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Archive for the ‘3 x 3’ Category

Night and Day

Thursday, March 7th, 2013

xandoparts

 

Yesterday was one of those days. The weather was atrocious — dark, dreary, cold and persistent rain. I had a lot of work to do sitting at my computer and I got the headache of all headaches — the one I get occasionally. I don’t know what brings them on — a change in air pressure, allergies, stress? I just know that by 7 pm all I wanted to do was go to bed. I gave in for an hour or so and didn’t really sleep. So I got up and watched a couple of episodes of House of Cards with Mr C.

Today? I woke up to delicious sunshine. Headache almost gone. Energy level was back. I had a great day. Like night and day.

I am making progress on making the parts for my big quilt.

morefusedparts

 

I am also making better progress on stitching the 3 x 3s together now that I have a better assortment of beads and thread. I am only on the second row, but this row is moving along much faster.

3x3stitchingrow2

 

I only have one sketch tonight. It is of my Bernina. I love it. I think this style of sketching suits me better than trying to be so literal.

 

 

drawing 3-7-13

 

I have made some pretty good process on knitting Paige’s sweater. The pattern is so complicated, but I think I have finally got it down.

paigesweaterprogress

 

Just call me the multi-tasking queen!!

 

 

 

 

Short and Sweet

Tuesday, March 5th, 2013

 

 

 

newbeadsandthread

My modus operandi these days is to do my SDA work in the morning and hope to get to the studio in the afternoon. Today, I made a foray to a bead shop. I realized that I did not have enough different colors of beads in the sizes I need or beading thread. So now I am set for a while. After doing the grocery shopping for a few days, the day was pretty much gone. I did finish attaching the first row of 3 x 3s.

rowone3x3s

 

Here is a detail. You can click on these to see them larger.

3x3srowdetail

 

And here is my simple drawing for the day.

drawing 3-5-13

 

My husband and I are hooked on the Netflix mini-series House of Cards. Messed up politicians.  Got to give it my attention.

 

No Slacking Allowed

Thursday, February 28th, 2013

blackerblack

I thought that eventually all the commitments that I have taken on would pile up, and I would start to panic. After a bit of self talk, I got my act together  today and was able to bring order out of the impending chaos. I feel good about that.

I have been getting to the studio a bit each day, which helps to balance all the left brain stuff. I over-dyed one of the silk pieces that was not quite black and another undyed piece. I soaked them in vinegar and then into the silk black dye and into the microwave.

microwave dyeing

 

I got a much better black. You can see it in the first photo next to one of the pieces from the other day. The silk didn’t dye as evenly this time as you can see here.

irregularblack

 

But, I think it will work for what I want – at least the blacker sections. I also Mistyfuse the rainbow silk.

mistyfusedsilk

moremistyfusedsilk

 

I also drew some sketches of the piece I plan to make with these fabrics. I won’t be able to show it for a bit as it is for an invitational show and we have been asked to keep the pieces under wraps for now.

I have continued to stitch the 3 x 3s together – having fun pairing beads with each section.

Here are my sketches from the last  two days.

drawing1-28-13

drawing2-27-13

This is the comfy old chair in my office – I have had it for so long.

Mr C brought these to me today. It was a gray rainy day and they were a delight.

springflowers

Tomorrow, I am doing the food for the opening reception of the Trinity Arts exhibit. The artist is from Argentina so I am doing some regional food — steak with Chimichurri sauce, Empanadas and a few other goodies.

 

 

 

A Good Idea

Tuesday, February 26th, 2013

3x3beadattachment1

 

I posted a photo of my 3 x 3 assemblage on Face Book today. Someone asked how I was going to attach them. I said I thought I would just tack the corners to keep from adding more stitching to the small pieces. Someone commented that I could put a bead between each piece as a spacer.  My first thought was, egad, what a lot of work. But the more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea. I started the assembling tonight and it goes quite quickly. I am using my bead soup to find beads to blend in with the colors and beading thread which is strong and can hold up to the beads. I had  saved the plastic cover for something I bought at Costco, I think. It is perfect for holding my supplies.

beadworkstation

 

3x3beadattachment2

 

I think I will enjoy the meditative aspect and handling each little piece.

Here is my drawing from today – my keys.

drawing2-26-13

Our sweet little granddaughter, Paige, has had one ear infection after another. Today, she had tubes put in her ears. Surgery was successful, and, she woke up smiling!

photo

 

The 3 x 3 Assemblage

Monday, February 25th, 2013

3x3installation

 

I think this orientation has much more presence than the longer version. I have 6 stragglers. Not sure how to handle them. Maybe I will have some holes in the assemblage and add more pieces to the bottom. Now I have to figure out how to stitch this together. I am thinking of just tacking the corners together so that I don’t muddle it up with too much stitching. You can click on this image to see it larger.

I dyed some silk charmeuse with Prochem’s Silk Black using Paula Burch’s recommendation of soda ash soak and batching overnight. It is a nice dark charcoal color, but not black. I think I might try a vinegar soak next time.

almostblacksilkcharmeuse

 

For my drawing exercise, I have attempted to draw a lowly baking potato, 3 different ways. First with pencil.

drawing2-23-13

 

Second, with ink.

drawing2-24-13

 

And then with ink and watercolor pencil.

drawing2-25-13

 

It was the same potato – sort of looks the same. I think there is some merit in redrawing the same object.

My SDA registration duties are slowing down just as my work for Trinity Arts Artist Among Us duties are gearing up. I never run out of things to do.