Art Studio Turned Study

As many of you know, I'm about to start graduate school and since my studio hasn't been used much in the past 9 months I decided to turn it into a study.

 

 I bought this super comfy chaise as a graduation present for myself. :)

Can you tell I love books?

 

I was worried that I would regret the decision to turn my art studio into a study. My studio was by far my favorite room in the house and I wasn't sure if I would like how it turned out. However, I love it! (Good thing too because it was A LOT of work!) I love reading in my chair every morning and I know I'll be spending a lot of time at that desk once school starts again.

 

I hope you all have a great Easter!

Strawberry Shortcake Smoothie Recipe

I can't take credit for this super yummy recipe as I obtained it from Tara Stiles. I have tweaked it a bit though.

 

Strawberry Shortcake Smoothie:

 

2 cups of organic frozen strawberries (you can use fresh but then you need to include some ice cubes)

1 cup organic raw cashews

1/4 cup organic oats

2 cups of almond milk

1/4 teaspoon organic cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon organic vanilla extract

2 tablespoons organic maple syrup

 

You can tweak these amounts to suit your taste. Put all these ingredients in a blender (I use and recommend a Vitamix) and blend away!

 

Keep in mind that this smoothie, although healthy, contains just over 1000 calories, so you might want to split it with someone.

 

You can also try it with raspberries or blueberries!

 

What I love about this smoothie is that it's gluten free (assuming you use gluten free oats) and vegan!

 

It's super delicious so give it a try!

 

 



Future Plans

I thought I would take this opportunity to share my plans for my art. I’m almost ashamed to admit that I haven’t painted in over 6 months (which resulted in my turning my studio into a study). I’m on a little break from school right now and have been trying to decide where I want to go with my painting and quilting. For the last 6 – 9 months I have been cranking out one custom rag quilt after another and I’ve finally reached the point of being completely burnt out. Because I haven’t painted in such a long time and have been spending all of my time making rag quilts I realized that I haven’t actually been expressing my creativity. I want my quilts to be more like works of art, and one-of-a-kind items. I still intend to do some rag quilts, but I want to make more time for creating unique items. Of course the same would be true for my paintings.

As some of you may know I’m starting my master’s program in a couple months and I can’t imagine I will have much time for painting or quilting once I begin. However, I am determined to make time for either, or both. After all, I am an artist and need a creative outlet. But school will be my main priority.

I had briefly thought that I wanted to be a full time artist and quilter and had dreams of opening up my own studio/shop but for some reason I didn’t feel content with that idea. I absolutely love spending my time painting and quilting but I believe I have more to offer. I not only dreamed of being an artist when I was young but also of becoming a therapist; however that seemed like an impossible dream. Now it’s a dream coming true and I couldn’t be happier.

I plan to continue blogging, so I hope you’ll stick around. :)

 

 



"Almost" New Blog

I recently created a new blog, Beauty in Life, where I planned to share scriptures, quotes, advice, healthy recipes, photography, a little art and anything else I found inspiring and fun. However, I  decided to just expand this blog to include those types of posts. Rather than try to manage two blogs, this will be easier. Look for my first post soon! I think it will be a super yummy smoothie recipe! :)

New Sewing Room/Studio

I've been very busy over the past week changing some rooms around. Considering that I haven't used my art studio in some time, I decided it would be best to turn it into my study. Therefore I had to move my painting stuff up to my sewing room.

 

 My new painting space. It's not much compared to what it used to be, but considering how little I've been painting, it will do for now. Besides, it's very cozy upstairs this time of year.

 

If you remember what my sewing room looked like before, it hasn't changed all that much. Somehow it looks and feels more spacious.

 

I hope you've enjoyed this little look around my sewing room/studio! Have a great weekend!

Another Custom Project

 

Here's a look at another custom project I recently completed. A couple months ago a customer sent me a box of her late husbands ties (almost 50 of them) and wanted me to create a few mini memory quilts. I decide to make "crazy" style blocks in order to incorporate many of the ties in a fun way. All together I made 4 of these mini quilts. I made 3 like you see in the first photo and the quilt in the second photo was made using all Christmas themed ties and will be a holiday wall hanging. Two of these were a gift for her childen on Valentine's Day (her husband's birthday).

 

I had never worked with ties before so this was a new experience. I really enjoyed being able to create this lasting memory for her. I hope the quilts are something she and her children will treasure for a long time.

 

For the first time in over 6 months I'm all caught up on custom quilt orders! I feel quite free. So now I'm working on getting caught up on about 50 made-to-order baby quilt listings in my Etsy shop. Whew.. the work never ends! :) But I'm really enjoying having all this time to quilt (and hopefully paint soon) before school starts again in May!

Textile Show

 I was asked last minute to submit some quilted items to a textile show happening at the Stillwater Art Guild Gallery this month and next. Luckily I had just made 35 rice bags, and I took a few things off Etsy in order to have them in the show.

 

Here are some of the rice bags I made. I used a variety of different fabrics. When I was there setting up I couldn't believe how many people didn't know what a "rice bag" was! I've been using them ever since I was little. I love to use them if I have a headache, but mostly to toss in my bed at night.

 The photo quilt on the wall is the first photo quilt I ever made (using my own pictures). Obviously it's not for sale but I thought it would look nice there.

