leenie world

valentines card

2012-02-11T10:54:00.000-08:00

working on table runner idea

2012-02-11T10:53:00.000-08:00

I saw this great table runner in Pier 1 for about $50 and decided I could make one in the colors that worked better in my house.......so am playing with fabrics and colors right now you can see both runners here--getting started

dancing girl goes to Italy

2012-01-29T13:49:00.000-08:00

dancing girl plays in Italy, and by the looks of the thread on the carpet, she better vacuum the floor.....;-p

one other piece

2012-01-29T13:44:00.000-08:00

am loving the "dancing girl" motif, so here she is again, only smaller--this actually might become part of a series......

working on some projects

2012-01-29T13:40:00.000-08:00

we spent part of the weekend in Wrightwood with family so stitched a little on the piece I am working on for Jane LaFazio's art class--

and the final projects for the week

2012-01-20T14:12:00.000-08:00

working on this felted piece--I washed wool sweaters purchased at the thrift store in hot water until they "felted" although the technically correct term, I believe is "fulled" then cut them into squares and using a hand needle felter I attached colored wool roving (wool before it is spun into yarn) and then embellished. I used the "felted" sleeves of the sweater to make hand warmers.

new folders for the spring semester

2012-01-20T14:06:00.000-08:00

these are layers of tissue paper, bits of paper, layered with glue and water on waxed paper which is on top of freezer paper so it will come loose when dry. Stitched and embelished and attached to school folders.

yikes,,,,it's a week and I was going to post each week....

2012-01-20T14:03:00.000-08:00

so the good news--I am published in Quilting Arts Feb/March issue,p 62 and I believe it is my yellow piece of fabric that I made for the readers fabric swap. I am still waiting for my issue via mail and the bookstore did not have the Feb/Mar issue out on stands yet...........

frou-frou scarf

2012-01-12T17:37:00.000-08:00

made from 1/4 yard of 3 pieces of lightweight polyester fabrics,

on the far left is the red/orange one that I purchased (at deep discount) and used to see how to make the scarf

rolled hem on 126" x 2 sides x 3 pieces of fabric

2012-01-12T17:33:00.000-08:00

thanks goodness the serger was running fine once I got it threaded and the tension set--don't think this project would be possible without a serger.

adding the elastic

2012-01-12T17:30:00.000-08:00

this was the most difficult part--36" of elastic stretched as being sewn between 126" layers of polyester fabric--no wonder the original that I saw at the "art to wear"

store was priced at $58.00!!!

the Beginning and End of my frou-frou scarf making career ;-p

2012-01-12T17:27:00.000-08:00

this is the finished scarf......very cool, but a real pain in the last sewing step where the clear elastic gets sewn between the layers of slippery polyester fabric.

published in May Altered Couture!!

2012-01-09T15:53:00.000-08:00

received news a few days ago that I will be published in the May issue of Altered Couture--the $1 mans shirt remake.......I will post 1 photo, but you will have to get the magazine to see the whole article, which I need to write by this Friday......

fabric card for cloth paper scissors

2012-01-09T15:50:00.000-08:00

I haven't ever mailed a fabric postcard before--I hope it gets there!!

new year goal--post at least once a week

2012-01-09T15:48:00.000-08:00

I do some sort of "art" every week, it might be little or doodles, but something, so I am going to try and post every week--at least one photo update of my artistic/creative endeavors for the week.

this week: collage and doodles

lining being added to the back of the shirt

2012-01-04T16:35:00.000-08:00

adding a piece to cover the torn collar

2011-12-24T08:10:00.000-08:00

working on the collar

2011-12-24T08:07:00.000-08:00

rockstar boro

2011-12-24T07:46:00.000-08:00

I am about a month late to join Melanie Testa and the Rockstar Boro project-so am off and running--guess that is stitching. I selected a well loved and worn flannel shirt that was my Grandfather's. You can see some of the before photos and then my first added piece

holiday tutorial: making a card using scraps of fabrics and papers

2011-12-13T07:43:00.000-08:00

follow the steps below to create this holiday card

mini-tutorial step 1-2

2011-12-13T07:38:00.000-08:00

1. locate favorite holiday fabric scraps, tear “base” fabric into 3x4 inch rectangles. Adhere fabric-based fusible web (wonder under) onto contrasting colors of fabrics.
2. cut contrasting colors into tiny curved shapes to make the “branches” of the tree

