Bee's Fiber Art

Moving

2012-02-10T06:23:00.001-06:00

Life has been very busy for me during the last month or two and it is going to get even busier! We are in the process of moving.....twice. My studio is packed and in storage and I am going through withdrawal! Also, we will have to do without an internet connection for a bit. But it will all be worth it in the end. I will leave you (temporarily) with a new drawing I have just started in my new sketchbook. It is going to be a collage of images having to do with things and places that are important to my husband and me. I hope to be back to blogging soon.....

My New Sketchbook

2012-01-08T16:35:00.003-06:00

This is my first sketch in my new Iona sketchbook....

The Sketchbook Challenge

2012-01-07T11:28:00.000-06:00

I have been following the Sketchbook Challenge and have played some in my own sketchbook, but this month I decided to really join in. The theme this month is Doodling and is such a great exercise! I am filling lots of pages with pen and ink and plan to go back with watercolors and use them as exercises in color. It keeps my skills sharpened while it is fast and easy and non-stressful.

New Sketchbook

2011-12-27T08:43:00.000-06:00

I got a beautiful new sketchbook for Christmas.......

It is a handmade, leather bound sketchbook by Iona Handcrafted Books in Austin, TX.

The paper in this sketchbook is Bamboo which is good for pencil sketching. They also come with either Watercolor paper or Hemp. I can't wait to start sketching in mine!!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-23T14:39:00.000-06:00

To all the wonderful friends I have made through this blog...

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

A New Page From My Sketchbook....

2011-12-13T16:41:00.000-06:00

Ok, Ok Reta......Here is the boot!

Christmas Decorations

2011-12-11T19:53:00.000-06:00

I am way behind in my preparations for Christmas this year. This whole year has passed by in a blur! But I am finally starting my decorating by putting my tiny beaded Christmas tree on display. I wrote this post last year and am going to share it again. I hope you will enjoy it one more time.

A Great Weekend Trip

2011-12-06T07:21:00.001-06:00

We recently took a quick weekend trip to Natchitoches Louisiana. It is a lovely city whose annual Christmas Festival is well known for the beautiful Christmas lights and the food and craft booths set up on Front Street along the banks of the Cane River.....

We went the weekend before the big festival and it was probably good that we did. The traffic along Front Street was bumper to bumper and the sidewalks were almost impassible and we were told that the crowds we saw were nothing compared to the weekend of the Festival! Even though we missed the Festival and the fireworks, the lights were on and we enjoyed a tour of the city in a horse drawn carriage....

we got to enjoy a famous and delicious Natchitoches Meat Pie (and crave more)...

We drove by the Steel Magnolia House....

and stayed in a lovely Bed and Breakfast within walking distance of Front Street....something we had never done before. It was quite an experience and although we were a little uncomfortable to begin with (a funny story for another time), we enjoyed our stay, the food was delicious and it is something we will do again.

Great Tutorials

2011-11-18T08:02:00.000-06:00

If you haven't been following the Winter Artspark tutorials, its not too late. As always, they are wonderful tutorials with great tips and techniques. I love the letters in Lisa Engelbrecht's letter tutorial yesterday.

Lisa Engelbrecht

A New Page From My Sketchbook

2011-11-15T20:54:00.000-06:00

I added this yesterday, but didn't like the way it looked in the photograph. So, I deleted the post. But after hearing from Diane, I decided to re-post the photo.

I Won!!

2011-11-05T08:00:00.002-05:00

Last week, I was the lucky winner of Susan Brubaker Knapp's new DVD,

http://www.bluemoonriver.com/WorkshopDVD.html

My name was chosen in a giveaway on her blog, Blue Moon River. I love this new DVD! Susan is a wonderful teacher and explains her process for turning a photo into a realistic whole cloth painted quilt from beginning to end. She covers everything you need to know about painting a whole cloth quilt and enhancing it with thread sketching and quilting. Starting with choosing the right fabric, brushes and paints and the best type of photo to work from, Susan covers color theory and mixing paints for shadows and highlights and demonstrates her painting techniques and thread sketching. I would highly recommend buying this DVD for yourself! I will be watching it again and trying Susan's techniques!

http://www.bluemoonriver.com/WorkshopDVD.html

A Danny Gregory Film

2011-10-31T05:35:00.000-05:00

I found this video on janeville.blogspot.com/ recently......To El and Back: A film about Butch Belair by Danny Gregory . It is a really cool to watch. It makes me want to get my sketchbook and paints and play hooky from work today. But I won't.

Another page from my sketchbook.....

2011-10-10T20:53:00.000-05:00

Work in Progress...

2011-10-05T20:18:00.001-05:00

A work in progress from my Sketchbook Project Sketchbook........

Inspired by my visit to the
Cockrell Butterfly Center in Houston

Inspiration

2011-09-12T00:00:00.005-05:00

We recently visited the Cockrell Butterfly Center in Houston....

We were able to watch butterflies emerge from their cocoons.

We watched a beehive under glass....

The bees enter the hive through a tube that leads outdoors.

It was amazing to watch them!

The Butterfly Center is a great place for inspiration and a lovely place to spend the afternoon!

From My Sketchbook

2011-09-07T17:03:00.001-05:00

I found these boots and hat on a shelf in the old shed I visited recently.

Autumn in the Air

2011-09-05T19:45:00.000-05:00

Today was lovely! The high temperature was only in the mid-80's! We could actually feel a hint of coolness in the wind. I am so excited that the worst of the summer heat may be coming to an end. Autumn is a ways off yet, but it has always been my favorite season for many reasons. It is the end of our relentless summer heat... the start of school - so exciting with new clothes and school supplies and seeing friends again....it is the beginning of the holiday season with Thanksgiving and Christmas close behind....high school football.....the State Fair....the trees turning beautiful colors....fires in the fireplace....sweaters.....perfect.

Inspiration

2011-08-24T21:29:00.000-05:00

I have been doing alot of drawing lately and when I am not drawing, I am taking photos of things I would like to draw later. As you know, if you've been following my blog, I have a fascination with tools. Well, last weekend, I found a treasure trove of wonderful old tools in an old shed and I can't wait to start drawing them!

Dashboard Cookies....

2011-08-07T19:31:00.001-05:00

The heat is relentless and still hasn't dropped below 100 degrees for the high in 38 days. So, the new fad in TX is to bake cookies on the dashboard of your car!

I've heard that it works pretty well. The cookies don't brown like they do in the oven, but they do get completely done in a few hours. And they make your car smell wonderful!

News From the Studio.....

2011-08-01T20:14:00.000-05:00

I have posted some exciting news on my new blog.....http://dawnbrowning.blogspot.com/.

31 Days and Counting.....

2011-08-01T20:11:00.000-05:00

It has now been 31 days since the temperature has been below 100 degrees in the Great State of Texas. The forecast for the next 7 days is more of the same.....except hotter! My car displays the outside temperature......today it said 112 degrees. I am so grateful for air conditioning!!!!!!!!!!

Art for a Hot Day.....

