Art Quilt Progress

I have decided that deadlines stress me out a bit. I have been working on this 12 x 12'' art quilt over the past couple weeks. I do one thing....set it aside...come back and do something...set it aside....and today it finally started to look good so I kept on going.

I have until August 3rd to submit my 12'' x 12'' art to the Washington Center of Permorming Arts. I'm going to start a different one today as well. I need some options.

Lately, I have been trying to do a hundred things at once. I need to set all that other stuff aside and focus on this ( hence the stress, I think).

Even as I type that, I am thinking of a new thing I want to try with my silk cocoon books, and how I'd like to add some sketchbooks to my shop.

I will keep you posted on what I end up entering...and if I make it in the show.

Mail & Mail Cat

I was so excited to open my mailbox today and see that my new little pincushion had arrived....

my adorable mail cat!

Isn't he the best?! I think so! I am somewhat of a pincushion collector and when I found this shop, Fat Cat Crafts , on Etsy, I had to see if she would do a mail carrier cat. She was up for the challenge, and I would say she exceeded it! My mailman, Pete is happily home on my sewing table ready to help me with my crafts. Thanks so much, Kathleen.

Check out her shop- there are the cutest cat characters!

Made by Fat Cat Crafts

And, speaking of mail... I have been making more mail art books to send out soon. I did have to set this project aside to get started on an art quilt for the auction I hope to be in this September. I'm pretty excited to have the bonus day off Wednesday for the 4th of July! I'll be at my seewing table with mailcat!

Playing with the stamps

Here's a quick little accordian book, or the beginning of one. . I used alcohol inks on water color paper, my stamps, and a bit of my new washi tape!  Will add words soon, and who knows....

Can you tell I am stamp obsessed these days?

What else can I stamp?

Hello!!

I'm a busy gal today cutting up paper, stamping, and making. Besides just loving to make cards, I am adding some postcards to my shop, building up the mail art stash, and getting ready to send in my cards for Liberate Your Art! Are any of you participating this year? I did it last year, and loved seeing what rolled into my mailbox! If you haven't heard of it, click the link on my sidebar...lots of great artists in it!

I used to work for Stampin' Up almost 12 or so years ago---thank god I didn't give away all my stuff. These ink pads work as good as they did when i first bought them! Amazing!

Stamping the gals on moleskines too.

the postcards...

Where do I get my inspiration?

Today---from my new obnoxious & glorious orange and black Adidas! I'm a sucker for loud 3 stripes!

Have a wonderful weekend!!

Sweet Girl

I have been carving away....made a new gal. Here she is.

Views on the deck

Sitting in the sun on the back deck today.

I got a new sketchbook the other day. This one is for a friend and I to mail back and forth, sketch, paint, collage, anything, and fill up over the next year.

Got it started so I can throw it in with her birthday package.

Carving up stamps...

Last night, I carved up another stamp. I have plans for her.

She may end up in my postcards for Liberate Your Art.

She may pop up on some fabric for an art quilt. I decided to try to get in a ( sort of) juried show here in Olympia. It's to raise money for the Washington Center of the Arts. I have a deadline of August 3rd, and can submit up to 3 pieces of 12x12 art.

A deadline- it's just what I needed.

And, more stamps coming, I think. I have some ideas brewing.

The Felting Workshop

The whole reason for going to Durango, CO was to attend a felting workshop with Lisa Klakulak...it was 4 days of felting wonder!

I had the best time and learned so much.

We experimented with colors and design,

and rolled, rolled,

and rolled some more.

Here were my doors and windows cut from the color gradation I did with red and purple. I liked them so much. After felting the windows got a wee bit smaller- I am going to stitch around there for more definition and pop.

The little purple and red thing here was one one of doing vessels--this actually has more felting to go. We also learned to felt vessels with a resist, but it has quite a lot more to go- so we'll leave that out for now.

Below, is my mailbox.  Okay, I am not loving this. Maybe some stitching will help it...but I'm not worried about it.  I liked the process and learning how I can take design in felt to another level.  This just didn't happen to be a fave.  

Oh....as it was my birthday afterall, I had to treat myself to a pair of Lisa's beautiful earrings! Happy Birthday me! I love these big hoops! Her jewelry is amazing!

Lisa Klakulak's earrings

This is blurry, but I think you get a better idea of my doors and windows...

This isn't felting at all.....this is one more reason to go back...deep fried ice cream at Francisco's Mexican Restaurant!! As good as I remember from my college days there!

Thanks everyone for stopping by. If you missed it, the last two posts are from the trip too. I am still getting all settled and back to work. I need to come and visit all my blog friends-- I promise I will this week! See you soon.

xo

More from the trip...

There is just so much to post. I don't know where to begin....how about Salt Lake City, UT...and some food. We found a great tapas restaurant while wandering around downtown. Here's a selection of what we had...

Smoked pheasant & taleggio bruschetta with tapenade

Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta with Tart Cherry Chutney.

Yum.

Tarragon Halibut Cakes with Meyer Lemon Jus & Saffron Aoili

(my favorite)

And, here I am at the Family History Library near the Temple. In case you didn't know, the Mormons keep records and family history on most Americans, and many other countries people, as well. I am no expert on the why and when they started this, but I wanted to go there and see what I could find about my family.

Surprisingly, quite a bit in the short 2 hours I was there. A volunteer helps you look things up-- and let me tell you, she was very helpful. I made copies of 1930s census reports from my Mother's side, both her father's parents, and mother's.

I could have spent days there looking into all kinds of family history, but decided to go to a pub instead. Then, the tapas place. Oh, and another bar.

If you are interested in geneology and searching your family history, this place is amazing!

Wow--- there's a lot to do once ya get home from vacation! I've been busy catching up on everything.

Tomorrow, I will get pictures from the felting workshop and my travel journal- we did a ton of sketches and writing in it! It was perfect.