Celebrate America!

 

This is a small wall hanging I made for my friend, Mrs. Drew. She is an awesome artist in many mediums. She used to teach art as well as create art. She is retired now and teaches her grandson the art of Japanese calligraphy as he learns all the Kanji symbols. We became friends when I worked in Juno Beach. She is Japanese American and her husband was an officer in the Coast Guard. She loves America so I made these traditional quilt star blocks with red, white, and blue fabric. The square in the center has images of Kokeshi Dolls, a traditional folk art in Japan. Mrs. Drew hangs this on her condo door...it is an honor. Close up of the block below:

 



Eyeglass case made with metal purse frames

Well, this is one of the projects you can work on this weekend at "Florida Sews Together" in Cocoa Beach. This is a skinny eyeglass case (have to have something skinny) made of silk and batik and embellished with a faux Asian Jade donut.

We arrive Friday afternoon, meet & greet, and of course go to eat at Viera. Then Saturday morning we'll work on possibly this project or a project of your choice. We'll have had an enormous breakfast (maybe even some gravy...don't tell my Cardiologist) and then we have to break for a scrumptious lunch. Sew a little more...then snacks and beverages. Later in the day it will be 5 o'clock SOMEWHERE! A trunk show later in the evening after Din-din and it's still 5 o'clock elsewhere. Sunday morning breakfast with those waffles and then some Free Motion classes....urp. We'll pack up and sit some more to catch up on our lives and then bid adieu! See ya next year! Make your reservation now because it will probably be filled before we leave.

BTW, this is a sunglass case. This one is made of batiks, quilted, and embellished with a faux Asian coin dangling from a frame of fabric strips. A quickie and fun project.

I Love: ilovetwilla

I love this luscious bag full of different textures and range of earthy colors. This designer is Beth Ellen Cohen and her brand is TWILLA. She was a licensed psychotherapist in Florida (of course) and started making bags. That's how she went from "baggage" to "bags". Check out her price points....Twilla is worth every bit of it. So if you design and sew don't sell yourself cheap. This is one-of-a-kind and every therapist will tell you "you are worth it". Check out her story and Esty site!

I couldn't help it...here's my other favorite bag.

A great tracing paper in your neighborhood

My favorite tracing paper lives at Staples in the "Drafting Dept." It comes in white and yellow and available on rolls 12" wide or 18" wide.

This is the price of the 12" size and 50 yards will last quite a while. The paper is crisp and falls away after stitched. I use it to trace patterns, for quilting, and for appliques. It would be awesome for paper piecing. The best part is I can pick it up after getting groceries next door.

Creating a Successful Color Scheme

http://www.brandigirlblog.com/2012/11/why-do-some-color-schemes-work-and-others-dont.html

This is a fantastic blog by BrandiGirl! It's too difficult to just give you an excerpt. Her information is thorough and spot on. Hope you read as many articles as you can...it will open your eyes to your creative future.

Just a thought:  take photos of the projects you've already finished and the projects you create after reading her gems. Then show us what you've got.