Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Journal Quilts - Building Sand Castles




My niece, Alexis, spent a good amount of time with me when she was younger. We went on some amazing adventures together. One day in 1988, when she was about 4 years old, we spent the day on the beach in Carmel, CA building sand castles. I photographed her when she was unawares, as she began her castle. It was a bright, sun-shiny day, quiet and peaceful. We had tucked ourselves up in a cove, protected from the ocean swells. This journal quilt that I made for her birthday this year - she'll be 24 - is a memory of that small journey, proof that time is fleeting and definitely going quickly by us.


Alexis' photograph is printed on silk and attached to some lovely batik fabrics that were in my stash that are remindful of the sea. Other embellishments include over-dyed rick rack and trim, fresh water pearls, beads, shells and charms along with metallic thread and free-motion quilting. The back of the quilt has a poem about sand castles and a commemorative quilt label. Click on the photos for a king-size view and read the wonderful poem.


I included the image of the seahorse on my quilt label because it is truly my favorite of all sea creatures. The seahorse is the only species on Earth where the males give live birth to the young. After the female is fertilized she squirts the fertilized eggs into her mate and then swims off and away - no doubt for a quick trip to Nordstom's. My kinda' gal. The male seahorse is left to the gestation and birth of the sea-ponies. Fitting.

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Jill - The Bingo Babe




My sister Jill mentioned that while I had indeed made her a paperdoll, I had never made her a paperdoll with HER face on the doll - as I had done for other members of the family. She seemed a bit put out about it, as a matter of fact. So in celebration of her 58th birthday I made her a paperdoll with HER face on it. (This is her when she was around 20 or so -- it's been all downhill since then.)


Since Jill is into Bingo in a big way, but also likes Keno, slots, cards, dice - you name it - I decided she needed to be a Bingo Babe with added pieces representing other gambling disciplines. The pictures above depict the front and rear view of the doll. The Bingo Card is kind of a 'sandwich board dress'. Underneath it on the front is a "Welcome to Vegas" bejeweled sign, and underneath the back there is a slot machine. On the back of the Bingo sandwich board you will note the Chapel with the number "5" on the steeple - this number being significant to Jill - you'll have to ask her! Also note her quart-size bingo dauber hanging from her hand -- I didn't want her to run out!


My goal was to make this Babe the gaudiest of the gaudiest with a headress to rival Beach Blanket Babylon. I think I succeeded. Go forth and win big, you Bingo Babe, you. Oh, and Happy Birthday sis! (As always, click on the pictures for a close-up viewing.)

Anniversary Post Card




My sister Jody and her husband Gary went on an Alaskan cruise in 2007. Jody hates to fly. (I secretly think she's waiting for them to build a bridge to Hawaii, so she can drive there.) So, it was with great amazement that she got on a !! helicopter !! to go see the glacier while in port in Alaska. This is a fabric replication of a photo of her and Gary standing on said glacier. I used landscape quilting techniques along with printing photos on fabric, lots of thread painting, Angelina fibers, glitter and other embellishments. I felt it was necessary to also commemorate the helicopter ride, so note the back side of the FPC.

European Village




I partially created this European Village fabric postcard using some items from a kit purchased from Bonnie Sabel (author, Positively Postcards), which I then proceded to change up a bit, by adding a wonderful pastoral button from my button stash and lots of thread painting. All of the trees and shrubbery have been done by "painting" them in with thread using my sewing machine, as well as some shadowing on the buildings. The foliage just leaps out at you when viewing the card in person. Click on the photo for a closer view.

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Sultry Sensibilities - An FPC Triptych




The Fabric Postcards shown above are part of a triptych that I'm doing as a limited release of 25 sets. The lady didn't fit on one card, but I thought she looked pretty neat lounging over two cards. The third part of the triptych is the lady with the red flower bonnet below this post. One tryptic is being donated to this year's Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show for the Wendy's Wish Project.
As always, click on the pictures to get a larger view - look for the jewels on her fingers and toes.