An "Ice Cream" post for a hot Texas evening

You Are Coffee Ice Cream

Energetic and lively, you are always on the go. You're doing a million things at once and doing them well. You tend to motivate others and raise spirits. You are most compatible with chocolate ice cream.

What Flavor Ice Cream Are You?

HBS Annual Challenge

The Houston Bead Society issues a challenge every year. The President usually selects and puts together packages of beads, findings, etc. that are sold to members. The challenge is to use the entire package (along with some of your own beads) to create something beady. This year's package had coin pearls, silver spacers, silver beads and stone beads. We were also told we could not use any shade of brown.

I used the entire package along with some more pearls, pinky glass beads, crystals and a cool shell donut pendant that I had bought some years ago. Rather than stringing, I used thin gauge wire to wrap the components into this necklace.

I thought you'd enjoy seeing a close-up rather than the entire necklace.

Now I'm on to my next project - a heart block for the outgoing president of the Greater Houston Quilt Guild... any ideas??

This is the first sample I created in Nancy Prince's workshop. I learned to use two stitches - the straight and the zig zag - with the feed dogs down to create free motion embroideries. When doing free motion (embroidery or quliting), the feed dogs are down and you control the length of the stitches. With the straight stitch you don't set anything, but with the zig zag you can set the width to get different effects.

You start with a "tulle sandwich" which consists of a water soluble stabilizer, tulle and water soluble stabilizer. Then you hoop your "sandwich," make sure the sewing machine feed dogs are down, lower the presser foot and start sewing. You can go in any direction, but Nancy told us to go "east and west" with the zig zag. I went "north and south" a couple of times and I liked that too. I need to go back and work on the highlights some more. Anyway, for a good tutorial and more information about her "hoop sandwich," go to Nancy's website.

I like my sample a lot better than the tree I started for the actual project. I used a variegated brown thread for the trunk, but too much of it was way too light. Then I started the tree canopy with a dark green thread. I followed with a variegated green - so far so good. Then, when I re-hooped it to sew another area, I found out that my tension was too loose. If you look at it closely, the left side is much looser than the right. Oh well, live and learn. Anyway, it's not finished and I'm not sure I'm going to finish it. Instead, I have an idea for another project...

In the meantime, I'm teaching how to make tyvek beads at the Houston Bead Society meeting tomorrow. If you live in or near the Houston area, it meets at Bayou Manor, 4141 South Braeswood at 10:00 am. Maybe I'll see you there?

Tyvek Earrings Part 2

Making tyvek beads could be addicting!

This is another pair of earrings I made in minutes! Really, I think it took longer for the paint to dry than to create them.

Check out the close-up. I found I had these tiny, tiny holeless beads that I picked up somewhere. So I mixed them up with the ultra thick embossing powder and heated up the tyvek bead with my heat gun. When the bead was hot (melted), I rolled it around in the embossing powder/bead mixture a couple of times and then dipped the ends in the same purple paint I used to color the tyvek to get rid of the white edges.

This pair is somewhere between the ultra shiny beads and the completely matte beads (see green pair below) and I really, really like the effect: a little shine from the holeless beads, a little glow from the embossing powder and still a somewhat matte finish. I added some silver beads and spacers from my stash and I had a pair of earrings that just barely brush my shoulders - in my favorite color: purple, of course.

Charity Quilts

I love making "stuff" but, working on a quilt or other project for someone else brings a different level of pleasure and enjoyment. I've made art quilts for Fiber Art for a Cause, Alzhiemer's association and beaded squares to benefit breast cancer research.

So, this month, I decided to take the plunge and checked out two bags of Comfort Quilt pieces to sew together and turn in next month. I finished both tops in an evening (about 6 to 8 hours). I have to admit the Greater Houston Quilt Guild really made it easy for me - all the tedious work was already done (the pieces were already cut out) so all I had to do was sew them together. The quilt tops are completed at its annual Comfort Quilt get-together and then donated to various pre-determined charities.

Many people think they can't make a difference - well, you can and all it takes is a few hours. I was pleased with the results and plan on checking out some more at next month's meeting.

Silk Painting

I've mentioned before that I have a problem following patterns (I think it's that left brain vs. right brain thing) and although I do create things with patterns - to prove to myself that I can - I really enjoy just listening to the project to see what it wants done.

