Crazy Weather!

It wasn't the usual drive to work this morning. Wipers were on overdrive, and the lightning was close. Very close. My 10 second sprint from my car into the hospital resulted in completely drenched scrubs (though I wore a homely raincoat to cover my upper half.)

This photo was taken this morning by Michelle Roth. I found it on facebook, and had to share it like so many others.

 

We were supposed to get high winds again this afternoon (had much wind and rain yesterday), and it's just starting to pick up now.

More than I can chew?

Have I bitten off more than I can chew? Hopefully not. I've been diligently working on the actually quilting portion of Fiona's birthday quilt the past several days. I'd considered taking it (or shipping it off) to someone so I didn't have to wrestle with it, but thought it'd be a good challenge for me.

Of course, I had to move the sewing machine downstairs and set up the card table next to the kitchen table in order to make this happen. I hope to get it done in the few days. 

 

I love my Bernina (Artista 165), but it's not technically a quilting machine. At the time I bought it, I only sewed garments and dolls. I've done a little free-motion embroidery on this machine with some success (I am the limiting factor). However, I've noticed some tension issues with this project. And some skipped stitches. To be fair, this machine is LONG OVERDUE for a tune up, so that may be the problem. I've changed needles, rethreaded, removed fiber bunnies, with some improvement. I've even (gasp!) adjusted the bobbin tension a little.

Life Book 2013 September Lessons

I finished my journal page today. The lesson was taught by Tam. I'm looking forward to doing the gel medium transfer technique again, to see what works best for me.

   

Finished this page today (9/23) though had to make do with acrylics instead of inks.

Taught by Kelly Hoernig.

 

    

Taught by Erin Faith Allen. This one features my granddaughter Fiona. Of course, when my grandson Ivan saw it, he wanted me to add him to the page. His page will come later.

     

Taught by Dawn DeVries Sokol. I miss these furry members of the family.

 

   

"What's Inside," taught by Rachelle Panagarry.

  

More Art Journaling Explorations HERE

Transfer Failure :-(

I made some progress on my journal page this evening, though I can't say I'm particularly happy with my gel medium transfer. I'd hoped for a little clearer image, so probably should have left the inkjet print  in place a little longer. Live and learn.

Big picture, though, is that I know what the images are/were, and what they mean to ME. I suppose I could have done a TEST transfer, but my impatience got the better of me. One big challenge was making a collage with Photoshop Elements. I'm sure if I did this with any frequency I'd gain some degree of semi-competence.

 

I may still add some text. Or maybe not. I'm trying to decide if I should work any more on it tonight. Probably won't, as I was up at 0430 this morning. Insomnia sucks.

More Art Journaling Explorations HERE

"Mindfulness" journal page progress

I'm trying to make some way on this week's journal page assignment, because a new one will be coming out tomorrow. The shading still isn't quite right, but I hesitate to mess with it any more. Maybe if I can get more of the rest of the page done I fiddle some more. Her face is watercolor crayon and gesso.

 

This lesson incorporates some gel medium transfers, so I've been thinking about what sort of images I want to include on her torso - as well as the colors I'm going to use.

 

Oh, and those four dots of color are bleed-through from a previous page - they have nothing to do with the page and will be obscured by the other layers.

 

More Art Journaling Explorations HERE

Switching Gears

I've been doing a lot of art journaling lately, and I love it. But the holiday season is fast approaching, and I'd like to at least fool myself into thinking I'm a little ahead of the game. So today I sewed, working on a couple Santa dolls. I've had this pattern in my stash for awhile, but haven't used it before (Kriss Kringle by On The Edge Designs, copyright 1996).

I even stuck to my Resolution to NOT buy any new fabric. That made it a little tricky to sift through my fabric looking for reds that didn't clash. The colors in this photo aren't quite right, but you get the idea.