by Sandra | March 27th, 2010
As you are aware, I always like to design something new and fresh for a class project. Even though Asilomar is a tad over a year away, it is time to start thinking and designing the project we will create. I want to make a really cool large Italian style Urn of flowers for our project. It will be a large medallion style quilt center pattern and I am rather excited about it.
Anyway…… I had drawn the urn image a little while ago and could not figure out which pattern folder I had filed it away in. I have so many pattern files. So of course the whole sewing room is piled high with file folders and papers as I search through each one trying to figure out where in the hell heck I put it!
In the process of digging, I always get a bit sidetracked as I enjoy discovering all over again the many drawn out quilt ideas I have stored away “to be made later”, (sure riiiiiiight). If you could see these in person, you would notice a yellowing of the paper due to the aging. Most of these are before my computer drawing program, when I actually drew out everything by hand.
One of the ideas I stopped working on, and its status is currently a UFO, is my “One Cup Too Many” quilt. A personal tongue in cheek take on Alice in Wonderland that features my daughter Jenna as Alice. I had always planned on getting back to it and eventually I will. I thought you might enjoy a sneak peek at seeing how one of my five minute sketches transforms into a quilt (although not complete at the moment).
I pulled out the UFO quilt in progress and again my mind went running off trying to figure out how to resurrect it. I must finish Jason’s quilt, The margarita quilt (more research needed here–LOL) and then maybe I will finish it up at that point if the fabrics are not way too dated by then. Always a problem with waiting too long to bring a UFO to fruition.
Now time to clean it all up and put it back until I get sidetracked again.
As soon as I opened up the page, I was ooohhhing over what looked like Alice in Wonderland – SUCH a great opportunity for fantasy-ish ideas. What fun!
On your drawing program – tell me again what you use? Is the learning curve pretty steep with it? When you were drafting Jason’s quilt, did you import shapes and figures or did you draw them freehand? And if freehand, how in the hell did you do THAT?!
Do you have lots of books and things that you refer to when looking for the “right” shape of something? You must – your flowers, etc, are SO close to perfect with the exception of when you have deliberately taken artistic license…
I worship the pad you draw on!
I am sure some of us would be willing to help research margaritas!
My fabric stash is equalled by my stash of scrap books with my ideas, sketches, and scraps from magazines etc, plus the ever growing reference library of quilt books and almost anything with an illustration! Lot’s of inspiration, and lots of sidetracking.
Judy B
This is a five minute sketch ?!? WOW !!
“One Cup Too Many” looks really magical, hope it doesn’t stay a UFO too long! Love those foxgloves too! I would love to hear more about your UFO quilts and dated fabrics, how do you deal with that? Don’t give up on the margarita quilt.
I’m amazed that you do your sketches on the computer and echo Michelle’s questions!
As for getting sidetracked, I’m new to your site and I spent most of yesterday morning reading and loving all your posts. Your work is amazing. Thanks for posting so many treasures.
Kathy
Hi Michele,
I use Adobe Illustrator to draw and although I have a drawing tablet for the computer, I use my mouse. I draw my ideas now directly on the computer. I start with the individual images and then create the overall composition. Sometimes I it is a little of both combined.
I have been drawing flowers and birds since forever, so I have a lot of experience drawing them and observing them. If I am wanting to draw something I am not as familiar with, I study photographs and such to get a general grasp of how to do it.
You are so funny. LOL
Judy, were we separated at birth?
Sara, usually the image is a picture in my head and I am in a rush to get it down on paper as fast as possible before it is gone forever. I refine it later. This Alice sketch is unrefined.
Denise if I knew how to solve the dated fabric question, this quilt would probably be finished and no longer a UFO. It is my stumbling block at the moment.
Kathy I am so glad you enjoy the site! Welcome!
Now that the movie is out , you could whip this up for a pattern to sell :0)
Stop throwing spools at me !!!
It looks like it is going to be a beauty !!!
Message for Boop ……. If the spools have thread on them, keep them!
Judy B
LOL ! Judy that is a super idea! she has great thread : )
Something here I don’t understand – what is the problem with dated fabric ?
Ok ! I’m going to duck right after I finish this !
If you know what you need for your margarita’s , and are looking for specific fabric , here are some links : )
http://www.batiksplus.com/index.asp,
they have hard to find batiks .
http://www.missingfabrics.com/
Sara You never skip a beat!
With each “season” of fabric releases, there are subtle color and hue changes. If the length of time grows, that subtle change becomes a whopper change and also includes style issues.
I remember when all the fabric colors had a gray cast to them and then suddenly, BAM, all of the fabric colors were clear and bright. Trying to complete a quilt that has a LOT of grey hued fabrics with the newer fabrics that were clear and bright would be a challenge, which is the case with this quilt.
The challenge, because of the time lapse, is to marry these two hues and not have these issues be obvious. Like trying to combine clothing separates from different time periods to look as though they belong together.
I hope this helps.
Judy your comments should come with a spew warning! LOL
Boop you are really trying to test Brett’s patience with me aren’t you, you naughty girl!
Boop, you are in fine form. LOL