What I've Been Up To!

Well, after a much lengthier absence than I anticipated a month ago, I have finally cleared the decks and get back to my experiments!  I'll be around to visit all of you and your lovely projects shortly, and hope to post some new things here very soon!  But in the meantime, here is my record of recent activity.

In early March, I attended a workshop by the wonderful mixed media artist, Carol Nelson, held eat the New Braunfels Art League in New Braunfels, Texas (just north of San Antonio).  I met some wonderful folks, and saw lots of creative takes on Carol's assignments over this 4 day workshop.

Here is a piece of painted tyvek (those plastic types of mailers, for instance) that I then ironed!!  It is rubbed with something like Treasure Gold and a similar product in copper.  Below are some more pictures of this technique (and this piece).... love this technique!  You can also use a heat gun, though the patterns will be different.

 Another project was made with plastic foam eating plates!  You'd never guess, even in person!

We also played around with shaving creme and acrylics.... I will definitely be doing this again, as it was easy to get some very interesting detailed patterns.

We also made some acrylic skins with pouring medium and paint....

One of our major efforts was collaging with all of the above, and other papers we had made or altered.  I did not finalize either piece, as I am not happy with the background on this one, or the placement of pieces on the second.  The rust piece on this is an acrylic skin made with Quin Gold and some metallic copper paint.  You can also see of my shaving cream paper here.... and some tyvek on the second piece.

The other thing I've been up to is making two blocks for a wedding quilt at the request of a dear friend for her son's upcoming marriage.  This was challenging not only because it has been several years since I have done any design and construction work in fabric, but mostly because I have already moved my entire quilt studio (fabric, tools, tables, Bernina sewing machine, ironing board, etc.) out to my new home, lol!  But I do have a small inexpensive Singer that I have as a backup (having learned the hard way in the midst of a deadline on a commission that Bernina machines are not fixed overnight - and even though they have very few problems if well maintained, it can happen!)  So I bought and solicited fabric donations from another friend.... and here is what emerged.  We were each asked to choose one or two themes from a list significant to the soon-to-be-married couple:

A wood campfire, based on a free-hand New York Beauty design.

and tomatoes and basil, the first of which is based on Ruth McDowell's freezer paper technique, and the rest is of my design.... those triangles are supposed to be chopped tomatoes, lol!

So although these things were all fun and stimulating - I cannot wait to get back into the challenges and keeping up with all of you!

Thanks so much for stopping by..... I appreciate your time and any thoughts!  xxx Lynn