Cherish Every Moment

Happy First Day of Spring!

I finished another art quilt. Here she is!

I decided to keep her black and white.

Next up....time to do a bird, I think.

Worked on this art journal spread. It's ready to write in some day when the mood strikes.

It's always lovely to hear from you! xo

In the Works

Yesterday, I met up with the art journaling group in Indy. Here are the pages I worked on. 

I used Distress Ink Stains for the background and covered it with a layer of gesso. 

This background is acrylics and I just started doodling and writing. 

I got my postcards in the mail to Kat for Liberate Your Art!

Today's project: Keep working on another art quilt.

I ordered a lot of cards from MOO this time. I often put them in packages as a Thank You, and send them to friends. I took a few and put a set of my mixed media collage images in my shop. I am trying to get the inventory built up in there and want to do more with it. 

She found a home...

...in an art quilt!

Here's the first of the girls. This quilt is 20'' x 10''. I had the embroidered "Create" waiting in a fabric book for about a year. It found a home too. She's in my shop now as well.

I love this fabric I found. It has a cute story throughout.

I learned something about my sewing machine and free motion quilting recently. I have been messing with the tension and things trying to get the back of my quilting "prettier", but there were always big loops and it was quite messy. A couple weeks ago, I went to do some free motion and forgot to drop my feed dogs.....and it worked better! It moved around better and got a lot cleaner on the back.

Everything I have watched and read says to drop those feed dogs...but I think I may never drop them again.

Have a great weekend!

The New Girls

I starting painting some new ladies on denim. I haven't decided where or what they will end up as. I had done some fabric journal pages with the first ones.

I think these could end up in art quilts or even a big shoulder bag. 

They start as a pencil outline.

Add paint.

Add more paint. 

Give them some color!

More shades and color.

Almost done with the painting part.

They are waiting on some free motion quilting for that extra detail!

A Stack of Journals

I love stacks of stuff. 

And, I love to see a stack of progress. I am busy making more art quilt journals. I am finally getting back on track with my Etsy shop and might be doing some craft fairs this summer. Time to get a move on! 

I like Messy

I made myself a sketchbook cover for my Moleskine.  Time to try some stuff.

Drops of Daler Rowney acrylic artists ink onto denim.

Stitch all around it.

Sew on a messy loop with some scraps. Perfect for my pen.

View of the back. I like how it creeped along the side.

Some day I will run out of this fabric I dyed in a class years ago- until then, it's my fabric to do test runs with.

Insert sketchbook. Ready to travel.

Goth Girl Gets Quilting

Goth girl has some color!

 

It's like the Manic Panic hair dye I used in highschool!

 

( I don't know why my dad didn't like my blue hair.)

 

 

I think I'll add some embroidery detail in those boxes.

 

XO

 

 

 

Art Journal: In Paint & Stitches

Hello!

I have been inspired to do more art journaling since joining the meetup group in Indy. I like to sketch and doodle, but I usually don't love it. That is, until I start doodling and sketching with fabric and mixing things up.

So, I started a new fabric journal. This gal is painted with acrylics and stitched---had to dust off the free motion foot. Gonna need some more practice with that. But, that's the great thing about making things for me--- there can be some loose threads and funky harsh lines in what should be a swirl.

 

 

I'm going to take it to the journal group tomorrow and sew on some words and play with embroidery. We'll see where the book goes.

New Found Opportunities in Indiana

I am so excited about selling some Christmas ornaments at a local shop in Franklin, IN. It's Middle Davids artisan candles, and the owner, Tauria, is so lovely to offer. Besides making delicious soy candles, they have several local artists selling there- beautiful pottery, baskets, handmade books, jewelry, and Tauria's weaving.

And, now, my ornaments too! Here are some I dropped off today.

 

 

Also, I have decided to do my first Craft Fair. Franklin has it one day ( Dec 1st) in a building downtown. It's only $20 for a booth. I will bring my items from the Etsy shop, and I better get making more! Planning on more ornaments, some cards, and art quilts.

 

Hope you all made it through the storm okay. I was thinking of you last night.

 

Tonight was the art show opening!

The art show at the Washington Center for Performing Arts opened tonight. My parents came to town for the event, too. We all went out for a nice dinner before and made an evening of it.

 

Here's me with my art quilts!

 

The auction helps support the Arts Center here in Olympia, WA. If you want to check out all the art, or bid,  go to www.biddingforgood.com/centerfest

 

 

What a fun night. Once I get settled in Indiana I'll have to look into doing more shows.

Only 3 more days before the movers come. Tonight was such a great way to say goodbye to Olympia.

 

News, and new goodies

 I am excited to tell everyone that my two 12'' x12''  art quilts made it into the show, "27 Feet of Art",  here in Olympia, WA!!  I am jumping for joy!  It's the first time I've entered a juried show.  They will be holding a silent auction to raise money for the Washington Center of Performing Arts on Sept. 21st! Thanks to everyone who congratulated me on facebook already! I appreciate it!

Also, my custom stamp for my shop came in the mail! Didn't she turn out cute! I couldn't carve one myself that was small enough, so she used my girl image and added in the words, and made it with a machine. The Etsy shop, Terbear, helped me out with it. She was great to work with.

While shopping there, I finally found the 'postcard' stamp I have been searching for forever. I had only been able to find the stamps that put the 'postcard' writing at the top, but have searched high and low for one with lines and stamp spot, etc. I'm loving it!

I just started a new art journal this weekend- it's all with mail art goodies. I will post those pictures tomorrow...or maybe later tonight!

Treasures We Keep

Here's my second art quilt for the show. In this one I used all sorts of things I have collected over the years- silk hankies, vintage doilies, an old key, bits of my felting, art yarn, fabric from the stash, and there is even German glass glitter throughout the silk. We all have so many little treasures we keep...I hate to leave them in drawers, they should be displayed and enjoyed.