An Abundance of Art in the Mail

                                                 

Les Alyscamps, Van Gogh by Debra

I am getting behind posting photos of the postcards I have received.  There is something almost magical about opening your mailbox, expecting nothing but junk mail and bills, and viewing a little work of art.  Totally brightens my day!


I have two more Van Gogh's, two steampunk, one music, and two split complementary landscapes!  Bring on the Ooohs! and the Aaahs!  because they are all amazing.  I feel so lucky to be able to exchange with such talented people.  These first cards are all from Postmark'd Art.

Les Alyscamps, Van Gogh by Debra

Willows at Sunset, Van Gogh by Sarah Ann

Steampunk Dragonfly by Dian

 I had to show you how this card arrived from New Zealand.  Very clever way to protect those little metallic pieces on the card.

Steampunk with protective cover

Steampunk beginning to remove cover

Steampunk by Evie

clear cover says "Protective cover Just unpick!"

"Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Leah

 The next two cards are from the Val Hearder Landscape group.  Gorgeous works!

Split Complementary by Susan

                               
                                     

Split Complementary by Lisa

Have a Creative Day
Janet

April BOM and more Van Gogh's

water lily continued

The BOM (block of the month) for the Craftsy class involved hexagons.  I have never made a block with a hexagon before and honestly, I don't know if I ever will again.  A little to much time involved in this block.  It's not even the time really, I like to work on projects that I can take time to do the little fussy things that can add something to the character of the final outcome.  The outcome didn't seem to justify the time for me.  Maybe if I had tried to create my own designs with the little hexxies I would have enjoyed it more, so possibly I will try again sometime and see what I can make.  But for now, here are the two blocks for April.

Hexi stripe block pattern

Sunny with a chance of hex

I have received two new postcards for the Van Gogh group in Postmark'd Art.  A portion of Starry Starry Night that was felted on an embellisher.  
       

Starry starry night by Frankie

                     
A cypress tree with wonderful quilting and sparkly tulle.  Both are true works of art, I think Van Gogh would be proud.

Cypresses by Debbie

                                 
Have a creative day
Janet

New Postcards and a sneak peak

beginning of a water lily

I have received two new pieces of art in the mail.  These tiny 4" x 6" works are gifts from very talented artists.  I love the smile it brings when I open my mailbox to find something other than junk mail or bills.  It makes my whole day brighter to know that someone took the time to send this delightful card my way.

Steampunk by Debra

Debra's take on the Steampunk theme is wonderful.  I keep picking it up and examining it.  I see something different every time.  A lot of work went into this card and it truly is amazing.  Wish you could see it in person because the photo doesn't do it justice.  I am very fortunate to know this artist in person as she is a member of Minnesota Contemporary Quilters. 

Van Gogh by Suzanna

Suzanna's Van Gogh is quite literally a "piece" of art.  She created an entire Van Gogh painting and than (gasp) cut it apart into eight segments to mail to each of us.  I have the upper left corner.  Love this idea!


Here is a sneak peak at my next painting project.  This is the photo I am using.  I'm trying to create a series of quilts from photos I took while on a city garden tour.  I plan to use this series when I have my next show at Central Park in Woodbury.  I loved the water gardens and would like to have my own some day.  In the mean time...

red water Lily by Janet Hartje

Here is the part I am painting without paint.

unpainted fabric

Here is the beginning of the paint process.  This one is a little more complex and will need more time than the others I have done.

beginning of a water lily

Have a creative day
Janet

More looping and new postcards

                                                 

cell phone pouch

Still working through the lessons for the beta class I am taking with Donna Kallner.  I'm really enjoying learning how to do these techniques.  To my inexperienced eye it resembles crochet, the biggest difference is I have never been able to learn how to crochet.  This lesson I learned how to make different shapes, such as rectangles and circles. I also learned other methods for adding the yarn or fabric or waxed thread.  So much fun!  I've added Donna's book to my wish list so I can continue to learn after the class.

Here is the first thing I did in this lesson, a little rectangle.
                         
Here is the last thing I did with this lesson, at least for now.  I know I want to make something using fabric strips too.  I made this little pouch.  Not perfect by any means but I really like it.  I just have to add a button.  Donna made hers a little larger and added a strap as well but this fits my cell phone, so other than a button I'm calling it done.

cell phone pouch

I wanted to show you two more postcards I received as well.  The first is from Vivian in California.  This was for the Steampunk exchange and I think she captured it perfectly.  I love the colors she used too.

Steampunk

            
The second is from Jan in Nebraska.  Hers is for the Van Gogh exchange.  Sheaves of Wheat.  Just gorgeous depth to this card.

Sheaves of Wheat

Thanks Jan and Vivian!


Have a Creative Day
Janet

Looping and the beginning of a Van Gogh

I have been taking a beta class online from Donna Kallner.  I took a class on photo transfer that she taught at the Textile Center in St Paul a number of years ago.  I really like her as a teacher.  She is more of a learning enabler if that makes sense.  She doesn't say "It has to be done this way."  She presents the material, gives you examples to make for learning the technique and tells you to follow your intuition.  Her videos and pdf lessons are very clear and I would highly recommend her class.  First was a little pouch made of hemp, because I didn't have the recommended material of Irish Wax linen thread.
  
                                           
Next I learned how to increase and decrease stitches by working around this sea shell.
                               
I made a small round of loops.
                                 
Finally I covered one of the jars from my sewing room.  It's fun and I still have two lessons to work through.

     

                         
I've also been working on my Van Gogh themed postcards.  I still have to finish adding the flowers to most of them and when the paint is dry I will do a little stitching.

                                 
Have a Creative Day
Janet

In Remembrance

November's theme for the ATC's is "in Remembrance". I finished my card today so I thought I would share it to thank those of you whom I can't thank personally. I know I have many people in my own family to thank for all of the freedom I have today. In loving memory, I thank my dad(Air Force) and Harvey(Navy) (WWII) and Dick(Air Force) (Korea). I thank my brother John, cousin Doug and his son Mike who were all members of the National Guard. My brother Jim(Navy) and sister Judy(Army) for their service in Vietnam, I know you never received the proper thank you, you deserved. My brother-in-law Joe(Air Force) and nephew Mike(Marines) for their multiple tours in Iraq. I hope I am not missing someone, but know that you are all in my heart today as well as the hearts and minds of a grateful nation.

My ATC is a miniature version of Van Gogh's "Field with Poppies." I filled in the field with tiny red beads for the poppies and I added a little frame to make it more like his work of art. In America we use the poppy more for our Memorial Day in May. Many of the people in my group are from other countries. The organizer is from England and today is Remembrance Day in England and Canada as well I believe. Here it is called Veterans Day and we are thankful to all veterans for their current or past duties.

"The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month marks the signing of the Armistice, on 11th November 1918, to signal the end of World War One."

Have a creative day
Janet