In a slump

This year was crazy with quilting projects. So now even thought I still have things to do I’ve hit a slump.

These are the projects I’ve completed this year.

I made a king size quilt for our daughter. I did not quilt it, but I did piece and bind it. That’s her cat on the quilt.

I made a gnome for my sister.

I made a gnome for my girlfriend.

I made my recycle piece and won first place. The piece finally made it back home to me. The person that returned it is a portrait artist and she was still raving over my piece. I take that as quite a compliment.

From the Inner Mind to the Outer Limits

I made my piece for the word challenge at a local art museum. My word was wonder and it sold.

I finished my city collage quilt. It’s 45 by 66.

I made a portrait of my sister’s house for her birthday. 

So mentally I’m pretty shot in terms of motivation to work on the Halloween quilt. I know I will get going on it soon, but I needed a break.

I’ve been playing with some AI images. The one with the Raven is for the recycle show next year. The theme is “on the books.” I will put the either Poe titles on the books or scary story titles like Sleepy Hollow or the Shining. I have several variations of this. Here’s two of them.

I’ve also created a few other AI images for quilt ideas. I like the first one because it’s weird and scary. I like the city scene in the rain in the second one.

Thanks for reading.

Chris

Still thinking…..

Now I know why I was never great at going to quilt classes and creating on demand. I have to spend a lot of time thinking about and analyzing what I’m going to do. Improv is not something I’m good at.

I’ve been thinking about how to break up the path on the Halloween quilt. 

This is the quilt.

I’ve been planning and sketching on my iPad. This is what I’m thinking about doing. And yes there are 3 black cats in the quilt. Now I just have to get motivated to do it. 

Some other things I’ve thought about is that I need to darken the bottoms of the pumpkins that touch the dark fabric. I will do that with Inktense  pencils. I will also darken the path as it gets closer to the haunted house. Nothing creative will happen today because I will be washing floors. 

Thanks for reading.

Chris

The surprise gift arrived

The gift was for my youngest sister for her birthday. It arrived today and it made her cry. That’s because it’s a portrait of her house on our dad’s drafting vellum. The plan drawn on the vellum is not her house even though my dad did design the renovation of her house. I did not have the velum for her house. I suspect that she probably has that. 

This is what she said, “ Okay...just got our mail and you made me cry.  It is beautiful and so meaningful.  I love it.  Thank you so much.  Not sure where I will be hanging it yet since I am packing up the living room and halls for a painter who is coming the end of the month.  In the meantime, although it doesn't fit, it is hanging here.”

The portrait is 11 by 14 and framed. I painted the vellum and then machine and hand stitched the piece. It is backed by a Pellon stabilizer. I’ve done this technique 2 other times.

Here’s her house entitled “Dad Was Here.” 

She also took a photo of it in a temporary location.

I’ve done a portrait of our daughter’s house as well as a piece for the local recycle show.

Thanks for reading.

Chris

Not a pleasant surprise

 I finished the surprise project and it will be shipped today to the recipient. Once they receive it I will post what it’s all about. Meanwhile I pulled the Halloween quilt off of the design wall to get it ready to quilt it. 

The surprise was that I had not torn off all of the stabilizer that I used when I stitched the pieces in place last year. I don’t enjoy doing that. It is so tedious. I’m almost done doing that now. This is the back of the top. My poor hand is sore from using tweezers to pull out the stabilizer bits. I also use packing tape to pull them out. Some will never come out and will be left in. Once it’s quilted no one will ever know.

Thanks for reading.

Chris