Inside the Sketchbook

Some of the pieces I have been working on in my sketchbook...

This was for the daily prompt of - Mom. It's a watercolor based off my last maternity photo shoot.

This one I chose to do on a canvas with acrylics. It's titled "Yesterday" - a nostalgic memory to keep the wonder of childhood alive. It will be listed in my Etsy shop next week.

A different style for the daily prompt of something that starts with the letter L. In the end a lot of people choose a lion. This was a watercolor and pen sketch in the sketchbook.

 A watercolor and pen commentary on social media for the prompt of reward. In the end only we know if we have bent our personalities to fit a mold. It's something I fight against on a regular basis.

And this last piece is in progress. A tiny vignette of retro Disneyland was more work than I anticipated - lots more more layers and details to do, but it does make me happy. 

Watercolor Adventures

Near the end of last year, I was really feeling the need to paint. I painted my nails, I painted cookies and suckers. I guess I knew I wanted to return to painting, but was having trouble figuring out what it is I wanted to paint. I discovered a couple of doodle and pattern prompts on Instagram. It seemed like a good way a great way to spend my mornings. 

I have trouble with just doodling though. I sometimes sketch, but almost always enjoy my watercolors. I've learned a lot in the daily practice and I've started receiving requests for prints. I'm taking it slow, but have started looking at reopening my Big Cartel store.

Little Man's Nursery Projects - #1 Gone Fishing Improv Baby Quilt

My sweet Little Man's nursery theme is "Gone Fishing". My husband wanted a fishing motif, I wanted nautical and neither of us liked the typical colors.. What did we end up with? A fishing motif in sweet, soft oceanic color tones. Lots of cool blues, clementine orange, sandy browns and a touch of light green. The nursery is serene and the whole family enjoys being in there.

I wanted to create a number of items just for him, like I did with the girls, even though my time is honestly more stretched now. I wanted to create a couple pieces of art for his room that would be meaningful. At the top of list of thing I wanted to create was a large quilt piece to be focal in the nursery. And I had no ideas. Inspiration would just not come and I was getting sick with it. I wanted it to be more art than traditional, but I wanted it to be pieced. And I have come to accept that I really, really don't like creating realistic or literal pieces. I gave up and created a pretty simple modern quilt.. and hated making it. There was no connection, no piece of me in this other quilt. Finally a good friend told me to trash it and start over. Ugh! Really? I could never do that.. and so that quilt has become a carseat cover, a much more functional and adorable use for a quilt that held little meaning.

What to do? I'm still a novice at improv piecing, I can count on one hand the number of projects I've created in that style. However, I'm always happy when I create in that fashion. I decided that I would do an impressionist piece with a single fish that was not too abstract, but not too cutesy. I loved the process, I was eager to work on it and it felt right.. I finally found the quilt that gave my son a piece of me.

The details of the quilt..

It is 22"x30" - I had originally envisioned a very large piece, but we ended up having less wall space and I had to par it down.

It is completely pieced - no applique or fusing at all. This is huge for me. Of course for bed quilts, I've always pieced, but it when it comes to art pieces, I've run from piecing. I always felt like the precision of piecing would somehow kill the spontaneity of the art. I never had that feeling with this quilt I think because it was improv pieced with a very vague plan. This is also the very first time I used curved piecing as well.. It was not that scary and the gentle waves were perfect for this piece.

I quilted it on my domestic machine. Given its smaller size and that I learned how to FMQ on my domestic, it made the most sense. Maybe one day I'll enjoy quilting art pieces on my mid-arm, but um..yeah not yet. The majority of the quilt has 2 motifs - white waves and blue bubbles. The little bit of white sky has fluffy clouds and I left the fish unquilted.

My single goldfish swimming in a sea of blue. Looking for new adventures and eager to see the world. My sweet Little Man, that is my wish for you.

*****
I am linking up this post to Amy's fabulous Blogger Quilt Festival.
I heartily encourage you to visit and dive into all the amazing quilts that have been posted.

From Sweet To The Not So Sweet

To say I have ADD when it comes to creating is probably an understatement. I used to struggle with it, but whenever I try to narrow it in I'm always unhappy. So ADD it is! 

This weekend is no different. Kiddo turns four in a couple weeks and has requested a Strawberry Shortcake themed party (I think she made this request the day after her 3rd birthday party..sighs) I designed the invite this evening. I left out the specific details..but you get the gist. Thank heavens for Photoshop! Now I need to finish her gifts and get moving on the favors for her friends..

And then on to the not so sweet... It's my latest piece of art,"Before The Luck Ran Out". I tried to make it just a sweet Irish/St.Patrick's day work, but it just didn't end that way. I really wrestled with adding the little glass whiskey bottle. Ah, well I know it won't appeal to everyone...but that's what makes it art and not a trendy commercial, right?

If you are so inclined.. I have placed it for sale in my Etsy shop..

Creating From The Heart

This is my latest piece of soldered art. I'm so ever thankful to Lauri Grimshaw-Cox for her class that I took last month. I'm no longer sad when I see my soldering supplies, in fact I've dedicated a portion of my studio for it. There are so many things I want to create! I love shadowboxes and little assemblages; you better believe the next one is going to include some quilting..

Even though I'm so happily married, I do remember the sting of Valentine's Day from years ago. I still have mixed feelings about the day... I think this piece of art reflects that for me. Our hearts are fragile and hidden away..

I hope this piece inspires you! And well if you are so inclined to want to purchase it, I have it up for sale in my Etsy store..

Mother's Day Gift

I've been wanting to reveal my Mother's Day gift that I made. I love it so much and was so happy to see my Mum loved it too!

