Post Cards for Sisters and more....

Ive been working on Post Cards to donate to the Wish Upon a Card - associated with the Sisters Quilt Show in Oregon... There is still time if you want to contribute - click the word Sisters for details. Not sure which one or ones will go yet - I am taking these to retreat this weekend so my friends can vote on which ones I should donate...

1. Inspired by Ruby2. Double Cone Flowers3. Color and Line

4. Circle Play

I've also been playing with a technique - inspried by Deborah Boschert. She does this thing called sheer layers - so I tried it out on some postcards for my nephews for their upcoming birthdays... I don't think they read my blog so the cards should still be a surprise but even if they do - Happy Birthday Guys!!.

Last but not least - I made these darling little finger puppets for my niece for her BD - they are done on my embrodery module for my Bernina and then I made a nifty little pocket holder for them. There are 7 in all - Chick, Frog, Racoon, Bear, Shark, Owl and Pig...

Memories of Destin - Fabric PC

Hubby and I get to Destin annually (or at least we try to) and spend a few days sitting on the beach relaxing and regenerating from our busy life here in Dallas... The sand is white and feels like you are walking on sugar. The ocean is a beautiful blue green color (hence the nick name Emerald Cost) and the dolphins swim up and down the channel line all day long. This post card is my fiber art interpretation of the beaches there...

Made up 4 of these yesterday - one for a BD card for a friend , the other 3 for a FAT swap - Wish you were here - post cards... I wish I was there right now....

Texture PCs n Button Faires

I completed 2 swaps yesterday for my ART2MAIL group -

Swap 1 - Texture Postcards

These turned out really nice - The challenge was to use 3 different textures in the post card. I started with my favorite blue fabric of all time (and I buy the rest of the bolt whenever I see it in quilt stores) and added texture by thread painting. Then I cut squares from craft felt and stitched them in place - on top of the felt squares I added netting squares cut from a garlic bag and finished the card off with a piece of fun n funky yarn... They are off in the mail tomorrow.

close up of the textures

Swap 2 Button Fairies
These are my Fall Forest Button Fairies - I choose brown and orange buttons from my button stash along with beads and brass trinkets that coordinated and put the bodies together while DH and I were on VACATION in Destin a couple weeks ago.. Then I made faces out of polymer clay with a mold and added a little paint for attitude. The wings are silk leaves and the hangers are an old beaded heart pick I had had in my resource center.. Funky yarn was used for the hair. I think they came out OK even tho I had a struggle with the faces - the clay faces were plan B but they saved the day...

Close up of one Fairy

BONUS!!!

Each year my guild does a 'secret sister exchange'. This year it's called Twisted Sister and the gal in charge has done a great job of putting a new twist on this old favorite guild activity... We will trade 4X per year - and each trade is related to the season we trade in - i.e. AUTUMN, WINTER, SPRING, SUMMER - for each trade we are to give our twisted sister something relating to each letter in the word of the season... Our first trade is at the OCTOBER meeting and I put my 'gift' together yesterday for my sister - Here is the picture... I wrapped it all up in a cello bag and tied it up with fall colored ribbons...

A - An Autumn Color FQ
U - A Utility Item
T - Thread
U - User Friendly Tool
M - Miniture Quilt Pattern
N - Needles

To finish my gift - I made a leaf bag tie on - just background quitled a rectangle of fabric and thread painted a silk leaf in place - added the gromment to make it easy to tie on the package. I think it looks pretty good.... They say give something you would like to receive in return - I would be happy with this little bag of goodies...

Here is a closeup of the leaf tie on...

PS - I am not happy w my camera right now - I have had it for several years and for some reason all of a sudden the pictures are hit n miss - some come out crystal clear and other seem blurry to me all from the same setting - UGH - I may just have to breakdown and get a new one...

Art4Mail

I just joined another delightful online group Art4Mail in hopes to start trading fabric post cards again - what is it about these groups that intrigues me? First of all I find great inspiration from others and find this is to be an excellent source. Second I love to trade - there is something wonderful about finding those little treasures in the mail box when you get home from a long, hard day at work.... I've already joined my first swap and look forward to trading with these folks.

Sharing some pic of the PC's I finished this week - which all have been sent off to their new homes...

This PC is for my mom for her BD on MOnday - it's simple but effective. The circles were too red when I fused them on over the funky yarn - so I painted them w luminere paints - my first experiment - the result is good - the PC still needed something so I pulled out the metal embellishment box and found these fun paperclips to finish it.

Same fabrics here - different applications - this PC has the same red fabric and the same fun yarn - the background texture under the red yarn is a red mesh bag - from onions or tomatoes or something - the blue dots are scrapbook brads.

Funky Houses 1 & 2 - my newest experiment with Laura Wasiloski's techniques - LOVE THEM - and almost could not mail them - but have 2 similar mini quilts that are almost done - so look for a post later this weekend to see them. I am a little obsessed...

