Enjoying My Time in the Studio

Having a ball working away. My sister wanted me to take time to smell the flowers. I have. Well, I really took time to walk the beach in between the wind storms. The wind was been furious but there was a little lull and I took advantage of it. Boy, do I ever enjoy the beach, surf, sky, sand.... Heaven! And I do frequently gaze out at the view: sand dunes, ocean and sky. My sewing machine faces that ever changing view. I am one lucky woman!

What have I been doing????? 10 Palm 4x6ers, 6 beach pins, 6 quilted fabric reproductions(around 4x5"), 3 sea turtle and 3 fish 4x6ers and a bunch of ornaments - those are done and packaged. I did play with the embellisher/needle felting machine the other day. What fun. The sea turtle pic shows the needlefelted sea grass. I felted some yarns to Kunin felt and will made a person pin. I sewed up some sea turtle and mermaid pin bodies - will stuff and embellish the next few evenings. I've started some altered books - 2 mini board books and one hardback. I'm suppose to get at least 2 altered books done by Tuesday for my local art association's challenge - time will tell. I've waited til the last minute once again. The challenge is to use an old book or parts of, so I may come up with another plan.

Tomorrow I head for the Jacksonville Quiltfest with my fiber friends of Fernandina and Jacksonville. Can't wait for the eye candy as well as the vendors.

Back Home Working

Back home after the Yellow Daisy Art and Craft Festival in Atlanta and a visit with good friends in the NC Mountains. The mountains were simply beautiful. And they provided rest and relaxation. The show - the weather and crowds were great. It's good to be home at the beach and in my studio. Once again I'm getting ready for several shows. Three "Christmas Made in the South" - Franklin, Tenn., Savannah, GA and here at home(well almost at home): Jacksonville, FL. Carolina Shows, Inc. runs the shows. I did the Jacksonville Show last year - great potential is there. I do a bunch of little items - items I enjoy creating yet on the craft side. I hang my fiber wall hangings up on the display panels as well. Indoor shows are much easier to do from the artist and artist's husband's stand point. No setting up the tent. No taking down of art at the end of each day as I do for outdoor shows. No worry about the weather either! Wish me success! I have 2 outdoor shows as well: Neptune Art Festival in Virginia Beach, VA Sept 28 - 30th and the Amelia Arts Festival, here in Fernandina Beach, FL November 9 & 10. Geez, I'm tired already!

Been creating small items, most incomplete as yet: 10 Palm quilted artcards, 2 beach pins, numerous orange lady pins and wonderfully wacky lady pins, some artdolls(working up different patterns I've drawn up). I am!!!! going to play with my new machine needlefelting machine!!! Today!!!!

Pics include: artdoll, Wonderfully Wacky pin and 4x6 Palm

Must get packing!

Trying to get organized for the trip to Maine and the Nature Printing Society's Annual Workshop and Meeting. A big bag of supplies for the workshops themselves. Two big bags of materials to complete: bookmarks, 4x6er's, needlefelted balls that will be pendants, fabric charms to be wired and findings attached, Humm.... what else??? Oh I must pack some clothes!!!! Luckily husband, Jim, handles the driving, maps, motels. I might be able to post while up in Maine. We shall see. I'm so excited.

Besides the excitement of the trip, I made time to attend the FAN meeting. Fabric Artists Network - artists from Fernandina and Jacksonville area - a wonderfully divergent group of fiber artists. We sure have fun. We made clay, regular clay, the kind that must be fired and glazed, buttons and beads. One of the gals will fire our doings Raku style! Earthly, organic looking!

I got into designing another series of nature prints: the inspiration was the colors I used to print the leaves - then I rediscovered some decorator fabrics that had the same greens and voila! A new series. I just had to finish designing, pin basting. They're be ready for me to quilt when I get home in 10 days!!! I've included a teaser for you! And there is more designer fabrics awaiting!

Til Maine!

Oh, now how could I forget! I could not resist purchasing an embellisher while at the FAN meeting - we meet at a quilt shop in Jax. I innocently asked the price - and got a cut on the sale price. I'm tickled. I've just been gazing at it. Really longing to get my hands on it but time is way too short. That'll be waiting for me as well.

Now, Cheers.

Been working in the Studio

Will try and post some pics later this evening when the Internet is not so busy.

I've completed my "commission" sea turtle piece, 18" square. It's my "Dinner for One" series! Glue batik with Watersoluble neocolor crayons, highlighted with Shiva paintsticks, raw edged appliques, free motion quilting.

I've also completed more in the series "Hanging Vines" using printed grapes leaves, hand-dyed fabric, machine made coils for the vines. I left loose threads is represent the vines tendrils. One I stretched on 20 x 16" stretcher frame, the other two were 12 x 9", hung the usual way using a dowel in a sleeve in the back of the piece.

I've printed a bunch of ginkgo leaves: to make 4 x 6" pieces with loose leaves tacked down. I'll add Chinese coins and beads later. I've quilted 15 of little gems and tons of loose leaves. The beaded hangers will keep me busy in the car travels.

Planning lots of little projects as I have to get ready for some Fine Craft shows and Christmas shows. And besides, little gems seem to be my bread and butter. I'll be taking my art pieces as well, just bunches of little things as well.