ATC Swap, Part 2

I've been having a terrible time with Blogger today, struggling to post pictures and arrange the text as I wanted it! I've read about others who have also had problems with Blogger. Any suggestions for a better service?

 I finally decided  to divide this post into two parts. As I said in my last post, I'm doing an ATC swap with my friend Janice. Here are my offerings for January and February. Both are done with fabric applique and the February heart has added beading.

This is a great format for trying out design ideas on a very small scale!! I'm already cooking up an idea for March!

ATC Swap

 
                                                                                      
My friend Janice Reynolds suggested that we swap ATCs this year. I had never made one, but loved the idea of the 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" format! We decided to create cards going back to January, and to make and swap a new one each month.

Here are Janice's cards! January is called "Timeless" and February, "Valentine Wishes". Janice applies several layers of papers, images and words, adds hand painting and stamping, and finishes with a layer of beeswax. To me, the effect is very nostalgic and rich in tone. I was delighted to receive them!

A Special Wish

 A very special wish today

to our daughter, Kate!

May your birthday be happy

and may the coming year be filled with love, success and wonderful adventures!

 We love you and wish we could be with you!!

Love and Hugs,

Mom and Dad

 

Flakey February

Here is my February offering, a tribute to the unpredictable weather of the second month of the year! The funny thing is that I began this picture last February and here we are having the same sort of snowy, sleety, rainy, sunny, cloudy and icy mix this year! Earlier this week, Boston's temperature reached 59 and today it is 29 and snowing steadily. The good news is that everything is covered with a fresh, clean layer of the white stuff and outside it looks like a  Currier and Ives  Christmas card!

The picture (not the best photo) is machine applique made with commercial fabrics, hand embroidery and beading, 

Slow Going!

My mind has been all over the place this month . My older sister has spent two weeks in the hospital with a serious infection, and is now in a rehab/nursing home to help her get back on her feet.  I've been so worried about her and have been trying to help her by visiting and bringing things she needs and things to help lift her spirits. Fortunately, we are able to laugh together and things seem to be looking up. Hopefully she'll be able to go home soon. 

I've been missing being creative, but first things first. It's hard to concentrate on anything when someone you care about is in pain. She doesn't have access to a computer to read this right now, but I know she knows that I'm there for her. 

Meanwhile, little by little, I'm finishing up a fabric picture which I hope to post soon. I'm taking things slowly at the moment, but still trying to find some time to create.

Valentine Greetings

As the day draws to a close here in New England, I'm finally getting a minute to send out a Valentine to my friends and fellow bloggers! May love and happiness fill your life and may you know great peace and joy!!! Happy Valentine's Day!

Painted Floor Cloth

"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." ~ John Lennon

I was doing well with my January wall hanging until life intervened.  

The good news is that I unexpectedly gained two new tutoring students this past week. I work with children in grades K through 3 and help them with reading and language arts. Unfortunately, I needed to do some parent consultations and preparations which left me with less time for sewing! 

But the wall hanging is close to completion and will be ready to show here sometime soon.

I did finish a craft/painting project which I had started at a floorcloth workshop given by a member of my fiber arts group. Diana shared her studio space and four of us went to town painting, stenciling, layering and printing. Each person created a very different piece and I was definitely in the mood for bright flowers! It still needs to be polyurethaned, but I'm happy with the results and will place it in front of my kitchen sink!

I haven't just painted for years and it was so much fun!!