Ah yes, I can see you twirling the fabrics around you singing Matchmaker. You now have that picture of my singing telegram audition firmly in your head.

Well I don't know if my last piece will be my best piece, but I have chosen the best verses for it! So I hope I can do it justice.

Thank you Susan and Elizabeth. I have to say that this piece really gave me fits for a long time. I am thrilled that I finally finished all 12 months and I don't have an idea in my head for January yet. I just got my challenge fabric today in the mail.

Elizabeth, I thought to myself that I am truly the queen of anything variegated when I posted the pic. You know me and shiny bling bling things. I want you to know that I went through all 4 boxes of the fancy fabrics before I found the variegated chiffon. I started thinking of the matchmaker song as I pulled each one out to audition it.

And by the way, you know the saying...save the best for last--the last is always the best! So being last isn't the worst thing that could happen.

I guess in 2 days we start all over again.Until next year then...

Very lovely. You are the queen of glitz without making it look gaudy or cheap. Can't wait to see and touch.

And now with a very red face, I will be the last to finish.

Absolutely incredible, Linda. I am aching to see it in person!! All the elements work so well together and the detail is amazing. Congratulations for finishing- with a day to spare! It's really been fun to do the challenge this year and I look forward to next year's too. Susan

WINTER'S DANCE

Winter's Dance is made of 2 napkin designs. The base is a white napkin with silver swirls covered by a purple metallic net fabric. That is quilted in swirls with variegated metallic thread. The snowflakes are all kaleidoscoped from the same napkin pattern, fused onto Timtex, and embellished with glitter glue and crystals. The flakes are layered, which of course doesn't show in the picture.

I was stuck for days, wanting more dimension in the piece. I had the snowflakes figured out, but the background was flat until I found the variegated organza with the shiny dots on it. I kept thinking about an underlay of flakes, but finally realized last night that what the background really needed to be believable was whirling wind. As soon as I tried cutting a few wisps I knew I had solved my dilemma. I am now very pleased with the final piece. The only thing I think is a negative is the quality of the picture. My hands continue to shake when I take the pictures. I need a tripod.There is also no sunshine again today, and the natural lighting is very dreary.

Elizabeth, I am going to take your class to nail down how to use the lighting options in PSE's render for photos. Get ready for your biggest pain student:)

I'm getting a kick out of all the hits this blog is getting- I suspect it's because it's the default for my internet and comes up every time I log on! Susan

HIDDEN TREASURES

Here is my November piece, finally. It is made of 7 different napkins and only 2 fabrics. The binding is also a fabric. The challenge color for this month is gold and is hidden in the dark rows-hence the title of the piece. Fall is my favorite season and I just couldn't use only one napkin design this month I had to use them all. The bargello design was the only way to get to use all of them:)

Still working

Hi there,
I am still working on Nov. and Dec. for this year. I am doing the sewing on the Nov. piece and hope to have it finished today or tomorrow. I already know what I am doing for December and just have to print it out of the computer and sew it up.

I have had to help DH play with the snowblower the last 2 days.
Boy, I can't wait for spring!

Just saying....

It's December 1st -- November isn't done, though I do know what I want to do for both November and December -- but the Christmas season being busy.... I'm just saying -- I'll be late.

Two other items: Susan's new pieces -- great job! What a cohesive group you have -- they will look incredible together. Actually they do, since I have your pictures of the entire group already and they look great.

Also, a new post on next year's challenge -- let me know what you think.

Susan's December Piece

Musings about next year's challenge

I was thinking of next year's challenge and the "rules" and here's what I came up with. What do you two think?

Size: 20 x 11
Theme: Choose a theme and stick with it (making it as broad or as narrow as you like)
Fabric/Color: Choose one of two options: pick a color theme for the year (nature, seasonal, triadic, analogous, color wheel, muted, etc.) OR purchase a "nickel club" pack (40-5" charm squares) from Batiks Etc (about $11.00) and use some of two of them in each month's piece.

That's it.

What say you all?

I knew that if I checked the challenge someone would have a posting for November. Very seasonal--just got back from Cleveland and wondering why we are still here in the north. I like this piece. It really makes me feel the cold. I am still trying to figure out what I should do for this month. Maybe I will get to fiddle around with some ideas tomorrow.

Susan's November Piece

Thanks! It seemed a little "beige" while I was working on it, but I guess it's more earthy than most of my pieces. And I'm actually thrilled to have it done ahead of the end of the month.

There is not much printed organza on this one. In the bottom right corner there is some organza -- the lotus pod with the stem. Then there is some sheer orange poly-organza fused on. Everything else is stamped or fused. The hand-quilting took the most time. I had to carve the lotus pod stamp and the nut stamp. I tried using actual pods and nuts, but they're not flat and don't connect enough with the surface. And I had to go buy special beads! Unbelievable -- fifty thousand beads in this house and not one was right for this piece!

I think James is talking about relations between people -- with this verse he is just finishing a discussion of the evil that comes from the tongue, and the difference between earthly wisdom and heavenly wisdom. But I suppose since I have applied it out of context that it could be interpreted in light of Jeremiah -- especially with regard to the evil that comes from the tongue -- the deceptive words that Jeremiah keeps warning about.

Very nice!! Not exactly beige! Congratulations on finishing so early. Susan

Love the stamps Elizabeth! Is orange your color this month? I can't help wondering if James is saying this for after the end. after last night's chapters in Jeremiah it is hard to believe in the future upbeat message of what James is saying.
I think the stamps are really cool. Did you print everything on organza? The binding is so much more vivid than the insides of your art.

It had to happen sooner or later....

that I would actually finish the current month's piece IN the current month! So, TADA! Here is my October piece called "Offspring". As for who I would invite to join the challenge, I don't know. I was sort of thinking we might like to have a few more people in to make it a little more interesting. Of course, the intimate number is nice too -- just was thinking of a way to keep the artistic conversation going.

Thank you Susan. It took me three days to do all the stitching. I get started and then the pieces keep calling for more. I am thrilled to be finished because I have to start on Elizabeth's birthday and Christmas gifts. I already know what I am making, but I need to get started on them this week to get done on time.

About the new people--Bobbie is my very good friend who I have been teaching how to quilt this year. She, Elizabeth, and Becky (who used to work at Quilt Trends) and I are all doing a round robin together. Those are the only people I would ask to join in.
Sharon says she will do the challenge with us next year. If Sharon was one of the original of the four of us and I can get Bobbie to throw in, then you and Elizabeth could each pull in someone. Elizabeth knows a lot more people than I do, so I don't know who she is thinking of asking.