These scarves were a blast to create. I took this workshop with Houston Bead Society members Janie Fitzgerald and Fern Handler, who are expert weavers and dyers, and learned how to use silk paints and salts to create these random patterned scarves. All I really had to think about was the colors I wanted to use and go with it!

Tomorrow I will be taking a Thread Painting workshop with Nancy Prince (sponsored by the Greater Houston Quilt Guild). Nancy uses thread like most other artists use paint - fabric is her canvas and thread is the paint. We will be using free-motion machine embroidery to learn how to embellish our fiber art work (the straight stitch and zigzag are the only stitches we are going to use). Some of her work encompasses hundreds of thousands of yards of thread - yes, you read that right! If you visit her site, she has a short tutorial on her technique.

I can't stress enough the importance of taking workshops...not only do you learn something new, but you spend some time with like minded people doing something fun. And, if you're in a rut, workshops open you up to the possibilities and may even lead you down a path you might never have travelled.

Our new little "addition"

Here's our latest addition to our small family! Caden Santa Cruz was born today, July 14 at 2:02 pm. He weighed 6 pounds, 15 ounces and is 20 inches long. Here he is pictured with his proud daddy whose first words were "I'm still in shock!"

What's New?

Been a busy girl lately... signed up to teach summer school and the entire month of June just flew by. I still had a little time to do and learn a few new things and I will be posting them throughout the week.

Here's something I've played with before - Tyvek Beads. I belong to the Houston Bead Society and signed up to teach the July program on (guess...) oh yeah... Tyvek beads. So I decided to try it, write the instructions and make some samples. You know, so I could look like I know what I'm doing. This is the result. I pretty much used the same technique, but right before applying the clear embossing powder to it, I took a good look at the bead and decided I really liked the matte finish. In the end, all I did was rub on a little copper color onto the crevices and then added some copper beads to make a pair of earrings.

Bead Artists Against Breast Cancer Quilts

Here they are - two of the twenty Bead Artists Against Breast Cancer Auction bead quilts! The one on the right has a few squares created by Houston Bead Society members (including me). However, all but 2 of the squares on the left one were created by HBS members. This was such a fun and rewarding project! I can't wait for next year's theme.

For more information about the project or to look at all of the finished quilts click here.

Butterfly Project - Houston Holocaust Museum

1,500,000 children perished in the holocaust. In an effort to honor their memory, The Holocaust Museum - Houston is sponsoring The Butterfly Project. It's goal is to collect 1.5 million handmade butterflies which will eventually comprise a breath-taking exhibition for all to remember. The deadline is June 30, 2008.

My contribution to this cause will be several bead embroidered butterflies I create from a piece of pre-printed fabric that I found. This is what I've done so far.

As I was working, I found that my thread kept getting caught up in the corners. Frustrated, I grabbed the scissors and snipped them off - only to find out that I had also accidently cut off part of a wing. I ended up "winging it" (so sorry!) and so the other wing is a little short - nature is like that. I was surprised at how long it took me to bead embroider this one butterfly - over 4 hours - but I really enjoyed the process and will be starting on the other two this weekend. The butterflies will be cut out and backed with suede before I send them in.

The museum is accepting butterflies no larger than 8 inches by 10 inches in any medium the artist chooses, but one-dimensional submissions are preferred. Glitter should not be used. Click on the link above for more details.

In the wee hours...

In the wee hours of the morning, I like to explore and read some of the blogs that are out there in Internetland. So, when I came across this one… well, how can you not love one called The Land of Lost Luggage? Anyway, Julie issued her readers a challenge to use Photoshop to tweak a fountain picture she shot.

The photo on the left is what she provided. The one in the center and to the right are what I did with it. I don’t have Photoshop, but I do have Elements and that’s what I used. Pretty simple really - all I did was play with the select tool and some of the filters.

You know so often, I use Elements to adjust the lighting or contrast of a photo and not necessarily for an "artistic" purpose. Now it looks like I’m going to have to pull out some of my images and play.

Thanks for the challenge, Julie!

I am so excited to learn that my Collage Mania II quilt sold! It will be going off to Barb in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin who also had a pair of "feisty" parents.

Treasures in the Mail

Look at these little beauties! They are the fabric beads I received from my Fiber Art Traders partners: Trees Wolffers, Wanda Stivison, Debra Nees, Dove Shelton and Suzanne Arena. Such different variations and techniques! I can't wait to create something with them.

The beads pictured below I made to trade. I call them my Fiesta Beads because they look like a fiesta about to happen!

Spiral Peyote Bracelet

At last, it's finished. The colors in the photo aren't quite accurate. In real life, the color beads are more purple with a matte yet still slightly shiny finish - almost like dichroic glass. I used size 6, 8 and 11 beads. Once I got going, it was easy (especially when I had my "mantra" going) but, what a finicky thing it was to close up the ends! I could not figure out if it was a complete spiral or not and where to match up the ends. But, I'm sure that comes with experience and lots more bracelets.

The Spiral Bracelet was from a class I took with Nancy Jones and Peanut (the store manager) of Tiny Dog Seed Beads. My beady pal and Houston Bead Society President, Shirley and I have been going every Thursday to learn something new from Nancy. It's a great way to spend a couple of hours with friends laughing, learning and beading.

On a whole different matter, cool, dry days are very rare in Houston and it's been absolutely gorgeous the last few days. I just had to post this picture of my jasmine in full bloom! The smell that wafts from it is absolutely heavenly and it is the first thing that greets me as I walk in the back gate.

Collage Mania II Submission

My original submission for Collage Mania II was lost coming back during a Show and Tell. Luckily for me, Virgina Spiegel was very understanding and allowed me to create another one. I tried recreating "Dreaming of the Sun," but I wasn't happy with it. So, I ended up with this: "La Virgen" (#2).I was much happier with this one! Many thanks to Virginia for being so patient.

If you want to look at all of the mixed media yumminess going on with Collage Mania II or even better - bid on a quilt - then go visit Collage Mania II. It benefits the American Cancer Society. As some of my friends already know, I lost my dad to complications of lung cancer in December of 2003, so I was delighted to be a part of this effort.

This weekend Houston Bead Society hosted the fabulously talented and way cool bead diva Sherry Serafini! You know how some artists' work just "speak" to you? Well Sherry is one of those artists. Her work is spectacular and the pictures just plain don't do it justice. We worked on a Freeform Pendant and Embroidered Cuff - which I will post as soon as I finish them. I learned a load of new ways to do one of my favorite techniques from a fun, fascinating lady. Did I tell you she created a beaded belt for Steven Tyler of Aerosmith? She rocks!!

More beading

The good thing about being a member of a society/guild/Yahoo Group is not only the like minded people you meet (and end up hanging out with), but the programs many offer. This month Houston Bead Society had one of its members teach us the Right Angle Weave (RAW) technique by creating a bracelet.

RAW is one of the few techniques that I have been able to teach myself and this program strengthened my skills. Now - arg!! - I have to have more crystals. I used a vintage glass button and a peyote loop as a closure. These little bracelets also work up quite fast and the variations are endless.

What do do when you're stuck in bed sick?
This bracelet is from a Crazy Peyote class I took from the Bead Goddess herself Nancy Jones of Tiny Dog Seed Beads. Nancy is one of the most talented bead designers and teachers I know - why she isn't nationally known is beyond me. If she can teach me some of the tougher beadweaving techniques, then she can teach anyone. So, if you live in the Houston area and want to learn a particular technique, don't walk, run to the phone and give her a call. Her fees are extremely reasonable too. Can you tell I'm a Nancy Jones groupie? The Crazy Peyote Bracelet is a perfect project for those of us who don't really like to follow directions or a pattern. You use the peyote stitch and beads to weave a bracelet or necklace, but instead of sticking to a pattern or the same size beads for the entire project, you meander along changing bead sizes, colors and types. The most difficult part is knowing when to stop!

These other two are brick stitch bangles (aka as Bead Be Bangled Bracelets). I know I've said I don't like to follow directions or patterns, but sometimes I'll take it on, just to prove to myself that I can do it - even if it usually involves a lot of cussing. If you subscribe to Beadwork magazine then you'll recognize them as Nancy's bracelets and instructions were featured in the October/November 2002 issue. It was an easy, cool way to learn brick stitch and create an awesome bangle at the same time. I made one using size 6 beads and the other using size 8s. I like the 6s a lot better. Nancy claims they are addicting to make - and they are my friends, they are! I have 2 more started waiting to be finished and I've fished out several more tubes of beads ready to be made into bracelets.

This week I'm trying a Spiral Peyote Bracelet. I'll post a photo of it as soon as I finish.

In the meantime, I have bangles waiting to be finished...

Have I Mentioned I Luv Those Silly Internet Surveys/Tests?

