52 Quilts Journal Week 9

52 Quilts Journal Week 9
Originally uploaded by okanagan_spirit

The background is cotton fabric sample, the coloured stuff with the heart cut out is a baby wipe I used to clean up previous projects, the Asian fabric behind the heart cut-out is from a fat quarter I bought in Armstrong when I visited my sister.I decided to fringe the fore edge of the page this time. Now you know that heart cut from the baby wipe just can't be wasted, so it will be seen in a future project.

Sewn Illusions Journal Page 3

Sewn Illusions Journal Page 3
Originally uploaded by okanagan_spirit

For this page I used a green background from a bulk supplies store. It looks similar to dryer sheet but coloured. I stitched various scraps of fabric to the background then attached a leftover sample of the dragonfly paper-cloth. This was glued to the album page with sepia Decoupage Finish. I rubber stamped some clear stamp images with black and purple dye inks.

52 Weeks Quilt Journal Week 8

52 Weeks Quilt Journal Week 8
Originally uploaded by okanagan_spirit

This page is more of the cloth-paper. The pear is a digitally altered copy of my pear photo and the border is scans of my dragonfly ATC edited to form the border. All these papers were glued to acrylic felt with matt medium and brushed with 2 more coats of matt medium. I outlined stitched the pear with rayon thread, used a decorative stitch around the pear block. The border is random stitched with black thread and the outer edge is zig-zag stitched with black thread.

52 Weeks Quilt Journal Week 7

52 Weeks Quilt Journal Week 7
Originally uploaded by okanagan_spirit

This page is a fabric sample background. The heart is torn watercolour paper brushed with Royal Coat sepia Decoupage Finish and torn rubber stamped papers applied then brushed over the top with more of the sepia decoupage finish.The lace ribbon and paper heart were stitched on the background and then the edge was machine stitched around.

Paper-Cloth ATC 1

Paper-Cloth ATC 1
Originally uploaded by okanagan_spirit

I'm experimenting with paper-cloth and for this ATC I scanned and printed the dragonfly ATC on regular printer paper. I coated acrylic felt with matt medium and applied the paper image, then coated the image with 2 coats of matt medium. This was cut to size and machine stitched around the edge.

July ATC Memories In Texture

I placed a piece of plastic mesh vegetable bag and glued string on to cereal box cardboard cut to ATC size. I then wrapped heavy duty aluminium foil over the top and gently rubbed over the surface to emboss the textures. The extra foil was wrapped to the back of the card. next I sponged FW acrylic ink over the foil and heat set. I brushed diluted Diamond Glaze and allowed it to dry. I added a glass leaf bead and a metal tag embossed with "memories" using a silver brad to hold it in place.

The back is watercolour paper, misted with water and the FW acrylic inks dropped on and moved around a bit to blend. This was also heat set. This is a little more like I expected with the dragonfly backgrounds, but I'm liking both now.

July ATC Dragonfly

July ATC Dragonfly
Originally uploaded by okanagan_spirit

Some ATCs I made just playing with supplies I have on hand. I used shiny cardstock that was pre-cut to ATC size and made a background with FW acrylic ink in Purple lake and olive green and Pearlescent liquid acrylic in birdwing copper. This didn't turn out quite the way I expected, but I carried on and rubber stamped with the dragonfly and Hematite ep along with a light sprinkle of some mixed embossing powders. Then I cut the ATC down to 2 in x 3 in so I could layer it over 2 other pieces of cardstock.

Tea Themed ATC for July

Tea Themed ATC for July
Originally uploaded by okanagan_spirit

Here's a few more tea themed ATCs I got ready in time for Sunday's swap at the Grind. All the mini tags are from the Quickutz Squeeze die cutting machine. We had a great, lively swap with 2 new swappers in attendance.

Exploring Waves Bag

Exploring Waves Bag
Originally uploaded by okanagan_spirit

I've been progressing along on this bag and am now about 50% done. I'm still loving the gentle shading of the yarn.

July ATC Swap at The Grind

July ATC Swap at The Grind
Originally uploaded by okanagan_spirit

Here is another batch of the butterfly digital background, this time with a goddess theme. Most of the rubberstamps are from Quietfire Design.

