Colour my world

There is a wee bit of colourful language as I pick up the momentum to organize more of my supplies.  I'm dealing with books and paper at the moment.  There was a few things that were shoved under my bed  in a moment of exasperation but I am determined to quit kicking stuff from room to room so I shamed myself colourfully  and I'm going back at it again.

I separated all my colours into groups and I'm trying them all on a cheap sketch pad paper.  This is a good exercise as I differentiate between colours.  Who knew that Phthalo Green was a blue shade and Phthalo Blue is a green shade???  I also determined that no matter how much water you put on neopastels they won't do much. lol  Now Neoart water soluble pastels are wonderfully juicy with the addition of water as are Derwent Inktense pencils.  And I think I like gouache paint better than watercolours.

The standard colour wheel is what I would be sharing with beginners in my remedial art class.  There are 3 primaries and three secondaries.  I probably need to try some custom mixes to get the last sections in place.

But the colour system that 'speaks' to me is the Munsell colour System.  It has five primary colours, red, yellow, blue, green and purple.  This of course changes complimentary colours but I do like it.   But first I got my examples of the five colours down on paper and I'll be giving the secondaries a try next.

A thought?  I wonder if I should be trying this exercise on fabric as well?  hmmmm

White flowers!

Chokecherry shrubs are almost like weeds where I live.  But I've grown to luv them.  These have always been on the west wall of the house.  When we moved here I tried to get rid of them, not realizing that they respond with even more suckering.  I finally gave up and over time I've appreciated the morning sounds of birds in the branches, some even sitting on the window sill.  They smell lovely also.

A brief walk about the yard shows the candy tuft survived my transplanting.

My Solomon's Seal is spreading away. 

The hostas are doing their thing.  I can't believe I originally rejected them as part of my plant arsenal.  Good grief, they are hardy, low care and slowly expand.  I even like the flowers which were disparaged once upon  time.  But I'm more for foliage than flowers.

These are some kind of little bulb that multiplies like crazy but most of the year just looks like grass.

The Labrador violets are a cool ground cover and the white lamium is probably here to stay as it resists weeding out.    This is pretty much from my white section although the weeds are making everything into a white colour scheme. 

The variety of weeds in the flower beds astounds me.  When I feel like I've got one kind licked, a new one takes over in the next year.  This year I have an incredible array of what my farmer says is stink weed!  From my Girl Guide days I can also identify Shepherd's Purse! :(

                            There is also some yellow which is turning into some real dandy white fluff.  :(

This is Prairie Smoke, a wild flower.  Also low care and the seed heads will be fluffy white.  It also goes by the name, Old Man's Whiskers.  See the bee, lower left.  He is busy.  My farmer, who has retired from farming, is joining the flower bed brigade and we'll be busy as bees ourselves restoring order to the flower beds.  He likes big, fat, blowzy flowers!  I'd threatened the weeds with the lawn mower but the Rooster says we have to preserve our mental health so we'll be keeping the flowers.  Shoot, I was all set for mixed shrub beds!  

 

He isn't quite up to snuff so after his nap we'll do the walk about and I'll be taking note of the new head gardener's plans!  The upside means the flowers will come from his budget now and I can buy coloured art supplies from my allowance!  yippee skippee

And while he naps I'm getting ready to spread some colour on my white pages because the next section for the Altered Book tutorial is colour!  Luv it!!! 

The creamsicle crisis

Oh look what I found!!!

Now, I am not a car person.  I just like to arrive with no problems and reasonably clean.  So I don't notice cars.

But I screeched to a halt and ran out to photograph this gorgeous car.  I had dropped my daughter at her doctor's appointment and the grand kiddies and I were cruising the main drag of their little city which has the nickname of 'automobile city'.  Josh is all for it!  Go Gram ma GO!

I never even looked inside but the tag on the mirror caught my eye.  An easy number to remember.  $29,999.  yikes!  But maybe it gets great gas mileage?  It says it is a Roadster. A convertible.  But that is a hard top, and who needs the wind in my hair, but...  But I LIKE it.  Sheesh, mid life crisis happens to men.  I did talk to the Rooster on the phone and said I need $30, 000.  He said $30 WHAT!!!  I think he sank into a relapse.  His eyes just kinda glaze over when I showed him the 6 pictures.  He is the one who bought me my first cremesicle.  And we could haul DIY stuff in the back.  I'd drive, of course.  vbsigh  My hubby's name is Michael.  See just above the roof.       Not enough, apparently, to float me a loan! 