2011-07-20T18:45:00.000-05:00

If you've ever wondered how hot the summers really are in Texas and you would like to see what local artists are up to during these intense heat waves, check this out......Art for a hot day.

It's so uncomfortably hot here I try not to keep track of how many days in a row that we have reached 100 degrees or higher.

I'll start tuning-in to the weather channel again in October. : )

More on the Stockyards...

2011-07-11T20:45:00.001-05:00

While we were shopping and eating and watching the cattle drive in Ft. Worth Saturday we witnessed a Bank robbery! Two bank robbers ran right out in front of us and were gunned down there in the street.....

The bank robber on the right kicked the bucket that just happened to be sitting in the middle of the street when they were shot. I'm not sure, but I don't think his cell phone was supposed to fall out of his pocket when he hit the ground. LOL

After the bank robbery, we did some window shopping.....

Then I hugged a cow before heading for home.....

Corny but fun!

The Weekend....

2011-07-10T20:47:00.000-05:00

Weekends seem to fly by, especially when you're having a great time. Saturday began early with breakfast at the Brass Bean.......

...a favorite hangout where they serve great coffee and wonderful sandwiches.

Then a short walk across the street to the Farmer's Market for fresh fruits and vegetables.....

And the most wonderful homemade breads.....

Then it was off to the Stockyards in time to see the cattle drive through the streets of downtown Ft. Worth...

... and real cowboys.....

Then I had lunch at Riscky's BBQ with this good looking guy.......

It went by way too fast.

4th of July Weekend

2011-07-06T20:23:00.000-05:00

While visiting friends in Houston over the long weekend, we drove to Galveston to enjoy the beach......

It was hot and crowded, but we enjoyed a little beach combing and lots of people watching....

and seagull watching......

and after a delicious meal at Willie G's and a banana split at La King's Confectionery (and stocking up on a large assortment of salt water taffy....Yum!), we found a street artist, Joaquin, who creates entire paintings using only spray paint. It was fascinating to watch him work....

I wish I could give you a website where you could see more of his work, but we were only able to get his first name.

More to come later.......

Art is Everywhere!

2011-06-28T22:43:00.001-05:00

There are beautiful murals painted on the underpass walls near Grand Prairie, TX. I pass by it often and have admired the paintings for years. I keep intending to stop with my camera one day to take photos of the entire mural on both sides of the road. And I WILL do it....one day. But this quick photo I caught of a small section of the paintings, while waiting at the stop light will have to do for now.

Clouds

2011-06-23T21:38:00.000-05:00

I took this photo from the plane on my return trip from the SAQA Conference in Denver last month. I'm not saying I'm technologically challenged or anything, but its taken me this long to figure out how to get this photo from my phone to the computer! I love this picture! It is now the wallpaper on my phone (I just learned how to do that too!!)

Happy Father's Day!

2011-06-19T08:15:00.000-05:00

Today I am thanking my Heavenly Father for the Daddy that He gave me. My Dad's love for his children knows no bounds. He has always been there for each of us....gently guiding us and encouraging us. When I have made monumental mistakes in my life, he has been there in his loving nonjudgmental way....always there to listen quietly, offering his support and loving me unconditionally.

I have so many wonderful memories of my Dad....I could go on for days recounting them all......vacations we took, the silly songs he would sing, watching him work in his studio..... Now, I love seeing him with his Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren and knowing they will have wonderful memories of him too.

My Dad and my Grandson

Happy Father's Day, Dad!

Watercolor Bliss

2011-06-05T15:19:00.000-05:00

I am looking forward to Alisa Burke's new class.....Watercolor Bliss! The new online class starts tomorrow, Monday, June 6th. All of her classes have been great and I'm sure this one will be no exception. Click on the links to her Blog for information on the class and to sign up. I'll be there for sure!

Monday in the Garden.....

2011-06-02T21:39:00.001-05:00

I know this is Thursday already.....my how time passes! But on Monday, we got to spend a few hours at the Ft. Worth Japanese Garden....one of my favorite places. It is beautiful and the Koi fish are amazing.

Everything is so lush and green....

This fish looks like he's singing!

The Koi acted like they were starving!

We shared our lunch with this squirrel.......

And this duck came right up to me as if he wanted his picture taken....

It was a lovely, relaxing day!

SAQA Conference

2011-05-26T20:39:00.000-05:00

I have been in Denver for the 2011 SAQA Visioning Conference! It was wonderful! To read my posts about the conference, click HERE to view.

New Blog

2011-05-17T00:00:00.008-05:00

In the year that I have been blogging, I have come to realize that using my nickname has caused some confusion at times. In order to be more easily recognized and remembered, I decided to launch a new blog using my name as the address. I will keep Bees Fiber Art active for now and see how it goes, but my plan is to eventually merge the two blogs at my new address. So, even though I am still working on it, please check the new blog at dawnbrowning.blogspot.com!

Interesting Video

2011-05-15T20:40:00.000-05:00

In my email today, I found a link from the Dallas Area Fiber Artists to a video by Pam Holland showing a very interesting technique using cheesecloth, dye, and quilting to make a home for some fabulous fish. Its amazing what you can do with cheesecloth! I love her technique. To view the video, click on the link below......

http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/blog.php/blog_id/3757

2011-05-08T07:59:00.000-05:00

Happy Mother's Day!!

New Watercolor Class!!

2011-05-05T21:11:00.000-05:00

I wanted to share with you that Alisa Burke has just announced her newest online class......Watercolor Bliss. It is a follow up to Sketchbook Delight. If her new Watercolor class is anything like her Sketchbook class, it will be awesome! I hadn't had much success with watercolors before taking Alisa's sketchbook class, but she reintroduced watercolor in a whole new way. It is a medium I really enjoy now! I am eager to learn more. Her new class starts June 6th. You can guess where I'll be....... : )

HATS

2011-05-02T22:31:00.001-05:00

Most women in the US don't wear hats often. I haven't worn one since my Mom put me in an Easter Bonnet as a child. I used to love them! They weren't always comfortable.....that little elastic string under my chin.....but I always felt special on Easter Sunday wearing my new hat.

Watching the Royal Wedding on TV this past week, we got a bird's eye view of the English tradition of wearing hats. The "fascinators", as they call them, aren't like any Easter hat I remember! While some were very stylish, there were some that raised quite a chuckle. I will let you decide......

Here is a link to photographs of some of the hats worn to William and Kate's wedding....HATS
I have to wonder how they keep them on their heads?

* NOTE: When you get to photo 25 of 27, is the gray dress the lady is wearing inside-out?

2011 SAQA Benefit Auction

2011-04-27T20:54:00.000-05:00

This year's SAQA Benefit Auction won't begin until September 12th but you can already see the quilts that have been donated so far and get more information about the auction HERE. Keep checking back as more quilts are added to the website. They are all wonderful!!

More Views of Ft. Worth

2011-04-27T00:00:00.044-05:00

I promised in an earlier post to share more of the photos I took while visiting Ft. Worth. I love downtown Ft. Worth! I love the very old buildings that are still standing among the newer glass skyscrapers....