Linda, the new piece is gorgeous!! I'm sure it is way more so in person, and luckily, I will be there soon! It is so colorful and of course, I love the leaves. Our styles are SO different and there is hardly any stitching on my pieces so if we have an exhibit, there will be something for everyone to love. I'm aiming for a different approach next year but have yet to figure anything out. If I can ask one person to join too, I will do so. Susan

I asked Bobbie to join, but she says she doesn't have the skill level to work with us. I am going to keep working on her. What about Becky? Sharon says she is interested in the challenge for next year. She has been working on some things that she thinks would work for the size constraints. I think she may feel too overwhelmed to try to play catch up for this year's pieces.

You're right -- the picture doesn't do it justice -- at least from what I saw on Saturday. I see the "tubers" have been replaced by leaves. :) The colors are really beautiful together. I like this one a lot.

Okay ladies -- start thinking of venues. And also whether we want to invite others into the challenge for 2011, maybe with a limit? Like each of us invite one person? What do you think?

GILDED GINGKOS

This is my October challenge. The picture does not do it justice. I loved working on this. All the fabrics were left over scraps from a jacket I had made 15 years ago. They were just too pretty to throw away. I knew someday that I would drag them out for the perfect fall project. Fall is my favorite season and so my piece is very predictable-leaves. The flavor of the month for me was fuchsia. I actually had not planned on using napkins in this piece, but they wiggled their way in. The golden leaves and the 3 golden strips are from the napkin. My favorite parts of the construction were the piecing of the background--totally serendipitous, and gilding the leaf fabrics. That is always a chance to play with the machine stitches and with the metallics. I just love glitz. The dimensions ended up being a little larger than 10", but I wasn't about to ruin the design for the rule.

I don't care exactly what the final parameters are, I am focusing on completing art that depicts a year of Jewish Holy days. That is going to be my primary focus. When I am in that zone, I usually pick the technique that I think will make the most unique piece of Jewish art as opposed to the "menorah syndrome art".
I like the 20" x 11" size format.

Then let's just do it the way we did this year. I just thought the comparisons would be fun to see. Susan

What if...

What if instead of picking 12, we take this list and choose from it as we desire -- that way the art drives the technique rather than the technique driving the art?

Here is a list of surface design and embellishment techniques I work with. Do you think you could find 12 that really interest you? Otherwise we can go another route for the challenge. I think 20 by 11 would work out well and be a little less narrow. Susan


Angelina fiber and film
Brayer painting
Cloth-paper lamination
Collage
Discharge
Dye-na-Flow paint (watercolor techniques)
Expandable paint
Fabric beads
Foil on fabric
Gelatin printing
Lumiere paint (printing techniques)
Lutrador and heavy interfacing
Meat tray printing
Misty Fuse sandwich
Modeling paste
Monoprinting
Nature printing
Painted Wonder Under
Paintstiks
Photo transfer fabrics and papers
Punching
Rust dyeing
Screen printing
Sheer layers
Silk Fusion
Soy wax batik
Stamping
Stenciling with multiple media
Sunprinting
Texturizing
Transparency transfer

Frost and such

I thought we might get a frost last night -- probably north of us they did, but we've had the heat on and I threw an extra quilt on my feet last night.

If we were to do broad technique -- would we decide the whole year at one time and keep a list, or go month-to-month? And are we thinking 20" x 11"? The small size is very do-able. I really liked the freedom of the "fabric collection" -- I'm not that big on technique (since so many of mine end up in the trash -- most of them). But I'm trying to learn to be flexible -- so whatever works. I'll learn from it.

So last night I got tired of the clutter in the studio -- and started a bit of a cleaning / reorganizing project that took me into today. I finished about 1 pm this afternoon (finished being a relative term), took a shower and hopped in the car to go get The Boy. Anyway -- the studio looks quite a bit better and I can actually see my entire design wall -- something that has not been possible for quite some time (I shudder to think how long). It feels good to walk in there now. I removed non-art or quilting items that have a way of migrating into that room. I don't think I got every last one of them out -- but what a difference. Removing the magazines and extemporaneous books was huge -- and I took out all the boxes of photographs and gave them a new home. That gave me an entire shelf! I ended up with two full shelves, and an entire 4 feet or so of floor space under the shelves -- wahoo! Next stop -- the closet! But it can wait until January!

Thanks for the comments. You can tell I think "frost" a little sooner than you do down there!

Maybe next year we should choose broad techniques for each month and each do the same one. It might not look as cohesive but it would be interesting to see the different interpretations. Susan

Love this piece Susan. It has lots of depth. I am still working on the Martin quilt and only have the borders to sew on today before I hand it off to be quilted. Then I am going to start my October challenge. Still haven't committed to any design.

Elizabeth, yes I am in for 2011. I got a new Jewish calendar this weekend, so I am ready to go. What are our parameters going to be for this challenge?

Loving It

Susan, I'm really loving this piece -- it has a lot of depth, transparency AND translucency. Very nice -- very Fall!

Susan's October piece

This is painted and burn-cut Lutrador with an ExtravOrganza overlay and silver foil for frost.

Bold and Blue

Thank you, thank you. The centers of the flowers are a star print that I fussy cut, and then there is a small bead in the middle, then free-motion zigzag around the edge of the center.

I don't know what to do for October either -- but it will come to me soon -- I'm still noodling it around. I have three colors left, a deep gold, an orange-y color, and a green. I think I want to use the green in December, so that leaves the gold and orange. Orange is SO October -- and I don't want to be predictable, but what's a girl to do when there are only three colors to choose from?

The gold color is sort of the same as topaz which is the November birthstone -- so, again -- predictable? I generally decide on the color after the theme for the month, but then that by itself is predictable, no? I'm just stuck in a predictable rut! :)

So are we "all in" for 2011? I'm game.

Very bold and very blue Elizabeth! What are the red centers? Did you fold those to get the star shape? What is your color for October? I have no clue what I am doing for October either.

I have been working on the Martin quilt and hope to have the top finished by Thursday to hand over to Sharon. So far, I am liking it a lot. Each night I lay in bed wondering what to do for October and the napkins, but nothing has come to mind yet. I am thinking of doing a fall naturescape for this month.

Very nice! It's a very happy piece and I like the dimension and the way it makes shadows. Susan

Sky Blue September

And now I'm behind again, but September is done and I can think about October! This was one of the harder ones, but I tried at least three new things: free-motion with the zigzag on, ink painting, and paint as a resist. And yes, the flowers are dimensional.

Thanks

Thanks for your comments -- this was an interesting piece to work on. I tried two separate transfers and chose from the two of them. The second one had more color, but his one had more possibilities I guess -- even though it didn't transfer as well. I did a lot of work with the pastels and the inks. There is not much stitching on this one -- guess I burned myself out stitching on the last few. :)

As for design ideas for layering backgrounds -- nah -- it's just a painting technique mostly -- serendipitous and design as you go. You need watercolor paper, gesso, matte medium, stencils and Golden fluid acrylics. Also, sponge brushes, heat gun, stencils, and stamps.

