Foundation Piecing Fun?

It has been a very busy week, trying to fit in as much coursework as possible, go on a school trip, (yes I must be mad) host book club, catch up with friends, do extra tutoring and get ready to go on holiday.  (Crete, here we come!)  But I somehow managed to find the time to complete my foundation piecing samples, which basically involves stitching fabric to a piece of paper with a pattern on it.  It sounds crazy and it takes a bit of getting used to, but once you get the hang of it, it starts to become quite fun...

My first attempt

And the second 

I have now managed to complete all of the work for module 2, and have submitted it this evening.  There is always the horrible fear that you have done done enough, that your work is not good enough, that you will have to re-do lots of it, and submit it again.  Anxious times!   Anyone who is doing the C and G will know how I am feeling! But for the time being, here is a picture of all of my sketch books and portfolios.

I am going to have a week off now, as I will be busy sunbathing by the pool, but I am taking all the information about module 3 with me so I can have a really good read about what is required, and I'm also going to take photos of the Cretian landscape, in readiness for the module on 'textures' which is based on landscapes and the natural world. 

Freya joins in the collage creativity

True to form I have been working hard again today, this time to create a collage.  But before I show you the pictures of what I have been creating, perhaps you would like to have a look at Freya's attempts at collage this afternoon too...a heart, to go on the front of her great grandmother's birthday card for next week.

Not bad for a 2 year old! 

My collage is not a great deal more sophisticated, it is based on a photograph I took of Nelson's Statue at HMS Victory.  I had great fun tearing up this summer's John Lewis Catalogue (very disappointing collection this year) while watching Radio1's Big Weekend on the internet, and reminising about when I was there three years ago.  

Nelson Statue

My collage

I made lots of mess but it was good fun!

So all in all quite a productive day.  I am so close to finishing my portfolio, but as usual I have run out of things, this time, blue card, and double sided tape.  Again.  So it's back to the shops for me, then full steam ahead.   

 

My Prize Arrives

I waited with baited breath for the arrival of my sketch books, here they are, ready and waiting for me to fill with works of art...

My prize!

I have also been working every hour under the sun this week (every time Freya is asleep) to get my Shape module finished.  So here are a couple of pages more of my portfolio:

More designs

And more

I think Pete feels he has not seen me all week, and I certainly feel I have been hiding in our study, working away. (And blogging!)  I have nearly completed the 'Outcomes' document that needs to be completed for each module, this is something that generally takes a couple of hours, so I am glad to have done the majority of it.  I still seem to have lots of loose ends to finish off, so it will be another week of hard work I think but well worth it to get it finished and sent off in time for our holiday.   

HMS Victory and Designs for Portfolio

I have to say I feel thoroughly ashamed that I have set up this blog and then not got around to posting for nearly a month - where does the time go!!  I have however been busy with my coursework, and as evidence that I have actually been working hard, I have some pictures.  

I did indeed go to HMS Victory and managed to get some lovely photos and inspiration for my work.  I have also spent time developing designs and mounting my work in my Shape Portfolio, and below are a few examples; 

Front cover of my Shape Portfolio

Photos of HMS Victory 

More Victory

Design work

More design work 

 

Another design

My aim is to complete module 2 before our holiday in two weeks time - I hope it's going to be possible but it is going to be tight, what with so many other committments, including a (nearly) 2 year old!  But fingers crossed I reach my target as I can't wait to start Module 3, Colour. 

An Attempt at Sketching

This week has been quiet on the sewing machine front, but I have been working hard on my coursework.  Being a distance learning course, all my work has to be photographed and documented in a powerpoint presentation, so I have been photographing my samples and annotating each photograph, including all the graph paper plans, close up photos and also the step by step  method for some examples.  Anyone who has ever used powerpoint before will know just how long all of this takes, and I am working on 2 presentations, each will be about 30 slides long!  

One other thing I have been doing is working to complete my sketchbook for this module, which to me is a big challenge because sketching is certainly not something that comes naturally to me.  I would like to thank my friend Sarah for her gentle guidance in this regard, and all her useful tips about perspective, shading etc.  My sketches are by no means masterpieces, but some of them are much improved due to her helpful hints!  Here are a few pictures of the ones I feel are just about good enough for public viewing...

Thank you to Sarah for helping me with this one!

 

This weekend we are off to Portsmouth to see our lovely friends Sean and Heidi, and I am also going to visit HMS Victory and take some pictures, to give me more material to work with.  I hope to work on the rest of my designs next week, and then the end of this module will be in sight.  Hooray! 

Samples for Module 2

I have been working hard this week on module 2,  and  I have finally managed to complete two quilting block samples.  

The first example is called an Ohio Star, and it is my rotary cutting sample.  (I always use a rotary cutter, but for the purposes of the course I have additional photographs illustrating the rotary cutting process to go with this sample.  Not shown here as not very interesting!)  I think the Ohio Star is really effective; 

Ohio Star Block

My next sample is a block that I designed, based on one of the photographs that I took at Chatham Historic Dockyard. 

Own Design Block

I am looking forward to doing the next sample, but this time it involves curved seams, so I am feeling very nervous about it as I don't think it will be as straight forward.  We shall see how I get on, and if it's not good enough I will just have to do it again. 

Other exciting news today is that I have purchased myself some vintage style union jack fabric to make bunting for the Royal Wedding.  I have to own up and say that I was completely inspired by Lisa Carey (I hope you are reading this Lisa) who has done a fantastic job of making bits for said wedding, and I felt that I had to rise to the occasion as well.  The fabric is from ebay, so it will be a few days before I have the chance to get making, but I can't wait!

An Apron for Evie

Today I have managed to work on some design work for my shape portfolio, but it's not complete so I can't post a photo, and I want to wait until I have completed all of module 2 so that I can photograph everything at the same time and in the same light.

But I have also been busy on another 'quick' project - I promised Freya and her friend Evie that I would make them a little apron each, to go with Freya's play food and saucepan set.  So after a minor disaster the other night (don't ask) I started over and made Evie a little apron and once I have got some more fabric tomorrow I will make Freya's.  I might make matching tea towels as well, so that they have the complete set of accessories :-)  Watch this space, I will post a picture of the little angels in their new 'designer' kitchen gear soon!