Go Girl Bag by Terri

I bought this beautifully crafted Go Girl Bag from Terri at StegArt the day she posted that it was finished. Terri's bags are featured in this month's Belle Amoire's "Haute Bags" and they're stitched perfectly with her signature girl drawings which you can also buy separately from Joggles (if you're so inclined to make your own bag!)
It's so roomy and has three side pockets, a zippered compartment and a magnetic closure.

I wasn't planning on posting the altered book that I'm working on for a swap with Emmy from Cramzy . But if I don't post this project in progress....well I will have to continue buying art to post and I don't have the budget left for that.

So, what the hey...

I knew I'd need these Kleenex's soaked with the exploded HP Ink Jet cartridge from my desk for something one day. Here they are ModPodged to the pages of the altered book.

I'm loving this project because I have no fear. If I mess up, I can either rip that sucker out or collage over it! Here's another peak at a fearless page in progress:

This is plastic wrap stuffed with fibers, crayola pieces and shredded sheet music that heated then 0006 glued to the page. This book will have several textured experiments included and is a constantly evolving piece of work.

Purple Missus' Postfolio and Wild Woman Pin!!!

Words cannot describe my reaction when after a long day and night at work tonight, I opened this:

Lynda from Purple Missus really has delighted the April (and me the March late joiner) FAF birthday ladies with these postcard-sized padfolios! And since I'm so wild: I'm totally going to wear this on my sales calls. She sent me the PURPLE one....YES! Thank you SO much Lynda! I'm extremely in LOVE them!!

SueB's Padfolios are a bit of a worldwide phenomenon. Go make one!

OK. I'm really going to practice improving my postcard-making. All of these gifts have just amazed and inspired me. sniff sniff

Thinkin' Blogs and Altering Books instead of Reading Em!

Sue B nominated me for this thinking blogger meme and I'm very proud she picked me. Sue 's been a consistent art-thinking blogger with innovative techniques, online classes and tutorials. Why just this afternoon as I was fusing Misti fuse (which she taught me) I was thinking, "Sue Bleiweiss has totally transformed my mixed media life!"

I tend to just do without thinking more than anything. I'm no precise stitcher. But I do like to try new techniques because tomorrow isn't promised. Carpe Diem !

Now, I am to tag 5 bloggers that make me think! Tough challenge with So many to chose from. Here they go in no particular order of "thinkingness":

Not a walking Encyclopedia - (but i think she is)
Candy really makes me think. I often have to research her political topics so I don't sound like a complete hillbilly moron when I comment. I like to find sore spots in her blog to fight with my conservative husband about! : ) Candy is a passionate quilter but she's also a highly intelligent, prolific writer who brings to the forefront serious social and political issues and is often my only news channel. I couldn't sleep last night because the freaking bees are all DYEING and it's our CELL phones causing the death of everything! This is SERIOUS ya'll! I turned my apocalyptic phone off this morning because I want to LIVE! Let's do something about it! Fiber Art For BEES! Turn off the dang TV Jim! And Oh MG, Candy is also a gourmet chef/foodie and offers deliciouso recipes!

Fembellish: N Rene West has an embellishing blog that makes you feel like you're hanging at her house and you're just gonna sit down and eat a scrumptious cinnamon scone. Then she's going to crank up one of her 50 top-o-the line sewing machines and clearly show you step-by-step how easy it is to make a professionally embellished piece of fiber art! Hoffman Challenge? Hah! No problem! She's there to help you out and you are about to see things that normally you would need your credit card for. Her blog is chock full of the most gorgeous, generous, helpful tutorials and she updates very frequently. I totally subscribe.

The Fabric of Meditation : Sara's work touches me. Spiritual, emotional, beautiful pieces with ethereal images. I love everything she does. See her Carpe Diem Embellished Angels! If you ever see something in her Etsy, just clickit darnit! Her work is one of a kind and I believe all of her pieces have special healing powers. I must own something she's made!

Fiber Art: If I create it will they come? Hell yes they will! I met Micki in a Quilt U class several months ago. Since then, I've reviewed her blog from beginning to end. This is one blog that I can say, I have not missed a post! Micki has experimented with everything and she is not done yet! She shares her successes and even near-success. She's clear and tells it like it is. I really wish Micki would teach classes.