You Are 9: The Peacemaker

You are emotionally stable and willing to find common ground with others. Your friends and family often look to you to be the mediator when there is conflict. You are easy going and accepting. You take things as they come. Avoiding conflict at all costs, you're content when things are calm. At Your Best: You feel connected, trusting and fulfilled. You feel at peace with your place in the world. At Your Worst: You compromise your values to make sure peace is maintained. You give in to bullies. Your Fixation: Harmony Your Primary Fear: Causing conflict Your Primary Desire: To preserve things as they are Other Number 9's: Marge Simpson, Ronald Reagan, Audrey Hepburn, Jerry Seinfeld and Abraham Lincoln.

What Number Are You?

Some of the options that I had to choose from were so close that I elected to take the test a couple of times - and I got the same result - a number 9. I think most of it has to do with being the middle kid. And, although most of it is accurate, I don't maintain my peace at the expense of my values.

Making Beads

Ooh, I had fun tonight playing with a heat gun and an old overnight mail envelope.

I had heard you could manipulate the envelopes using a heat gun. I didn’t have a lot of time, so I decided to try to make something small – like beads. So, I took out my envelope, painted the white side with some inks and paints, let it dry, cut it into strips, wound it around a skewer and then applied some heat to it. That was cool enough, but then I applied embossing powders, some Pearl Ex powders and tiny mica pieces while the “bead” was still hot and this is what I got. Next time, I’m going to try to add some seed beads, fibers or threads as inclusions. I’m not sure whether I love or hate these beads but it was definitely fun and something I want to continue to keep playing with.

FAT Bookmark Trade

I’ve been a member of the Fiber Art Traders Yahoo Group (affectionately known as FAT) for a couple of years now and I used to be very active. But, I went to work teaching elementary school and well everything got put on the back burner. That is until now. Now I’m teaching part time which gives me the luxury of having a little more time to create trades for this fun group.

These bookmarks are for a FAT fiber bookmark trade. I pleated black cotton fabric then tore some Asian style fabric into strips. Once I sewed them on, I felt like it still needed something, so I added a splash of color with a magenta strip of fabric. I found some old/vintage buttons which I sewed on and then used waxed linen thread to string some beads. This was a really fun project for not a lot of time.

If you want to create Fiber Postcards (PCs), Artist Trading Cards (ATCs), Artist Trading Pins (ATPs), Artist Trading Dolls (ATDs), fiber books/pages, ornaments, Plus Size Inchies (PSIs) or just chat with like minded individuals, check out the site. It is a very friendly group led by talented fiber artist Normajean Brevik who is a writer, designer and teacher of fiber arts.

This is What Happens When You Don't Read the Guidelines First - Part II

Here is the finished art quilt I made for my soul sister, fellow LaLa and heart art lover, Sharon. I could call Sharon up in the middle of the night for help and she would come and give me the shirt off of her back - no questions asked. I am truly blessed and grateful for the forces that brought us together and I wish for each one of you a Lala, soul sister or BAP like her. Hope you like it - "CL!"

It has plenty of free motion stitching and, of course, beads (though they don't show up too well). I just love that mottled, green, sparkly fabric (which I think I bought at Walmart) and darn it, if I can't find it anymore!

My Studio - Part II

Here are my fabric "boltlets" lined up on a shelf. I found the red storage boxes at my local hardware store. They store brads, letters, sequins, vintage hardware stuff, buttons & other miscellaneous stuff. I used translucent paper storage boxes to store my rubberstamps. I also bought lazy susans from the dollar store & they hold my glues, mediums, etc. I recycled cans, painted them white & now they hold my brushes, pencils, markers. etc.

I have a degree in Jewelry and Metalsmithing and have been known to occasionally break out my torch and play with fire - so one wall houses my bench. The wall above my bench has a pegboard with tools I use most often hanging from it and some beads that I haven't found a place for yet. The other side has a Sears tool box with my major tools and a pegboard with rulers and a few finished beaded pieces.

My photography stuff (slide printer, cameras) is in the closet along with sweater holders full of yarn filed according to its color. On the closet door hangs a plastic see through shoe holder with sewing notions, crochet hooks and other miscellaneous stuff.

I've learned that organization is the answer to my tendency to procrastinate. I also realized that I was either spending more time looking for what I needed than making art or buying multiples of things I already had. It was causing a lot of stress. So I spent about a week organizing the studio, boxing, shelving and labeling (very important). Now I know where everything is (well almost everything) and I’m getting a lot of projects finished.

