Hello from Carla,
I wanted to share that registration for The Pixeladies eClass on Designing Fabric using Photoshop Elements opens tomorrow! (Remember, too, that students wanting to repeat this class receive a 50% off invoice.)
Course Description and other information is HERE. Please watch the following How-to video if you need assistance in registering for classes.
To contact me, please click on the Contact link button above. Thank you, and Happy New Year!
I thought it was time to add another quilting video, be sure to comment and let me know if you find this video helpful.
This video is for Kathy Clark, who wrote me to inquire whether I had a stencil for my “Echo-Swirl” sashing design. The short answer is “not yet,” so I decided to shoot this video to help any machine quilter who wants an easy sashing design for their quilt. Here is the design that Kathy asked me about:
I am testing out one of my quilting designs, and decided to pull out my pigment paint to color this quilt. Here are a series of pictures:
Quilted sample featuring my design in the center:
Starting adding color. Notice how vibrant the color becomes when I add aloe vera gel to the pigment color?
Now working on the background behind my design:
This center design is available from Digitech Designs located here.
Back to coloring! Carla
Ok, I freely admit I took only one take for this video, but I did want to start showing you how to draw many types of designs. The video (shown above) shows you how I draw 3 kinds of feathers. I used the software program, Photoshop Elements, to draw in.
If you want to learn how to work in Photoshop Elements, too, then you are in luck! A beginning eClass by The Pixeladies is starting on September 17th. Be sure to sign up soon as this is a popular class. For more info, just click HERE to go to my eClass page.
I am pleased to announce that the first online Tablet Design Class was a huge success! Wait until you see the fantastic homework that was turned in by the students- Wow!! But, that is a future post, so I will make you wait. Here are a few Creative Exercise samples I drew for the class:
A colored wholecloth quilting design:
A quilting design repeat:
Using colored images to help choose quilt design colors:
Practicing quilting fills:
This is just a sneak peek of a few exercises in the class. All-in-all, I think I shot and edited over 35 videos for this class! By the way, the next time I teach it will be in the Fall, 2012. Post a comment to get on my class interest list.
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Freeform Beaded Necklace- The long awaited blog prize is almost ready to ship to the lucky recipient!! This turned out very cool, I now need to make a second one for my own portfolio.
Want to see?
OK, here is the finished view of this freeform beaded necklace. I named it, “Waves of Color:”
Any comments on this latest freeform beaded design?
More to come! Now that class is over, my creative spirit is unleased!
Hugs, Carla
Wondering why I have been so quiet lately? I have been busy shooting and editing videos for the new Tablet Design for Quilters Class- which starts on Monday, April 16th, 2012!
This class is turning out to be very cool, if I do say so myself! Lots of new material, photos, Creative Exercises, and Video Lessons, too! Plus, each Creative Exercise has a “Fast Draw” video where you can watch me draw and design in Photoshop Elements 10 in fast time, meaning I have sped up the video. These were fun to make, and I hope to insert an example video here on the blog just for fun.
What will students learn in this eClass?
How to use their tablet and PSE to create and design quilting motifs, pantographs, E2E designs, seamless repeats, plus how to design quilt tops (aka Quilt Whispering), zen doodle, wholecloth quilts, pictorial quilts and quilts to piece or applique. I love to jam pack information into my classes, no skimpy lessons here.
Former students will tell you that my classes provide a wonderful value for the price- and include Weekly Video Lessons, Creative Exercises, Interactive Forum, Live Webinar Meetings each week, plus my undivided attention for the 3 weeks that the class runs. Students have access to the class and course material for an extra 6 months, too, after the 3 weeks are up.
Other News: Joe, grandson Ethan, and I are leaving to attend Strictly Sail, a sailing convention in the San Francisco Bay area this weekend. Ethan is almost 1 year old now, and he loves to travel and see new sites. My favorite part about the trip is that we are staying in the same hotel we stayed in 30 years ago when we honeymooned in the area. Of course, this time, we have a sweet little baby along.
Last night, my other grandchildren Jack and Kate came for a visit. Jack is now 4 and Kate is 2. Watching all 3 grandkids play together just melts my heart! They are so dear!
A quick post to remind everyone that the Pixeladies Intro to PSE Class is filling fast- and that class will start next Monday at StepOnPins.com. We decided to offer this class once again, especially since this class fulfills the prerequisite for my April class on Tablet Design.
In preparation for the Tablet Design class, I am working hard on expanding my in-person Tablet Design class into a 3 week class with numerous video lessons with handouts, creative exercises, visuals, and lots of information about using your tablet, along with Photoshop Elements 10, to create quilting designs, draw and design quilt tops like I do, plus many other skills. Here is a sample quilting design that I drew for Debbie Bainbridge’s quilt during a 2011 Quilt Whisperer class:
Mark your calendar- the registration for the Tablet Design Class will begin on March 15, 2012 at 9 am PST.
