The Meeting of Minds in the Autum Equinox

Do you remember a few post ago (here) where I made an ATC for the Autumn Equinox Swap, hosted by Lisa Fulmer?  I decided to go ahead and expand it and make my ATC into a  little quiltie for the FAMM challenge this month.  This is the results of that quiltie. 

It measures 13 by 27.  I know odd size but it can be trimmed down if I want it to be smaller or just leave it the way it is...I have no idea what I am going to do with all these little quiltie thingies when it is all said and done.  So here are a few close ups, so you can get the BIG picture because so many times when looking on the Internet at a picture you miss a bit of details.

Here we have the middle, where I tried a new technique called cracked fabric.  I learned this on the web and I wish I could remember where exactly so I could give the person the proper credit.  Her cracked fabric was actually cracked fabric paper I think.  I used lutradur in the space I cut out only because my machine would just cease to sew if I tried to jump seams with it.  I was going to burn out the lutradur but rather liked the misty white effect it has, so it gets to stay!

Here we have what represents the night, the fall the change of season.  I used pre fab leaves and accented them with a variegated thread and outlined with some gold.  The gold is shinny but not so shinny in the picture.  The flower is fabric, it was cut with a Tim Holtz die.  My sister has the machine and dies so when I visited her I cut a bunch of them out.  Oh how I wish I had that machine!  Some day!

Finally here we have what represents days of summer and sunshine.  Each little swirly was hand cut because I don't have any pre cut ones and I just had to find a way to use this wonderful batik fabric,  it was so sunny!  I outlined with a dark blue thread and then couched some beautiful gold lame but unfortunately I didn't have enough so I tried to place the thread strategically and then finished it off with gold metallic fabric paint.

Why the kiss? well why not?  to me it is like the meeting of two minds or in this case two worlds, two times in space ahhhhhhhhhhh the Equinox!   Peace

Diversity of Freedom

Today I was thinking... "I want to paint today", paint what? and suddenly out of the blue I started to draw as usual on copy paper.  Why do I always do that?  So I get all done and think ok so why did I draw this particular person today?  Then I painted her.

I decided to call her Diversity of Freedom.  The reason is because of what happened last week when some nut was going to burn the Quran, the Muslim holy book.  I was so outraged that such an arcaic act could take place in this country, after all we as individulas have the right to practice religion of any faith in the USA.  So Freedom was born once again in the USA, and she could be our neighbor, friend, foe, sister, Mother....well you get the idea.  I have been a freedom fighter for human rights for a very long time and I guess it has to be worked out of my system once and for all in this particular matter.

I am not a Muslim nor do I follow their teachings, but they have the right to believe the way they want to just as we do as Christians, Catholics, Hindus, Jews, Orthadox, Atheist, Jehovia Witness, Luthern, Baptist, well you get the meaning.  Some days a girl just has to let it out!

Happy

This is what I have been working on today.  It is the first time in years I touched oil pastels and much to my dismay I had no black!   wonder where I put it?  So I tried mixing media by touching up with charcoal pencil and watercolor pencil.  Neither one worked the way I wanted of course because you simply cannot mix water and oil and have it come out right!  I am happy with her and now I will add some bling of course and that's all I can say about that for now, except I have to decide on what kind of bling I am to add. 

The Great Owl

There is a challenge over at the Hive called the "Great Owl Challenge" see the post here about it. You can join in the fun if you belong to the Hive where everything is about friendship, crafting, art, helping you, helping others.  This is my Owl for this challenge.  Over at the Hive there is more challenges if you want to join in.  They have one for anything "Autumn".  I may get time to join in on that one too.  There are so many talented artist on that site and even though I like mine I think there are much better ones already posted but I don't let that stop me, I think the more you play the better you eventually become. 

This little fellow is painted on cotton canvas with acrylic paint and even though it doesn't show well in my picture there is some twinkling h2o's in the background and some tiny silver stars on the hat.  It took me a full day to sketch and then paint and will be hung with some orangery and black ribbons and if I can find a cute vintage button or two that may be added as well.

ATC Fun!

This is much ado over at the Hive so if you make art, if you sell art, if you want to just look at art by some amazing and creative people just buzz on over to the Hive!  They even have a section for instructors!  If you don't see anything you like just ask and I bet you they will make it happen.

That being said I decided to participate in an ATC swap over at the Hive, which is being hostessed by Lisa Liza Lou Fulmer.  Her theme for this swap is the Autumn Equinox.  In case you don't  know the equinox is when everything will balance and be equal.  This is my interpretation of it.  If you look closely you will see more than meets the eye with hidden pictures and meaning.

 

It is made with water colors and gel pens.  Come on an join in the fun!  Click here for the Hive!
The  equinox is approaching soon!  In this year 2010, it will happen on September 23 in the US.  It is said that there will be a equal day consisting of 12 hours of daylight, and 12 hours of darkness.

Poetic Possibilities

Last June I went to Buffalo, NY to see my sister, and we embarked on a "journey" with Tim Holtz.  He was holding his classes at Buffalo Stamps and we were attending!  It was way exciting for words, a lifelong dream of mine to finally meet Tim.  In one of his classes he taught patchwork pandemonium, and this is my interpretation from his lips to my ears.

There were what my mind estimated about one thousand pieces to be made and assembled in what my mind said was "OMG! NOT ENOUGH TIME!"  Ha that's what my logical part of my mind said.  The other part was saying....listen to Tim...let it go! let it go!  and before I knew it I was creating pieces with wild abandon much like a person attending the Mad Hatter tea party.

The pieces were cut but we had to ink, paint, distress, emboss, rub, and then put them all in this wonder of order, which when at first glance I was (logically thinking) saying "ha not gonna fit".  Much to my surprise they all fit just as Tim said they would.   I am telling you the man is a genuine genius!

Needless to say I didn't finish it until this morning.  I did get an acceptable part of it done, however I wanted to add some of my own things to it to fully make it mine.  I also did considerably more stitching on it just because I wanted to.

We had these darling little hanger, and this is where the words "poetic possibilities" is located.   I like the sound of that little phrase, they were actually random words out of a book but hey they work for me.  I think of all the possibilities that someone could do with this.  Each piece is grunge board, individually done in an assortment of techniques which was the point of the class, learning technique.  It is mounted on chipboard to hold it all together. 

Tim said we were the last time he was teaching this particular class, so I was really glad that I got to take it.  I took all of his classes and will be posting more items in the days to come.  I want to say this about the man, he is really inspirational and truly a blessed and kind person.