Lunar Eclipse

OK, so you are on the way home from the cinema, you see some people setting up a camera, you have a stinking cold and you just want to go to bed. What do you do next? You remember the total lunar eclipse grab a camera and tripod and head out to the most exposed spot you can find. I suggest picking up a warm coat at the same time, it would make things a lot less cold. In London exposed places aren't easy to find but we found a good spot and I did take some pictures. I can't say they are perfect, it was too windy for my tripod so all the pictures are a bit shaky, still I thought I would share them anyway.

The first picture was taken during totality. The moon was really very orange, it looks very odd, yet quite wonderful too. It was a long exposure, I think in the region of 30 seconds, so the wind was a major factor. I like the fact that you can see the dark areas even on such a blurred picture. I should mention I this is just a large lens, I don't have a telescope. I think I will be putting one on my wish list I do love taking pictures of the sky.

The second picture was just coming out of totality. It allowed a shorter exposure so less blur. It was hard to be sure when you first saw the eclipse end but this photo definitely has a bright crescent on it.

In the last picture the moon was getting very bright where it was coming out of the eclipse. It was giving the camera a hard time and had this wonderful glow around it. I did take some more with shorter exposures afterwards but I rather like this image. It gives a feel of how bright that crescent really is.

Blue Moon

I am feeling very pleased with myself. I have missed two Fast Friday Fabric Challenges, and I was determined not to make it three. This time I had the time and the inspiration and off I went. The requirements for this one were monochromatic and based on a song title with a colour in it. OK so it is a bit cheesy, and probably predictable, but I wanted to do a moon. I've been planning realistic lunar quilts for a while, and I will be doing more. I really enjoyed this and I am really pleased with the result.

There are four shades of fabric in the Moon, they are the same as those used in my Nude with Rope. The background is a very dark blue, again from the Nude with Rope, it was the background there too. The quilting is done in three shades. I used the same thread on the lightest two fabrics. It seemed to brighten them up a little. I did consider silver to add more luminosity, but I think the effect would have been too cartoon like. Not the look I was after. I want to be able have a moon in the house. I think once it gets dark it will look great on my blue bedroom wall.

The quilting is a simple stipple. This was the hardest decision in the piece. I wanted to add texture and secure the pieces without really adding much design with the thread. The stipple seems to do the job. It does give the Moon a suitably rocky feel. The binding is nominally my ascent colour, it is black. I tried a few options but really it needed to blend in and not call attention to itself. Black fits the bill. Looking at the pictures I think I need to look at blocking this quilt before I put the hanging sleeve on. It was square when I put the binding on. Honest

I am still trying to find someone who could take pictures of In Full Bloom for me at the IQA Celebrate Spring show. If you do know anyone going please could you ask them for me?