tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92914422024-03-19T01:45:54.870-04:00FibermaniaMelody Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08644269589363519294noreply@blogger.comBlogger2943125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9291442.post-24434273460107132422022-09-10T10:16:00.000-04:002022-09-10T10:16:05.196-04:00<div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;color:#6600cc;">Mitered Kerchief</span></strong>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4xNKOCL3qSI/Swr1GNASVtI/AAAAAAAAXWc/Su_1TOErQds/s1600/IMG_0366.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4xNKOCL3qSI/Swr1GNASVtI/AAAAAAAAXWc/Su_1TOErQds/s400/IMG_0366.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4xNKOCL3qSI/Swr1GbtlaGI/AAAAAAAAXWk/MMLifixHw9g/s1600/IMG_0371.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4xNKOCL3qSI/Swr1GbtlaGI/AAAAAAAAXWk/MMLifixHw9g/s400/IMG_0371.JPG" /></a>
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Does anyone remember the kerchief style scarves from like 50 years ago? Gulp. It just came back to me in a flash. We all wore little cotton triangles either as hats or around our necks. This little knit reminds me of those. And of course the Baktus scarf, my latest favorite knit.</span></div>
<p align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4xNKOCL3qSI/Swr1Gsc0UCI/AAAAAAAAXW0/0NYIgioQ3wk/s1600/IMG_0390.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4xNKOCL3qSI/Swr1Gsc0UCI/AAAAAAAAXW0/0NYIgioQ3wk/s400/IMG_0390.JPG" /></a>
</p><p align="center">But this time I've made it smaller and started in the middle with a mitered diamond and knit outwards from either side of it.
I used a crochet cast on again, because it is just so much easier to get proper tension and because later I am going to want live stitches to knit from where I began. </p><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4xNKOCL3qSI/Swr2qosNEKI/AAAAAAAAXXM/dJUCAc4AX04/s1600/IMG_0353.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4xNKOCL3qSI/Swr2qosNEKI/AAAAAAAAXXM/dJUCAc4AX04/s400/IMG_0353.JPG" /></a></div>
<div align="center">Crochet a long chain of stitches and with the knitting needle pick up a stitch in the 'spine' of each chain. Later these can be unzipped and will provide live stitches.
</div><p align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4xNKOCL3qSI/Swr2q0WbZDI/AAAAAAAAXXU/65rOgW1l3g0/s1600/IMG_0360.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4xNKOCL3qSI/Swr2q0WbZDI/AAAAAAAAXXU/65rOgW1l3g0/s400/IMG_0360.JPG" /></a>
</p><div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;">The orange yarn is the crochet part that I will undo and then put the exposed stitches on my needle to continue to knit.
<strong></strong></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Pattern:</strong> <span style="color:#000099;">The mitered diamond in this case was 87 stitches, size 3 needles and lots of different colored sock weight yarns. I used a center decrease of k2tog, k1, k2tog, arranging my stitches before decreasing so that they face the correct way to achieve this look. Knit in garter stitch, and when the sides are knit, decrease at the top edge, one stitch away from the edge, every fourth row.</span></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#000099;">The mitered square alone is 8". If a larger, longer scarf is desired, increase the amount of stitches for the mitered square, by an uneven number.</span> </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;">
I'd much rather decrease than increase, which is why I decided to construct this scarf in this manner. One could just as easily start at one end of the scarf, increase until time to make the big mitered square center, and then pick up stitches from the other side of the square and decrease to the end. Whichever way makes you happiest, I always say. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Here it is with just one side knit off the square and the crochet yarn still attached. </span>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4xNKOCL3qSI/Swr7uhh7hLI/AAAAAAAAXXc/w8SWS__Owdk/s1600/IMG_0358-1.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407411079304938674" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4xNKOCL3qSI/Swr7uhh7hLI/AAAAAAAAXXc/w8SWS__Owdk/s320/IMG_0358-1.JPG" /></a> </div><div align="center">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4xNKOCL3qSI/Swr1GWCljqI/AAAAAAAAXWs/diKumUwgBq8/s1600/IMG_0374.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4xNKOCL3qSI/Swr1GWCljqI/AAAAAAAAXWs/diKumUwgBq8/s400/IMG_0374.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4xNKOCL3qSI/Swr2qG2EMZI/AAAAAAAAXW8/WuLLJsVxytc/s1600/IMG_0393.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4xNKOCL3qSI/Swr2qG2EMZI/AAAAAAAAXW8/WuLLJsVxytc/s400/IMG_0393.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4xNKOCL3qSI/Swr2qWI0UDI/AAAAAAAAXXE/wDidhRG5IAo/s1600/IMG_0373-1.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4xNKOCL3qSI/Swr2qWI0UDI/AAAAAAAAXXE/wDidhRG5IAo/s400/IMG_0373-1.JPG" /></a>
Any questions? <a href="mailto:fibermania@gmail.com">Email me</a></div><div align="center">PS: Wendy over at Knit and Tonic has a great tutorial on Long Tail Provisional Cast-on. See it<a href="http://www.knitandtonic.typepad.com/LTPCastOn.pdf"> <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">here.</span></strong></a></div>Melody Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08644269589363519294noreply@blogger.com53tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9291442.post-88313064624218650582014-07-30T06:48:00.000-04:002014-07-30T06:48:54.109-04:00Back from StaycationI had a wonderful relaxing staycation, with many naps and lots of time to think. The thinking led me to reevaluate everything I've been doing over the last 10 years or so. I've decided to make a few changes that already have increased my sense of well being and given me a feeling of ownership of my life and art.<br />
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First thing I decided was to take down my old www.wowmelody.com website, (as of August 1st) since it hasn't been updated in like seven years, and most of the stuff is sold anyway, so why keep it? Then I had to consider what would replace it, and I decided on having a<b> brand new blog</b> with the auspicious title <a href="http://www.mixitupmel.blogspot.com/">Melody Johnson</a>. The url is <a href="http://www.mixitupmel.blogspot.com/">www.mixitupmel.blogspot.com</a> because it will record a variety of new pursuits, which may or may not be quite different from what I have done here.<br />
