Monday, March 15, 2010

A Challenge From Gypsy!

After most of the day off line yesterday, working on banners and otherwise being sore from weather, I check this morning and discover a challenge over on Gypsylulu Delights to *find* my block I made during a class years ago with Paula Nadelstern and post it here.
Well. Hmmmmmm..........
This was indeed a challenge because I have FIVE cabinets of fabric and fabric related items and I have moved things, and I have not sewed seriously in a long time.
A very long time.
So I crawled under the tables, and as luck would have it, found the one cabinet on the first try where this gem was hidden away!


It is not bordered out---that's just my normal black backdrop, but I always thought it would be elegant on some sort of black on black fabric. With, perhaps a little blue in it.
I cannot tell you how many templates I cut for this....there is piece after piece after piece. Some *look* like one piece but are not. (do click the photo and see if it will enlarge for a better resolution)


This shows the single *slice* (plus a bit)  that makes this wonderful block. I wish I could say I made another, and another. But alas, I did this ONE and that was it.
I have always wanted to revisit the process though. Maybe in my dotage, which is fast approaching, I will stop all this other nonsense I do and create more of these lovely creatures. I am sure I still have some of all the fabric......HAHAHAHAHA!!!!! In fact, safely secured somewhere is a drawer full of symmetrical prints, made long before Paula came out with her line of fabrics specifically for this use.
And this proves that if geometery was taught using quilting, I could have gotten an *A* instead of the.....well.....never mind!
So Gypsy, my dear friend, this post is for YOU!!!! Enjoy!!!
And for any of you that ever have an opportunity to take a class from Paula, go! Do not hesitate! She is a wonderful, down to earth teacher and fun to learn from. You can't ask for more than that. :-)
And now I'm off to work on the banners.......sigh.......

Pax.

45 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love the look of it as the colors are a delight to my eyes. I know how much work goes into these as DD used to make intricate quilt art.....BUT for me.....I am an admirer of this art. Life is way to short for me to use math & angles to be creative!! LOL!!
Have a Wonderful Week!
Marilyn

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

hey Marilyn!

I still have no math skills, but I could figure out visually how to kae the pieces! Someday, someday.....it will have a mate or two....
This is the only project I started years ago that I really want to finish. ;)

XXOO!!
Anne

Georgina said...

I hate math!!! Was never so happy when I completed the damn college algebra...don't need no stinkin' math!!! Anyway, I love that kaleidoscope design..reminds me of a trip I took in my friend's bedroom...oh, just kidding!!!

Love it, Anne, you need to do more of those lovlies and frame them!!

Love ya,
G

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

LOL Georgina!!!
Wildwoman..... ;)
Yeah, somewhere down the road....this will have companions.
Just not right now. In fact, I'm not sure where the book is, and I *think* that is where all the template pieces are...which I would like to reuse, but in different color-placements. Like the real deal; twist it and the colors change places.
But not now......

XXOO!!
Anne

Bunny said...

Oh that block is gorgeous wish I had of taken that class with Gypsy. Not sure mine would have been a beautiful LOL. I just know how difficult all those templates would be to make.

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Bunny!

Really, once you get doing them, the templates aren't that hard---getting the FIRST big slice template right is the tough one. Everything else is figuring hoe you want to break it apart with the fabrics you have.
Some folks used few fabrics and pieces and they still looked good.
Of course, I figured the more I crammed in......well....you know.....LOL!!!

XXOO!!
Anne

marianne said...

wow- that is beautiful- and all of that work and beauty was hidden away? the things you do with a sewing machine are amazing! happy monday-

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

LOL!! Marianne.....it's that little niggling word called "finishing" that I have trouble with!!!!
Painting, you can sort of stop and it looks good.
Sewing, well, it's obvious you're not done! :)

XXOO!!
Anne

P.S. That was a total of a week's work to get that block......

Tristan Robin said...

just gorgeous

I saw gypsy's yesterday - and now I see your completed block

I feel like such a wastral - I have never finished one - and I've started about twelve of them.

good on you!

By the way - that blue background fabric is one of my alltime favorite background fabrics and it's OUT OF PRINT. damn them.