I have questions : This is a friend of mine here in Houston and I hope she doesn't get mad at me for publishing her because she's a bit private about her blog. But it's a Blog Natalie! It's on the Internet and Al Gore meant for these topics to be for all of mankind. I Have Questions is the ongoing memoirs of a single Houston mom who loves life, music, her kids most of all , and even her stupid ex. She raises questions and even makes old married quilting-types like me think. Natalie is an excellent, humorous writer who paints word pictures and makes me laugh hysterically even though it really should not be funny. Natalie is destined to write books.

Whew! Now that that's done, here's my Altered Book in Progress! My kitties are in the background for the pretty element. This book is going to be fabulous! Secret ATC drawers, a nitch full of Seamrippstress fabric extravaganzas, just very very cool. It will be sent to the Netherlands in a few weeks to a talented fiber artist in FAF. Take a good look because the next time you see it, it will be a day before I mail it overseas! This project is SO much fun and my first finished Altered book. I found this wonderful site for images, ephemera, vintage and incredible paper/fabric swaps: Art-e-zine

Uhhh Oh? Is that a library book????

Mail Motherload!

Ready for this week's over-the-top mail? I'll have to keep words short since I really need to be working on job things....like sleep.

So let's start with this stunning postcard from the whimsically talented Diane (FaeryDi's Feats or Fiascos). It is so dang beautiful that when I opened it, it made me queasy wishing I had made it. Simply amazing....thank you FaeryDi!!!

And can someone please explain to me: What's the deal with the Aussies? Is it the water they drink or the art Karma spewing on them from the Great Barrier Reef? Why is there such a large concentration of extremely talented fiber artists in Australia?

Moving along, I was perusing blogs instead of sleeping when I saw where SueB had one of her silk fusion padfolio's for sale! Wah? That's when my Automatic BUYNOW Click Reflex took over before anyone else snagged it!

and inside she included a handmade bookmark:
Sue's off-the-hook talented! Thanks Sue!

And this postcard by Joanna just mesmerizes me. I bought it from the Ebay Earth Day auction since I had admired it on Joanna's Serenity is Bliss blog. Just look at those perfect mitered corners on the boxes. How'd she do that?

And finally, what I'm reading: "The Artist's Muse" arrived yesterday and I've joined a very active Yahoo group where we're unlocking our creative doors together. I'll share my nuggets as they manifest!

New Postcard Creations!

I'm wicked proud of this weekend's postcard making. My friend Mary's birthday was Monday so better late then never, I'm giving her this tomorrow at our Doll Club playgroup. The Wild Woman Brooch Idea is from Purple Missus! Lynda picked up the idea from Sarah Lawrence of Crafty Notions . I knew when I saw wild women on Lynda's blog that I HAD to make one for Mary. Click the pic for an "in your face" view : )

This is a Post Card for a special FAF April Birthday Girl that I made tonight from the wild flower fabric I fused, painted, layered, burned and stitched.

I'll make a few more from this loud fun flower power fabric. I've finished my postcards for April and just need to get them into the mail!

Without the wild woman pin. You can see my first attempts at the "garlic" freemotioning. (The happy loopies growing off of each other)

Delicious Fiber Art Cards Galore!

I 've been showered with fiber love again! ...don't be hatin'

Lookie what I got this week!

This postcard from Mags! arrived early in the week and was the dose of gorgeous that I needed to get through the week! Gotta retake this pic with natural light once the weekend arrives. The Ott lighting doesn't do these ethereal graphic images justice. She's embroidered "Happy Birthday" on the piece as well. I'm dying to learn how to do this! It's shimery and wonderful! Thank you so much Mags!

and there's more....Yesterday, when I returned from work, Jim came up with something behind his back . "I have something that will make you happy!" This beautiful, delicate, beaded masterpiece from Helen! I read on her blog, that she learned this technique from Sue Brittingham Quilt University!. It's a neatly krinkled cotton, stitched with varigated metallic and a hand-dyed silk flower with beaded center. "Goodie!" Thank you Helen!
And today! This awesome 3-d flower card from Kim!This is Chloe's favorite

What an awesome idea! Thank you Kim. This card is so unique and vibrant!

