New Sling Bag

 Finished another pattern by Kandou Patterns, Retro-style Sling bag. This one is made from a green pair of Levis, plaid upholstery fabric and a vintage floral curtain. The strap is a found belt. This will be a fun one to take on my upcoming trip.

Zippers are the hard thing for me?!? Not really sure why! I love how it turned out.

Improv Quilting

 At the beginning of June, I took an Improv Quilting class in Winterset, IA.  Taught by three lovely teachers, Susan Lapham, Niraja Lorenz and Deb Cashatt.  I've been working on this piece off and on since class.  It went through a number of changes.

Yesterday I stretched onto a 24" X 24" canvas and hung it up in my sewing Studio.  I love the way it looks and I learned a lot.  Picture below show the progression and changes.

Trying something new

Been trying something new.  Playing with Lino Block printing.  This is my first attempt to print onto a T-shirt.  Not too bad?!?  I love the red ink.  I have a lot to learn, but I'm having fun.  Already sketched up the next one.  It takes a while to carve the block.  Stay tuned!
 

Mixed Media Fantasy Illustration

I took a Mixed Media Fantasy Illustration class with Christina Romeo last month.  Now I can't stop making these fun little creatures.  Using watercolor, Micron pens, collage papers and my imagination.

 

I found the perfect Lining fabric

I my stash of fabrics I found the perfect lining.  So I jumped the gun.  Putting in the Lining before pockets and belt loops.  Oh' well so it goes.  Now I'm contemplating putting in a slash pocket.  

Honestly I'm very ready to have this project finished. 

 

The latest of my fabric venture

 

Every day this week I have made a little more progress on this project.  Rearranging the squares of fabric in a manner, so that they flow.  And every time I add more fabric the flow changes.

All this is done with scraps of fabric that I have saved, for I don't know how many years?!?  I want to turn it into a Bathrobe.  Now I have to decide how or if I want to line it???  Stay tuned

Staying playful

 Staying playful is not as easy as you might think.  The past couple of weeks I have been playing with paper Maché.  It's messy and a very slow process.  I'm making these 15" figures that hold a secret pocket.

They start out with two pieces of card board and/or foam board.

Covered with Paper Maché.

Painted using acrylic paints.  And lastly a little trinket in the secret pocket.  More pics to come.

Happy New Year - 2025

 Well, here we are!  Almost a year later.  I didn't do very good on my blogging last year.  No excuses!!!  I continue to make art, sew, and have started making my own Sourdough bread.  I've learned how to use a riding lawnmower, as we are now again permanent residents of Nebraska. 

This was the last piece of art I made in 2024.  Done all in colored pencil and was gifted to my brother and his wife.  

Lesson with Lewis Rossignol

 Just finished a six lesson mixed media class with Lewis Rossignol.  I'm happy to say, that if you haven't taken a class with him before.  You should!!!  Letting your inner child play is not an easy thing to do.  Too many adult rules. 

This class free'd me up to do so.  Using Posca markers and fat Stabilo woody pencils to create some fun pieces.

More Rabbits

Since it's the year of the Rabbit.  You'll be seeing lots of bunny creations.  This one was done with lazy pencil lines, watercolor and neocolor 2.  Fun play!  An old photo and some words to add depth and interest.

 

Another year gone by

This is something I've been working on for a while.  This is a "Year Long Class with Carla Sonheim".  I started late.  Middle of the year, I think?!?  The class has 12 lessons and zoom lessons.  

Take what you want from each lesson and put it on the map.  The map measure 30" X 22", the map was divided into 12 squared using water color and letting the water color run and determine the size and shape.  I have had so much fun with this.  

Working on one section at a time.  Plus you can fold it up.

I think I will do another for 2023.  It's a big or small project.  It's all in how you look at it.  I work on it whenever I have time.

 

Mixed Media Collage Fun

OMG!  I really had fun with this one.  And like anything, things always look easier then they really are.  I lost count on how many hours I spent trying to get this to my liking.  I'm my worst critic.  In the end I loved it so much that I framed it and hung it in my Studio.

 

Here's another mixed media piece.  Using Old art or scrap art, cutting the paper down to size and then adding my art.  This is a fun process, because you're not starting with a blank page.

 

Mixed Media Page

This is one of the pages in an old book.  I'm glueing pages together and then adding my own twist.  This page is a mixed media page. Using a magazine cut out, acrylic paint, black gesso and Gel Roller.
 

Next post about my summer

So this is a mixed media collage.  Instead of throwing away practice art bits, I cut them down and turn them into something else.  Here is an example of one.

 

I'm still here

 Wow, I haven't posted since I left Arizona and now I'm back.  I will post some pics of what I did this summer.  OK, so as I'm going thru my pics I realized that this could get rather lengthy.

I love the process that I learned from Jennifer Mercedes.  Scribble on a wood board with a ink pen and then using Acrylic paint, fill in the spaces.  Very freeing and fun.

Time for a little update

 Wow, I can't believe that I haven't blogged since January.  Yes, I've been busy having fun and enjoying life to the fullest.  At the end of January I took a trip to Oaxaca Mexico.  Hung out with Tres Amiga's and eight other fabulous women and we played, shopped and ate.

Then I started painting a 6' X 4' Canvas that had been sitting in my garage for a while.  Long story short...........I don't know what I was thinking?!?  I had no plan, I'm just gonna put some color on it. LOL

I'm still working on this big ass canvas, but I can see the end. Here are some pics.  I'm not sure how to get them in chronological order?!?  

This weeks lesson with Robert Kelly.  I really stepped out of my comfort zone.  Using vine charcoal, a cotton ball and a kneadable eraser.  It was a very fun lesson and Robert explained the process very well.

When I watched the video's I thought to myself that there is no way I'm going to be able to do this.  Very pleased with the outcome.  Can't wait to see what next weeks lesson will be.  

And when I'm not drawing I'm doing a little slow stitching on my Jean Jacket.

 

The new year is off to a good start.  I worked on this portrait for the past three days.  I'm taking an on-line year long class called "Lets Face it 2022".  This was the first lesson taught by Lauren Rudolph.

This portrait is all done in pencil.  Every time I look at it I want to do more.  I think I will let it sit for a bit and will revisit at a later date. 

Time gone by

 Wow, where has the time gone.  Last post was in September and here it is November?!?  I've been busy with this and that.  The latest are my little storage pods. Pattern by Beth Studley.

They're a fun little project and will make great Christmas presents.  I've also been enjoying the fall, doing a little hiking and spending time with the family.