tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1210759514036256082.post6205207359052372492..comments2024-03-08T00:12:34.350-08:00Comments on Art and Quilts, cogitations thereon: Book Sale, the importance of road signs and 5 reasons for not finishing everything.Elizabeth Bartonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13928615247903165719noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1210759514036256082.post-17332523424738596972016-03-22T07:36:17.924-07:002016-03-22T07:36:17.924-07:00I also have many tops put away to quilt "late...I also have many tops put away to quilt "later." My problem seems to come in not being satisfied with my quilting skills. This causes me to quilt the oldest or least favorite pieces instead because I don't want to "mess up" the good ones! SCRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01668280448025173678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1210759514036256082.post-30119648915794277002016-03-17T06:32:39.438-07:002016-03-17T06:32:39.438-07:00Yes, it's all an adventure. Thank you for the ...Yes, it's all an adventure. Thank you for the comment. Looking forward to your workshop at New Smyrna Beach!Kathleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16918514887742404606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1210759514036256082.post-23890144836017587422016-03-17T05:56:24.499-07:002016-03-17T05:56:24.499-07:00Hi Kathleen, and yes Milhazes' work is amazing...Hi Kathleen, and yes Milhazes' work is amazing and it's all variations on a fete theme - with bright colors and whirling circles...I'm surprised they've not brought out one of those coloring books so popular now amongst grown ups (strange!!) of her work.<br />And yes I love painting too...just watching the colors flow across the page is magic!<br />But the knowledge gained from one medium does transfer to the other...so all is good..enjoy whatever you do.Elizabeth Bartonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13928615247903165719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1210759514036256082.post-27838259894152870322016-03-16T13:22:11.163-07:002016-03-16T13:22:11.163-07:00A surprise overtook me as I prepared to work in my...A surprise overtook me as I prepared to work in my first series. I loved following all the steps in your book. I am your fan! But as I developed my ideas I was shocked to realize I love paintings better than almost any quilt. And I love to paint -- with my fingers mostly! better than I like to quilt. It was like falling in love the second time around, unexpectedly. For awhile I just let myself indulge in painting (and did I mention drawing?) Now I'm trying to make it work with both my loves. My series parameters have changed drastically and so have my expectations. I'm not such a good painter; I'm a beginner, after all. But it draws me in. So I'm beginning again on a series: paint, then "copy" the painting by drawing with stitch and then I'll paint that. Call it a quilt. My theme is Florida nature, South Florida mostly because of its ferocity and bright palette. My model is the Brazilian artist Beatriz Milhazes. <br />You are inspiring!Kathleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16918514887742404606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1210759514036256082.post-88587301073325047592016-03-14T19:09:23.286-07:002016-03-14T19:09:23.286-07:00Ye gods - those postage prices are unbelievable - ...Ye gods - those postage prices are unbelievable - enormous! except that I did have some requests overseas when I wrote the books and discovered that even to Canada the postage was prohibitive - I did send one up there when I friend was going! <br />Thank you all who have been able to buy them for a reasonable price - and enjoyed them. And i'm so sorry that the online course Inspired to DEsign this time around wasn't more active - they do vary quite a bit...the more that sign up, the more active it is, and if just a couple of people post work and start conversations and comment on each other's work it will set everyone going..I tried to ask what people were doing...but didn't get much response. The big thing that the class has is that I can critique your designs, or help you specifically with them - so if you have a chance do post them Priscilla.<br />and yes! those medallions are amazing!! There are real benefits to working in a series - or even two series. You could have a series for the winter and one for the summer - it would be fun to switch as the seasons change!<br />But don't let unfinished pieces drag you down, maybe they're unfinished for a very good reason - they shouldn't be finished!! or at least not by you!<br />If they've remained unfinished for a year then let them go - it's like clothes, if you're not worn them for a year, you're probably not going to!Elizabeth Bartonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13928615247903165719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1210759514036256082.post-49174589737259470612016-03-14T04:40:42.233-07:002016-03-14T04:40:42.233-07:00I am so glad to have both your books. Our small gr...I am so glad to have both your books. Our small group the Fabrigos constantly talk about your blog and or books when we meet. We find the critique questions especially helpful. Often asking the questions help clarify what we are intuitively feeling is just not right about the piece. <br />If I am to dig a book out yours are often my go to re read. I hope to take a class from you soon. I feel I need time to truly commit