Author: Laura Kate

One of six children, I was raised by a busy mom, who instilled in me a love of fabric. Though I learned to sew and knit at a young age, it was the arrival of my first grandchild that pushed me into action. A long-time knitter, I am now ready to explore all things fiber.
Posted in knitting

Last Finish for 2024

Posted on by Laura Kate

Hello, it’s been a busy month for me. I couldn’t let the year pass into history without sharing one final fiber object completed. I choose knitting.

The pattern is Velvet Mirror, a cowl designed by Andrea Mowry. In this image, it is laid out to dry after washing. You can see that the colors used in the stranded design are reversed at the mid-way point.

I enjoyed knitting two colors in the round, which allows continuous stockinette stitch – no purling back. It’s a very clever design.

Once the cowl is dry, the two ends of the tube are sewn together using Kitchener stitch, after adding a half twist.

The twist allows a lovely drape, which can be worn in the front or the back.

Both yarns are from Knit Picks. The white is a luxury blend called Paragon made from merino, alpaca and mulberry silk. The color changing yarn is from a now-discontinued line called Impressionist in colorway Rembrandt. I wish that you could reach through the internet and feel how soft this garment is.

I highly recommend the design, and plan to try other patterns by Andrea Mowry.

Posted in painting

Friday Finish: Two Dog Portraits

Posted on by Laura Kate

I got both paintings finished on Tuesday and took them to the framers. It was in the Nick of time to get them matted and framed before Christmas. I felt lucky to have made the deadline, without knowing the deadline!

The framers did a computerized mock-up of the portraits with my mat and frame selections. I snapped a quick photo of the mock-up on their computer screen and sent it to my client. She was elated, despite the poor quality of the image.

What I hadn’t foreseen was the framers keeping my paintings while the job waits in line to be finished. I have been spoiled by my past experiences, during which the mats were cut while I wait. Without the painting on hand, I can’t do anymore “final adjustments.” On second thought, that’s a good thing.

Here are the last photos I took before rushing off to Hobby Lobby.

Daisy Final

And Reggie:

Finished sizes are 6.5 by 9.5 inches, or as close as the mat cutter can get to that size. The dogs will be matted side-by-side inside a 13 x 19 inch frame opening.

I used Arches cold-press paper. Pigments include raw sienna,

Posted in painting

Improvisation inspired by Blue Brightly

Posted on by Laura Kate

This week’s Artist Way focus is on recovering a sense of abundance. Today when I viewed Lynn Wohlers wonderful photographs on the subject of Deciduosity, I was struck by the abundance of Autumn colors she had captured during her recent visit to the east coast. I just had to get out my watercolor paints to respond.

Her images of Shu Swamp inspired me to try an abstract painting of the scene. Grabbing some student grade paper, I started by making doodles with Micron pens in the general shapes observed. The water went in with blues and pinks first, then, without thinking too hard about it, I just began laying in colors, lighter to darker: green gold, yellow ochre, quinacridone gold, and burnt umber.

The whole time I was moving like I was in a trance – I think it is because I was working more abstractly. It was a soothing and satisfying experience, and a welcome break from the pressure of finishing the dog portraits.

I highly recommend that you visit Lynn Wohler’s WordPress Blog.

Prepare to be blown away.

Posted in painting

Fun Painting Dogs

Posted on by Laura Kate

Now that I am warmed up, I have been working diligently on the two dog portraits requested by a friend. It’s been satisfying work, with just the right amount of frustration thrown in, to make the experience authentic!

The black dog – Reggie – has the most progress:

Initial Sketch
First washes complete
Adding darks and deepening some colors
Mostly complete masking fluid removed
Adding some final touches.

Reggie is at the stage where I pause to consider more carefully what adjustments and final touches are needed.

Yesterday I started painting Daisy, the little white dog.

Initial Sketch
First washes
Beginning to add darks and various tones.

I’m enjoying watching their little faces emerge from the paper. My secret pleasure is to discover the dog’s personalities from studying their photographs and translating the shapes I see into colors.

Do you experience a secret pleasure while engaged in your craft? Do tell about it!

Posted in painting

Chasing the Sunset, Iowa

Posted on by Laura Kate

Returning home, yesterday, this is my quick warm-up painting. I wanted to try out a new pad of watercolor paper and my new imitation Kolinsky brush.

I did have a reference photo. It was taken by Bill, not this trip, but in a previous one. We were driving west on Interstate 80, east of Des Moines. Just after the sun went behind the clouds, we pulled off the road and stopped in front of a furrowed field.

Thanks for viewing.