Before and after. I like the before better and thought about doing a larger version. I'm not very fond of the scrapbook like quilts but wanted to see if I could make one I liked. I'll give this one a C-. It is about 9"x14" I guess. The photo image was printed on cotton, bubble jet treated, and ran through the printer with freezer paper backing. The photos where taken at Mt. Saint Francis, 400 acres and a handful of Franciscan friars that tend the grounds. This is where I go to reflect, recenter, refocus, and drink wine. On the grounds is the Mary Anderson Center for the Arts (MACA). The picture of the house at the top right is MACA. It has 6 bedrooms for artists stays. Behind the house slopes down a hill to a lake which I can no longer walk back up :(. But it can be seen from the huge windows of the bedrooms on the backside. A little walk from the house are several barns that have been converted into artist studios and the lower right image is the Calving Barn that houses 4 studios and a loft that runs the length of the barn. This is where I go dye fabrics. This place has had a major role in my creative life, my manna, and it is a blessing that it is so close to me.
Another before and after. Blue Apple, journal size, top, quilted, close-up, back. This is from the exercise on monochromatic colour from C&C. I see more monochromatic work in my future. I also used this quilt to practice fmq. 
I tried the suggestion that Melody gave about using one hand to drive with and the other to hold and when I do that I have more control and like my stitches better. The problems I have are that I spontaneously revert back to being a 2 handed driver AND I can't hold a design in my mind. Yesterday I unquilted 84,000 (metaphorically speaking to say it was a heck of a lot) stitches on a quilt for a girlfriend. This quilt begs for circles and curves so I can't take the easy route out but going straight or jagged.
Also, an idea came to me while looking at the back of the Blue Apple of quilting a whole cloth and then using paints, inks, pencils, etc to colour it. One I'll have to try soon...but for now I've got to go prepare for today's Scrabble match. But before I go, let me leave you with a yummy bag of scraps picture, courtesy of Mary at QuiltStudio 77! I told her that another quilter's scraps is another's yardage! I couldn't believe the size of her scraps! Thank you Mary! 
The stitching on the blue apple is wonderful, Karoda! Looks like the FMQ practice is paying off!
ReplyDeleteI love Blue Apple and you know that I dig doing wholecloth-type quilts!
ReplyDeleteLove the blue apple, too. These exercises are producing some really cool stuff.
ReplyDeleteLove, love the blue apple! I must get back to my C & C work now that the house is sold.
ReplyDeleteWonderful blue apple, Karoda!
ReplyDeleteCool blue apple. It looks very mid-century, pop arty to me. I love it's simplicity. This could be the start of a fun monochromatic, zoomed-in kinda series. I also, actually like your scrapbook quilt. I like the contrast between the realism of the photos and the abstract, geometric background. Could become a springboard... And good luck on the Scrabble game(s). I hope you can keep the masses in their place!
ReplyDeleteI'm loving the blue apples too. I've enjoyed working the exercises and I think we'll be seeing quite a few monochromatic studies popping up around the web.
ReplyDeleteNice topo-like quilting on the blue apple! I imagine it would be difficult to change the habit of your hand positions during quilting but I will give it a try too. Might work for students if not for me.
ReplyDeleteI'm quilting a 40"square whole cloth quilt right now. Started out as a possible baby quilt but it's not really gonna make it for that. But it's fun to work on and it's going really fast.
I really like the cool blue apple and the stitching. Remember it takes 21 days to change a habit. Lots of time to keep playing with this new way.
ReplyDeleteYour blue apple is fabulous!
ReplyDeleteI like your little piece. I think it has a lot going for it. And the top piece above it as well.
ReplyDeleteoh my god, i love the blue apple. if that was in green, i would buy it and hang it on my wall and have my own mini art show with wine and cheese and i would say, "this was made by my dear friend and role model, miss k." and people would nod appreciatively :)
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