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I am keeping Fibermania up for the duration because so much information is posted here, and I may need to refer to things in the future.<br />
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I hope you'll consider visiting me at my <a href="http://www.mixitupmel.blogspot.com/">new blog</a>, and sign up for email notification, as I doubt I will be posting as often. One of the things I realized was that most nights I go to bed worrying about what I will blog the next day. It resulted in quick-hurry-up art, and not enough trying out of new ideas. Now I want to take my time and be more thoughtful about the art I make.<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4xNKOCL3qSI/TEzMUY25a3I/AAAAAAAAcqI/8OZCEw9TxZw/s200/signature+copy.jpg" height="114" width="200" />Melody Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08644269589363519294noreply@blogger.com263tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9291442.post-40192301929012620092014-07-24T12:15:00.003-04:002014-07-24T12:15:44.956-04:00Staycation 2014I am enjoying doing nothing for at least a week.<br />
<img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4xNKOCL3qSI/TEzMUY25a3I/AAAAAAAAcqI/8OZCEw9TxZw/s200/signature+copy.jpg" height="114" width="200" />Melody Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08644269589363519294noreply@blogger.com91tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9291442.post-74237533018238429722014-07-21T16:38:00.002-04:002014-07-21T16:51:59.799-04:00Silk Splash #1 and #2<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Silk Splash #1</span></b></div>
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Hand painted silk, hand dyed cotton, one commercial print, ink, fused onto batting and wrapped around a cradled wood panel. 10x10x1" $100 <a href="mailto:fibermania@gmail.com">Email me.</a> I've been saving this piece of hand painted silk for ages, and never could figure out how I wanted to use it, until now. It was painted with Jacquard fabric paints, and it is a medium weight silk habotai. </div>
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The back side of a cradled wood panel.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VRsofgd-Ge8/U811DggphPI/AAAAAAAA0Cg/Xe5dHf8NESc/s1600/IMG_0912-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VRsofgd-Ge8/U811DggphPI/AAAAAAAA0Cg/Xe5dHf8NESc/s1600/IMG_0912-001.JPG" height="640" width="630" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Silk Splash #2</span></b></div>
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Hand dyed cottons, hand painted silk, one commercial print, ink, fused onto batting and wrapped around a cradled wood panel. 12x12x1" $100 <a href="mailto:fibermania@gmail.com">Email me.</a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rQqu_b37uSU/U810Dte7YvI/AAAAAAAA0CA/rrn8yMzu2ns/s1600/IMG_0913-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1Yj3nErQ8ds/U810Dme8vCI/AAAAAAAA0CI/sjeONPYjKZ8/s1600/IMG_0915-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1Yj3nErQ8ds/U810Dme8vCI/AAAAAAAA0CI/sjeONPYjKZ8/s1600/IMG_0915-001.JPG" height="400" width="256" /></a><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rQqu_b37uSU/U810Dte7YvI/AAAAAAAA0CA/rrn8yMzu2ns/s1600/IMG_0913-001.JPG" height="400" width="211" /></div>
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4xNKOCL3qSI/TEzMUY25a3I/AAAAAAAAcqI/8OZCEw9TxZw/s200/signature+copy.jpg" height="114" width="200" />Melody Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08644269589363519294noreply@blogger.com170tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9291442.post-82324748084569163642014-07-20T07:06:00.001-04:002014-07-20T07:06:07.472-04:00Stepping Out<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_DrevtGhIek/U8p80XH86_I/AAAAAAAAz_o/Yq0N_j9qDKc/s1600/IMG_0902-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_DrevtGhIek/U8p80XH86_I/AAAAAAAAz_o/Yq0N_j9qDKc/s1600/IMG_0902-001.JPG" height="640" width="498" /></a><b><span style="font-size: large;">Stepping Out</span></b><br />
Hand dyed cottons, silks, and one commercial stripe. Fused to batting and wrapped onto a cradled wood panel.<br />
9x12x1".<br />
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The fabric is flying now! I am getting up to the studio early and digging around for pretty colors and diving right in. So much fun for me.<br />
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I had been a little burned out, as mentioned, and was hoping that painting would do the trick to get me excited again, which it did, but here is the thing...now that I have found this idea, I feel brand new things will start happening with fabric. But I must put in the work. Imagining is one thing, making it happen is next.<br />
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I love those tiny X's!<br />
<img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4xNKOCL3qSI/TEzMUY25a3I/AAAAAAAAcqI/8OZCEw9TxZw/s200/signature+copy.jpg" height="114" width="200" />Melody Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08644269589363519294noreply@blogger.com78tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9291442.post-24723347860038740212014-07-19T06:40:00.000-04:002014-07-20T11:25:38.098-04:00New Work<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Yeah Baby!</span></b></div>
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Hand dyed cotton, bits of silks, fused, mounted on batting, and wrapped around a cradled wood panel. 10x10x1". $100 <a href="mailto:fibermania@gmail.com">Email me. <b><span style="color: red;">SOLD</span></b></a></div>
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What I love the most about making quilts is the designing. What I love about the collages I am painting is also the designing. I love not having a plan, and just diving in and seeing what happens. The PROCESS.<br />
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What makes my quilts my quilts is my fabric, and when I make a quilt using plain solids or commercial fabric, I know that the same look could be done by anyone, so it loses its personal touch. So I had better stick with the fabric I made.<br />
