What did she win?  This was a big prize- she won a custom freeform beaded jewelry piece created by me.  Here is an example of a Wedding freeform necklace I did last year:

Hmmm…. I wonder what color or colors she will pick?

I want to thank everyone who participated in this Blog Contest.  This is the biggest prize I have ever given out-  I would probably charge a few hundred-plus for a custom freeform beaded piece.

Thanks again!  Carla

Stay Tuned!…..

I keep expanding this class each time I teach it, so there is lots of helpful quilting material in this class.  PDF lessons combined with video, handouts, live webinar meetings, and Creative Exercises. Custom drawn quilt tops, too.

It is almost time to hold my Blog Contest  drawing soon for the custom one-of-a-kind item created just for the winner.  The winner will have followed my directions for the contest in order to win.

Tablet Design class is under development, too, I am planning to teach this class in late February.   Registration for this class will begin in mid Feb.

On a personal note,  my three grandchildren are growing fast!  Jack is almost 4 now, Kate is almost 2, and Ethan is 8 1/2 months old now.   They are a delight to be around!   Life is good in the Barrett home, but I do need to pack up my Christmas decorations today.  Who else has their decorations still up?  LOL!

Quilt Whisperer Class Info and Course Description

How to Register for my Class

In class, you will learn how to take a cute quilt like this:

(quilt by Barbara Kiehn)

and learn how to design it like this example:

In addition to learning my method of “quilt whispering,” you also learn how to quilt sashings, borders and blocks using my favorite designs.

You also learn my favorite feather designs and variations, too.  Here is a sample from class:

We also discuss inspiration, and how to build your own quilting idea journal.  For instance,  my inspiration is from a yacht, the settee fabric:

   Next, is my quilting designs, inspired from the fabric:

More info is located at StepOnPins.com, where the class is being held.  Links are located at the top of this post.

By the way, I am also running a Free Blog Give-a-way Contest HERE.  The winner, who follows my 1-2-3 directions, will win their choice of one (1) custom Carla project, made especially for them, in their favorite colors.  Here are visuals of previous projects:

or or or or

Good Luck!  From Carla

What you need:

Inktense set of pencils (comes in different sized packs.  I own a 36 set and a 24 set)

Small fabric brushes (bought at Michaels.  Read the label as it will say it is used on fabric)

Stitched quilted fabric design (I used a digital design by Karen McTavish, but you could stitch a stencil or any design.)

Fabric or Textile medium- I used 2 types on the sample- Aloe Vera gel and Liquidtex Fabric Medium diluted 50/50% with water (see baby jar in photo above).  Jo Sonja also makes a fabulous medium for use on fabric, some with added sheen.  (Google “Jo Sonya” to buy online).

Pencil sharpener

_________________________________   Let’s Begin!

Step One:  Stitch your fabric first.  This is a quilted project, so use any high quality fabric.  I used whatever I had on hand.  For the design portion, you may use any design available- either hand-drawn, digitized or a stencil.  My sample uses a Karen McTavish design stitched out on my A1 brand of longarm quilting machine using an Intelliquilter (IQ).

Step Two: Using your diluted fabric/textile medium or aloe vera gel, carefully saturate the quilted fabric design where you plan to paint.  I discovered through trial and error that the diluted fabric medium worked best and dried less stiff than either the full strength fabric medium or the aloe vera gel.  Use what works best for you.

Step Three:  While your quilted fabric area is wet, carefully color in using the Inktense pencils.  I used 2-3 colors on my sample.

Step Four:  Last step, you dip your brush in the diluted fabric/textile medium and carefully blend the Inktense colors.  Go slow, and strive for accuracy.  Once dry, the Inktense is permanent, according to the manufacturer.  In the future, I plan to test this by washing and drying a test sample, then comparing to my control sample.

That’s all you do!  Very easy, beginner project.  Here is the finished piece:

This is just a test sample, so I think I will keep it green/white, then frame it for my studio.  In the future, one of my goals is to do a wholecloth quilt design.

Final Note:  In the spirit of giving credit where credit is due, the first artist to color a quilt (that I am aware of) is Helen Stubbings from Australia.  Helen has been most generous to share her Colorque technique with others, many who now show and teach across the US.  You can purchase Helen’s book from Amazon here.

Another shout out to Sherry Rogers-Harrison, who uses a variety of products in her Inklique work to color quilts.  I hope you will visit both websites if you have enjoyed my free tutorial.

Regards, Carla

Make a booklet of Certificates- Use any paper or cards on hand.  Offer your loved one anything from a massage to dinner out.  Personalize each certificate to suit her personality and taste!

