Cay Denise

Participated in QA Mag's "What's in Your Heart?" challenge.  The link has photos of some of the more ingenious artist trading cards from the challenge.  The photos shows the one I received (from an artist in South Africa) and the one I submitted. http://www.quiltingdaily.com/media/g/extras/default.aspx

I watched a TV program this morning about infants and very young children (up to 4-5) having most of the parts of their brains active (as if everything stimulates them) while adults have reduced areas of their brains active (and consequently, are stimulated by a narrower band of triggers).  This change seems to begin as young children become self-aware and create their own self-narrative of "I" in time-space.  At that point, they begin a process of 'forgetting' any expanded consciousness they may have demonstrated or experienced during their younger ages. This made think about how artists are challenged to "play" with their mediums to enhance their creativity, jump-start it, or simply explore their world through their art as if they were seeing it through the eyes a child (e.g. seeing something for the first time).  It seems when we do that, there is an intrinsic freedom felt to explore trying things we might not normally try or a release from the limitati...

The December challenge was about numbers and using our favorite in a piece or one that had meaning (e.g. a soul number from numerology).  I looked into numerology, but was not inspired by any of the numbers that came up for me.  So, I started to think about circles and then zeros.  That is how I arrived at this piece ~~  a pretty out-of-the-box effort for me.  It is titled "Zero My!" (a word play on 'Oh My!').  I like it much more than I would have imagined.

I almost forgot that one needs to use the Lasso Tool followed by the crop action to cut out the drawing parts to reveal the photo underneath.  It has been that long since I've done one of these (maybe just a few weeks). In any case, I tried something new ~~ to insert a color layer under the drawing (.jpg) and attempted to do the cutting out prior to moving the image over the photo.  That didn't work.  Oh well, something else learned.  Something else learned too is that you can use the Magnetic Lasso to draw around an area where you want to limit filling an area with a color or change in color. Its 'Off the Wall Friday', and I'm linking this post to Nina-Marie's blog at http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.com .   She provides space for artists to post work done during the prior week.  Thank you Nina-Marie!

Just finished this October challenge (a bit late).  I decided not to add a binding at this time.  It was just fun to do especially the free-motion hunter images (hand-drawn based one of the blue fabric mask concepts). "On the Hunt"

I'm reading a very good book about how to do great presentations through the use of creativity and approaching their creation from 'beginner's mind' (Zen phrase).  It is a book intended to facilitate dramatic change of dull and boring PowerPoint slide presentations to great and beautiful presentations through simplification, clarity and brevity. One of the sections I read today comments that restrictions and limitations are not the enemy ~~ they are actually great allies.  The point the author stresses is that those two are what great design develops from and/or how problems are resolved through new and novel design that observes such constraints. Also as I was reading today, the author recommended a book titled 'If You Want to Write' by Brenda Ueland (first published in 1938) that discusses her ideas of approaching writing, but that applies to most creative endeavors.  One of the ideas in Presentation Zen inspired by her writing, is that it doesn't matt...

Would you believe the base photo is of an Art Deco theater facade (altered of course)?

Another doodle from drawing over a photograph!

Can you see the pair of hands? The challenge was to create a piece that represented falling in a dream.

This is based on an Angela Cartwright technique using a personal drawing and photograph to create the image.  This is just playing to figure out how to do it, since I'm working from a different version of Photoshop than those used in the instructions.

Just finished working with a photo taken yesterday.  Each image suggested a different title.  Which do you like? Beatle Battle Brain Matter Blues

Check out my altered photo titled "The Poof and Flame Can-Can" now on display in this year's Eye of the Quilter exhibit at Festival!

I actually developed Challenge #73 for the Fast Friday group.  The challenge began with a setting:  traveling to another planet where the planet's surface is all covered by water and only stone megalithic structures rise above the water.  The challenge itself was to incorporate two loops as a design element in a piece.  The artist could create a piece using imagery based on the setting mentioned, or take off with his/her own idea. What I did with loops was to use them for hanging each of three panels.  The bottom panel (with really long loops) represents the alien planet.  The other two panels function as valances, and one represents day and the other night.  Each can easily be flipped in to place. Title of the piece:  The Day and Night Flip!

The Pacific International Quilt Festival (PIQF) is coming to Santa Clara, CA in October!  This will be the first festival that I've entered a piece in, and it has been accepted.  I just finished adding the sleeve and have the label to do...to have it fully ready to go.

A new kaleidoscope from an odd/unique original photograph...that I knew had potential.  The result is kind of neat!