steps 3-4

2011-12-13T07:35:00.000-08:00

3. when pleased with design, remove the paper and fuse
4. back with thin batting, using shiny thread, free motion-stitch star and design onto tree

steps 5-6-7

2011-12-13T07:32:00.000-08:00

5. mount onto contrasting color card stock
6. finish with any final decorations-my absolute favorite this year is to stamp and when the ink is wet, coat with gold embossing powder, then heat to melt the gold powder into very shiny words or decorations.

7. ready to mail or use on gifts

painted fabric leaf that is attached to rust dyed fabric

2011-11-19T19:50:00.000-08:00

ready to stitch

sketching and watercoloring the leaves

2011-11-19T19:48:00.000-08:00

leaves from trees in Kansas

2011-11-19T19:45:00.001-08:00

fall in san diego

2011-10-22T17:29:00.000-07:00

pen and water color

sketching-inspired by garden tomatoes

2011-10-22T17:27:00.000-07:00

pen and water color

painting, stenciling fabric

2011-10-22T17:24:00.000-07:00

small and quick projects

2011-09-22T17:17:00.000-07:00

my challenge is finding quick art projects that I can do after a long day of work....I am making these cards for right now. Using my previously hand-dyed fabrics,

mostly scraps, adding stitches and beads, then mounting on matt paper and attaching to pre-made cards that have envelopes.

before and after

2011-09-11T17:20:00.000-07:00

80's silk shirts from hubby, I rescued them from the "give to good-will" pile. I decided not to use the black one for this project-it kept fading when I handwashed, so not a good fit for this creation.

unfurled

2011-09-09T14:33:00.000-07:00

The theme for the Sketchbook Challenge is unfurled and that's how I feel today--the artist is able to unfurl from the demands of the regular job. Am playing in my art studio and enjoying every minute--a little overwhemed with "what shall I do first"

steps in the process of creating the hat

2011-08-28T18:43:00.000-07:00

I used a piece of typing paper to cut the pattern, pieces of old shoulder pads(another project in the works from discarded mens suits) and misc. tulle and fabrics and of course--a button from my Grandmother.

latest in the studio

2011-08-28T18:40:00.000-07:00

we went to the horse races in Del Mar last week with good friends--I woke up at 6am and decided I "needed" to make a hat for the day....the computers were down at the house, so had to use my memory to create my version of a similar styles to the ones at the Royal Wedding earlier this summer.

gel printing using gelatin as base to hold paint

2011-08-16T12:50:00.000-07:00

another quilting arts article from aug/sept 2011 Pokey Bolton

inspired by QA Aug/Sept Jennifer Solon and Kathy Johnson

2011-08-16T12:47:00.000-07:00

mixed media collage using the insides of business envelopes--who knew there were so many patterns for black!!??

making prayer flags

2011-08-16T12:40:00.000-07:00

using some of the painted fabrics

doing lots of art....painting on fabric

2011-08-16T12:38:00.000-07:00

final art projects before the professor life takes over the artist life..

Published for fall--Altered Couture Aug 2011

2011-08-05T13:19:00.000-07:00

This is a nice tribute, the woman that gave me the silk dress which I used to create this blouse, passed away in July. It is nice to have this as a tribute to her creative eye and generious spirit. Here's to you, Betty.

couldn't believe my eyes...

2011-08-05T13:11:00.000-07:00

Mom and I are walking along downtown Newton and there in the window of the Mennonite thrift store were my clothes from Jr. High school. I laughed until tears were running down my face--years ago we had cleaned up stuff and discarded clothes(mostly 100%doubleknit/polyester) and Mom had donated the bags of stuff to the thrift store. I wasn't even tempted to buy them back..well except maybe the aqua

geometr

ic patterned dress--that one still looks good to me. The cream/aqua stripe on the far right was my first set in sleeeves and zipper.

am back from my trip to KS

2011-08-05T13:06:00.000-07:00

had a lovely time with my extended family and friends. will post a few photos

prayer flag #4

2011-07-12T11:55:00.000-07:00

am using painted fabrics from my scrap box--finding some that are very old, maybe 20 years.

sketching and water coloring in Palm Springs

2011-07-12T11:50:00.000-07:00

eraser people

2011-07-06T06:44:00.001-07:00

using Kathy Reid's idea from Cloth, Paper, Scissors......a very fun adventure!!

