My newest ATCs

Last month I participated in Susan Lenz's amazing Cyber Fyber show -- including the International Random ATC Swap, held on January 17, 2009. Everyone around the world was encouraged to participate -- all you had to do was mail your ATC's with a stamped return envelope. A maximum of 3 ATCs could be traded with no restriction on age, location, or artistic medium. I traded two (they are at the end of this post).

My first envelope to arrive had this ATC tucked inside. Look closely. It is a photo of an alarm clock (it looks just like my old digital clock radio from ol' college dorm room days!) The time displayed is 6:00 a.m. Below the image is a clear simple statement: not good

These words echo my sentiments whenever I must arise early in the morning (I am a natural night owl who fortunately does not have to awaken before sunrise often). This thought provoking ATC was made by Amanda Graham (that's all I know -- Amanda, leave a comment if you find this post!)

My second envelope arrived the next day with this ATC tucked inside featuring 3 silk ribbon flowers and 2 tiny tatted butterflies.

This delicate creation was made by Pam Freck in Lexington, South Carolina, USA. I must ask you Pam, did you tat the butterflies yourself?

Here is a side view (just for fun & to see the dimension of this sweet ATC).


This is a peak at three ATCs I made after learning about the Cyber Fyber show. The red one was traded with Susan and was one of the 163 ATCs on display on the walls of Gallery 80808/Vista Studios in Columbia, South Carolina. The gold one lives with me as my memento of this fun challenge and show.

The third one, Space, has traveled to it's new home across the Atlantic Ocean. It now lives with Jean Toms, fiber artist in Devon, United Kingdom with a blog, Genies Art World, devoted to her fiber art and mixed media, and a second blog, Genies Photos, for her photography. This link connects directly to her comments on the Cyber Fyber ATC swap.



My spiderweb ATC has traveled in the other direction, crossing the Pacific ocean to its new home in Brisbane, Australia with Paula Hewitt. Her blog, The Beauty of Life, is filled with her various projects that range across a broad spectrum. There are tutorials on making polymer clay buttons & fabric books, photos of her embroidery & quilting projects, and best of all, her observations and comments on life and raising children.

This was fun in so many ways. First the excitement of trading postcards and ATCs directly with Susan Lenz, then seeing the entire show online, then waiting to receive the ATC's from the International Random ATC Swap and last of all, getting messages from the two who received my ATCs! Thank you Susan for enabling all this fun to happen!

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?

Change...

What a momentous day ... one marked with pomp and circumstance, tradition and protocol, dignitaries and common folk all gathered together either collectively on the Mall in D.C. or individually at work or home, near a computer, television or radio ... across the nation ... and around the world ... all are eager to witness change arriving as

Barack Obama is sworn in as
the 44th President of the United States of America.

Wow! Oh to be there today, in Washington D.C. ... (a photo from Geralyn Smitherman who is!)

Yet, I am thankful to be in the comfort of my own warm home watching this piece of history via cable television. I am so excited for the changes that will come under the leadership of our new President. Perhaps it is time to make a new Presidential quilt?


Here are two views of the only political quilt I have made to date ... can you guess how old it is?



I made this about 7 or 8 years ago.

People's Choice ... cast your votes!

The Cyber Fyber show at Gallery 80808/Vista Studios is open at last! If you are near downtown Columbia, South Carolina, USA, pop into the Gallery and check it out!

I have learned that there will be a Best of Show award for the Postcards and ATCs, and also a People's Choice award for both categories. Please take a peak, leave a comment on my postcard, my ATC and on any of the others that tickle your fancy. My postcard is #223, featured here. My ATC is #139, featured here. If you list your postcard and ATC numbers in my comments below, I will return the favor by posting comments on your pieces.

Of course I really want you to enjoy looking at all the postcards and ATCs, leaving as many comments as you please -- that is what makes a true People's Choice Award! Click here for the entire Postcard exhibit and here to see all the ATCs.

Congrats and Thank you to Susan Lenz for organizing this phenomenal show! I love the story of how she entered the fiber art world -- read it here. Check out her daily blog dedicated to this exhibition here. I am honored and humbled to be a part of this international collection of fabulous fiber artists! Be sure to browse through these links ...

My 2009 words

After much pondering & deciding (sometimes I don't really like being "the Decider"), I have selected two words for my focus in the new year of 2009.

My first word is Discipline.
I need more self-discipline in many areas -- and perhaps then my life will run smoother? (one can always hope!). This includes making the time to exercise regularly, cook healthier meals for my family, finding more time to spend in my studio creating art and quilts, and maintaining so very much more ...

My second is Release.
I need to focus on releasing my clutter and my treasures out of my small home. This means that I will be moving many items out of my home, to new locations such as shows & galleries OR Goodwill & the SPCA (they love old towels and linens there!) This will take concentrated discipline and much effort on my part as I am a natural pack-rat, hoarder, and scavenger of all things.

