Learn New Skills in 2019 - Day 19 - 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge

Today I'm sharing an offer from Craftsy/Bluprint. Their classes are excellent, and they are a great resource for supplies for many crafts, hobbies and creative endeavors!

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Expiration Date: 12/31/2018 11:59pm MST

Restrictions: By clicking the Subscribe button you agree to the Terms of Use, Membership Agreement and Privacy Policy. You authorize Bluprint to charge your credit/debit card at the above stated price and before each subscription term at the then-current rate plus applicable tax. You understand that your plan is continuous and will auto-renew until cancelled or changed by visiting the Account page. For plans with a trial you must cancel during the trial to avoid being charged. One (1) redemption per email address 12/01/2018 12:01AM Mountain Time through 12/12/2018 11:59PM Mountain Time. Monthly and Annual subscribers will receive two Craftsy.com class credits immediately upon subscription. Class credits can be redeemed for any class on Craftsy.com with the exception of classes produced by The Great Courses. Class credits expire on 3/26/2019 11:59PM Mountain Time. Annual subscribers will receive one $25 coupon every quarter - amounting to four total coupons over the course of one year. Annual subscribers will receive their first $25 coupon immediately upon subscription. This coupon will expire on 3/26/2019 at 11:59PM Mountain Time. $25 coupons can be used towards the purchase of all kits, supplies and classes on Craftsy.com. Coupons must be redeemed in a single transaction. Any unredeemed discount cannot be saved or carried forward to a future transaction. $25 coupon amount is in US Dollars. Credit/debit card required. Offer cannot be combined with other offers, and is not redeemable for cash. Current Craftsy Unlimited and current Bluprint customers are not eligible for this offer. Monthly and Annual Bluprint subscribers will receive free shipping and 50% off the full listing price of Craftsy.com classes, DVDs, kits and supplies December 1st through December 31st, 2018 11:59PM EST. Annual subscribers will receive free shipping throughout the full year of their subscription. To redeem this discount, customers must sign in with their Bluprint email address and password on Craftsy.com This offer does not include a free trial. Discount cannot be combined with other offers or promotional codes and is not redeemable for cash. 50% off Craftsy.com discount is only available upon the completion of free trial. Discount cannot be applied towards the purchase of the following products: all classes regularly priced at $9.99, Fremont Tote Bag Kit,Embroidery Kits, Creative Grids products, Karen Kay Buckley products, Zirkel products, Malabrigo products, and Bluprint Boxes. Free shipping is only available for orders shipped within the US. Subject to additional terms. Bluprint and Craftsy may end or alter this offer at their discretion.

Happy Crafting and Creating!

Denise A. 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

Another Busy Day! - Day 16 - 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge

Good evening!

It has been another busy day - not too much time today for creating. Cleaned house, took shells off of pecan nuts (they were already cracked), and prepared a couple of boxes and cards for mailing.

The days often go by quickly, and not every day becomes a creative one. I believe you need life experiences in order to create, so in that sense it was a very good day.

Below is a photo of some ornaments I made and gave as gifts for the holidays a few years ago. (I was able to send them with my greeting cards.) I didn't create anything new for the season this year, but I may make it to my studio, and create some holiday themed items in January. It would be a good way to extend the season.

Still have to bake a few cookies! I usually end up baking a couple of things after admiring all the photos and recipes online and in magazines. I think admiring everyone's creativity is the fun part.

Machine and Hand Needle-felted ornaments made with wool roving,
acrylic felt, embroidery, buttons and beads.

Happy Holiday Season!

Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk

#31DayBlogWritingChallenge

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

Embellishments - Buttons - Day 14 - 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge

Today I am resharing one of older blogs: 

After hearing that it was bad for old buttons to store them in jars, (from Jill Gorski, in Episode 1204: Songs, Stories, and Buttons, on TheQuiltShow.com) I moved most of my button collection (accumulation!) to an antique type setting tray I have.



A sampling of my accumulation of buttons - intended for use as embellishments - I need to get busy embellishing!

 I've started using my buttons more often as embellishments in my projects. It is hard to resist a good old button.

Pearl buttons and buckles from a Muscatine, IA button factory.

One of my aunts gave me several small pearl buttons to use - at the time I planned to make dolls and use the buttons for doll clothing, but now most of the buttons are finding their way onto my wall quilt and textile projects. The pearl buttons come from Muscatine, Iowa, and were from the button factories which had closed down. They once made pearl buttons from clam shells sourced from the Mississippi river there. I have always loved the pearl buttons.

Here is a photo of buttons I bought recently (this week!):
 


New Buttons!

I couldn't resist the small parrott buttons - looking at the large assortment of buttons at my  fabric store, I know I could get into some serious trouble "collecting" buttons! I will have to limit my button excursions there.

I have usually only purchased used or old buttons (some are old and still unused on button cards) from thrift, antique stores and garage sales, though I can see there are many beautiful new buttons available now.

You can also buy great button assortments for embellishing your projects - one of my favorite catalogs is Home Sew, Inc., and Newark Dressmaker Supply. They have a great assortment of other sewing notions and supplies, as well. Their website is: www.homesew.com.

               

If you are looking for inspiration for a project, you could design a quilt to display your favorite buttons - or use your buttons to add special embellishments to your projects.

I have an assortment of Cracker Jack toys I've collected, that I've thought would be nice displayed on a quilt, but that is a topic for another day...

                                                      1970s animal buttons from a good friend - I used them on a sweater, now they are waiting to be repurposed - too cute to throw away!

                            

A few more buttons from my collection - and some Celluloid buttons.

Happy Friday!

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