Pie Party

2011-07-05T09:28:00.000-07:00

My submission to Shauna Ahrens facebook group/twitter about making Pies. Mine is gluten free and a combination of recipes.

For 10" deep dish bottom crust:
3/4 c. white rice flour
1/2 c. and 1 Tbsp tapioca flour
1/2 c and 1 Tbsp cornstarch
3/4 tsp xanthan gum
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp sugar
1/2 c. and 1 Tbsp shortening
1 egg, mixed lightly
2 tsp white vinegar
1-2 Tbsp iced water

combine dry ingredients and mix well, cut in shortening with pastry blender. Mix egg, vinegar and 1 Tbsp of water together. Mix into flour mixture with fork. Add more water if necessary to make a workable ball of dough. I knead with my hands until smooth and mixed well. Place dough between 2 sheets of waxed paper and roll into approx 13" circle. Place crust in pie pan, crimp edges.

Filling:
cut rhubarb into small pieces, use about 3 cups, cook slightly to soften
cut strawberries in halves, use about 2 cups
1 1/2 c. sugar
3 Tbsp quick cooking tapioca
1/4 tsp salt
Coombine slightly softened rhubarb, strawberries, sugar, tapioca and salt. Let stand about 20 minutes. Stir then place into pastry lined pie pan.

Crumb topping:
1/2 c. softened butter
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. gluten free flour
1/2 c. oatmeal, processed slightly so crumbly or in small pieces
1/4 c. white sugar
pinch of salt
stir togther all ingredients to make a crumbly mixture, if too soft, refrigerate, sprinkle across the pie.

Bake pie in preheated oven at 400 for approx. 40 minutes. Put cookie sheet on oven shelf under pie to catch the run-off. If top is browning too fast, cover with foil strips.

Serve with ice cream.

I love this recipe and have made it many times. For the flours, I lightly spoon into the measuring cup and level. I measure and am exact on the crust ingredients, but am more approximate on the fruit and crumb topping. If I am trying to be healthier, I will cut some of the sugar and butter for the crumb topping, but not in the filling. I am just starting to measure my gluten free flours by grams (thank-you Shauna) but haven't converted this recipe--sort of feel like why mess with a good thing. ;-p

prayer flag #3

2011-07-05T09:26:00.000-07:00

4th of July flag, in celebration of, prayer for and thanksgiving for our Country.

prayer flag #2

2011-06-26T10:35:00.001-07:00

Baby Chittick should arrive this week.....prayer flag #2 is for Baby, Mom and family.

$1.00 and mens dress shirt

2011-06-24T12:04:00.000-07:00

so--if you happen to find a garage sale or you have a great sister-in-law that will raid closets.....grab a mens dress shirt and make yourself a summer blouse.

fresh apricot preserves

2011-06-24T12:01:00.000-07:00

12 jars of apricot preserves, and all sealed--100% average!! and the taste is fabulous!! tastes like sunshine

prayer flags

2011-06-22T13:02:00.000-07:00

A flag made for Father's day--a prayer/blessing for Father's, especially the Parker father's in my life.

more from the art show

2011-06-18T18:39:00.001-07:00

getting ready for art show

2011-06-18T08:19:00.000-07:00

our church is putting on a "celebration of arts" this afteroon and 3 of my fiber art pieces will be in the show.

playing with color and flowers

2011-06-01T20:51:00.000-07:00

using Alisa Burke's idea of flowers and just playing--exploring different colors, positive and negative space, crayon-watercolor resists, marker and white pen

enjoying my flowers-what beauty!!

2011-06-01T20:46:00.003-07:00

workshop with Alisa Burke in Costa Mesa, Interweave "Create"

2011-05-23T12:13:00.000-07:00

we painted, stamped, stenciled, on white fabric to make our own fabric, then cut and sewed, free motion graffiti--what fun!!