July ATC Swap at The Grind

July ATC Swap at The Grind
Originally uploaded by okanagan_spirit

Digital image background and rubber stamps from Quietfire Design. I rotated and cropped the digital images I was using to practise layers in Photoshop Elements. I tried out different embossing powders and added bling embellishments.

ATC July Butterflies

ATC July Butterflies
Originally uploaded by okanagan_spirit

I used white cardstock and stamped the Quietfire Design stamp then used cosmetic sponges to apply Distress Inks. The butterflies are stamped with purple dye based ink and the cardstock was trimmed 2.25in x3.25in and mounted onto a 2.5in x 3.5in dark blue cardstock.

July ATC Dragonfly in Black and White

Here are some more ATCs I made today. These ones are paper napkin applique backgrounds with dragonfly rubber stamped on white cardstock and cut out. The words are cut from a stamping of the "Love where you're at" rubber stamp from Quietfire Design There is a small white or black rhinestone on each for a little bling.

ATC July 09 Lavender Tea 2

ATC July 09 Lavender Tea 2
Originally uploaded by okanagan_spirit

Rubber stamping, Cuttlebug embossing, lettering done with Misty Plum Zig Writter.

Lavender Tea ATC

I've taken a break from knitting for awhile today and worked on some ATCs. I still have some tea themed paper napkins from doing the pages for the Tea Fat Book, so I did some ATCs. I cut my cardstock to 3.5in x 5in and folded it to 2.5in x 3.5in and cut the top corners to resemble a tea bag shape. I used matt medium to glue a piece of the paper napkin to the front side of the ATC. I used my Moxie font for the Quick Kutz squeeze die cut machine and glued the work "tea" on the front. On the back I rubbed some purple ink over the cardstock then stamped a gauze background stamp with Tea Dye Distressed Ink. I wrote the title with a purple Pilot gel ink pen. I used double stick tape to close the bottom and side to form a pocket.
The front of the little Tea "Bag" tag that goes into the packet was made from a 2in x 2.5in piece of Core Color cardstock, corners cut and stamped with the gauze stamp and Tea Dye Distress Ink the run through the Cuttlebug embossing folder. I used matt medium to glue a paper napkin lavender image on. The back of the tag is white cardstock stamped with the gauze stamp and tea cup stamp.

My First Felt Bead

My First Felt Bead
Originally uploaded by okanagan_spirit

I finally did it!!! I made a wet felt bead. I went to the Farmers Market on Sunday and after checking out all the fruits and vegetables that were available and buying a nice supply I checked some of the other booths. What a great discovery of a lady at one of the booths with colourful pieces of wool roving. She allowed me to choose a couple of colours and showed me how to make a wet felt bead. I came home with this treasure which I may embellish with some seed beads and turn it into a necklace, I haven't decided for sure yet. If I do I'll post the results.

Blog Award

I was given an award by Linda C it's my first so thanks Linda.
Part of the award is to list 10 things about me and pass the award to 7 other blogs, so here goes.

1. I love lilac trees, but didn't realize how much until I got them back after more then 17 years without lilacs.
   
2. I try to use every scrap I have, bits of knitting yarn, paper, fabric and anything I can find.
   
3. I enjoy knitting and reading outside as long as there is shade for me to sit in and I love listening to the birds sing.
   
4. I enjoy making journals with my Zutter Bind-It-All and hope to try other bookbinding techniques.
   
5. I wish I had more flowers in my own yard, right now I have to borrow gardens for photography.
   
6. I enjoy making ATCs and swapping online and at a monthly in person swap.
   
7. I love collecting buttons and creating with them.
   
8. My favourite colours are purple and green.
9. I love knitting lace, and bead knitting, knitting to felt especially journal wraps and my next favourite is knitting texture.
10. I enjoy exploring new art and techniques.

For the blogs I am giving the awards to I have chosen most from blogs of people who entered my last blog candy award and I had intended to visit, so now I have taken the time to do just that.

