Quiet Weekend

It was a quiet weekend, which allowed for some time to create in the studio...with the space heater on HIGH, as it was also a cold and snowy weekend. I now have four new collages listed on ebay. The one above makes me think of "vintage Hollywood." It must have been a wonderful place back in the 30's, 40's and 50's. There was a touch of class that seems so lacking now. I also think about what old New York must have been like, with the clubs that had floor shows and orchestras...the likes of Ricky Ricardo crooning at the Tropicana. The clubs in New York today? No, thanks.

Ahhhh.....I guess I'm just a vintage girl.

© Nancy Lefko

Can't Believe What I Did

... and that it took almost a week to even see it!I reversed the position of my side blocks in the center section. I was so intent on keeping the elephants right-side-up and lost sight of my plan. The plan that so pleased me.
All this week I've been changing everything around in the top section. Until late this afternoon I didn't have a clue why the initial arrangement wasn't working ... why I couldn't leave it alone. Aaargh!

Well, that center section is not getting taken apart. I am satisfied with the arrangement as it hangs on the wall, but I can't believe what I did.

Illustration Friday ~ Choose

This piece was made for a cancer survivor and seems to fit the theme today. In this collage I wanted to send a message of strength and hope...a message to CHOOSE LIFE. It celebrates all those who fight with a vengeance and never give up.

© Nancy Lefko

Blocks For Thursday Bee Exchange

Today is the due date for J.C.'s wonky house themed blocks from those of us in the SMQ Guild who are participating in this exchange. I created a village of Hudertwasser style houses for her.

11"x 13"

This is the fourth piece in my "Hundertwasser Happy Houses" series. It is made in my "ortwork" collage technique. However, the ground, sky, and house fabrics are not cut from scraps (orts), but the rest were rummaged from the three big bags sitting in my studio. To read about the other three H.H.H. quilts go here.

And here's another block I had made in November for this group exchange. Sandy's request was for cowboys.

10"x 10"

The cowboys and some hats from the heads of others were cut from fabric I had found in an antique store in Colorado last summer. I don't believe the fabric is old, but it's the only place I've ever seen it. I fused the cutouts onto a background fabric that looked like swirling ropes or lassos to me. The black outline around the shapes is satin stitching.

Next month Sheila gets her "floral fantasy" blocks. Hmmmmm... wonder how I'm going to interpret that one.

PS: Several of you have expressed concern for me in the terrible storms that hit Tennessee. The tornadoes didn't get to the east side of the state were I live. We just experienced strong winds and torrential downpours. My prayers are with those who lost loved ones and homes.

How About That !

My thanks to the very talented Diana Evans for this sweet award. Just the thing I am needing on this very dreary winter day...with yet more snow and another delayed opening of school. If you haven't done so, you really must visit Diana's blog. She posts fabulous art every day and sometimes recipes to go along with her scrumptious illustrations. Mmmmmm...thanks Diana !!

I pass along this award to an artist whose work I adore and also to my very tired husband. (Thanks, Rich, for clearing the driveway yet again !!)

Candace Trew Camling

Rich Lefko

More Creative Energy for My Studio

My PIF gift from Acey arrived in today's mail. It is wonderful! I keep looking at it and discovering ... more. I love the reflected sunlight within it and the sparkle of dew. Is it early morning OR has the sun just come out after a mid-day sprinkle? Whichever one will depend on the kind of day it is OR the kind of day I'm having. I'm pleased to have this piece of her creative energy in my studio.

13"x 15"

Also, in todays mail was a postcard. It is created by fiber artist Susan Lenz. It's part of the postcard exchange for her upcoming international Cyber Fyber Exhibition scheduled January 8 - 20, 2009 at Gallery 80808/Vista Studios, 808 Lady Street in downtown Columbia, South Carolina.

Postcard #113

In exchange, this is the one I'm sending to her.

Lake Series 100 postcard - 2008

And then there's the little purple guy that I brought home from Chicago after the holidays. Our 6-year old granddaughter created this charming creature for me.
It hangs with the drawing of a sewing machine by a grandson, my latest award ribbons, and the little old soft sculpture guy who keeps watch over all. My studio is full of creative energy.

Division of Space

This quilt is divided into three sections. It "happened" that way because there were two blocks that were so different from the all the others. They were embellished with beads and had metallic and silk fabrics. I made two flanking blocks by cutting the one diagonally and adding the black discharged linen fabric to complete them. They dictated that they belonged together and had a story to tell ... and were to be the focus of this quilt. The other blocks would just have to find their places above or below them.
To figure out a dimension for additional parts in a quilt I use a measurement that is already there. I've concentrated on sewing the center panel of this spiral quilt together so I would know exactly how wide the quilt would be with the piecing I had planned. That section is 48" wide and 18" high. The common denominator in this dimension is 3 ... each of those numbers can be divided by 3. Then I got out my graph paper to figure out my vertical divisions of space. I can more easily count out and see what's going on by drawing quilt dimensions on squares. In this drawing one square equals 3".
The top section was laid out on my design board with the premise that it would be deeper than the center one. All the while I had in mind that the bottom one would be the deepest of all. So thinking in terms of 3, I added 3" to the 18" depth of the center section to come up with 21" deep for the top one. Guess what the depth of the top section on my design wall measured? It was 21 inches! Hmmmmm.... a strong clue that I was definitely on the right track since my intuitive sense of proportions had already figured out that dimension.

To make that bottom section the widest, but in proportion with the other two I added 6" (2 x 3) to the center panel's 18" to come up with a 24" depth. All three depth dimensions added up to 63". The proportion of 48" wide to 63" high looks and "feels" right to me. I drew out those proportions and dimensions on tracing paper and played with it a bit just to make sure.
The left side is a tracing of what I had drawn on the graph paper. On the right side I centered the middle section making the top and bottoms ones equal in depth. They're deeper than the middle one which gives a touch of variety. This arrangement is definitely balanced ... too balanced for my taste ... a bit boring and predictable even though it has more interest than if all three sections were the same size. I still liked the layout on the left best. The largest section at the bottom anchors all the busy energy in this quilt.

It is unusual for the center of attention to occupy the smallest area. What makes it appropriate for this composition is that it is made up of the three largest blocks. Plus they gain even more importance by being set off with a definite frame. It also has a different feel or character from the top and bottom sections.

The next time you see a picture of this quilt there will be no open spaces. I'm still fiddling with that area in the upper left corner and I have a good idea how to fill the lower right.