Honestly, this isn't my favorite one to do! I should have stopped sooner but I kept adding to the dang thing! HA
Saturday, February 15, 2025
Lisbeth Circle Week 6 & 7
Honestly, this isn't my favorite one to do! I should have stopped sooner but I kept adding to the dang thing! HA
Thursday, February 6, 2025
Lisbeth Circle Week 5
The circle background was blue painted watercolor. We played with a design on graph paper, then punched holes in a circle from the watercolor paper.
Well, I didn't like the holes I ended up punching so I just started sewing! HA
These are the rules for this week:
Dogma Rules:
1. Cut 1 circle out of watercolor paper. Paint the circle in the same color as your thread, just in a lighter in value. Cut a little smaller circle in a checked squared paper/ graph paper/ ternet/kvadreret papir. 2. Draw (and play) a pattern on the square paper, lay it on the top of the watercolor paper and pre poke holes through both papers. Poke where the 2 lines crosses. Stitch your pattern with straight stitches/ forsting/risting. 3. Use 3 different thicknesses of thread in the same color of your choice.
I used embroidery thread , Maderia lana thread and some silky thread my daughter gave me a few years ago. Hard to tell even though each thread was a different weight but it's done! HA
I don't get to work on it every day but when I have some time or I just set the timer for 30-45 min. before dinner or in the a.m. makes me feel like I am accomplishing something!
Thursday, January 30, 2025
Gelli Prints What Are They Good For!
In my last post I showed the Christmas cards I'm making using Strathmore Photo Cards. I wanted to show some other ways you can make your own cards.
In 2023 I made some cyano printed watercolor sheets, which I cut up and inserted in these cards. I still will send these out just as a 'hello' card to friends.
Gelli prints or painted poster board are also great for cutting up and inserting into the photo frame to make a card.
You can purchase the photo frame cards online...guess where! HA Yep, on Amazon! Where else.
I showed in the last week or so, some gelli prints I made. These (the 3 at top of the page) are perfect to cut out and also insert in the photo frame. Just a nice way to send a special card to a friend or even to just an acquaintance.
Also, Lisbeth Degn has some video's on using your printed/gelli prints. She has a cool way of folding the papers to make a book! So that's what I'm doing. I have lots of printed/gelli papers I made in Hilary's online class. I'm excited to have them all in one spot vs in a bin!
You can see the papers are all together! It's a cool way to keep these beauties together!
And that's what you can do with your Gelli or printed papers!
Monday, January 27, 2025
Christmas Cards 2025!
I had some Christmas fabrics and actually bought some more at our new/local quilt shop!
I then zig zag stitching in black thread to stitch over all the lines and adding a few more stitching lines.
I then stamped on the back of each card my logo for my RobbiesPawPrints. I love these wooden stamps. I had made years ago on Etsy. Wish I remembered the gentleman's name. I'll have to look and see if I can find him.
I made 8 of these so far.
I made 18 cards with this fabric. I have some cool greens, blues, etc. of Charlie Harper fabric. I think they'll look pretty good in the windows!
In 2023, I made cyano prints on watercolor paper for my Christmas cards that year. You can see the full sheets of cyano print here. They make nice cards. I still have some left and will send out if I want a card to send to a friend.
So that's what I've been working on in-between other projects! HA
Saturday, January 25, 2025
Slow Stitching with Lizbeth Degn
Just because I don't have enough projects to work on...thought I'd do a weekly challenge! HA I mentioned Lizbeth's YouTube channel and what great mixed media projects she has. WOW...lots of info and she can get your creative juices flowing. Yep, I started her weekly circle challenge for 2025.
Easy enough...draw on circle on linen/soft fabric. I'm using 6 inch pieces. You'll see later where these are going.
Each week, Lisbeth has 3 or 4 criteria you need to follow.
1. White or cream fabric. 2. Draw , paint, print 1 black circle. 3. Only use running stitches in straight lines. Thread color free.
easy..just using a running stitch, fill in the circle. So this was my week 1
Week 2 was
1. Coffee sprayed/dyed watercolor paper/cardstock. 2. Trace a circle on the watercolor paper. 3. Stitch only double running stitches wherever you want inside the traced circle. 4. Use 2 different color of threads, of your choice.
Hard to see...i think i used brown and gold Maderia thread
Week 3 Dogma Rules: 1. Light felt or a heavier fabric. 2. Cover the surface with used teabags. If you don’t have teabags use fx napkin, tissue paper or other stretchy paper. 3. Only use blanket stitches, do them in any size/length/wide you want. Stitch only 1 circle. 4. Thread color free.
I happen to have some tea bags my friend, Susan, sent me years and years ago!!! I did add a few others. Thanks, Susan!
The old buttonhole stitch! I could have done more but I stopped...had to work on my puzzle! HA that's another post!
Week 4 Dogma Rules: 1. Light coloured fabric. 2. Trace 1 circle. Close your eyes and draw/doodle in 1 long movement inside the circle. 3. Only use wiped double running stitches. Stitch on the traced line you have done with your eyes closed. 4. 2 different color threads, 1 light and 1 dark. 1 for the double running stitches and 1 for the wiping. Free color choice.
I started off with dark blue and light blue but didn't like i so I ripped out!
So I'm actually caught up. Each Thursday, Lisbeth posts a new video for this challenge. They are simple enough to finish so I should be able to keep up. Time will tell!
Monday, January 20, 2025
Gelli Print Time
Yep, it's Gelli Print time again in the house! I've been watching some video's by Lisbeth Degan on YouTube. She is a Mixed Media and Textile artist from Denmark! WOW...check out some of her work on Instagram here and on her youtube channel.
