"AngelRose” Black & White Mini Art Quilt

So, here’s one more”AngelRose” or “RoseAngel” mini art quilt. This one didn’t take very long to do. It is approximately 8” x 10 ½”. I came  up with the decorating ideas as I was making this little mini art quilt. 

Again, I used a transparent overhead projection sheet printed in black and white using my laser printer. The “AngelRose” picture is actually on top of a piece of white with black swirls cotton home dec fabric. I then made a window using black and white toile home dec fabric. I sewed crystal seed beads and glass beads to attach the toile fabric to the outer black with white swirls cotton fabric. I added glass beads inside the center of the black ribbon rosette—I made—continuing down along the ribbon. In the center of the bottom of the quilt, where the two ribbons meet, I added more glass beads. Also, I sewed very tiny seed crystal beads about ½” apart along the outer edge of the toile fabric. I took four black buttons and placed them on four corners of the quilt, and sewed little “pearls” into them. 

Finally, I put the front piece and the back piece, (black cotton fabric) of the quilt with the fronts facing each other, (with cotton batting attached to back of front piece), then sewed all around, leaving about a four inch space at the bottom to turn it right sides out. I added ¼” ribbon in the back for hanging.

I might add more things later on. This one I am keeping!

Below, are some closeup pics of this mini art quilt to be able to see the little tiny crystal seed beads.

Enjoy!

Mini RoseAngel Art Quilt Using Transparency + Baby Wipes (Unused ofcourse!)

Well, here is another RoseAngel Mini Art Quilt.

I know it’s been a couple of months since I posted anything, but life seemed to get in the way. I wish I could be like a lot of other craft bloggers out there who post weekly. Even if life does get in the way, they somehow still manage to put beautiful and amazing work out every week! My hat’s off to you wonderful craft bloggers out there.

Anyway, here is the finished project. This one measures about 10” x 12”. The fabric used was utility (bottom layer), ticking, (striped layer) and home decor (paisley). I put batting between the home decor and ticking fabric to raise the picture a bit. I added some decorative stitching, as well as stitched the see-through ribbon that went around the frame, (on the utility fabric).

A couple of unusual things I used: One was that I had some unused baby wipes that had dried out. I washed them, then dyed them. I also found that not all baby wipes are the same. I have a few different brands, and found the ones that feel more like cotton, work better. They are softer, and take the dye better. I put one under the printed out transparency picture. 

That’s the second unusual thing I used. I found a box of old transparancies from the early 90’s, the ones used for color copiers for overhead projectors. I printed on them using my laser printer, since it also uses toner. (Just so I don’t waste any of the sheets, I print a few pictures on one sheet, then cut them out. If I had to buy some more, I’m sure they would be expensive. (Example: Staples brand is 100 sheets for around $62. I also looked and saw that there are ones for laser printers for around $21 for 50 sheets.)

A closeup of my Mommy when she was a little girl, dressed as an angel. She sure was a beautiful little thing. She also grew up to be a very beautiful Wife, Mom, “Grandma Mom” (as my daughters’ called her), and Great-grandma, inside and out.

I made the decorative roses. This one was made out of fabric scraps, with a pearl tucked inside; while the one just below it was made from ribbon.

I took vintage costume jewelry for the other added decorations. I found this shiny small round “diamond” button, (including the one above, as well as two others I used), put through a very, very old safety pen. (I’ll take a pic of it one day soon. Hopefully. Don’t hold your breath.)

 

This ribbon has an earring attached.

I wrote this little saying for added decoration.

Here is the see-through ribbon that goes around the frame,where I used a decorative stitch to attach it to the utility fabric.

I added little “pearls,” using a pearl paint pen on the rick-rack. (Plus here’s a closer look at the fiber baby wipe. It’s a sage green color, even though it looks very light here.)

Another Mini Art Quilt Using a Printer Transfer Technique

I must admit, I’m not as artistic as some people. It’s very hard for me to go “outside the box.” I want everything to be even, not skewed, but straight and even. Well, I went outside the box when I made this small art quilt for my brother for his birthday.

