A Break from COVID-19 and the Art Quilt

Things are getting worse instead of better. There are still new cases of the virus springing up and more deaths while we stubborn people figure out what it means to social distance and stay home. We now have a State of Emergency in the City of Toronto and that means all non-essential businesses must close. I still have hope that cases will wane and we will get back to normal at some point.

In the meantime, I have so much I want to do art-wise that I am secretly reveling in the fact that I have to stay home. I continue to work on my art quilt but I wanted to blog about something different. I've been missing the grand kids. This year for the grand kids, I made them portrait birthday cards. I thought it would be cool for them to keep a portrait of what they looked like on their birthdays this past year.

Staying Positive

Since my blog last week, Ontario, Canada has declared a state of emergency. Borders are closed between us and the United States as well as restaurants, bars, theatres, and sports venues. Grocery stores and banks remain open for now. Many people are working from home.

I have been spending lovely time in my studio and since I work from home, I continue to do that, only going out to visit the bank and go for walks.

I'm 18 hours into my art quilt and it is starting slowly.

Finished pattern

First section sewn together

Using lots of calming greens

From a distance all these funny shaped bits of fabric will blend together to bring out a beautiful landscape......hopefully.

Virtuality Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

We are now experiencing a pandemic called COVID-19. This thing is spreading crazy fast and cancellations are happening all over the world in a bid to slow it down. Our SAQA MoSAiQA Toronto Conference which was supposed to happen this upcoming week has been cancelled, however, the show "Colour With a U" at Homer Watson House and Gallery and "Colour With a U Too" at RiverBrink are up and running and so far the museums are still open for viewing. We have postponed the official opening of Colour With a U to April 25, 2020. SAQA is working feverishly to give us a virtual conference.

We have seen sporting events, schools, local fundraisers, March Break Programs all cancelled and several museums are closed. People are being advised to stay out of large social gatherings. We are also being advised to self-quarantine if we have traveled or come in contact with an infected person.

If you are stuck at home during this thing, here are some links to virtual art galleries and museums to help keep you positive and panic-free. We will get through this thing, but do what you can. Follow instructions about quarantines and hand washing, and maybe share your toilet paper with your neighbour. What is that toilet paper hoarding all about anyway!?

Stay safe and healthy, friends and be patient.

https://collections.textilemuseum.ca/  Textile Museum - Toronto


https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/museums-galleries/museums-with-virtual-tours?fbclid=IwAR0hh3giBbIuMFcctqUCxhKSfPgAIiiITYHBG0g_fFZlZE6xSp0yXTorUqc


I have spent 8.5 hours working out my design and pattern for this latest art quilt so I am actually looking forward to having more home time to get some serious work done on this piece.

See my progress below.

this is the 4 X 6 inch fabric card of the scene

This will be approximately 24 x 36 inches

Art Quilt Beginnings - Again

So after blogging about my block last week, I continued to look for something that spoke to me as far as an art quilt project.

In the fall last year my brother sent me a photos from his moose hunting trip which was waaaay up north somewhere. I used one of his photos to make him a fabric card for his birthday to commemorate this trip in which he bagged a moose! Apparently, he really liked the card and wondered if I could do this in a larger format. So my brain wheels started turning. Since it was taken in the fall there are many different colours in the photo which I could enhance in an art quilt. It also has a lot of different texture because it is rocky, boggy, brushy type of country. I could enhance the texture with yarn and other things. I was hooked. I got out the photo of the card and the original photo and started working.

I enlarged a line drawing of my design to about 24" X 36". The foreground is brushy, rocky, textured shrubs of various colours which fades into middle ground. the background is a line of  evergreen trees with some colourful deciduous trees behind them peaking through. I especially liked the tallest trees as they cut into the blue sky filled with white puffy clouds.

Covering the design with freezer paper on which I will plot my pattern of various fabrics and sewing sequence instructions.

Dividing the design for sewing.

Choosing fabric, keeping in mind colour and value. As I plot the pattern, I am sure I will add more fabric.

My swatch and symbol guide which helps me know which fabric goes where.