She Brews

My New E-Reader Cover

Long time since I have checked in. I am not really doing that much interesting things to blog about. I have, however, been doing things......Mikel purchased me an E-reader for my birthday. I did a little research on them, and decided not to spend a lot of money until I was sure it was something that I would use as long as I can read. I looked at the Nook and the Color Nook, and they are about 100 dollars difference in price and waaaaaay difference in function. I guess with the Color Nook, you get the backlighting, and it can act like an Android with internet connections, etc.

I am so illiterate with all the new electronic gadgets, it quite frankly, scared me. It has a touch screen and a very large book that you must "purchase" separately with tutorials-----I just want to read a book......

I chose a Look Book at Wal-Mart because it had back lighting and color, and you can change the print size, and it is loaded with books and books to load available. It is library friendly, and it seemed to be all the necessary things I wanted. It was a whole 89 dollars, whereas, the Nook ran 150-250 dollars.

The Look Book is its own size, so none of the covers fit it exactly. My very good friend, Annie, offered to make me a cover for it. Choosing the fabric was the very hardest. This is the inside of the cover, which shows little bumper pads so the book will be snug inside, but yet protect it. Its so cool with stiff boards, and a full zipper. Love, Love, Love it.

Annie didn't have a pattern, she just winged it, and so, I am really impressed. This fabric was from a kit to make a children's book, and  I purchased it for the graphics and then, didn't know what I was going to do with it, so, I asked her to see if she could make the illustrations fit. Love it, Annie!

So, the first book I wish to download on it, is Alice I have Been. Its the story of the real Alice that Wonderland was written for. It is written in novel form with much research on her life, so, some artistic license. My son and I both have birthday's this month, and we love all things Alice. Mikel's friend had a birthday cake made for him and here it is....so cute.

Well, there you have it. You have heard from me, I haven't disappeared yet. I will be back with more in the near future. Come see me again.......please?

I need to blog, but just what should I blog about?

Too soon old, too late to be a little girl again. Love little girls. Love their giggling, their skipping, their hand-holding, their pretending, their companionship of which none is higher------but now, in 2010, I am so jealous of what they get to wear!!!! Colors, and more colors, and no rules, stripes and polka dots and flowers---all at the same time! I long to wear those things, but they will lock me up if I start now.....

I made these little christmas stockings as ornaments. Sadly, I forgot to take a picture when I was finished, so, you only get the idea. But, I loved this fabric. I purchased what they call "jelly rolls" and sewed the strips together, not knowing what they would become. Then, someone asked me for ornaments, and I knew just what to use. I added vintage crochet appliques to them.

I think these were Wonderland fabrics. You know my love of all things Alice. But the little scissors and colors seemed fitting for a quilting theme.

I haven't done a lot of projects since the shows have been over. I finished a couple of special orders and mostly have been giving all to my second job at the Christmas Shop, which you can imagine is quite busy this time of the year. It has been a wonderful addition to the other things I do, as there is constant eye candy and wonderment around me. I have released some of my timidness as an artist, so it has made me stronger in presentation. I am contemplating almost a complete makeover in my blogging and artworld. I have been doing the same thing for quite some time, and its time for a new look.

I still want to collage. I actually started some of the changes already, but I toyed with becoming three dimensional and after a rough start, decided I know what I know and its best to stick to it. I will collage, but it will be expanded and include more media.

I have a problem with trying to do too many things at one time and I need to decide what I can cut back on---loving it all, it will be a difficult choice. I don't really have a signature yet, and I think that may be what is lacking----the jack of all trades syndrome and master of none----is my thinking.

I may let this blog go----I have paid until June....I have another I puttered on with the free Google.....I may just bounce over there. The problem I have is that I really am a writer and I have kept my blog strictly for the craft audience. I think I want to write. I have so much to say. I think I could make it interesting.

I have been having fun on Facebook, just because it doesn't require a lot of input. Just here and there and I can easily connect with others without a lot of time. But, I know Facebook will not be enough, eventually. I am serious about life and want to talk about it. So, I am thinking about the New Year and what it might bring for me and this blog. I think I can let it go. I think I can go another direction, one I know better. I think I can interest you to come along, even if it isn't about art or crafts....I will keep you posted. Thanks for visiting me. I will return sooner this time.

Third in the series finished

 

Here is the process:

 

start out with the background and build it. I have an idea, but let it dictate it as I go. I removed some squares that didn't photograph well. I am learning the camera can tell you things you don't see otherwise. I know quilters use it a lot when placing fabrics. It gives you an ability to see truly light from dark.

 

 

I am not liking that one aqua green square at this stage.

 

I put a cow over it, and I covered some of the other squares that I felt were too dark and unbalancing the grass.

 
Now, this is the finish of all the details. I added lots of stitches around and in the leaves to bring some depth.

Then, I decided that Farm One and Farm Two also needed some words to complete them, so here they are:

 

 

There you go, my new barn series. I hope Jill likes them. I am going to try some painting collages the rest of the day. I will photograph my progress and show you if all goes well......heh, heh.

til the cows come home.......

 

Sheeps in the Meadow........

Cows in the corn.....

 

Here is where I start. The sky and the grass are laid down.

 

I decided on a pasture theme, with grazing cows....

 

 

more leaves for layer effect....

 

One cow under the tree and two cows in the meadow.....(no cornfield)...

 

Still working on this piece, but what do you think?

Details are in the Clouds

 

So here is the next stages of my farm collage. I have added some embroidery to the silos and barn/buildings, and a windmill. I have started to add rows of grass/bushes in areas of the green.

 

Here I am trying to embroider a path/road, but haven't quite figured that out yet, so for now, I stopped about that.....