Ideas- This gift certificate is good for:

Dinner and a movie;  shopping spree, a clean kitchen,  Time to craft, paint, knit or whatever they like to do,  etc.  You may also offer up such things as time spent listening, romantic dinner, Breakfast in bed, the sky is the limit!

Gift Cards- most local grocery stores will offer gift cards from a wide variety of places.  From Macy’s to Pottery Barn.  She will think you drove all over town to buy these.  If you are feeling guilty, just up the limit of the cards chosen.  Trust me, she will like this.

Online Class- Buy her an online class in whatever hobby she loves to do.  If she is into machine quilting and quilt design, I have a class starting in January located here.  If she loves to create using beads, metal work or wire, then visit Beaducation.  You can google classes in whatever hobby or art she likes to do.

Wrap an old pair of _______ (boots, jewelry, clothes, etc) with a note saying you will choose  a NEW one together.  Trust me, she would much rather pick it out herself, especially if you are likely to choose jewelry that turns her skin green or clothes 2 sizes too small.

Compose her  a poem.  Make it romantic, make it funny, she will love the idea that you did it.  Even if it is awful, she will appreciate it.  Just don’t mention any places on her body that she is sensitive.

Plant her a tree, bulb or flowers- Most nurseries are empty, even on Christmas Eve, so it will be a quick trip for you.  Stick a bow on it and place under the tree unwrapped.  On Christmas, before the football game, offer to plant it for her.  This gift will remind her of your love over and over.  Little effort and lasting benefits.

Last idea- Chocolate!  You can’t go wrong with chocolate, especially good chocolate.  Later on, when she asks you if she has gained weight,  your answer should be, “Absolutely NOT, dear- you are BEAUTIFUL!”

Merry Christmas!  Carla

My Christmas card for 2011 is “rebus” style.  The above digital art gives a nod to Suzette from my old paper arts and rubber stamp days.

Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas, or Happy Hanukkah, depending on your faith.   I do hope you will take the time to share one thing you are grateful for this holiday season.  I am off to wrap presents for my darling grandchildren, Jack, Kate and Ethan.  I am so blessed by them, they bring so much joy to Joe and I’s lives!  Peace and Love to you and your families!

Next is a long view of my Ikea bookcase storage units:

Now for some close-up views:

Shoe organizer make great excess storage:

Here is how I organize some of my fabric.  Yes, I even have a tutorial for how to wrap the fabric:

More Ikea Storage Bookcases:

Next is a view of my desk:

Here is a picture of my stitched and painted collage piece (from a DJ Pettit class):

In this next view, I love my ikea plant hangers, a perfect place for items I use all the time:

Notice my beading organizer case?  Here is a close-up.  I have lots of interesting stuff waiting to be worked on:

This is from TJMaxx:

(click for large view)

I must admit that I have a lot of things to look at in my studio.  I like to collect items from other artists, too.  Happy Holidays to you and yours!

Here is my tree.  I have to confess that I still need to add the angel at the top, and ornaments, too.  Plus start wrapping the gifts. Note to self- bring in the ladder!

Here is my favorite ornament, though I did not make it:

   I own a few of these cute sock cows, plus some sock monkeys.

Now for the homemade ornaments:

  This ornament is special as it was made by my crafty grandmother about 30 years ago.

Cookie cutter and painted dough star.

Tin punch ornament using frozen orange juice lid.

Large Jingle Bell- writing using a white paint pen.  Used to have a ribbon bow top, but oh- well.

Beaded Santa.  This was given to me by my MIL.

Ribbon Candy wreath.

  Fabric horse ornament on a dowel.

Potpourri angel with lace and stainless steel pad hair.

  Victorian lace roses.

  Plastic straw ornament.

  Cross-stitch kitty circa 1985 for my daughter Amy.

  Amy made this cute snowman ornament when she was 9 out of painted tin can.

Anyone care to share their homemade or favorite ornaments on their blog, too?  I would love to see yours.  The ornaments above remind me of happy memories of Christmas past.  Hugs, Carla

Quilt Whisperer Class Info and Course Description

How to Register for my Class

See my  Free Blog Give-a-way Contest HERE.

On other news, I am getting a new toy for my studio- an Intelliquilter add-on to my current longarm machine.  My plan is to digitize my own drawings, so that my quilting still looks like my work, rather than a “computery” look.  I do not like it when I see a quilt at a show that screams, “Computer Quilting.”  With a little extra work, the artist can make it look hand guided.   Anyone else feel this way?

Enjoy your day!  Carla