On My Work Table...

Today B.B. stands for "Biscuit Bandit", the kitten who came to live with us a few weeks ago when my husband found him by a dumpster. The reason he picked B.B. up was because he was both clean and friendly and we were out of cats.

Obviously, I'm not making a lot of progress. B.B. particularly likes the warmth of the lamp and apparently the pins in the Pomegranate Tree don't bother him. Looks like I'll have to tuck him into my sweater like a kangaroo. Then we'll both be happy. He can sleep and I can sew.

B.B. = Beige Background

I've been working on the B.B., that is, the beige background, for the pomegranate tree. It's an odd "technique"--I've never worked like this before. Just applying fabric and topstitching it to the next, or under. Whatever. Lots of wrinkling and unevenness. I have perfect faith that it will all quilt out. This has the oddest shape. I'll eventually have to square it up in some way. It measures close to 6' in all directions. Yipes. This is going to be a bear to hand stitch and yet I'm looking forward to it. 

Burgundy & Blue

Spring is here, the days warm up if the sun comes out, the birds and bees are going wild with enthusiasm, and the almond trees have put out their blossoms. This made me think that I would like to wear one of my tunics this spring. So I pulled it out and stitched in bed last night.















Do you see the pocket (burgundy) nestled in among the strands? 

Now I think I see how the strands should travel: up and over the right shoulder (as you look at it), down across the back and up the left front only half way....maybe. I'm thinking that this combination of colors is so out-of-style and untrendy. I can't think that I've seen much burgundy or maroon on the internet lately. Untrendy suits me.


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

The Whole Picture

The finished calendar front nestled in among the "stuff" that I keep trying not to accumulate...
Of course, I'm not trying to not accumulate my art quilts...clear as mud?

Working Small & Fast, 2

Struggling with grading finals and preparing courses as classes begin this week. I managed to find time for a quick sketch in my planner (6 1/2" x 3 1/2") as I waited in the car while out doing errands. 



We were parked in front of a bridal shop. The costumes fascinate me. This one was actually silver and the bright pink of the background. Two things that caught my eye: the odd angles of the mannequin's limbs and the patterns in the fabrics. The word "Laroussa" means "the bride". I tried to think more about drawing letters than writing them.

I think I'd like to go around and sit in front of bridal shops and draw wedding costumes...someday...

Enjoying Shapes

Being sort of between projects or rather steps of projects, I picked up the Retirement Quilt and stitched on a strand last night. 






And then I cut and safety pinned the other side as well this morning. It's measuring nearly five feet wide and is already rather heavy. 

What a mess! Nothing like a challenge. The trick is to work just one small piece at a time. Each strand engages me when I try out different ways of cutting and stitching.The forms and shapes mesmerize me. Peace. This piece/peace will be with me for awhile.  

I'm supposed to..., 2

I know, I know, I'm still supposed to be grading exams. And I'm NOT supposed to be starting anything new. But I had this stack of snippets with such interesting shapes and beautiful colors that I put into a tin--leftovers from my oranges sketchbook page.

I tried to use up a bunch of bits in my sketchbooks, but I just kept creating more snippets. 

So I chose gray and black base fabrics

and started to stitch down the interesting shapes of one snippet with a running stitch.

I cut out a hole and reverse appliquéd the edge. Raw edges with finished edges. No idea where this is going, just playing. No expectations.

Stitching the Sea, 3

The more French knots I add, the more I want to add. 

They create such an interesting effect, like using dots in a sketch.

I like the shadowy white designs of the fabric as well; 

they form undercurrents below the more obvious stitched currents.

A Cow, 2

The action's over at MulticoloredPieces.

A Cow, 1

What I like about my blogs, is that they keep me on track and they push me to do things I would not ordinarily do...like draw a cow. Yup, I need a cow to illustrate my next post at MulticoloredPieces.

















Still some more work to do on this. Maybe I'll add some fabric as well. 

I looked at a bunch of pictures on the internet to get the idea of a generic cow. I could've chased after the neighbor's cows to draw en plein air, but I've chased them out of the orchard enough. And they really are very b-i-g animals--to be avoided in my mind.

Stitching the Sea, 2

Things pile up again as a new semester begins. 

Just a bit of stitching in the wee hours...

I'm supposed to...., 1

I know, I know. I'm supposed to be grading exams today. However, the bank gave out a stand-up calendar (7"x5") with a beautiful turquoise blue cover...so tempting.






















I've been wanting to do a play book for awhile. The rules are simple: fast (no hand stitching), small, and only tiny scraps from the scrap bag. Maybe I'll sketch or paint on some of the pages.

With a glue stick, I attached cottons and shiny brocades.

Enough fun...I better get back to grading exams!

Small Scraps Into Smaller Scraps, 2

I glued down the circles on my textile sketchbook page.

It seemed a bit bland, maybe too "pretty"? Hard to put my finger on it.

So I added some free motion machine stitching, scribbling a bit, in dark green and maroon.















Ah, yes. Much better.

Purse Sketchbook, 4

Finishing up this page by adding orange to the red

and I decided to try adding some lines with a permanent marker.

One can get such intense and surprising color with fabric. Don't know if this works, but, it doesn't matter--Just for fun, no expectations...

Linked to "Quilt Matters TGIFF."

Stitching the Sea

Being in the middle of correcting final exams, 

I'm back to stitching into the wee hours of the night.

I added a strip of the light blue and white sea fabric across the top, 

however, I gave it a black tea dip first...

and I'm really pleased with how the fabric went toward a silver-gray. 

Stormy seas ahead.

The curious kittens came along to get into the action. They just never hold still.