Cutting Junkie

I have many sketchbooks, all of them have a different size.
I carry a little (yellow) one (6 x 4 inch) in my handbag- I prefer little handbags.
This little sketchbook is also used as notebook : when I’m eating out and the presentation of the food is unusual : I make some quick notes. Or a terrific recipe…
I also use that sketchbook as post-it or agenda.

The next size I use is 8.5 x 6 inch, I have 2 of them. One in my bedroom and the other at work. I also have an in between, 7 x 5 inch, I carry that one when I’m taking holidays.


The biggest one , 8.5 x 11.75 is only to be used in my studio. I use that one to work further on the ideas I wrote in the other ones.

Early, this morning I started cutting colour chips from magazines. Not the most pleasant work but then I had the idea to use the ‘photo cutter’ .

My paper chips were cut in no time. I now have to look for another magazine to cut more.


“Don’t be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

Write you soon
Nathalie

Audition

I finally started auditioning the fabrics for the big version of the ‘Old Wheel’.

I will add more colour than in the original picture. And I will only use fabrics from my stash. It was a great adventure to search for the right fabrics.

I rediscovered some once so loved fabrics. I spent more time looking at the fabrics I didn’t need than the fabrics I actually chose.

The reason I started this blog was to have a journal about the what’s, how’s and why’s and to see an evolution of my ‘work’.

I wanted to have a written report about my work otherwise I won't remember the little story behind a work I made in 10 or 20 years.

“Make all you can, save all you can, give all you can.”
John Wesley (1703-1791)

PS.:
Thank you ‘Old English Teacher’, I'm glad you told me.

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Nathalie

Sketching II

Sharon Boggon from a Joggles-workshop asked us to sketch a Van Gogh in sewing lines.



That’s what I did, but with a twist : I sketched some lines so I could use it as appliqué.I highly simplified the design using geometric shapes !

Another fun exercise was to use common objects and make a frottage.
Once I used the correct pencil I hadn’t any problems any more.

I feel like in kinder garden again.
“The undertaking of new action brings new strength.”
Evenius

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Nathalie

Unfinished work

For all those one who are thinking that I finish every thing I make.
Here are my UFO'S :

exercise in thread painting,
I started after reading the book 'Threadplay' from Libby Lehman.
I underestimated the time I had to spend to sew those circles.
From time to time I take that top and threadpaint as warm-up for another work.
Sooner or later it will be finished.




The second UFO is a 'ghost-idea', I made this top with an idea in my head, but forgot to write my idea down. It was made using Dena Crain method of 'structured fabric'.

This one was started in a class conducted by Debbie Babin, but due to family-issues I wasn't able to continue the lessons. With the TAG-project in mind I know I will be able to concentrate me more on this Floral Pizzazz. I also absolutly wanted to only use my own hand-dyed fabric. I will have to change my mind about that ; a woman's privilege !

This last Instant Art Quilt has been made in a workshop conducted by Ellen Lindner. It's the third in the serie. The hand-dyed fabrics were choosed and layered by my youngest daughter. We only have to agree if we want to add some appliqué or slice it and sew it on a special way. We are in full debate.

I hope you enjoyed all those UFO'S !

I want to thanks all those who commented the 'Old Wheel'. My heart warmed up to high temperatures with all those compliments. Thank you again.

"I've learned that you can't have everything and do everything at the same time."

Oprah Winfrey (1954- )

write you soon

Nathalie

old wheel- again

I finished my 'Old Wheel' ! I'm glad.
I tried to write down almost every move I made with this picture till the finished known result. I took the picture because I liked the tree trunk, the wheel was there 'by accident'.
It turned down that I accentuated the wheel and the trunk was the 'support'.
Boy did I have trouble with that trunk !
The 'absence' of colors turned me crazy.
Now, up to the big version.
I have to look for 'the ' fabric, but I have time, I don't want to rush.

"Every day brings a chance for you to draw in a breath, kick off your shoes, and dance."

Oprah Winfrey (1954- )

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Nathalie

Inspiration

I have aged my ‘old wheel’ and I’m ready to thread paint the drawing.
I hoped I could have started the ‘fabric’ old wheel but I missed the time to do.
So this evening I thread paint and Sunday I start the big version.

I didn’t expect to be so tired after our trip to Marseille but the last days I need to sleep.
I’m human after all.

Since I filled my first idea-journal I started number two and that one will be filled in no time :
I have seen so much in Marseille. I have to make a series-work about the nature there.
I have some ideas but have to put them on paper first : I will not remember them all, next month I 'forgot' most of them.
I will use them on a later time when I’m out of inspiration.
Oh , yes, it happens ; sometimes I have some majors block-issues.
No inspiration at all !

"You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club."
Jack London (1876-1916)

write you soon
Nathalie

Agenda

I made this cover for my agenda using painted nappy liners and chiffon, did some free machine embroidery and zapped the whole bunch. After layering netting on the surface I did some more free machine embroidery using a metallic thread.

I now use this cover with many pleasure and receive possitive coments when friends are seeing my ‘personal agenda’.

This evening I hope I can start making the big version ‘old wheel’ in fabric. I still have issues with the trunk but I will solve that problem when I’m at the trunk.

“The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.”
Aristotle

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Nathalie

Stitches

I have a super sewing machine with a lot of fancy stitches and one of the ways to visualise those different stitches was to actually stitch them in different rows.
So I did.



Never realised that this was a titanic work !
And boring !



But now that this is done I’m glad I did it.
If I need to sew a decorative stitch, I take my sampler pages and look for the ‘most wanted’ stitch.

I have used my sampler to choose some stitches in the ‘Bubbles’ Darned Quilt I made in a Quilt University class conducted By Dena Crain (see link at right).
If you have the possibility : TAKE that class !
You will not regret it.
It is such a funny technique with quick and unexpected results.



"There is no pleasure in having nothing to do ;
the fun is in having lots to do and not doing it."
Mary Wilson little

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Nathalie

Marseille

Marseille is a beautiful city !
We spend some fantastic days there.



We slept in a charming hotel on the ‘Vieux Port’, the oldest part of Marseille.
This was the view we had from our hotel :


Like every port this city is a melting pot of cultures.
You feel the southern way of live : much life and noise, speaking with the whole body and very friendly.
We visited the oldest part of Marseille with a guide.

In the evening we went eating the ‘bouillabaisse’ – a ‘fish soup’-with a glass of ‘rosé de Provence’.
After enjoying the meal we walked near the ‘Vieux Port’ looking at the boats.

Very romantic !

We also visited the ‘Calanques’ from Marseille to Cassis with a boat – I was impressed by the primitive beauty of the nature.

The day after we visited the Calanques on foot on the ‘îles du Frioul’ We walked for about 4 hours.

The only thing you hear is the noise of the seagulls.

You have so many things to look at...

There's not so much green due to the climate.

I will go back !

"The goal of life is living in agreement with nature."

Zeno (335BC-264BC)

write you soom

Nathalie

Old wheel

A last short note before leaving.

Yesterday evening I made a color drawing from the ‘old wheel’ on fabric with watercolor pencils. I’m not yet satisfied about the trunk, but I will solve that problem with the thread painting.



“A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it.”
George Moore


Till next week
Nathalie