Celebration Stole

Way back in January I started a red/rainbow celebration stole for Paul. (he's a minister) You can read about it here and here. I promised him I would have it done before the next ordination he had to attend...which is this Sunday. So I was down to the wire and had to get it done.

I had to figure out how to deal with the curve of the neck and the red borders I wanted to use. I started by extending the pieces I already had to make the curved collar.

Then I added a red border to each side piece...around the neckline I used bias strips to help make the curve. Next I mounted it on stabilizer and stitched it to red fabric backing. I did three rows of topstitching on the border and I hope no one looks too closely because it was too late for me to be sewing straight lines.



Tah Dah!  It's....ALMOST...done.  I have just a tiny bit of hand stitching....but there's no way I could thread a needle at this point.  A few minutes in the morning and it WILL be done....just in time.

It was inspired by this stole I found on Pinterest.

 

If you remember I had a chunk of the rainbow spectrum left after I cut my two pieces for the stole back in February.  Some of it ended up in "That Piece" that I put in my show. I should have called it "That Extra Stole Piece!"

Tickled Pink

I was tickled pink (does anyone say that anymore?) when Dr. Adams told me that the piece on the left called "Over the Rainbow" was purchased by a mom....talked into it by her 10ish year old son for his room.  When I made it I thought it would be great for a kids room....and knowing that's where it's going makes me smile.

The top piece in the middle called "Summer Day" is sold...and I got an order for another one...which I finished this morning. Luckily I had sewn a wide strip of the rainbow spectrum so it was fairly doable to remake it. I appropriately called it "Another Summer Day."




This close up looks a little wrinkly...but it's really OK in the frame. If I do more of these matted quilt pieces...I should do a little research on the best technique.  I am just making it up as I go along. The matte window is just 5 inches...so it's a sweet little quilt. I do love the little cloud loopy stitching. I got the idea from a quilter on Pinterest.

Be the Exception!

I had a wonderful creative excursion with Anita this morning and took this photo at Mahoney's Garden Center. I didn't notice the yellow tulip until I got home....I love it!

Be the exception!

New Photo Art

I neglected to take a picture of these pieces in the space...but here is the new photo art I've added to my show...as seen on my kitchen floor.  I shared a couple up close already...here...and here.

 My original "Serenity" was popular and I have two orders. For one of them the buyer has provided her own photo. There is something very different...but really nice about the mixture of fabric and photo. I will probably work on a few more with other photos.

For the first one I used a piece of gold ribbon between the photo and the quilt. But per usual...I couldn't lay my hands on the ribbon spool. So I used gold lame fabric that I fused into a fold creating my own ribbon. Sometimes "making it work"...really WORKS!

This one is called "Diamond in the Rough."

This was an experiment.  I forgot to take a picture of it up close...so I zoomed in on it from the group picture...so it's a little fuzzy.  I used larger punched squares of blue skies....many of them with branches. I glued them down then stitched grid lines on all four sides of the squares. I'm calling it "Patchwork Skies."                                                                                                             

And finally...a second version of the umbrellas and flowers.  I called the first one "Color Story"....so this one is "Another Color Story."

Once I finish the special orders...I will start playing with fabric again...including the mix of fabric and photos. 

All But One!

I spent a little time in Dr. Adams' office today hanging the new photo art I've been working on. And...I'm pleased to report that all but one of the original pieces in the show have sold.  

The only piece left is my paper tube mirror....which I am secretly hoping to put in the guest room in Maine.....so we'll see.  I have a relatively high price on it....but I'm not going to budge....it was hours and hours of work and I'll be happy to take it home.

Some of the pieces will remain hanging until the end of the show....and others have already gone home with their new owners making room for new pieces.  The next artist will not be ready for a bit...so I'm able to continue to show my things until the end of May.

In addition I have commissions for four pieces that had already sold....and I could have sold the pussy willow bouquet several times over.  So I'm going to keep punching, stitching, and felting...and see where I land at the end.

I really didn't expect I would have this kind of response and I am extremely grateful to Dr. Adams for the opportunity.

I'll share the rest of the new photo art tomorrow.

A Touch of Glitter

I put together a couple photo pieces and added a touch of glitter.  They didn't photograph very well...I think they look better in person. The colors in the photos are very rich...and the glitter is fun.

The rocks in this piece were from a separate photo from my favorite pebble beach in Maine. I cut them out individually and stacked them on top of the beach photo...which is from our recent trip to Florida.  I think the touch of glitter in the sky where the sun is setting is kind of fun.  And there's just a tiny bit on the reflection on the water. It will go in a black frame.

This one will go in a white shadow box frame to accommodate the stones and shells.  I highlighted some of the brightest points in the sky with a touch of glitter. The beach is in Florida and the rock photo at the bottom is from Maine. Both of these photo pieces plus a few more will fill in some holes at my show...which I think is going well.  I'm checking it out tomorrow.

Words and Pictures

Photo Mosaic

I'm in the middle of a floral photo experiment. (You can see the finished project here and here)

I started by gluing some of my edged one inch squares on lightweight black card stock.

