There's a CONTEST in the Works.......

I have to finish something I've been laboring over, then I'm going to announce the details of a new contest. We need to liven things up around here.

I used to have contests all the time, remember? Remember the one where I hid sewing notions in my suitcase (we were packing for a trip to Colorado,) in my desk, in my pantry, etc. and you had to list them and the person who found the most items won. Y'all liked that one. Maybe we'll do something like that.

Today I'm working all day and I'm looking forward to the weekend.

Laugh as much as you breathe and love as long as you live.

Girlfriends' Traveling Sketchbook....

I've told you about the traveling sketchbook project I'm involved in -- 10 artists, 10 sketchbooks. Not quite sure what I was getting myself into - when Katie mentioned the project, knowing many of the artists involved, I jumped at the chance of participating.

Last week I received three of the books in the mail. I kept them on my desk for a week whilest I sketched out ideas for each of the special books.

Here is what I came up with...

For Lynn's Book, I painted a base canvas with metallic Lumiere paint. I made a fiber embellished piece using organza, silk, yarns, threads, netting and stitched it on top of the canvas. As a final layer I made a square using metallic embossed canvas to which I stitched a fabric inchie and metal flower. I like how it came out and it fits with Lynn's style, I think.

For Soul Brush's Book I painted a base cotton canvas with Neocolor II crayons, then threadpainted flowers on top and free motion quilted it. I hope she likes it.

Finally, for Bab's Book - remember that Altier paint workshop I went to a few weekends ago? Well I painted a small piece of loose canvas using their paints with the intention of taking it home and stitching layers of organza on top. After I stitched the layers, I used my

heat gun to melt away some of the organza. I then put in some really pretty cranberry red thread and continued stitching and defining the flowers. Lastly, I stitched some beads into the centers of the flowers.

All three pieces have "finished" backs that are painted either with watercolors or watered down acrylic paints. Each piece has the process written on the back and is signed and dated. What a great time I had making these for my "Girlfriends." I do hope they like them.

Head's up Lynette - here they come. Three books in - three books OUT!

Anxiously awaiting the next arrivals!

Hey - is this a Stitching Blog or Fitness Blog?????

It's a Stitching and Painting Blog - I promise.

I know, I know - I've been a bit obsessed. You have to be in the begining to be successful. But I'm having to think "less" about it as it's becoming routine now and is just part of daily life.
And you guys have been so encouraging - THAT has made a difference!

So, no more blogging about bootcamp or health stuff. I will continue with my sidebar update - which is more for my own accountability. But it's back to stitching and painting. Check me out on Monday and you'll see. I have some things to show you - cross my heart!

Enjoy this glorious blue sky, sunshine filled day.
This is THE day that the Lord hath made,
we will REJOICE and be glad in it!!

The Tale of the Tape....

Here are the results of my first FOUR WEEKS of Bootcamp.......

Pounds Lost: 10 pounds (7 during bootcamp, 3 the two weeks before it started)

Total Inches Lost: 3.25

This is without a doubt the most weight I've ever lost in this short of a period of time. Truthfully, I've lost even more than what the scale shows because although it shows 7 pounds during this past four weeks, I have gained an incredible amount of muscle in my legs and elsewhere which we all know, muscle weighs more than fat.

Am I happy??? Yessirrreee, I am. And you know what? I'm going to do even better during the next month because now I've got the recipe for success.

What is working for ME unlike anything I've ever done before....

DAILY EXERCISE - not twice a week, not three times a week (like I did last year) but EVERY SINGLE DAY. Bootcamp 5 days per week, Jogging and resistance the other 2 days per week, and I'm going to attend cardio class two days two days per week after bootcamp.

WHAT KIND OF EXERICSE - extreme cardio. short to medium time periods of extreme exertion (9-10 exertion on a scale of 1-10) with intermittent periods of weight bearing and resistance exercise. THIS is key and THIS is what bootcamp provides.

CALORIE INTAKE - ideally within the 1100-1300 range, consisting of a striving for "zone: 40-30-30" balance. Jennifer said I need to examine my calories better as to when I'm eating in relation to exercise sessions for optimum fat burning.

DOCUMENTATION - I record what I eat, when I eat, when I work out, what I do, for how long I'm doing it - EVERY DAY. Is this really necessary? Well for me it IS. I know that whenever I am successful at something it is because I've taken charge of it and make a job of making it happen. My bootcamp instructor gifted me with a great fitness journal (as a prize for being one of three people (out of 36) who made it to bootcamp every single day!) and I have written in detail about my goal(s), my plan of attack and my timeline and I update it continually throughout the day. Writing it down makes it real and makes it stick.

