I started a new project today. This one is paper pieced, but quite different from the bedrunner I made last month.
This project has some verrrrry tiny pieces. So even though I worked steadily through the day, the first block is only half done.
I guess you can see why! Those eyes were pretty detailed and there was a fair amount of un-sewing. But the rest of the block should go much faster.
Yeah. Really different from what I’ve done before. So far so good!
Since I finished the last book, that means I have a new book starting today. I think I am going to like this book much better.
Ms. Sudo introduces this book by explaining the close relationship between flowers and the seasons and the importance they hold in Japanese culture. The flowers in the book are based on origami techniques and grouped by season, with two projects per month.
Since I don’t especially want to do twenty-four wall hangings, I’ve decided to make one wall hanging for each season.
The first season is Spring and is introduced with a haiku poem – too bad I don’t read Japanese! It makes for a lovely picture, though.
The first flower is Melaleuca or tea tree It starts with a two-sided circle. I made three.
I had a little trouble with forming the calyx on the first one. The directions say to gather about an inch below the point that is formed by folding. However, I have no idea how one is supposed to “gather” through twelve layers of fabric! I finally settled for sort of pleating/scrunching and running the needle back and forth a few times. The stem covers up the details, anyway, and these look more or less like the photos in the book.
So I think I’m off to a good start and I’m liking these better than some of the other techniques I’ve tried. We’ll see if I can continue in this manner.
Oh yeah . . . about last week. I knew I wasn’t going to be home and had planned to post a warning at the end of the last Serendipity post. Forgot. Plan B was to add something to Wednesday WOW. Um, forgot that too. Okay – on to Plan C. Schedule a short explanatory post to go live on Sunday. Well, that didn’t work! Sheesh! I had good intentions, but you know what they say about good intentions and the road to . . . . . . .
I finally got my act together this week!
I remembered to take my camera to the shop for today’s sewing session. It was a productive day, too.
I got all the blocks sewn together. This is the “companion” quilt to the one I showed here. These blocks have more of a little-boy style and the colors are blue and green. The darkest blue even has frogs!
Here is the full quilt. I think I have enough fairy tale squares to make another quilt – although it would be slightly smaller. Then I’ll have to choose another project. Shouldn’t be any problem with that!
Today was another quilt shop Wednesday, but I forgot my camera! I didn’t stress too much over it, though. “I’ll just use my cell phone,” I thought. Well, yes, that works. The only trouble is I can’t figure out how to get those pictures OFF the cell phone! You would think that my background in computers would help me figure it out. Apparently my computer knowledge does not extend to cell phones!
However, I DO have photos of some of the things I’ve been working on during the rest of the week.
I’ve been taking some on-line classes on sculpting figures with polymer clay. They are provided by A for Artistic and this is a whole series with teacher Deb Wood. These photos are from a class called “Turn That Frown Upside Down.”
This class is all about getting various expressions. The first lesson was laughing/happy.
I haven’t painted the eyes on this one yet. It looks a little freaky at this stage! Right now I don’t have any plans to use these heads, but I’m sure they will eventually get bodies and become whole figures.
In the meantime, though, I am just trying to learn how to manage the clay and to get the musculature right. The next lesson is MAD! Oh boy, oh boy!
Today I reached the last flower in this book. Very appropriate since I live in Kansas because it’s a sunflower.
I used some of my yellow scraps to stitch up petals – sixteen of them. The darker petals are a bit larger. They form the outer ring of petals, like this:
It’s pretty easy to put these together – just run a gathering thread and form them into a circle. Then do the same with the lighter (and smaller) petals.
I like how the print of the fabric adds variety and texture to the color of each petal. The real magic happens when the two circles are stitched together.
The center of the flower is lightly stuffed, so it is slightly rounded/domed just like a real sunflower would be. This flower is super easy to reduce and enlarge since the petals are basically quarter circles. Buds use the same petal shape with a green calyx, so I did not do one of those.
This is what my vase looks like now. It will need some more flowers to be a full bouquet and I will probably do that eventually. If I leave it up on the design wall, if will make me feel guilty every time I walk by. Sooner or later I will finish it just to get some peace!
Next Sunday I will start on another book. I’ve picked the one I’ll be doing next, but you’ll have to come back to find out which one it is. It’s still flowers, but a very different approach. I think it’s going to be fun!
Before this girl gets a hairdo, she needed earrings - and that means ears! I’m not sure why, but I love this picture! Don’t worry, those ears will get pulled back closer to her head. And of course there must be hair. I have the loveliest, most luscious mohair “cap” ready for her.
You got to see the “wild” do earlier (on this post), but now it is time for some style. The cool thing about mohair is that is – well – HAIR! I dab of styling mousse and some improvised rollers and she’s set.
This picture is a little blurry, but doesn’t she look better with curls?
A sweet little braid will keep the hair on top from falling into her face. She’s almost ready for her debut. Next step: accessories!
This is starting to become a trend. You would think that I would be able to remember to post twice a week, but once again I’ve forgotten! Feeling pretty dumb about it too. Sheesh! I mean, sure – I’ve been a little distracted. Anyone who has watched the news and/or national weather reports knows that Kansas has been pretty active this past week or so.
Nothing bad has happened in my neighborhood, but we’ve been watching each storm closely. All the emergency supplies have been replenished. An overnight bag is partially packed and ready to go if necessary. So far so good.
Except it’s been raining.
A lot.
Before anyone gets too concerned, this river is about four miles from our place. See that hill in the distance? There are at least two of them before you get to my neighborhood. So, we are good.
Just for those who would like to know – this is the Delaware River where it crosses Highway K-9. Normally the water would be at least 25 feet below this bridge and only a few feet across. Normally. Because not only has it been raining here, but it’s coming down in buckets upstream from here. Oh my.
No crop this year for this field!
So, yeah, I’ve been a little distracted. I do have some craft projects to show you later on, and I really will try to get back into the schedule of posting – at least to remember WOW and Serendipity!
That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!
