Class With Uzoma Samuel

This was my view in the front row of Fabric Portrait class with Uzoma Samuel, who came all the way from Lagos, Nigeria to teach at PIQF.  The wonderful friend-Jaye-made bag and a bag of fabric "in great variety" as per his supply list. I thought it was interesting that we didn't need to bring a photo of someone we wanted to do, or a background piece of fabric, or anything to draw on fabric with.

And then we were all handed a piece of artist canvas with the same portrait sketched onto it by our teacher. Each one was done individually, so they were all slightly different. 

Here's Uzoma zooming in on the eye and talking about how if you don't get the eyes right, your portrait won't really represent the individual person you're trying to portray. He had a lot of great advice about how to go about this. I liked that he had this projector with the actual photo, it was so great to have it to refer to the whole time. And then being able to zoom in on the different features was very useful.

Here's how my eyes started out. We didn't measure or trace at all, we used what he called "eye-gauge", you look at the photo you're working from and cut the shape you're working on. Just like when you draw.

It really was time consuming, finding the right shades to represent the 3-d-ness of the forehead.

Here's where I ended up. My left side of the nose got a little lost, so  I may go back and switch out some of the fabrics.

We all put our work up on the wall and it was fascinating to see how different they all were.

Some of the students had a selection of fabrics that were pretty challenging to work with in this context, but everyone gave it a real try. The other students were all really helpful and fun to be in class with, I found it very enjoyable.

I'm so glad I got to take this class, Uzoma Samuel had recently taught some classes in the Bay Area through the SJSA as detailed in the Bay Area issue of Quiltfolk, but I wasn't free. I'm so happy that he came back to the area to teach at PIQF.

Using this detailed approach to making a portrait is so different than other types of faces I've made in fabric. It's trying for more realism than I usually attempt or want to do. Maybe I'll re-do the small piece I did twenty-three years ago of my grandma in this method.

Sew Day SJSA

 Last Saturday was Sew Day at BAM, and it was time to work on our group's current SJSA quilt. This is made from all the blocks that we added embroidery or other stitching to. I have to say, the work done on these blocks was very beautiful and so well-done. In many cases it made the message clearer to the viewer. 

BAM's wonderful project coordinator Cyndi is seen here with the arrangement we all chose for the blocks that were to be included in the quilt. Cyndi was in charge of distributing all the blocks, and then the harder part, collecting all of them from all of us in time for Sew Day. Well done, Cyndi! 

It was really great to have the founder of SJSA, Sara Trail join us that day to facilitate the whole process with our group. She brings a warm, inclusive and encouraging energy to the whole project. It was fun talking about the various blocks with her and sharing information about the topics they cover with the whole group.

This is a really nicely done short video about Sara Trail and SJSA.

After we'd all settled on an arrangement of the blocks, it was time to get sewing. The first thing we did was to add a smallish border frame around each block in green or various shades of brown. It is amazing how that one addition makes such a huge difference in the look of the quilt already. We then spent the rest of the time making pieces that will become the sashing in-between the columns of blocks. One of mine is the one seen on the far left. 

We were using fabric that was donated curtain weight woven fabric, and was not the quilting cotton weight or type of fabric that we're mostly used to using so it was a little challenging. As you can see we made it work and made a whole lot of sashing. I think having the more subtle, tone on tone fabrics will help really show off the blocks which are so vibrant and colorful. 

This is going to be on the big size once it's all put together. The next step will be assembling the whole thing. 

Graphic Letters

 The plumber is here to replace our hot water heater, the power is still out but the sun is out charging up our battery, and the internet has remained up and running, so I'm happy as can be.

I'm working on finishing up the words on the second SJSA block.

Tne block maker asked for graphic letters in black and red. I knew it had to be mostly red as the background fabric has that awesome black diamond shaped pattern. And I just happened to have a small length of red satin ribbon.

I think the first word turned out pretty well. My DH says the first T looks a little like a J because of the background fabric so I may extend that down a teeny bit. It needs to read ProTect not ProJect.

I traced around the block letters with a Sewline marker to give myself the right spacing and to fit the letters in the space. Just a little glue stick to hold the ribbon sections down and then a slow zig zag  and tah-dah. 

The next two words are also done in red ribbon, of a slightly different width and color but with similar zig stitching. 

I think using the red really helps it pop out past that visually strong background fabric.

I'm happy with how the two blocks worked out and I hope the blockmakers, if they ever the finished quilt, will like what I did with their blocks.

While I had my box of ribbon out, I decided to put away the ribbons that I'd cleaned up out of my scrap basket and worktable area. 

I had these out and hanging around (literally) because I liked seeing these, because they're all so interesting and beautiful like little art pieces, so I hadn't put them away in the box. Hopefully I won't forget about them...

Stitching on SJSA Blocks

 

Most of the stitching of the two SJSA blocks is now done. They both had a lot of tiny details, so I chose to use machine stiching this time. This one in particular took a lot of time because of the trees and roots.

This wording was done as directed by the block maker in a comprehensive note that accompany the block. The first time I've ever gotten any direction or input from the block maker. I tried my best to do the lettering just as they asked. I briefly considered making letters out of red fabric on my Circuit but they would have been so skinny that they'd have been covered up by the zigzag/satin stitching I'd be doing anyways. I think the words read really well.

