Postcard project update!

Just a quick post today! Here is a photo of my completed 4 inch x 6 inch postcard quilt for the Quilting Arts "Tempus Fugit" (Time Flies) Reader Challenge.

The bird design is from a woodblock print I made as a teenager. Time has flown, and many decades later I am still creating!

The completed quilted postcard, using Sulky metallic threads, 
hand embroidery, mulberry paper for binding.
Also, some yellow-gold ink marker.

Happy Creating,

Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk

Project update

Here is an update on one of the many projects I have been working on. This one is due in April, so I will be busy finishing it up this month. It is my entry for the Quilting Arts "Tempus Fugit" (Time Flies) Reader Challenge, it is a quilted textile postcard for their 100th issue.

I used an image from a woodblock print I made as a teenager as the base for the design. Hope you enjoy seeing my progress. 

Postcard size quilt sandwich (muslin backing, cotton batting,

 and printed quilt top) ready for quilting and embellishment.

Project with quilting done on sit-down machine, with Sulky metallic threads, color added with permanent yellow marker, and text stitched with vintage DMC embroidery threads. (thread is in excellent condition, from the 1950s, I believe, and found at a sale. I love the sheen it has!)

Back of my project, to get a glimpse of the quilting. I plan to add a plain backing over this back, so it can be written on.

It is starting to feel like Spring here today. We even flew some kites in our backyard!

Flying the Snake kite I purchased in Seattle in the 1980s! 

Nice to have space to fly. Shadow is my husband taking the photos.

Enjoy creating and preparing for spring,

Many Blessings,

Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk

Projects in Process in my Studio

I haven't been in my studio as much as I would like these days. Have been busy with other day to day things. I have managed to get a little bit done.

I am planning to create some projects using images I have printed to Lesley Riley's TAP (Transfer Artist Paper). It is transfer paper that makes a very sharp, bright image on fabric. It can be used to transfer images onto other surfaces, also. Since I mostly work with fabric, I am using it to transfer images to fabric. I have printed up some images on the TAP supply I had in my art supply stash. I ended up with images printed in both directions, since I forgot to flip the image on my computer screen before printing! Something to remember when working with transfers. (very easy to forget!) I plan to make good use of all of the transferred images. Unfortunately the TAP product is no longer being made, so I will have to make the most of my little supply!

Images printed onto TAP (Transfer Artist Paper). 

The one on the upper left is of a Monarch butterfly

on our Cosmos plants. The bottom right photo is one 

of our ancestral homes in Ireland. I believe it is no 

longer there, but this image of it has always

sparked my imagination. A good starting 

place for a project!

Image of our ancestral home in Ireland. It is printed

on vintage linen, I believe from the 1950s, 

found at a sale. The linen was new, with sizing

still in it. After washing it is a bit wrinkled. It is off white

with a bit of texture. This image has always sparked

my imagination, a good starting place for a project!

Images transferred to Cotton Prepared for Dye fabric.

An iron, used in combination with my ironing board,
was used to transfer the images. A Teflon protection
sheet could also be used as extra protection for
your iron, though I didn't use the Teflon sheet this time. 

I like using the PFD fabric, but the TAP transfers can 

be applied to other surfaces, as well.

Bird wood cut image transferred to PFD fabric. 

This is from a wood cut I made in my teen

years (quite a while ago now!) I have been wanting

to create something with the image. I plan to use it to 

create a post card for the Quilting Arts Magazine

"Time Flies" Reader's challenge, which is in celebration 

of their 100th issue. It seems like an appropriate

image for the challenge.

I am happy I have gotten a little bit done, even though it is not as much as I would like! At least I have a start on some new projects.

Sometimes just finding a little bit of studio time leads to the eventual completion of projects. (Created in bits of time, rather than all at once!)

Wishing you good use and enjoyment of your time,

Many Blessings,

Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk

Planning ahead and filling in the spaces

I know I don't make resolutions at the beginning of the year, but I am always planning ahead.

Sometimes the plans don't come to fruition, but I like to collect together my ideas for projects to make, designs I may imagine, shows and contests to enter, and other opportunities that may come my way. It is good to stay open to the possibilities.

Thought I would share with you my re-furbished planner, and a notebook I have chosen for starting the year. Here are some photos:

My chosen notebook for the start of the year,

and a refurbished planner I found in my stash.

Close up of the planner, I used embossing for the numbers, 

and the photo is a print on fabric of a photo I took of our sunflowers.

Calendar collaged on with Washi Tape, 

and a little drawing/doodling in the empty spaces.

More doodling and drawing. I like the idea of using 

those empty spaces, nothing goes to waste!

The remainder of the year in the back of the book.

I like the idea of using items I have on hand, rather than running out and purchasing new items, and I have a bit of a stash of supplies to use up! (It makes me very happy!)

Wishing you good plans in the year ahead, and hope many good things come your way in 2019,

Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk

Good News! Quilt published!

I have good news to share today. My "A Milagro Pondering" quilt which I made for the "Mended" Quilting Arts Reader Challenge has been published in the February/March 2019 issue of Quilting Arts Magazine.

It was a great experience making this little quilt. The quilt is 12 in. x 12 in. in size. I made it back in August of last year, so I've known about the acceptance  for a while, but have waited until the magazine came out to share it. The design for the quilt came to me when I read about the challenge. I named it "A Milagro Pondering" because it reminded me of "Milagro" charms. "Milagro" means miracle in Spanish. The text added to the little quilt popped into my head, too, while working on the quilt.

Here are some photos of the quilt:

Full view of quilt, I used machine quilting and stitching, hand embroidery, needle-felting, tatting,  brass and button embellishments. The words on the ribbon say: "Sorrow interrupts the happiness of life, still life goes on, night, day, stars shine, birds sing, flowers grow and we heal our sorrows and marvel at the beauty that surrounds us". The little snail button was a gift many years ago from a dear friend. The binding on the quilt is Tunisian simple stitch.

Close up view of quilt. The silk embroidered patches in the center of the heart were leftover from another larger project.

Another close up.

Quilting Arts Feb/March 2019 Issue in which my quilt is published.

My entry into the "Notions" Reader Challenge was also published in the 

Dec 2018/Jan 2019 issue of Quilting Arts magazine. 

You can read more about it in earlier blog!

Hope you will check out Quilting Arts Magazine, and the other Reader Challenge entries. They are all inspiring, as is Quilting Arts Magazine!

Happy Creating and Quilting,

Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk