I have been very busy with an assortment of paintings/quiltings…works in progress. I am waiting for my new sewing machine to arrive, so all of my work is half done, without the quilting! Plus, I posted pictures of an idea from my friend -to share my “organizational faerie” creation- an ivy covered cabinet for my studio (to store bubbles and essential oils, lol!)

Heres the progress on my “Blackbird” piece. Does not contain any stitching YET!! And I still need to add something in the lower right corner.

The detail of the nest from the Blackbird wall hanging. Little blackbird eggs! Just layered cloth and paint. No stitching yet either!

I created a smaller 12″ x 12″ piece. Heres a picture of the painting on the cotton, plus some layered paintings on separate cloth. All designs/ cloth patterns were painted by me. No store bought fabric.

And finally, another painting, for the newest “Calla Lilly” wall hanging. This is JUST paint, no fabric or stitching yet! Lots of spaces that are unpainted/ decorated.

My quilted/painted book in the magazine Cloth, Paper, Scissors. http://www.quiltingarts.com/cpsmag/cpshome.html

Now to see it better you are going to have to go out and get the magazine (or subscribe!). Its such a beautiful magazine, chock full of inspirational ideas!

Although I still did not get my new machine, I am as busy as a bee creating new quilt layouts, cutting and painting fabric, etc. I loved the design on my most recent bag “Peacock Feather’s and Flutterby’s” so I’m integrating the feather theme and colors into a wall hanging. Only the feathers are from black birds and not peacocks! The sketch is 18″ x 24″, and the finished piece will be the same size. I’m currently building up layers of painted cloth and vintage fabrics…and I’ll soon post the art without the stitching so you can see my progress! *impatient*

I’m SO excited! I just found out yesterday that I have a double page spread in the magazine Cloth Paper Scissors!!! Its right there on pages 82 and 83 in their Fall 2005 issue. I sent them my fabric journal for *possible* publication- and magazine has featured every page of it!!! Hooray! Its a hand painted and quilted accordion style book, featuring a theme about DRAGONFLIES and art and such. *cartwheels* I would love to take pix of the open magazine with my work- but I don’t know if I can w/o permission.
Now back to work. Hee Hee-this incident has sent my head spinning and I’m more motivated than ever~*~*~*

A bag commission containing THREE of my favorite creations of nature- butterflies, peacock feathers and faeries!! Heres the front design of the bag, fabric layout and no stitching -I’ll explain later!! 🙁

and heres the inside pocket- for glitter stashing and gum wrapper trashing-

Nature is good, but the mechanical world of my sewing machine is NOT, as it’s not stitching correctly. *Off to the repair shop* This machine has given me SUCH trouble, and its only a few years old!!!

I named this one “Rose Under a Crescent Moon”. Size is 16″ wide by 24″ long. All hand painted fabrics, vintage lace and silks, free motion embroidery and applique etc etc…I combined SO many methods I have been studying and practicing!!! OhhhEEE- and her hair is silk from an antique wedding dress! Shiny silky white. Now to make a series of these enchantresses. Currently working on another titled “Blackbird, Come Hither!” Blackbirds and sepia and twisty trees, oh my!
For all you fae lovers out there (and I know there are many!!) working on a commissioned faery bag, pictures coming very soon. For now, bags by commission. I will wallow in my wall art phase until I feel my muse inspire me otherwise.
heres a closeup:

close up of her face

here the completed art. photo SERIOUSLY lacking in detail.

“Dried White Roses” In this painted and quilted wall hanging I’m exploring the similarities between dried white roses and vintage lace. I recently received a variety of beautiful, delicate old lace. The colors were fabulous- shades of antique white and sepia, aged and stained to perfection. I have a bunch of dried white roses by my desk, and I realized that their coloring was the same as the lace. I sketched a goddess type lady, who will have a lacy dress and hold in her hands white roses. In this piece I’m going to combine fabric collage (with the old lace) with fabric painting. Here’s a picture of myself painting the border design for this wall hanging. I’m painting on unprimed canvas with acrylics and fabric paints, later to be stitched into the quilt. Recently I’ve been interested in painting and dying my own fabrics for my art. Its taking over my life! ps- notice the white rose with angel wings, lol!

To see the layout sketch of my new art, along with the completed background

My scanner is broken, but heres a picture of the layout sketch. Its roughly 20″ long by 12″ wide

Heres the complete bkground, waiting to be sewn. Painted on unprimed canvas with handpainted fabric here and there. Celtic border hand painted.

Two beautiful fairies, and gave me the idea to post this corset belt that was part of my Halloween costume last year. I was an leafy elven creature. To make this, I sewed on silk ivy leaves, and then used green fabric paint to cover the places where I couldnt sew leaves (like around the grommets). To sew the leaves I just held them in place, and sewed them in rows. The leaves on the very top of the corset were folded over to the back. The leaves on the botton were left alone to show their leafy edges. Then, to finish the look (and make it coordinate with my purple tights) I laced the grommets with purple ribbon. I wore this over a black gypsy-ish shirt and black tulle skirt. It was fun to make and wear!

Just in time for summer, I bought BAGS FULL of old fabrics, lace, satins, silks, buttons, trims…the list goes on. I spent a good part of yesterday washing it all. Now I’m waiting for it to dry so I can sew bits and pieces of the fabric fragments onto my fabric paintings!!
Heres a small portion of my treasure!

My drying rack. What magic.

I opened a package of trim, and I found this illustration. It must be from the 20’s or 30’s!! I can’t wait to use the trim!

I found this vintage slip in a bag of sewing supplies and lace. It’s SO pretty! I think I’ll add it to my wardrobe, but as a skirt!

Here’s the detail of the bottom of the slip. It had little black bows, made from fuzzy flocking. And tattered tulle lining!

An old, dis-attached ceramic hand to place rings and whatnot. I think I’ll use it for my business cards.

Here’s some more photos from Spoutwood Farm Fairie Festival.