Fast Friday Fabric Challenge

Childhood

2012-01-31T18:10:00.001-05:00

I remember living on my bicycle. I went everywhere on it and as fast as I could pedal besides. Needless to say, I had quite a few tumbles and scraped knees and elbows but never a broken bone. Every Saturday during the year and as many days as I could during the summer I would ride my bike to a small farm not far from where I lived in the city. There was my second love, horses! I spent time grooming them and often cleaning stalls just so I could ride them.

On this quilt, 9" x 12 1/2", I depicted a bicycle tire and horse prints to show my two childhood loves. I quilted in a random horizontal manner to attempt to show the speed I got on my bicycle and also the air blowing through my hair both on the bike and the horse.

Challenge 65 - Child Play/Childhood Memories

2012-01-27T09:54:00.001-05:00

Fast Friday Fabric Challenge #65 Due: 2/3/12

Child Play/Childhood Memories Host: Kathy Lichtendahl

Let's Play!

This month I am asking everyone to reach way back in their psyche to tap the memories of childhood. The idea is to create a piece of artwork that recalls your early days - to you at least - and possibly to the viewer as well. The subject can be something or someplace concrete that brings back memories of being a child or it can be a more abstract creation based on a recalled smell or sound or fleeting impression.

The finished piece may be depicted in a childlike manner or it may be channeled through the adult you that exists today. Try not to over think the process. The goal is to create a design based on a feeling of being a small person at that certain place and time in your life.

Many artists spend their entire careers trying to re-create the sense of wonder and newness experienced as a child. Some well known examples are the following:

Philip Guston

Pablo Picasso

Paul Klee (one of my personal favorites)

Joan Miro

Some artists well known for their childlike art that work in fiber:

Laurel Burch http://www.laurelburch.com/

Laura Wasilowski http://www.artfabrik.com/

Wendy Huhn http://www.wendyhuhn.com/

Have fun!

Kathy Lichtendahl

Addendum by Cynthia:

IQF is having a contest with prizes about quilts inspired by childhood memories...size is larger (at least 48" each side), no entry fee, online entry by June 8th. The quilts will show at Houston, Cincinnati & Long Beach. More info here: http://callforentriesfestivalgallery.com/

If you are interested, you might consider using Kathy's challenge as a design study/mockup for a larger piece to enter in the contest....or make your piece for this challenge large and take more time.

Winter sunshine

2012-01-20T03:47:00.005-05:00

I finished this piece made out of scraps. From my initial piece made while at my mothers, I needed to exchange a couple of pieces, but that was a heap of deconstruction to get there. My mental image was of sunshine through a window, with condensation running down. This is rather hard for me to think of, as it is high summer here right now!

Challenge 64 "Partly cloudy in the desert" Pam Clark

2012-01-14T20:47:00.004-05:00

It's partly cloudy in the desert. This is our second painting project in the online class taught by Annette Kennedy. We used Pebeo Setacolor transparent paints to enhance the appliqued mountains, plants and highway. I have learned a lot from this class and I've found I can add more depth to an art quilt by using paints to shade the shadows and to add highlights. Thanks for a great challenge. The weather in the desert is definitely dry in this piece, but there are a few clouds floating around in the sky.

Confused Weather

2012-01-07T22:21:00.002-05:00

This winter our weather has been anything but normal. Normally we have cold, ice, snow, and more cold, but this year we are having spring-like weather with temps as high as 69 degrees. I tried an abstraction to show confused weather of warm winds and sun in a normally cold climate. I added a few beads to show occasional snow flakes that have fallen only to melt again when it warms. I used dyed gauze to depict the warming winds over a cold group of trees.

Leaves

2012-01-05T13:18:00.002-05:00

This is a small piece, only 9"x9", and is mounted on black velvet. The quilt sits in a shadow box, but the glass does not photograph well at all, so I took it out just for the photo. I have been in a creative slump for the past few months and could literally create nothing, and I forced myself to get involved this month. After about five tries, this is what I settled on. Wind-blown leaves that echo the printed pattern beneath are quilted with a swirly motif. Thanks, Tobi, for a good challenge.
ANN

Blowing Snow

2012-01-03T01:50:00.005-05:00

This is the first challenge piece I have finished in a looonnnggg time.... I have a number of started pieces hanging around, but finally got one done only a few days late!
"Blowing Snow" 7.5"x10"
Whether it has been rain or snow, lately there has always been wind.... I thought of trying out something with the rain since it seems like it wants to rain forever around here, but I got myself a die cutting machine a couple weeks ago and one of the dies that came with the kit I purchased was a snowflake. I have had a great time trying to see what I can do with a limited number of dies and I have even finished another little piece, too (not appropriate for this challenge). A couple weeks ago, we had the most perfect snowfall... the temperature was perfect to allow perfectly formed flakes to gently fall into a little layer where I could see the individual flakes. I even was able take a couple photos that caught their beauty with a macro lens. The photos along with the die cutting helped this piece to form. The snowflakes cut by the machine were pretty simple, so I cut out more from their centers... not very neatly, but it also gave me some more tiny flakes to use. I had the piece of salt patterned fabric in deep blue that I always think of falling snow when I see it, so it became the background. The flakes are stitched over with an iridescent white thread, along with free motion swirls and swooshes in the background. I also added to the movement with more swooshes and swirls in a variegated thread in shades of blues. The edges are bound with a wool blend yarn with a really fuzzy, hairy texture that I feel makes it look as if the snow is blowing right off the piece.

This is definitely no masterpiece, but considering I ended up doing next to no quilted pieces last year larger than a postcard, this has helped me with my struggle to crawl out of my deep hole of creative darkness... I pray that I will be able to keep on creating.... I really do need lots of art therapy :)

Sonoma Sunny Day

2012-01-02T18:55:00.004-05:00

This quilt is acrylic ink painted on Mulberry paper, glued to muslin, sandwiched with an old wool blanket found in my daughters studio. I was visiting her in New Zealand and played with her toys.

It is my view (from Memory) from my window. I quilted it with variegated threads on the vegetation and various yarns and threads purchased in Wellington.

I love this challenge and VOW to do all this year.

Happy New Year

Winter Storm

2011-12-31T12:34:00.003-05:00

The snow is batting and the sleet is metallic thread

19-3/4" x 17-3/4"

Wind Blown

2011-12-30T21:55:00.003-05:00

12 X 16

We have had a series of storms accompanied by high winds that blew the snow onto the vertical surface of the fence.

Snow is cheesecloth that was washed in a lingerie bag. Fence posts are the repetition. The background surrounding the quilt is carpeting and not part of the quilt. I should have hung it on the wall.

Thanks Tobi for an interesting challenge. I hear there are some interesting ice formations at one of the marshes in town so plan a trip to check them out for future inspiration.

Comments or suggestions appreciated.
Pam Harris

How Many Wannabee Snowbirds Are There?

2011-12-30T16:14:00.000-05:00

Certainly not the snowwoman who is tired of shoveling the snow but fears she may end up like the melting snowman.

Answer: just one...The bird with the scarf represents me..I am the winter wannabe escapee ...

The quilt was designed with Make the Cut software and cut with my digital cutter.

Desert Sunset

2011-12-30T11:55:00.005-05:00

My son lives in the high desert of Utah. He took a photo on his way home from work and sent it to me to use for this dramatic sky. The roads there are really this deserted alot of the time.

This measures 30x23. The sky is painted, overlayed with an orange sheer and quilted. The rest is pieced and quilted. It was a good lesson on perspective s well as weather. Thanks Tobi.

Challenge 64 - Here Comes the Rain

2011-12-29T20:40:00.000-05:00

Finally I've finished a challenge on time. Actually I have quite a few challenges I haven't yet posted so better catch up.

Here Comes the Rain, since I do live in Seattle, it has been cold and rainy this week, I figured I had to do rain. It's a very abstract rain piece about 9 x 16 inches. The repetition is the linear rain lines.

My new years resolution is to do every challenge, or at the very least get in to comment.

