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Roots/Routes Design for QOTW

5/25/2015

Started working on my piece for the Roots/Routes exhibit for Quilts on the Wall this weekend. Went looking through some family history for inspiration and in the process found some really interesting facts. My peeps were some of the first people over on the ship The Concord back in the late 1600's. Others served in the Revolutionary War, Civil War and beyond. Thank you Dad for your service.

I worked on getting some of the map information from different areas. I am working on two different ideas and will see which one I like the best for my final piece. Photoshop and Spoonflower are one possible solution for part of the design process.

Working with maps of different areas was interesting since some of the place names I recognized as family names. I have been sketching out different design and layout plans for this quilt.

The unusual size (18 inches wide by 48 inches long) will be a challenge. The good thing is that I just finished a similar size for the SAQA exhibit "Oasis" and I have worked through some of the issues with a long narrow piece. That will save me some design time on this piece.

I have found that if a piece that stretches me in new design directions I wind up discovering new tools, or design options that I may not have discovered otherwise. That is always a great thing.

Historical Map

What do you do to stretch yourself in new ways? (Besides yoga).
I hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial Day and celebrated those that have served our country, both in the past and currently.

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Accomplishing Goals - Onward and Upward

5/16/2015

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My word for the year is "Focus", and it appears that it is working! I have finished my quilt for the "Urban Graffiti" exhibit that will debut at Road to California in January 2016. This is an exhibit put together by Quilts on the Wall in Seal Beach, CA, of which David and I are members. (David is nearing the home stretch on his.)

I have also just finished my entry for Southern California regional SAQA's "Oasis" upcoming exhibit. It will debut at the Palm Springs Mancusco show in early October and travel onto PIQF in mid-October 2015. Jamie Fingal and Leslie Tucker Jenison will juror the show. If you are familiar with Jamie and Leslie's Dinner at Eight group you know that they will be excellent jurors.

Yesterday I spent the morning in a local Starbucks (we have a bunch in Temecula) stitching on the sleeve so it can be hung. It was a rainy, cold day and it was perfect for sitting, stitching, and sipping on a Flat White. All I have to do is put the label on it and I can call this quilt done!

Sleeve of Oasis quilt

Detail of Oasis quilt

I have been working on some thumbnail sketches and have a pretty good idea of the direction I will be going. My next decision is whether I will be working on a light or dark background for my base. I have selected fabrics for each option, so I will be testing out the look on some small pieces to see which I prefer.

What have you been working on? Are you targeting an exhibition or just working for personal pleasure? Let me know, I would love to hear.

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Off to the Races....

5/1/2015

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This weekend is one of my favorites because I love horse racing. (Actually, I love racing around on horses, but this is the next best thing.) The Oaks and The Derby are being run this weekend. For those of you who don't know, The Oaks is the race for the fillies, and The Derby is for the colts. In honor of these events, I am running around like crazy trying to get several projects completed.

I have two labels and one sleeve to get put on a couple of quilts. I am busily trying to finish a quilt for the SAQA Oasis call for entry that will debut in Palm Springs at the Mancusco show, and I still have to design and create a quilt for Routes/Roots for the Quilts on the Wall call for entry.

David is working on his Quilts on the Wall Urban Graffiti quilt (y quilt needs a label and it is done!) I love his piece and it is another in his statement series. He is not making a SAQA Oasis themed quilt. He is swamped at his day job and nothing sprang up as inspiration when he first heard about the call for entry.

Here is a little sneak peek of my Oasis quilt. I don't have a name for it yet, and it is only about 50% done at this time, but I am very happy with the direction it is going. Will be wonderful to see all the great quilts that get into the exhibit. I am ever hopeful and will be thrilled if mine is one of them.

Detail of Oasis SAQA quilt

I have been having a great time playing with color and texture in both stitch and the layering of fabrics on this piece.

This was my second attempt at a design for this exhibit. The first one I was trying to force a fabric I loved into the size requirements. I had to admit that I was not going to get a successful piece from the fabric I was trying to use. The limited amount of the focal piece was just not going to work in this elongated portrait format. This exhibit has a requirement of 18 inches wide x 40 inches long.

I am so glad that I decided to start a new design rather than fight the old one. David was helpful in affirming my decision. I also got to use a piece of fabric I bought years ago at the show in Long Beach. I loved the piece of fabric, had no idea what I was going to do with it, but it is perfect for this. I had that piece pinned to my design wall for years and finally found a home for it.

After SAQA makes their selection of pieces for the exhibit, I will post my quilt on the website if it is not selected. I am really excited about the direction of last few pieces. I feel that I am truly starting to develop a recognizable signature style.

Do you feel you have your own style yet? Do your fellow artists think you do, but you don't?

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Roots/Routes Design for QOTW

Accomplishing Goals - Onward and Upward

Off to the Races....

David & Patricia

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