Next I randomly punched them again using a larger square punch creating these little mini collages...which I also edged in black.

I love the little tiny parts and pieces of the leaves and flowers that are captured in the re-punching.

I haven't decided how I'm going to use them yet...but I love the photo mosaic that is created when they are grouped together.  These aren't glued down...yet...I'm just mulling it over.  So far I'm feeling like it's a successful experiment.  Stay tuned to see where I land with it.

Edging

I've been busy edging tracing around each square with a sharpie. It's actually kind of relaxing.

 Beautiful full moon tonight.

It's Al!

The sky was so beautiful yesterday...so many different blues and grays. 

We went for a late afternoon walk...and yes...I was already in my pajamas.

This afternoon I was trying to take a picture of an eagle flying overhead and this is what I got.  Earlier we had been talking about Patsy's brother Al who died way too young....and....he had a tattoo of an eagle on his arm.  When I saw this picture the first thing that came to mind was....it's Al!  We all agreed and smiled the rest of the day.

Tonight was almost a full moon.  

And this is what the table looked like all afternoon. I'm trying some different things with my photo collages....which I'll share soon.

"Women Gathering"

"Each year the women gathered to renew their spirits, nourish their souls, and earn their laugh lines." 

A print from "Art Head Studio" called "Women Gathering"....I need to get this in a frame!

Tomorrow I'm heading to a beautiful place on the coast of Maine to gather with dear friends for the rest of the week. We will be catching up, crafting, stitching, playing cards, walking...and whatever else suits our fancy. Life is good when women gather!  I may or may not be blogging while I am away.

Beach Roses

I've been playing with photos again. I used the pink beach roses in this photograph as my inspiration and created this photo collage.  


                                                       

I have found this acid free Scotch glue to be my favorite adhesive.  It only takes a couple of dots on the back of each square to hold them tight.

Auditioning

I had the new print I bought framed and I'm auditioning it over my mantle in Maine. 

I was pretty happy with what I had there before...but because of the little construction project I have an opportunity to change things up....again....so why not. I love this little collection of blue vases...the two small ones were made by a local artist. The big blue pitcher on the right is from my friend Linda...and my friend Jane made the Nantucket lightship baskets.  I have to repaint this living room wall next time I go....so it will all have to come down. Then we'll see if the new print "got the part."

"The Voice"

When I talked about the painting pro's voices in my head
I was reminded of this wonderful poem by Shel Silverstein.

The Voice

There is a voice inside of you 

That whispers all day long,

"I feel that this is right for me,

I know that this is wrong."

No teacher, preacher, parent, friend

Or wise man can decide

What's right for you-just listen to

The voice that speaks inside.

Voices In My Head

I spent the day painting in Maine....I'm not done...but I made a nice dent. I consider myself a "good enough" painter. I'm not a pro...but I get the job done. I've worked with and learned from some pros...and every time I paint I hear their voices in my head. My father-in-law Dave, my sister Angie, and my friends Patsy and Cheryl all are really good painters and have taught me what I know.

Here's what I hear in my head:

Painting is 90% prep...take the time to do it right.
Caulk all the gaps.
Fill all the holes.
Sanding is a must.
Taping is over rated...nothing is better than a good steady hand.
Always have a damp rag at your side.
Ceilings first...then woodwork...then walls.
A light sand between coats makes a difference.
Always keep a wet edge.
Don't leave a line....feather it out....always.
Load your brush and your roller....don't be skimpy.
You almost always need a second coat...even if you think you don't.
Store rollers in the fridge in an airtight bag...they stay wet and useful for weeks.
Buy good brushes and take really good care of them...and they will last a long time.
Always store your brushes in their original sleeves while they are still damp and they will keep their nice shape. I've had these brushes for years and years.


I'm tired....and I'm satisfied with my day's work...the voices in my head kept me going!  Thanks guys!

Town Landing Market

While I was cleaning up drywall dust in Maine last weekend...I got to handle my art.  I love this "Town Landing Market" print.  It was done by our good friend and artist David Clough....I'm a huge fan of his! Town Landing is a neighborhood market and was walking distance from the parsonage at Paul's first Church in Falmouth Forside, Maine. (David was a member of our congregation.) The boys used to love to walk down to the market for candy or ice cream....then head down the hill to catch crabs off dock. We could get fresh lobsters caught by the owner, locally grown produce, or amazing deli sandwiches....and as the sign says: "Fresh Native Ice Cubes"....whatever that means. It was the kind of place you see in a movie and I'm not sure I knew how really special it was until I moved away from it.

Photo found on line....by Bob Delaney

I took a watercolor class years ago from David.....and it was worth the price of admission just to watch him paint...which he did every class.  He recently published a book of his watercolors...which is sitting on the coffee table with books by another church artist...photographer William Hubble.

Here are a few images from David's book....we have prints of two of them including this winter scene of Town Landing. 

This is the skyline of Portland across Back Bay. Paul has the print of this one in his office in Lexington.

 This is the Spring Point Light...just a mile or so from our house in Maine.