ATC's and rusty stuff, MCQ quilt for show

I finished my first ATC (Artist Trading Card). It was really fun to make. I thought I took some photos as I was making it to show the process but I guess that was only in my mind. Next time, I will. Picture a simple flat piece of copper, 2.5" x 3.5". That is where it all began. It was shaped, painted, backed and stitched. Above is the card I sent and below is the card I received. I love the one I received it is called Behind the Garden Fence.

Here are a few photos of my rust dyed fabric from the hot humid days we had last week. I love this one. I know I could never make one exactly like this and that is one of the things I appreciate the most about rust dyed fabric.
This next one was hand dyed before I added the rust.
And a simple washer can add a cool touch of dimension to your fabric.

I don't think I ever posted a photo of my quilt for the Minnesota Contemporary Quilters challenge. This years theme was Twin Cities on the bias. We were supposed to show something about the Twin Cities (Minneapolis, St Paul) that shows our bias for one or the other. I created a map of the two cities and printed on fabric some photos of a few of the more notable buildings in the area. The only building with color is the photo of the Textile Center. That is my bias in the Twin Cities area.
Have a Creative Day
Janet

High humidity! It's good for...

When I woke up today the humidity was over 90%. Not a fun day outside unless...you are a tropical plant. The hibiscus on my deck is loving the heat and humidity. It has more blooms than I have ever seen on it's little branches. Just gorgeous to look at from my air conditioned house.

It is also perfect weather for rust dyeing fabric. I dug through my stash and found some fabric that was dyed and some fresh new white fabric, some silk and some cotton. It is all wrapped in plastic on my driveway right now. Do you think my neighbors wonder about me? The answer is, Yes! Now I am hoping it doesn't rain before it has time to leave an impression.

I have two different grates, some rail road spikes, an old pan, a popcorn popper (the metal kind you would use in a fireplace), and a few nails and washers. Don't know what I will use these fabrics for in the future but I couldn't pass up the chance to make something.

Now it's time to do some inside art while I cool off a little. The 'feels like' temperature is 101, not my favorite time of the year. I need to make an artist trading card for an exchange. I plan to make something with metal to practice what I learned in my class at the Minnesota Quilt Show.

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

Encaustic Wax

I have been absent for almost two months but that doesn't mean I haven't been busy creating. Just the opposite is true. Lately I've been working on my house and yard, weeding flower gardens, planting new flowers, painting our deck and adding a few new shrubs. So nice to be outside after a long, cold, extremely snowy winter. I went away for a quilt retreat with Minnesota Contemporary Quilter's one weekend in May. I will have to show you photos of what I worked on while I was there. I went to visit my mom a time or two. One of the visits we celebrated her 93rd birthday! We managed to get 19 of us together at her nursing home for the party.

In between all of those things I finished my quilts for the Minnesota Quilt Show and a challenge quilt for my small group. I have my first solo show at the the City Hall in my town. It's exciting to see my work hanging up in this beautiful space and is inspiring me to do more and make it better.

One of the fun experiments I have done lately is play with encaustic wax. It is very fun and you really can't make anything that looks bad because you can re-melt the wax and change it until you like it. I like the landscape images I can create with the wax. I just like landscapes, and to find a new way to create them is exciting. About a year ago I bought a video and tools to learn how to work with this medium. But, it sat, and sat and sat on my shelf. I kept saying that I was going to get to that project but kept pushing it back.

At our March SAQA meeting we talked about goal setting. My example goal that I wanted to accomplish was to pull out that video and play. I guess writing it down as a goal is what it took. The next week I pulled it out and played for an entire afternoon.

Here are some photos from that day. I have since taken one of the landscapes scanned it into my computer, printed it on fabric and quilted it for the SAQA exhibit at the MQ show.

Here are my rolling hills
These are a little higher peaks

These are higher and more distant

This one is a sunset on a canvas, I like the metallic wax!
This is one of my son's favorites. It looks a little like dracula's castle, way up on the hill.
The video I have was created by Michael Blossom, I had so much fun I just bought another book by him to take my landscape to another level. Can't wait to play again, this time I will pencil it in my calendar in the near future.
Have a creative day
Janet

Mixed Media and Postcards

My postcards for the Irish Patchwork Society are finished. I will get those off in the mail tomorrow so they are sure to arrive long before the end of May, which is the deadline. You still have time to make one or two and get them sent. They will be in two shows in Ireland and than sold to raise money for breast cancer research.

I made three postcards in loving memory of my mother-in-law who had cancer three times. I also made them for my Aunt Alice Marion(who inspired my crafting), my cousins, Suellen and Beth, my father-in-law, and my friend Joni. For the survivors and for the memories left behind, love you all.


I also made 40-5 x 8 sheets of altered cardstock for the mixed media group I joined. There are approximately 40 people in this exchange. We each chose a technique for altering our own cardstock. We send our sheets to one wonderful person who will put one of each persons in an envelope and send it back to us. Each of the sheets has an explanation on the back explaining the process used. I'm excited because this is very new to me and now I will have a wealth of information at my fingertips. With visuals!

I stamped my paper randomly to add some depth to the background. Next I put a wash of acrylic paint on the paper. While it was still wet I sprinkled rock salt on the paper. The rock salt absorbs some of the pigment creating some interesting little shapes on the paper. Let the paper dry thoroughly and than remove the salt. I've used rock salt on fabric before too but not for a long time, have to try that again.

Have a creative day
Janet