Bits & Bobs

Sonja here this time. I've been pondering Mom's questions about the website and blog. The idea of revisiting some of our previous work intrigued me.  I started to get excited about this question:

• "Would a focus on media and techniques be more useful?  Examples piecing versus types of surface design versus uses of materials such as skeleton leaves or silk cocoons."

The idea of revisiting some of the materials and techniques we played with and wrote about before sounds fun. It might help to focus my all-over-the-place approach to making art lately. I've got a bunch of different projects in progress. I have also spoiled myself recently by getting a new sewing machine. My old Pfaff sewing machine's computer gave out. I debated for several months about what to do about it. Do I get a basic machine or go all-in for a more "professional" machine with free-motion stitching capability? I finally decided I needed to invest in my artwork and picked out a fancy new Bernina B770 Quilter's Edition.

Mom and I made a trip to Artistic Artifacts in  Alexandria, Virginia to get it. We visited a bit with July Gula, the owner, and splurged on fabric, thread, and books in addition to getting the beautiful new sewing machine. The machine has amazing  technology called the "Bernina Stitch Regulator" to make free-motion stitching more precise. It allows you to draw with the machine while the stitch regulator controls the stitch length. 

I've been practicing free-motion stitching by making a robots lap quilt for my son Tyler who loves robots. It's ok if my stitching isn't perfect because Tyler will most likely use the quilt for making forts and drag it around on the floor. I found the robot fabric on the Spoonflower website.

I also spoiled myself with new stained glass materials and tools. My first project with the new supplies is below. I have some other circular drawings that I plan to make stained glass pieces with as well.

Circular drawings without mandala-type symmetry have been a recurring theme for me lately. Flowers are a great inspiration. I've been photographing some stunning flowers that have popped up in our garden. such as the vibrant tulip photograph below. When we got our house in Williamsburg, Virginia, it already had a well-established cottage style garden. I'm learning slowly how to take care of it and work around the hot summers here. I have no interest in weeding when it is 90 degrees outside.

Most of my projects are still in progress, but I finally finished up the art quilt below made with really elegant kimono fabric. The background fabric has silver threads woven through it. I've lost track of exactly when I started this piece. I got the background kimono fabric at the 2009 Surface Design Association Conference so it has taken me over 10 years to decide what to do with the fabric and then finish an artwork with it.

Other bits and bobs that I have started range from more small free-motion stitching practice pieces to quilting with fabric with artwork by Alaskan artist Barbara Lavallee to a small piece reminiscent of a kid's camp God's Eye project to a mandala-type beading project. Hopefully these won't all take over 10 years to complete, but there's no rush.
Keep creating!
Sonja