Off to think about September.

I love this piece Elizabeth! That big flower grabs my attention immediately. I had to look for the color before I realized that it was the mustard yellow. I love the painting on this one! I can't see the part that is 3D--I'll have to wait until Friday:)

As for your questions--the orchids are the print from the napkins. I fused them to felt and free motion stitched them, then cut them out as slips and placed them over the branches. I only tacked them partially onto the background, so that I could arrange the edges to make them 3D. It will make better sense when you see it on Friday.

I was thinking that we could do some of this layering stuff you have been doing on Friday. Do we have to have a design idea before we start? I don't have many ideas floating around today in my head.If we could actually complete a couple of layers that would help me figure out how to do this magic that you are doing.

Elizabeth, what an incredible piece! I can't wait to see it in person.. It just glows. Susan

Under The August Sun

Finally finished and posting August! No sheers this time -- just pastels, inks, transfers -- and a little 3D.

Ooh -- very nice. I can see a little bit of the dimension -- did you cut the napkin into pieces? Is it on a batik or is that the napkin background?

I like working regularly, but I don't know if I can commit again -- I'll let you know as we get closer to the end of the year. Fall is my busiest time and if I get behind I'll probably not want to push myself.

Linda, your piece is so beautiful. Very serene. I can't see the 3D features but will soon! I'm glad you like the idea of continuing the challenge next year but I'll stick to 12 months! Susan

I forgot to mention that my color for the month is magenta. I actually couldn't decide whether to use magenta or fuchsia, so I cut them in half and used both. I will be doing the same thing for October with the same two colors. I used more magenta than fuchsia, therefore the color this month defaulted to magenta. Both of these colors are my favorites, so I just had to use them together.

Susan, I was also thinking that we should do this again for next year. It forces me to try a new technique for each one. I don't know what the common thread:) for the actual challenge should be, but I have already decided on my theme. I am going to do a Jewish holiday for each month, so that I can make a perpetual calendar. The big challenge for me will be the number of pieces that I will have to make. There are more than 12 months in the Jewish year, and every year is different.I was also thinking of trying to sketch out some ideas beginning now, since this week begins the new for the Jewish year.
Happy New Year!!

Summer Orchids

Well, I am back to the napkins. This one is also 3D, but the picture doesn't show it. I think I like this one and my August piece the best. I also like my January piece, but it was very frustrating to do. I think I like making my pieces 3D. There is something very challenging about figuring out how to make it work.

Elizabeth, you always say you have your idea image in your head and you work and work until you get it onto your art piece. I realized today that I have worked serendipitously on all of my pieces except for 2--the January piece and the March piece. The first one was the most frustrating, but I have loved working on the rest. I only start with the color of the challenge fabric and a napkin and the rest happens as I go. No wonder I can't draw my quilt ideas in a sketchbook.

Hi Linda. I'm glad you like my September piece. It was fun to use the bright orange leaves on the blue background. Next month starts the greens. Your bundle definitely has a nicer yellow/green than mine so I'll be covering up most of the December background, but then, I guess I cover up most of the colors. I can't wait to see your pieces in person since it's hard to tell what's napkin and what's fabric. Two ideas!! We might have to do this again next year- 20 by 11- then I won't be able to put an 8x10 photo across the width! Actually, I was hoping to be more accomplished with the photos by now but it hasn't happened. Looking forward to seeing your new piece(s). Susan

Love the leaves Susan. Fall is my favorite season.
My Service berry tree just turned all yellow yesterday. The maple is already starting to turn and it is always the last on the street to go.

I am disappointed that I can't sign up for your class here in November. Barry is having eye surgery and has a follow up appointment. It is supposed to be that Saturday. We are going to double check the dates tomorrow.

I am working on my September piece and actually hope to have it finished today.My,aren't we diligent this month! I am actually thinking about making a second piece for this month. I had 2 ideas for two different sets of napkins, so I am thinking that I may have to complete a second one to justify buying all these napkins.

Susan's September Piece

WOW!!!

I've been teaching for two days so hadn't checked the blog. You two were very busy! Linda, your leaves are fabulous and I love the colors of the birds against the foliage. You two are so much more stitch oriented than me- there isn't one stitch on my August piece. Elizabeth, your pieces are both wonderful and you surely are pulling out all the techniques. I'm jealous of your being able to see each other's pieces in person but we'll have a good time visiting in November. Susan

Art fest on the blog

We have an artfest going on the blog -- four pieces all at once! I think that's a first.

Susan, I'm so impressed with those fine lines on the screen printing in your August piece -- I still haven't mastered that. The more I look at your piece, the more I like it. I've been looking back through your pieces and picturing them hanging as a group -- it will be wonderful.

Linda, I saw those leaves before you stitched them -- golly, have they changed. I like the colored threads, and the cords. Want to see it up close of course. This piece is really fun and playful, as well as pretty. A lot of stitching.

I've been trying to think of a way to get all the photographs together of each of us. They show up in "streams" on the blog, so that may not be the best way. I'm going to noodle that because I think it would be good to see them all at once.

Linda, I can't play this week. First week of school and really busy -- 60,000 mile checkup on my car, appointment with a college counselor, yada yada. Maybe the week after would work. Plus I still need to get August done -- ;P

Jungle Songs

The color of the month for this is dark green. I thought it was evident until Elizabeth asked me what color fabric I used:) The birds are auto machine embroidered onto felt and then cut out as patches. The leaves were all stamped on 3 different green fabrics with Lumiere green paint in 2 greens. I thought they looked too much the same value so the plan was to do a little free motion thread sketching on each leaf. Obviously little is a relative term. The stitching on the leaves took me 3 days. All of the leaves are double sided and many of them are bent to show dimension, which of course the picture doesn't show.The new technique I tried for this challenge was making cords on the machine--they are the vines. The inspiration for the entire piece was a set of palm leaf coaster napkins. I used one as the pattern for the 5 green felt leaves that I free motion stitched.

June, July, & August

Ladies, They are all beautiful.

Susan- great minds think alike. I did leaves for August also. I thought yours were skeleton leaves until Elizabeth told me they were silk screened. I love purple and the floating leaves are beautiful.

Elizabeth, I love both of them. June looks so different than what you had on dyeing day. I actually think it is stunning. I like July also, especially the writing. Now that we are semi caught up we need to do a playday--maybe this week? I really want to do some of the techniques you have been doing for your layers.

And on the heels of June comes July!

This one I like -- new technique: inkjet/gel medium transfer over text, oil crayons, then spray inks, layers of printed organza over some of the gel medium transfer and then paintstik over that. Tiny purple triangles are the challenge fabric.

Finally, June has arrived!

So, okay, it's not my favorite -- but it is done. Lots of stitching, paint, layers as usual. Handwritten text.