I love this crumbly old building that now houses a restaurant/pub. You can see people eating on the balcony above the Art Festival tents.

This view makes me a little dizzy.....

If you click to enlarge the following photo you will find a Knight.....

I love the trees on these balconies.....

Does this one look at all familiar?

I know I have shown the following photos on this blog before, but a tour of Ft Worth would not be complete without the famous and very beautiful angels on Bass Hall....

closeup....

And The Cattle Drive mural in Sundance Square.....

Too bad the Art Festival tents in front of it blocked part of the view.

closeup....

These longhorns are so well done they really look 3D when you see it in person.

You can click on any of these photos to enlarge them.

FUN!!!

2011-04-25T00:00:00.048-05:00

Taking Alisa Burke's Graffiti Chic class has been great fun!! I have my first canvas in progress and I have a peek for you below. At the bottom of the photo you will see stamps that I hand carved for this class. I have had very little experience with carving stamps but I am now hooked!! I bought Speedball Speedy-Cut Blocks and a Speedball Linoleum Cutting Tool Set to carve the blocks. The Speedy-Cut Blocks are very easy to work with and cut like butter. First, I drew my design on tracing paper. I used tracing paper because the design needs to be reversed when carving the stamp. With tracing paper, I could see how I wanted my design to look plus I could see through to the Speedy-Cut block to make sure the design was centered. When I decided which direction I wanted my image to be, I took a soft lead pencil and traced over the back of the tracing paper image. Then I just burnished it onto the carving block with my finger. Then I had to decide what parts of the design I wanted to be positive and negative. Whatever is cut away will be negative space. I made some mistakes but for this project perfection isn't an issue as you will see from the photo. I can't wait to buy more blocks and carve more stamps! It is great fun and the images that can be carved are limitless. I like that all the work on the piece is my own.....no store bought stamps. I am not finished with this piece.....I am still adding layers. I'll show more as I go along.

A funny note.....I was adding messy drips and spatters to my canvas...happy as a clam....completely immersed in my work when the phone rang. It quickly brought me back to reality and as I was chatting with my daughter I looked up to see that I had spatter painted my dining room wall and floor!! Luckily, I have laminate flooring and it came right off. The walls....not so much. However, I do have a small bottle of touch-up paint left by the former owner of my home so I can cover up my mess. LOL

He Has Risen!

2011-04-24T14:45:00.000-05:00

Christ has risen!

He has risen indeed!

Happy Easter!

New Page Added

2011-04-22T21:12:00.002-05:00

I have added a new page......Sketchbook. You can click on the highlighted link here or find it in the Pages list at the top of the left-hand column. You'll need to come back here if you'd like to leave a comment.

2012 Sketchbook Project Announced!

2011-04-21T18:37:00.001-05:00

The Art House Co-op has announced the Sketchbook Project World Tour 2012! Artists from all over the world can sign up to join the 2012 Sketchbook Project. Each participant will receive a blank sketchbook and choose from 40 different themes. After finishing the sketchbook, the artists mail them back to Art House Co-op where they will go on a 14 city tour including 10 locations in the US plus Toronto and Vancouver Canada, London,England and Melborne, Australia! Then each sketchbook will be cataloged permanently in the Brooklyn Art Library.

Click HERE for more information and to sign up for the project!

Inspired

2011-04-18T19:24:00.000-05:00

I was so inspired after attending the Main Street Arts Festival!! I came home and painted a journal page in my sketchbook. The building in my journal is just an older building along Main Street that caught my eye. I think it is interesting to see some of the very old buildings surrounded by modern glass skyscrapers.

Main Street Arts Festival

2011-04-16T18:20:00.000-05:00

My daughter and I just returned from the Main St. Arts Festival in Fort Worth, Texas. It was a perfect day. The weather was sunny but not hot, there was a wonderful breeze, we got there before the crowds and had time to enjoy seeing a good portion of the festival before it got so crowded we could hardly move. I love the reflection in this building....

Both of us being artists... we soaked up tons of inspiration.....colors, textures, new media to try.....it was wonderful! We met and talked to many of the artists. A. E. London allowed me to take photos of her sketchbooks......

Since I'm really into sketchbooks right now, I was excited to look at her drawings. Her paintings are beautiful! Click on her name, highlighted above to view her website.

Mimi Damrauer of Chicago...a fiber artist....won Best of Show for the second year in a row! We met and talked to her. Click on her name to check out her website and see her wonderful work. I was thrilled to see someone who creates Art Quilts win such an award!!

We even got to attend a free concert at the Bass Hall.

On the way into Bass Hall, a little girl started pointing at my shoulder and people around us were smiling. At first I couldn't figure out what she was saying. The coffee I spilled was all down the front of me...whatever could she see on my back?

This butterfly landed on my shoulder and kept me company all the time we were waiting in line!

Inside Bass Hall.....

The following photo is very grainy, but I had to get a picture of these two little girls. The conductor called them up onstage during the concert. They had been standing down in front of the stage with their dad and the one on the left was "conducting"... mimicking everything the conductor did. It was so cute! They were thrilled to be allowed to sit right up there on the stage.

Then.....

He let her conduct!

There is definitely music in this little girl's future!

The mini concert was a treat since I had never experienced Bass Hall and the Ft. Worth Symphony Orchestra before.

There was live entertainment on the streets.....

And we knew we were in Fort Worth when we spotted these cowboys at a sidewalk cafe.....

That's gotta be at least a 20 gallon hat!!

There was so much to see and soak in! I took alot of photos of the downtown architecture, I will save those photos for another post.

This Is The Way To End The Day......

2011-04-13T00:00:00.013-05:00

After a long busy day, it is such a treat to come home and find this on my doorstep........

Its PLAY TIME!!!

Have I said how much I love getting packages filled with new Art Supplies?
Have I said how much I love Dick Blick? I'd be in so much trouble if they had a store near me!!!

2011 Main Street Arts Festival

2011-04-11T17:05:00.001-05:00

If you live in the area, this weekend is the Main Street Arts Festival in Ft. Worth, TX! Last year was my first time to attend and I couldn't believe all the wonderful Art, food, live entertainment and fun I had been missing! If I'd had one, I would have spent a fortune. I just enjoyed soaking up the atmosphere and inspiration....and I sneaked in a little people watching too! : ) Here is the Link for more information.

Award!!

2011-04-09T19:10:00.000-05:00

I have never received a blogger award before....let alone a "Stylish" one! Now there isn't a person on the planet that would ever describe me as "stylish".....I live in blue jeans and t-shirts. In fact, I wore a skirt once for a dress up occasion and my son... mouth hanging open.... said, "Mom! All this time I thought your legs were made of denim!" That being said, Monika of My Sweet Prairie chose to recognize my blog!! And for that I am honored! Especially because Monika's art and blog are beautiful and she is so dedicated to posting every day! She is a great inspiration to me.

The deal is, I am to post seven things about myself that you might not know about me.

So, here goes.....

