Featured on Etsy!

My quilt, All the Pieces Fit, was featured on Etsy Treasury List!
Here's the direct link to this item in my store.

Postcards for the AAQI

I've been in the mood to use up scraps and recycle unfinished projects. These four postcards are the first results. They will be donated to the AAQI.

Artists for a Greener Evanston Show

I got a piece in a small show last Wednesday - all recycled items. Had a pair of Beth's socks (QST) that I wore a hole in the heel of and couldn't bear to throw away. They were sitting on my worktable next to a piece of upholstery fabric a friend had given me and a picture of a bird that a blog friend Emily had drawn and the idea was born. The tree is made with a scrap of fabric that I saturated with gel medium and added scraps from old books to and then a final wash of gesso to tie it all together. The nest is made from used "color catcher" laundry sheets that I use to wipe up paint spills and clean brushes with.

Bamboo Bird

I got some LOVELY snow-died silk from Beth at Quilters Stitch Together for my birthday. I got the courage to cut into it last night for a soon-to-be-disclosed project - and this scrap got made into a postcard. The black is actually also from QST - a cotton hand dye that I "stiffened" with gel medium and then backed with Steam-A-Seam 2.

Play Ball!

This is a donation to the AAQI. It is made of a piece of silk somebody gave me - maybe it was once a dresser scarf or the like? It made for a perfect whole cloth piece - I just quilted the cone flowers on it (sort of echoing the flowers in the background pattern) and bound it.

WORLD QUILT FEDERATION SMACKDOWN

Four Quilting Heavyweights Face Off to Fight Alzheimer's
As many of you know, the charity nearest and dearest to my heart is the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative. Next month, from November 1-10, we are being treated to an opportunity to raise thousands of dollars for Alzheimer's research. If you follow the AAQI link above, the link to the Smackdown quilts is front and center - even if you are not a quilter you just have to go take a look at these four phenomenal pieces of art, donated by four of the top names in the quilting world. There is applique, there is trapunto, there is exquisite piecing, and my personal favorite is Fading by Hollis Chatelain - an amazingly beautiful piece of thread painting.
So, even if you are not wealthy enough to participate by bidding, come join me next week as I act as auctioneer for this fabulous group of quilts!

Basket of Flowers

This digital art was done in response to a challenge on Dezinaworld. The background paper is by GypsyCoutoure and the lace is a Stampington freebie. The little girl was also a free image from a challenge blog, but I can't remember which one . . . my apologies!

Snowy Path

I guess, as much as we don't want to admit it here in Chicagoland, we're in for another winter. I took this picture last winter and made it "artsy" in PSP. Yeah, snow is sometimes a pain, but sometimes it's really beautiful. These prints can be found in my Etsy shop. Thanks for looking!

My quilt used in a book by Lyric Kinard

On page 102 is a small 9x12 quilt (which has been donated to the AAQI) that I made for Lyric Kinard showing the design principle of Motion and the design element of Shape. So as not to give away too much of Lyric's book, I just scanned my bit of the page . . .

Ami was on the radio!

If you're reading my blog, you're probably aware of my dedication to the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative. Ami Simms is the founder and driving force behind the 501(c)3 organization raising money for Alzheimer's research. She did a radio interview recently that was very moving and explains a lot about why she's doing what she's doing. You can hear the podcast of it here:
Ami's Interview Podcast and you can read her blog about the experience here: Ami's Blog.

My Studio

I had all my supplies, sewing machine, and cutting table crammed into a little alcove off my living/dining room. One day I looked at the dining room table and chairs, which were a little worse for wear, and decided to give them away on freecycle. After that, I switched rooms - I moved my studio into the living/dining room and moved my couch, recliner and TV into the alcove. I live alone and don't cook, so wasn't worried about dinner parties! I love having the space to work and I have great light with patio doors and the dining room overhead fixture directly over my work table. Which is made with deep file cabinets stacked to counter height with a 60x72 table top covering them. Perfect!
I arranged my sewing machine, design wall and storage carts on another two walls of the room and have a wall of completed quilts that I haven't sold or given away on the 4th!

Postcard on Etsy

This is such a pretty little piece of silk - given to me by a friend who buys vintage clothing. This particular blouse got cut up for other uses and he gave me this piece, which started out it's career as the cuff of a sleeve.

QA Open Studio Event

The theme of the Fall 2009 issue of Studios is Open Studios, so we're kicking it off with a virtual tour, and you're invited to participate. Here’s how:

Step 1. Take pictures and/or video of your studio. Maybe your studio is a large, dedicated space or maybe it’s just a corner of the dining room. It doesn’t matter—we want to see it! And don’t worry that it isn’t perfect. Art is not about perfection. You can clean it up, leave it in its natural state—it’s up to you.

