Altered Couture:Fun and Finished

Here is the finished project in which I posted last Sunday with the original jacket and now the jacket is a vest. I used the flowered fabric on the front and back yokes and the striped fabric on the collar and the inset belt. I chose to hand sew the fabric to the denim because I had more control than with the sewing machine. I added a multi color trim to the armholes and a multi color flower theme trim to the collar with hand sewing as well. I then took these fun flower shaped buttons and added them to the front band area. The hard part to decide when to quit adding embellishments.

In the back I decided to not add buttons beauase they can rub on things and break and/or fall off. I didn't add the flowery trim to the waist area because I didn't want to draw the eye to my waist!! I kept the interest up high and away from the parts of me that I don't want to accentuate. I thought it had enough doo dads and quit!! I can wear it this fall with a short sleeve t-shirt and when it gets cold I can wear a long sleeved t-shirt or in the summer with a sundress. I will wear it to the WI Quilt Expo and be able to use parts of my vest as a learning tool for my lecture. Below are two close ups of the vest.

New Project: Altered Couture

I went to the Green Bay St. Vinny's Store to find jackets to alter and embellish. I found this srtetch denim jacket for $3 and will slice and dice and add to it to take it from boring to fun and colorful!!! I plan to finish it and wear it for my lecture at the WI Quilt Expo on Sept. 8, 2011.

I chose these two fabrics to add some color, pattern and ruffles. I will add plenty of embellishments and variegated threads. I have already cut the sleeves off and am excited to do some "altered couture" like the magazine and Project Runway!! What would Tim Gunn say???

Wisconsin Quilt Expo 2011

I am posting about the Wisconsin Quilt Expo in Madison WI on Sept. 8-10, 2011 because it is a fantastic regional quilt show and I am presenting a lecture on Thursday Sept. 8th. I will be lecturing on "Create Better Quilts Using the Elements and Principles of Design" My lecture is at 1pm. I am excited to share my love of  art and design and a bit nervous too! I have made a decision to pursue the workshop/lecture process and have a nervous excitement about this!!

I have a quilt in the show and I chose "Bubbly Blonde" because I am rebellious toward the typically traditional judges at this show and thought this would be a good choice!! I few of my Appleton WI art quilters are not entering in the Madison show anymore because they feel the judges award ribbons to the traditional quilts and ignore the art quilts. I like the huge traffic flow and the fact that my quilt is viewed by 1000s is awesome regardless of a ribbon. I find quilters may not want to create their own art quilt but they enjoy looking at them in a quilt show. I chose this quilt because it is so oversized and bold with the crazy blue eye shadow, frosty lips and circles. Perhaps it will get at least a chuckle out to the judges!!

The website for the expo is www.wiquiltexpo.com. Go to classes to register for my lecture or any other one. Hope you can attend!!

Quick and Easy

This was a quick and easy Mary Engelbreit panel I picked up in the Sturgeon Bay, WI quilt store last November when I was on my quilt retreat. I purchased it for my sister Wendy whose birthday is today. We both love Mary Engelbreit, she is also a gardener and has a three seasons room with these colors. I machine quilted the borders by using two decorative stiches from my sewing machine using flower motifs. I added baby blue rick rack on the small blue border and a few yellowish rhinestones on the background. I didn't want to get carried away. Sometimes it's good to free the mind and do some easy projects to feel accomplished yet not overwork the brain!! It is cutesy but I like cutesy/whimsical sometimes. The second photo is details of the quilting and embellishments. Wendy is not a follower of my blog so it's safe to post this and have the gift a surprise.

I have been busy with entering upcoming quilt shows such as Road 2 California and the Bonifas Art Center in Ecanaba, MI and prepping for teaching in Sept. and Oct. Lots of paperwork, computer time and CD prepping. It's a necessary part of the process but not my favorite. I will post later about the teaching gigs!!

Heaven or Hell Exhibit

I belong to an artists group in Green Bay WI called New Art Council and they posted a Call to Entry for an exhibit called Heaven or Hell. Green Bay Community Church is hosting a non-juried art exhibit with a heaven or hell theme. Since I practice Universal Law/The Secret I thought I would stick with the positve and explore the Heaven theme. So what is Heave to me-a perennial garden that had no zones or seasons except summer??!!  I used my Angelina pattern and  made it in my coloring but my hair isn't that big, my glasses are off and my lips aren't pouty like that!! Then I fussy cut flowers from my large scale floral stash in a rainbow gradation of colors. I added a applique of Opie,my orange tabby who is in cat heaven, on the lower right. I embellished with my collection of flower buttons, felt flowers, beads, rhinestones, glitter, nail  polish and fabric paint. I added some funky flower trim to the bottom because I liked how it looked. The exhibit runs Aug. 28-Oct. 15, 2011 at Green Bay Community Church, 600 Cardinal Lane, Green Bay WI.