I have often read about Copic markers on various art blogs. So when I was in an art supply store recently, I decided to make the investment in a new media to see what they were all about. I love the saturated color.
Original Art by Pam Schoessow. 11×14 on paper
I’m in Las Vegas for a few weeks helping out my Mom. I have a lot of down time so I have been filling up a sketchbook with doodles. Thought I would finally try out some gel pens I got for Christmas. Having fun with color. Adding words to my doodles seems to be my favorite thing lately.
Day 3
I see the owl and the owl sees me. He’s way up yonder in the curly tree.
I was browsing through some old quilt magazines today and came across an antique pickle dish block quilt. I’ve always been attracted to this pattern, but have never had the time or patience to make it. Well, now I have–not in cloth of course. (I’ll just have to add this to the other 99 quilts I would like to make). I’ve added some rose “appliques” to my version here. The triangles spikes and the curves makes a very pleasing design that I just love. 
I was looking through a book on antique quilts and found one from 1855. It was an applique quilt with whimsical motifs that I found very appealing. Apparently, it has come to be known as the “Lollipop” quilt. This is my 4 block version that was inspired by that quilt. The original was predominantly dark green. I lightened up the color scheme a bit in my version.
No deep meaning here. Don’t judge–it’s just a doodle.
I love coneflowers. I love watching them pop through the ground every year. Mine are are growing strong and I expect to see some flowers appearing in a few weeks. I love the shape, with the “cone” center and the petals that droop down. They are so fun to draw. Where this bird came from I have no idea!
I love fantasy flowers–I can conjure up anything I want. Here is the lastest from my imagination. I will probably spend tomorrow quilting, but I really should be planting some annuals. Flowers of any kind just make me happy.
The house where I grew up in Salt Lake City, Ut had a long wooden fence along the driveway that separated our yard from our neighbors. My mother always planted flowers along the fence–tall zinnias in the back with shorter marigolds in the front. They were planted from seed and would bloom in their glorious splendor about mid June through September. I loved those beautiful flowers and have been taken with zinnias and marigolds ever since. I have tried to capture these flowers from my memory in this small painting.
I have been so busy, that my paint brushes have remained dry for several days. I thought maybe I could at least post some drawings. 
I made some fabric on Spoonflower and entered it in this weeks’ Pop Art Chicken contest. It features my red funky chicken drawing. I haven’t figured out how to get it to show here, but I would appreciate it if you would go to spoonflower.com and vote for me. Thanks!
I spend a lot of time THINKING about sewing and quilting. I read magazines and books. Search Flicker, blogs and Pinterest. I drool over fabric on the internet and in fabric stores (and buy an awful lot of it) I draw quilt ideas in my sketchbook and all together fantasize about quilts all the time but have little to show for it. So I painted this little pic to remind myself that nothing will ever happen unless I sit down and DO IT.
I’m seeing chickens popping up in several places. I find it interesting when something I think of as old (been there, done that in the 70’s/80’s) becomes suddenly new, popular and “fresh”. (Scotty dogs is another one!) It really is true that there’s “nothing new under the sun”. I wonder how old I’ll have to before I start seeing things come around the 3rd time! Nevertheless, now I’m painting chickens!
What’s on my machine lately? Christine’s beautiful basket quilt. The best thing about being a quilt “finisher” is getting to “draw” and play around on quilts I didn’t have to piece! I get to be creative with a wide variety of styles, colors and patterns. As much as I like to design and paint, my machine quilting business is my “real” job. 
Here’s a close up on the quilting. Christine wanted an all over design. I included leaves & curls with gold thread. All my quilting is “drawn” free hand without any patterns or the aid of a computer. The border fabric has leaves and strawberries, so I added a strawberry to each basket. 
Here’s the whole quilt. I love the colors. Now it just needs the binding. It has a finished size of 75″ x 75″.
Two days in the 60’s ! Spring is definitely in the air. Can’t wait for my tulips to bloom. They are just poking through the ground now. I do have some blooming crocus. This pot of flowers just makes me happy. Hope it lifts your spirit too.
This is my first attempt at making fabric with Spoonflower. I used one of my watercolor pictures, Bridal Bouquet. The motifs are about 1 1/2 inches across. Next time I will send a clearer picture and get better results. But I can see many possibilities for fabric in the future.
Even though this design has been in my head for weeks, I just couldn’t get it finished for Easter. So I’m calling it “Spring Bunny”. Enjoy!
Wonder if the squirrels’ nuts are running low this time of year?
Maybe I should start labeling my pictures as part of a series. Then I wouldn’t feel so guilty for painting the same things all the time.
pamelajeannestudio 