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i am a creative person. mother to a daughter who is an active young woman and a constant blessing in my life. i hope that you enjoy your visit here and that you will return often.

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Happy Halloween


this week's optional prompt for Photo Art Friday is to use Bonnie's free Cobblestone Road texture. 

Cobblestone Road Texture from Bonnie at Photo Art Friday


i once again went searching through my archived photos and found a photo of a raven's scull which i happily married to the generously offered texture. i added a favorite quote of mine and ta-da ~!!~ i now have a halloween image.


i've enjoyed adding this weekly challenge of  Bonnie's from Pixel Dust Photo Art to my life and to my blog. it gets me out with camera in hand more often as well as into the PSE7 program to practice a bit. if you have similar interests please come and play along.
                


this weeks stitch for the TAST challenge hosted by sharon b at pintangle was buttonhole wheel cups. this stitch starts out as a buttonhole wheel and then morphs into a cup shape when a detached buttonhole is worked into the outer part of the wheel.
i chose to vary my stitch slightly by not bringing the center "wheel" part of the stitch all the way in. this allowed a bigger hole in the center which i decided to interpret as the pupil of an eye.

with this stitch the more one stitches around the outer part of the wheel the deeper the cupping result will be. i only did one tour around the outside of the wheel with the detached buttonhole because i wanted to create an outline effect rather than have a cupping result.  i used a red pearl cotton (size 12) for the stitching of the wheel and the "cupped" outer (or detached buttonhole) part of the stitch.
i then used a black pearl cotton (size 8) for the satin stitched center/pupil.
i was able to do all of this on a piece of cotton fabric printed in such a way that i could emphasize the shape and look of an eye. the fabric was not printed with an eye but i managed to 'coerce' the print into helping me out with the total effect.

this was recently stitched into the wonderful daughter's october/halloween postcard which she has now received so i'm happy to be showing you the whole thing.





i did manage to get all seven days accomplished with the 15 minute challenge hosted by Kate at Life In Pieces. besides the TAST stitch work and working on the postcards that i have included in this post i also worked on my contemporary/modern piece (only needs a label now) and i even managed to do a little bit of hand sewing on my hexie piece.

i won't be able to post a photo of the finished contemporary piece until it has been mailed and received by the special friend that i made it for but i hope to include it in one of my future posts soon. i can however show the other postcard that i worked on and sent out recently as a birthday card.

 
i used a piece of salvaged, vintage pillowcase that had been embroidered.
i reworked and added to the embroidery in some areas but the rose, it's leaves and the outer parts of the blue flowers are original. the upper edge is a piece of my hand dyed fabric with a lace overlay. the lace has some embroidery (in white) worked in to anchor it as well as to enhance the card. there is a bit of heavy variegated thread (made from recycled sari silk) that has been worked into the lace along the edge that meets the embroidery.
the edges of the postcard have been bound with another piece of my own hand dyed fabric.
 
 
 

recent gifts include:
  • discovering that jelly belly now makes dark chocolate covered jelly beans (cherry, orange and coconut) ~pretty tasty~ 
  • the discovery of a perfectly heart shaped tomato ~ maybe i'll post a photo of that beautiful surprise next time . . .
  • the return home of a certain "prodigal" calico cat . . . where in the world WAS she for three whole days~!?!~
 
my prayers go out to all of those in the east and midwest who are experiencing such horrible weather extremes. may you all be safe, warm and at peace during this difficult time.
 


26 comments:

  1. Three wonderful projects! Happy Halloween!

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  2. I love the photo - reminds me of Edgar Allan Poe. Nice job on meeting the challenge this week. The postcards are amazing. How do you mail them? Like a regular postcard?

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    1. yes, i have mailed them just like a regular postcard with great results. sometimes if there are bits that i feel may get caught up in the postal machinery i put them in a clear plastic envelope/sleeve that is sized perfectly for them and every once in a while, although rarely, if one turns out to have fragile bits on it or seems too bulky then i slip them into a small padded envelope.

      :-)

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  3. Love those shiny metallic leaves!!

    Tiffanny

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  4. Great idea to use the buttonhole wheel cup for an eye. And those postcards are great! I've been wanting to give one a try for a while, and now I think I will :)

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  5. Happy belated Halloween! Love the raven...it looks like just the head! lolrof!

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  6. Great photo edit and so "halloweenie" just perfect. I also LOVE each of your quilt photos. So great!

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  7. Love the postcards, the Halloween one is very fun. Love your "eye" on that one. Great Halloween header as well! You had a great week!

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  8. the piece for PAF is wonderful!

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  9. I love the image, very spooky! And the quilting is amazing! I'm sure your friend will be delighted Libby :)

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  10. Your photo art piece is very Halloweenish! :)

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  11. Oh my gosh you outdid yourself with this one. Love the photo - It has the perfect creepy feel for a Halloween piece.
    Great stitching projects too. Love the Postcard for your daughter and have some old vintage pillow cases that my grandma did, your post card reminded me of them and her.

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  12. You are so CREATIVE in many ways!! I am visiting you via Photo Art Friday. I really like the way you added the quote to your photo artwork. And your stitching is lovely.

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  13. Your image is wonderful, as is the quote...and your stitching is beautiful! I love your description of yourself as "unstoppably creative" - what a perfect way of putting it! I completely relate... :) Have a wonderful weekend!

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  14. Your image is intriguing ... as is your needlework to someone with no talent in that area!

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  15. Cool..Libby! When I visit you it makes me feel like I do nothing.. Lol! I have flannel squares to cut out and I am procrastinating somewhat.. Well I did just finish painting a room. Anyway Happy Crafting/sewing! (:

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  16. Love it! Great processing and use of Bonnie's texture. Thanks for sharing.

    Kathy

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  17. both of your postcards are great.
    The eye on the first one is perfect, and I love the second one, with its fresh colors.

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  18. Oh so wonderful! You have so much to share. Lovely photography and stitches. I like the incorporation of vintage with new.
    Thank you for sharing!

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  19. It was so much fun looking at your embroideries. Fun and creative stuff. Thanks for the inspiration.
    ~Jody

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  20. hooray - I'm back on line!
    i love the photo, I have to admit it reminds me of a hurricane cloud!
    I love your postcard - especially the eye -

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  21. I've enjoyed seeing your TAST stitches - all so well stitched and love your postcard. I envy you the talent of turning such fine and neat edges.

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