Indigo ATC Tray

Thanks to artist Lisa Fulmer, I learned about the 7 Gypsies display cases for ATCs and other small art pieces. The first group I chose to display was my indigo collection, from a recent Arts in the Cards ATC trade. I added a few blueish pieces from other trades to make it an even dozen. Soooooo much better to have them out for viewing, instead of sticking them in binders and putting them on a shelf.

Squares within Squares

I enjoyed making my circle cutout 12" x 12" quilt so much, I decided to try it again. But this time, I decided to try using a square theme rather than circles...easier to sew, easier to cut, I hoped. Well, easier to sew, since doing little circles is pretty tricky. Easier to cut...not really.

Again I used about half fabric that I designed and printed myself through Spoonflower.com, and half commercial fabrics. I discovered that finely woven, lightweight fabric worked better than heavier and/or coarsely woven fabrics. I also made a few extra pieces, and I am glad I did. I had to take away some pieces that were too orange, and some that were too lime. Although they are colors I love, they looked garish and Halloweeny together.

Here is the quilt pinned together, ready to be sewn. I am also posting the finished circular patch quilt.

Truth is a Whisper

I had a great time today playing with some royalty free antique images in Photoshop. I have admired collagey mixed media work and asked a woman from my Roses on My Table group where in the world she got her images. I thought she spent all her free time scouring antique and flea markets...but no, she steered me to the blog called Graphics Fairy. http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/

This design shows my softer, romantic side, which might surprise quite a few people. The words say Truth is a Whisper, which come from the lyrics of a Goo Goo Dolls song of the same name from the Gutterflower album, one of my all time favorite CDs.

Mixed Media Tags

I greatly admire the mixed media work I see in publications like Somerset Studio. I have been trying to figure out how to get my work to look casually elegant, and incorporate calligraphy, aging techniques, vintage photos and torn bits of lace. It is waaaay harder than it looks. But at least it is therapeutic to try. This weekend all I managed to do was prepare some backgrounds for future tags with bits of painted tyvek, old maps and dried teabags.

Right now, I'm working on music themed tags for Roses On My Table. I can't decide whether to go soft and romantic or bring out my inner rocker chick. I am also puttering with ideas for Fabulous Fakes for my Arts in the Cards ATC group.