Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Autumn Greeting

More quilted postcards...
painted white muslin fabric with acrylic paints
using a brush to quickly blend colors.
I hung the fabric up to dry overnight, and
pressed with an iron on the back side the next day.

Painted muslin was then stamped with black acrylic
using hand-carved stamps, painted free hand with a brush,
and details drawn in Sharpie permanent marker.
Some hand quilting through top two layers
(batting and the painted muslin.)
Machine quilting through the 3 layers of
muslin, batting and cardstock backing.
Zigzag stitch around the outside edge.
We'll see if the puffy results makes it
through the U.S. mail. I have received
wonderful PCs from others, and most seem
to have used interfacing as the "batting"
in between layers, and therefore more flat.

If you try machine quilting on paper, keep in
mind not to make stitches too close together,
as it creates an almost "perforated" area
which could tear easily. The paper backing
helps to make the postcard stiffer and presumably
more likely to make it through the mail system...

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Collage Rebirth


Make a color photocopy of one of your collages
at a local office supply store,
then modify it for a new composition
and purpose. This one will be
applied to the front of a composition book,
to be used as a journal.
This collage was from my art journal in 2008.
The little photo of 3 girls (Digital Collage Sheets.com)
in the upper right covers the original face
I had painted. The quotes were added as
a reminder to be open, positive, and
accept yourself as you are...

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Art Journal Pages


Had fun doing the images on these pages,
but for some reason "writer's block" struck...
so used some quotes that I found inspiring.
Watercolor background...


Assorted scrapbook paper snippets
adhered to outside borders, magazine clippings
of flowers and the girl's body. I drew the head
and glued it above the body, having fun with
the exaggerated proportions.
Doodling and writing added with
Micron Pigma pen. A few bits of added
color in Sanford Uniball gel pen...

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Quilting Art

Sketch for a baby quilt that I am working on...
all cotton fabrics, hand-pieced and hand-quilted,
for a new granddaughter on the way!
As usual, I bought extra fabric, "just in case"
and now have leftovers for other projects...


Tips of fingers get calloused and a bit sore
from quilting, even with the use of a thimble,
but the quilting is my favorite part.
(Basting is my least-favorite part)
Stuck a corner of the quilt in the scanner,
so not the best image but you get the idea...
hope to post photos when it's done--
hopefully in time for the baby shower!

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Mini collages


Painted papers mounted on black.

















They measure 1 and 1/2 inches including black frame.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Heart Series


Collages made from painted papers...


Acrylics, watercolor and crayon



Black fine-point marker



paint applied with paintbrush,
and some white applied with palette knife...


Inspired by a friend's poetry.


Life is full of color!

Friday, August 21, 2009

Rose Petal Soup



Here is a sketch done in 2004, reborn as a watercolor (and acrylic) in 2009. This celebrates the visit of a very sweet little girl who took some old roses ( I should have thrown them away before my visitors arrived...they were pretty wilted) and removed all the petals to make "rose petal soup!" I thought perhaps she had read it in a story but turns out it was her own creative recipe. I gave her a bowl and a spoon and she had a great time stirring her "soup" and feeding it to her baby doll. She played with triangular wooden blocks and dolls and whatever she could find around here. I recently enjoyed seeing her again at a mutual friend's party and it reminded me of the sketch I had done but not quite finished. So I located the drawing in one of my sketchbooks and used
watercolors and acrylics to finish it.

Friday, August 14, 2009

Thoughts


Art Journal Page:
White Uni-ball Signo pen
on black notebook paper
and Ultra Fine Point Sharpie marker
on white drawing paper.
Image of girl from
Georgia House Publishing LLC.
Quote is from a poem entitled
Some People by Rachel Field.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Postcard Art

Received this marvelous quilted postcard
from Christy B in NC. Thank You!
Hand-dyed fabric that she purchased
is machine quilted

onto a watercolor paper backing.




Two postcards that I sent out this week
to members of the mmartfriends yahoo group.
They are hand appliqued and quilted.
Embroidery floss used to edge the appliques.
I used interfacing between the two layers
but it wasn't very stiff, so I wrote "hand cancel"
on the back...hope they arrive safely!


Monday, August 3, 2009

Art in Small Sizes


"Nest" ATC
made from scrapbook papers,
painted brown paper bag,
& painted and hand-stamped papers.
There is a touch of gold sponged
onto the brown paper bag, along with
the brown acrylic paint.
Again, can't resist using scraps left over
from other projects...


Altered clothing tag: this tag of
heavy black plastic has the brand name
f.l.p. imprinted in the surface.
Black makes an effective contrast to
the painted papers.
Wonder if it would hold up if I
put it on my car key ring? It measures
1 3/8 inches by 4 3/4 inches,
so might help me spot them more easily!
Probably need to apply a couple of
coats of gel medium.