Monday, December 31, 2012

SNEAK PEEK



If you read my last post you know I am working on a quilt with coffee pickers.  This weekend I was finally satisfied with the sketch and started to work in fabric. Here is a sneak peek of the first picker!  Still need to do the cuffs on the shirt ..but it is a great start.

Sunday, December 16, 2012

TRADICION

TRADITION
2013 Quilt Competition

FRIENDS - THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR FEEDBACK!

As a result, I have gone through 2 more interations of my sketch and I am much more pleased with this rendition.  I hope you can see this faint cell phone photo.  I did not bother to draw in all the coffee leaves but you can get a feel for my intentions.

Friday, December 14, 2012

TRADITIONS

Friends


2013 International Quilt Competition
Theme TRADITIONS

Last week when I saw my little neighbor go off in the morning to pick coffee in her purple rubber boots, I thought to myself, how strange that children and families still go off every December to pick coffee by hand.  Despite the prevalence of cell phones, computers and cell towers, some things are as they have been for years.

So when I heard that the THEME for the International Quilt Competition was TRADITIONS, my neighbor came to mind.    Over the last week, I have been playing with ideas and today I sat down and did a first sketch.

My idea was to do the older version of coffee picking like a sepia photo..perhaps die the fabrics in tea (or coffee)..and the current version in bright colors.

This is just a flat sketch and I would try to add more design to the characters to make them appear 3 dimensional…you know, shadows, facial features, etc.

Now I would really like some feedback.  I fear that all the color on the right will make it feel too heavy ..The 2 men are throwing the coffee beans in the air.

Do you like the composition?
Does the sketch look balanced in design?
Where does your eye tend to focus?
Does anything look proportionally, just wrong.
Do you have any ideas to add?

THANKS!
Cathy

Friday, November 30, 2012

CHRISTMAS IN THE RAINFOREST


The local PZ LADIES CLUB is having an HOLIDAY ORNAMENT CONTEST.  I worked on this yesterday and I quite like it.  I think I may add a little moss on the bottom and perhaps a title.  The fish and the froh have moveable eyes. Cute!...ya think?

Friday, November 23, 2012

HAPPY THANKSGIVING


Graphic From Insights from SewCal Gal

This made me laugh out loud...so I had to borrow the image.

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Getting Ready for Artist Market

COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL
Saturday November 17th 10 -3
Escazu, San Jose, Costa Rica

Trying to get all my merchandise organized. Yikes!

LADIES RECYCLE YOUR COFFEEBAGS

One of a kind
Large Coffeebag Purse 11" x 14" with zippered lining
Antique button and velcro flap

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Monday, September 17, 2012

BOYS WILL BE BOYS

I LOVE TO SEE MY HUSBAND SMILING. A driens stopped ny the house with his 4 whee;er so Sergio got to go for a ride!  Hold tight dear!

Monday, September 10, 2012

Jazzy Jackets



This is my first attempt to upload a vdeo with music to my blog.  Let´s see how this works.
I previewed and worked great on my end.  Let me know if it works for you.

My friend, Isolde, loaned me a book on quilt jackets while she was away for a couple of weeks.  After I made the first one , Blue Sampler, I just went crazy..I could not stop. It was a great opportunity to learn new techniques and practice my free motion quilting.  I have one more that didn´t make the video because it is not quite done.  Please enjoy.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Thursday, August 2, 2012

EVEN SERGIO HAS BEEN BUSY!!!

While I have been busy in my studio Sergio has pulled out his carpentry tools and build this lovely bench for his sister Lorena and her daughter Noelia. Lorena just purchased her first home. She has a lovely backyard patio that is going to be the perfect place to to sit and  relax.

Sergio also built the white picket fence in the background. This keeps the dogs out of my plants.

BILLY and ATO

Friends of ours asked me to make a Memorial Quilt for their mother who lost 2 dogs, BILLY and ATO.
You pronounce the name B-I-JJ-I.
I can just feel the love from these dogs!

My step son, Brian, helped me to make a composite photo from two separate photos.  As always, Thanks L'il B for your help.

FINALLY THE PIECES ARE COMING TOGETHER

Remember way back... when I showed you some quilt designs of my dogs...well I am finally getting around to putting the pieces together.

This is a 3/4 finished art quilt top...still need to make my quilt sandwich, quilt the layers together and add a binding.

BUT I LOVE IT....my family portrait!

Friday, March 16, 2012

EMILIA's DAY AT THE BEACH FINAL


Just finished Emilia's Portrait Quilt!!! (cell phone photo) Final 21" x 22"

I wish I was there cooling off on the warm ocean shore.

My technique is getting better, just wish I could get more control over my machine stitches. But the experts say "practice, practice, practice" and don't be afraid of your bobbin tension.

You probably can't see it in this photo but the white in the dark wave says Emilia and there are seagulls dotting the i's.

I have a few small projects and then hope to get back to me and the dogs!

So as always, stay tuned and thanks for all your encouragements.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

EMILIA's DAY AT THE BEACH


Starting another new project!!!!

Sergio's cousin asked me to a portrait quilt of her first granddaughter, EMILIA. She
has a photo of Emilia in the water at the beach.

This is a cell phone photo of my first draft. Still missing one leg and both hands. The final quilt will be about 20 x 30. Using the same technique as my dogs. Unfortunately that project is on hold while I have a paying commission. Stay tuned for updates!

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

QUILT STUDENT PROJECT


I stopped by the home of one of my quilt students from 2 years ago and saw the sample quilt that we made in class artfully displayed in her living room. I had to capture a quick photo on my cell phone. “Aida, you made me proud!”

WHAT HAPPENED TO LUDIE'S QUILT TOP?



