Long Forgotten Cat Quilt

Since the beginning of this crazy pandemic year, I have been searching through my closets and cupboards and discovering things long forgotten.  I did a lot of reconsidering, tossing out, and reorganizing like a lot of us who have been stuck in our homes. And since our summers are hot, I tend to stay inside where I can be cool. 

Anyways, one of the things I discovered is a quilt that I had started sometime ago, in the 80's, I think. Good grief!  So I worked on the top pattern and this is the stage it is in currently since my old Euro Pro bit the dust.  

I have decided to make a simple border and sashing to frame the top in blue tones, since that is my go to color.   Once I get the hang of my new Viking Opal 650 machine I will return to this cozy project.   Maybe even in time for winter.
 

 

Mixed Mini with a daisy stamp

Here is the 4 x 4 in. collage made with acrylic paints, daisy stamp, ribbon, paper bits, napkin decoupage, and metal brad for embellishment on canvas surface.  I taught this project as a quick make & take for a support group of cancer patients.   They could add their own creative touches to it by using different papers, ribbons, and other bits of ephemera.
I was grateful to provide a couple hours of art therapy for those who came that day.

"A little Christmas Painting Fun"

Just some fun from my Christmas collection for you to enjoy.

A fun collection of Santas I love to display. 

Some that I have created.

 Snowman design from Jamie Mills Price

Snowy Friends by me!

Here is a sweet painting called "Baby Swan." (Actually they are called cignets.)  Perfect for this Spring season.  Don't you think?

Acrylic on 11 X 14" canvas.

Here is a painting I did a few years back. It looks like a cool night in Autumn in the country.  Just really not that way though here.  Still hot in September in Vegas.  Ugh!  I sure am hoping some cooler days come soon.  

Collage and Mixed Media

Green Tea Joy contains paper ephemera, acrylic paint, stamping and stenciling.

Creating faces can be challenging.  We have certain ideas about just how one should look.  The eyes show the most emotion and personality for me.  Sometimes I don't even know what they are going to convey until I am almost finished with them.  

 Working with a limited color palette, I drew this girl, wondering about her day and where it will lead. Her day has only begun. I think the sky outside her window is just beginning to light up.

Young woman in purple veil is ready to discover the new day.  Wonder what her story will be.  Watercolor crayons and pens.

On a Little Walk

  My imagination went on a little walk and this is what it saw.
  
    A couple of little mixed media collages from my studio.

      These were made on canvas board, with acrylic paints, magazine bits, metal charms, and game pieces. A bit of graphite for a shadow here and there and a ribbon for hanging.

So many things can interrupt us from following our muse as artists. Here's hoping I have found my way back.

"Stroked Elegance" Painting class

"Stroked Elegance" is the name of the design painted on this little oval wood box. The original design was published in the Decorative Painter by Sharryn Knestel.  (Members of SDP are allowed to teach designs published in the publication to our chapter members. Teaching this design to my tole painting friends in Silver State Tole and Decorative Painters was an exercise in color theory, which is always a great exercise to put your mind to as an artist.                                                                   

 

"Roses" 

11 X 14"

This acrylic painting has loads of texture. 

New directions

I have been considering taking a new direction. One that is not totally foreign, but definitely more adventuresome.
 Here I altered canvas substrates with modeling paste around the edges to make a frame. Then pressed various stamps into the paste for interesting texture and pattern. As it dried, a few cracks appeared. That I like. Several coats of acrylic paint was applied until I found my desired result. The centers received a few layers also of paper and gesso, paint and inked vintage encyclopedia pages and paper napkin applique.

" Bird in the Hand",   mixed media painting, 10 x 10.

"The Marchioness' Journey", mixed media painting,
 8 x 10.

Some of the Altered change purses and wallets I made a while back.
I discovered some cute little purses at my local thrift stores and wondered if I could make some use of them.  A little acrylic paint and embellishments later, I had these little treasure holders ready to sell. Fun to create too.

Mini Books for a Swap

Handmade books have always held my attention.  So I had to jump in and join a mini book swap on my favorite mixed media forum, Milliande.

I decided to sew some seed beads along the spine and conceal my stitches.  They look kind of like missing teeth, I have to admit. Just a little whimsical touch to these tiny presents.

             Please excuse the shadow from my fingers!

 "To find the joy in little things, sometimes you have to wing it."

        They were quite a big challenge for being so small.

CalicoStudio: I realized it's been awhile since I posted, so I t...

CalicoStudio: I realized it's been awhile since I posted, so I t...: I realized it's been awhile since I posted, so I thought I'd look through my painting pics from the last ten months and see what I h...

I realized it's been awhile since I posted, so I thought I'd look through my painting pics from the last ten months and see what I have to share.

Here are some watercolor cards I taught in a class at a place called "The Caring Place."  It's a place where those with cancer can come for support and all kinds of free classes. This is not a convalescent center, but the people who come are trying to get their life back to normal while dealing with the effects of this horrible disease.

This is just one of the classes I taught along with the help of my painting chapter, Silver State Tole and Decorative Painters.

"What's New?" Fluffy white chick patrols the farmyard. 

"Feathering the Nest" Orange chicken keeps the nest warm.

"Breakfast Time" Stripped chicken is always hungry.

"Hear I Come" Yellow chicken looks for his friends.

 

 

 

And here are all of the feather dusters together.  I really did have a blast creating these watercolor cards for the class.

Getting in the Springtime Mood

My recent foray into gardening has brightened the front patio quite nicely. This year I was determined to find new perennials that hopefully will last through our blazing summer sun and sometimes winter snaps.

So I picked out some purple and yellow Marguerite daisies, petunias, and lavender to put me in the planting mood. 

Had to set up my blooming angel designed by Shara Reiner and painted by me.  It seemed the perfect setting to greet anyone coming to the house.

I love how my iris and roses are blooming their heads off this year.  Must be doing something right.

Geranium design by Kim Hogue, painted by me.

Painting up a Storm

    Last week I attended the Creative Painting convention, which happens here every year about this time. The convention took place at the Tropicana Hotel, but I slept in my own bed.  After all, it's only 25 minutes away.  There are so many exciting classes going on and a tempting trade floor to stroll, that I had a hard time deciding where to go next. I had a great time taking a few classes during the convention and one the Saturday before. 

 Here are two that are works-in-progress. The butterfly basket was a class with Lynne Deptula and amaryllis box with Ginger Edwards.

 I painted this blooming iris on a textured canvas with Diane Trierweiler, whose work I really admire. The canvas surface has a rough texture that was applied with a palette knife. It was an interesting experience to work on this gritty texture. 

I did finish my Song Sparrow painting with Shirley Koenig, even though she is a quick painter and am very happy with my new little bird painting. It was such a fun week and I even managed to learn a thing or two about painting technique.

Domino kitty is enjoying her new post by the window and naps in this snuggly spot whenever most mornings. 

Melted Some New Little Trinkets

Made some little pins this month for an Art Pin Swap on Milliande using my melting pot and the embossing gun.  I hadn't used them in so long it took a while to dig it out from under the stash mountain. But what fun!

Recipe for Embossed & Recycled CD Pins

CD- cut into desired shapes, UTEE, 

Bits & pieces of Friendly Plastic

Seed Beads, Sequins

For the backs- Copper sheeting & Pin backs

 Backs must be as pretty as the fronts. Now they are ready to go. Wouldn't you agree?