1. I started my first quilt in 1987 using a pattern printed in Family Circle Magazine. I didn't know a thing about quilting or quilting tools so I cut all 1500 pieces out, one at a time, with a pair of scissors and a cereal box pattern. I machine pieced and hand quilted it. It took one year and one day to complete. I entered it in a local show and won a Special Award Ribbon given by the local Newspaper. I was thrilled! The pattern....Double Irish Chain. When I found out that Eleanor Burns can do that quilt in a day I almost croaked!!

2. I am hopelessly addicted to coffee.....drinking some right now as I type this!

3. I have 2 amazing kids and 5 adorable grandchildren.

4. I have lived in 5 different states and on both coasts.

5. I come from an incredibly talented family of artists, musicians, writers, poets and photographers.

6 I was once attacked by my vacuum cleaner and almost snatched bald! One day I will tell that story.

7. I play the hammered dulcimer.

Now, the hard part is picking just 3 bloggers to nominate for the Stylish Award! Since starting to read blogs a little over a year ago, a whole new world opened up for me. I couldn't wait to start my own....even though I did hesitate because I was scared I'd have nothing to share. I have met some of the most wonderfully talented, generous people through blogging and my life has been enriched by each of them! So, without further ado, my nominees are...

drum roll please......

1. Margaret of Margaret Blank, Fibre Artist. Even though we have not met face to face yet, we have become fast friends! Margaret lives in Canada and is creating beautiful art quilts. I am inspired by all that she is accomplishing and so excited about her first booth at the 12th Annual Lacombe Art Exhibit and Sale April 15 - 17. She is also a SAQA member and has work on display in several upcoming exhibits. Visit her blog to see where you can see her art in person!

2. Lynn of Getting My Feet Wet. Lynn lives in California and her blog is ever changing and beautiful! She makes gorgeous Art Quilts, Pocketbooks, Brush holders and wonderful, creative projects for her grandchildren. After reading Lynn's blog for a short time you feel like part of her family.

3. Nikki of Nikki Wheeler Art Studio. Nikki lives in Washington State. Celebrate Exuberant Joy perfectly describes Nikki's art quilts and her blog. Her work is colorful and joyful and fun! I love her Art-O-Mat Art and hope to find her work in an Art-O-Mat soon.

Margaret, Lynn and Nikki can chose to accept this award or not. If you accept, please link back to this post, blog 7 things about you, and choose three more bloggers to nominate. Have a great weekend!

Y'all Are Gonna Think I'm Crazy

2011-04-06T21:39:00.000-05:00

The sofa in the living room is old. It doesn't match anything, it is way past its prime and it is huge! When we were moving into our current home, it got wedged in the front door and entryway. It seemed hopelessly stuck. However, with plenty of muscle and the forceful determination of several dedicated-but-ready-to-get-this-move-over-with young men....the sofa was shoved through the opening. It left several deep scrapes and a large gouge in the walls! At that moment I vowed it would never leave this place in one piece. Fast forward 3 years.....I enjoyed my sketchbook class with Alisa Burke so much that I am now taking her Graffiti Chic class. It is great fun and as usual, Alisa is a great teacher with tons of inspiration. It occurred to me that since I am so tired of fighting the ill-fitting slip cover on this mammoth sofa, that for fun, I should use it as a canvas for my graffiti painting! Why not? If it turns out terrible, it will give me the incentive to go buy an ax and get rid of this thing once and for all. And if it turns out great it will breathe new life into this tired old sofa (even if it makes me the eccentric old lady who lives down the street!) I have no idea how much paint and textile medium this is going to take but I think it will be a hoot!

The Before Picture:

This photo makes the sofa look better than it does in real life!

It is a large project so it may be awhile until the "After" picture is posted

Art Spark: Tutorial Spring

2011-03-28T00:00:00.001-05:00

Check out Judy Coates Perez at Painted Threads for information on all the wonderful tutorials being offered this week! You will want to "Spring from one blog to another and learn something new!"

The tutorials start on Tuesday and all the links are on Judy's blog here.

The artists offering tutorials are...
Kelli Nina Perkins, Melly Testa, Qwen Diehn, Jane La Fazio, Carla Sonheim, Tracie Lynn Huskamp, Judy Coates Perez, Jill K. Berry, Lyric Kinard, Alisa Burke.

I can't wait!

My Sketchbooks

2011-03-25T18:51:00.014-05:00

Since taking Alisa Burke's class....Sketchbook Delight... I have been sketching every day. In fact, I have started sketching everything, including my tools that I work with. I now have two sketchbooks going.....one full of color and fun, and one with pencil drawings only. Here is a peek inside both......

Free Motion Quilting

2011-03-22T21:21:00.000-05:00

Having been a hand quilter for many years, I am new to machine quilting and more specifically, Free Motion Quilting. So, I was interested in two excellent articles on the subject in the February/March 2011 issue of Quilting Arts Magazine. The first article that caught my eye was Effective Practice for Free Motion Quilting by Teri Lucas on pg. 54. Teri writes that doodling with pens and paper is effective practice to become accustomed to the rhythm of creating different designs and to work out on paper how to best fill the different areas on your quilt. I don't know why I haven't thought of that! To me, an unquilted top is as daunting as a clean white sheet of paper in my sketchbook. The most dreaded task, according to most quilters, is picking out stitches....no one wants to make a mistake! Working it out and practicing on paper first makes so much sense!

The second article I found very helpful was Stitch This by Heather Thomas pg. 12. First, and most important.... and in full agreement with Teri's article... Heather says to practice practice practice! She recommends using 10" blocks to practice your stitching, then finishing the blocks, adding eyelets or grommets and binding the samples together in a book with binder rings just as I have done with my embellishment samples. Her quilt, "The Language of Color & Design" pictured on pg 13 is a beautiful sampler of many different quilting motifs.

Heather states in her article that it takes 20 minutes per day for 21 days in a row to form a habit. She says, "If you apply this concept of 20 minutes a day for 21 days in a row, your machine quilting skills will likely grow exponentially". I think that is a great exercise and one that I would like to challenge myself to doing.

Teri says in her article that it takes roughly 50 hours to become comfortable with the process of FMQ and 500 hours to become proficient.

Bottom line......it takes alot of practice and alot of hard work to master FMQ, but oh so worth it!

I think I better get to work!

Quilts for Japan

2011-03-20T22:45:00.000-05:00

Many of us are interested in finding ways to reach out to the people of Japan, to offer help and comfort. Jeanne Marklin has posted valuable information on her blog about where, when and how to send donations of money and quilts.

I Think Its Done.......

2011-03-16T00:00:00.048-05:00

I was doodling in my sketchbook while watching TV last night and decided to rework an earlier sketch that needed......more. Even though it was just a quick exercise in using lines and dots in different ways to shade and add texture.....and in no way intended to be "art".....I decided the page could look alot better.

Here it is, flat and totally boring....

Now it's more fun and interesting!

Then I decided to add a little more.....

