Same Face - Different Colors

I thought it might be interesting to see the two quilts together - instead of in different posts.  You can definitely see the similarities but they look like different people.... such different energy.  Hard to believe it was the exact same pattern.     barbara

Now Try Another Color

Before painting

I had finished the class project quilt but, quite honestly, I wasn't quite sure that I could do another one without the excellent advice of Teri.  Could I choose the right pieces of fabric to make it work?  Could I paint the right places in the right colors?  Sort of scary.....
In order to reduce the anxiety that I was feeling, I decided to use the same pattern that we had used in class.  Teri had made a pattern including all the value designations.  My good friend Jan (and fellow blogger on this site) had dyed some fabulous fabric for me to use in my experiment.  And it worked perfectly.

After painting

This one isn't quilted yet.  The pictures are before painting and after painting.  Amazing difference.  And I learned a whole lot by doing this on my own.  One of the things that I learned was how to use paint to draw the color from one piece of the fabric to the other so that the fabric choices for different values didn't stand out as glaringly different pieces - and were able to flow together visually.  At least I think that they do. Take note of the difference in the neck area between the before and after photos.   I am sure that my skills at this will increase as I practice.   barbara

Class Project Quilt - after quilting

So here is the finished project.  I did simple echo quilting on this one - but I think I will do something different for the next one.  I used the envelope technique with rounded corners and like this finish a lot.  It would certainly keep the quilt show judge from criticizing the mitered corners!  Ha!   
barbara

Class Project Quilt

Before painting - small photo is the inspiration

After we learned the basic technique, we spent two days selecting fabric for the portrait and piecing the fabric pieces together - well not actually "piecing".  They are fused with Misty Fuse and then fused to the background fabric.  Then we painted to add details, emphasize the shadows and highlights.  It is NOT easy.  In class Teri (that is what Esterita is called) helped each of us every step of the way  - which was critical to the learning process.
Since it was a three day class instead of a five day class, the pattern for the face was provided and this is the first one that I did.

After painting - note  the difference around the eyes and the chin

I chose one of my favorite fabrics - and it was horribly difficult to cut holes all over the place - but I like the finished piece.  I think it is dramatic.  The fabric that I selected made it more challenging to paint - but I think this helped me learn a lot.
barbara

Hot Springs Inspiration

I took a three day class in Hot Springs Village the beginning of May.  In April we had weeks of rain and about a zillion bad storms and tornado warnings.  I am deeply frightened of storms so I was a nervous twit by the time I drove to Hot Springs for the class.  But I am SO GLAD that I did.
I was so lucky to be included in this class because I don't know any of the people in the group that was sponsoring the class.... but they needed folks to come, and I have always wanted to take a class from Esterita Austin.  I am completely amazed by her beautiful art quilts.
Little did I know that not only would I be in a class with such a famous teacher - but I would meet some wonderful friendly artistic quilters.  And Esterita is a GREAT teacher - and lots of fun too!!
In the class we learned her technique to create portrait quilts paying special attention to value as well as color.  Check out the next few posts to see examples of what I did since the class....   barbara

Gone a long time - but I am BACK!!

When I started this blog  I was committed to posting new information frequently.  And I did that for a while - but I haven't posted since March 7.  I admit that I have been a "bad" blogger.
Where was I, you might ask?  I was in a great big glurpy creative slump.  Gloppy and Gooey and Glumpy.  Is that enough "G" words?  Anyway I think part of it was that we had many visitors (and that was wonderful but disruptive to my normal schedule) and then it rained and rained and - well I think I got sort of depressed and funky.
But now I am back - and creating wonderful new quilts and ready to be a good blogger..... so .... here we go!     barbara

Quilting makes it art

I never like a quilt that I create until it is quilted.  I wonder how many I pitched before I learned that, without quilting, it looks like a flat color book page from kindergarten.  Thank goodness that I now quilt everything before I make up my mind if I like it.  If I don't, it is off to the silent auction for the Humane Society.  Great cause and they always sell. 

A little side story here.  I got a darling puppy from the Humane Society and he was so scared and sick that I wasn't sure he would live.  It never crossed my mind to inquire of the vet what kind he was so I just paid the bills and hoped he would live.  Little did I suspect that he was a Jack Russell!!!!  He has the stamina of a small elephant and recovered completely with more gusto than I thought was possible for a small dog.  In case you haven't heard, quilters and Jack Russells are like oil and water.  After he ate my roommates and my glasses, I blamed myself for putting them where he could get them.  One day I made a special trip to town to buy a queen size batt of wool for a quilt.  Set it on the bed while I put the groceries away and by the time that I returned, Jake the Snake had destroyed it.  Needless to say, he now lives on a large property with 2 other dogs for constant entertainment.  I see him often but he doesn't want to come home to this boring house.