Rubies and Rhinestones: Art-Is-Stick! That's ME!

Hey Friend!

It's only been less than a month that I was here!

I have managed my two jobs and much more.

The title is really: ARTISTIC!! that's me...but I thought the other title:

ART-IS-STICK really quite clever for a Friday afternoon...

anyway, in the last couple weeks, I've worked on FOUR quilts! I'm in the middle of number 5.

('Soldier Quilt' for friend, Lonny, a Marine back from Afghanistan)

It's so cool! I don't think I've avoided my Studio/Aerie/Garret/need-a-name as much. I still don't like the color of the walls, but you gotta have money to buy paint, and know what color, and I don't...so there it is

What I'm most proud of, is the 'Soldier Quilt,' which I had an idea to make about 8 months ago. A caring and patriotic young man joined the Marines, and was sent to Afghanistan. 8 months, and many prayers later, he's back safe and sound (praise God!), and home for a couple weeks vacation.

Friends Joanne and Suzie (above in photo) made blocks, and two weeks ago, I cut the blocks into quarters, traded them all around, sewed them back together and then, with sashing I made, put the quilt top together. Joanne quilted and bound the quilt, and yesterday, we were able to present the quilt to Lonny.

I was a real moment. Just for a moment, he was a child embracing his 'blankie'. I believe this quilt will help heal the ravages of war.

I'm so thankful to have blessed a soldier.

(detail shot of blocks and quilting)

Now...
Here's another quilt, a sample for Greenbaum's...baby-size--

this is a new line of fabric by MoMo for Moda, 'Oh Deer'--

I quilted scallops onto it, and this is all scrunched up after washing. Very cute, and now hanging at the shop. (Greenbaum's Quilted Forest-Salem, OR)

I did make two more samples for the shop--but did I take photos? nope! so, I guess that'll be another post.

(ha! and I'm always thinking I have nothing to say!)

Today, I read Julie Fei-Fan Balzer's (Art Journal Every Day) blog, guest bloggers Lori Wostl & Lorri Flint (who started the Art Camp for Women retreats in Colorado), referred to Sarah Whitmire's Soul Journaling site as an awesome free online site for beginning art journalers. I went over there, and checked it out, and they were RIGHT!

I was inspired to finally, truly BEGIN!

Fortunately, I had in my truck, miscellaneous jounaling items, including a book I'd made about 2 years ago in a class, and had never made a mark in.
I'd recently put the book in my truck to MAKE SURE to use it...

(but I didn't want to 'wreck' it!)

"CARPE DIEM!" I say!

So, following Sarah's prompts for Day 1, I tore paper, and covered six or more pages with random paper, glue-sticking along, then let it dry.

Next, using Sarah's prompts, I wrote on the pages, covering them with my thoughts. Here are my photos: