As I mentioned on Friday, I took two classes with Deborah Boschert over the weekend. I had a lot of fun. They were exactly the self-care I needed. This is the palette of fabrics that I chose for myself:
Interestingly, I posted a picture of this palette to my instagram stories and asked people if they thought it was a cohesive palette. About half the people (including Deborah) said, "No." I find that fascinating. To me, it looks super cohesive and fun to work with. But we are all different artists and I'm sure it looks like a hot mess to other people. I say, hooray for differences. The important thing is to know yourself and what YOU like.
Speaking of liking: As an instructor, I always enjoy seeing how other teachers teach. Instead of doing live demos, Deborah shared pre-recorded videos she had made. I found this idea fascinating! On the one hand, it means that the demo always goes well and nothing gets left out. On the other hand, it does feel more like an online class. On the third hand, I can see how this idea makes teaching so much easier. The instructor is there to answer questions and offer assistance, but the basics are covered. I've been intensely thinking about this method of teaching for the past few days. I can't decide if it's something I want to try with some of my classes that I offer over and over again. Something to ponder!
In any case, here's a peek at what I made. In the first class, "Personal Symbols: Art Quilt Collage," our assignment was to create six small 5×7 quilts using a vocabulary of personal symbols. Some of my often used personal symbols (you'll have to guess what they stand for) are a circle, a triangle, a house, a leaf, a seed, repeated lines, and the "u" shape in various directions. You can see them in these little story quilts (and much of my work):
I think my awesome fabric selection made some pretty fab little quilts. Here is a look at each one individually:
In the second class, "Captivating Compositions," our assignment was to create eight small 6×6 quilts, each one representing a particular type of design and using just 5 fabrics. I had A LOT of trouble with the "just 5 fabrics" and I think I didn't choose well. I mostly picked these 5 fabrics because I had some big pieces of them left from the day before. Not a great idea. In any case, here are my compositions:
I didn't bother to add stitch because I don't really want to invest the time in them. It was a good exercise, but I'd like to try again with different fabrics. In my opinion you really need to pay attention to value when selecting your fabrics for an exercise like this, and I didn't. Take a peek at my eight pieces in grayscale:
Most of the compositions totally fall apart in grayscale — it's part of the reason they don't really work in color. As opposed to the grayscale versions of my story quilts, which look fine:
Well, lesson learned, and isn't that the point of taking a class?
Deborah is a very kind and patient teacher. She answered all questions with diplomacy and thoughtfulness. I appreciated the warm environment she created online and her flexibility in allowing each student to be who they are. If you're interested in learning more about her methods, I believe that most of what she taught over the weekend is available in her book, Art Quilt Collage. I just reserved a copy of it at my local library, along with three other quilt collage books: Art Quilt Maps, Vibrant Quilt Collage, and The Uncommon Quilter. I like to audition books by taking them out of my local library. Then, after perusing them, I buy the ones that I know I'll love to refer back to over and over!
Thanks for stopping by!
Julie, First of all, I loved BOTH sets of mini quilts! While I am more drawn to the first because I also love color I was also amazed with what you created with the second set using a more limited palette (regardless of the reason why). They could be combined into a fabulous piece with some contrasting color and embellishment! Do not sell yourself short! You produced some amazing work and I thank you for sharing it!
Julie, First of all, I loved BOTH sets of mini quilts! While I am more drawn to the first because I also love color I was also amazed with what you created with the second set using a more limited palette (regardless of the reason why). They could be combined into a fabulous piece with some contrasting color and embellishment! Do not sell yourself short! You produced some amazing work and I thank you for sharing it!
Julie, First of all, I loved BOTH sets of mini quilts! While I am more drawn to the first because I also love color I was also amazed with what you created with the second set using a more limited palette (regardless of the reason why). They could be combined into a fabulous piece with some contrasting color and embellishment! Do not sell yourself short! You produced some amazing work and I thank you for sharing it!
Julie, First of all, I loved BOTH sets of mini quilts! While I am more drawn to the first because I also love color I was also amazed with what you created with the second set using a more limited palette (regardless of the reason why). They could be combined into a fabulous piece with some contrasting color and embellishment! Do not sell yourself short! You produced some amazing work and I thank you for sharing it!
Julie, First of all, I loved BOTH sets of mini quilts! While I am more drawn to the first because I also love color I was also amazed with what you created with the second set using a more limited palette (regardless of the reason why). They could be combined into a fabulous piece with some contrasting color and embellishment! Do not sell yourself short! You produced some amazing work and I thank you for sharing it!
