Cuppla Projects

Over the weekend I worked on two new projects. One is done, the first one shown. Both of these pieces are themes which I seem to do over and over. I guess that means I like them maybe? Or perhaps it's because I'm comfortable creating them? Hmmm, wonder if I should break out of the box.

This is a small wall hanging that is made from scraps mostly. The light colored inner section was a cut-off from another project and had been laying around on the work table for too long. The batting on the back/teal section was a scrap, as were the fabrics I used to create the vase, flower, and stem.

Scribble Flower
17" x 8.25"

The next project is a similar process to a few other quilts I've created recently, just in a small version. My next step on this one is to add color to the surface.


Today I have to run some errands and then I'm hoping to make a start on a Christmas gift. I'm also in the process of working on a mixed-media triptych painting for my son. He's been decorating his apartment lately and wanted me to create some wall art for him. So I'm doing something on gallery wrapped canvas. I'll show you those another day.

I received some very exciting news on Friday. I got an envelope from Road to California, and inside they told me that my quilt entry, Stirring Thoughts, was accepted into their show. I was so happy to read that, I was jumping up and down for joy. The show is held January 14-17, 2010, at the Ontario Convention Center in Ontario, CA. I so wish I could go to see it hang there.

Gift Making

I just couldn't help myself. When Sue showed a new handbag she had made in a fabulous fabric line here, I knew I just had to have one. Of course when I whined to her about wanting one too, she didn't pick up on my hint to make one for me (tee hee), so I decided I'd make my own. I made two actually. They are shown in the photos below, along with some mini padfolios that I've made for Christmas gifts. These are what I've been busy with the last few days.



That green and black batik flower fabric that you see across the top band of both purses was a perfect match for the fabrics in the handbags. I had received that from a friend quite some time ago and hadn't used much of it. This was the perfect project for it. I'm hoping to make matching purse accessories for both handbags over the next few days, probably after the holiday. One of these handbags will be for me as I really need a new one. The other will be a gift.

I want to wish all of you a HAPPY THANKSGIVING. I hope you are able to celebrate with health, family, and love! Today I'll be starting my preparations. I'll make a pecan pie and get the bread all cut up for the stuffing. Both my husband and I come from a traditional Thanksgiving background with the turkey, stuffing, potatoes, gravy, and other assorted goodies. I'll be having round one this evening with my in-laws. Better get out the comfy pants.

Excitement X 12

The Twelve by Twelve artists are excited twelve times over to announce that:

(drum roll, please.... )

Sterling Publications/Lark Books will be publishing a book on our Twelve by Twelve Collaborative Art Quilt project!

We are thrilled beyond words to have this wonderful opportunity, and so happy that our art endeavors and friendships are turning us into authors, too. We know that Lark was impressed by the loyal folks who follow our blogs and website, so thanks to all of you friends-of-Twelves for your encouraging words through our explorations!

We'll keep you posted as we know publication dates. We are lifting a virtual glass of champagne to each other and to all of you for your support!

Block 3 and Freebies

There is a new Block of the Month out at Two Creative Studios. Block 3 is the Bird of Paradise. Here are the two versions I made.


You'll also find two new free projects at Two Creative Studios. One of those free projects is the fabric dyeing that I shared here recently. I dyed ten half-yard pieces in one bucket and achieved some fabulous results. The free project shares how I did that.


Another new free project, Fiber Collage Art Cards, is one that Sue created and uses up scraps from other projects.

Holiday Traditions Quilt Contest

Over on the Quilting Gallery site there is a quilting contest. There are some great prizes, including one from Two Creative Studios! To get all the details, click the link below.

Holiday Traditions Quilt Contest

Abstract 2

35" x 32.5"

Almost done with this one. Today I finished quilting the borders and then I squared it up and added the faced binding. Now all that's left is the label and hanging sleeve. I'm not sure how I feel about this one yet.

I hope you are having a great weekend!

