Friday, January 30, 2015

Curves at the Cabin - Off the Wall Friday

Its amazing where we can create.  I'm spending this week, visiting with my mother at my parents cabin in upstate New York.  As you can imagine, upstate New York is gorgeous in January and cold.  Very cold.  Still you couldn't tell it from inside the cozy cabin.  My mother very graciously told me to bring along my latest project.  Luckily, I'm very adapt at packing.  Also, luckily, the cabin has a nice loft that is perfect for a temporary studio.  



The curves, as you can see, are coming along nicely.  While I'm doing the piecing, I keep second guessing my idea to make the piece so big.  Then I get a section done and think - WOW - I like that.  Its funny how with all the design decisions being made up front - the pattern, palette and value placement - the piecing is relaxing.  And a lot of work

I've decided to use my improv piecing method again like in The Curves.  There is still more I want to explore in values and colors with the method.  Plus I wanted to try the method on a piece where I drew the curves rather than getting them from a photo inspiration.  We'll see if it makes a difference.  If I ever get it done.  Did I mention its a lot of work?

Still this week has finally gotten me into the groove of the piece so a March completion is looking more promising.  Nothing like a remote cabin in January  to help gain some focus.  I'm hoping to get a bit more done before heading back to Pennsylvania this weekend.  I'll be glad to get this baby pinned up on my design wall.

Ohhhh and by the way,  I happen to be the featured quilter on the blog,  Amy's Creative Side if you care to take a peak.  Every Friday she features a quilter from the Quilter's Blog Festival. 
 

So What have you been up to creatively?

15 comments:

sonja said...

i enjoy the curves in the loft, not the cold however.happy new year all year long!

Sherrie Spangler said...

I love your colorful curves, and the cabin looks idyllic.

quiltedfabricart said...

Oh, the cabin looks wonderful! Adirondacks or Catskills?
I was born and raised in Chestertown, small Adirondack town and love it there. But we didn't have a cute cabin like this ;-)

Nina Marie said...

I was raised on tug hill plateau, on the south west side of the Adirondacks. My parents downsized into the cabin for their retirement, although its just down the road from our family home. Dad always wanted a cabin at the creek's corner, so he built on here!

Jenny K. Lyon said...

Oh lucky you to be tucked into a cozy cabin with your Mom, sewing! This is going to be a spectacular piece-love the colors and the curves.

Kaja said...

Hope you make good use of your peaceful cabin. Your curves are looking amazing so far.

Turtlemoonimpressions said...

Looks so peaceful to me too!

Julierose said...

I L O V E your improv piece. I find it hard to start with paper and pencil--not being an artist. I do doodle a bit (while on the phone in the olden days I did a lot--now that it's text, text, text--uggies-I stopped) Maybe I should take out my grieving notebook and try out some of my sorrow drawings...I think your turquoise and reds are spectaular...hugs, Julierose....

Shannon said...

Good luck! I love the dark browns popping out of the yellow sections. I've had pieces like that, where it takes a really really really long time-- it's as though my brain thinks, well, the mentally challenging part (designing) is done, the rest is no big deal, except it still really really is....

Norma Schlager said...

Love what you're doing with the curves. The piecing looks great and I can tell that it's a LOT of work, but well worth it.

Margaret said...

Okay -- 2 questions:
1. Where in Upstate NY? I grew up 16 miles north of the Quebec/NY border...are you anywhere near Chateauguay? Malone?

2. Why didn't you just randomly piece one glorious chunk of fabric and then cut it so it curved the way you wanted?

Just askin'...

Nina Marie said...

Hi Margaret! I'm on the other side of the Adirondacks from where you'd grew up (see my comment above)...although my sister lives outside of lake placid. To answer your other question....it took me about 7 hours to piece the long teal swirl on the right. Although it looks random,it's not entirely. I keep a close eye on where the very lights and darks end up. Any extra piecing is a huge waste of time and fabric...so I keep the pattern close at hand so I know the general shape. The trim pieces end up being used later in the piece.

Amy Art Quilter & Fyber Cafe said...

what wonderful studio space! The piecing gives your curves a whole new look, that doesn't show up in the sketch. Have you tried some small pieced curves in your patchwork, Not all straight lines.

Maggi said...

just love the movement in this piece.

Glen QuiltSwissy said...

Amazing! It it just amazing!