Quilt Painting ~~ Finish

I should be sewing and having fun at Fountainbleu State Park with other crafty friends, but I've worked so much on testing that I decided to take a raincheck on the weekend. I just didn't think that I'd be able to drive the 2½ hours to the lodge. So I thought I'd finally share this finish.

Several weeks ago I told you about a painting class that I "attended" at school with both students and other teachers. We painted a cotton stalk with the cotton bolls. I really enjoyed working in paint medium, so I decided to combine it with quilting. 

Oh my! what fun! Of course, I chose fabrics (in this case blues with a touches of gray and navy) and sewed them up in a variety of lines and curves. I made the quilt sandwich on the long-arm so that I could quilt and paint interchangeably. 

I chose the places where I wanted the cotton bolls to be and drew them out with a few stitching lines. I then quilted around those areas so they would pop forward. At this point I stopped to paint inside the stitched areas. For the most part, I switched back and forth between stitching and painting until I felt that it was done.

After it was all done and dry--which took several days--I mounted it on an empty frame that my art teacher friend, Leta, had given me and decided that I really do like it. 

In fact, this project is the result of those free frames. Leta told me she knew I'd "do something with them." And so she gets credit for putting me on the path to painting both pieces. 

Imagine what she'd have me doing if I actually took her art class! Her classes are painting another project, this one with a Louisiana theme, and some of the works are pretty amazing. Because I've been busy with testing, I haven't been in much, but what I have seen I love. Now to share this work with her so she can see what I've been doing.

Linking up with

Crazy Mom Quilts

Pin It Weekly #151

I am getting a bit excited about this coming weekend--I am going to the Sew-Craft-acular Weekend at Fountainbleu State Park just north of New Orleans, right on the shore of Lake Ponchartrain. 

There are six of us who are going. Each one is bringing her own projects to work on but not necessarily sewing projects.     

These pins are some of the images that other folks have taken at Fountainbleu and pinned to their pages. 

Can you see why I am excited? There's sewing, quilting, crafting, and food, plus these awesome places to see when we need a break. 

Sugar mill ruins

Visitor's center

Expect a post on the weekend fun and maybe even a few projects...assuming I can get some packed up by Friday.

Of Amaryllis and Puppies

What can I say? I love these beautiful amaryllis. They bloom every year at this time and are huge, even for amaryllis. 

Apparently the bulbs are multiplying because there have never been so many before. A closer look shows that there are eight open and two more are close to bursting.

While I can't get the color quite right in a photograph, I can tell you that they are lipstick red with a tinge of white on the backside of the bloom. I bought one bulb in a box meant to bloom on my desk, then once the flowers were finished, convinced Richard to plant them in the yard. 

I can easily see them from the kitchen window, a perfect location! I'm a bit tempted to dig them up and separate the bulbs, but they are doing so well, that I've decided (again) to leave them alone. Apparently the camellia shrub is a wonderful neighbor because they get along beautifully. 

And of puppies...this is a typical evening at our house:

Little Little claims her own seat.

Candy claims a lap.

Cotton claims a footrest (mine).

Have a great week. Thanks for visiting,

Sunday Quilt Inspiration: S U E S S (as in Dr.)

Yesterday I asked for a rain check for Sunday Quilt Inspiration because I was exhausted after preparing for testing all afternoon and night. So tonight I'll do my best to catch up. 

I also mentioned that my sister pointed out this cute cup on FB.  It's the beginning inspiration for tonight. Join me and Dr. Suess, will you?

And some quilts!

You have brains in your head, 

You have feet in your shoes, 

You can steer yourself any

     direction you choose.

                       Dr. Suess

Pin It Weekly #150

150!    Not bad for something that I wasn't sure would take off or that I'd keep up with!  So 150 pins of 150...just kidding! 

Ford F150

15 pins actually with something 150 in 'em, on 'em, about 'em, or just 150 cause that's the theme of the day.  Enjoy.

CG 150

150 sq ft tiny house

CHRISTIAN HETZEL: blue with past 2016 - 150 x 120 cm - Mischtechnik auf Leinwand,

Psalm 150

Porcelaine 150 Pens

Do 150 pushups a day/look like this

1959 Jaguar XK150 SE Roadster

$150

Vespa 150

Happy 150 for Pin It Weekly!

Thanks for visiting and keeping the fun going!