New Work!

"Inch by Inch"

This is my latest work. It is fabric "inches" mounted on stretched canvas (5" x 5") that I painted and stenciled. The theme for the Take It Further Challenge is "little details" so I thought a way to use my inchies would be great. I had made the "inchies" while I was visiting my daughter in California last year. They were for an "inchies" swap (1" x 1"). Not all the people who were in it completed their inchies, so I had this many left. They are fabric bases sandwiched with batting between the layers and beaded centers. The edges are buttonhole stitched. I finally found a way to display them and it creates a nice memory of my visit to California! It is always nice to have mother/daughter time. Sometimes it's the little things that count. I love the look of using the stretched canvas because it gives the piece a 3-D look.

Inchies are back

I just finished making this new set of inchies for a swap. It is mostly all done using pigment or dye ink. I used a 1" and a 3/4" punch this time. It really saved a lot of time. I use to cut them all by measuring with a ruler and using a rotary cutter. You wouldn't believe how many I threw away from not quite cutting it straight. Now, it's just a simple punch!

I have been making a list of what to take to the beach when we go on vacation in 10 days. Our hotel room or I should say beach bungalow has a full kitchen so that makes it easy for us to cook our meals. One thing we have found out is that vegetarian meals are hard to find in lots of restaurants near the ocean. So we take extra cooking items. I love the big rocking chairs they have on the deck outside each room. We love to sit there at night watching the ocean and listening to the waves. Here is a recipe that I will share with you that is so easy and yummy, too!

Italian Sausage Feast
(2) Boca veggie Italian sausages cut into 1/4" slices
(1) Red Bell Pepper (or yellow or orange) cut into 1" chunks
(1) Green Bell Pepper cut into 1" chunks
(1) medium onion cut into 1" chunks
1/2 tsp. basil (add more if you really love it)
salt and pepper to taste
Cook the veggie sausage slices in oil, flipping to brown a bit on both sides. Add the peppers, onions and basil. Cook on medium heat, stirring until veggies are a bit tender.
Serves 2-3.
Serve with Mashed Cauliflower
Here's how I make it: I steam one package of frozen cauliflower until tender. Use the spray margarine...spray 6 sprays into the cauliflower. Add a bit of Fat Free half and half cream. Whip with a mixer. (I use a hand held blender). You won't be able to tell the difference in this and potatoes.

Tiny Fabric Art

These are tiny (1") squares of art. They are called "inchies". They are made just like a quilt. I placed batting between 1 1/2" squares of batik fabric. Then, I beaded through the top and batting. I ironed "Heat n' Bond Lite" to the backing and ironed to the top/batting layers. (note: I usually use Wonder Under when working with batiks, but it was OK to use Heat n Bond for the back of these) Then, I trimed to 1" and handstitched the edges using a buttonhole stitch and two strands of floss. I actually got these all beaded while I was in California.

You have to be crazy to work here!

These are the new "inchies" I just finished for a swap. The theme is floral. I think it took me longer to make these than a quilt. The background is a base of watercolor paper. Then, I paint, collage using tissue paper, metallic paints and whatever happens to be on my work table at the time. (just kidding) But Taylor (my cat) likes to sit on the table now and watch me make these. As soon as I leave the room, they become hockey pucks for her. She is just too cute! Now, I have signed up for another swap, but fabric "inchies" with a color theme. I chose aqua. They have to be highly embellished with beads and goody things. I figured it will be a good thing to work on while I'm in California! Hooray! We leave in 8 days! OK, time to go do some laundry and iron some shirts (just in case hubby is reading). I have a really cool quilt top hanging on my design wall that I can't wait to finish. I'll try to take a picture tomorrow.