Embracing white and red

I have just had an amazing week.  No! No news on the housing front.  I am reconciling to another winter here.  But...

Before I reconciled that,  I consoled myself with playing around with OOTD's which are outfits of the day.  In my case that is pretty casual..  I wore a comfy outfit all day and when I went to post it to the 40+ style club  private FB page I realized I hadn't felt uplifted.  Hmm, why not?  My conclusion was that it was primarily a warm palette and I am a cool winter.   What we wear does affect how we feel.  You know the motto- Dress for Success!  Then I got to making my ootd's in neutrals.  Stone/beige is tricky.  All white is a stretch for this messy gal.   But greys ...

This could be my look!  Now to add some colour, but not piles as too much colour seems to overwhelm me.

Here are the details I posted:

#ellenpukalo #hourglass
Ready or not! Momentous week. OOTD had me working with neutrals. Colour I have a handle on. Contrast I get, sort of. Value even in quilting is my struggle. So low value contrast causes me angst! Ditched all black. Not too smart because I just eliminated a lovely distinguishing line. edgy, Tracy? Light neutrals and a hint of soft femininity, Sally. ( 'member I wanna be sweet). Guess that means I load up on white cause beige is tricky for me since I am reconciled to not being a warm winter. lol So what cubby hole did I stash all the tints in? grey- silver and all the lovely other light to medium greys. duh!
My style as it continues to evolve: A- amiable, red is one of the colours that draws people in.(learned that in public speaking) Full out red and white is more contrast than I want/need. Therefore, A- is for accessories! A little dab will do you! And they don't have to scream like a scarlet letter. oye! red running shoes, Autumn ;) B- backgrounds, my light and going to be versatile and interesting neutrals! yay! C- creativity shown with accessories on my background canvas (note the c) and my soon to be revived sewing skills! (help Deborah)
Hope I am not unrealistically optimistic (tis my nature/style) but I have managed this month to somewhat gather and corral all the galloping and wildly plunging ponies in my personal style stable and head through the colour gate for July! whoo hoo Ruth Essex   Gosh, Canada has a birthday and EVERYTHING is red and white especially this weekend! ha, I'll be right in style.
I have included my neutrals in the comments. Note this isn't so much about styling- just figuring my backdrop. Get out your red pencils all you 40+ers!

And then these were the various options:
 
This is what I would hope is more stone than that common pink beige. Even with some accessorizing with colour it is pretty blah.

actually I'm a bit stumped to accessorize.

ivory? not so hot, how about we call it a tint of hopefully clear cool yellow. I was hoping anyway!

a little edge? A lot of creativity. I did make the tote.

So the 'best' ??? for last. white, black, grey This is where I learned black with white spots is very different from white with black spots!

Hitting my stride!

I had this fabric in my considerable stash and thought hmmm.  Not flowers.  I am not a floral person and turns out flowers/prints relate best on gals with lots of highlights (texture to their hair).  I am light and sleek.  I hadn't known that but I have never been much for prints, especially small prints.  This fabric shows lots of colour tint options and some edgy X's to bump things up from blah.

Then I went to have my shower and now the whole FB site knows I posted in my jammies!  lol 
Because....tadah!

I just LUV, LUV, LUV! my IKEA shower curtain.  Lots of white, some smooshy, watercoloury, tints that are a light/medium value, and that lovely black line!  BINGO!

                            
 The topic for 40plusstyle club in July is colour and I must admit that Ruth Essex has so changed my perceptions with her insight into the looks we put up on the site.  She tells us why or why not it works.  So helpful and now she is doing the master class for this month.  Here is a video I snagged to show you why I think July is gonna be a red letter month!  If this link doesn't work it can be viewed on the public FB page- https://www.facebook.com/40PlusStyle
 

S0...  OOTD and accessorizing. I need a red statement necklace.   Actually, I am pretty pumped.  Home decor, personal clothing style and a focus for my fibre arts and even my jewelry making justification (all those beads but no big red ones) is all starting to make sense.  I'm a little bit, well, maybe a lot, ADD when it comes to colours and style so all this understanding could be a good anchor.    Looks like I really have something to celebrate!

Spring is Trending

We have been having some crazy weather and more is coming tonight.  Cold and the new driveway is willing to accept vehicles.  Warm- not so much.  The snow and slush that has mixed with new gravel is making life very interesting. :{  So I have mixed feelings about the warm weather! 

I DO luv Pantone's colour palette for spring.  I actually have a number of them in my closet and definitely in my fabric stash.

Hot pink is definitely on trend but I'm embracing pale dogwood, myself!  With lots of greenery thrown in.

