ATC's, Spring, Books, Workshops

There are 9 ATC's left to go out with the Surface Design Sampler Platter DVD orders! I'll let you know when they're gone. I've heard back from a couple of you that have watched it - I'm so glad you're enjoying it! I'd love to put up any artwork you make using the techniques taught in the DVD in the student gallery on my website.

I love spring. What is it about sunshine and a little bit of warmth that gets me all pumped up to work in the studio? I should be itching to be outside. I do face the windows most of the time I'm working and it's a lovely view. North Carolina is such a green place.

I did go outside to my little garden nook last week to finish up the first layout edit of my book. It's done and off to the designer again. I'll see it for one final check before it goes to print. I think I'm going to call the book my 6th child. It's taken longer and been almost as painful at times to create it. I'm thinking the rewards will be much more immediate - no crying at 2 a.m. or teenagers who talk back. 

Enough rambling. I wanted to point you to a really great blog post titled, "How to make the most of an art quilt workshop" by Elizabeth Barton over at "Art & Quilts, Cogitations Thereon." My favorite part of her post talks about pre-planning and runs through a great list of questions to ask yourself before signing up for a workshop. It's a great idea to know ahead of time if you are looking for a technique or a project class. Do you want to just understand and absorb the thinking of an artist you really admire? Are you happy to just hang out with friends? Do go and read her post - it's chock full of great information.

Most of the classes I teach are technique classes with a bit of a project thrown in. Projects seem to appeal to the more traditional quilters who have a little niggling desire to be an artist hidden away in the corner of their heart. That's my personal crusade these days - helping those desires to come out of hiding. 

In that vein - here is a link to Fabrications - a week long retreat from Aug 30 - Sep 4. I'll be teaching "The Elements of Art" for the entire week and I couldn't be more excited. It will be a chance to delve deeply into the visual language, to learn the principles of good design.  We'll start from the very beginning (a very fine place to start...) and work until we have a good understanding of the basics (do, re, me...). By the end of the week you'll have a good start on a composition and have lots of supportive feedback so that you can keep the creative juice flowing when you get back home.

I'd love to see you there - and happy spring!

And They're OFF!!!

The DVD's showed up last night and I stayed up lated getting them boxed, labeled and OFF!

It was worth it.

I carried a huge bag to the post office this morning and couldn't help but tell everyone how excited I was about it. Crazy lady alert.

These are all the ATC's I have left of the extras I made.

I'd love to send them out to good homes!

A Race Against UPS

The UPS tracking says that your Surface Design Sampler Platter DVD's will be delivered to me on Wednesday. I've got boxes all labeled and ready to go for you and will turn them around to you immediately.

I'm determined to get every ATC (Artist's Trading Card) ready to send out by then so there are no delays! I might get carried away and make more so that everyone who orders from this batch gets their own little piece of Lyric Art! If you are still thinking of ordering - by all means do so before this energy gets directed elsewhere!

I had a lovely note from Jeanne over at All Things Quilty and popped over for a look. She has a lovely blog and has given a review of my DVD - so you don't need to take my word for how much fun the techniques are!

Here's a little preview of the DVD for your viewing pleasure.

Fun, fun, fun

More Screen printing fun.

Discharge printing with Cascade Dishwashing Gel.

 A variation on a theme. Music soaring on dragonfly wings.

Sometimes eye candy is as good as chocolate. 

Um. Well. Maybe not.

I really like chocolate.

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.