Monday's Inspiration Project!

Two weeks ago I asked for my readers' input on choosing some fabrics for a project. Most people didn't like the bright pink option for my Spring project, although I did. Sew . .  I took their advice--thanks to all who commented-- I  left out the bright fabric from my project.  I will use it in another project!  Here is the original inspiration post. Actually, in leaving out the bright pink, I played off of the focus piece of fabric with the ice blue in it and used that color for the flower blossoms--although I don't think it shows up well on my monitor--hope it comes out better on yours!

Although I am not completely finished with this mini art quilt, because it needs "a little tweaking",  I thought  might share it anyway with the Inspire Me Monday linky today.  Here is the nearly finished mini quilt.

I'm going to add another small "branch" to the bottom left corner!  It looks a little bare in that portion of the piece!   May add a few more embellishments too!  Later this piece will be available in my new shop, AbigailJayneArt.  Love to have you visit in April when I open.  (should be between the 10th and the15th.)

Thanks to all my readers for participating in this little project! 

 I appreciate you! 

Inspiration from a Friday Finds Post

Last week I did a "Friday Finds" post on yellow and pink color combinations--well, fuchsia and lemon, to be exact!  Anyway, it inspired me to do a quilt block in those colors.  I showed you the block in that post.

So, what did I do with it?  Take a look!

I appliqued some Mexican Hat flowers to it, then quilted the top, added a backing and, voila! I have a new pillow cover for Spring!

I keep a little twelve inch accent pillow on my couch and change out the covers for each season. I did a pillow cover tutorial, back in December, about my holiday pillow cover.  Remember that little snowman one?  Sew. . . .

 What do you think of this one?

Wordless Wednesday - Inspiration?

Ever get inspiration from floors?  I do.  Here's another one in this post.
What are you imagining?

STUCK!

Ever think that you just have nothing to say?  Everyone else has said it all!?  Well, that's how I feel right now.  Doesn't seem like my life is interesting enough to share, but I know that is not true.  I think it's the weather!  Up and down lately, doesn't know if it wants to still be spring or make up it's mind to be summer!   I feel like that!  I craft a little, read a little, watch TV some; just don't have direction or feel creative.  I need a challenge!!!  One that involves ephemera and supplies that I have already, since I recently became unemployed! 

So dear reader, I am enlisting your help.  Heard of any blog challenges that are really good?  Let me know in the comments, would ya?  Lookin' for inspiration!

Wordless Wednesday-Inspirational Quilt

A few thoughts . . .

Bloggers have to make decisions from time to time, or their blog will stagnate. I've been thinking about changes to my blog for some time now. I've decided to share some of my recent thoughts and actions with you, my faithful readers . . .

I was a little uninspired about the blog and felt stuck in a rut! I thought about how to get myself inspired to write. I asked a few of my blogger friends, and they suggested that I have a theme for each day, that would help me keep rolling along. You know, like Wordless Wednesdays, Friday Features, etc. I still thinking that one through, although I do now participate in the Wordless Wednesdays--they're fun!

Cloud Reflections in Water - nature always inspires me!

I had fun this weekend, doing this blog revamp! I always wanted three columns but really wasn't comfortable messing with the html codes to get it. Once I had my son try to help me, but he didn't have enough time to figure it out either. So when Blogger introduced the new design options, I was thrilled! I'm not finished, yet, still working on my plan and excited about it!



P.S. Had a new grand baby last night! Ada Margaret arrived! Will try to show a picture soon!

Sunday Sketches!

I am so excited about something new that I found thru an blogger friend, Marlene. She was participating in Sunday Sketches, and did an awesome sketch of her aunt from a old photograph. Marlene's friend, Sophia, created this activity on her blog, BlueChairDiary. Sophia was so inspired by all the participation that she saw that she sketched out an official Sunday Sketches sidebar button. (I just added it to my sidebar.) If you would like to participate, check out her blog! Requirements are:

1) Take the "SS" button from the sidebar and place it on your blog.

2) Just grab whatever you love to draw/sketch with and have at it.

3) No themes or specific topics. Just whatever comes to mind.

Sunday Sketches are designed to keep one's creativity alive and flowing.

I love this! I seek inspiration wherever I can find it and this activity helps me spark creativity! Sophia posts the participants on her blog the following week. Come on--let's create sketches!