Next

First of all, I want to thank all of you for your wonderful comments and input on my abstract quilt I shared two posts ago. I ended up orienting it so that photo 1 in that post is the way it will hang. I had drawn the design with that view point and it seemed like when I was working on it that was the way I always looked at it, so that orientation felt most right to me.

On to the next abstract. Here is my progress so far on this one.


Are you playing along with the Two Creative Studios Block of the Month? Sunday night is the deadline to get your second block posted in the group if you want to be in on the prize drawing. Hurry hurry! If you click over to Sue's post here, you can see what you might win.

I spent today working on block 3 for the block of the month challenge. I'll share it here in a few days. You can join in at any time if you would like to participate.

Quilt It! Contest

Lark Books is having a quilting contest and invites you to take the challenge. They have a mighty nice grand prize too. Check it out here. I've got to get my thinking cap on to see if I can come up with an idea for entering.

Decisions Decisions

Well I'm about done with my abstract quilt. I am liking it more and more. I added some painted details to it yesterday and I squared it up. I had originally thought I might do some hand stitching with the matching threads I had dyed along with these fabrics, but I don't think I will do that now, as I'm happy with it as it is....I think.

Now my only problem is which way is up!

Need Christmas Ideas?

Vicki Welsh is having a Tie Dye Shirt Sale! I have several of Vicki's tie dye shirts, the above photo is just one of them. She creates the coolest patterns in the shirts. Check it out!

Got Recipes?

I don't know about you, but I like to eat. I like to eat good food. I'm betting almost all quilters have a recipe box full of fabulous food. Perhaps you would take a moment to share one of your favorite recipes with the rest of us. The Quilting Gallery is putting together the Quilter's Cookbook. Check it out here. Hurry, the deadline to submit your recipe is November 28.

Hand Dyed Beauty

Look at my cool new hand dyed fabrics!


I dyed these all in one bucket. A one gallon bucket to be precise. All of these are half yard pieces. So I got a total of 5 yards from one gallon. I first read about doing this over on Connie's blog. I thought her results looked wonderful and I knew I wanted to try it too. Well, the other day I was in my extra fridge, loading it up with pop for hubby, when I spotted some leftover dyes from my summer dyeing session. I thought I should get those used up and then remembered this bucket dying method.

I am just amazed at how these turned out when you add all different colors of dye into one bucket. I love all the color variation and the effects on each piece of fabric. I could look at them all day. They remind me of glass. I also like looking at them and spotting shapes that remind me of things. In one fabric I found a couple of shapes that reminded me of a male and female head that were right next to each other, like they were posing for the camera.

Now to figure out how I want to use these. I may have a hard time cutting into them.

Abstract Progress

Here is my progress on this quilt. I've got it all quilted. The first two photos are detail shots that show off the quilting. The last photo is a full shot, but at an angle.


I've still got more work to do on this piece. I plan to add more detail and color with paints and hand stitching. At this point, however, I'm not sure what/where/when/how. So I'm letting it hang on the design wall so that I can think about my direction.

Fiberactions

So, yep, I joined another group. Sometimes I do have to wonder about myself. If you click the image it will take you to the blog for this new group. The group is very similar to a group I already belong to (Twelve by Twelve). We will have a theme word challenge every two months. The size of the quilt will be different in the new group. I think I will enjoy creating in a 16 x 20" size.

Something Done

I've finished with this quilt. Well, okay, maybe not totally. I've still got the hanging sleeve to do. The sleeve is created and pinned onto the back of the quilt, all I need to do is tack it in place. Oh and I need to block the quilt yet too.

I've named the quilt Here's Looking at You Cat. Sue gets credit for coming up with the name.


I've made a start on a new quilt. I've been wanting to work in a more abstract way and so I'm hoping to create a few quilts to see if I can get the hang of it and if I like it. So here's my start.


I think this quilt will be a sort of "experiment as I go" kind of process. I don't know where this will end up. Did you notice I'm using one of my two-color fabric gradations??