I hope you enjoyed my little studio tour and it inspires you to try some of these organizational ideas in your own space.

Bead Artists Against Breast Cancer Squares

These little beaded squares have become addicting! I started with one and now I have 6 all ready to donate to the Bead Artists Against Breast Cancer Auction. I bead embroidered 5 of them – my favorite technique. I also decided to use the Peyote stitch for the sixth square simply to prove to myself that I could do flat peyote and follow a pattern. The rose is beaded in two very subtle shades of pink that are hardly noticeable because the bead colors looked completely different in the tubes. Of course, by the time I figured that out I was too deep into the project and having torn it apart two times, I wasn’t about to start over! Anyone who has ever beaded using the peyote stitch knows that the first couple of rows are real boogers and this was no exception. And, why is it that no matter how many beads you have it’s never enough?!

Anyway, it was loads of fun and I’m glad to see them going to a good cause. As soon as Jeanette Shanigan posts a picture of the bead quilt, I’ll post it here.

Wonder where they’ll end up at?

My Studio - Part I

I’m lucky to have a room I can call my own, so I thought I’d post a few pictures of how it is organized. It’s a bit messy right now because I’m working on several projects. That’s how I work – I pull things out, I audition them, use them or try something else. Bits of thread and fabric get thrown on the floor. More fabric gets pulled out and more thread, fabric, etc. get thrown on the floor. But, once I’m finished, everything gets put back where it belongs, I sweep up and start over.

Here’s a nifty storage tip that I use for my fabric. I bought some acid free mat board and cut it to about 8” x 12” pieces(or whatever size works for you). I then grouped my fabric according to color, print, theme, etc. and wrapped them around the board making sure to move each piece down about half an inch. Then I put a large rubber band around the mat board to hold the fabric pieces together. This system works great with fat quarters and no more than 2 yards of fabric. Then I put each "boltlet" on the shelf. I love this system because I can see most of my fabrics at any given time. Yes, I still have more in drawers and a laundry bag full of scraps. I also have 2 drawers with about 100 men’s ties!

As you might be able to see, I have my larger beads stored in these little plastic boxes that fit into these binders. My seed beads are stored in small containers inside transparent plastic boxes. They are also placed on a shelf. Although I like this system, I really would like to be able to see them like I can see my fabric, so I’m still working on that.

My rayon threads are stored in the drawers on the bookshelf I bought at Ikea. The ones I use most often are on the spool rack right next to my sewing machine - my Christmas present to me from me - my Viking Designer SE. I love Viking sewing machines – they sew the prettiest seam! More photos tomorrow.

Bead Artists Against Breast Cancer Auction

This is a sweet little bead embroidery square I created for the Bead Artists Against Breast Cancer auction to be held at this year’s Bead and Button Show in Milwaukee. Jeanette Shanigan of Shanigans Bead Shenanigans has volunteered to collect and sew the squares into bead quilts that are 48 squares large. Each square is only 1-1/2 inches large.

I’m not sure why the square came out so pink. My intention was to use a few pink beads, but I really intended it to be mostly purple and green; but, it is what it is and I really like it (despite my allergy to the color pink). I am a member of the Houston Bead Society and this past Saturday, I challenged its members to bead enough squares for a complete quilt (48). I volunteered to collect them, sew them onto the Peltex and then mail them in. I’m really hoping we can reach that goal.

I have been having so much fun creating things to donate to these worthy causes. I hope you will consider getting involved in some of them.

So What Color Are You?

I love taking all those silly little internet tests and surveys, but I particularly liked this Color Quiz.
You Are Plum
#DDA0DD
Your dominant hues are red and blue. You're confident and like showing people new ideas. You play well with others and can be very influential if you want to be.

Your saturation level is low - You stay out of stressful situations and advise others to do the same. You may not be the go-to person when something really needs done, but you know never to blow things out of proportion.

Your outlook on life is bright. You see good things in situations where others may not be able to, and it frustrates you to see them get down on everything.

Amazingly enough - purple is my favorite color.

So what color are you?

Take a tin can and ...

