Another Altered Board Book Spread

Week 3's assignments for the Art, Heart, and Healing class are so fun! I just finished another spread in my altered board book. This spread is all about celebration.

I celebrate: family, my soul mate, creating art, learning new things, quiet me time, amazing supportive friends, furry monster, making a difference, my inner ninja pirate.

Some silly and some very important things.

A close up of the left side of the page where I'm celebrating my soul mate.

Here is a close up of the right side where I'm celebrating my furry monster.

I loved doing this spread the most I think. Letting the good things come out really feels nice. Next up I get to make an empathy monster! Sewing! My favorite!

Week 3 Assignment Part 1

I started the Art, Heart, and Healing week 3 assignment today. I managed to get through the first part. I finished the cover of my altered board book.

I'm calling the book "soul search".

A close up of the quote tag I made. I found the quote by Henry Ellis online and really thought it went with the theme of this book.

Step 2 of week 3's assignment is to do another spread in my book! How fun!

Stocking

I joined in the modern stocking swap on flickr awhile back and decided to go with something fun and non traditional. I drew out my own stocking pattern and got to work.

I used vintage chenille, two different Amy Butler fat quarters, vintage pom pom trim, and rick rack. I love how it turned out and was sad to see it sent away.

Here is a close up of the strip pieced heel portion. I used the rick rack over the seam on heel and toe. The stocking is also fully lined in a white muslin. It is about 17 inches long and has a 7 inch top opening. Great for filling full of holiday cheer!

WIP Sunday: Peacock Quilt

WIP Sunday: Peacock Quilt
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

Remember those strips of fabric I showed a while back on a WIP Sunday? Well they are starting to take form as a quilt! I sewed strip sets together and sub cut them down. It is a Chinese coin quilt loosely based on a very vague pattern I found online. In between each of these rows of "coins" will be a 2 inch sashing. the entire quilt will then have a 4 inch boarder around the whole thing. I'm loving how the blues and green are coming together. The back of the quilt will be some fabulous peacock fabric. I'm going to have it professionally quilted. I hope she can do some feather type quilting to it in some variegated thread!
I also got to take the two hour trip to the craft store yesterday and I got the interfacing I need to finish up the polka dot and stripe place mats!

Buckeye Beauty Quilt

My very first quilt is done! I've posted about it a few times as it has been a LONG work in progress, but last night I finished hand sewing the last 12 inches of binding. Whew!

It is an overdue gift to my Mom. (Mother's Day and Birthday)

I'm so proud to have finished it! Mom already loves it.

Here is a peek of the back. It has a strip of the cream colored fabric running through a matching green with cream polka dot. You can also see the quilting well in this pic. I had it professionally done by a local long arm quilter. I love the leaf pattern she helped me choose.

The binding was probably the most time consuming part of the entire quilt! I'm a very slow hand stitcher. I'm super proud that I did it all and I love the way the stripe binds the quilt.

I can't believe I made it! On to the next one! What an addicting, but time consuming hobby!

Week 2's Assignment

I have to share the second part of week two's assignment for the class I'm taking over on ning. I shared the first spread in my altered board book about me and this is my second spread in that book. We were supposed to choose a childhood trauma. I was bullied in school much like many other children. Something that stands out to me is when I wasn't allowed to jump rope with the other girls. I was a tomboy so playing with the boys didn't bother me, but sometimes because of it the girls wouldn't let me play. Don't get me wrong I did get to jump rope at times, but I was always disappointed when I wasn't allowed to join in. Just seemed like something I could put on to the page. If you'd like to see it larger you can visit my flickr page.

A close up of the the rope turner and me jumping. I used book pages in the background and my new water soluble crayons.

Here is a close up of the other rope turner.

It was a fun spread to do and I'm feeling much better about my people drawing abilities. The whimsy style is so fun to play with.

A little Haunting A Bit Late

I taught a wonderful class at the art center for Halloween. I found the cutest chipboard houses available from a wonderful seller on Etsy and couldn't resist ordering some for the kids to put together and decorate. Here is the Etsy seller: http://www.etsy.com/shop/RetiredLetsDoLunch

The shop is so full of fun chipboard stuff to make pretty! They even did a bulk order for me to save money since I was doing the class on a tight budget at the local art center. Wonderful seller and everyone should check her out.

This is my house that I made as an example for the kids to see. They turned out so fun! I wish I would have gotten some pics of the kids finished pieces, but sadly I forgot my camera!

Here is the front of my haunted house. I made mine pretty fancy with the scalloped cut pieces and such. Most kids just went for simple. I also used ink to grunge mine up a bit. I couldn't resist.

Here is a side shot. I have to show this from all angles because I'm just so happy with how it turned out. Check out that little gable!

Here is a back yard shot complete with a trio of gravestones! Spooky!

Each artist in the class also got a battery operated tea light to add that spook factor. You can peek at my flickr for a pic of my house all lit up.

All of the wonderful papers were also purchased on Etsy from some of my favorite paper sellers. Everyone should browse these shops for some wonderful selections of papers at great prices.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/JennifersCozyCottage

http://www.etsy.com/shop/paperpeddler