Creativity Challenge: "Dream"

The Creativity challenge for the month of July is "Dream." That meant endless possibilities! It's been in the back of my mind all month. For a while I thought I would simply finish a preemie quilt I've had hanging in the closet for way too long. You know, sweet dreams for a newborn and all that. But then I got to thinking about what to do for the Bead Journal Project for July. (I have April's ornament done but have not shown it yet. May's is under construction. I have an idea for June but am not sure how I want to execute it.) I've also been thinking about doing something with a steampunk flavor to it. Then the other day it suddenly occurred to me that I could try to pull it all together into one project.

I used my 15 minutes of piecing to produce the bottom half of my ornament:


This is what my work surface looked like at the end of the process:


I found a shimmery white polyester in my stash to use for the upper half of the ornament. Right after the challenge was announced I had purchased a pair of wing charms, specifically because they are printed with the word 'dream.' Then I had to find something to attach them to... ah! I've had this figure in my charm stash for a long time. This will be a great place to use it!

I also bought a packet of watch parts when I bought the wings. (I told you I wanted to do something steampunk!) Dumped them out, filed off sharp points, found sequins and other things to use with them and was well on my way.

That hard line between the top and bottom halves of the diamond bothered me. I went to the store to look for a ribbon I could couch down and brought home two possibilities (and a huge headache). By themselves neither one really gave me the look I wanted. But I wondered whether a cotton ball might not give me the cloud-like impression I was after. I pulled one apart and used the tiniest shreds of it under the sheer white ribbon. Iridescent seed beads tack the ribbon down in a zigzag over the cotton. Success!

So here's the final product:

I'm very happy with it. (Since the picture was taken I've trimmed off some of those ravelling threads.) To me the clockwork bits at the bottom represent the analytical aspect of my mind and the fairy is there to remind me to take time to dream, whether it be in daylight or while I'm sleeping. And I've fulfilled two challenges in one project! :- )

Back in Action

It has cooled down somewhat, making it more comfortable to use the sewing machine and the iron to piece blocks. And I think I've climbed out of the pit I'd fallen into. I'm happy it wasn't deeper. It's even possible that I've learned something in the process.

I believe that pit was dug in part by my over thinking the blocks for my friend's quilt. I wanted so badly for them to be something she would like that I lost my own vision. Since she's my friend, and has been for several years, it's very likely she will appreciate whatever I make for her and would rather have something authentic than something forced for the sake of artistry. To that end I made up a couple of liberated stars for her quilt:

There will be more of these. :- )

This morning I had to go to our Food Co-op to get some groceries. Most of the year they also have plants for sale, herbs and flowers and vegetables, on display between the parking lot and the main entrance. Our yard is in a state of flux for the time being so I've been resisting the urge to buy the beauties I'd like to have in my garden. Today I was fortunate to have my camera with me because there was a begonia that nearly caused me to crash into another vehicle in the parking lot.

Look at that bloom!

What a perfect blending of some of my favorite colors! I was told the name of this variety but of course I've forgotten it already. I'm confident Nancy at the Food Co-op can figure it out and find another one for me when I'm finally ready for it. Man that's gorgeous! (pardon me while I wipe the drool off my key board...)

Layin' Low

Well, a little bit of sewing has taken place over the last several days. It's been pretty warm for this part of the world, too hot to have the iron on since we don't have air conditioning. The few blocks I've made have been with the quilt for my friend in mind.

These do not use the batik I bought specifically for the quilt... that may come later. It may be a better color or value but will probably be just as busy visually. Not sure that's the look I want.

I like the bottom two blocks in the picture above the best. I think I'm going to move on to another block pattern in other colors/prints. It may be a day or two before I get to it though.

Stumbling Blocks

An integral part of any process are the stumbling blocks, distractions, interruptions, wrong turns and setbacks. They seem to be unavoidable a lot of the time. As artists, crafters, creators I think we are better off if we can just accept that there will be impediments to our progress and soldier on. I say all this because I am in the midst of that very experience.


Not that it's awful this time around. I know it will pass, and I've made some little progress in spite of it. But the fact is that my head is killing me as the result of a whiff (well, more than a mere whiff) of raw asphalt or roofing tar or something like that and my son is using me as a sounding board for his creative projects to an extant that doesn't leave me time for my own thoughts.

I am proud of my boy, my youngest son, who is deeply involved in the creation of costumes of Roman armor for the Shakespeare play "Antony & Cleopatra" in which he is also performing next month. He has made everything from sandals to faux swords to faux leather armor to actual chain maille (for four bodies!). And that's just for this one play. He's been in various productions of Shakespeare plays for several years now and has always made his own costume. But he's the sort who needs someone to bounce ideas and difficulties off of and I just happen to be the most convenient this time around. I'm happy to do what I can but my knowledge is limited when it comes to woodworking and metal!

The upshot of all this is that I don't feel I've had two moments together to think about my panel for my friend's quilt. I am leaning away from using the batik panel however. I think I want something less directional, a design that won't have an upside down aspect to it. And I am leaning back toward the more traditional quilt block patterns. If I could just focus long enough to choose a pair of colors for some experimental blocks I would be happier.

And if I could sew up a couple of experimental blocks I would consider it a real victory. (The blocks you've been seeing in this post are the liberated log cabins I've been making in my 15 minutes of play.)

A Peek Into My Process

It's been at least two days now that the batik panel has been on my design wall.

I wanted to get "Chicken Soup" done and out of the way before I put my full attention on the quilt panel for my friend with cancer. My fear is that I may have fallen into that pit that lies between projects, the one that keeps me from progressing and gets deeper and darker with each passing day.

There has been some discussion amongst the three of us making this quilt about the orientation of the designs within each panel. Finally I think we've decided that rather than keeping it strictly vertical or horizontal we'll try for multi-directional designs. Meanwhile, I have this batik picture that is very definitely directional. I could certainly work it into a multi-directional design but it has been the source of second and third thoughts about what to do for my panel of this quilt.

Then there's the actual construction process to be considered. What kind of piecing do I want to do? Would one style be more appropriate than another (precision vs.liberated)? What is my approach going to be? I want the final product to be happy and encouraging and comforting but I also want it to be aesthetically pleasing to this artistically astute woman.

I have never been one to follow a pattern. I use books for inspiration and maybe to pick up a new trick or technique. Nor am I inclined to make the same block over and over again, unless I can use a wide variety of colors and prints so no two blocks are the same. So how do I make a bunch of blocks and keep my panel of the quilt cohesive? Making blocks and then figuring out how to set them together seems to be the way I work. At least that's the way I've been working lately. Do I want to try a different approach? Given the time contstraints that may not be a good idea.

I know I work better when I can create a story to go along with whatever I'm making. No one else need ever know exactly what that story was or is, it's just a tool I use to help my creative process. That's why I was drawn to this batik picture in the first place. It hints at a possible story. Finding other fabrics in my stash that work with it may further the potential story line. I know I want my panel to be more than just this focal point and a bunch of blocks.

I probably need to just go play in my fabrics. Start pulling prints and colors and see what falls together. The browns I originally pulled apparently aren't doing it for me - yet. They may eventually, they may not. I may push this to the blue in the upper half of the batik panel and ignore the browns altogether.

Okay, what appears orange in this picture is really more of a rusty brown.

There is the distinct possibility that this batik may not even make it into the final version of my panel. Hoo boy. {deep breath} Maybe I'll go sew some scraps together to grease the wheels. One thing's for sure, I need to get off this computer before any more time slips by!