…I cannot wait to stand in the presence of these breathtaking images.  These are the images i have only known in books, when pulling those “all nighters” in college for my art history exams.  True story!

I love to sew.  I have since i was in junior high school.  Made clothes, “smock tops”, pillows, fun stuff.  My very first sewing machine was a Sears Kenmore i got as a wedding gift, and i still have it.  Just can’t find the foot pedal!  When my daughter was born i was up to my elbows in piles of fabric making the nursery ensemble and little girly dresses.  Well, having 4 kids in three years pushed my sewing machine farther and farther back in closet. 

Fast forward 20 years and i had been thinking about sewing again, pricing machines and doing research.  Thank heaven for Bernina at Create in Irvine earlier this month!   I was drawn to the classrooms with the rows of Bernina sewing machines……….be still my sewing heart!  Long story short, i was lucky enough to come home with one.  And i must say, there is quite a “Bernina groupie” following out there!  I was so encouraged by other passionate quilters and seamstresses who said again and again, “YOU ARE GOING TO LOVE IT”!!  They were correct. I. LOVE. THIS. MACHINE.!

While i am constantly learning and seeking new creative experiences, i have never done any quilting.  However, i love the discipline and the artistic potential of it.  Free motion stitching and mixed media fabric wall art hold such an appeal for me.  In addition to learning about the machine, i’ve decided to take the plunge into quilting and free motion sewing.  

I’ve been practicing with piles of fabric samples i have from a collection i designed for Springs Creative last year.  Lots of messy free motion stitching!  In my mind it is “perfectly imperfect”!  Even going all out on the mixed media thing, and sewing some paper onto the fabric scrap.

 My new machine has 85 decorative stitches!  That will be fun.

 More messy, “perfectly imperfect”, free motion practice on my fabric samples.  

 Got brave with some simple white muslin/batting “fabric sandwiches”, drawing and doodling with thread and quilting!  Trying new threads, stitches, the possibilities are absolutely endless in this craft.  My first attempts…

But i have to say, adding painted color to the fabric, then stitching has to be my favorite thing of the moment.  

There is such gratification in experimenting and trying new things.

…my practice hearts painted with watercolor then free motion stitched…

 Thanks for visiting!  I’ll keep you all posted on my sewing and quilting adventures.  Create with all your heart….

 It was such an honor to have the most wonderful students sharing at another Create, this one in Irvine, CA.  I was energized by their kindness and curious enthusiasm for trying new things and making amazing art.

 …

 

…off to Create in Irvine, CA! All packed, shipped and ready to teach my brand new classes and meet some new “forever art friends”. I love California, just plop me next to the ocean and i’m in my element.

This is the first trip of five art events where i am teaching from coast to coast. Very excited about my classes, and my new favorite is the colorful “Magical Marker Mystery Tour”. The student learning journal is pictured above. We’re going to have such fun, using several brands of my favorite markers in mixed media and art journaling. Needless to say, i am bringing have over 500 markers and pens with me to share with my students. 

 Here’s a look at how i roll, with a behind the scenes shot, literally BEHIND the table where they were filming my demos!  It was pretty quick paced, taping one technique after the other.  So i  tossed  placed the items on the floor behind me to enthusiastically get to the next project.  You won’t see this on the DVD!!

 This is the showcase of the projects and lettering samplers and some ideas you will find in the DVD. It’s chuck full of many fun ideas and techniques to guide you in discovering your own signature lettering style.  Whether you purchase The DVD, or download it on to your computer, it will be a great addition to your creativity library a resource you’ll own forever!

So be on the lookout for announcements from Cloth, Paper, Scissors and i’ll be back in a few weeks with a Artful Lettering DVD Giveaway.  Stay tuned!

 

…then glued them together so the accordion is double sided.  When glued, i free form cut around the leaf patterns on one side, and “winged it” hoping the pattern repeated on the other side.  It pretty much did match, and looked great, in my favorite style, “perfectly imperfect’!

Just signed, sealed and delivered my contract to write a book for Interweave Press!  A dream come true?  Absolutely.  It’s such an honor to be chosen in the mixed media category.  My book is themed on my favorite topic and passion………….can you guess???………..Artful Lettering….of course!!………i just can’t wait.

Even though i am writing the manuscript right now, it’s a very long process.  My book will be released in early 2014.  I’ll be sure to keep you posted along the way.