Step 2. Announce the tour on your blog/website and include the cover image of the Fall 09 Studios, linked to our website.

Once you’ve posted image and link, leave a link to your blog/website in the comments section of the In the Studio with Cate editor’s blog anytime before October 2.

Step 3. On October 3, post the images/video of your studio on your blog or website with a little commentary describing your creative space and what makes it special to you. Leave the post up through October 4, or as long as you like.

Nesting

Finished this piece today. I'm going to submit it to another local art show (getting brave in my old age) called Artists for a Greener Evanston. Since this was made with all scraps or recycled material, it qualifies for a "green statement". The background is a scrap of upholstery fabric, the tree is paper-fabric made with a scrap of fabric and ripped up pages from old books put together with gel medium. The nest is made with a used color-catcher laundry sheet that I had mopped up a paint spill with and the birds are made of a pair of hand-dyed socks that I wore out the heel of. Binding is from a vintage skirt given to me by a friend who buys vintage clothing for his business and doesn't use all of it. Backing is even a scrap of fabric given to me by a neighbor, so the only "new" parts of the piece are the thread and the batting.

Earth Laugh 1 was accepted!!

The show will run from 9/24 - 10/24 in the Dick Blick store in Evanston on Maple. WOO HOO!
See the original post with picture.

Happy Birthday Mark!

Well, I just read on FB that my little bother Mark is leaving tomorrow morning for a birthday trip, so I figured I'd better get this up for him before he goes!

Strike a Pose

In my continuing effort to clear off my design wall of half finished projects, I backed and bound this one this morning. It will go in my Etsy shop - wrong size for the Dick Blick show . . .

It's been awhile since I started this, but I remember the background being fabric and torn up pages from an old Reader's Digest Condensed book. Walnut ink wash and some burlap - then I added the yoga figures in black suede. Fused binding, silk back. Simple, yet striking!

Earth Laugh 1

I've had this piece, unbound, on my design wall for many months. For even longer, I've had a series of 12x12 flower quilts in the back of my mind. The local Dick Blick store is having a 12x12 Art Show next month and I wanted to submit it for consideration, so naturally I had to finish the darned thing! So, here it is. I sent off the entry email and pictures last night.

You've all heard the Emerson quote "The earth laughs in flowers" . . . well this is the first of a series of Laughs.

Blowin' in the Wind

This is a piece I created to help a fellow PAQA member Lyric Kinard write a book called
Art + Quilt: Design Principles and Creativity Exercises. It has a handpainted background, quilted in horizontal and diagonal lines. Flower petals are made from paper fabric, stems are fused commercial fabrics. Flower centers are painted fabric covered with Diamond Glaze. I haven't seen the book yet, and frankly am not even sure that my piece was used, but it was fun to do it. Plus, the size makes it perfect to donate to the AAQI.

Turn Around

This is a Priority Quilt for the AAQI. My niece Grace has been to visit me a few tmes lately and hand (er . . . finger) painting is one of her favorite things to do. I took a couple of pieces of her artwork and scanned them, digitally combined them and added the song lyrics. Then printed it out on fabric and made a quilt out of it!

Joy

Another Quote Challenge from Paper Whimsy. Another lovely Hilda Conking poem.

Aztec

Bringing up a digital piece I did in January to fit this week's Theme Thursday theme. This piece actually started as a picture of my light fixture. I added a picture (Dover royalty-free) of some sort of Aztec looking design and blended it on "multiply". That was pretty much it! I added a quote and called it done!

Lady Grace

This is an older piece, but when I read the challenge prompt was "hats" at The Three Muses, I just had to bring it back out for a reprise! This is a Dover silouette that I colored and added a picture of my niece Grace to.

Ragtime!

SoArtfulChallenge
Template from ScrappingwithLiz
Dancers from clikr.com
Paper by ssdkb

Speak to Me . . .

This piece was done for a challenge at Artarazzi. Fairy is a purchased image from iStockPhoto. Background by "FC" - didn't save info on where I got it, sorry!

Patriot Guard

My brother Mark is a member of the Minnesota Patriot Guard and a Marine Dad. I am proud of both he and my nephew Luke.

For those of you who haven't heard of the Guard, here is a bit off the National web page:

The Patriot Guard Riders is a diverse amalgamation of riders from across the nation. We have one thing in common besides motorcycles. We have an unwavering respect for those who risk their very lives for America’s freedom and security. If you share this respect, please join us.

We don’t care what you ride or if you ride, what your political views are, or whether you’re a hawk or a dove. It is not a requirement that you be a veteran. It doesn't matter where you’re from or what your income is; you don’t even have to ride. The only prerequisite is Respect.

Our main mission is to attend the funeral services of fallen American heroes as invited guests of the family. Each mission we undertake has two basic objectives:

1. Show our sincere respect for our fallen heroes, their families, and their communities.
2. Shield the mourning family and their friends from interruptions created by any protestor or group of protestors.

