Saturday, August 14, 2010

Working my way to recovery!

July 19th I had bilateral (meaning both knees) full knee replacements. I am recovering slowly. I needed an extra week off work than I had wanted to take but have turned a corner and am making more steady progress toward a full regaining of the range of motion needed to have a full recovery and use of my legs.

Before surgery I had finished piecing the Innovations Fabric Challenge entry. I was unable to get it quilted as I had hoped so I could spend down time while recovering working on embellishing. So, once again I will be pushing the envelope to get it done by the due date. Also my entry submission was late as I was out of contact with the computer until most recently. This means it may not be accepted and I am prepared to face that possibility.

I had planned a much more elaborate quilt, cut the pieces and was ready to construct when I realized I wasn't going to be able to get it pieced in a timely manner. Perhaps that quilt will surface one of these days! Instead I chose to use the batik in a mirror image, creating a unique design and a more manageable size. It will be approximately 17 inches by 38 inches. It is waiting for the living room to return as it is now my convalescing room with the futon open as a bed. Soon it will be folded up and moved to Conan's room as his new bed! He can open it if he wants or sleep on it in couch mode. He is looking forward to getting the queen sized bed out of his room and gaining space!

I have collected all my cobalt blue beads, even purchased several new from Shipwreck Beads before surgery. I plan to embellish the Mirror, and enhance the uniqueness of its design. This is the un-quilted piece.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Summer Time!

Things get busy but I don't feel like I have actually done any more than I usually do! Perception is an odd thing!

I recently, in the last month, completed a set of cushions for a friend. He is an avid guitarist who finally found a straight back chair to sit in while he plays. I agreed to help out and made this set of cushions. Considering I didn't have a pattern and it has been years since I did any upholstery work, they came out okay. They are functional and adequate for his long hours of practice/playing. I like the fabric and it matches his other furniture well. We didn't pick it out with that in mind, it just did when I brought them over!
The photo was taken by another friend who has been exploring photography and video production for his developing web site: Smiling Chi

The QuiltArt Challenge has been posted on line, a total of 80 15X15 inch quilts all unique! The QuiltArt Quinceanera!
Enjoy! My entry is a crazy quilt I have posted about when it was under construction!

Still Crazy After All These Years!

The statement:
The Quilt Art 15th anniversary challenge called out for velvet and satin, a celebration of 'coming of age,' a Quinceanero. For years I have been collecting materials to 'one day' make a crazy quilt. I think of crazy quilts as the original art quilts, using surface design, often to express a specific meaning. In 2003 I joined QA and participated in my first ever challenge. That was a transitional quilt for me. I began using beads, buttons, baubles and fibers, doodling on the surface of my quilts. I visited hundreds of QA list member's websites,saw the amazing work being done, all the possibilities. QA challenges are often the inspiration for my expression. Designing, piecing and doodling have become the heart of my personal meditations. Challenge themes focus my mind's dialogue. Finding ways to express the accompanying emotions and ideas brings me to greater awareness of myself. Each of the 15 sections went through any number of design transformations before taking their final form. Some are representative of specific ideas, others are purely fantasy.

I'm working on designing my Fabric Challenge entry for this years Innovations Machine Quilting convention in Tacoma, WA. It is an awesome batik! More on this at a later time!

Monday, June 21, 2010

I'm in a new challenge!

Voting up until 6/28. Check it out!

VOTE HERE!

My Entry:
Also available from my Etsy shop!
Primary Practice Pentagon

Saturday, May 22, 2010

New item added to the Sumer Solstice Sale on Etsy & other happenings!

This is the item I added to my 50% off sale today!

See the listing on Etsy if you would like more details about this reusable journal cover!

Look for other items in my shop tagged summersolsticesale!

Yesterday someone from the Yahoo recycle group I belong to came and picked up the 2 Singer treadle machines I have had sitting here. Originally I thought I might refurbish them, which would have been awesome to own a working treadle. However I got reasonable and realized I would rather work on motorized machines. I recently purchased a Singer 15 in a cute little vintage cabinet with a drawer full of fun accessories! It will need rewiring and I am beginning the process of researching that! I am rearranging my house and will take pictures of the new addition once it is in the new spot where I will have space to work on it at my leisure!

