CHEATER FABRIC

 A long time ago when I first started making art quilts,  I used a lot of what is called "cheater fabric"  when making scenes.  This is fabric printed with trees or grass or fruit etc.  At some point I realized the difference in a preprinted tree and a tree made from scratch with your own bark etc.   However, I still use this fabric in some cases.  Here is an example.  I have this fabric of grasses in the snow.
Just what I am looking for.

 So I cut it out in order to just get the naturalness and shape that I like.  I can also move the shapes I cut out around to decide exactly where I want them and how much I want in an area.  Once I make those decisions I snip the top edge to loosen it up ...all done at random just snip snip snip.  Once that is done I fuse them in the locations I chose. 

Then I thread paint them......the fabric fills the gaps between the lines of thread and blends it all together with it ending in a nice natural look.   I always add a few lines before and after the section to blend it into the background and add small "tufts" of grass here and there around the area of the large piece as it would be in nature.   Most would not know there is any fabric behind it.

PROGRESS

 Working on my farm scene today.....plowed field will go in here but not exactly there so just pinned for now.  There are a few more trees going in around the background church.

I am liking the background more and more.  When the foreground goes in it will all come together.

Tonight my two grandson's Clay and Max are coming for a sleepover.  It will be their first in the new house so they are so excited.  Love that young exuberance!

Packed up two quilts that I sold yesterday in my Etsy shoppe to a private collector.  They are two of my favorites and I will miss them but know this collector appreciates them as much as I did.  I am very fortunate.

BACK IN THE GROOVE

I finally feel like I am back into the groove so to speak when in my studio.  I was floundering for a while.  I think I replaced that road 3 or 4 times before settling on this piece of fabric.  It got so frustrating I would leave the room and do something else just to step back a bit.  However, I finally feel back in the groove and like I know where I am going and what I want this piece to say. 

That is a very good thing!!! 

BLUE JAY CONSTRUCTION

Here is how I constructed this bird.  I start with a sketch on tissue paper, so once all the major pieces are cut out of the fabric I have chosen,   I can line them up properly using the tissue paper sketch as a guide. All is done on top of my teflon sheet.

 He looks good now but will get better with his feathers quilted in.

CRAB APPLE TREE

I  have been working all day yesterday and most of the day today on this crab apple tree.  It's bark is quilted then I added the left over apples from last summer.  Still not happy with it....will continue to work on it until satisfied and then add bird sketch and see how it looks but it is heading in the right direction.

QUILTING

Quilting on the black feathers on my Puffin.  He is fun to work on and actually makes me smile when I look down at him while working.   Who can resist that sweet face?

Beginning The Construction

 I finished quilting the entire background so today I began the beginnings of all the details starting with what is the furthest in the distance which in this case is a line of leafless trees or large shrubs and a line of evergreens.    The evergreens will have a birch tree with yellow leaves on it in front of them so I do not worry about making them perfect as much of them will be hidden.

Here is how it looks in its full view.

Then I sketched  the ducks on tissue.  For those who are new to my blog, I do that so I can lay the sketch on both the quilt background to be sure of proportion and placement and also I use it as a guide when constructing the object on my teflon sheet .

I always make my building some what perfectly in the sketch but when I construct it out of fabric I free cut it so it is just a bit off making it not only look more real but to add some movement and interest to the structure.

Here they both are pinned on the background and I am happy with the size of them as well  as how nicely they fit the space.  The ducks will be moved apart a big but you can still see they will work out well in the foreground, giving the piece the depth it needs.

So the part I enjoy the most is beginning...stay tuned for changes to keep coming each day.  Well hopefully each day....it is the weekend so may get distracted with a few other things.

Mourning Dove

 I took this photo a few weeks ago out of my studio window.  It was early in the morning and this dove was huddled in the sunshine.  I love the bark on the maple tree and the dove....so I knew it would be my next piece.

I chose this fabric which I recently purchased at our local quilt shop, The Sewing Basket.
Then I added the border randomly fusing those pieces down.  Today I quilted it with  organic lines from one side to the other about a 1/4 inch apart.
 

 I had sketched out the dove yesterday on tissue paper....He is big so taped several sheets together.  Then I placed him on the quilt background to envision it.  He will be made up in mauve colors so the contrast with the grey will be very nice.

Here is a closeup of how I sketch marking areas of shadows and feathers.   Before working on him I will do the branches he is perched on.  I want to place them so they are going over and under the border giving depth.  It is why the border needed to go on first.
So tomorrow I will begin working on that.  I love making trees and bark so it will be enjoyable to work on.

FOG

Finished sailboat, reflection was painted on with fabric paint...then loons (there is always a pair on this lake) and finally the tulle fog was pinned on.  I will sew it on tomorrow.
Right now I am very late making dinner!  Hope you like it.  Oops!  Just noticed no reflection on the Loons.  Will have to do that before sewing down the fog.  Luckily I have not done that yet.

Pier & Rowboat

The pier is in the water!   It was a challenge but worked out well and got the right angle and perspective which is the most important part.  Opted to paint in the reflection with a wash of fabric paint.

It has all been quilted.   So next comes the focal point which is the white sailboat.  I have it sketched so should be able to work on it tomorrow and place it into the scene.

I enjoy this part so much because  these foreground pieces  unite everything together and it is only until they go in that you begin to feel the emotion of the piece.

Moving Into The Water

 I am slowly moving into the water now.  The shoreline is pretty much finished on the land  and now need to work on the pier soon and then all the reeds and lily pads.

Put in two red twig dogwoods not in the inspiration photo but what is found on the shoreline on this lake.  Need to tone down the leaves on the one on the right but am not concerned about it yet.  Will first see how it plays with the other elements that are yet to come.   Great progress in four hours time.

Next will be some lighter colored reeds and then the pier and the rowboat parked behind it.  This will be difficult as I must get the angles right or it will not work.  It is when you do have to use your math skills and think about angles etc.  In my case that is where I need to mentally prepare myself first and wake up the other side of my brain!

Hope you all are enjoying this so far!  Can you smell the water yet?

Swing

Building the shoreline now.  The swing is in and will be hidden on the bottom by a bush and then grasses so trust me ....it will look so much better as this progresses.  Made another small pine in front of swing.

I must say I am tired today so will quit now and go watch the movie "Gravity".  Rented it along with a pizza this morning.  Then will work again tomorrow.  I am excited to do this shoreline now and get to the water for all that goes on it.  Hope you are enjoying this journey with me as I am in sharing it.

Bindings Going On

 I put the chickens back under the needle now that I attached the binding.

 I have done the binding in two colors.  A black on the top and a brown on the bottom.

I chose a decorative blanket stitch to attach it down.  I will finish up the brown tonight.

Legs and a Friend

 "Well, thank you, I finally have legs!  It took you long enough!"

 "Now who is this appearing behind me?  Ha!  No body or legs on this one!  What do you think Watson?  Watson? Watson where are you?"

Have a good Friday!  :)