It's difficult for me to keep color value in mind and it shows in this piece. The composition in this one is okay but the colors all blend together. ...I still like it tho. The window is from a photograph taken in France and the shutters actually shut on this postcard. The photo was printed using an ink jet printer onto special cotton cloth produced for this purpose. Here ya go:

#9 - "Ouvre la Fenetre" (Open the Window)

cotton, photo print window, lace flower applique.

 





 

So. That's it for today. I'm about 3 or 4 behind - but we're not going to get picky here.

Numbers three through eight

Okay. Here's the start of posting I said would happen. My brother-in-law is in University hospital for a three week treatment time and it gave an opportunity to me to get back to the sewing machine.
I imposed a personal challenge on myself to make a postcard a day for 21 days in hopes that it would be enjoyable for b-i-l and also in hopes of getting my "mojo" back in the color and design world.

It wasn't until the first postcard was sewn that I realized that the upper tension on the machine was virtually non-existant. It was the weekend so I had to go to the ever lovin' paper (I love paper) for the next two. Of course, immediately I was behind two postcards. Never mind, "we must persevere"!!!

I brought the machine to Johnston's Sales and Service on Lyndale Ave S and 64th Street. They had it fixed for me that same afternoon!!!! Here's their web site:
http://johnstonssalesservice.com/
They cleaned, oiled and repaired the upper tension and it runs like silk now.
I recommend them.
Commercial over.
Here are some sort of fuzzy photos of #'s 3-8. Didn't think to photograph the first two. They'll come later - AND I'll use the tripod from now on.

#3 - Self Portrait. Paper

#4 - Rooftop Dancing. cotton fabric and foil moon. Thread drawing.

#5 - Lake Minnetonka. Cotton, metalic mesh, shiney see-through filmy stuff.

#6 - Hot Jungle. Cotton. Thread drawing.

And what is behind the flippity flaps?.....

#7 - Peek-A-Boo! It's Betty!!!  Cotton. Thread drawing.

#8 - Fall On The Hill. Cotton, thread drawing.

 

 

That's it for now. Hope you like the show.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carolyn's Quilt

I finally am back to posting. This quilt was finished earlier this summer. With all the reading Asians, the quilt went to Carolyn - my reading daughter. Nancy Birger did the quilting on it using many Asian figures - like bamboo shoots, water and cranes.

Next up: A quilt for son, Michael.

Another one!

...and another zentangle. I could really get into this!!!
Using quarter sheet typing paper makes this less daunting of a play time.
I Googled zentangles and got a ton of images and videos.
Try it! You might like it.

Inspired!

I texted Cepeda that her zentangle made me proud of her and that it made me want to make some more she texted back to me: "Then make some!"

So I did:

Zentangle!

Last Sunday our granddaughter Cepeda was over to wish me a Happy Birthday. I showed her how to do a zentangle and she was HOOKED. She went home after her short visit and by evening this photo was texted to me on the phone.

HOLY COW!!!!! The girl's got it! And she's six years old.

A Quilt for Carole

My sister-in-law, Carole, is dealing with a cancer so I made a little "nap" quilt (about 66" X 56") for her and sent it on down to Atlanta GA. This is a disappearing nine-patch which is really fun to do. The quilt top was made and then it was hastily layered with the batting and backing and quilted by machine. You won't see a photo of the back --- there is none. There are SCARS on the back. Oh horrors! And it is just fine.

I wrote a little prose to go with it:

The Quilt

The quilt came as a surprise today;

It was all awash with color on the front.

There, on top, were many of God’s creatures:

Zebras and giraffes and tigers

And elephants and monkeys and birds,

And leopard spots in-between.

When it rested over me, it felt good.

And cozy.

And warm.

And comfy.

…and loving.

On the underside there were scars -

Perhaps from a hasty quilting job;

That was okay – they gave it character.

It was nice and soft and fuzzy on the back.

The scars didn’t matter because

This was a quilt made and given in love,

To warm me, soothe me, comfort me.

And there! My name was on the front!

It let me know there was somebody who cares for me

…scars and all.

It did the job.

Sharon Englund