And then there are stripes.  I haven't met a stripe that hasn't made me smile.  I scored the Coldwater Creek jacket at the thrift shop!  :)

I am enjoying the group of fashionistas at the 40+Style Club.  We learn and we post photos of the daily challenges using our capsule grouping.  It makes for a busy day taking photos and then a quick upload on the weekdays of the challenge.  That is one week of learning and gathering a core of about a dozen articles of clothing, shopping, or shopping our closet.  Then ten days of posting, with one week of socializing (and showing off the also rans)!  I should get faster at this as I progress.   The ladies are most encouraging and last week I got to be a poster girl.  Actually I think it was for most improved.  LOL  I have learned the importance of things fitting and the value of accessorizing.  My mixed media art and fibre art lessons/principles really help.   I need to start smiling but coordinating the requirements,  throwing clothes all over the place,  learning to take selfies,  and then standing still after clicking 10 second timer is all very challenging. 

The new 'me' is going for light-hearted and, casually contemporary.  I'm losing the dark look and embracing the light.   It certainly makes shopping an whole lot easier which makes me very lightheaded.  lol

Through one of the members I also discovered a blog- The Vivienne Files.    I spent Sunday evening going through the 'Starting From Scratch' tab.  Here are two examples of a personal colour wheel.   This totally appeals to me.  I'm just about ready to commit to my basic neutrals and my accent colours.  I was almost going to say navy and grey (no more black) when I realized I have very little navy but I have LOTS of green so it may be green and grey.  Aqua (teal) is one colour and I'm thinking pink (cranberry) for the other.  The 'other' light will be white/ecru/cream- depending.   I did think of two capsules- one for summer and one for winter but remembered KISs just in time.  LOL  But those kahaki sections can still work when I go grey taupe and green based taupe so I can have those for summer.    Then think of all the combos with lights to darks and prints that pull together two colours.  I hate clothes shopping so this would focus me on MY colours.  A jean skirt is a must,  almost considered a neutral and I'd keep my black pencil skirt and LBD (little black dress).

Spring is my favourite season even though it can be quite cool and muddy here.  But the idea of fresh air, pussy willows and green grass just make me happy!  I am happy to put away all the stuff that has managed to accumulate from the previous seasons, spring clean and start all over again with lots of white and minimal clutter.

I'll be accessorizing things that best show off the charm of this old character lady.  ha!  you thought I meant me.  I meant this old house!  We have a  showing for a prospective buyer this week and a contender for our own purchase/consideration.  So I have not been making much art but I have been busy!  Spring is shaping up to be very exciting and summer is looking to be busy!  Bring on the daffies!

Finished

 The last lesson's teacher is all about slowing down and details.  Neither are my modus operandi!  However I do see the value in it.  He also touched on the idea of stealing/copying work that one finds appealing.  It is a way to learn.  So I copied and included the detail.   It is all part of finding my style.  This I kinda liked but I would definitely make it more cheerful.  I think for learning a neutral colour scheme helps.

The second last class was about capturing animals, live animals.  Again, not my forte even if I do live on a farm.  I chose a stationary bunny.  ;~)  I actually was ready to rip but went ahead and added colour.  That added something surprising.

I am not planning on becoming a sketcher of all things natural and decorative.  But it is a tool and certainly is a useful one for my creative tool box.  I learned all kinds of useful things and most importantly, an artist must connect to the stimuli and then please him/her self.  I also learned that an exact replica is not often the goal and it is the 'mistakes' that give it character and define the artists style.

I am delighted that I really did finish.  I have one or two parts I want to review but I have only a final comment to add and then school will be out!  :)

Books

I was in the middle of fiddling with my altered book when the phone rang announcing that the book I requested was in at the library. I read about it on a writing blog I follow. While the glue was drying I sped off to town. And while the glue was drying I began to turn that  library book's pages.  I pretty much turned dry pages yesterday. ;^)

Spreading gesso with a card is way too messy for me. I'll be back to using a brush.

The idea of using ordinary white glue for a raised effect is good but things kinda got out of hand as they spread and sloped and ...

Then there was the problem of just hitting the top of the glue with the paint brush.  ???

It wasn't too hard to ignore the altered book as I was not thrilled and I doubt that this is my style.  I feel I have too many different images and the little duckies on a ribbon were a waste. I need to think things through better.

I've had to quit singing in the rain because the white stuff is sifting down in very large flakes.  I hope some better ideas sift down as well!  But then the next book in the series may be calling my name and I can stick to dry pages. I wonder if the phone will ring again today? 

Wow, what's my style

I have not had a lot of time in the playroom this week.  I have had a few isolated moments to skim through my new book, The Artist Unique- inspiration and ttechniques to discover your creative signature.

A few have expressed curiosity in it.

Most of us began the creative journey by following patterns and kits or making class samples.  The author Carmen Torbus points out that was is missing is 'me'.    

This book helps identify the 'me' that is buried under all the stuff that is submerged under all our prepackaged project replicas, our excuses and our fears. 

The first section in the book is The Artist's Toolbox.  It follows that an electrician's tool box is different from a plumber's. There would also be differences in an electrician who specializes in wiring houses and one who  wires cars or even computers. 

