One Room Challenge
- N 8 ART Woods-Gawlik
- May 6, 2021
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 28, 2023
Patty Woods Gawlik and Ling Ling
Lakes Edge
Lake Arrowhead, California.
One Room Challenge
May 1, 2021
My first artistic experience was at five years old with an old Singer sewing machine. Over the decades both of my grandmothers taught me sewing tricks for turning corners, pleating and zippers. Fabric is my first love, my paint pallet of texture and the inspiration for creating the theme for this Western Asian Fusion design.
The top fabric by Thibaut “ Chaillot in Red“ is the focal point of this room. This will be used for the duvet covers.
The second fabric is a bold geometric southwestern design that triggers the image of a Japanese block printing or a Navajo rug. Geometry transcends cultural boundaries.
The last fabric from my photo is also a Thibaut fabric that might be used for padded head boards or for a coverlet. I’ve added strips of gold silk that are from the 1960’s, gifted by my late stepmom, to border the design. The olive green silk is a seamstress dream from Imperial Silk Drapery. The Feng Shui coins are closures for my duvet covers and tied off by hand with real black pearls from my maternal grandmothers necklace. I’m a sentimental person.
Detail of first completed duvet cover.
My second artistic experience was watching my mother paint a wall. I was fascinated with how color could transform a room like a magical potion. The wall paints will be from Benjamen Moore Classics and Pratt and Lambert.
Week 2
One Room Challenge
www.oneroomchallenge.com/orc-blog
This week is coming along nicely and my paint colors are fabulous together. I used two different brand due to availability. Using several colors and blending them makes it very easy to touch up paint.
It’s been a long day and Ling Ling and I need to take a cat nap. Next week we will work on making padded headboards, shop for wall lighting and area rugs.
Week 3
One Room Challenge
This week is about getting supplies for the headboards and ordering an area rug. I have narrowed my choices to William Morris designs in red and gold from Goldennile.com
The wicker patio furniture available at Wickerwarehouse.com is perfect for this lakeside home and reminds me of vintage fishing baskets. The patio furniture is shown in antique brown and also is available in black.The black has a six to eight week wait time! Yikes!! Both are beautiful and I think I might wait for the beach since the home has a black and white exterior. However, the brown is a classic and works well with my interior space too! Fishing is a big part of life on the lake and I am making some three dimensional fish for the walls. Hanging heavy ceramics requires heavy support. I will be welding and shaping some brass rods for different displays.
I have tried every week to actually post one the One Room Challenge and have been unable to catch an open window! It doesn’t matter too much since the point of this challenge is a motivational exercise in staying on task and not giving up on my dream.
Three Carpet Choices
William Morris was a master of pattern and his love of nature is illustrated in everything he created. The diversity of mediums and quantity of work was accomplished through a guild of artisan that worked for free “room and board“. After an average of four years they became masters of their chosen craft and could work independently.
Week 4 Los Angeles studio
My studio painting space is part of a loft library. Ling Ling and Fang the cat are checking out my temporary location. They both are big bird fans and watched me paint the art earlier today. My years as a muralist gave me speed and the love of larger than life images. I also wanted to play with scale to enhance the enchantment of wildlife and dogwood trees in bloom. I can photo shop my art into the Lake Arrowhead room makeover before the paint is dry.
We went to a wedding and danced! Sans Masks!!!
It’s hard to believe that life is getting back to normal after a year of restricted socializing. Hugging people feels awkward and people are tentatively questioning other’s emotions about contact and personal space. Doing the “One Room Challenge” helps me feel connected. I’ve become accustomed to a virtual world. It’s time to transform again. In the meantime,
I’m deciding if fish or water reflections might make the room more calming. The giant birds now seem dangerous. I love
photo shopping and have been motivated to learn more skills on the computer due to the pandemic. I’m grateful to be alive. I am continuously sending prayers of comfort to those still suffering for the losses. In the meantime, I do art as a therapy for emotional balance and expression. This week is just enjoying the simple flowers, the many colorful birds and big brown trout in the lake.
This is the same painting from a few hours apart. The painting on the left is most recent and is a toned down version with less highlight in the water ripples. The original is smaller than shown. I love photoshopping! I may paint over all of the above and call this a wake up exercise in painting. Stay in touch!
Today was spent sewing the headboard cushions with tabs and cutting foam with an electric knife!
Week 5
This week has been spent trying to find 1/2” x3” clear pine in 8’ length for my wall panels. I finished the headboar cushions and will work on the shelf to hang them from.
Week 6
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Week 5 This week was spent finishing the headboards and putting the foam with Dacron wrap for easy sliding into the pocket closure cushions. I spent a great deal of time trying to find my lumber in the right sizes. Things are not back to normal and lumber prices have gotten very high. I need to redesign my wall pattern. I decided to go kayaking with Ling Ling and relax!
Sewing the tabs onto the headboard cushions.