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

Happy New Year 2019! Thoughts on Resolutions and my finished mini challenge quilt!

Happy New Year 2019!

Like many others you may be busy making resolutions for the New Year. I am usually tempted to jump on the Resolution wagon and join challenges for the year. One thing I discovered last year is that the monthly challenges I joined were often not met because new opportunities presented themselves.

This year I've decided to follow my heart, leave my time more open and create more on my own. I do have an ongoing list of things I would like to achieve that I am always working towards. I'm hoping to get back to entering juried shows and showing my work. I plan to keep working on my projects, so I have some completed ones to share! Also, looking forward to exploring more in my studio, trying out new techniques to incorporate in my work and also improve on my already existing skills.

Here is a photo of my recently completed entry in the "Heat it Up" Quilting Arts Reader Challenge. My little quilt was not chosen this time, but I am very happy I took the time to make it. I explored some new techniques. I may have to set up a little gallery area in my studio for these little quilts.

I do plan to enter more Quilting Arts Magazine Challenges in the future, they are great for expanding your creativity.

Full view of my little 7 inch x 7 inch quilt. 

I used Angelina Fibers for the binding.

Detail view of quilt, using fused elements to embellish 

and enameled charms left over from an enameling class I took.

Another close up - Glass butterfly beads on the left.

Whether you chose to make Resolutions or not, I wish you Happy Creating in 2019!

Blessings,

Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk

Challenge Completed! - Day 31 - 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge

Hooray! I've made it through the #31DayBlogWriting Challenge. 

It was definitely a bit of a challenge, though I did prove to myself that I can easily blog more often on a regular basis. I plan to commit to blogging at least once a week for this year, and most likely beyond! It is good practice for writing, and also a nice way to collect your ideas and share your work with others. 

Thanks again to Cheryl Sleboda of www.Muppin.com for setting up this event. You can visit the blogs of the other participants in the challenge by going to http://muppin.com/wordpress/index.php/the-2018-31-day-blog-writing-challenge/. 

It has been snowing here today, something that doesn't happen very often in our part of the country! Here is a little photo of the Pecan tree in our yard with snow. I have been working on a little quilt with a drawing of our tree, called Pecan Tree in winter (title may change once completed!). I started it last year, but may have to add "snow" to the image now! 

Pecan tree with Arizona snow!

As promised here are some images of the Angelina Fibers I have been working with. I have had it in my art supplies for a long time (years!), and got it out to use on my little "Heat it Up!" Reader Challenge quilt.

Angelina fibers before fusing. A non-stick pressing sheet is used 

to protect the iron when fusing.

Angelina Fibers enclosed in non-stick pressing sheet.

Angelina Fibers after pressing - the fibers stick to themselves and 

form a sheet of fabric, which has an iridescent quality. You can cut 

up the sheet to use as embellishments, or to 

create appliques to use on a larger project.

Fused sheets of pink and lime green Angelina Fibers 

on a blue paper background.

Detail of fused fibers - I combined pink with 

another color to get a mixed result.

Angelina Fibers used as a sewed on embellishment 

on my little quilt (in the middle of the photo).

You can find a lot of information on how to use Angelina Fibers on the internet by searching for Angelina Fibers. I still need to do some more experimenting. I enjoyed working with them, though they are a little messy. The fibers are a bit static in the dry air and want to stick to your clothing a bit! They were fun to fuse and use for embellishing. The fibers change color somewhat when you fuse them. They won't fuse to other surfaces (paper or fabric), so you need to glue them or sew them in place. 

I have read that you can use them with needle-felting, and they can be mixed in with roving. I like to machine and hand needle-felt, so I will most likely try that next.

A quick search found many places to purchase Angelina Fibers, so you can definitely comparison shop for them. I will order some more in the future, they are fun to work with.

Happy New Year 2019, and Happy Creating in the year ahead!

Blessings,

Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk

Days 28, 29, 30 - 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge

Good evening!

Yes, I did miss 2 days of the #31DayBlogWritingChallenge, so I am counting today's post as 3 days! I know that may be cheating a bit, but I have been busy working on a project, which I had to complete to meet a deadline.

Here is a little update, I have been finishing my quilt entry into the Quilting Arts "Heat it Up!" challenge. I finished the quilt today, and sent in my entry so we will see how it goes.

Here are a few photos taken during my work in progress:

Quilting done, and edges trimmed.

Detail of quilting

Angelina fibers in bags, before experimenting with them!

I will post a final photo in the future and tomorrow I will write a bit about Angelina fibers, a material I experimented with while creating my little piece.

Enjoy the last day and hours of 2018!

Blessings,

Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk

#31DayBlogWritingChallenge

Pincushions in my Studio - Day 27 - 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge

Pincushions are one of those items that just multiply at times. Here are some of mine to share with you today (there are a couple more!).

Group photo: 2 top pincushions are from my early sewing days, 

the velvet tomato is very faded! Star pincushion on left I made 

from a pattern and gave several as gifts. Poodle on right is my first 

pincushion I hand sewed it in Brownies, when I was seven.

Faded Velvet Tomato Pincushion

Close up of Hand-stitched Poodle

Pincushion in back is my "Pin Inn" Pincushion, 

which I made for a Pincushion contest. 

Ones in front I made to display my tatting from my 

hand painted threads.

 Fabrics are all hand painted by myself.

Another view of my original pincushions.

I love these pincushions made in China. They are beautiful

 designs. They were purchased either in Chicago,

 San Francisco or New York. The large red one was 

a find at a thrift sale. 

These wrist pincushions aren't quite as 

visually exciting, but very useful.

They do seem to multiply! Sometimes they follow you home, they are fun to design and make, and useful too.

How many do you have? I know I can always find ways to use them, and they are fun to display.

Pincushion Blessings,

Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk

#31DayBlogWritingChallenge

Update on my current Work in Progress - Day 26 - 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge

Hi!

Here is a photo update of my current WIP (work in progress). 

Little 7 inch by 7 inch project final design layout, 

before glue basting to batting and quilting.

Quilting in progress - still a little more to go, then I will sew and 

hot fuse embellishments, and perhaps add some 

hand stitching and embroidery, we will see!

Detail of some of the quilting - I have more confidence 

quilting on the machine now, than in my earlier days.

The more you do, the better you get! 

(I am always improving.)

Keep warm and enjoy the rest of the year!

Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk

#31DayBlogWritingChallenge