Last note: Many of you blog subscribers may have noticed the 11 or so email notifications with the last post. Apologies, however, this was a wordpress glitch. I did notify wordpress about this and deleted all the extra posts.
I first met Desley Maisano when she took my online Quilt Whisper Class last year. In this class, students send me quilt top photo to design- and I suggest one or more ways for how I might approach and design the quilt.
Desley, who is an amazing machine quilter from Australia, sent me a photo of this lovely quilt pieced and applique by Anthea Bradley, so I might suggest a quilting design for her. Here is Anthea’s quilt:
I darkened the photo and then drew my suggested design for Desley, shown below:
Fast forward to last week. Desley wrote me to share that she had quilted this quilt for Anthea and wanted to share how it turned out. She also added her own design elements to this quilt, and the results are frankly, stunning! Love the changes, Desley! Here is a sneak peek photo, borrowed with permission from her blog, Addicted To Quilts. To see more photos, please click here.
She did an excellent job on this quilting, don’t you think? Excellent execution and I predict lots of ribbons for Anthea and Desley for their collaborative quilt. I hope you will leave a comment for Anthea and Desley to read- or hop on over to Desley’s blog and leave her a comment there.
I am pleased to share date information on the next two StepOnPins eclasses- including my long awaited Tablet Class, held just after Beginning Photoshop Elements Class by the Pixeladies!
Introduction Photoshop Elements March 2012- Registration begins on February 16, 2012 for the March 5-25, 2012 Beginning Photoshop Elements Classby the amazing Pixeladies! Here is a mini-description for this introductory class:
Through online lessons, videos, and webinars (real-time online meetings), you will learn the tools that allow you to perform magic with Photoshop. We will focus on selection tools, their function, and how to use them. We will introduce you to the wonderful world of layers. Working with layers is much easier than getting out the seam ripper!
This is a true beginning class using PSE, no experience with this program is required. This class fulfills the prerequisite for my Tablet Design Class.
Tablet Design Class for Quilters- Carla Barrett’s Tablet Design Class is scheduled for April 16-May 5, 2012. This class teaches students how to use their tablet, combined with Photoshop Elements program, to design quilts, quilting lines, pantograph designs, wholecloth quilts and more! Registration will begin on March 26, 2012. *Please be aware that this class does have a prerequisite- Beginning Photoshop Elements Class or equivalent proficiency with using PSE. Please note that StepOnPins.com is offering a March Beginning Photoshop Elements Class by the Pixeladies. If you are new to PSE and/or need a refreshment class, please sign up for the March Class.
Tablet Types Used in this class: Students will need any of the following type of tablets for this class, along with Photoshop Elements, version 8-10, loaded onto your computer:
Ipad and Android Tablets will not be used in this class as they are not able to run Photoshop Elements program. For more information about tablets, please see this blog post HERE.
Here are a few class examples showing you what you will be learning. The class will cover using your tablet to design on quilts like my designs shown below:
Quilt top by Joyce Abbott
Quilt top by Cindy Bartosewcz, shown above. Please not that I have used a Sherry Rogers-Harrison digital design in both quilts for my design inspiration.
You will also learn how to create other designs, including a wholecloth quilt. Here is a wholecloth quilt design I drew on my tablet:
More Creative Exercise projects are also completed in the class. A full class description is coming soon, along with price, how to register and more information.
I am currently researching new PC tablets, since my last one, an HP Touchsmart tm2, has a broken display screen. I am in the midst of shooting/editing video and drawing illustrations for my online Tablet Design Class, so I need a new tablet asap. The tablet market changes rapidly, so I thought I would share about my search to buy a replacement one to fit my needs.
Let’s first talk about the different types of tablets available on the market today. Here is a basic overview:
iPad Tablets and Competitor Android OS Tablets- iPad revolutionized the industry by their introduction of the iPad. Rushing to compete were a wide variety of competitors offering Google’s Android Operating System (OS).
I do own an iPad, and love it, but for serious artists, a Drawing App using your finger or one of the stylus pens on the market is no comparison to using a fully featured drawing software program.
On the subject of stylist pens for the iPad, thanks to blog reader Jenni for letting me know about the Adonit Jot Pro Stylist pen. This is a fine point stylist, and I have one on order, so I will review it when it arrives. Previously, I had purchased the Pogo pen by TenOneDesign, and was disappointed by the large finger sized tip.
Pros: fun to use, versatile, Apps, portable, etc.
Cons: initial cost, monthly usage fee, cannot use drawing software programs, only Apps.
PC Tablets- A Tablet PC is a mobile computer which has a special display screen which allows you to draw with a stylus pen directly on the monitor screen. Some models also allow you to draw with your finger as well.
There are two main types of PC Tablets which run Windows OS- Slate and Convertible. I much prefer the Convertible PC tablet models, so that is what I will be buying. The market is moving in the direction of Slate PCs, and so many Convertible PCs have been discontinued. Here is a discussion of both types.
