Saturday, September 11, 2021

Sewing Saturday from turquoise to orange, goddesses to pumpkins

 

For this week's sewing discussion I have three small finishes. The photo above shows the transition in color of the month at RSC from turquoise to orange.

The calendar says we are getting into Fall even if our temps remain nearly 100 F and the wildfire smoke is choking us when we go outside.  We are having record breaking heat when it traditionally was cooling off. 

My three finishes also show the transition from turquoise to orange and don't they compliment each other?  

I love Fall. I grew up in Florida where we had two seasons, hot and less hot, but watched TV and saw the pretty colors Fall presented in the Northeast... and loved them. Fall meant softer weather in the midAtlantic region, it meant glorious pumpkins and golden leaves against bright blue skies, scarecrows appearing on front porches alongside miniature hay bales.

When are you most productive creatively? I wake up earlier than I want due to noise and intrusive sun here but take my time drinking coffee and checking on the world via my computer each morning. 

Being retired I am able to more or less set my schedule, and I like to tiptoe into the day. 

Lately I am doing a drawing or painting in 5 minutes each morning before I get dressed for the day. I have supplies at the ready next to my computer to make this transition into creativity as simple as possible. 

This little baby pumpkin watercolor is today's offering. The 5 min rule means no dithering over brushstrokes, allow the color to lead you, see what shows up. I like the lights and darks as well as where the paper stayed color free making highlights. I like blending color on the paper, seldom doing a green leaf without a dab of brown or dash of red, I like using the nearly dry brush to do a shadow. 

I am constantly learning. 

I quilted the latest improv turquoise piece and saw another goddess figure in it. I let my hands wander over the lines with threads while joining the three layers.

 I liked seeing the quilting lines show up

Shadows create those lines. I saw this as a cave painting sort of, so I quilted symbols sort of, parallel lines for water, spirals for eternity and for women's shapes, triangles for growth. 

I bound it in silks, a single fold to reduce bulk of silk







Finished!!

Then I began to add beads... tiny crystal stars, dark blue bugle beads, silver and blue fish with sparkling gold bugle beads, a word of hope



and a repurposed bracelet gave me the components to do some more triangles dangling off the bottom

She will join the other color studies hanging in tiny studio 2. (one tiny studio room to design, one to hold supplies) This little improv pieced uses some of the many tiny scraps from my recent fall kaleidoscope

I loved the striped fabric binding with it, and it might stand in for this month's table scraps challenge

but this one really made me happy!!! I did the little improv piece second down on this but didn't want a mug rug. What to do??

I looked thru my fall fabric scraps for ideas and thought how adorable the little scenes were, so three different fabric scenes plus some additional prints went together into this piece that will hang in my stairwell. 

I'll share close ups














all bound with my pretty sparkly mylar stars on orange fabric. 

One time I mistakenly pressed this and the stars came off on my iron... opps so now I only use it on pieces that will not get hot. 

It's fussy to use but so effective....

Next up I would like to sew on some simple borders to the bats and boos quilt, and choose borders for the kaleidoscope quilt. Both are larger and will be more challenging to quilt on my small machine. 

To answer the question I asked earlier, when are you most creative, I'd say mornings for painting, and afternoon's for sewing. Writing seems to flow when it flows... know what I mean?  My sketchbook stays out on the table all the time as one never knows when inspiration will hit! 

Happy sewing my friends!

LINKING WITH

patchwork Sunday                    
oh Scrap Sundays 

 scrap happy Saturdays


24 comments:

The Joyful Quilter said...

Three wonderful quilt finishes and a fun little painting, too? Nice work, LeeAnna!!

Ivani said...

Applauses for the three finishes, they are works of art, great job in each one of them, and speaking of art, your painting is simple and very beautiful too.

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

So fun to see your fabric art and all its details! I love the blue sun with beads sewn on, and the fall piece with each little scene. These are just great!

Tails Around the Ranch said...

One of my most favorite combinations of colors. Beautiful.

MissPat said...

Another trio of wonderful designs. I have a glass pumpkin that looks just like your pumpkin painting. Hope you cool off soon and don;t immediately switch to snow.
Pat

grammajudyb said...

Fabulous creations! You are the bling, bead, embellishments queen! And I think you should make yourself a tiara!. Your pumpkin painting is charming! I’d frame it for sure!
Hope for more Fall weather soon! Cool mornings! Warm sunny afternoons and cool smoke free evenings for sleeping! We saw trees turning golden on our road trip today!

Sara said...

I’m not a morning person, but I do prefer sewing in the mornings. Your aqua piece is so pretty, and each time I look at it I see some new little detail. awesome!! I hope that normal fall weather, and smoke free air will finally come your way. We’ve actually had a pretty decent week after an abnormally hot and humid - but DRY summer.

Deb A said...

Very nice finishes to hang on your walls.

Kathleen said...

I used to be a morning person, but it seems late afternoon, when I should be prepping dinner, I am most creative.

Susie H said...

Love your pumpkin painting. Only 5 minutes? Fantastic. Where do you live? We're warm here in the Midwest (St. Louis area on the IL side) but we're not 100 anymore. Still too warm touching 90s though.

Frédérique - Quilting Patchwork Appliqué said...

I love your creative journey, and the pretty improv quilts of yours! The beads are a great addition too.
Thank you for sharing your inspiration, and linking up today!

Jocelyn is Canadian Needle Nana said...

I see so much to love in this post...autumn is a favourite of mine and all the colours that go with it.

Sara said...

I'm back and really examining the orange color study, and seeing things I missed before. Beautiful work!!!

Ann said...

I'm with you. It's lovely to tiptoe into the day with a cup of coffee and a good book for me. Good idea to keep your painting nearby. I'm afraid to put the sewing next to the computer. Too much lint.

Kaja said...

If I don't get going fairly early, I don't get going at all. Other things sneak up and steal my sewing time. I love that you found your goddess in the teal piece - I'm sure there's a good metaphor in there.

Judy Hansen said...

Hi Leeanna,
I like to take my time getting up in the morning - one of the luxuries of being retired. But I am also kost creative in the mornings (once I’m up, haha). I love your striped binding, it is just the right finishing touch. Good job on your finishes. And thanks for faithfully joining in the Design Wall Mondays linky parties. Hugs, Judy

Judy Hansen said...

*most creative

Nann said...

Your turquoise improv is especially eyecatching. LOL about being retired and tiptoeing into the day, though. My retirement has become a whole 'nother career.

QuiltGranma said...

cute ideas!

Jennifer Fulton Inquiring Quilter said...

I work two jobs so I have to be creative pretty much all of the time! Love your work, and how the turquoise and orange looks together. Thanks for sharing on Wednesday Wait Loss.

Susan said...

Great looking projects!

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

love all of your creativity - what fun to paint a little each morning. and you know Blue into orange... Your in Gods Country!! haha ( or as they say here - Bronco Country)

Paulette said...

Love your fall improv piece, and also that little painted pumpkin. What a great way to creatively start your day!

grammajudyb said...

I’m late commenting LeeAnna! I tried last week then got an error on Blogger! I so admire all your creativity! Painting, stitching, embellishments! It’s fabulous! Have a great week!