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What I love about the collages I make is that they are finished works, ready to hang with no tedious matting or expensive framing. What I love about my quilts is the finished top, before it is quilted, when it is perfectly flat and smooth.<br />
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And now, what I am loving about this presentation is the design, my colors, no stitching and no finishing. And since I am in charge of my art making, I can do this!<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4xNKOCL3qSI/TEzMUY25a3I/AAAAAAAAcqI/8OZCEw9TxZw/s200/signature+copy.jpg" height="114" width="200" />Melody Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08644269589363519294noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9291442.post-76705188238616907232014-07-18T07:01:00.000-04:002014-07-18T07:01:04.645-04:00Big Day in the StudioThe person who bought the first Painted Quilt painting, requested two more to hang as a set.<br />
I liked the idea so I set about to make a series. I had already done Painted Quilt #2, but it was a different size, so I went with all 12x12 panels for the new work.<br />
Here is Painted Quilts #1, and then #3, #4.<br />
Acrylic, stamping, collage, ink on watercolor paper, mounted on cradled wood panel, 12x12x1"<br />
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And then lined up in a row.</div>
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And then I just had to play with fabric. I loved the plus signs in the paintings, made from stamps and it reminded me of my long time repressed desire to make a plus sign quilt.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TnbISerZC6A/U8j3zn9sMII/AAAAAAAAz-E/LChHbQI6Npo/s1600/IMG_0888-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TnbISerZC6A/U8j3zn9sMII/AAAAAAAAz-E/LChHbQI6Npo/s1600/IMG_0888-001.JPG" height="640" width="584" /></a></div>
Plus Quilt top.18.5x17" unquilted.<br />
I chose a half yard of my hand dyed ombre cotton so I would have enough value contrast. I made a few plus blocks and some strip pieced parts and then then tried to find a way to arrange them that worked. That's really the part that I like doing the best. I am especially happy when I can get the parts to line up exactly. Since I didn't bother to measure anything or plan this design, the fact that some seams actually meet is a little miracle. ha!<br />
There was some suggestion at our guild meeting that the small works done at the Gwen Marston workshop were just sketches and could be developed into larger quilts. I like the idea of small works, as you know. I don't feel they need to be made larger, or to think of them as preliminary to something else.<br />
On Wednesday I had a lunch date with my friend Mary but made a small pieced top early, before I left. While I like most of it, the upper right hand corner is too wonky to 'go' with the rest of the top, so I will take that out and replace it.<br />
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The part I really like is the big red square and then the tiny periwinkle shapes. So tasty.</div>
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I'm happy that my studio is now working for both painting and sewing. After I did the two painted collages, I cleaned up the paint supplies and took a long nap and then came back to sew in the late afternoon. These naps are becoming a daily habit again, and making me more productive.</div>
<img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4xNKOCL3qSI/TEzMUY25a3I/AAAAAAAAcqI/8OZCEw9TxZw/s200/signature+copy.jpg" height="114" width="200" />Melody Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08644269589363519294noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9291442.post-81554691041887144902014-07-16T07:18:00.001-04:002014-07-16T07:18:28.827-04:00Quilts!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6n0DRxHGkZM/U8ZagteXkrI/AAAAAAAAz8s/OPT-M6DCCaI/s1600/IMG_0869-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6n0DRxHGkZM/U8ZagteXkrI/AAAAAAAAz8s/OPT-M6DCCaI/s1600/IMG_0869-002.JPG" height="454" width="640" /></a></div>
<b>Turning the Corner</b><br />
hand dyed and commercial cottons, machine pieced and machine quilted, 16x11"<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GT-z9FoKIvM/U8ZagiIMZJI/AAAAAAAAz8w/wGZWu1hwfkE/s1600/IMG_0873-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GT-z9FoKIvM/U8ZagiIMZJI/AAAAAAAAz8w/wGZWu1hwfkE/s1600/IMG_0873-001.JPG" height="580" width="640" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GT-z9FoKIvM/U8ZagiIMZJI/AAAAAAAAz8w/wGZWu1hwfkE/s1600/IMG_0873-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<b>Lettuce Begin</b><br />
Hand dyed and commercial cottons, machine pieced and machine quilted. 16x15" $100 each, <a href="mailto:fibermania@gmail.com">email me.</a><br />
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I belong to the Chattanooga Modern Quilt Guild and we had our July meeting last Saturday. A couple of the gals brought in 'sketches' they did at <a href="http://www.gwenmarston.com/">Gwen Marston's</a> retreat and they were wonderful. I got all excited about doing little tasty bits of piecing. Nothing that is a big drawn out project, just playing with fabric and neato-keen quilting.<br />
My studio got rearranged for sewing and I brought out my boxes of scraps and started looking at colors. I found a large amount of already pieced bits, which I concluded could be unsewn and made into new and better compositions. One of the definitions of the Modern Quilt is to include lots more negative space. I'm all for that, as it sets off the design nicely. But I don't care too much for definitions, and staying within a prescribed parameter (surprised?). I enjoyed being neater than usual, however.<br />
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How's that for ORANGE?<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AqjR7pk36js/U8ZafzdsOaI/AAAAAAAAz88/GSnZajAgWE4/s1600/IMG_0866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AqjR7pk36js/U8ZafzdsOaI/AAAAAAAAz88/GSnZajAgWE4/s1600/IMG_0866.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sMlXeFLd6Hk/U8Zaf6BfqrI/AAAAAAAAz9A/JXy-jk_iZbo/s1600/IMG_0867.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sMlXeFLd6Hk/U8Zaf6BfqrI/AAAAAAAAz9A/JXy-jk_iZbo/s1600/IMG_0867.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a> And our first ripe cantaloupe was delicious. It had fallen off the vine and I found it on the ground, ready to cut open and devour. Yum.<br />
