Portrait Warmup

I'm getting ready for next weeks week-long Painted Quilt Art class in Phoenix, Az. with "Quilting In The Desert!"   This length of class affords me time to do a demo portrait and I am always looking for a new challenge rather than relying on past fabric ink portraits.  A throwaway local magazine carried a photo of an adorable young girl.  As long as I am merely using this image for a personal refinement/ learning opportunity, it should be fine to use. Lest I contact the photo owner for permission, what I would NOT do is use this image in a finished portrait piece for public sale or competition.

 So I did a 30 minute unfinished portrait to to bring human portrait skills back in focus ( I often paint wildlife)   I like to  go for soft... almost  pastel chalk-look paintings of people... all using ink on fabric.

This is certainly a cute little girl.... I loved her happy eyes in dark shadow and 'am always challenged painting an open mouth. An open mouth generally calls for emphasis on the opening rather than the lips... the open area of the mouth would be the darkest area. As to teeth... you may hint at edge shape, but may not want to define each tooth ( alas the Dracula effect is easily achieved).  

Click on photo for enlarged view

Exploring a White Knight!

Okay... so I haven't posted since just before Christmas. A fifteen day cruise gift from hubby  occupied my would be creative time but for 2 small pieces painted on the small desk in my stateroom.  I've been wanting to take on another equine piece as horses are such beautiful art on legs!
 The black and white contour drawing put down flat with fabric atop and here we go. I try to get the eyes in right away so the animal comes alive.  Some basic facial features are all that's painted here. The rest you see is the under fabric contour drawing. I will sometimes do a small version of a piece ( to work out the kinks) and then a larger version...likely to be done on this image.

Now a bit more detail starts to creep in:

and finally a breathtaking mane.   This is a white horse on white fabric and I wanted to keep this soft and monochromatic.... so the lightest of grays was introduced into the background. Values are relative to what's around them so even this light gray is darker  than the horse thus the white horse looks more white than if the background were left  pure white.

                                                (C) copyright Patt Blair
Finally home to quilt and finish.  Mostly white threads , some taupe, and light gray.. all 40 wts.
Quilting the horse  motifs came pretty natural... sweeping slightly curved lines with graceful beginnings and endings wherever possible.  The background brought a new challenge. I needed something more than a knock down filler.... it would be boring to do that. So I settled on an alternate fill/no fill pattern on parallel wavy lines moving horizontally.  Sometimes things work out!  Click on photos for enlarged view.

                                                        (C) copyright Patt Blair

Lucky Boots Gifted today

I am so excited.  Each December in my friendship group, we draw secret pal names for next Christmas. We make whatever we want them to have.  It's so fun planning and making something for someone and actually keeping it a secret for 12 months....  Today late morning, I will present this uniquely designed art piece for Indiana-born ( thus the sunflowers), would-be cowgirl ( thus the boots)  to friend Janmarie Halliday who happens to also love the color turquoise.  She's getting a long awaited sewing room within the month and she just might need an art quilt to display.  So... this is designed for her... painted with pigments inks.. and quilted.  All the luck from the horseshoe door hinge is going straight to the foot of her lucky boots.  Hope she likes it!   I'd love to have those boots myself!

In beautiful AUBURN, CA- 4 nights lodging, 11 meals, and 4 days class with Patt

The very progressive Whistle Stop Quilt Shop (' love their name)  has invited me  to teach a 4 day Painted Quilt Art Retreat in  beautiful Auburn California. Might be a good Christmas gift to self to sign up. I love this retreat format as students can come home with a completed project... (YEAH!)   Take a look and all have a wonderful Holiday... Me?... I'm sneaking off to Hawaii. Good Idea huh?!

PAINTED QUILT ART with Patt Blair 

Dates:  April 18, 2016 - 
check in 2p.m. to April 22 - check out 10a.m.

 paint one of my drawings ( example) 

or work from www.pattsart.com EZ drawing Button 

(actually tracing) to have an original subject you want! 

Location:

Mercy Center Auburn

535 Sacramento St.

Auburn, CA  95603

Fee:  $575 - includes 4 nights lodging, 11 meals & 4-day workshop

Sponsored by Whistle Stop Quilt Shop

Prospective students can contact us as we have the retreat contract, payment info, and supply list, etc. 

 For contract with the venue .... Initial Registration thru Whistle Stop required by 12-31-15

click here to go to their website and give them a call if interested. 

 Owner - Suzanne Maguire

Whistle Stop Quilt Shop

13342 Lincoln Way

Auburn, CA  95603

530-888-1882

www.WhistleStopQuiltAndSew.com

Last minute hostess gift- HOT pad

Years ago there was a trend of this design ( sons batting) to serve as a coaster. For some time I have used this design as a large hot pad or even pot holder, filling it with 2 layers of batting.
It's nice to give a pair as a gift... I've done many in Christmas fabrics too....

