Lighting

Lighting is such an important issue in working in the studio. I sometimes forget how important it is, until something changes and I'm reminded.

This week I was again reminded of lighting's importance.

Friends of ours came down for race week from Canada again this year and we totally enjoy their visit. This year I had an extra special gift given to me. One of them is an electrician and last year while viewing my studio commented on my lighting issues and that he knew what I needed to fix it. I didn't think too much of it. I trusted that he did know what I needed, but to look a year in advance awaiting something just isn't in my nature to do. This year when he came down, he brought new lighting and I was thrilled!!!!!! Today I got to work under the new lighting for the first time. Barry, I can't thank you enough! (and you too Chris)

Before, with the old lighting, I could see very well when I needed full light, but shadow light was almost impossible. I had tried several different lights and none worked. Shadow lighting is needed when you match thread very closely to the quilt top, then can't see what you've quilted and what you haven't. And as I've got a Gammill (longarm quilting machine) with a 12' table, it can become an issue very quickly.

To illustrate, this is a play piece, not an actual quilt top, one of the most important things in longarm quilting is PPP, known either as practice, practice, practice or practice, perseverance, and patience depending on who you're talking to. Before the new lighting, this is what I would see with the full daylight fluorescents overhead:


As you can see, the stitches sink in so deeply and the thread matches so closely, they are almost impossible to see. After a little while, my eyes would start to burn and strain and I'd be done for the day long before I wanted to stop.

Now with my new lighting, again THANK YOU BARRY, this is what I see:

Lighting is so important!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm a happy quilter tonight! And I think I'm going to go play (I mean practice) some more on the machine as I can see so well now!

Presque Isle piece beginnings

Last month I went to home to visit family. While I was there, I spent one day at Presque Isle driving around and taking pictures. I had forgotten how beautiful it is there, even before spring starts to really bud out.


On that drive, three pictures I took inspired me to create a piece showing some of my favorite spots I saw that day. I'm not calling this a "quilt", nor a "wallhanging" nor "textile art" yet. How can you categorize something that is still under construction? Especially if you don't know exactly where and what techniques you'll use to finish the piece?


But, here are the photos I took that inspired this piece:

I believe all these were taken from the Lake Erie side of the Peninsula, but as I never know exactly when on the drive I turn from the bay side to the lake side, I won't stake my life on it!

This is the beginning of the piece I have started from these photos:

You can see there were 3 elements that struck me from the photo's, the tree, the picnic table and the rock jetty. This is the first step of laying out the basic elements. Next I'll start to add some detail.

stay tuned..........................

Learning to Draw

I've always been a sketcher and a doodler. Some days are better than others, but without formal training I've always wondered about my ability. Lately I find myself wondering less and less, but enjoying the process more and more. I also find myself sketching a bit quicker, I think I see more now than I used to. Could this come from practicing actually looking at things?

Last evening, while having my evening tea on the back deck, one of my dogs went on full alert. Baci, my rescued dog, thought he heard something up in the woods, but he's not brave enough to actually go after anything, just stand and make a lot of noise! While he was standing, I attempted to capture the shape and definition of the back of his front leg.

Immediately my mind started a loud verbal critique of what I had done. And the other dogs started running up to the woods and the moment was lost. There was nothing in the woods, but there had been a snake there earlier in the day.

While reading through parts of "The Artists Way" by Julia Cameron again later last night, I was struck by the statement that for a beginning artist to criticize their work and compare it to others is a form of self-abuse by the left brain.

Point taken, I like this image for what it is, the best of my ability to capture the back of Baci's leg last night in a short span of time at this given point in my life.

Welcome

Welcome, I'm glad you found your way here. Welcome to my creative journey in the world of art and quilting. Whether my work is truly "art", whether my work is considered "good" or whether my work is considered "craft", I'll let the experts decide.......and while they are debating I'll share with you the what, why and how of what I do, and maybe a few side observations as well.

Stay tuned, more to follow............................