New Items in my Etsy Shop

I spent a part of my morning in my sewing studio getting very overwhelmed by all the fabrics that have been neglected over the past few months.  I decided to make a few fat quarter bundles and place them out in my Etsy shop at a very reasonable price, to share with others, as well as to start clearing out a lot of the fabrics that I may never get to use.  Some of the fabrics I purchased in yardage and have already used several times in quilts, so it feels like time to move on to different fabrics.  If you are at all interested in fabrics, keep a look out, I'll be posting more to sell.

Embrace your ART

I am working in a new journal and wanted to try some background techniques on several pages.  I love this Golden color of blue and painted it on the page with a big brush planning to try something else.  Before the paint had a chance to dry, I got the idea to stamp into it with clean stamps to see how I liked it.  I liked the effect, and then stamped the flowers with Staz-on blue, and stamped art with Staz-on white.  Quick and simple!  Wrote on the page with  a white Sharpie paint pen.

Finally done!

I tend to work on several things at a time when I am creating.  Lately I have wanted to paint more than do anything else, but while doing some spring cleaning I found this quilt top that I made last year for our bed.  When I was picking the fabrics, I looked for happy fabrics, and had fun piecing it and deciding on the block placement.  I sent it off to be quilted and got it back a few weeks ago, so I sat about binding it.  It is now all done and gracing our bed.  I used an organic bamboo batting, so the quilt is lightweight.  So glad it is finally done!

Watercolor class

Promised to let you guys know how I like the watercolor class I am taking at the local community college. Well, the first day I wanted to quit! lol, and one of the students did just that.  The class starts at 8am (this body doesn't want to get out of bed before 9am) and it runs five weeks- four days a week.  Not sure what I expected from the class, but it appears that all we do is paint each day for a week (sometimes the same thing as the day before).  The first week started with eggs and progressed to books, boxes, and statues.  Most of the folk in the class have taken the class before and know each other.  They are all very friendly and fun.   I guess I am whining because I am so accustomed to working in my studio in my pjs, with my acrylics.  Watercolor is hard and un-forgiving.   I thought I would learn technique, how to paint with the different brushes,  and go on field trips.  That may be coming, but so far,  I just want to be home in my studio painting with acrylics.  BTW, they do not offer acrylic painting classes, only oil painting.  I skipped class today because I have an appointment this morning.  I am going to stick it out, but there will be no watercolor II in my future, I don't think.   I think next semester, I will take drawing I.  Here is one of the pieces I have done so far.....  Okay whine over, back to work!

Winged beauties

Spent the afternoon painting.  This canvas is 6x6 and was as much fun as the one from yesterday.  I didn't take a shot of it but the branches and leaves wrap around the sides of the canvas.
 I start my watercolor class at the community college tomorrow, and I am really excited.  I've been told that learning watercolor techniques will help me with my acrylic painting.  Hope that is true.  I'll post how the class goes.

Happy 4th of July!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday weekend and keeping somewhat cool.  It's a bit hot here in the DC area.

I haven't posted in the past week or so, but I have been busy in my journals as well as painting on canvas.   My DH purchased a floor sized easel for me a couple of days ago, and I am so happy!  I have several table model easels (which I rarely use), but I have really enjoyed using this one so far.  It's a great place to store works in progress for contemplating what to do next, as well as allowing me to work on larger painting and collages.  This little painting is 5x5, so it wasn't done on the easel, but displaying it there gave me a better view for composition.  I have another little one in progress and will share it soon.