Thread Painting the Shadows

I have begun to thread paint the shadows of the pool and then I will do the shadow of the baby.  As you can see the definition of the arm has become clearer on the right side where the shadow is complete.

Working on the Pool

 

The baby is finished and I have moved on to the pool.  I decided to use a circular motion, circles, for the side of the pool.

 

Stitching the Body

I decided to heavily stitch the body since there was so much negative area.  I thought leaving it unstitched would look unfinished.  Again it has different characteristics when you look at it up close and from a distance. 

 

 

 

Stitching the Hat

 

I took the plunge and began stitching the hat.  I like the variation  of the material, so my stitching and thread color choices followed suit,

 

 

Basting

There is no greater incentive to scrub my kitchen floor than when it is time to baste a quilt.

 

 

I thought the baby ducks fabric was perfect as the backing for the quilt.

Yes!

When I heard the mention of snow lat weekend, I rushed to the quilt store to buy material for the border.  Whenever there is snow in the forecast, I make sure I have the essentials in the house-fabric needed for my projects.

I will choose a backing and batting from my stash.  Tomorrow, I will sandwich it and begin quilting.

Just the Left Hand Left to Do

I have to admit that doing figures is still a challenge for me, but one  I plan to overcome.  My main nemesis is choosing the fabric for the flesh tones.  I don't know why I allow this to stump me.  I wasted more time and material trying to get everything to my liking.  I think I finally accomplished a pretty good portrayal of the baby pictured.  I just need to finish the left hand.   Then I will add the border.  After that I will sandwich the quilt, and sew.

Still Working on Baby

Here is what I have accomplished so far.  I outlined/filled in the shadows with Intense pencils to help guide my stitching.  I have the left hand and arm to do.

Working on the Baby

I feel as if I am moving in the right direction, finally.

Back on Track

While I was home on my winter break I had a vision and I went with it.  Then the break was over, went back to work, and left my vision behind.  I was struggling last week and had to walk away from the wall-hanging. Pinned it to my design board, and just stared at it when I had the time, knowing it was not going in the direction I wanted it.  Finally yesterday, I connected with the piece again and I feel I am back to my original vision; back on track.

The yellow in the pool was too bright and too intense.  This meant the body color on the baby had to be even more so.  So, I took the pool bottom apart and decided to piece the bottom with less intense colors and give it a  "feel" to complement the hat. I didn't want a definite pattern to the bottom, so I purposefully broke the pattern.  I think mission accomplished; need to finish piecing the pool bottom (need to add more rows).  The olive green shading will come off.  I will use Inktense pencils and thread painting for the shading on the pool sides and bottom.

I am auditioning new and less intense body colors.

 

When Thinking Interferes with Seeing

I remember my Aunt Jodi telling me not to let thinking interfere with seeing.  The last couple of days I seem to have forgotten that advice when it came to the skin tone of the baby.   I was thinking of the light pinks of a baby's skin, whereas in the picture that was not what I was seeing. nI wasted several pieces of material until it suddenly dawned on me tonight........see, don't think.  

The material is the color I would think of a baby's skin in the sun, but looking at the picture, I wasn't seeing what was there.  Also, the green for the pool was all wrong and the shadow from the pool was off.

After "seeing and not thinking"; I changed the pool color, the shadow and the skin color.  I think the shadow cast by the baby is too dark, but I am not sure.  I will finish the baby first then decide.

Pool Choices

I am considering shades for the pool.  I am not sure I like the lime green that matches the color in the photo.  I think it would take prominence or fight the hat for prominence in the piece.  I don't want it to become the focal point.  The top left and right blend in too much with the sky.  I think I like the bottom right.  I will continue to look and consider different shades.

 

  You may notice, I do not use a lot of plain material.  When I first began making art quilts, I used plain, non patterned fabrics.  As my craft has evolved, I have found using fabrics with textures and light, small patterns along adds character and pizzazz to a piece.  I do use plain fabric where it is warranted.  

 

My plan for now is to select a shade of yellow for the pool floor after the baby is pieced.

 

 

You will also notice, the wall hanging takes on different "looks" when you view it up close and from a distance.  I like the look from a distance.

Hat

I think the hat has a running chance of being the focal point of this wall hanging even though we know what is really the reason for this wallhanging.

The hat is pieced, but not finished, that will come with the stitching.

Background

I have fussy cut the major parts of the hat from the material.  I will add the details to the hat after I choose the background, sky, material.

This material to me is too light.  I think it would work better it I want the background to have a far away look; such as the sky meeting the horizon at the beach.

This material is too busy.

too busy

This photo doesn't do it justice, but the hat pops off the background.  I like the textured look of the material.  The light blue pattern on the material is that of connecting hearts.  I does set the hat off.  If you look at the post titled Fabric Choices, you will get a better feel for the material.

Fabric Choices

Choices, choices, choices! Pattern, solid, batik, plain, bright.....fabric choices!  I consider all until I find what "speaks" to me.  Even then, I will have something all pieced together, only to rip it apart because it doesn't quite strike me.  

I am considering these for the sky.  I am leaning towards the the top two on the left.  No sure, until the hat palette is selected.

I used The Art Quilter's Value Scale by Leni Wiener to help with choosing my fabric in the different palettes presented below.   

I like the shades of red and patterns in this set.

I am tending to lean toward  this set.  I like the bright red colors and the patterns.

I think this collection is more aligned with the colors in the original picture.  But and the big but, I am not excited about this set.

The border for the hat- the picture has the shades a little off.