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<br />Melody Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08644269589363519294noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9291442.post-14102306669710743872014-07-15T07:56:00.003-04:002014-07-15T07:56:44.403-04:00Something Cool<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Something Cool</span></b><br />
Acrylic, collage, stamping, ink, watercolor paper mounted on cradled wood panel, 9x12x1".<br />
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The title? Call it wishful thinking, but is has been too hot to walk the dawgs until after 7 pm. Imagine how unhappy they are. But last night we got that thunderstorm that was predicted and it will be only in the 80's today and so lovely.<br />
I might be ripping out the dilapidated squash and cucumber plants today, if I get ambitious, as they are past their prime and have the bad uglies.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BG1ldo56iqM/U8UUP3UAkFI/AAAAAAAAz74/-4uk_wuUWKA/s1600/IMG_0859-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BG1ldo56iqM/U8UUP3UAkFI/AAAAAAAAz74/-4uk_wuUWKA/s1600/IMG_0859-001.JPG" height="320" width="174" /></a></div>
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These shapes were Gelli prints made with a mask, ala <a href="http://janedavies-collagejourneys.blogspot.com/search/label/masking">this video</a> from<br />
Jane Davies.<br />
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$100<a href="mailto:fibermania@gmail.com"> Email me.</a><br />
After this painting I did a little rearranging of the studio and now I can do more than just paint in it.<br />
Woowoo!<br />
<img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4xNKOCL3qSI/TEzMUY25a3I/AAAAAAAAcqI/8OZCEw9TxZw/s200/signature+copy.jpg" height="114" width="200" />Melody Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08644269589363519294noreply@blogger.com53tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9291442.post-37199476208659372262014-07-13T08:15:00.005-04:002014-07-13T08:15:56.574-04:00Painted Quilt #2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Painted Quilt #2</span></b><br />
Acrylic, stamping, drawing, collage on watercolor paper, mounted on cradled wood panel, 10x10x1"<br />
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Are my quilts collages or are my paintings reminiscent of quilts? Yes, both. Collages are an additive process and so are most of my fused quilts. The real difference here is that there is so much more pattern than I usually put in my quilts, and that is because printed fabric is someone else's design, so I avoid it, most of the time. I do love dots and stripes, and those don't carry as much of someone else's personality. But I digress. </div>
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With these painted and stamped papers that I have made, I can arrange them into a composition that has a quilt-y look and that satisfies me deeply. I get to paint, draw, and design to make it mine. </div>
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$100<a href="mailto:fibermania@gmail.com"> Email me.</a></div>
<img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4xNKOCL3qSI/TEzMUY25a3I/AAAAAAAAcqI/8OZCEw9TxZw/s200/signature+copy.jpg" height="114" width="200" />Melody Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08644269589363519294noreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9291442.post-86422427846763617532014-07-12T07:43:00.005-04:002014-07-13T07:51:20.392-04:00Painted Quilt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Painted Quilt</span></b><br />
Acrylic, collage, stamping, ink, on watercolor paper, mounted on cradled wood panel, 12x12x1"<br />
I have now amassed a stash of painted papers and like a good quilter, I wanted to combine them into a composition. There is a tiny bit of color in this one, but since it is a busy image, there seems to be enough going on to get what I want. Adding the stitching marks was just a giggle!<br />
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Working in black and white is a bit different than relying on color for impact. One has to be aware of the tremendous strength of the black and white and their dominance. I try to balance the two with gray, and smaller bits of both, while also trying not to make it too dark and brooding, which I believe this one is not.<br />
The scribbly lines I added feel like play.<br />
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I've been 'studying' this Pinterest board <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/joreimer/art-collage-and-mixed-media/">Art Collage and Mixed Media</a> as a way of learning how to do this stuff. Not that there are rules, but the look is there and I am seeing how powerful a low key composition can be. $100 <a href="mailto:fibermania@gmail.com">Email me. <b><span style="color: red;">SOLD</span></b></a><br />
<img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4xNKOCL3qSI/TEzMUY25a3I/AAAAAAAAcqI/8OZCEw9TxZw/s200/signature+copy.jpg" height="114" width="200" />Melody Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08644269589363519294noreply@blogger.com75tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9291442.post-60229987157384716472014-07-11T06:37:00.002-04:002014-07-11T06:37:32.143-04:00The Space Between<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p1PhVBQa9Co/U7-5vb-BQnI/AAAAAAAAz3w/A_ZE6HZ1BXE/s1600/IMG_0788-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p1PhVBQa9Co/U7-5vb-BQnI/AAAAAAAAz3w/A_ZE6HZ1BXE/s1600/IMG_0788-001.JPG" height="640" width="468" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Space Between</span></b><br />
Acrylic, modeling paste, ink and graphite on watercolor paper, mounted on cradled wood panel. 9x12x1"<br />
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One of the things that interests me is drawing in new ways. And now that I have a format to present a finished drawing, well, the door has been opened wide.<br />