I just love this FAF Postcard swap! Especially since I just so happened to sign up during the month of my birthday and these works of art from fiber friends from all over the world just thrill me! I'm getting a bit, (ok no other word to use) intimidated by the craftmanship and design of these cards I've received. They're the easiest project I've ever made yet, not really after I've seen these art pieces.

Carmen's Knitted Gift

My darling sister sent me this hand knitted, felted and crocheted bag for my birthday! I just love the colors and the design she chose. She's recently picked up knitting after years of crocheted blankets. She's created a series of beautiful "filet" designs for our home over the years (and I don't mean filet gumbo).

The colors on her new bag are so me and I'm truly impressed that she crafted such a complicated bag!Fiber runs in our family. Even our mom started quilting this year now that she's inherited (by writing me a check) my Brother NX400.

Check out the backside! I just love the design!

Thank you Carmen. I absolutely love it!

Chloe's Wrapped Doll

My daughter wanted to make her daddy a doll for his birthday tomorrow. She kept asking for a wooden ball for the head but all I could find was a styrofoam ball. She wrapped the head in yarn, attached the face charm with pins and stuck a stick from the yard into the head. She wound yarn around the stick and pinned the hair. I helped her attach the hands and feet. She is very proud of her wrapped doll and I think it should be in an art museum. Won't daddy be surprised!

Almost met my Funky Postcard Quota

I've converted some of my past experiments into postcards.

Hey, I'm all about recycling and "Working smarter not harder"

Here's a nuno felted pelt on cheesecloth from way back in January that I've reinvented into a fabric postcard. The added beadwork idea is one I totally lifted from SuZ's incredible flower card last week. Beading takes me a looong time but doesn't it add that extra Umphh and twinkle!
I swear this card really is square. No really! But the dang thing is warped after my wonky satin stitchting and doesn't lie flat for picture day. Maybe if I sandwiched within a big book for a couple days?

And this happy little card has been selected (and begged for) as a special gift for the Easter Bunny himself, along with brownies, iced tea, and an originial E Bunny portrait all gift-wrapped in a Texas Tamale drawstring sack. (BTW: Mr. E Bunny is also an adhoc member of Fiber Art Friends).

This card was made from my recent past layering fabric experiments. I especially like this one below since it includes my painted lavender velvet. The "beads" on these are not beads at all but drips of bead-like paint.Mr E Bunny on a good day. Check out those UPS driver calves!
In her 7th year, our child is dedicated to giving back to the Easter Bunny, to Santa and to the extravagantly generous Toothfairy for all of their dedicated years of selfless giving to her. "They've given so much and have asked so little of me" she says dramatically tonight. Every holiday is now a full day of creations, gift wrapping and special presentations to these wondeful characters. That bunny mobile better make it happen through our unseasonably frigid flooded weekend.

Happy Easter Dolls!

Postcard from SuZ!

Wow! I must be psychic because I felt a stirring in my stomach on my way to the mailbox today. "There's something very cool in there for you Elaine!" What a gorgeous postcard from SuZ. I've admired her painted fabric work on her blog. I almost wish this was a handbag swap - Just go see her magnificent totes and little stitched bags! Thanks SuZ!

Freemotion Couching Foot

I finally broke out the Bernina Freemotion Couching foot. It came with a little hook that I attached to the thread cutter and a long wire threader to run whatever cord I want to couch. I just plugged it all in, stepped on the foot petal and it worked like a charm! Now I can couch cords into looptie loops and I'm finding all kinds of things that need couching around here!

I've been tackling orange flower petals for the FAF flower swap and things just are NOT working out! Tonight I was having trouble moving the hooped Solvy topped with basted pedals under the dropped feed dogs. I thought I'd slip my handy dandy $20 Freemotion Slider (aka a piece of plastic with a hole in it) to help me with the movement. I immediately sewed that sucker to my pedals. Drats! They don't call me Seamrippstress for nuthin!

I've had more technical problems and physical injuries with this project! My FAF's may end up with felted flowers!