Post Card - Art?

Just some pics of postcards I finished this weekend - sure do love making these little works of art...

Purple Sun for my niece Kelli for her BD next week

Buckeye card for Kelli's momma - who recently graduated from OSU with her PHD

Just because I had left overs from the sun - will probably use for one of my quilty friends BD's

Hot Stuff - made 2 of these - one went to Daddy for Father's Day - 2nd is waiting for the right occasion.

Anyone know of a good group still trading these? I have been in a couple that seemed to die - but would love to get involved again with a good group...

HBD - Rick

My BIL has a BD on Monday - so I whipped up this PC for him this week and sent it off - he's a pretty good golfer - so I hope he appreciates my interpretation...

When I showed DH - he said it's nice but informed me it needed a sand trap - oh well maybe next time?

Time Flies...

I keep telling myself I am going to post once a week -but recently that has been a challenge - so I have decided I will post when I can - and that will have to be OK...

So now for a few things I have finished recently...

First off a Fabric PC I made for my mom for Mother's Day - she and dad have quite a collection of cards I have made, usually I make cards for them of things I think they will like - this time I made a more artsy one and I love the finished piece...

For those of you who find inspiration difficult sometimes - keep your eyes open - this PC was inspired by the price tag off a bath scrubby I bought @ Target this week - do you see the inspiration?

Next up a Texas style Grandma Brag Book - I made for my friend Dianne - she became an instant Grandma recently - when her oldest daughter received word she was going to be able to adopt a set of siblings - ages 7/8. She is a Texas girl all the way - and she and her hubby go to 'Cowboy Reenactments' allover the southwest - I know she will love showing off her grandkids pictures from this brag book.

Finally - my most recent covered notebook - I started this to have a demo piece for my Art Book Cover Class - which was last Saturday . I had 3 wonderful students who did very well on their projects. I am always nervous the first time I teach a class - and am so glad it was successful. Here is the closed view...

I used leftovers from our guild mystery quilt (which I will be posting as soon as the binding is completed) and I love the look... I also borrowed a technique from my friend from DAFA Deborah who adds interest to her fiber art by stamping... I think the green circles on the black add alot of interest to the piece - a technique I will have to experiment more with. Below is the open view of the notebook - I added alittle extra bias binding to the front cover so you would have a place to keep your pen handy. I plan to keep all the teaching material for my classes in this notebook... SO IT'S FOR ME !!!

Where have I been?

Yes life has gotten in the way of posting recently - but back today for a bit...
(I am taking a break from my class sample for May's AWQS)


March was crazy -


guild mystery quilt


trip to the Valley to see FIL over Easter/DH Birthday


AQWS last Sat of the month - a success, again with 4 students


My folks arrived on Mar 30th - and left on April 16th - yes 18 days with house guests

Business trip to LA CA 4.6-4.9

My Bernina 180 was in the shop for 2 weeks w a tension problem

Severe storms hit N Tx on 4/10 - will do a separate post on that subject


but I did manage do make these little postcards in the last month - all for special peoples birthdays....

Abstract circle for Ryan - in Steelers colors

Bluebonnet for Karen F - a true sign of Spr here in TX and perfect for her April BD

Cowboy Chic for Diane H - hope you are not reading my blog - since it goes in the mail this week.... oh well you will enjoy it in person soon...

More Book Cover Art

This weekend I finished up another book cover - it's made from a funky batik and a piece of hand-dyed purple from my friend Kim... It puts a professional finish on a simple composition notebook. The cording is actually plastic canvas yarn - one of my new embellishement obsessions.... I used it with eyelash yarn to outline the purple wave also and a Laural Burch kitty button secures the ties... The pattern is a freebee which I made some modifications to. I am pleased with the outcome - this one is for me!!!

So what do you do with the scraps??? Some people just toss the trimming into the trash and think nothing further of it... Not me - i have trouble throwing things away that might be usable later - so i whipped up these postcards I will be sending off to family memebers this week for valentine's day and the 3rd is a birthday postcard for a dear friend whose special day is later in the month...

Post-o-the-Week

Here are pics of some things from the last week or so - my lap top is still on the blink so I have resorted to old computer in DH's office. The first photo is my Sept Journal (even to I finished it in August) called Scrap Happy...
Scrap Happy started with the trimmings from some string quilt blocks my small group made for a service quilt - I woven them into a background piece and fused in them to the fast-2-fuse base. I put a layer of olive colored tulle over the weaving and machine quilted it in place. Then I went crazy with my couching foot and doodled pearl cotton and embroidery floss over the entire surface. Next the embellishment started... I began by adding multi-colored buttons in a swirl pattern in the center. Buttons are attached by machine. Then I started adding other embellishments that I felt suited the piece. Foam letters to spell out my name, novelty charms. pins and buttons, little flower brads and some big chunky plastic pony beads to add texture and more color. I finished with a funky yarn border to complete the piece.