Nothing related to cleaning, organizing, creating or crafting.  hmm, maybe it is time to think about an etsy shop! 

Happy weekend. May you feel the wind in your hair as you coast down the highway of life.  Me, I'm choking dust on the back roads with the Rooster's very basic, 2 doors, no frills, standard shift, Accent.  I wonder what it'd cost to paint it cremesicle???

Two steps ahead and only one back!

Before we begin the Creating 101 series, I have to organize all my supplies.  Jenn and I tackled the bead section on Wednesday.

I was very glad to have her because if she felt it was a big job, I knew it was a big job.  But my bravado and her willingness got us a very great start. 

I had moved fabric around to clear most of one whole bookcase.  I find it interesting that the huge amounts of fabric I once absolutely had to have has given way to making room for other things I 'have to have'! lol  But I do believe I'm a bit wiser so hopefully I'm avoiding some of my previous traps.  We made a list of a few organizers that will help.  Her reward will be a 'field trip' after I see what we need for organizing and what I need to fill in the supply gaps.

I'm finding stuff I'd forgotten about so I'm getting it where I can see it which also means I can get it.  I'm also getting rid of lots of junky stuff.

I'm thankful that I had a good start and things became clearer and made some sense as I found places for similar things.  Next I must deal with the ephemera and paper for my altered books and journals.  But I'm optimistic that things will become clear as I begin the sort.  I will have to deal with a couple of stacks of books.  I cringe at the thought of pruning my books again, especially as I have another one ordered.  sheesh! 

Perhaps I really need to get rid of the Singer Sewing Library that I accumulated in the lean years.  There is a bit of memory attached to those.  I remember them arriving in the mail and being the highlight of my day.  But I can't say as I've really used them much.  ;^)

Now the glitch in the organizing is the Rooster.  A lack of appetite and all the cough medicine flared up his gout.  Big time!  And then he finally did what I had suggested and went to the doctor. He is home on major rest as he has pneumonia.  awk! Men are such wimpy patients and I am a not so compassionate nurse.  Oh, well.  This too, shall pass and we'll be all the better for the bonding experience.  Course that means I'll have to refrain from tripping him as he moans and limps past me! 

wow messing with elements

I'm still reorganizing the studio.  And I'm beginning to make the switch from playing around to serious, well, sort of, art.

This section is on the elements of design,  Elizabeth listed them as line, form, shape, space, texture and next session we'll add colour.
Just like in school we do not master every thing in kindergarten but keep adding to the basics as we progress. A masters is a program specializing in something.  So I'm continuiing to 'master' design elements and their principles.  It is a tad confusing because they  are inter-related and often work in pairs. There are different lists of basic elements as well.  I really think that one must get one's own understanding because in order to gain mastery one must become familiar and make the process one's own.

I learned that line is the strongest.

Then I came across this quote which helps me organize the elements a bit better. 

Without line, there is no shape.  (shape can be geomeric which is generally man made or organic which are nature shapes)

Without shape, there is no form.  (this was the hardest for me until I understood that form has mass and volume, 3D so to speak, and shadows add to  that feeling)

Without form, there is no texture.  And there can be no pattern.   (texture can be visual or actual)

My theme book often looses its effect when I get into study mode so again, I'll be going back later to get a more cohesive feel.  I tried the glue for the water cycle and it didn't seem to work as well as the first time I used it for texture.  Not sure why, but I got a better understanding of elements after I had almost finished this page. ;^)

I'm linking up to TN&TN

Messing with Monday!

I must be fully recovered because I have an irresistible urge to spring clean!

                                       
I will be starting a new program with my young gal so I do actually need to reorganize some of my supplies.   I'm also notorious for starting from the furthest back position.  So I am down in the depths of the basement and I am sorting and simplifying with a determination that is pretty fierce. I am so tired of moving stuff around and never finding what I am looking for.  The basement was revamped to do wet crafts a couple of years ago when I discovered fabric dyeing.  But the ceiling is too low and it is just too dark and dreary. Would you believe,, at 5' 2", I barely clear the duct work? So I'm bringing up the craft stuff and pitching anything that isn't necessary for laundry, minor repairs, and seasonal clothing.  The pantry is down there and has its own corner and we keep that pretty organized.

