Gluing and Sewing

The weather is extremely HOT around here with temps over 100 almost every day and the wind is intense. I think we are living in a convection oven.  With that said, you will know why I am secluded in my house with the AC unit running at warp speed.  There have been several projects passing over the work table recently.  The art dept. and the sewing dept. have been open, often at the same time. 

Fun Projects:

This month is the theme of ‘wedding’ for June at the Blissful ATC Swap.  This gal has been sent on her way to my swap partner.  I really wish I had been able to capture the 3D effect.  The bride is layered papers and slightly molded which the highlights show to some degree.  I enjoyed using this vintage pic I had on file.  I can’t wait to receive my swap from my partner.

I’ve also been working on some baby gifts.  I embellished a couple of outfits with trims.  This brown and pink trim wraps around toward the back with another swirl.

The matching pink leggings have sumptuous  and soft flowers around the hem.  I think I could put this trim on everything!

The black and white ensemble is more simple.  I used more of the soft flower on the center of the white doily on the top.  I am thinking Big Bows are in order to complete these ensembles.

I haven’t taken pics yet of the car seat canopies which are fabric covers secured to conceal a sweet babe from harsh winds while outside.  I love the shopping cart covers that keep the sweet babes from licking the cart handles.  I wish this great idea had come along when my son was still in a cart.  He licked every cart clean as a whistle despite my hardest efforts to prevent it!  EEEEEuuuuuuuu!!

Vintage Bride for You….feel free to use in your art.

I will take pics and share more soon.  Thanks for stopping by.

Technorati Tags: ATC,art,Swaps,Sewing Projects,freebie

Upcycled ARt

Hello y’all,  I have pulled out my art dept. this week.  I repurposed a pencil drawing of a windmill drawn many years ago.  It became the basis of this journal page.  I collaged layers from my stash and I loved the tractor from an old ag magazine.  It was a line drawing that was just screaming “Color Me Now”.   I just love everything Texas and this is my tribute to those things I enjoy in it’s great bounty.

I also used many of my vintage patriotic images to embellish a banner.  I didn’t prefer the basic banner colors that I had on hand, so let the layering begin…Gesso, book pages and vintage images produced a much preferred look.

I am still debating on further embellishment of some ruffled crepe  or lace for rosettes and trim.

I have pieced my first quilt square also.  It has many little flaws, but I am still quite pleased.  After conquering the pattern did I observe this pattern was for the advanced piecer.  It was those crazy triangles and the points underneath.  UGH.  I will stick to basics for the next one.  I am contributing this one for a quilt to be made for a raffle for Breast Cancer Awareness.

In time for the 4th of July, I am gifting you with some of my images in my stash.  Click on the image and right click to save to a file.  Enjoy.

I’m glad you dropped by for a chit chat.

Art from Afar

From the far reaches of the world to my wee mailbox came another piece of art. 

My latest ATC to arrive came from Margaret Hetebry in West Australia.  Is that like West Texas?  She did mention they are still in winter where she is and it has been very cold here the last couple of days….I think that makes us alike.  This card was all embroidered and rich in beautiful texture.  Yum. 

In other parts of my little world is the countdown to the sale this weekend.  I was pulling together necklaces that I want to move on to a new home and spread the love.  Well folks, I need a lot of homes to spread this much love!!!  Should I even count them?  UGH.

I have MANY crystal charm necklaces from small to honkin HUGE.

Lots of Color…my fav’s.

Some scrumptious turquoise and brown and green mixtures.

Wild Thangs!

And Mild Thangs.

Hope to see ya on Saturday in Dougherty.

Sale Countdown

I have made huge headway in the studio dept.  I had to quit ripping out and start cleaning this week.  I am now setting up for a clearance sale on Saturday.  I had to rip out the shelves one board at a time from the wall to the right.  Oh Me Oh My, what a project that was pulling 4 and 5” nails from 2x4’s.  Those shelves were almost tornado proof the way they had been built.  With those cleared away, I have room to hang another shelving from an adjoining room that I also have torn up.  I am a good tearer-upper in case you haven’t noticed.  I am ready to put it all back together VERY SOON!