What now? I've been training during my off week pretty hard and am looking forward to starting BOOTCAMP #2 on Monday. I'm not really going to change a thing with the exception of adding two days of cardio in addition to bootcamp Monday through Friday - because what I'm doing is working and now that I've been doing it over a month - it's become automatic. I'm not counting calories because I have a list I eat from every day that I made a month ago with selections for each meal that total by the end of the day less than 1300 calories.

I will say that I've dug out my favorite pair of teeny tiny vintage Guess Jeans (the super skinny kind that have the zippers at the ankles that we used to wear with red stilleto heals back in the day) that almost fit Sabrina. They are hanging in the front of my closet along with a few other select items that shout at me every time I walk in.....

OH YES YOU CAN!!!!

Now, on to painting and stitching. I received THREE Girlfriends' sketchbooks to create pages for and I must commence work on those. For those of you that care....I will continue to provide updates on my fitness adventure on my sidebar.

Now turn off your computer and go do something FUN!!!

Laugh as much as you breathe and love as long as you live.

Girl's Weekend - 80's Style......

Okay, I know I'm going to get a lot of grief about this
but when I found out that Poison is coming to North Carolina August 7th ..... I HAD TO GET TICKETS!!!

I grew up listening to Poison and so has Sabrina. As far back as we can remember she would be sitting in her car seat listening (and singing with me) to all the big hair bands. We now have satellite radio and it is glued to the 80's station - and it's not by MY doing, but by hers. What's on her IPOD??? Greenday, Plain White T's, Underoath..... and POISON. What's on my IPOD? Bon Jovi, Barry Manilow, Motley Crue, Billy Idol, Heart, Rod Stewart, some Beatles and POISON. Ah, a rare commonality!

Sabrina's already planning out what she's going to wear. She asked me what I wore to my first Poison concert..... I'm not quite sure exactly, but I think that was during my leopard print, zippers and fishnets stage -- it was the 80's. Ahhhh - those were the days.

Above is a picture of Poison back then. And here is a picture of Poison NOW. Glad we got good seats!! (wink!)

Girlfriends Traveling Sketchbook.....

My friend Katie came up with a fun idea of getting a group of ten artists together and making a traveling sketchbook. The way it works: after deciding size and binding style we want to use, each artist is to make their own cover and first page of their own book and mail it on to the next person on a list who will then add a page that they've created for the book and mail it on until it eventually passes through the hands of every artist, whereby the book is returned to it's owner with ten glorious pages attached.

At that time, we can add a cover and bind it up, or add more pages. I joined in this project because I liked the idea of venturing out of my comfort zone of thread and fiber and into all the cool supplies on Sabrina's side of the studio - gel mediums, molding paste, tissue paper, rubber stamps, paints, ephemera, etc., etc. I've just finished my first page and am mailing it on to Lynette who will then add a page to my book and mail it on to Karen - and so on, and so on. How cool!

For my substrate, I used a piece of un-stretched artist canvas. To that I applied gel medium and covered the surface of the canvas with torn pieces of vintage sheet music and poetry. I then laid a wash of several colors of Lumiere (metallic paint) over the top, to which I added about 4 staggered layers of organza and a few frayed slivers of lame. After that I stitched a free motion grid all over the top and applied heat from a heat gun to partially melt away the organza. To finish it up I added a sun and moon that I painted on silk dupioni, and printed the words to one of my favorite proverbs (by Buddha) which I stitched down on the surface with gold metallic thread. I love how this came out. I'm going with a theme for my book and it is going to be "Words of Wisdom."

While I was working on my page I also made a few atcs that I owe out. I used some of the neocolor free motioned base I made a few weeks ago and I also used some extra word/music collaged canvas that I had leftover from making my sketchbook page.

I've decided that whenever I try a new technique or want to experiment with a new medium, I am going to make a few atcs. It's nice having them around to trade with other artists, and it seems they are quite popular lately as everyone is asking for them.

I took a break from Sabrina's tote bag so I could get this and a few other things finished. This weekend - it's back to the sewing room to finish that beast up. She better use it!

Now that the Soreness (and sleepless nights) are gone....

