this and that

I love this cabochon face -- which is the focal point on my Arch from Lynn (one of the ones I couldn't locate when I took my group shot last week). Here is the full view of Lynn's arch, made especially for me in our 2008 yearlong Textile Challenges arch swap.

My twelfth (and final) arch was made by our TC leader Carol T Taylor. Now I do have a new "To Do" on my list -- create a finished piece featuring all of my arches. Shall it be a book? or a free-standing display? or something else? (hmmm, I haven't a clue just yet .... do you?)



I don't think I've shown my Halloween ATC from Carol T as well. My spider, on my Boo! ATC is actually tethered to the ATC, and can swing!


Look closely -- I have overlaid the original (and smallest) spider and Boo! on top of the swinging spider. The swinging spider gains momentum and swings up and over head, above the Boo!

It really is a cool idea to have the spider be a free-flying agent, don't you agree? Thank you Carol -- as always, your creativity delights me!

Last of today's assorted "this and that" pieces is my most recent work, my ATC for Marie's week #2 of our monthlong challenge. Marie is leading our Textile Challenges group in a creative challenge that is evolving slowly, one week at a time. In this week's challenge, we were directed to go to a room in our home where we do not "create our art" and select a random item to use as the focal point in our ATC. Then head to our sewing area, grab four items to use with it and make our ATC in 20 minutes.
So once again, we had to make speedy quick fast decisions and choices as we worked and stitched and created, remembering that a major goal of the challenge is to finish the ATC within the short time limit.

With those guidelines in mind, I grabbed a Q-tip from the bathroom cabinet, and went upstairs to meet this challenge head on.

The Q-tip was snapped in half, caught under a piece of layered tulle and fibers scrap from an earlier project, and tulle was scrunched and stitched over the top, with a piece of fake vinyl stuff finishing one edge. Too fast, not enough thought directing this challenge. I don't care for it very much. Oh, and I managed to finish this ATC just past past our 20 minute mark.

Happy Hearts

Lsat week, I received a wonderful gift from a new friend, Elizabeth.

She made this just for me ... well, we were swap partners.
A huge "Thank you" to Carol T for pairing us together!

I absolutely love everything about this piece: the lush fabrics, the delicate beading, the shabby-chic-ness, and the purple velvet back!

This is my Puffy Heart!

Puffy Hearts were swapped recently in honor of Valentine's Day with my Textile Challenges group.


Here is the heart I made for Elizabeth.
This is one side -


And this is the other -

Happy Valentine's Day!

Missing my BTB friends ... sigh

Today is the monthly meeting of my local art quilt bee, Beyond the Borders. Sadly I will not be there as I have one child home from school with a fever (that has lasted 2 days so far ... yuk). Fortunately, it is a low one that responds well to medicine (yea!) and my other child has been resistant to it (a second yea!).

Unfortunately, I've missed many consecutive meetings and am feeling very woe-be-gone without my usual BTB "fix." Do you know what I mean? The energy and excitement of seeing what my friends are working on in person not only recharges my batteries, it also fires up my fiber art dreams often enhancing both my creativity and productivity.


On a positive note ... if I had gone today, this is what I might have taken to share:

First a thank-you to Elaine and Nancy for their lovely birthday postcards that I received in November (I mentioned it has been awhile since I have made it to our meeting, right?).


Nancy's is the birthday crow and Elaine's is the camoflaged zebra. Thank you to both of you -- I love the surprise of getting fiber art postcards in the mail and these two are especially delightful! Thank you.


Next are the arches from my yearlong Textile Challenges arch swap. I have posted about this swap before, featuring ones I made for my TC friends. The photo below shows the wonderful arches I have received. As I gathered them to take the photo today, I realized I could only locate 10 of the 12 -- and at the moment I do not recall if I am missing the last 2 or if I have misplaced them in my home (the latter is more likely correct -- a true comment on my housekeeping abilities - in fact I am now thinking I have other birthday postcards to show too. Note to self: Must clean sewing room soon).

Aren't these arches amazing? Such a wonderful collection showcasing a variety of fiber art techniques ranging from hand embroidery to machine embellishment. The original idea for this swap was inspired by a Gothic arched book made by Beryl Taylor, although I am thinking I may assemble mine into a standing-hinged-display (Do you have any other suggestions? all ideas are welcome!)

