Comfort Cottage

Shine

Hello my friends!  I spent some time over the weekend playing in Photoshop CS5.  Using some free downloaded brushes and photos, I created a new piece of digital art.  By signing up to be a member of Deviant Art, you can have access to a wealth of resources for your digital art.

 

 

I started with a photograph that I used by persmission here. 

Flourish brushes by Eliza Vladi

Circle cluster brushes from Starwalt

Floral Fireworks brushes by Lileya

Fractal brushes and glow brushes by Hawksmont

Digital texture by Kim Klassen

It's okay to shine!

Until next time,

 

We Shopped 'Til We Dropped For Pink Saturday

I received a note from Beverly at How Sweet the Sound asking me to repost this for Pink Saturday.  It wasn't until I read her note that it occurred to me that yes, there's plenty of pink here!  I think I'm slipping :)

It's been months since my sister and I took our last trip to The Old Country Store.  Yesterday, the weather was cold and clear, and we were ready to rumble :)  We got an early start, and I think we were the first customers in the store!  As usual, there was no shortage of gorgeous fabrics to chose from.  They had many of the new lines and a fresh selection of quilting books as well.  I immediately headed for the mountain of fat quarters which were beautifully arranged according to style and color.  I was not disappointed.  Would you like to see what I came home with?

 

 

These are from French General.  Can you just picture them paired with vintage laces, buttons and vintage jewelry?

 

 

Can you say Oo la la?

 

The next set is at exactly the opposite end of the spectrum...bright, modern and vibrant.  They are from Moda's Terrain collection.

 

Wouldn't they make cute cupcake pincushions?  This pattern by Sandi Henderson of Portabello Pixie is perfect!

I fell in love with this cheerful set.  It's from Riley Blake's Quite Contrary collection by My Mind's Eye.

 

I immediately thought of Heather Bailey's adorable pincushions.

 

 

 

I've had these for awhile now.  I asolutely love them.  They remind me of cotton candy and a summer day.  They're from the Bliss collection by Bonnie and Camille for Moda.

 

Camille Roskelley was featured in the Fall 2010 issue of Where Women Create.

 

 

Isn't her studio cute?

 

Finally, there is a new Moda collection called Prairie Paisley II by Minick and Simpson.

 

 

I've always wanted to do a quilt using the spools block.  I think these fabrics would work really well with a traditional pattern like that.  What do you think?

 

Of course, I really hate to start a new project until I finish the one on the table right now.  I'm making some good progress with it.

 

 

It's all cut out.  It's actually piecing together pretty quickly.  I won't get to work on it again until later tomorrow.  I have to take my son in to have his stitches removed.  His eye is healing well and his cheek has a normal contour to it again.  He's able to see, so we're counting our blessings!  Again, I want to thank all of you for your encouragement and support. It has meant everything to me.

Since I originally posted this last week, I finished the quilt top!

 To visit all of our Pink Saturday participants, just click on the Pink Saturday icon in my right sidebar.  I hope all of you have a wonderful weekend.  I'll be visiting!  Hugs and blessings to you.

Until next time,

 

 

A New Drawing and Lots of Quilting Inspiration

Hello my friends!  I hope all of you are having a good weekend so far.  It's pretty dreary here in the Northeast.  It's been snowing all day, but so far, it's not accumulating.  I have a few things to share with you today.  The first is my new drawing - a bright yellow finch.

 

 

Instead of watercolor, I used Caran D'Ache Neocolor II water-soluble crayons for the finch.  The rest is the usual pen and ink and graphite pencil on Strathmore Bristol Vellum.  It was nice working without the distractions of the last week.  I was able to finish him much more quickly than the last drawing.

I also wanted to share some fabric and quilting inspiration.  Last month I had purchased the new editions of Sew Somerset and Art Quilting Studio.  They always get me to thinking about ways to use my fabric stash and my sewing machine.

 

 

There were several beautiful examples of fiber art that really caught my eye.

 

 

I love the way the artist combined embroidery and vintage bird graphics into this fabric book.