So far, I have carried out 6 boxes and a bag for the thrift shop.  Then I took about another half dozen to the burning bin which is the inside of an old mix mill hopper.  It is terrribly windy and there is a burning ban so I'll just store it there till I can burn it.  I had saved boxes,  plastic bags, gift wrap stuff and all kinds of old bits of stuff for mixed media.  It is no longer pristine and there is only so much stuff one can save.  My tastes have also changed and it was a great ah ha moment when I realized most of this stuff no longer appealed.  So a huge sigh of relief to have so much gone and only a smaller amount to organize properly. 

Nothing photo worthy, unless it would be my grin!

Grand mothering

Things are slowly getting back to a familiar routine with some continuing babying of the throat. 

Soon as we drop the parents off for their appointment the grand Kiddies and I will be checking out the Children's Museum in the city.  I remember taking the youngest son and he just luved it there.  I plan on moving from bench to bench as they explore one fascinating area after another.

We got the Mother's Day necklace all done and boxed up for the big day. 

The altered book design elements are due Monday and I did a bit with my technique pages. 
I am really liking the idea of using maps.  They convey a lot- line, motion, texture.  I shall be keeping a eye out for maps on my field tripping!  I just hope my energy level can keep up to what the day's map has laid out.

Chicken Soup

Thank you for your well wishes.  I think there was some question, in my mind at least, as to whether I would have chicken soup or be chicken soup.  That was a nasty virus.  The Rooster has gone back to work this morning.  It is time to air the house  and begin a new page.

Monday Moaning

Well, after an exciting week I felt very confident in raising my hand to stop the arrival of a nasty flu bug that had been visiting at my daughter's and laying them low.  So much for my hand!  It grabbed it, gave me one of those martial art throws and down I went.  Then as I feebly put out a hand to raise myself it galloped up from behind and thoroughly tromped me.  sheesh!   I am still in recovery mode.  The schedule has totally been destroyed.  But in my attempt to always view my glass from half full, this is probably a good time to sit and stare out the window at the waving dandelions and contemplate some of the changes that have presented themselves recently.  I'm not moaning but my first cup of coffee in days still doesn't taste quite right!  ;^) 

So, just who is this chick???

Chickens in a flock are somewhat hard to distinguish from one another.  This would be true of me.  I'm not particularly noteworthy but then a good keeper of the flock begins to know the individuals.  I would be the noisy, excitable one who is all about rearranging the straw in the nest and trying to landscape the chicken yard.  I'd be doing this at inappropriate times and with considerable dust and squawks!  But there is a pecking order in a flock and I'm learning to find my place and be productive.  I've lost a few feathers in the process but I'm a wiser hen who has learned that some things can't be rushed and brooding is not something to be disparaged.  The chicken/egg cycle just can't be rushed.

My creative endeavours took place in my home. I so badly needed to express myself.  Quilts covered beds, draped over the arms of chairs, hung on walls,  marked place settings on tables and even complimented the wardrobe.  I began traditionally and eventually learned that I am not traditional.  But I didn't understand that creative expression needs time to evolve and be perfected.  I wanted instant results.  Today, this ol' biddy, has begun to learn to enjoy the process and then the project will reflect that joy. 

My journey:

A dear friend introduced me to quilting with the scissor and template method.  This actually shows how badly I wanted to do this as I have rather a short attention span.  I over estimated the number of pieces and made rail fences for the crib, the 2 bunks, a queen for my sister, various pillows, etc. until I finally gave away the rest.  My math is terrible, The actual sewing was reasonably accurate but the quilts were a stretchy assortment of poly cottons and cotton.  Utility would be the way I'd describe them.

The Irish Chain introduced me to the modern tools of rotary cutters, rulers and mats.  This was better.

Our quilt group, Country Roads Quilters, was small and we tackled all kinds of things, some good, some not so good but we learned lots because for the most part we had no idea what we were getting into.  lol For this wall hanging we designed house blocks to represent our home and then made them in the colours each of us chose to work in.  This was my neutral period!

I began to identify what I liked. 

I prefer quilts without the traditional borders around them.  I wish I'd not lined up with my fellow quilters to buy yards and yards of lovely florals.  It was wonderfully freeing to donate a huge amount of it to charity recently.  I just kept the more whimsical and stylized designs. Backings, you know!

