KEEP TRYING, AGAIN AND AGAIN

Hello Everyone!

Last month while working on a collage background for a Hawaiian style paper cutout of Palm Trees, it wasn't turning out the way I had envisioned it in my mind.   Does that ever happen to you?  You have a picture perfect idea in your head and it doesn't come out the way you planned.  That happens to me frequently enough that now I'm no longer surprised, and that's okay.  There was a time when something didn't turn out the way I planned and it would frustrate me to no end, but I've learned to keeping trying.  "If at first you don't succeed, then try, try, try again".  Who said that?!  W.C. Fields, that's who.  He also added another colorful line to that but I'll leave that up to you to Google <wink>.  

After the initial TRY I began to rework the background adding a bit of yellow ocher paint and it was soon clear that wasn't working, it was overpowering the palm tree design.  So I quit at that point, disappointed but knowing I'd come back to it sooner or later to TRY AGAIN. 

Trying again at this point is what some would call salvaging ....stripping off some of the background papers and using sandpaper on the rough edges of the remaining paper on the canvas I was able to add a layer of light back into the background, with just a touch of ocher. 

 Blending in the lighter colors with ocher seemed to give the right effect and no additional paper was needed to complete the background.   Gluing down the palm tree design was the final step and letting the whole canvas dry for several days before declaring it DONE. 

Don't give up on your collage or painting when things aren't working out as planned, just walk away and let it go.  Then come back later and try it again. There is always an "ugly" stage when I want to trash my work but I've learned to work through this by pushing through the ugly to the final stage of beauty. Sometimes the best laid plans don't work out the first time and that's when you must TRY, TRY, and TRY AGAIN.

Keep ON Trying and Happy Painting! 

Suzy

I'm Back...A little of this and that

Hello Everyone!

My, my but the time has flown by since the last post!  You may recall we had a long visit from our daughter and baby grandson from February until just before Mother's Day. It was a wonderful time together and such fun watching our little boy grow and learn each day.  Jackson is now 14 months old and he is standing on his own and climbing on the couch, getting ready to walk (unassisted) any day now.  What a delightful child.  We miss him so much.

Today I received a comment from a new follower, it was just the kick in the pants I needed to get back to blogging again.  Thank you Chris!  It's taken a bit of time to get back into the "swing" of things and getting used to the "quiet" house again.

Right after Amanda and Jackson left we went on a vacation/road trip to see our niece graduate from Virginia Tech and visit my sister and family in NC.   My last trip to Blacksburg, Virginia was the summer of 1970 when my sister and I stayed with our cousins.  You could say it was a different place, barely recognizable except for a few road names that rang a bell.  The weather was chilly, in fact it was down right cold to us thin blooded Floridians.  What a trip that was for a couple of flat-landers like us!  Hubby did the driving until we got into the mountains, then I drove while DH held on for dear life. It was very funny <wink>.

We were lucky enough to have a lovely cottage at Mountain Lake Lodge (it's where they filmed most of Dirty Dancing).  Here's a link: http://www.mtnlakelodge.com/

Our cottage was huge, four bedrooms (each like a hotel room) and thankfully a wood burning fireplace. Very nice indeed to share the cottage with our Georgia family members and extended family from NC and VA.  Lots of fun! We enjoyed hiking, exploring the resort, some fast and furious card games and of course the main event was Graduation.

Casey with Aunt Susie & Uncle Rich

 I took along the art supplies (minimal) and some knitting for down time, there wasn't much time for art but I did knit a simple drop stitch scarf I saw the pattern on a You Tube video by Jenn Wisbeck, here's the link: http://youtu.be/7lf1v6hZFx8.  It was fun, it was quick and a great way to showcase the beautiful multicolored yarn I found at Walmart.  I must say the larger knitting needles threw me off a bit since I had been knitting newborn hats on size 3 & 5 and switched to size 11 to knit the scarf...it was like knitting with harpoons!  

I've been doing a great deal of knitting for our Praying Hands and Hearts knitting ministry at church. When our local hospital needs newborn hats we get the call and the needles start to fly! The little newborn hats keep my hands busy while watching t.v. at night and I just love making them, they make my heart happy.

Newborn Baby Boy Hand knit hat.