Next, I would probably have taken this assortment of screen prints.

They are the samples made during a "Screen Printing Basics" class with Marit Kucera during the 2008 International Quilt Festival last October. It was a great class, especially remarkable in that two or three women came with younger daughters & nieces! Everyone made their own design to screen, then printed multiple versions so that we each left with a sample of everyone's design. Now I need to assemble these into a small quilt, or rather, I may prefer to make more new prints first ... hmmm, I do like that second idea.

Speaking of Quilt Festival, for years I have purchased tie-dyed t-shirts from Joy's Fabrics for my boys, getting new ones as they grew into the next size. This year I treated myself to these fabric packs of a 12-step Color Wheel and a 10-step gradation from black-to-gray.

I plan to make at least one fabric color wheel .... eventually.

Last of all, I would have shared what is hidden in this box.
Wouldn't you love to get a box in the mail with this teaser poking through the small hole? It is another wonderful trade with my Textile Challenges group. I will reveal it in a day or two. For a hint, check out this blog, by one of my newest TC friends, Elizabeth. Be sure to go and look as she is offering a fun give-away in honor of her upcoming 250th blog posting (click here and leave a comment before February 14th to earn a chance to win the gift featured).

A 15-minute quickie

My Textile Challenges group always has something fun going on. At the moment, Marie is leading us in a month-long challenge. Our prepatory directions were simple and clear:

"Please cut at least 3 Peltex, cardstock, felt, or product of choice into ATC size (2½" X 3½") to use as a base or foundation for later use. Keep them handy, so you know where they are when you need them."

That intrigued us all as we waited for Marie's next direction, which she posted under the daunting heading:
FEB CHALLENGE - don't read till you have 15 minutes.

Naturally, I did not have 15 minutes, but I did have about one minute, just long enough to read her directions but not do them. Oops, I have broken direction #1.

Her directions went on: Go immediately to your work area and pick the first 5 materials (fabric, embellishments, etc) that you see. Using a precut foundation, we were directed to create ATC -- in 15 minutes! No more, no less. Naturally I began thinking of the huge disarray of my studio (its perpetual state - maybe one day it will look like this, Kay Sorensen's studio, but I digress). The next day, as I pondered Marie's directions, I also read emails and saw that many of my TC friends had already completed the challenge and were posting their results! I was determined not to peek -- and not to daudle over my computer -- but alas, I looked at Carol T's (our fearless group-Mom) blog and saw her Valentine-themed piece (see it here).

By evening I managed to dash upstairs, when I immediately broke direction #2 which was to pick the First 5 materials that you see. My mind was already thinking Valentine's so I started off looking for my red yarns and other reds ... I got sidetracked (hmm, imagine that) taking longer than 15 minutes to select my 5 elements! So I started all over -- I sat at my machine & reached for 5 things .... and began to play and create .... when I finished and looked at the time, I had gone far beyond the alloted 15 minutes. Yet again, I have broken another direction. However, most everyone in TC had mentioned working about 20 minutes on their challenge ATCs. Truthfully, I was nearly double that!

Here is my ATC, made from a Lindt chocolate candy wrapper (yum!), fabric, cellophane bag, velvet ribbon and a remnant piece from my puffy heart for Elizabeth (another TC swap).


Here is a detail view, showing the dimensionality of my tiny piece.


Here is another link to Kate (a TC friend)'s blog with her Week #1 ATC.

I totally enjoyed this first challenge although I realize that I altered Marie's clear and precise directions. Therefore I am re-challenging myself to try again. This next time, I will dash upstairs, taking the kitchen timer with me! After all, if I have time to blog about it, then I have time to try this challenge once more. Care to join me?

the Last Two

I have been participating in a yearlong swap of arches with members of the Textile Challenges group that is led by my friend, Carol T. Taylor. While I ran behind almost every single month, I am so excited to announce that I have completed all twelve of my arches before the year is complete! Hurrah for me! an even louder Hurrah for everyone who participated in this swap!

My November arch is for Hannah Katarski of Australia. I decided to go with Hannah's suggested theme of Renaissance, using the rich and sumptious wardrobes worn by the royalty in those days for my inspiration. I call this arch "A Renaissance Abstract." I hope you like it when you see it in person, Hannah. If not, send it back & I will make another one for you (teasing!).