Susan's August Piece

Welcome back, Elizabeth. Thank you both for your comments on my piece. It is super simple but I like it. Now I have no ideas whatsoever for August. Maybe it's time for a change of pace. The color is blue/violet but the weather is blaze orange! Susan

Welcome Baack

Hope you had a great time and that the boys are ready for a break from you. We need to have a girl's day soon. How did you like the storms you came back to? The huge birch tree in the front got hit by lightening yesterday afternoon, and we are going to try clean up today. It hit one of the two major branches pretty high up. I took a few photos for the insurance, but the angle of the fallen branch is weird and the pic isn't so great.
Let me know when you want to come over. I am home after 11 a.m. Got back into swimming classes this week, but I can go earlier if we want an all day play day.

I'm Baaack!

Car seat weary and ready to work, but it will have to wait for the unpacking, laundry, and grocery shopping. The two of you have been very busy. And I will, indeed, have my work cut out for me.

Linda -- the arcs came out splendid! I love what you did with the sheers-- the unique shapes. It looks great! And the birthday card was so you! Happy and colorful.

Susan -- as always, your love of nature and trees is apparent -- not to mention your love of words. Wordsworth's poem was a great fit. What I love about this piece is trying to figure out the depth in the photos, and whether the inspiration was the poem or the photos!

What a beautiful, serene piece. You are right Susan, our styles are so very different. There is a simplicity in all of your pieces that clearly distinguishes all of your pieces as yours. When I look at the entire 7 months of our work, I can tell every single piece that you made and every piece that Elizabeth made. I know Elizabeth had in the back of her mind that we would try to display these after they are all completed. I think we should try to do that.

What I am most happy about with the whole challenge, is that I have come up with several spinoff ideas from some of my doodlings with the original months' pieces. Should keep me busy for a while.

We are up this early today to run a few errands and most importantly, to go to Cord Camera's scrapbooking center and try to sign up for a photography class. I am trying to get dh involved in something cerebral as he finds his way around retirement. I am hoping that part of their class will involve photoshop. If I could just get a little guidance on playing and maneuvering layers, I could carry out more of my ideas. I just get so frustrated with the complexity of the layers part of the program!

Congratulations on posting your first photo solo. I know that the baby steps on computer stuff are huge--it took me awhile to figure out the navigation rules for this blogsite. Even now, I manage to mess up when I am trying to edit my stuff before publishing.

Oh my gosh, I think I finally, after 6 months, have figured out how to post a photo! Here is the text I have on the piece:

Nature never did betray

The heart that loved her; ‘tis her privilege,

Through all the years of this our life, to lead

From joy to joy: for she can so inform

The mind that is within us, so impress

With quietness and beauty, and so feed

With lofty thoughts, that neither evil tongues,

Rash judgments, nor the sneers of selfish men,

Nor greetings where no kindness is, nor all

The dreary intercourse of daily life,

Shall e’er prevail against us, or disturb

Our cheerful faith, that all which we behold

Is full of blessings.

William Wordsworth

Wow, Linda, you really did hit the jackpot. It makes me want to run over to my JoAnn's just to see what I can find. I haven't been there since June, before we left for vacation. Right now I am going to attempt to get my July piece onto the blog without having to make Elizabeth do it. Susan

The jackpot

I went to JoAnns today just to snoop around the remnants bin. I found a piece of chiffon with a beautiful swirly print on it in deep blues. It had several white marks on it, the size of a pencil eraser, that were clearly a defect. I got 75% off the price of the piece.
As I was negotiating this deal, a woman had a bolt of the same fabric in greens that she was having cut. The fabric was sticking to the end of the bolt. Upon inspection, the counter ladies realized that the fabric (made in India) had been glued to the cardboard. When it is peeled off the cardboard, there are white splotches left. The woman left and did not want any of the green she had selected.
I promptly spoke up for the damaged part of the green colorway of this fabric also. I got a yard and a half of each colorway for $2.50. My head had already conjured up the next challenge piece using these little gems. The sole purpose of the trip was to look for remnants of slinky fabrics to use for the second arc piece of my miniseries. I found several of those as well. My other huge find of the day were several 5 yard roles of organza in all the beautiful colors that work with the India fabrics, each for $2.50. That must be my lucky number for the day.

And so I am off to the studio to fondle the newbies and begin to construct my August piece.

I will be teaching two days of surface design and embellishment techniques- everything from photo transfer to silk fusion to painting on fabric. Susan

I had fun doing this one. My friend Bobbie gave me this card for my birthday and the wording was so perfect. Then she gave me 4 different sets of birthday napkins,(she knows about my little napkin study), so I knew as soon as I saw them that this needed to be a piece. I am a bit disappointed with the stitching around the wording, but I have plenty of the napkins to make another one and correct it. Bobbie thinks we each need to make a calendar with our pieces. If I try one, this piece will be the bonus 13th piece and people can attach it to whatever month their birthday is.QuiltTrends will let us display our collection there also.

I can't believe I am caught up this month. I think that August I will be doing the 2nd in the arc miniseries, but I will be starting with a napkin base. I have to complete it in a hurry, because we started a round robin and it is due on the 28th:)

Where are you teaching in Columbus in the fall? I can't wait for us to all get together finally. I bought your newest book last week and Elizabeth told me she had planned on getting it for me for my birthday.What are you going to be teaching?

Linda!! Oh my gosh! My record is broken. Congratulations on getting your July piece done- it is very fun and cheerful. Mine will be very subdued because my background is dark violet. Our styles are SO different, at least for this project, so it will be fun to get all the pieces together in the fall. Boy, does Elizabeth have her work cut out for her! Susan

The Birthday Card

Hi Linda. Thanks for telling me more about your piece. It sounds like we both hold special places in our hearts for our fathers- after 14 years I still fondly remember things mine did and said all the time.

Our trip was again a test of patience and we may give up long road trips with the camper. But we saw gorgeous country, introduced the grandchildren to Yellowstone, and relaxed a lot. I even did a little fabric painting in the camper. We definitely will continue to enjoy the national parks and my July piece will include a couple of photos from the trip. Wonder how Elizabeth is doing.

I just gave my friend the address I use to get onto the blog and it worked fine. I don't even think she had to join anything. Looking forward to seeing your next piece (and mine!) on the blog. Susan

Hi Susan,
Welcome back. I hope you had some grand adventures on your trip. When Elizabeth told me you were out west, it rekindled fond memories of our 5 cross country trips in our pop up camper.

I am thrilled that I finished June's piece. It is really a piece about my dad's life. I keep thinking about all the different paths he took along his life and how all of the paths intersected in different ways. I guess it is my first healing piece. I know there will be many after this summer. My brother spoke at my father's funeral and said, "Dad was a colorful man--he lived life to its fullest measure."
I think that is why there is every color in the rainbow in it and why it is so very vibrant. It is full of energy and happy colors and that is how I think of my Dad. He was a happy man with lots of interests and energy.