Speaking of babies, we stopped to visit my sister in North Carolina and our niece who was expecting her fourth baby any moment!  We enjoyed a visit with the grand-niece and grand-nephews and showered them with gifts for baby Lily (not born at the time).  I painted canvases for each of the children's rooms.  

So there is a little glimpse into what's been going on in my world.  Join me again soon, we'll catch up with the latest projects and what's going on.  What's happening in your neck of the woods??

Bee Creative!
Suzy

P.S.
Lily Jane was born last Thursday, May 29th.  Mama and baby are doing well.

INSPIRATION COMES

Hi Everyone!

The “Design” notebook began when I wanted to replace mini blinds in the studio. 

With two windows in the room, there is a semi-need for privacy, especially with the window facing a neighbor and a partial view to the street. Researching Roman Shades on the Internet was slightly overwhelming, with SO MANY options for shades available. There are the How To's and Custom Made's and with each one you must chose style, colors and patterns, etc.  When I thought I might be at wits end, I came across appliqued pictorial landscape shades and the light bulb went off:   “hey, I thought, I’m a quilt maker why not make patchwork shades of my own”! I knew I'd never make the landscape appliqued shades (too much work, not enough time) but patchwork was certainly an doable option! Ok, with that decision made I can let it percolate in my brain for a bit, mentally working out patterns. A few days later, an email pops up from a quilt shop in the In Box offering a Kaffe Fassett Roman Road Quilt Kit. I'm a big fan of Kaffe Fassett, so I opened the email to see what was what.

 Ah ha, there was the idea for the “Roman” quilt pattern and the name (Roman Road/Roman Shade); well it was just meant to be!! Unfortunately, the cost of multiple (4 x $79.99) kits was more than I could afford for two windows. 

Still I loved the pattern Roman Roads and it just so happened to be the perfect piece of Kaffe Fassett fabric in my stash closet, just waiting for this occasion! Love when THAT happens! I worked out the color scheme, pattern and dimensions visually in the Design Notebook all centered around the Kaffe Fassett fabric!

Ta Da! Here's the Roman Road Quilt pattern (turned horizontally) on the side window facing my neighbor's house (it stays down for privacy). And the window facing the backyard stays up. See how the colors are illuminated when the sun shines in the morning? 

         In the afternoon, the larger shade lights up too! It is like having stained glass windows!  I fell in love with the Kaffe Fassett fabric!!!  

                        
                           I painted a page in my journal!

                          But that just wasn't enough.

                                                     

                                  Totally inspired!

                       I painted the flower shapes three times!                               


Three years later, I still love the Roman Road shades and these paintings inspired by Kaffe Fassett fabric!

Look around to see what inspires you today! 

Bee Happy! Bee Creative!! Have Fun! 

Suzy 

Linking to: Paint Party Friday, Sew Many Ways;Crafty Thursday Obsessions

New Baby....Chinese Coin Quilt.......Nursery Canvas Art

Hi Everyone!

Yeah, it’s me again.

Posting TWICE in one week…must be some kind of record.

I couldn't wait to introduce our new grandson, JACKSON and to share two of my latest art and quilting projects with you! Earlier this week I shared the Lap top sleeve I made before jetting off to Texas to visit our daughter and hubby and our new grandson. 

So here's what we've been waiting for: Official photo of Jackson with his Mimi! 

To hold him in our arms at last!  Precious, precious, precious! Mimi and Papa are over the moon in love with Jackson!

You might remember, I was working on a Chinese Coins quilt for Jackson and I promised to post a photo (or two) of it when it was finished. 

  

Last minute Suzy was putting binding on just before we left for our trip. LOL!

You can see that Jackson loves his new quilt! In fact the whole family loved it so much, each person used it while rocking the baby (and napping too).

I also painted this 8" x 10" canvas for our baby grandson, keeping in mind his mommy’s simple yet modern style (and color request of green, brown and blue). 

Although Jackson doesn’t officially have a nursery yet, it will be a great addition to his room. 

Just can't resist sharing one more photo of our little guy! 

Happy Weekend!

Suzy

Linking to: Sew Many Ways; Paint Party Friday,Sunshine & Summer Breezes