Come and Dine Banner - part 2

In my previous post, Come and Dine Banner, I was talking about the designing part of the banner project.  I finished that post at the point where it was time to break out the fabric.

First I trimmed each piece of paper roughly around the designs.  At this point I only trimmed around each word as a whole.  On the left I picked a purple tonal print, and green tonal print for the leaves.  Under each word is a rough cut piece of brown tonal print fabric.  On the far right I put a different brown that reminded me of home baked bread, and a grayish stone looking print.

 Then I laid it out and snapped a picture with my phone to get a more disconnected view of it.  Once I saw the picture, I decided that the gray just didn't work.  So I switched it out for a reddish brown print.  I liked the reddish fabric much better, it shows up nicely on the pieced yellow mosaic background.  Here is a close-up of the gray fabric, it just blends into the background.

 Once I switched the reddish brown fabric for the gray fabric, I snapped another picture and decided that I was satisfied with how it looked.

This shows how I cut the brown fabric originally the rough shape of the entire word.

At this point the background is complete, the designwork is done, and the fabric has been auditioned and chosen.

Next time I will tell my method of applying the appliques for grapes, leaves, words, bread, and oil jug.

Let me know what you think.

Come and Dine Banner

One of my projects that I have been working on lately is a quilted wallhanging banner for over the serving window in our church's kitchen.

It is going to be 12x72 inches.  The background is various yellows and light tan 1 inch square pieces.  So I constructed the background by piecing 6 blocks that were 12 inches squares.  So for each block there are 144 separate pieces.  The background will look like a very old mosaic with the many small pieces.

Then on the left end there will be a cluster of purple grapes hanging from the grapevine with a couple of grape leaves and tendrils curling around.  This is the mock-up drawing of the grape cluster.  This will be in the furthest left block.

In the middle four blocks will be the words "Come and Dine" centered.

Finally, in the last block, the one to the furthest right will be a loaf of bread and an earthen jug of olive oil.  This is the mock-up of the bread and oil.  I wanted the bread to look handmade and in a basic oval shape rather than the modern bread shape formed from using a loaf pan.

These are both Zig and Copic markers and and good ole Crayola colored pencil drawings.  Although I cut the background paper to the size that I wanted them to fit; so I could draw them the right size.

Here is the drawings shown in the positions that they will be.

Sorry if it is hard to see.

Next time I will show you how I use these drawings to mock-up and try fabrics.

Let me know what you think.

Pansy

The other day, I was feeling a little out of sorts, so I decided I needed some arty time.  I thought I would do a little doodling with my Copic markers.  I am quite obsessed with Copic markers.  They are alcohol ink artist grade markers and they are blendable and available in over 350 colors.  I have been collecting this a little at a time.  I have even found a few at Hobby Lobby in the clearance bin.

So anyway back to what I was saying about drawing the other day.  So I grab this Watercolor Pad of heavyweight paper.  I am still a beginner with using Copics, but I know that they bleed through many types of paper.  They did not bleed through this paper at all and I did a lot of coloring and many layers of color.  So I was pleased with that.

I wanted it to be somewhat realistic looking.   I mean I want someone to be able to look at it and go, "Yeah that is a pansy".  So I went to Google Images and just typed in "pansy flowers"; and in a second or two there was a page of pansy images.  And since I have more Copic markers in shades of purple AND it is my favorite color I decided that my pansy would be purple.  Then I referred to the Google Images pansies to get the general shape and after that I tried to learn the blend the various shades in a smooth and effortless way (at least that was my goal).

Copic markers are dual tipped with a brush tip on one end and a squarish blunt end.  You can change out the nibs for other shapes and also replace them when they get wore out.  Basically, unless you lose it or the dog eats it, you will have these markers for life and should put in your will who will get them after you go).  I prefer the brush tip for this type of work; and I was trying to improve my "flicking" technique.

Let me know what you think of my afternoon stress reduction session's result.

Sketchpad

I tried photographing my sketchpad last night and will be sharing some of them with you.

This is one of my first drawings in my sketchpad.

Monday's Crazy Quilt update.

Got some time to work on the Crazy Quilt last night and tonight, yippee! 

Here are some pics

I added a multiple length green blanket stitch to this seam and then added tiny white beads.

This is a way cool vintage button with neat patina from years of love ( it is slightly blurry in the pic for some reason).  Then the seam between it and the beaded spiderweb has a pink row of leaf stitched and then I went back and added a crossbar at the intersection of each stitch.

The white washed out a little from the flash in this pic.  The white lace medallion is really two pieces I cut out of a lace edging and rearranged into this design, I added a large pale lilac bead in the center and beaded tiny pearl beads around the edge and a small spray of them coming off the upper left and trailing down.

This shows the pink edge trim that I cut from a fancier design and then added the green pearlized beads on it.  The central motif starts with a huge vintage button and has a beaded loop hanging from its holes.  I gold metallic corner is tooked under the left side.  Two beaded green loops and a large lilac bead and a seashell are up top.  Further on the right is a groupings of mother of pearl and old off white vintage buttons, interspersed with a purple bead from a pair of favorite earrings that bit the dust.

This lovely lavender motif is a vintage piece I inherited from my Grandma Kuchenmeister that adopted me.

The flash messed with this a little.  The red teardrop jewel is surrounded by tiny white beads that trail off into a flourish of larger beads.

Finally this is the block (lower left in the piece) and how it is looking so far.  You can see the small string of pink pearls that I couched down along the long purple seam in the upper right.

Another Batch of Cards

Here are four more cards I made; and finally got scanned today.
First one is a cute little critter that I fussy cut from a wallpaper sample.

The second one is a pencil drawing that I did.

The last two are fussy cuts from wallpaper samples.  I love these stylized flowers; I think they are absolutely gorgeous.  So classy and sophisticated.

Creativity

Been expressing myself creativity a lot lately. Besides drawing which I am doing a lot more often; the last couple days, I have been painting cardstock for future art projects.
These are all done randomly and freehand with a brush.

My Drawing "Jubilation"

This is one of my first drawings. I call it "Jubilation" because I was overjoyed to allow myself the freedom to draw. I always felt like I did not have any talent, so I didn't try. This took me a long time, partially because of how detailed it is; but probably more so that I would seriously overthink it before putting pencil to paper.

The sketchpad is slightly larger than the scanning area of my printer-scanner-copier; so it is a little fuzzy.

I feel that allow yourself to express yourself creatively in one area can open up your creativity in other areas.