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.

A Peaceful Thursday in Portsmouth

Well I am still in Ohio; will be heading home on Saturday.  I was able to have dinner with my dad tonight at Bob Evans ... one of his favorites.  We had their farmhouse burgers (really good) and vanilla ice cream.

Worked on my crazy quilt project yesterday.  Will post pics of the new stuff this weekend.  For some odd reason, my iphone won't load my pics the last few days.

Stopped by Big Lots and got a letter P monogram rubber stamp ... the only one in the store, so it was meant for me, lol.  Got a scrapbook techniques book and a watercolor technique book.  Since art school isn't in the cards; I'm gonna try to learn something to improve my drawing this way.

Used the watercolor technique book and did a page in my art journal; except I used colored pencils instead of watercolors.  My sketchbook won't do watercolors and I only brought colored pencils and markers not the watercolors.  Again I will post a pic of the art journal page this weekend.

Helping my son's girlfriend to learn to quilt; so far we have finished two baby quilts this week; and are going shopping for the supplies for a third tomorrow.

Last Night's Cards

Here are the pics of the two cards I made last night.

For the top card both greens are Staedtler Mars Graphic 3000 duo markers.  The little berries in the middle are done with Whispers Strokes markers and highlighted with Inc Elementz Metallic Markers.

For the lower card the pink flowers are done with Zig ColorBrush Twin markers and the green stems and the highlights in the center of the flowers are Whispers Strokes markers.

Thursday Night's Card - So Deer

Here is the card I did last night.  Got the inspiration from Lawn Fawn.

 

I used some Whispers Strokes markers for the body; for the eyes and ears I used a Zig ColorBrush Twin, they are so delicate and just wash the color on.  The tail and the white highlight dots are done with my handy dandy white Sakura gelly roll pen.

Art Journal Every Day # 6

On this journal page I added a cartoon that seemed particularly appropriate.  Again just a few lines of what's been happening that day; with a few very primitive drawings.  That is what I love about this art journaling that you do not have to be worried about it having to be fancy.  Just like that commercial used to say, "Just Do It."

Another Card

I made this card a few nights ago; it is inspired by something that Julie Ann Bailey posted on Facebook.

Last Night's Card

Here is a drawn card I did last night.

It didn't show well in the photograph, but the ink is a pretty silvery ink from Sakura.

Paisley Drawing

 

This is a paisley drawing done as mail art. I am very drawn to paisleys.  I love drawing them.  I remember that when I was little, many women had paisley print dresses and I hated them.  I still would not wear paisley but I love them in my artwork.

Drawing of a Dragonfly

This is a dragonfly drawing I did as mail art.

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.

Two More Cards

Here are two more.

These are two of my favorite cards.

More Drawn Cards

Here are some more cards I drew.

Drawn Cards

These are cards that I drew.

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.

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.