creative prompt/creative cue. . . .

My hands have been busy quilting so. . . . .

. . . . . . . .I am a week behind with my responses. Below is my response to the creative prompt- hand.

I think in some card games having  a hand of 21 is a good thing.

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My photo response to last weeks creative cue rolling is shown below....

I first thought of marbles.....

...and then took a photo of rolling marbles.

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disappearing ink...

Generally this time of year I can use air erase fabric markers to mark a quilt. The climate is cold and dry and the marker will stay where I want it to for awhile.  But one day this week we had unseasonably warm weather with heavy rain. With all  that humidity came the disappearing ink problem....  

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Right now, I have three challenges to work on.....  The Fiberactions word challenge is Communication,  The MQX fabric charity challenge and my guild's theme challenge- Escape With Me..... I've started all three, can you guess which one the picture below belongs to?  You'll have to keep watching  to see if you are right......

... a lot of quilting and a little piecing....

....a sharp contrast to all the white quilts I've quilted recently. This brightly colored quilt has a fuzzy, warm, flannel backing and weighs a ton. A lovely quilt to snuggle up with......

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.....then there is more white...... and a lot of it here on this quilt.  Large white on white borders......

....this quilt is going to be gifted from the quiltmaker to her long time friend. What a surprise.....

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.....and I'm thrilled to find out - when piecing with 1/2" blocks and you make a mistake, there is very little waste of materials....  (we won't talk about the waste of time....)

On with the day and I hope you are having a good one.

Creative Prompts

It seems like every time I look, there are new creative challenges popping up all over the place. I think it's a great way to get inspired and create something or think creatively every day.  I'm happy to belong to a few groups. 

Artquiltmaker posts a creative prompt each week.  Generally, I doodle something that relates to the prompt.  Last week was #50 and she asked us to think about what inspires you. 

Lots of things, really. But for right now, it's color. I need to get busy on my Machine Quilter's Expo Charity Challenge, due in March.  I love the colors of these fabrics and threads.

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Three Creative Studios is posting a Creative Cue. I've decided to use photos for these prompts.  The word this week is track.  My first thought, the sport - track.

Then yesterday while quilting along I was hitting a bump and there, in my machine's track, was this tiny piece of lint.  It's hard to believe that something so small can cause a glitch, but it can...

Sue's Quilt...

I quilted this for my friend Sue. She will hang it in our Thimble Pleasure's Quilt Show in March.

The scrap scarf

I've wanted to make this for a long time.

I took a bunch of scraps and cut them up into small bits.

I added fibers, threads and anything I wanted to, really.

I had planned to use regular sheets of water soluable stabilizer. But to make my life easier SueB gave me  stabilizer that had a sticky side.  It worked great; I didn't have to worry about my tiny scraps coming off.  On top of all the scraps I put another layer of the sticky stabilzer then stitched circles allover using colored threads. You can see the stitching above. I stitched fairly close together as I had so many tiny scraps to capture.

After I finished the stitching I zig zagged a length of funky thread around the edge. Then it soaked to remove the stabilizer and I layed it to dry on a towel.

It's funky but I like it. Below you can see my lamp wearing it showing off all of the colors.  I think I'll use this technique as a background to one of my smaller quiltlets.

Fiberactions Reveal-

Initiative...

... the first inspiration word for our Fiberactions Challenge Group

I interpreted initiative as one's personal responsible decision.

Women's Healthy Heart Initiative-Embrace Your Gift

After one of my own very best friends had a scare with her healthy heart and then, having learned; Cardiovascular Disease takes approximately 30,000 women prematurely each year-  I made a quilt to remind us to take our own  Women's Healthy Heart Initiative.

Don't forget to Embrace Your Gift.

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The inside of the heart was created using one inch squares of painted fabric, then over the squares are sheer layers of painted dryer sheets.  The painted fabrics and dryer sheets are from Jill .   I liked working with the small squares and sheer overlay.

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Around the heart are Xs and Os.