Lisa
In dark and raining Seattle

Challenge 64, Weather

2011-12-29T13:07:00.001-05:00

Challenge 64 - Weather
SNOWY NIGHT - WINTER DELIGHT

For Snowy Night I choose a black piece of fabric, and used bleach to draw trees. The trees were then stitched using various threads, and quilted. Snowflake beads were added last. Size 17" x 21".

Thanks Tobi for this fun challenge, and thank you all for commenting. I have missed the last few challenges due to having company and then a shoulder injury. I am getting back to normal now, and hope to catch up on some past challenges.
LindaMac in WY

CALIFORNIA WIND

2011-12-28T21:26:00.004-05:00

This is a photo I took through my RV window as we drove by. It was just starting to sprinkle and it looked sort of surreal. I am fascinated by these wind turbines. I think they're graceful and beautiful, and so useful too!

It measures 17"x2o"

This was a fun challenge...thanks Tobi!

Comments are appreciated

Cherie

Winter from the Window

2011-12-25T10:23:00.004-05:00

16" x 20"

While I am thrilled that this piece actually came together so fast, I admit to being embarrassed to post first, since I am this month's host. Yet I swear, I did absolutely no planning of this before Friday! On reading the actual challenge post, my eyes hit the "look out the window" line (a late addition to my write-up of the challenge) and that was my starting point; it had to be a view from a window.

It's an imagined view. The trees are made from black yarn with eyelash yarn for the twiggy ends and the "repetition" part of the challenge. There is a bit of leafy silver on white tulle in the lower part of the window. A layer of white tulle serves as "glass" to slightly mute the scene and add a more wintry touch, and my husband insisted I needed to add cross bars to indicate window panes.

I welcome your comments, and hope you enjoy this challenge.

Challenge 64 - Weather

2011-12-22T22:00:00.002-05:00

Fast Friday Fabric Challenge #64 Due: 12/31/11

Whether the Weather is Wetter or Whiter Host: Tobi Hoffman

At the time that I was asked to host a challenge, we in New England were awaiting the onset of Hurricane Irene, and although it had “calmed down” to a tropical storm by the time it reached us, it was still a big storm, and it got me thinking about portraying weather in art. So, look out the window! What’s the weather in your part of the world? If you prefer, you may pull out a memory of another day or another place, when the weather was more dramatic, but weather is weather even if it’s bright and sunny, and so would be fair game for this challenge. Accentuate the weather aspect so that you can imagine being out in the rain, snow, wind (or lack of wind), sun, cold or heat, sunny or overcast. All styles, traditional, representational, non representational, realistic, stylized or abstract, are acceptable of course!

And since I have come up with such an alliterative theme for this challenge, try to embody a rhythmic element to your work, a repetition of form, or shape, or line, or color, but not exact repetition – after all, no two snowflakes are the same!

Weather and art

Not a quilt, but the weather is the basis for the complexity of this art:

Nathalie Miebach: Art made of storms http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbhNaj88uL4

Historic weather art: http://www.history.noaa.gov/art/weather_gallery.html

Joy Garnett: http://www.firstpulseprojects.net/jg_2005/Strange-Weather2.html

Children’s Weather Quilt project: http://www.crayola.com/lesson-plans/detail/weather-quilt-lesson-plan/

Painting Like Pro: How to Paint Weather Elements:

http://www.paintinglikepro.com/how-to-paint-weather-elements

Weather in Quilt Art

I used this piece as a sample in the first challenge I hosted, but it is certainly relevant to a weather-related challenge: http://www.tobicollage.com/collages-water/tropical-storm.htm

Exhibition: A Change in the Weather http://www.quiltgallery.co.nz/exhibitions/achangeintheweather.php

Any of these quilts could qualify for this challenge! Hand/Eye: Weather Quilts – Clare Brett Smith:

http://handeyemagazine.com/content/weather-quilts

Elizabeth Barton: http://ebarton.myweb.uga.edu/watercityscapes.htm

Nancy G. Cook: http://www.nancygcook.com/portfolio_winter.htm

Projects due December 31! And one final word: Have fun with this!

Double PinWheels

2011-12-19T15:09:00.005-05:00

The piece is 14-1/2" X 14-1/2". All I got done after all this time was the quilt top. Too many things going on all at once, but still wanted to participate in the challenge. After putting this together, it resembled, to me, a Coat of Arms type emblem. All criticisms, critiques and comments welcome.

Challenge 63. Calla Lily by Pam Clark

2011-12-18T18:07:00.002-05:00

I finally finished this challenge. I am taking a class taught by Annette Kennedy on Craftsy and this is her pattern, but I feel that it fits the parameters of the challenge. This was the first time that I had ever painted using pebeo Setacolor fabric paints, and I was happy with the results. Your comments are welcome.

Challenge #63 Rose

2011-12-05T13:00:00.003-05:00

I enjoyed this challenge. This little piece is 10 1/2" wide by 7 3/4" long. It was done from a photo I took a couple years ago. It is fused but not yet quilted. Still trying out this method. Thanks to Susan Brittingham for the class I took earlier this year. Working this small was a challenge but I needed to see if I could do it---and I did!!

The Wizard

2011-12-04T13:24:00.004-05:00

As requested here is a close up -I used some metallic thread the light makes it blur. Thank you for commenting

My inspiration was "Dorothy Discovers The Emerald City," an oil painting
by Thomas Kincade. However my character is simply a magical Wizard
that appears on the horizon. I used a stamp as a start pattern and lots
of thread painting. He is holding a book of wisdom and a crystal ball.
While quilting I enhanced the upper right corner with a shadowed sun
( I hope it shows up ) there is also a quarter moon.. The path was
painted with a copper gloss. My goal was to have him just appear onto the quilt

I still have some finishing work to do - I do not like being late so
here he is. Your comments will be appreciated.
Thank YOU

Susan Ward
Quilting in Kentucky
http://artquiltssusanpi.blogspot.com/

Santa Fe Courtyard

2011-12-03T19:50:00.004-05:00

As usual, I thought too long about what to do. After a week of procrastination, I started this on Thursday. It needs some finishing work and is not yet quilted.

I like the strong contrasts and the large shapes. I found it was a bit of a departure and a challenge for me, different from my typical subject matter.

Comments and critiques are most welcome.

Rembrandt's Bird by Cynthia Ann Morgan

2011-12-03T10:24:00.001-05:00

Rembrandt's Bird by Cynthia Ann Morgan

Here's my piece for the high contrast with color challenge. I used Rembrandt's Samson painting for inspiration for the color palette. http://www.wga.hu/html/r/rembran/painting/biblic1/samson.html
Good thing I'm a hand dyer...I had lots of value choices on hand.
Comments and greetings welcome!
Thanks,
Cynthia

Shadowed Grapes

2011-12-02T16:53:00.001-05:00

Here is my finished challenge. I wanted to use only fabric etc that I had on hand, so chose to use some of my LWI hand-dyed fabric, in this case cotton Damask. The background is LWI-dyed muslin. I had hoped to use the shading of the fabric as the shading on the grapes but it wasn't quite enough, so I added a bit of coloured pencil I love the effect of LWI on the cotton Damask. The weave gives the finished result a kind of "glow" that you don't get with any other fabric. The weave also presents special problems when using a raw-edge applique. Since I was limited to what I had on hand, the colours could have been better, but overall, I think they work quite well.
Pat f in Winnipeg
aka fndlmous

Ch #63 Under the Sea

2011-12-01T17:37:00.001-05:00

I haven't finished this piece, it still needs stitched and quilted.

I really admire the work of Jo Diggs so tried my first 'underwater' scene. I am hoping I have achieved contrast between the dark and the light area of the 'reef'. Thanks for the great challenge Susan.

dahlia

2011-12-01T17:28:00.006-05:00

I took a picture of a flower in my garden because it had one white petal amongst all the red. The light gave interesting color variations to the petals so I felt it fit the challenge. It is 20x20. Machine quilted and raw edge appliqued

Leaf in the Fountain

2011-12-01T08:53:00.006-05:00

Here is my small project in response to this challenge to create something in the chiaroscuro style. I used a photo of the fountain at the Cheesecake Factory as inspiration. I wish the green receded more into the background. The photo has more depth and mystery. This is not quite finished… not trimmed or bound or even signed yet.

