Over Under, Over Under

Okay, I've got the next step underway on my process.  If you can't recall my inspiration, you can read about it here.

I recently returned from a retreat where we learned to design Celtic knots.  Ahhh; an epiphany!  I could design a knot to use as the "wreath".  So here is where I started;

Took a square of tracing paper, folded it horizontally, vertically, diagonally until I had what I thought were sufficient "wedge" sections to create my envisioned wreath;

cut a single wedge and drew several organic intersecting lines; refolded the paper square and inserted the single wedge within the folds and traced the lines.  I had to remember to "mirror" the image in every other section.  This is what resulted.  Hmm...not exactly what I was looking for; try again.

Next attempt; better

Try another one; also not bad

I discovered that the more wedge sections there were, the more complex the resulting knot.  Hmmm...I tried a few more.  Now I just have to decide which ones to use.

In Process

I have long been an admirer of layered images, whether in photography, mixed media or fiber art and I am intrigued by Claire Benn's paper lamination which is a technique perfect for layering. Her book was borrowed via interlibrary loan, so I need to get the technique down pat before the book needs to be returned. The technique is a little intimidating, but what can go wrong, go wrong, go wrong

After much searching I finally found a place to purchase thermofax mesh in a reasonable amount for a reasonable price. I am collecting images on paper which is the first step in the process, so I will be ready to give the process a try as soon as the mesh arrives.

First Step ...

.... in the process is brainstorming and there has been a storm going on in my head and I've put a few ideas from the storm into a sketchbook. I may not go with any of these as I'm still brainstorming and considering quilt ideas I've wanted to make in the past but here's where I'm at right now....

 ...a patchwork of pockets. I like pockets and the idea of creating a little quilt of pockets, seems like fun!

 I need to practice free motion stitching so a series of free motions would be good for me!

 Creating a scene from one of my many photos could be fun.

 Or using one of my photos of the many stone sculptures found on the beaches and trails I've visited.

Or another way to combine clay with fabric and here I thought of course using a teapot, one of my favorite forms.

Oh decisions, decisions....... I'm sure I'll add many more quick ideas to my sketchbook before I decide on a direction.

This may be the beginning of the process...

or maybe not...

I have a habit of changing my mind and project...

at least once!

the process has started

and for me to get started this early is quite something!

Well, what has actually happened is that I have set some parameters for myself to work within and help focus my thoughts and attention, and I always need to do that or I go off half cocked in way too many directions!

My parameters to work on my process piece:

• Mandala inspired
• wholecloth
• colour through thread/paint/ or ???

I've stumbled across a Pinterest board that has me dreaming of possibilities, and I'm intrigued by the concept. There is a lot of meaning and spiritualism surrounding Mandalas, which I'm looking forward to learning more about. It also has me remembering just how much fun I had with my Spirograph growing up, and I'm looking forward to re-living some of that!

let's see what comes next?

Janet

3 of 5 W's

What will I create?  Where do I begin?  When will inspiration strike?  Yup that's how my PROCESS usually begins.  

Where to begin; that usually takes place on the computer searching the internet for an idea, an image, a thought provoking article.  No luck so far.

When will inspiration strike; that usually happens when I'm down to the final days prior to the reveal.  Not this time though.  My inspiration came while looking through some old papers of my father's.  He was quite a poet, had written and stored quite a few, but never published them.  I came across an envelope marked "Please do this little thing for me."  I opened it and inside was one of his poems.  I won't recite the entire thing, but these lines inspired me.

Some twigs of cedar, birch and willow,

I like these for my spirit's pillow,

Then intertwine them, make a wreath,

adorn it with a maple leaf.

Then place the same upon a hill

and know, my spirit is here still.

--©  A.H.E.

What to create; hopefully a piece representing the picture created by my father's words.

Now some brainstorming is going to take place.  Stay tuned!

Feathers

Well, I Said I wanted this challenge To be about the process, so I am starting at the beginning of mine.  I have had this page(s) in my journal for a while and thought I would like to convert it to a piece, so My first step is to look at the page and think about how I am going to construct it.