I am already working feverishly on July's piece. Yesterday was my birthday and July's piece will be a piece based on birthdays and living life to its fullest. I hope to get it done this week. I just printed out the text of it using extravorganza for the first time. I assumed that the ink would be very heavy because the organza is so sheer. But when I set the printer for text only, there were skipped lines across the printed text. So I reprinted using text and photo setting and it worked better.

Well, I am off to play with the napkins for the base of the July piece.

One question. How do you get friends to be able to view our blog? I think my stepmother might enjoy seeing what we are doing.

Welcome back

Hi Linda, What a thrill to find your new piece on the blog! It is really spectacular. I used that Nancy Crow print for a piece once so it was fun to recognize your background. The friend who I shared our blog address with commented this morning that she likes your work a lot. I hope your life is settling down. It looks like I'll be teaching in Columbus is Oct. or Nov. so we'll have to meet then. Susan

June Piece

Caliente!

Very summery and hot! I like this one too -- bet I know where some of the influences came from. Which part is the napkin? It took me awhile to find the "flavor of the month" but I finally found it. And now you are "caught up" -- at least for today. As of midnight tonight, I'm behind again, but I have an idea so that's progress.

May Challenge Piece

Thank you both for your encouragement. The plan yesterday was to dive into May and get it done. I worked on a design, but it didn't say jump and so I am still pondering. My goal today is to commit to something and get it going.

The color will be yellow and I have jalepeno napkins. The weather outside says most definitely jalepeno weather but the piece is the May piece. I may have to switch my order of napkins around.

Linda, your piece is really beautiful. It feels so serene and springlike- just what we all need right now! The stitching is great. Susan

Gorgeous!

When you get back in the saddle you really get back in. That's really pretty. And I think I'm seeing some layering.... yes? Very Asian feel, but not so much in the coloring. At first I thought I was seeing blueberries, then I put my glasses on and enlarged the picture. Nice stitching too.

April Eastern Winds

Welcome back, Linda. I hope new dreams and plans develop soon and joy returns.

Don't feel the least bit intimidated by what I do!! I feel like I do really simple pieces compared to what Elizabeth does. I love using the photos my husband and I take on weekends on Lake Superior or other travels plus the bird photos my sister takes. I just print them on fabric and add something else to them. I have no idea what July will look like and will wait until we get back from vacation on the 24th or 25th to do anything. As for my colors- the background is the color of the month and I'm going straight through the color wheel from yellow in January to yellow-green in December. July will be purple! Susan

Some wise person once said....

that a journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step. And so today, I look at the blog to find that Linda has taken that first step. You've rejoined our discussion, and are headed into the studio to sew. The hardest part of any project (for me anyway) is getting started. I know you'll catch up soon -- because when you get going, you don't quit. The angst and the joy will mix together and something amazing will result. Ignore that feeling of being overwhelmed -- it's a creativity killer. Fight through the rubble and DO!

Thanks for the nice words about my pieces -- April really was hard, and May came more easily (sort of). I love the idea of sharing how we did things, and I'm most definitely open to the idea of a stamping layering day.

Susan -- can you come down and play with us? Maybe we could celebrate all the summer birthdays together! We could have a play weekend (or several days!).

Good Morning Ladies,
I am back. Today I will go into the studio and try to finish April. Then I am just going to let the wind take me wherever to play catch up with both of you.

Susan, your pieces are beautiful. I look at each one and wish I had a trip in the works. Are you using images from pictures that you have taken on personal trips? I have stopped trying to figure out what colors you and Elizabeth are using each month.

Elizabeth, I am awestruck by your last two pieces. They are beautiful and both of them pull me in because of the complexity of the layers. I guess Bible study has really paid off--I know where many of these are coming from. Mostly I am thrilled that you are again doing faith based pieces. Knowing what happened to the Beatitudes pieces< I feel like you have completed a circle and come back to your center.

You had mentioned a possible playday/technique day for the round robin, but I think I would like a playday where we could do a stamping layering piece. You are getting such depth with these new pieces and I would like to achieve some similar depth in mine.

A SUGGESTION FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS CHALLENGE

The last blogpost about your techniques used to achieve your piece are where I really think we all could benefit and grow. Instead of just posting our pieces, could we each write a description of our techniques that we used? I am sure that even if we each tried a technique that had been written about, our finished products would continue to be totally original works with our own individual flavor.


That being said, I want to admit to both of you that I am now officially overwhelmed by your pieces and am feeling pretty insecure that my future pieces will even measure up. I feel taped up and confined just as much of my supplies are sealed up in boxes.My creative ideas seem to be locked away and I am not sure how to unleash them. I want to create my pieces out of sheer joy and abandonment, and I don't feel any joy inside me at all.

Today my only goal is to create something--and to actually sew--no matter what I end up producing. With that I am off to the studio...

Thanks Susan, I like this one too. The scrolls were done with a stencil and Stuart Gill Alchemy paint. The paint was hard to see because it was so much the same color as the background, so I used a gold acid-free gel pen with a wide nib to outline the paint. I quilted around it but not through it.

Yes -- the orange fabric of the lily is hard to miss. I used a light box for the drawing of the lily, the same drawing I used to make the fabric lily. The original photo is one I took at Franklin Park Conservatory -- I've always wanted to use it in a quilt. The actual lily is quite red, with a yellow center and a lot of green. The lily on the sheer at the bottom was also from FPC gardens.

The hardest part of this was choosing a background fabric. I had already made the lily and I bet I auditioned 40 fabrics for the background! That is the most difficulty I've ever had choosing background fabric.

Elizabeth- you are amazing. When you decide to catch up, you don't waste time! This one is really, really pretty and again, the layering is super. How did you do the scroll images? I WISH I could see all of yours in person, because I know I'm missing a whole lot. I surely know what the color of the month is on this one!
I had my six pieces up north with me to show my sister. Would you believe John just caught on the to the 20" by 10" size? My sister really liked the pieces and I taught her how to make a raw-edge collage with one of her bird photos and she was ready to join our challenge! Susan

Elizabeth's May Challenge Piece

And, here's May. This one went together as fast as any of them -- maybe faster -- and I learned some new things!

Susan's June Challenge Piece

Here's Susan's newest piece! Beautiful!

Thanks

Thanks Susan -- I really enjoyed doing this one, even though it was harder -- in some ways it was easier -- I think because I decided to give in to the process, rather than control it -- as is my usual method. I'm happy with it in the end.

YEA!!! Congratulations on finishing. I love the layers and seed stitching- it really is a wonderful piece. Susan

Finally!

April is done! And it's only June already. Now I can work on May. April's was harder -- I had the concept, knew where I wanted to go, but it just wasn't coming. I did end up with what I wanted, and there's some room for improvement -- but I learned a whole lot. Enjoy!

