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Making Progress
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December 10, 2009 |
OK, let's see if this works better. I have uploaded the images first, and will type in between! I have been working on the yellow tulips that are painted on the quilted background I showed you on the last blog. Once that was done and prepared, I marked the tulips on the background using a water soluble blue pen, very lightly, as I am always terrified that it's not going to come off. So remember, take a few minutes and try the marking pen or pencil you are planning on using on a sample first, to see if it will come off, or on the back of the quilt, just where you are going to place the label. In that case, if the blue line (or any other color) doesn't wash off, you will be able to cover it. Below is a photo of my palette, and a very messy piece of paper towel. I decided to use acrylic paint with fabric medium. I had purchased a box of 24 Liquitex Basic Acrylics to try them, so that's what I am using at this time, combined with GAC 900. GAC 900 is a Golden Medium, by Golden Products. The label reads "A 100% acrylic dispenser polymer heat-setting medium for modifying acrylic paints applied to clothing. Suitable for brushing, airbrushing or screen-printing. Provides a soft-hand and increased launderability." You can read more if you go to the Golden website at www.goldenpaints.com; it has extensive technical information on GAC 900
I mixed GAC 900 about 1:1 with the acrylic paint. I used it sparingly, both the paint and the medium. I really just mixed it in the brush, unless I needed a large quantity of paint in which case I mixed it all at once.
I used a palette of Cadmium Yellow Medium Hue, Cadmiuim Red Light Hue, Cadmium Orange Hue, Titanium White, Raw Sienna and Raw Umber for the flowers.
Below is the first four petals I painted; I started with the one on the right, went to the one on the left, the middle one and the one behind on top was last. This was just about the first pass. When you look at photos later on, you will realize how different they look. I have adjusted and adjusted the color and the lights and shadows until I got the result I wanted. I am glad nobody can tell how many times my brush found its way to certain parts of the flower!
Once that first flower was completed, I decided to add a bud, so I drew it lightly in and started to block the colors in. I was called on the phone, so by the time I came back the paint had dried, which makes it a bit more difficult to blend. But in the end, you can't tell. So the photo below shows the first flower and the bud. There is still one more petal to be painted on this tulip.
 On another note, I bought a bread machine the other day from a gentleman at the office, so now that I have blogged a bit, I'm going to the kitchen to put all the ingredients in the bread maker. I purchased all the gluten free flours I could find (I couldn't find millet flour), so off I go to mix them and turn the machine on. I'll let you know how it turned out tomorrow. Keeping my fingers crossed that the results will be edible! So good night to you all; and until I blog again, keep quilting.
Ana
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The Quilting is Finished
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December 04, 2009 |
Good morning,
It's early here on this Friday morning. I have a day off work, which is always nice and am getting ready to go out and do some shopping, hopefully before the snow storm hits. But ... I have a few minutes before I leave, so I thought I'd post some photos of the piece I just finished quilting. The quilting alone took me more than 75 hours. The piece is about 42" x 44". It has been prepared so I can paint on it once it is bound and painted. I'll explain as I go.
 Unfortunately you can't see too much from the photo. The base is made of 5 pieces of fabric of "unknown fiber content". Which means that I bought them because I liked them but have no idea of what they are. The three center pieces are samples of upholstery fabric and the other two are remnants that I purchase at Chintz & Co. in Calgary. They sell the upholstery fabric samples and remnants at 50% off and you usually get really nice deals on silks, and unusual fabrics. In this case, the fiber content didn't matter. Below I have posted a detail of the tight quilting so you can see a close-up:
And now a close up of one of the feathers that I designed myself.
 I just looked out the window. It's starting to snow quite heavily. So I am going to venture out and see how much I get done before the weather and driving conditions send hurrying back inside.
I will post more photos during the weekend. And until I blog again, keep quilting.