I recently finished a quilt (80” x 88”) started over 55 years ago by the grandmother of my friend Pene. The center design of this Scrap Quilt was pieced by Ludie Aldridge, of Brownwood, Texas). Ludie used the paper-pieced method, as evidenced by pieces of newsprint still attached to the seams. It is called a scrap quilt because leftover fabrics were used, most likely from actual garments. The unfinished quilt top was passed to her granddaughter Pene Carole Turner Awodey and in 2012 I was commissioned to complete the quilt.

I added the black border and the 2” squares around the outside in fabrics closer in design to the original fabrics. The quilt top was not a true rectangle so I had to be creative to get the quilt to line up and lie flat. I quilted around the centers of each piece every ¼”. I calculated over 4,000 “stop, foot up, turn quilt, foot down, smooth and sew”, all the while hoping that you did not get a wrinkle in the fabric on the underside. I free-motion quilted leaves in the black frame.

Well, like all projects, it was a learning experience. I know what I would do differently next time….more free motion (less turning) but need to practice first!!

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

PEEP #5 NELLY


NELLY's formal name is Melissa, but we call her "NELLY" short, for the nickname NOSEY NELLIE. I actually started to write and illustrate a children's book after this character. Nelly is a very special dog. She has had chronic urinary problems since birth and so she requires extra attention and care, but Mom loves her all the same. She looks most like a german shepard, with longer hair. Nelly is kind of tucked back in the original photo but I tried to pull her out in my illustration.

Well the first draft of all 5 dogs is done. Tons of work to do, but I can say that I think I am getting better at this.

Monday, February 13, 2012

MAKING FACES 2


Some friends have asked me where I got the idea for this quilt. It is actually a photo taken about 3 years ago. Peanut was not then a member of the family but I have added her to the picture. Well, one more PEEP to go....NELLY.

PEEP #4 PEANUT


Ah...my youngest, PEANUT. I rescued her over a year ago, flea covered and dehydrated. A neighbor had abandoned her to die along with 3 other siblings. Unfortunately I could only save Peanut. Peanut is all street dog. She rules the neighborhood and can out run all four of the other dogs. She is the ALPHA female. I would say she is part minature pincher..and yes her tongue is that long and skinny.

PEEP #3 SNOOPY


This is SNOOPY, first born, first son, and most loved...OK I am guilty of having a favorite...but I do love all my kids...Snoopy is a smaller dog, has short leg, runs like a rhinoceros, and pulls both ears back like "Rocketeer" when he flys through the yard. He loves to have his belly scratched and he is totally bilingual. You can see as I work on this I am keeping them rather sketchy in my excitement to get them all done. I will be adding alot more details as well as pulling them together into a group photo. For those of you that followed me for the first "MAKING FACES" Quilt, you know what I mean. Hope you enjoy.

Friday, February 10, 2012

PEEP #2... MATTY


MATTY or Matilda if you want to be formal, is the largest and most lovable (not to be confused with most loved) dog in the family. She has a big head and walks a little like Eyor...(from Winnie the Pooh)...head down and swinging left to right...with a slight bounce to the ears like Dumbo...She has very short hair and is lighter in color than the rest...and YES her tongue is that BIG. Just ask Snoopy. Matty is always trying to lick and kiss Snoopy..and she likes to get a drink of water first so that her kisses are really wet and sloppy. Hope you are enjoying the sneek previews of work in progress. Who shall I start next...perhaps Snoopy for a change in colors?

PEEP #1..SASHA


SASHA is most noted for her constant grin...in fact we sometimes call her "V" after the movie V for Vengence...you know the one with the man with the scary face mask always smiling...not to be confused with my other favorite V-dog, Veronica, who lived in Orlando, Florida. This is just the first layer with fabric. There is much more to do with each piece...for example, stitching so it looks like dog hair....oh wish me luck, I hate to get this far and muck it up. The missing area is where the side of the cart goes...must get back to work!

SOPHIA IN THE POOL




Not quite finished but close enough for publication...I am pleased!


MAKING FACES II or "ME AND MY PEEPS"


This is a sketch for my next big quilt project. This was taken from a photo of me and my 4 dogs....Peanut was not a part of our family at that time, but I have conveniently added her into the picture. I have started with SASHA, first dog on the left. I need to work on my face,,I should hope that I am a little more attractive than this sketch. Stay tuned for pictures of my progress. I also finished Sophia but need to take a photo before I can post.

Road to California HONORABLE MENTION


This quilt, submitted by HOLLY DOMINIE, won Honorable Mention at the Road to California Quilt Show Jan 2012. The quilt measures 28" x38". This is the style of work that I am currently pursuing and I love her choice of unconventional fabrics. Oh someday, I am dreaming of my name up in lights...so let's get back to quilting!

Thursday, January 26, 2012

HANDY HUBBY


Serg has been busy with a few household projects. He built a small fence for my plants..a cabinet under my sink...a light box for my studio...a shelf for my table..., and he is putting stones around the house and driveway. YEAH, HAPPY, HAPPY. It is going to be a good 2012. THANKS DEAR!!

In Progress - Sofia with Boogie Board


This is 4 year old Sofia playing in with a boogie board in a blow up pool...You remember Sofia from the doll house photos!

It measures about 20" x 25"

Once again, using cell phone camera...took photo at an angle so arm is not really as fat as it appears in the photo..but what a good idea to use pictures as you progress...you get to see things that you might not otherwise notice.

Working on technique. Used a flat batting on this project. Did not like. You lose the puffiness when you do the quilting. Still struggling a little with adhesive materials...little pieces fall off as you bend the project...I think the problem is all the humidity here.

Will send a photo when finished. Thanks for staying tuned.