I started on a quilt that I'm supposed to be making as a gift for my mom and dad. Little bit late for a Thanksgiving quilt this year but maybe I can get it done for 2009. aiyee. Here are a couple of PEACEs that I've made. These units are about 4.5" high.
For me, that's big letters - don't like making them this large. The HOME letters in the last post were my usual size - 3.5" high.I've been really concerned with the color scheme on this quilt. My mom asked for scarlet, gold, rust and burgundy. I decided it needed more contrast so I've added in a few accents, such as the deep Cherrywood violet in the top pic. I'll show you all the fabrics in another post.
They sell these Ruby Beholder things to quilters so that you can look through it as you work to see if you have enough contrast. Yup, that top peace looks good, the other one not so much.
But that's why you should never just use the red filter. It doesn't work well with colors in the red family. With the green one I get this:
So so far so good. Still think it's a bit dark though so going to keep a close eye on things. Assuming I get back to work on this anytime soon. As I said, problems focusing...
Halloween here was a complete bust. At least I wasn't excited about it so never got my hopes up like I did last year.
My sweetie and I finished Eureka Season 2 last night. I don't love love love it the way I do Pushing Daisies, but I really like it a lot. The character of Sheriff Jack Carter really grew on me - he seems more relaxed and comfortable and goofy. Wish they'd get rid of the whole artifact subplot - boring. And Zane and Lucas? Blecky and boring. Been fun to see Stargate SG-1 actors popping up though. Hope we get more Daniel Jackson. Oops, the sculpture guy.
Really wish my house had a S.A.R.A.H. She cooks and I bet cleans somehow too. My husband just wants the beer that comes on tap in the fridge.
Speaking of Stargate SG-1 actors, has anyone caught Sanctuary with Amanda Tapping (Samantha Carter)? It sounds interesting yet horrible all at the same time.
And since I mentioned Pushing Daisies earlier, I'm going to mention that one again. I love this show. It has a knitting detective, great clothes, scenery, eye candy. The actors are amazing. It's original and fun. Please give it a try. And if you have a Nielson box, I'll pay you a dollar to watch it every week. ;-)
If I'm not enough to convince you, then try reading Why Pushing Daisies is the Best TV Show You're Not Watching.
I've got a bonus for quilters who've made it this far in the post. No, not just a pic of Pokey
I've got a bonus for quilters who've made it this far in the post. No, not just a pic of Pokey
but a link to gorgeous Amish quilts from the collection of Stephen and Faith Brown. They are so amazing. My favorite, at least for today, is the Crazy Star from Arthur, IL.
On my computer your words have plenty of contrast. Halloween is a bust here too unless I go to my son's place. We live out in the middle of nowhere so the kids don't find us. Our daughter in Australia laments the lack of Halloween there and has been trying to introduce it but with little luck. It seems to be a North American holiday.
ReplyDeleteBefore I scrolled down and saw the contrast I liked the top one.
ReplyDeleteI can't understand why the French are like they are about Hallowe'en when the shops are full of masks, capes, witches hats, etc, but nothing happens. Having said that Alex is off to a belated Hallowe'en party this afternoon dressed as a ghost!
Great link - I love the Triangles Crib and the Roman Stripes.
God I need cheering up - this weather is foul!
Enjoyed your post today. We (DH & I) have the same thoughts about Eureka. Fun and quirky but got a bit off track for a while this season. Hope next season picks up a bit. We have been watching Pushing Daisies and decided we have to see season #1 to enjoy it properly. It was nice that some one sent a gift for Pokey too.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter likes Pushing Daisies and I keep meaning to rent it -- will stick it on Netflix. Never even heard of Eureka!
ReplyDeleteThe contrast discussion was interesting, and good to see words with the different filters. If you're using that word a lot all over the quilt, then I would think some higher contrast and some lower contrast would be fine. The overall darkness is another issue. I know I often end up making my things too dark.
I live about 45 min from Arthur. Occasionally I've seen some Amish quilts displayed at Rockome Gardens there, but I don't think there is a quilt museum for them. I will have to check into it.
I am familiar with your unfocused feeling. It will pass just like a bad cold. I enjoyed your discussion of contrast. I really need to order some cherrywood fabric. It is wonderful. I don't know the shows you mentioned, I need to check them out. My husband and son would love beer on tap in the fridge. I enjoyed the Amish quilt link at the end of the post.
ReplyDeleteI'm eating leftover Halloween candy as I type this. Usually I get 75 to 100 trick or treaters, but all the little kids on my street have grown up, so there were only 25 and lots of extra treats for us to enjoy.
ReplyDeletere peace: I like what you're doing, but I have a technical question. what did you do to the photo to get the red and green filters to be visible? Also, will your quilt have any black or lights in it? Not that you haven't thought of it already, but maybe a bit of variations in value would help out the contrast.
interesting to see your "peace" through the filters... I tend to just click a photo in b&W/grey scale and it gives me a great read as to the balance....
ReplyDeleteoh i love that crazy star quilt too!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe you're getting ready to move again already. I was always (well, except once) excited to be going somewhere new, but I hated all that came with moving households. Can't wait to get you back in the States, though!
ReplyDeleteThanks for that link to the Amish quilts...fabulous!
ReplyDeleteHalloween trick or treaters were WAY below previous years' numbers - under 40 this year. Now there's way too much candy left at our house...
Take care - thanks for the glimpse through the beholders. I've not used them before.
Love Pushing Daisies, really enjoy Eureka. Sanctuary? Not so much. Good concept, but it takes itself too seriously and requires (even for ME) too much of a suspension of disbelief. Maybe it got better as it played out, but the first two eps (including the premiere) weren't enough to keep me coming back. (Same goes for Primeval, btw)
ReplyDeleteSo, do you want to be inspired and sewing, or are you embracing the mental break you're taking?
If you look through both the red and green filters at the same time, do you get a 3-D effect? Just kidding. I have seen many of the Amish quilts from Arthur, Illinois in an exhibit of Illinois Amish quilts. It must have been a charmed place, for they are truly exceptional!
ReplyDeleteI'll go look at the quilts in a minute... I personally think Pushing Daisies is just too intelligent for most of TV-viewing America. You have to pay attention, you have to have wit and appreciate dry humor. But you also have to have the energy to keep up with the action! This is not a show for lazy viewers! I would also be willing to pay folks with a Nielson box to watch this show :- )
ReplyDeleteJust popping in to say hi! I"m not going to leave messages on everything or you and I would be here all night! Just wanted to let you know I"m here checking up on you!!!!
ReplyDeleteI have found that my reducing glass gives me a really good idea of contrast with my letters. I used it on my red and white quilt and it really saved me with some letters that wouldn't have shown up.
ReplyDeleteWe had zero trick or treaters. After a high of about 30-40 a few years ago it's dropped to nothing. My kids went trick or treating in other neighborhoods and had a great time. We were so lucky to have a really warm evening. It was 56 went I drove Ryan home at 8:30. Last year it was 15 degrees!
You keep mentioning Pushing Daisies so much that I'm going to have to add it to my Netflix list. I did see somewhere mentioned that it was a good one to watch if you liked Dead Like Me (which I loved).
ReplyDeleteI wanted to mention to you that I saw on Amazon that Jonathan Creek Season 3 is coming out on DVD in January, but it doesn't show up on Netflix to add to the queue yet.
Thanks for the Amish quilt link. I love that double nine patch. It really speaks to me. I see a double nine patch in my future. I do have those solid fabrics still out from my other projects...
ReplyDelete