Latest Projects

What have I been working on?

New springtime wreath

Felt heart hand warmers

Teacher's Valentine's Gifts

Inklingo Mug Rug swap

Some simple knitting

triangle bag

Michael's birthday cake

Happy Creating!!!!

Amy

Art Every Day Month Day 25

It's already day 25 of Art Every Day Month and I've only posted 1 time.  I was hoping to have this spur me on to do something creative every day.  While I haven't posted every day or even been creative every day, I have worked on a few things that I haven't posted about yet.  I have made things myself, as well as made things with my kids.  I'm getting excited that they want to start doing creative things!

These are some of the things that I've been working on lately.

Mug rug with an etched glass mug

more mug rugs

Envelope journal (inside)

envelope journal (outside)

handprint ornaments and beaded ornaments with the kids

large hexagon lap quilt top (English Paper Pieced)

Upcycled girl's dress (left is the original hand me down and the right is the upcycled skirt with fabric given to me by a friend.)  New Christmas dress for no money.  I still have to make bow ties for the boys.  I had to buy some stabilizer, but already have the velcro and will use the same material as the skirt in the dress to match.  Got to love new clothes for no money!

Maybe, I'll get my act together and have some to post daily for the next last few days of the month!

Amy

Art Every Day Month Day 5

I decided to participate in Art Every Day Month at http://creativeeveryday.com.  I'm a bit behind, but I finally got started last night, I just didn't post it.  Last night I started the hexagons for my first attempt at a Modern quilt.  It's going to be partially English paper pieced, then the shapes will be hand embroidered onto a solid color piece of fabric.

paper hexagon shapes

Fabric tacked around the paper shapes

All 8 hexagons getting ready to put on the background fabric.

Today, I took the shapes and placed them on the background fabric and started to embroider them.  I am on my 3rd hexagon and hope to finish embroidering the rest of the hexagons later tonight after work.  Then I have to decide if I am going to increase the size of the quilt or if I am going to keep it a smaller lap sized quilt.  I need to look more at modern quilting theory and decide how best to add to this quilt.  I am hoping to also make a pillow to match so that I can use up some of the smaller patterned fabric most likely using smaller hexagons.

Placement of the hexagons

close up of the simple running stitch to hand embroider the hexagon to the background fabric.

Being creative is great for your mind, body, and soul! What are you doing to be creative?

Amy

Past Projects

This is just a short list of the most recent projects that I have either completed or am in the process of completing.  I have an eclectic range of different mediums that I work in.  My biggest goal is to be creative and have fun and relax while I create.  I love the idea of taking something and making a whole new item from paper, fiber, beads, clay, and other art mediums.

Tie Dyed Breast Cancer Ribbon

English Paper Pieced Hexagon Flowers

Knitted Christmas Stocking in Process

Quilled Poinsettia Card

Hand Embroidered Fairy

Hand Embroidered Fairy

Wire Wrapped Earrings and Necklace

Rubber Stamped Card

Rubber Stamped Water Color

Machine Quilted Watercolor Painted

Crocheted Granny Square

Wish Doll

Faux Cathedral Window Quilt

Easter Dress for My Daughter 

Wire Wrapped Puzzle Necklace Inspired by Autism

Amy

Creating

I have loved being creative for as long as I can remember.  I grew up with a family full of creative people.  My paternal grandmother was a part time seamstress and knitted and crocheted like crazy.  My maternal great grandmother was a quilter and I have a quilt that she made when I was just a toddler.  My only uncle was a photographer in the Navy and continued on with this hobby after he was out of the Navy.  Then there was my mom and her aunt who taught ceramics and this aunt's daughter who went to college for art.

I grew up surrounded by people sewing, knitting and crocheting, drawing, photographing, and using clay.  My mom actually had a ceramics business where she taught classes.  It got to a point where we had expanded our basement to include space for her and my father to pour their own molds.  My mom would either buy greenware products of pour the molds and cure them herself.  She would then teach people how to clean the greenware, paint it, fire it, glaze it, and fire it again.  She had 14K gold paint, decals, and things that I'm sure that I don't remember.  As a kid, I love going to classes, going to the studio to buy the greenware and supplies, and spending time painting with my mom.  I also loved sewing and knitting and crocheting with my grandmother.  I always wanted to learn photography from my uncle.  I also love attempting to draw.  I loved my art classes, until I gave them up in high school to focus more on college prep classes (big mistake on my part).

Why am I writing all of this?  This is where my love of all things creative comes from.  My favorite gifts from my childhood were the creative gifts that I received.  I LOVED my box of art supplies, my toy sewing machine, my toy potter's wheel.  Today, I am forty, and I still love all things creative.  Anytime I get to spend in an art store, I am in heaven.


Amy