I think its done.....for now. : )

SAQA Mini Quilts

2011-03-14T00:00:00.001-05:00

The SAQA Mini Quilts 2010 that were on display at the International Quilt Festival in Houston are now on display in conjunction with a Dallas Area Fiber Artists show at the CC Young Center in Dallas. Here is a link to see photos of these quilts....http://saqa-texas.blogspot.com/

(My quilt is 4th from the left on the top row)

Dallas Quilt Celebration 2011

2011-03-13T18:43:00.002-05:00

I enjoyed spending this afternoon at the Dallas Quilt Show. I gravitate toward the Art Quilts these days but there were beautiful quilts throughout the show. Here is a sampling of this year's show.....

Dallas Quilt Show

2011-03-11T16:23:00.000-06:00

The Dallas Quilt Show is this weekend!

Click on the link for more information.... Quilt Celebration 2011

Inspiring Video!

2011-03-10T00:00:00.002-06:00

A friend sent this video link about a quilter by the name of Diane Rose of Waco, TX. She is amazing! Click on the link below to view the video.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=7lfaSmDxVZQ

More Fun Sketches From My Sketchbook

2011-03-09T00:00:00.004-06:00

A New Use For Quilt Batting

2011-03-07T19:09:00.001-06:00

I know this seems premature for those of you still shoveling snow, but I decided it was a good time to have the AC checked out.....before it gets hot, especially if it needed any repairs. Once the heat sets in it can be a long wait to get a good AC repairman in this part of the country. Anyway, our return air duct is a weird size and filters for it are non-existent. I have to buy a sheet of blue "hog hair" that has to be cut to size. It is expensive and of course it is a size that is not divisible by the size of the air duct. So, there is alot of waste when cut to size. I asked the AC technician what he thought of the hog hair filters and asked if he could recommend something else. He said the blue hog hair was better than nothing but he wasn't impressed. He said that another customer of his bought this "white stuff" at a place called JoAnn's and it worked like a dream! He said it filters the air better than anything he'd seen but he recommended changing it more often. However, since his customer bought a whole roll of this "white stuff" for a fraction of the cost of the hog hair, it was much more economical. I went in the closet and pulled out a roll of quilt batting and asked...."is this the white stuff?" He said, "Yeah! That's it!! You have that stuff too?" LOL

My Sketchbook

2011-02-27T13:24:00.000-06:00

My sketchbook pages look nothing like Alisa Burke's, but I am enjoying the process of getting back to basics and refreshing my art school days. Today's peek in my sketchbook is a study of using different lines and dots to define shadows and texture.

Coco's Perch

2011-02-25T00:00:00.004-06:00

Our whole neighborhood knows Coco......the window is her favorite hangout.

She watches the world and the world watches her!

Sketchbook Delight Class

2011-02-23T20:47:00.001-06:00

Alisa Burke's online class.....Sketchbook Delight is wonderful! I am learning and re-learning so much! I am getting exactly what I hoped for out of this class and that is to learn to do quick sketches and just get the essence of the object I am sketching.....being loose and free with my drawing instead of stressing over trying to make everything look perfect. I want to be able to fill up sketchbooks with my ideas and just relax and enjoy every minute. Don't tell Alisa, but after Week Two, I felt that I'd already gotten my money's worth! If you think you'd ever like to take a sketching class, Alisa is a great teacher. I can't imagine how many hours she has put into her lessons which include great videos and photos.

My Snow Angel

2011-02-18T23:45:00.001-06:00

During the winter storms we had a few weeks ago, my son-in-law snapped this priceless photo of my 4 year old granddaughter as she was making a snow angel. Check out the sun glasses!!!

Interesting Video!

2011-02-16T00:00:00.006-06:00

I found this Video from the National Film Board of Canada on one of my favorite blogs.....

My Sweet Prairie by Monika Kinner-Whalen in Canada.

I think you will enjoy it.

A tribute to the unique and long-established art form of patchwork quilting, this abstract animated film uses computer and experimental techniques to choreograph quilt motifs and designs to music.

Click where it says: QUILT, 1996

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T00:00:00.004-06:00

Printing on Lutradur

2011-02-13T00:00:00.031-06:00

I was straightening up my studio recently and came across some Lutradur. It is a very versatile material and I have just barely scratched the surface in finding ways to use it. I have printed directly on the Lutradur.....sending it right through my inkjet printer and was pretty happy with the results. But recently, I read it could painted with matte medium first to get a crisper print. I decided to try it. As a result, I have another new page for my workbook......

I printed the flowers on the prepared Lutradur and I have to say, the matte medium made little difference, other than making it more opaque. The print was no sharper.
After cutting the flowers out, I used a fine tip marker to redefine the petals. Then I sewed the flowers to the background and filled the centers with beading.
It was an interesting experiment and I am happy with the finished page. However, I learned that I prefer the transparency of Lutradur on its own. I think I will be doing more experimenting with Lutradur in the near future!

Water Brush

2011-02-11T00:00:00.029-06:00

Alisa Burke's Sketchbook Delight class has begun and I am busy trying out new pens, pencils and paints. It's like the first day of school when I was a kid..... new school supplies! One of the things I bought was a new watercolor set which is great all by itself, but it came with a Water Brush. It's something I've never seen before but it is the coolest thing ever! You fill the brush handle with water and then squeeze it gently while painting to wet the brush or clean the brush when you want to change colors or clean up. It doesn't look like much water in the handle, but it goes a surprisingly long way. It would be perfect for painting on the go!

The Singer

2011-02-09T00:00:00.002-06:00

Bee's not the only one singing at the top of her voice in this house..........

Fabric Embellishment Workbook

2011-02-07T17:44:00.000-06:00

I thought you'd like to see how the whole book is looking. I will continue to keep adding pages as I have time. It has been an interesting project and will be valuable when I need one of these techniques in an art quilt.

Texture

2011-02-06T16:12:00.000-06:00

I just finished another Embellishment Workbook page. The techniques I tried for this page were all about texture. This is the fabric I used for both samples.

For the first technique, I tried wrinkling the fabric by hand washing it and then while it was wet, I gathered it up and starting twisting the fabric until it twisted back on itself. I put the twisted fabric in a section of old pantyhose and threw it in the dryer with a load of clothes. When it came out, I cut the pantyhose knot off and carefully opened the fabric, so I didn't smooth out the wrinkles too much.

I ironed a piece of stabilizer to the back, leaving the wrinkles in the fabric. I used the decorative stitches on my sewing machine to stitch the wrinkles in place.

For the second sample, I used a product called Texture Magic from Superior Threads.

I wanted the finished piece to be 3" x 6" so I cut a piece of Texture Magic about 6" x 10" and drew a grid right on the Texture Magic.

I pinned the Texture Magic to the wrong side of my fabric and stitched on all the marked lines.

Then using my steam iron, I steamed the piece with the Texture Magic facing up. To keep the Texture Magic from turning hard and stiff, don't touch the iron to the surface. When it starts working, the piece will curl up. When it is finished shrinking, the piece will lay flat again. The finished piece shrunk to 4 1/2" x 7 1/2".

To finish my page, I used reverse applique to frame the two samples.

The finished page.....

Silk Cocoon Page finished

2011-02-04T12:21:00.000-06:00

Since I'm not going anywhere again today, I finished my Silk Cocoon page for my embellishment workbook.