 

I definitely wanted to include some baby rag quilts. I only had a couple already made and I hated to take them off Etsy, but I didn't have enough time to make new ones.

 

If you live in the Stillwater area be sure to check out the show! There are all kinds of different items and it's really something to see! We're going to be having a reception but I'm not entirely sure on the date of that yet. I'll let you know when I know!

 

Hope you're having a great week!

Item of the Week

 

This fun little quilt is the new "item of the week" in my Etsy shop. I made this little quilt with fabric from the Dress Up Days line by Riley Blake. If you purchase this adorable quilt this week you'll save a total of $17.

 

I hope you have a great week!!

Item of the Week

 

This week's sale item on Etsy is a bright and fun baby quilt. This quilt is approximately crib size and is made with fabric from the Snippets line by Moda. Purchase this quilt this week and save $18. To see more details you can view the entire listing here.

 

Have a lovely week!

Rice Bags

 

I just added a bunch of adorable rice bags to my Etsy shop. I've been wanting to add some rice bags to my shop for a long time, but just finally got around to it. I love rice bags. I love to toss them in my bed on chilly nights, use them for headaches, backaches, and just to keep warm.

 

These bags can be used cold too. To use them as an ice pack you can place them in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer.

 

They contain rice only, and no oils or other scents. As nice as those can be at times, after so many uses, they will begin to smell and have to be thrown out.

 

These bags are only $9 each and would make a great gift for anyone for any occasion.

Memory Quilt Complete

 

This memory quilt is finally complete! It's twin size and made entirely of baby clothes, receiving blankets and just a couple scraps of other fabric sent by the customer. What a fantastic way to not only reuse baby clothes and blankets, but to turn it into a permanent memory. If my parents had something like this made for me I would surely treasure it.

 

I'm thinking about turning this into a custom listing in my shop but in the mean time, if you're interested in having a similar quilt made, just email me at - angela292@hotmail.com

 

I hope you're having a great week!

Memory Quilt Top

I have been quilting away on that custom memory quilt. I made 35 blocks total and just finished assembling the top. The top is comprised of baby clothes, receiving blankets and a few scraps of fabric leftover from another custom quilt they had made. I added a pink border to it and now it's just about ready to be quilted!

This is the first time I've made a crazy quilt and I think I just might be obsessed! I love that it's scrappy, but not too much. I have a lot of ideas now as to how I can incorporate these blocks into other projects. :)

Memory Quilt

I've been working really hard on this custom memory quilt. A customer sent me a box of baby clothes and receiving blankets and asked me to come up with a design. I decided to make the quilt "crazy" style and I'm having a lot of fun with it. I like that it's scrappy looking but not too scrappy or crazy like some quilts I've seen. I have 19 blocks done and 16 to go. Other quilt orders have been flooding in too. Something tells me I'm going to be very busy over the next couple months! ;)

News

 

Hi all!! It's been a couple months since my last post but I have great news... I've completed my internship and I graduate on Friday! It's absolutely unbelievable how busy I've been and I'm looking forward to having a little time off.

 

 A unique opportunity presented itself a couple weeks ago. A publisher from Pearson Education in Brazil has requested permission to publish my "Fresh Fruit" painting (above) in an elementary school textbook. Of course I said, "yes!"

 

I hope you're having a great week! It's wonderful to be back! :)

Pet Portraits

I just wanted to let you all know that I've decided to not do any more pet portraits this year. My last quarter of school starts Monday and along with one class I will be interning at a law office. Needless to say, I will be very busy until Christmas. Quilt orders have been flooding in and I know there's no way I'll be able to fulfill them as well as pet portraits, not at least while keeping my sanity.

 

This may actually give me an opportunity to work on my pet painting skills a bit, which I have been wanting to do. As well as trying pets in watercolor.

 

I just need to alleviate my work load a bit. I will start doing them again after the holidays.

 

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!

Remembrance II

"Remembrance II" - Pastel Painting, Size 5 by 7

 

Today we remember the tragic events that took place on this day 11 years ago. Do you remember what you were doing when you first heard? I bet you do. I was in 2nd hour, Advanced Biology class, my senior year. We spent the rest of the day watching the news. It was this event that fueled my desire to join the military.

 

Last year I painted "Remembrance" in honor of the 10th anniversary. I think I may paint one every year.

 

Please keep those affected in your thoughts and prayers today.

Photo Quality for Photo Quilts

One of my speciality quilts is a memory quilt with photos. It's really important to provide a good quality photo for printing on fabric. The color is most important. The colors shouldn't be too dark and should all be roughly the same value. Here are some examples of good quality photos:

 

 

 

 

The following photos are poor quality because the colors are too dark. It doesn't matter what precautions are taken, photos with a lot of dark colors will bleed.

 

 

 

It's a good idea to provide several alternate photos just in case. 

Charitable Item for September

This fun baby quilt is my Charitable Item of the Month for September. 100% of the sale will be donated to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. My first ever charitable item was also a baby quilt and I was happy when it sold and I was able to donate the proceeds to St. Jude. I hope to be able to do it again!

 

This offer is good until the end of the month at which point I will choose a new item and a new charity.

 

Hope you had a great weekend!