Christmas in August

By on 5-27-2015 in Art For The Creative Mind Yahoo Group, Backgrounds for mixed media, Mixed Media

null

August is the month to start preparing gifts for Christmas. Jams and jellies from this year’s fruits and herbs would make great gifts. As gifts they need to be presented with frills and covers. Crafts Plus October 1995 magazine published some very pretty, but easy and quick covers to make during this busy month. Susan Bolton designed the apples in the basket which could be put on apple butter, apple sauce or apple jelly or anything else apples. Mary Driscoll designed the ‘cool mint’ stencil. Mint jelly was a favourite with my mother-in-law at all her turkey dinners. There is also a palm tree which would look great on a jar of jelly made from tropical fruits. A hardanger cover is also included which could go on any jar you give at Christmas.

null

You can download all four patterns shown, plus the hardanger cover instructions here. It is a 222kb pdf document Jam Jar Covers, Crafts Plus Sept/Oct, 1995

Vikki Pignatelli’s Quilting by Improvisation

By on 5-27-2015 in Art For The Creative Mind Yahoo Group, Backgrounds for mixed media, Mixed Media

null Quilting by Improvisation: Exploring Curves, Openwork and Dimention by Vikki Pignatelli. Published by Dragon Threads, 2006.…….. Vikki creates beautiful, bold landscapes using new techniques that capture your imagination. She passes along her keen understanding of colour and fabrics. Chapter 2 has the best instruction on colour I have read. Through the chapters she covers tools, fabrics and technique. There are lots of stunning photos and step-by-step guides. This book is a must have for anybody who wants to take their quilting to the next step and into the realm of art.

Summer is Almost Over

By on 5-27-2015 in Art For The Creative Mind Yahoo Group, Backgrounds for mixed media, Mixed Media

null

With autumn just around the corner I thought it was time for one last ‘sweet treat’ with these desserts from the Family Circle 1979 magazine. Family Circle created a mobile and I thought these desserts would make a ‘sweet’ little wall quilt or a summer table runner. A child’s bib could be adorned with the ice cream cone or sundae and the banana split would look great on a placemat. What ‘cool’ Christmas gifts they would make. These patterns would also look great as redwork embroidery, placed on cafe curtains for the summer months.

null

A Wedding Quilt…….”Turn Around”……for my young niece

By on 5-27-2015 in Art For The Creative Mind Yahoo Group, Backgrounds for mixed media, Mixed Media

“Turn around and you’re a young wife with a babe of your own”. {lyrics by Malvena Reynolds, 1900-1978}……When the design of this quilt became a reality on paper, the name was clear. On the back label I placed two photos, one of my niece in her wedding gown and another of her when she was about 3. How do our children grow so big so fast? A year after the event, she is carrying her first child. The lyrics have pulled at my heart as my children grew to adulthood and my grand girls are now doing the same. Time never ceases.
null
Each block of the quilt has a meaning and a message along with it. Inside the label pocket on the back are two pages. One with the lyrics of the song and another with a block map and the messages that go with each of the blocks. I also had extra photos so created the two little hanging pillows using the left over patchwork pieces from the quilt.

July is Day Lily Month

By on 5-27-2015 in Art For The Creative Mind Yahoo Group, Backgrounds for mixed media, Mixed Media

null

Day Lilies are my favourite wild flower. They grow everywhere, lending their bright orange colour to even the dullest days. I don’t have to water or feed or weed them. These two photos are from the plants growing beside the driveway. They make my heart sing every time I look out the window during the month of July.

null

I couldn’t leave this astounding image alone. Here is a pattern for the day lily. This flower would look great on a postcard. I created it in the Quilt Assistant software which can be found by clicking the link: www.cosman.nl/software_en in my “sites I love” column on the right side. I use Quilt Assistant software often, setting up a library of images that I can use when I feel the creative urge. It works well, is easy to use and best of all it is free.

null

null

School is Out for the Summer Paper Dolls

By on 5-27-2015 in Art For The Creative Mind Yahoo Group, Backgrounds for mixed media, Mixed Media

null

Buttercup and Blueberry Bunnies are very happy. School is over and they can go out everyday and play in the sun for a whole two months. Buttercup has brought lemonade and cookies for a picnic on the beach while Blueberry thought his pail and shovel would come in handy to make castles in the sand. I wonder if they will both remember their bathing suits?

null

Kewpie Dolls…..remembering the little bisque dolls with blue wings

By on 5-27-2015 in Art For The Creative Mind Yahoo Group, Backgrounds for mixed media, Mixed Media

null

Kewpie dolls are one of my favourite embroidery patterns. When I was a small child Kewpie dolls with their little blue wings were my companions during nap time. These days of the week Kewpie doll embroidery patterns come from McCall’s Needlework and Crafts September 1988 Collector’s Edition. They were first published during the 1930’s. They are so sweet and cuddly. They would make a great conversation piece embroidered onto a cafe curtain in your kitchen.

null

This pattern is for Wednesday, a sewing day of course. The full seven days of the week are in a 824kb pdf document ready for download

Kewpie Doll Days of the Week, McCall’s Needlework and Crafts, September 1988 Collector’s Edition

Kit Nicol’s “Painting with Thread…..Embroidered Pictures to Make and Cherish”

By on 5-27-2015 in Art For The Creative Mind Yahoo Group, Backgrounds for mixed media, Mixed Media

nullPainting with thread……Embroidered pictures to make and cherish by Kit Nicol.  This book was published in 2000 by Collins & Brown of Great Britain.  Kit Nicol brings her paintings to life through paint and embroidery.  Her tutorials begin with designing your own sketches using colours and paint.  She covers materials required and different techniques using several kinds of thread and stitches including 3-D effects. The stitch tutorials are very clear with lots of photos and illustrations. The book includes 14 sketches from landscapes to human expression including the fountain on the front cover.

A Hoot of an Owl

By on 5-27-2015 in Art For The Creative Mind Yahoo Group, Backgrounds for mixed media, Mixed Media

null

This cute little round owl sitting in his tree was published in the McCall’s Fall and Winter 1973-1974 Needlework Magazine. Every time I see an owl I think of my mother-in-law who collected them. This whimsical fellow would look great on a pillow or tote or as a center panel on a quilt top. He could be done in a monochromatic colour scheme as well as standing out in bright colours on his own tree branch for a child’s room.

hooty owl

Christmas in May

By on 5-27-2015 in Art For The Creative Mind Yahoo Group, Backgrounds for mixed media, Mixed Media

null

Sunbonnet Sue, one of my favourite quilting figures. Who can resist her, especially as a little angel? These little angels from the Better Homes and Gardens Christmas Issue 1976 were done in colours used in that decade. She was stuffed and had two dimensional wings so she could hang on a tree or as a swag over a mantle. I prefer her done in real red and green Christmas colours. She would look great adorning a Christmas tree skirt or as a Christmas quilt for your favourite rocking chair.

null

null

Kaffe Fassett’s “Quilt Romance”

By on 5-27-2015 in Art For The Creative Mind Yahoo Group, Backgrounds for mixed media, Mixed Media

null Kaffe Fassett is renowned for colour and design. Knitters, needlework artists and quilters among others all know and love his work. He has designed his own fabrics since 1996. I was first introduced to Kaffe’s designs through a knitting show on PBS and now am the proud owner of several of his books. Quilt Romance, published in 2009 has the greatest, brightest quilts imaginable, all set out on gates, bridges and buildings in the Portmeirion Village in Whales www.portmeirion-village.com Portmeirion alone is a good reason to buy this book, add the quilts and you have a masterpiece. The photos literally sing to you as you turn page after page after page, 20 quilts in all. Clear instructions with full size templates and a catalogue of the fabrics used in the quilts are all included. Happy quilting everyone.

If you are not a fiber or textile artist but still want your heart to sing check out Kaffe’s website at: www.kaffefassett.com/Gallery.html Quilt Romance can be purchased at at www.taunton.com

Valerie Hearder’s “Points of View “

By on 5-27-2015 in Art For The Creative Mind Yahoo Group, Backgrounds for mixed media, Mixed Media

Valerie Hearder is a Canadian quilt artist who has written 2 books on landscape quilting. www.valeriehearder.com She travels to South Africa, purchases textiles made by the Grandmother-to-Grandmother Campaign, donating 15% of the proceeds to the campaign. Also see her blog:http://www.threadlink.typepad.com/

Points of View is Valerie’s latest book. Valerie starts at the beginning with tips on what types of fabrics you will want to use in your landscapes, equipment that eases your journey through your personal masterpieces and how to get started. She includes lessons in creating basic landscapes, how to put together each piece as well as adding techniques throughout each chapter. You will learn how to colour your own fabrics using transfer dyes, fabric crayons, oil paint sticks and coloured pencils. The lessons are all well documented, photographed and easy to understand. I suggest you read through the whole book before trying a creation of your own….you won’t want to miss a step or technique that will make your landscape quilt shine.

Christmas in April

By on 5-27-2015 in Art For The Creative Mind Yahoo Group, Backgrounds for mixed media, Mixed Media

ornaments

The first time I saw these little ornaments in McCall’s Christmas Vol X magazine I loved them, but didn’t like the colours they chose at the time. No actual pattern was given. McCall’s instructions were to paste them onto cardboard and cut them out as ornaments. They would look great stitched in Christmas colours on a black or white background. You could also stitch them in one solid colour on a plain muslin backing as in Redwork. I have prepared a pattern page for you to use and posted the first four. The other six are included in a 514kb pdf file which you can download.

McCall’s Christmas Make It Ideas Volume X Cookie Cutter Ornaments

ornament pattern

ornaments

Fabric Postcards, the greatest addiction ever

By on 5-27-2015 in Art For The Creative Mind Yahoo Group, Backgrounds for mixed media, Mixed Media

null

I was first introduced to fabric postcards through Valerie Hearder’s Landscape Yahoo group. http://www.valeriehearder.com
These little mini quilts are so much fun to do and the possibilities are endless. Four were done for swaps and the other four were for family.

My first was the little church. I thought of our Gatineau Hills and the churches which are nestled among the trees in the Ottawa Autumn scenery. I felt there was more detail than needed in this card for such a small canvas. I learned to streamline as I went along. The second card is entitled “Flying Home in the Morning Mist”, a picture of the highway through Thunder Bay. It is the result of a monochrome challenge. I chose brown. The third is one of the bike paths approaching the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa. I called it “Cycling Through an Ottawa Dawn”. The deer was the next for a Christmas swap. It is called “Christmas Morn’ at Silver Lake”. The deer are from photos of a pretty doe that visited our garden through the fall and early winter. The singing snowmen I named “Snowdust Singers” and sent to family at Christmas. Two valentines were made for my grandgirls. The latest I made for a spring swap and I chose Ontario Trilliums growing in a forest glade. This one is “Ontario Trilliums in Bloom, a Sure Sign of Spring.

Christmas in March

By on 5-27-2015 in Art For The Creative Mind Yahoo Group, Backgrounds for mixed media, Mixed Media

Happy Freddy Snowman

Freddy is a very cute snowman. His smile says “I’m happy and I feel like bursting out laughing”. I have completely embroidered him with a chain stitch except for his nose. I filled his nose with a few French knots. I chose a soft white diaper flanellette rather than a smooth muslin. I like my snowmen to be soft and fuzzy. I sketched him on Tuesday morning and finished the embroidery Tuesday evening. In this 3 inch square version he is free to use. I am drawing more of him with different hats. He sure is a pleasure to sketch as he makes me smile when I look at him. When I am finished all the different hats I will use a larger version to make a very happy Christmas wall quilt.

Freddy Snowman

Roosters to wake you in the morning

By on 5-27-2015 in Art For The Creative Mind Yahoo Group, Backgrounds for mixed media, Mixed Media

null
I love this rooster from two McCall’s Needlework & Craft Magazines. The pattern is from the Fall-Winter 1970-71 magazine. They used it for two mosaics, one made with beans and seeds and the other from nails and brads. I chose to use it as a quilt pattern. The edges of each of his feathers were left raw to give him a better “feathery” feel and a mother -of-pearl button turned to the back was used for his eye. My little rooster is hanging at the back door entry wall and greets everyone who enters through my door. He would also make a great cook book cover, or maybe painted onto a bread box or planter. It’s time to redo him and this time I think I will try different patterned fabrics for his feathers.

null

A 316kb pdf rooster pattern is here : McCall’s Magazine Rooster Pattern

Christmas in February

By on 5-27-2015 in Art For The Creative Mind Yahoo Group, Backgrounds for mixed media, Mixed Media

null

These little vintage embroidered ornaments are in the McCall’s Christmas Make-it Ideas, Volume X, 1967 magazine. Embroidered on felt they lend themselves well to updated stitches and fabrics. I chose a muslin backing and red floss to do the little piglet. It hasn’t been put together into an actual ornament yet, but it will have a red backing along with a fringed, muslin border. Rather than using satin stitch for fill and a back stitch for lines I chose chain stitch with two strands of floss. The chain stitch fills easily without puckering on a project without a hoop. I back my muslin with a piece of flannelette to give strength to the piece as well as hiding any cross stitching on the back.

null

Isn’t this little piglet sweet? He would certainly stand out on any Christmas Tree. He could also be used throughout the year for a package ornament.

null

Patterns for all 5 ornaments, a 610kb PDF file, can be downloaded here: McCall’s Christmas Make It Ideas, Volume X, Embroidered Ornaments

McCall’s Valentine Delight Quilt

By on 5-27-2015 in Art For The Creative Mind Yahoo Group, Backgrounds for mixed media, Mixed Media


Betsy Nyhan’s Valentine Delight Quilt


The February 1986 McCall’s Magazine carried this pretty pattern. Designed by Betsy Nyhan, it is an exquisite way to use antique hankies, laces, pillow case edgings etc. She used antique hankies. The quilted heart pattern shown below, which was included in the article could be used for other applications as well. I can see it on an album cover, using trapunto to fill out the hearts. It would also look great as the center medallion for a small whole cloth quilt.

