First Friday favorite photo - March

Madly piecing

Yesterday, while gathering supplies for the Potpourri workshop, I found not one good rotary blade in the house. So today I'm making a quick run to the store before loading up the car because I'm leaving at the crack-of-dawn tomorrow.

Prior to this I've been buried in the studio. Nancy had pointedly directed workshop returnees to come back with at least three new pieces. I counted only two: Orange Rhyme & the brown one from last year's workshop. Neither entirely new, but now finished quilts rather than tops (hey, that's progress - twice the production of years previous). She'd said before she'd rather see new quilt tops than finished pieces. So feeling the pressure to produce something new for no. 3,  I got the behind moving.

The genesis of circles with straight lines was here & here. I continued explorations here, here, here & here. After madly piecing  for days, I have no. 3 about three feet square. Here's a peek.

detail

Well, now you know: deadlines help my productivity. Otherwise I'd be chasing rainbows until the cows come home.

How about you? How do you manage your creativity? Or not? Do you set deadlines and goals? Do you set daily time in the studio? Do you focus on getting a finished product? Or do you allow yourself to just explore?

Final crazy eight

I restored some organization in the studio. All the solids are back on the shelves. Gee, what a BIG stash!


shelves of solids

If I'd only known before I got another crazy eight collection. I could've stopped at the six yards of black for the next workshop. But you know how one thing leads to another. Since I was at it, got some other colors, too. Might as well.

final crazy eight

The latest stack of Moda Bella Solids: Baby Yellow (good light), Buttercup, Willow (good neutral), Betty Red, Purple, Peacoat (very inky dark) and Black. The last crazy eight collection.

Until I use up a lot of fabrics. Unless I have a yen for a particular color. Unless I find a new cool color . . . You know how exceptions do crop up.

Just right

I went back to the drawing board but kept returning to my conumdrum with the quarter circle. I had to resolve it.

first one is too wide

second one is too tight

third one is just right

Like Goldilocks I kept trying until I found the right fit. Goes to show it pays to be stubborn tenacious.

Trial & error

I feel like a film director. Actors are following the script but the results are unexpected.

On the left - lost curve & on the right - found curve

Planning gets me only so far. Then I must test the plan - sew it up. Perserverance (i.e. stubborness) helps. So considering the varied results for part 1, I did a trial run of part 2 using the goofed square.

part 2 trial - white only

Gee, I had a stronger impact in mind. Back to the drawing board.

First Friday favorite photo - February