Skew Whiffy Snooze/Lap Quilt

Tags

Art, Artist and crafter, Blues, Bold Vibrant lap Quilt, Brushed cotton quilt, Cosy Colourful Quilt, Craft from scrap Fabric, Crafty, Crafty creations, Creative crafting, Electric blue cotton fabric, From scrap waste to desired object, Hand quilted snooze blanket, Hand quilting, Inspiration, Lap quilt, Patchwork, Patchwork throw, Quirky Fabric creations, Skewed square panel designer quilts, Snooze Blanket, Super Soft Cotton Quilt

I appear to have slipped back into ‘skew whiffy’ mode this past week or so  😉 Spurred on by the sale of my first ‘skew’ panel design quilt, over in my Etsy store, earlier last week. So, naturally, I hot footed it down to the local fabric store to see what goodies I could find for a new version…usually, any excuse to go fabric shopping, but!!!.. this was…a needs must!!

A new exciting colourway for my ‘skewed’ squares design lap quilts. After a manic rummage through the bottom level of fabric cottons in a display unit at the local fabric store, I’m sure the staff thought I was trying to make myself a little den/nest and move in…LOL…(in fact, thinking about that idea – what sheer heaven that would be?? and, just think about how much I would save in fuel travelling there and back??!)  Anyways, I meander…with age, that seems an increasing activity these days  😉

I had set off with a perfect menu of colours for the new quilt in my head…probably due to seeing most of them the last time I visited the store?! Though it’s very much a case of, buy it now !!!!…if you want it kind of store, as it may never make another appearance here again – which at the time I didn’t… as I was doing other projects..So, naturally of course, the colours I hoped for had gone 😦

I shall keep a look out for the colours I wanted every time I go in from now on, and hopefully will eventually accumulate them for a future version  🙂

The fabric, I had set out for, for this project, was brushed cotton/soft flannel to make a really soft cosy quilt again. The store selection on this visit, on the bottom shelf, was very sparse and threw up only a few lime green prints, a vibrant blue and a shadowed cream/lemon, a yucky mustard speckle and a dark bottle green too. Dismissing the mustard I plumped for two lime green prints, the dark bottle green, vibrant electric blue and the shadowed lemon/cream after remembering I had some small remnants of salmon pink flowered brushed cotton and some flowery blue too – how much?? I had no idea at the time…but, thought I could fudge them in somehow!

Having collected my chosen fabrics I then stood at the cutting desk.  ?????…????? Of course if you know me, I don’t work from patterns, just thoughts and ideas, plus, this kind of design is quite random, so, when asked..”How much do you want cutting?” Well, I quickly estimated and thought of a number for the lemon/cream, it being for the backing, borders and strips too….I estimated the finished quilt being approx 57 inches as of the one just sold, so asked for 60 inches PLUS 3/4 of a meter (that’s confusing in itself – though the cutter didn’t even flinch and measured out then snipped and ripped!) I decided on a metre of the blue as I wanted the big squares and strips, then 1/2 metres of the three greens

Boring as this may seem..it WAS a complete Guesstimate of perfection!! When I returned home to cut I wanted the warp for the long stretches of borders around the finished panels, so as not to twist out when sewing them in…AND OMG!! I had just ONE inch to spare between the two long borders = two borders halved = 1/4 inch play each end of the strips…YAY my planets lined up once again – Happy Dance!!

Lots of happy therapeutic stitching of skewed squares later, teamed with the electric blue panels and a complex work out of my limited salmon pink equated into some very vibrant patchwork panels…but a good three days of hard work and it’s ready, and now packaged, for a new loving home… 🙂

I have just enough to make two matching little throw pillow covers, then who knows…???…maybe the cut scraps can be made into little mug rugs.. waste not want not….and create wondrous new things from bits and pieces…watch this space 😉

Advertisement

“Random Emergings…of Black” © Copyright CAREN TAYLOR 2017 From my New Series of Doodle Abstract Cubism Style Artworks

Tags

Art, Artist and crafter, Artistic moment, Black and White Cubism Original Artwork, Caren Taylor Original Artworks, Carens canvas and craft My ETSY shop, Crafty creations, Creative Art, Creativity, Doodle art, Inspiration, Original Abstract Art, Pencil crayon art, Random Emergings...of Back, Unique Quirky Original Art

“Random Emergings…of Black” Copyright Caren Taylor 2017                                               Another of my pencil crayon doodles on 20″ x 16 inch textured watercolour paper

A new piece for my exciting series..entitled “Random Emergings…of Black” A unique quirky Original pencil crayon abstract These pieces I find so relaxing to do and never know what their outcome will be until I’m finished?! Seems there are still many more random things in my head awaiting space somewhere on new artworks  Hope you enjoy exploring what I hope will twist and turn your eye…wondering…it’s a…. this way…Or…If looked at another way…it’s a…..!! Lot’s of changing perceptions and perspectives 🙂

Stonehenge done my way :-) !