This month's project was to create a piece from a saying like 'army of ants', 'gaggle of geese', 'herd of cattle', etc. I didn't know a collection of cobras was referrer to as a quiver. But after finding the phrase, I knew what I wanted to do, and I think thew piece works!

Just finished this project that started out as a canvas-wrapped photo that was otherwise destined for the trash. I've used one of my recent altered photo that has a complimentary color scheme, and overlaid it on the base image with a silk flower border. Then it was hand-sewn down (because the frame was too thick to fit under my sewing machine needle) and embellished with cording and beads. It all came together quite quickly and easily!

Just finished my ATC (artist trading card) for the QA Mag swap. Due date for submissions is in November which means there is still plenty of time to get one done and participate! (Title of this post has an active link to the QA Mag page that provides details.)

"Flaxen Fete" 15.75" x 15.75" The challenge was to choose a style from art history to create a quilt featuring flowers. I chose to make another piece like my last that has a 'feel' of Hundertwasser while using an entirely different color scheme that I don't normally work with. I'm not fond of the background, but it helps the flowers pop. I do like working with cording and how it added texture and a sense of depth to this piece. Plus, buttons have been used to add some whimsy!

You may have seen this piece in a previous post. It appeared in a Quilting Arts TV segment on completing UFOs a couple of years ago. In this segment series, a guest quilt artist provided suggestions on how to complete pieces submitted by artists who felt stuck on incomplete projects. The suggestions I received from the guest quilt artist who worked up a solution for this piece didn't move me to complete it in the suggested way, even though her suggestions were quite good. This piece is reminiscent of Hundertwasser. So, I've looked at images of his work online and see that he combined rectangles and lines with circles quite effectively. So, I started to think about what could be done with circles in this piece. The idea used to complete it was to add circular floral-like elements that have a corded stem and then fully wrapped with a different colored cording. I'm pleased with the outcome!

This UFO for the longest time is now complete, and I am very pleased to have it behind me. Also, appreciation goes to the online video class through craftsy.com for the confidence-building to quilt a fairly big quilt and do it on a regular sewing machine!

Inspiration Photo taken by Cay Denise, June 2012 Inspiration to me is something that touches one deeply and to such a degree that it expands a viewer's mind and/or soul. What I mean is that at the times I've been inspired, the inspiration gave me the ability to look beyond what my imagined concepts of such things as clever, fun, unique, powerful, sad, beautiful, etc. are. Through that inspiration, my creative imagination was fueled, and it led to a broadening of what my creative work accomplished. That said, inspiration can tickle the soul, or lead to a softening of emotional pain. It can open your heart to the desire to create something because of your love for-- or the meaning you draw from-- that which has inspired you. It can be a (figurative) door that suddenly opens because of an idea or the confidence you gain of how to move through it -- that has been sparked by inspiration. Inspiration may make you laugh or cry. It may peak your excitement or your questioning. It may...

This project is just about complete...yippee! It is not my best piece by a long shot. But it was a first attempt of creating a two-sided quilted wall hanging...one side, a busy one, and the other side, a quiet one. The important discussion point for this post is that I've had this UFO (unfinished project) stashed for many years. Why I've left it incomplete is a mystery. It could have been being overwhelmed with the quilting I'd have to do given that the basting job was not a good one. It could have been that there was going to be too much material to feed through the harp of my machine to be able to quilt it well. It could have been that I couldn't see my way to a design idea for the quilting. It could have been that I'm not especially in love with the piece. It could have been a combination of these things. So, when you have a piece that you struggle with the completion of, what is that stuggle about? I'm taking a craftsy.com quilting video series ...

Why do you sit there when you have a great idea that wants to be made? Oh, I know...you've got groceries to buy, the house to clean, mail to take to the post box, and anything else you can think of in order NOT to get to work. Why is that, and why is it that so many people suffer from the syndrome of procrastination? I admit it...I have the syndrome too! Yes, I think up all sorts of things that have to be done before I 'feel comfortable' entering the realm of creative chaos to do the work. What is it that keeps me from immediately and excitedly jumping into that chaos instead of resisting it? Entering the chaos should be welcomed because that is where creativity thrives and where wonderful ideas are shaped and made into tangible works of art...it is the portal from invisible to visible! I resist the potential for my own success by not heeding the call to eagerly and with all haste...jump in to that creative chaos. Then the idea that elicited my resistance ...

A piece inspired by a Beatles tune..."Baby's in Black"...about a love triangle.  I love how the interior of the piece pops with the flying geese border!