Published in Altered Couture Summer 2011, pp. 29

2011-05-07T07:57:00.001-07:00

"Attention to the details" featured this blouse that was a remake from the thrift shop. You can see the Before/After views

gelatin-mold printing on fabric

2011-05-04T16:34:00.001-07:00

more easter 2011

2011-04-25T15:44:00.001-07:00

easter 2011

2011-04-25T15:40:00.001-07:00

notice how the KU cup matches perfectly with the food, fruit and flowers??

mosquito plant--for you, mom ;-)

2011-04-15T08:38:00.001-07:00

this started as a small, leggy plant from KS-it is my happiest plant right now

flower fields-Carlsbad

2011-04-15T08:32:00.000-07:00

sunny day--beautiful flowers!! fushia poinsettia and daisies as well as fields of ranunculus

playing.....

2011-04-06T19:58:00.000-07:00

drawing rabbits using Carla Sonheims directions

finished chair

2011-04-04T15:25:00.001-07:00

I love the new chair!!

before the finished seat

2011-04-01T15:03:00.000-07:00

these are the strips from the t-shirt--cut about 1" wide and pull on the strip to make a strong cord, then attach with square knots and weave--sort of like childhood days of weaving potholders.

making a chair seat

2011-04-01T14:59:00.001-07:00

thanks to Barbara from my art class, who introduced me to Natalie Chanin's book "alabama studio style"... I decided to weave a new chair seat.

spring break-Thursday

2011-03-24T16:53:00.000-07:00

making balls to go into the fabric basket....decided to invent an idea to make fabric balls, I used small balloons wrapped in plastic wrap and then dipped 1/2" strips of fabric into fabric stiffener(sort of fabric glue) and laced these strips around the balloon, let them dry then removed the plastic wrap and popped balloon from one of the holes......also painted smooth foam balls....

spring break-Wednesday

2011-03-24T16:49:00.000-07:00

Inspiration day--road trip with hubby, lunch on the coast, browsing art galleries, yoga in the evening

tuesday Spring break

2011-03-24T16:44:00.000-07:00

I wanted to work with fabric--I have been wanting to play with making a fabric bowl, so decided with Easter approaching, that would be a good project--a sort of Easter basket/bowl---way fun!! I didn't take photos of the process--I should have.

finishing the project from Monday

2011-03-24T16:38:00.001-07:00

My Spring Break......Monday

2011-03-24T16:33:00.001-07:00

Monday was "create" using an inspiration of a floral design from a dentist ad, I did manage to pay a few bills while doing art--painted on tea bags, since that was handy-did a few sketches and played with new paints.....what I learned
1. permanent ink is not permanent on tea bags
2. machine stitching is not a good idea on tea bags
3. I like spring break

fabric collage vase

2011-03-18T20:25:00.001-07:00

adding directional stitches

2011-03-18T20:22:00.000-07:00

almost finished--rust on silks

adding details

2011-03-18T20:19:00.001-07:00

posting some things tonight

2011-03-18T20:13:00.000-07:00

sketches and watercolor

sketchbook challenge for March--Spilling Over

2011-03-04T17:02:00.000-08:00

I am sitting at my desk and saw the sketchbook challenge for March, is Spilling Over, as I look up from my computer I see my first sketch.......the folders of bills. I haven't done a 1 point perspective drawing for probably years.....it was fun!! I am going to do some more. However, my next idea for "spilling over" involes my stomach and jean waistband--I might make the sketch title out of a food alphabet--wouldn't that be appropriate? ;-)

another opposites for the sketchbook challenge

2011-02-28T17:04:00.000-08:00

opposites--circle and square, black and white, opposites on the color wheel

swirling in my mind

2011-02-13T17:14:00.000-08:00

want to do something with this--just not sure what direction to go--it is a photo onto fabric--windows in a London church--am really drawn to the window line and the contrast of stone and flowering plants

just playing around..