I've got one more week of Bootcamp #1 to go and YES, I've signed up for Bootcamp 2!! As I've mentioned - it takes 21 days to develop a habit - and I'm 21 days into this. It's much easier to get up and get going at 4:45 a.m., sticking to 1100-1300 calories is a breeze, the soreness is gone, the sleepless nights are gone, and I KNOW quite a few pounds are gone. I feel amazing and am so psyched that this is working BETTER than I anticipated. If you find yourself needing to do something and really wanting to be successful - see if you have a bootcamp in your area - if you DO - try it. You won't be sorry. I promise.

Anyway...... I'm back in the studio am working on a leaf piece for a dear friend and am also finishing Sabrina's gigantic professional tote bag (with the skull fabric) YESSSSS.... I'm still laboring over that. Lots of zippers, pockets, corded toggles - $&#@$!&!#$ all of which I've never done before and am having a heck of a time with, but it's coming along. Should have it done by the conclusion of the weekend. I've also made her a little laptop "envelope" to match.

It promises to be a rainy weekend which is fine by me. I've had enough "outdoors" the past three weeks at bootcamp and am looking forward to sewing, reading, and Katie, I'm working on my "traveling sketchbook" pages and hope to get those out on Monday.

I look forward to catching up with everybody this weekend. Do tell me what you've been up to and what you've got in the works. I'm looking forward to getting back into the swing of things now that school is out.

Sunday's Sketches....

Felt like doing something I didn't have to think too hard about today - so I got out my teeny tiny sketchbook (3x5), the rapidograph set and some Derwent watercolor and inktense pencils. When I was in high school - I loved working with pen and ink. I didn't go anywhere without my pens and sketchbook. I don't know why I ever stopped - as there was a time I was pretty good with it. Rapidographs didn't exist - I used a simple ink pen with different nibs.

Rapidographs are really nice to work with as you don't have to change tips - there are 8 pens in the set all with different size tips. You can use India Ink, or even colored liquid acrylic ink in these pens. Today, I just used Gorilla Ink as I knew I was going to lay in some color with the watercolor pencils.
The watercolor pencils remind me of my Neocolors. You color on the pigment, and then with a brush, lay down water and watch the color flow. I think I could have a relationship with these. They take some getting used to - and mind you, I did not use watercolor paper because I was using rapidographs. The paper in my sketchbook accepted the water - but didn't allow me much time before it pilled.

Sabrina was in the studio today too, working on her journal and a few paintings to match her newly redecorated bedroom. Unlike when I'm piecing, or working on an art quilt, we were both able to work at the same table - which was nice. Lots of laughing, lots of singing and talking. A great way to spend a few hours on a rainy Monday afternoon!

I plan on spending more time with my old pen and ink set from high school. I'm going to dig it out tomorrow. I forgot how much I enjoy the simplicity of layering on dots, crosshatches and lines over bright white bristol. Ahhh the simple things in life.

I do hope you found some time for singing and laughter during your weekend, too!

Felting, Neocolors, Mixed Media Roving and Watercolors.....

Finished up the last two ACEOs that are going out to Lynn. It was nice taking a break from "serious" sewing to just experiment a little with roving and Neocolors.

Because Lynn mentioned she too like sunflowers, I'm sending her the next in my sunflower series, and also a little "shades of blue" mixed media (beads, roving, felt, piecing and a copper embellishment) freestyle card.

Here are the two cards are cards I received from Lynn ( Getting My Feet Wet.) I couldn't love them more. We decided on a flower and abstract theme.

This gorgeous red flower is machine felted wool roving on a felt background and the graphic, orange flower is watercolor which looks to be outlined in black ink. These are both beautiful cards and are fabulous additions to my collection. I have really enjoyed receiving (and making!) these cards.

Today I'm back in "production" mode, working on Sabrina's birthday presents. She's not around today so I have the afternoon to play with the skulls. I'm also working on a leaf piece for Carolyn. I've gone through all my silk dupioni and natural fibers and am starting to layout the background and have painted up some fiber sheets to start making the leaves. It should be a nice relaxing weekend once chores are done.

I do hope everyone gets in some good "family time" this weekend. I hope to spend some quality time with both kids and have at least one martini (or cup of Hazlenut coffee - depending upon my mood) on the front porch with my love.

Sunday's Stitches.....

Although it was girls' weekend and typically we spend much of girls' weekends it in the studio, this weekend we did not. We went shopping, we went out to eat, we went to church, we went out to eat, we watched movies, we went out to eat..... you get the point - NO CHORES (no cooking) this weekend, just fun.