Tags

A mural, A poem, Art, Artistic, artistic images with poetry, Artistic moment, Arty, Caren's creative canvas and craft, Constable, Crafty creations, Creative crafting, Creativity, Emulsion paint, Inspiration, John Constable's Stonehenge, Mural, Mural of Stonehenge, My Muse, My Stonehenge by Caren Taylor, Original, Painting, Poem, Poems and art, Poetry, Solstace, standing stones, Stonehenge, Unique, w, Welsh stone, Wittering of a wild woman

”…..Sometimes…..’ A poem  by ME!

Caren Taylor copyright 2014 (for both picture image and poem)

‘…..Sometimes…..’

Sometimes we need something ???

but, don’t know what it is…?

Sometimes we want something ???

but don’t know how to get it…?

Sometimes we feel something ???

but don’t know how to respond…?

Sometimes….. things just happen

And…It’s the best feeling in the World..! 🙂

—————————-CAREN TAYLOR 2014 (C)

One day…I knew I needed to paint another mural, but though I knew what I wanted, and, I had a feeling of what it should be, it just wasn’t becoming how I envisaged… in fact it was about a million miles away from making me happy! Then…a Eureka moment! Life is all about change…! So, scrap the first plan!!! Pensively, drawn from one situation to another and seeing things from two different perspectives within my head, there was only one realistic outcome to achieve my aim, I based my creative crowning glory on a Constable! An atmospheric artistic arrangement in my own colours of His ‘Stonehenge’! Painted ferociously with everyday emulsion paint in a matter of hours…when you know something is right…… go for it!!! Was I a Druid in a past life?!?…Maybe?!? Am I happy with the outcome?!? YES!!! I can stand anywhere and look into the perspective of the picture to give me perspective on life, I can sit and wonder in the forefront of my thoughts, or I can delve back and take a deeper moment of thought of what things could or should have been…! Constable’s reasons for painting his picture were his… My mural makes me muse over matters and moments of my life…for ME!

Stonehenge Mural – done my way! But, inspired by Constable!

A simple emulsion painting (using only tester pots and cheap decorating paintbrushes))  which has brightened my days for many years now – I cease to tire of it 🙂 Oh! and I also built a mini Stonehenge at the bottom of our garden, using old stone paving edge stones I dug up – a post for another time, maybe!!!

On many of my posts I have photographed my craft items on our large sofa in our back living- room, which is directly below my huge mural of my beloved Stonehenge. Our back room leads directly through to my painting/drawing/crafting workspace in the conservatory…as a south facing room, it is perfect to work in, maybe for two or three days a year!!!, making for one giant place to work and create! On some of my crafty posts, a snippet or two of the photos, may have included bits of the painting, which was unknown to the viewer …so I am now unveiling what sits above!

For whatever reason…I have been drawn to Stonehenge for years, and, was fortunate to have visited the site…on a surprise trip! – which made me doubly sure.. I must have been some kind of Druid in a past life ;-/! (for the fulfilment if being there, was just indescribable)  – it was the best thing I could ever have wished for and experienced! I have much to thank my Dearest one for, because, the experience, and, even though he didn’t understand my drive to be there… he still took me 🙂

After doing many murals both for my own children in their bedrooms as they grew up and for friend’s, and, sometimes even for their children too, over the years, I suddenly felt the urge to create one for myself!!! Not really knowing what else to add to the unveiling of my wall…I thought I would stick a poem underneath, which also seems a little disjointed from reason too! So they make a perfect coupling :-)!

One amazing purely random fact I want to share………t I have a mirror centrally placed directly opposite the painting, and, if the sun hits the mirror on the summer solstice, which it has done a couple of time over the years, it lights up My Stonehenge in the most amazing way, taking a beam of light through to the back of the painting and through the two furthest stones!

 

PS. Having first been an untitled poem by myself, I was spurred on by the lovely Mrs. P. to give it one…so, after much deliberation……….and then some more……….I came up with the apt new title of, ‘…..Sometimes…..’ 🙂

A poem – inspired by my good friend Jackie and her wonderful photo image

Tags

Hope, Inspiration, Photo inspired poem, Poem, Poetry, Relationships, Swam, Uncertainty

 

Jackie’s enhanced photo editing of her image

http://iamlostinthot2.wordpress.com/2014/07/16/mute-swan/

Inspired me to write a little poem……

 

Titled – ”Mute!”

 

He gazed from the window upon the Swan

So graceful and elegant – like his special …’Someone!

It appeared, fleetingly, every now and then……

Just like his special ‘Someone’ , though, he never knew when?!

One day it would make up a pair,

Just like he wanted them to share….

Until then, the Swan will carry on and drift……

Someday! Somehow!….They WILL overcome their rift!!!

