What to Blog About?

Because it has been a while, there is just too much catching up to do.  So, where to start and what to blog about today?

Maybe the studio journal happenings.  Right.  Shirley and I have had a few sessions together and got a bit done on our studio journals in between her hospital visits.

In the first lesson we were asked “why” and I made this my front page.  Used watercolour pencils here.

Cut out done on freezer paper and then stencilled on fabric.  As seen in Quilters Arts Gift Magazine.

Draw as I stitch.

Colour my day.

On the right, a photocopy of a shell painted in watercolours and chopped up and on the left, designs from the shell exercise.  I am very proud of the sashiko design I worked inspired from the shell exercise.  That is what the studio journal as a workhorse is meant to be all about – helping us to design our own work.  I chose some thread colours from the watercolours to perhaps do some of the other designs here. 

I love this prism design I made up from the picture out of a mag on the right.  Think I will work it as a flower.
This studio journal workshop has been a lot of fun.  The final lesson was sent last Tuesday, but I haven’t dipped my toes in the water on that one yet. 
More to come…………..

Making a Start - Studio Journal

A friend and I enrolled in Sharon B's "Studio Journal - A Designer's Workhorse" online class.  We got our first lessons (exercises) last Tuesday.  I have made a start and here are the rubbings - or frottage - which I have done to reveal different textures.

I used to do this type of thing when I was a kid - with a penny, and in the 70's it was a very popular pastime to visit old churches and cathedrals in England and do brass rubbings. Never did do that!
It would be great to actually now interpret one or more of them in stitching.  I particularly love this geranium leaf and think I would like to explore more leaves, bark etc. from nature.

The geranium leaf is done on baking paper.
It was really funny running around the house with paper and pencil looking for things to rub.
Then I thought of this side panel of the singer treadle machine.  I love this one and see possibilities here!


Close up.

 
This exercise was a lot of fun, now I am working on the Van Gogh exercise - stay tuned.  
Having said that the 2nd week of lessons is out.  Sharon says to work at our own pace, so that is what we will be doing.