Enjoyed the challenge, thanks for hosting, Susan. As usual, I'm enjoying the posts and comments - always learning something new.

When Life Gives You Lemons...

2011-12-01T08:05:00.000-05:00

The tree trunk represents my hand that wants to turn it around instead. The symbolic landscape was designed in Make the Cut Software and cut with my digital cutter.

Meena

Water Lily

2011-11-30T17:28:00.008-05:00

I wanted to do a flower for this challenge and I started with this photo (below) that I took last summer. I edited the photo (in Photoshop and Corel Painter) to boost the value contrast and then printed it on fabric and added the quilting. The size of the quilt is about 9 inches by 12 inches.

Thanks for this challenge.
Jean

Onion Peel

2011-11-26T18:50:00.003-05:00

The Art Piece

As I started this design, I had in mind that it eventually would become a purse. I was given a gorgeous piece of burgundy velvet [my friend Alex bought it at an estate sale for 50cents], I had some tiny cones of silk yarn, some iridescent seed beads and an idea. I had never done any couching before, but this silk begged to be put with this velvet. I also felt it really fit this challenge.

Velvet seems to have a life of its own as it slides and frays all over the place. I stay stitched the velvet to the stabilizer. That seem to keep the velvet in place. As I began to couch the silk yarn to the velvet I loved the look. It is lush! I had absolutely no idea I was stitching the shape of an onion cut pole-to-pole; I just liked the shape. It wasn't until I took a break for a dinner of my Oven Roasted Onion Soup, http://designerann.blogspot.com/2009/05/oven-roasted-onionsoup.html , that I realized after peeling and cutting over 4 pounds of onions, that shape was definitely in my mind.

After dinner I added the seed beads to bring out the dimensions of the velvet-polyester batting-satin layers. I used the polyester batting because I wanted it to be very 'lumpy'; it is. It is also very rich, lush, glowing and invites touch. The beads are dark, but just the right tiny glow to fulfill the challenge. Today I finished making this work of art into an Arty Purse. I plan to use it New Years Eve at a wedding rehearsal dinner. I often make things do not materialize into my inner vision. It is so nice to make something I really like.

The Arty Purse Hanging on My Design Wall

The Arty Purse Sitting on a Table

Mesmerized

2011-11-26T14:06:00.003-05:00

This is my first attempt at using value to do portraits. I am happy with everything except the choice of fabrics. I think there is too big of a jump between the two lightest and the next fabric. Thus, I haven't stitched it. The most challenging part was the eyes. I am happy with the way they turned out. I used a white colored pencil to get the white dots that make the eyes come alive. I just wish the fabrics had a better gradation. Please let me know what you think. Should I toss it and start over or stitch it???

Lindabn from Louisiana

Flower

2011-11-25T18:19:00.002-05:00

Not much to say about this. Probably the easiest one I have ever done.

I used the applibond method for the flower and the leaves are from a silk flower bouquet.

Challenge 63 - High Value Contrast

2011-11-22T12:11:00.000-05:00

FFFC Challenge # 63
November 2011

Theme: Contrast
Hostess: Susan Brittingham

Experiments in Contrast and Color: Use strong value contrast in a dramatic way

In September we looked at the colors of the Old Masters. In October, we used Notan to explore positive and negative space using high contrast. This month, we continue our explorations of contrast and revisit Rembrandt‘s use of chiaroscuro.

For November, I ask you to use strong value contrast in a dramatic way. To paraphrase one of the articles below: “use chiaroscuro to achieve a dramatic intensification of
action or mood“. I am also going to stipulate that using exclusively black and white is off limits. You must use some color in your work.

You may have seen some of these articles on chiaroscuro from previous challenges. We return to the Old Masters again and again as examples of great art.

· This first article focuses on the psychological effects achieved by Rembrandt’s use of light and shadow: http://www.nettonet.org/Nettonet/101%20Painting/Studies/Chiroscuro.htm

· The next article speaks of the difference between high contrast chiaroscuro and low contrast sfumato: http://painting.about.com/od/oldmastertechniques/a/sfmuato_chiaros.htm

· Although not specifically known for chiaroscuro, I am also sending you off to visit one of my favorite artists, Vermeer, who uses strong contrasts to paint his domestic scenes: http://www.essentialvermeer.com/

· As you explore Rembrandt and the Old Masters once again, note their color palettes.

· The next article examines what is known as Rembrandt Lighting, used for dramatic effect in photography and film: http://www.kuriositas.com/2011/08/chiaroscuro-and-rembrandt-lighting.html

In the world of art quilts,

· some of the best examples I found are the works of Kate Themel The examples on her Gallery entrance page of slices of her quilts show her skillful use of strong value contrasts: http://www.katethemel.com/gallery.htm

· Denise LaBadie has a Portal Series that shows how the use of contrast creates both depth and drama. http://www.labadiefiberart.com/Galleries/Portals/page22/Trinity_Church.html

· Take a look at the dramatic lighting in some of Jo Diggs’ landscapes: http://jodiggs.com/jodiggs/Gallery.html

· The following two quilt artists have several examples each among their works, http://www.sueholdaway-heys.com/gallery.html, check out The Stable, and some of her higher contrast landscapes for examples

· http://www.lenorecrawford.com/gallery.html check out her dogwoods and On Winter’s Coming, plus some of her architectural pieces

So try using some high contrast, with color, to create a strong dramatic effect and have fun!

Susan Brittingham
www.susanbrittingham.com
Faculty Member at www.QuiltUniversity.com

Untitled

2011-11-13T19:42:00.002-05:00

Although, I am posting last this was done the week of the challenge deadline. I just never got around to the posting part of it. This was a fun challenge. I'd like to do three more and put them together. I think it would give it a totally different effect. Critiques, criticisms and comments always welcome.

Challenge 62 "Tails of a Phoenix" by Jeanne Holmes

2011-11-08T23:02:00.004-05:00

I had just made a trip to Nepenthe Restaurant in Big Sur and was inspired by the Phoenix image. This piece used two tails of my imaginary Phoenix and in the Notan style, created two more tails from the pieces I cut. I really enjoyed this challenge and the piece I created.

The size is 17 ½ by 17 ½

Jeanne Holmes

Sea Notan Art

2011-11-07T16:16:00.002-05:00

I Have posted my Quilt to the blog and FFFCC 62 Thank you for such a great challenge.

This was a fun project. I "think" this represents Notan Art. I am not the best cutting and trimming person. So I made it simple:) I could not resist the seaweed.

Susan Ward aka SusanPI2

"Imagination What a Wonderful Thing"
Quilting In Kentucky
http://artquiltssusanpi.blogspot.com/

Notan Snowflake

2011-11-05T11:17:00.003-05:00

I started with a circle and cut the pattern to look like a snowflake. One side of the white fabric had some sparkles on it. I realized that since everything was symmetrical, I did not have to recut the cut out pieces to get the right side up. Big time saver. I'm really pleased with how this turned out (except for the top point that isn't quite straight. It 15" x 15" and right now unquilted. I'm trying to decide if it needs to be or just frame it. I know have my snowflake for our Embroiderers Guild challenge too!

Nancy Schlegel

Three Studies

2011-11-05T10:07:00.003-05:00

Here are three that I like. I haven't had time to convert to fabric yet...too many irons in the fire right now...LOL

This is fun and a valuable lesson in positive/negative, light/dark interaction. Thanks Wendy!

Cherie

Notan.....

2011-11-05T00:49:00.001-05:00

You have all done a great job! Notan is such fun and with so few rules, its easy to just keep it going! I did a bunch over the summer... here are just a few:

Lotus Petals

Jack in the Box

Simple Hearts

Simple Trees

Butterfly and Flower

2011-11-04T23:52:00.008-05:00

This must be a first. Nearly on time. I cut several experimental Notan images, most of them symmetrical. Then I decided to try something more representational and asymmetrical. This is the one I decided to try in fabric. There is something I like about it, but think it lacks balance. I have uploaded two views, the smaller one is rotated 90 degrees right.