Discouragement . . . .

I've not written in some time now, I guess I had a little disappointment in life. It kills creativity! I am feeling better now and need to get back into things that are my life. There are sewing projects to do, jewelry items that are begging to be finished, and, of course, there are those TAXES to be done! It's that time of year.

Here's what I will be working on today:

Necklace to be finished, and earrings to be made, since the supplies arrived in the mail.

And then, there is this very interesting project. My daughter-in-law, Beth, was given some quilting supplies and unfinished work that belonged to her great aunt. Beth gave me this project to try to finish if I wanted. It intrigued me, so I will try. It is so different to try to do something that someone else had the inspiration for. Looks like a lake scene. It is currently partially sewn and pinned together. We'll see what I can do with it!?!

Of course, we will return to Abby's story very soon, watch for it!

(If you are new or have not kept up, you can start with the Jan 4th post.)

Cooler Weather Creates Inspiration!

It's been unseasonably hot here in the Pacific Northwest with record breaking temperatures! Haven't felt like doing anything, much less being creative! But . . . today it was cooler and after spending the morning at the farmer's market, I sat down at the bead table. Wow! was that fun! I sat there and watched some old movies while I created some beaded zipper pulls. Here's the one I made for my own purse!

Made about six more and, when the new beads that I ordered arrive, I'm going to make some for kids! They will love the lampwork beads of animals and cars. They'll be great for the backpack zipper or the zipper on jackets! Just in time for Back-to-School! Watch for them in my shop.

Creative Inspiration with Scraps!

Here's the start of another project! Yea!!!!
And it all started with my fabric scraps!




Creative inspiration finally came after a long dearth of motivation! I'm thrilled to be working on a new project! I have always wanted to do some crazy quilting, and this weekend, I started a pillow cover, that has grown to a quilt top! I'm excited about it, and of course, had to go to the local yardage shop to get more supplies--more yardage, embroidery threads, and ribbon!

Pencils for Creativity

Pencils are the start of creativity. Some of us sketch out a visual our ideas, or jot down ideas for the future. Most of us keep a notebook with notes, ideas, clippings, e-articles etc. Inspiration starts from many places, from something we see, to something that we experience. Sometimes it comes from just touching and feeling a piece of fabric, clay or metal. But all creativity ultimately comes from inside of us, somewhere.

Might I suggest taking a walk, when creativity wanes. Or looking at some else's work for a change of pace. How about looking at the sunset-even a walk in the rain when you can't see the sunset. Or browsing the local art gallery. What do you do for inspiration?


By the way, this little artist's pencil case can be seen in my shop. Just click the picture.

Spring!!!!!

I waited and waited for spring to get here! Spring in Oregon is usually gorgeous as we have loads of crocuses, hyacinths, daffodils, tulips, and flowering trees of all kinds! And because it rains so much, everything is really GREEN! It's hard to stay at the sewing machine when it's so beautiful outside. I think I will GO OUTSIDE and take some pictures!!!! In the process, I'm sure I will get a heavy dose of inspiration!!!! Meanwhile enjoy a few of last year's flowers!!

Also, please check out my spring treasury at this site:

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=52536

It will only be good thru Thursday the 16th at 3 p.m.  Check it out!!!!

Inspired!

Well, I started my landscape quilt! I checked the internet, like Wendy suggested, but the way that landscape quilts are done, I really wasn't thinking that way. So, I'm going my own way! I don't know how it will turn out, but at least it will be CREATIVE! And isn't that what it is all about for us crafters! I'll share the finished project later when it is done. I'm posting a couple of pictures: the original photo taken on our vacation; and the start of the quilt--less than 1/3 done.

Inspiration?

Ever had those days where inspriation flees from you?! I recently wrote a post about scrappy days, while I was looking for a new idea. Yes, I got the hot pink thread and the yellow fabric. I finished the coasters; they can be seen in my etsy store. I haven't started the landscape quilt using the yellow fabric, although I have played with the fabrics together and not yet decided on a pattern to cut. I just have not gotten the idea that I think will yield the finished product that I have in mind.

This morning, Saturday, I resorted to watching sewing shows on public TV! I saw some techniques that I have never used. And I saw some AWESOME sewing machines that I cannot afford! But ultimately no new ideas! So I guess it time to go to the fabric store and let the fabrics speak to me!