to it to get the benefit. So I keep looking to see what dates come up so I can do so. <br /><br />JoJo Vandermeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07387737331055177779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1210759514036256082.post-68851886170923583342016-03-13T23:06:59.857-07:002016-03-13T23:06:59.857-07:00I love both your books and at those prices was goi...I love both your books and at those prices was going to buy them for a friend - but $31.99 shipping to Australia (even for just one book) makes it prohibitive... guess I will just lend her mine :-)<br />Regarding the online Inspired to Design Course, I would in hindsight have just got the book as all the material is in it, in a more convenient format. I have struggled with the class interface and there hasn't been as much student interaction as I hoped. I guess I had better get my butt back into gear and post some designs myself before the class closes in 2 weeksPriscillahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10065710009746863158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1210759514036256082.post-39168618241644687232016-03-13T18:35:08.689-07:002016-03-13T18:35:08.689-07:00I have both your books also - perhaps it's tim...I have both your books also - perhaps it's time to pull them off the shelf and re-read them. I also was a failed student of your online class. :)<br /><br />I struggle to work in a series. I like the concept of a series - but I have yet to find a style/technique that holds my interest long term. I tend to jump around - between traditional and non-traditional. Simple nine-patches and wild-ass Improv. Right now I'm working my way through Sherri Lynn Wood's book of scores.<br /><br />I also get weighed down by things that aren't finished so I'm on a kick to finish my WIPs and THEN start new things. This doesn't work with my need to be creative though as some of my WIP are long term hand projects.<br /><br />I might take a page from your book....set some parameters (I like the idea of 6 quilts of smaller sizes), select a technique/stye, and see where it takes me. It's only 6 quilts after all (at least to start!).<br /><br />And note to Melanie....'humble' is over-rated. Sing your own praises - there is no shame in that!KrisRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16329097418939443256noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1210759514036256082.post-64283308581975424922016-03-13T16:13:15.684-07:002016-03-13T16:13:15.684-07:00Thought I might get your book on working in a seri...Thought I might get your book on working in a series -- and the price was right, even in CAD...but the <b><i>postage</i></b> was over $18 USD, or about $24 CAD (and that was 'regular' mail, not express)...so...I don't think so!Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04472013513744969837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1210759514036256082.post-79309836644466452022016-03-13T14:46:56.519-07:002016-03-13T14:46:56.519-07:00I have both your books and found them so helpful i...I have both your books and found them so helpful in my quilting journey. After 3 years of making traditional blocks and quilts I am now exploring my creative side and have started making art quilts. That's a slight stretch of the truth, but I have dispatched using patterns and I am exploring themes and techniques that inspire me. I have found in my limited experience, that sticking to a theme has certainly helped me develop my ideas and recognise what seems to work or not as the case may be!! Despite the frustrations it's great when I "get there" with some pieces, and for the moment I'm simply loving moving forward with the learning process. Love reading your blog Elizabeth .Sew Jacky Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13878249003905816421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1210759514036256082.post-45601834789181605712016-03-13T09:38:28.463-07:002016-03-13T09:38:28.463-07:00Great books -- I hope lots of people take advantag...Great books -- I hope lots of people take advantage of the sale! <br /><br />Yes, I work in series. I've been making primarily medallion quilts for about 3 years. Dozens of medallion quilts, in styles and colors ranging from fussy-old-aunt to ethnic improv. I keep making them because I keep learning new things and being delighted by how changing various aspects makes a whole new quilt, not like I've made before. I try new things like varying proportion of the center block -- how large can I make the center and not mess up proportions of the borders, for example. I try varying value placement, shapes, color combinations, symmetry. I try new techniques to me for both center blocks and borders. I make heavily pieced and barely pieced quilts. As far as I can tell, I'm the leading expert on medallions. No one else seems to specialize in them or understand them as I do. (Does not sound humble but it appears to be the truth.) <br /><br />And yes, there is value in starting multiples at a time. In particular it is fun to constrain my sizes, making multiple quilts with the same sizes of center and borders. Within that, then I can vary EVERYTHING else, so no two quilts look at all alike. <br /><br />Right now I'm working on one centered by a beautiful piece of African fabric. Unlike for most of my quilts, I'm not measuring a thing here, just making stuff fit. I don't know how big it will be when I'm done. So far, so good... Melanie McNeilhttp://catbirdquilts.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com