It Looks Like a Picture

I had dental surgery this past week, which took a greaert toll on my free time than I had originally planned, therefore I didn't make much progress on the quilt. 

As always,  looking at my options before deciding on which material to use for the border.

I hope to get most of it quilted this week and add the details.

The rivers and waterfalls are spectacular at Yellowstone.

Choosing the Material

The great thing about Maryland weather is that we always have a reprieve and we definitely got one this weekend with temperatures in the high forties on Saturday.  But, they are calling for more winter weather again tonight.  My sister, who lives in Nome,  and I have been bantering about the weather for the last two weeks.  When it is unusually cold down here, it is warm up there.  While we were cold and miserable, she was loving life up there.

Going from the pattern to choosing colors is always a challenge for me.  When first trying to select the material, I try to think outside of the box to broaden the spectrum.  Sometimes it's a fit; sometimes, it's a disaster.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The camera flash did the colors a injustice.

 

Finding the buffalo in the middle of the road holding up traffic was definitely a sight to see on our way out of Yellowstone.

 

 

 

 

Grand Tetons....beautiful

Memories of the Grand Tetons

 

This week was perfect to work on this wall hanging.   Snow and cold weather goes equals moose and snowy mountains.

 

 

On our trip to Yellowstone a year ago, left us with many wonderful memories during our 5,500 mile journey. 

 

We have learned when there is a traffic jam in a park, there must be wildlife abound.  When we first entered the Grand Tetons Park, traffic was at a crawl.  Mom hopped out of the car and went to see what the commotion was all about.  She was able to snap several pictures of this magnificent animal eating in the water.

I liked the angle of the moose in this photo, but I also wanted a little more landscape of the area than what was shown in the photo.   Therefore,  I decided to combine three photos. 

I had to put the Tetons in the picture.

 

First I said, "I can't" to walking out there, then I thought why not?  When would I get out to the Tetons again to have such an  experience?

 

 

 

Ah, Paradise!




Ahh, Paradise!

      I want to remember to keep in mind, simple lines and sharp contrasts, for future quilts


More sights of Prague:

Getting Back into the Flow of Quilting

I now know why I don't live in Alaska; temperatures below 20 degrees is not my cup of tea.  The good thing about living in Maryland is that we always get a reprieve from the cold.

I think the legs need a little bit of shading, don't you?  Nothing fancy, just a dark line to separate them.

 

I think the dark line helps to add a little bit of dimension to the legs.  It provides a dark contrast to move your eye across the composition.  I love the toe nails.

I edged the picture with white material and then added the blue material.

 

 As with my last wall hanging, I really wanted the negative space to be a part of the composition.  I took time to plan the pattern for the free motion stitching for the sand and water.

 

 

I did a circular pattern on the printed material.  I followed the edge of the tan material  to establish the pattern for the stitching.

I am beginning to feel more comfortable controlling my free motion stitching, again.


More sights from Prague:

 

Ready to Quilt

Brrr......below freezing temperatures and freezing rain this morning.  This weather confirms my belief that my sister is crazy; she lives in Alaska.  I can't imagine living with these below freezing temperatures for long periods of time.  I look forward to temperatures in the low forties again.

 

 

I decided to use a batik for the legs.  I used a color pencil to shade the bottom of the foot and the right foot.  To tell the truth, I am not real sure I like this material for the leg.

 

I am not sure I am making the best material choices for the leg.  This is not what I pictured in my mind.  I am going to have to rethink this.

I peeled the material for the leg off and started over with a different batik.  This one is more to my liking.  The color of the material for the hat has just enough contrast against the  sand.

 

I decided to choose a "maroon" color for the towel.  I think it compliments the hats, water, sand, and legs.  I am ready to quilt.


Here are some pictures from our trip to Czech Republic.

 

A view of the  castle in Cesky Krumlov

 

 

 

Happy New Year! (A Few Days Early)

 What a whirlwind the last couple of months have been.  Europe was fantastic!  We planned our trip through AAA.  We had a fantastic agent who helped us to plan our hotels, railway schedule, and our side trips.  And, oh, Lufthansa is the only way to fly overseas: good food, free drinks all night, and snacks.

 

The wedding dress took much longer than expected to complete.  I ended up sewing 1,000 beads on it.  You couldn't really see the beads, but when the light hit the dress just right, it sparkled.  It looked magical during the ceremony.

 

 

 

I am very excited to finally have the time to get back to my new first love, quilting.  And...... I have been asked to make another wedding dress for a very dear friend.  Of course, I couldn't say no.  I am staying home this summer so there should be lots of time to do both.

 

The minute I saw this photo, I knew it had potential as a wallhanging.  My new son-in-law took this photo last spring.  It would provide me with new challenges of dealilng with skin tone and water.

 

 

I uploaded the photo into Photoshop and applied the posteredge filter to it.  This helped to make the highlights and shadows more pronounced.  I put the tracing paper over it and made my pattern.

 

I liked the flowered material for the sand near the water, but the pattern was too "strong" for a lack of a better word.

Then it dawned on me to turn the material over to soften the print.  I have the sand and water ready for the legs and hats.


Here is a composite picture I put together of our trip.  In the center, is mom, from our first trip to Prague.