While Sabrina was snoozing on the couch (during one of our rented movies - that SHE PICKED) I did manage to work on my Sunday's stitches project a wee bit. Not sure what it is, exactly, just wanted to put some of those stitches into practice (fly stitch, french knot, backstitch, chainstitch.) I think I'm going to keep elaborating on this one for a few weeks - 'cause it's really fun (although my hand stitching skills "really" need some work!) As I examine these - I'm almost tempted to stick to "machine" sewing - which I'm pretty good at, but hey - that is the purpose of Sunday's Stitches - PRACTICE . And I need A LOT of practice!

NOW...... can you keep a secret? This is the set up for the start of two of Sabrina's birthday presents. I'm not going to tell you what I'm making just in case she pops by to pay me a visit here. Suffice it to say -- I spent two days looking for just the right "skull" fabric and the perfect shade of "cobalt" blue. The skull fabric actually isn't too bad as it's a bandana print (which I like) and the skulls are a bit obscured. I'm not a big fan of the whole skull thing - but Sabrina is intrigued by them "artistically," -- so I indulge her.

And finally - a word about bootcamp. I packed my stuff up last night before I went to bed. Good thing - as I didn't sleep well last night in anticipation of my first day of camp. I tossed and turned all night. I did get up at 4:45 a.m. (without the alarm,) had a piece of grain bread with organic peanut butter (as we were told to make sure we eat so we don't pass out !!) got dressed, and off I went.

It was a blast! It really was. I can't believe how much energy I had at 5:30 in the morning - particularly after not sleeping well. I can see this as something I am going to be able to stick with because at 5:30 am - excuses NOT to work out really aren't available. I mean, what else are you doing at 5:30 a.m? It's not like something will "come up" and prevent you from your workout. Oh, and as for those other gals (and you KNOW who you are :) who were going to join me but backed out..... you're gonna be sorry!!!

Cathie's Going to Boot Camp..... (oh Crap!)

Yep - Monday morning, bright and early (5:30 a.m.) while y'all are still tucked in dreaming about color combinations, quilting patterns, stitching designs and cheesecake(!) I'll be sweating and crying during my first class of bootcamp. I've been reading about and hearing about Adventure Bootcamps that are popping up all over California and New York and we finally got one here in the Triangle.

After months (really it's been the last few years) of exercising (on and off) and drinking protein shakes - I still have not achieved the discipline I am searching for and know that I need to get to the level of fitness I desire. It's not coming easy to me like it did when I was younger. I need some hard core motivation and discipline - so I enlisted.

I met with my bootcamp instructor yesterday for a very um "enlightening" hour of getting weighed, measured and the highlight of the experience - getting measured with CALIPERS. CALIPERS - NOT FUN. You can't escape the truth - of the calipers - they DON'T LIE. By utilizing the measurements of the calipers, your age, and a few other hideously embarassing variables, my instructor was able to determine just how much of Cathie is lean muscle and how much of Cathie is pure fat. Um....... not good.

ON the upsdie - I've got my plan mapped out and I'm ready. I am SO ready. The bootcamp I've signed up for is a 4 week on, one week off - 5 day a week program with a gym membership thrown in. I plan on going to bootcamp at 5:30 and trying to get back in to the gyn in the afternoon at least three days a week for strength training and to ride my bike at least one day.

I've been reading Jillian Michael's books (all three of them) and I like her hard core approach. Jillian makes it very clear that you get out of fitness what you put in to it and a few 30-60 minute workouts a week just ain't gonna cut it if you have serious work to do. It's got to be a 24/7 commitment. But I already know that. I've done this before, successfully losing almost 40 pounds, and keeping it off for many years. I KNOW what it takes and it DOES TAKE the 24/7 approach.

Now that I'm older and have so many more responsibilities - it's so much harder. But I do know one thing - perseverance pays off. And I DO keep trying.

I won't be blogging about this journey, but I will post weekly updates on the sidebar - for accountability! So wish me luck as I go at this once again in a new direction - with a renewed sense of purpose!

Sabrina and I will be doing some girlie stuff and hanging out this weekend. We had planned on spending the weekend in Virginia Beach, but the weather is supposed to be stormy all weekend, so we're staying around here.

Do keep me posted as to what's going on in your neck of the woods!

Cutting up that Neocolor Piece....

