Girl Scout Ecco-Bag - so cool!

This cool ecco-bag was made from recycled plastic bottles and it showcases a portion of my art quilt "Green is in My Nature." The bag was produced by ABC Bakers, one of the two Girl Scout Cookie makers. They printed 15,000 bags and are part of the 2010 Cookie Incentive Program. They are not for resale. ABC will not be making any money from these bags. They have been well received by both volunteers and girls alike. I know that I am personally thrilled about it!

As part of the Product Sales Convention in Reno, NV - every attendee received one of these bags - and they were a big hit! ABC Bakers owns the art quilt. At the convention, there was a drawing and Girl Scouts North Carolina Coastal Pines is now the new owner and will hang it in their lobby. This art quilt was originally made for Larkin Jean Van Horn's Invitational Exhibit "It's Good to be Green," in which all of the pieces were 18Wx45H. It is one of my most favorite pieces that I have ever made. Be a sister to every Girl Scout. I was a GS for 5 years in my youth, and an adult volunteer for 14 years. My daughter went from Daisy's to Seniors and earned the Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards.

Edges Special Exhibit - Festival in Long Beach

Pacific Coast Fiber Artists and Friends present "Edges" a 21 piece collection that will debut at the International Quilt Festival in Long Beach - July 23-26th. Sponsored by Interweave/Quilting Arts. Curated by Leslie Jenison and Jamie Fingal. Artists: Betty Amador, Carol Henke, Carolyn Ryan, Cindy Cooksey, Desiree Habicht, Frances Holliday Alford, Gwen Mayer, Jane LaFazio, Jeannie Moore, Joanell Connolly, Julie Schlueter, Karen Rips, Kathy York, Loris Bogue, Muna Elias, Pamela Price Klebaum, Paula Chung, Stacy Hurt and Terry Waldron. Leslie and I also have pieces in the show.

One Foot Square 2009 for SAQA Auction

"Coffee on the House"
is the name of this piece; and thanks to everyone who gave me ideas of what to name it. If you want to look it up on the SAQA website, click on this

New Mouse in Town

There's a new mouse in town

Now Heavy Metal Mouse has a friend

Aren't their tails cute?

Studio Visit

I was thrilled that Rayna Gillman came to visit me in my studio this morning. She is in the OC to teach a 2-Day Workshop at Fullerton College. She wanted me to wear one of my aprons for the picture. Doesn't she have the greatest smile! There are more pictures on her blog - just click on her name. It was truly wonderful to meet Rayna, after only talking to each other on-line.

Heavy Metal Apron

Heavy Metal Apron with a sweetheart neckline; fused burnout velvet onto silver silk, zippers that open from the top (oh my!) metal washers, large silver-toned circles, studs, and pop tops for the breast plates that I made on the plane when I was flying to Cleveland for the taping of Quilting Arts TV - and Heavy Metal Mouse in the pocket.

Close up and personal with the breast plates

Heavy Metal Mouse in the pocket - she fits right in - it was made for her.

The Moleskin Sketchbook

The Moleskin sketchbook. I carry this with me everywhere. It's nice to sit and do these sketches in airports, doctors offices and just sitting and relaxing. You never know what may become of these little exercises...one or two may just make it into a future art quilt.

Peace

Peace; one foot square that I made from fabric that I block printed; both the green and purple have been stamped

Detail; screen is the shading on the peace sign; free motion machine quilted

EZ-cut block carved 8x10"

Punk Rock Diva Apron

My Punk Rock Diva Apron; zippers, velvet, tulle, synthetics, burn-out velvet, wool felt, ring trim, studs, charms, safety pins, faux leather strap and waist tie

Close up of breast plate

Block Printing

Flowers - 3" block

Peace Signs and Flowers - 8-1/2x11" block
Swirling Vines 3x5" block

Curved Lines - 2x3" block and Decorative Circles - 3" blocks
I used inexpensive acrylic paint

Apron as Personal Armor

The Apron as Personal Armor was featured in Cloth, Paper, Scissors Magazine in the March/April 2009 Issue. Here are some up close and personal photos of the apron. The entire apron was made with Mistyfuse and it worked beautifully on netting, burn out velvet, leather-like and fabrics (using a presser cloth...so you don't burn anything up). However, the shiny vinyl was not fused, for obvious reasons.

Breast plates made with snaps, and sewn onto wool felt by hand

The mid-section is what I consider to be all of the neccessities that I need to get me though life. The first photo is the left side, and this is the right side. You can click on them to see larger. Okay, the hand-cuffs...more symbolic to the actual apron and being chained to the kitchen sink. Cloth, Paper, Scissors magazine has a total and complete breakdown of what everything means.

The skirt consists of three zippers and a variety of fabrics, bling trim, sequins and safety pins