Beads

I've been trying to learn a little more about adding beads to my quilts. I have a book by Nancy Eha called Bead Creative Art Quilts (if you go to this link you can enlarge a photo of the beaded coil from the book, it is stunning). Beaded coils add dimension and texture to a quilt so that is one of the techniques I have been trying. They're kind of fun, it's relaxing to sit and work on this project.
Nancy's book has so many wonderful photos, when my eyes need a rest from beading I page through her book again trying to decide what to try next.
I'm not sure what I did to make the color so different in these two photos. They are both the same quilt. It's really about half way between the two. I did take the photos in the evening so the light wasn't the best. Maybe I used the flash on one and not the other.
Have a Creative day
Janet

I won the pendant!

I just found out I won a pendant offered by Beth Wheeler on her blog. I am thrilled! I know just the person who deserves this necklace. The necklace was made by Phyllis Crawley from South Bend, Indiana. She sells them for $16 each with $10 going to the Susan Komen Foundation for breast cancer research. Phyllis has an etsy shop where you can purchase this necklace or others.

http://www.redbuddesigns.etsy.com

I didn't win the tiara contest that Nancy Eha held. You should go an check out the winning tiara's. They really are amazing.

I just started experimenting with printing on cans. My son likes Arizona iced tea so that is what I have used for my first experiment. It's pretty interesting! I can't wait to try more.

Have a creative day

Janet

This and that!

I had a nasty cold for over two weeks. It drained all the creativity out of me. That's my excuse for not blogging, and I'm sticking to it. Fall is creeping in!

I've finished a few things in spite of my lack of good health. I had a lot of fun making my tiara for Nancy Eha's challenge. You'll have to watch for your chance to vote for your favorite entry. It looks like there are going to be quite a few. I tried a few things that I have never done before with beads. Maybe this will inspire me to get brave enough to add more to my quilts. Here are a couple of close-up shots. I am the Countess of Colour as I tried to add lots of colour to my tiara. I also just love bright colors, so it seemed fitting.

I finished a very small art piece for the member's only exhibit at the Textile Center. The exhibit isn't until January but I needed to turn in a photo or two and my admission form about a week ago. This will be the third year I am a member of the Textile Center but the first I have submitted something for this show. They do the member's only show every year but the first year I didn't know about it until it was too late. Last year we had family conflicts with my finishing a piece. So, this year I was determined to enter something. I submitted it on the day of the deadline. So next year my goal is the day before the deadline. LOL They don't like to have the pieces shown other places before the show, but I promise I'll show it in January.

I'm also finishing up my postcards for the postmark'ed art group. Should be done with those soon. Here is my tree bark. I used three layers of sheer fabrics, put on my mask and melted them with my heat gun. It's fun to use tools! I wouldn't do this without a respirator mask and the great outdoors to mitigate the fumes.

Two more group of cards to do. Thread painting and the last group will be anything goes!

.....hmmmm.

Have a creative day

janet

Postcards

I finished up some postcards. I completed my monochromatic postcards for the Valerie Hearder Landscape group. This one happened to be an international exchange as all five of us are from different countries. It is fun to get these little connections all around the world. Check out my postcards received as well since I am always adding to those. I just added 6 or 7 of the latest received cards. They should all be labeled now too. If you click on the slideshow of cards it will take you to my picasa site so you can look at the postcards in more detail. Here is my "Blazing Sunset." Remember you can click on the photos in my blog to get a larger image too.

I've also finished my leaves postcards for the Postmark'd Art group. I pounded leaves in the fabric. Discharged the spots with bleach. Couched a thread for the center vein, and did a tiny zig-zag stitch on the edge as the edge of the real leaf looked a little ruffled. I debated what to do with the white background because it seemed too plain to me. I decided to use another of those stitches on my machine that seldom gets used. Here is a photo of the original leaf and a photo of my postcard.

Now I need to make my tiara. I am doing Nancy Eha's challenge. I need to make a tiara for myself and come up with a name. Any suggestions for a name would be appreciated. For instance: "Duchess of Scattered Thoughts" as that is how I feel lately. It should be fun and she has great prizes offered. I also have three more sets of postcards to make. I need to re-create some bark, make some thread painted postcards, and an anything goes group. I've been looking for ideas for my thread painting. I have done a little thread painting but not a great deal so it won't be too elaborate but I think it will be fun. Have a creative day. janet