                                                            I had a country period.

                                                   I passed through a folk art period.

         
                                                                Even a crazy period!

                           

A Thirties period

A 'let's get them married' period.

                                                      A 'what if I did what I want' period.

                                                          Also a 'go with the flow' period.

                                                            I've made all sizes of quilts. 

When I began learning about quilts I thought their history was fascinating and I wanted to make examples of every kind.  I quickly realized that full size was impractical so I embraced miniature.  I then realized there was not enough time in my time line!  lol

Then I thought I'd make a quilt to give away and keep one for myself but on a smaller scale.  When our first son married I made a queen size from a wall hanging picture. Then I made the wall hanging for myself. 

I became part of a collaboration with some gals out west.  They sent me their leftovers and I had such a good time making this.  It is called Turn Right at the Leftovers.  It made me begin to think about art quilts.

                                
                                                 If its art, where do you put it?

I do have a goodly variety of quilts and I haven't even brought out the 3 sets of applique blocks that need finishing and to be set in a top.  I do like hand applique but they are pretty traditional and so not me anymore.  I have learned my lesson about finishing projects before I lose interest in them and find something much more exciting to start!    I also think that my days of full sized quilts is about over and I'll be sticking to lap size. 

                               Fibre will always be my first luv but I want to try so many other things. 

If all the various parts of a chicken's meal were set out individually, the chicken has the amazing ability to take the best balanced ration they can.  How smart is that?  I need to learn how to balance everything that I want to do.  It has dawned on me that I can NOT do it all, at least not well.  Now I just have to figure out what I want to do most and the best way to do it.

Chickens are raised for various reasons, egg layers, meat production or exotics.  I'm too old for egg production.  I'm more a soup bird than the fried chicken variety.  I figure that only leaves: cute!  I'm going to be going for old age as the cutest chick I can be!

Now The Needle and Thread Network  is a site for Canadian Blogs to link up and show their stuff.  There are regular WIP Wednesday posts and bi weekly Featured Friday Artists.  It is a pretty big thrill to be featured this week.  If you'd like a quick history of where I came from, where I am, and where I'm going please check here or by clicking directly on the Canadian flag feature button.   I quite enjoy seeing various parts of Canada and what my fellow Canadian artists are making.  I hope you'll enjoy it as well.  Thanks for visiting!

From showers to flowers

I'm not sure doing daily calender entries is a good idea!!!   Yikes!  I can't believe how fast the cold rainy month of April slipped away.  I have to admit that I was relieved that spring stalled and gave me a bit more time inside.  But my life is not my own and any extra seems to be quickly gobbled up.   

It is looking like May just 'maybe' will be a month to remember.  It is stacked up with serious deadlines and commitments. It also has some new beginnings and some fun stuff scheduled. But I see the dandelions are stretching and stirring so a whole new summer schedule needs to be penciled in.
  

I am along for the journey and I would really like to be in the driver's seat , enjoying the ride and taking time to pull over and smell the roses.  With that in mind, I shall be doing a looser format for this month.

Wow, what's on Wednesday's worktable...

This end of the table looks good but things deteriorate from there.

In a search for some various things from the past I've managed to turn everything pretty topsy turvy.

The quilt show deadline looms far too soon.

What's on the wall?

This takes some clear thinking and I haven't had much clarity.  The grand kiddies passed on their cold to their mum and she has been quite sick.  But I am committed to finishing this as their house renovations should be done this summer so it'll serve a couple of purposes. But for now it will stay on the wall and hopefully all the pieces that are pinned in place.  Good thing the grand kiddies are more important than quilts!  lol

As for whats on the worktable,

I have a few tops that are pretty close to being finished.

Decisions, decisions?

The one project that is actually due for the quilt show is last year's challenge fabric and it is the project I am least excited about.  I tried paint sticks and wouldn't you know it that right after I tried I got 2 Australian magazines from my sewing dealer with some good instructions.  I believe the words 'gently rub' may have been overlooked by yours truly.  VBSigh

So now what to do???

I'm linking to The Needle and Thread Network and I'll be looking to see if any of my fellow Canadians have any ideason their worktables that will spark the 'aha moment'!

Happy WOW Day!