Just Imagine (Patagonia, AZ)

I love seeing people's imagination become a reality.  Whether it is a story like J.R.R. Tolkein's Trilogy or Peter Jackson's movies of Tolkein's Trilogy....or artwork or music...the imagination is unlimited.  The artist opens up his or her imagination for all to view.  I am always amazed and inspired by what I see, read, or hear.  And I cannot wait to see "The Hobbit".  Actually, I'll probably buy the DVD without seeing it first because I know Mr. Jackson will do an excellent job of bringing Tolkein's "The Hobbit" to life.

Okay, back to imagination.  Even the most ordinary thing that you walk by every day can change with just a little imagination.  Like chips of wood made into an Owl or paper made into a Troll.  Imagination makes the world a brighter and more colorful place to live.

I wanted to share some of the artwork I have found through Pinterest.  The Owl below is the work of Sergei Bobkov and he explained:  "It's not too interesting to do what others can, to create something out of nothing in a completely new way is far more inspiring." Here's a link to a few more photos of his creations.

Source: google.com via Sandy on Pinterest

This Alice in Wonderland doll won the 2011 Award at the Dutch and Belgian Institute of Doll Arts.  The artwork on this website is amazing.  This doll is my favorite though because Alice is recognizable and yet different from all the other versions I have seen over the years.  Oh, and I love Tim Burton's remake of "Alice in Wonderland" as well.

Source: dabida.eu via Sandy on Pinterest

This benign Troll is made from Paper Mache by Kim Graham. Her website is not available right now, but here's the link just in case she does re-open it. I hope she does. I would love to see her work in person someday.

Source: kimgrahamstudios.com via Sandy on Pinterest

On the Cutting Board

My own imagination has been on overload lately. Visions are swirling around so fast that I feel a little dizzy at times, not to mention, a little frustrated due to time and space limitations. As you can tell from this posting, I can bounce around quite a bit. Multi-tasking can be a curse at times....I'm trying to focus on one item at a time so I can have something to show for all my whirlwind activity. Yea, I'll let you know how that goes.

I am down to the last border on my granddaughter's quilt...Finally!!  I was going to do a pebble or cobblestone design as a finished pathway to her garden quilt. What I came up with...well, it just wasn't appealing to me. 

 

Then I saw another quilter's finished quilting with swirls and circles between her flowers. I thought how garden paths are rarely free of fallen leaves and flowers especially on a pebbled pathway.  I also looked at my quilted blocks with echoes and flowers.  I pulled out a few of the old templates of flowers and  made a couple of swirling templates.  I will use the templates to keep a continuation of the quilting design, but the fillers will be free-hand drawings of whatever strikes my fancy.  Oh! maybe I should add a lizard or a butterfly....or...well, the imagination is neverending....

Happy Quilting!

New Garden Quilt Top (Branson, MO)

Back in July, I picked out some fun summer fabrics that was inspired by picnic shelters on Camp Lejeune's beach.  I finally found a wonderful yet simple block that I thought was perfect for this fabric.  I know I'm a little backwards.  I should be thinking about Fall colors and themes, but I have to go with the idea at that moment (and the fabric kept calling to me)  okay, so I sound a little nuts.  What can I say?

You probably remember these two photos that I posted back in July.

Camp Lejeune's Seashells

Fun fabric

The colors in my Electric Quilt 6 (EQ6) almost matched the fabrics.  I could not find the deep blue, but the blue-green worked out just fine.

Quilt Block

Close up of blocks

Top 40 x 50

I got the appliqué patterns from The Complete Book of ART NOUVEAU DESIGNS.  A great collection from various artists.  I have been wanting to use the patterns in this book.

I think the hand-dyed Batiks will be perfect for this design.  I think Batiks are the best fabric for appliqué work.  It is the most forgiving fabric.  I can iron a crease into it, iron the crease back out, and it still looks good.  I can appliqué it, leave it, rip it back out days later, and still reshape it.

Below is the flower design and the Batiks.

Batiks and Appliqué pattern

 Below:  I'm not sure if I'll use both designs or all the different colors.  I might use just the one pattern on the right.

More Appliqué patterns and batiks.

Placing the designs on the top.  What do you think?

Maybe...hmmm

Freezer paper:  Traced. Cut. Ironed.  Now to trim, mark, and sew each piece on to the top.

Freezer Paper ironed on.  Ready to trim and mark.

Well, that's as far as I have got on this project. Stay tuned.  Oh, and I decided that I wasn't quite done with the Kokopeli quilt.  I'm adding just a little bit more to the top.