My last arch of this yearlong swap is for the person who sent me my very first arch -- Gillian Beadman in the U.K. Gillian requested trees, seahorses or all things relating to Egypt .... my original plan had been to do something along the Egyptian lines, but as you'll see below ... those plans have changed.


This is "Sea Critters" in progress -- I meant to photograph more of the layering steps, but I always forget to do the in-between steps ... maybe on another project. Above is the arch after creating the background: a multi-layered affair using foil candy wrappers, batik cottons, fibers, and assorted colors of tulle (from pale green to deep navy blue). After layering, futzing, and relayering some more, I added the seahorse which I cut freehand from a metallic green fabric then stitched down into place. Below is the finished arch, which looks pretty much the same except for the beaded&embroidered tiny goldfish, beaded airbubbles and embroidery outlining the sea horse.


Gillian, I hope you like your 12th arch! I did enjoy making it for you and it is now in the mail and on its way to your home.

Now I'll wait patiently for Carol T to finish my last arch -- no hurries and no worries Carol as I know I will love whatever you create!

an old trade and a new one

Here is my September arch for Kate N. which I call Out for a Stroll.

Kate's arch features a portion of an old Valentine card, assorted candy wrappers, sheers and sparkly voile fabrics, glass beads and fun stitching. I hope she is pleased with it!

Here is a view of the back. This is one of twelve arches I have swapped with my Textile Challenges group. Well, it's one of 10 as I have two that I am still finishing.

Below you may recognize one of my BJPs from last year, Cooler Days Ahead. This is going to Susan Lenz for her Cyber Fyber exhibit. This exhibit has three main components, one of which will feature all the fiber art postcards that she has received from her internet trade. If you are interested, there is still a little time to join her show, click here to learn more. I am trading for her postcard #223 in her second round of postcard trades.


Susan is also trading Artist Trading Cards (ATCs) for her gallery show. I have made Spirals especially for Susan and her growing ATC collection. I am trading for her ATC #139. Click here or here to see other ATCs that are still available.


On Saturday, January 17, Gallery 80808, site of the Cyber Fyber exhibit, is hosting an ATC Trading Day. I am sending in a few to trade (maximum is 3), including this one, Space.



Here is a peek at the back of my Space ATC.
I am keeping this ATC for myself, perhaps because it still needs a name.


If you are interested in the gallery's ATC Trading Day, mail your ATCs (no more than 3) to arrive by Jan 17, 2009 (include stamped & self-addressed envelope to cover the return postage). Perhaps you will receive one of mine!

Ocean View arch

Today is the end of the Amnesty for our Textile Challenges group and I've had some success at completing several ongoing late projects. Here is my October arch for Judy B who requested "trees, leaves, oceans ..." which I chose to combine into one piece named "Ocean View."

The ocean is made with many colors of blue tulles, catching colorful foil candy wrappers underneath; the sky is a commercial cotton (rather sunset-looking, I thought); the beach and the palm tree are three upholstery scraps; and the palm leaves are blend of a shiny metallic green fabric with two shades of green tulle.


For the back, I selected this multi-colored Hawaiian print because I thought Judy would enjoy the colorful blossoms and leaves on it.


One more overdue project is my Spider Web ATC -- soon to be winging its way to a new home with Annette in the UK.


All this frenzy of work and I am not totally caught up. How can that be? My remaining list of "Must Do's" includes:
1) to mail the five completed amnesty projects tomorrow (as I type this, only two are packaged and ready to go).
2) to finish my September arch for Kate (while it is coming along, it is demanding a few more bead embellishments now) .... and it needs name ... and last of all, I must decide what to use for its back and finish it!
3) to design, create, complete and mail my last two arches for our yearlong swap: November for Hannah and December for Gillian.

I feel that I have made some great strides in the right direction .... Thank-you for your patience, everyone! And thank you Carol T for the Amnesty protection, as it was the perfect "kick in the tush" that I needed!

