Young Woman With Cat

Today I finished this applique picture of my daughter Kate and our cat Kristy. I'm experimenting with "drawing" with machine embroidery and using just a touch of color in the background. The main figure is machine appliqued. 

I have a few more projects in process and I hope to share them soon!

Hope everyone is having a great week!

What I Love About Blogging

I've been blogging for nearly two and a half years, and not a day goes by that I'm not grateful for this arty outlet!

Not being a very technical person, I have my daughter Kate to thank for setting me up with a blog and teaching me all the ins and outs of using the Blogger toolbar.

I've met some wonderful artists from around the world, made some good friends and found an online 'community' through this medium.

I think blogging has boosted my creativity quite a bit, since I feel compelled to 'show up' with new work on a regular basis. And the comments from other artists and readers are a wonderful reassurance that I am doing decent work.

So, here's to blogging!

This simple little fabric painting was an experiment using gel glue as a resist (the white outlines), letting it dry and then painting with acrylic paint. When the paint dried I washed the glue out with warm soapy water, ironed the piece and embellished with permanent markers. I had heard of this technique through my friend Andrea, who is a fabric artist, surface designer and quilter.

Recent ATCs

Here are some lovely artist trading cards I have received from friends.

Recently my friend Elaine sent me these two very sweet ATCs. With a few pieces of paper and

some snips of the scissors, Elaine creates pictures of children that remind me of comforting,

old fashioned children's book illustrations. I just love these!

My friend Janice made this one, using a variety of techniques, and I just think it is so pretty!

I love this quotation, the layering effect and, of course, the beautiful bird!

I made this card for Janice. She is a real beachcomber and ocean lover - in fact, her blog profile name is 'Summer Girl', and I know she is anxiously awaiting her return to Cape Cod where she spends the summer months. Thus, this card, called 'Looking Ahead'!

I need to get busy making more cards for friends. It's a wonderful way to collect and share 'little masterpieces'!

Fabric Painting Again

I did some more fabric painting this morning. I have to say, it is therapeutic! I seem to be doing the landscape thing over and over, but it's so enjoyable and I'm anxious to cut these up, add trees and stitching and embellishments... 

I get so lost in painting I have to use a timer to remind myself that I have other things that need doing! At least I had a load of laundry going in the washer as I painted on top of it!!!

Multitasking anyone?

Sun Worshipper

Kristy has been sprawled on the dining room chair in this precarious position for quite awhile this morning. When I'm at home, I move the chair as the sun shifts and she basks to her heart's content.

Right now she has a bad cold which has been coming and going for months. This afternoon I'll be taking her to the vet for an injection of antibiotics.

She is about 14 years old, weighs less than 6 pounds, and is a wonderful furry companion. Most people think she is a kitten when they first see her! We adopted her from a shelter when we lived in NY - she was about 1 1/2 years old and when we saw her our hearts melted. She was drinking water from her paw, which she had scooped into the water bowl! Lately I've noticed her doing the same thing with my water glass, which I left on the coffee table!! New rule - no water glasses left uncovered anywhere!!!

She's a sweetie, though, and we really love our Kristy!

Fabric Painting

A little sneak peek at what I've been up to!

Monday I had fun painting fabric on top of my washing machine

(my painting studio!).

Easy to clean up, and the light is good.

I guess you could say I'm in landscape mode!

Hope to have some finished results to show in the near future!!

A Journey to the Berkshires

Friday was a beautiful day here in New England, and my husband, Bill, and I went on a trip to the Berkshires in western Massachusetts.


We took the scenic route along the Mohawk trail, stopped at a country restaurant called The Wagon Wheel for lunch, and arrived at our destination in a little over three hours.


Along the way we listened to Old Time Radio on XM Radio - an episode of The Jack Benny Show and The Life of Riley. When the mountains cut off our signal, we enjoyed the scenery to a classical music CD.




We were on our way to North Adams, Mass., where we went to the opening of a gallery show featuring work by our daughter, Kate. The show, which took place at Greylock Arts in Adams, Mass., was called Wearable Expressions. Through the technology, craftsmanship and imagination of several artists, it explored fashion as a way for individuals to dynamically express themselves.
Kate, who is a technology artist, showed four hats that humorously investigate the way that we relate to ourselves and others. Her work often expresses unseen, but common, components of our social interactions.

Here are the pieces she exhibited in this show:

The Muttering HatThe Talk to Yourself Hat

The Ear Bender Hat

The Blush Shield

Kate is an adjunct professor at NYU's Interactive Telecommunications Program, and a co-creator of Botanicalls, a system which enables houseplants to make phone calls when they need to be watered!

You can read more about Kate's work on her website.

We stayed the night, visited Mass MOCA on Saturday, and really enjoyed our visit with Kate!

Early Evening

Today I finished this small fabric applique entitled 'Early Evening". I hand appliqued some silky printed sheers I've had for years, and hand beaded and embroidered the flowers. The matted size is 8"x 10".

It was nice to get back to fabric after a fairly long stint of working with cut paper lately.

Today was a beautiful day here in Massachusetts and I was so happy to see the first signs of buds on the trees! Leaves will be bursting out soon and they will be a welcome sight after a long winter!

Joyful Wishes

If you celebrate Easter, I wish you a very happy one! Otherwise, have a wonderful Spring day!!

# 200!!!

This is my 200th post on Fabric Art & Crafts!! When I started up in January of 2007, I never realized what a source of pleasure blogging would be! The best part of the experience has been the friends I have made - the window into the worlds of other artists and creative people who have encouraged and supported me in my work, and I them. This is a lovely community and I'm so happy to be part of it!

So, here's a thank you to all of my blogging friends for reading and commenting on my blog! 

I'm hoping to put out more fabric art in the near future and I'll be interested to see what you will be up to!

Time Out for a Yawn

Following the example of Karen and Nan, I'm showing off my one cat relative, my sister's cat, Emily Elizabeth. My sister Carol taught first grade for 37 years before retiring a few years ago, and Emily is named after a character in the book series, Clifford the Big Red Dog!

Tomorrow I'll be posting my 200th entry on my blog. Can't believe it!

Fantasy Flowers

I have to say, I've really missed my blog this week! Although I spent a great deal of time weeding out and organizing, I still have a long way to go before I will feel that I have my sewing and craft things under control. Too much of anything is not good, and I have way too much fabric, especially, collected over a period of about 32 years! But at least I have made a dent in my stash and feel a bit better about it!

I'm coming up to my 200th post and I have something in mind to celebrate, which I'll share with you soon!

Meanwhile, have a lovely day!!!