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Showing posts from 2014

Work in Progress

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Top photo is my bead journal for December.  Bottom photo is my crazy quilt block for December.  Actually, both of them I would like to do a bit more work on but I have run out of time.  I am ready to move onto new projects anyway.  2014 wasn't a particularly creative year for me.  Caring for my dying mother took a lot out of me.  More than I realized at the time.   I am feeling like my head is above water now and that my creativity is returning.  Happy New Year! I am linking with http://www.needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.ca/

Merry Christmas

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I created this snowflake in Kaleidoscope Kreator using a photo of one of my bead journals.  Pretty cool!  I haven't managed to get a lot else done though.   I have many ideas perking about using these snowflakes and look forward to being able to spend more timing creating after the holidays. I am linking with http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.ca/

I heart Macro

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Isn't this a burst of sunshine!  We have seen peaks of the sun far too rarely this last little while.  I am a solar powered girl and long to see the sun regularly. I am linking with http://www.shinethedivinecreativityisaspiritualpractice.com/ and http://macromonday2.blogspot.ca/

Another snowflake to share

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I have so much fun creating these snowflakes!  I also have a number of ideas for ways I want to use them in my art.  I am hoping that one of my ideas comes together in time for an upcoming show.  Please feel free to use this snowflake.  I would love to see what you do with it!

It is snowflake time!

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I have so much fun creating these snowflakes with Kaleidoscope Kreator.  I am glad to share them with you.  Please feel free to download and use for your art.  Just share where you got it from!

Work in Progress Wednesday

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Yesterday was the Grand Guild of Fibre Artists meeting.  I decided to bring my fibre book for show and tell.  I was very pleased with the favorable comments even though the book is very much in progress.  The comments spurred me into action.  I really enjoyed working on more pages and feel pleased with my progress. I am linking with http://pintangle.com/ and http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.ca/

Take a stitch Tuesday

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I am linking with Sharon B at  http://pintangle.com/  for the Take a stitch Tuesday challenge.  Even though Sharon isn't posting new stitches in December she is opening up a post so that we can leave a comment.  I have worked the Beaded buttonhole stitch on this piece.  It is interesting in that you can use numerous different beads with this stitch.

I heart Macro

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There is something quite peaceful about this image.  The gentle curve of the petal is compelling as well as restful to me.  I am linking with http://www.shinethedivinecreativityisaspiritualpractice.com/ and http://macromonday2.blogspot.ca/

New York City shopping finds

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I used Paula Nadelstern's web site to help me decide where to shop. http://www.paulanadelstern.com/fabric/guides/index.php   It is a great place to start. I mostly stayed with a color theme for shopping.  They are my favorite colors.  I probably already have way too much of these colors in my stash but oh well.  It makes me happy!  I figure I can do a project with these purchases and it will always remind me of the wonderful trip. The four pieces of fabric I bought at B&J on 7th.  They are silk chiffon and silk organza.  Oh how I love silk!  It was a nice store, helpful staff. The silk ribbons in the upper left corner are from Mood.  Yes, I got to see Swatch the dog.  Again helpful staff.  It is a busy store and well worth going there.  The prices on the silk ribbons were good. Just below the silk ribbons are some trims that I bought at Daytona Braids and Trimmings on 39th.  It is a small store that is jam packed with treasures.  The trims are sparkly which doesn'

Work in Progress Wednesday

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It is increasingly difficult to have work in progress at this time of year.  However I did manage to get a bit done.  These are three crazy quilt blocks from my projects this year.  I got them stitched together and one of the seams decorated.  I can see where some improvements can be made.  Not sure when that will get done though. I am linking with http://pintangle.com/2014/12/10/work-in-progress-wednesday-59/ and http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.ca/

Take a stitch Tuesday

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I am continuing with Take a Stitch Tuesday even though Sharon B isn't showing us new stitches for the month of December.  I totally understand why!  I am keen to go back and revisit the beaded stitches.  I am hoping the repetition will cement them in my mind.  I have done the Beaded Looped Cretan here.  You can find the instructions at  http://pintangle.com/2014/04/01/stitches-105-and-106-cretan-looped-and-beaded-cretan-looped/

I heart Macro

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Ah butterflies.  They are so beautiful.  The colors of this one aren't my favorite but the pattern is quite nice. I am linking with http://www.shinethedivinecreativityisaspiritualpractice.com/ and http://macromonday2.blogspot.ca/

Work in Progress Wednesday

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I haven't got a lot done this past week.  I have been doing a lot of research about NYC as we are going there tomorrow!!!!!   So excited!!!! This piece is an experimental piece I have been playing with.  I painted fusible web and adhered it to velvet for the background.  I think it look quite interesting.  I added needle felting, beads and stitching.  I am not sure how much further I will go with it. I am linking with http://pintangle.com/ and http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.ca/

Take a stitch Tuesday

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Although Sharon B is taking a break from Take a Stitch Tuesday for the month of December I have decided to continue doing it.  I am going back and revisiting some of the stitches I have learned over the year. You will find the instructions for the Beaded Feathered Chain stitch here   http://pintangle.com/2014/05/13/take-a-stitch-tuesday-112-and-113-feathered-chain-and-beaded-feathered-chain-stitch/    I have added it to my December bead journal project.

