My Sketchbook > amy a la mode

Marvin the Martian

Posted by Amy on November 22nd, 2010

We are nearing the end of the quarter and my 2D Design and Graphic Design Drawing classes are coming to a close. I’ve shown you a lot of my 2D Design homework, but the homework for my drawing class hasn’t been very internet-worthy. However, I rather liked one of my assignments for this week’s drawing class, so I thought I’d share.

Isn’t he cute?

We had to do a character model sheet for any character we wanted. Marvin has always been one of my favorites. And it actually looks like I’ve learned something in the two drawing classes I’ve taken. These drawings are totally recognizable as Marvin. Totally.

Gift making is still in full swing around here. I’m closing in on finishing a hat, after which I’ll start in on a pair of fingerless gloves. And that might actually just about do it.

Oh, and my hubby has requested a knitted cozy for the kindle he anticipates getting for Christmas this year. I think I can manage that!

We have no major plans for Thanksgiving, but I’ll be showing up at the Bobbin’s Nest later in the week when the shop is closed to help with the holiday decorating. My Christmas tree will be gracing one of the shop windows this year!

A Little Negative Space

Posted by Amy on November 3rd, 2010

Monday night I sat in my favorite chair knitting and listening to the Giants win the World Series on the radio (since we don’t have a television). Pretty fun, and a great game!

This week’s 2-dimensional design assignment is about negative space. Two images — one of leaves and one of a bicycle — converted into ink drawings of the negative space. Fun, even if it is a bit messy!

I was hoping to be showing you the cute beret I recently finished knitting for a Bobbin’s Nest shop sample (it has cabling!), but my first attempt at blocking went a bit awry. I apparently used a bowl that was much too big. The ribbed edge was H-U-G-E and had lost all of its stretchiness. Oops.

It’s the first time I had blocked anything. Guess I needed a little more instruction. So, I have soaked it again and now have it on something smaller, keeping my fingers crossed that it goes back to a smaller shape!

I’m also feverishly knitting away on my current holiday gift project in hopes that I can get it finished and eek out some time to do a couple more things before I have to start surfing Amazon to fill the holiday gift holes.

AND…I’ve started on the Oliver + S School Photo Dress for a shop sample as well. I’m really excited about this one!

Stippling Tom

Posted by Amy on November 1st, 2010

It has been a quiet weekend around here, despite all the neighborhood goblins and ghouls. I’ve now officially had my fill of candy corn for the year, and am working my way through a cold. Which means that I’m mostly kicking back and trying to take it easy as much as I can stand to.

In my graphic design drawing class we have been working on a portrait for the last two weeks. We had to use various line techniques to create an ink portrait based on a black and white photo. We started by tracing the various value sections in pencil and filling in with ink, then erasing the pencil later. I chose to use primarily a stippling technique, which involves making a zillion dots. I used about half a dozen different kinds of pens, which was totally fun. I had no idea they make pens with so many different kinds of tips! I’m so used to using whatever we picked up free from hotels and conferences…

Though I have to say that I’m at a bit of a loss as to why we are doing this, since it doesn’t seem to have any connection to the reading or lecture materials for the last couple of weeks…

I’m hoping to finish a knitting project or two this week while I’m waiting for some fabric to arrive for my star quilt. And on Thursday night we’re going to an alumni event for the undergrad college my husband and I both attended. I’m excited, because it’s a small school in Kentucky and they only seem to have a Bay Area event about once every 5 years!

Stamping Goes au Naturel

Posted by Amy on October 22nd, 2010

A little more of my 2 Dimensional Design class homework for you today. More stamps, but this time there were requirements for the use of fruits, vegetables, and other found objects. I found loads of cool natural bits on a walk around the neighborhood. Unfortunately, none of them turned out to have flat enough surfaces that worked out well for stamping. So, I ended up with mostly vegetables, but that’s okay!

Vertical design with citrus fruit (lime and sumi ink)

Zig zag design with skinny vegetable (pepper and sumi ink)

Alternating pattern with two natural objects (radish, okra, and India ink)

Radially symmetric pattern with at least three natural objects (brussel sprout in center surrounded by garlic, pepper, and okra with India ink)

Did you know that okra is a perfect little hexagon when you cut it in cross section?? I had no idea!! (I can’t stand eating the stuff, so had never bought it before!)

Have a great weekend everyone!

A Star (Quilt) is Born

Posted by Amy on October 20th, 2010

Thanks for all your comments and suggestions on my Dad’s quilt top. I should have known he would get all kinds of love from this crowd! I’ll keep you posted on what I decide to do there and how it’s going. Oh — and he has now started talking about making another one. This cuts significantly into my desire to hand quilt it, since I couldn’t possibly keep up with his pace!

I’m sure I mentioned to you recently that I had two big things in the works at the Amy a la Mode studio. One of those things I have already told you about — that my quilts are now for sale at the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles.

The second big bit of news is that I have a commission to do a custom quilt!

It’s for a friend of a friend and a group of her friends (if you follow me), who are planning to give it as a gift to another friend. Without going into the details of the whole thing, I’ll just say that pretty much the extent of the request was to do a star-themed quilt. Something that she could cozy up with on the couch.

My brain got churning as my brain tends to do, and I did a few sketches, even whipping out the brand new colored pencils I bought for one of my classes this quarter. By the way, these are the first colored pencils I can ever remember owning. I love them!

From the very beginning I had this idea of there being one big star. I’m totally drawn to designs in big scale (like the Rome in Two Days quilt — LOVE the huge scale of that!)

I toyed around with wonky piecing the huge star, as well as with just wonky piecing the interior of the star, but making the star itself a precise shape (if that makes sense).

This is the drawing of the quilt in Illustrator. The quilt will be 60 inches wide by 68 inches long, with the star being 42 inches square and set off center. I don’t show it here, but the star will be kind of randomly pieced in different fabrics. The background may or may not be assemble from multiple fabrics (to be determined once the star is made).

I also knew from the beginning that I did NOT want to make this quilt in a combination of colors that might come across looking trite — like midnight blue and yellow (yawn). Instead, I decided that a color palette of all purples would be much more sophisticated. The fabrics I have selected are below (though the quality of the photo does not show them to best advantage). The star will be in the lighter purples and the background in the darker purples. I’m planning to use a mix of Kona cottons and shot cottons.

I’ve already received approval for my design and I’m just awaiting a payment before I begin construction. I’m really excited to get started with the sewing on this. I love the idea of making this giant star!