Antiquities arch

According to our yearlong swap, I am to make an arch for Pam in West Glam who requested a theme of "all things aged, architecture, ancient relics, but no birds, please." My earliest idea was to create a ancient portal with fabrics .... but clearing the towering magazine pile, I came across a few National Geographics ... and my idea evolved to include magazine images of Persian ruins and other artifacts. Here is an early stage of my arch.

The magazine pages are collaged together on a base of brown felt. Tulle and fibers are overlaid and couched down, securing everything in its place. Then I hit a creativity-block. The arch remained stalled for days that lapsed into weeks as I struggled to come up with a method or technique to finish it.

I eventually found some great beads to use as accents. As you may know, beads can be difficult to capture well in a photograph. The next photo is one of the worse photos I managed to snap. I decided to share its disaster so that others may benefit from my lack of expertise.

As you can see, the flash has reflected against the sheen of the magazine pages, making the images difficult to see.

I decided to include a snap of the back of this arch, which is made from a portion of a table-runner. The stability and strength of the woven table runner has helped to stiffen the arch.


The day has sped past too quickly. The sun has set too soon, before I could get the ideal perfect photograph. This photo of "Antiquities" is a tad paled by the bright sunlight (taken the next afternoon), but the beads stand out nicely.

This arch is officially complete. All I need to do is to wrap it up, preparing it for a journey across the ocean. Anticipated departure: Monday, December 1, 2008 (at long last).

Pam, thank you for your patience. I hope "Antiquities" arrives safely to your mailbox and more importantly, that you like it!

Sunset arch

I am working hard to meet my amnesty deadline of November 30 .... here is partial proof: my arch for Arlee in Canada which I have named "Sunset."


Arlee had asked for hot colors and copper, wishing for a funky/non-cutesy theme for her arches. I had fun playing with fabric and sheer scraps that I cut and trimmed and layered under a pale tulle fabric. Stitching through peltex (my inner stabilizer), I added glass tubular beads as well as two hot-glue-gun painted squiggles. My final touches included small dabblings with a copper Shiva paint stik. My good news for Arlee is that this arch is now finished, packed and ready to mail to you in the morning! Of course, I could almost hand-deliver it as I'll be passing through Calgary next week-end.

Grecian Profile arch

Every thing starts with an idea -- and sometimes a sketch, too.
The idea was to create something Grecian for Mags' arch and after looking into books and pondering, I came back to the Grecian profile (a modern sculpture) on display in the Houston Museum of Fine Arts. I had sketched it a year or more ago and when I happened on my old sketch, I knew I would use some portion of it to create my arch. Here is how I adapted my sketch to fit the size of our arches.


Choosing to work in the deep blue, I looked for a few brights to use. I selected a scrap of gold voile with bead-like highlights but quickly learned that appliqueing sheers is a challenge! Where did I put that Misty Fuse when I needed it? This problem was solved by couching bright yarns and fibers along the profile's edge, then adding a poof for the Grecian headdress.


Final touches included adding a piece of painted, heat-distressed, wrinkled tyvek. What more can I do to this arch? or is it time to stop? I think I am ready to mail it! For those not in the know, I am in a yearlong arch swap-trade with my Textile Challenges group. It's been great fun playing with new techniques all the while dreaming up new ideas for each arch -- trying to come up with the perfect arch to match the receiver's wish-list of themes.



But I puzzled over the back. I wanted to add a pocket, just like the other arches I have received. The pocket is the perfect spot to tuck in a note telling all about the making of the arch ... except that I need to create some neat fabric/paper/cardstock to write the note on ... I seem to find more delays or do I just wish to keep this Grecian profile in my hands a tad longer?

I have decided to send the arch at long last. I will send the note (to slip into the pocket) at some future date. I hope Mags is happy with her very late June arch, even with its empty pocket. After all, wouldn't you prefer an arch with an empty pocket rather than no arch at all?

My ATC collection begins

Last month I showed you the two ATCs that I had made and mailed off to friends in England. Here are the two that I received in return. They are the beginning of my ATC collection .... so they will always be very special to me.

The first one is made by my friend Carol Taylor, a fiber artist friend to whom Wales is home. She's also our Textile Challenges leader. Carol had made four ATCs which she posted on her blog (here), willing to trade to the first who requested them.
"Industry 3 of 4" features a hot glue gun squiggle, beading and a dash of copper stitched down by hand and machine embroidery.


