Dragon Tote is Solidly Done!

I have finished my Solids Only Tote (with only hours to spare!).  I'm going to post a few quick pictures tonight and will be back tomorrow with a few more words and details!!

And, oh, how good being done feels!!

You can read about the challenge by clicking on the button and see the other entries here!

Making Solid Progress {Dragon Tote}

Get it?  Solid progress? 

I'm talking about my (until now) neglected entry for the Solids-Only Tote Challenge! (details can be found here) that asks participants to create a tote or bag using only solid fabric.  The extra twist is 

that we must use either applique, reverse applique, or patchwork to adorn the tote.  Sounds like fun, right... and finally feeling real.

So, I've had a dragon swimming around in my imagination that I've declared must now come out.  Now.  Here is my tote start.


I know, I know... you can barely see my blue Mark-B-Gone pen, but wanted to show you where my sketch started.  It's loosy goosy and ready for snipping... since was to become reverse applique.

Reverse applique is a two layer sandwich where the top layer is cut in a stencil like picture allowing the second layer fabrics to show through.  Here are my second layer colors pulled (all solids -- so tough!!)

Confession time.  I sort of cheated.  Since I was still working through what the dragon would look like, I decided to cut the 'stencil' first, instead of committing to colors, sewing all the lines, and then cutting.  Glad to get that off my chest. 

With the stencil cut out I could begin to audition colors for the different portions of my dragon.  Red for the body.

Light and dark gray for the wing.  Only the light gray is shown below.

Fire orange spikes up and down the body and tail.  I also added the baby pink for the underbelly.

And the finishing touch was a hot pink/purple textured fabric for the front horn.

 

I know.  Your thinking, great dragon, but it doesn't look a thing like a tote.  I have some work to texture-ize and bring the dragon to life and I have to figure out how a tote is made.  Loving this challenge!!

Rosendale Festival

Festivals... the food, the people, the music, the art, the goodies for sale, being out in the sunshine, walking, spending time with good company = happiness!

I opened with week with drummers from the Rosendale Music Festival and promised more pictures... well here they are! It was an excellent afternoon. Some of the highlights for me was the food, the mushroom stools, and this neat metal dragon sculpture.


As you can imagine they had all types of food. I endulged in a philly cheese steak made with hot sauce, cheese and peppers. They also had Jamacan, Puerto Rican, German, Italian, and Greek food... YUM! Then all sorts of snacks and desserts like frozen chocolate dipped bananas, funnel cakes, kettle corn, deep fried oreos, chocolate covered strawberries... seriously it was comfort food heaven!


Next up was the mushroom stools. Made by a very friendly britsh couple. The husband uses a chainsaw to shape them and the wife painted them. They were prepared to be placed outdoors in a garden and they raved about how they only got better over time! One of my favorite memories from the day was seeing the wife dancing while standing on one of her mushrooms. Really made me want to get one for myself! (note to self, Mr. Happy said he could make one for me one day!)


So, the festival boasted 70 bands over 2 days... and the music was enjoyable. And as fun surprise to me, they also had an arts area. Lots of paintings, handmade clothing, and sculptures. My favorite piece of the day was this metal dragon. Made from all sorts of recycled metal bits. It reminded me that I would really enjoy to take a welding class.

I hope you are having a great day so far and if you see any festivals in your local area... go support them! You may find a few surprises of your own!

Dragon on the wall

Seeing cool art where ever you go = happiness!

It's fun to see unexpected things when you are out and about, running errands, or catching up your to do list. The unexpected keeps you guessing and looking about for that next neat thing. Well, this past weekend, I caught a glimpse at this dragon mosaic. I know I have seen it a million times, but it never fails to impress me and make me smile!

What's extraordinary around you?