How I Mail 'Squishies'

Our wonderful swap hostess, Sophie, on about.quilting.com has asked for photos of how we mail quilt blocks to each other.

First, I take a skinny Sharpie and add my user name, and the name I sign my posts with, to a pre-printed address return label. Then I put a label on each block.

Then I fold the blocks and put them in a plastic re-sealable baggie. I always include the name and address on the inside of the baggie, in case the envelope doesn't make it.

Then I squeeze all the air out and zip the baggie. I like to enclose a nice card (if I'm not too excited to mail the 'squishie'), and put them all in a #12 Kraft envelope. I kiss the envelope and wish them a safe and speedy journey and race off to the post office.

ALQS2

Today I signed up to participate in Kate's 'A Little Quilt Swap 2' (although it's not a little swap as there are many swappers). I'm really excited to participate since I missed the first one. Hello to my new swap partner when you come visit my blog. Make what your heart tells you. In any manner you choose. I'll love it.

Beautiful Quilt Giveaway

I just saw the most beautiful quilt. And they are giving it away at the Old Red Barn blog You should check it out for a chance to win.

Row Robin 2008 / Birthday blocks

This is Diane's row that I'm working on right now. Isn't it pretty? I'm drumming up inspiration for the row I need to complete.



And these are my Birthday Blocks. March is my 'birthday' month and I should be getting blocks from the women in the birthday swap. The three on the top row are mine and the 3 on the bottom row are are my 'presents'. I love them so far.

Walking in this World Week 6

This week focused on a sense of boundaries. Sometimes, the people around us aren't the best sounding boards for our art. Sometimes art projects benefit from some private, internal developing. I've found this to be very true. As a relatively 'new' artist, the people around me rarely catch my enthusiasm regarding my latest 'project'. But I've been very lucky in that I can't recall a project spoiled by indiscriminate input.

My morning pages - didn't. No reason, particularly. I think I felt so good about doing them consistently, that I took a day off and that sent me spiraling downhill.

20 minute walk - it's easy to walk in Florida

Artist Date - Fabric Surface Design class. This week we silk-screened. Fun but not outstanding. I did manage to make this bamboo watercolor and ink drawing. I was going to photo transfer it to one of my leaf stamping fabric pieces.... however, the photo transfer didn't cooperate. I still have the drawing though.

What Punctuation are You?

You Are a Dash

Your life is fast paced and varied. You are realistic, down to earth, and very honest. You're often busy doing something interesting, and what you do changes quickly. You have many facets to your personality, and you connect them together well. You have a ton of interests. While some of them are a bit offbeat, they all tie together well. You friends rely on you to bring novelty and excitement to their lives. (And while you're the most interesting person they know, they can't help feeling like they don't know you well.) You excel in: Anything to do with money You get along best with: the Exclamation Point

What Punctuation Mark Are You?

Thanks to Sophie for this quiz.

Walking in this World Week 5

This is my check in post for week 5. 'A Sense of Personal Territory'. The chapter looked at how we allow others to sap our creative energy. I'm a little embarrassed to say that I'm in a really good place right now. I have time for my art(and little for anything else) and supportive people around me. I am really enjoying the 'tasks' ineach chapter. I guess it's the self-discovery I'm enjoying. Who knew I kept all these secrets from myself?

The morning pages are going well, and my artist's date was to my 'fabric surface design' class. Last week we stenciled and this week we stamped. I'm enjoying the creative outlet, but was hoping for something a little more. Maybe more specific technique. I never stenciled before, but I get the concept. I wish it had more specific technique. Like how to achieve a certain look. But I will say, the creative muse is buzzing around like crazy.

What Cocktail are You?

I just read this on Sophie's blog and thought it was cute.

The Recipe For Debbie

3 parts Naughtiness 2 parts Warmth 1 part Dignity Splash of Energy Limit yourself to one serving. This cocktail is strong!

What's the Recipe for Your Personality?

