Art Quilts

One thing always leads to another.  It's funny how that works.  I thought crazy quilting was unlimited but I've since discovered that Mixed Media Art Quilts are truly without boundries.

My Spring Song Art Quilt is ready for finishing:



Today, I added the tiny birds nest and the eggs, some paper punched butterflies and a light dusting of glitter on the flowers.  I'm particularly fond of Martha Stewart's glitter.  When I do the machine finishing on this, I'll have to use my zipper foot to get around that nest.  I should have some sewing machine time over the weekend.

Early this morning, I started on my Teatime Kittens Art Quilt:



I have some little poly clay strawberries that I made awhile back so I plan to use those and I'm thinking maybe a few cupcakes?  Not sure yet.

My approach to these is to layer whatever suits my fancy at the moment and then work with that as a blank canvas.  As with my crazy quilting, I do like to have some sort of a focal point and theme to work with.  I really enjoy letting these art quilts take me where ever they want to take me.  There's no right or wrong.  It's all about feel and what I want to play with at the time.  It's very freeing!

I thought I'd share a few photos from my garden with you.  First are my Bleeding Hearts:



Years ago, my husband and I planted a Bleeding Heart.  It did very well and quadrupled in size!  Until the Lily Of The Valley took over that part of the garden and choked the Bleeding Heart out.

I had mentioned at that time, to my neighbor Larry, that I lost my Bleeding Heart due to the Lily Of The Valley.   Scott has since dug that all out.  Last year, when I was so sick and crazy, I was out on the front porch, looking at the garden and saw a Bleeding Heart plant a foot or two from where our original one was.  For a moment, I thought I was really losing my mind!  And then Larry came over for a few minutes and asked if I noticed anything different in my garden.  What a sweet man!  He planted a new one for me!!!!  It's blooming now and everytime I look at it, I think of my dear neighbor and his kindness to me.  People will always remember how you make them feel!

I can't remember for the life of me what these are called:



I love these because they just grow and grow and grow!

Have a great evening everyone!

Trash To Treasure - Repurposed Junk

I really have to start taking photos before I start a "trash to treasure" project.  There is just a huge difference between what I start with and what I end up with.

As my long time readers know, I love flea markets.  I also love junk stores, garage sales and resale shops.  One never knows what little treasure might be hiding in the shadows waiting for me to come along and re-purpose it!

This was the most ugly tealight holder I've ever seen.  But I saw potential!  Note to self:  MUST REMEMBER TO TAKE PHOTOS BEFOREHAND!!!



Just look at my little Cottage Teapot now!  I painted it pink, added flowers and glitter and now it would be the prettiest little centerpiece in a cottage style kitchen!

Here's another of my re-purposed objects:



Again, this was ugly as sin!  It was a music box but the music didn't work.  The cage was wood & broken and the bird was red, black and white.  Not anymore.  My Cottage Birdcage is now white, the bird is pink, white and blue and I've adorned it with flowers & glitter.  It's like night and day!

Friday is garage sale day and Sunday is a huge flea market so I expect to find something that I can alter from junk to pretty!

In other news, mom & I have started on some July 4th things.  These are mom's little USA Heart Ornaments:



Aren't they sweet? I love the 4th of July!  I'll be at mom's tomorrow and Friday and hopefully will finish up on a few of the patriotic do-dads that I started on.

In the meantime, I've been working on my "Spring Song" Mixed Media Art Quilt:



I'll be adding a little nest with eggs to the bottom right-hand corner.  It will also get just a twinge of glitter.  I have one more sewn up to stitch on and I plan to sew up a few more next week.  I will be writing some tutorials on doing Mixed Media Art Quilts.  How to layer fabrics, how to embellish and what you can embellish with (just about anything) and so on.  It's really not all that different from Crazy Quilting.  Just no seams to cover.  Anyway be sure to stop back for those articles.

Let's see, what else did I do today?  Oh, galletas pour mi padre!  Sorry, just practicing the little bit of Spanish that I know.  I made some Chocolate Chip Sugar Cookies for my dad:



You can find the recipe here if you would like to try them.

Before I head out for the day, please drop me an email if you would like to be added to my mailing list for our upcoming Kitty & Me Designs newsletter.  I'll add you to the list right away and send you a coupon for free shipping.

That's for today everyone!  Have a great evening!

Pretty In Pink Mixed Media Art Quilt

I have a few finishes to share today.  I spent most of the day on Sunday running my sewing and doing the hand finishing on these projects.

First, my Pretty In Pink Mixed Media Art Quilt:



I love this!!!  I used one of my great-aunt's knitting needles as a hanger.  The tassel was given to me by my friend Cherry Petersen and it just so happened that I had some of that yarn in my own stash so I zig-zagged it around the outside edge of the quilt.  A nice finishing touch!  I signed and dated the back of the quilt as well.

I really love mixing fabric and paper and glitter and embroidery and just about anything I have laying around in my stash.  I'm certainly planning on doing a number of these and I have started on my Spring Song quilt but I'll save that photo for tomorrow.

The next time I put a couple of art quilts together, I'll write up a tutorial on how I do them.  Stay tuned for that.

