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!

Fran Skiles Class Work....thanks Karen, for Sharing!

My friend Karen, took a class this past summer at QBL, from Fran Skiles. I was actually wait listed for this class and obviously no one backed out, because I missed this awesome-ness. Karen brought these to our last guild meeting to show me. They are her class projects, and they are really great. I absolutely love every one she made. Fran Skiles has her students work on many pieces at one time, giving them directives daily. Doing things this way ensures you make design decisions as you go, as opposed to knowing the outcome from the beginning. I work that way already. I am not good at seeing the whole picture. 

These are all completed on gesso covered canvas. Collaged, transferred imagery, added fabrics etc.

More color added to this one.

Karen was not happy with this one. I think it's cool. Melissa liked this one.

This one is really cool. She said she had never done collage before and was not comfortable with the concept.  Well, she certainly did a good job on all of these. I am even more disappointed to have missed this opportunity to work in Fran Skiles' class. And , she is not teaching next year at QBL. Darn.
I was so inspired by these artworks that I came home, dug out a large canvas from the closet, covered it in a layer of gesso and found at least 3 black and white photos I would like to incorporate into a collage like this! So when I have a few minutes, I will begin.

I got my first block in the HGTV F8 block swap from Mary. This is the swap where we all sent a fat eighth of fabric to each participant and they add fabrics to yours and make a 12" block.

My fabric choice is the robins egg blue floral. It is my favorite shade of blue. I encouraged them each to add a graphic print like a stripe or check and love that Mary used the plaid. I can't wait to see the blocks that are made from this beautiful fabric!
I have made 8 blocks so far. I have finally gotten the paper piecing down on my chosen pattern. What makes me want to continue making them is seeing how all my fabric combinations turn out in a block. Once they are received by new owners, I will be able to post pics of them.

My CQ Challenge block is finished, pics emailed to Nicki. Next week she can post the pics and people vote. There is actually monetary prizes. How cool would that be!?

My friend Elaine, is putting together an art show at her church this November. She has enlisted some of us to contribute a piece or two! We can sell or not. Jen, Micheal's girlfriend is an artist...a painter. She will be showing. I am not sure what I will do for this. Have to take a look at some things, decide if anything fits the show. I do have ideas however! Always have ideas...

I have learned:

1. Camera lessons on this blog. Great info. 
2. CSI:NY season premiere, excellent. Check it our OnDemand. Very touching remembrance of 9-11. 
3. Ben & Jerry's has named a new flavor of ice cream....Swheddy Balls. Eww.
4. Ray Lamontagne....Let it be Me. So nice. 
5. Melissa has taken in a little 5 year old pup. JJ is 5 and a mix of Chihuahua and some sort of terrier. One of those specialty mixes. He is precious. We continue rescuing pets!  

First Portrait Quilt in Progress

What a great workshop Marylee taught after our monthly guild meeting yesterday! She covered her process of building a picture into a quilt in our program beforehand, so the group that stayed were really ready to begin the project.
This is a pixelated blow up of my sister, Noni. Her proper name in Noreen. She is 15 months younger than me. She is about 3 here. On the right is my in-process, in a monochromatic colorway. I have four fabrics, 3 are laid down here. A light,medium light, medium and dark.  You also see the drawing/pattern on clear vinyl over the top. This is used as a placement guide, much like some people do for applique. When all the bits are finally in the correct position, since she has warned us that a very marginal misplaced piece can skew the entire piece, we will fuse them in place. Marylee had us start our first foray into picture quilting, with a monochromatic color palette, because it is more forgiving than flesh tones. I have to say I love it! I love the whole process. Can't wait to have time to get back to this. It does require concentration.

Beth is doing the Hanson's! First I love that she is making hers in shades of orange, but her line drawing looks pretty cool! Can't wait to see it finished.

Cynda had a great picture of her puppy! Look at that line drawing! This will be really great when it is done.

Marylee made this quilt for our chocolate challenge last year. It was my favorite. I believe she calls this "More Chocolate Cake Momma" . Its her son.

Everyone totally absorbed in the task at hand. Fun day with friends!

Michael's football game was in Rochester at Sahlens  Sport Park last night. They play University of Rochester in the annual Courage Bowl which benefits Camp Good Days. A just cause. After the familiar football roller coaster this week (will he start, will he play, is his shoulder re-injured, is his knee holding up, is his hip not aching) he did start and play three quarters until the next string went in since Fisher was winning 52-3. They won. Good game.