Walking in this World Week 4

Obviously, my walk this week went well. I walked on the beach and it was a perfectly lovely day. Some days I feel like these seagulls... standing around with the crowd waiting for something to happen. And other days I feel like 'Johnathan Livingston Seagull'

clipped from en.wikipedia.org

The novel tells the story of Jonathan Livingston Seagull, a seagull who is bored with the daily squabbles over food and seized by a passion for flight. He pushes himself, learning everything he can about flying, until finally his unwillingness to conform results in his expulsion from his flock. An outcast, he continues to learn, becoming increasingly pleased with his abilities as he leads an idyllic life.

One day, Jonathan is met by two gulls who take him to a "higher plane of existence", where he meets other gulls who love to fly. He discovers that his sheer tenacity and desire to learn make him "a gull in a million". Jonathan befriends the wisest gull in this new place, named Chiang, who takes him beyond his previous learning, teaching him how to move instantaneously to anywhere else in the universe. The secret, Chiang says, is to "begin by knowing that you have already arrived".

and I'm flying far away from the other birds, daring to be different. This week was a Johnathan week. I had some great insight on helping my friend from the 'collage' exercise. And when I did the 'I secretly would love to' list, I really narrowed down my 'artistic direction'.

I started a new art class on fabric surface design at a local college... so that was my artist date. Lots of fun. And morning pages are going well.

However, some of my 'co-walkers' struggled this week and I wish for them the week I had. Whenever I set my intentions in a certain direction, it seems like life wants to get in the way, so I sympathize with those struggles. Walk on.

Literature as Quilts - Mystery

I'm participating in the Literature as Quilts challenge in the Art Quilt Forum on about.com. This challenge was a mystery and I chose Shadow Divers by Robert Kurson. I painted lutrador (a non-woven interfacing) for the background then fuse the 2 divers and the boat. The boat is black netting fused with black misty fuse. The whole piece was then fused to a blue and gold piece of fabric before fusing it to fusible fleece for the batting.

I really had a lot of fun doing this challenge as I used a lot of techniques that I rarely use. I can't wait to see some of the other quilts.

Walking in this World Week 3

Very productive week, I'd say. Morning pages went well. I loved my 'Blessings Walk'. Many times when I walk, I recount my blessings so this was something I enjoy. Artist's Date was terrific. I went to an art gallery that is at a local art college. I was stunned to realize one of the artists featured likes to display his art on a visible grid. (warning: it's hard to see the grid aspect on his website; and his work is in the 'portfolio' section) Tom Nakashima also likes to use other material in his paintings like newspaper and magazine pictures. (also difficult to see) I've been trying to get my art focused in a direction and this art really narrowed my path for me. It's not linear, but it's kind of 'collage, mixed media, photographs and quilting.' I don't have anything concrete but the direction is exhilarating.

I also enjoyed the tasks this week. It's funny. When I started the 'anger' list I thought, "I really am not angry about much." But I got to 50.

And the collage I made is related to my best friend. She has had a lot of medical problems and is really stuck as a victim. I made it my goal this week to help her change her perspective. I can't fix the medical problems, but I can help her feel better about it.

p.s. anyone know how to take better photos of small items? mine are always blurry.

Walking in this World Week 2

I'm posting this quite reluctantly. I think I was delaying the post hoping I would complete the standard assignment for week 2. But, alas, that is not going to happen. I did my morning pages faithfully... and even noted how easy they were to do. Artist Date? nope. 20 minute walk? nope. What does that mean? Maybe I'm avoiding my inner artist? Hope to do better this week as I am enjoying chapter 3.

Walking in this World Week 1

I'm reading Julia Cameron's book Walking in this World and participating in an online study group. The tasks for each week are to do Morning Pages each day, (three pages of longhand, stream of consciousness writing) go on an Artist's Date (someplace you enjoy that feeds the artist), and a twenty minute walk. Progress update: Did morning pages every day. The one thing I noticed was there wasn't much whining. I did the Julia's first book, The Artist's Way about 10 years ago, and there was a lot of whining in those morning pages. Feels good not to whine (or have anything to whine about, yet).

My Artist's Date was to Staples. I looked for non-traditional items to use in my quilts. The upper left is electrical tape. The upper right are staples. And the lower center is decorative tape. I really enjoyed the date and look forward to next week.