Julie, First of all, I loved BOTH sets of mini quilts! While I am more drawn to the first because I also love color I was also amazed with what you created with the second set using a more limited palette (regardless of the reason why). They could be combined into a fabulous piece with some contrasting color and embellishment! Do not sell yourself short! You produced some amazing work and I thank you for sharing it!
Julie, First of all, I loved BOTH sets of mini quilts! While I am more drawn to the first because I also love color I was also amazed with what you created with the second set using a more limited palette (regardless of the reason why). They could be combined into a fabulous piece with some contrasting color and embellishment! Do not sell yourself short! You produced some amazing work and I thank you for sharing it!
I like that you know you, your fabric selection screamed julie to me. i liked both sets of quilts but see what you mean about value. so for my future reference, choose fabrics, take photo with cell, edit to grey scale so I could see value, then be willing to change. well huh a life lesson in small art quilts. off to the library to check out those quilt books.
I like that you know you, your fabric selection screamed julie to me. i liked both sets of quilts but see what you mean about value. so for my future reference, choose fabrics, take photo with cell, edit to grey scale so I could see value, then be willing to change. well huh a life lesson in small art quilts. off to the library to check out those quilt books.
I like that you know you, your fabric selection screamed julie to me. i liked both sets of quilts but see what you mean about value. so for my future reference, choose fabrics, take photo with cell, edit to grey scale so I could see value, then be willing to change. well huh a life lesson in small art quilts. off to the library to check out those quilt books.
I like that you know you, your fabric selection screamed julie to me. i liked both sets of quilts but see what you mean about value. so for my future reference, choose fabrics, take photo with cell, edit to grey scale so I could see value, then be willing to change. well huh a life lesson in small art quilts. off to the library to check out those quilt books.
I like that you know you, your fabric selection screamed julie to me. i liked both sets of quilts but see what you mean about value. so for my future reference, choose fabrics, take photo with cell, edit to grey scale so I could see value, then be willing to change. well huh a life lesson in small art quilts. off to the library to check out those quilt books.
I like that you know you, your fabric selection screamed julie to me. i liked both sets of quilts but see what you mean about value. so for my future reference, choose fabrics, take photo with cell, edit to grey scale so I could see value, then be willing to change. well huh a life lesson in small art quilts. off to the library to check out those quilt books.
I like that you know you, your fabric selection screamed julie to me. i liked both sets of quilts but see what you mean about value. so for my future reference, choose fabrics, take photo with cell, edit to grey scale so I could see value, then be willing to change. well huh a life lesson in small art quilts. off to the library to check out those quilt books.
Love all of these. I am swooning over your rose bud stitches. I have watched so many videos on how to do this and I still am unable to make them! Beautiful colors an design.
Love all of these. I am swooning over your rose bud stitches. I have watched so many videos on how to do this and I still am unable to make them! Beautiful colors an design.
Love all of these. I am swooning over your rose bud stitches. I have watched so many videos on how to do this and I still am unable to make them! Beautiful colors an design.
Love all of these. I am swooning over your rose bud stitches. I have watched so many videos on how to do this and I still am unable to make them! Beautiful colors an design.
Love all of these. I am swooning over your rose bud stitches. I have watched so many videos on how to do this and I still am unable to make them! Beautiful colors an design.
Love all of these. I am swooning over your rose bud stitches. I have watched so many videos on how to do this and I still am unable to make them! Beautiful colors an design.
Love all of these. I am swooning over your rose bud stitches. I have watched so many videos on how to do this and I still am unable to make them! Beautiful colors an design.
Thank you, Mary!
Thank you, Mary!
Thank you, Mary!
Thank you, Mary!
Thank you, Mary!
Thank you, Mary!
Thank you, Mary!
I’m so glad that this post was useful to you and yes, you have to know yourself!
I’m so glad that this post was useful to you and yes, you have to know yourself!
I’m so glad that this post was useful to you and yes, you have to know yourself!
I’m so glad that this post was useful to you and yes, you have to know yourself!
I’m so glad that this post was useful to you and yes, you have to know yourself!
I’m so glad that this post was useful to you and yes, you have to know yourself!
I’m so glad that this post was useful to you and yes, you have to know yourself!
LOL! I think the key is to be pretty loose and sloppy about it!
LOL! I think the key is to be pretty loose and sloppy about it!
