I have been working on Jacob's clothes....................

and it has been a struggle.......................................   I am using two fabrics to create stripes in his tunic, thinking they will help define the contours of his body.  I am doing hand applique.............something I have done very little of.   I cut each stripe out of the freezer paper pattern I have drawn, iron it to the fabric, add seam allowances to the piece,  mark it, turn the edges and glue them down and then hand applique them  The jury is still out on this......................I will just have to see when I get it done......................

It is really hard to visualize, but the arms of the tunic are done and Jacob's right hand is lying on the ground in a backwards position.  What I have done goes to his waist and I have more to do.  I hope this turns out ok because it is sure a lot of work.....................

Struggle.........................................

I know  a lot of people go to quilt shows to see fabulous quilts and they say to themselves,  I couldn't do that!  I think that most people COULD do that.  The difference between people who do that kind of quilt and those who don't is determination, being willing to try new things , take risks, being self confident.  As I work on original quilts,  I find myself in the midst of struggle after struggle.  It is not easy to take a vision that is in my mind and translate it into fabric.  I am in the middle of a struggle right now...................how to show the drape of Jacob's clothes as he lay sleeping.  From past experience, I know that using pattern in clothing, such as plaids or stripes is a perfect way to depict realistic drape of clothing on the body.  I am trying to draw a striped tunic on Jacob and I am struggling, struggling, struggling.  Rachel is coming tomorrow.  I am going to have her model Jacob's position for me, and perhaps that will help.

I learn something new from every quilt.  When I made Sycamore Bark Baskets I tried several new techniques....................captured raw edge applique, trapunto, chorded edging, and stencilling with paint.  I am so glad I am willing to take risks.....................without struggle there is no joy. 

 

Finally making some progress on this quilt!

This morning I turned the edge on the Jacob applique...............took a surprisinly long time............

 

Then I cut out the rock upon which Jacob lay his head......... from a hand dye and this is what it looks like!

 

 

Now I either have to either  over dye another piece of fabric or piece some that I have to make the blanket.....................

 

 

I have tied my hands behind my back to keep myself

from overworking this painting...............................I tend to do that and something that is pretty good becomes pretty bad........................so I am restraining myself.  I painted the face yesterday and hope to do the other arm as soon as possible.  I am going to use one of my hand dyes for the rock that Jacob used as a pillow.

 

 

 

This is my FIFTH attempt to paint Jacob...................

and I am getting better.  I hope I can do the face and the other arm without messing it up.  This is definitely the best I have done.  I have learned a lot about painting with ink.  I think I am getting the hang of it..................of course, it did't hurt to pray about it before I started this morning.  Sometimes I need helping doing things.

If  you are a little confused, the blank space between the hair and his beard is going to be his face.

 

Jason and Mamie asked me to go to the river with them

yesterday.  I have been wanting to go and see Shea waterski.  She learned this summer and she got right up and skied for several miles.  She finally got tired and let go of the rope.

We had a great time...................we buried Laine in the sand and  gave him a "bosom" and all had a laugh.  Dallas played in the sand with his dump truck.  Beau ate sand and rocks.  We all swam and splashed water on one another, grazed on snacks the boys and I picked up on the way to the river,  ate wonderful barbequed chicken that Jason prepared on the sandbar,  and just had a wonderful time.  I am so lucky they ask me to be a part of their fun times. 

I have been struggling with my Jacob quilt.  I am on my third piece of fabric.  I am finally beginning to understand how to work with Tsukineko Inks.  I am not giving up.  I have a pretty good head and hand of Jacob and I ran out of an ink I need  for the flesh color.  Every quilt is a learning experience.

Fun week this past week...................

Last Saturday night Beau invited me for dinner.  Here is Beau cooking in his kitchen.  He is quite a chef................

 

On Thursday morning my friend, Susan, and I went to Kansas City and went to the Contemporary Art Museum and the Nelson Atkins Museum.  We had so much fun and saw some awsome art.  We stayed at a Bed and Breakfast, and I have never been so pampered.

 

Today Jason's kids came over and spent the afternoon with me.  I made vegetable beef soup and chocolate cream pie for supper and Jason and Mamie ate with us before they took the kids home.

 

I am hoping to get some painting done on my quilt tomorrow after church.

 

Busy Day Today............................

I painted on Jacob's hand this morning.  It is not done..............I have one more finget and I need to tone down the cool areas.  This is definitely a learning experience, but I have wanted to paint on fabric for a while.  I have painted with dyes on fabric at a workshop, but have never been brave enough to actually try it.  This project should tell me if I am cut out for painting on fabric or not.  Artists paint on fabric with dye, ink, paints, paintsticks,  ....................lots of things.

I kept a hair appointment in Cemtralia and then had to go to Columbia.  On the way home I stopped at my little garden spot and moved the hose.  This is my first melon of the season.  It is an heirloom variety, Melon Rich Sweetness 132 from Baker seeds.  My cousin, Vlasta sent me the seeds from Texas.  It really smells ripe.  It is not very big..............but it is supposed to be very sweet.  I'll let you know.

 

Rachel and the kiddos were here yesterday................

so I didn't get to start painting on Jacob's Ladder till this morning.  I am using inks that are diluted with fabric extender.  I started with the hand.  I have never painted with inks before, so this is new territory for me.  I decided to charge onward and if I didn't like it, I would paint it all over again.

Working on Jacob's Ladder quilt......................

I drew the rough draft of the sleeping Jacob on freezer paper this afternoon................

And I think it turned out well............for a rough draft.   The hard part is putting this on fabric.  I think I am going to try colored inks.  I want the fabric to have a soft hand and I want it to appear dark like the night.  I'm not sure how I am going to accomplish this, but I'll never know if I don't try.

I am not sure about his right hand...........looks kinda wonky to me.  I will look at it again tomorrow.