1. Karen doesn't always post photos, but she writes so well about her knitting and family, I've even gotten delightful emails from her.
2. Beth posts lovely art and techniques and stories about her family and adventures at the farmers market. Always a nice read.
3. Jane's blog is another knitting blog that offers some beautiful finished objects to read about and see.
4. artlover has several blogs and you may want to check them out, but the one I've awarded the award to has some great techniques to try.
5. vintagekathleen is doing an amazing job and service to other knitters by charting some really lovely lace knitting patterns from an old book. She and the patterns are a treasure.
6. Karen shares great stories about spinning, quilting, knitting and family adventures.
7. Janet post the most beautiful digital art, mixed media, recycled art and quilts.
   
   Thanks to all for giving me wonderful places to visit and to Linda for the award and the chance to do this.
   
   
   
   

Exploring Waves Bag

Exploring Waves Bag
Originally uploaded by okanagan_spirit

This is the first bit of knitting I started June 29 on the Exploring Waves Bag. I am using Araucania yarn on 3.00mm needles and size 6/0 silver lined matt amethyst seed beeds.
I’m enjoying knitting this project. The yarn is easy to knit, the pattern has just enough pattern to be interesting without being complicated and I love the gentle shading of the yarn.

Digital Photos

I am still very much stumbling around with Photo Shop Elements but I took time to play with layers over the last couple of days. I started with this photo and added a scan of one of my encaustic wax backgrounds and came up with this.


Then I tried this photo and used scans of painted backgrounds to create these photos.

Great Weekend

Last weekend was pretty great, I started Sat morning with a little weeding, not my favourite activity, but it makes the yard look better. When I came in I decided to search in boxes for a piece of denim fabric I had, didn't find the denim, but opened another box and found to my great delight the shuttle for my knitting machine. It went missing during our move and I probably would have used the knitting machine last year to make the felted journal wraps instead of hand knitting 13 of these in such a short time. Oh well, I'm sure everyone who received the journals appreciate them being hand knit instead of by machine. Sat afternoon I went to Cherish The Thought scrapbooking store in Port Moody for the demo of the Quick Kutz Squeeze die cut machine and make and take. We made these cute cards using the dress die and an embossing folder and an alpha die set.

Then I decided I liked the Moxie alphabet and used it to put a title on my Sewn Illusion journal. I liked the cover the way it was, so didn't do much to it besides the die cut letters and I borrowed the ribbon and sewing bobbin idea from Penelope that she used for the Tea Book.

Some ATCs

Earlier this week I played with rubber stamping some ATCs and colouring the image after stamping. The first ATC on the left is coloured with blending chalks and sprayed with workable fixative. The other 2 are coloured with Distress Inks. The "Dance of the Butterflys Collage" stamp is from Paper Inspirations and the "Memories" stamp is from Laundry Line. The Dance was stamped with pigment ink and heat embossed with Pearl lustre Hematite and Memories was stamped with Fired Brick Distress Ink. The final touch was a rinestone on each butterfly wing. I haven't tried colouring in rubber stamped images before, but I am happy with the results.

Tea Book

Last Sunday June 21 was the regular ATC Vancouver swap at the Grind and despite just getting home late the previous Thru. I really wanted to go so I managed to get a few of these ATCs done and with some leftovers from previous swaps I came away with a nice group to add to my growing collection. The book on the left is a single sheet folded book and the one on the right is a pamphlet stitch book with the same photos from my garden in Vancouver before moving.

The day started with these packages beautifully wrapped by Penelope for those of us who had participated in the Tea Fat Book collaborative project.



Opening the package revealed the beautiful covers also created by the very talented Penelope, thanks Pen. Isn't it pretty, she made all the covers and bound the books for the 20 participants and we're lucky she keeps coming up with wonderful ideas. Later Sun. was spent going over every page and marvelling at the variety created by all and reading all the tips and links Penelope assembled on pages at the back of the book.



My page is paper napkin applique using a tea themed napkin, a lavender napkin and rubber stamping.

Holiday Activities

I have been missing from blog posts because of a three week visit in the Okanagan with family and friends, and it's taken me awhile to get caught up with things at home. The bus trip home was quite an experience with a 2 hour delay waiting for an accident to be cleared. No knitting handy, so reading was the activity of choice while waiting, but I did get some knitting done in quiet moments in between visiting and shopping.
Here are some projects just waiting for a trip to the washer for felting and finishing so I'll post the completed projects when that is done.
The shopping involved a visit to a quilt store in Armstrong, Scrapbooking stores in Vernon and Kelowna, a bead store, secondhand book store and a yarn shop with treasures found in each. The yarn store revealed some odd balls of yarn and a Louisa Harding drawstring bag pattern, which was finished knitting in a couple of days and now is just waiting for the drawstring cord to be completed.

