11 X 14 Trade

Dana (who was my Secret Santa) & I decided to do a larger tree art trade... This is the one she did for me. She used Shin Han professional artist watercolors and graphite on Canson Rough 120lb watercolor paper. My request was for an old, kind, wise tree so it has irises (which are a flower representing wisdom), and uses the symbolism of the Hermit Tarot Card (who carries a lantern).

Dana wanted a blue, purple & green tree. We are learning a series of ruched flowers in quilt group this year so I embellished it with small 3-dimensional ruched & beaded flowers.

By Light Of The Moon Swap

"Midnight Magic"

"Meadow Moon"

"Forest Moon"

Getting ready to mail off the last of the cards for this year's swaps so far.... I almost cancelled out of this one.... I was kind of tapped out after the tree cards, but I'm glad I pushed through and did them. I'm excited now to get started on my tree next week...

Tree Swap & Journal Quilt Challenge

I just finished the last of my trees for the next swap..

I'm also doing a Journal Quilts Challenge this year and for my theme I am doing an 11X14 tree every month. We then post it to the 3Creative Studios Journal Quilts Flickr Group. where other art quilters can offer feedback. I'm finding that joining these challenges keeps me thinking creatively and everyone's work is so inspiring. I've finished drawing the design for my January tree and had a fun shopping trip to Quilts Etc. to pick out my fabric pallet.... and now I'm waiting for the purple sequins and beads to arrive that I ordered for embellishments. The bottom of the drawing looks like boulders but I will use the green fabric there and I think add some blue with watercolor pencils to the purple sky. The brown fabric has a great circular pattern for the tree trunk.

Secret Santa Arrived

Madame Butterfly - picture doesn't do it justice

Angel Cards w/Embossed Envelopes - picture doesn't do them justice as well

Tree Amulet made from silk fusion.... so awesome!!

I was so excited to get my package from Ang on Monday.... I swear this is true.... I know I heard angels singing the Hallelujah Chorus and the path to the mailbox was paved in gold. I slowly opened the mailbox and 10 lords came out leaping, butterflies on their heels... and there on a silk pillow was my box... I knew it would be worth the wait.

I quickly opened everything and ran to get my camera, when the new TV installer said, "Your internet is unhooked but someone will be out on Wed. afternoon to install it... WHAT???? Three days without the internet.... they might as well run off with my firstborn son.... it has been painful....

But on to happier things... Madame Butterfly is just beautiful. My bedroom is Asian with an emphasis on purple. I have the perfect spot to hang it there. The angel cards are far too beautiful to use and those I'm going to triple mat & frame to go in another perfect spot. And then there's the tree amulet... I have ALWAYS wanted one of those and I love that it's a tree!! And, yes, I have the perfect spot for it as well. It's as if Ang knew all the bare spots in my house that could use some good art. She also included another set of notecards.... some tiny seed beads.... a pkg. of ATC protectors and some yummy chocolate from Canada... THANKS Ang.... you were a perfect Secret Santa giver....

Secret Santa at IllustratedATC's

Now that my person has opened her present from me, I can post what I made. The wallhanging is made from patterns in the book, Spellbinding Quilts, by Maaike Bakker, using a paper piecing technique. It's embellished with various beads, sequins, cotton & metallic threads, and Swarovski crystals. I also made a 4-way ATC that makes a tree... Then a package with silk cocoons & rods, & other silk fibers. I'm still waiting for my present to arrive.... I have a suspicion it is tied up in customs somewhere.... This was such a fun thing to do.... everybody has been posting their presents as they arrive and it is fun to see people's art in larger sizes. Alot of awesome stuff! The most exciting thing, however, is Dana & I are going to do another trade of larger art so I can have some of her art... she creates the most awesome trees.... Links to her website: http://www.artistic-journey.com/ and http://artisticjourneys.blogspot.com/ Scroll down on her blog to see some of her trees... she has also designed a set of Tree Tarot Cards.

Actually Finished A Quilt Top

I just finished this. It is my favorite kind of quilt to make.... a lap quilt that is just right to cuddle in but still looks good on the couch. This might look like it takes a little bit of skill but it is only made from 6 1/2" squares and half-square triangles... it is 60 X 72.

Fun Mail Day!

Mine - "Skull In Stitches" ............. From - Martha in Maryland
This trade was the November Match. The background for Martha's tree is from melted crayon. That is kinda her specialty.... you would never guess that's what it is looking at it.... but it is so vibrant and beautiful... I am starting to accumulate an interesting tree collection...

Mine - "Standing Vigil" " ........... "Aura" - From Randi in Nashville

Randi and I have traded before. I made this tree for the Tree swap but made another one for Randi when she wanted it... I know, I'm one of those awesome accomodating people...

Mine - "Pear Tree" traded for...

"Mists Of Dawn" from Kari (pear blossom gallery) in Oregon

This card is even more outstanding irl... I'm going to get a frame for it...


With her card Kari also sent me some fun "stuff" I got so excited over it all as it is all things suited perfectly for me from someone who doesn't "know" me... some awesome little peices of fabric, beads and other embellishments and all the detail of the tree & house are paper pieced on a 1 3/4" square.... amazing... and it is just flawlessly done...