I am still around!

Yep, I'm still here!  Just busy....working on two projects that I can't post on!  One is a Christmas gift and the other is the fiber Valentine project WHICH I JUST FINISHED!  Woohoo!  60 are made!!

This is the background fabric I used on some of the cards.  I also had some blue mono printed I did, which I used for a few as well.

I just need to address the cards, which I can do in Florida.  I really did enjoy making these this year but it is my last year for fiber cards!  PROMISE!  HA

The other Christmas project is about half finished and with September almost over I need to get busy!!!  Funny, my February project is over but not Christmas...what's up with that! 

Is it February yet??

The past two years I've started on my fiber Valentine cards before fall.  I have to say it makes life easier come February, if I  start them earlier.  The winter holiday's and preparing for Florida seem to take up  the majority of my time so I don't get to do a lot of sewing.  Once again, I've started early on my cards.  AND THIS IS MY LAST YEAR TO MAKE FIBER VALENTINE CARDS for friends and family.  There...I said it....and I mean it this year! 

Obviously, I won't show some of the cards I've already made but will show some of my process!  I'm using Margarita's (from Margas Crafts) method to make paper/fabric.  You can see the start of my process here.

This is the back of the paper/fabric collage sheets which measure 8 1/2" x 11" each.

                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                        And the front!

Next I painted the pieces with Set-a-Color paints and when dry applied foil, using a stencil to create some pattern.

And now the fun begins!  Cutting out and sewing on!

                          Here's a sneak peek!   Next preview showing will be February 2019!!!  Hopefully, they will all be finished WAY before then!


So if I don't blog about 'what I'm doing', you'll know I am doing something!   I only have 60-65 fiber cards to make...but this is my LAST year......did I say that before!  Honest, it really is!!!  I promise this won't be a  'fake news' post!

Honest...I am working on art!

I mentioned in a previous post that I started on my Valentine fiber cards and that's exactly what I've been working on this week!
 
I started off printing my own design onto Inkjet fabric sheets but I only had 5 of them left, which only gave me 10 cards...well, I need at least 40 fiber cards this year and decided that is not the economical way to make the cards.

Plus, because I was printing on white fabric, I had to paint areas on each card...plus, quilt each card, yada, yada.


So I had my design printed on a thermofax screen by Lyric Kinard...which, she created with a day notice!  Lyric was headed to Houston and got my screen printed before she left and I rec'd it within a few days!   Thanks, Lyric!!!

Can't show the screen yet....but here's a sneak peak!




I screen printed over 40 pieces of scrap fabric....good for some fabric!!!  Another sneak peak!  I'm sure you can figure out the pattern but those who read my blog and receive a card will forget by Valentine Day!

On Thursday, I started to fuse the Pellon 71F to the back of each piece so I can add some stitching.  I honestly did try to add some french knots but my hands just can't take it.  So off to the machine I went!  I think I have finished the quilting on 15 cards so far.  Doing a little at a time will make it easier this year.  I'm always so busy when we first get to Florida so it will be nice not to feel rushed in making the cards this year.

The production line is now started!  Once I finish the quilting then I can trim, print out my  labels, fuse and trim; then machine stitch some decorative edge.  Whew!  I probably am enjoying the process more so this year then in the past where I feel rushed to get the cards finished by February 1st!  It's a good feeling!

It's only tuesday but feels like Friday!

Yep, it's only Tuesday (well, you'll be reading this on Wed.!) and I feel like I've put in a week of work already!
Yesterday I finished all the Valentine fiber cards!  WooHoo!  This is the earliest I've finished but I want to have in the mail on February 1st or maybe sooner.  You never know how long it will take for folks to receive them!  That's a whole blog post on the mail system here!

Today I made breakfast, went grocery shopping, took dogs to the dog park, stopped at vet's to pick up their food then home to wash the floor then bathed BOTH dogs!  They are brushed out pretty good but I'll go over them again tonight while watching TV.  That's when I usually brush them (yes, daily!).

Wednesday, my Q bud, Susan and I are taking off in the a.m. to head to the quilt and bead shop and of course, lunch!  I'm going to look for some fabric for the painted hex technique to try (again!).  This is Jill's technique (you can see my blog post here for detail).  And I need some black beads for my 'book' challenge quilt.  I'm going to drop my machine off for it's spa day too.  Hopefully, I'll have it back the last week of January as I'll need to put the binding or facing on the challenge quilt.  But inbetween time, I have hand work to do on it.

Wednesday evening it's 99 cent margarita night!  Like I need to tell you that!  We're going again with Karah, Howard, Sally and Dan.  Poor Sally is still in discomfort with her knee.  She had an injection but overdid it a few days ago.  It's ok, since she can still lift the 99 cent margarita glass (it's small!).  
Thursday is our dinner with the 'gang' and we're going to a Japanese Restaurant for dinner then back to our house for cake (being baked by our resident baker, Verna!) and ice cream.   I'll also be gone most of the day doing a trunk show in Gainesville for a fiber group.  Looking forward to that!  I'm all packed up for that part of my day!  Friday, I think I will veg!  Yea, right!

Time to Fill in!

The leaf is all outlined with beads and now the real fun starts!!  Filling in the leaf with beads!  You can see in the middle where I started to add some beads.  Had to take Kalee for a golf cart ride then her walk, so no more beading tonight.

And this is the reason I can't bead while watching TV at night!  Too many different beads to use as well as threads.  Hence, I need to work off of a table.  Even though I use a padded board for my beads/supplies, it's very easy for them to spill...ask me how I know this!!  Hence, I can't put the board on my lap as I usually do when using only one color bead.

Also, I've almost finished quilting my piece for the Art Quilters Around the World piece!  Woo Hoo...still have lots more to do on it but at least the majority of it is finished as far as quilting!   Here's another peak but that's all I can show until March 31st!  

So tonight I'll catch up on some emails/blogs and you tubes (love Zak George for dog training!) and of course, L & L Kemshall...I'm behind in their blog and Design Matters TV series. 

Have to show a few items I received for Valentines!  This fiber card is from my bud, Susan!  She only makes one card each Valentine's Day and it's for me!  How lucky am I!!  I love it.   

And this scrap booking card is from Carol here in the community.  Cute isn't it!

And this beautiful bouquet is from Jan!  Yep, I can't get the bugger to turn properly!  Grrrrr...a shame, because it's really beautiful!!  Thanks ladies!!!!