Convertible Tablet PC (shown above) looks a much like a typical laptop or notebook, but has a special display screen which rotates 180 degrees and can be converted into a slate-like notepad mode. You can use the special pen stylus to draw right on the screen, though you do need to have a drawing software program. Otherwise, this type of mobile computer is used just like a laptop or notebook.
Pros: Ease of use and mobility, laptop/notebook function and keyboard, drawing on display screen is natural for artists. Price for used or refurbished models on ebay can be less than half the cost. Larger HDD memory allows large program use, such as Photoshop CS5.
Cons: Many models have been discontinued in favor of slate models. Price for new models average between $1-2K US, heavier than slate PC. Rotating display more fragile.
Slate PC Tablet: A slate PC tablet is different from the convertible PC as they do not have a standard keyboard or a rotating display screen. (note: some slate models [ie. Samsung Series 7] do offer keyboards as accessories) Instead, you type on the flat screen, which can be awkward. They are thinner than a convertible PC and offer less data storage space than a convertible PC tablet. Some brands will not run large programs (like Photoshop CS5), so be sure your purchase will run the software you need it to.
Pros: no rotating hinge to break, mobile, lightweight, thinner than convertibles. I believe that Slate technology and OS will improve greatly in the next few years, smaller packaging and advances in data storage will allow user to run large programs (such as Photoshop CS5). Slates may use Solid State Drive (SSD), which is less susceptible to physical shock.
Cons: flat keyboard can take some time to get used to, though some slates offer keyboard accessory package. Inability to run extremely large programs (ie. Photoshop CS4) at the time of this writing and overall smaller data storage than used in convertibles. Price.
Tablet Plug in Peripherals- The third main type of Tablet display device is a tablet which plugs into your computer USB port, though there are some models which is wireless using a Bluetooth USB adaptor.
Wacom dominates this market, though there are other manufacturers, too. These are tablets which plug into your desktop or laptop computer by way of a USB port (usually). The exception is the wireless Wacom Intuos, which uses Bluetooth USB adaptor to provide a wireless solution. You can also buy a wireless accessory kit for the Bamboo Create and Connect.
Wacom’s offers 3 main product line of tablets: entry level Bamboo (Bamboo Create,shown above); Intuos, and the high end Cintiq models. With the Bamboo and Intuos models, you look at your display screen and draw off to the side. This can take some getting used to, and is a serious drawback for professional artists. I own the largest size Intous, and never use it for just that reason. Cintiq models are the exception and you can see what you are drawing right on the display screen. Compare this image to the Bamboo image above:
All the Wacom (and competitors) product lines offer different sizes of tablets. Drawing on a small tablet is annoying and frustrating, in my opinion. I always tell my students to buy the largest sized tablet display screen that they can afford, if they are looking at purchasing a Wacom brand of tablet.
Pros: low entry price of the Bamboo line, which often comes bundled with Photoshop Element and other programs. Only option for Apple users, though it does work with both Apple and PC computers. Resolution is higher in Cintiq line than PC Tablets.
Cons: drawing off to the side while looking at your computer screen takes some getting use to in the Bamboo and Intuos models. For professional artists, I would recommend the Cintiq line- especially the 2 largest sizes- 21UX and 24HD. The cost can be a drawback- the 21UX costs $1999 US and the 24HD costs $2599 US. The larger Cintiqs are heavy, intended to be used on a desktop. Tethering on non-wireless models can also be a negative.
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Above contains just minimal information concerning Tablets, without getting into lots of specs and details. If you are in the market for a tablet, consider visiting the Tablet PC Discussion Forum for more research. Be sure to notice the date of any article or advice given, as the computer tablet industry is rapidly evolving. Your purchase will be based on your needs combined with your budget.
My Decision: I own- or have previously owned- a Toshiba Tablet PC Convertible, an HP Touchsmart Tm2 PC Convertible, an iPad and a Wacom Intuos XL. For my illustrations, including my cartoon, illustrations for classes, quilt design and digital paintings, I have almost exclusively used a tablet PC Convertible drawing in Photoshop 7-CS5 or Photoshop Elements since about 2004. I use Camtasia 7.0.1 for all my video editing and recording.
Previously, I thought the HP Tm2 product (now discontinued) rather annoying to use with Photoshop, and I found it to be more of a beginning Convertible PC as compared with my older Toshiba Convertible PC Tablet (also discontinued). This time, my budget is $2,000 US, and I need it to run Windows 7. Because I support Intel, my DH’s employer, I want the processor to be Intel Core i5 or i7. Display to be as large as possible, WXGA, with both pen and multi-touch screen. Because I work in Photoshop and create videos, I need lots of system memory and a decent hard drive space. Graphics to be NVIDIA.
So which one shall I get to fit my needs?
The model I bought is Fujitsu Lifebook T901 Tablet PC. This will offer me all the features that I need, plus it will be an improvement over my last Convertible Tablet PC. Other features I prefer- extra battery storage, fingerprint scanner for security, DVD player, larger HD, and more.
I promise to share a review when the product arrives. Any comments? I would love to know what others have purchased.
Regards, Carla
