Time Is Up

Time is Up

"Time Flies" 

8 x 10

I've truly enjoyed these challenges thank you Kim and Trish!

Time is always something I wrestle with, especially in the studio. At the end of February Susan Purney Marks put out a challenge on Facebook called Desert Island Art.   The challenge description states that it is "a group creating their art from supplies that would fit into a "shoe box"! "We often make excuses for avoiding art because we don't have the "right" supplies, instead of using what we do have in a creative way" Susan stated.  

The "Desert Island Art Challenge" sounded like a lot of fun so I joined.  In addition to the Desert Island Art challenge, I also belong to the Project Quilt Challenge 2017.  The current challenge is 8.6, the 6th and last  in this series.  

What I didn't have in my shoebox for "Time Flies" was the little time element.  It was within reach of my table so for this challenge I reached around, picked it up and used it!

My 'Shoebox"

Packing my shoebox was a challenge. After packing, unpacking and repacking it, this is what it looked like.  All the supplies that would keep me busy for the month of March creating art packed into one box. 

I always try to start out with a clean spot so I cleared my space making sure I had plenty of room to work. 

It didn't take long to fill the cleared space with printed fabric! Gelli printing is something relatively new for me but boy am I hooked on the process.  I set out and printed 2 yards of pimatex fabric using the paints, stamps, lettuce cutter and sink rubber rest to make my prints.  

Having these done and working on pieces for the "Desert Island Art" challenge, made it pretty easy to do my piece for the "Time is Up" 8.6 challenge.  

This is a sampling of some of the cut up gelli prints.  

And here is a tease and a sampling of some of the art pieces created from phase one of these combined challenges.  The bonus is that in June my Art Focus group will be exhibiting at our local gallery and my pieces are now done!  I will post the rest of the pieces in a follow up blog post featuring all of the Desert Island Art created during the month of March. I look forward to seeing you then!  

Happy Creating. 

"Tied Together For Life"

"Tied Together For Life"

Quilt Challenge 8.5

The challenge this week was so fun!  We were given the clue: well dressed man. Immediately I thought of my husband, who I actually take pictures of many mornings on his way to work because he is always so sharply dressed...and it makes my heart sing!  So when the challenge was introduced I knew I wanted to do something with ties (which I love).  I had collected a few silk ties from my father in law and had some fabric left over from shirts I 'd made my husband 35 years ago.  So as a dedication to these two men in my life I decided to combine the fabric and ties and call the piece "Tied Together For Life".   I could not have picked a better day to do this since it is our 33 wedding anniversary date!

My Everyday Inspiration

Happy Anniversary!

The Process

My friend Mel Beach is such an encouragement.  I wasn't going to do this challenge because of time elements, and just like everyone else, life just happens.  But she nudged me and I'm so glad she did. Thank you Mel!  After her nudge, I pulled out the ties and fabric I'd been thinking about all week.  

I played with a few lay outs and after settling on a layout I began to fuse my quilt sandwich together as well as put fusible on all the ties. 

 

Once all pieces were fused in the place I wanted them to be,  I machine appliquéd them in place, did some walking foot quilting and finished off the edge with a zig zag stitch.  

 It wasn't until I took this picture below did I see that if I turned it on what was originally it's side I now had these awesome houses!  Done and Done!

This will be my father in laws Father's Day gift.  Thank you for the challenge!