Exploring the Abstract on Off the Wall Friday

Walking Through Time, Sue Benner

Flora 6, Anna Brown

Okay, am I the only one that just looked up today and realized it was July 1st?  How did that happen?  I mean it's half the year!  I was cleaning my studio and noticed the little pile of Christmas gifts I got that I never really dug into.  One of them is this amazing book, Exploring the Abstract: an Instructional journey by Joan Blackburn. Although it's explorations using paint, it could easily translate to surface
design on fabric.  It landed on my wish list because this book is loaded with ideas on how to start an abstract piece.  I've had more than one person ask me how I do abstract pieces.  Honestly, I didn't really have a good idea.  I mean I have a vague idea of how to start, but what I wanted was a PURPOSEFUL way of starting!!  As I skimmed this book, I love how Joan didn't totally plan out her piece but it was purposely done with an innate flair! I want to learn how to do that.  

#1 Learn the Rules

#2 Keep to the Rules while Experimenting

#3 Learn when to Break the Rules

Red Head, Cynthia Corbin

I thought it would be a good idea to work my way through the book, sometimes using paint, sometimes fabric, and show my explorations here. I want to adapt her painterly exercises into fabric and see if I can learn something new.  I think I will do them in manageable smaller sizes and keep the best to do later in full scale...hmmmmm...we'll see.  

 I was hoping to have done more than skimmed it by now, but ya know, my customers need their clothes.  Luckily that seems to be coming to an end so I'm happy!  Must be all the fuss around the 4th and people realizing "Wow" it's summer!

So stay tuned!

Now under Things I like...

Last Friday I was contemplating how to transfer some of the quilting lines to my mosaic quilt. After wracking my brain for half a minute I got the idea to "Phone a Friend"!  I sent a  quick message to Jenny Lyon and asked if she had 10 min for me.  She message back yes and I opened facebook messenger, pressed video, and there Jenny was all the way out in California!  She was sitting in her studio and I in my family room and for the first time we got to talk face to face.  I'm not sure what tickled me more...to finally be able to talk to someone for "real" that we've corresponded over the last 10 years or that it was so darn easy and cheap!  So it did take about 10 min for us to brainstorm some ideas on what would work with the project.....then it took another hour of us chatting once we started about all things quilting.  It does a body's soul to connect with your people, doesn't it?

So I want to give a big shout of THANKS to Jenny for the help and the creative boost.  I highly encourage you to reach out to an online friend and connect.  This separation from the last year is not doing anybody any good! 

ohhhh and apparently this is #500 OFF THE WALL FRIDAY!  Wow on the day I thought - we need a blog link-up that starts with art quilters....wonder if anybody would come every week if I hosted one....I never thought it would last to 500!!  Thanks everyone for being faithful!

So What Have You've Been Up to Creatively?

 

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