After final tweaking in my altered book for the RR with Melissa, Jody and her mom, I am ready to mail to Jody. Here are pics of the final product. Searching for all the bits, deciding what to add next is what makes doing these books exciting at every junction. I will be working on Melissa's book next.

Final front cover.

Inside cover and facing page. I made a transfer of a Batavia map with packing tape. (regular clear packing tape, a  copy of your image, burnish well, soak in warm water til you can rub off all paper pulp on tape and voile) The "x" silver brad marks where I live. On the facing page I recycled a vellum envelope with my address on it by stitching it down to a scrapbook bit with some bandage gauze in between.

Final second page layout...I glued the pull down, altered file folder to the far left. Adding silver stamping, black oil pastel and silver and gold gel pen accents.

The pull down says..."be patient" aunt molly said. My Aunt Molly, actually my father's aunt, was the most influential woman in my life. She preached patience to Noni and I as children. I do possess patience. Most of the time. 

I actually emptied three boxes of fabric and put them in a cubby in my someday-soon studio upstairs! The task of getting it all together up there is daunting!  I obviously have to purge. Which is hurdle number one. I do love my stuff! But I found I love some things far less now than when I acquired them. Batiks anyone?

Watching the Emmy's right now. Some funny moments. The opening number was pretty amusing. Even when I was a kid I loved to watch award shows to see what people were wearing. Some of these women are so thin however, bones showing all over, that nothing they put on looks good. Someone should tell them. 

Charlie Sheen's appearance was weird. He's just creepy. 

I am just about ready for bed however, and will see all the interesting highlights on ET tomorrow evening!

A guilty pleasure since it started 30 years ago. Melissa remembers their theme song as a bedtime serenade!

This week brings me 40 hours of hard work, a podiatrist appointment and a good chance of a third painful shot in my plantar fascitis, dinner with a group of old work friends and many undiscovered adventures I am sure!

I have learned:

1. The New Girl looks promising as a new favorite comedy. 
2. Will actually watch Two and a Half Men this week. I didn't watch because Charlie Sheen is gross.
3. Paper piecing should be less frustrating. I love the sharp points though. Worth the effort. 

PC's and Thoughts on the Day.

As I was going through my box of PC's (Postcards) I came across my own samples that I sent out in swaps a few years ago. This is one of my favorites! The orange background is cotton velvet, with wall sticker butterfly wings from the dollar store, cool discounted upholstery fabric (the house), charms and Scrabble tiles I drilled with a teeny tiny bit and sewed down. I loved making these.

This one uses the same orange cotton velvet in a Halloween theme. Notice all the seed stitching, by hand, in the background. I needle felted the ghost image.

Needle felted flower with beads. The background is a felted wool sweater.

I haven't made a PC in a while. Michael's GF, Jen, asked for idea's for a presentation in her Master's class at Buff State. I thought a PC would make a great project. I really enjoyed going through all the PC's I received in past swaps. When I get them all back I will post some of my favorites. I have one from Ireland, Ukraine and Norway. I love seeing the PO stamps on the reverse side.

Michael started in his season opener at St John Fisher, last night! They won, 12-7, against Buffalo State, Melissa's Alma mater. Good game. Great night for a football game!