I heart Macro

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Some more of my weird  abstract macro experiments here.  I have have a lot fun just trying things out.  The ideas never seem to stop.  Not everything is successful but nevertheless I enjoy trying. I am linking with http://www.shinethedivinecreativityisaspiritualpractice.com/ and http://macromonday2.blogspot.ca/

Experimenting

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The other day I was digging through a box of experiments, I was hoping to find somethings to add to my fabric book.  I came across a stencil of trees that I had cut and got distracted from my book.  I had been wanting to use the stencil with spray paint mostly because I had cut it from cardstock.  I thought if I used spray paint it would give it a protective coating and make it more durable.  Anyway, I grabbed a couple of things out of the box to use as a base to spray.  Bottom photo is a stiff fusible interface I had applied transfer foil to.  I sprayed blue paint at the top of the stencil and white at the bottom.  I love the ethereal quality to it.  The top photo is a blue gelli print.  I had a build up of spray paint on the stencil so I printed it on top of the gelli print.  It is a bit hard to see the details but I really like the way it turned out.  It feels so good to be playing and experimenting.

Work in Progress Wednesday

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I am little late in getting this posted today because I had a very lovely visit with my niece and her beautiful baby girl.  What a lovely way to spend an afternoon! Top photo is my bead journal for the month of November.  It is truly a mixed media piece.  I started with a piece of shell a friend gave to me.  That set the theme.  I added some small shells, a shell button and some paper clay shells that I had made.  I also added a piece of a silk pod.  I created a crocheted and beaded spiral as well. Bottom photo is the progress I have made on my fabric book.  I wish I had more time to work it but it is progressing nicely. I am linking with http://pintangle.com/ and http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.ca/

Take a Stitch Tuesday

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This is the Threaded Cable Chain Stitch Sharon B. at http://pintangle.com/ shows us how to do this week.  I believe I have done the Cable Chain Stitch before so that wasn't difficult.  I did however have trouble getting the threaded part to be even.  I was doing okay and then something went wrong and  I couldn't get it back.  I refuse to allow myself to get too bent about out of shape about something not being perfect.  Done is better than perfect.  Moving forward.

I heart Macro

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This macro shot is of a glass button.  A whole new world opened up to me with this.  I have so many cool buttons I could really spend sometime photographing them.  I am linking with http://www.shinethedivinecreativityisaspiritualpractice.com/ and http://macromonday2.blogspot.ca/

Book pages

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After posting about my book cover yesterday I decided to look through some of my bits and pieces.  I have so many experiments that are not going to turn into a completed piece.  They are too good to get rid of though.  So I am looking forward to turning these into book pages.  It should be a cool book when finished!

Getting messy

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I have been itching to get my hands dirty!  Well, not really.  I hate having dirty hands, that is why I don't garden.  More like, I have been itching to get out some paint.  It feels all too long since I have played with paint and other messy art supplies. I gutted an old accounting text book.  That felt kind of good!  Sometimes I wonder how I ever found that interesting.  Anyway, with just the cover left I decided to paint, emboss, glitter and sparkle it.  It seems a fitting way to say goodbye to bookkeeping.  Not that I will ever totally say goodbye to that side of me.  Now I need to create some wonderful pages to go into this 'new' book cover.

Work in Progress Wednesday

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My November CQ block is coming along well.  It is really close to being finished.  Wow!  Being done before the end of  the month will be a new trick for me this year!  I hope I can do it!  It would be great to get a jump start on my December block. I am linking with http://pintangle.com/ and http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.ca/

Take a Stitch Tuesday

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Sharon B. shows how to do the beaded barb stitch at  http://pintangle.com/2014/11/11/take-a-stitch-tuesday-138-barb-stitch-and-139-beaded-barb-stitch/   It is a cool stitch and has a lot of potential.  I decided to try it on my December bead journal.  Yes, I am jumping a bit ahead as my November bead journal is almost done and this stitch wouldn't work with it.

