Focusing on Improv for a week
I took a week off and it was GREAT. Well, not really a week off ... but a week where I just did what I wanted and didn't pay attention to what needed, or was expected, to get done. Sometimes I think we all need those weeks.
I hadn't really planned on doing nothing, I had actually started each day with objectives, it just sort of gave way to alternate focus as the days evolved. But I did get in a lot of reading, hiking, and even a little running. And my proudest accomplishment was getting the office organized on New Years Day ... paperwork is my nemesis.
Library book list for those interested (all worthy of a read):
What I did spend a bit of time with in the studio was improv. I saw this image on Pinterest and traced it back to a lovely artist on Instagram, Nancy Purvis. (BTW ... just spending a few minutes scrolling through Nancy's IG feed will get your creative juices flowing!)
My first version was definitely a replication of her concept—as much as you can replicate with completely different scrap bins.
This type of design is hard for me. I am precise. Other than making sure that each of the completed blocks measured 9"x6.75", there was NO precision in this effort.
But what it did do was really, really stretch me. As I am learning, the beauty of improv, is not in your advance objectives or vision, it's in the process and what you learn along the way. For this quilt, it was learning the balance of both color and value—the contribution that each play to creating an aesthetically appealing quilt top. There was a LOT of repositioning on this quilt.
In my quest to really mix it up (haha), I stepped away from her linear horizontal placement of the blocks and offset them by ~4.5", which meant creating half-end pieces for half of the columns (a move that got me deeper into the scrap bin).
There was only 1 strip of new fabric cut for the entire quilt (I needed a bold red/pink fabric to even it out). Even the solid neutrals came from my solid neutral scrap bin that barely gets much use. You can't quite see it in the pictures, but the solid neutrals are a mixture of white, snow, ivory, ash and more. They REALLY add to the organic feel.
While the office may be organized, the studio still looks a lot like this image with my scrap bins overflowing my cutting table.
This top is now completed and I am waiting for the backing fabric to arrive so I can finish it up. We are off to New Zealand in February which will include visits with hubby's brother and family—this will be our hostess gift.
There is another version (different dimension & placement for blocks) on the design wall right now, which I am excited to get back to later today—once I really do get my commitments accomplished for the morning.
I hope that you all had an equally productive and relaxing holiday season and that 2019 finds you happy, healthy and with lots of creative ideas just waiting to magically appear from your hands!
All the best,
Lisa
I hadn't really planned on doing nothing, I had actually started each day with objectives, it just sort of gave way to alternate focus as the days evolved. But I did get in a lot of reading, hiking, and even a little running. And my proudest accomplishment was getting the office organized on New Years Day ... paperwork is my nemesis.
Library book list for those interested (all worthy of a read):
- Educated
- Prisoner B-3087
- Between Shades of Gray
- The $100 Startup
What I did spend a bit of time with in the studio was improv. I saw this image on Pinterest and traced it back to a lovely artist on Instagram, Nancy Purvis. (BTW ... just spending a few minutes scrolling through Nancy's IG feed will get your creative juices flowing!)
My first version was definitely a replication of her concept—as much as you can replicate with completely different scrap bins.
This type of design is hard for me. I am precise. Other than making sure that each of the completed blocks measured 9"x6.75", there was NO precision in this effort.
But what it did do was really, really stretch me. As I am learning, the beauty of improv, is not in your advance objectives or vision, it's in the process and what you learn along the way. For this quilt, it was learning the balance of both color and value—the contribution that each play to creating an aesthetically appealing quilt top. There was a LOT of repositioning on this quilt.
In my quest to really mix it up (haha), I stepped away from her linear horizontal placement of the blocks and offset them by ~4.5", which meant creating half-end pieces for half of the columns (a move that got me deeper into the scrap bin).
There was only 1 strip of new fabric cut for the entire quilt (I needed a bold red/pink fabric to even it out). Even the solid neutrals came from my solid neutral scrap bin that barely gets much use. You can't quite see it in the pictures, but the solid neutrals are a mixture of white, snow, ivory, ash and more. They REALLY add to the organic feel.
While the office may be organized, the studio still looks a lot like this image with my scrap bins overflowing my cutting table.
This top is now completed and I am waiting for the backing fabric to arrive so I can finish it up. We are off to New Zealand in February which will include visits with hubby's brother and family—this will be our hostess gift.
There is another version (different dimension & placement for blocks) on the design wall right now, which I am excited to get back to later today—once I really do get my commitments accomplished for the morning.
I hope that you all had an equally productive and relaxing holiday season and that 2019 finds you happy, healthy and with lots of creative ideas just waiting to magically appear from your hands!
All the best,
Lisa
Comments
Post a Comment
Comments read daily and THOROUGHLY enjoyed!