Creating is a way of life

Week 3 TAST

2012-01-23T09:54:00.000-08:00

Week 3 of the TAST challenge this is the feather stitch.

TAST 2nd week sampler

2012-01-14T07:29:00.000-08:00

Second week of the Take a Stitch Tuesday Challenge. Buttonhole stitch, some call it the Blanket stitch. It was fun playing with this versatile stitch.

TAST week 1

2012-01-07T08:01:00.000-08:00

This is my first sample for TAST2012. It is the fly stitch, I call this the "what if" sampler. What if I do this?Happy Stitching

Its about time

2010-05-01T10:08:00.001-07:00

It has been many moons since I have written in this blog. With a new laptop and high speed wireless it will be easier to update.

I was invite to participate in an art quilt project for the Oregon State Fair. I have been working on that. It is 20 inches wide and 8 feet tall and 2 sided. Quite a challenge. Thanks goodness it is an art quilt, I am not a traditional quilter.

I Just taught japanese braiding to my art girls group. It went well and the gals are really liking their new technique. We are all participating in a round robin. I got a camisole and made a rigid container for the interior, it will now move onto the next participant. My bag contained a leaf that I cut from a sheet of fuscia wool felt.

Until later......

February 2007 Projects

2007-02-20T12:09:00.000-08:00

I have been involved in some swaps this past month. Here are pictures of fabric valentines postcards.

I am also involved in an anything goes charm swap. These charms are made from twinkle lights and wire and also puzzle pieces and beaded wire.

Secret Lake page

2006-12-05T10:00:00.000-08:00

November 2006

I just finished a 6 month round robin of cloth journals. This picture is the page that I made for Lenna Andrews' journal. The theme is Secret Lake. I used a free motion embroidery technique called thread painting to draw the leaves of the cat tails and used brown velvet ribbon wrapped around a pipe cleaner for the cat tail. I then applied some leaves that I did separated and sewed them on to enhance the 3d appearance. I really enjoyed doing it and it came out quite well. Enjoy.

I am really enjoying the adventure of learning free motion embroidery. I didn't know that my 1972 dressmaker sewing machine could turn out such beautiful stuff. The techniques are relatively easy, once you know what you are doing. People tell me that part of my success is my imagination and the willingness and courage to forge ahead and try new things. I guess that is true. My motto is "just do it" (thanks NIKE)

October 2006

2006-10-31T16:38:00.000-08:00

I have participating in a fabric journal swap. This frog is my page for a journal titled "shades of green". It is done on my sewing machine using a free motion embroidery technique. The dandelion is in another journal named "In my garden" If you were to look in my garden you would see lots of them.

This is a wall hanging that I made for the "under the sea swap" I had lots of fun using all of those fancy fibers and yarns that I have been collecting. Bruce says that all of the other people that are participating are probably putting mermaids and cute fish in thier creations, and of course Mine has to have a shark. That's me always putting in the unexpected.

I am taking 2 online emroidery classes at this time. There is always something new to learn. I may even put all that I am learning together and finally find that one thing that I love. Ha! that's it for now.

Purple and Gold swap

2006-05-09T14:03:00.000-07:00

Fabicholics has been exchanging journal pages for the past couple of months. These purple and gold pages are my contribution to the swap. Purple and Gold was the theme and the pages themselves are 8 inches by 8 inches. These were fun to make, however they were challenging since we could only pick one other color and had no other hints except the color choices to help formulate the design.

the holidays are over

2006-01-03T15:17:00.000-08:00

I hope that you all had a safe and happy holiday. I just wanted to post some pictures of the fabric boxes that I made to enclose some christmas gifts in. they are quite easy to make and work up to be spectacular.

They make up flat and then fold up int a box, it looks more complicated than it really is.

December 5, 2005

2005-12-05T10:03:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone, I haven't written in a while.

I have been busy creating fabric journal pages to swap in one of the lists I belong to.

I belong to another list that I have been creating pages for another swap. Chunky book pages.

