DARE TO BE CREATIVE!

Thursday, January 31, 2008

Mystic Paper's Design Team


I was recently asked to become a member of the Mystic Paper Design Team. Mystic Paper is a lovely little shop in downtown Mesa. I participate in their monthly ATC swaps and have taken a number of classes there. We are given a packet of materials from the store and asked to make an item using them. The altered clipboard is my first Design Team project. We were given four sheets of Foof-a-La paper, coordinating ribbon, canvas flowers, and tags. I was able to use everything but one sheet of paper. It had roses and it just didn't fit with the project. I was very pleased with the results. The only items I used from my stash were ribbons, Scrabble letters, paint and clipboard. I look forward to the next challenge.

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Think Pink


This Pink Quiltie if for the February swap on Fabric in Altered Arts. I decided to add bead embellishments to this quilt. Finishing touch was a sparkly vintage butterfly pin. Next up is "My Funny Valentine" ATC for February swap on Treasure Art Trends.

I am mailing a postcard for The Cyber Fyber Exhibit in South Carolina. I am exchanging one of my fall fabric postcards for one of Susan Lenz's postcards. The exhibit sounds interesting. I'm anxious to receive her postcard.

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Love Is...Quiltie




This quiltie is for the February swap on Fabrics in Altered Arts. I found the quote "Love is the wine of existence" by Henry Ward Beecher. I used this quote as my inspiration. Wine bottle is printed on paper and bonded to Peltex Double Sided Fusible. Lovely pearl bead button is a thrift store find. The binding is leftover quilt binding from the Christmas Cat Quilt. Seems I've found uses for most the leftovers from this quilt. I just hate to throw away such beautiful fabric.




I found the hanger at the thrift store. Have no idea what it's original intent was but after removing a few pieces with the pliers, it made a great hanger for the quiltie. Never know what you'll find at the thrift store. The key is to see the "possibilities".

Monday, January 28, 2008

Valentine Sweatshirts


Yesterday was a rainy day in the Valley of the Sun. A great day to stay in and work on projects. After breakfast with friends and church, I decided to work on Valentine sweatshirts for the two granddaughters. Shirts are complete. I will make matching denim jean skirts from my recycled jean skirt pattern. The denim on the shirts is from the bottom portion of the leg of recycled jeans. The machine embroidery design is from Sew Many Designs. I am so pleased with the sweatshirts that I may make one for myself this week. I think I have a red sweatshirt waiting for machine embroidery.

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Great Day for Mail



Today a package of six beautiful Oriental Express ATCs arrived. They are lovely. I have added them to the one that I made for the swap. Such variety in color and composition for the oriental themed swap.


I finished my Valentine Postcard for the swap at Fabrics in Altered Art. I decided to make another button fairy. This one has red hearts for wings and a vintage cupid face. When I finished, I felt that the white pearl buttons didn't stand out so I added red trim to each button with red sharpie. Hope Norma enjoys it.


Also readied for mailing is my submission to Altered Couture Magazine. It's a little "Think Green" recycled denim skirt. Hope they accept it for publication.


Thursday, January 24, 2008

Follow Your Heart ATC


These ATCs are for a swap at Mystic Paper in Downtown Mesa. The theme for February swap is "Follow Your Heart". You must have a heart somewhere on the ATC. I was organizing my studio when I discovered this fabric left over from the Christmas cat quilt. The backing and batting were attached. It was perfect for the ATC. I added a small heart with my embroidery machine and then embellished with old pieces of jewelry.

Monday, January 21, 2008

Aprons for Early Learners


I spent the afternoon making 6 aprons for my grandaughter's Early Learners classroom. Her teacher asked the parents if anyone could make aprons for a cooking unit she is planning for this spring. My daughter-in-law called to see if I was interested. I found this pattern in Quilts and More Winter 2007. They are made from a kitchen towel. Each towel makes two of the little aprons. I searched various stores and finally found the correct size towel at the Dollar Store. They were simple to make. Most time consuming was making the ties.


Thursday, January 17, 2008

Lavender Quiltie


I finished my Lavender Quiltie for the January swap on Fabric in Altered Arts. It is a mixed media piece with a combination of fabric and paper. The photo is cut from a book with pics of Art Postcards and fused to Peltex then fused to the top of the quiltie. Fun project.