Disclaimer: In case you click to enlarge this image, please know that I am just learning free motion quilting. I have been a hand quilter for years. I am using these pages to practice since they are just for me and my workbook. I am nowhere near proficient in FMQ!

Now,THIS is a Snow Day!!

2011-02-04T12:12:00.000-06:00

I opened my eyes this morning and as the room came into focus I knew something wasn't right. It was way too light in my room. I immediately jumped up, thinking I had overslept...that the sun was up. Not so. This is what I saw......

This is a snow day!!

Silk Cocoons

2011-02-03T16:30:00.000-06:00

A dear friend, Cat, sells really cool stuff in her little shop and awhile back I bought a package of dyed silk cocoons. I really didn't know what I would do with them, I just thought they were interesting. Well, since I've had some extra time on my hands this week, I thought I would play with them.

Most of the cocoons I have seen before had the ends cut off. These did not....and they rattled.

That could only mean one thing.......

Yes, those are silk worms.
They were deceased and dried, so other than being kinda gross, they were no threat.

I had read that if you soak the cocoons in water you can separate them into layers.

I soaked them for several hours but even with alot of handling, poking and prodding, I couldn't get the layers to separate. So, I cut them.....

Once they were cut apart, it was easier to separate the layers.

The dye hadn't penetrated to the inside layer, so......

I colored the inside layer, while wet, with a watercolor pencil

Then, I used the small ends that had been cut off to open the cocoon for the flower centers...

I am thinking that this might make a good page for my embellishment workbook!

Cabin Fever

2011-02-03T09:37:00.000-06:00

I am quickly finding out what it means to have Cabin Fever. I have been housebound for only two days, but now that we are experiencing Rolling Blackouts, I am ready to get out of the house. It was way more fun to be stuck at home yesterday when I had heat, lights, sewing machine, iron, coffee maker, computer, radio, TV, coffee maker, microwave, stove, dishwasher... and did I say coffee maker? Now my constant companion is my trusty flashlight (which by some miracle I remembered to buy batteries for last week). Did that silly Groundhog see his shadow or what? I wonder.....does Starbucks deliver? : )

* Later note......I am really stuck. My car doors are frozen shut! Does anyone living up North know what to do to thaw them when it is 18 degrees outside and your hairdryer cord won't reach? : )

One Year Ago Today!

2011-02-02T00:01:00.004-06:00

It's hard to fathom the speed at which time passes, but one year ago today, February 2, 2010, I started this blog. I had no idea what I was doing. I had been following several blogs and knew it was something I'd like to do one day....but I didn't think I was ready and I didn't know how or where to begin. About that time, I started reading I'd Rather Be in the Studio by Alyson B. Stanfield. Her book gave me the encouragement I needed to just jump in and start....learning as I went. Since then, I have had the opportunity to meet many other quilters and artists and the encouragement, support and confidence I have received and the friendships I've made through blogging have been invaluable. It has opened a whole new world for me! Starting this blog has been a great learning experience and I am glad that I jumped in with both feet. So, to those of you who have been following along with me and leaving comments, Thank You!! You are very important to me. If you are reading this for the first time, welcome to my blog! Please leave your comments and let me know what you think!

Winter Storm

2011-02-01T12:36:00.000-06:00

North Texas has ground to a halt due to the winter storm that blew in last night. I know this must be hilarious to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers and their fans who started arriving yesterday in preparation for the Super Bowl. I'm sure they can't imagine how such a small amount of snow could paralyze the entire Metroplex. But in defense of my fellow Texans, we get ice not snow. And it happens so rarely that we don't have the road crews to clear it, or the experience to drive on it. So there you go. I am not complaining a bit because I don't mind being housebound for a day or two. I have been busy playing all morning!

This was my view of the streetlamp outside my window at 4:30 am.

I know, I know, this is not enough snow in most parts of the world to call a "snow day". But I thought it would be fun to write something in the snow and it was only going to take a minute. So, without a coat... or shoes....I ran onto my balcony to take this shot. My socks actually started freezing to the concrete! Of course, its only 18 degrees outside.

I peeled my socks off the concrete and came inside to work on my wire wrapping for a bit.

Then, I worked on my latest art quilt project

I was enjoying myself a little too much, singing at the top of my voice when I turned around to see this face staring at me......

That expression says it all!

I guess she's thinking I'm not going to Hollywood.

Laughter is the Best Medicine

2011-01-30T10:12:00.002-06:00

If this doesn't brighten your day and make you laugh, I don't know what will!! Make sure your speakers are turned up!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSWZWW_-J1k&feature=player_embedded

This little guy is the son of Kim Stewart, a disc jockey at my favorite radio station...KSCS 96.3.

One Cause

2011-01-28T18:22:00.000-06:00

One Cause, One Wednesday, One Hundred Collages

One Cause – The Fight Against Cancer.

One Wednesday – February 16, 2011.

One Hundred Collages – Created for this event by an all-star team of artists: Natalya Aikens, Pamela Allen, Laura Ann Beehler, Liz Berg, Pokey Bolton, Laura Cater-Woods, Jette Clover, Jane Davila, Jane Dunnewold, Jamie Fingal, Gloria Hansen, Leslie Tucker Jenison, Lyric Kinard, Jeanelle McCall, Linda Teddlie Minton, Karen Stiehl Osborn, BJ Parady, Judy Perez, Wen Redmond, Cynthia St. Charles, Virginia A. Spiegel

The goal – Raise $8,000 for the American Cancer Society in just one day. More details and a preview of artwork: http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/ONEFundraiserPreview.html

Fiberart For A Cause has already donated over $205,000 to the American Cancer Society through the generosity of fiber artists and their patrons.

Jewelry Class with "Cougar"

2011-01-22T20:23:00.000-06:00

I attended the Swirled Pendant wire wrap class with Dale "Cougar" Armstrong today. The result is pictured below. Dale was a delightful teacher and all of us in her class came away with great results.....considering it was an intermediate class and a hard design to master and alot of us were novices. She is planning to return to our area in October so I look forward to taking more classes with her then.

The bail is large so that it can be worn as a pendant with a chain or it can slide onto a scarf. This piece is much larger than what I would normally wear as a necklace but it was a great size to learn on. I enjoyed making this very much (even though at one point during the class I was ready to throw it across the room or smash it with my hammer). : ) It can be adapted to stones of different sizes and shapes and since it is a free-form design, no two will ever be the same. The stone in this piece is a beautiful Sardonyx.

Wire Wrapping

2011-01-17T17:56:00.000-06:00

I have been working on my wire wrapping.....this is a new design for me.

I am fortunate to have been able to enroll in an upcoming class taught by Dale "Cougar" Armstrong. I am looking forward to learning some new techniques from a nationally known designer and teacher. Her work is very ornate and beautiful as seen in her book... Wirework An Illustrated Guide to the Art of Wire Wrapping.

Repairs

2011-01-13T18:45:00.000-06:00

We have had to have some home repairs done this past week and little Coco isn't fond of strangers in "her" house....let alone loud drills, saws, etc. So, after missing her for awhile, this is where I finally found her........

