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Friday, November 6, 2015

The Just-Try-It Art School, sketch on fabric

Art School of Experience 12" X 16.5"
I did this little sketch with paint sticks and texture sheets when I led a workshop recently. It's small done on a scrap of muslin. The purpose was for people to become comfortable seeing how colors overlapped, how texture sheets behaved, and how drawing a circle felt on fabric.
When I got home I stamped and stenciled the words, scissors, brushes, tree and clock. Added some shadows with pencil. I like the overlap making the orbs look see through.
When I get ready to quilt I make sure the top is squared up  then choose  threads for this project and put them by the machine..
Lots of free motion and repetitive lines on the orbs, metallic threads that really catch the light. Some art deco lines along the side borders. Free motion following the texture of squares.

Free motion around the stamped brushes and scissors






See that spiral stitch along the bottom border? That is my favorite program stitch on my old Bernina 1630.

It is not on any new machines or other maker of machine. There are similar ones but not the same.
My Bernina is tired and needs to be put out to rest but I just don't love any other machines.
And the cost!!
I've been saving my pennies but...


I used my black with iridescent metallic colors for the inner border and binding. I have used this favorite fabric many times and there is now less than a yard left. It's now vintage but fabulous.
There are some fabrics that you buy, and when you get home decide you wish you had a bolt of it. This is one of them for me. I've never seen another like it. Therefore, to save it, and because this is a small piece, I did a single fold binding. I wanted it to look like a framed piece so I did a large half inch finished edge treatment and like it a lot. The final choice will be whether to put on this applique from Loralie designs...
and where to place her. I got her at the Houston show one year to put on a purse and regret not buying several others at the time. She wasn't cheap but isn't she fabulous?
or should she go here?
The whole thing was a demo piece while teaching, and it has the feel of a still life to me.
I like the circles that feel like they have weight like ornaments or glass orbs
 I love the clock to remind me that time flies
 I like the tree to remind me to grow
I like the bird to remind me to sing
I like the words imagine and "sewing mends the soul"
Life is an art school, the Art School of the Experience


29 comments:

  1. It's really nice and it was interesting to see how the picture developed. I think I like the middle picture best.

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  2. I really like this piece, your drawing practice has paid off, and the texture plates are wonderful, I have quiet a few, but my paint sticks have dried up. I use them mostly with a foam paint roller. Keep on drawing!

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  3. Great piece. I vote the middledphoto but like it best without.

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  4. This is so beautiful, and it has such dimension. Great work!

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  5. Quite lovely, Leeanna! As always, I'm jealous of your talent! I love the little lady applique, but I don't think she really fits the mood of this piece. She deserves her own quilt. Love your quilting, too. Have a great weekend.

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  6. Wow! GORGEOUS! What a great piece of art!
    I'd love to sign up for The Just try it art School!
    Is there a magnetic clip system, what they use on name badges, that you could use for "Loralie"? One on her and the other part on the back of the quilt.Then you could move her around depending on the mood?
    Love it!

    Take care,
    Joanne

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  7. Wow! GORGEOUS! What a great piece of art!
    I'd love to sign up for The Just try it art School!
    Is there a magnetic clip system, what they use on name badges, that you could use for "Loralie"? One on her and the other part on the back of the quilt.Then you could move her around depending on the mood?
    Love it!

    Take care,
    Joanne

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  8. You inspire me to get back to being creative and risk taking! I have the paints and crayons and paint sticks etc. just sitting there...

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  9. Nice piece! I wouldn't add the applique as I like the piece without it best. Just my humble opinion!

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  10. Love! What are texture sheets? Sort of a stamp? I do love LeeAnna er ..... I mean Loralie on the piece (I vote for the lady pic, the one in the middle). I suppose for me it would depend on the destination for this quilt. If it will be in your home where you will look at it every day, then it is worthy of the appliqué. Just my two cents :-)

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  11. Definitely a success - I love the entire concept of "The Just Try It Art School," and I vote for definitely appliqueing her on. I really like that last photo best for placement - it looks like she's standing in front of a window posing for a photo in front of an epic view of a wonderful larger-than-life sculpture.

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  12. I love it!!! And that whimsical girlie appliqué is the cutest ever:-)

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  13. Great post! I have fabrics that I have had for many many years and use only pieces of so I will have them forever.........

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  14. Thanks for sharing your reasoning process. I learn so much from it. What kind of paint sticks and texture sheets are these? I would like to try non-messy things in my bedroom work area.

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  15. This is a great piece. Loralie is fabulous and I like her best on the left, pic #2.

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  16. I knew all this drawing would lead to great quilts!

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  17. WOW!!! You are so creative. I don't think you can go wrong where ever you add the applique.

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  18. I like her in the middle - last photo. How do you keep the fabric taught while drawing on it?

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    1. I provide a kind of tripod with my left hand, and angle the color stick so that there is less drag. Small dashes of color create less drag on the fibers. Also if a person, not me who used cheap muslin to demo with, used a tight weave fabric it will behave better.

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  19. Wonderful piece! I like the first picture because the thing with the paint colors (sorry for the extra-technical language) is more visible and stands out more than the other two options. But all are great! Thanks for sharing

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  20. Makes me want to sew!! THanks for the inspiration!

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  21. Very pretty piece. The quilting really adds a lot of beautiful texture.

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  22. Hello LeeAnna,

    I love this piece - it just looks like fun from start to finish. The appliqué character is a laugh, too. Aren't you tempted to keep her on a pin and let her flit from quilt to quilt as your alter ego?

    Thank you for linking up to Free Motion Mavericks - your quilt is this week's featured project!

    Love, Muv

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  23. Your creativity never ceases to astound me. This is such a fun little piece and I love that it started as one thing and ended as another. You remind me that I need to take more time to be creative for myself. Thanks for that. :)

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  24. It is bautiful without the applique, but the applique makes it a masterpiece!!!

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  25. Nicely done!

    I like the applique on the far right. Her artist pallet doesn't get lost, and it looks like she's admiring her work. The others seem like she's looking at what others think of her work.

    Rats, so far I've been avoiding buying texture sheets & paint sticks, you're not helping my resolve! :-)

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  26. What a beautiful, beautiful piece LeeAnna!

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