Week 35 Possibility

The week 35 journal quilt is based on one of my favorite quotations. It is by Marcus Solero "A possibility was born the day you were born and it will live as long as you live." The background was canvas that was painted with acrylic paint. I then used a stencil and altered the appearance with Tulip fabric spray paint and glimmer mist. As you have noticed this is one of my very favorite techniques. I have had the most amazing experience with the Tim Holtz Vagabond. This is a electric die based cutting machine. The dies that can be used with this machine are amazing. Although it is designed for scrapbookers, collage artists, card makers, and mixed media artists, it can cut fabric. The flowers, stem and the birds are all cut with the dies that fit the Tim Holtz machine. I used fabric from old upholstery books. The quotation was printed on paper, distressed with Tim Holtz distress ink and backed with decorative paper. The twine was used to suspend the quotation from the bird. Embroidery thread was used to embellish the flowers. Take this opportunity to brace all of your possibilities.

Bees Please Quilt for Humane Society Auction

This quilt was designed for the Little Traverse Bay Humane Society Auction. The auction is their largest fund raising event. It is held the last week in August every year. The quilt was made using a moda charm pack. The bees were embroidered by machine. The actual quilting of the machine was done by Judy at the Quilted Cottage in Saginaw, Michigan.

Week 34 Bloom

Week 34 This journal quilt was so much fun. It contains a couple of my favorite techniques and images. The background was made from painted canvas. The canvas was painted with acrylic paint. A stencil was placed over the top of the painted canvas. Tulip fabric paint as well as glimmer mist in multiple colors. These were used to give the floral appearance. The butterfly and "bloom" text were embellishments that were added. As summer comes to a close, it is fun to complete a journal quilt with all those fabulous summer time elements.

Week 33 Japanese Coi

Week 33 The japanese coi journal quilt stemmed from some beautiful japanese fabric that I have. I started with a piece of upholstery fabric for the back. The asian character fabric was sewn around batting for the center square. This gave it some dimension. The Coi was cut from a decorative fabric. I ironed wonder under stabilizer to the back of the coi fabric. I was then able to cut the fabric along the border of the fish. The coi was then ironed to the quilt square and embellished with decorative machine stitching. Red is typically not a color that I use often. This was a fun way to use fabrics that were hidden in my stash. The trim is a very decorative and has multiple colors. This was a great color experiment for me. I hope you enjoy.

Week 32 Butterflies

Week 32 Butterflies

This week's journal quilt is all about butterflies. I was able to combine two of my obsessions. Butterflies and stencil painting. Since my trip to Mackinac Island and the butterfly house, I cannot create enough of these quilts with butterflies! The canvas was painted pink with regular acrylic paint. A stencil by crafters workshop was used to resist the Tulip fabric paint and the Glimmermist. Multiple colors were used to give the appearance of changing colors. A Fiskers punch was used for the fireflies and the butteflies. Scrapbook paper in a variety of colors was used. The metallic firefly is one that I have had for years and was added for even more dimension. Tulip crystals were added to embellish the butterflies and fireflies. This provides a dimensional effect. Finally, the border was done with a floral sequin ribbon. If you haven't tried the crafters workshop stencils you are missing out! They are so much fun and provide such and interesting pallet to work with.

Week 31 See

Week 31 This quilt square was completed using fabric that I received in the Cloth Paper Scissors fabric swap. The fabric was died with coffee and then painted with fabric paints and Lumiere paints. Lisa Carlson designed this fabric and I was fortunate enough to obtain the fabric through the swap. The fabric square already had the eyes, the striped border, and the beautiful gold swirls. I used an aged rust dye to imprint a music stamp on one end. I then took a quote by M. Ghandi "You must be the change you wish to SEE in the world" and put that on paper. This was sewn onto another piece of decorative paper. Together they were stitched onto the fabric. Magnetic poetry words were added to the top with a key hole embellishment. The trim was added to complete the piece! Thank you to Lisa Carlton for her fabric for this piece. Thank you Lindsey Guenther for following this blog!