Under the covers in MY bed!

New Class with Alisa Burke

2011-01-09T17:12:00.000-06:00

Alisa Burke is offering a new online class.....Sketchbook Delight. Her sketchbooks are gorgeous!! See here and here. I am seriously thinking about signing up for this. It is set up as a 5 week class but she offers unlimited access to the lessons so that you can move at your own pace.

Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T14:42:00.001-06:00

I am a little bleary-eyed today.....my neighbors had quite a blow-out party into the not so wee hours of this morning. So, I am getting a later start to my Wonderful New Year than planned....but its all good.

I am not one for making New Year's Resolutions. Like most people, I usually don't keep them for long. But if I were going to make a list of resolutions, Leni Wiener has a perfect list for artists on her Blog. However, resolutions or not, I am starting the New Year organized and refreshed. I have been cleaning, sorting, throwing away and organizing. It feels wonderful to be "lighter"! I am still working on my studio. There is just so much "stuff" in there. But I am making good progress and it will be finished this afternoon! (I had to make a small detour this morning to the grocery store.....once I got rid of all the out of date food in my kitchen cabinets and refrigerator, there was very little left to eat!!)

I am very excited about getting busy and producing more work this year. I am currently working on a commission piece and will post updates as I progress.

I'm Back!

2010-12-31T12:54:00.003-06:00

After a wonderful Christmas with each of my kids, all five grandkids and a trip to Oklahoma City to see my parents, sister, brothers and their families, I am back....refreshed and ready to start a new year. I have a lot to look forward to in the coming year.

While in Oklahoma City, we went to see the lights.....

Then my Dad and I went to the Paseo Arts District....

The Paseo has 20 galleries and working studios, occupied by more than 75 artists, all within a few blocks.

The First Friday Gallery Walk is held each month from 6 - 10 pm. Paseo art studios open their doors to host gallery openings, wine tastings and live music.

The Paseo Arts Festival is held on Memorial Day Weekend where more than 75 juried artists, live music, entertainment, children's hands-on art is part of this exciting art festival. I hope to be able to attend this coming May.

Each one of these pastel buildings is home to an Art Gallery.

I thought this cat in the window was art until she hissed at us!!

We saw some incredible art in these galleries. I came away inspired and ready to get busy in my studio. Also, I will have an exciting announcement in the near future!

Stay tuned......

Creative Time and Space

2010-12-31T12:54:00.000-06:00

I recently found a link on Judy Coates Perez's blog to Ricë Freeman-Zachery's review of her new book, Creative Time and Space and her blog where she has started a project to help artists be more creative in 2011. Ricë has some good ideas on identifying things that eat up our time and how to make the changes necessary to do what we love....create! With her review, she announced that she was giving away a copy of her book! So, I left a comment and I won! I look forward to reading her book and finding ways to get much more done in 2011.

Cookie Tradition

2010-12-20T21:54:00.001-06:00

Yesterday I did my annual baking for my co-workers. I found out a few years ago....after spending hours and hours on fancy decorated Christmas cookies and candies.... that the guys I work with actually preferred plain ol' cookies!! So, every year, I fill up Chinese take-out boxes and slip them into their toolboxes. They always know who the elf is. This year, I made plain ol' Raisin Oatmeal (definitely the favorite) and Nutmeg Meltaways, aka: Mexican Wedding Cookies. I delivered them today and they were gone in record time.

I did, however, receive a complaint this year...."Why only at Christmas?? We've been hinting for months!"

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree....

2010-12-19T07:34:00.001-06:00

I have always had a need to be creative. That is just part of who I am. When I was at home raising my kids I tried my hand at many, many different crafts. In 1985, beaded Christmas trees were very popular. They weren't mass produced and sold finished as they have been in the past few years at Michaels. I had to string every tiny seed bead onto wire and then loop the wire to form the branches. It took weeks of mindless beading to make all the branches for this 10" tall tree.

Then I needed to decorate it. There were finished ornaments that could be purchased, but back in 1985 I couldn't afford them. Besides, it was more fun and challenging to find ways to make my own.

To make the Christmas balls, I used small pearl beads and the tiniest paint brush I could find and painted stripes and zig zags and even wrote words and dates on the balls.

I found miniature lights and strung them on the tree. I used two strands and then wrapped the battery boxes with scrapbooking paper printed with a Christmas design to scale.

I continued to add ornaments year after year. I did finally purchase a blown glass tree topper, some brass bells and doves and a package of tiny candy canes. But I handmade all the other ornaments on the tree.

Finally, I put the tree under glass to keep it dust free and protected.

Lit in the dark...

Christmas....finally

2010-12-18T19:53:00.001-06:00

Christmas is finally arriving at my house. I admit, I have been a little Bah-Humbug.....no, alot Bah-Humbug. I have been disheartened by what Christmas has become....stores starting to sell Christmas in September, people passing up Thanksgiving with their families to set up tents outside stores to be first in line on Black Friday....people in such a hurry that they are rude and angry....don't let me get started. But a few days ago, as I was passing Whole Foods, I saw these sweet little Christmas trees in front of their store. I decided to stop and buy one and maybe, just maybe I would find the Christmas Spirit. I didn't. The little tree sat in the corner of my dining room, naked and lonely for two days. Then today, I decided that I had to put something on the tree and give it a place of honor. After all, I spent the money to buy it. I lugged out the plastic tub of Christmas stuff and started looking through the decorations. And then it began to happen.....I found ornaments that have been on my tree for years, when my kids were little....as they grew to teenagers....the sweet handmade ornaments that brought back a flood of warm memories...and I was suddenly starting to feel the Spirit of Christmas. Finally, I found a box of ornaments that I had made years ago that would be small enough for this little tree. These little paper lace angels....

And these 3-D paper stars, dipped in paraffin wax, that I learned to make back when I had time to watch the Carol Duvall show on TV......

I wish I still remembered how to make them. They are just right for this little tree. But I felt I needed some color with the white ornaments. That is when I came across the red berries. Perfect. And stepping back to look at my sweet little tree, I saw a beautiful symbol of what Christmas is really about. Evergreen for eternal life, White for purity...Jesus was without sin, Red for the blood of Jesus that was shed for you and me. Stars for the Star of Bethlehem, Angels who announced Jesus' birth.

It's not important to have the biggest tree and the most expensive gifts under it. What is important is to remember why we are celebrating....spending time with family and friends....thoroughly enjoying our grandchildren....doing something nice for someone. But above all, thanking our Heavenly Father for sending His only Son to be born and live and die so that we can have the gift of eternal life.

Book Givaway at Blue Moon River

2010-12-16T17:21:00.002-06:00

Susan Brubaker Knapp has written a wonderful review of the book Confetti Naturescapes: Quilting Impressionist Landscapes by Noriko Endo and she is offering a give-away of the book on her Blog!

Noriko's work is amazing! Visit Susan's Blog to read her review and be sure to leave a comment to have a chance to win Noriko's beautiful book.

