Doodle Tools

Many of you asked similar questions in yesterday's blog post comments, so I thought I'd answer them here.

You may remember that I took an online class called Calligra-FUN by Martha Lever. Well that was where I learned the basic letter shapes for the lettering I'm doing in these doodles I've been making. I have really just written the letters and then embellished them further with my pens. So that is how I'm doing the lettering.

As for which pens I use, the photo above shows the assortment I've been using for my doodles. I really like the four-pack of Pitt pens by Faber-Castell because each tip is a different size and I like that I have a choice, depending on the effect I want.

Also in the photo is my latest doodle. I'm undecided as to whether to fill in the center white space with something.

I'd like to thank all of you who visit me. Your presence here makes me happy. I appreciate all your comments and very much enjoy when you leave one.

Have a fabulous weekend!!!

Doodles

I created these doodles over the last few nights.



I thought I'd try incorporating them into a greeting card. Here I've fused some painted paper towels to the cardstock and then I stitched around it. Then I held the doodle on the background and stitched the four corners so that the doodle can easily be lifted out and the recipient can save it and do something with it.


Anyone out there in blog-o-sphere going to the Fabrications Retreat? It starts Aug. 30 and runs through Sept. 4. There is also a mixed-media art exhibit, Blurred Boundaries. I have a quilt in this exhibit. I won't be there, but if you are, perhaps you'd stop by my quilt and say "hi"?

Hey Look! More Books

So lately I've been busy making books. Just thought I'd tell you that in case you hadn't noticed.

Why am I making books, you ask? Well because Sue and I are writing a book on books. Sounds a little funny huh? Yes, it is called Creative Ways with Books and Journals. It will have a variety of hard and soft cover book projects all with different surface techniques. We are planning a November release, just in time for Christmas. Here are a couple of the journals I made for the book.


Yesterday I was able to retrieve my sewing machine from the repair shop. While there I happened to glance over toward the fabrics. Not a good thing to do. I usually try hard to avert my eyes from that area. I really have no need for more fabric. Well of course they had gotten some new batiks in and they were just calling to me. So I gave in and bought just a 1/4 yard of each. That is pretty good for me because usually I have to have at least 1/2 yard or more. I usually hoard it thinking there'll never be another fabric as gorgeous as this one. I'm slowly beginning to realize that there will always be gorgeous fabric available.


I looked at these fabrics all together and thought that maybe they'd look good together in a quilt. What do you think?

My inspector is hard at work. She usually has to check everything out that comes into the house.

New Books

My sewing machine had to go the the repair shop yesterday as it started acting funny. So I spent part of the day making more hard cover books. These actually go together very quickly. The photo is not very good at all. I had the books facing toward the window and there was too much glare.


Here's my book making helper. I usually have a small area on my cutting table with a folded up piece of fabric for cat snoozing, and you can see that Abby is laying on that. But I also had a small piece of leftover batting from something and she was playing with it. She loves to get under blankets and fabric.


I've added a couple of the wallets I made to my etsy shop. I will add more as I can. The following three photos show off the features of the wallets. There are several slots for credit and ID cards, an area for paper money, and a coin pouch.

Paper money pocket

Slots for credit and ID cards

Coin pouch with another slot behind for cards

Wallets

I've made wallets off and on for a few years now. My Auntie Jude created this pattern and over time I have tweaked it a little for my own personal preferences. So lately I've been making some of these and this weekend I finally got six of them completed. I have fabrics laid out for more and I'll probably work on them over the course of the next few weeks. I am mainly working on these over the weekends as I'm busy with other commitments during the week.

Black-Turquoise-Orange

Magenta-Purple

Black-Gray-Purple

Brick Red

Look Ma...A New Book

I made my first ever hard cover book. Oooo Ahhhhhh!!!!!



It was actually pretty gosh darn easy. The part I hated most was getting glue on my fingers and then getting it on the pretty paper. I need to get a damp rag to keep handy. Now I have myself a brand, spanking new, handmade book to draw or write my deep, dark secrets. Hmmm I might scare myself if I write about those.

More Mindless Doodling

I learned that zen means full concentration on what you are doing at the moment. So I guess I can't call these zen doodles since my mind wanders while doodling.

I did this doodle last evening. My hand was very tired by the time I finished. The doodle is on a 3.5" square of paper. Then I got to thinking how I could use this doodle. After a few ideas went through my mind I landed upon a paper quilt.



I like my doodle paper quilt. I hope you do too.

Over the weekend I worked on some wallets. I sort of have an assembly line going with these. I can't totally finish them as I'm out of a supply that I need and it is on its way. I've got stacks of fabric sitting out for more color combos. I'll show them when I get further along.


I mentioned a week or so ago that I was writing a tutorial on how I do my two-color fabric dyeing gradations. Well I'm happy to announce that it is now available for viewing. You will find it on the Two Creative Studios free project page.

I also added three new items to my Etsy shop this morning. One being the doodle paper quilt above.

ZenDoodling

A couple of evenings this week I doodled while sitting with hubby in front of the TV. I haven't done any of this type of doodling since around last winter or spring, maybe. It's one of those zone-out type of things to do, while half listening to the TV and half thinking about all the things you'd like to do or want to do or need to do.

