Commitment
At the start of the new year I made a commitment to myself not to take on any new volunteer positions. So far, I have honored that commitment. Although I didn’t promise not to add any more groups or challenges to my life, that thought was in my mind. On Wednesday, I read that SAQA was renewing their 104 days of making art group. The only requirement is to do 15 minutes of art a day and share what you did in a FaceBook entry. What can I say? Another commitment is now part of my daily life. Why did I sign on? Easy, I think it will be a solid reminder that I do something art-centric everyday.
Pelicans on Patrol
One commitment I made to myself is to finish Pelicans on Patrol in time to enter it into River Song, a SAQA Regional Exhibition. The call for entry opens on Monday, January 20th and concludes on February 28th. I will honor this commitment. I finished quilting the piece on Tuesday. Then the SEDOSO (Senior Executive of Studio Operations) and I trimmed the quilt to size. It needs to finish exactly at 24″ H x 16″ W with a 5″ H strip of blue running the width of the bottom edge of the quilt.
We did it! The quilt fits the measurement criteria precisely after I added and turned the facing. One of my tips, and a technique I am committed to, is to stay stitch the facing before turning it to the back side. It’s a little extra work, but I feel it is well worth it.
Rainbow Scrap Challenge
I remain committed to working on my 2025 Rainbow Scrap Challenge quilt. Since it is a work in progress I am able to tweak the design ever so slightly. I decided I wanted the two halves of the heart block to alternate between which half to be higher than the other. Note how it helps accentuate the curve of the rainbow.
I’m linking up to the following posts:
I like all those little trees you quilted into the background of your pelican quilt!
You are kind, Nancy. My home looks across a salt marsh and small river to a bank of trees, similar to the one Pelicans on Patrol. It is a mix of evergreens and deciduous trees. So, I figured I would try to capture a bit of that in my quilting.
I’ve been away from the internet for awhile and this is the first I’m seeing of your Pelicans On Patrol project. I just love how you incorporate traditional patchwork designs into pictorial work in areas where other artists would have used a single fabric or improvisational piecing. It adds so much depth and richness to your work and creates such a unique voice/vision for you as an artist. I’m in awe of the way you control color and value placement in those Storm At Sea units such that the end result suggests the sky, the patchwork pattern is somewhat obscured in the initial impression that it’s just abstract, and then that pattern slowly emerges as I engage with the work longer. Such a treat. I am all in favor of any New Year’s resolutions that result in more time for you to work on your own projects!
First, let me congratulate you for being away from the internet. It can be quite the time zapper.
I were to give an elevator speech about my work I might say I use traditional blocks in non traditional ways to create abstract representational images. Of course, most people hearing this would just be confused. I will sometimes say my traditional roots show. The reality is I find the process both engrossing and relaxing. The fact that you “get” my work and are drawn into studying it means the world to me. Thank you Rebecca.
Yes, life is complex and harried enough. No reason for us to add to our already over filled lives.
Congratulations on finishing Pelicans on Patrol in time to be entered in the quilt show! I can’t express my pleasure in the quilt the way Rebecca can but I like it, it makes me smile. I can actually visualize the pelicans meandering along the shoreline of the marsh.
You expressed yourself beautifully. I am delighted that you are able to transform a still life moment into an event on the marsh. Words like that keep me motivated. Thank you.
Your quilt is gorgeous, and right in time! You always work hard to be on time. Your broken hearts are beautiful too, love the alternate setting.
Thank you for sharing your creative process, and linking up.
Thank you, Frédérique. I do my best to work ahead. Deadline pressure is not my friend. I simply don’t have the focus or energy to do only one thing for hours and days at time. Probably why the RSC appeals. I can pick it and put it down easily. No pressure. As for the alternate setting, I just need to design one solid heart for the top of each arch. Hope to do that next week.
I love Pelicans on Patrol! It has been so enjoyable to follow along on your progress and now to see the finish. It’s another one I’d love to see in person!
Well, almost finished. It isn’t done until I have added a sleeve and label, taken and cropped call for entry quality photos and added it to my website.
There is nothing like seeing a quilt in person. The size can surprise you, even if you have read the dimensions. Plus texture shows up so much more in person. Wouldn’t it be great if we could teleport ourselves to view quilts we would love to see in person. Beam me up, Diann.
Pelicans on Patrol looks fabulous! And I love the first pink heart blocks.
You are so kind, Sue. Thank you!
We saw our first pelicans on a trip to Florida many years ago. They do indeed like to be on full display! Great quilt…I would also like to see this one in person…it’s hard to see the texture your quilting creates in a picture. Isn’t the rainbow scrap challenge a great way to use scraps and build a quilt, one colour at a time?! Have a good week.
Yes, it is difficult to capture texture in a photo. Hopefully, what I think of as the “formal” or call for entry photo, will give a better sense of dimension. The RSC is a great way, if not to eliminate all scraps, at least to bring those scraps under control.
I hope that you new daily challenge will help you to remember to find time to enjoy your art every day. The RSC blocks are coming along nicely.
Challenge or no challenge, I always relish time working on my art. I do think the 104 day challenge will remind me that I always have time for art even if I only manage 5 minutes in a day, it is five minutes I don’t have to spend on the following day.
Wow! What a finish!! I had to look closely at your background as I wondered where you found tree printed fabrics. Then I realized you quilted the trees! So much detail to enjoy for the eye!
Thank you, Terry. The question I asked myself before committing to quilting the trees was one of scale. I wanted to give a sense of distance. The foreground along the bank of the river hints at bushes and then the massive green section suggest a gently slopping hill of trees. I had fun dotting the landscape with trees. Very easy motif to do.
I love your Pelicans quilt. We used to see quite a few pelicans when we lived in Florida. Congratulations on finishing the perfect size too. Math matters. Haha!
Yes, math does matter. 🙂 I come from a family of engineers and my brother is a maths professor. I’ve always enjoyed watching pelicans, too. Probably why I gravitated to making this quilt. Thanks for the congratulations.
I love how you use traditional blocks in non traditional ways. Always interesting and inspiring. I’ve only seen pelicans in Florida on vacation and was fascinated with their size and diving capabilities. A fascinating bird so beautifully rendered in cloth.
Thank you, Jocelyn. I began as a traditional quilter, making log cabins, sampler quilts and other quilts, such as Irish Chains. Much I enjoyed that, I couldn’t resist tweaking the colors. Those traditional blocks make piecing easy. I love the challenge of using them in unexpected ways.
Yes, those Floridian penguins are fun to watch.
1. Whatever Rebecca said, I agree completely.
2. I finally understand the meaning of SEDOSO. Had a huge AHA moment. Until now, this is all I had from Google/AI – “Sedoso is a Spanish and Portuguese word that translates to ‘silky’ in English. It describes something that is soft, fine, and shiny, like silk.”
I was confused, but was too embarrassed to ask.
Your package leaves Monday.
Stay warm!
What a riot that there is actually a Spanish word sedoso, especially since it relates to fabric. I usually try to define SEDOSO in my posts. It is a tongue in cheek joke about how my husband’s company created titles rotating through the words:Senior, Associate, Executive, Director, etc.
Ask away.