The Tree and Leaf Project -The Owl

This project is starting out with a bang. I didn't plan on starting the leaves for the tree until 2012. However, I felt the tree could use a few friends. The first was this owl. I made this owl from a sketch. I traced the pieces of the sketch like a pattern onto wonder under and ironed them onto scraps of fabric. I was able to iron them onto the base fabric and free motion stitch them into place. The eyes were buttons that were connected with wire. The fringe on the bottom was attached with push pins. After he was stuffed the owl was placed on his favorite branch! Now the tough part, what to name him?

Week 41 Pumpkin Patch

The week 41 journal quilt is all about fall. I love pumpkins and I find piles of them so fun to look at. The picture that is included with this journal quilt is taken at Pond Hill Farm which is in Northern Michigan in Harbor Springs. It is such a fun and happy place. The journal quilt was made using upholstery fabric scraps. The Tim Holtz vagabond was used with the pumpkin die cut for two of the pumpkins. The rounder pumpkin was done by an applique method. Free motion stitching was used to adhere the pumpkins to the festive fabric. May everyone have a fun fall!

Fabric Postcard #1 Halloween Witch

Stitched postcards have taken off as a technique for mixed media. The book called Stitched Postcards is edited by Christa Rolf and is a great resource. It is published by Search Press. I have decided to add a fabric postcard a week to this blog as they are quick mini mixed media projects that lend themselves to scraps. They are fun to make and are easy to fit into a busy schedule. This first postcard is constructed from an upholstery fabric remnant. The witch, bat and fence are cut with a sizzix die cut by Tim Holtz. The witch and bat are simply black paper. The fence is muslin that has been distressed with Ranger Distress ink, Vintage photo. I have used free motion stitching to attach the pieces to the background. Happy Haunting.

Week 40 Sew

The week 40 journal quilt was an experiment in stamping on muslin. Using Ranger Distress inks and multiple stamps the background was constructed. I used fusible web to cut out the sewing vintage sewing machine. Buttons and a vintage number from Tim Holtz were added as embellishments. This was a true mixed media project and so much fun!

Week 39 Leaves All Around

The journal quilt for week 39 was a mixed media project. The tree and leaves are actually made from scrap booking paper. The leaves are made using a small Fiskers die cut. The paper were tiny scraps of old scrapbooking paper in a variety of fall colors. The tree was a die cut that was made from my favorite paper store, The scrapbook peddler. The background was remnant fabric. The leaves were adhered using fabric glue and the tree was sewn on using variegated thread. The colors were spectacular this year in Northern Michigan.

Tree and Leaf Project

As this year is winding down, I was trying to think of some new creative ideas for this blog. I have managed to keep up with my 10" X10" weekly journal quilt. It has been such a great experience. I have learned so many new techniques and have found it so much fun to fill my spare time creating. While reading Studios Magazine, I saw a great studio by Annabel Wrigley. Her business Little Pincushion is so awesome. Her studio has a tree on the wall that has hooks to hold bags and other items. I loved that tree. I decided to make a tree for a bare wall in my studio. I thought that I could construct a tree out of foam core. The 2012 blog will be called Leave me to my quilting! Each week I will construct a fabric leaf. The leaf idea came from Jennifer Solon who is featured in the Quilting Arts Gift Magazine. She collages fabric scraps into art leaves. At the end of 2012 I should have 52 decorative and mixed media leaves on this tree. It should be quite a journey.

To make the tree, I took a die cut tree and used an overhead project to trace this tree onto butcher paper that comes on a roll. I then cut the tree out. I used three large pieces of white foam core and traced the tree. I used an exacto knife to cut out the tree. I adhered the pieces together using tape on the backside. I used spray paint to give the tree it's color. I started with brown primer and then used a hammer metal brown to give the tree some dimension. I plan on adding embellishments in addition to the leaves to make a full outdoor scene. The first of which was to make a squirrel hole in the front of the tree. This was done using burlap and black fabric. I am looking so forward to continuing this blog in 2012. There will be small entries with additions to this tree as we head towards 2012. I will continue to finish the last 13 journal quilt entires too. May you enjoy the remainder of 2011 and look forward to an artful 2012.

Vintage Quilt and Rocking Chair

This quilt was done using a Moda charm pack. What is so amazing about these charm packs is that you get to see different fabrics together. These are often colors and patterns that you might not choose on your own. This quilt was pieced by me, and then quilted by Judy Becker of Quilted Cottage. The rocking chair and quilt are donated to With a Little Help From My Friends pet crisis center in Bellaire Michigan. This is an amazing organization that helps dogs and cats in their time of need. http://www.walhfmf.org/