I liked this challenge so much, that I am going to take the idea of paper cutting positive and negative shapes to my guild for a fun activity at our next meeting.

I am eager to do some more. This is such a welcome break from my usual work. Much more immediate gratification. I say that, but I did take the time to applique the shapes, fused and stitched.

Comments/critiques welcome.

Cards Notan

2011-11-04T16:33:00.000-05:00

This was designed in Make the Cut software and cut with an electronic cutter. The great thing about it is that I got 2 for 1 . I loved this challenge!

Meena

Notan

2011-11-03T13:24:00.003-05:00

This was a lot of fun.

If you cannot enlarge this, go to my Flickr site and click on action and then view sizes.

Challenge #62 -Sharon Robinson

2011-10-31T23:29:00.000-05:00

This has been one of my favorite challenges. I had never heard of the Notan concept but was fascinated with it as soon as I started researching. I found this great example by Lynn Ticotsky and knew that I wanted to try something similar. With the aid of CAD drafting software I tried out several different ideas for a repeating pattern. (Some that I didn't choose are in this blog post.) I created a freezer paper template and cut the chosen pattern out of black fabric with fusible web on the back eight times. The resulting 16-square block reads more like an irregular 9-patch to me, but it is made up of just the eight cut-outs and their "leftovers". I'm not a very precise person, so this definitely looks better from a distance where you can't see all the fuzz, but I really like it.

Right now it's just fused to white fabric, but I would really appreciate some advice on whether to add a black border, and what sort of quilting pattern to use. I don't want to distract from the design, but I'm not sure that just tracing it with quilting lines would add much. Input greatly appreciated!

(Edit: dimensions are 24" x 24")

(Second Edit: Cutting out Notan shapes is perfect activity to do while joining hubby watching football!)

Veronica Von Zwehl - Challenge #62

2011-10-31T15:21:00.006-05:00

Whoever said Notan is addicting is right! I did a second Notan of trees and decided to just flip the paper to one side, rather than all four sides. I also did not make the image symmetrical. I liked the way it looked and proceeded to make a small quilt which measures 10" x 21". Instead of using the method of flipping and gluing (like I did on my previous quilt - post is below this one) I traced the paper pattern onto wonder under and fused it to each fabric and then cut out and fused each piece down (the orange on the dark brown and visa versa). This was far neater and simpler and faster than trying to flip the actual fabric and glue it down. I sort of wish I had reversed the dark and light so that there was more of the light background showing within the trees. The quilt has very little quilting - I just stitched along the edge of the fused fabric. Comments welcome.

Veronica Von Zwehl - Challenge #62

2011-10-31T15:09:00.004-05:00

I made a paper sample of a leaf notan. I liked that the inner square was not perfectly centered. I then decided to go forward with a quilt. It measures 24" square. I used some fabrics I had ice dyed. I used the same technique for the quilt as I did for the paper sample - cutting and flipping. The fabric was not near as stable as the paper. I used a glue stick and dabbed each piece of fabric with glue before sticking it down. I felt there was too much background showing in the middle of the quilt so I stuck three additional leaves on each square. The inner squares do not line up well on the quilt, since they were not centered on the paper pattern. I used a free motion satin stitch around each element in the quilt to neaten up some of the rather frayed edges and FMQ just the background of each square. The quilt looks a little too traditional for my taste, but I do like the way the fabric seems to glow. Comments welcome.

Challenge 62--Notan

2011-10-31T13:02:00.004-05:00

I used freezer paper and black paper to do my designs. I took a class many years ago from Michael James and we worked with just black and white and some Notan during the three days. I have never done any else with it but like the symmetries that appear. Thanks for this challenge!

Sally K. Field

My Take on Notan

2011-10-31T09:52:00.008-05:00

Doing too much cutting with a scissors makes my thumb numb, so I decided to do this challenge on the computer. I started with some sailboat drawings that I had and put them into a square arrangement that I liked. When I "folded" back the cutout sails, there was too much white space. I figured that if I put it into a repeating tile design that it might work better. The first photo shows a single tile and the second shows it in a nine-patch arrangement.

This challenge was a lot of fun and gives me some ideas for repeat fabric design. Thanks!

Jean Cheszek

Notan designs

2011-10-31T01:10:00.005-05:00

I actually have a partially completed quilt that uses the notan design elements but I wanted to do something from scratch. The first night I cut out a basic square and straight lines out of freezer paper. I fused it to some of my dyed fabic and then painted the uncovered fabric black to get my first design. I like the clean lines but it didn't excite me. While cleaning the next day I came across a leaf design I had drawn several weeks ago and decided to try to turn it into a notan piece. I really wanted to applique this piece so I could finish it. Since there is a right and wrong side to the fabric, I had to draw and cut out opposites to complete the design. I ended up with two completed pieces that I may turn into a bag or pillow. I really like the second design more but I think it needs something in the middle. I could really get hooked on this technique!

LindaBN from Louisiana

2011-10-30T21:03:00.004-05:00

Early for a change...

This challenge fit in with another project I needed to finish this week. A swap of fall pennants. The photo shows one face up and one face down. I began with a triangle and cut oak leaves out of the side. The applique fabric was backed in MistyFuse and I switched the oak leaves from one side to the other so that the fusing worked.

The applique fabric was rusted and I had a really hard time sewing on it. Had to help my machine push through it once or twice.

Now I see a face in the triangle and I want to try an even more figurative Notan just for fun. Thanks for the challenge, it was excellent timing for me.

Palmetto Moon

2011-10-29T20:06:00.003-05:00

I knew when I read this challenge that I really wanted to do this one. I'm leaving Tuesday on a trip so I knew I wouldn't have time to make this up in fabric. However, this is a project where you can, at least, make the cut out and design.

I started playing with some free form designs but soon came up with the idea to make SC's state logo. A palmetto tree with a crescent moon. It took me about four tries to get it to this stage.

I have the white freezer paper pattern ironed to a black fabric. I like this and will eventually turn it into a quilt

Notan Screen

2011-10-29T16:48:00.003-05:00

Since I used Notan in Challenge 58, I decided to make an organza silk screen as described by Enid Gjelten Weichselbaum in her article “really reusable Organza Silk Screens” in the October/November Issue of Quilting Arts Magazine. I made three expanded squares out of freezer paper and chose the most simplistic to make the screen. I did not take a picture of my work on the black fabric as I thought it would be on my screened fabric. Another learning experience as I lost some of the elements of Notan. I will use components of the other two Notan projects for some additional screens as they have some interesting design elements.
I was pleased the way the screen turned out. I do need to “kill” the screen in a couple of spots where the joints meet. Not a true Notan but the exercises were fun and I do have a finished project.
Thanks Wendy for a fun project which will lead to lots of design possibilities in the future. Comments/critiques are appreciated.

Pam

Notan #1

2011-10-29T07:49:00.002-05:00

I did a quick cutting of paper to make Notan #1. I cheated by cutting the white paper and placing it on black paper. It was easy to design something that looks more complicated than it was. Maybe not the most artistic notan and definitely low on points for neatness, but a good start. Next one in fabric-maybe use a circle or an octagon for the start? I can see why Cathy said this was addictive!

Challenge 62: NOTAN

2011-10-27T22:00:00.009-05:00

Challenge #62 – October 2011

Hostess: Wendy Wetzel, Flagstaff AZ

Notan

Notan is a Japanese concept that utilizes black and white to demonstrate the contrast of positive and negative space. Often done as pen-and-ink drawings, Notan can easily be adapted to fabric with stunning results. This technique can help us evaluate our own skills with balancing the positive/negative space in our quilts.

This past summer, Cathy Miller, AKA The Singing Quilter, http://www.singingquilter.com/, issued a Notan Challenge on her blog http://singingquilter.wordpress.com/ (just a hint there). Cathy and her husband, John Bunge, are good friends of mine and always camp out at my home when they are on tour in the southwest. Cathy taught her Mock Mola class to our guild this summer, and while they were here, she introduced me to her fascination with Notan, especially since it works so well with her Mock Mola technique.