I have unpacked many boxes in the past few days and I must say……”Where in the heck did all this stuff come from??!!!” 

I have a herd-O-birdies.

Bundles-O-Beads

Sale-O-Rama!

This is a tip of the proverbial iceberg and it needs to be GONE.  On Saturday, I hope all this goodness has a new home.

I hope today is a wonderful day and I want to share some Sweetness with everyone…

Technorati Tags: Studio,Sweet One,Sale

Blog watching

You MUST jump over to INK STAINS to check out an awesome giveaway she is having.   I do believe you would enjoy perusing her blog if you like to learn art techniques.  She is a consistent and interesting blogger and you’ll enjoy checking out her older posts.  I’ll take a couple of additional pointers in the consistency department.  I can say I am fairly consistent every couple of months in blogland.  I haven’t even been surfing and lurking lately.  That’s just plain sad around here, but I’ve been busy, busy, busy.

The studio is coming along nicely.  The ceiling is ripped out to the rafters.  It is pretty clean and I am getting ready for a big sale on May 7.  I’ve paused the construction so I can start digging out goodies and pricing.

I am sharing a couple of ladies doing what I would prefer to be doing myself…just enjoying the beautiful outdoors without a care in the world! 

Click on image, Right click and Save.

I promise to share pics of progress soon.  Take care and enjoy the spring blooms.

Easter ATC’s

I uncovered more goodies from the mailbox.  Woot Woot.  These three ATC’s were traded through Christian Paper Artists Group.  Each one is so unique and perfect for this special holiday.

The cards I created were duplicates of some vintage post cards I have and I reduced them for the ATC’s.  These chicks and eggs just represent new beginnings and rebirth.  I just love the graphics on old ads and postcards.

Another celebration that we recently shared in was the promotion of my son.  We were able to join him at the Japanese Tea Garden for the ceremony.  He is now a Staff Sargent in the US Army.  I am just bustin’ my buttons with pride for my favorite son.

As you can tell in the pic, we are not going to quit yakking just for a photo op!  Oh well.

Have a great Easter weekend.

Spring ATC’s

It is a summery kind of Christmas when you get this kind of goodness in the mailbox.  The Spring ATC swap I joined at The Art of Altering is a swap with 3 other people.  My first exchange has arrived and what a fun surprise to unwrap this card from a LOT of fringy yarn.

After all the reveal, here is this adorable bird and nest from Dawn Burrows.  Hop on over to her blog to check out her awesome creativity.

She also included a bonus gift of these tags she prepared.  I’ll be using these soon.  Thanks Dawn.

The cards I sent out had a flower garden theme.

The art goodness happens after hours around here.  During the daylight, I’ve been gutting a building to be my official studio in the near future.  Fingers are crossed.  I’ve removed a lot of sheet rock and a bit more has to come down.

This is a long shot of the room.  After all the sheet rock has been ripped out along with a truck full of dirt, dirt, dirt….I am now ripping off the support boards.  I just want the exposed rafters for now.

Next on the rip out list is this bad boy.  There are Huge nails holding this one to the cinderblock.  UGH!  I want this moved to another wall .  It’s not in a very convenient place for the plan I have in mind.  Shelving storage is nothing to be taken lightly around here and there is nothing Light about this unit! 

I keep looking at this mess as my workout program.  I have a stair climber with the ladder.  I use weights with my trusty heavy hammer and sledge hammer.  General aerobics are involved with the shoveling out broken sheetrock and loading trailers, etc., etc.  My arms have got to be more fit after this rip out project.  Phew, I’m tired just thinking about that workout.  I’ll take a break before I even go out to work some more.

Enjoy these spring days that are pleasant and I send prayers to those affected by all the horrific tornadoes.

