WIP-Better Deer

I worked on the deer for this scene yesterday. Hopefully, they now look more like deer and less like collies or French Poodles. It was an ugly scene on the cutting table: carnage everywhere as I amputated legs, snouts, and ears. I decided not to make antlers for a buck, because this looks like a spring or summer scene to me. Deer antlers are not completely grown until the end of summer. Anyway, the ones we see standing around grazing are always does.

Must take a break from art quilting to get back to the Gammill for awhile and do a bed quilt for my friend, Jean. It will be a "Delectable Mountains" with leafy motifs.

Thanks to everyone who has encouraged me with kind remarks about these experimental art projects!

WIP- Personal Symbol

We are on the last week of the online class, Think Like an Artist. We are busily churning out projects to be finished later. A few of the members have gone ahead and quilted/embellished their pieces, but I am struggling to keep up with the homework! This is for Part 2 of Lesson 3, a personal symbol. Mine of course includes the mountains and creek that I love in western North Carolina. Those deer need a little surgery to make them anatomically correct! Guess I will go fine-tune the deer and the bird on my self-portrait. (See previous post) I am thinking of making a wild turkey (one of the birds we see all the time in the mountains) landing on her head, and calling it Too Much Wild Turkey! Ha, still having fun with this class!

WIP-Self-Portrait???

Ha-ha! I am having way too much fun doing this project for my online class, Think Like an Artist with Pamela Allen. This one is not even "glue-stick" basted down yet. I keep changing my mind about it! Someone in the group asked if the bird was a sea gull...yup, it looks like one, but that does not make sense in the context of the rolling hills/woods. Maybe that is why there is such a surprised look? I am thinking of changing the bird to an owl, wild turkey, grouse, or something that might be in the North Carolina mountains. Actually, I started with a bluebird, but Pamela suggested that a bluebird on the shoulder might be a bit "twee." She cracks me up.

In this workshop, all the quilt elements are cut freehand with scissors. No drawing, no patterns. Then you embroider all the elements to the batting/backing. After that, you machine quilt and embellish. No borders! While intimidating at first, this technique is really freeing, because you do not have to be realistic. I like the element of humor that can be injected into the quilt!

Cherry Blossom Pink

Look what happened in time for Easter! When we moved in fourteen years ago, I planted Yoshino Cherry trees along our driveway instead of the ubiquitous Bradford pears. Only two survived, but they have become lovely mature trees which add fragrance and beauty to our yard. They do not have edible fruit, but the blossoms are worth growing these trees. In fact, this is the same variety that graces the National Mall in Washington, D.C.While I was photographing the cherry trees, I kept noticing bluebirds flying from tree to tree in the front yard. It is time for the annual battle for the birdhouses between the bluebirds and the house sparrows. If you look carefully, you can see both in this pecan tree.
One more day of school until spring break! Last night I worked for about an hour on the next lesson in my Think Like an Artist quilt workshop. Nope, not going to show you yet! This one is supposed to be a self-portrait. Well, a self-portrait along the lines of Domestic Goddess in yesterday's post. Suffice it to say, this does not look much like me! I am not happy with it yet and make totally scrap that one and start over. Our teacher spent the day traveling to Florida and has not made any more comments today. I can tell you that this class is stretching my comfort level!