If you are on Facebook, you can “like” her page (Cathy Miller – Musician/Band) and go to her photo album for the Notan Challenge.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cathy-Miller/59712236960#!/media/set/?set=a.10150231630541961.310774.59712236960 (if this link breaks…use http://tinyurl.com/3fz347t )

We did a lot of paper cutting in July!

Here are the basics, an online Art Class on Notan

http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/lessons/middle/Lotte-Notan.htm

For this challenge:

You can either elect to photograph and submit your freezer paper cutouts fused to dark fabric, or turn your favorite into a small art quilt. They don’t take long, so if you have several you like, upload them!

Warning: Notan is highly addictive!

Materials: Freezer paper, “paper scissors,” black or other dark value fabric, iron.

Symmetric Notan Instructions:

Cut a 6” square of freezer paper. Start by folding the paper in quarters on the long side or on the diagonal.

Everybody with me so far? It doesn’t matter which fold you start with…. Do some both ways!

On an edge OPPOSITE from the center fold, sketch a random drawing that is a closed shape that uses the free edges as part of the shape (not just a line), preferably one that consumes most of the available space. This can be complex or simple. Play with both!

Cut out the shape. Save all the pieces!

Open the center piece and position on black fabric. Gently press with a hot dry iron to fuse.

Arrange the cut pieces to match and mirror the negative space revealed by the cut. Press with hot dry iron! Take a picture!

This is a very simple example but gives you an idea of what Notan can be! You might also want to experiment with rectangles, circles, and triangles as your base shape. The possibilities are endless.

You can set your block design in a straight or on point orientation… they might look totally different!

Ready to play some more?

Extra Credit – Asymmetric Notan:

Starting with a 6” square of freezer paper, start the design on one edge and cut away your shape, exiting the cut on the same edge from which you started.

If you chose to make a quilt from these exercises, the freezer paper templates work well as patterns for appliqué. Make sure your fabrics have high value contrast.

Since others have written about Notan in a far more eloquent way, here are some great explanations of the Notan concept:

Jane Dunnewold’s instructions:

http://www.artclothstudios.com/userfiles/file/Expanded%20Square%20revised.pdf

And some online examples:

Cheryl Slevoda’s blog: http://blog.muppin.com/2010/05/technique-of-week-20-notan-japanese-cut.html

QuiltRobin’s blog: http://www.quiltrobin.com/2009/04/playing-with-notan_24.html

Notan Drawing http://notandrawing.blogspot.com/

Projects due November 5! And one final word: Have fun with this!

Ocean Sunset

2011-10-10T15:42:00.003-05:00

11" x 17"

I chose Van Gogh's Starry Skies as the source of my color palette, and while I am late posting this, it actually came together very quickly -- except for the final touch, the birds in the sky. These I found in the course of cleaning up odds and ends of junk, and would have ended up in the wastebasket if I hadn't had a use for them here!

I also used a bit of Angelina fiber to blend the sunset colors into the dark sky.

Comments are welcome.

Purse Inspired by Mondrian

2011-10-10T12:53:00.008-05:00

Inspired by Mondrian

For a couple of months now I've been working on this challenge, interpreting an artist's style. I decided to go large. Although I still want to finish that project, I decided to try make something small in the mean time.

I used recycled wool jackets, skirts, and odd bits of wool that I felted in my washing machine and dryer. It is really soft to the touch. Felting seems to take out all the rough stuff. I added grosgrain ribbon to cover the seams; wider grosgrain as the final edging. All was stitched down with zig-zag using polyester thread because I both wanted to cover up the grosgrain and add a sheen. I first tried to use another stitch on my machine, but after many, many birds nest on the back side, I decided the zig-zag would have to do. The lining is black satin: pocket on one side for my cell phone; pocket on the other for my charge card case.

Yes, it was a fun project!

Crying Tree

2011-10-09T15:40:00.006-05:00

There is a fabulous new artist out there named Megan Aroon Duncanson, and I have used one of her works as my color pallette inspiration. She works in wonderful, vibrant and clear colors. Her painting is called "Twisted Love". My quilt is called "The Crying Tree". I am about to throw a big downer on all of us, so I apologize in advance. My adult daughter intensely dislikes me, for reasons I can't quite understand. I raised her to be polite, thoughtful and compassionate. Yet when she interacts with me, she is none of the above. My tears fall via the leaves on my tree, but never on her. My wish is that she will come to her senses and drop her selfish attitude. The quilt is 13"x18", and all critiques are welcome.
Ann In Fallbrook,, CA

Sandi's Piece

2011-10-03T09:24:00.002-05:00

I was inspired by Georgia O'Keefe's beautiful painting, The Poppies. What an inspiration. I used fused raw-edge applique with thread painting for the scales, and gold foil for the eye. Dame Firenza is actually a sweet little dragon (in my imagination), but something got her irritated at this time - probably me trying to picture her. Interestingly, the batik I used for her head is called "Volcano!" I was in a "fairy tale mood" after finishing my challenge-60 piece, so I just sort of slid into this one with ease. It is great being pushed to work FAST and on subjects I would never have approached including raw-edge which I used to hate. Sure is a wonderful group, lots of inspirations from the other members, and I have enjoyed the challenges put forward by each of our hosts. Thank you to all of you, and I would enjoy each and every comment you have to offer. Sandi

Titled - Dame Firenza

Good intentions

2011-10-01T22:58:00.003-05:00

I thought about an idea for this challenge, using Vermeer's Girl with a glass of wine for the palette. I had a thing going for retrievers (which is odd because I don't really like dogs), combined with heraldry. I would put the text on a banner. However, I don't think I really want to make it at this stage. I tried some of the colour sites suggested, but none of them picked up the blue of the chair - the same chair that appears in many Vermeer paintings.

As usual the challenge has made me think about colour and construction. I even got the fabrics out and started playing with the black marks on red - ermine, dog paws, etc. Just no follow through!

Challenge 61 - Van Gogh Color Study by Cynthia Ann Morgan

2011-10-01T13:51:00.001-05:00

Finished piece : Birds in a Field by Cynthia Ann Morgan

Wheatfield with Crows by Vincent Van Gogh

Color study for background of final piece

I decided to just play with the color palette and color placement, so there is no real design to it….just a color study. It’s only half pieced, it will be twice as wide when complete 12 x 24. I used the color palette of Vincent Van Gogh’s Wheatfield with Crows. At first I thought, oh…it’s just gold and blue. But I found much more when I started to dissect the colors.

HARVEST

2011-10-01T13:28:00.003-05:00

I have chosen The Red Vineyard by Van Gogh for my color palette. It is a very
loose abstract interpretation of a harvest. I really love the colors in this
painting. Funny though, the colors in the picture I printed to use are much
closer to the colors in my piece than they appear on the computer.

This was a lot of fun...thanks for another great challenge Delores

Cherie

Comments are appreciated

Harlequin in Picasso colors

2011-10-01T11:41:00.004-05:00

The picture I chose for color was Picassos jester and young Harlequine. I thought it was an interesting balance of colors not often seen used by modern day artists. I took the harlequin pattern for my piece and made a table cover for my Kitchen table attempting to maintain the color balance in the painting. I haven't quilted it yet but will this week. Thank you ahead for any comments or crititiques.

Pat Havey

The Last LeaF

2011-10-01T09:47:00.002-05:00

My grandpa was a watercolorist. I have two of his paintings, and this is my favorite. I think he even made the frame, which is quite rustic.

Using the soft, light colors as the background, I raw-edge appliqued the tree, then added snippets of leafy, grassy colors around the base of the tree, including a couple of real oak leaves. The leaves come from the park overlooking Minnehaha Falls in Minneapolis last week.

I'm sure the tree limbs are too "hefty, and I don't like that the same plaid fell into the two top corners. Funny what you don't see until you look at a photo.

This was a fun challenge, and I'm glad to be back in it.