My initial sketches had words and I didn't really like how they looked.  So I left the words off, but added a metal charm with a message...  You can see it below.  I put the words 'Embrace Your Gift' inside the charm and filled it with epoxy resin and glitter.

It was tough to get a good picture of it, below you can see the floating glitter a little better.

 Not my most sophisticated work, but I l-o-v-e-d making this quilt.

Creative Cue/Creative Prompt---

The Creative Cue presented by Three Creative Studios this week was heel.

This is a photo of the heel of my sneaker. 

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Jaye's Creative Prompt for last week was opportunity.  I had a lot of ideas for the prompt opportunity, but didn't have the time doodle them all out. Tonight I took the opportunity to make a quick sketch of one of my button jars.  There are plenty of goodies in there waiting for the right opportunity to be used.

The other day I cut into a squash and moisture formed on the cut end. It was a great opportunity to take a close up picture of a water droplet.... and here is the picture.

If you are looking for some extra inspiration or creative opportunities go ahead and click on The Creative Prompt Project or the Creative Cue/ Three Creative Studios Tab. 

Have fun!

Texture Magic Tote

The middle section of this tote was created using Texture Magic. 

I took a piece of black fabric, painted it then scattered scraps, threads and various fusible fibers - like Angelina Fiber.  Over all of that I put a layer of black tulle. Sandwiched that together with the Texture Magic on the bottom and  then started quilting a grid. I quickly grew bored of the grid and  just ended up scribbling the quilting lines. 

In my box of purse making supplies I found these rings, the package called them Glamour Rings...  I used them on the strap so I could make it adjustable in length.  They are a little heavy for the purpose of a strap buckle, but for the glamour they add - I'll deal with the weight.  ;)

I used a silver ring and push snap for the closure. You can see it here. ( no glamour there.)  You can also see the wild fabric created with the Texture Magic.

I will use Texture Magic again, but next time I'll fuse my scraps and stuff down and not use the tulle. I'm not crazy about how the tulle looks.

This was a fun tote to make. I'm not sure if I'll use the tote, but I liked making it.

Creative Prompt Quiltlet

Awhile back I decided to do a self challenge, where I would make a quiltlet out of each of my creative prompt doodles.  The only rule I gave myself was -  there are no rules. Well, other than the size had to be

12 x 12.

I have six finished and tonight I started this one. The prompt was window and you can see the doodle copied onto white fabric. 

The background fabric is white bridal satin. I used water color pencils and inks for color.

From the scrap basket of goodies, I used funky thread for a nest and made colored eggs from silk roving mixed with textile medium.  The big feather is a real feather found in the yard.  My little friend O Bob rang the doorbell awhile back and said "Here, this is for you - I know you'll do something cool with it."  So I kept the feather in the goody basket. And here it is, on the out the sewing room window quiltlet.

I don't know if the feather really 'works' artistically. But I like it, so I'm keeping it.

I worked this quiltlet up tonight while dinner was in the oven and then during basketball practice drop off and pick up.  Right now, it's stuck to my cabinet door with a few other unfinished projects begging to be finished...

-gift card pouch-

A gift card pouch made for a little friend....

It was simple to make.

I quilted a strip of fabric. Cut one end into an envelope point.  And zig zagged the edges and sides. 

The organza ribbon tie was stitched at the fold line of the flap, vintage lace and buttons were added.

I'll make another with this practice piece of silk.

Creative Cue - - -

Three Creative Studios (formerly known as Two Creative Studios) is hosting a Creative Cue  for each week. Seeing I'm participating in Artquiltmaker's Creative Prompt Project and using mostly pencil/ink doodles; I thought I would use the Creative Cues as inspiration for photos.

The Creative Cue for this week is east. 

Here, in the eastern part of the United States we woke up to more snow out the window... 

-recycled spice tin....

...... to treasure box.

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Hope your Holidays were joyful.

Happy, Healthy New Year.

Here's to 2010!