Even before I finished the ATC I was making in return for Carol (see my post here), I joined one of our Textile Challenge swaps -- a lottery of hand-embroidered ATCs. After we signed up, she matched us randomly with names and stitches. Ati in Norway was matched with French Knots and my name! How fun to receive this international post.

Ati's embroidery is wonderful! She filled the entire surface with french knots stitched with different fibers and lovely colors.


I see a reclining lady in a field of heather, relaxing and loving every bit of it! What do you see?

ATCs

I have just finished my second ever ATC -- and here it is:


This is a Backstitch-Handstitch ATC for a lottery-swap in my Textile Challenges group that we held in June. Susan in Liverpool has patiently been waiting for me to finish this and send it her way. Meanwhile I received mine from Ati months ago and will add a photo of it soon (see my Sept. 6 post).


Below is the first ATC I ever made as a one-on-one swap with Carol T in Wales. Notice the size is a little wonky -- I wasn't sure of the actual dimensions that ATC's were meant to be. Always learning -- that's me! Carol is the leader of our Textile Challenges Yahoo! group. It is a great group because Carol is always coming up with innovative, fun challenges and swaps for us to try.


The top ATC is my second finished item for my personal UFO Olympics. Yep, I know -- it's small -- but it is now finished & soon will be in the mail overseas to Liverpool, original home of my favorite group, the Beatles!

P is for Patsy

P is for Patsy, who has been waiting patiently since May for my arch. As per my usual, I am running behind with my Textile Challenges Yahoo group. Thirteen of us are doing a yearlong swap -- making one arch per month for each other.

My goal: to create an arch with a Victorian feel.

Techniques used: The letter "P" was made using hot glue from a hot glue gun, a fun technique explored earlier this year. Basically squirt the hot glue onto parchment paper, and while the glue is flowing, write the letter or shape that you desire. Let the shape (or shapes) dry, then paint. I used Jacquard Lumiere paints here -- two or three different colors. Let the paint set at least 24 hours -- longer is even better. Warning: you cannot heat set this paint as heat will remelt the hot-glue, thereby changing your original shape (ask me how I know this, if you dare).

The letter was stitched onto the oval frame, then circled many times with a rayon-y fiber. A fancy tulle was rouched over a pleated white batiste in the lower portion of the arch. An embroidered linen fills the top of the arch with a snippet of bridal lace adding the final touch. The entire arch is bordered with a trio of fibers, leaving a loop at the top for fun.

I hope Patsy likes this especially since she's been waiting so long for it. My apologies to her for my tardiness -- now onto create my June piece for Mags .... and July for ..... well these friends know who they are (and that I'm working as fast as I can, promise!)
I'd chat longer but I need to dash to keep my creating momentum going as I try to "keep even" on my behind-ness (if that is possible) or at least not fall further behind.

Esmerelda & Gricelda

I am enjoying the arch swap with my Textile Challenges group very much, even though I am consistently one month late!


For the month of February, I have created an arch for Carol R. Inspiration for her arch comes from her theme ideas of fairies & nature. I decided to create a nighttime fairy flying over a garden of dreams. No larger than a butterfly, she's a wise more-that-mature fairy, as evidenced by her graying locks of wild, independent hair! She scatters seeds of inspiration and creativity wherever she flits and flies. This friendly fairy has been christened Esmerelda and her twin sister, Gricelda, appears on my coordinating BJP. Their names make me smile as they remind me of twin seventh grade girls whom I taught eons ago in Los Fresnos, Texas.

Both Esmerelda and Gricelda wear garments of satin, tulle and glittery sequins. Their wings are from butterflies and their hands hold their magic seeds hidden from view as even fairies are allowed secret, deep pockets for their treasures! They fly across moonlit gardens of blooming lapines scattering their beaded seeds everywhere. The moon and stars (former candy wrappers) provide the glimmering light in the deep velvety dark night.
Now that I have officially introduced Esmerelda, she will finally fly to her new home in Carol R's garden of blossoming wonders, her studio. Gricelda will remain here in Texas to inspire and motivate me as I continue my work on my March arch (it really is started Alis, promise!) and my April arch (for Lyn -- still but a glimmer) and coordinating BJPs.

FYI: Gricelda is my 5th BJP!