At my house, we end up with a lot of fizzy water cans (me) and Diet Pepsi cans (him). So, rather than toss them in the recycle bin (as usual), I came up with this ornament. I placed an angel image in a bottle cap and topped it off with Diamond Glaze. I then stamped the tin using some of my metal stamps before gluing the bottle cap and adding a ball chain for hanging. I made a quite a few these ornaments which I attached to packages during the holidays.

This is what happens when you don't read the guidelines first!

But, it wasn't a total loss.

I don’t always read directions first, I’m not too keen on measuring and, well, me and rules don’t always get along. So, it was no surprise that the hearts I was planning on using for my Soar Heart Soar art quilts ended up way too big to fit the guidelines. But, I kept them - confident that I would find another use for them. I did. This week I’m working on 2 more heart quilts about 12” x 12” square. I plan on practicing some more of my free motion stitching on these and adding some beads - of course!

Hey Tami.

Tami, Tonia told me your e-mails to me are bouncing. So I checked and sure 'nuff that's my e-mail address, so I can't figure out what's up with that.

I told Tonia to go ahead & give you my personal e-mail address (don't want to post it here). I have your package ready to send as soon as I get your address.

Soar Heart Soar

My horoscope says I'm in the middle of a whirlwind of creativity - and I feel it!

Here is another mini quilt I made for the Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative (actually I made two). I'm calling it Soar Heart Soar.

It symbolizes the people that are affected by the disease. The hearts are separate as each one is affected differently, broken in half by this disease though not torn apart and, yet, held together by the bonds that have always held them together – love, faith, hope. The bright colors symbolize these bonds.

I created it using my favorite raw edge technique - raw edge applique, with a raw edge triangle binding, free motion, echo quilting and (of course) some beading. It is based on a technique created by Jayme Crow called Stitch and Split Applique.

Please go visit the site to check out all of the other quilts and support this worthy cause.

P-E-A-C-E

Thought for the day as seen on a t-shirt:

P – People
E – Everywhere
A – All
C – Caring for
E – Each other

This is my view from the window in my studio. That’s a storm water runoff to the left, though I like to pretend it’s a stream. It does have small fish, some very loud frogs and an occasional heron or two sometimes visits. Though it already feels like I’m working in a tree house, I told my hub (David) that I want to hire a carpenter to tear out the window and put in a small balcony with French doors that I can open up when the weather is cool – which is usually only a few weeks here in Texas. But, a girl can dream can’t she?

My rat terrier, Buster, likes to get up on my table and look out the window to his “kingdom.”

I won!

I won this cool little pencil pendant (on the left) made by Tonia Davenport simply by being the first one to post a comment on her blog. Cool huh? Tonia is the one that came up with Heart It Forward.

Now it's your turn. Be the first to send a comment to this post and win this glass heart and sterling silver cell phone or purse charm. You can even remove the cell phone cord, add a chain and wear it. Good luck!

Heart It Forward

I’ve been inspired by all of the “Heart It Forward” players and in particular my BAP Sharon to play. So I will create a little something that you can win simply by being the first one to post a response.

What will it be? Who knows? I not only work in fiber, but I bead and create jewelry.

So, here’s how to play: 1) You have to have a blog. 2) You have to announce the “Heart It Forward” concept. 3) You have to make something and give it away on your blog. 4) You have to be the first person to leave a comment to win. Good luck!

First Day Post

I've been creating a lot of fiber art lately and as my BAP (Best Art Pal), Sharon, told me. You can blog it as easily as you can send me a pic. So I'm here to share and here goes.

I recently took a workshop with Rosemary Eichorn to learn a little more about her fabric collage technique. Although, I didn't learn too much more than what I already knew, she is a nice teacher and I did get some cool tips. More importantly, I had the entire day to create my fabric collage. It is still waiting to be quilted using free motion stitching; but in the meantime, I created a couple of smaller ones. The first one ("Dreaming of the Sun") is being auctioned by Fiber Artist Virgina Spiegel to benefit the American Cancer Society - a cause near and dear to my heart because my dad died of lung cancer.

The other ("La Virgen") is going to the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative to raise money for Alzheimer's research. Both have been beaded and quilted using free motion stitching.

Then last night I couldn't sleep. What to do? So I go up to my studio. I had already talked about altering a jacket. I started another Virgin collage and that's where it ended up at. It is a fabric collage which has been sewn to the back. I then threw it in the wash and dried it. It needed a major "haircut" when I took it out (waaay too much fraying) and it still needs to be beaded.

What fun is this?!Here's the link for Virginia Spiegel's website auction.