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

Holiday Decorations Complete - Day 15 - 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge

Finished decorating for the Holidays! We are now spending time cracking nuts (pecans) from our tree, next it will be time to bake a few cookies and desserts...

Here's a look at our Holiday displays:

Holiday guests waiting for Santa

Teddy Bear on the left from my childhood (61 yrs old perhaps?),
Tree by my friend Gloria, who passed away. It is nice to have
it to remember her by each year. Little Hallmark Cookie bear who
visits each Holiday Season. I made the blue and white throw quilt.

Santa!

Snowmen hanging out with Quan-Yin and Buddha!

Holiday Display

Holiday Display, Holiday cards to be written in the background.

Another Holiday Display: Tree runner is from one of my Aunts,

who passed away. I love having it to remember her by each year. 

Vintage elf I found at an antique store, 

glass chickens from my collection, vase and Merry Christmas

candle holder are gifts from dear friends. 

I found the Victorian Santa at a Marshall's store

we once lived nearby.

Winter house plants (green pepper, basil)

More Winter house plants: Nasturium on the left, peppers on the right.

Hope you are enjoying the holiday season! Keep warm and have a good season. 

Blessings,

Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk

#31DayBlogWritingChallenge

Day 13 - 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge

Good evening!

Another busy day today, not much time to write. It was a day of appointments and shopping. Hope you have had a good day.

It is also Day 13 of the #31DayBlogWritingChallenge. (I had to write something!)

I am participating in the blog writing challenge this month. It is past the date to sign up to participate, but you can still view the blogs of the other bloggers who are participating. Just go to the following address and check it out:

http://muppin.com/wordpress/index.php/the-2018-31-day-blog-writing-challenge/

It has been a fun experience so far, I think I will definitely be able to manage at the very least a weekly blog in the year ahead. 2019 will be a year for writing!

Next, I may have to see if I can post a video on my blog. That is something I haven't tried yet.

Until tomorrow,

Happy Writing,

Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk

Fabric Giveaway to check out! Henry Glass Fabrics - Day 11 - #31DayBlogWritingChallenge

Good evening,

It is Day 11 of the #31DayBlogWritingChallenge. It has been a busy day, so I'm just now getting to writing.

As an artist, I love entering creative challenges. They entice me, if it a challenge around a theme, the theme will often give me ideas for creating a project. It is a fun starting place and a great way to get started creating a new project. 

I sometimes enter fabric challenges, and the fabric inspires the design which I create. The design of the fabric can be a great way to begin creating too.

I also like entering contests to win prizes, and I have been lucky to win a few. 

Henry Glass Fabrics has a fun Fabric Giveaway starting tomorrow, which you may want to check out. It is 12 days of fabric prizes starting on 12/13/2018. You can check it out here: http://henryglassfabrics.blogspot.com/2018/12/

The Henry Glass Blog also sponsors the monthly "Desire to Inspire" Challenge, which you can enter, and if chosen you receive fabric for that month and in exchange create sewing or quilting projects to be featured on their Blog, the following month. I have done the Challenge twice, and it is alot of fun. You can design your own project (I designed a table runner and a quilt, and mug mats.) or you can use patterns to create a project or projects from the fabric. Check it out and have fun challenging yourself!

Until tomorrow!

Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk

Some organizational ideas from my studio - Day 7 - 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge

Hi,

For todays blog I'm sharing a look at my studio and some organizational ideas:

A cute vintage planter and votive holders makes great storage for scissors and sewing tools

A rolling shelf holds sewing and marking supplies.

My second rolling shelf hold fabric paints and markers.

My button supply and collection stored in an antique printers type drawer.
 I have begun using them to embellish my artwork.

Close up of the buttons.

I hope you enjoy this look at my studio, and perhaps you will get some ideas for your own creative space.

Be creative and enjoy life!

Blessings,

Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk

#31dayblogwritingchallenge2018

Some pretty photos to brighten the day - Day 6 - 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge

Good Afternoon!

It is a cloudy and chilly December Arizona day here today. Though it is not as cold as when we lived in the Midwest. We gathered some nuts earlier today (check out yesterday's blog), and it began to rain a bit, but not too heavily.

I thought it would be good to share some photos from October to brighten your day:

Cosmos!

Cosmos with house in background.

Lighter Cosmos

A Visiting Snail

Monarch Butterfly passing by.

Cosmos and Gray Sky

Cosmos Closeup!

Hope you are staying warm where you are, and may your days be Merry and Bright!

Denise Buchwalter-Losczyk

#31DayBlogWritingChallenge2018

My Seasonal Inspiration-Day Five-31 Day Blog Writing Challenge

Good evening,
It has been a busy day, so I am posting a bit late.Today I am sharing some of my seasonal inspiration.We have a wonderful Pecan tree in our yard, and it is Pecan gathering season again. We shake the branches a bit, then pick up the nuts. The fun is hunting them on the ground, they tend to blend in with the grass and fallen leaves. It is like a little puzzle hunting for them. Some have holes in them, since the crows (ravens) like them too. We call these nuts "crow nuts".I will update this blog with photos tomorrow, and also with ideas for using pecans! (I had second thoughts about the recipes, I may enter some in contests, so I will wait for now, before posting them.)
Update, here are the photos!

Great use for extra pecans: Leave some for Santa, they are much healthier than cookies, and these thin shelled pecans can be cracked by the reindeer!

One of my favorite things to make is Pecan Butter. It is delicious, I never get tired of it! You can easily make it in your food processor, adding a dash of canola oil helps the pecans blend a bit easier. 

Pecan photo shot: All pecans are from our tree, except for the round one! 

Pecan pancakes with salad, and #FrenchsKetchup.

Close up view of pecan pancakes (my husband makes them)!

Yummy chocolate cake, with pecans used for decoration.
They are great for decorating Pumpkin Pie, too.

Pecans and Pecan Butter

Our Pear and Pecan tree in the distance. Pecan tree is on the right.
This is before we planted additional trees in our yard.

Hope you have had a good day and have a good night!

Denise Buchwalter-Losczyk


#31dayblogwritingchallenge2018