Betsy Nyhan’s Valentine Delight quilt pattern. This pattern is a 715kg PDF document. The heart is 6 1/2 ” x 6 1/2 “. Just the right size for a sweet wall quilt.
McCall’s Needlework Feb 1986 Valentine Delight, Designed by Betsy Nyhan

Valentine’s Paper Dolls

By on 5-27-2015 in Art For The Creative Mind Yahoo Group, Backgrounds for mixed media, Mixed Media

null

I love paper dolls. They were my constant companions when I was young. They always wanted to come out and play. As I grew older I stopped playing pretend with them and began drawing and making my own clothes for my dolls. My collection of original paper dolls is growing.

Little Calico Cat above and her brother Berber Bear below are my gift to you for the month of February, celebrating Valentine’s Day. Enjoy.

null

Christmas in January

By on 5-27-2015 in Art For The Creative Mind Yahoo Group, Backgrounds for mixed media, Mixed Media

Balsa Wood Ornaments above, Embroidered and Beaded Ornaments below

The first Christmas vintage pattern. I hope to bring one new pattern each month….that will be a total of 12 new patterns in the year, free to download with suggestions and/or photos of how I have used them through the years.

The original patterns were used to cut and paint balsa wood ornaments. I immediately fell in love with these Mexican themed ornaments. They were included in the McCall’s Christmas Make-it Ideas magazine, Volume X, 1967.

I chose to embroider and bead them on muslin, back them with a piece of bright red felt then fringe the edges beyond the seam. When I embroider on muslin I back the pieces with flannelette which gives them dimension when finished as well as hiding any back stitching. I then do not have to use a hoop, but can embroider them simply by holding them.

Hand work is my favourite technique, giving me the chance to unwind and design as I go. Usually I’m not sure what I will do with a piece until I’ve actually started it.

Balsa Wood ornament

You can find all the patterns in this 590kb pdf document:McCall’s Christmas Balsa Wood Ornaments

Lighthouse, Prince Edward Island, Canada

By on 5-27-2015 in Art For The Creative Mind Yahoo Group, Backgrounds for mixed media, Mixed Media

Prince Edward Lighthouse

The lighthouse quilt was made for a black and white with one colour pop challange with the Valerie Hearder Landscape yahoo group. I could not find printed fabrics that I liked for this little quilt so I bought solid black and white and used my machine’s fancy stitches to pattern them. A tear away backing kept the stitches raised and then was removed for easy quilting. The gulls in the clouds were done with a scallop stitch. The whole quilt was machine quilted. This 17″ by 17″ quilt is the first black and white quilt I have made. I usually use a lot of colour as you can see in the Sunrise, Sunset quilt.

I designed this quilt from a photo of the Prince Edward Island lighthouse with a free piece of software called “Quilt Assistant”. Here is where you can find it:

http://www.cosman.nl/software_en.html

It is an awesome program and I plan to use it more often.

Welcome to Cotton Arts Boutique

By on 5-27-2015 in Art For The Creative Mind Yahoo Group, Backgrounds for mixed media, Mixed Media

Sunrise, Sunset, 2008

Sunrise, Sunset, 2008

Years ago I woke to a rising sun with the geese flying across it. I immediately drew a sketch because I knew there was a quilt there and promptly forgot it again as time and circumstances got in the way. I always knew though that it would be a quilt and it stayed with me. When I began designing the quilt I did not think of the sketch. I had different corner blocks made, but was not happy with them. Then the idea of the sun setting in all four corners would be better. Several months after making the quilt I found the sketch while looking for something else. Not only was there a sun with the geese flying through it, but the sun setting blocks for the corners.
The rising sun is made of small pieces layered onto a paper circle, then sewn with a crazy stitch on the machine. The setting suns were made the same way on smaller circles. The resting geese are an original pattern and paper pieced along with the flying geese. The quilt is 28 1/2″ wide by 22″ long. The resting geese are 3″ blocks.