Patience 2010

My sister liked my Joy piece for the word of the year so much that I asked her what her word of the year was going to be, and she said Patience.

This is the piece I made for her.

Patience: the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry.

This definition is machine embroidered on the bottom.

Making this piece has inspired me to be more patient, not an easy task at times.

Quilting Arts Reader Challenge "Let Out Your Inner Animal"

Here is my piece for Quilting Arts magazine Reader Challenge "Let Out Your Inner Animal"

The challenge was to express your inner self using an animal of your choice.

I choose a big pink elephant because I feel my inner animal is my creativity.

It is a powerful force always eager to burst out and face the next project or creative challenge.

I was not selected as a finalist, but greatly enjoyed makeing the piece.

To see all of the ones entered, click here:

Joy

The QuiltArt list had a discussion about a word for 2010. Instead of thinking about complex goals or resolutions, break it down to one manageable word as the year's theme.

I decided on the word Joy.

So far this year has brought me great joy. Just weeks into the new year my husband, who had been unemployed for over two and a half years got a job. We are both beyond thrilled with this news and excited to start the new phase of our life. He starts in 2 weeks.

Below is the first piece I made, when I was done it didn't "feel right." It now hangs in my office at work, so I can be reminded to find joy during the challenges of teaching teenagers.

I covered up a picture above our fireplace with some fabric and hung the Joy over it so I can look at often since I spend most of my time in the Living room/studio.

Here it is on my design board above my last piece, I thought it was an interesting combination.

I hope that your 2010 is filled with joy as well.

Rust-Tex Challenge Piece

This is my piece for The Rust-Tex Challenge

using hand rust dyed cotton fabric from Patty VanHuis Cox

It is based on this picture I took of my best friend 5 years ago at a party.

First, I changed it to black and white

Then I posterized it to accent the values
Printed an enlarged copy and traced in onto muslin fabric

Then spent several hours painting it with Jacquard textile and Pebeo opaque paints

Add the rust-tex fabric to the background and machine quilt

Finished it just in time for the challenge deadline

Homemade Holiday Ornaments

This year I decided to use up some scraps and make ornaments for friends and family.

I started with my pile of scraps from my fused pieces and attached them to a piece of muslin.

Then I put some angelina fibers over it to add sparkle.

I free motion quilted the whole piece then cut out shapes.

Satin stitched the edges to finish them off.

The satin stitching on the shaped pieces was a bit challenging, so I moved on to circles.

I added InnerFuse to the layers for some stiffness and individualized some when possible.

They looked lovely on the Christmas trees that I had the pleasure of seeing in person.

So far it seems that our friends and family have greatly enjoyed receiving their ornaments.

Check out my friend Colleen's blog to read about her Top 4 Christmas Cards of 2009, and see mine along with our homemade card.

How a Belly Dancer Triptych is Created

It starts with a moment that moves you,

and the thought, I have to make this into a quilt

You take your poor quality pictures and crop,

edit, play with color and value to come up with 3 images of the dancers

Posterize them to accentuate the values in Elements

Make them black and white

Do it again

And again

Print them to desired quilt size, tape together, you like it

but, realize it is not enough

Print color posterized on 8.5” x 11” paper

Print original photos in color on 8.5” x 11”
and think...

Use a light box to trace each figure from original picture on clear plastic,

then trace in the values using the posterized pictures

Scan clear design, print to desired quilt size, and tape together

Print on white 8.5” x 11” paper

Color in with colored pencils, old school style, to figure out colors and values

Spend a lot of time figuring out the right fabrics for values

Trace onto tracing paper

Tweak some values and number on template, flip

Get to work with Wonder Under, trace, press, cut, assemble,

press to hold, repeat, repeat, repeat…

Realize, this is going to take a long time,

but know it will totally be worth it in the end

This is just the beginning.

Primary Chairs

Here is my second chair for Adaptations.

It will be part of a series of 3 chairs called, Primary Chairs

becasue they will be yellow, red and blue, the primary colors.

I wanted the chair to have a white box on it.

To figure out the 2 point prersective for the box

I used tape to create the lines to the 2 vanishing points.

Using the angles of the seat on the chair I was able to figure out the vanishing points.

I used tracing paper to sketch out the cube.

Shiva paint sticks were used to create the shadows.

Black tulle was used to create shading on the cube.

Here are the two chairs together.

The white box represents faith.

The rocks on the yellow chair represents the differnt things or people who help keep you balanced when life is not.

This is a weird shot of the box from a severe right close up angle.