Learning Curve

Well, I bypassed the rather tedious task I'd planned for tonight (cutting out stones) and went straight to the fun one - putting together the windows.  I have a lot to learn about art and design and fabric. A LOT.  But it's fun and exciting.  

There are rules I've known academically forever, but not how to implement them.  For example, value and contrast are more important than color. And a good design is more important than reality.  In reality the window frames are all the same color.  But in the design the light stone has zero contrast against itself and disappeared into the light wall, while it had way too much contrast in the dark wall.  And I'm trying to create the impression of a deep recess.  So because it is farther away the window in the deep part should be smaller, even though in reality it was bigger.  (Well, in reality it didn't exist, I made it bigger to fill a bigger space. Wrong.)  Luckily I was able to just peel them off and switch them.  Whew.  I would have HATED it if I'd had that big window in the dark wall.

I also learned to always make myself a nice big piece of fused fabric if I'm going to be collaging.  It's nuts to be scrimping out little tiny scraps when it costs pennies to have a good supply on hand.  

And one more thing: freezer paper is my friend.  I mean who knew? (Other than a couple million quilters).

Here's today's progress:

I'm still hoping that the stone details and the quilting have a positive effect.  I may draw in some of the stone lines with the light brown sharpie, that worked good on the quoin or whatever that piece on top is.  But it stands out too much doesn't it?

Oh, go to bed already, Sharon!