Technorati Tags: studio,atc's,spring

Upcycling

Ok everyone...it was midnight and the creative bug attacked me. I had no defenses and had to succumb. Why, oh why didn't I go to bed earlier??!! The trek to the fabric stash uncovered an old dirndl skirt from the 60's/70's. It was quite a classic to be sure and made of upholstery fabric!! My dear grandmother used to scavange the thrift stores for old fabrics to use in her own projects. I brought this piece home (along with the huge tub full of goodies). She had a good eye for texture and color and I've pulled from that stash many times. Thankfully it was a long version and supplied me with a sufficient amount of fabric.

That is until I got to the back of the chair back. hmmmm, my mind was whirling with ideas..or was I numb from lack of sleep? You can see the hideous office grey peeking out. Did I remember ANY before and after pics? NOPE! Just to keep consistent with the forgetfulness dept.

I found some silk scraps and pieces of ribbon. Keeping with the upcycling mode, none of the ribbons matched, but were in the turquoise blue theme to tie in with the fabrics. I finished by 1:30 and hit the hay. I am loving this new redo of this plain chair and I got to clear out some more of that fabric stash. Yippee!

I also had finished putting my daybed back together in the afternoon. I redid the skirt a while back. The many layers of fabric at the seam was almost impossible for my machine to sew through. Beware when you sew 6 layers of home dec fabrics and 2 layers are gathered!

I have recycled some old doilies, table runners and hankies into all the pillows. Everything I used were leftovers from prior projects and I didn't have to purchase one solitary piece of fabric. I even had several of the pillow forms already on hand then used odd pieces of poly batting to stuff the others. I love these kind of projects for sure.

I know you may have noticed the drawer handle in the other pic. You're jealous of such fab hardware...I know, I know! I had plenty of selections and I stayed in my turquoise theme of course.

It is supposed to be this style, but, alas some of the pieces are missing. I will have to find someone to recast some replicas of this hardware. I can also see it become another of my own projects also. I'd like to learn to make replicas of this gorgeous hardware and some of the mouldings I have on hand. Perhaps later this summer that project may be complete.

Love in the P O box

Howdy.  I have been busy, busy.  The sweat shop closed temporarily so the jewelry shop could open.  You DO understand this involves clearing my work table from one crisis and preparing for the next disaster.  I never seem to work neatly and must have all my inspiration scattered about.

I posted the jewelry that I and my BFF, Heather put together over on Sassy Tumbleweed.   Jump on over check out that mayhem!

I get to share an ATC I received from Leila West.  The month of February was the theme of Love.   She also sent along a cute postcard she created.  Love it.  Thanks a ton.

Isn’t the couple so sweet?  Sigh…….I just love getting these little gifts from heaven in my Mail Box each month.  It is a guaranteed smile every time.

This is the card I have sent her way…much belated.  I did a simpler style this month in the thought process of Valentines made in elementary school and exchanged with your bestest friends.

I am no sooner finally getting a post on my blog than I have to confess I am hitting the road again.  I think this is the longest stretch to actually be home for me.  I do try to stay home during these bad weather months though.  You wouldn’t think it is the middle of winter around here in our part of Texas with the awesome warm sunny days we have had this week.  Yee Haw is all I gotta say about that!

Thanks for stopping by.  Sign up to follow and you can know when I update more easily.  But I do enjoy you clicking on often to check things out…..it kinda tickles don’t ya know!

Wallflowers

The paint has been flying again and the flowers were grown onto the wall.  I just freehanded the vines and blooms onto the wall to mimic the window fabrics. 

The opposite end of the wall has a balance flower a bit higher on the wall.  I like it and when the art is hung up, I think it will all blend in quite well.  I just haven’t decided which art to go with. 

In our prior home, the wall space was much more abundant and not the case in our current domicile.  Hence, I have a lot of art in storage that I can’t part with or decide where to hang them.  I believe I will be pulling a few out for a test run in here.

This week will be moving along at a snail’s pace since I have the help of the Sweet One.  No complaints in the Grandma dept. 

Have a most terrific day/night!

Technorati Tags: guest room,painting,art