Good to hear from you Linda. We will really be a long distance trio after you move. I know Elizabeth will miss you a lot. Good luck with April and May and with your move. Susan

Love the way the red is scattered around in this one Susan. The whole piece screams spring. My April piece is still in the unfinished box.

The other 6000 boxes for moving are scattered all over the house. Today I packed up all the finished tops that are yet unquilted. I have 2 more packing boxes and then I am officially done. The movers can do the rest.

I will be able to resume some semblance of working in my sewing room on projects that need to be completed before the move. Hopefully that will mean I will complete April's piece. I have no clue about May's piece yet.

Susan's May Piece

Here is Susan's May challenge piece! Awesome -- I love it. I think it's my favorite one of your's so far.

Thanks, Elizabeth, for posting my April photo. I liked the female cardinal too- she looks like she's peeking out from behind the pussy willows. The pussy willows are from Target- I just cut them off the main stem and sewed them down.

Linda, thanks for your comments. I'm glad I could bring back some good memories. All my pieces are going to follow the weather of the month they're made in. My next color is red which doesn't exactly bring May weather to mind- at least in MN! But I think the pieces will look neat lined up with the color wheel in order.

Have fun, you two, making your April pieces. Susan

Great piece!

Susan, I love the birds with the pussy willows. The female cardinal cracked me up -- she's looking quizzical -- it is such a neat piece -- the colors on this work so well together -- and the branches with the pussy willows are just right -- it wouldn't be the same with a bare branch.

Now to get cracking on my own piece -- it's in my head -- hope it comes out.

Beautiful quilt Susan. I love pussy willows. I had them in my backyard as a child and several years ago we planted 6 bushes. Only 2 survived, but they take me back to a good part of my childhood when I am in the backyard. What did you make the pussy willows from? They look real and very 3-D.

As I told Elizabeth, I have come up with two possibilities for this month's challenge. One is an oriental flavored piece using a napkin design, and the other struck me as we were eating matzah for lunch one day during passover. I have decided to try to do both of them. The Passover piece will be another addition to my religious pieces. I am still not really doing anything because of the possibility of house showings. This weekend is Artiscape and I am hoping that the techniques learned there will spur me on to an epiphany about how to finish the oriental piece.

Susan's April Challenge Piece

Here's Susan's April challenge piece.

Thank you!! It's great to see the three months' pieces together. You're fantastic. Susan

All the photos to-date in one place

I gave it my best shot -- and if you scroll down, you can see all the pieces together -- one month at a time.

March redux

February redux

January Pieces redux

Yea! The poppies are great- I know it was a struggle. I love the colors. Quite the variety this month. When you have nothing (ha,ha) to do, it would be nice if we could see each month's pieces together, if that's possible. Susan

March color theme

My March color was the darker purple. It's in the narrow lines separating the columns and the two small sets of three narrow bars, plus the "bars" behind the angelina squares. I'm thinking of orange and lilies for April.

Love the Poppies!

Elizabeth, I love the poppies!

What is you colorway this month? I like the orderliness of the piece. You repeated the same elements in all three columns. Forces the viewer to come in closer to read the different text and to look at the details. We need to schedule a day to play with my new photoshop books. I want to learn how to layer like you do.

You are right, your pieces are all very connected these three months. You could actually put them together in a single grouping and have a very coherent display.


In answer to your question-all the purple flowers were free motion quilted after I sponged a background color of very light tseukineko periwinkle ink. I quilted them on top of the silver metallic mesh and that is the only thing holding the mesh down other than the stitched binding and the applique butterflies.

March piece

March Piece is Done

Finally! I've labored over this one -- and it's very "stiff" -- feels orderly instead of free. Too much labor -- guess that's the lesson this time.

delightful!

Linda, your piece is so light and airy -- I can see a little bit of the dimension in some of the butterflies, but not enough to get a real feel for it. It's really delightful -- especially after our surprise snow and ice storm of yesterday. Hope to see it in person very soon. The purple flowers -- are they all stitch, or some sort of broderie perse or something else I'm not seeing?

Thank you Susan, I'm glad you like my piece.

I didn't start out just using a touch of this month's color choice. I had actually cut it up into three large leaves and I was going to overlay a large yellow tulip over the quilted background. It wasn't working for me and I had to come up with plan b. I had next to nothing left of the green, so I wrapped it to make a green branch.

I have had to go to a plan b for each one of these challenge pieces. My goal is to use the napkins in different ways each month and challenge myself to play with new techniques. For this piece, I used the middle layer of the napkins which were really muted colors of the top layer. I really liked the way this came out too. It is a happy piece, but so very different from the other two I have done.

I was really excited that I finished it before the end of the month! Today I started working on a broken star that I had started 20 years ago. I needed to work on something where I don't have to create it from scratch out of my head. The challenge pieces are hard work!

Linda, your piece is wonderful!! It lifts the spirit just to look at it. Especially in MN, where brown is still the color of the day. I think it is so interesting the different approaches the three of us are taking to the color wheel hues- you use touches and I make the whole background the color of the month. Which makes April a real dilemma since it's red-orange! I am really enjoying this challenge and yes, we have to get together for show and tell. Susan

Waiting for Spring March Challenge

Waiting for Spring is made with a base of finger napkins quilted onto batting and backing. A sparkley netting type fabric was overlaid and the purple flowers were quilted on top The color use for the month was green--made into a dimensional twig corded with variegated thread. The butterflies were appliqued onto the backing. Several of them are three dimensional and their wings actually lift off the piece, but again the picture does not show the dimensionality or the true nature of the sparkle fabric. Susan, you are going to have to come down to see all the pieces and to bring yours:)

MArch Piece

Well, my March piece is almost completed. Monday I played with stamping on organza to use as an overlay. When I put it on the base, the organza overpowered the entire piece, so I went back to the drawing board.

Today, I am sewing on the butterfly applique pieces and tomorrow, hopefully it will be finished and posted. Today was such a dreary day that working with the soft pastels of spring was just what I needed to boost my spirits.

And so we keep waiting for spring.

March is marching along

I have spent the last week photoshopping and cropping and struggling over this piece. Today it seems to have come into focus -- so now it's just a matter of putting it together. The pieces are laid out, printed and primed.

It's definitely poppies -- and if I look at the last three months -- there is a certain "rosy glow" to all my work. I think I may have to modify that next month. Until I post a picture.....

I remain... busy.

Resizing photos for printing

I also had a delightful day yesterday -- and went home with new ideas swimming in my head -- which I had to research later in the evening. I really liked the restaurant!

The answer to the printing question is not a simple one -- if your printer allows banner printing, then you can print a banner -- look under "banner printing" or "custom options" for creating a different size.

