DARE TO BE CREATIVE!

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

March Quilties



I just finished my March quilties. The themes for March were House/Home and the color Lime. These are my quilties for the swap on Fabric in Altered Arts. March will be a busy month for me. I wanted to finish these before I left for the Sewing Expo in Puyallup, Washington this week. I leave for Lake Havasu today to meet my friend Pat. We fly from Las Vegas tomorrow. This is our first trip to the Sewing Expo but we hear that it is a great event. We are looking forward to attending the Hands-on-Workshops and Seminars. I won't be posting to my blog until next week.

Monday, February 25, 2008

BUTTON FAIRY SWAP


This is my button fairy for a swap. My fairy is mounted on a piece that I found at the thrift store. I liked the background design. I covered the center with scrapbook paper and did faux stitching with sharpie. The picture is placed on the button and covered with Diamond Glaze. There are some bubbles but I think it adds character to the fairy. I'm leaving tomorrow for Sewing Expo in Washington state and am trying to get all projects in the mail today.


Friday I attended an all day trunk show and seminar of Hatched in Africa. Santi has great machine embroidery designs and beautiful examples in her trunk show. It is so encouraging to hear someone say use my designs any way you like including using them on items for sale. So many companies don't allow you to use their designs on items you intend to sell. Of course I bought some designs and won her lovely Phoenix design as a door prize. I'll work with the designs when I return from the Expo.


Thursday, February 21, 2008

Altered Art Fabric Book






My sister and I sometimes get together to work on art projects. Our project this week has been an altered art fabric book. The theme of this book is Christmas. We worked in my studio on Saturday and Sunday planning and making the fabric backgrounds. We then began adding our own embellishments to the pages. Today I completed my pages. These are a few of the pages. My granddaughters are shown in Betsy McCall paperdoll clothing. My sister had saved her paperdolls and we selected the angel and cook. We frequent thrift stores and love to use our unique finds in these books. Our first book had a cowboy theme. I have submitted a cowgirl themed book to Sew Somerset.

I haven't made the cover for the book yet. I have a number of ideas but haven't started work on it yet.

I like working in fabric altered books better than paper ones. I'm partial to fabrics.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

My First Deco


What's a deco you ask. As it was explained to me, it begins as a blank book. The book is made by the owner. It contains a front, back, and blank filler pages. There is usually a theme. The person making the book decorates the cover and the back and in some instances decorates some of the interior pages. The book then rotates to various people in the group. When a person receives the book, they are to decorate pages as instructed by the owner. When all pages are decorated, it is called a "homer" and returned to the owner.


This book belongs to Louise. It is my first deco. Louise requested that each person do a two page spread on the theme of birds. These are my two pages. The deco is now on its way to Kansas for more pages.

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Cyber Fyler Update

Susan received my postcard and mentioned it in her blog. I also received a confirmation from her by email yesterday. It has been interesting participating in a swap that will be part of an exhibit. I wish Susan luck with her project. I will update when my postcard is added to her site.

Friday, February 8, 2008

Another 9-Patch Altered Clipboard


I have so enjoyed making the 9-Patch clipboards. This one is a birthday present. I made this one in shades of red to match her new room. Nine-patches are perfect for the regular size clipboards. I find the clipboards at local thrift store. I first clean them, then gesso, and paint a color that matches the scrapbook paper I use for the 9-patch. The entire clipboard is painted with a sealer and then embellishments are added. The first ones I made, I added embellishments and then sealer. Now I perfer to add embellishments after sealing. I have a few more planned for friends and am making a green and pink one for my studio.

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Embroidery Club Valentine Shirt



Here's the Valentine shirt we made in Embroidery Club yesterday. (Or I should say we began in Embroidery Club yesterday.) I finished my applique this morning. It was time consuming to rehoop for each letter and also remove hoop each time for trimming. BUT it was worth the time. The shirt looks great. Can't wait to wear it.


This was my first time to attend this Embroidery Club and Cathy the instructor was wonderful. Next month we will make our own fabric from all those scrap threads. I'm already saving all my threads. Guess this qualifies as a "green" project.


Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Valentine ATC


The theme of this month's online ATC swap is "My Funny Valentine". This is my ATC. In keeping with the funny theme, I included a Valentine riddle on the back of the ATC.

I attended a Embroidery Club meeting this afternoon and we embroidered a demin shirt with Tweety Bird and appliqued the word Valentine. I have to finish my applique. I'll post a pic later.

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Mesh Totes for Kentucky


Yesterday I finished these two mesh totes to send to the quilt shop in Kentucky. Of course, the fabric represents the two most popular universities in the state. The tote is made from screen from Home Depot with fabric added. You can sew on the mesh but you must use a large needle. I used # 14 jeans needle. Karen at Grannys in Kentucky selected the fabric and I hope to teach this class in the spring when I am in Ky. Karen is working on a web site for Grannys Attic. I will post a link when available. She has such a great quilt shop in the old county extension office in Campbellsville.

Monday, February 4, 2008

CYBER FYBER Postcard # 102


This is the wonderful postcard I received from Susan Lenz . It is exciting to see all the wonderful postcards she made for the exchange. Will be even more exciting to see all those she receives from other bloggers.

Saturday, February 2, 2008

CYBER FYBER


I recently learned of a Cyber Fyber exhibition. Susan Lenz is hosting the exhibit. I am exchanging a fabric postcard. The photo is of the postcard I sent to the exhibition.


Postcard is made in a layering technique: Peltex on bottom, solid color fabric, printed silk chiffon, silk leaves, and tulle. I painted green silk leaves a dark reddish brown. Last I quilted with silver thread. The back is hand dyed fabric and edges are finished with zigzag stitch.
I'm excited to be a part of this exhibit and will post the a pic of Susan's postcard later today.

Friday, February 1, 2008

Love Songs ATC


This trading card is for a live swap at Mystic Paper. Friday, February 8th is Friday Night Out in downtown Mesa and Mystic Paper hosts a live ATC swap. February theme is Love Songs. I found the vintage photo at a copyright free website. I cut out the image and tore pieces of sheet music to use in the background. When complete I sprayed with Glimmer Mist.
YesterdayI taught the first part of the Glitzy Jean Skirt class at Bernina Southwest. Students were very excited about making the skirt. The Glitzy Jean Skirt class has been quite popular. The majority of students have been grandmas making skirts for their granddaughters. Interesting because I developed the porcess while making a skirt for my granddaughter. The project has been published in Design with Machine Embroidery magazine. A friend and student published pictures on her website of the skirts she made for her granddaughters in Florida and I've had a number of requests for information. Last request was from Pat in Australia.