Photoshop Play

I was out in the garden yesterday and was snipping away on my clematis when I thought, hmmmmmmm, I wonder how this would turn out as a screened design. I just love these little balls of swirly-ness that form after the flower petals have drifted away. Oh, and Abby likes them too, she thought I brought her a new toy. I didn't let her play with it for long as I need to look and see if these are poisonous for cats. Up first is the original photo.


Then I started playing around with several ways to make a black and white image. I created three different images using different settings and filters for each. I like how each of these turned out and I'm not sure at this point if I have a favorite. I think I will make a screen with all three of them and then test the screened results to see if the differences show up or not.




Today is the Hearts for Anna benefit event. Please consider helping this lovely artist. You can help by taking a look at the fabulous art work that has been donated and see if there is something that you just can't live without. There are some wonderful pieces available. Look here for more information.

I Feel Like a Traitor

Oh my gosh!!!!! Look at all the quilt name suggestions I've received (post below). You all came through with so many wonderful ideas. I am so grateful. But as my blog post title indicates, I'm feeling bad. Part way through the day yesterday I looked at my quilt again and WHAM! a name just hit me and I totally love it. I guess I should have waited an extra day to think more about the quilt name and then I wouldn't have had to bother all of you.

But, don't despair! Since everyone was so helpful and I really enjoyed reading all the ideas/interpretations, I've thrown all the names into the random number generator and I'm still going to send out the goody package. The random number generator chose #9, and that name is Susan Brubaker Knapp. Susan if you will email me your address I'll get your goody package on its way.

And now for the quilt name I came up with: Stirring Thoughts

Name that Quilt

Last week kept me busy, although by looking here on my blog you probably couldn't tell. Here is one thing I made, some paper fabric.


I've been steadily working on my pink/cream quilt to get it finished. This next photo shows the back of the quilt. I thought I'd stitch my name on it. Here is just a little view of that. I will still put a label on the back in my usual manner with the title of the quilt, which I don't know as of yet. That's where you may be able to help, read below.


And this photo shows that I've added the binding to the quilt. Next up is the hanging sleeve.


As I mentioned above, I haven't named this quilt yet. Most of the time I have a difficult time coming up with a good name for my art, and every once in a while a name will just pop into my head like magic. Well this is one of those times that I am not having much luck. I have thought of one or two, but they just aren't thrilling me for some reason. So, here's what I propose...give me a name suggestion and permission to use it if I like it. If I choose your suggestion, I will send you a surprise goody package. Thanks for your help. Please be sure I have some way to contact you when you leave a comment. You can also email me if you prefer.

UPDATE 5:42 p.m. (central time): My magic has kicked in and I think I've thought of the perfect name. I really want to say though, that I've very much enjoyed all your ideas and thoughts. It's made for a wonderful day and I thank each and every one of you. Of course, you can still offer any name suggestions here on out if you so desire, because I may just draw a name from all those who played along and still send that goody package. I'll reveal my quilt name tomorrow.

Prizes and New Work

If you have been reading my blog for a while, you probably know that Sue and I are having a Two Creative Studios Summer Giveaway. I just wanted to share with you a photo of some of the prizes. A gorgeous book that Sue made, a giclee art print, and some fabulous hand dyed fabrics that we both created. You can read all about this fun prize giveaway here.


The next photo is something new I worked on last weekend. I tried some new things on the central/focal area of this piece and then fused it down onto the hand dyed background. I've started with the free-motion stitching. I'm not sure yet if I'm liking it or not. I'll work on it in my spare time and we'll see what happens.


And for those of you who have been wondering about the pink and cream quilt progress. Here it is!


I've been working on this a lot lately and I'm almost finished. I need to get this project done and out of the way because I have some other commitments that I need to get working on. There's just not enough hours in my days. Oh how I wish I didn't need to sleep...or mow the grass...or cook...or clean....

A Donation

Artful Home is having an online event on August 12-16, 2009. This event is called Hearts for Anna. You can read all about this event here. This weekend I made a piece to donate to the Hearts for Anna online benefit.




My small art quilt measures 7" x 5". I've named it Love Hearts. Along with fabric, I painted it and added a small amount of hand stitching. The edges are a couched novelty yarn.

Two Dye For

I did say I was obsessed a couple of posts back, right? And I did say that I was going to dye one more gradation set and then take a break? Mmmm hmmmm! I did! And then I did one more after that.

Well here's my one more two-color gradation. This set is made from moss green and turquoise. I like this one.


And here's my one more after that set. This is bronze and lilac.


So now are you wondering why I did this extra set? I'll tell you. I had been getting some questions about how I am doing my gradations...so I thought I would write up a tutorial for any of you who might like to try this. So I needed another gradation set so that I could photograph the steps.

The tutorial will be ready soon and I'll let you know when it is ready. You can also stay up to date by signing up to receive the Two Creative Studios newsletter. And a bonus if you sign up for the newsletter...you will be registered for the Two Creative Studios Summer Giveaway. Winners to be drawn on 8/15/09. You can read all about the giveaway on the newsletter page (link above).

Happy Weekend!

Happy August

Today is the day that the Twelve by Twelve group reveals their passion-themed quilts. They should all be on the blog by the end of the day and if you'd like to go see them, click here.

Here is what I made for this theme. You can read all the details about my quilt on the Twelve by Twelve blog.