Saturday Play Date

Yesterday, Connie and I got together for another of our play dates. The theme for this one was paper dolls but we sort of went on our own creative bent which totally worked out for the both of us. These play dates are so much fun as we get so immersed into our projects that we lose track of time. What a great way to spend a Saturday!

Here is a photo of my paper doll design using Connie's piece she did earlier in the month from Julie Nutting's project in the latest issue of Somerset Studio magazine, as my inspiration. 

For my canvas I covered a used binder with old newspaer clippings my mother had given me of various tips and hints for projects as well as crochet directions that I will never use, as I don't crochet, but with this project  I did get a chance to repurpose them. My paper doll is still a work in progress as I would like to add a few embellishments to her dress but I was quite pleased with my results during our "play date". Once finished I plan on using my binder to hold all of my craft magazine clippings.

Tree Challenge due February 2011

For the past several years my friend Connie and I have come up with our own quilt challenges for the simple reason that 1) we can choose the theme and 2) we can choose the deadline or choose to extend it.

Our inspiration comes from quilts we see in magazines or at the Mancuso Quilt show. We have always been drawn to the quilts that depict trees in them so for 2010 we decided that would be our theme, Trees.

My Tree Challenge Inspiration

Deadline: February 2011

Materials: paper, fabric, metal, wood, ribbons, buttons, stickers, threads, paint, crayons, markers, just about any material that you need to create your tree.

Size: 8 1/2 by 11 is suggested but you can make it smaller or larger this is your creation.

If you would like to join our Tree Challenge add a comment here or send me an email at dclarkcreations@aol.com. I'll be happy to post your progress if you would like to send me a photo to the email address above .

Inspiration is all around you, as for me, I'm starting in my own backyard!



My Self-Portrait Quilt

Previous challenges we have come up with include a self-portrait quilt (spq). 

This challenge I interpreted very loosely  and Connie is still working on the details to her self-portrait. 

The pattern is an Elinor Pearce Bailey doll pattern I saw in Soft Dolls Magazine. I was drawn to the yoyo hair as I love everything yoyo and knew I needed to make this doll as my spq. Most all of the fabrics and embellishments hold a personal memory for me. Even the shoes are made using a black yoyo adorned with a gold bead for the buckle. 

Friendship Quilt Front

We also both made a friendship quilt that had to reflect our personality and then it was to be given to the other person.  These challenges test our skills and let us explore and share our creativity with one another. How lucky are we!

My friendship quilt consists of a series of fabric postcards. The front of each postcard is done using several embellishment techniques including a yoyo butterfly in the lower left-hand corner.

In the lower-right hand corner is an old key that we both used in our friendship quilt depicting the "key to friendship.



Friendship Quilt Back

 For the back of my quilt I wrote a small description and title for the corresponding postcard on the front of the quilt. Then I addressed and added a stamp to each postcard.  Luckily I had on hand butterfly stamps and return address labels so that the design on the front of the quilt carried over to the back of the quilt.  I totally did not have a pattern to go by and as I am not a quilter I had to use my sewing skills to put it all together.

Connie's Friendship Quilt

Connie's friendship quilt is absolutely beautiful and it makes me feel very special.

The Belated Birthday Present

Georgia's birthday present "Then and Now"

Last year while visiting my sister, Georgia, she asked if I could make her a new cover up (she had nearly worn out the one I had purchased and given her years ago). I figured if I could have the old one to use as a pattern it should be fairly simple.  Of course she agreed I could take her old cover up but then she added "oh, but don't cut it up because I still want to wear it". So, now I was challenged.  Thank goodness my sister is patient as it took me a little over a year to purchase the material and make it for her. It was difficult to find the right color but then I found this really nice creamy yellow fabric. When I started to sew the pockets I realized I needed something decorative for the pocket so I decided to add a YoYo flower with the extra wide rick rack for the stem and then I found these wonderful flower buttons that pulled the whole piece together.  I put it in the mail for her on Monday and I received this wonderful email from her on Friday saying "I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!!"

Just for Fun

Stenciled Red T-shirt

A couple of years ago I purchased a men's red t-shirt because I liked the quality of the material and the little looser fit. Of course I altered it by hemming it and I also sewed a decorative machine stitch around the sleeves.  This little red shirt is my comfy working around the house shirt. But somehow it got a couple of white or faded spots near the hemline, I've stopped using bleach so I'm not sure what caused it.  The shirt was still wearable especially since it is for hanging around the house but I wanted to do something to fix it.  I still had some fabric paint and stencils from a project I did quite a while back so last Saturday I pulled them out and did a quick fix on my shirt. I love it and it was so easy to do.  One of my biggest fears is that I will mess it up worse or not like it when I'm finished.  Needless to say, I may have to try this quick fix on other wearable items. Of course while I was trying to photograph it I received a little help from my furry friend.