LOL! I think the key is to be pretty loose and sloppy about it!
LOL! I think the key is to be pretty loose and sloppy about it!
LOL! I think the key is to be pretty loose and sloppy about it!
LOL! I think the key is to be pretty loose and sloppy about it!
LOL! I think the key is to be pretty loose and sloppy about it!
Well, I guess I am an outlier, but I really resonate to your captivating compositions. I understand fully about the value issue,(only two of them actually fall apart in grey scale) but I find them very compelling.
Well, I guess I am an outlier, but I really resonate to your captivating compositions. I understand fully about the value issue,(only two of them actually fall apart in grey scale) but I find them very compelling.
Well, I guess I am an outlier, but I really resonate to your captivating compositions. I understand fully about the value issue,(only two of them actually fall apart in grey scale) but I find them very compelling.
Well, I guess I am an outlier, but I really resonate to your captivating compositions. I understand fully about the value issue,(only two of them actually fall apart in grey scale) but I find them very compelling.
Well, I guess I am an outlier, but I really resonate to your captivating compositions. I understand fully about the value issue,(only two of them actually fall apart in grey scale) but I find them very compelling.
Well, I guess I am an outlier, but I really resonate to your captivating compositions. I understand fully about the value issue,(only two of them actually fall apart in grey scale) but I find them very compelling.
Well, I guess I am an outlier, but I really resonate to your captivating compositions. I understand fully about the value issue,(only two of them actually fall apart in grey scale) but I find them very compelling.
I love them. Very inspiring. Did you machine stitch or hand stitch the circles in the background on the 5th tile in your first set? Did you hand paint all the fabric before you went or have it printed from digital illustrations? If you painted it, what kind of fabric did you start with and do you use special paints or mediums? Sorry for the question overload 🙂
I love them. Very inspiring. Did you machine stitch or hand stitch the circles in the background on the 5th tile in your first set? Did you hand paint all the fabric before you went or have it printed from digital illustrations? If you painted it, what kind of fabric did you start with and do you use special paints or mediums? Sorry for the question overload 🙂
I love them. Very inspiring. Did you machine stitch or hand stitch the circles in the background on the 5th tile in your first set? Did you hand paint all the fabric before you went or have it printed from digital illustrations? If you painted it, what kind of fabric did you start with and do you use special paints or mediums? Sorry for the question overload 🙂
I love them. Very inspiring. Did you machine stitch or hand stitch the circles in the background on the 5th tile in your first set? Did you hand paint all the fabric before you went or have it printed from digital illustrations? If you painted it, what kind of fabric did you start with and do you use special paints or mediums? Sorry for the question overload 🙂
I love them. Very inspiring. Did you machine stitch or hand stitch the circles in the background on the 5th tile in your first set? Did you hand paint all the fabric before you went or have it printed from digital illustrations? If you painted it, what kind of fabric did you start with and do you use special paints or mediums? Sorry for the question overload 🙂
I love them. Very inspiring. Did you machine stitch or hand stitch the circles in the background on the 5th tile in your first set? Did you hand paint all the fabric before you went or have it printed from digital illustrations? If you painted it, what kind of fabric did you start with and do you use special paints or mediums? Sorry for the question overload 🙂
I love them. Very inspiring. Did you machine stitch or hand stitch the circles in the background on the 5th tile in your first set? Did you hand paint all the fabric before you went or have it printed from digital illustrations? If you painted it, what kind of fabric did you start with and do you use special paints or mediums? Sorry for the question overload 🙂
No! The fabric color palette was NOT a hot mess 🙂 Loved it. Yes! We all see so much, so different, so same 🙂
Loved the small quilts – the accents as I will call them, and they did show up in the grey scale and the 2nd batch didn’t have them much, or not at all. The accents made them knock it out of Fenway imho. I could see each or all as art you put up for sale as frameables, as fabric, as decorative pieces, on mugs, all that stuff. I think the 2nd larger ones can be what you envision what you want from them. They are like seeds maybe at this stage.
I’m amazed that in your weekend you did both?! I would still be pushing colored fabric around trying to decide….
Thanks for sharing your work and what you invested into them all!
No! The fabric color palette was NOT a hot mess 🙂 Loved it. Yes! We all see so much, so different, so same 🙂
Loved the small quilts – the accents as I will call them, and they did show up in the grey scale and the 2nd batch didn’t have them much, or not at all. The accents made them knock it out of Fenway imho. I could see each or all as art you put up for sale as frameables, as fabric, as decorative pieces, on mugs, all that stuff. I think the 2nd larger ones can be what you envision what you want from them. They are like seeds maybe at this stage.
