Pearls of Wisdom

Ha! Finally finished another project started in Pamela Allen's class. I call it 'Pearls of Wisdom'. note the pears in her hair. This was really fun, a lot of hand stitching and then machine stitching. Loved the class and know I'll use the techniques learned. I'm doing one right now for the FFFC, using her method, watch for it coming soon.

Blue and orange`

I finally finished my piece, the challenge was to use two complementary colors, I chose blue and orange. I've done a lot of hand stitching and then free motion quilting, which doesn't show up well in the picture. This was from Pamela Allan's class and I really enjoyed working on this piece.
I've posted a close up, you can see the stitching better. And the moon, well it's half of her face.

Project finished

Happy Easter everyone. I finished the piece from the first Lesson in Pamela Allans class. Lot's of hand stitching, perhaps a bit over down. Who would believe that one small blue button would stand out. I think I shall call it 'Out Of The Blue'.

Self Portrait

I am having so much fun in Pamela's class and learning so much. No sketching or drawing, no fusibles, just taking the scissors and cutting the shapes. Our present lesson is a self portrait, here is mine. The hair, well I was a blonde but am greying nicely, the purple/blue? It's just a laugh on many older women that I knew that put that blue rinse in their hair :) The hair is yarn. It will look better when I get some stitching done on it, so far it's just fabric glued down.
A gorgeous day in the far north, little snow left can now see some green grass and I'm thinking spring is on it's way.

Catch up

I am so behind, life has gotten in the way!
I'm posting a picture or two from the class I'm taking with Pamela Allen. Man that girl just oozes talent. This is an online class and due to a computer melt down I started a week or more late. This picture was an exercise in using only black and white to do a still life, with lot's of feedback from Pamela this is my attempt. It still needs embellishing with stitching etc. The colored picture is from lesson two, using complimentary colors blue and orange. No pencil, just the scissors!

F&S Scrap Bag challenge

The challenge was to put scraps in a bag, and only take 15 min. Here's what I made. A three sided vessel, beads hanging from it.
It was a fun challenge and didn't put much of a dint in my scraps.

A snowy day up north, but a perfect day for spending in the studio working on projects. I like this kind of day. sigghhhh.

Fast Friday Challenge #16

Ahh, a new year and new outlook.
I have just completed my Challenge piece for the FFC group. Fire and Ice was our challenge. I got a bit carried a way and it is quite different from my norm. I use angelina and tinsel on the iceberg, just to make it shimmer and look real cold. I also used copper thread on the fire, unfortunately it doesn't show up that well.
I stretched the quilted piece on stretcher bars, first time and I quite like the look of it.
It feels good to be back in the groove after all the holiday stuff.
I invite your comments on this piece, any and all constructive criticism is appreciated.
Now I must get to work on my scrap bag challenge for the Fiber and Stitch group.

Happy New Year.

December

What a busy month! The big day is approaching fast.
I made several fabric boxes, these three are for my sisters.
what fun they were to make. The Fiber and Stitch group put out a challenge to make a fabric box, of course once I get started I don't know when to stop.
I have included a picture of a sunset. We have been blessed with the most gorgeous sunsets, the colors are so fabulous. Note the wisp of smoke coming out of a chimney and the neighbors Santa on the roof (left hand corner). Pretty neat.
Wishing you all a Happy Holiday.

Where did Nov go!

I can't believe it has been over a month since I posted on my blog.
The old saying' Time Flys when you are having fun' is very true.
I have been busy, have most the Christmas shopping done, not wrapped, but done.
I'm making some gifts too.
Here is one of my latest pieces, it was done for the Fast Friday Group Challenge #15, Scale and Proportion. I love this group, the challenges are just what I need to get creating.
I've been thinking a lot about 'aloneness', and of the women in South Africa that are raising their kids, grandkids etc alone, as there are so few men around. My piece is called "She dances alone"...should have had more dance movement in her legs!
She is alone in the moonlight, I used silver threads on the left side of the hut and the woman to illuminate them.
I think I've achieved the scale and proportion part of the challenge, her being large and the huts small in size.

Fast Friday Challenge #14

The challenge for this month is Movement/Embellishment.

While enjoying my morning coffee, I noted a magpie trying to land on a tree. We have had fierce winds up here. So the magpie was the inspiration and the wind is the movement.

While working on this piece I kept thinking about my friends in CA, and the Santa Ana winds. I added some gold and red to represent the fires.

These challenges are great for me.

I've included my starting sketch :)