Camera

I started getting sick on Tuesday with a really sore throat, cough, runny nose and fever and yesterday was just awful. I didn't want to go anywhere today, but I had to turn in this:

This is my wire project for 3-D art, you had to recreate an object and imply volume. I'm pretty pleased with the results, it was a lot of work. I had critique earlier today in class and it went well. My teacher liked it. I chose a camera because 1) I'm a photographer, 2) I collect antique cameras and 3) the structure lent itself well to a linear project like this (other people did stuffed animals which would be hard to do with wire). I tend to ask myself this question when deciding what to make: What do I want kicking around afterwards when it's all done? Hmmm...a camera.

Project Wire

For the first project in 3-D art (basically a beginning sculpture class), we are recreating a three dimensional object out of wire. I am planning on making an antique camera. But first, we had to make four practice pieces based off of artwork or photos in books. Here are my pieces- I like the lone butterfly the best. Working with wire is trickier than you might think. We are spending the next few weeks making the real project, and I'll show that when it's finished.

Butterfly (of course):

Lighthouse:
Butterfly with a Pansy:
and a Carousel Horse:

Antique Quilt Top

As I mentioned earlier, my mom and I purchased this antique quilt top from an antique store in Erie a couple of weeks ago. I just had to talk more about it. The pattern in called "Autumn Leaves" (I was so excited when I found it in a quilt book!) and it became popular in the '30s and '40s after it was shown at the Chicago World's Fair in 1933. This quilt top is from that time. It is a delight to behold in person- mom and I just couldn't walk away. It's in really great condition. The workmanship is absolutely incredible- every stitch is hand sewn in perfect, tiny stitches. The mitered corners match up perfectly. Nearly every leaf is of a different fabric (only one or two are the same). I cannot imagine the hours spent on this.

Which brings up the question...who made this? We'll never know. The woman who had it in the store bought it a long time ago at an estate sale in the area and didn't know very much about it. One also has to ponder why it was never finished into a whole quilt. What we do know is this: whoever made this quilt top was very talented, both at sewing and at putting colors together. There is no area that looks "off" or out of place. The colors are well balanced. All the principles of design apply here.

Mom and I are doing our homework- how should we finish it? The quilt top is made for a Full bed, we will probably add a border or something to enlarge it a little to be Queen sized. There are several independent fabric stores around here that carry reproduction '30s fabric that we will have to go see. We need to find a backing fabric, fabric to bind the edges and perhaps fabric to make a border. We also need to figure out how to actually quilt it too- where should we put the stitches? Is there a design we should use? It'll be an adventure.

I know, I know- I really don't need any more projects...but I couldn't pass it up! It's funny that I like this quilt so much since I am really not a "yellow" person, but for some reason I love this quilt! It cheers me up.