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

I hear you Tristan....I just LOVED that fabric! I bought a big chunk of it, but not enough to seriously DO anything with.
Not that I *do* anything anymore...HAHAHAHAHA!!!!
I really need to find that bag with all the templates....now my little mind is wandering.... :D

XXOO!!
Anne

Janet Ghio said...

This is beautiful. I remember when taking her classes was all the rage. I have drawwers of fabric also as I used to make art quilts--but have become throughly engrossed with paper and mixed media!!

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Janet,

That's my problem too! I started putting tidbitd of *stuff* into my fiber art, and before I knew it, it was no longer fiber art but full fledged mixed media.
And I have missed painting too.....
there just are not enough hours in a day!

XXOO!!
Anne

Anonymous said...

Anne you are such an inspiration. I have fallen in love with fabric again due to us. I too am finding my self drawn to mixed media. My art teacher gave me a bunch of gourds to paint on but just did my first gourd using fabric flowers with decoupage. Every time I visit, I am grateful I found you. I find it hard to do two projects just alight one than once. I used to crochet intricate dollies and could never do but one. Blessings
QMM

Unknown said...

oh Anne!!! wow...this is amazing work...the design is fantastic...I have to sew something today....wish me luck!!!

Have a wonderful day!!!

Hugs
Diana

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

HI QMM!

I think the more people work with different media, the more you learn that is finally applied to the media of your choice.
I sort of vascillate back and forth between sewing and then real mixed media; there is always something catching my eye and I enjoy all of it!
Have fun with your work---that is the most important part!!!

XXOO!!
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hi Diana!


I am sending you all the *good-luck-sewing-vibes* I possibly can! In fact, I'd be glad to send you some sewing too, but I think you'd rather do your super illustrations!
Seriously, I hope things go well for you today!

XXOO!!
Anne

Anonymous said...

Wooohooo...yours is absolutely beautiful,Anne, as i knew it would be !
those slices of yellow make it sing!..I still have pretty much everything together in a box..
Wondering if i dare try again? lol!
Thanks for stepping right up to the plate here, my friend!
And, to think you found it in first box...wheeee!
Glad for that!

xoxo, gypsy

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Gypsy!!!

Glad to *see* you here!
Yes, what a miracle...the first place I looked, because if it had not been there, I would have been up a creek!
I really enjoyed doing it (probably because of all the anal work involved...HAHA!) And yes, I think we both should try another one! Or maybe two SMALL ones, to offset the big ones we made......
Or maybe just sit and look at the fabric and THINK what the others would be like!!!!
TAke care dear!!!
(((HUGS!!!)))

XXOO!!
Anne

Jan said...

This is unbelievably gorgeous! It makes me a bit dizzy to look at it. I don't think I could do it, I am all for crooked raw edges in my work. I saw Gypsy's too, you two will have to get together and have a kaleidoscope quilting session. Someday.

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Jan!

It wasn't bad till I tried to get most of the seams and points to match! LOL!
Then things changed....well, it still looks okay! I thik Gypsy's is a little more PERFECT than mine!
This is something to do when you have LOADS of time on your hands..... ;)
Hope you're feeling better!

XXOO!!
Anne

Deborah said...

HOLY MOLY Anne, that is unbelievable! It made me dizzy when I enlarged it. Fantastical. Amazing. Crazy mad talent!!! And just so darn pretty.
**blows kisses** Deb

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Deb.....Let's just say it:

I'M NUTS.

LOL!!!!!
It is so funny how changing one fabric will change the whole thing....

XXOO!!
Anne

Elena said...

Amazing! (as I bow my head to the amazingly creative talent you've been endowed with) Just beautiful!

Leslie said...

Oi, got me to thinking about all those one off blocks I have done over the years, I wonder where they are now as I have sent most of them out into the world to become something else..

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hi Elena!

I'm not sure on the talent with this---it's more like having a "Monk-Moment"....a lot of OCD and analness! AH-HAHAHAHA!!!!
But ti was sure fun!