Star postcard - 1/10 I made for my small groups silent auction basket at my guild's upcoming fall festival.
Picture of the ceiling of the restaurant here in Dallas we had dinner at last Saturday Night - VERY COOL - I see a journal quilt in my future. - Restaurant name for you locals - Al Biernats
My friends and I were discussing interesting looking Sky's the other night and they thought it would be a good journal study for me since my husband Schuyler goes by the nick name Sky - my response was I don't think my camera takes good enough pics for use for inspiration - but maybe I was wrong - more to come here...

Last but not least - a picture of the "Just a Jotter" I made for my guild secret sister this week - they just announced Tues night and Thurs when I looked at her information - lo and behold her birthday is TOMORROW! Yikes - well I whipped this little baby up in no time and put it in the mail - Hopefully it arrived yesterday - hopefully she is not reading my blog...

PC Inspiration

Voting begins on August 31st for the Postcard deck of ideas. But check out the poster they came up with in advance - My pc's are in the prominate 2nd row of poster 2 - wow am I proud.

http://www.artcardideas.com/2007/posters/index.asp

Post Cards du Jour

Actually yesterday - but my laptop seems to have a mind of it's own this weekend - Yesterday was a PAM day - and I sewed ALL day - which makes me very HAPPY!!

Oriental (5) for artsinthemail yahoo group

the kitty has a rhinestone tag on his collar

Chocolate (6) for ArtsintheMail yahoo group
my interpretation of a box o chocolates

Denim(5) for artsinthemail yahoo group
A must since denim is my name sake - there is actually a denim flower on each card - which you can barely see in the picture

fabric collage - just because
the little flowers are scrap booking brads

Circles, Dots n Spots for FAPC yahoo group
yummy batik background and funky yarn!

Fabric PC's

Check out this cool link for fabric post card ideas

http://www.artcardideas.com/2007/artcardgallery/

and Yup there are a couple of mine there...

Life Happens

Where have I been since 2.25? Gee I can't believe it has been that long since I posted. Not for lack of things to share - just wayyyy to much going on...

Here is a quick rundown...

• Mar 3-5 - Cols OH for a quick visit w my Sister and family in route to NYC for Business
• Mar 5-8 - Business Trip to NYC - burr was it cold and it snowed..
• Mar12 - Small Group Meeting and make up Journal Quilt Class - as I am the teacher
• Mar 17 - Dallas Quilt Show
• Mar 22 - Apr 9 - My Parents VISIT (yes they slept 18 nights @ my house)
• Mar 23 Hubby's BD
• Mar 27 Quilt Meeting
• Mar 31 2nd Journal Quilt Class
• April 9-11 Business Trip to LA
• April 14 - Small Group Meeting - which I hostess

Whew I am exhausted - but here are the pictures of what I was able to accomplish while all that was going on.... (please note this is in addition to a VERY full time job...)

Sunflower Postcard for swap on FAPC Group

Pink n Brown Postcard for a swap on FABRICARDS Group

Yellow Charm Quilt for Grandma

When my parents arrived on Mar 22 from OHIO, we got word that grandma ~ age 94 (mom's mom) had finally made the decision to move into a local assisted living facility - this was a great relief to both my mom and my aunt as they had been encouraging this for several months now. I had "Quilt for Grandma" on my UFO list for the year so mom and I put this Yellow Charm Quilt together for her while my parents visited. Although it is not the original quilt I had thought I would make for her - I am pleased with the outcome. My parents were able to deliver it to her on their way home this week and she was delighted. Here are mom and me with our project.

March Journal Quilt for CPS Journal Quilt Group

"My Purple Practice Piece"

Starting with a collage of Purple Batiks and Hand Dyed Scraps I assembled a “solid” background piece. I call this technique Trash Collage and have used in frequently in my journal quilts. From there I let the subtle pattern differences in the fabric dictate my free-motion quilting stitches. In some areas tight full coverage stitches seemed appropriate – in others I used the pattern of the fabric as my guide. A few decorative stitches were incorporated as well for effect. Once the stitching was done, the embellishment started. First I added some ribbon by machine. In the upper left hand corner is my first experiment with Angelina and Crystalina fibers. The color change from the original surprised me but the effect is nice on the journal. I added the free motion spiral stitching for interest and the center bead as a focal point. Additional bead and sequin embellishment finish the piece. I started to do a hand buttonhole finish around the edges as the binding - after a 1" accomplishment - I decided it was too hard on my hands - especially my wrist and thumb to do the entire journal so I switched to machine - I did leave the little bit of hand work there as a representation of my attempt. I think the technique has merit if the piece uses traditional batting rather than the fase2fuse stabilizer I use on my journal quilts.