I've been so inspired this new year with all of the wonderful artists out there. Hard to decide what to do next! So, I have about 4 or 5 projects that I am working on or starting!!! First up is playing with my gelli printing again. I only made six 8"x10" and eight 3"x5" prints.
I already made a card to mail from one of the smaller prints. Hence, there are only 3 small prints left.
I like the larger print too. Again, enlarge to see the detail. I think it reminds me of pictures of icicles!
"So what are you doing with these, Robbie" you're asking yourself. Stay tuned. They're going into a journal I'm making.
And I'm also working on Lisbeth's Stitched Circle Weekly Challenge. More on that later this week!
Friday, January 17, 2025
A Week of Birthday Bliss
Now that I'm trying to work on the puzzle, I'm wondering if this was a gift to drive me nuts or to see if I am able to put together a puzzle! HA I think I have 10 pieces for the border together!
I set the puzzle up on a card table next to my mixed media table. The table sits right by the patio door where the dogs go in and out. So while they 'sniff' I can grab a puzzle piece! That's about all I'm doing now is grabbing pieces! HA
Wednesday
Midweek brought double the joy! My dear friends Jan & Larry, also from Florida, surprised me with a box of decadent chocolate-covered strawberries. OMG...they were and are so good!!!! The berries are huge!! But so sweet and the chocolate is delicious! Jan said it's strawberry picking time in Florida.
To top it off, my son and his family sent a stunning bouquet of yellow roses mixed with other gorgeous flowers. Yellow roses have always held a special place in my heart, so this gift was extra meaningful. These don't photograph well enough to show the beauty of them. I love roses and the yellow are beautiful.
The funny part of this gift...I was volunteering at the library and my phone rang. They were trying to deliver the flowers. The florist driver actually drove to the library so I didn't have to leave to pick up the flowers at his shop! That was a kind gesture!
Thursday
First confession!!! This is a picture of the three of us at my BD dinner last year at Escamilla's!!!! Yes, I forgot to take a picture this year!!!!
We had dinner at Lucky’s Steakhouse, Davison and each had the Chicken Tenders, which are fabulous. And enough food for two more leftover meals.
The food was fantastic, and the company was even better! Donna gave me my Solar Return for 2025. She is so thoughtful creating this document to help direct me in my life for the upcoming year. I know it takes a lot of work and I so appreciate it. She also gifted me some moisturizer and body cream. So sweet of her!!
FridaySue & Chris (front) & Dawn and I in the back.
The week ended on a high note with a wonderful reunion. I
met up with a dear friend, Sue, who I haven’t seen in years—someone I worked
with back in the '80s at EDS. Sue and
her friend, Chris, stopped by the house first to see some of my art work. We
then headed to Q Quilting in Ortonville.
My daughter met us at Escamilla's for a delicious lunch & margarita! Together, we reminisced about our quilting adventures, including classes, a round robin project, and creating items to donate to Outreach East in Davison.
My daughter made the day even more special baking a homemade chocolate cake (so moist and rich—leftovers are the best!). We each enjoyed a piece of cake! Yes, we made room for cake!!
AND Dawn gave me this gorgeous bouquet of yellow roses. They are just so beautiful. I love looking at these when I walk through the house!!
I am so fortunate to have such special, thoughtful children.
Throughout the Week
I was overwhelmed by the outpouring of love. From the many heartfelt cards in the mail to the kind messages on Facebook, each one brought a smile or tear to my face.
A Special Note
Of all the birthday wishes, the one from my sister was the most special and funny. For those who follow my blog and facebook, you'll know the struggles my sister and I have had working on our knitting projects. This is what my sister posted on Facebook. What a hoot:
"Happy Birthday to my favorite baby sister. You are the best sister anyone could have. I love you so much. You make me laugh, you make me cry, and you make me knit hard things."
Her words truly warmed my heart and made me laugh, which is what my sister and I do when we're together. We laugh so much.
This birthday was a beautiful reminder of the love and connections I cherish. Thank you to everyone who made it so memorable—you’re all part of the reason this week was so special.
Christmas Cards 2025
OK, I am getting really silly about finishing these projects, aren't I!!! I made cyano Christmas cards in 2023 and in 2024 I did not send out any cards. I did feel bad this year but I'm old so I can do what I want to, right! HA
I have some older Christmas Fabics and picked up a few fat quarters at our new Quilt Shop in Ortonville. So I started to cut the fabrics into strips.
Monday, January 13, 2025
Bookmarks Finished!
Yes, I have been a busy bee of late! Setting an allotted time to do chores/art is working out so much better for me! Will I keep it up! I sure hope so.
I posted last week on my working on bookmarks that we give away at our library book sales. I volunteer at our library at book sales and I try to keep up with sorting and boxing donation books given to us by patrons and our library.
Folks seem to like the bookmarks and when something is "free" they like it even more! HA Fine with me, as I get to use up poster boards I've painted in the past.
I had some old, old, old mixed up procion dyes! Will they last? Who knows, but after I painted both poster boards I did use a sealer that I purchased from Hilary a few years ago. It should seal all the paints/dyes/etc. Let's hope!
Some are brighter than others but it gives folks a choice. Patrons will look through the box I have to pick out one they like! Makes me feel good.
I only got a little over 30 made. Not sure if I'll make more or not. I do have some extra poster board from last year so if I have time, I'll cut those up and stitch.
But....I did buy some yarn to remake the pink sweater I made last year. It's the one I shrunk....ugh.....had to order another circular needle. My one I used on it broke and even my hubby can't put it back together! HA More on that project later!