Blog hopping

I'm having so much fun blog hopping and seeing so many creative, talented artists all because of OWOH.  I see something on one site and I'll remember a scarf that I knitted . . . or those soaps I tried to make . . . or that cross stitch project that's been on hold for who remembers how long now.  But I also have in the back of my mind that CED's theme this month is home and maybe I should be concentrating on cleaning and organizing my home.

I started the day trying to organize my craft/studio space and just when I think I'm making progress, I remember that I need to wash the bed sheets and sweep the floors of all those dust bunnines and vacuum in the living room.  So the organizing of my "studio" space gets put on the back burner.  Then I look at the time and realize I've got to go pick up the little one from school soon.  When I get home, I'll have to start to think about what I'm gonna make for dinner.  I guess I should just wait 'til the morning to start back in the "studio" again.

I did come across 2 things that I would like to finish though . . .

The first is a doll that I made using the beginner's pattern in Creative Cloth Doll Making by Patti Medaris Culea.  She sits on a shelf high above me all the time in my studio and I really don't pay much attention to her.  She's pretty much done except for the fact that her clothing needs to be sewn down as she's got pins all over her keeping it in place right now.  I call her my Earth doll and this is what she looks like . . .

I wasn't pleased with the way her hands turned out so maybe that's why I just never finished her.  I did go to all the trouble of cutting up the fabric and lace to make up her garment that I really should just take 1/2 an hour of so and tack it down.

The other was a little art quilt that I started a while back.  The base is a left over quilt block that I started stamping and painting on as an experiment with some of the techniques I read about in Quilting Arts Magazine.  I just didn't get very far and never finished it as well.  This is what I have so far . . .

I think this is what I'm going to finish as my CED challenge this month and incorporate the "home" theme into it.  Well  . . . it's just about time to go get the little one . . .

Hopefully I'll have more time for blog hopping again this evening . . . or maybe I'll summon up the energy to work on and finish one of the projects above.

Hope you're all enjoying OWOH!  I know I am!

Until next time . . .

Scatter-brained, easily bored or just busy?

I can't decide which I am. I've been so busy lately that I just don't know where it all starts or ends anymore. I've got several projects going on and only 1 has been completed . . . and that was the last one I started! That being said . . . I got my SNL 53 kit done this AM. I have so many more ideas in the folder yet I decided and settled on these papers and elements:

This was a really fun kit to make and as I said . . . there are many more ideas swirling around in my head, but I really want to continue on with the other projects I've got going as well.

As I mentioned, I feel so scatter-brained . . . it all started when I realized that Michael's doesn't sell the Jacquard fabric paints I wanted to continue on with the art quilt project and had to find a day to go out to Dick Blick. Seems they're the only local store that sells them and I didn't want to have to wait if I ordered them online. Anyway, when I got to the Dick Blick store . . . my mind started racing! With all those art materials, and books and canvas, I just couldn't help but feel the urge to paint, Paint, PAINT!

So instead of continuing with my already "in progress" art quilt and when I came across a roadside vendor who had these lovely sunflowers, I just had to stop and get some. As soon I was at home arranging the flowers, I was setting up a photo shoot and took tons of pictures. I then began sketching in the sketchbook and getting more ideas down. I was really surprised at the sketch I did . . . considering I hadn't done any real sketching for quite some time now. I came up with this . . .

From there I decided to pull out some water color paper and blocked in some color and still, my art quilt was hanging on the design wall just waiting to see what should be done next. But instead, I continued with the sunflowers and blocked-in some color on a 9 X 12 sheet of water color paper and not sure how it was coming out, I decided to get some input and suggestions from the people over at Wet Canvas. We decided that the background was too busy and the coloring of the background just wasn't quite right.

So I was at it again! This time, I went bigger and decided to sketch on an 18 X 24 sheet of water color paper and blocked in the color and here's where I stand . . .

That's how my past 2 weeks or so have gone and I have only 1 real thing to show for it. So now I have to decide whether to continue on with this sunflower project or jump back into the art quilt project. Then again . . . there's my digital scrapbook layouts that I've been neglecting . . . and those weeds accumulating in the garden . . . not to mention all the housework that's been on the back burner too!

Oh well, it will all get done sooner or later.

Going to the Quilt Expo tomorrow

I love going to the Quilt Shows! There's one in the spring at the Stevenson Center and one in the fall at the Schaumburg Convention Center. Being that it's getting much colder outside, I'm once again thinking of the quilts I need to finish. I also like the fact that they can be displayed as art. Although, I love painting on canvas and have a few pieces displayed throughout the house, my favorite is the art quilt I made from a kit. It's called Moonlit Garden and is hung in my living room. Here are a few photos . . .

I think this quilt is the greatest piece of art I've made . . . even if the design was someone else's. The quilting was done by me on the machine and is very dense throughout the entire quilt. I just love the colors and everything about it! So I'm excited about going to the show tomorrow and looking forward to it! At least it will keep my mind off of the Designer Finder Contest as the week 3 assignment will be posted late tomorrow night and it's making me nervous just thinking about what that will be.

Thoughts for today . . .

Been trying to clean out old stuff . . . in the "studio" and on the computer. Came across one of several quilts I still haven't finished yet. This one is intended to be a wall hanging or "art quilt" of a kimono.

It is on the smaller side . . . measuring 40 X 45 inches approximately so I could just stitch it on the machine. I guess I'm still not quite sure of the motifs I'd like to do so still it sits unfinished. Besides, I do have yet another quilt that is almost completed. (I still have to decide on the border I'd like to use) That one is much bigger though measuring 80 X 100 inches and the biggest quilt yet that I have undertaken. I have a picture of it here . . .

It's been sitting unfinished for atleast a year now. Since it's almost September, I'm starting to think about quilting again. I should try to finish it before that really bitter cold weather sets in. I know this one's gonna keep me nice and warm too! I do have a couple of other quilts that are still unfinished as well.

There are also 3 that I have finished and some other smaller pieces and wall hangings that I have done. I'll have to post pictures of those as well, but for now, I'm getting tired and want to wind down for the night. It's been an exhausting day . . . standing in line at the college with Ian so he can get his classes and schedule together and getting books 'n such. So . . . until tomorrow . . .