I've started cutting up that Neocolor piece I painted a week or so ago. Made a few bookmarks adding fibers and beads and hand painted backing for Etsy and some ACEOs.

I've been enjoying sharing ACEOs with several artists from around the world. Every once in a while I get a comment on a post, or an e-mail asking if I'd like to exchange an ACEO, or I see an artist whose work I admire and I ask if they'd be interested in an exchange.

This is a really wonderful way to be able to experience other forms of art up close - to examine skills, technique and variation.

Speaking of technique, I am begining to notice a pattern with mine - all my stuff is starting to look the same. Am I in a rut?? I do believe I am.

After I finish these I think I'm going to force myself to go in an entirely different direction - but I'm not sure which direction. Just somewhere different.

The foundations for the ACEOs were painted with Neocolors or acrylic on muslin or peltex, then appliqued and threadpainted for detail.

What's so great about making these little cards is that they are not a huge investment in time or materials. I can experiment without the fear of waste. If something doesn't work out - I trash it and start again. I never painted on peltex for a background - I didn't think I would like it not being finished, but it came out pretty good.

As a "What if," I think I am going to use this Neocolor cut and applique technique and make a larger picture.

THEN I think I'll put the Neocolors away and go off in a different direction. I'm still cutting that Neocolor piece up.

Happy Mother's Day Mom....

Dear Mom.....
My family is so lucky that I had you for a Mother - because it is by your example that I have been shaped to be the Mother that I am. You taught me when to go easy, but when to be firm. When to scold, but when to laugh. When to help, and when to step back. You bestowed upon me patience, virtue, kindness and nurturing - not by "teaching" but by showing. Most of all Mom, you gave me unconditional love every minute of every day - and that is the most precious gift that a mother can give of herself.

It is my deepest wish that my life honors you and all you have done for our family by being the best parent I can be to Sal and Sabrina. That I teach them -- the lessons you taught me. And that I instill in them - the wisdom, patience and kindness that you instilled in me. Like me, they miss you every day - and talking about special times they have shared with you -- fills their hearts with joy.

So on this Mother's Day, I hope you know I love you Mom - we all love you. But I love you most -- for all that you have been and all that you continue to be -- in me.

Happy Mother's Day Mom.

Here are some of my favorite pictures from Mother's Days gone by.......

Happy Mother's Day to all of you Moms.

We have such an important job - lets all try really hard to get it right!

Beach Tent - by Cris Marlow

Ahhhh I do long to go to the beach to work on my tan line that is virtually non-existent since moving to NC from South Florida. In fact, I miss the beach so much so that Sabrina and I are heading over to Virginia Beach next weekend for a girl's weekend and bit of R&R.

How perfect is it that the AECO I received from Cris (pursuant to a trade) depicts a beautiful beach tent - on the coast (of either Oregon or California, Cris?) In my imagination though, it is on the Carolina coast and waiting for Sabrina & I.

My AECO was enclosed in a card featuring a picture of a painting by Cris entitled, "The Color of Sound and Motion" which looks like a place we visit often over on the Carolina coast. I had to look very closely at this photograph to see evidence that it was indeed a painting. The details captured made it a hard call.

Do go visit Cris and see her lovely watercolors and witness her amazing photography. Her work is beautiful and truly an inspiration!

Thank you Cris - for sharing your art with me.

Sunday's Stitches - May 2

Remember the colorful little Neocolor piece I was working on last week? THAT is what I decided to use for my Sunday's Stitches project this week.

Before I started stitching it, I ironed it on the HOTTEST setting for a few minutes to set the color. I couldn't wait to get started on this as it is so colorful and would give me a chance to use some of the yummy thread that I recently purchased from ThreadArt.

Originally I was going to hand stitch this, but I decided to free motion it instead and maybe do some hand beading in the end.

Good choice.

When I painted this piece, I deliberately painted flowers in separate "sections" as I knew I was going to cut this all up and use the different sections for different things. I like doing that - cutting stuff up and then doing something different with the pieces.

One section has tulips, another has some sun- flowers, one section has a giant sunflower and then I did some Gerbera Daisies. I still have to finish those daisies.

At this point I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do with all of these pieces, but I think a few postcards, at least one AECO, and one or two other small things.

I'm always sorry that I didn't make the Neocolor piece bigger. This is the second or third time I've done a Neocolor piece and wished I did it about twice the size.

