Carnival Reveal!

 This is my finished art quilt based on the theme 'CARNIVAL', 11.5" x 16.5".  I'm part of an online blog challenge from Art Quilts Around the World, which has a different theme every 3 months.  Our first theme was 'self portrait' and you can see 'me' here....nothing great!  I really did enjoy working on this theme.  So much fun!

I just happened to have brought with me some small fabric pieces and I loved the colors in this hand dyed piece I did many years ago!


So, it was my inspiration for colors to use for Carnival.

Of course, the piece needed 'something' so I added circles using one of Mary Beth Shaw's stencils I love!  Yes, I bring all my stencils to Florida each year!  And my oil pastels, which I used with my stencil!

I sandwiched the piece and used variegated thread to free motion quilt the entire background.  I had in my mind to add a beaded mask so......

I found a mask on one of the coloring pages on the web and printed out onto a sheet of Wash-Away Applique paper.  I layered it onto a piece of batting and started to bead, bead, bead!

This was my finished mask, which I then sewed onto the background and added some ribbons/threads I had with me!  Before, I attached to the background, I did scan the mask into my printer and printed onto organza sheets which I then stitched onto the background then carefully cut away the excess organza..of course I had to add some beads on them too!  So this is what has kept me busy for the past 2 months.  I did have my piece finished by March 18th, ahead of our March 31st target date.  I have other projects to get moving on so not sure I'll be able to meet the next challenge which is due June 30th...who knows!!