Happy Monday…after school vacation!! Yipppeeee! Vacation week was fun and I managed to accomplish a few things. It was a busy week while I attempted to remain calm while Amanda was in France (despite news stories that fueled my anxiety) and make it a fun week for Lindsey and Leah who, well , didn’t get to go to France. We aimed to do something fun each day and I think they had a good time. I know I did! And Amanda had the time of her life, for sure.

I worked a few days on the Love Notes quilt that was acting as my therapy quilt while Amanda was abroad. I got all the pieces cut and I’m working on stitching the blocks together. I stitch and pin them to the design wall in no particular order as of yet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’ve used quite a bit of sizing on each patch hoping to overcome the bias problem. So far, it’s going ok.

I made a bunch of Star Wars totes for the comic show as well.

My sketching class on Craftsy continues. My third assignment was the banana one where I had to use two values of the same color in a watercolor sketch. So basically sketch the same item twice and color it two different ways.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The feedback I received from the instructor was this:

I think this is a lovely study. One thing to watch out for are proportions–your banana might be getting a tad bit skinny, like a string bean. The colors are spot-on, though. The other thing I would work on is making the background values even darker, and laying in the banana’s shadow. I think that would really help the banana “pop” more. Nice job!

I was pleased. The fourth homework was HARD, you guys. It was to sketch a person in motion. So basically sketch a person moving very quickly and fill in most of the detail from your memory. I sketched Leah walking in front of the fireplace. It didn’t come out great and I had that darn coffee table in my way. Ugh.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The only part I liked was that you could see her foot lifted up like it was in motion..sort of. Here was the reply of the instructor:

Nice job. You’ve got the right idea, working with the general features first, like the ponytail and the style of clothes. I think you can be even more gestural with these. I would try sketching in public with people you don’t know and see what you can capture.

I think he’s too kind to say what he really thought! LOL!

Today after lunch I took my sketching on the road which is really what this urban sketch class is about. I went to Dunkin Donuts, ordered a coffee and started to sketch. I ignored anyone looking at me strangely. My intention was to sketch the whole counter. I realized I was way, way, way in over my head so I did the part of the counter that was right in front of me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m not feeling all that encouraged but I will keep trying. One of my favorite quotes by Eleanor Roosevelt is, “You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” She is right. She is sooooo right. Also, I watched all 6 Star Wars movies in order last week so I’m feeling particularly Jedi-ish with the mind set that I can do anything. Ha ha ha. At least that’s what Yoda says.

Ok, on to mug rugs. I never posted what the mug rugs looked like that I sent to my two partners, Tina and my mom. Here it is.

I found the free pattern on line and I thought it was really cute so I made one for each partner.

Today I’m working on my presentation that I’m giving to the Seaside Quilters in early May. What are you up to?

And I do still podcast though it seems I skipped a month. I’ll be remedying that this week! Stay tuned!!!