USA quilt is underway!

It's taken a while to get going on this, despite my plan to do some each month, and I didn't want to get behind straight away!
I have now planned my embroidered sections, choosing images and then one of four colour ways. The images will be sewn in blue or red on white, and in white on red or blue. Scuppered a little by not having any white thread, I started with a blue on white bald eagle.
I used a photo from the Internet, and, inspired by Adrian's Christmas gift of iPad for Artists, I reduced it to a line drawing using Adobe Ideas. I transferred the image using a water and air soluble pen. I tried using the iPad as a light box, but as it's pressure sensitive that's a little tricky.
But here we are, my first patch ready for my American themed crazy quilt!

Happy New Year!

2013 has started and with it thoughts of what creative projects I want to take on. I had a few things to finish - my final tag for the Tag Tuesday Blog and finishing my Sketchbook Project sketchbook.

It feels good to draw a line under both of these projects, even though they have both been great fun, and kind of a useful link between the very structured creativity that my Foundation Diploma required, and setting out on my own again.

Tag Tuesday gave me the chance to try out new things, and because of the small scale it didn't require a massive investment in time or resources. It was also nice to have the challenge of themes that I wasn't so keen on, that always stretches you as an artist! However, I decided not to continue, as I now have limited creative time and want to do other things. The discipline of a tag a week was good though, and I'm going to apply that to my work this year.

The Sketchbook Project was a good challenge to, and the biggest thing I've learnt is how quickly I lose inspiration and interest in things if I don't get on with them! I chose the Royal Pavilion, Brighton as my theme, but struggled with getting my drawings the way I wanted them, with not being able to take photos in the Pavilion, and with not taking my sketchbook with me. Finally, I spent an afternoon in there, with the sketchbook, in December; a last ditch attempt to actually finish the thing, as I was determined not to miss the completion date. I'm pleased with the final result and intend to scan it before I send it off to the States for it's tour and eventual new home of the Brooklyn Art library. As this is the first piece of art work I've really put out there it feels a little strange, like sending off a child to a new home. I feel very protective but I want to make this step.

So for 2013 here are my list of projects (so far!)
- summer dress from a vintage pattern for my sister
- embroidery of the Amex stadium here in Brighton for our branch book for Embroiderers Guild
- crazy quilt with the theme USA (I intend to do this a bit at a time, maybe a bit a month, to pace myself and help me finish it)
- a puppet a month, need to think of some characters, can't decide whether to go the Punch and Judy route, or something I might actually use!

So I wish everyone a happy and creative new year, and look forward to posting some of my work here.