere.  We had the opportunity to visit a couple of other resorts and found similar motifs in those, as well.  I recognized the image as a pre-Christian Celtic Cross, rotated 45 degrees. ( A couple of years ago I used a medieval Celtic Cross in a piece, with some success).  This raised the question of it's symbolism in Spanish or Cuban culture, and a potential focus for the piece I want to develop, based on this visit.

I inquired at our resort, and was referred to our tour company representative.  Unfortunately she had no idea, and thought it was pure decoration.  However, she did ask further, and her source said exactly the same thing, but suggested that maybe the various resorts had the same architect.

Very disappointed, I gave it a little more thought, and remembered that many religious symbols had been banned in socialist countries.  So, I've decided to carry on.  The Celtic Cross has meaning for me, but maybe doesn't need to be the focal point of the design I'm working on.  At this point I'm thinking of using soy wax batik for the background, and maybe using the image as part of that. A more contemporary focal point or image just might result in a better design.

Surprise in the mail today

The book I had ordered from England arrived--Karen McTavish's "Mastering the Art of McTavishing"  2nd edition.  I had seen so very many variations of the technique  that I wanted to get the info "straight from the horse's mouth", so to speak.  I had been told that the book was out of print, but both the first and 2nd edition are available on Amazon--both new and used. ( The used for up to $600.00, but the new for about $35.00Cdn) 

I can understand the many variations, out there, as she actively encourages readers to work with the technique and make it their own.  A refreshing attitude.  The book included two dvd's, the one that accompanied the first edition and a re-done one for the 2nd edition.  There was an obvious difference in production quality, but more interesting, obvious growth and change in her methods over the years, ( to say nothing about her changing hairstyles and body art).  I have seen several of her U-Tube videos, and have been distressed by the poor production quality, but the dvd's I received today were great.

Of course, I had to sit down and try it.  I first saw the technique done during Leah Day's first FMQ'g workshop on Craftsy, but having now seen the real thing, in several versions, I'm finding it much more appealing and plan to use it,--once I develop the necessary skill in producing it in several different scaled sizes.

the next generation

Today my grand daughter came over.  She is quite enjoying her art classes at school, and had received a couple of gift certificates for art supplies for Christmas.  But she had been told to see if there were any of my supplies that she could use, before going shopping, so she could maybe make what money she had go further.

She went home with water colour paints, acrylic paints, paper, stretched canvases, and collage materials.  Her father was joking, and said that she might have to spend her money on an organizing system, for all of the stuff she had.

I had explained to her that the supplies were a gift, and gifts should never come with strings attached.  The supplies were hers to do with as she pleased.  (I would still be interested in what she might produce.)

social groups

Last evening was a meeting of a small local fibre art group I belong to.  We have a few business items--nothing earth shattering, and then an interactive "show'n'tell", (although most of us hate the term.) The interaction is lively and the comments honest.  It's this honesty that most of us crave, and need.

I also have a friend, an art photographer, with whom I often share a coffee and conversation at the local donut shop.  ( Doesn't Tim Horton's love it when we come in toting a large box of photos to discuss!  LOL)  But we trust each other to give an honest critique.  It's helpful that we both have the experience and trust to critique in a helpful way.  Our last conversation ( earlier this week) lead to the discussion of a potential collaboration, and we've actually picked one of her photos that may result in this.  I'm looking at the photo as an inspiration for the piece I need for an upcoming show--about a year away.

The group I met with last night is sponsoring the show, and I now have permission to use this collaborative process for my show entry. The concept, although a sort of esoteric abstract on my part, has been approved as being in line with the show theme.

It is amazing how this sort of honest conversation, and associated approval, has invigorated my creativity.  However fleeting they may prove to be, it has given me a sense of direction, and a focus for my time management.  This proves, to me, at least, how valuable this sort of group can be.  In my case, I believe, it is an essential part of the process.

Deadlines

I've decided that my focus for the year will be to trudge along and not to accept or sweat any deadlines.  A "cop out"?  Maybe, but it's what I need at this point in time.

So, I'm going to take the re-vamping of my Machine Quilting class slow and easy, but am going to start the process now, so as to have lots of time, and not end up with a panic over a deadline.  The first steps will involve lots of computer work.  Now I know that I'll go crazy without some time at the machine, so I'm going to allow myself to finish up the few current projects that are "bugging" me. But there will be no sewing after the evening meal!  Evenings will be reserved for time at the computer--and it won't be times spent on silly games!  Yes, My sister got me hooked on Candy Crush over the holidays. (Oh, I'm so embarrassed!)

One of the current projects was a charity quilt.  While cleaning out the storeroom, I found a box with about 45 4" squares that had been appliqued with a 2 1/2" squares.  I figured that 100 such squares would make a more than adequate child's quilt.  The original squares had been left over after a class several years ago given by fibre artist Iris Roundtree ( best known for her ecclesiastical work).  It was a technique class that taught us to layer the four inch squares with batting and backing, and then machine applique the smaller square on top.  Next, some of these squares were cut at various angles and the resulting triangles mixed and matched.  Then the triangles were re-assembled into squares by butting the edges together and sewing the seam with a wide satin stitch.  The unique thing about this is that the squares didn't need to be sewn together in neat rows, but could be put together in almost any configuration involving right angle corners.  

Well, I wasn't going to go that far!  But DH had been asking what I was going to do with all of the hexies that I had put together out of my scrap bin, so I simply appliqued a hexie onto each square.  Then put the squares together by butting the edges and using the wide satin stitch. Sure used a lot of thread!

Here are some of my individual squares ready to putting together. and the finished quilt ready for binding.  I quite like it, but was a little dismayed by the poor manner in which my machine did the wide satin stitch, so while I love the look of it, it will remain a charity quilt.