 

 

The combination of lace, sumptuous red fabrics and tassel fringe paired with the vintage photo is so lovely.

I'm sure you know that I'm a pushover for bright colors and bold patterns by now.

 

 

In the latest issue of Art Quilting Studio, I found an art quilt that really excites me.

 

 

I recently found some fat quarters that I've been wanting to use for art quilts.

 

 

The colors and patterns are so bright and energetic.

 

 

I found some ideas in the previous issue of Art Quilting Studio that I think these fabrics would be perfect for.

 

 

This conversation quilt can be based on any theme.

 

 

The colors used together in these quilts are so striking together.

 

 

Finally, I loved the way the artist used variegated embroidery thread in her work.

 

 

I think I'll take a break from drawing tomorrow and put my studio back in order.  It shouldn't take too long this time because I just worked on it two weeks ago.  I'm trying to keep up on it because I've found that the more cluttered it is, the less creative I am.  I think it just becomes too much of an effort to work in a disorganized environment.  After I tidy up, I want to try the darning foot I bought for my machine.  It will allow me to do free-motion sewing, which will give me more options for art quilting.

On the horizon, there's a fabric shopping trip to the Old Country Store in Intercourse in the works for Monday.  My sister and quilting buddy, Lorrie and I will be having a day of bliss at the fabric sale.

I hope you have a happy and restful Sunday.

Until next time,

 

 

 

 

 

A Peaceful Day...Finally

Today is the first day I've been able to get to my computer and my studio since my son's surgery.  I want to thank you for all of your prayers and good wishes.  The surgery went very well.  He spent one night in the hospital and we brought him home yesterday.  He needs lots of help as he can't see very well.  He's not allowed to wear his glasses or bend over, or even lift a carton of milk.  The surgeon doesn't want him to put any strain on all of that delicate work.  As it happens, he's mostly sleeping due to the pain meds.  He'll have the stitches under the eye removed next week, and the ones in his mouth will dissolve on their own.  Apparently there were also fragments of his jaw bone floating around in there.  I think I'll spare you the rest of the gory details!

Of course, we spent a lot of time waiting on Tuesday, so I occupied myself with a new drawing.  It was definitely better than obsessing about what was going on in the OR.  Today, I was able to get back to my studio to finish the piece.

 

 

I used colored pencils but I also added some watercolor to intensify the red.  It made the butterfly really pop!

That's all for now.  My sweet golden retriever, Molly is expecting her dinner, and we all know who's in charge here :)  I'll see you again soon.  Hugs and blessings to you.

 

Until next time,

 

 

 

 

 

Morton

I had to give him a name, and Morton just seemed to suit him.  It's just like a cat to get into things.  Wouldn't you love to give him a hug?  See if you can find the little fishies in the tangles.

 

 

I used the usual materials:  Sakura Pigma Micron pens; Prismacolor colored pencils and graphite pencil on Strathmore Bristol Vellum.

Tomorrow is the big day.  My son will be having his surgery.  Needless to say, he's not in the best frame of mind right now.   I am truly thankful for your prayers and good wishes.  I'll try to let you know how it went as soon as I am able.  Hugs and blessings to you.

 

Until next time,

 

 

Pink Saturday Dancer

Hello, my friends.  Happy Pink Saturday!  When I was working on this drawing, I realized I hadn't participated in a while.  That's how our dancer's dress came  to be pink.  I don't usually tackle the human figure, but I've always loved ballet, so I decided it was time.

 

 

Thank you to Beverly at How Sweet The Sound for hosting Pink Saturday for us.  If you click on the Pink Saturday icon in my right sidebar, you'll be taken to links to all of today's participants.  Have a deliciously pink weekend!

 

Until next time,

 

Blue Butterfly

In coping with my son's recent trauma, I'm finding that I'm even more compelled to create.  I finished a new drawing.  I decided to add some color to this one.  I used Prismacolor colored pencils to enhance the butterfly. 