 

Copyright Caren Taylor 2014

Caren’s creative canvas and craft

 

Still Life – ‘Jack and Jill’ – On a Ledge Series – Pastel Still Life

Tags

Art, Art idea, Art mediums, Art Style, Artist, Artistic, Artistic moment, Arts, Artsy, Arty, Bored, Bored moment, Children's art, Decorative art, Different mediums, Different version, Fashion, Illustration, Inspiration, Inspirational art, Inspired, Jack, Jack and Jill, Jack and Jill 'On a Ledge Series', Jill, Oil still life, On a ledge, On a Ledge Series, Original, Original art, Original pastel picture, Pastel drawing, Pastel illustration, Pastel picture, Pastel still life, Pastels, Picture, Rag doll, Rag doll portrait, Rag dolls picture, Series of original art, Series of pictures, Series of still life pictures, Still life, Still life drawing, Still life in pastel, Still life pictures, Style, Wacky art, Watercolour Still Life, Weird and wacky art

‘Jack and Jill’ – On a Ledge Series

Previously I mentioned in this section (Still Life) I had worked with the same subjects though in different mediums. ‘Jack and Jill’ is one of those subjects, the last time it was posted, it was a painting in watercolour. This is the soft pastel version.  The pastels make it that you can almost feel the softness of the little knitted woollen jumpers on the dolls. Still to come will be the Oil painted version!

Below is how I came up with the idea of ‘On a Ledge Series’ for those who have not already seen them;

Bored and uninspired one day, I stood in my kitchen wondering what I could draw? Whilst wondering I absent mindedly started tidying and rearranging things on the ledge. I’m not one for nice pot ornaments, rather have slightly wacky or weird decorative things around! So, as I now had a disarrayed pile of things I had moved and a clean window ledge – The idea struck me. I could use it as a little staging area for a series of still life pictures!!!

Pen and Ink – ‘On the Canal – In Colour’

Tags

Art, Artist, Artistic, Artistic moment, Arts, Artsy, Arty, Barges, Black and white, Black thought, Black white, Boating scene, Canal boats, Canal scene, Colourful, Colourful illustration, Countryside, Countryside scene, Different, Different medium, Excitement, Exciting art, Illustration, Ink drawing, Ink painting, Ink sketch, Inspiration, Inspirational, Inspirational art, Medium, Narrow boats, Nature, Nature scene, Nature scene in ink, On the Canal, On the Canal in colour, Original, Original art, Original pen and ink, Outdoors, Pen and ink, Pen and ink illustration, Pen and ink original drawing, Pen illustration, Pen sketch, Practice art, Shadows, Sketch, Sunlight, Sunshine and shadows in art, Two versions, Vibrant art, Vibrant ink

‘On the Canal – In Colour’

For those who have already seen the first post of this scene in ‘Pen and Inks’ just in black and white, I thought it might be nice to show you another version of the same coloured with inks. Not a medium I have worked much  with over the years, though every now and then I have another practice as above. I must admit I am always really excited by their vibrancy, (thinking about it, I really should have another practice – A girl can always do with a little excitement!)

Portrait – Ink Black and White Dot by Dot!

Tags

Art, Artistic, Artistic moment, Arty, Black, Black and white, Black art, Black dot, Black ink, Bored, Bored moment, Cap, Cap art, Crysanthemum, Decorative, Decorative art, Doodle, Doodle art, Doodle dots, Doodle spot, Doodling, Dot, Dot art, Dot mad, Dot mand, Dot Portrait, Dotty, Dotty art, Dotty Man, Flower, Illustrated art, Illustration, Imagination, Imagination Art, Imagine, Ink art, Insire, Inspiration, Mad art, Mad dotty, Made up Art, Nature, Original, Original art, Original dot art, Portrait, Portraiture, Spot, Spot art, Spot portrait, Spotty, Spotty art, Spotty portrait, Still life, Style, Stylish, Stylish art, Window ledge

Dot by Dot! Out of My Head!!

Another day of ‘Doodling’ ended up with this ‘Dotty’ Ink Creation. The whole image was done one dot at a time. The portrayed illustration is actually from  my imagination- COMPLETELY MADE UP. Though I did take some still life inspiration from a chrysanthemum I had in a vase on the window ledge. I was very pleased with the Hands!

Patchwork Handmade Wall Hanging

Tags

Aida, Appliquéd, Bright, Butterflies, Buttons, Colourful, Cotton fabric, Crafty creation, Creation, Embroidery, Felt, Flowers, Inspiration, Nature, Patchwork, Patchwork wall hanging, Pattern, Sanils, Satin decoration, Snail pattern, Snail scene, Soft furniishings, Theme, Toadstools, Wacky, Wall hanging, Wonderful

Away with the Toadstools!

Developing upon a theme, I took inspiration from the surrounding cotton fabric border in this patchwork wall hanging. For the centre panel I used a piece of aida, then cut out felt shapes for the toadstools and snails and hand appliquéd them to the aida. The finishing touches were made by adding satin butterflies, flowers and some buttons with a little simple embroidery and quilting. A wonderful wacky wallhanging!