New Fabric and Journalling

Hi everyone - school holidays for us in NZ, and we have had lovely sunshine in Palmy North for the past 2 days - my cheeks are pink from the sun, and I was wearing a t-shirt and baring my legs today! Summer is on its way....

Last night it was our Rose City Quilters meeting - and I got a wee prize for my merit award for my guitars quilt. A moda tin and a pattern :Inside the tin - lovely fabric - 40 strips on each side of the tin, all measuring 2 1/2" x 5". The pattern included uses 2 1/2" strips. Happily for me - the fabric is right up my alley....I already have this other moda (and similar) fabric in my stashThe new tin of pieces will hopefully inspire me to make a quilt from these very soon...watch this space (but it is the school hols, so don't expect anything in the next 2 weeks!)

I have also been thinking about doing some more art journalling - so I managed a page today.One of the great things about blogging is that, for me at least, it inspires me to create so that I have stuff to post! Will be working on my next applique block tonight.

Talk to you again soon.....

More Cards and Friday Inspirations

This week - another applique block fused - plums this time. This brings the count up to 6 done - 3 to go. And I finished 10 more heart & butterfly cards. These are blanks ready for 'found' words as per my last post. Onto what I've been reading. I first read Lionel Shriver some months ago. "We need to talk about Kevin" is sensitively written - I found the characters interesting, and the story told in flashbacks compelling. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to get into others she's written. I didn't make it past the first 50 pages of "Game Control". And I've been trying to read "So Much for That" this week, and have got through the first 100 pages. The subject of the book should have been interesting, but there was too much political soap-boxing for me. I suspect that I won't make it much further, and instead these will become my focus this weekend : I have just started re-reading this series by Sara Donati. The first is "Into the Wilderness". I have read the first 3 books before, but it is now a complete series of 6. It has been awhile since I read the first ones, so it is a pleasure to rediscover characters and plots, knowing I will enjoy it, but not remembering exactly what comes next. I love Diana Gabaldon's "Outlander" series, and this is a similar pleasure - historically accurate setting and events, strong and sympathtic characters, and interesting plot.
Some good blog inspiration this week:
Patti Van Dorin's blog often inspires, and this week she has been sharing old journal pages.
Carole Brungar is a fellow Palmerston North blogger - she shared a tutorial on making quick and easy journal/book covers - her examples are colourful and inspiring.
I suspect I will be getting back into Art Journalling again very soon - this link will take you to a page of quick tutorials/ideas from Debbie Hodge to get you, as well as me :-), inspired again.
And for a more general dose of arty inspiration, go to this Cloth Paper Scissors blogpost with 14 days of Art Prompts plus lots more in the comments made by other readers.
Happy weekend - and Happy holidays if you are in NZ with school-age kids :-)

Hearts and Butterflies

I have been meaning to make some cards for a while now. My favourite things to use in my art work are hearts, butterflies, swirls, music, and texts. This week I had 2 birthdays and a graduation to celebrate, so I sat down one afternoon and created these. The above 2 are the birthday cards, and below are the graduation card on the left, and my 'spare' on the right.I am so pleased with the way these turned out that I am going to create a series of blanks like my 'spare' in a variety of colours and variations on the design, and add the words later as occasions arise. I love using found text - I bought a couple of old large print books (romances I think so good 'feelings' words) at the last library book sale, and now have a great stash of meaningful words which I can apply. You can create poetry or phrases with them. These are the insides of the current cards. I will share more as I create them.