 

 

We met the surgeon who will be performing my son's reconstructive surgery yesterday.  He described in perhaps more detail than my son wanted what he will be doing to piece his facial bones back together.  The scene was like something out of House, complete with the six residents who filed into the room behind him.  Fortunately, none of them were as obnoxious as House!  My son is understandably nervous, but even he sensed the surgeon's confidence in his ability.  He scheduled the operation for Tuesday, as he wanted to approach the procedure when well-rested.  His schedule was entirely too crowded for Thursday.  I appreciated that - I wouldn't want a tired surgeon reconstructing my son's face!

I hope all you are well.  Please keep my son and his surgeon in your prayers, and thank you for being there to listen.

 

Until next time,

 

Tangled Tabby

Hello, my friends!  In between doctor's appointments for my son, I managed to complete another drawing.  Cats are one of my favorite subjects, so today, I present to you the Tangled Tabby.  I am just loving combining representational drawings with Zentangle.  Let me know what you think!

 

 

These little 3.5 x 3.5 tiles are like m&m's.  I can't just stop at one!  Well, I really did stop the m&m's.  So far, on my fitness program, I've lost 15 pounds.  Yay for me!!  I think I've replaced m&m's with Zentangles :)  They're non-fat and guaranteed not to raise your blood pressure. 

Tomorrow, we're off to Univ. of Pa. to see the surgeon.  Please keep my son in your prayers.  Hugs and blessings to you!

Until next time,

 

The Winds of Adversity

Hello, my friends.  You may have noticed my absence of the last week.  Into every life a little rain must fall.   Last Saturday, my son went to a concert his friend was playing in.  It was to be a night of fun with friends before the spring semester started.  Unfortunately, the fun ended when an unknown person accidentally hit my son in the eye while dancing.  At first, it just looked like a black eye.    It wasn't long, however, before it became apparent that something was terribly wrong.  Long story short:  severe facial trauma with multiple fractures of the left orbit (bony structure around and under the eye).  We spent last week making the rounds and collecting CT scans, X-rays, and bad news from several specialists.  We're meeting with a specialist in facial trauma and reconstruction this week.  Extensive surgery is a given.  My son will be setting off airport metal alarms for the rest of his life :( 

The good news in all of this?  He's alive, he's not brain damaged, and there's no damage to his optic nerve.  Everything else can be fixed.  I'm incredibly grateful - I've seen cases where this sort of thing has not ended well.  Please keep my son, Michael,  in your prayers and pray for the skill of the surgeons.  They will most likely operate on Thursday.

Needless to say, by Saturday, my brains were more scrambled than my son's.  I escaped to the craft store for a few hours.  By Sunday, I was ready to make some art.  Zentangle is remarkably therapeutic for the stressed mind.  I've resisted working as small as Zentangle artists normally do, but today, working in miniature appealed to me.  I cut my Bristol Vellum into the traditional 3.5" x 3.5" squares and tackled my first piece of miniature art.  I was inspired by a photograph I shot of a wren last summer.

 

 

I enjoyed working this so much, I think I'll be doing many more in this size!  I used Sakura Pigma Micron pens, sizes .005, .01, .02, and .08; a Sakura Pigma Micron brush pen; no. 2 pencil for shading; and Strathmore Bristol Vellum (100lb.)

I sincerely hope your week was less stressful than ours :)  I missed all of you and I probably won't be able to post between Wednesday and Friday.  Take care of yourselves and stay well.  I'll try to keep you updated.

Hugs and blessings!

Until next time,

 

 

 

Feloons

This one was inspired by my sister's cat, Gus. He's a huge orange tabby that looks like a balloon with four paws. I just couldn't help myself :)

 

Feloons

18 x 24

Mixed media on 140lb Cold Pressed Paper

Materials: DaVinci watercolors, Caran D'Ache Neocolor IIs, Portfolio Oil Pastels; Decoart Americana Acrylics, Speedball Super-Pigmented Black Ink, Bic Wite-Out Correction Pen, Watercolor brushes round, size 8 and flat size 10, liner size 2, bubble wrap, hand-carved rubber stamps

 

Until next time,