by Sandra | May 13th, 2010
Why so long for another post???? Frustration–big time.
I have been trying without any success to find the right fabrics for the frog on Jason’s quilt and nothing, I mean nothing, is working! This is one of the things that happens in designing. What looked really good in the line drawing sometimes does not work out so well in practice once translated into fabric and color. This is one of the trial and error issues in designing for quilting–especially applique. IMO, it is the hardest and most work intensive process of creating a quilt.
After a week, YES A WEEK, of stitching and ripping out over and over again (I lost count how many times), I decided it was time to scuttle the frog in this part of the design and replace it with……a bird. No surprise there eh? I realized the problem wasn’t so much the frog, as it was the color of the frog in that particular place.
The frog became a blob of unwelcome green (yes, I tried brown etc.) that assaulted my eyes and my brain continually registered a flaw it couldn’t process and get past. The really nice thing about birds is they come in a range of colors–woohoo. So after finding a bird, a Purple Finch to be exact, that would coordinate better in the problematic area of the frog, I went in and re-designed that section of the pattern. I have yet to see if it actually translates into fabric yet.
When I told Jason I eliminated the frog, he was quite put out and with the appropriate guilt producing scowl told me firmly, “but mom, we have frogs in the garden!”. I had no idea Jason really wanted that frog. OK, So we compromised. I will try and work in a frog in the outside border design and that makes Jason happy for now and I don’t have to deal with that flippin’ frog at this point in time. I really hate being stuck in first gear spinning my wheels.
Yesterday I did get the vase designed in Illustrator for the Asilomar project. I like it. 
Dearest Frances, I hope this works for more pictures? LOL
Most satisfactory, Sandra.
Thank you.
That vase is fabulous!
I hope you are able to work the frog into the outside border. Any chance we will see the mouse soon???? Love the vase you have designed for Asilomar.
Awwwwww….. looking at that pile of green fabs, I kinda felt a pang of sorrow over all those poor little discarded froggies! Poor things…
You don’t happen to have your Illustrator program on a laptop that you might take to Asilomar, do you?
Sandra,
Sorry for your frustration! Perhaps you could quilt a frog in the quilt? That way avoiding the color issue totally.
Have a nice weekend!
Beautiful vase !!!
That must be the frog that goes RIP IT RIP IT !
Hope it likes the border better .
Frogs come in all colors, too, yaknow! Maybe not in your garden but everywhere else. Have you seen the Frogs exhibit at your local natural museum?
I’m with Jason. Gotta have the froggies.
Funny, Michele; that’s just what I was thinking about that little pile of would-be froggies!
Too funny, Boop! (RIP IT)
)
Sandra,
I’m sorry you’re frustrated but it demonstrates what makes your quilts so great – every detail is just right. I love the vase and am waiting (rather impatiently) for registration to open for Asilomar. It would be such a thrill to work with you in person.
Gini,
The positive part side of frustration is that it makes success all that much sweeter!
Michele and Frances,
All I could think of was a pile of frog’s legs. LOL
Actually that is what I was calling it as I added more and more to the pile.
Diane,
Oh how I looked and looked at the differenct species for my area. Too bad I don’t live in a tropical climate, now that would have created wonderful options. But here? not so much.
The frog will return as one of “treasures” to find in the outside border which will be as intricate as the middle of the quilt.
Boop!
I was going to call the post “rip it, rip it!”, but I thought you all would throw spools of thread at me. LOL
Melanie,
You never know, I may quilt in forgs and other things. The quilt HAS to have a frog because of Jason and I keep hearing that, “what boys are made of” going on repetitively in my head. A boy’s quilt should have a frog.
Michele,
No, I won’t be bringing a laptop. I travel only with my iTouch these days, and I am lusting over an iPad (that name makes me cringe to say it–LOL). I try to bring the least amount of personal items possible now when I travel to make as much room for quilts and samples as I can.
Denise,
Oh Denise, I am afraid your wait is a bit longer until I get to the mouse section. Never fear, as soon as it is completed, I will show you. I wasn’t joking when I said this bit goes reaaaaaally slow.
Frances you know I endeavor to make you happy. LOL
Yeah… when I first heard that apple had made a large version of the iphone, I thought PLEASE don’t let them name it the ipad… whenever I hear that, I can’t help but think of those pads my mother used to use for her monthlies – you know – those pads that were, like, INCHES thick?! Yikes!
Bummer on the laptop and Illustrator. I’d love to see how you use it to draw. I just don’t “see” how you use the program to DRAW! Sounds more magic than anything…
It’s up! Registration for the 2011 Asilomar sessions are up!
http://www.emptyspoolsseminars.com
GO!
(‘Course, I sent mine in before posting… such a selfish witch, I am!!)
(Hmmm… I just posted, but it didn’t take…)
It’s up! The Asilomar website for the 2011 workshops is up!
http://www.emptyspoolsseminars.com
GO!!
(‘Course… I sent mine in before posting this – such a selfish witch, I am!)
Have you thought of using some of that really neat frog fabric that is in the stores on the back of the quilt? Would that satisfy Jason?
Love the urn pattern.
I am sure it will look nice on the outer border. If not – make one of your lovely labels using the frog. You can always say it had been on the front and hopped to the back.
Sara & Brenda,
The label on the back never occurred to me!
Thanks! I will keep that most excellent idea in mind. Of course it must pass with my supervisor–Master Jason!
Michele,
Illustrator would be a multi-hour class in itself!
Yeah, I figured on the Illustrator. I didn’t want a class, so much as a demo. Need to find someone here to show me.
I tried to post a couple times yesterday about the Asilomar website finally being up, but it appears that my posts never got sent… anyway –
http://www.emptyspoolsseminars.com
for anyone interested.
Have you installed CS5 yet? Have to try and learn CS4 changes first, but would rather be appliquéing. Am sure that Michele would agree with me that an on-line class by you would be wonderful.
You are such a master with Illustrator. No, I know how you are going to reply to my wild idea.
Michele,
For some reason Akismet thought you were SPAM! Now that wasn’t very nice was it? I have sternly told it you are NOT Spam and we will see if it behaves.
Brenda,
I installed CS5 but have not played with it yet. There is also a new feature in Photoshop CS5 I am most anxious to test out. Time is a real issue right now and I am beside myself trying to get some time to play! I know you can relate.
You guessed right on my reaction to your wild idea. LOL
Well! I NEVER! (Okay, that’s a lie, I HAVE, but I’m not gonna fess up to just WHAT here in THIS forum! %$@#@spam? %#!$^SPAM?!!^%#! HA!
I looked Adobe Illustrator up on Amazon today – wow! They’re very proud of it! (What does CS mean? I’m assuming it’s a version, but not sure…) Do you actually draw lines with the mouse or something?
Whew! SO many toys, so little time!
Did you start off life as an adult as an illustrator by chance?
(YAY! I’m NOT spam anymore!)
Sandra,
Just wondering if you have approached an adoption agency to find homes for the frogs before they become extinct.
Judy B
Judy,
I really must learn not to take a sip of coffee (or any liquid) before reading your comments. You got me and my keyboard again. LOL