For this drawing, I had no specific subject matter in mind, so it was a total adventure to find my way into and out of the work. To begin, I mounted the paper on the panel and prepared the surface with heavy gloss modeling paste. It leaves a textured surface which can be drawn into with pencil or pen, and can also be 'corrected' with a wet paintbrush.<br />
Once the surface was dry I set about finding the shapes to emphasize or define.<br />
This drawing was a seat of the pants adventure. Since it isn't a picture of anything in particular, it leaves the viewer with the challenge of deciding what to think, making it a conversation between us.<br />
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I particularly like the freedom to make marks with nothing inhibiting my imagination, knowing I am making something completely unlike anything I have done before. $100 <a href="mailto:fibermania@gmail.com">Email me.</a></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C2bRf-wfaAw/U7-5vSAvSkI/AAAAAAAAz3s/RPygknw92Ko/s1600/IMG_0788-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C2bRf-wfaAw/U7-5vSAvSkI/AAAAAAAAz3s/RPygknw92Ko/s1600/IMG_0788-002.JPG" height="640" width="528" /></a><br />
<img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4xNKOCL3qSI/TEzMUY25a3I/AAAAAAAAcqI/8OZCEw9TxZw/s200/signature+copy.jpg" height="114" width="200" />Melody Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08644269589363519294noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9291442.post-8848846648330783212014-07-10T07:50:00.000-04:002014-07-10T07:50:08.081-04:00Fruit!First, may I address all your wonderful comments from yesterday's post.<br />
I was amazed at all the care you all took to help me out, which was lovely. Thanks so much. However, I was so much happier when I dropped the sewing idea completely. Ha!<br />
I was also amazed that so many of us have the same issues with patterns, and our mature figures. I have some patterns that I make over and over again because they work, and usually they require knit fabrics, which of course, have built in ease. In real life I so rarely wear woven clothing, I admit. T-shirt, knit tops etc. The sleeveless versions of the patterns I used fit perfectly, but my arms, especially since I lost 30 lbs, look like very wrinkled fish bellies, and are not for public display.<br />
Funny that no one suggested that I just go ahead and order a garment or two from Marketplace of India! I'll figure out something else to do with my quilt fabric...besides quilting it. Eventually.<br />
Thanks again for chiming in. I so appreciate that you are there for me.<br />
And now to answer a request about the garden.<br />
We have ABUNDANCE.<br />
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Cantaloupe are coming along nicely. We have about 8 total, I think, altho some more may be hiding under the sweet potato vines. And we have two adorable figs!<br />
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This one fig tree has outgrown all the others. At least 14 inches of new growth. I am thrilled.<br />
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And do we have peppers! Poblanos, Grand Marconis,<br />
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And Bells of the Orange and Red varieties. Unseen but still growing are the beets. Poor beets. Covered almost completely by the monstrous sweet potato vines.<br />
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I am amazed at the size of the rutabagas. Their leaves have become lace from the cabbage worms but they still seem to be getting bigger anyway. I will have a lot of mashed rutabaga dinners this fall.<br />
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We have lots of cute watermelons. One big one, which is still only an icebox size. I mean it is smaller than a basketball.<br />
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Plenty of basil, parsely, from seed! and the huge new variety of basil, Mammoth. What big leaves.<br />
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The squash and cucumber continue to overproduce for our needs and I have given away so much more than we have eaten, that I am ashamed. I loved seeing the big plants and all the fruit they produced but I think it was the last time I will grow them. My spindly tomatoes are full of fruit and I have kept up with eating those. Yum!<br />
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The front yard...meh. It is too hot and not shady enough for my hydrangea. Darn. They are burning and crispy. The hosta seem to be ok, but I will have to rethink this spot for next year. Sunpatiens are all a mess, and really couldn't be grown in this hot and sunny climate. We live and learn. I should have a sign in the garden with that slogan pasted on it.<br />
<img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4xNKOCL3qSI/TEzMUY25a3I/AAAAAAAAcqI/8OZCEw9TxZw/s200/signature+copy.jpg" height="114" width="200" />Melody Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08644269589363519294noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9291442.post-59549058932184914792014-07-09T07:11:00.001-04:002014-07-09T07:36:41.329-04:00StalledMy second try at getting this garment idea sewn also fell short of comfortable, especially in the arms.<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aXhnb8Eg0QY/U70pCoOlZhI/AAAAAAAAzys/-cmujJD-tEM/s1600/47df7cbaee4672429e3b8a396d8cf931-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aXhnb8Eg0QY/U70pCoOlZhI/AAAAAAAAzys/-cmujJD-tEM/s1600/47df7cbaee4672429e3b8a396d8cf931-002.jpg" /></a> I lifted this image from Pinterest, as an illustration of my problem.<br />
I don't want to give up, but I recognize that the old patterns I am using have not met with my goals. I did spend quite a long time looking at patterns and came away empty handed, figuring I had what I needed in my collected patterns at home. NOT. So I figured I will hold off trying to fix/refashion them, in favor of finding one which already has what I want.<br />
