Landscape Quilt

On The Way

I finally got it out of my basket (it's a large basket) of unfinished quilts. All it needed was to be appliqued, quilted and binding added. I decided to use different quilting designs for each hill (or mountain). I think this piece depended on the quilting to give it life. Now, I love it! It's a small quilt, only 8" x 9", but it has a big impact. I am calling it "On The Way" because it reminded me of the mountains we use to see when we traveled to the beach from Ohio. Once we got through the mountains, I felt like we were finally on our way to my favorite place. After I quilted it, I discovered it had another meaning for me and that is I think I finally feel like I am on my way to discovering what I'm suppose to be doing in my art work. It seems I have been at the start of my journey for a long time. I keep trying out new ideas, taking classes, reading lots and always waiting for the right moment or time to come along. Waiting for that right moment has kept me from moving onward toward my goals. Of course, taking classes, and discovering new techniques have all helped me and I will continue that. But I have been using them for an excuse to "stay in my mountains" and not move forward toward my goal. At some point, you have to step on the gas and see where the road takes you. Hopefully, it will take me to the beach. : )

Fun In The Sun

This is a new ATC I recently made, "Fun In the Sun". I decided to combine stitching and paper on this one. I love this stamp by Time To Stamp. I added some ric rac and punched out a gold star. The bubble on the star is one of the clear rain drop stickers.
I hope everyone has a fun, safe Memorial Day weekend!

Happy Birthday!

Today is our daughter's birthday! Happy B-Day, Traci! I made her this card but couldn't post it until she received it in California. While she was here visiting recently, we gave her her birthday present. The picture of her is either her first or second birthday. I will have to find the original to be sure. (This is one I had on the computer). She's still our little sweetheart.

Happy Birthday, Trace! : )

Almost Connected

"Almost Connected"

detail

While looking at on-line pictures of a current quilt exhibit, I saw a quilt that reminded me of my quilt, "Almost Connected" (Sold), that I made in February, 2005. So, I perused my Adobe Photoshop Elements and found the picture I had taken. I was really into circles at that time. I think I may make another one because I liked it so much. I made it for the "Keiko and Friends" exhibit by Laura Wasilowski. It's posted on this website with the other art quilts if you want to take a look. There are some wonderful quilts there to inspire you. Sometimes, it's nice to be reminded of the good things you made in the past.

I just finished cleaning out my studio closet. Someone could write a book on studio closets. Mine is actually a bathroom to be...meaning all the waterworks pipes and vents are there. But if I turn it into a bathroom, where would I put those necessary things like board books (I may alter them one day), latch hook rug canvas (it makes a cool stencil), empty heart-shaped valentine candy boxes (I saw something somewhere on the web for turning them into something), boxes of Easter egg dye (it dyes tags and other things), and other necessary items? I did use my label maker and labeled the clear stacking drawers and containers. One nice thing I did let go of was all my old quilt magazines (some from the 90's!). I just tossed them all in the recycle bin. I won't let go of my Quilting Arts or Cloth, Paper, Scissors. There is always an article or two that I re-visit in those publications. Maybe I have Spring fever.

Stencils...and Masks

This pear stencil, of a photo I took, was cut using freezer paper. I then ironed it to canvas and painted the pear using Golden fluid acrylics. Then, I masked it and sprayed the background with Tsukineko's Walnut Inks and added more Goldens. I machine quilted it and then added a binding. The tag is painted canvas and stamped. Above: The pear stencil

This one is done on canvas, also. It is a mask of my beach bird taken from one of my photos. The background is painted with Golden Fluid acrylics and I added some swirl stamps. Then I place the mask over it and sprayed it with the Tsukineko Willow Walnut Ink. (Thus the green bird mask below, which actually gives me more ideas as I love green birds). I don't know what I will make from this piece, maybe a journal cover.

Too cute green beach bird...wouldn't it be cool if God made some real ones this color? : )