2011-02-13T17:09:00.000-08:00

not alot of big progress--just a few things when I have time and energy

Opposites for Feb. sketchcrawl

2011-02-13T17:04:00.000-08:00

while jogging on the trail and I saw this plant growing through a crack in the pavement--I ran home, got my camera and jogged back--it was such a contrast of life pushing through a manmade surface

Sketchcrawl theme this month is Opposites

2011-02-05T12:57:00.000-08:00

see the link towards the right on my blog--the theme for Feb. is "opposites". I have been thinking about the word and went to my fabric this morning to look for opposites--silk and denimn, sheer and opaque, delicate and sturdy, button and zipper, old and new. Loving this piece--originally thought I would stitch in black to be "opposite" of the ivory/white monochrome color, but not so sure. I thought the zipper was going to be a reach, but really like how it fits underneath the piece of textured satin. Have not gotten to the "sketch part" yet......

the Valentine's day party tree

2011-02-05T12:54:00.003-08:00

all it needs is a big gaudy pink bow on the container

the Birthday party tree

2011-02-05T12:52:00.000-08:00

to celebrate my birthday--notice the princess tiarra at the top--Haha!!

the Party Tree

2011-02-05T12:48:00.000-08:00

originally the christmas tree--a small one, but "live" one this year. It is growing-about 2 inches of new growth since December--so obviously I can't throw it away--I plan to plant it in Wrightwood sometime--at least it might have a chance to grow there--

piece from last week's Art class

2011-01-29T16:40:00.000-08:00

not sure if I will make into a Vase, like Jane LaFazio showed us last week in class or work with something more linear like Cas Holmes pieces--some in the lastest Quilting Arts magazine.

practicing on free-motion stitching

2011-01-29T16:33:00.000-08:00

inspired by Quilting Arts article by Heather Thomas

things to draw and paint while camping

2011-01-29T16:30:00.001-08:00

camping last week

2011-01-29T16:22:00.000-08:00

the first camp trip of 2011 and the last "hurrah" before I started back to work--

latest project

2011-01-19T17:10:00.000-08:00

working with an inspiration from metal art viewed at a gallery in Morro Bay--coming along very nicely!! using rusted fabrics and antique buttons

making a folder using photo

2011-01-19T17:06:00.000-08:00

this is a photo from the London tube station--I used the fused collage technique of wax paper as the base and layers of tissue paper, threads, misc. with a good layer of acrylic medium. After it is dry, one can stitch and other trim--I attached to the folders with more stitching and glue.

new folders for a new semester

2011-01-19T17:03:00.001-08:00

nothing like getting school supplies ready!! these are sheer fused collages--technique learned in Jane LaFazios class

redo on beloved old sweater

2011-01-19T16:59:00.000-08:00

love this sweater, but was too large and I was not wearing it--so cut it apart in the center, serged the edges and added a zipper--the zipper isn't a functioning zipper, just zipper tape one can purchase by the yard--love the new version! new clothes for a new semester!!!

word for the year

2011-01-19T16:55:00.000-08:00

in my watercolor journal--trying to paint almost everyday

sketchbook challenge journal entry for January

2011-01-08T14:28:00.000-08:00

shell and starfish found on the beach yesterday

2011-01-03T17:22:00.000-08:00

I mixed saltwater solution and put the shell and starfish in it--not sure if the starfish is alive....want to sketch this soon.

sketching in london

2011-01-03T17:20:00.001-08:00

OK, I have tried 3 times and they are still loading sideways on the blog.....

happy new year to all of my blog readers!

2011-01-03T17:12:00.000-08:00

some art projects that I have been working on--mostly finished on these

funky purses made from mens suits from the VA

2010-12-19T07:34:00.001-08:00

London

2010-12-19T07:19:00.000-08:00

Just back from a wonderful 6 days in London!! Would have loved to live at the Victoria-Albert museum in their textile collection rooms---wonderful collection of laces and fabrics throughout the centuries. Also a hall full of iron works--they really caught my artistic eye--will see where they show up in the next art creations. oh--and the jewelry collection is worth mentioning--saw diamonds from the Hope Diamond collection--oh my, oh my--decided yes, I am definately a diamond girl.

Kansas circles

2010-12-05T09:36:00.000-08:00

while in KS, Mom and I started these circles using scraps from old fabric,--am starting to stitch on mine--think Mom has put hers away to work on more precise quilting--she is a master traditional quilter!

thanksgiving weekend

2010-12-05T09:29:00.000-08:00

stitched on this piece over thanksgiving weekend--as I was enjoying the visit with family in the mountains. the piece is a rubbing using fabric and colored shiva paintstix and then stitched with embroidery floss.