Spring Birds with Beads and Bindings

I added the beads and binding and they are done.  And they are in the Marketplace just waiting to be adopted and taken home.  

 The flower beads are so interesting in person - very dimensional.  They make the quilt.  

I am really in a SPRING mood - can you tell???

There is also some fancy stitching on the tail feathers.  I don't know if you can see that on your computer.  But little details do make a difference.

My sister-in-law (a talented Milwaukee artist) described my quilts as "unique" and I laughed.  I told her that unique was a nicer word than some folks use.  I am aware that my quilts are a little different - they really do express my creative instincts.  The more common description is "weird" or "strange".  But I am going to use the word unique from now on!!

I think the next thing that I will do creatively is start my painting class again.  I am ready to do a large colorful crazy portrait.  WhooHoo!

 Spring Is Coming Soon

 The past few weeks have been busier than usual for me.  But quilting helps me stay calm and relaxed so I have been working on small projects.  These little bird quilts will go into the Marketplace in Calico Rock.  

I think it is fun to see the different stages of quilts.  When I teach I warn the students that every quilt goes through an UGLY stage.  And it does.  I think this is especially true in art quilting because there is no repetition of pattern.  You get the basic pieces in place but there is not yet enough definition to judge whether or not the design is good. 

Then you add some zigzag lines around the shapes and the design starts to settle in.  You can spot any problems and make changes.  

You can see the difference in these two quilts that those simple lines make.

I'll post some more photos as soon as I finish the quilting and adding the beaded flowers. 

 Little Bears for the Cold Weather

It has been a month since I added anything to this blog but I have been scurrying around.  Let's see ---- we had a foot of SNOW! in Arkansas!!

And that was just plain crazy for this area.  And it was -3 degrees.  In Arkansas!!  

But - the frigid weather inspired this little postcard and this little quilt.  A bear in a sweater.... how cozy.  I like the way the postcard turned out.  Not so much the quilt.

The postcard is 4" x 6".  

The quilt is 14" x 15".  And I had a good time being indoors during the frigid temps and thinking of colors for the sweater and making this little guy.  

BUT - overall the design is not successful.  So he is staying in my closet till next winter.  Then I may fix him - or I may decide to like him just as he is.  We will see.

So - you may be asking which part I don't like.  I really like the colors.  Especially the crazy green background against the orange sweater design.  But there is TOO much background around the bear.  Especially above his head.  I feel like I should cut out a word from fabric and put it up there - but I can't decide which word to use.  Maybe BRRRR or COZY NOW.  Not sure.  But it needs something.  Maybe some snowflakes?  

The other thing I don't like is the bottom sweater design.  Not good.  Too much pattern.  But that would be easy to change.  We will see ..... next winter.  Good Bye for now Little Bear.  

(Actually this is a good lesson for me in just allowing a project to be not completely successful.)