Next, I finished up on my 2 newest Crazy Quilt Hanging Pillows:



Although I love both of these, the green and pink one is my favorite!  Ya'll know I just love pink!

Last but not least are my Sweet Dreams Lavender Sachet Hearts:



Cottage Style Crazy Quilting!!!  If anyone has trouble sleeping like I do, a lavender sachet hanging on the bedpost does help to quiet the mind.  Trust me, I know!  Anyways, I made several of these and had a good time filling them with lavender.  The scent is just so soothing!

So those are my finishes for today as far as needlework goes.  I have some pretty Trash To Treasure finishes to share tomorrow.  And we have a big flea market on Sunday in Grayslake, Il. so there should be some great flea market finds next week.

As for my next projects, definitely more art quilts.  It's my latest thing!  I'm also working on a few little Marie Antoinette brooches and in the craft department, Mom and I have both started on a few July 4th do-dads!  FUN!!!

If you'd like to see more photos of my finishes or larger images, please click here.

So that's my post for today.  I have some laundry to fold (what else is new?) and then I think I'll switch to my laptop in the Living Room and see what everyone else is blogging about!

Have a great evening everyone!

Glittered Fabric Leaves Tutorial

Good Morning Everyone!  Breakfast?



I made these for my dad the other day.  Devils Food Cupcakes!  YUM!

Well, I'm just about done with my Pretty In Pink Mixed Media Art Quilt:



I'll be finishing up on this today.  I have some of my great-aunts knitting needles and I'm planning on using one for the hanger.

If you click on the image, you can see a larger version at my Flickr site.  I made glittered leaves from Sparkle Organza.  I thought I'd write up a quick tutorial for you in case anyone else wants to do this.

Ok, so it's not rocket science, but if you're a perfectionist like me and come from the "old school" of sewing, like me, you might be a little intimidated about putting glue and glitter on fabric.  It took me a long time to "get past the rules".

GLITTERED FABRIC LEAVES TUTORIAL

Supplies:

Wax Paper
Fabric Glue
Fine Glitter (transparent is more attractive)
Small Brush

First, cut your leaves from the fabric.  I didn't use a pattern, I just cut simple leaves freehand.



I always use paper plates when glittering!  Anyway, step 2, brush one side of the leaves with fabric glue:



It's best to do one at time so the glue doesn't start drying before you get the glitter on:



Sprinkle on your glitter, shake off the excess and lay out on wax paper to dry:



I sewed them on my quilt using a stem stitch with #5 Perle Cotton.

Again, it's not rocket science but I thought some of my readers might enjoy giving it a try.

I must say, Mixed Media Art Quilts are quite fun.  Wait till you see how I finish Pretty In Pink!  And my next one will be this:



This will be called, "Spring Song".  Ya'll know how much I love Spring!  Anyway, not sure if I'll get started on this today.  I'll be running my sewing machine most of the day and finishing up on some projects.  Stayed tuned for those!

Quick Note:  Today is the last day to take advantage of our Free Shipping offer.  Our Mother's Day Special ends tonight.

If you would like me to add you to my mailing list for our Kitty & Me Newsletter, please drop me an email.  I'll be including updates on our Etsy shop and including special offer coupons from time to time.

Gifts For The Bride

Looks like Mom has weddings on her mind!  Makes me laugh because she doesn't like going to Weddings!  Anyway, the lovely wedding items for the Bride To Be are mom's latest finishes.  First, are her Ring Bearer's Pillows made from vintage handkerchiefs:







All are hand-beaded.

Next, are mom's Wedding Card Bags:





Made from a vintage pattern, these are hand embroidery and hand beaded.  From what mom tells me, back in the day, brides would be given a special bag to keep their wedding cards in.  Neat idea!  These could certainly be used as a purse and trust me, they are so much prettier in person than they are in my photos!

Lastly, mom made this sweet little hanging pillow/tuck pillow from a vintage kitchen towel:



Again, mom added beads!

I'll tell ya, my mother is 70 years old, has serious vision problems & depression problems like I do, but I can't keep up with listing her things!  I keep telling her, "mom, would you please slow down so I have some time to make some things!"  Ha, ha, ha! 

Hey, it gives her some purpose and the opportunity to share her talents.  My mom is an expert seamstress.  Before she went to school to become a nurse (she's retired now), she used to sew models for a fabric store.  Mom made my wedding dress and my bridesmaids dresses.  So beautiful!!!  One of these days, I'll pull out my wedding photos and share.

Well, here is my offering for today.  I started embellishing my Pretty In Pink Art Quilt:



I've already hand-dyed some lace daisies and butterflies for it.  When I finish up here, I'll be glittering some fabric leaves.  Stay tuned.  I feel another tutorial coming on!

Finally for today, I've started a mailing list for anyone who would like to receive our Kitty & Me Designs newsletter.  I'll be offering specials now and then and keeping our customers up to date on our latest projects.  I thought it would be nice for anyone who doesn't have the time to read my blog everyday but would like to stay up on what we're doing with the shop.

If you would like to be added to my mailing list, please drop an email and I'll get you added asap!

That's all for today folks!  Happy Stitching, crafting and sewing!