Neocolors are hands down my favorite medium to work with and I've only scratched the surface with these. It stung a bit when I bought them 'cause they are a bit pricey - I paid over $100 for my set (I think they're around $160 for a set of 84) but they are worth every penny and I love love love them.

As for the free motion, I've got a long way to go - but I can see my stitching getting better every day.

Painting and stitching together - how cool is that. The ultimate form of self expression!

What do you have on your drawing table, sewing table, cutting table, long arm, short arm, or workbench??? And what is YOUR favorite art/sewing/painting supply?



Laugh as much as you breathe and love as long as you live.

Fat Inchies, Heart Pins, Gift Tags & Embellishments...

Here are a few of things I made as a result of an attempt to clear out the contents of my "box" of handmade fabrics, soy silk, painted canvas, etc.

I've been working on a big quilt for Sal and when I get bored with that, it's fun to take a break and work on some smaller things.

Almost everything here is made from fabric that I made myself using water the water soluble stabilizer method, hand felted fabric or soy silk fabric that I learned to make in a workshop last summer.

Making fabric with water soluble stabilizer is so easy and it really makes for some interesting projects. Let me know if you're interested in a tutorial and I'll think about putting one up.

These are all small pieces (the fat inchies measure about 1.5" and the hearts are about 3" across) that will be used as jacket and/or tote pins, gift tags (they make really pretty gift tags) and embellishments for journals, etc.

I've also been visiting your blogs quite a bit lately and there is some really great stuff going on out there. I have you guys linked over on my beside bar under "Feeds my Soul" because that's exactly what you do - feed my soul with your vision and your writing and your spirit: Carolyn and her artistic take on the world and its beauty, Katie and her watercolors, Acey's stitching, stories and wisdom, Lisa and her stunning beading, Mary and her humor (and stitching when she gets around to it!), Andrea and her Parisian characters and adventures, Jude and her Spirit Cloths and Jeanne with her stories and beautiful quilting -- you girls continue to inspire and enlighten me every day!

Thanks for That! Really.

XO

All Kinds of Stuff Going on.....

Been painting with inks and dyes in prep of some hand stitching projects for auction donations and gifts, etc. I like to use hand painted fabric for these types of projects if possible.

I am in love with cotton canvas (and this picture of Gizmo!) lately. I guess it's the texture - but it takes inks and dyes really well. At first I thought maybe not as it's so course - but it just sucks up the color - and keeps it vivid. This "brick" looking piece was using the glue gel resist and dyna-flows. I'm in the process of filling the bricks with seed stitches in matching colors.

This piece is Neocolors on muslin - a pretty big piece of muslin. I have several pieces coming out of this. Here's a "before" applying water and an "after" apply water.
Next I'm going to thread paint it with some metallic and rayon threads, and then cut it up. These pieces will be for some post cards and note cards for an auction "summer fun" theme basket at Sabrina's school.

Just a few pieces I painted in preparation of smaller projects. I finally got around to painting some cellophane and organic cotton batting with Lumiere. Can't wait to use these in something. Since I already had the painting "mess" out, I decided to paint up a few extra pieces of stuff for a special friend in Ohio who is experimenting with art collaging.

Finally, I've been meaning to try making some tyvek beads, so about two weeks ago I cut up some strips and melted them onto a skewer. (Carolyn has a wonderful tutorial on her blog if you'd like to get see the process and her beads are really, really pretty. )

I finally got around to painting them last week and sprayed them with varnish. After looking at Carolyn's tutorial, I decided to wrap some of them with metallic threads - I love that bit of detail. I think I'm going to do a huge batch of these and add painted detail and fibers to some of them. They make the coolest embellishments for art quilts. Some of my favorite quilt artists use tyvek beads in their work and you'd never know these are just little melted pieces of Priority Mail envelopes (don't tell my mailman!)

And finally, a few snapshots I took around the house yesterday morning - it was a gorgeous day and the sun was dancing around the trees and Gizmo and Tobie were dancing around the yard! I get up really early even on the weekends - and so enjoy sitting outside while it's quiet with the sun, the shadows, my coffee and my corgis.

Life is good!

I've Been Painting....

Canvas, duck cloth, cheese cloth, dryer sheets, batting, basically anything I can get my hands on.

I've got a few smaller projects in the works and have been working on Salvatore's quilt.

Weather in North Carolina is indescribably delicious. Perfect Harley riding weather, perfect sitting on the porch with husband and drinking coffee (or martinis!) weather, perfect sleeping with all the windows open under a light quilt weather, perfect drying painted fabric outside weather, perfect working in the garden weather, perfect playing frisbee with the corgis weather , need I say more?

