#31DayBlogChallenge2020 - What day is it? Also, project recently completed

I am having difficulty keeping up with the daily blog! I've decided to go weekly, instead of daily for my blog and commit to doing that throughout next year. 

I don't have a business to promote right now, but I do like to share my creations and enjoy writing - so I will continue the blog! 

On that note, here is a little machine embroidered quilt I created for a recent Quilting Arts Reader Challenge: Art as Inspiration Challenge. It wasn't chosen for publication this time, but it did give me an outlet for creating this little memory quilt.

The challenge was to create a Postage Stamp Quilt honoring or in the style of another artist. I chose to commemorate my Video Art Teacher and friend, Shigeko Kubota.

She was one of the first women video artists. I studied video art with her while she was a visiting artist at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1984. She mainly resided in New York City, so I was very fortunate to be able to study with her in Chicago. We wrote to each other over the years, and I still miss her very much. She passed away in 2015. I remember she liked the way her name sounded like "Chicago". So, here is my little quilt, in memory of her and those Chicago days, it is titled: "Love to Shigeko". It is 4 inches by 4 inches in size, I imagined the design and then created the embroidery in my Embird Embroidery software. It was stitched out on my Bernette B79 machine. I also used some hand stitching on the top of the quilt.

Mini Quilt created in response to Quilting Arts Reader Challenge, title: "Love to Shigeko"

Hope you enjoy seeing my little quilt!

 - Denise 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

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

Work in Progress - Day 20 - 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge

I can't believe it is Day 20 of the #31DayBlogWritingChallenge ! Only 11 days to go, then a new year begins. I'm hoping the new year will bring new accomplishments and pleasant surprises for everyone.

Today I'm sharing some photos of my current work in progress. It is for the Quilting Arts magazine "Heat it Up" challenge. I still need to experiment with some new materials, and my design may change. Feel like it is a bit of a slow beginning, but fun, also. It will be a little 7 inch by 7 inch art quilt.

Design in process. Using some enameled samples left over
from my enameling classes.

Detail, mulberry paper behind sunflower on cloth, transferred using TAP paper.

Have a good evening!

Denise Buchwalter-Losczyk

#31dayblogwritingchallenge

Auditioning Supplies for a New Challenge - Day 18 - 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge

Today I have begun auditioning supplies for a new challenge. I've decided to try my hand at creating a mini quilt for the December 2018/January 2019 Quilting Arts Magazine Reader Challenge. 
If you are interested in entering the challenge you can read more about it in the December 2018/January 2019 issue of Quilting Arts magazine. Their challenges are fun, even if you aren't chosen. If chosen, you have the chance to have your work published in an upcoming issue of the magazine. The finalists of this challenge will be published in the June 2019 issue. 

The challenge is to make a 7 inch x 7 inch quilt based on the theme of "Heat it Up!", incorporating the element of heat in the art quilt. The quilt entries are due electronically by January 2, 2019, so I need to get busy.

Here are the supplies I have gathered to possibly utilize in the quilt. I'll post more photos as my work progresses:

Supplies I've gathered for possible use in my little art quilt.

Close up of photos of flowers in our summer garden, 

sunflowers and cosmos, transferred to TAP paper.

Close up of Angelina Fibers - I have had these in my stash 

for a while, and have not worked with them yet. 

Also fusible stones and brass embellishments, from my stash.

Embroidered silk that I like, I've used it in some of my other projects, 

I like the hot orange color for this project, perhaps. 

I may include the blue batik fabric on the right, also. 

It is one of my favorite fabrics and I only have a little left!

Hope to get busy in the studio these days! It seems like it takes me a while to make my way into the studio many times, but I plan to keep returning to my creative spot!

Happy creating, keep creating, and don't give up creating!

Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk

#31DayBlogWritingChallenge

Many Projects in the works! - Day 17 - 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge

My studio space has gotten very busy lately! Here is a view of my work table:

Very busy studio work table!

I usually worked on one project at a time, but lately I have been going in many different directions. That is not necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes when you stop and experiment with different techniques, the results work their way into new projects you are working on. This is something I am becoming more aware of in my studio.

For example: Earlier this year I decided to create some machine needle-felted fabric. I made some striped felt fabric using acrylic and polyester felt and wool roving. I then put the samples aside for awhile. When I began my next project, an entry into a Quilting Arts Reader Challenge, I found myself working the fabric into my design. No time was wasted experimenting in the studio, only more options for creating! The good news is that my little quilt was accepted into the challenge. I will write more about that once it is has been published in Quilting Arts.

Recently I found some nice linoleum cutting blades at an estate sale. They came in the original box, which I believe is from the 1950s or 1960s, perhaps. The find inspired me to get out my cutting tools, I have blades from the 1970s, and recently from the 2000s. I have been meaning to use them to cut out some designs for stamping/printing on fabric. I found a small sketchbook in my supply stash to draw designs on, based on the little linoleum blocks in my stash. I will share the results of the experimenting later! Here are some photos of my Speedball Linoleum Cutting blades collection:

My collection of linoleum cutting supplies, you can also use 

them to cut rubber stamps and eraser stamps. 

The Linozips  are from the 1950s or 60s, I believe 

(maybe even earlier, not sure!) The orange handle cutter

 has blade storage in the handle and is from the 1970s, 

the stamp cutting set is from the 2000s.

Speedball Linozips Linoleum Cutters Made in the U.S.A.

 

Little sketchbook with a cutting design in process.

Don't forget to play and experiment in your studio. The results may lead to creative results in your own work! There is no time wasted.

Happy Creating and Experimenting,

Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk