Technique Book Cover Art

Some time ago I posted about a mixed media exchange. I received about 40 half sheets of paper, each with a different technique for surface design, each completed by a different person. I wanted to put them all together in a book so I would be able to find them when needed. Each of the pages has directions on the back of the page detailing the steps to replicate their beautiful work.
I took a class taught by Judy Coates Perez at the Minnesota Quilt Show and decided that was the technique that would make a perfect cover for this book. I made the cover art soon after the show in June. Summer gets so busy with travel, yard work, getting sick (bummer!) but I did finally finish my book cover.

I didn't want to leave the edges of the metal exposed, because knowing me I would have cut myself at some point. I used to make fabric frames, so the front of my book is basically a frame. I used leftover fabric from a couch I re-covered, it's a faux leather. I think it looks really good with the metal. Now I need to start experimenting with some of the techniques in the book.

Have a creative day
Janet

Playing with mixed media

Awhile ago I joined a Mixed Media group. An exchange was initiated in the group to make altered paper. I made around forty half sheets of paper, all with the same technique. I sent my papers through the mail along with my return envelope and received forty different half sheets in return. Each of the sheets includes how-to instructions on the back. They are each a work of art! So many talented people out there, I can't wait to try all of these techniques. I'm planning to try some of them on fabric as well as paper.


Last week at the Minnesota Quilt Show I took a class called Heavy Metal Play Day, taught by Judy Coates Perez. It was a lot of fun, an entire day playing with designs on pieces of metal. I decided to use her techniques to make a cover for all of my altered paper techniques. It isn't quite finished yet but I just started yesterday. I need to buy some inks to add some color, and finish adding some texture to the background of the picture.



I had a wonderful time at the Minnesota Quilt Show, took three full days of classes. I've only taken one class before and that was four years ago. I am almost ashamed to admit I have never been to any show but the Minnesota Quilt Show. I haven't been quilting long, so four years ago was the first show I went to and that was only for one day, half of which was taken up with a class. Last year I went to the MQ show in St Cloud Minnesota but only for about half a day. That was a quick run through and see as many quilts as I could manage. This year I ran down between morning and afternoon classes to see all the quilts. Amazing work! This show is completely run by volunteers and they do an extraordinary job. Next year, I plan to do my part and volunteer for one or two spots. I have several big shows in mind to try to attend in the future. I think the AQS show in Des Moines would be good for a first big show.
Have a creative day
Janet

Minnesota Quilt Show

This week St Cloud, Minnesota is hosting the Minnesota Quilt Show, "Quilting in the Quarry"
I have only entered the show twice before this year, one quilt each of the past two years(pictured above). For some reason I went a little overboard this time. I have four quilts in the show.

The first is with Minnesota Contemporary Quilters. The theme this year was Melange a Trois. I just posted about this quilt recently, it is my Cathedral Quilt.


The next two are with SAQA Minnesota. One is the quilt I made for the rust dye competition, since mine wasn't selected for that exhibit I tried the SAQA exhibit instead. I used a fabric I had shibori dyed, the red circle with the blue and yellow on the outside. I than used an old fashioned popcorn popper, the kind you would use over an open flame. I rusted the center of the dyed fabric. I painted the petals with shiva paintsticks. And, there you have a Moulin Rouge Sunflower. This is one of my favorites.

The second is Grape Harvest and is a combination of photo transfer on fabric and metal, and using metal for the first time on a quilt. I used recycled diet coke cans and Arizona Iced Tea cans. I prefer the diet coke cans as the metal is thinner and easier to manipulate. This was a fun quilt to make.

The final quilt is in the non-judged portion of the Minnesota Quilters Exhibits. This is the first quilt I have completed on my longarm that has given me hope that I might actually be able to call myself a longarm quilter one day. I have new wheels for the back of my machine that have made a huge difference in the amount of control I have. I'm still not very good at sewing straight lines, maybe my next purchase to add to my machine will be the electric channel locks. The thing I like about the Innova is you don't have to be able to afford everything at once. It is easy to add on to the machine. The photo isn't the best since I am not used to taking pictures to show off the quilting. Maybe by the time I figure out how to take good photos, I will be at the point where I will not mind showing the details of my quilting.

Hope you get a chance to go to the show. The quilts are always inspiring.
Have a creative day
Janet

Go Native!

The theme for our Rosie Quilter challenge this month is Go Native! That can make me think of many ideas so it will be interesting to see what everyone comes up with. I've been working diligently on my seminole quilt. Man, that has a lot of pieces! I have all the rows finished now, just need the border and quilting.

I think the seminole pattern influenced my train of thought for the Go Native! theme. I immediately thought of Native American. I've been wanting to do something with a photo I took of Montezuma's castle when we were on vacation in Arizona.

I've also been wanting to use the ExtravOrganza that I bought several years ago. In case you have never used ExtravOrganza it is semi-transparent silk sheets for inkjet printing. You can see through to what is underneath. I put a skyline photo underneath that my husband took while we were in Arizona. I actually used the skyline right side up and upside down. I just thought it was a cool effect.

Metal and turquoise are two things I associate with the southwest as well. I just received a propane torch for Mother's Day!! How cool is that. So I am excited about heating up copper to change the color. I want to get some wire to make some things with it as well. Here is the metal I played with today. I was just weaving it. We used to make placemats out of construction paper when I was little using this technique.

I was supposed to have this done for tonight but I'm not quite finished. I did the hand stitching on the top but not the bottom yet. I want to add some turquoise beads all along the edge when I bind it. It's a little smaller than 8 1/2 by 11.
Have a creative day
Janet