But I didn't go to the small pattern companies, ones that show up at quilt shops for example. And my other thought came from the comment on yesterday's blog:<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">I wish you the best of luck in your clothing adventure, Melody. I used to make much of my wardrobe, but after purchasing pattern, material etc, and having a OK-to-wear-but-not-exactly-right result, I realized that<b> if I had tried on the same garment ready-made at a store, I would not have purchased it.</b>..so why would I purchase it AND spend time making it? You will do better, I'm sure.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">I'm starting to think this would be my experience too. So maybe I will hold off on all of this and just get back to having fun with paint.</span><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4xNKOCL3qSI/TEzMUY25a3I/AAAAAAAAcqI/8OZCEw9TxZw/s200/signature+copy.jpg" height="114" width="200" />Melody Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08644269589363519294noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9291442.post-17917876691406906922014-07-08T08:35:00.000-04:002014-07-08T08:35:58.153-04:00Distracted by Sewing!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3X-CBgWYDQg/U7vhVNKBm5I/AAAAAAAAzxw/_wrdiPV9Rm8/s1600/a24d7a846c65993a6ff407b0ffb8077e.jpg" /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ZvW8pHwwxI/U7vhVQK-KAI/AAAAAAAAzx0/3RF5sQBSeYk/s1600/bfd620a35508b38cd1c9ebcd57728f79.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ZvW8pHwwxI/U7vhVQK-KAI/AAAAAAAAzx0/3RF5sQBSeYk/s1600/bfd620a35508b38cd1c9ebcd57728f79.jpg" /></a> </div>
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While I have been painting, I have been trying to think of what I will be doing with all my fabric, when I return to it. My pal Mary has been a big inspiration towards a solution because she did a dye/shibori workshop at Arrowmont last month and had oodles of beautiful things to share. I have a lot of pretty-pretties too. But how to use them? Clothing! I love the stuff I see from <a href="http://www.marketplaceindia.com/product/Patna_Dress_47H-07/23">Marketplace of India</a>, so comfy, practical and features great fabrics. Why not make something from my stash that takes advantage of what I already have?</div>
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These are just two of the ideas I have been trying to make from patterns that have fallen short of being just right.</div>
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First I thought I would try this top, which I have made before, back in the early 2000's. I think it was a knit I used, and it just didn't feel right in woven cotton. Binding in the armpits. Not free and comfy like the tunic or pullover top above. Back to the drawing board.<br />
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I looked at this pattern and thought it was perfect but it called for shoulder pads which is a clue that the shoulders would be too billowy and it didn't include sleeves, so I decided against it. The I looked at this little pattern I found at Goodwill for $.69. It has the drop shoulder, but no shoulder pads, and it has sleeves, and two lengths and pockets. Hmmm. I wanted a button down front, which is easy to do, and while it looks like there is a piece across the midriff, it is just a shaped belt that is tacked on, not part of the dress at all.<br />
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I drafted a pattern and gave it a button front with a rounded neckline and cut it out of some Brandon Mably fabric that I had prewashed and it is now ready to assemble. Fingers crossed.<br />
If this is the right fit, and shape, I will then start designing a garment with multiple fabrics. Stay tuned.<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4xNKOCL3qSI/TEzMUY25a3I/AAAAAAAAcqI/8OZCEw9TxZw/s200/signature+copy.jpg" height="114" width="200" />Melody Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08644269589363519294noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9291442.post-37461179810624151052014-07-06T12:08:00.002-04:002014-07-06T12:08:22.552-04:00Wake Up Call<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Wake Up Call</span></b><br />
Acrylic, stamping, collage, drawing, stenciling, ink, graphite, on watercolor paper, mounted on cradled panel. 12x12x1" $100 <a href="mailto:fibermania@gmail.com">Email me.</a> <b><span style="color: red;">SOLD</span></b><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4xNKOCL3qSI/TEzMUY25a3I/AAAAAAAAcqI/8OZCEw9TxZw/s200/signature+copy.jpg" height="114" width="200" />Melody Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08644269589363519294noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9291442.post-70450727114201432302014-07-04T07:51:00.000-04:002014-07-04T14:05:29.641-04:00White Swan Coneflowers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">White Swan Coneflowers</span></b><br />
Acrylic, collage, drawing, stenciling, stamping, ink on watercolor paper, mounted on painted cradled panel. Finished with acrylic glaze. 9x12x1" $100 <a href="mailto:fibermania@gmail.com">Email me.</a><br />
<a href="mailto:fibermania@gmail.com"><b><span style="color: red;">SOLD</span></b></a><br />
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I was lucky earlier this year and found these coneflowers reduced to $1 a pot so I got two of each. What makes them wonderful is they are shorties, rather than the tall wild version and the flowers are so much more abundant. Botanists keep working on changing the colors of coneflowers but this change in scale is even better than the reds, orange and yellows that recently appeared on the market. I might like the green ones, if I ever find them. As you can see, the bumble bees are also big fans.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jKuVuMoREuM/U7WaofCHxoI/AAAAAAAAzus/lfd-35-3uz0/s1600/IMG_0754-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jKuVuMoREuM/U7WaofCHxoI/AAAAAAAAzus/lfd-35-3uz0/s1600/IMG_0754-001.JPG" height="640" width="626" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ppz06QybWg8/U7WaoW_IC4I/AAAAAAAAzuw/uKuBq6YQ93E/s1600/IMG_0755-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ppz06QybWg8/U7WaoW_IC4I/AAAAAAAAzuw/uKuBq6YQ93E/s1600/IMG_0755-001.JPG" height="400" width="211" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A-6d5NWWrVc/U7Wao_AeddI/AAAAAAAAzu0/HlAb9srXaEQ/s1600/IMG_0756-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A-6d5NWWrVc/U7Wao_AeddI/AAAAAAAAzu0/HlAb9srXaEQ/s1600/IMG_0756-001.JPG" height="400" width="178" /></a></div>