 It does require 2 complimentary fabrics. A half yard each of 2 complimentary fabrics can make up to 4 9" hot pads ( or pot holders for those that still cook) ;-D
So...  here's the required supplies to make 1 heavy duty hot pad :
5  9" squares of fabric compliments.. I used 2 of each fabric ( Black and Black/Green Batik) for the top, and 1 black for the back.  I have an appx. 4 x 6  optional scrap (black/ green) that I will explain later... and 2  9" squares of cotton batting... ( I had some black scraps so am using  that but the neutral color is fine as batting is not seen but perhaps sightly where 4 double fold triangles come together in the center  top side of the finished piece.  (example bottom right of pic below.)

Begin by matching up (right side out) opposite corners of 4  9" squares ( 2 of each compliment fabric) , ending up with 4 right side out triangles. IRON the triangle! 

Set the 4 triangles aside while prepping the next part. 

Stack 2 layers of batting on top of which I placed the 4 x 6 scrap of batik.( This piece of scrap will eventually ( when all is complete) be directly beneath the 4 doubled over triangles that will add shortly.

Stitch the scrap to the batting by sewing 1/4" around all four sides.

Flip over batting to batik side down in prep for next step.

You'l now begin placing the right side up pieces of fabric. First place  atop the batting... the right side  up of backing fabric square.

Now we will begin the layered  'weave' of the 4 right side out traingles.

First one with raw edge point matched to the top left  outside corner.

Then  working clockwise a compliment fabric to the right top corner.

Now the match to bottom right.

Then to Bottom left. 

Carefully 'release the top half of the hidden batik from below the black corner at the left. 

Lay in carefully atop the fourth added black triangle and you'll be ready to sew the thing together.

Before sewing all layers together... you will need to lower the amount of pressure on your pressure foot. Read on!

 

 Remember that there's alot of layers on this piece. ... Essentially four layers of fabric on top, 1 full square layer beneath the four triangles, and 2 layers of batting!  EEK!   All thats left to do is secure these several layers together ( next step) and then turn things inside out. 

As your sew around the outside edges, make certain the corner points stay lined up.  Pin if needed.

All sewing done and we are ready to turn this inside out though  to make the end result a bit less bulky at the finished corners, you may find it helpful to snip away a wee bit of the four corners of batting and triangle tips 

Turned right side out now... press with the iron and prepare to give away. 

This looks a bit more complicated than it is....  I can easily cut, stack, sew, iron,  thus finish 2 in less than an hour. Happy holidays all. 

Table for the Holidays

 I'm a sucker for panels (though like many use but a few purchased)  and this one caught my eye a year or so back...   Sooo festive. This makes a nice table holiday cover and a chance to play and "experiment with quilting motifs". So that's just what I did here on this 42" wide panel..

 

I loved all 3 dramatic images. The central wreath was loaded with a calling for simple outline quilting much like needed to show off  applique. A more simple cross grid in wreath center gave the eye a place to rest.. and plenty of free form Victorian feathers surrounded the central image on all three  panel segments.

Peace on the left... oh how we need peace in our world.

and joy on the right. These 2 cardinals are gorgeous.  Kudos to the designer . 

 Love the text of twigs and berries.  Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! ! 

Someone will get this this holiday but don't know who .. yet! 

UPDATE... Last evening one of  our group of quilt friends  had dinner and drew numbers in one of those Silly Santa select and steal exchanges. Quilter with the  drawn from a plate number 1 got this piece and  kept it. 

Click on photos for enlarged views.

5 Day Quilt Camp w/ me in Arizona.. January 25-29, 2016

Getting Ready for 2016's Quilt Camp in the Desert... 
What better place to spend a week this January !  

A wee bit of self promotion before the holidays go full out.... Hope some can join me!

101: Painted Quilt Art - Patt Blair - January 25-29 

This class is perfect for those that don't draw, don't paint, but want to anyway. Bring an enlarged photo tracing from one of your own photos or chose from one of my ready to go contour drawings. To create your own drawing, go to pattsart.com and click on EZ Drawing button. (Also See Patt's Ready To Go 18 x 24 Options viewable at www.pattsart.com via the button titled Workshops shown at near top of page) You'll paint using TSUKINEKO fabric Inks and special stick applicators. My job will be to make you successful! ☺ Quilting Segment Description: Using your already finished top, we'll first review what quilt lines convey what messages. You'll then create a quilting plan for your piece. Finally, you QUILT to your hearts content. Note: should you prefer to keep painting yet another project (many do!), that's fine too

Cost: $ 625.00
Painted Art Quilt - 5 days

Use your Photo or one of Patt's

Quilting in the Desert

www.quiltcamp.com

480-874-3411

click here  to go to  http://www.quiltcamp.com/module/class.htm?classId=81768 for class details including supply list 

 and

 click here to go to http://www.quiltcamp.com for registration information.