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Hi all!! It's been about 9 months since my last blog post! Eeek!! I have been incredibly busy with school but I'm trying to find more time for my art because I miss it terribly! A huge part of my heart feels like it's missing when I'm not working on something creative. I created an Instagram account for my art/quilts/creative pursuits and I'd love for you to follow me if you wish! My username is @angelasexpressions 

Hope you all are well!

New Rice Bags

I just added a bunch of new rice bags to my Etsy shop. The weather is getting colder and it's the perfect time to start making use of these bags. If you're not familiar with rice bags, they can be heated in the microwave and used for aches and pains, to keep warm, or to toss into your bed at night. They can also be kept in the freezer for "boo boo bags."

 

I have loved using these bags since I was a kid, and all the adorable prints make them even more fun. They're reasonably priced and would make great gifts and stocking stuffers.

 

Have a great weekend!

Charitable Item for October

This little flannel baby quilt is my charitable item for the month of October. Purchase this quilt this month and I will donate 100% of the sale to Covenant Ranch. Covenant Ranch is a non-profit organization who will take in children who have been abandoned, left homeless, abused and who have been sold into the sex slave industry. Covenant Ranch will give these children a loving, stable and supportive home. They are still trying to get their feet off the ground and can use all the donations they can get. I'd really like to make this donation, so please spread the word if you know someone in need of a baby quilt.

 

Hope you're having a great week!



Another Maggie

This is Maggie, a cute Yorkie I've been painting over the past week. This is actually the 2nd Maggie I've painted in a row. I painted her in pastel (sticks and pencils) on Ampersand Pastelbord.

 

This painting was a challenge for me because my wrist has been bothering me a lot. After the last 2 pet portraits I did I was experiencing a lot of pain. I fear that it's carpal tunnel. I've been trying to rest it as best I can, and have been wearing a support. Hopefully I can avoid any kind of surgery, but ultimately I'll do what I need to. I have to be able to paint! :)

 

I hope you all have a great week!

Beautifully Imperfect

"Beautifully Imperfect" - Watercolor Painting, 8 by 10

I've been working on this somewhat larger watercolor painting for the past few days. I think "Beautifully Imperfect" is a perfect title for this piece. Sometimes we artists only paint perfect and flawless pictures of nature, but we forget to include the imperfections. This rose was striking to me even with those discolorations and spots. In fact some of those spots were accidents, but they work with this piece.

This painting is available on Etsy.



Charitable Item for August

This completely adorable Meadow Friends quilt is my new Charitable Item of the Month. 100% of the sale of this quilt will be donated to the Wounded Warrior Project. The Wounded Warrior Project actively works to raise awareness of the needs that injured soldiers have, help to give aid to these wounded service members and even help them connect with each other. I think we tend to forget that even though a lot of military members have come back from Iraq and Afghanistan, many of them are coming back injured and are not receiving the treatment that they deserve.

If you know someone in the military with small children, this would be a perfect gift. Please spread the word! I'd love to make this donation.

New Quilts

While I was on break from school I got these four quilts made. I needed a little break from rag quilts and my long arm machine was gathering dust. :)

 This quilt was made with fabric from the "Sunny Happy Skies" line and has applique flowers. This is actually my first quilt with applique!

 This quilt was made with fabric from the Fox Trails line.

 This baby quilt was made with fabric from the Sew Cherry line.

And this super cute quilt was made with fabric from the Puppy Park line.

I really enjoy making these more traditional style quilts. I've been asked quite a lot lately if I enjoy quilting more than painting, and I always say, "no." Honestly I enjoy them both very much, but being an accomplished artist is more important to me than being a quilter. I'm a true artist at heart, but I enjoy doing anything creative.



Purple Stripes - Mini Watercolor # 3

"Purple Stripes" - Mini Watercolor Painting

This cute little purple and white tulip is # 3 in my mini watercolor series. This one was a lot of fun. That purple was a lot of fun to mix up and is so pretty!

I was initially planning on doing 50 of these little paintings, but I'm not sure if I'm going to continue to do them or not. I'm enjoying them, but they don't scan well and I'm always disappointed by the way they look on the computer. I can't express enough how much better these look in person. That being said, I think I'll save these little ones for the gallery.

I do have plans to work on some larger watercolors and will hopefully begin working on them soon. The to-do list is just too long! :)

Have a great weekend!

Cigar Boxes

A selection of my hand painted cigar boxes (and other hand painted items) are available again in my Etsy shop.

I have debated about whether or not to relist these items in my shop because I already have a variety of items for sale, but these boxes have given me some really incredible opportunities and I don't want to miss out on the possibility of more.

Just a little update too.. my break from school is over and that means it's time to hit the books again. I intend to keep up on quilting and painting as best I can, but with graduation on the horizon I need to focus on school work. So I will be in the studio working Monday - Thursday and the weekends will be reserved for school and family.

I hope you have a great week and are keeping cool!