XXOO!!
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

hey Leslie,

I would NEVER let go of tis one, and that is about the only one I can honestly think that way about!
The others?
Eh! Know what ya mean!!!!

XXOO!!
Anne

Terra said...

Incredibly beautiful; it shimmers like a stained glass window. Kudos to your artistic soul.

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hi Terra!

Thanks for stopping by!
I appreciate your kind words on the block. :)

XXOO!!
Anne

Anna Rosa Designs said...

Hi Anne,
wow, what a kalidescope and the different fabrics give it a real bling in an old fashioned way!
Bellisimo!
Hugs,
Anna

Mary Helen-Art Saves Lives said...

Anne this is exquisite...the colors bloom as if in Nature. Have you ever thought of wearing this on yourself? You and Gypsy must have had a great time in this class. Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hi Anna Rosa,

Yep, I love the fabrics in this piece---I have to admit, it probably contains some of the pieces I have hoarded.
Yes.
HOARDED.
sigh....... ;)

XXOO!!
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

hey MAry Helen,

Do you think I should wear something else with it or just go with the quilt blocka nd see which draws more attention???? :D LOL!!!
I really want to get two small pieces done.....SOMETIME.....so that I can make it a wall hanging. I just think that is what it was meant to be.....
Take care!

XXOO!!

Anne.....naughty......

Lynn Devine McDonald said...

Anne,
That is absolutely gorgeous!! I would NEVER have the patience for that kind of work!
Love it!!!!

yoborobo said...

Hi Anne! It reminds me of the cathedral windows in France. :) I think one, all by its lonesome, framed, would be a knockout. And no, I will not be making one of these - hahah! I can't even imagine how it would turn out, and the stream of invectives flying to Heaven would certainly lessen my chances of entry some day. ;) Gorgeous!!! xo Pam

Robbie said...

Yep, you're still who I want to be when I grow up...can't talk me out of it! Love THIS piece

Marie S said...

Hi miss Anne. Gramma said I would like it here, so I came by to thank you for my Birthday wishes.
I like the nice music and boy is that a pretty block? Looks like a star to me, not a block. I love the colors, it is happy.
I had a great birthday, your wishes make it even better!
I hope your pain gets better, Gramma says you have some arthy like her. Her hand has been bothering her from all the cutting of the food for my party. I love food.
Have a good week painting and my Gramma says "Hi" back!
Smooches and sticky hugs,
Madi

audrey said...

Wow!!!! Absolutely beautiful, Anne. I am not one bit surprised that it is so well done and filled with color. It looks like you put a lot of time into it. I can't imagine making a lot of these for one project.
As always, your talent shines!!!!
♥ audrey

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Lynn,

But you do things I don't have the patience to do, and they are most beautiful!!! ;)
Really, once you start, they aren't THAT bad.......well....they're worth it??? LOL!!!

XXOO!!
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Pam!
LOL!!! Like, you think that I don't cut loose with those same things???
I am sure St. Peter has a massive tome on me that we will, at one point, be discussing *in person*.....
"And Anne, did you say THIS???"
"ummmmmmm, yep. pretty sure that was mine....."
And so it will go. <:)

XXOO!!
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Robbie,

Bad news---I'm not groing up.
I don't know if that has any affect on anything....LOL!!!!

XXOO!!
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hi Madi (thru Marie),

Glad you could come by and you can come and listen to the music anytime....just tell Gramma to turn on the blog!
Hugs and kisses little one!

XXOO!!
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hi Audrey,

I've seen some of these doen in subtle colors too, and they are beautiful, but of course, Anne's has to have all the colors of a Peacock's Nightmare...... :D
HAHAHAHAHA!!!!
I just love color......

XXOO!!
Anne

Magpie's Mumblings said...

Wow! This is beyond my capabilities I know. How about you use it on a bag and then you wouldn't have to worry about making more (unless you wanted to, of course). Just full of helpful ideas, aren't I!

*Ulrike* said...

That is absolutely beautiful! I think that the one has a beauty all its own and is perfect that way!

di from di-did-it said...

Holy smokes I can't imagine all the work that went into that piece, but it's stunning. WOW!

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