A Study in Portraiture

Hello friends!
I have finally gotten back to my painting lessons after quite a long break. I was going to take just a little time off from my Traditions lessons, but that time just kind of stretched out to months. I was glad to get my paintbrush wet again. Although, it did take me a little time to get my hands trained again.
This turned out pretty good, although the subject matter isn't my choice. I did learn a lot from this lesson and I am glad that I am through with it. We started with just an outline of a face, then shaded it all with burnt umber for shadows and highlights. Then we applied the skin tones, based in the hat, coat and hair. Then layers were built up to darken the shadows and lighten the highlights on the face. We used a black and white copy to get a good look at the value changes and used that to define the face.
I do like the way his eyes turned out. He looks a little mischievous with that twinkle in his eye. So now it is on to the next lesson, which is a Flemish Floral arrangement. I think I will like painting this one much better. After I finish that painting, I have one more left which is a landscape and it is beautiful. A scene with ships, water, and an old windmill. Then I will be done with my painting lessons.....42 paintings done, and months and months of learning. Now I will have to apply it to my OWN artwork.
Have a lovely day! I'm off to my sewing machine to play for awhile!!
hugs, Sue K

New Year~New Projects!

Hello Friends!

I have started some new projects now that the holidays are over and behind us. I have been doing a lot of hand work and having so much fun with it. Years ago, I was lucky enough to find a class locally where the teacher taught her students how to quilt. It wasn't just any quilting class, but a very special one. She taught us how to quilt by "hand". A lost art! Although it is much easier to quilt on the machine, I love to hand stitch, so this was right up my alley. This is going to be a pillow top when it is done. I've got the top all done now...all by hand.


I don't know if you can see it or not from my photos (dark cloudy day today), but the rose in the center and a couple other parts are hand quilted to give it some dimension. I added lace and then hand stitched the tiny pearls to hold the lace down. I am still trying to decide it I want to put lace around the outside of the pillow when I put it together. What do you think? Too much?
This definitely won't be a pillow to lay your head down on with the little pearls, but would look pretty on someones' bed to embellish it.



For Christmas this year, I made six wall hangings for gifts. Do you think I took any pictures of them before sending them off? NOT!!! I was trying to get them all done and each one had to be mailed some distance, so they got packaged up and sent. Then I thought....darn, I didn't take any photos of them!!! I also made one for another gal to gift for Christmas and it was so pretty! It was a sea shore theme and it even had a real sand dollar in the center of it. I might make another one of those because it was just gorgeous.
I have some other items made up and I will take photos of them to show here. I am hoping for a sunny day to get the photos done.
I have been collecting all kinds of old vintage jewelry and also some gorgeous fabrics. I was lucky enough to find (ebay) a seller that was offering scraps of all kinds of beautiful fabrics. I got two lots of it and it is beautiful. A combination of silks, velvets, brocades and organdy. A rainbow of colors to work with too. I loved what she sent me sooooo much, I sent her a big check and I've got a box full of over 500 mores scraps coming any day now. Thank God I've got a very understanding hubby that just smiles when the mailman keeps bringing all of these boxes of treasures to my door. I am well armed now with supplies!!! It would be a good idea if I quit ordering "stuff" and put some of it to use.
I'm still working on getting my second Etsy shop set up. I had a little problem with the set up because Etsy doesn't make it very easy, but I got it figured out with the help of a sweet blogger friend. Thank you Beth!!
Have a lovely day my friends! As soon as the sun shines here, I'll have more to show you. I might take a photo of my fabrics when they arrive sometime this week too. Pretty pretty!

Hugs, Sue

Merry Christmas to all!!

Here's to hoping that you all are having a Merry Christmas! Blessed with family, friends and the joy of the season!

Hugs, Sue K

Thankful

Feeling thankful for family, friends and for the wonderful season. We are all blessed to live in such a wonderful county and I say a little prayer each day that we continue to be free to enjoy it for many more years. Here's to hoping that you all had a great holiday!

Been Busy Around here!

I was going to take some photos of my new works today, but it is a cloudy dreary day here. No sun all day and it is drizzly out. And COLD!! So I will have to wait until tomorrow for pics. I have quite a few new items made and now I need to get my new Etsy shop set up.
So come back and visit in a day or two!!

Hugs, Sue K

Been Stitchin'

Hello friends!
It has been a long time since I posted on my blog, but I hope to change that. I've been busy in my sewing room stitchin' away. I have done a little painting too, but nothing that is done that I can show you yet. (key work...yet)
My Mom sent me the cutest little tablecloth not too long ago. I just loved it with all my heart, but it was too small for any of my tables. I hung it over the rail in our kitchen so that I could look at it, hoping for some inspiration. One day, it came to me....CURTAINS for my kitchen. It was white with multi colored flowers and stitching so the colors would go great with my butter yellow walls. I held my breath and cut it in half, then in half again for curtains. I used an old percale pillow case, and cut enough for the rod casing on the top. I stitched them all together, pressed them and went about hanging them up in just a couple of hours.
LOVE LOVE LOVE them!

Close up of the appliqued floral pattern and embroidery. I even added a little lace to the bottom of them too. Sorry about the dark photos....wish they were better!

I also have been making quite a few fabric collages and some little gift bags. I will try to get some photos of them and post here in the next days.
Our weekend weather doesn't sound very nice....cold and rainy, but that means studio and sewing room time. Woooooohooooooo!!!!!
Have a great weekend! Thanks for visiting!
Hugs, Sue K

Finally~Time to Create!

Hello Friends.....
I am so happy that I finally had some time to work on some projects yesterday. It was a rainy, cool day, so I spent the afternoon at my sewing machine making these two little gift bags. One is for my Mom and the other is for a friend. I was in such a hurry to get them done, and ready to mail today, I forgot to take photos of the lavender sachets inside of them. Oh well, I will be making more of them and will remember to take pics.

I just love working with this cotton canvas fabric. The images were printed on muslin with my inkjet printer. I use the freezer paper method and so far, have had really good results. I only had one sheet jam in my printer, and then I could still use two out of the three images I had tried to print. Not bad!
I would love to try some of the other methods of transfer and probably will when I have more time to play.

Click on the photos above and you will be able to get a better look at them. My photography skills are lacking....especially when in such a hurry to get them done.

I have been shopping online for fabric and have been adding to my stash so that I have plenty to work with over the winter months to keep me busy. Muslin, burlap, ticking, and many other beautiful fabrics. I always check out the remnants bin in the fabric dept and find many pretty pieces there for a nice discount. Also, Etsy is a great place for fabric finds!

I am working on a couple more projects and will post them in a few days, when they are done. Now that Fall is almost upon us, I will be working on many more ideas that I have.

One thing I have to get done is to get my studio cleaned and ready to work in again. The dust bunnies have been busy this summer, while the artist in residence has been absent. I couldn't work on my painting table right now if I tried. It is piled high with "STUFF" ! Now, I have to put it all away and find my table again.

Soon.............

I hope you are having a creative and good week! Thanks for stopping by!

hugs, Sue K