New Mixed Media Paintings

Good morning everyone,

I have something slightly different for you today. I have noticed I am totally neglecting my paintings and other artwork on this blog. I always write about quilts but never about the paintings. So today I'll show you 2 new mixed media paintings.

You might remember the "Up up and away" mixed media painting which I am selling a print of in the art shop?



Well, I have made 2 more in a similar style. This is a fairly new thing for me, I have only recently started playing around with mixed media and am planning to do much more with it. I actually really want to combine fabric, thread, paper and paint in more modern abstract artwork, so watch this space.

But these 2 pieces are part of the nursery art collection I am working on.

The "Party Cake"



And "A girl can never have too many shoes" would be perfect for a little girl's room.



All 3 of these were crafted/painted on gallery canvas sized 20" x 20" and the originals will be available at the craft fair next week.

What do you think? Do you like them?

Lots of love,
Nadine

Quilting Modern

OMG, I am totally in love with this book. It arrived today and I know, I normally don't write about books, but this one took my breath away. And besides, maybe I should write about my books a bit more.



But this one is gorgeous, the quilts are very unusual, not just modern and simple but also new and fresh.

This one is my favorite, it is called the Blind Co-Pilot Quilt. Brilliant.



And the quilting is absolutely devine, I know the photos can't really bring that across but the quilting has been done in a very professional and quirky way.



I wish I could quilt like that. But as long as I am working with a machine that won't let me lower the feed dogs I am stuck with straight/wavy line quilting.




So maybe we should do this on a regular basis, talk about the quilting books, or craft books, art books we love. Oh, if I get started, we'll be here for the next 10 years, I have a whole library of art and craft books.

So what are your favorite quilting books? I am always looking for new inspirational books. I definitely will have to look into the Fat Quartely book at some point too. Any other suggestions anyone? What is your favorite?

Lots of love and happy quilting.

Nadine xx


Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

My first SOLIDS quilt. yay.

Hello everybody,

I have finished my first quilt using only solids. This was just a little experiment and I wasn't entirely sure at first how it would turn out but I really like the end result. I wanted to create an abstract sort of image where the viewer has to find a pattern to the colors and values. I quilted it in straight lines and really like the textured effect it creates.



I definitely want to make some more solids quilts and have a few designs in mind. In fact, I am currently working an a world map quilt using only Kona solids, but that will still take me some time to finish.



I really love pictures of folded up quilts and think that makes a good first photo for Etsy but I really can't decide which of these folded pics I like best. Any suggestions?






So what do you think of this one? Do you like it?

Have a lovely weekend.
Nadine xx

"Spring walk in the park" Baby Boy Quilt

Et Voila,

my latest finished quilt and I think this is my current favorite. It was made with lots of blues, greens and yellows from the Central Park line and it is a bit lighter and less colorful than my usual quilts and I LOVE IT. It is so fresh and the quilting gives it such lovely texture.



I used some blue fleece on the back and love the soft fluffiness it gives the quilt. It is a baby/lap quilt but I haven't actually measured it yet.

Sorry to be going on about how great my own quilt is, I am not trying to sell it to you, honest, I am not even sure I can get myself to sell it at all. Will have to think it over, but for now this is MINE.

I hope you like it.

Lots of love,
Nadine xx

PS: In one of the pictures you can see the new quilt display ladder I recently bought, not only but particularly for the craft fair. It is really a towel rack but I thought this would make a great display for my quilts. This is only half of the ladder, we will assemble the 2 halves when we get to the venue, otherwise the ladder might not fit in the car.

A Solid Sneak Peek

Hello all,

Just a quick sneak at another current project I am working on. This is my first solids quilt and I hope it will turn out well. So much to do, back to the machine for me.

Have a lovely evening.
Nadine xx






- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

"Where is the Princess?" Maze Quilt

Happy Easter to all of you,

I have a little Easter Egg for you, I have finished my "Where is the Princess?" Maze Quilt. So now go and find your way through the labyrinth and I hope you'll find your Easter Egg on the other side.

This quilt took me forever to make, it is much bigger than my usual quilts, it fits perfectly on our bed but I haven't actual measured the final size yet.



But one thing is for sure, I will not make such a big quilt again unless I use the Quilt as you go method again. I found it incredibly hard to quilt it, it just didn't fit under my machine (which is not really a quilting machine anyway). So I ended up quilting it sparingly in wobbly straight lines. But it was tough, I can tell you that.


On the back I used very different fabrics and a different block design in browns, greens and reds.





I hope you like it.
Have a lovely Easter.
Nadine xx

Lush fabrics

Hello all you lovely craftmonkeys,

feast yours eyes on these gorgeous colors. I invested in a fabric bundle from Patty Young's new Lush collection and I am in love. I haven't bought much fabric for ages as we are not doing so well financially, but I had to get these, and they are a good investment too.




But you know what, after someone mentioned on the Facebook page that I should maybe make more things with mute colors, it has occurred to me that there seems to be a clear pattern, I always go for these super bright colors and patterns, always lots of turquoise, orange, lime green and hot pinks and maybe they were right: I NEED TO USE SOME LESS OVER THE TOP FABRICS to appeal to more customers and hopefully sell some quilts and plushies.

We have certainly noticed how we are struggling financially when I am not selling anything and we really depend on the Etsy shops. So I need to adapt to what the market wants.

But I need your help. What sorts of fabrics that are less colorful would you recommend for quilts and plushies? I really don't know any good and popular pale fabrics in mute colors and I haven't been paying attention to trends.

Any suggestions and photos for inspiration are very welcome. I absolutely love my colorful bright fabrics but I am willing to change what I make to increase my chances of selling something. So your help would be very appreciated.

Lots of love,
Nadine xx


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Lots of little Sneak Peeks

I am participating in Lynne's Fresh Sewing Day again, go have a look at her blog and congratulate her on her blogaversary and why not check out all the wonderful blogs that are participating while you're there.

I have been working like mad and have so many projects going on at the moment, I am starting to think my old organized tidy self is gone once and for all. I used to only work on one thing at a time and wouldn't start a new one before I had finished it, but those days are well and truly over.

So let me show you what I have finished and what I am working on at the moment.

* I made some bunting as you can see here. I used cute cupcake fabric on the back so they are reversible too.





* I almost finsihed these placemats using some Meadowsweet fabrics. Just need to tidy them up and remove the tacks.



* These placemats using some Joel Dewberry fabric are almost done, just need to do the binding, which takes about an hour per placemat. so do the maths for a set of 6. It pains me to think of the hourly pay I am getting for these if I sell them. It would be way below minimum wage. Shame really.



* This is a huge maze quilt caled "Where is the princess?" using some Far Far Away fabrics.



* And this is the back of that quilt.



* I am also working on a baby boy quilt called "A walk in the park" using some Central Park fabrics.



* Also still have this solids quilt to finish.



* and I am still working on my huge World Map quilt project which will still take me some time.



* and here you can see the early stages of the book shelf quilt I started after seeing this lovely quilt on pinterest: http://pinterest.com/pin/204773114276768439/



And I have finished a whole load of Odd Owls, Peculiar Penguins and Merry Matryoshkas for my Craft Fair in May. But you'll have to come back to see an update on those. I am thinking of filming them actually so watch this space.

You see there are just not enough hours in the day for all these things, but I will finish them eventually and let you all see the results when I do.

I hope you like.
Lot of love,
Nadine xx