I used the same transfer technique as I did in my previous post “Small Transfer Art Quilt for a Wonderful Doctor,” posted April 7, 2014, using the transfer technique with a laser printer.

I really hoped he liked it.

Small Art Quilt II

I love reading both Cloth, Paper, Scissors and Quilting Arts Magazines. I’m not as talented as a lot of the artists in those magazines, but I thought I’d try something that wasn’t symmetrical. I’m used to having everything balanced and even—See my October 14, 2013 blog: 60th Wedding Anniversary Small Art Quilt—so this was very new to me.

This small art quilt measures about 11” x 6 ½.”  Again, I used a transparency sheet for the “Angel Rose,” attached to a cotton fabric with rose buds. Then I sewed it on the muslin, with buttons, rickrack, and handmade roses. The back also is cotton fabric slightly larger than the front, so I can wrap it to the front to make it look like binding. In between is a thin cotton batting. I tried sewing a design with free motion, but I’m not very good at it—yet.

Diaper/Wipes Case with Link to Tutorial

I made this diaper/wipes case using denim and home dec cotton fabric. I've been making these for a few years now for gifts. I also made a diaper bag/purse to go with it--my own design--but I never took any pics of it. I'll ask my daughter to take a few pics for me so I can post it another time.

Here again, the Angel Rose appliqué is stitched using my sewing machine.  The Rose Angel appliqué  is of my dear beloved Mom dressed as an angel at her older sister's First Holy Communion.

I printed the Rose Angel pic using the June Tailor Sew-In Inkjet Computer Printer Fabric, then applying two coats of Mod  Podge that dries clear. 

Anyway, the tutorial for making the diaper/wipes case came from a website owned by Jan Andrea. Even though I've been making these for a few years now, I couldn't remember where to find the tutorial to link to. After much searching, I finally found her site!  I've bookmarked and wrote down her URL, so I can go to it again, since Jan has a lot of Baby Crafts! 

Since I've yet to write any tutorials for my own projects on this blog, I did want to have a link to Jan's tutorial for this project. Her tutorial may be a few years old, but I found it to be one of the best ones out there to make this diaper/wipes case. Jan's instructions are very clear with lots of pictures! Tutorials that have no pics "go in one eye and out the other."

If you have a chance, please take the time to navigate through her website, and be sure to read Jan Andrea's "About Me." She sounds like one extraordinary and busy woman!

Here is her fabulous tutorial:

http://www.sleepingbaby.net/jan/Baby/dipecase.html

Missing Our Mothers

Ouch! I can't believe I haven't blogged in a few months! And…I don't have any excuses. I really meant to blog, but time just kept getting away from me. Believe me, I truly admire those that manage to keep it up--you know who you are!

Yesterday was Mother's Day.  This is the picture I use for everything.  Mom, I miss you now and always!  God Bless to all of those who have lost their Moms and think of them everyday--I know I do.

My Own Writing Note Paper

Filed under "Things to fill weekly when I have nothing about sewing."

I happen to enjoy handwriting and I take pride in my penmanship. My Grandma used to tell me that my cursive penmanship was "too fancy." I taught myself how to write in cursive way before I was old enough to take it in school. I remember copying my older relatives beautiful penmanship. I'm a lefty, but I don't hold my pen/pencil the way most lefties do. And when I went to school, I would always try to imitate the teachers handwriting if I thought it was pretty. The only thing is, I can't write fast. If I do, then my writing tends to get sloppy.

I collect fountain pens new and old, including a feather quill pen that I dip into ink.  I like to use them when I write my notes. I'm always buying pretty note cards and papers to write on.

A few days ago, I thought would try to make my own writing paper. It took me almost all day and a lot of wasted printer paper, but I finally came up with this. It's printed on 8½" x 11" paper. The lines can barely be seen when printed on paper and the "Rose Angel" watermark is much lighter than the scanned pictures here. Trust me, it is very pretty. The lines on the colored picture are not looking very good, and I don't know why they didn't come out very well, but I'll just blame the scanner.

Printed on plain white 8½" x 11" paper

Printed on decorative 8½" x 11" paper