Two New Pages

2010-12-12T23:37:00.001-06:00

I finished two more pages for my embellishment workbook this weekend. The first page is

Traditional Crazy Quilting. I used batik fabrics, ribbon, fancy machine stitching and beading. I've done Crazy Quilting before, but never with just batik fabrics. I am constantly amazed at how different and beautiful traditional quilt patterns are done in batiks

The second page is Crazy Quilting Deconstructed. It was fun to do as all the fabric scraps are just laid on fusible stabilizer, ironed in place and then stitched over the surface to hold everything together. I used "fancy" drapery fabric, batiks, sheers, fancy machine stitching, beading and vintage buttons.

I am enjoying these workbook pages very much. They are small so they can be completed very quickly. Its been good for me to try different techniques and I am getting some needed practice time on my machine. I am learning something new with each page.

Dirty Iron?

2010-12-07T18:53:00.000-06:00

I just came across a wonderful tip on my Yahoo Group for cleaning sticky, burned on fusible web from the sole plate of my iron!!

I took a "before" picture of my iron, however, I didn't have the memory card inserted and I don't know how to connect my camera to my computer to upload from the internal memory. So, you'll just have to take my word for it that my iron was a MESS! I had decided I was going to have to buy a new iron because the sticky stuff was burned on and no amount of scrubbing was cleaning it. However, it would come right off when I ironed a good blouse! Of course! I know, I know, I should have two irons....one for my art and one for my clothes. I just never got around to buying a second iron. But now you can see from the photo below that my iron is just like new again!! I wet the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser... and it did take some scrubbing.... but every bit of the gunk came off!! I had tried several other methods but nothing else was budging that mess.

I'm easy to please, but this is very exciting to me! I'm always getting fusible web or melted tulle or any number of things burned on my iron, so I'll be keeping a box of Mr. Clean erasers nearby from now on. And no, Mr. Clean is not paying me for this endorsement. I just like to share a great tip when I find one!!

New Artwork Added

2010-11-28T09:46:00.000-06:00

Just a note to let you know that I have added a new piece to my Hand Series Page. Comments are welcome!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T11:18:00.001-06:00

I wanted to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving!

May the Lord bless you and your family as He has blessed me!

I am thankful for my children who show me how much they love me.

I am thankful for my 5 adorable, smart, amazing grandchildren

(all grandparents say that but mine really are!)

I am thankful for my parents who love me unconditionally.

I am thankful for my sisters and brothers who are always there for me.

I am thankful for my friends who are always encouraging me and checking in on me and gently kicking me in the butt when I need it.
I am thankful to have a good job at a time when so many are unemployed.

I am thankful for my co-workers who are just like my family.

I am thankful for my nosy neighbors who always know everything that is going on at my house. They make me feel safer than our security system!

I am thankful for all the wonderful new friends I have made since joining SAQA and starting this blog. Your encouragement and comments are the highlight of my day.

But most of all, I am thankful for my Heavenly Father who is my refuge and my strength.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Dawn "Bee"

What are you thankful for? Please leave a comment!

Need Your Opinions

2010-11-21T13:30:00.001-06:00

Someone in my critique group mentioned that these hands were "just hands holding an orange". I have received several suggestions as to how I can change this piece to add interest and tell a story. As a result, I am toying with the idea of adding a tree branch.

Before

These fabric pieces are just pinned to the quilt to give the effect. I hope to make it look much more realistic if I decide to add the branch and leaves! What do you think?

After

New Page

2010-11-19T19:45:00.000-06:00

This has been a busy week but I managed to finish another page for my fabric embellishment workbook. This page explores foiling on fabric. I used several techniques and adhesives. It is probably something I will rarely use, but it was fun to experiment with and I like the way the page turned out.

Sketching 101

2010-11-09T08:15:00.020-06:00

Alisa Burke has a wonderful tutorial on her Blog showing how she creates in her beautiful sketchbooks. She is a constant source of inspiration for me. Another very talented artist's blog to visit for inspiration is Linda Miller Designs - here and here. In fact... I am going to go grab my sketchbook, pens and watercolors right now!

Quilts=Art=Quilts

2010-11-05T21:36:00.001-05:00

Here is a link to view the slide show of the 30th Annual Quilt Exhibit, Quilts=Art=Quilts, at the Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center in Auburn, NY. It will be on display from October 31, 2010 –January 9, 201. It is a beautiful exhibit!

http://www.schweinfurthartcenter.org/exhibits/documents/QAQ2010SlideShowforWebsite.pdf

Sightlines

2010-11-01T18:55:00.004-05:00

Fourteen artists were invited to create an installation of artworks featuring a sightline linking all the artwork in the exhibit. Each artist chose her own themes and created five to eight artworks, including four 8x8" linking pieces, covering a ten foot wide space. This is an incredible exhibit. One of the artists, Leni Levenson Wiener, is documenting her process of designing and creating her work, Traveling Companions on Life's Journey, on her blog. It is fascinating!

Sightlines will be on display at the International Quilt Festival in Houston this week. It can also be viewed on the SAQA website here. The Sightlines catalog, hardcover, 64 pages, features a 6 page gatefold that opens in the center illustrating the entire exhibit. The catalog is available for purchase in the SAQA Store. Each artist has a four-page spread with an image of their installation, detail image, artist statement, and artist bio. Includes curator's introduction from Virginia Spiegel. Artists included are:

Britta Ankenbauer
Regina Benson
Shelley Brenner Baird
Yael David-Cohen
Linda Colsh
Sue Dennis
Anne Helmericks-Louder
Fulvia Luciano
Wendy Lugg
Kathy Nida
Pat Owoc
Mirjam Pet-Jacobs
Jayne Willoughby Scott
Leni Levenson Wiener

A Punkin Patch Afternoon

2010-10-26T22:18:00.000-05:00

My daughter and granddaughters took me to the "Punkin Patch" this afternoon!

We had originally planned to go to a farm where we could pick our own, but they ran out of pumpkins!! We'll know to go much earlier next year. We found a pumpkin patch at a local church and had a fun time anyway and picked out some great pumpkins to bring home.

That's alot of pumpkins!

They had pumpkins of every shape and size.

They had bumpy ones

Big ones

Little ones

Odd ones

And even lacy ones!

Sweet Pea's pumpkin work out!

Honey Bee's first good look at a pumpkin

And even more pumpkins!

Fabric Embellishment

2010-10-23T18:00:00.002-05:00

My friend, Cat, and I have been having some fun playing with fabric embellishments. Using the book, Fabric Embellishing the basics and beyond by Ruth Chandler, Liz Kettle, Heather Thomas and Lauren Vlcek, we have done a few pages that will eventually be bound into a fabric workbook of samples. It is great fun! The only thing I am doing differently is adding a pocket to the back of my pages so I can slip a note inside noting the type of batting I used, threads, settings on my sewing machine for decorative stitches, etc. I never remember that stuff later and if I really like the way something turned out and want to duplicate it, it would help to know exactly what I used. Here are two 8" x 10" pages that I created by weaving fabric strips. The first was cut using curvy lines and for the second page I used 3/4" strips.

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