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Have a happy and safe Fourth of July!<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4xNKOCL3qSI/TEzMUY25a3I/AAAAAAAAcqI/8OZCEw9TxZw/s200/signature+copy.jpg" height="114" width="200" />Melody Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08644269589363519294noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9291442.post-19930679634586534542014-07-01T06:22:00.000-04:002014-07-01T06:22:22.102-04:00Three Tweets<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XYfXUD-Fjag/U7HKvpLazUI/AAAAAAAAztg/Fm8_cwykJ9c/s1600/IMG_0738-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XYfXUD-Fjag/U7HKvpLazUI/AAAAAAAAztg/Fm8_cwykJ9c/s1600/IMG_0738-001.JPG" height="640" width="472" /></a></div>
<b>Three Tweets</b><br />
Acrylic, collage, stamping, stenciling, ink, on watercolor paper, mounted on painted cradled wood panel. Finished with acrylic glaze medium. 9x12x1"<br />
$100 <a href="mailto:fibermania@gmail.com">Email me.</a><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-se_ha94a4y0/U7HKv3ECOwI/AAAAAAAAztk/qpO0bCegliM/s1600/IMG_0741-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-se_ha94a4y0/U7HKv3ECOwI/AAAAAAAAztk/qpO0bCegliM/s1600/IMG_0741-001.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
I was cleaning off my table, putting away pens, brushes and stamps and I realized that my fave stamp was missing. It was a plus on one side <b>+</b> and a circle on the other <b>O</b>. I carved it from an art gum eraser and had just used it on a previous painting. After an hour of searching, I gave up. So it came down to making a new stamp. Now I have sticky backed foam sheets from Wal-Mart and in two seconds I had cut out a circle and a plus and was back in business. I like the new one even better.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P7U-tGHaFl0/U7HKwXCU4gI/AAAAAAAAzts/28-6FXoBCMs/s1600/IMG_0742-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P7U-tGHaFl0/U7HKwXCU4gI/AAAAAAAAzts/28-6FXoBCMs/s1600/IMG_0742-001.JPG" height="320" width="176" /></a></div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KNiGQpKgcmA/U7HKwj4n8tI/AAAAAAAAztw/W_2XmdTn8-M/s1600/IMG_0743-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KNiGQpKgcmA/U7HKwj4n8tI/AAAAAAAAztw/W_2XmdTn8-M/s1600/IMG_0743-001.JPG" height="320" width="180" /></a><br />
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But my fave is the sequin waste that is showing up in everything I paint lately. Why didn't I have fabric with dots that changed color gradually like this?<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YRW5byoqrU8/U7HKw4psi3I/AAAAAAAAzt0/eVTZI1QDnRA/s1600/IMG_0744-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YRW5byoqrU8/U7HKw4psi3I/AAAAAAAAzt0/eVTZI1QDnRA/s1600/IMG_0744-001.JPG" height="508" width="640" /></a></div>
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4xNKOCL3qSI/TEzMUY25a3I/AAAAAAAAcqI/8OZCEw9TxZw/s200/signature+copy.jpg" height="114" width="200" />Melody Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08644269589363519294noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9291442.post-43612910808521298152014-06-30T06:15:00.000-04:002014-06-30T11:41:32.920-04:00Nasturtium Trio<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5_SfjphAmjQ/U7CFufhXQtI/AAAAAAAAzsw/kmP9Bte9u6E/s1600/IMG_0732-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5_SfjphAmjQ/U7CFufhXQtI/AAAAAAAAzsw/kmP9Bte9u6E/s1600/IMG_0732-001.JPG" height="547" width="640" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Nasturtium Trio</span></b><br />
Acrylic, collage, drawing, stamping, stenciling, ink, on gallery wrapped canvas, 11x14x1". $100 <a href="mailto:fibermania@gmail.com">Email me</a>.<span style="color: red;"> <b>SOLD</b></span><br />
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One of the things I love about acrylics is that you can also use them like watercolors, with transparent washes. I used that technique especially in the leaves of this painting. On the other hand, opaque white paint was usually considered a no-no in my watercolor classes. One was supposed to rely on the white of the support for highlights. Rules! Now I have a collection of white ink pens, paint pens or gel pens, but on this painting I dug out my dip pens and my acrylic ink. The fine lines of white were added with this instrument.<br />
And one more note on technique. I had previously been adhering my collage papers with matte medium, but recently have tried heavy gel medium instead and I must say it works ever so much better, and quicker. I use some heavier papers and it keeps them stuck tight.<br />
<img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4xNKOCL3qSI/TEzMUY25a3I/AAAAAAAAcqI/8OZCEw9TxZw/s200/signature+copy.jpg" height="114" width="200" />Melody Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08644269589363519294noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9291442.post-81163686609617239242014-06-28T07:20:00.000-04:002014-06-28T07:20:25.849-04:00Soft Landing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BYl7WGZ9oVo/U62LMrhq0RI/AAAAAAAAzsA/s_3vF79lQXU/s1600/IMG_0726-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BYl7WGZ9oVo/U62LMrhq0RI/AAAAAAAAzsA/s_3vF79lQXU/s1600/IMG_0726-001.JPG" height="630" width="640" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Soft Landing</span></b><br />
Acrylic, collage, drawing, stamping, stenciling, ink, on watercolor paper mounted on painted cradled board. 12x12x1" <b><span style="color: red;">SOLD</span></b><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GE8NsbONb1k/U62LqdgVvGI/AAAAAAAAzsc/qWS--QaBRZY/s1600/IMG_0725-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GE8NsbONb1k/U62LqdgVvGI/AAAAAAAAzsc/qWS--QaBRZY/s1600/IMG_0725-001.JPG" height="584" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></div>
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4xNKOCL3qSI/TEzMUY25a3I/AAAAAAAAcqI/8OZCEw9TxZw/s200/signature+copy.jpg" height="114" width="200" />Melody Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08644269589363519294noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9291442.post-33883728819069411572014-06-27T06:23:00.002-04:002014-06-27T06:24:14.711-04:00What Came First<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8a1JTPIzmSw/U6xvprdu9bI/AAAAAAAAzrg/ApBC_HeNG5g/s1600/IMG_0719-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8a1JTPIzmSw/U6xvprdu9bI/AAAAAAAAzrg/ApBC_HeNG5g/s1600/IMG_0719-001.JPG" height="640" width="596" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">What Came First</span></b><br />