I was in California for Thanksgiving visiting a family friend and made her an angel pin doll from Deanna Hogan's newest pattern. I am proud to belong to a Doll and Bear group that meets monthly Deanna is a member as well and this pin is what she taught us to do in a class that she gave us. The wings don't show up well in the picture, however they are beautiful and the "feathers" are applied one at a time. What a beautiful effect it makes. I have been working on developing pattern for a crocheted cell phone pouch that I will be making people for Christmas. So I have been staying busy. Until next time Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

October 3rd, 2005

2005-10-03T15:37:00.000-07:00

I got back from my trip and was able to finish some projects that I had started before I left.

First pic is a red silk purse that I embroidered on the plane. I attracted a lot of attention with people asking about it and wanting to see what I was doing.

I made a page for a Halloween fabric journal swap and liked it so much I made one for myself, only a little different. The 2nd and 3rd picture is front and back of that page.

the 4th and 5th pic is an embroidered box that I worked on most of August. The idea came from Janet Edmonds' Beginners Guide to Embroidered Boxes. It is a time consuming process, however the outcome is grand. The box is about 7 inches tall-6 inches across and 3 inches deep. The pictures don't do it justice, really.

Keep on creating.
Sandi

September 9, 2005

2005-09-09T08:16:00.000-07:00

August 31st, 2005

2005-08-31T11:47:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of the bookbag that I bought at Dollar Tree and embellished.

I painted the fabric and quilted it with black hollgraphic thread. I had something else in mind to embellish it and was digging through my stash to find what I wanted. The little purse and lace wing were on the top and I set them on the fabric and voila I had to look no longer. I then came across some vintage cotton trim and couched it onto the fabric. Fly away was stamped on and then gone over with a sharpie marker to make it stand out more. Now I have a personalized book bag to carry my junque (fancy spelling of junk) in.

August 29th

2005-08-29T12:24:00.000-07:00

I actually had time to create something new this weekend. We had no commitments on Sunday so I was able to sit in my studio and create.

a couple of weeks ago I was at the Dollar Tree and picked up a couple of book bags to embellish. I worked on one this weekend. I created the fabric with craft paint then set it on the worktable for inspiration. Well in the process of getting out embellishments that might work I pulled a small oriental change purse and one wing shaped piece of lace and put them on the fabric, so that I could get to something else that I was looking for, well those 2 pieces looked so good on the fabric I didn't look any further and let the design just happen. I took out some vintage cotton lingerie trim and couched it down with metallic thread and stamped fly away on it. It is simple however I think it is very cute.

I'll see if I can scan it so that I can post it.

August 24

2005-08-24T10:48:00.000-07:00

These are a couple of the fabric postcards that I make. They go through the mail, hand canceled, very well.

This is the first embroidered box that I did. The person that received it as a gift is very happy.
These are medallions that I made for the embroidered box that I am working on now.

August 23, 2005

2005-08-23T09:59:00.000-07:00

I have been working on an embroidered box all month long. It is coming along just fine. Building up the fabric and embellishments is taking most of the time, however I love the handiwork involved. It is very relaxing to me. I will post other boxes that I have made soon.

This summer has been very busy for me since I work a full time job and work for my husband on most weekends. I am ready for things to slow down, which I hope will start happening in a month or so. Bruce and I will be going to Tennessee for 5 days in October, he has been asked to judge at the Jack Daniels BBQ Invitational Cookoff. Then we will take a few days just to wander around and see the sights.

I will be going on a 10 day business trip to New York City and Washington DC in about 3 weeks, so I am scrambling to put that together. BIG HUGS to all of you until the next time.

2005-08-22T15:57:00.000-07:00

Hello from Oregon,

I am always trying some new creative outlet.

This will be a place to celebrate, contemplate and commiserate with like minded people.

This is the only picture that I have of myself, I took it in the mirror. I have to say that I am now 15 pounds lighter and my double chin isn't so double anymore.

In the future I will share pictures of my projects, I hope that you enjoy this place and I am alwys open to comments and questions. WELCOME!

Welcome to my Blog Spot

2005-08-22T15:55:00.000-07:00