What do YOU think this weather is perfect for???

Leaves II/IV

You may recognize these leaves as one of the first pieces I painted when I received my Caran d'Ache Neocolors. After free motion stitching, I finally backed it (with hand dyed cotton that I brought around to the front for the binding) and quilted it. I found the perfect tree branch, sanded it and stained it for the hanger and sewed two loops on the back to hang with the branch (which is one of my favorite ways of hanging nature pieces.) There is also a single sleeve across the back for invisible hanging.

I'm so please with how this came out. Neocolors rock!
Gotta do more with those - maybe this weekend.

Sunday's Stitches....

I decided that for Sunday's Stitches this week I would dig deep into the bowels of my "box" - you know, the box I mentioned last post - experiments gone wrong - experiments gone right - and try to use only stuff out of there. So I dumped my box out onto the floor and sifted through two years worth of experimentation to come up with these:



Painted Dryer Sheet
Handmade Soy Silk Fabric
Lumiere Painted Canvas
Turqoise Embellishment
(gifted by Teresa)
Perle Cotton

Painted Dryer Sheet

Organza

Acetate

Perle Cotton

Glass Bead

Painted Dryer Sheet

Dyed Cheesecloth

Organza

Melted Acetate

Beautiful Sequin

(gifted by Acey:)

Glass Beads

Painted Dryer Sheets

Fused Angelina Fibers

Hand Dyed Fabric

Acetate

Embroidery Floss

Painted Dryer Sheet

Dyed Cheesecloth

Lumiere Painted Canvas

Glass Beads

Painted Dryer Sheet

Fused Angelina Fibers

Wooded Heart Button

Embroidery Floss

I haven't made a dent in the contents of my "box," but it was fun digging through it and coming up with these little squares.

Notes to Self:

1. I absolutely need a "bigger" box (as this one is over flowing and it's hard to easily see what is in there); and

2. I need to go through my "box" more often. There's all kinds of cool stuff in there!

What am I going to do with these squares? I don't know. But I think now that I've decided I need to buy a bigger "box" for my experiments, perhaps I will use this box, for stuff that I've made out of the experiment box!

Carolyn knows where I coming from, as she so aptly put it in one of her recent comments-

"...chill, enjoy the processes and the learning curves, and those bits in the box will be the exact piece of "treasure" you need to finish off something one day!"

Thanks Carolyn - I think I'll do JUST that!!

Hey - What's in YOUR box???

Bad Girl......

Two weeks and no blogging.What in the world?

I just have not produced anything worth blogging about (other than my gorgeous crop of tulips!)

I was in and out of the studio last week - painting, burning, soldering, etc., but nothing great. Most of it just went in to the "box."

I have a "box" I keep in a closet in the

studio with my experiments - soy silk fabric, pieces of copper

painted duck cloth, melted organza with angelina fibers, fused fibers, tyvek experiments, etc., etc.

Many times Sabrina will play around with something and end up throwing it into the garbage - I go behind her and yank it out, putting it into the "box" and more often than not I end up using it for something.

Anyway, we did have a meeting with our art guild (Carolina Mixed Media Artists) last Thursday which is always inspiring. A month ago we were provided some atc boards to try and we were to bring back what we made with them and they are going back to the company that makes the boards and I think I heard someone say they are going to be auctioned off. Here are a few that we made to donate using molding paste, embossing powders, copper wire and painted and stamped images.

Right now I'm concentrating on two quilts I've been working on and will post pictures soon. I've ordered a really beautiful queen sized goose down comforter and I'm making a quilted duvet cover for it for my son for Christmas as he keeps asking me "where's my quilt, Mom?" And I've got a few smaller art quilts going -- again though, not enough progress to post anything.

In the meantime....

enjoy this amazing weather, go stand outside, look to the clouds, raise your arms up to the sky and thank God for making this beautiful Earth.

Sunday's Stitches - March 29th

Last month (?) Quilting Arts had a great article about glue gel resist batik-style dyeing. Considering how much I love painting on fabric I thought I would give it a try.

I already had everything I needed in the studio - Kona cotton muslin and canvas, Dye-na-flow dye - all I needed was the Elmer's School Glue Gel. After going to Walmart, Target, CVS - I about gave up then it dawned on me to go to Staples - they had it. I bought two bottles.

I washed a yard of Kona cotton muslin (I LOVE Kona cotton fine muslin) in hot water and dried it without a dryer sheet. I then cut a square and I did two experiments: (1) I doodled right onto the cotton with the glue gel on one sample; and (2) I placed a quilting stencil over the other square and brushed the glue gel in to the holes of the stencil.

After letting the glue dry thoroughly (I used a heat gun because I'm impatient) I painted on Dye-na-flo fabric dye and let it dry. Once it dried I washed out the glue gel (which was really easy) with hot water and Tide in the utility sink for about 5 minutes and rinsed really, really good. I then let it dry overnight.

Both samples came out great. So vivid and what a soft hand the fabric still has (unlike when I paint it with Lumiere or acrylic - even with textile medium it's a bit stuff.)

I will say that the sample that I used the stencil on (the purple swirls) -- the colors washed out a bit as that upper left corner was not totally dry before I washed it. (NOTE TO SELF: Next time - don't be so impatient and let the dye dry overnight or, out in the sun for at least 3 or 4 hours before rinsing out glue.) I am happy with both samples even though the one is light as it just adds more interest.

After drying the washed pieces, I decided to use the freehand doodle as my Sunday's Stitches canvas and began my hand embroidery and beading. I am excited about the possibilities with making my own fabric with the glue gel and Dye-na-flow. I am excited by the possibility of not only embroidering and quilting my own art quilts, but to also color the fabric myself - well that's just pretty cool.

Things I will do differently NEXT time:

1. Definitely have MORE patience in allowing things to dry thoroughly;

2. TAPE the stencil down to the fabric and tape the fabric down to a glass;

3. Play with watering colors down and maybe "spraying" dye on to fabric with a spray bottle; and

4. Draw out the design to be traced with glue.

Expect to see A LOT MORE of this technique. I can see it quickly becoming one of my favorites for journal covers, quilt squares, and embellishments for larger pieces.

Have a great week. I'll be stopping by to see what YOU are up to!

Laugh as much as you breathe,

and love as long as you live.

What Iffing on a Gloomy Saturday....

Elmer's Glue Gel,

Dye-na-flo,

silk dupioni,

organza, heat gun,

embroidery floss,

and beads.

Results posted tomorrow along with the return of Sunday's Stitches.

P.S. Quilting Arts came today.

Can't wait to look at it tonight.

Back in the Studio.....

I know, I know - it's been over a week since I've posted and probably over a month since I've posted something substantial - and I'm not alone.

I don't know what it is - "it" seems to be affecting not only me, but LOTS of YOU, as well. I'm burned out. I don't know if it's just a lack of "blogworthy" material, or if we're in a creative funk, or we're suffering from spring fever - or a combination of all three + more!

I know I have been inundated with work (the real estate business in North Carolina is really picking up - yeah!), doctors appointments, we've have had a house guest, and to top it off - we've been working like maniacs out in the yard getting everything ready (the garden, the landscaping beds, the hill in the back, fertilizing, trimming, on and on) for the growing season. By the time the work is done - I'm too wiped out to even think about painting, or drawing, or sewing. No energy, no inspiration, no ambition - NOTHING, NADA, ZIP!

To lift my spirits - my love surprised me with an unbelievably extravagant present -- a Kindle 2. Oh yeah! Talk about a happy girl - I can now carry around 1,500 of my favorite books in a hand-held device that weighs 10.2 ounces and is 1/3" thick. I can request a book and receive it within 60 seconds while floating on a raft in the Atlantic, sitting on the hood of my Jeep in the mountains, or - in the carpool line while waiting for Sabrina. How COOL IS THAT?! I've been waiting for this to come out for over a year. Ever since I heard of the Kindle 1 I've wanted it. Blaise, being the wise soul that he is said, "never buy the FIRST generation of ANYTHING!" And I'm so glad I waited for Kindle 2 . It's the best invention since grilled cheese - yeah, that's right I said grilled cheese (I'm from Ohio, remember?) I bought my dad one for Christmas - and he absolutely loves his too. (and trust me - THAT is one hard man to please!) Oh, and did I mention - if I'm driving - Kindle 2 can READ TO ME! Holy Cow!

Anyway, yes I have been neglectful of my blog, yes I have been busy, but YES I am going back to the studio this week and have been squirreling away ideas on napkins, torn pieces of paper, the backs of envelopes, etc. That's a good sign!

Whatcha' working on???