Of course, back to my love of free motion art..

When I think of my Mom, I think of classic colors - red, black, and white.

Timeless and classy..
I can't wait to see this in my Mum's home!

I do have to admit that is not my lovely idea.. it was Jenny Doh's. You must go see her original piece. I loved it the second I saw it and knew immediately that I wanted to make my own version for my Mum.

It is funny that I when I got really into free motion art that I thought I was being original, come to find out..not so much =) That ever happen to you? Anyways once I learned that I was not exactly an innovator, I started researching more artists that were interested in this freestyle sewing. That is how I found Jenny Doh. She is zomg amazing. The more I learn about her and see her art pieces, the more I wish I could convince her that she really should move to Utah and be my very best friend. Until then, reading her blog will have to do..

Linking up to:

Lolly Jane

Tatertots & Jello

Serenity Now

Running With Glitter

Addicted!

I'm SO excited about my latest project,

I can't even wait for the beautiful morning natural light..

so you're stuck with poopy pictures.

Is this not the sweetest thing ever?

Once I tried the Easter subway art,

it came to me that it would be adorable to have one customized for your family.

This is so special to me.

I adhered it on our fireplace wall where

we have 2 very large framed wedding pictures.

Our little homage to how our family began..

If you would like one too,

I'm offering them custom made in the store.

Easter Subway Art - Freebie Coming!

My Pazzle has been dusty.

Since I closed my bakery, I haven't had a need to use it much.

And I've been eying my Mum's Silhouette.

I love the Silhouette graphics and have been bitter I can't convert & use them.

I know I could spend more time figuring out my Pazzle,

but when the girls give me 20 minutes here and there,

it is hard to imagine studying anything..

This past week, my Mum & I visited

a local craft store and found a fabulous idea!

They had a DIY St. Patrick's Day Subway Vinyl Art.

It was fabulous!

All you had to do was paint a wood square

and rub-on the vinyl..

voila, instant holiday decor!

Alas, there was no Easter one

:(

The impatient DIY'ers we are..I decided to make our own.

I love Subway art, but have never made one.

I broke out my dusty Pazzle and decided to take some time to

rekindle the love..

I created the image in Photoshop.

Simple enough - just lay out words in different fonts & sizes.

Since this was my first time, I laid out the words too far apart.

But even this had an easy fix!

I imported the JPEG into my Pazzle software.

It cut out my vinyl with ease!

I weeded the excess and covered it with the transfer tape.

I cut out the individual words so I could place them closer together.

Instead of transferring to a wood piece, I painted a square canvas instead.

The vinyl goes on just as easy and I like the texture of canvas better.

As you can see from my picture,

when I placed the words closer together I created a lot of negative space.

I'm going to measure those areas and cut out more words to fill in.

Once I have it completed, I will upload my JPEG for you to use!

It won't look exactly like mine,

but it will be a great start to a pretty easy and lovely Easter decoration.

I should have the freebie up by Sunday night -

so come on back!

I will have a less Religious, more Bunny focused piece

in the shop later this week as well..

LINKING UP TO THE FABULOUS CRAFTY CHICA

His Veins Run Blue

Project Quilting

My piece, "His Veins Run Blue", is inspired by my husband. and of course our theme the hardware store.

It is a mini art quilt - 6.5" x 7.5"

When I visited the store for inspiration, I thought about how the only times I go to Lowe's or Home Depot is when my husband needs something. More than half the week he is a white collar electrical engineer, but if he had it his way everyday his hands would be dirty from a blue collar job.

The items I was inspired by were the blades (the silver points on the quilt), the denim (the Wrangler emblem),

and red bandannas.

I did the white frame to symbolize the white collar that boxes in my husband while

the blue collar elements are trying to sneak out.

I embellished with lots of topstitching - similar to what you would see on shirts and jeans - including using my serger.

A Mother Never Forgets

Many and not so many of you know

that I lost a pregnancy two Octobers ago.

It was early on, but when I saw that pink positive sign

I gave my heart away.

And it broke that October.

We conceived again just a few months later with Juliette.

And she was born the following October.

It was the most amazing, bittersweet full circle I had

encountered in my life.

I could not have my amazing, sweet Jules had I not lost the pregnancy.

But a mother never forgets..

For this week's Project Quilting and my first entry into AAQ,

I present "A Mother Never Forgets"

Myself with my two girls

forever linked to our angel baby.

Abe Birthday Treasury

'Hip Hip Hooray For Honest Abe' by AQuietStitch

A Treasury for Abe's Birthday

Baby Lincoln and His Childho... badbird $20.00	Abraham Lincoln made of recy... JohnBirdsong $25.00
Abraham Lincoln (Limited Edi... tinypetespopar... $15.00	Abraham Lincoln Necktie - Se... ScatterbrainTi... $28.00
Penny for Your Thoughts - O... juliebcreative $125.00	Lincoln 8 x 10in Print (Othe... abpan $25.00
Lincoln (Red, White and Blue... travisbraun $85.00	Abraham Lincoln Mixed Media ... AlanDerrickArt... $119.00
Handmade Steampunk Abraham L... bellastitchery $9.99	Abraham Lincoln Collage - 5x... bethstonestudi... $15.00
Mr.Lincoln TRESMARKS $80.00	Abraham Lincoln Stickers-Rou... greenridge $2.98
President Abraham Lincoln in... sweetheartsinn... $7.50	Vintage Style Feather Tree L... countryroutepr... $4.50
Limited Edition ACEO Card PR... ArtfulReVision... $5.00	Abe Love Gibnerd $20.00

Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com A/B image testing.