Photoshop's printing program allows you to set up parameters, but the work of "stretching" the photo is done in the program itself. The challenge you run into with something that is "out of proportion" to the original -- or in this case making it something that is 10x20 -- is that these proportions run counter to the "golden mean" -- in a big way. If you use Photoshop to resize, then you will get a proportional resizing -- and end up cutting off part of your picture, either when you print, or when you put it together in fabric. You may be able to turn off the proportional resizing, but I haven't done that.

The tricky part of printing in pieces and sewing it together is matching up the design. The reason it's tricky is that you have to "cut up" your photo within Photoshop -- making sure you get the size of the cuts EXACTLY equal -- otherwise the matching up doesn't go too well. Ask me how I know.

It can be done, and I always print it on paper to check the match before putting it on fabric. There is usually some waste of the fabric to do this, but my experience has been that this is nearly impossible to alleviate.

Good Morning Ladies,

After a delightful day yesterday with Elizabeth, I went shopping at Dover Publications. I got 5 new books that come with cds that I have been ogling for months. Three of them are photoshop books, and the other two are increidible forms in nature and in the ocean. Can't wait until they get here to play with them.

I think I need to go ahead and get my next computer now, there is just too much to do with a computer that is tied up with my sewing world.

The horse piece is strangling me. I want to finish it already and it just keeps needing more work!

And now for the question of the day. I want to use a picture that I played with on the computer for the base of the March piece. I want to stretch it to 10" x 20". Would that end up printing as 2 pages that you would seem together? Will photoshop let you print it as a banner if you had a fabric piece long enough, or does your printer have to allow banner printing somewhere in its own set up software?

Hi Linda. Glad you liked my piece. I'm printing on all kinds of things lately- handmade paper, my own organza, etc. I ironed a piece of organza to an 11 by 17 inch piece of freezer paper and it went right through, as did a featherweight piece of paper with fiber swirls on it. After trying other brands of printers, I'm convinced HP is the best. Good luck with your March piece. Susan

Morning Ladies,

I love both of your pieces! They look etherial and delicate. Susan, are you using organza in the bottom part with the tree? I love the lacey snow. Elizabeth shared that yesterday, but I forgot how she said you did it. Both of your new pieces have beautiful wording and that is something I want to try.
Elizabeth, your stamped images are remarkable and I think the cut edge border you did is just a perfect border to match the thorniness of the the thistles.

Both of your pieces make me want to experiment with some messy stuff, although I am really trying to keep my messes to the bare minimum in case we have to show the house. It is putting a crimp in my creative nature. ( A big part of the crimp is also that most of my messy toys got packed and sent to the basment:)

I got a new book yesterday the is called Fabric Collage. I bought it because there are some interesting techniques to try with stabilizers and batting. I am thinking that at least one of those techniques will end up in the March piece which I think will be about butterflies.

The horse challenge has grown much bigger than I had anticipated--it is now 60" and I want to finish it already. I am only going to complete the top and then it goes into the magic closet with the other summer tops so that I can concentrate on our challenge.

Two new pieces!!

Elizabeth- Thanks for posting the photo of my piece. I was so surprised to find yours there too! I love the stamped images on it and it certainly fits with the Lenten season. My color for April is red so that will be a real challenge, since I'm leaving at least a little bit of the pure color exposed in each piece. I love this challenge- the size is probably the biggest hurdle but it's also the fun part. Susan

February challenge piece

Here's the picture of my February challenge piece! I've called it "The Fall" -- not too crazy about it, but hey, it's done.

Lookin' good

I especially like this tree, Susan! This one talks to me -- of things it has seen, of warmer days to come. And that snow is looking vaguely familiar.......

Susan's March piece

March- Orange!

Here is March- sun, receding snow, and wind. Virginia Spiegel's book inspired me to write a haiku for it. Susan

Hustling and working

Okay, so I've been working on this piece for February and it's kind of thorny -- haha! Thistles and whatnot. Anyway, I have handcut four separate stamps and used each and every one of them to stamp the background. I finally did a little sewing last night to add the "flavor of the month" and now I need to print some more organza with some additional design. Then it's upstairs to layer it with some mistyfuse and see what happens. Sadly I spent way too much of the day shopping (for food!). On the bright side, my custom chocolate came and it's pretty yummy.

Linda, when I was at Costco they had hamentashen!!! Haaman's Hats (Book of Esther) pastry.

I'm liking the blog commentary -- how it's picking up!

Wow! I came home and checked the blog and all kinds of things have been happening! The new piece, Linda, is great. It is fun, isn't it, to use those fancy stitches that we all know we just have to have.

We all seem to be into the bright colors for cheering up winter. Here in MN it is around 40 and it's so nice to get outside. The very bright orange that's up next in my colorwheel is going to be a challenge, so I'm still thinking about this one. Susan

Thank you Elizabeth,

I just got back from Joann's and I found the coolest spun metallic fabric in colors. I bought some in light purple and I found a 1/2 yard remnant of it in silver. I am thinking of doing my March piece with it in the style of Ellen Eddy. Maybe a 2nd midnight garden party to go with my first one.

My 2nd option is to pull more stuff off of my design wall and construct another 1 day project. I liked that and it made me get the thing done! I could wait until the last day of the month to pull that one out of my hat.

I forgot to ask you yesterday when you looked at First Night what you think I should do about hanging hardware-or not. Its current resting place is on my cutting table. I really don't know where to put it now that it is done.

I'm off to the land upstairs--need to work on my Laurel Burch/horse piece today.

Susan, you are very quiet this week. Are you working on March or is it finished already?

Love it!

I love the new piece,Linda. I can't believe it all came out of your scrap bag, except for the orange from the challenge bundle.

Seeing it in person -- it was really something. I can tell you're quite focused on Texas now. Seeing First Night in person was even better -- the photo does it no justice -- the layers aren't visible and I agree that the shadowbox really makes a difference -- it deepens the layers. I wonder if photographing it in the shadowbox would make the layers more obvious in a picture?

wow info

Ladies,
Just spent some time today looking over my newest wow segments.Wow is Workshop on the Web. It is something I have subscribed to for 3 years and I get so inspired by what they are doing across the pond! Anyways, I had a peek at the news and reviews section and the new products section today. I was delighted to find out that Sherrill Kahn has a new book and a new DVD out. I love her work and I have all her previous books. Her work just gets me percolating. Her new DVD is entitled Acrylic Paint Pizazz and the new book is Creative Mixed Media: Paint Print Stitch Stamp Embellish. You can order both from her website impressmestamps.com or from Amazon. I asked the big powers at QSDS last year if they would consider bringing Sherrill over for the seminar, but haven't seen her listing Ohio in her teaching schedules. I hope she teaches at Houston:)

Texas Sunrise. Everything was a leftover scrap something from previously completed projects, except the solid orange of the challenge fabric. Even the threads and the batting and backing were from the scrap bag. I really enjoed playing with the fancy stitches on my machine in lieu of quilting this piece. This was the perfect project for destressing.