Ana
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I've Been Getting Back to My Old Self
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December 03, 2009 |
I can't believe it's been a couple of weeks since I blogged last. Where does time go? I wasn't even having that much fun! The days seem to fly by lately, more than usual, I guess. I have been getting busy at work again, which is a good thing, as it makes the days go faster, and I don't feel like eating chocolate all the time (because I am bored. LOL). Working two projects at once, and trying to balance the work is good but it keeps me hopping from one desk to the other, while dealing with confidentiality issues, trying to set up the new project and help close out the old one. And ... trying to keep my emails straight, as I have two different Project Managers with the same last name! It keeps life interesting. That's the work part of my day. On the family side, the children are doing fine. Sabrina is writing the last few essays and exams and getting ready for her trek back home on December 16th. She's coming through Vancouver, which means a bus to the ferry, the ferry across, the bus to the airport, the plane home. Well, she was saving a few dollars, and enjoys the time she has to sit down and read. She'll be home soon. Yeah!! The calendar she participated in is out. I have asked her to bring me three. She posed nude (with strategic parts covered by, in her case, books) for a calendar to raise funds for Cancer Research. When they reach their goal of $25,000 dollars, they'll get their heads shaved! Oh, what a brave daughter I have (I think I'd rather pose nude than shave my head! LOL). Anyway, I am dying to see the calendar! She said it looks great. If you'd like to purchase one to help out, please send me an email. Sebastian is also getting ready to finish his first semester of his Masters at UofC. Keeping very busy, with studies, all the reading he has to do, writing essays, his girlfriend, work, and more work. I don't see him too often, but ... I know he's doing what he wants, and he's happy doing it. Ale is glowing! He's at SAIT, in Professional Cooking. He has an apartment downtown which he shares with a roommate, Cody, who is also part of his group at SAIT. It seems to work fine. They go to school, study, exercise and cook! They even clean from time to time. And have fun doing that. He called me a few days ago to tell me he had received his partial grade at the class he's taking now, and he got the highest mark of the class, plus the comments were amazing! He's really doing well. I am so proud of him! He was making BBQ beef in the slow cooker last night! I, as I mentioned in the Subject line, have been getting back to my old self. I had a three day weekend last weekend, and got a lot of work done. I will download photos later and post them so you see what I have been working on. Now, I get to go and try to find out if my youngest son forgot he was coming home for dinner. So, until I blog again, keep quilting. Ana
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Design Matters TV
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November 16, 2009 |
Good afternoon, I thought I'd let you know about Design Matters TV. Check Linda and Laura Kemshall's website and discover a lively mix of shows on a variety of subjects that you love from the comfort of your home. You just need to sign up and pay a yearly fee and then you will get a user ID and password. Once you sign in, you will be able to view several videos that they have posted. I have been corresponding with Laura on different issues, and told her I would pass the word around, as I love what they are doing (of course, I love their work). I find the videos informative, and very inspirational. They are based on the techniques they use in their quilts. If you have never seen their book "The Painted Quilt", take a look at it when you get a chance. If you like to try new techniques, new materials, and are open to new ideas, these videos are for you. Check it out and let me know what you think, and don't forget to mention me when you sign up. Until I blog again, keep quilting. Ana
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Quilting In the Trees - Victoria 2010
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November 04, 2009 |
I am very happy to report that I have been confirmed to once again teach at Quilting in the Trees in Victoria, in June 2010. This year was my first year teaching there, and I loved it. The setting is perfect, at Pearson College, rustic but very comfortable. The food was very nice (and they were willing and able to accommodate my gluten intolerance with a smile) and the company great. There are a couple of vendors so if you need anything for the classes or see an item you can't live without, you can purchase it right there. The Satin Moon was present this year, with lovely things we had to have!
The Conference is organized by the Victoria Quilters Guild, and they do a fantastic job. There is a silent auction going on at the same time, and there are lots of goodies to bid on.
I met a lot of very nice ladies, and I am hoping that I will see them again in June 2010. This time, I am teaching two new workshops: a one day class (with a prep class the evening before) for "Introduction to Fabric Painting", and a two day class for "Transferring, Lettering and  Painting on Fabric." It should be a fun class. I forgot to take photos of the samples before I sent them on their way, but Carol was very nice and sent me some yesterday, so now I can post them. The rest will be a surprise! The idea of the 2-day class is to work on samples during the first day, and plan on a small piece of work with the elements learned on the first day during the second day (does that make sense?). So I am hoping that by the time they leave at the end of the workshop, the students will have lots of ideas to develop, and new ways to add texture and lettering to their work. All this will be combined with machine quilting (I couldn't leave it behind, as it is one of my "loves", and because of that ... I will keep trying to convince quilters that it is easier than it looks if you just practice, practice, practice). Talking about quilting, I have been working on a new piece for CQA, which takes place here in Calgary at the end of April 2010. I am very excited as I will be teaching a couple of courses too, my first Conference (I justs have nightmares about nobody signing up for them!). But back to the subject of quilting. I will not post photos of this new piece as it is still very early stages; suffice it to say that I have quilted, and quilted and quilted for the past about 50 hours and have not finished yet. And that is just the beginning! I am using all Wonderfil thread so I can enter the new competition sponsored by Wonderfil Specialty Threads. If you have never heard of it, it is a Calgary company that manufactures top of the line thread. Check their website at http://www.wonderfil.net/. On the left hand side you can click on "CQA Contest" for the information on this new Award. For more information, check the Canadian Quilters' Association website at http://www.canadianquilter.com/. I will have more news later on, so, until I blog again, keep quilting.
Ana
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