Altered Book Pages

I have been slowly working on Nicki's Lace book pages. She left off on the left with her page and my first page is on the right. We had to use lace. Harder than I thought it would be! I painted the background of each set of pages with oil paints. Blue is her favorite color. I used a stamp and silver ink over painted background, added overlapping rows of lace trim, lace and sequined butterflies, a magazine ad butterfly and a rhinestone butterfly off a pair of sandals from Salvation Army.

My other two pages are more me, with some lace additions. Since Nicki mentions the beach on one of her pages I asked Melissa, on one of her grocery shopping forays for me, to find me a vintage beach themed greeting card. I love this one! Fun, colorful and cool! The top half of the page has a sheer fabric under the sunny lace motif, with a sun pendant glued on top. Another vintage lace strip runs over the pic, and Nicki's own hand dyed lace circles down the side. I cut the words "such good friends" from an old book.
The right side has lace across the bottom, a card from an old game and a few bits I made into tags.
I am still thinking of stamping some words.
Was fun to work with materials I may not choose to use. That is the best part of doing these RR's. You are challenged to do more with your imagination!

Melissa gave me Jody's book to work on. Jody, her mom, me and Melissa are doing a RR! I love seeing what Melissa comes up with!
Jody's theme is women in literature and her colorway is mostly eggplant and other shades of purple.

These are the two page spreads Melissa did. Love the pockets made from torn pages and the addition of the brads. She used a silver wash over her pages to give them a really shimmery effect. It's great. I picked up a few sheets of scrapbook paper that will work here. I don't have a plan for my work yet.

Michael has turned 23 this month. My baby is getting old. Last home football game tonight. Senior night, so we all have to do the walk to mid-field with him. Hope it doesn't snow!

Each recent day has been passing in an overworked whirl. We are so short people at work that I am being sent out doing jobs that are time sensitive,which leaves all the other tasks I am responsible for not done. I am frustrated every day at work. I have never experienced, in over 32 years, such sloppy, on the fly supervision/management. Makes everyday a misadventure. So needless to say, I am tired and ragged and my plantar fasciitis is not getting better.
BUT, my podiatrist has confirmed my insurance company pays for an innovative procedure called Radial Shock Wave Therapy. I need to get the requisite physical therapy sessions out of the way and we will be able to get approval for the treatments. I am hopeful this will work. I walk most of my day at work and walking in pain sucks.

Elaine is working on an art show to be held at her church. I believe it is next weekend. Jen, Michael's girlfriend, is an artist. She paints. I have four of her paintings for the show. Gorgeous!

They are truly wonderful works of art. My pics are a bit distracting with the shine of the light, but you can still see the depth of color.

Love all of them!

I have learned:

1. Silver Lake has a perfect retreat center for a guild quilt away. Asbury Camp and Retreat Center, right on the lake! Tracy and I toured it this week. 
2. Anne Rivers Siddons new book Burnt Mountain. Weird. 
3. My library has a coffee shop/cafe in it now! So new it isn't even mentioned on their website. 

F8 Block Swap and CQ Challenge Block

I am participating in this block swap on HGTV message board, with 17 other women. We each send a fat 8th of a fabric to each woman, and they in turn make you a block using that fabric in some way in a 12" block. I sent the blue-green flower fabric you see in each block above. I asked that no one use white. Black is my neutral. Also encouraged them to use a  black & white, or any other graphic print. I knew it was an unusual request and many may be uncomfortable adding them to the soft floral....but, wow, they did and these blocks are wonderful! I love each of them. This is a pic of the six blocks I received so far.
I have made all but one of my blocks. They are paper pieced. I plan to make one of these from my fabric also. Having fun shopping my stash, making each woman's block special.
Here are the ones that have been received so far.

I love every one of them! Paper Piecing is a well served skill to learn~!

I can also share my CQ Challenge block I have been working on all summer. The voting is over now. I have to say this was a true challenge. The blue swirly fabric was tough. I am not a bluesy girl, so I added grays and greens to make it a more diverse pallet. Many stitches and beads and embellishments went in to this, every second, satisfaction!

My oldest, best friend, Pam, has claimed this! I will make it into a pillow for her soon.

Michael's football season at Fisher is winning. 4-1. Ithaca was beautiful yesterday. Great game. Hot, sweaty day. And a win in OT.

My time is so spoken for in the next few months. Between project obligations online and in guild. I am trying to prioritize them. In no particular order....
1. Thearica's Ronald McDonald House charity quilt. Wool Pennies. Trying to figure out how to proceed now.
2. 1 more F8 block.
3. Altered books...Nicki's lace theme and Melissa's Lost and Found theme.
4. Two Christmas stockings. One for Secret Sister on HGTV and one I am running with my guild.
5. Bag Challenge. Elaine and I are running a challenge in guild where each participant must use in some way, each item in the bag, including a copper scrubby and a vintage tie.
6. Sarah's little landscape of Spain for her host family. I need to do some thread painting.
7. Carnival challenge. Annual guild challenge.
8. Art Quilt Group starting a project in January. Have my base ready for embellishment by each player.
9. Lining for my Martha Class jacket.
10. Colleen's Special project. Started, need to finish.
11. Cameron has asked for a quilt. Black and red. I will do a a contemporary thing for him.

I am sure I am leaving something out!

We welcome Anita Grossman Solomon this week to our guild. I pick her up at the Buffalo Airport Wednesday after work. We have two different workshops scheduled for Thursday and Friday and a lecture at the guild meeting Saturday! I took off work for the workshop Thursday. Using stripes we will make blocks. I am using my own version of stripes. Looking forward to each day!

I have learned:

1. 2 Broke Girls is amusing. New Girl, not so much. I like her, not her roommates, none of them. 
2. My first quilt Shop Hop was a blast with Melanie and her mom, Maryann! Many miles were covered. Good time!
3. Nice listen. Let It Be Me by Ray Lamontagne. AND he covers Gnarls Barkley's Crazy. Love that song.
4. A silk screen using HeatnBond vinyl and organza. Quilting Arts magazine current issue. Must do!