Patterns, Landscape and Frost!

My Journal Quilt for January

This year the format is landscape, 12 "x 8" and a theme of our own choosing. I have decided on 'Patterns in the Landscape'. After I'd submitted my choice, I had second thoughts because I wondered if the word 'landscape', would have been better described as 'environment'  Then I found that the word 'patterns' was also causing more doubts about my choice, so I ended up 'googling' it for more clarification!  We have to stick to this theme for the 12 months, but as it should be a challenge, I have decided to stay with my original theme title. However, there has been a positive outcome to all these doubts because Google came up with the book title, 'Patterns in the Landscape' by Phillip Hughes. I've actually ended up ordering this book, because it looks fascinating, and is by an artist that is unknown to me, so now I shall be looking out for the postman with eager eyes!! 

I painted the hand dyed fabric first with a wash of watery acrylic paint, sketched in the background trees with Karisma pencils, machine couched the seed heads in the foreground with white knitting wool, and added the frosted grasses with white gesso. See below for the inspiration for this quilt.

Drawing/painting (above), made on my Tablet with Sketchbook Pro, from the photograph that I took a few weeks ago (below), after a heavy frost.

On the same day, I also took the photo below of some frosted leaves, and then made the sketch above on my Tablet.

Well, thanks for reading this far and wherever you may be in the world, I wish you a very happy and creative filled weekend.

A

A January jumble!

This is my second piece inspired by the photograph taken in my nephews barn. Reflected sunlight through a polythene sheet, tacked over the window spaces. I made the first one below in paper and silk for a challenge, but it was sold in a local gallery! I decided to re-make it, but this time in cloth and above is the result. What do you think?

Below is one of the heart pieces I'm making to celebrate Valentines day. This and another, along with some cards will be on sale in the Corner Gallery, Carshalton Beeches.

The February issue of Popular Patchwork has an article about the CQ@10 Cornish tin mine challenge that I took part in last year. I was thrilled to find that they have included my quilt in their article. Fame at last eh?!!

I hope you are all keeping warm during this cold snap, and I must say that it's during weather like this that I am so pleased to be using one of my lap quilts over my legs. Very snug!

Feeling rather 'David Hockney'ish!!'

Tulips for Emily. I bought these beautiful tulips just after Christmas, and said to my husband that I would sketch them on my new 'tablet' for our daughter in New Zealand. This was the result, and I have to say I was rather pleased with it! I have also printed off a copy for her onto some lovely rag paper, and it will be in the post very soon.

These daisies were from my imagination, but as you can probably see, I was still getting used to the Sketchbook Pro app.

One of my first attempts, and somehow I've managed to capture the 'extra accessories ' top and bottom!!

Our cat Elsa, sitting on the arm of my chair with her back to me! Maybe I should have asked her permission first!

One of our armchairs, and that same vase of tulips, but in an imaginary room with a sea view. I wonder what I was dreaming of eh? Wishful thinking maybe!

And the actual vase of inspirational tulips, but taken with my new camera phone using the posterise effect..

I've been having lots of fun since Christmas, experimenting with my new toys, but now I need to get back to business! I'm looking forward to getting back to my sewing machine, and some needle and thread. It is good to have a break and some fun, it seems to re-charge the batteries. I hope mine have been re-charged, and I hope yours have too.