I heart Macro

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My world is blanketed in white today.  As beautiful as it is I find myself thinking it just too soon.  Therefore today I post a macro shot full of color.  I love color! I am linking with http://www.shinethedivinecreativityisaspiritualpractice.com and http://macromonday2.blogspot.ca/

Blogathon Canada 2014

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Oh!  Yay me!  I figured out how to post the blogathon button above!  I am going to post the link as well as I am not fully confident the button will work.   http://sewsisters.blogspot.ca/     This is how it works LET'S CELEBRATE CANADIAN QUILTING BLOGGERS! Find new blogs, make new friends and win amazing prizes! Here's how it works: Each day host bloggers will introduce themselves and their work on their blogs. They will include links to more blogs from their province so you can visit those blogs as well. The host bloggers will also host a giveaway of some of their favorite goodies from our store so you have a chance to win every day of the week! Not only can you win prizes from our store on the host bloggers blogs, you can also enter giveaways on our blog during Blogathon week!

More nature studies

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Our mission this past week was to create a hand carved stamp.  Well, I have done that in the past and I am not super excited about it.  I decided to create a stamp using expanding sponge.  It starts off compressed, really thin ( top photo) so that it is easy to cut.  The middle photo I have added water to expand the sponge and ink to stamp it.  Bottom photo is how it looks stamped.  I am pleased with it.  I have to say that I resonate more with the Mixed Media Nature Journal book than the Keeping a Nature Journal book.

Work in progress Wednesday

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The top photo is my completed CQ block for October.  Definitely staying consistent with running late this year.  Lower photo is my start on my Nov. block.    The colors in the top photo are fairly true.  The colors in the bottom block are the same as the top but definitely not showing that way. I am linking with http://pintangle.com/ and http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.ca/

Take a Stitch Tuesday

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Sharon B at  http://pintangle.com/2014/11/11/take-a-stitch-tuesday-138-barb-stitch-and-139-beaded-barb-stitch/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Pintanglecom+%28pintangle.com%29   teaches us how to do the Barb stitch this week.  It is based on the buttonhole and I quite like it.  The top photo I used a fine metallic thread to whip the buttonhole threads together.  It didn't work all that well.  It was too fine to see it well.  Oddly it shows up the photo quite well.  I took it out and used a Kreinik Very Fine Braid.  You can see that in the bottom photo.  Again, oddly a little hard to see.

I heart Macro

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More of nature's lace.  It is some sort of seed pod that I found while walking in the forest a few weeks ago.  It is so cool! I am linking with http://www.shinethedivinecreativityisaspiritualpractice.com/ and http://macromonday2.blogspot.ca/

Nature study from my joy filled studio

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Just a simple feather.  I find it best to start small and simple as it has been a long time since I have done any sketching.  I have Stevie Wonder blaring in the background and my spirit is overflowing with joy.  It feels good!

Nature Journals

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I belong to a number of Yahoo groups.  One of which is Artists of the Roundtable.  The group's purpose is to work through an agreed upon book.  It has been a few years since there was a book that I wanted do with them.  This fall they decided to work through Mixed Media Nature Journals by L.K. Ludwig and Keeping a Nature Journal by Clare Walker Leslie & Charles E.  Roth.  Both of these books I already owned so I jumped in. Here is the link for Artists of the RoundTable   https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/ArtistsOfTheRoundTable/conversations/messages I am a bit behind in participating with the group.  Life can get in the way of art sometimes.  It is my intention to get caught up quickly.  The top photo is my travel journal supplies.  Bottom photo is the journal I have created to work in for this project.

Work in Progress Wednesday

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I have been stitching away at this piece for a long time.  I think the last time I posted about it I said I thought it was done.  haha!  Sometimes I wonder if artwork is ever completely finished.  Often times I just get tired of working on it and call it done whether I really think it is or not.  However, this piece I am still enjoying and  want to add more stitching to it. I am linking with http://pintangle.com/ and http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.ca/

Take a Stitch Tuesday

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Sharon B at  http://pintangle.com/  shows how to do the Beaded Knotted Buttonhole Band stitch.  It is such a cool stitch!  I love learning new stitches, especially beaded stitches.

I heart Macro

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I love finding lace in nature.  This leaf is just so cool!  I learned a way to recreate this in stitching a while back and really want to do some more of it. I am linking with http://www.shinethedivinecreativityisaspiritualpractice.com/ and http://macromonday2.blogspot.ca/

Her Cup Runneth Over

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Well, the show ends today.  Hopefully the silent auction sheets are full!  These are two of the gorgeous art bras  that are on display and for sale.  So fun!

Work in Progress Wednesday

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This is an experimental piece.  I have been adding embroidery stitches to it as I learn new ones.  I have no idea when it will be finished, maybe never.  I can see myself adding stitches to this for a very long time! I am linking with http://pintangle.com/ and needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.co

Take a stitch Tuesday

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The Knotted Buttonhole Band stitch is very cool!  I am really glad that Sharon B at  http://pintangle.com/  showed how to do it.  Mine looks a bit sloppy but it is still cool.