Foiled Pears

I was able to upload the photo that I mentioned in the previous post.  I really do need to get better at taking photos!  At least take them straight.

The results of the flour paste resist!

Here is the final result from the fabrics from the previous post.  I like it but had hoped it would be bigger.  I don't plan my quilts.  They just happen so the squares are 2 1/2" finished.  I have some plans to make this a series.  I think I am motivated again.  If I could just stay home.  Off this weekend to Shaver Lake for a retreat and then the next week we are going to Tahoe with my fantastic sister and brother-in-law for a week.  There is a great store there that has a good size quilting section and the greatest selection of paints and buttons, other decorator fabrics, silks, a art quilters dream.  I'm saving my money from the class I am teaching next week just to spend here!  I love shopping here with my sister.  There is also a bead store there that we go to.  My sister makes the most fantastic jewelery.  I can hardly wait.  I wait all year for this!

I had another photo to share but I can't seem to get the program to work.  Maybe later.  I am demonstrating foiling on fabric this evening at the guild and I have a quilt I made as an example.  It is amazing how whenever I am going to prepare for something like this I always find the ways not to do something!  It's like when I make a quilt from a pattern or book, I always find the mistakes.  Go figure!

I know I have not blogged much but to tell you the truth I just haven't been home.  This has been a year of traveling.  This year I went to Road 2 Ca (Ontario), Wonder Valley (twice), Virginia, Pacific Grove, Cambria, Pismo, Sacramento, Hollywood, Utah, Las Vegas, Best of the Valley took four days, Ripon, next Shaver lake and Tahoe.  I'm not complaining but it has been a busy year.  And we mustn't forget a new grandchild, Daniel, was born this year.  What a year!  Do you think next year will be less busy.  I doubt it.  I already have two classes I am teaching for guilds and a trunk show at another guild lined up next year.  I am just thankful that I am able to do all this.

Off to get my stuff ready for tonight.  I hope you are still out there even though I haven't been very good at posting.

The saga of the flour resist project!

This is the beginning of the story.  Our art group project for this month is to make a flour and water paste, apply it to fabric, let it dry, crunch it up and paint it.  Then clean it all off and make an art quilt using the theme "graffiti".
Three of use got together to start the process.  We stabilized our fabric to form core board and off we went.  We took our projects home to dry and I put mine in the backyard.  Little did I know it was going to rain.  It never rains here!  Of course it was under the patio that is not a solid cover and water, dirt and sap from the unsealed (new) cover got all over my projects (I had 3 started.)  Oh well, let them dry again and just think of it as developing art.
So some days later time to paint over the flour resist.  Then after it dries, wash it all off. These are my results.

The third one was done with potato flakes that Sara's dog kept licking while it was drying.

It really is not as yellow as it looks (photography).  I decided to use this one for my project since I was going to cover it with paint.  And in my usual style I went overboard with the paint.

Now this project has to be done by Wednesday and today is Monday and it has to dry.  I only came up with an idea yesterday.  I finished painting it and left it outside and guess what.  It started to rain yet again!  This project is just domed.  It has to dry so I can cut it up and sew it back together.

I hope to have the final results soon.

I'm Back!!!

Remember the pile of leaves?  This is the result.  I think I got carried away with the embellishing.

This quilt was done for the Orange Blossom Quilt guild challenge.  We were given five 5" squares and a word plus a design concept.  My word was "spotted".  There are some spotted frogs but I just wanted to incorporate frogs because my grandson loves frogs.  That was my starting point.  It is entitled "I spotted frogs in the forest".  18" x 30"

This piece was done for our art group.  We were to do this fabric faced windows.  I choose to do circles and then use plastic from a bag which I had gotten curtains in, and made them into bubbles with fish from the jewelery making section of Joanne's.  We were given the word "tranquil" and I quilted the meanings of the word in the background.  It was originally square but it didn't work for me so I trimmed it to a circle, trimming a lot of the quilted words out.  You really can't see them anyways.

We had a great vacation and I hope to have a few pictures once I settle back in.  I hope you missed me because I missed all of you.

A Pile Of Leaves and Postcards

Here are the leaves that I am working on for the next challenge I have to  finish.  I am still in the planning stage but am happy with these three dimensional leaves.

I took a post card class from Judy Stevens at the Orange Blossom guild last Saturday and here are my postcards.  I really learned a lot and am excited to make some more.

Here are my pre-printed butterflies with a fabric frame background.

Here is my attempt at an ocean scene.  Notice the little crab charm.

This was just pre-printed fabric that I quilted.  Maybe it needs embellishments.  Any suggestions?

Here are the skulls I cut out of the material that Serena left from making purses when she was here in July.  I love the stick on spider.

We are going away for a few days to Las Vegas and Utah for our 30th anniversary, which was Monday.  I am really looking forward to the time away but not sure if I can be away from my sewing machine for that long.  Ten days is a long time.  I went to Michael's and stocked up yarn so at least I can knit and crochet in the car and in the hotel room at night.  Can't be idle!

Here are the gorgeous flowers my husband sent me for our anniversary.  They are starting to wilt but notice the beautiful vase.  Red, my favorite color.  That will always bring back memories!  Thank you, sweetheart, for the thoughtfulness and looking forward to our anniversary dinner at Bobby Flay's in Las Vegas!

It's Done!

Here is my paint chip challenge.  It is done and I am so glad.  I really like it and am surprised because of the colors.  That was the challenge!  When I went shopping with my daughter last week, I kept seeing these colors in clothing.  I guess they are beautiful after all.

Spent the last five hours on this computer getting the paper work and picture CD ready for a "call to entry".  Sometimes I wonder if it is worth all the work, especially if you don't get in.  Well, I now have a artist resume and artist statement and have orgainized the pictures on my computer.  I really must take the time to take better pictures.

I have been working and finished by Loose Threads project but that is a surprise for another time.  I have to begin and finish by challenge for Orange Blossom.  I wish I had more to show you.

Remember to comment on the previous blog to enter to win a postcard.  Linda - who are you? (see comment on previous blog).

The beading on the challenge quilt is done.  I have the binding, sleeve and label left and then I will show you all but I needed a break.  So I began working on the postcards for the guild.  We are not doing ATC's (artist trading cards) anymore but we are making postcards.  We are not trading these, just showing them which makes me sad.  I loved having a little bit of art from each person.

These are mine.  The theme for the month was black and white and I choose to take an existing project that was a disaster and never finished, and cut it up into 4 x 6 inch cards.  I put some hardware on top and now they are ready to go.  If you would like to have one of these cards, comment (making sure your email is in your profile) and you will be put in the drawing for one of 8 postcards.  I hope you find them interesting.

Next will be my assignment for Loose Threads.  Hope to get that started this week.  Keep on quilting and let your inner artist loose!