This one is all done except for the lettering, which I may accomplish with some couching of yarn as the block maker has requested black and red letters. I might do some testing on that one first.

The instructions were very clear on this one too, they really wanted the pen/pencil lines stitched which really help with the 3-D-ness of the shoe.

Close-up of the snake face.

Two More to Embroider

 At the BAM Sew Day I picked up two new SJSA blocks to embroider. These two were made by adults and have extensive directions and notes and requests which is quite new to me. Normally I've gotten zero info from the block maker and have had to just proceed on my own. Every single block I've embellished for SJSA has taught me something new, I always research the issue that the block is about, it's been a good thing for me personally to learn about issues I might not have ever thought about.

This block is about the connection between humanity and nature. I'm looking forward to adding the phrase "We Are All Connected" as requested in the space between the trees.

This second one is about protecting trans kids which is a subject I'm very familiar with as one of my children is trans. Sometimes it's all I think about given what's going on in the political environment these days. As a parent, you just want your kid to be happy and healthy and safe, right? It's no different for parents of trans kids, but the threats out there are so enormous, there's a lot to overcome that most people have never spent any time thinking about. Being fiercely on her side and backing her decisions isn't hard, that's the basic job of a parent, right? But it's somewhat crushing to acknowledge the weight she carries of having to continually have to prove that her life has as much worth and value as anyone else's. So yeah! Protect Trans Kids! 

Here's an interview with Parker Molloy that explains a lot about this issue from a trans person's point of view.

Two Blocks Stitched

 

Here are the two blocks I embroidered for the SJSA/BAM quilt effort.

There was a lot of glue-i-ness going on which was a bit tough to hand stitch through. But it turned out pretty well and stitched up pretty fast, once I got going.

These two blocks were great to work on, I can't wait to see how this quilt turns out!

Ocean Stitches

The first SJSA block is in process and is getting stitched. The stiff glue-y situation turns out to be no problem. Although I've had to re-glue-stick some of the pieces that were coming undone. There are some really nice fabrics on this one.

So neat, so tidy! Well, at least it is for me. Not doing any exciting or complicated stitches so far as I'm trying to hustle this along and get them done.
 

Arkansas Blocks

 

Two new SJSA blocks are in my hands and ready for stitching. I'm excited to get started because I haven't done this work in a little while. BAM has volunteered to help with a quick turnaround quilt that will end up getting displayed pretty quickly at the Clinton Presidential Library museum in Arkansas for the Women's Voices, Women's Votes, Women's Rights exhibit. 

Apparently these blocks were made by Arkansas locals, which is really kind of cool. I hope that some of the people who made them get to go visit the finished quilt while it's on display, just to see how their work looks when it's all assembled into a completed quilt.

These are rather glue-y and quite a bit more stiff compared to the other ones I've worked on in the past, so wish me luck on hand-stitching these blocks. Maybe they used a different sort of glue in the workshop?

Illustrated October

 

Starting out on the first of October, here's what my design wall looks like. Kind of a crowded situation.

The eight pieces for the four green pillows are quilted and pinned up on top of the Ruby+Bee challenge quilt top. It's a lot of just about onto the next stage kind of transition happening. So...onto the illustrated to-do list for this new month.

October's Illustrated To-Do

1. First on the list just because they're on the top of my work surface and closest to done. Finish the four green living room pillows, add zippers, sew up sides.

2. Ruby+Bee challenge. Square up, add border to finish quilt top, Make backing, quilt, finish making binding and add. Photograph and enter.

3. Japanese Houses - Sandwich the quilt, quilt it, bind and label.

4. Orange Bullseye- Make a backing and binding, sandwich, quilt, bind and label.

5. Do some printing, Gelli plate or otherwise for the SAQA printers/quilters exhibit.

6. Catch up on making Pantone Project blocks.

7. Now that it's maybe hopefully getting a bit colder, back to working on the Y.E.S. coat.

8. Hand stitch the two blocks for the SJSA quilt that BAM is helping with.

In Remembrance: Linda Hewitt

I finished my Remembrance Project block for the Social Justice Sewing Academy. For some reason I thought I took a picture of the final final form, but alas, I didn't. This is pretty close though and it will have to do as I've mailed it off to them. 

Here's what I wrote about the person the block is made to honor:

Linda Hewitt was a twenty-eight year old woman, who was murdered in San Diego, California in 1978. She is included along with 507 others on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls list. 

Linda worked as a babysitter for two school age children and was raising her infant son on her own. 

She died bravely defending her baby from her killer. Nothing more was available on her life, although the details of her death and her killer were well covered in the press. Unfortunately she died in an era where the identity and life of the victim wasn't considered newsworthy. Evidence obtained at the crime scene of her death was key to convicting the serial killer who is still serving several life sentences. 

Rest In Power, Linda Hewitt

 A few details about the making of the block. I was really pleased with how the letters turned out in the end.

I used a pretty tight zig-zag stitch on the edges even though they were also attached with fusible. Just in case, as these blocks get displayed and handled quite a bit.

I couched the braided blue yarns in a double spiral on the lower blue part. That's what I don't have a picture of, it blended in pretty nicely and wasn't too crazy of a contrast.