As you can see there are several pages to the spread and I want to maintain it in my piece.  Obviously, I need to change the proportions to make the finished ones fit our challenge size, so I will probably have to upsize my stencils and masks as well.  How I am going to recreate the torn edges in fabric, I am not sure, but we will see, won't we?

Challenge 14

To view the latest challenge as a group, click on the Challenge 14 tab above.

hmmmmm.....something to think about!!!

If you can't describe what you are doing as a process, you don't know what you're doing. 

-W. Edwards Deming

and the next in line...

Is me.  

I haven't actually chosen a topic for our next challenge, but I think you will all still find it a challenge!

What I want everyone to do is to show their PROCESS.  

All the dead ends and ugly messes along with the serendipity of creating.  

I have found with a lot of people and some of my art students who look at my work, that they believe creating is hard and that we create it with some sort of inborn magic! - because they don't see the work that goes on before.  

Because they have never seen any of Monet's or Van Gogh's sketches, they think that works of art just happen.

If you want a topic word, then you can use the word PROCESS, which of course is just - A way of doing things.......any things, from acrobatics to zentangling.  

It's about the HOW of things.

In this challenge, there will be a reveal date 

16 November

BUT I want us to all just put up a couple of short posts as we go along about where we are at and especially if we are stuck!

I want this challenge to take away the mystery of creating and show what it really is, just a PROCESS.

A ton of colour

Well, Ladies, what a wonderful colourful challenge!  I was blown away by all of your pieces.
As I told you in my email, I was unable to complete my challenge.  My mysterious illness still continues and at present the doctors have no idea what is the matter.  I am slowly improving, but the underlying problem is still present and returns now and then.
I thought you might like to see where I was going with my piece before my setback.

My intent was to quilt grass shapes at the bottom and clouds at the top and to couch the flower stems on the monoprint with the fibres.  I might have added some colours to the buds with some inktense, and some text somewhere.  Anyhow, that's where I got to.

I will leave it a week or so to post the next challenge!

Ladyslipper

and I'm done!  The minute I received the fabric and embellishments from Lisa, I knew exactly what I wanted to do, I just left it to last weekend to actually get started!

While on vacation in Ontario this spring, I took this picture.

I enlarged the image so that it was full size, and then using a piece of clear vinyl and a wet erase marker, I traced my design, trying to simplify - I definitely need more work on that!!! You saw a bit of my map - 

and the mess I made in the process 

but what I didn't show was where I was going with it.  To be truthful, I really had my doubts - all those little pieces just didn't seem to be turning into my idea, but I persevered - after all, I had already cut up Lisa's gorgeous fabrics!  I kept placing pieces, not firmly fused yet, until finally, I thought "It's really not working" :(  I pinned it up to my design wall stepped back and took a picture - this picture.  When I saw it in my viewfinder I almost cheered!  It was working!  

I fused it down, layered it up with some stabilizer and started to thread paint.  and thread paint.  and thread paint.  There is a lot of thread on this.  I wanted to try and blend the colours a little better, and add some details.  I ended up with thread and inktense pencils to get the shading I was looking for.

Of course, once all the thread painting was done, I had to quilt to crap out of it!  Lots of dense straight line quilting on this one.

There were some embellishments included - so wonderful thread ends and some ribbons. When slipper orchids open, the the bud covering ends up as a twisted leaf like vine - I really don't know what to call it, but it looks cool!  I couched the threads and added the ribbon, and created my own version!

Of the three charms that Lisa included, one of them really spoke to me.  One day we were hiking a trail in Ontario and the path in front of us was just filled with little tiny frogs hopping across the trail to the lake on the other side. So many frogs we had to stop so we wouldn't step on them - the path was covered! The little frog had to be included!

little frog

All said and done, I am very pleased with my little wall hanging - its a perfect reminder of a great vacation, and our little group!

Ladyslipper

Thank you Lisa - I had a great time with this challenge - I just need to stop being such a procrastinator!