Things I Have Learned...

I’ve been working on my latest quilt “Down the Drain”. I used one copy of the pattern to place behind my white base fabric to use to position my applique pieces properly. At one point I wasn't pleased the way the flow was coming across, so I started “unfusing” (aka, peeling off) some of the pieces (so thankful for Misty Fuse!). Ugh, the black ink from the pattern had transferred onto the back of the white fabric and was showing through.  Lesson learned, watch the way I fuse from now on. I did grab a new piece of white fabric and transferred the other pieces over, without the pattern behind the fabric.

Down the Drain - in process

I like the way the quilt is flowing now and I’m creating most of the pieces without the pattern. Here’s a peek at what I have accomplished so far. My deadline for this quilt is growing closer, so I need to get busy and get back in the Studio for some serious fusing time.

When I was frustrated with the black ink transferring to the white fabric, I had to step out of the Studio and do something different. So, I made my way down to the Dye Studio and tried a few “sink dyeing” ideas I had been thinking about. When I was about to pull the fat quarter out sink I went looking for my drying racks. Hmmmm, where were they? Mr. Wonderful has been a little OCD about straightening the garage lately. Second lesson learned that day, when Mr. Wonderful comes to me and says, “Look how much more room we have around your car”, I need to start asking where my drying racks are and my other treasures in the garage. He had done it again, stored “my stuff” in the upper cabinets where I can’t reach them. He wasn’t using them, so they could be stored out of the way, right? My drying racks are now safely (I hope) stored under my dye table.

MRI Mirage

I have completed “MRI Mirage”. Here is the final picture of it. It is ready to be entered in the DAFA / Alzheimer’s show. This is my favorite quilt, right now. I love the dept of the colors and how the deep center draws you in.

Back to the Studio I go! Have a creative day everyone!

December Shipping/Shopping

"Confused"

Well, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are over, but Christmas Shopping is still happening! To celebrate the shopping season, I'm offering FREE SHIPPING on all Art Work and Art Quilts in my Etsy and Art Fire shops. Use Coupon Code ARTWORKFREESHIP in both shops to get the free shipping on these beautiful pieces!

The piece above is called "Confused". It is mixed media on stretched canvas. Painted with textile and acrylic paints, denim, silk, cheesecloth, painted Misty Fuse, papers and beads. It is listed in my Etsy shop.

I have a lot of fabric that isn't posted on either shop (just haven't had time to take the pictures and post them!), so if you are looking for a certain color, color combination, or size, shoot me an email and I'll let you know what I have! The Ice Dyed fabrics are fantastic!

Okay, off to clean up my desk, do much hated paperwork, and clean up the Christmas decorating mess. I've done as much as I can do this year for decorating. What isn't done, is going back in the attic!

Happy Shopping with FREE SHIPPING everyone!

Down Time

Ever finish a project and then need some down time? Seems to be my norm. I just finished the super secret Christmas present I've been working on and am now in limbo. So I decided to catch up on a few computer things, like blogging and increasing the discount in my ArtFire studio. Oh, yes, it's one week until Christmas and all merchandise at StudioJules is 25% off. Yes, that means hand dyed fabrics and Mistyfuse™! I figure discounts are better than fighting traffic!
Sue Bleiweiss is having a give away on her blog. It's the Cloth Paper Scissors Gifts 2010 Issue! Tomorrow is the last day to sign up for the give away, so link over and sign up quick!
Sue is one of the artists with the Sketchbook Challenge that I have committed to for next year. I'm really excited about this new adventure and maybe I'll work on sketching this afternoon!
I'm hoping that next week I'll be motivated to work on the truck quilt. I've been pondering the quilting and think I may quilt a barn and windmill into the background.
I've also have the project that I started for my house and I have a smaller quilt that I have to sketch out and start on soon. I would like to get it done for a gallery show coming up in February. I better get moving on that one. So maybe I'll work in sketching it this afternoon.
I've recently started listening to books by Dee Henderson. They are wonderful Christian mystery books. I'm listening to the "O'Malley Family Series" right now.
Okay, time to start sketching! Have a great weekend everyone!

Free Shipping on MistyFuse!

Don't forget that the free shipping on Mistyfuse™ end October 31st from StudioJules on Artfire!
Use Coupon code Mistyfuse Free Ship!

Go Texas Rangers! ALCS Champs!

Mixed Media By Chance or Recycle Reuse?

I know I’m always starting new projects before I finish the prior two, but hey, art on a whim can be the best pieces, right? Okay, I know, it just increases the number of unfinished projects, but the results can lead to unforeseen Mixed Media items that I hadn’t thought about before. That’s what happened this morning! Yesterday I painted and fused (with Mistyfuse™) cheesecloth for a new project. I did this on my appliqué press sheet, figuring it would clean up easily. This morning I went back to cleaning up in my studio where I had left off yesterday from painting and fusing. Using my handy dandy pot scrubber to take the paint off the press sheet I was welcomed with a colorful surprise. Look at the gold, silver and turquoise flakes! Can’t you just imagine how wonderful they are going to be fused (recycled) into a project!



Today I plan on working on the front end of the Truck Quilt and I’m thinking these flakes may work in somehow. They may be in the front end, below the truck, inside the truck, who knows, time and testing will tell!

Mistyfuse™ and Making Mini-Workshop Kits

I just posted Mistyfuse™ White, Black and Ultraviolet packages in my Studio Jules (on Art Fire) studio! Now it is available to purchase in a pre-cut package (20" x 2.5 yards) or by the yard (12" wide)! For the month (well, the remainder of the month) I'm offering Free Shipping to kick off sales.
This afternoon one of my Dallas Area Fiber Artists friends is coming over to help me put together kits for the mini-workshop I will be teaching this month. I'm so thankful for the help! We'll be making 60 kits of Mistyfuse™, cheesecloth, and parchment paper.
Tomorrow, back to work on the truck quilt!
Happy Stitching Everyone!