You might remember that I am taking part in the Sketchbook Project (it is just me and a couple of thousand other artists).

I thought that the inside cover of my sketchbook should represent my overall theme of Lines and Grids so I created a pattern made up of lines arranged in a grid.

I think this will become an inspiration for a quilt. I like the simplicity and repetition. Here are a couple of variations on the theme.

 

I modified the original photo in Photoshop Elements using the filters: fresco, graphic pen and glowing edges.

The Dream Rocket project is in the running for a portion of the $1,300,000 that Pepsi is donating monthly to groups with ideas that will have a positive impact. JoJo, CMoellers, Ritzy and I collaborated on a quilt for the Dream Rocket; Our quilt is on the Pepsi website in the video explaining the concept behind the Dream Rocket project! Way cool.

 

You can view the video and vote for the Dream Rocket at http://www.refresheverything.com/thedreamrocket Note: Our quilt is at about 1:26 on the video!

 

You can see my previous posts on the Dream Rocket here.

 

 

I just joined a local artist's group. It is so delightful to spend time with kindred spirits!!

The challenge this month was to create an 8x8 block in oange, yellow and turquoise (OYT). Here is my third attempt at a block for the challenge. With little restrictions, it was tough to know if I should create a complete mini art quilt or something that would be embellished or modified as part of the larger group effort. My other two OYT blocks are here. This one was my favorite bcause of the intensity of color.

In the end, the group decided to not combine the OYT blocks into a group quilt so we were free to take our blocks home. What do you think? Should I make this into mini art quilt or into ATCs (artist trading cards)?

This button summarizes our collective dream.

Arlene (Ritzy), Carol (CMoellers), JoJo (LadyQuilter) and I collaborated online to create a submission for the Dream Rocket project. We have never met in person but it was easy collaborate through photos, drawings, email and kindred spirits.

Each quarter of the quilt has photographs that represent our individual communities. Unifying it all is a group of women and children. Notice how the women hand-in-hand form a star? Together we are better, stronger and wiser.

The back of the quilt contains some of our individual thoughts on the project.

A huge Thank you to Arlene, Carol and JoJo for collaborating with me on this project!  You all are awesome!

 

Here are previous blogs on this project:

What's your dream? (Dream Rocket part 1)

Virtual Quilt Bee (Dream Rocket part 2)

Dream Rocket Project (part 3)

We are cut from the same cloth (Dream Rocket part 4)

Watercolor: Sepia Study.

I've done a little dabbling with paint now and then.  I like straying from the familiar occasionally to give the possibility of new dimnsion to my work. 

Here is a painting that I did in Julie Prichard's Layer Love class.  Julie uses lots of transparant layers in her work that give a great depth.  I think some of the concepts that I learned in Layer Love will flow into my Deep Summer Shade quilt.

My two paintings are very different in style aren't they!

My next class is Spill It! with Carmen Torbus.  It is online; LOVE online
classes because they fit my schedule! I view the videos when I have time to
focus and do the exercises when the house is quiet.   I'm anxious to see
what wonderful new things I will learn and how they will impact my art quilts. 
Check out Carmen's class at http://www.carmentorbus.com/spillit/. 
Cannot wait for the class to start!