Valentine Fabric Tag Tutorial

It's my turn on the Cre8ive Klatch blog today and I'm sharing a tutorial on making fabric tags for Valentine's Day. I created two versions of the same basic design to demonstrate some variations. You can see the tutorial HERE. Enjoy!

Linking up with Creative Everyday

5 Tips for Art Studio Organization in a Small Space

It's my turn on the Cre8ive Klatch blog and I've written about organizing in a small space. Pop over and take a look.

Klatchapalooza Hand Made Art Market - and Door Prizes!

Klatchapalooza Hand Made Art Market opens late tonight. AND . . .

 AND - there will be door prizes! How cool is that?

I have some colorful stitched items for sale and there are twenty other artisans with a variety of great items - jewelry, ornaments, paintings, fiber art. Lots of fun gift ideas! Everything is exclusive to this sale and has not been available for sale anywhere else.

Hope to see you there!

Blog Hop Around the World

I was invited by the lovely Michelle Reynolds to participate in this blog hop. I first met Michelle when we were in an online class together, and now we are both instructors with Creative Klatch. Michelle does wonderful, colorful paintings that I love and also works with Gelli Prints. She started the Gelatin Printing Enthusiasts group on Facebook.  Check out her work on her blog.

What am I working on?
Lately I have been busy preparing items for sale in Klatchapalooza Handmade Art Market, a pop-up shop on Facebook Thanksgiving weekend.  I've created a bunch of sewn items for that sale but mums the word on those items until the shop opens! But I have also been working on a series of art tags with a tutorial for Creative Klatch where I demonstrated how I make them.  Here is a pic of the whole series.

I also recently completed a quilt using bright prints on a white background.

How does my work differ from others of it's genre?
I work in a variety of media but the distinctive mark of my art is color. I love bright, happy colors, and have a strong influence from nature in my work, whether that be fiber art, quilting,sewing, drawing or painting.

Why do I create what I do?
I've always loved everything creative and love making a variety of colorful things. It's just a part of who I am!

How does my creating process work?
If I'm making a fiber art piece there is more planning usually. I sketch out my design and choose fabrics to bring the design to life.  I cut or tear the fabric, then pin it until I am ready to sew it in place - usually  by machine. I like to add hand stitching for details. If I'm quilting, I like to take an improvisational approach and make it up as I go along. I love the serendipitousness (is that a word?) and not really knowing how it's going to look. If I'm sewing a bag or pillow I am sometimes inspired by beautiful fabrics and I play with combining fabrics in different ways. With painting/drawing, I usually just sit down and start to paint and see where that takes me. I may have a loose plan I follow, but if doesn't work out I just paint over it and start again.

Sometimes I just sit down and sketch/draw or doodle and see what comes out. Other times I have an image in my head of a piece I want to create.  When I'm in the flow of creating I can reach for one thing after another as ideas pop into my head. Things can get a little messy!

Thanks to Michelle for inviting me to participate in this blog hop!

I'd love it if you would check out the art work of some of my friends over at the Creative Klatch blog. You can find links to their personal blogs there, too.

Cre8ive Klatch

You know how sometimes you meet people who you feel a connection with?  You know how that can even happen online sometimes?  Well, I met a great group of creative artists a couple years ago in an online class. It has become a supportive group where everyone supports each other as they move forward in their creative endeavors. If you have a question - someone probably has an answer  -  and won't mind sharing what they know.

Out of this group has come a collaborative project. The Cre8ive Klatch.  This is a place to share creative projects and inspiration. I love finding online creative inspiration, so I knew I wanted to work with these artists to spread some happy, creative love.  There's a wide variety of styles of art represented and I'm sure you will find something that inspires you.

Pop over to the blog and meet all the other cre8ives and read more about it.

Quilt Progress and Cre8ive Klatch

Quite a busy week around here and rain over the weekend - so no outside shots of the quilt progress. But at least I did not have to battle the mosquitoes this week. Just a tiny bit left to do to finish and square up the blocks.

I do like seeing them spread over my sewing table.  It gets exciting to see more and more blocks piling up.

In other news, the collaborative project I am involved in is moving forward. Cre8ive Klatch is a group of artists and creatives, working in a variety of media who have come together to share creativity, tutorials, inspiration, gratitude and connection.  If you'd like a little creative inspiration I invite you to head over to the Cre8ive Klatch blog and check it out. You can also join the Facebook page.

Hope you have a colorful and creative week!

Linking up with Fabric Tuesday,  and Freemotion by the River, WIP Wednesday, Let's Bee Social

Quickie Mixed Media Tag Tutorial and The Cre8ive Klatch

Wow! What a week it's been! I've been rearranging my studio, started a new quilt, and a new collaborative project launched.  I still found a little time to play around with creating a  mixed media tag - the first one I have made(!)  It was really quick.  So I thought I'd put together this "quickie tutorial" to share.  Hope it inspires you to play!

I started with a piece of watercolor paper that I had previously painted a background on with a couple of colors. 

 I stamped letters on a piece of canvas, cut some circles from fabric and some ribbon.  Just playing with things in my scrap drawers.

Then I added a stitching using my sewing machine and black thread all around the edges.  

Next I stitched down the fabric circles and the canvas strip.

Lastly, I added the bow and voila! a cute and colorful tag.

Quick and easy.  This was so much fun and the designs you could make could go in all kinds of directions.  A great way to use up scraps!

This week also marked the unveiling of a collaborative project I am involved in.  The Cre8ive Klatch. 

 Head over the the CK Blog to read about it and meet Susan M Walls of Susan's Art Circus. Then check back each Monday and Thursday to meet all the Klatchers! There's bound to be something to inspire you.

Hope you have a great and creative weekend.

Linking up with Paint Party Friday and Show and Tell Saturday and Art Journal Everyday