Pissarro Quilt

2011-09-30T15:43:00.006-05:00

I knew immediately which painting I wanted to use for this challenge. A friend and I had gone to the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown MA to see the Pissarro show. I loved the soft green, blue, and peach colors of his Apple Pickers painting. I found that finding a copy of the painting on the internet with true colors was very difficult and even played with the one I found to make it darker and have more contrast-closer to the painting as I remembered it.Looking closely at the painting, I could see more colors than I first realized-shades of blue and green, plus the peach were obvious but there was also small amounts of yellow, orange and tan and dark brown. I tried to keep the color palette somewhat in proportion to the painting.

I used some of the silk fabric that my friend sent me and made a long narrow quilt 8" x 24" to fit an artist canvas frame that I bought. The embroidered flowers came on the fabric as did the buttons on the peach fabric. Working in geometric shapes seems to be easier for me but I'm not sure it is as artistic as decorative.

Nancy Schlegel, Albany NY

Van Gogh Colors

2011-09-30T12:58:00.003-05:00

I used Van Gogh's "L'Arlesienne: Madame Ginous with Books for my colors.

The leaves are real hydrangea leaves that I painted.
Vase hand appliqued.
Machine quilted.

12" x 16"

Storm Survival

2011-09-30T11:43:00.002-05:00

Trees are just incredible living plants. They with stand all types of weather, droughts, storms, flooding and scorching heat. "Storm Survival" is a tree that has been damaged/ destroyed by the elements, yet it has hope with the re growth of the new leaves that show life. This was created with upholstery remnants, hand dyed roving, the tree is free form knitting. There are three layers of fabric, plus batting. The buttons represent the damage that has fallen to the ground from the storm - The Pineapple Painting Art

Harvest Time - Challenge 61

2011-09-30T09:02:00.002-05:00

Not yet bound, but ready to post by the deadline. I guess I don't really have a favorite painting. I like so many by different artists. I live on a farm and it's harvest time here so while checking for paintings to use I came across this one of corn waiting to be harvested by Joy Appenzeller Bauer. I used the fall colors in the painting and threw in some olive green to show that there still is some green here during harvest. I quilted it in circles to show the combine wheels going round and round in the fields.

Sunflower

2011-09-28T18:10:00.004-05:00

10 X 10
I didn’t read the part that said, “a painting you love”. I was just looking at the links and as soon as I saw the palette, I immediately thought of sunflowers. My daughter thinks the painting associated with the palette is “downright creepy”. Palette is from William Blake’s “Ancient of Days”.
I made the petals by quilting scraps onto Peltex™ and then cutting out the shapes. The center was sewn in a grid onto Texture Magic™ to create the seeds and then I stuffed it for more dimension.
Thanks for the interesting challenge. This challenge gives us another way to look at art, much like the challenge using product packaging. I always find it interesting to see how people use color.
Comments are appreciated.
Pam

A girl just wants to have FUN!

2011-09-26T17:13:00.000-05:00

I was inspired by Sue Church's, "Joyful, Joyful". http://fastfridayquilts.blogspot.com/2011/09/joyful-joyful.html

My colors are all bright, lush and/or shiny with the bits of lace, buttons and ribbon adding a bit of whimsy. To me, the mood is FUN.

Pajama Top to match these bottoms

Birthday Butterfly

2011-09-25T14:56:00.004-05:00

Size: 9" X 10" stretched over wooden frame

Painting "Fete Famillale- The Birthday Party" by John Singer Sargent www.johnsingersargent.org

This is an owl butterfly using fusible applique with the colors in this painting. Inktense pencils were used on the lower right and were much more vibrant than expected. I loved looking at paintings with "color" as my reference.

Thank you for this interesting challenge. Comments are welcome.

Yiddish Wisdom

2011-09-25T12:50:00.047-05:00

This picture, was my inspiration for the quilt I made for the challenge and comes from the book "Yiddish Wisdom".

The quilt is approximately 15" X 15" and in no way completed yet. I still have to quilt and bind.

I hate posting a quilt that is not completed within the one week timeline, because I feel that I am cheating. But, this time I am making an exception to "my" rule because this next week is crazy for me. I have classes all day on Monday, Wednesday's I have my Toastmasters Meeting and a lunch date and Thursday and Friday and Saturday I'm in a training. PLUS! I have a research paper to do for one of my classes. No way will I have have this completed this week. I just wanted to get it posted and out of the way, so I would not have to worry about it later.

I may or may not add French Knots for the flowers. Let me know what you think.I hope you will all forgive me for rushing this through. All comments, critiques and criticisms welcome.

Challenge 61 - Color Palette From a Painting You Love

2011-09-22T22:00:00.002-05:00

FFFC Challenge 61 – September 2011 Due: Sept 30 noon ET

Select a color palette from a painting Host: Delores Hamilton

Let’s look at what color combinations have been used successfully in paintings by master and contemporary artists and try one out!

This challenge begins with selecting a painting, identifying the color palette used in that painting, and then creating a piece based on that color palette. You can challenge yourself to use only the colors in that palette or you can add or subtract a few colors, if needed. Don’t be concerned with anything else except the color combinations in your chosen painting….This is a color study, not the art style of the painting. Subject, style, techniques, size, etc are your choice.

Color palette links:

http://www.colourlovers.com/blog/2007/06/20/color-inspiration-from-the-masters-of-painting/

http://artvarsity.com/35-inspiring-color-palettes-from-master-painters

http://www.non-solo-arte.com/caravaggio-colour-palette.html

Information on colorists:

http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/colour-in-painting.htm#colourists

http://www.webexhibits.org/pigments/intro/renaissance.html

Paintings that could have inspired art quilts (hypothetically):

Painting by Ruth Palmer:

http://www.redbubble.com/people/ruthpalmer/art/1672071-caught-in-a-rainbow

Art quilt by Laura Wasilowski:

http://www.artfabrik.com/images1/housingdept7.jpg

Painting by Cliff Briggie:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cliffbriggie/5565081100/

Art quilt by Deb Seegart:

http://seegart.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/many-lovers.jpg

Painting by Gretchen Hancock:

http://gretchenhancock.blogspot.com/2011/04/black-cup-orange-slices-on-white-and.html

Art quilt by 12x12 group:

http://www.serendipitypatchwork.com.au/contemporaryquilts/gfm/gfm.JPG

Painting by Colleen Sanchez:

http://colleensanchez.blogspot.com/2009/12/abstracted-poppy-twins-by-daily-painter.html

Art quilt by Rose Rushbrooke:

http://www.roserushbrooke.com/lydia-lg.html

Challenge 60- "Loss" by Sandi Cannarella

2011-09-17T20:52:00.002-05:00

This scene came to me as a result of all the forest fires occurring in the southwest U.S. including here in SoCal due to lightning. I used fused raw-edge applique, glitter glue for sparkle, angelina for forest fairy's hair and dryer sheets and tulle with circular quilting to create smoke. Please tell me if I accomplished my goal -- sadness as a result of the terrible loss of woodlands from fire. 17"x22"

Approaching Storm

2011-09-17T09:52:00.008-05:00

I mulled over this challenge all week until the Friday night before the deadline. As I was falling asleep, this quilt came storming into my mind. I could even see the grass fabric that I had in my stash. It ruined a good nights sleep but in the end, I think it came out very close to what I wanted. Of course Hurricane Irene having blown through here (no damage to our house) made me thinking about storms anyway.

Everything is raw edge applique. The tree, leaves and woman are fused. I was trying to portray an atmosphere of threat and danger and helplessness. Almost a metaphor for our lives now a days with all the economic and political storms swirling around.

I also wanted to do this for our art quilt exhibit so made it larger than usual for a FFFC project.

It ended up 39" x 25 1/2".

Hopefully better late than never and worth the wait

The second photo is the quilt after changes that I made due to suggestions from a friend to make the woman's shirt purple so it showed up better and a suggestion here on the blog to shade the dark gray into the light gray. I tried it and decided that having more dark gray portrayed the menace of the storm more vividly.

Nancy Schlegel, Albany NY

Blue Mood

2011-09-07T23:35:00.003-05:00

I took a photo of my neice sitting on a sand dune. She looked very contemplative. I originally did this quilt in realistic colours, but then was challenged to try redoing it in another colour scheme. This is the result. It changes the mood of the piece entirely. I like this one better than the original.

