Friday, June 26, 2020

Thank goodness for hobbies!


Totally enjoying my hobbies!

Watercolors 
are Frustrating Lovely!

You never know how it's going to blend or bleed...
the trick is to not over work the process ...
it's a hard trick to learn!!

The fishing lures were from a facebook live class
by quilter Bethanne Nemish.
Blending was a challenge for me!



The next two paintings are from on line Zoom classes by Melissa Hyatt,
a watercolorist from Long Island.

'Set Sail'

'Poppies"

My doodle painting of Tulips,
this was turned into a birthday card for a friend!


My Happy Place!

This is my favorite spot in the whole house!
I love it even more than my sewing room(s)!!!


Quilting

Finally, my daughter's Mariners Compass quilt is coming together!
Originally it was going to have a cream background...
but that seemed flat,
then the idea of it floating on a dark background hit me!



Judy Niemeyer designed the orientation of the compass to be slightly askew,
but daughter liked it better straight up & down - 
which means I need to make a few new pattern pieces
and recut the fabric!

Loving how it gives the illusion of the compass floating!


Am I the only one that struggles with borders?

For some reason lately they just drive me crazy!
Decisions, decisions, decisions!!


The components to Halloween Figs Sampler
are up on the design wall - the center is coming together.


and now it's border time...
this wouldn't be such a problem if I just stuck with the pattern...
but no!

Originally I was going with the Cream with Orange flowers - 
too wimpy.

Then Black and Cream swirl - 
too busy

Ok, it's the Orange with Cream flowers...
happiness - decision made ...

Until...

the Black with Cream showed up!

Boom that's it!

Going with the Black and Cream flowers...

Final Decision!!


Moving onto the borders for
Ravens

Here comes that Black and Cream Swirl again -
and again - too busy

How about that Black with Cream flowers fabric...

Yes! 
I think I like that!

Now what about that orange flange - where to put that?


Inside or Outside the black sashing?


Definitely outside the black sashing...
another decision made.

Let's hope they stay made!


Gardening

Never really liked gardening, but for some reason I'm loving
working in my arbor garden.

Since this is the first full year the plants are starting to fill out,
for pops of color I'll plant Iris and Tulips bulbs in the fall.
Next spring will be very colorful!
The birds are Loving their garden!

Mr. & Mrs. Bluebird - just sitting!

After all this painting, quilting and gardening
Bella is exhausted!
It's a Dogs Life!


Have a great Quilty Day and enjoy the process!
                               Janet

Saturday, June 6, 2020

Keeping Busy ... Watercolors and Quilting!

My watercolor Adventure continues!

Every Thursday afternoon continues to be
Art Therapy Thursday with
Bethanne Nemish

Each week is a new technique or theme - my favorites will always be ocean themes!

So when Bethanne taught the Whale checking out the boat - I was thrilled!

The first one (in my little watercolor book) was painted as she taught the class.
Afterwards I painted the second whale - 
taking my time and allowing layers to dry. 

The art of watercolors is definitely teaching me patience!
Which apparently I have none - 
so this is a great learning experience!


Watermelon Bookmarks!
Very summer!

and Bees
learning to use more water and less paint to create
the light airy wings (thats a work in progress!!)

This past week
Blowing Dandelion Wishes...
we did four different pictures using alcohol to disperse the paint
and create the dandelion base...


 Venturing off into the world of YouTube,
there are hundreds of watercolor tutorials...

Below is my attempt at a 'Misty Forrest" taught by Kolbie Blume

Feeding Bird (another YouTube tutorial)

"Irish Cottage" This was a great tutorial,
unfortunately I did not bookmark the page,
will definately have to search for more of this artist's tutorials!

another online tutorial 
(need to keep track of the origins to give proper credit)

 Lazy morning sketch!

This scene was found on line some where,
I sketched it out and using learned techniques 
created the "Cottage by the Sea" 
(my favorite so far!)


 The design wall is getting full with:
Temperature Quilt blocks
Afternoon Delight blocks
 Halloween Figs Sampler filler blocks

Just love the Tilda fabrics in the applique blocks...
half way there!!

FINALLY...
came up with the setting fabrics for my Raven quilt,
now just waiting on the border fabric to arrive!

This afternoon was spent finishing up the May block
for the Temperature quilt...
warm weather is creeping in!!

May was the month for many visits by a the Baltimore Orioles!
Who know they would liked to sip from the Hummingbird feeder!

They are such a bright vivid orange!

The Pesky Lounge Squirrel (see last month's post!)
is back playing King of the Railing!!

and sipping from the bird feeder!


The Bird Cam
continues to take a few good pictures!

Immature female Baltimore Oriole 


Catbird

Flicker Woodpecker

I have hundreds of other bird photos - but best not bore you!!!

The 40+ year old Peony bush is ready to pop!
This plant came from hubby's mother's old aunt's house!
We rescued it out of the trash pile!
It's a beautiful white with streaks of maroon in the center!


During all of this painting, stitching and bird watching...
I've been listening to my audible books.

Just finished the fifth in the Outlander series
(only 45 hours worth of listening!!)


Once done with a book I got the same feeling as when I finish a quilt...
"Ok, now what do I do"?!!
Need to select my next read!

Do you ever feel that way?

I'm hoping June is better than the last few months,
but looking at the way things are going ... I'm just not sure.
But we have to be hopeful.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog,
please comment if you liked it and what you liked about it...

Enjoy your journey,

                                                              Janet