I have been introduced to the words, mark making, during these last few weeks.  I find the term very liberating. Anyone can make marks!  Albeit some make better marks than others,  it is a good place to start.  The author starts with mark making tools and the ones we like to use help identify our signature.  The aha was that there are further variations.  Acrylic paint can be thick and precise.  But it can also be watery and sloppy.  More variations would be how the medium is applied and to what art surface. 

There is a worksheet that asks, what's on your palette? 

A visit to your local garden centre will help identify what flower shapes and colours appeal. 

I was very blessed to take a workshop with Jane Sassaman and I luv her style.  We stylized our favorite flower and made a wall hanging.  Mine was a day lily. 

 The two teal spikes were Jane's contribution.  I need to get over my own fear of wrecking this and finish it. 

A visit to the paint section can reveal what you reach out for.  Unfortunately I have collected every colour and combo available.  I never met a colour I didn't like.  So my challenge was to go a bit deeper and settle on a particular colour scheme. 

I have discovered I prefer low contrast so analogous colours, even monochromatic,  would be my preferred style.

An at home scavenger hunt reveals a lot about colours that repeat in ones life.  I try to stay out of the kitchen so I looked in my closet.  I've simplified my wardrobe to aqua's and chartreuse with a dark neutral.

Then the seeker is encouraged to visualize their favorite spot.

I think it would be the actual beach rather than the water.  Strolling down a beach seems to make me sigh.

What colours make me happiest, comfortable, safe, daring, alive?  What colours scream ME?

Mellow yellow, aqua, and white with bits of purple.   I have saved this calender for years and many of the pages are stuck up on various bulletin boards.  I think it is my style! (giggle)

The bulk of the book is devoted to Discovering Technique.  Fifteen contributing artists, each with their unique style, shares a favourite technique, insights and advice about coming into your own as an artist. 
I'll be trying them sometime soon.  I do have a vague idea of how I want to portray my work but it is good to keep ones options open!

If I were creating art for myself, and surely that is the best reason to do it, I suspect mellow yellow would translate to aged book pages.  Aqua would be a colour wash background sepia photos with  hand written notes in India ink, pearlized buttons stitched unto hand dyed fabric showcasing thread patterns.  This would  just might make me sigh, happily.

So I've begun to identify that I like to work on combinations of fabric, paper, and even canvas.  I like paint or dyes translucent, spread  thinly, loosely, with a big brush.  I'd have outlines and details with a thin black marker.  I would make use of stamps, stencils and some creative paraphernalia.  I prefer analogous colour schemes, in a simple representational style. I'm 2/3 of the way there.

The last section is Defining Your Style.  There is another worksheet with a checklist for skill inventory.  Lots of things we do are not necessarily art related but art isn't created in a sterile vacuum.  Skills we use daily can reveal our unique creative style.

This section also addresses the fears, the routines, the stalls, etc. that stop our creativity.  I am held speechless by the first paragraph as it so identifies me.  I leap in where angels fear to tread and then at the peak of creativity I stall- a victim of my inner critic.

The good news is that I have my hand on that guy's heel and I want to get a better look at him. I'm going to demand to see his credentials with the intent to kick him to the curb!  Besides, I'd like to make Jane proud and finish my day lily piece.  ;^)

Styling

I like aqua.  I just don't want aqua to be more than an accent.

The front hallway, which is our only entrance, needs to carry the colours of the rooms downstairs.  On a meander through Canadian Tire I spotted this rug.  Bigger than I envisioned but the price was right.  hmm  The Rooster was also meandering and meandered by.  We consulted.  He felt it was kinda dark but I asked him what colour did he bring in on his work boots!!! ;^)    So we wrestled it into the car with the understanding we could bring it back.  ???
 I like!   It adds an up to date touch to the old time feel of the house.  It has lots of the colours I am leaning towards and already have happening. It also brings in my accent in kind of a bolder way which works in the entrance.

It is very much my new found style!  I luv the asymmetrical aspect of the pattern and the stylized leaves and flowers.

I'm looking forward to styling the front hall and exploring my design style.  I'm also hoping the Rooster steps on the dark parts!

VBhappySigh

These make me happy!   I'm feeling like I might actually be unto something.   I feel like I can call them my own.

wow - a leaf

In my attempts to help Nina with her bobbin ache, I have inadvertantly given her a tension headache so I shall definitely be taking her for a spa day and me for an advanced class on the Bernina 820.  God bless helpful dealers!

In the mean time I am trying to turn over a new leaf!  Monday's Refresh post documents my thoughts for focusing and developing my own style.

I am no artist but if I think in segments I am able to do a reasonable facsimile.   I just draw the section, pause, and draw the next section.  The size is arbitrary and it is not a traced copy.  These would definitely be jumping off places for all kinds of quirky leaves.

I think these would be great to try some fusing on small art quilts.  I've laid in a supply of fusibles and I'm ready to play.  Green leaves will be on the new page for today!