Falling Into Winter

Inktense Fall Leaf Painting | Whims And Fancies

 

 

We are surely and steadily heading into winter, but there are still signs of Autumn in my corner of the world.  Fogs enfold the surrounding landscapes during the cold nights, while days are quite often wet.  There are also a lot of golden yellow and ruby-red leaves hanging on to a few trees.  I picked up one of those leaves and it made its way into my sketchbook earlier in the month.

I also got sent photos of a couple of autumnal finishes made from my patterns.  The creators were very kind to give me permission to show them here.

 

 

Fall Leaf Quilt Pattern | Whims And Fancies

 

Fall Leaf by Lea

Purchase Fall Maple Leaf Pattern

 

 
Autumn Harvest Quilt Pattern | Whims And Fancies

 

Autumn Harvest by Janine

 

 

Custom Paper Piecing Pattern | Whims And Fancies

 

 

This was a special order pattern.  Melanie sent me a picture of her husband’s racecar and wished to make a quilted wall hanging as a gift for him.  I used that picture to draw up a paper piecing pattern.  This is the finished wall hanging made by her.

 

 

Teddy Bear Quilt Pattern | Whims And Fancies

 

Purchase Storybook Teddy Bear Pattern

 

I also got a request from a customer for a 5.0″ teddy bear paper piecing pattern.  She was going to make little Christmas Tree ornaments with the blocks.  Due to the small size, I made a custom simplified pattern for her.  Then I went on to modify it to make a 10.0″ block.  I am hoping to join in the One Monthly Goal for January and finish making this little one.

 

 

Lego Harry Potter Quilt Pattern | Whims And Fancies

 

I am a regular visitor of the Fabric Frenzy Friday linky party hosted by Fort Worth Studio and they have been wonderful to feature my patterns before.  This week they featured my last set of Lego Harry Potter patterns.  I was very happy about that.

 

Harry Potter Giveaway

Congratulations to spierssusan, the giveaway winner of the Harry Potter linky party!  Since it’s holiday season, I will email the rest of you who linked up your blocks for a little giveaway of my patterns.

 

I also set up my Lego Village for the holidays.  I usually set it up such that there are many activities involving the minifigs.  A few of my friends asked me to post photos, so here they are –

 

 

Lego Winter Village | Whims And Fancies

 

The whole village – I cut the photo into three sections so it would fit here

Below are a few close-up snapshots –

 

 

Lego Winter Village | Whims And Fancies

 

A child playing with an astronaut and a robot

Christmas trees and refreshments for sale here as well

 

 

Lego Winter Village | Whims And Fancies

 

Snow play area.  A little one got stuck in the snow (red pants and shoes, on the right)

 

 

Lego Winter Village | Whims And Fancies

 

Plenty of food and drinks to go around

 

 

Lego Winter Village | Whims And Fancies

 

Musicians and carollers

 

 

Lego Winter Village | Whims And Fancies

 

Having a go at archery, one can even dress up in a medieval armour, if fancy strikes

 

 

Lego Winter Village | Whims And Fancies

 

At the centre they are enacting a scene from a story –

Good wizards are fighting the evil Green Wizard and the Green Witch

 

 

Lego Winter Village | Whims And Fancies

 

The Red Princess is there with her army…

 

 

Lego Winter Village | Whims And Fancies

 

…and so is the Blue Princess

 

 

Lego Winter Village | Whims And Fancies

 

The photographer is there to capture it all.

 

 

Lego Winter Village | Whims And Fancies

 

The little Christmas Tree has plenty of presents

 

That wraps up my Lego Village of 2016.  I like to think the little minifigs are having a wonderful time.

A few years ago, we decided to forgo buying presents for each other and spend the money on charitable donations instead.  We donate food, books and money to various organisations.

 

 

Watercolour lamp painting | Whims And Fancies

 

 

Some months ago, I joined Twitter and found #TwitterArtExhibit.  Artists donate their work which is then sold to raise money for a local charity.  This is my painting for the event that will be held in April 2017.  I am very honoured and excited to be able to join this wonderful organisation.  If you paint, draw or create, there is still plenty of time to register and send them a card.

 

This will by my last post until after the Holidays. I wish you all healthy and happy holidays and a wonderful time!

-Soma

 

I am also linking up on Life Thru The Lens, Through My Lens, SeasonsOur World TuesdayWednesday Around The World, Photo Friday, and Friday Photo Journal along with with other linky parties on my Events And Links page.

 

 

 

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Playful Pieces

Cello watercolour with Schemincke Horadam paint | Whims And Fancies

 

This was supposed to be a painting of a violin, not a cello. Actually, it’s not the right depiction of a cello either. Going against all my instincts, I didn’t fuss with the shape. I made it somewhat symmetrical so I could start playing with my new paint.

My husband recently gave me one of the best sets of watercolour paints.  The new paper I used didn’t work very well with the heavy wash, but I had fun watching the paints flow into each other on wet paper, followed by the salt creating a mottling pattern when contacting the wet paint.

The painting will be tucked away in a box within the next few days, but for the moment it can bask in the glory and virtue of play time.

 

Violin Drawing In Prismacolour Pencils | Whims And Fancies

 

I drew this one for my icad project on an index card last year using Prismacolor pencils.  I think I will paint another violin using acrylic.

 

Fingerless Mitts | Whims And Fancies

 

I have unravelled this pair of mitts more times than I care to remember. Finally, I decided that the Eye of Partridge stitch worked well with this yarn. Since I got the idea from Et Frais, I bought the pattern to support the designer even though I didn’t follow it. I played with the thumb area until I was happy with it.

These mitts are nothing special, but they will add colour to the still chilly, grey mornings around me.

 

Morning hike in the mist | Whims And Fancies

 

When I go out around dawn, it’s overcast most days around here with extremely low light. It always looks great around me, but capturing that low-lit atmosphere in photography is quite another matter. So I take many photos, toss out several, and learn in the process. The mist was being very elusive; this was the best I could capture that morning.

 

Tall Grass Husk | Whims And Fancies

 

I like tall, dry grass, but I am finding it to be tricky to capture in a photo. It either ends up looking like a giant mess or just background noise. Still, I kept on taking photos hoping to find an angle or composition that would work.

One day, my perseverance paid off. The morning dew was still on them, backlit by the rising sun.

 

Sunburst Star Quilt Pattern | Whims And Fancies

 

I love the One Monthly Goal link-up since it commits me to playing with a previously-forgotten project. My goal for July is to make this sunburst star block. I can then use it on another project that I have in mind, which will require a bit of playing around with size and fabric.

 

All the pieces in this post are results of playing.  You see, I grew up under the doctrine that every piece of work has to be great.  Although “Practice makes perfect” was preached regularly, the emphasis was always on creating the best on the first try.  Over time, the word “practice” got associated with “failure” in my head.

As I got older, I turned practice into playtime, be it maths, science, programming or art.  Without the pressure of perfection, I started having fun.  That enticed me to play more and I got better.

So I will keep blowing raspberries at those voices in my head that are telling me I am wasting my time and continue to play. I urge you to do same if you were subjected to the same doctrine growing up!

Happy Playing,
-Soma

 

 

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