Twelve Square 1

     OK, so I'm starting another new project. . . . inspired by a blog that I follow (Cynthia St. Charles again).  This time she is planning to create a small (12 x 12 inches) collaged quilt once a week until she reaches 100.  Yikes!  I know better than to even think about matching her goal, but I like the idea of creating something small and abstract, not unlike the prayer flags but less haphazard.  So here goes.





     I started with some leftover scraps from last year's projects (sound familiar?), added fusible to the pieces, arranged them into a "composition" on a square of felt, and ironed them in place. 



     After affixing each piece with free-motion zigzag, I dug out a paper chickadee (also from last year) and found a place for him that seemed to work, but I wasn't satisfied with the center of the background.  Soooo, I sorted through my scraps again, added  five more pieces to the whole, and was much happier with the result.





      Now the chickadee is stamped on fabric and painted with acrylic paints, fused to felt, and cut out to perch on a branch in the tangle of branches and berries.  Really fast and fun.

Prayer Flag 4

      I finished my fourth prayer flag in just a little over an hour this morning.  Keeping a handy bag of scraps with little bits and pieces of various projects and a folder of leftovers from this summer's journaling makes it easy to sit down and put together a new flag quickly.



       The crows and "target" were a test stamp on paper which I printed (copied actually) on a scrap of fabric taped to printer paper; the shiny piece at center bottom is a crumpled candy wrapper found in a pocket;  the bright pink items are actually bougainvillea blossoms which I picked up in the street (they are covered generously with gloss medium to adhere and protect); and finally, the letters were constructed from black fabric which was free-motion "quilted," painted with Lumiere, cut out individually, and glued down with fabric adhesive.  This flag soon joined my other flags on the patio.

First "Scratch" Quilt

  Since joining the quilting group at my RV park in AZ, I am challenging myself to create enough of my own hand-painted fabric to construct a small quilt. I decided to start with 8 fat quarters using three basic colors:  purple, green, and yellow. 

     

        

Another Quickie

     I'm really trying--to get back into blogging everyday (opps, skipped yesterday--went on a (quilt) shophop, visited a really impressive Art Quilt Show in Chandler, AZ, had a super time, and spent some money).  I also have to start remembering to take more photos of my work in progress--out of that habit, too.

     This potholder was made using the simple collage, messy stitching method I used to make some of my stash boxes, but the bindings were new for me.  Back in MI when I constructed other holders, I had lots of fabric to make the bias edges--here my stash is limited, so I purchased a pack of blue tape.  Not happy with the look of the plain blue, I dug out my small eraser stamps (used this summer in several of my journal posts) and stamped along the length of the tape with three colors of fabric paint.  I'm very pleased with the results and will definitely use this process again!

And Again. . . .

    OK, no more excuses!  I've just been lazy and gotten out of the habit of blogging--so even though New Year's resolutions should have already been in place, I'm going to try again. 

    For a quick catch-up:  I am no longer a member of the artist's co-op back in Michigan (except on consignment); I have joined a quilting group here in AZ; I am still creating my own fabric; I am playing with new ideas and processes; I am having fun!!!

    One quick project which I have been trying is to create a "prayer flag" each week (see Jane La Fazio's blog).  These small hangings are put together with various scraps of printed, painted, and purloined "fabric" (and anything else that is just laying around) with one word that inspires me to create.  Very fun and relaxing to make.  I have them hanging outside on my back patio.

     Since they only measure @ 6" X 10" it is sometimes difficult to work in the message, but that is part of the challange.  I'm trying to come up with different ways of creating the letters each week.  (We'll see how long that lasts. . .)



     Prayer Flag #3.  Monoprinted background, printed scraps, a photo transfer (transparency w/gel medium)

from a trip to Mexico, pieces of a cut-up placemat, and seedpods.  Simple and satisfying.