Remember the Etsy Pagan Team Summer Solstice Sale! See current items on sale here!

Monday, May 17, 2010

Adding a new item at 50% off everyday in my Etsy Shop!


This is my sale item of the day! Was $30 now $15! See the listing here in my Etsy Shop!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/9315298/on-sale-textile-art-postcard-sized-crop


The Pagan Team Summer Sale details are in this post:
http://cobaltquilterscorner.blogspot.com/2010/05/summer-sale.html

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Summer Sale!

The Etsy Pagan Team is having a Summer Sale for Solstice!

Each member will determine the specifics of their sale. I have marked items at 50% off! I decided it was time to move out and step up to this adventure and motivate myself to create more!

Today I listed 7 items at 50% off:
http://www.etsy.com/search_results_shop.php?search_query=summersale&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5418169

I will be adding one item a day to this 50% off sale! Keep checking back to see if your favorite is on sale!

The Team Sale tags are 'summersale' and 'summersolsticesale'

Search Etsy handmade and see all the wonderful items on sale for the Celebration of the Sun!

***************************

On a personal note...

I finished and submitted my QuiltArt 15th Anniversary piece, Still Crazy. The submissions were due April 15th, they have not been poted to the group web site yet, I will post here once they have. I look forward to seeing all the amazing tributes to QA!

I continue to sort, organize and de-clutter my living space! We are cleaning and rearranging my 15 year old son's bedroom, an adventure in itself. The cleaning is mostly done, now to put things back in where they can be easily maintained! Not directly Art related but it will allow me more comfort with the level of the overall house organization!

The kitchen arrangement has been set up, now to sort and organize the books, art supplies and stuff to have easy access!

The Etsy Pagan Team is also having a Challenge!
In celebration of Earth Day and its 40th Anniversary, April 22, we REmember
our RElationship with the planet. Create an item that helps us be more earth
friendly.
The emphasis is on recycled elements of our entries. The deadline is now May 28th. I will post a link to the voting once available!
The Etsy Earthpath Artisans Street Team, EAST, is also having a Summer Solstice Challenge!

Summer Solstice is quickly approaching, the days are longer, the sunshine is warm and inviting. The sun is and has been many things to many people.
I challenge you to create an item that is your interpretation of this theme. Be as literal as representing the celestial body or reflective of this time of growth and renewal.

I have an entry for the RE challenge waiting for the last step, thread painting, I will post when listed! The fabrics for the Sun Challenge are gathering... I love the brightness of yellows & oranges together!

I am also sewing a set of chair cushions for a friend... hard to cut fabric over $15 a yard! I will post pictures, hopefully, when finished!

I have recently packaged and sold several sets of 100 different fabric fat quarters though my Etsy shop, there is one currently listed:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/47130030/fat-quarters-100-different-fabrics
I have at least one more in my stash, it needs about 20 more different fabrics, I am sure I can find them! We shall see. I already sold 3! Talk about excess fabric! I am keeping a piece of all the fabrics I want, some I have outgrown and am including in the sets!

I best get back to work!

Monday, April 5, 2010

New up date of Etsy Pagan Team Spring Sale!

Wow! Visit all the great shops listed below with their Spring Sale listings!

Jdenitto/Poppetree:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/jdenitto1966?section_id=6880225

EarthRitesBags:
http://www.etsy.com/search_results_shop.php?search_query=paganspringsale&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_8060241
http://www.etsy.com/search_results_shop.php?search_query=paganspringsale&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_8060241&order=&page=2

Rainadelmagick:
http://www.etsy.com/search_results_shop.php?search_query=paganspringsale&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5376328

ValkyrieofOdin:
http://www.etsy.com/search_results_shop.php?search_query=paganspringsale&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_6300670

TalogWitch:
http://www.etsy.com/search_results_shop.php?search_query=paganspringsale&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5778320
http://www.etsy.com/search_results_shop.php?search_query=paganspringsale&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5778320&order=&page=2

Solas Candles:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/solascandles
20% off all products - discount will be taken off via paypal

