Something About Nothing

Two years ago, my friend, Melanie Testa , sent out a call asking artists to make breast pockets .  I made a couple of fabric pockets and then asked my daughter's volleyball team to make paper pockets for Melly.   I delivered the pockets to Melly when I went to New York for my sister's wedding. In the October/November 2014 issue of Quilting Arts Magazine , another call was put out for Melly's Breast Pocket project in a reader challenge called: "Art from the Heart: The Breast Pocket Project." I created two pockets and I thought I would share.  I started with an image of two birds I found at The Graphics Fairy .  I printed the birds onto a piece of TAP , and then ironed them onto some silk organza.  I auditioned them on several fabrics from Lynn Krawczyk's new fabric line: Inked , as well as a number of my own hand dyed fabrics.  I decided I liked Lynn's red Inked fabric best.  I love the inspiring words on this piece and felt they were very ...

Quilting Arts Magazine sponsors a number of quilting challenges each year and I enjoy entering.  I haven't been selected for anything yet but I keep trying because, well, it challenges me as an artist. The latest challenge I've entered involves this photo and a new Bernina sewing machine. The winner of the challenge will recieve a brand new Bernina Aurora 440QE.  I've stitched on one of these babies and they are pretty sweet!  The challenge is to interpret the image however you like and create an 11 x 14" quilt using plenty of machine stitching.  Here is my interpretation. Momma Swan has just discovered that her little cygnets have invited some friends for a sleepover and she is not having any of it! There will be voting on the Quilting Arts website after May 3rd.  I'll post a link later if mine is on the site.

I've been overthinking things lately.  Too much on my plate at one time perhaps.  I put together a little piece I call "Fresh Coconut" and I thought it needed a little something more.  I ended up giving it a LOT of something more and I don't like it as well now.  I think the photos show more of the paint than I see in person so I don't like the photos any better.  I may just start over. . . Before: After: Opinions?

I thought about writing something melecholoy about getting old, but decided that would take too long. There is sunshine to enjoy and books to read, so I'll just give a brief explaination and post the pictures of my latest creation and get on with life! I call this "Sunset Swim." I intended a double meaning because the woman is swimming at sunset and she is in the sunset of her life. I think both sunsets are beautiful. I created the piece for a "Life's a Beach" reader's challenge in a magazine called Cloth, Paper, Scissors. Above is the complete piece as photographed on my back lawn (can you tell it's nice and sunny today!) and below is a close up of her swim cap and the sunset. Hope you have a great day! I'm going to go read a book in the sun!