I’m amazed that in your weekend you did both?! I would still be pushing colored fabric around trying to decide….
Thanks for sharing your work and what you invested into them all!
No! The fabric color palette was NOT a hot mess 🙂 Loved it. Yes! We all see so much, so different, so same 🙂
Loved the small quilts – the accents as I will call them, and they did show up in the grey scale and the 2nd batch didn’t have them much, or not at all. The accents made them knock it out of Fenway imho. I could see each or all as art you put up for sale as frameables, as fabric, as decorative pieces, on mugs, all that stuff. I think the 2nd larger ones can be what you envision what you want from them. They are like seeds maybe at this stage.
I’m amazed that in your weekend you did both?! I would still be pushing colored fabric around trying to decide….
Thanks for sharing your work and what you invested into them all!
No! The fabric color palette was NOT a hot mess 🙂 Loved it. Yes! We all see so much, so different, so same 🙂
Loved the small quilts – the accents as I will call them, and they did show up in the grey scale and the 2nd batch didn’t have them much, or not at all. The accents made them knock it out of Fenway imho. I could see each or all as art you put up for sale as frameables, as fabric, as decorative pieces, on mugs, all that stuff. I think the 2nd larger ones can be what you envision what you want from them. They are like seeds maybe at this stage.
I’m amazed that in your weekend you did both?! I would still be pushing colored fabric around trying to decide….
Thanks for sharing your work and what you invested into them all!
No! The fabric color palette was NOT a hot mess 🙂 Loved it. Yes! We all see so much, so different, so same 🙂
Loved the small quilts – the accents as I will call them, and they did show up in the grey scale and the 2nd batch didn’t have them much, or not at all. The accents made them knock it out of Fenway imho. I could see each or all as art you put up for sale as frameables, as fabric, as decorative pieces, on mugs, all that stuff. I think the 2nd larger ones can be what you envision what you want from them. They are like seeds maybe at this stage.
I’m amazed that in your weekend you did both?! I would still be pushing colored fabric around trying to decide….
Thanks for sharing your work and what you invested into them all!
No! The fabric color palette was NOT a hot mess 🙂 Loved it. Yes! We all see so much, so different, so same 🙂
Loved the small quilts – the accents as I will call them, and they did show up in the grey scale and the 2nd batch didn’t have them much, or not at all. The accents made them knock it out of Fenway imho. I could see each or all as art you put up for sale as frameables, as fabric, as decorative pieces, on mugs, all that stuff. I think the 2nd larger ones can be what you envision what you want from them. They are like seeds maybe at this stage.
I’m amazed that in your weekend you did both?! I would still be pushing colored fabric around trying to decide….
Thanks for sharing your work and what you invested into them all!
No! The fabric color palette was NOT a hot mess 🙂 Loved it. Yes! We all see so much, so different, so same 🙂
Loved the small quilts – the accents as I will call them, and they did show up in the grey scale and the 2nd batch didn’t have them much, or not at all. The accents made them knock it out of Fenway imho. I could see each or all as art you put up for sale as frameables, as fabric, as decorative pieces, on mugs, all that stuff. I think the 2nd larger ones can be what you envision what you want from them. They are like seeds maybe at this stage.
I’m amazed that in your weekend you did both?! I would still be pushing colored fabric around trying to decide….
Thanks for sharing your work and what you invested into them all!
I’m with you; I loved the first set. The 2nd weren’t as strong, but could be with stitch, paint and texture. I like them. Let us know what you think of her book.
I’m with you; I loved the first set. The 2nd weren’t as strong, but could be with stitch, paint and texture. I like them. Let us know what you think of her book.
I’m with you; I loved the first set. The 2nd weren’t as strong, but could be with stitch, paint and texture. I like them. Let us know what you think of her book.
I’m with you; I loved the first set. The 2nd weren’t as strong, but could be with stitch, paint and texture. I like them. Let us know what you think of her book.
I’m with you; I loved the first set. The 2nd weren’t as strong, but could be with stitch, paint and texture. I like them. Let us know what you think of her book.
I’m with you; I loved the first set. The 2nd weren’t as strong, but could be with stitch, paint and texture. I like them. Let us know what you think of her book.