This day cannot go by without mentioning 9-11-01. It was an awful day. I was at work. While in the front office, talking with the girls, I could tell by the tone of the person talking on the muffled radio, that something was happening. I asked Bonnie to turn the radio up. That was just after 9 AM. At that time we thought it was a terrible accident. As I was getting my truck ready to leave for the day, my boss, Charlie, came out to the garage saying "What the hell is going on? The second Trade Center building has just been hit." We knew then it was no accident.
All day we listened to reports on our radio's...a live account of each tower as it fell....to the reports of a plane hitting the Pentagon and finally the crash of a suspected terror-led plane in Pennsylvania. At this time I did not have any visuals, That shock came later.
No planes flying above us as the ban on air travel enforced.
Reports of all that death.
My kids were 18 and 12. They had no idea how life changing this day would be. No one could know then, how this would impact every day, from then on.
I couldn't watch much of the footage. It was too disturbing. I didn't want Michael and Melissa to pick up on my grave concern,.
Recently, I clicked on a youtube video recording of that day.
People were in those towers. Firefighters were in those towers.
Some of whom can be seen jumping.
Then the buildings crumble, like a well orchestrated implode. Unbelievable. Truly.
Brought tears.
All those innocent lives.
All of our lives forever changed.
Ten years ago.
My mother died in November of 2002. I remember thinking, distinctly, that she was fortunate to NOT know what was coming. I really did.
My son, Michael, has enlisted in the US Army. He is a college graduate. He feels compelled to serve. I know the last ten years have played a roll in his decision. Subliminally.
Everything changed that day.
Destiny changed.
Some would believe not.... Armageddon and all.
I do offer a prayer for all families affected.
Not that it changes anything.
I wish for peace.
*******************************************************************
I have spent hours this week working on my altered book for the little RR with Jody, her mom, and Melissa. I  am working on a childhood memory theme. Hours literally flew by today as I played with paper and glue! I just love this mixed media of altered books. I will get pics when my covers and pages are complete. I am at almost stage right now!

My F8's (fat eighths) have been mailed to the other 17 participants of the HGTV block swap that Shey runs.
I have not done this before, but love the blocks made for it in the past. We all will make a 12.5" block using the F8 and fabrics from our stash. I have received 2 so far. I need to find some great blocks now.

My CQ challenge block, for Nicki's contest, is almost finished! I have a little more beading to do. I need to find the beads again! I hate when that happens! Pics due on the 22nd.

Also, I have been making progress on the little box challenge Colleen and I started 2 years ago! She finished and mailed mine to me a few weeks ago. I have vowed to not open the box until I have finished and mailed her piece to her. We acknowledged our similar style and exchanged bits with each other. We could do anything we wanted. I started her piece right away. Only recently have I picked it up again and competed the first step in the process.
I have more work to do!

I worked for days on these pages in Melissa's book. She had already torn the pages to form pockets, with the help of a couple of stitched lines, I made them a reality! I made many tags with ribbon and thread embellishments to tuck into the pockets. I used old game cards, stationary from dollar store, scrapbooking bits, and chipboard. I do not ever feel finished with these pages.

Great weekend!

I have learned:

1. Suits on USA. Excellent show. Smart and amusing. OnDemand for now. 
2. Gloria Vanderbilt is Anderson Coopers mother. 
3. The Help is a very good movie in keeping with the book. Kathryne Stockett's childhood friend wrote the screenplay and directed. 
4. Love Edward Burns' voice. Like his face too. Audio books?

Not Enough Time.....

I have been busy working on a CQ block challenge, but can't share pics of it yet! I love it. It is Nicki's challenge..we have to use the bits included in a little kit. It was a challenge and I have loved it! I have a few more beads to get down and a spider to make! It is due September 15th.

No sewing at all lately. I have been wrapped up with work and cat's vet appointments or kid things....or niece and nephew things too, as Ian was here Friday and Saturday and Darcy on Sunday!
Michael had a football scrimmage at Morrisville Saturday. It would have been a far less stressful drive on the NYS Thruway if I hadn't had to backtrack 30 miles and covertly key my way into the football locker room at St John Fisher! Yes, my son calls when he is 5 minutes from Morrisville, confirming he had forgotten his cleats in his locker. At school. In Rochester. I got them. Back on the road, with the caravans of lift trucks heading east to assist with Hurricane Irene's electricity outages and the  NY State Fair traffic in Syracuse. It would only have been made worse if there was torrential downpours. I definitely had my Traffic-bitch face on! I know Ian can handle it, my sister is not far from this also, but Michael's GF, Jen, may have had a little shock!

I know the next 2 months will be this crazy, since there are football games to get to. It is Michael's last year. Not sure Maryland and Massachusetts is in the cards however. I am feeling more worry this season, since his health and well being are made more important with his obligation to the Army come February. February 7th to be exact. That is the day he leaves for boot camp in Oklahoma.

Fiona's maiden voyage to the vet came today after work. She mewed all the way there....and hissed as the Vet gave her a shot. She is so precious. Here is a cute pic of my fluffy baby. I love how she has to be in my proximity....in the room I am in....near me.

Animals provide so much love and companionship. Yes, I am a cat-lady!