Charitable Item for July

It's now July which means it's time for a new item to be chosen as my "Charitable Item of the Month." This month I chose my Spring Fever baby quilt. Photos simply do not do this one justice. The colors are so vibrant and fun!

100% of this sale will be donated to Susan G. Komen For The Cure. I'm sure you're all familiar with this foundation. They offer support and resources for those suffering from breast cancer, and raise a great deal of money for cancer research through their "Race For the Cure" events. I had the chance to participate in one of these events while serving in the military in Texas. It was a great experience and one that I will never forget.

New Mini Quilts

I've been working on these little quilts the past couple days and I love them!

 A photo of my dogs with the new Puppy Park fabric by Riley Blake.

 Two photos! Love this one.

I've been doing some with embroidery too! This one is for my sister who is due to have a baby any day!

These little quilts are so much fun and I have a TON of ideas for more! All three of these will become custom listings in my Etsy shop. I think they would make completely adorable (and affordable) gifts!

Hope you have a great weekend!

Photo Quilt

Just finished another custom photo quilt! After doing a big twin size one last time with 27 photos, this throw size one seemed so small. It has 12 photos and it's going to be a birthday gift. I think it turned out really well. The customer chose the Fiona's Fancy fabric line and it's so pretty. I've been thinking about not offering these anymore because they're so much work and I seem to run into printer issues every time, but they're such a unique item that I'd hate to remove them from my shop. So for now I'll keep doing them.

If you'd like a custom photo quilt check out my Etsy shop.

I hope you had a great day! I've got final exams tomorrow. Wish me luck! :)

Art Prints Are Back

After removing art prints from my Etsy shop at the beginning of the year, I decided to bring them back! I added 30 different giclee print listings including cats, seascapes, and still lives.

I print my giclee's on archival Epson Ultra Premium Presentation Paper with pigment based archival inks on a professional Epson printer.

Well I've got a busy week ahead.. Big custom photo quilt to finish, a couple big papers due and final exams. I'm very much looking forward to a break.

Have a great week!



Charitable Item of the Month for June

It's the 1st of the month and time for a new Charitable Item in my Etsy shop. My Charitable Item of the Month for June is this sweet little baby quilt. 100% of this sale will be donated to the Miracle Foundation. The Miracle Foundation works to ensure that orphans are given the quality of care that all children deserve. This includes family placement, nutritious food, excellent health care, and a high quality education.

This offer is good until July 1st at which point I will choose a new item and a new charity.

Sale Item of the Week

"Cosmos" is this week's sale item on Etsy. "Cosmo's" is a watercolor painting, size 5 by 7. It's being offered at a reduced price with free shipping (within the U.S. only) until this Sunday.

Don't forget about my Charitable Item of the Month, my Bloom and Grow Baby Quilt. 100% of the sale of this quilt will be donated to Feeding America. This offer ends in 2 days!

I hope you have a great week!

Custom Memory Quilt

I just finished this custom memory quilt for a customer who will be giving it to her daughter as a graduation present.

This is a little bit bigger than the custom memory quilts that I have for sale on my website. This customer really wanted a lot of photos so I made her a twin size quilt with 27 photos. She sent me scans of pictures, poems, letters and story book covers.

I wish I could see the look on her face and her daughters when they see this quilt in person! It really is special to see these photos that mean so much to you, printed on fabric.

If you're interested in a custom memory quilt please visit my website or email me at: angela292@hotmail.com

Hope you're having a great weekend!



Charitable Item for May

Here is this month's new charitable item. It's an adorable tied baby quilt. If this quilt sells, 100% of the sale will be donated to Feeding America.

Feeding America is a great charity that is trying to end hunger in America. They help feed over 37 million Americans through food banks all over the country. I heard a statistic recently that 1 in 6 Americans go without meals everyday. Which means that you likely know someone who is suffering from hunger. Isn't that hard to believe?

If you or someone you know is looking for a baby quilt, please consider this one.

I hope you're having a great week!

New Quilts

I managed to find the time to make 3 new baby rag quilts this week. They're all available on Etsy. :)

 Peachy Keen

 Sew Cherry

Peachy Keen

The two Peachy Keen quilts are flannel and are so soft!

I hope you're having a great week!



Charitable Item of the Month for April

Here is my new charitable item of the month for April. 100% of this sale will be donated to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). As you probably know the ASPCA is very active in fighting against cruelty to animals including puppy mills. If you're as passionate as I am about protecting animals, or know someone who is, please spread the word.

 I'm a bit disappointed that my last charitable item did not sell, but maybe I'll have better luck with this one.

I hope you're having a great weekend!

Exciting News!

So I have a bit of exciting news to share today... I was contacted by a production company working on the Smurfs 2 and they want to have my hand painted cigar boxes as part of the set again! Yay!! I had no idea they were even doing a second movie. So the release form is signed and it's a done deal! The movie will be out next Fall I do believe. :)

Other than that I've been hard at work on custom orders. I have about 8 projects lined up, 5 of which are quilts needing to be quilted on my long arm. Busy busy!

 I hope you are enjoying your week!