I’m with you; I loved the first set. The 2nd weren’t as strong, but could be with stitch, paint and texture. I like them. Let us know what you think of her book.
i am a frustrated artist…i started playing around with painting when i discovered Pebeo fabric paint…i have boxes of painted scraps in my garage…i discovered acrylic painting while of a trans atlantic cruise…that led me to art classes through a local senior group…i actually was able to draw something other than a straight or curved line…i play with collage using created paper and paper puches…i save every little piece of paper…play with wtercolor and save every less than perfect composition to use with collage…i am also a quilter so i have boxes of fabric and fabric scraps…my problem i have multiple quilts on every bed in the house…my walls are covered with painted creations …i experimented with pour painting…what do i do with all of these creations?
i am a frustrated artist…i started playing around with painting when i discovered Pebeo fabric paint…i have boxes of painted scraps in my garage…i discovered acrylic painting while of a trans atlantic cruise…that led me to art classes through a local senior group…i actually was able to draw something other than a straight or curved line…i play with collage using created paper and paper puches…i save every little piece of paper…play with wtercolor and save every less than perfect composition to use with collage…i am also a quilter so i have boxes of fabric and fabric scraps…my problem i have multiple quilts on every bed in the house…my walls are covered with painted creations …i experimented with pour painting…what do i do with all of these creations?
i am a frustrated artist…i started playing around with painting when i discovered Pebeo fabric paint…i have boxes of painted scraps in my garage…i discovered acrylic painting while of a trans atlantic cruise…that led me to art classes through a local senior group…i actually was able to draw something other than a straight or curved line…i play with collage using created paper and paper puches…i save every little piece of paper…play with wtercolor and save every less than perfect composition to use with collage…i am also a quilter so i have boxes of fabric and fabric scraps…my problem i have multiple quilts on every bed in the house…my walls are covered with painted creations …i experimented with pour painting…what do i do with all of these creations?
i am a frustrated artist…i started playing around with painting when i discovered Pebeo fabric paint…i have boxes of painted scraps in my garage…i discovered acrylic painting while of a trans atlantic cruise…that led me to art classes through a local senior group…i actually was able to draw something other than a straight or curved line…i play with collage using created paper and paper puches…i save every little piece of paper…play with wtercolor and save every less than perfect composition to use with collage…i am also a quilter so i have boxes of fabric and fabric scraps…my problem i have multiple quilts on every bed in the house…my walls are covered with painted creations …i experimented with pour painting…what do i do with all of these creations?
i am a frustrated artist…i started playing around with painting when i discovered Pebeo fabric paint…i have boxes of painted scraps in my garage…i discovered acrylic painting while of a trans atlantic cruise…that led me to art classes through a local senior group…i actually was able to draw something other than a straight or curved line…i play with collage using created paper and paper puches…i save every little piece of paper…play with wtercolor and save every less than perfect composition to use with collage…i am also a quilter so i have boxes of fabric and fabric scraps…my problem i have multiple quilts on every bed in the house…my walls are covered with painted creations …i experimented with pour painting…what do i do with all of these creations?
i am a frustrated artist…i started playing around with painting when i discovered Pebeo fabric paint…i have boxes of painted scraps in my garage…i discovered acrylic painting while of a trans atlantic cruise…that led me to art classes through a local senior group…i actually was able to draw something other than a straight or curved line…i play with collage using created paper and paper puches…i save every little piece of paper…play with wtercolor and save every less than perfect composition to use with collage…i am also a quilter so i have boxes of fabric and fabric scraps…my problem i have multiple quilts on every bed in the house…my walls are covered with painted creations …i experimented with pour painting…what do i do with all of these creations?
i am a frustrated artist…i started playing around with painting when i discovered Pebeo fabric paint…i have boxes of painted scraps in my garage…i discovered acrylic painting while of a trans atlantic cruise…that led me to art classes through a local senior group…i actually was able to draw something other than a straight or curved line…i play with collage using created paper and paper puches…i save every little piece of paper…play with wtercolor and save every less than perfect composition to use with collage…i am also a quilter so i have boxes of fabric and fabric scraps…my problem i have multiple quilts on every bed in the house…my walls are covered with painted creations …i experimented with pour painting…what do i do with all of these creations?
I love these. I am so excited by your faber art work
I love these. I am so excited by your faber art work
I love these. I am so excited by your faber art work
I love these. I am so excited by your faber art work
I love these. I am so excited by your faber art work
I love these. I am so excited by your faber art work
I love these. I am so excited by your faber art work