yellow crosses

ATCsetyellowcross
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

A set of 4 ATC's in response to my class last thursday evening. We had a workshop working on bringing concept into form.

Stamped, stitched and overpainted.

another book cover

bookcover
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

I had a play this week with the idea of 3D flowers in mind. The flowers on the cover are from a commercial fabric, I vleisofixed them to fabric so they were double sided. I then cut them out, and painted them with a 50% water 50% PVA glue mix and let them dry so they gently curved. I then stitched them in the middle only to the book cover so they stand up.

I reakon they are quite funky!

I have added a new link to the right that will take you to a set of ATC's that I have received from other people- check them out.

op-shop shopping

opshop1
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

I am collecting hand embroidered cloths to make a crazy quilt style quilt. I remember them from my childhood and they are the type of thing that to me feel like treasures. Most are worn or stained, perfect fodder for reusing, but I have been lucky enough to find a few wonderfully embroidered ones in good condition which I won't be recycling.

tyvek beads

tyvek beads
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

I already had some tyvek paper painted so these beads were a quick half hour play this afternoon after I had finished work.

I always get stuck with "Well - what am I going to do with them now??!!"
I think I will just make them so I can have fun making them and so I can enjoy looking at them!!

If you want to see more detail - click on the picture (that will take you to flickr) then click on the "all sizes" button above that picture.

new book cover

bookcover2
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

This is an A5 book cover using the designs I worked on in the class last week. Hard to tell from the photo but the black background is quilted with straight lines randomly spaces apart. The seedheads are embroidered by hand.

thursday class

thursday
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

We took our contour drawings from last weeks class and used them this week to explore pattern. Being a quilter I like pattern - whether symetrical, asymetrical, or repeating.
I can see this seedhead as an embroidery (black on white) and have started another bookcover using a motif from this drawing.

book cover

bookcover1
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

I made this tree block as a sample in a class by Rosalie Dace almost 2 years ago. I have always loved it but never got around to using it. I had a thought yesterday it would make a perfect cover for my visual diary - so I get to enjoy it all the time now. The great thing is that it is a slip cover so I can use it on whatever journal I am using at the moment.

. . . also check out Ste-pha-nies comments on sketching in public. (Tifty's blog)

back of quilt

Qjonoback
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

I managed to get the "label" on Jono's quilt last night. I am so pleased with how the whole design and make process went - it went so smoothly. It is now permanently on his bed - which pleases the cats (and me) greatly!

sketching

It is a few years since I have done any drawing and even then it was mainly self taught, but going to this class has made me think about drawing again - as a tool for being more creative. I can see the need to play and to use it to quiet that inner critic.

I was impressed with an entry in Tifty's blog yesterday. I then came across this in Eric Maisels - "The Creativity Book" today.

"Many people are embarrased to create in public. It feels unseemly to them, like kissing in plain view. Pulling out a writing pad in public heightens their self-consciousness and makes them feel foolish. But really - who is justified in pulling out her pad and writing right in the middle of a restaurant? You are. Who is not showing off in some narcissistic way but simply creating when an idea hits her and she sits down on the sidewalk to record it? You are. Who is not ridiculous or phony or eccentric or arrogant if she excuses herself and stops in mid conversation to capture a phrase that she's been stalking for a week? You. You have the right and the responsibility."

contour drawing

contourdrawing
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

On thursday I started an evening class - "Elements of Design" at the local Polytechnic. I was expecting to be taught the 'rules' of design - but she has shaken us by teaching us more through loosening us up by having some fun, and getting us to get rid of our inner critic!!
Well she had us doing contour drawings - that involves very slow (i.e. intense concentration on what you are seeing) drawing the outside (countours) of on object with your eyes on the object 99% of the time - that is you can look at the object but not at what you are drawing. Needless to say this means a not very accurate drawing and a lot of mental energy to kill that critic that says what you have done is not very good!.

It does however put feeling and freedom into your drawing which she is trying to teach us to do.

red boxes quilt

redboxes
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

Finished the quilting at long last on this little quilt (60cm x 25cm). The quilting in the boxes is hard to see but each box has a cross stitched in seed stitch.

presents

rarotonga
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

My parents arrived back this morning from a week in Rarotonga. I scored 2 wonderful sarongs - they look they have been painted then sunprinted with stencil cutouts - tempting to use as quilt backings. The other is a small black purse with machine applique flowers and hand-quilting in the background. Lucky me!

still trading

ATCbook
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

I have ATC trades in the mail this week from Ireland, Canada, USA and Phillipines.

I was sent this booklet in the mail also. so I now I have a place to keep my mail, as they are just as much the treasure as the ATC's themselves.

I am blown away with the interaction I have had from people since starting this blog, the trades the emails and the comments - there is such a supportive community out there, which I never knew existed.

With each trade I usually put in a small piece of my hand-dyed fabric or a handmade bead - one pair of beads was made into earings another set are ear-marked for a bookmark on a handmade book.

I think that gives me the greatest pleasure, that something I have created has gone on to inspire someone else, a piece of me out there somewhere, - immortality eh?

quilt finished

QJono
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

...well almost finished - binding is on but I still need to organise a panel for his friends and family to sign and a label... but I have done it ! ! ! and I am so pleased with the design and colour - yes it really is this bright!
It seems it has the blessing of the two cats as they found it a great place to sleep while I was putting on the binding.

This is not a great picture, I could only get most of it in shot by putting it on the floor, standing on a chair and arms above me as high as I could reach. - but you get the idea.

artful quilters

I have just been made a member of the Artful Quilters Webring, so if you haven't already check it out now!

You will find a button over on the right (scroll down a bit). Click on the Artful Quilters picture and that will tell you a bit more - or click 'next' to see the next blog etc. If you click on 'list' you will get a list of all the members. There are lots of amazing blogs there - everyone just blows me away with their creativity.

The other thing I did on friday was to put in a counter on my blog, I was a bit worried about doing it - what if no-one was checking out my blog, - anyway it appears a few of you are!

play time

ATC0118
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

I wanted a break from all this quilting so had a play from an article in a magazine I have out from the library.

I made a layer of acrylic felt, gold lamme and 3 layers of organza and pinned that to the front of my prepared ATC. I then stitched my design from the back using gold thread in the bobbin.

The excess fabric was then cut away and the edges melted with a soldering iron.

This is my first attempt at anything involving shiny, metal fabrics and heat - so my effort is a bit clumsy... but I can see me wanting to play some more.

kiwi quilters swap

kiwiquilters
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

Look at what arrived in the post today!!!
They are all so exciting...

ATC's from:
(left to right, top to bottom)
Ronnie Martin, Mary-Ann Kane, Billie-Joye Stewart, Clare Smith, Clare Smith, Margaret Morrison, Margaret Morrison, Diana Båhler, Barbara Hilford, Susan Claire Mayfield, Susan Claire Mayfield, Jane Howie, Jane Howie, Clare Smith and Clare Smith

To see a larger picture - click on the picture, (that will take you to my flickr site), then click on the "all sizes" button above that picture.

started quilting!

PICT0987
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

Basted my son's quilt yesterday and began quilting today, nothing fancy as it is quite a job managing to quilt such a big quilt. I am using a walking foot but because I am quilting the centre square with orange thread and the outside blue there is a lot of turning of the quilt.

Still I am real happy with it - and so is my son!