As I work toward accomplishing the many layers and facets of these resolutions, I hope to achieve a less scattered self with a stronger sense of peaceful sanity, while still maintaining my busy life as Mom, Wife, part-time School Employee, Volunteer in many groups and activities, and Quilter/Fiber Artist. whew -- should be a fun time!



The future belongs to
Those who believe in the
beauty of their dreams.

~ Eleanor Roosevelt

All in One Word

The end of 2008 has arrived and I am thinking of my New Year's Resolutions, reflecting back on this past year and looking forward to 2009. Last year, some of my Beyond the Borders friends made One Word Resolutions rather than the traditional Lists of Resolutions. This year, I will again choose one word -- just one -- to be my focus, my guide, my mentor and reminder of the goals and dreams I have for the new year. I cannot explain this better than the original explanation by Christine Kane, so I have included it here. Thank you Janice for sharing the link with BTB today! Christine blogged about it again on New Year's Day of 2009. Read that post here. Be sure to read it through to the end as that is where you will find suggested "resolution" words listed at the end of the post.

So ponder deep and choose one, just one, to be your word for 2009. Feel free to use one of these words, or come up with one that is better, more appropriate for you and your own goals, desires, and dreams.

Which word did I select? I am still pondering -- I have a few more hours still to choose!

Three versions of Primo Star

My family gathered for our first family reunion in over 15 years last year on December 26, 2007. Here we all are: next to me are my brother, my sisters, my dad & stepmom.

Knowing that I wanted to make something special to commemorate this reunion, my Thangles buddy, Mary Beth Hayes, suggested I use her new Primo Star pattern and make quilts for everyone. While I am the world's greatest procrastinator and slow to finish projects, I decided to give it a try anyway .... and I did finish six quilts in less than 2 months time! ... well, six quilt tops, that is! These tops became the gift that I gave but also got to keep (to finish and then re-gift).

Here are three of the quilts, starting with the first one that I cut out. This one will soon be in Gretchen's home. She and Mary love it as it reminds them also of a dear friend who passed away last year. Her name was Sunni and she loved Sunflowers! I need only to finish the label before delivering it to them.


The second one that I made and finished has a longer tale. I pulled these colors out before learning that Doreen, my brother's wife, loves blue so decided this would be for her. But as I put on the final borders, I realized that the quilt was really more purple and blue rather than being shades of just blue, so I decided to make a second "all blue" quilt and ask Doreen to choose her favorite (my original plan was that the one not chosen would then be my quilt to keep!). She loves the all-blue quilt which is still waiting to be completed. Not to worry Doreen, I promise to finish it soon!


This blue and purple quilt is finished, however I am not keeping it after all. I learned on New Year's Day 2008, that my husband's brother loves blue and his wife's favorite color is purple. They also celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary this past summer, an event truly worthy of a special gift (especially since I didn't give them a quilt when they were married!).

I am excited to have this quilt finished and ready to give to Robert and Colleen, hopefully on New Year's Day, 2009.

The third quilt that I started and finished is this one in country reds. Many years ago, my niece Brandi had suggested red, white and blue as possible colors for a quilt for her mom, my sister. Since Brandi's husband Josh had served in the Iraq conflict, I decided to make Carole two quilt tops to choose between -- this one and another one of more vibrant and patriotic red, white and blue prints. Like Doreen, Carole was able to select the one she preferred the most -- a hard decision for her. Tommy helped out by insisting that he liked this one the best, so this is the one they will soon own.


Carole, now that I've got the photos taken and posted here on my blog, I will get back to packing your family's gift box. As my usual, I am running a tad behind and have yet to get your box into the mail, but I will do so before the new year officially is here. That's my plan today!

Dad and Mary, your quilt is still needing it's last border -- I keep changing my mind on which fabric to use for it. I also need to select and prep the backing fabric as well, but I've not forgotten that I need to finish your quilt.

My plans include making two more Primo Star quilts -- one for me to keep, as my memento of our Myers family reunion as well as a second one for a dear friend who is like a sister to both Ronnie and me. Should I mention who that person is here, or wait to see if others contact me, hoping I am referring to them? Stay tuned, I will keep you posted.

Mary Beth -- thanks for such a fabulous pattern! The Primo Star is available as a Thangles Project Pack (pattern packed with plenty of Thangles to make a King Size quilt). You can order it through the Thangles website or check with your local quilt shop. Here is a link to the shops worldwide that carry Thangles. This quilt does piece together fast and easy, especially using Thangles (click here for a video link). Let me know if you make a Primo Star quilt by sending me a photo or posting a comment below!

For a direct link to the project pack, click here.