Creativity Wednesday
Creativity has always been something I enjoy. I didn’t start quilting until I was married and had kids, although I was around sewing and quilting most of my life.
Before quilting, I enjoyed drawing, coloring, painting, anything that got my imagination going. I loved art classes while in school. My mom often told me that I would’ve cut just about anything with a scissors (and tried, much to her dismay).
When Sherry at Powered By Quilting started her 365 Days of Art PBQ Challenge, I knew I wanted to join in. Using the book 365 Days of Art by Lorna Scobie, each week we work on exercises in the book. I haven’t posted any of my work yet, so I thought today would be a good time to do so.
Using these exercises helps me with my quilting creativity, and I’ll show you a little about that at the end of this post. First, let me give you a few peeks at my work over the past few weeks. I’ll just hit some of the high points; in other words, my better work.
Week One
Things started off pretty well. I thought coloring this bowl of fruit was fun. We were supposed to color the fruit in any color than the actual color of the fruit.
Week Two
My dad used to draw trees with me, so this exercise was fun. I apparently was thinking Florida and sun and orange juice.
Week Three
More fish, and this page is probably my favorite so far. I love to color with colored pencils; I have a stack of coloring books for evenings when we are watching a movie and I don’t have handwork to do.
Week Four
Of course, these little squares were fun and made me think of quilting ideas.
Week Five
I got a little impatient with the flowers, but in the end, I liked them enough.
This Week
Sneak peek! I’m a little ahead, but I really wanted to draw on those black spots. Haha. Now I want Oreos.
While I’m drawing in the art book, I’m often looking at color combinations and thinking about quilts. Sandra at Musings of a Menopausal Melon is hosting a design challenge on Instagram, and my work in the art book has given me an idea for one of the designs. Thinking back to those four fish, I started to think about how much I like intense color. So let me show you were it’s taken me in the quilt design.
30 Quilt Designs Challenge 2018
Each day for 30 days, we are to draw a quilt design, in whatever method we choose (paper, app, EQ, etc) and post it on Instagram using the hashtag #30quiltdesignschallenge2018. I thought I’d be drawing up designs in a flurry, but it seems I’ve hit a bit of a design block. More about that in a minute.
My first design came to me when I saw an ad for 2.5″ strips in a box. I saw the way the fabrics were laid out in the box and immediately saw a quilt design, so I sketched it up. And I posted it on Instagram, just my sketch in pencil. Sandra commented that she was excited to see my design with color added. Hmmm. I was still thinking on that. I started pondering the bright fish, thinking about bright colors, wondering what bright colors I had, and then I remembered this bundle.
I pulled out my colored pencils and managed to find pencils to match each fabric. Here’s the design, in color.
Once I figure out what the background color should be, I think I may actually make this quilt. If I do, you’ll get to see it, of course.
Today I worked on a few more designs, none of which got posted. Then I got distracted and designed this. Chocolate Covered Donut with Sprinkles. Of course this has a story behind it, but that’s for another day.
What about you? Are you participating in Sherry’s art challenge? You can still join us!
What do you do other than quilting to spark your creativity?
Linking up with Powered By Quilting (on Sunday).
Wendy
18 Comments
Sandra Healy
Love those juicy brights! Your sketched quilt design looks great. Does it have a name? I like all the negative space around the colour, just waiting for some wonderful quilting. I hope you get to make this quilt, I would love to see it completed.
Tish
The 365 day challenge book looks like it would be so much fun! I look at all those cool designs you’ve done and see quilting motifs 🙂 Is it mostly coloring and a bit of drawing? I love the design you have came up with for those yummy solids.
Nancy @ Grace and Peace Quilting
That is so cool that your dad would draw trees with you! Love the 6 projects you shared from your art book. You are doing great developing your artistic side!
Karen
your fish would look great with wool applique!
Louise Hornor
I’ve seen several people blogging about the 365 challenge. No one liked the page with the flowers, ha! I really like the bright fish page 🙂
And I like both of your designs! The fish inspired rainbows are really cool, and the donut made me laugh. Keep up the good work!
Vicki in MN
OMG-I don’t know where to start! I think I just learned more about you girl:) Your drawings/coloring is so fun to see. BUT I think you definitely need to make those quilts and I think you should write patterns for them and sell on Craftsy!!!
handwroughtquilts
That donut is fabulous!
sarahsbusy
The challenge seems really good! where could I find the link or the blog to check it out?
sarahsbusy
Oh,mygosh. I found it sorry. lol. I am going to check out menopausal Mellon!
Sparkle On with Abbie
I remember you posted a painting you did of an outdoor scene that was beautiful. Love all your Art book pages, your talent with colors is awesome! I have the book too and have done some, but keep skipping around with no discipline to go page by page 😋
I have never seen a donut block, so neat!, you really got you creative juices going 😊🍩
piecefulwendy
Thank you, Abbie!
Kathleen McCormick
These are terrific, Wendy! I really love your fish and the black and white. The quilts are great and I particularly love the donut. Maybe I’m hungry.
piecefulwendy
Thanks, Kathleen! I was amused by the donut. I might have to make it, just for fun 😊
Sherry @ PoweredByQuilting
You are an amazing artist!!! I love your pages you shared! <3 I'm also loving your quilt designs. So creative!
piecefulwendy
Aw, thanks!
Sandra Walker
Wow Wendy you are rocking both challenges! Yup, your fish are my favourite, although that chocolate donut quilt I am blaming for us stopping after yoga and after my little quilt shop venture-SALE!-SCORE!- at the Der Dutchman restaurant across the parking lot where they have a take-out and the BEST baking…and awesome coffee…Speaking of score, I snagged the last two cake donuts flavoured in orange, not chocolate, with orange icing…YUM!
And, to relieve a little pressure, it’s not 30 days and a design a day. It’s 30 designs, and you have until April 17, so that works out to a design every 2.5 days. 😉 And yes PLEASE make that design you have now coloured; it is fabulous, and I would test a pattern for you if you feel so inclined, just sayin…
piecefulwendy
Oh, thanks! Yes, I keep thinking it’s a daily thing. Haha! Good motivation though! I’ll let you know when I need a tester! Glad you enjoyed the donuts!
Kate
Love the quilt designs. I wanted to join in Sandra’s challenge, but it wont’ fit in my life at the moment. What a wonderful way to jump start your design engine.