JasmineWorth:
http://www.etsy.com/search_results_shop.php?search_query=paganspringsale&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5354011

Elephant Walk:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=42666379

SiragWatkins:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=5039628

Merigreenleaf:
http://www.etsy.com/search_results_shop.php?search_query=paganspringsale&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5098964
http://www.etsy.com/search_results_shop.php?search_query=paganspringsale&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5098964&order=&page=2

KrystalMoon:
http://www.etsy.com/search_results_shop.php?search_query=paganspringsale&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_85770

MadEtcha:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=42523581

Threadsofmagique:
http://www.etsy.com/search_results_shop.php?search_query=paganspringsale&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_6636763

LWaite:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=42436181
Buy 2 Star Pendants any size and get 1 Small Star Pendant Free! Or buy $35. worth of items out of my shop and get 1 Small Star Pendant Free!

BrightNewThings:
http://www.etsy.com/search_results_shop.php?search_query=paganspringsale&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_6918034

Cobaltquilter:
http://www.etsy.com/search_results_shop.php?search_query=paganspringsale&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5418169

TheHealingCupboard:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheHealingCupboard?section_id=6881206

Ekpaganjewelry:
http://www.etsy.com/search_results_shop.php?search_query=paganspringsale&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_8502020

Tsana:
http://www.etsy.com/search_results_shop.php?search_query=paganspringsale&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_6752351

DragonsMoon:
http://www.etsy.com/search_results_shop.php?search_query=paganspringsale&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5867593

BeautyWatcher:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=39353499

AKiwiSilkie:
http://www.etsy.com/search_results_shop.php?search_query=paganspringsale&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_9104625

HowlingCaterpillars:
http://www.etsy.com/search_results_shop.php?search_query=paganspringsale&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5406335

Deborah’sCandleMagick:
http://www.etsy.com/search_results_shop.php?search_query=paganspringsale&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_6246921

Leslietsy:
http://www.etsy.com/search_results_shop.php?search_query=paganspringsale&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5945890

Falconandfinch:
http://www.etsy.com/search_results_shop.php?search_query=paganspringsale&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_8232122

Brandylinn:
http://www.etsy.com/search_results_shop.php?search_query=paganspringsale&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_8536118&ref=auto

AnotherRealmScents:
http://www.etsy.com/search_results_shop.php?search_query=paganspringsale&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_8532722

Maiden2Mother2Crone:
http://www.etsy.com/search_results_shop.php?search_query=paganspringsale&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_6344297

Metaphysical Shoppe:
http://www.etsy.com/search_results_shop.php?search_query=paganspringsale&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_6135849

EvaKoestel:
http://www.etsy.com/search_results_shop.php?search_query=paganspringsale&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_7419656

Tiger Eye Designs:
www.TigerEyeDesigns.etsy.com
Proud member of the Pagan Etsy Team, in honor of Spring other members can take 10% off untill April 9th. Just convo me and I will deduct the final price.

Faerie Cupcake:
http://www.etsy.com/search_results_shop.php?search_query=paganspringsale&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_9224963&ref=auto

Anchasta:
http://www.etsy.com/search_results_shop.php?search_query=paganspringsale&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_367

Moonthrall:
http://www.etsy.com/search_results_shop.php?search_query=paganspringsale&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5939760
A few of my items will get fellow members a complimentary tarot reading, 3 cards.

Still beading away on my QA 15th anniversary challenge piece... 9+ sections completed, and fairly solid ideas for several of the remaining sections! "Just keep moving forward, it will get done in time..." if I keep the positive up it will happen! No time to edit pictures, but I am taking progress pictures fairly regularly, helps me gain design perspective, love my digital camera! Will probably post a series of progress images after the 15th.

I actually got some spring cleaning done yesterday! The fridge looks so happy, also one of the cupboards, step by step! I have a new arrangement of the kitchen furniture I want to try, love the perspective changes possible just by sitting somewhere else in the room to look at my design wall. Wish the day job wasn't quite so demanding as it will be this week, going to squeeze as many minutes a day as I can for my beading, we shall see how it goes! Thankfully a whole weekend before the deadline!