A Double Bass – Music And Books

Double Bass Music Instrument Quilt Pattern | Whims And Fancies

 

Purchase Double Bass Pattern

 

It has been a long time since I made a musical instrument quilt pattern.  I love to play music so much that I try to play the violin and the piano very regularly, and occasionally strum the guitar too.  Recently though, I had to take a little break from playing for various reasons.  The idea of a double bass quilt pattern had been brewing in my head for a while.  So during my hiatus, I worked on creating this pattern and stitching the block.

The Double Bass block is going to be the bridge between the other two music wall hangings I made.

 

 

 

Classical Music Inspired Piano Sonata

 

 

Music Quilt - Guitar, Drums, Microphone Quilt Patterns | Whims And Fancies

 

Rock Music Inspired Super Massive Black Hole

 

In the meantime, I also heard some wonderful news regarding this fREADom pattern I created.

 

 

Freedom - Bookshelf Reading Quilt Pattern | Whims And Fancies

 

Purchase fREADom Pattern

 

Last October during Banned Books week, an event hosted by the American Library Association (ALA), they shared this mini on Twitter.  I was also contacted by a group of librarian quilters who auction off quilts at ALA’s annual conference.  I gave them a discounted rate for the pattern.  Last week I heard back from Kelly, the organiser, that they were able to raise $620 in scholarship funds from the sale of the minis.

The fREADom mini means so much to me that I was elated by the email from Kelly.  You can read more about the inspiration behind this mini – my grandmother – in the FREADOM post here.

 

 

Double Bass Music Instrument Quilt Pattern | Whims And Fancies

 

Purchase Double Bass Pattern

 

Sometimes inspiration strikes you out of nowhere as I mentioned in the Happenstance post.  In May I had the opportunity to visit a Monet exhibit.  On our way back I stopped by the violin shop to pick up my re-haired bow.  I was inspired by all the artwork from earlier that morning, as well as the atmosphere of the violin shop.

Thereafter I found myself working on this block.  I couldn’t resist taking a picture of it on my sheet music.  They are all violin music, but I am sure the bass wouldn’t mind.

This block is 10″ x 20″.  I paper pieced the f-holes, but I also included an alternative to paper piecing the f-holes in the pattern. I love the way this turned out.  I will make a single-block wall hanging with this one.  The Double Bass quilt pattern is now in my shop along with the other musical instruments patterns.

 

-Soma

 

 

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Happenstance

 

 

 

One of the recent weekends was full of wonderful moments of happenstance.  The weekend started with visiting an exhibition called Monet: The Early Years at one of the museums in San Francisco.   Earlier in the month, I had mentioned it to my husband.  Knowing how much I adore the Impressionist painters, he got us tickets for the event.  A couple of weeks ago we were there on Saturday morning, bright and early, although not quite bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.

 

 

Monet

 

Towing of a Boat at Honfleur by Claude Monet

 

 

 

A Cart on the Snowy Road at Honfleur by Claude Monet

 

 

 

Green Wave by Claude Monet

 

 

 

A Hut at Sainte-Adresse by Claude Monet

 

We explored his early work through approximately sixty paintings.  Exquisite play of colours, light and shadow, brush strokes and dynamics are an integral part of every painting.  Although he lived in abject poverty, Monet was so passionate about this work that he continued on with his personal style of painting.

 

 

 

 

Water Lilies by Claude Monet

 

The museum also has two small paintings by Van Gogh.  As I walked into the Gallery that had the Van Gogh pieces on display,  there was this painting by Monet right across from where I was standing.  As we walked around the room, we found a few more paintings by Monet and Renoir.  A lovely surprise find before leaving the museum.

 

 

 

 

Purchase Fiddle The Violin Pattern

 

My violin bow had been at the luthier to be rehaired.  They are about an hour away from our house, and also an hour away from San Francisco.  The bow was ready so we decided to stop by to pick it up on our way back.  We found a small coffee shop where we recharged before heading home via a beautiful road.  Inspired by the all the artwork of the morning and atmosphere of the violin shop, I have a new musical pattern brewing.

 

 

White Rose | Whims And Fancies

 

 

On the way back, the conversation digressed toward the gardens of Versailles.   We haven’t been to France yet, but we have seen a couple of beautiful stately home gardens in England.  It was therefore not hard to imagine the scale and beauty of the gardens of Versailles.  Our home is not a very large one, but I do like to take inspiration from large enterprises and scale them down to suit my need.  The thought of doing the same with our garden stayed with me.

Next day, when my husband went to the shop, I went along to browse the plants area.  I wasn’t planning on buying anything, but then I spotted this white rose.  All resolve melted away and I came home with 29 plants!

 

 

 

 

Can’t say no to irises.  I got these and my friend Mary sent me some more.  I am a lucky girl.

 

 

 

 

Also, a few foxgloves.

 

 

 

 

The following Friday, after work, I sat down with the garden measurements to create a layout for the plants.   Influenced by the larger gardens of the stately homes, I am designing a garden with a few different focal points.  Our garden may not be huge, but it is certainly big enough for that.  I created a circular focal point with the white rose in the centre.  It is a working plan, so it will continue to grow as I get inspired by the greatness of others.

I am going to take a break for the next couple of weeks.  Hopefully a few more moments of happenstance will find me.

-Soma

 

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

 

 

 

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