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Acrylic, collage, stamping, stenciling, ink, drawing, on watercolor paper, mounted on cradled wood panel, 12x12x1" $100 <a href="mailto:fibermania@gmail.com">Email me.</a><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EV_Nky1MOQU/U6xvp8p29AI/AAAAAAAAzrc/p7bkwsh8QGE/s1600/IMG_0721-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EV_Nky1MOQU/U6xvp8p29AI/AAAAAAAAzrc/p7bkwsh8QGE/s1600/IMG_0721-001.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a><br />
Is the title a question or a statement? <b><i>Yes.</i></b> The small quilty drawing included in this composition was one of several, made over ten years ago, and I have been saving them for 'something special' and now I have figured out that they need to be incorporated into my current work.<br />
<img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4xNKOCL3qSI/TEzMUY25a3I/AAAAAAAAcqI/8OZCEw9TxZw/s200/signature+copy.jpg" />Melody Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08644269589363519294noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9291442.post-10351246053970100332014-06-26T07:51:00.001-04:002014-06-26T11:37:32.286-04:00First Kiss<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b69btYvvzPE/U6r1rF4HISI/AAAAAAAAzps/te75cXnKdLM/s1600/IMG_0716-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b69btYvvzPE/U6r1rF4HISI/AAAAAAAAzps/te75cXnKdLM/s1600/IMG_0716-001.JPG" height="640" width="620" /></a><b>First Kiss</b><br />
Acrylic, collage, stamping, ink, gelli print on watercolor paper mounted on cradled wood panel, 10x10x1" $100 <a href="mailto:fibermania@gmail.com">Email me. <b><span style="color: red;">SOLD</span></b></a><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b3HCCIH6zMw/U6r1qR0aHSI/AAAAAAAAzpc/dLtE8pN7CIc/s1600/IMG_0712-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b3HCCIH6zMw/U6r1qR0aHSI/AAAAAAAAzpc/dLtE8pN7CIc/s1600/IMG_0712-001.JPG" height="320" width="201" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tty9wy7hFXQ/U6r1qeaxLsI/AAAAAAAAzpk/-Q9JQjKvRs0/s1600/IMG_0711-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tty9wy7hFXQ/U6r1qeaxLsI/AAAAAAAAzpk/-Q9JQjKvRs0/s1600/IMG_0711-001.JPG" height="320" width="227" /></a><br />
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++++++<br />
And a few garden pictures....<br />
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A tiny fig!<br />
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Healthy herbs.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aZI8aCIg9hs/U6wLMm1ksRI/AAAAAAAAzqw/tMQzSxkeIjk/s1600/IMG_0661-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aZI8aCIg9hs/U6wLMm1ksRI/AAAAAAAAzqw/tMQzSxkeIjk/s1600/IMG_0661-001.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
Dinner Plate Dahlias<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4E_Ff7o-Wj4/U6wLRKDI9nI/AAAAAAAAzrI/PMPmPMHBIEQ/s1600/IMG_0635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4E_Ff7o-Wj4/U6wLRKDI9nI/AAAAAAAAzrI/PMPmPMHBIEQ/s1600/IMG_0635.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4xNKOCL3qSI/TEzMUY25a3I/AAAAAAAAcqI/8OZCEw9TxZw/s200/signature+copy.jpg" height="114" width="200" />Melody Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08644269589363519294noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9291442.post-65542511923779804462014-06-25T06:59:00.000-04:002014-06-25T22:28:04.600-04:00Alert<br />
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<b>Alert</b></div>
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Acrylic, collage, drawing, pencil, ink, stamping, stenciling, on 11x14x1" gallery wrapped canvas.<br />
$100 <a href="mailto:fibermania@gmail.com">Email me. <b><span style="color: red;">SOLD</span></b></a><br />
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As you might imagine, I am having a load of fun making this new art. Stuff like drawing, cutting and pasting is just so wonderful to do because one can place the image just where it looks the best and add stuff to enhance it. Then add tiny little details at the very end to make it so personal.<br />
And I am really glad to be running to the post office daily, having new homes for the things I just made. Thrilling.<br />
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Just a note: this painting is a shade more purple than the camera or computer could record. Not darker, but that indefinable right in the middle color. Very yummy.<br />
Click twice for close-up.<br />
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Melody Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08644269589363519294noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9291442.post-86846193607777078902014-06-24T07:20:00.002-04:002014-06-24T09:49:20.307-04:00Observing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Observing</b><br />
Acrylic, drawing on paper, mounted on canvas, stamping, collage, ink, pencil on 11x14x1" gallery wrapped canvas.<br />
$100 <a href="mailto:fibermania@gmail.com">Email me. <b><span style="color: red;">SOLD</span></b></a><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4xNKOCL3qSI/TEzMUY25a3I/AAAAAAAAcqI/8OZCEw9TxZw/s200/signature+copy.jpg" height="114" width="200" />Melody Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08644269589363519294noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9291442.post-10936878889420238902014-06-22T15:33:00.000-04:002014-06-23T07:11:41.224-04:00Sizzle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b> Sizzle</b><br />
Acrylic, collage, stamping, ink on watercolor paper, mounted on cradled panel. 10x10x1" $100 <a href="mailto:fibermania@gmail.com">Email me. <b><span style="color: red;">SOLD</span></b></a><br />
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Now that it is officially Summer, I thought a hot color combo was appropriate. Don't forget your sunscreen.<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4xNKOCL3qSI/TEzMUY25a3I/AAAAAAAAcqI/8OZCEw9TxZw/s200/signature+copy.jpg" height="114" width="200" />Melody Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08644269589363519294noreply@blogger.com2