Silk Purse from a Sow's Ear

Take the ugliest piece of fabric (or at least the one that least appealed to me) and spend a few days in photoshop and with some screens and paint.... and I totally surprised myself. I think I'm in love.

Just thought I'd share a little something pretty with you.

A GIFT FROM ME TO YOU

I've decided to do something FUN!!!

For the next several days I'll be working non-stop to create a whole bunch of funky little Artists Trading Cards - or ATC's. A little original work of art to celebrate the publication of the DVD Workshop "Surface Design sampler Platter."

The first 30 people to PRE-ORDER the DVD (see the little button on the right?) will be gifted with one of these little treasures.


The minute these DVD's are here they'll be slipped into a nice cushy envelope along with your little treasure and then we can (figuratively) sit down together for a fast and furious fun hour of painting, printing, stamping, stenciling, screening, foiling and phototransfer! Whew! That's a LOT to cover in one hour. The DVD is crammed full of lots of useful tips, tricks, and techniques - including how to construct a sweet little book cover.

I can't WAIT for this DVD to land in my hot little hands!!!

You win a little, loose a little ...

So - I finally got the new screens uploaded to my website. Unfortunately I broke the whole site and spend hours trying to fix it. It's mostly better now. At least on the surface. I REALLY need to switch over to dreamweaver - can't afford it.

I had enough fabric to make three shorts, two dresses, and two tops for my little girl. The first skirt/dress combo was a disaster. Ugly, ugly, ugly - but she wore it anyway. I made another attempt today. This time doing the ruffles the old fashioned - pull the basting stitches - way. The out of control skirt was trying to use a fancy ruffling foot on my m

achine. I obviously don't know how to use it well.

Today's attempt was much better. Her favorite part is the button - which she wanted to hold and carry around rather than have me sew it onto her dress. ah well.

New Screens

I'm in the middle of teaching an on-line screen printing course for QuiltUniversity.com. Totally fun. It filled before it opened so we are offering an overflow course beginning on May 15th. $36 for a four week course is a pretty great deal. The discussion forum is open a week or two longer than that so that if "life" gets in the way you can catch up on your own time. I'm there to help with any questions several times a day.

Of course I got a little carried away and started working on a bunch of new thermofax screens. All music related. I should have them up on my website by tomorrow morning. I'm thinking of putting my screens up on Etsy for sale as well. More exposure couldn't hurt. If that part of my business picks up enough I'll turn it over to my very talented and capable daughters who are always in need of more cash. I'm one of those horrifically mean mothers who won't hand out an allowance. I do offer plenty of earning opportunities though.

First I need to make the Easter dress I promised to my youngest daughter. She picked out the fabric - I love it! I haven't sewn a thing other than her blessing gown for her. I still have most of the things I made for her sisters so I haven't needed to. Time to sew!

Quilting Arts DVD Workshop

!!! IT'S HERE !!!

(well, almost)

All that work and all that fun I had during February has come to fruition. I took a peek at Quilting Arts website today and there it is - my new workshop on DVD. I haven't seen the tape yet but it's available for pre-order here.

May I just take a moment to say... "WAHOOO!"

What's it all about you say? Well - let me tell you. Surface Design Sampler Platter will give you a little taste of a bunch of different surface design techniques. A little stamp carving, a little stencil cutting, a little screen printing, foiling, and photocopy transfer. Sound fun? Totally!

The Big Goal

I only made one big goal for 2009

!!! MAKE ART !!! 

It seems the past year and a half was spent rushing around meeting one deadline after another. All good things for my career. All things that will support the artmaking but no actual making of the artwork itself.

This week has been bliss. My first week in months and months with no deadline to meet. I actually wake up and get to choose what to do. At least in the two hours a day that I have to myself. Usually I work frantically trying to get something I have to get finished done while everything else falls apart around me. (Especially the house.)

I weeded a favorite garden, unburying a stone path that has been hidden the past year. And then I pulled out a piece that was started several YEARS ago. It's the perfect thing to help me get acquainted with my new HQ16. The poor neglected machine has waited patiently since last fall for me to pay attention. It's going to take a little learning but we're getting there. So here's a sneak peak. The machine quilting is done but I think the work itself is only beginning on this piece.

Here's a sneak peak at the work in progress.

Fun on the Set

It's finally done and over with. A month's work for a few hours of taping but it was a great few hours and a very fun few days with lots of wonderful artists. I taped a 10 minute segment for season four of Quilting Arts TV as well as a DVD Workshop titled, "Surface Design Sampler Platter." The workshop is a little taste of quite a number of surface design techniques, including carving a stamp, printing with found objects, stencil cutting, screen printing, foiling and photo transfer. Whew. Talk about cramming a lot of stuff into a short time - as well as into a small suitcase!

I met Melanie Testa who is a very fine artist and a sweet young lady to boot! It was great fun getting to know her and I look forward to seeing her again in Houston at the International Quilt Festival. It was also wonderful to watch her tape. It calmed my nerves just to watch the process and figure out that hey, I was going to be just fine. I could ask to stop if I needed to and there would be ample time to reset between each segment of the DVD. Here we're getting a little silly - Melanie with relief that she's done and me with nerves.

Everyone with the production is so nice. They work hard to make you look good, feel good, and come off like you know what you are talking about. Bernina's representative, Jeanne always had a great big smile! Helen is quiet, but always there when you need her. Pokey is a hoot to watch run around - change outfits ten times - make funny faces at the camera - and check her e-mail twenty times between each shoot. That girl has some serious energy.

Here's Helen and I - with just some of the loads of SCHTUFF on the table - getting organized. Jeanne and Karen are in back - probably planning some serious shoe shopping.

Just have to mention the amazing artist who made my drop-dead-gorgeous scarf! You can see Jill's work at her Etsy shop.