wednesday at the lake

We traveled up to Gail's art studio on the lake for a print making day. Nancy had made her first stamp the week before a flower garden and I was going to use the new fox stamp I had made. We had access to all of Gail's Asian and nature themed stamps, my mermaid, penguin and dog stamps. Nancy had not been to the studio before so as she was exploring I took one of my printed pieces: black linen with an Asian vase with colored flowers in it and attached it to a Feed Tote. I love the philanthropy behind the feed bag series that my purchasing the bag feeds families and I had bought the canvas bags last year but had not used it yet. A bit tricky to sew inside a completed bag but we got it done with help from Gail and I love it. The fun part is the piece was made on the horizontal plane of a button up skirt and I had positioned it when I stamped it so two button holes are at the top. I attached two buttons to the outside of the bag so when I made the pocket it buttons shut.

While they were setting up the paint and stamping area I started to do  the sewing on the piece we are submitting for a contest in cloth, paper scissors. I had to decide which of the three previously stamped pieces to do- a mermaid, a butterfly or a floral- it was not easy. I knew the mermaid would be easier just follow the lines with the machine embroidery. With Gail's encouragement I went for the butterfly as their was more negative space, less obvious shapes.

So here i sat in front of the sewing machine thread loaded and paralyzed I kept asking " please give me a pencil I will stencil something on, okay I will free-style a drawing. Gail kept repeating start sewing it will come to you. Finally I was like I can do this....started to stitch and some magic started to happen. I really really loved what I did- some followed the shapes printed and some just created something completely new. I am so proud of it-even if it is not a winner in the contest it was something new for me.

Meanwhile Nancy and Gail had the area set up and downstairs I went to print up some new pieces to work on I am starting to get a stockpile of printed material to use in projects. One of the large pieces with leaves and a rat has been prepped (serged edges) to be placed on the back of an Jacket waiting for its turn on the sewing machine.

Playing with Paint

I am taking a break from making jewelry for a bit and am just in the hoarding stage. I have been traveling and picking up pieces to work with. The bead show in York, ceramics from Raleigh North Carolina, and pearls and beads from Peurto Rico.

I am also playing with altering old pictures and adding color to them and text this one I am going to add "anchors-away". I think it is just adorable.

rest of the goodies from the bead show

Wednesday Wine & Wild Women Art- home made stamps

We got together to make new stamps. This was Nancy first stamp and she made a great flower motif. Gail made a tiny owl  with great big eyes. I made a fox and a small owl stamp. I am hoping to make a small stamp that I can use to personalize pieces I made not sure the owl is the one yet. I may want a smaller bee shape or small jewish star will not be sure until they are made and printed up to see which I like the best.

Okay I am jazzed I just figured out how to upload the photo's from my phone to facebook and then copy the url for the photo's here. Woo hoo I will get into the technology sooner than later.