Painting this Week

My husband and I are visiting his mom in Saskatchewan this week.  I brought an easel, paints, and canvas. I am experimenting on water color paper and canvas that I have textured with molding paste.  Using a layered technique I will start with a bright colored underpainting applied with a brush and fingers. The next layers will be rolled on working my way to a finished painting.  I wanted to post some pictures and show you what I'm doing.  Unfortunately, I forgot the usb cord for my camera and the laptop we have with us does not accept an xd memory card.  So, I will take pictures and in a couple of weeks I will catch up with my 52 weeks. 

Saskatchewan has some amazing golf courses in the smallest centres.  We are staying at a campground called Pasquia Park, just outside of Carrot River.  The campground is beautiful, with a wonderful little 9 hole golf course, swimming pool, mini golf, and diner.  It is scenic among rolling hills, the greenest river valley, and lush forest.  It is an extemely windy day and the campsite is calm among the trees.  There are very clean bathrooms and a shower house that runs on loonies.  The golf course is green and gorgeous.  A friendly course with a few hills, water here and there (but not too much), and plenty of shelter from the wind.  Maybe not today with 70km winds, but it would be easy to golf at 30km.  Loving attention to the course shows in the colourful flower beds on many tee-off boxes.  An old golf bag filled with flowers greets golfers at the pro shop. 

Week 5 - Quilting - Fractured Flowers

I used the free-motion method on this quilt. 

 I like to do some practise pieces to get the feel for my pattern. 

 My machine has speed settings.  When I do free-motion I set it on the highest speed.  This gives a nice stitch length as the pattern develops. 

 This is the completed quilting on the top. This quilt seems to be taking a long time...it's fun to be outside golfing this time of year.   I will let you know when I get the binding on!  

Week 5 - More Progress

Got the borders on today...I love this quilt top! 

Opting for the creamy narrow border brings out the same tones in the print. 

 Wonderful movement is created with this technique. 

 

Week 5 - Progress

Here are some pictures of the fabric after it has been fractured.  This is just such a neat transformation.  This piece is small, approx 30x30" at this point.  It includes almost 900 tiny squares. 

Week 5 - Palette - Split Analogous

This Color Scheme is a bit complex.  There is a split-analogous scheme with a compliment added to the palette.   A split-analogous scheme includes a main color and the two colors one space away from it on each side on the color wheel.  In this case the main color would be considered red-orange with it's pairings of red-purple and yellow-orange.  Then the compliment (across the color wheel) of green has been added.  These colors have then been placed on a neutral black background.  I am still undecided whether to use green or beige as my narrow border, but each would be suitable. 

 

I am including this photo of the main print as the transformation to the fractured quilt is substantial and exciting to see! 

Coming up...

I have commitments that will keep me from blogging for the next week.  I will be quilting though and will be sure to post some neat things around June 16th.

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This is the book that I will be working from....

Week 4 - Complete - Convergence in Japanese Prints

The Japanese prints are beautiful in this pattern.  This quilt reminds me of the Cherry Blossoms blowing onto the water in Japan last spring.  The bright pink print was bought on my trip.  I ran the quilted stitching on a flowing diagonal to resemble the breeze. 

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If anyone has any suggestions for working with metallic threads for embroidery or quilting, please feel free to post some comments.  This was my first try with the gold thread.  I love the shiny look and would like to try more stitching techniques.  Thank you :)

Week 4 - More Progress

All the pieces together. 

Borders on. 

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Onto the quilting...

I'm stitching with gold thread.  I have never used metallic thread before and had to do some experimenting with samples.  The thread kept breaking.  I changed needles numerous times until I determined that a denim 80 needle worked wonders!  I have a regular cotton thread in the bobbin. 

Metallic thread stitching. 

Close up of gold stitching. I love the look of the metallic thread. 

Week 4 - Progress

This week I am working with a pattern from this excellent book!  It contains very specific and descriptive instructions. 

Here is some of my progress...

Week 4 - Palette - Split Complementary

The split-complementary color scheme is a variation of the complementary color scheme. It includes the main color and the two colors on each side of its complementary (opposite) color. This color scheme has a lovely visual contrast.  It is often a good choice for beginners, because it is easy to accomplish.  In this palette the color choices are values of yellow and its split complements red-purple and blue-purple.  The neutral patterned piece has all the colors included. 

Neutral with Print, Blue-Purple, Lighter Value of Red-Purple, and Darker Value of Yellow.   



Just for Fun...Picnic Tablecloth Tote Bag

A little weekend project.  This pattern is in the current issue of Canadian Living.