We accomplish the latter through strictly legal and non-violent means.

Credits on the artwork:
Flag photo is my own.
Motorcycle picture off the MN Patriot Guard web page
Quote from a recent newspaper article.
Background by DLD of k-joi studios
Stone wall by lizarddaudesigns, also of k-joi
Pledge overlay by heatheranndesigns

Family

This started out with an image from Artarazzi, but the focal point is a statue grouping I got a photo of when I was downtown (Chicago) wandering around the other day. Couldn't find a plaque with the name of the piece or the artist. Anyway, added bits are a doodle by akiloune, an edger by KPertiet, and a trellis vine by Cali. There are a few other bits in there, but since I haven't always been good about keeping track of where I get things, I can't give credit.

Another giveaway!

Melissa Bove is giving away a Slice and a bunch of other fun stuff! Creating from The Heart

Circus in Town

Two For Tuesday challenge blog provided a digital stamp of a vintage motorcyclist - I changed a few things and have him driving into town for a circus!

The White Cloud

I need to keep in touch with the paper side of mixed media art, so I've been doing challenges at Paper Whimsy. They provide a poem and a page of images to go with it and you have to follow a couple of other rules, but it is fun and something different twice a month.

Never Land

I have always loved Peter Pan because I was lucky to have received a gift as a child a 1952 edition of the Golden Press Peter Pan book with wonderful illustrations by the Walt Disney Studio (adapted by John Hench and Al Dempster). The book is falling apart and I've searched in vain for another copy exactly like it - the newer editions are not the same!

Credits: Background is scanned from the book. Text is quoted from the book.
Map and compass from stock.xchng
Ribbon by Rhonna Farrer
Overlay by KPertiet

Pheasant

This piece is for this week's Artarazzi challenge. We were given a picture of sake barrels. I chose to make them the deep background layered under a couple of dover images and a Japanese proverb that I found very enigmatic.

Swan Lake Reprise

Seth from The Altered Page has sponsored a marvelous blog train idea called Buried Treasure.


I chose to reprise this bit of buried treasure that because of timing, didn't get as many views as I'd have liked.
The theme at Sunday Postcard Art was Swan Lake. This is my digital interpretation of Odette, a ballerina princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer's curse.

Dance!

The Three Muses challenge this week is word soup. I saw this as a bit of a quote on an email this morning and it immediately had to be made into a piece.

Two Creative Studios Giveaway!

Two Creative Studios is having a great giveaway! Read all about it here

Birdy, Birdy

This piece is for Two For Tuesday - the silouette was one of their inspiration pieces. The background from a kit called Camping Out by KimB, the blackbirds are by KPertiet, and I'm afraid I don't remember where the flower doodles came from.

Fairy in the Garden

This one is for Gothic Arches which is a membership only site, so if you'd like to join in the fun, email me.

Crisis

This is for the Art Creations Friday challenge - they provided the background for inspiration. Dragon is from Dover.

ET Phone Home

This requires some explaination . . .
The Artarazzi challenge this week is a picture of a cell phone. OK - nothing creative running through my head. Then I notice that the screen saver on the cell phone is this big splash and drops of water. Boing! I remembered this picture of a crop circle that I'd extracted a few months ago and never did anything with. So that's how this was born. The screensaver is in there, really, but I added a splash of water from stock.xchang 'cause it was pretty small after I cropped it out of the phone. I added some drops and some sparkles by Cali and the frame is from KPertiet. There's a concrete stairway in there too, extracted and flipped - for texture and perspective. And because the crop circle is so strange and alien looking I added the phone and the ET Phone Home text.

Christina

This is for Theme Thursday pink and brown challenge. I started with Andrew Wyeth's Christina's Word painting, heightened the pink, changed the background to one by GypsyCoutoure and added a bridge by merepouleand.

Found a fun blog

She's giving away a Cuttlebug! Creating from The Heart

Surreal

This was done for the Three Muses challenge this week. The bike is from RaspberryRoad Cottage Garden kit, the road is by elash and the background is by Christina Brown.

Nest

This one is for Sunday Postcard Art - the theme is nests. Background is from Art Creations Friday, bird from Dover (digitally colored), nest from personal photo.

Winnie

This is for the Artarazzi challenge this week. We were given an image

My choice was to "dress her up".
1. straightened her
2. with warp brush: gave her a chin and cheekbones, a little less jaw
3. with paint brush, blending and opacity: gave her color - hint of makeup, brownish-red hair
4. with warp brush: gave her a bust
5. added jacket and blouse from Dover Ann Sheridan paper doll book (worn in King's Row, 1941), color adjust, softened, contraxt reduced
6. add background color to complement jacket
7. added a few color filters to brighten her up a bit.