It's September. But then you know that. And because I've been a blogging slacker this post is PACKED!
I've been lost in my own little world............like residing on an island surrounded by fabric and paint and needle and thread and sore hands and poked fingers (sometimes) and realizing while on this island I am not out from under the trees as often as I should to enjoy the sunshine. Sometimes as the hours and days go by I realize the need to do that........to stop and just go outside. I will stand in the backyard and just look up..........blue sky, clouds floating by and telling myself it's ok, you are doing what you love but be mindful of the world OUTSIDE as well.
I am a hopeless daydreamer.........
Anyway, on to the photos. The first set of pics is the baby quilt for my great nephew that I worked on for a month straight! The recipients and I Skyped on Saturday morning so I could see them open the parcel. To my happiness they loved it and the very next day I received a lovely bouquet of flowers as a thank you and a video of the baby laying on it cooing! Oh that is such bliss!
So here it is.....starting with closeups of the individual squares
Their dog
They live in Texas
The baby as a cowboy
The baby and his older brother in the future
I included a cow because my niece-in-law loves cows
They have a photo of cowboy boots framed for his nursery so I ran with it
I had to include a painting of my dream truck with "Aunt Lisa's Art Studio" on the side
They don't live on a ranch and they are not cowboys, cowgirl but hey, it's a western theme
For you quilting purists you can see nothing is perfectly square. I painted over the top and bottom border fabric a bit. The side borders remained as it was and the black polka dot image border fabric was left alone. Everything else began as plain white cotton.
The reverse side
For the top section I painted over printed fabric as well as the circles on the polka dot fabric. And added the marionette jester. I wanted the back to be as colorful as the front.
Everything is hand stitched, hand quilted, hand painted. Once again, for you purists out there it probably looks a bit wonky......but then so am I ...........so that's how I roll.
It was a labor of deep love!
SOOOOOOOO for the second set of pics....
When I was done with the quilt I jumped right in to something else. I wanted a messenger style bag that I could wear across the body comfortably, that was roomy enough without being too big. I began looking through my stash to decide what I would use. It was then I spotted a plain white quilted table runner I had in the closet (store bought). It was ripe for the picking....as I didn't use it on a table. I measured, I cut, I stabilized it for sturdiness, I painted (but of course), I used some canvas for pockets/straps, I embroidered a bit and voila I had my "A Whimsical Bohemian" messenger bag.
A piece of the table runner "before"
The flower and leaf design was quilted in to the runner already so I just painted them.
The piece on the front flap is actually an old macrame necklace I had from the 70's that was natural colored so of course I had to paint and embroider. I also embroidered over the flowers on the flap.
\
closer look
The front pocket was made with canvas, twill tape and covered with a home dec bird fabric I had. I painted over the design and added the leaves.
The interior pocket - I used canvas and paint and a stiff interfacing. You can also see I painted the inside of the bag as well.
Inside the front flap
This is the back side. There is no pocket. The bird cage and bird design are more of the home dec fabric I painted and appliqued on to the back.
The strap is made from interfacing and canvas fabric. The rings are actually those rings you use to make a binder......you know the ones you have to squeeze to open. They are so tight and sewn over the part that opens I have no fear of them opening while using the bag.
♥♥♥ ♥♥♥ ♥♥♥
So could I have packed anymore in to one post? I think not.
I have more to share and tell....... but later, I need to pace myself! HA!
I hope you have enjoyed your weekend and are looking forward to a good week ahead!!
See you soooooooon!
P.S. I am listening to this audio book........ I've read all of Adriana's books and normally like to have book in hand but this time......well I am read to while I work.
