Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Yes, Stuff Happened

I'm guessing we all have weeks that come and go with little clue of what we did with it. Such was the case for me last week. (Week #47 of the calendar year...I googled that tidbit--I'm kind of a dork that way.) So, to assure myself that last week happened, I'll share with you some of what I sewed.....

For Jill in the Stash Busting International virtual quilting bee, I made two blocks. She requested wonky log cabins.

(10.5" blocks)

For Sudi-Laura in the Sew Connected 2 virtual quilting bee, I also made two blocks. She requested maverick stars.

(12.5" block)

(9.5" block)

And for Debbie in the Swap Til You Drop mini quilt group, I made this. I was some challenged by this one. When I looked at Debbie's blog and Flickr photos, I noticed she used more muted colors so I went that direction. My tendency towards the more saturated colors made it difficult to trust whether it was working or not. But I did hear from Debbie yesterday and she says she loves it. That makes me happy:)

(12x14 inches)

(back)

One of the little extras that I included with Debbie's mini quilt was a fabric luggage tag.


It was very easy to make and you can get a free pattern for it here along with four other free patterns for small quilting projects.


OK, before Week 48 (dork!!) becomes a foggy memory I best get on with my day... Project Thanksgiving Readiness--I'm hungry just thinking about it!!

Marilyn

Monday, November 16, 2009

In the Pink Artists Drawing, Everyone Wins!

For a donation to Susan G. Komen for the Cure through The Pink Artists Drawing, Part 2, my name was entered...and drawn for one of the amazing 63 prizes gifted to the Prize Wheel by 63 equally amazing artists!


Specifically, an incredible mixed media piece, "Sailing Through It" by "Nikki" Lee Anne Ghilain, (Sun Soul Art Thoughts)!! It's gorgeous and I can't thank Nikki enough for her generosity!!

***************************

So, this is what it's looked like around here for a couple of days...

(Image from DryIcons)


Oh so dreary! But before the cold rain moved in, it was sunny and warm and I gathered up a few of the autumn leaves from our yard.


I decided to scan them...


...although, I'm not sure what to do with them.


Maybe you have an idea? Please feel free to use them:)

Marilyn

Saturday, November 14, 2009

From "I Think I Can" to "All Done"

I have to admit that the I Heart Zines swap turned out to be a very satisfying project.

(my I Heart Zines front cover)

But I had doubts along the way...

The mere size of the zine was somewhat looming--five folded pages/20 sides (I chose a 8.5 by 5.5 format) and did I have enough in my noggin to fill those pages? If I did, how would I communicate my ideas?

I also was feeling some intimidation, without any basis as I don't know who I'm actually swapping with. But, typically, I was sure the other swappers' zines would shine up against my little first attempt:)

Lastly, would I be able to complete 10 copies before the November 13th deadline? I signed up to participate in mid-July...four months = easy peasy...right? But then that little bump in the road, my August hysterectomy, and a few other swaps I signed up for. I'm usually pretty good about timing my swap participation, but perhaps removing one's uterus affects one's wise swapping judgement! Suddenly it seemed that several swap deadlines were falling very close to one another!

(I Heart Zines back cover)

But this is where the satisfying part comes in...I did it! I finished my zine original, compiled 10 copies and popped them into the mail last Saturday, a full six days ahead of the deadline!

I took it one page at a time and focused on that project, not the twenty page project. I wrote about things I know (duh!). It's amazing how easy it is to fill a page with things you know, lol. And I ignored the intimidation, even if it didn't disappear completely...it was my zine--it could only reflect me--and that had to be good enough.

My pages were done in a cut-and-paste style...collaged backgrounds with printed text cut out and pasted onto the backgrounds. That style allowed me to really play with color and pattern and magazine/catalog pictures that I'd torn out and kept in a "I'll use it someday" file.


I included articles about my own discoveries of inspiration for color and creating...and lessons learned:) I talked about a couple of my favorite books and added a few helpful quotes I've come across. I talked about nature and traveling and laundry (yes, color inspiration in your laundry!)...and pinking shears, teehee. I included a copy of one of my smaller mixed media pieces and some quicky instructions for a patchwork pillow that mixes up four different patchwork blocks. And there are a few things tucked in for the other swappers to play with: fabric, ribbon, decorative paper, etc.

When Alma emailed me earlier this week to let me know that my package had arrived, she said some very nice things about my zine and it gave me just enough confidence to share it with others in my Etsy shop.

This is probably a good time for me to thank all of you for your sweet and encouraging blog comments over the past almost two years. It's the give and take of blogging, and the support of one another's artistic endeavors that gives me the push to try new things. What a gift...thank you!!

Marilyn

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

I Heart Zines Swap


I continue to work on my issue for the I Heart Zines Swap...


...and continue to ponder, "Why am I so slow at cutting and pasting?!" I'm Speedy Gonzales when I'm at the sewing machine. I don't get it.

My zine is very close to being finished and I'm starting to get really excited about the swapping part. I'll be sending my ten copies to Alma Stoller soon. She will swap them and send back ten different zines from other swappers. FUN...yes?


OK, back to work!

Marilyn

Monday, November 2, 2009

Block Party Quilt Along

Alissa, one of my Sew Connected 2 (virtual quilting bee) pals, posted yesterday about a great quilt-along that is getting started over at Block Party Quilting.

Quarterly, there will be a tutorial for a specific quilt block, along with options for improvising it or making it in a different way if there is one. There is also a companion flickr group for posting pictures of the blocks and to see the many variations being created.

Alissa and her co-host, Kristen (another SC2 pal), are extremely talented and I think they will have a lot to offer! I'm looking forward to it!

Meanwhile, they're having a giveaway--two bundles of fabric, 8 fat quarters! Doesn't that make your heart pound?! If so, scoot on over to Block Party to find details about the quilt-along and the giveaway.

Marilyn

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)


Last year, I celebrated Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) by participating in Stephanie's (Rodrigvitz Style) Dia de Bloglandia 2008. This year, Stephanie is again hosting a blog celebration--Dia de Bloglandia 2009.

I didn't sign up to participate again his year because, well, how is it November already?! But I wanted to remember the day in our home and created a Day of the Dead runner for our table.




If you'd like to check out Dia de Bloglandia 2009, you can go here for a list of the participants. I can't wait to visit them!

Marilyn