Common Life Into ART
3/29/07
I Will Tell You the Truth
A cute little shrine with a microscope slide on 4x4" stretched canvas. The canvas is frosted with modeling paste then stained with fluid acrylics. This is my last week of crass commercialism then it's back into the studio for the year. This little beauty is up for auction. 
3/26/07
Vision Book Sampler
Okay--this I'm actually pleased with. Someone get this down. It's a fabric book for me, cuz I'm selfish that way. Covered board book, using hand dyed fabric (which is dwindling fast). Lotsa fibers on the spine, my favorites. I'm not showing the cover here because it's still in production--saving it for last. But the pages are bits and pieces of dyed fabric, then I made some paper collages and scanned them in, then printed them out on some sheer curtain material and then Wonder Under'd them down and used Prismacolor pencils to add the color. I enjoyed finding the quotes. 'Nuff said! On with the show...
3/21/07
One World One Heart Winner
The numbers are in and the winner of the Peace mini quilt is Paris Parfait! I've also decided to pack up some of my hand-dyed fabric and trims to a second winner--Kate of Idaho! Thanks everyone who left lovely notes. I appreciate you stopping by :) Kelli
3/18/07
Our Lives are Like Quilts
I wanted to make an altered board book with more of the hand-dyed fabric--more places to spread out its creamy delightfulness (I just adore it). I started by covering the pages and while I was dithering about what the topic would be, I came across this vintage "Q" rhinestone pin at the antique store. Voila! What better way to commemorate my trip to Make It U at the quilt show? I found the phrase "our lives are like quilts, bits and pieces, joy and sorrow, stitched with love." It's illustrated with crazy quilt hearts stitched from scrap bag bits. I tied some delish fibers along the spine. The cover has some cheesecloth and lace dyed in the same style and I used alcohol inks to stain the lettering.
Wish Doll & ATC
Okay, so I had the hand-dyed fabrics and I LOVE them, so what to make with them? Here's a start--an art doll with fiber hair and perky little buttons! She's got a pierced navel and a pretty rhinestone. And LIPS! She gets her own self-portrait ATC because I'm trying to practice pen/watercolor and why not? She's a glam girl.
3/15/07
Hand Dyed Fabric
Finally--I was brave enough to dye some fabric! I wanted to try all the different kinds of dye I had been collecting, so I purchased 4 yards of plain white muslin and grabbed all the white or off white new or flea market laces and trims I had and made an evening of it. I put freezer paper on my kitchen counter made a mess, but the result is to die for. I have always had a love affair with hand dyed fabric and now I don't have to hoard those last scraps from friends (are you listening Theresa?). Each kind of dye had a slightly different effect, but I LOVE them all. I used Dylon Permanent Fabric Dye (from JoAnne's--in powdered form, just add water), then Setacolor Transparent Dye (paste in jars, dilute)--I was having so much fun with that one I almost couldn't stop. This dye can also be light-printed by placing objects on the cloth while it's wet. The next batch was done with Dye-Na-Flow (available at Michael's)--I was afraid this one wasn't going to turn out because the colors ran together more than the rest, but the result is stunning. It's more muted and very yummy. My last large piece was done the more formal way with Procion Dyes (very intense powder, dilute with warm water) and soaking the fabric in soda ash. I sprinkled salt on this one and it brought out some unintended color green which looks wonderful. I ended with some dyed silk ribbons and lace trims dyed with Sara's Bloom lace dye. While they were still wet I layed them out on the fabrics to add some additional markings. Couldn't forget some cheesecloth for good measure. Now the fun begins. I'm going to contruct some small purses/bags making matching fabric beads to hang off them and then there may be a fabric quilt in the works!
3/11/07
Life's Little Conditions
We all know about "Life's Little Conditions..." I finished this ATC on masonite today. It's textured gel medium and fluid acrylics with collaged elements. I have my heart set on some Quilt Show booty next month, so it's up for sale on ebay. Bye bye little birdie!
3/10/07
Make It U!
Join me in Chicago at the International Quilt Show where I'll be doing a "virtual studio" on paper beads at the Quilting Arts Make It U show floor on April 13. My paper quilts will be showcased in issue 12 of Cloth Paper Scissors, followed by an article on paper beads in issue 13. What a great way to start the year!
3/6/07
One World, One Heart
I am participating in the Heart of the Nest's One world One HEART fling this month and will be giving away this 5x7" mini art quilt in a random drawing. It's on a base of hand-dyed fabric with machine and handstitching. If you'd like to have it, please post a comment with your name and in the hat you'll go! The drawing will take place on March 21 and I'll post the winner's name here. Contact me if you win and I'll pop it in the mail. Visit Heart of the Nest's site (above) to check out the other fun artists giving away their hearts in March. Good luck!
"here is the deepest secret nobody knows (here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows higher than soul can hope or mind can hide) and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart) "e.e. cummings
3/5/07
Unique!
This was a joy to make. It's an altered child's board book. I've included some photographs I've taken around the country and sanded and inked them. The hearts are paper/fabric blend and the cover features mini 1" collage squares and paper beads. "Every heart weaves a unique thread in the tapestry of life."
Recycled CD Pins
I jazzed up some recycled compact disk pins with beads and wire. I think I'd like to play with these some more.
There Blooms a Garden
This is an accordion style book of fabric postcards for the International Quilt Show Reader Challenge.
MORE BEADS!
I need to walk away from paper beads for a few days, after a marathon session of over 300! Yikes! But the exciting news is that I'll be doing a "Virtual Studio" at the International Quilt Show in April, under the auspices of the great people at Cloth Paper Scissors! Let the beads fly! Here's what I used to create them. Look for an article in the next ish of CPS (#12). All secrets will be revealed!
Lost Treasures Shrine
I wasn't sure about this piece at first because it had a wild, colorful exterior which was very contemporary, then I stuffed it with a vintage theme on the inside, but it began to grow on me and after awhile the juxtaposition of old and new, muted and bright seemed worth exploring...Thanks so much to Amy for the little house and the neat vials! They were truly inspirational!
Sunflower Quilt
Another paper quilt with oodles of paper beads and some vintage buttons which are dyed with alcohol inks.
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