Sewn Illusions Page 2

For the second page in this journal I rubbed gold gel paint on the edge of the page with my finger. The sewn part is a bunch of various scraps stitched with straight and zig zag stitches. I used an alpha set of rubber stamps and white pigment ink for the word colours and embossed with pearl embossing powder and Quietfire design stamp "Art" stamped with white pigment ink embossed with Hemetite embossing powder.

52 Quilts Journal Week 6

52 Quilts Journal Week 6
Originally uploaded by okanagan_spirit

The embellishment on the page has a bit of a story. Shortly after we moved in, my daughter was by the stove and we heard a clink. She said a spoon had fallen between the stove and counter. Well we retrieved the spoon, not one of ours and obviously already there and just finished falling. While we were getting the spoon out this pendant was also found under the stove. I used two sample fabrics and added the found pendant. This page was edged with gold gel paint after it was glued to the back of week 5 page.

"Tea" Fat Book Page

I recently finished my contribution to a collaberative book project with members of the Vancouver ATC Group on the theme of tea. For my pages I used tea dyed Distress ink on the paper, then glued images from paper napkins with matt medium. I added a bit of rubber stamping and a small piece of knit lace. There is also a few beads glued to the Lavender napkin image. I made an extra copy just in case so I was able to use it to tip into my assorted paper Zutter Journal. The holes were pre-punched so I wove some ribbon and used brads to hold the page to a cardstock tab in my journal.


This is the back of the page with more rubber stamping and an old coupon from coffee and tea products. The page forms a pocket for a "tea bag" tag with the other "T" technique used.
You can see this journal in my Flickr Photos.

Sewn Illusions 1

Sewn Illusions 1
Originally uploaded by okanagan_spirit

I got this wire bound journal with black pages at a real big discount without knowing what I would do with it, then the I saw this project in Sew Somerset winter 2009 and thought it would be perfect. I used the leftover piece from the paper napkin dryer sheet and stacked several fabric sample pieces together. These were stitched together with black thread in straight and zigzag stitches. The black page was stamped with flower stamps in sage and white pigment ink and the sewn piece was glued down, The buttons and the label from a fabric sample were glued on to finish the page.

52 Quilts Journal Week 5

52 Quilts Day 5
Originally uploaded by okanagan_spirit

I was playing with dripping acrylic ink on to a used dryer sheet a while back, didn't turn out quite the way I wanted, most of the colour went right through to the baby wipe I had underneath. Of course it can't be wasted, so it went into the box of stuff for my 52 Quilts Journal project. I spread matt medium on the dryer sheet then placed scraps of paper napkin over the gel medium. I coated the whole thing with more gel medium and allowed to dry. I used a very pale purple craft felt under the dryer sheet and stitched with white and black thread, stitching on the ribbon as well. The leaves from the napkin image are roughly outlined with straight stitching with the black thread. I am pleased with the results.

May 2009 ATC Swap at The Grind

Sunday was the latest round of swapping at The Grind and I managed to make 11 new ATCs and along with some leftovers I had plenty to swap, which was a good thing because we had a great turn-out despite it being a long weekend. I did a few alcohol ink backgrounds and then scanned them in order to have enough ready in the time I was able to create. I used various sections of a block stamp to create these, in some cases heat embossing. Some are edged with gold and silver leafing pen and some are mounted on black cardstock.
Two of this group use tile stamps from Quietfire Design.

First Try With Encaustic Wax

I went to a make and take demo at Cherish The Thought in Port Moody on Sat and was taught this one technique taught for making a photo mat background. This first sample is 4"X5.25" I am hooked on learning more about encaustic wax.

This is the photo I used the encaustic wax mat for.


Later Saturday night I grabbed some ATC sized shiny cardstock and made these using the 2 colours of wax I bought to get started and my small travel iron. Later I will add something to these and turn them into ATCs.