I hope to have something interesting to share in the near future. But if I don't, I have interesting maternal interactions to share for sure! I am a mom first and foremost!

I have learned:

1. Ombre is cool. Project Runway has a little commercial showing some garments made with ombre fabrics. I remember my first exposure to ombre, in 9th grade. I made a blue ombre skirt and tube top, with a lace fabric jacket that tied with ribbon, for my Moving Up Day Dance. In retrospect,  I am a bit troubled by the fact that the ombre fabric was polyester, but I only had a Singer store and Woolworth's store to purchase any fabric at in my area! I truly loved the ensemble. I actually went to this dance with Chuck, my kids' father. 1976. 
2. Michael bench pressed 225 lb. 23 x's. 2nd best on the team. 
3. Flummoxed. Good word.  
4. Windham fabrics has a Gees Bend line.
5. Isadora Duncan died by strangling on her silk scarf as it became entwined in the tire of the sports car she was riding in. When I Googled her, I came across alot of information and am intrigued by her life in the early 1900's. 
6. Melissa is happy and getting on with her life. School starts next week. She has been readying her new classroom.
7. My "Slipping Away" quilt, for the AAQI initiative, is going to the quilt show in Houston, along with 1499 other quilts. #7683 

Altered Book Bit

One page I have been working on for Melissa's altered book. It represents home. Our home. The three of us...her, me and Michael. She included a bunch of scrap booking items to use, which included the vellum quotes. I liked this one from Ralph Waldo Emerson..."The ornament of a house are the friends who frequent it"...but changed the "friends" to "family". Her theme is the small things in life. From where you come is more than small, but shapes the way you see all the small things. This page will be treated as a tag, and will be tucked in to pockets made from torn book pages. Pic when it is finished.
I am happy to see Melissa take an active interest in this medium. The possibilities are endless.Her and I will be joining Jody and her mom in a round robin exchange this fall.

This old game card, awash with super fine copper glitter, will become another tag in a pocket. The mystery game is from 70's, picked up at Salvation Army. The images are really cool. I know she will love the old crown as it closely resembles a tattoo on her wrist to commemorate her friend Mo O'Grady. Mo was her close friend that died in the motorcycle accident a couple months ago.

I finally finished the two ornaments Thearica is collecting for two people on our HGTV board that have lost homes to natural disasters. I have a Sue Spargo book that shows how to make them. The yellow is from a vintage velvet bedspread. Fun project.

Today was a very lazy, rainy day. Nice to hunker down and stitch! No outdoor work required. A couple hours on the altered book and a few hours stitching on the CQ Challenge block. I can fill every minute of every day with all the things I love to do!

Quilt guild meeting yesterday. Always a good day. Busy, a usual. Anne Fischer was our guest. She is a a quilter, dyer, thread painter and felter. Of all the quilts she showed us, this is my favorite.

I love the colors and the design. Anne does very intricate thread painting too. I posted one of her pieces back in the spring....it was a number 4 on the side of a weathered barn. She showed us this one today.

This entire piece is thread.  Beautiful.

Show and Tell is always a highlight for me. I love to see what people are doing. I love it all. Big, small, finished and unfinished! I just like to see creations. I also love when I see a quilt by someone that I don't know very well and it makes me say, wow. I recognize something in them at that moment. Yesterday, Susan Rathbun showed this pieces..

It isn't her design she said, but it certainly is her interpretation of it. I love this quilt. A lot. She did all the hand stitching. She made this for her daughter who has been having a hard time after a breakup. What a loving, caring thing to do. I have always said, it isn't what you say, it's what you do that matters. I think she is wonderful.

As I mentioned today was a rainy day. I did stitch while watching a couple chick flicks. Made of Honor with Patrick Dempsey and 27 Dresses with Katherine Hiegl. Never saw either and they were perfect fare for the time. Fluffy and feel good!

I have learned:

1. Michael lifted 225lbs 23 times today. 
2. Flummoxed. Good word. 
3. Bedraggled. Apparently not a word in Pennsylvania. 
4. FX has a new show this fall....American Horror Story. I won't watch it since I don't like scary shows, but the preview is so cool. 
5. Melissa is an official part time employee of Michaels Craft Store! Great 2nd job. 
6. Refinanced car loan to get 3.55%. Worth it. 
7. My feather block has been received. Jude posted it tonight.