Intensity

2011-09-06T22:42:00.005-05:00

I am a new member to FFFC and thrilled to be here. I have been following this blog for the last year and have been impressed with the creativity of the group. I loved August's challenge and wanted to get an early start:)

This piece represents the inner turmoil and tension brought on by the external world. This person is internalizing the immense tension 0f the storm. I used two photos which I altered and merged in photoshop. I played with the color to get that deep purple/grey of dark stormy days. I further intensified the color with Neocolor II water soluble crayons before binding and freemotion stitching.

I have been spending a lot of time the last year playing with art quilt tools and colors. I have been using: dye, various paints and inks, water soluble crayons, pencils and markers, screen printing, stamping, transfers, deconstructive printing, etc. However, very little of my playing has resulted in finished pieces. I am hoping to complete one piece a month using different techniques. All critiques and comments are welcome!

LindaBN from Louisiana

"Pina Colada Anyone?"

2011-09-04T20:05:00.001-05:00

I am a little bit behind the ball, but decided after having commented on the works of others meeting this month's challenge, that I should get busy and get something done. The foundation for this piece is fabric which I sunprinted a number of years ago. I used rice paper, maple leaves, and water lily pads. My intent was to invoke a feeling of the tropical jungle with it's humidity, heat, and lushness. I inked the large parrot in the foreground and then colored it with Inktense Pencils and Neocolor II Watersoluble Crayons. I then added metallic highlights with gel pens and then re-inked some of the black lines. The silhouette of the parrots in the back was done with black ink.

The plan is to trapunto the parrots and leaf shapes and then do free motion quilting in the background. I would also like to add some type of border on two sides of the piece. Any and all suggestions and comments are welcomed. This doesn't feel like my best work, but I have been in a slump, so hopefully this will put me on the right track to begin creating again.

Challenge 60, "A Journey in the Rain" by Jeanne Holmes

2011-09-04T19:20:00.002-05:00

I loved the challenge to create a quilt where atmosphere and mood are created with color. Immediately I thought about rain, especially with hurricane Irene getting ready to wreak havoc on the east coast. I love the rain; I especially love to walk in the rain. It was difficult to show the rain and the stormy clouds but to still keep it joyous especially since painting is not my strength. I painted the sky and used fusible applique to create the woman walking in the rain. The piece is 19 1/2” x 16”

Joyful. Joyful

2011-09-03T11:10:00.004-05:00

My goal was to express "joy". I started with the warm colors, then found that I moved to bright, visual compliments and used circles (bubbles, droplets) which also "seemed" joyful to me. The edge is irregular finished by Terry Grant's method using perle cotton along the edge.

The cream is my design board behind my piece (probably black or grey would be a better background choice). This measures approx: 22" X 11.5".

Thank you for an inspiring challenge. Comments welcome.

Winter Wonderland

2011-09-03T10:13:00.012-05:00

I made this little quilt, 13" X 15" quilt, for my Challenge 60, Atmosphere & Mood. I hope it gives you the feeling of cold and winter. Even the tree is without its leaves. I put it on the outer borders to give a more 3-D look.

Orange petal

2011-09-03T08:22:00.004-05:00

What a fun challenge this was. I decided to work from a photo I had taken of a tulip - looking top down. To concentrate on the large blocks of color to set the mood/atmosphere and to add shading with thread painting.

One of the skills I have just begun to work on this year is through the challenges I have done is thread painting. The flower was the first thing I have done so large. The piece is approximately 17" x 12".

The top picture is a detail of the painting and the bottom one is the full piece.

It was a real struggle for me to work with such large blocks of color (rather than small details). Another first for me was cutting all of the pieces free hand based on a printout of the photo that I had taken.

This was my first year participating in the fast friday group. It has really stretched my abilities and challenged me not to overthink what I am doing. I have also really appreciated the constructive criticism that I have received and tried to incorporate it into my work going forward.

Ticia

Terpsichore

2011-09-03T08:00:00.006-05:00

25½" x 16"

Here is the finished piece. The hair is now tinged pink, to make it stand out a bit more, the dancer has lips, and the edge is finished! 9/11/11

Terpsichore is an early kind of dance from the Middle Ages. The colorful striped fabric started me out; I folded it so that the colors radiated out for the dress. The gold fabric started out just for the body, but it worked well for the border, with a lace edging over it. I used Angelina fiber for the hair and collar, sequins for the eyes. I had found a tiny gold rose for a flower in the dancer's mouth, but lost it, so I made that out of fabric paint.

Comments welcome!

Challenge 60---Sunset Over the Island

2011-09-02T18:52:00.006-05:00

While we were on our boat Tuesday last week, there was a spectacular sunset over an island---not reds, pinks, etc. but golds, bronzes. I kept taking pictures but could never really capture the colors. The brightest was like a molten pale gold. This was the closest I could come to it. It is not quilted---had to take three days this week to be sick. However, the more I look at it, I think I will probably frame it. The white rim and outer black are batting and backing--just not trimmed. The size is 12"x7.25".

Mosaic Table

2011-09-02T15:55:00.000-05:00

I loved the idea of using color in a different medium for this challenge. My scrap collection of glass is just as large as my fabric scrap collection.The glass and tile mosaic table is waiting to be grouted.

Meena

Sanctuary Challenge #60

2011-09-02T15:13:00.008-05:00

The idea for this piece began by planning to make a layered photo piece that would finish out at 13 x 18. I had plans to use it as a study for a larger piece. The idea didn't work and I had two pieces printed already so I started playing and the project morphed into 37" x 45" piece.

I started out with two photos taken at a bird sanctuary on Harbor Island, SC, I blended the photos in PSE to achieve the final image. One of the photos was taken at sunset and the water reflected the pink in the sky. They are printed on silk habotai, cotton sateen, silk organza and tulle. The background is a purchased hand dye. I've had the hand dye piece of fabric for years and finally found the right use for it.

Carol I hope this fits the challenge. While the piece is not quilted I do have the top done. Getting this far in less than a week on large piece is quite an accomplishment for me. I'm so glad this group is staying together.

Any comments would be appreciated.

Dream of a garden with fish

2011-09-02T09:38:00.004-05:00

Challenge 60 Rosemary Hopkins

It was a lot of fun to work on Carole's challenge. I got out my favorite color fabrics (blue) and built the quilt on the batting, as I have done in Pamela Allen's classes. I had a 4 X 5 piece of light vine like fabric that I intended to use as the middle. I wove the roof piece, ala Jude Hill, and was going to set it so that the short sides of the triangle were parallel to the edge, but my little green piece wasn't up to it--it was too small. I selected another piece of light fabric and moved the triangle to suggest a roof. I invisibly based the fabrics down, and then used thread and floss to quilt the light piece and the blue. I attached the roof, and added a facing to finish the piece. I don't know if it meets Carole's challenge guidelines, but I am happy with it. By the way, husband didn't like the "pointy thing" on the top, but he said I was the artist and it probably made sense to me. I called it Dream of a garden with fish. Rosemary Hopkins

Joy!

2011-09-01T14:52:00.001-05:00

While doing some sunprinting with my granddaughters ( 3 and 6years) last weekend, we found the strangest thing in the bush near our cabin. It is a battery-operated light contained in a square block about 11" by 11" by about 2" thick. It is a bas relief of a sunflower. With my last piece of fabric we took an impression of it using wet fabric and thin paint. As the piece dried the paint settled into the grooves resulting in the background of this. The colours were so cheerful and happy that I knew it would be perfect for this challenge. I FMQ'd it with bright yellow rayon thread, but it didn't show up very well, so I added some bright green around the edge of the image. The edge is finished with satin stitch over twisted perle cotton.
Great fun, and I'm very happy with it, and have made two more ( without the grandchildren's help-lol), with a little more care and attention, that have much greater detail.
I certainly can't take credit for the design, but neither can I give credit where due, as I have no idea where the original object came from or who made it.
Pat f in Winnipeg
aka fndlmous

Ray of hope

2011-08-31T18:58:00.005-05:00

From the smallest candle shines a ray of hope we have heard throughout our lives. At this time of disaster all rays of hope I am sure are welcome. This piece is raw edge and many overlays of fabric - simple and direct.