Thank you Elizabeth for the info on the card reader. We got one today and that solved my problem for this computer. It is actually easier to do than the hook up directly from the camera. Guess that was the important what I learned from challenge #2:)

Hi Linda. So glad to hear you were able to finish February. Maybe Elizabeth could post your piece for you? I'm waiting to see what March brings us for weather to decide whether my next piece will be snowy or springy. Susan

Good Evening Ladies and Happy March,

I have completed the February challenge piece. It is entitled "Texas Sunrise." I finished putting on the binding today, but actually completed everything else yesterday. I took a picture of it to post. However, my computer died last month and I have been without my own since then. When I tried to download the pictures using this computer, my camera program would not work. Apparently none of my programs will work on this computer. I am not getting a new computer until after we move, so I will only be able to participate with the rest of the challenge with comments-no pictures.

I already have the March challenge piece idea figured out. It will be about spring.

And now for your viewing pleasure....

Another orchid to end this record-breaking snowy month.

Good Morning Ladies,
It is 7am and I am up this early to play in my room today. I have been decluttering and packing for weeks and our house is finally listed. We had our first showing yesterday. I have been having creativity withdrawl since the house saga began. I am very tempted to limit myself to today to come up with my February piece. I have no fabric selected, and no inkling of an idea, but I have been promised the day to work in my sanctuary and to destress, and that is exactly what I am going to do.

I got the new shadowbox for my January piece from my friend yesterday. It is 1" less deep than the first one and 1/4" less than 20" long. We had to remake it because my finished January piece shrank with the quilting. That was the new info I learned for that piece--I didn't know that Timtex would shrink up with stitching. I assumed that its thickness would prevent that. It doesn't. Good to know for the future since I use it alot. Anyway the piece now fits perfectly and I have to decide what hardware to attach to the back for hanging. I have never done a shadowbox piece before so I am not sure what will work best. Any ideas on the subject?

Well, it's time to grab a bit of nourishment and then up to the sanctuary for my day of creative endeavor.

Two more days

Two more days in February. Yea! Your orchid is a nice treat to get us through. Good luck on the thistles. Susan

Playing with fabric

While the flowers in my head are marinating I decided to try working on the background for them. Found a nice piece of shibori-dyed fabric and am now stamping it. I have piles of little rocks stamped onto the background. I'm thinking this will be a good base fabric for some thistles. We'll see. I tried piecing a small section of cloth to extend the length of this piece -- they're okay separately, but they don't look too hot put together -- so some other solution will present itself as the need arises.

Inspiration

I thought we could all use a little inspiration. These are from the Orchid show at the Franklin Park Conservatory.

I agree!

Hi. As a person who checks the blog several times a day, I would love to see more input!! Susan

Pondering February

As February comes to a close I keep vacillating between thistles and poppies -- neither is much of a winter or spring sort of flower, at least in this part of the world. Whatever I choose to do for February, March will likely be the other. In the meantime, I keep monkeying around with the appearance of the blog -- trying to keep it interesting -- something has to since we're not posting anything! :)

Here's to the end of winter and spring coming soon. I'm tired of snow, and tired of whining about snow. Mostly, I'm just tired of being cold and looking for a change. Keep working out those challenges!

We're awfully quiet

I can only assume by all the quiet that we're hard at work on the next piece. I've been happily searching my photograph albums for a particular picture or two. Found them after a long search and I hope I will have some time this weekend to work out the piece for February.

Meanwhile, the snow piles are taller than I am, and my little SUV can't see over the tops of the mountains of snow at corners and in parking lots. There was a little melting today, and some expected tomorrow. But I think since a fresh snow storm is on the way, we won't see grass until June. Best to stay in and work on art!

I figured it out

Well, Linda asked me if I could figure out how to delete the extra picture. I think I managed it. If you ever need to edit a post, let me know.

Finding Comments Postings

If you're looking for a post and can't find it -- check each entry. At the bottom of each entry is a line in blue that says "who" posted, "when" they posted, and how many comments there are. If the "comments" are "0" -- then there are no comments. But if there is a number there, click on "comments" and the blog should list any comments under that particular post.

Linda, my "comment" to your post is the one that starts with "here's my finish challenge piece -- finally".

I'll look into seeing if a picture can be removed. What I'd like to find a way to do is archive all the pictures into one spot so we can see them all together. That's my next "challenge" to the blog.

Thank you Susan. Elizabeth and I have been calling this the Seuss piece because it looks very Seussical to us. My plan for the challenge pieces are to use napkins. The buildings are from left over Chanukah napkins. Haven't looked into my stash yet for February's idea, but it will get done much faster than this one did!

Elizabeth-got your email this morning, but didn't see any post here. Do you know how to get one of the pictures off this blog? The first time I did it the message said it posted, but there was no picture, so I tried it over again.
Gotta go swimming-talk to you later today.

What a wonderful surprise to find your piece on the blog! It is fabulous. It's frustrating not seeing the pieces in person but obviously you put in a whole lot of hours and with great results. Congratulations. Susan

Ladies,
I think it is ok to invite a few close friends to have a peek at our blog. I really wanted Elizabeth to start a blog for us so that we could communicate with each other since we don't all know each other.

This is my finished Challenge piece--finally! Unfortunately, the picture doesn't show that there are actually 8 layers on this piece. I messed up the facing to try to use my shadowbox and got frustrated and just gave up. I am really glad this one is done. I hope the 2nd piece doesn't frustrate me like this one did!

Does anyone object to having one of my friends be able to view our blog? Susan

Poppies will put them to sleep

So here I am, contemplating the approaching snowstorm, and thinking of poppies in a meadow. Ruminating about what to do for February -- and poppies came to me. I love their happy countenances anyway -- and a red poppy seems appropriate for February. Unless another idea usurps it, poppies it will be.

Susan's February Piece

Here is Susan's February piece!

The How

I added a comment under my January piece about my process for those of you who might be interested.

Wow, Elizabeth, I love your piece. The depth is incredible and I want to see it closer and read all the words. I think I'll HAVE to make a trip to Columbus near the end of the year so we can all see the pieces in real life! Is pink in the color wheel!!??? Susan

Susan and Elizabeth,
Both of your pieces are stunning!
I was a prisoner of sorting for the move today. I sewed the pieces for my layers yesterday and got to do nothing today. I have no idea when I am going to get to put the thing together.
I have to finish the edges of the dimensional pieces, sew the squares for the grass and mount everything into the shadow box. Hopefully I will get to work on it this week.

I think both of your pieces look much larger than 10X20. It must be the complexity of the layers.

Elizabeth could you pleasze bring yours to sudy group on Weds? I would like to look at it up close.
Wonderful pieces ladies!!!!!!!!!