Inching Along in a Sirocco

A Sirocco blew in (hot desert wind) from the South. If only my fingers have to move, I'm good. Inching along, as usual...

I might manage to finish this part if I have to remain glued to the A/C.

Fig Season

Despite the high temperatures, I enjoy late summer because we eat like kings. This year, the figs are big, juicy and sweet. I have them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and for snacks, too. What we can't eat, I dry on the roof (we have a flat roof).








I think I'll sketch figs for a couple more weeks. Nature puts on such a show of color. I do have a fig quilt to work on, however, the Pomegranate Tree gets priority.

Glass Bottles

Homework for this week, or rather last week, for Sketchbook Skool: continuous contour line drawing of one, two and three objects and eventually a watercolor of three objects. This requires a steady hand and consequently, practice. Drat! So when I got to the three-object sketch, I did two small ones first, then practiced watercolors on them.

I usually avoid blue because otherwise I'll use it everywhere. Here I indulged myself. 

Then I framed it all up with words. I seem to have a lot to say lately...

My Sewing Corner

The little people have left and so I'm tackling some spring cleaning, albeit, late. I decided to get tough with myself and do some deep cleaning in my studio, tossing accumulated stuff that I'm sure I'll never get to. 

And then I needed to make room for new technology as my laptop is limping a bit. Although it's taking me time to set it up and clean out old files, still, love that new technology...

Soaring Temperatures

As temperatures head for 110 F., I sit glued to the AC and happily stitch away. I've come back to this tunic, thinking I might be able to finish it. I haven't been able to do needle turn appliqué for awhile and I miss it.

I've been thinking that I may never wear this (pretty wild, after all), however, it is becoming something else...an idea is taking over.

A Contour Drawing

While I machine quilt the Pomegranate Tree (for some reason I love to machine quilt even though it is a big quilt and a small machine, something about the rhythm and seeing order imposed), I'm trying to find time to work in my sketchbook for the Sketchbook Skool homework assignments. Here, a continuous line contour drawing of a bizarre, antique, brass pitcher/urn inherited from my grandmother. It has the most marvelous handle, nearly impossible to draw.

But, of course I had to start with a blind sketch and the feel of the line felt so good, while the contour drawing was slow and my hand was unsteady. Liberate the lines!

Under the Pomegranate Tree: The Weed Section

Machine quilting into the night with a brown thread on top.

Stitching around the French knots in the Weed Section, which, in real life, is dry and colorless by the time the fruit ripens in October or November. I'm rather liking the way the floral prints are working.

I've left the ends of threads. I think I'll couch them down in their odd shapes. This won't be particularly visible as it's just sewing thread, rather thin, but, I like the unexpected detail...and who's counting time?

Linked to Nina Marie's "Off the Wall Friday." 

Hand Quilting

Savoring the hand stitching/quilting, I fall in love with this piece again...

And the process is so pleasing, working on small areas and seeing possibilities for stitching.

Istanbul Sketch

As the little people prepare to leave, I'm trying to get back on track and keep up with the Sketchbook Skool homework. Here, a quick watercolor outline in beige of the Blue Mosque of Istanbul. Then detail work with a Copic Multiliner 0.5 and 0.2.

I got an angle that included two of the six minarets. I had to finish from a photo I took, otherwise I would have had to spend several days on the spot. I finally treated myself to a Stillman and Birn sketchbook with heavy paper--very nice to play upon. 

Toast

Another semester of Sketchbook Skool and the homework is to draw toast in order to observe very closely. 

Me being me, I couldn't help playing with the words...and I really need practice on human faces. This is an attempt at Danny Gregory, co-founder and teacher of Sketchbook Skool. I used a watercolor background that I made awhile ago and a Copic Multiliner 0.2 pen.

Now, back to stitching...

Snippets Recycled

While traveling to Istanbul, I didn't forget my stitching. My kit included throw-away snippets from a previous project, which I stitched to a base fabric.

They were such lovely colors, I couldn't throw them away. No idea what this will become, just doodling around.

Looking at the photo, I realize that you might be thinking: "hey, Nadia, you're way out on a limb here." And I would totally agree...how exciting!

Unplugged

The roots are quilted, but the rest of the Pomegranate Tree will have to wait.

I'll be unplugged for five days. Rather looking forward to that. 

I've got my stitching kit, sketch kit, camera and suitcase ready to go.