 

I tried simulating some cows in the pasture, but the popular vote here is that they look more like sheep, .....which will work......

 

I have been wanting to try "minky" for the clouds, and I think I like it a lot, so it will be my new texture for the sky.......

Here is where I am at. I won't be able to work on it until I return from this weekend's art/craft show in St. Germain. Please let me know how you like my progress, I would love some comments on it......thanks.

Recent Activity at Shebrews

Ha! I was trying to think of a catchy title to my post and when I logged in the summary of my posts came up with the title, Recent Activity. Seemed appropriate.

 

Probably not the best photo, but I am going to attempt my first barn yard collage. I hope to put a cow in the foreground somewhere. I have several ideas to work out.

Suzanne--have no fear, I have completed your masterpiece and will be mailing it this week. Here is a sneak peak---

 

Ah, I am such a tease, am I not? I took it to quilt class last nite and the ladies freaked out over it. What that means is that they really, really admired it and said it really looked like your little mountain retreat........

Okay, back to work........

Let the Show Begin

 

Okay, I am back to making my cottage collages. I need to build up an inventory for the summer. Working a regular job and working the shows will be tough and I am sure that I will feel panicky at times. Last night we had quilt class, so I took some blank muslin and started some skies.

I want to try some farm fields and barns, perhaps a windmill and silos. I have been looking at pictures of them, and am thinking about trying to take some pictures of my own, although my husband says it's too early for the fields to show the strip cropping yet. Maybe I can go to the "Kettles" (Kettle Moraine) and get some interesting landscaping to try to quilt.

I will show the pics and the work as I progress. I would like to concentrate this blog on what I am taking to shows through the summer. I know I have a lot of people who purchase from me at shows that would like to look at the site and see some more of that work.

 

These were from a strip of cottages I made, but discovered that it was too narrow to make a good composition, so I am thinking of making them an applique to some other work. Well, I must get to the studio and get some hours in, so I will see you next post.

Keep your chin up and create away! I have new incentive, too, because my son-in-law revamped my old Singer, and let me tell you-----it now Sings!!!

Christmas Orders Fabric Collage

 

This is how I start the collages. I lay a background of scraps. I sew one line through each row to hold them in place, and I like to leave them different sizes and shapes for texture. Later I will embroider x's over them for more texture.

 

At this point I like to put in the cottages and then decide where the trees will be. I started putting details in like the walk bricks and a little fence. I wanted to know where to place the calligraphy. After I stitched this on, and went to the next step, I noticed that a word was missing from the calligraphy. I had to remove the patch and find another fabric transfer that I made.

 

I had an idea of adding more and more little details that help the "enchantment" of the picture. Here I played with different colors of flowers......

 

When I removed the calligraphy that had been missing a word, I ran into the problem of what to do with the space.......I decided to try a clothesline with beach towels. It helped to bring some color to that section of the piece.

 

It seemed the placement of this cottage alone kept the balance of all the other details. I decided to leave it at just yellow flowers.

 

This made me want to make another right away, but, alas, I must get ready to go to work for the Christmas Shoppe.......Perhaps I will show some of the ornaments I have lettered and decorated here at home.........

Anyway, this goes in the mail tomorrow! I am happy to have it done!

Published Art Quilting Studio December

 

I have been watching and waiting for someone else to break the news, but since its on the newstands tomorrow, I decided I can go ahead and show it now. I am pleased to be in such good company. Danita , who graces the cover with her art, and then has a fine article.  Ruth Rae, who gives amazing instructions for fabric treatment. I just purchased a cuff kit from her etsy that comes with dvd for instructions---could I have figured it out myself? Probably, but the dvd pulled me in because I could listen to Ruth's voice and see her actually work---since I can't visit her classes in person, that interested me very much.

Then there is Jude Hill, one of my favoritists ever, doing "hearts" which she says she never really liked before, but decided to become friends with. She faces her disdain of the "common" heart with a sampler and explainations of the hearts which is a very good read besides the fact that the work is exquisite.

A new artist to me, Evie Zaccardelli, and wonderful pastel work---gives me the impression that her scissors is looking for another home---lots of tearing the cloth.....

There is another artist that I did not know, Mar Gorman, who teaches how to "create" fabric making collages, which of course, interests me very much. 

This is just a sampling of what the new publication brings you. I agree that I think twice about purchasing a $14.95 magazine, but this is a keeper and full of information. I am excited to be among those who have presented such brilliant and astounding work to the quilt arena. It pushes me to keep going and keep exploring.

 

You saw some of this in process, but when I realized I was going to submit it, I stopped showing it. I added a lot of detail in embroidery. _{My scanner ran out of ink this morning, and it won't let me scan when it needs ink. Dumb scanner.}

Vintage Feedsack Projects

 

Oh, the patterns of this vintage material! I know they are duplicating them now, but even the feel of the fabric makes you wonder about their story.........

I am making little things from scraps of vintage feedsack I have collected. I have quilt pieces that have been hand stitched but never made it to a quilt.....I thought they were really pretty ornaments for a quilter's tree.......

 

This style I used vintage buttons. I layered batting in between and zigag stitched and pinked the edges. They are really quite showy on the tree..... 

 

 

This style I added the cloth daisy in the center because I didn't have so many colored vintage buttons, and besides, I thought it gave it a different look.

 

You can see how bright and showy they are. I am wondering if I should display them with little twinkle lights on the tree, too. I will be taking them to the show this weekend, and then they will be offered in my etsy shop for $3.00 each. I will give a break on multiples. I only have so many, so I don't know what I will have left after two shows.......

Also, tomorrow I will show you a surprise! Make sure you come back to see!