Busy Time!

Wow! it's been a busy few weeks.  I have been enjoying DLP and continuing to take some classes with Roben-Marie Smith, as well as participating in Jennibellie's Art Swap. Below is my journal page for DLP Ink/Before the ink is dry.

And over at Jennibellie's  we were swapping postcards with positive affirmations.
Here is the one I made for my partner.

And this is what I received from my partner Kristen.

I can definitely recommend participating in DLP, and Jennibellie's Journal Workshops site is loaded with fun, so check them out.

What have you been up to?

February Swaps

Whew!  February was a month with alot of swaps going on.  Lots of sewing, but all of it had to be kept under wraps until things were received by my partners.  There is actually still one swap on it's way to it's new home.

First up - The Potholder Pass 10.  This was my first time to play in this group and it was a wonderful swap.  Here are the potholders I made:

And here are the lovely ones I received from Diane:

Next we have the Mouthy Stitches Zippered Pouch Swap.  Here's what I made for my partner Linda:

Pouch Front

Pouch back

Lining

And here is the beautiful pouch I received from Sheila:

Meanwhile, at Around the Bend and Across the Pond, I added a bit to Sara's starter:

And today I received both Trudi's and Lynz's quilts to add to.

What a busy month!

ATCs

My online art group hosts a monthly swap of ATCs (artist trading cards) and since I am being brave and trying to share more of my artwork, I thought I'd give it a try.  I have never made ATCs before, but it was fun to experiment yesterday.  The theme for this month is "Love."

I decided to work with inks and here is what I did.  First a background.  I used heavy, smooth watercolor paper.  I used a brush to wet it with water and then dropped ink from the dropper, let it bleed and run, blotted with a paper towel . . .

Then I used brushes with more ink to create a design and added some pen work to a couple of them.  This is what I ended up with:

  Not sure if I want to add anything else. I need to take a look with fresh eyes later today.


Then I played around with making some fabric ATCs.  Still need to work out the kinks on the fabrication method, but here's a couple of designs I have so far:

So what do you think?  Have you made ATCs before?  What are your favorite media to use?

Zippers and Logs and Bees, Oh My!

Yes, I think I have developed a little addiction for making these little zippered pouches!  I whipped up another one Saturday and SO wanted to make more  -  but I had no more zippers!

Some Loulouthi love going on here!!

Love those Xs and Os on the inside.

I used a stiffer interfacing for this one and I don't like the feel of it as much as the first one.  I'd love to make one with patchwork and using quilt batting and see how that feels.

And I got my partner in the Mouthy Stitches swap!  So now I can begin to "stalk" her flickr profile and see how she has answered all the questions we have been asking in order to design a zipperd pouch I think she'll like.

In other news, my mini quilt for the STUD swap is in progress.  Here's the sneak peek I posted on flickr.

The theme is log cabins.  So I am making bright, colorful, busy, wonky log cabins!  But it's OK - I'm pretty sure my partner will like colorful and bright, too.  Can't show the whole thing until it reaches it's destination.

Oh, and I got Sara's block for the Ab Fab Free Bees free form round robin over at Around the Bend and Across the Pond.  (Man! that's a mouthful!)  I've pulled some fabrics and am thinking about what to add . . .

Christmas Mug Rug Swap

What's been going on here?  Well, I have finished my two dresdens for the ORBC.  I still need to make them into pillow covers, though so no photos yet. 
I have been working on the Christmas table runner - it is not quite done.  Still have to finish the binding.  So no photos yet. 
I was in the Christmas round for the Scrappy Mug Rug Swap on Flickr and I DO have photos of that! 

I made this little mug rug for my partner, Carol.  Like me, she loves bright colors on white, so that made it easy for me to decide on something to make for her.

Here is the back.

I also included some fat quarters and buttons in a red organza bag for her.

And would you look at all the stuff she sent to me?  Not only the cute mug rug, but a load of other festive Christmas goodies!! Fabric, trims, hot chocolate and two patterns!!! Thanks for a fun swap, Carol.

Now.  What to sew next? ? ?  Oh, and I better take some photos of the other stuff! LOL.

Halloween Swap Mug Rug

The Scrappy Mug Rug Swap on flickr is doing Halloween/Fall this round and this is the little mug rug I am making for my partner.   Happy pumpkins and bats!  Still needs binding and the it's ready to package and send on it's way . . . but I can't say to who - it's a secret swap ;)

Circles and Curves

Here's the finished mini quilt I made for the Mini QT.  Circles and Curves was the theme.  It was sent off to it's new owner a couple of months ago.

Taking pics at night doesn't give the best results, but you get the idea.  Anyway, this was a fun one to make.  The swaps were fun, but I am feeling the need to get back to the "art quilts" and maybe even adding some mixed media . . .

Swap Quilt

Haven't posted in awhile because I have been working on projects for some swaps and they have to be kept a secret until the exchange is made.  Below is a mini quilt I made for my partner in the Swap Til You Drop (STUD) Swap on Flickr.  The theme this round was "Favorite Things" so everyone had to list five favorite things and then each player had to make a quilt using at least one of their partners favorites in the design.  My partner and I both listed trees in our favs, and we both ended up using trees in the design.  How cool is that?

And below is the one I received from my partner:

It was fun to play in this round!  It is always fun to see what your partner makes for you.

Teacups,and Lily's QAL

Well, the teacup blocks have been sent!  Flying off to their new homes across the country and around the globe :)  Hope everyone likes them!

Oooooh!! I have joined Lily's Quilt Along.  We are making large dresden blocks.  I am still trying to decide on fabric! LOL.  This makes a large 30 inch block, so it should be fun.  I am thinking I will do a one block mini quilt, but we shall see.  It is a quilt as you go , so this could be a way to make a full size quilt on my little machine. . .  If you haven't joined, it's not too late.  Lynne at Lily's Quilts is SO nice and it is a fun group!  The flick group is here.  Go see what everyone is doing!

Pinwheels and Bitty Blocks

The pinwheel quilt is finished!  Free motion quilted and bound with red dot fabric.  This one was really fun to make and I am pleased with how it turned out.

I signed up for the Bitty Block Committee this month.  The theme is teacups/teapots and I received some fun blocks in the mail yesterday.  There are some very talented stitchers in this group!!  These blocks are only 3.5 inches square.

I have been getting my blocks ready to mail out, too.  The swaps are so much fun - it's great to "meet" other people who enjoy being creative and so amazing to see their work!

Mini QT Swap and Bitty Blocks

I have just completed my first Mini QT Swap!  I was so lucky that my partner was none other than Dolores aka DeeRoo, a friend from the ORBC!  The theme was "Dots" so I had plenty of fabrics to choose from.  Here is the Mini QT I sent her.

It measures 12 x 12 inches and is machine appliqued with a small blanket stitch.

I included a few little goodies for her, too.

But I got the best part of the deal!!  Look at the wonderful mini she sent me:

Love the fireflies!!!  or as we call them, lightning bugs!

And look at the goodies she sent!  What cute fabric, and tapes and sticky notes.  I love it all, Dolores.

I have made blocks for the Bitty Block Committee this round, too.  The theme for this swap is tea pots/tea cups.  Twelve people to a group.

These are fussy cut from a Pillow and Maxfield fat quarter, fused and machine appliqued.  These blocks are only 3.5 inches square!!  Fun to do and you should see some of the creative and skilled work going on in the group!  What a talented bunch.

Meanwhile, the ORBC is gearing up for Round 10 - Crazy quilting.  That should be fascinating.  Join in if you like!