Sketch Book......Spine Designs

Sometimes I just draw lines in the sketch book...

Then challenge myself to fill in the lines:

This one came out rather formal looking

When drawing a feather,

I usually put a big curl at the top...

This time I drew the big curl at the bottom...

I filled in the lines and I like this look too.

 Challenge yourself to draw lines:

Then fill in the lines with a design:

Here is half of the design...

Here it is all drawn out...

very feathery and feminine.

I drew out S shapes and Fish Hooks:

Then filled them in with plumes.

Try it......it's FUN!

A glimpse at the flowerbeds after

morning watering:

Orange Gerber Daisy

Water beads up so beautifully on an IRIS Leaf

I never tire of looking at 

the water drops each morning

This little black bird has a nest in the tree out front...

He dive bombs Gunnr when he goes outside!

CLICK HERE to view my online Sketch Book

CLICK HERE:  to see My Quilts

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn Kessi

Quilting Sketch Book......Fern Motif

Fiddle Head Ferns are a constant source of 

inspiration here in Western Oregon...

They grow everywhere!

This is my first attempt at drawing out a fern.

I approached the fern the same way I do a feather...

start with a spine and stitch out leaves 

instead of plumes.

I enjoyed drawing the long, slender leaves

of the fern...

Before I went to the machine...

I practiced drawing ferns on the dry erase board.

My favorite tool in my free motion quilting tool box!

Here is how I stitch out the fern...

I start at the bottom and stitch up the spine to the top.

Then I work my way back down 

adding leaves to the left side.

Then I add leaves to the right side, 

working my way back up.

There is no back tracking at all.

Fiddle Head Fern Motif

Here is the Fiddle Head Fern stitched into a Quilt:

Calypso Quilt

I used a wool batting...

which adds so much extra texture!

We have been working out doors in the flower beds:

The climbing rose is responding to 

our tender loving care...

The blooms last for weeks!

This is about as much help as we can get out of

Gunnr when we are working in the flower beds:

Gunnr is a free loader when it comes to yard work...

He's not very good company either...

taking a nap while we work!

CLICK HERE to view Calypso Quilt

CLICK HERE to view my online Sketch Book

CLICK HERE:  to see My Quilts

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn Kessi

Sketch Book....Wandering Vine Background Fill

I call this design

Wandering Vine...

I stitch it into the background areas of a quilt

and just let it wander all over the place!

I start by chalking out a vine line on the fabric...

Then I stitch out leaves and curls...

on both sides of the vine

By adding the leaves and curls to both sides

at the same time as you travel up the vine,

you eliminate any back tracking later on.

When you reach the end of your chalk line,

just chalk more and continue stitching

until your background is filled up.

Here is Wandering Vine stitched onto a Quilt:

Woven Sunshine Quilt

You can see the chalk line...if you look close

You wander all over with your stitching

until the background is completely filled in.

CLICK HERE to view: Woven Sunshine Quilt

When we work cattle, 

we separate the cows and calves:

The cows bawl to have their babies back...

You know the commercial about the baby back ribs?

Can you hear the tune?

I want my baby back, baby back, baby back

I want my baby back, baby back, baby back

I sing that to the cows when they are in the corral.

This is my favorite cow...

she is not happy about being separated from her calf

 These girls want their babies back...

...and they mean business!

It takes a few hours to get

 the cows and calves worked,

but by the end of the day they pair up

 and go back out to pasture together.

Gunnr is so glad to have the sunshine back here

in Western Oregon...

But.....I think he needs a pair of sunglasses!

We are in the middle of cutting hay right now,

so I have scheduled a few blog posts

so you won't miss us while we are in the hay fields.

This is where I will be until hay season is over...

Enjoy your Summer!

CLICK HERE to view my online Sketch Book

CLICK HERE:  to see My Quilts

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn Kessi