Photography this week

These pictures are of a seed pod I found in my garden

sketchbook this week

This week I have been adding ideas to a new series of quilts. 

 I am really excited to start this series.  

If I keep waiting for everyone else to let me create is is not going to happen.  So instead of me waiting till me children are well,  my art studio is finished,  my how is renovated and other work is completed I am just going to do in the bits of time I have.  

Creating just takes management of time like everything else in my life.  

Creating is a magical process.  Step by step a creation can be made.  Just putting a pen to paper is a wonderful beginning.  Then just make a mark.....and another ....

.....and another....until lines form shapes, patterns and form.

With practice those marks make more sense and belonging.

Until a page is formed.

With colour the marks take on energy

Until a new life is created.

Photographing quilts

I have just finished a wonderful course with Quilt university on Photographing quilts.  With a few simple tips my quality of photographs have really improved.  Because the course was copyrighted I can't give away any of her 'trade secrets' but I can tell you some useful pointers I picked up myself during the course.

1. Practice, practice, practice. I can't emphasise this enough.  The only way to get better at taking photos is to practice.  
2. Record all the information about each photo you take.  This is so important.  So many times we get interrupted or run out of time or want to go back to something we have done before and we don't have enough information to go on.  It is so much easier if the information is at our finger tips.
3. Be aware of all the straight edges of your artwork and make sure these line up with your camera. 
4. Always take the best photo you can.  there is only so much software can help you with.
5. Be relaxed about the whole process.  Come back later to it if you aren't getting the results you are after and you are starting to get frustrated.
6. Get someone else to check your photos to see if the are a good colour next to the original quilt.  I found it hard after looking at the quilt and photo for so long see see the differences.  Sometimes it's good to have a fresh eye.

These are my before and after photos. 

Before 

 After

Before

After

Before

After

Before

Aftere

Before

After

Photography this week

My 8 year old saw a praying mantis eating a bee.  It was fascinating to watch.  I hadn't realised that they have tongues.

New Blog Layout

Yes it is still my blog!!!

I decided I needed a new 'face lift'  

So I am designing a new blog layout. 

Could you all let me know what you think of it?

NB: Can you please be patient with me as I finish off some details.  (I could still have more changes over the next couple of days)  

Catherine xxxx

Sketchbook this week

I have been doodling this week. 

 Putting down lots of ideas for an up and coming series of small quilts.

 Here is a sneaky look at some of my ideas.

Finding inspiration through photography: Part Two

Using parts of a photograph for art design

We often use a whole photo when making a quilt design.  The look of a quilt that looks just like like a photo seems to fascinate people.  Bit we can get very effective designs with just part of photos.

This is the full photo.  It captures the frame work beautifully.

But cropping it in gives a better design and structure.  This would be a better photo to create with.

This photo was taken from a distance

This one closer.  

See how coming in closer eliminates unnecessary extras and focuses on the brick more

And when the above photo is cropped it makes us look more at the shapes and how they interact with each other more than the subject.  This would probably be a great start for a abstract design

Cropping really close even gives more design possibilities.  This shell has amazing possibilities.

See what is in small details of your life and see what can be found for designs.