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Valentine Inchies


I just completed my Valentine Inchies for a swap at Fabric in Altered Arts. I had intended to add more embellishments. I had pink beads out on my work table but once I had added the rick rack and decorative machine stitches, the piece talked to me and said: "NO MORE, I'm fine!" I'm anxious to see what others do. I plan to display them on a Pink or Red Velvet Ribbon. I got the idea from my sister, Amy. She has redecorated one of her bathrooms and has a velvet ribbon hanging on the wall with vintage costume pins. It looks so elegant. Hope my inchies do the same. I'll post pic when I receive the inchies.

Monday, January 14, 2008

Icicle Dolls





I am currently working on Icicle Dolls for a swap. We are exchanging three for three. These are my first two dolls. I am naming them "Retro Dolls" because I used some beautiful retro fabric that I purchased at Granny's Attic and the face is from 1965. Embellishments are from my stash of goodies. I will finish the others today. First it's off to take the granddaughter to school.

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Vintage Hat Ad ATC


These are for the Friday Night Out swap at Mystic Paper. The images and lettering are a Stetson Hat Advertisement from the early 1940's. I thought they were a perfect fit with the Crate paper. I added black netting to each for a veil. My goal is to use fabric in someway on each ATC I make. I'm a fabric artist at heart but I'm learning to enjoy mixed media art.


Downtown Mesa has Friday Night Out the 2nd Tuesday of the month and Mystic Paper sponsors a live swap. Sometimes there are quite a few swappers and other times only a few. It's fun to see see everyone's creations. Artist choice is this month's theme.

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Photo Block Mini-Quilts



I just finished two Christmas Photo Block Mini-Quilts. They are both made with Christmas 2007 photos. The block is from the book Turning Twenty Around the Block Three. The blocks are easy to make and the results impressive. They will go in the mail tomorrow. I'm anxious to hear back since both are surprises.

Thursday, January 3, 2008

Flat Scrappy Crow


I just finished my second Scrappy Crow for the swap. This crow is a Flat Scrappy Crow. The background is flannel. I added embellishments on the background to give it some character. The binding is also scrappy. This was a fun fabric altered art swap. The original was in the recent issue of Cloth Paper Scissors (one of my favorite magazines).

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Altered Clipboard


Treasure Art Trends is hosting an Altered Clipboard swap. This was a first for me. After a trip to the thrift store to purchase a clipboard, I painted it with gesso and then painted with green paint. I decided to incorporate a quilt block into the clipboard. It is a traditional nine patch with the addition of pen stitching, rickrack and Scrabble letters. The paper is by Crate. Last I added torn fabric strips from my stash. I was so pleased with the results that I shopped for another clipboard today and plan to make one for my studio in green and pink.

Oriental Express ATC


This ATC is for the January swap on Treasure Art Trends. The background is oriental fabric that has been sewn to the card with a zigzag stitch in gold thread. The photo is from a scrapbooking CD and letters are cut from a vintage wall hanging. This is my first swap with this group. I continue to participate in the ATC swaps at Mystic Paper in downtown Mesa.

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Photo Quilt Block


This is a sample for a class I will teach in a few weeks - Photo Quilt Block Mini Quilt. The pattern is from Turning Twenty Around the Block III. The photo on this quilt is from an old school picture of my mother (1938-39). I attached the photo to quilt just to show how small my original was. I scanned into photo shop and enlarged. The photo was then printed onto photo fabric sheet. I did some quilting with invisible thread around the face and dress. I'm quite pleased with the results. I also did another quilt in the same fabric with a old photo I purchased on ebay. Written on the back of the photo was "Aunt Jennie". The Aunt Jennie quilt is on display at Bernina Southwest. I will post a pic later. I am currently completing two additional photo quilt blocks with Christmas fabric.

Happy New Year


Happy New Year to all. This is my Scrappy Crow Doll for a Swap for Fabric in Altered Arts group. I decided to call her "The Beauty Queen". We are also doing a flat "quiltie" style scrappy crow. I have my fabric picked out and need to get busy since they are due January 15th. Didn't do much fabric art during the holidays but did make two samples for a class I'm teaching in a few weeks. I will post a pic later in the day.