Pat Havey

I took Jans suggestion and added quilt lines radiating from the white.

The Waiting Bride

2011-08-31T14:48:00.003-05:00

This piece is a painted composite done in Photoshop. I used white mist to convey the illusion of a bride waiting for her groom, but is she there now or is she a ghost? You decide.

All comments welcome!

Into the Woods by Cynthia Ann Morgan

2011-08-30T22:50:00.000-05:00

The atmosphere I was going for was a mysterious, moody, misty, slightly scary walk in the woods. This is a small piece 9 x 10" using hand dyed fabrics and raw edge applique. What do you think?
Cynthia

Flowing Summer Flowers

2011-08-29T13:34:00.002-05:00

This is a Nuno Felted Scarf - Flowing Summer Flowers
I used a silk blend fabric with hand dyed alpaca roving and curls. The fabric has green and blue tones it is pretty sheer and reflects the colors of the roving .. One of my favorite things are summer flowers!

"sisters"

2011-08-29T11:52:00.002-05:00

I took Carole's challenge as using color to portray mood and atmosphere in this challenge. I've used some very bright colors in this piece to portray the liveliness of jazz. Also some hand stitching to create the movement of music. My older sister plays piano and has the most beautiful jazz voice, and I ...well I always dreamed of playing stand up base. So here we are 'Sisters'.

Looking forward to your comments, and thanks for the great challenge Carole.

Pastel Corn

2011-08-29T11:45:00.002-05:00

Great timing for this challenge. Next week I'll be in Colorado at a pastel painting week in the mountains with my sister. I've been practicing all week since I haven't done anything with pastels in several years. Doing laundry the other day I noticed the pile of lovely colored 'Color Guard' sheets from previous washings. I had 4 of these lovely mahogany colored sheets. This a.m. I put one on my drawing board and proceeded to do a painting of a dried cornstalk simulating what they must look like now in dry Texas compared to our nice green ones here in Nebraska. Interesting surface to work on. I had a fairly nice drawing and then decided to attempt some quilting lines for more detail. MISTAKE! It shook loose much of the pastel muddying the appearance. So I took it back for more pastel. Of course, I couldn't get the original look. But here is the finished piece and I learned a lot about surfaces with this little piece. Thanks for a wonderful, timely challenge!

Desert Sand Storm Coming

2011-08-29T10:24:00.004-05:00

I finally am posting an offering in a timely fashion. This is a small quilt about 8 x 10, using handyed background fabric and a commercial fabric for the threatening cloud (wave) of sand. It is fused and has some very light foil on the cloud. The sun has heavy gold quilting and then heavy gold foil to make you feel the heat.

This was really fun and interesting to do.

Comments welcome and apreciated

"Brewing"

2011-08-28T21:06:00.004-05:00

For this challenge I chose a photo I took in Florida just before a storm arrived. I have always intended to interpret this one so loved the chance to do so for this piece.

I painted the background sky with watercolor pencils on white silk charmeuse. The water is two layers of sheers: the ground is black suede cloth and the trees are cut from a printed fabric and fused and stitched on. I painted the tree trunks. The grasses are thread painting.

It measures 19 1/2"x13 1/2".

This was a super challenge Carole...Thanks!

All comments welcomed and appreciated.

Cherie

Textured Photos

2011-08-27T14:24:00.004-05:00

For my challenge I textured two photos. I used a photo of a previous Fast Friday challenge photo for one and another Fast Friday photo for the texture on the other one.

I hope they aren't considered things done in the past because I just used them for raw material.
The challenge was the texturing that I did yesterday. I'm just learning how to do that.

You can see the before and after on my Flickr photo stream at or near the top. I have the photos that I used posted as a comment.

www.flickr.com/photos/squarequilter

Challenge #60 Atmosphere and Mood using Color

2011-08-25T22:00:00.002-05:00

FFFC Challenge 60 – August 2011

Atmosphere and mood using color

Host: A Carole Grant Due: Sept 3 noon ET

Let’s use color to create an atmosphere and mood in our challenge piece. And for this challenge, for a change…you can choose a different medium than fabric if that appeals to you. Paper art, photography, mixed media, painting, drawing or whatever else.

Mood/Atmosphere in Art – definition and examples:

http://tinyurl.com/3c7yzus http://www.pbase.com/pnd1/atmosphere_and_mood http://www.danielsmith.com/Item--i-E-LightHarmony
Heavy rain? Alfred Sisley http://tinyurl.com/3m8hey2

Time of day? Entitled ‘ Chicago Glow’ http://tinyurl.com/4ymo9y6

Water? Entitled ‘Maine Mist’ http://tinyurl.com/444a4er

I love this one…. Entitled ‘Ridge Light’ http://tinyurl.com/4yh4kqr

In the clouds? http://tinyurl.com/3eldc4w

Interesting use of color to depict mood and atmosphere on this blog: http://blog.jromeo.es/en/

Joan Fullerton, artist http://tinyurl.com/3w9qlw8

Annette Dion McGowan, artist http://tinyurl.com/3fs86u9

Spring atmosphere--- Joseph Mazzucco http://www.fotoblur.com/images/187864

night storm? Photograph, Edmondo Senatore http://tinyurl.com/3b4ut2k

Great artwork for ideas, Malcolm Bamford http://tinyurl.com/3g5v2oz

And Some Art Quilt examples: http://www.sueholdaway-heys.com/

http://www.saqa.com/collectors.php?ID=1823

http://www.lindalevinart.com/ http://www.hollisart.com/gallery.php

Contemplation

2011-08-25T09:25:00.000-05:00

This quilt is based on a photo of my niece sitting on a sand dune. So far the top is only fused, not quilted. It is approx. 24" x 24". The shadows and some of the marks on the sand were done with sheers.

Challenge #59 Solitary Canoe

2011-08-23T22:43:00.002-05:00

I actually had a good start on this and thought I'd get it done before the deadline...I always fool myself that way. I decided that for this one, I would employ what Pamela Allen has been teaching in the online class I'm taking with her "Think Like and Artist" which has taken me a lot of thinking since her style and mine are so different.

For this challenge, I thought of doing a number of things, my daughter running and a couple of others, but decided that I wanted to do one of my niece's fiance. I had hoped to do him fly fishing since I intend to do a series along that line, but she only had a picture of him launching his canoe in a river near Arden, North Carolina.

To do this one, I free-cut all the pieces, none of them were drawn ahead of time. I hope that this creates sort of an abstract, although I admit it isn't what I usually do when I abstract things... The yellowish blob is actually iridescent lame (imagine the accent there, although I admit this does look a little lame) which caught the light badly for the photo...it actually just gives a shimmer to that part of the water.

I don't think this is a particularly good composition. I am hoping that when I put more thread painted leaves and limbs in the background and the water, then it will be more interesting, at least texturally.

I thought of cropping it to this, however I don't feel that it gives the feeling of solitude that the larger view does. The extra water makes it look more....lonely in a way.

Any suggestions on improving this would be greatly appreciated.

Challenge 59 - Awaiting a Breeze

2011-08-19T10:39:00.000-05:00

Better late than never.

Awaiting a breeze measures 6 x 9 inches. The dandelion fluff is done with three layers of translucent fabrics.

Comments are always welcome.

Lisa
In Foggy Seattle

Solitude in a Border’s Time Vacuum

2011-08-12T06:39:00.000-05:00

Solitude in a Border’s Time Vacuum

My quilt is about is about the closing of Borders Books and Music... am feeling a sense of loss of my favorite bookstore. The book label on the side is an actual borders rewards tag that invites the viewer to check out the Border's Reward card more closely. When placed with the barcode up, it depicts a ladder where one climbs into a world of wonderful books where one loses track of time . When placed with the rewards tab up, it now depicts a sense of loss as Borders Books no longer offers rewards and ceases to exist in time.

Meena