Back Home From Sailing Adventures!

Been having a great time on our sailboat, but because it is hurricane season, we parked the boat in a safe location and flew home for the summer.  That is a good thing since I have been having withdrawals from my longarm and other art supplies.

I took up photography while we were on the boat, so I wanted to show you a slideshow of few of my favorite images:

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Now I need a good way to organize and stow all the 1,000’s of images I took.  Luckily, my good friends, The Pixeladies, are having an eClass starting soon on organizing all your images using Photoshop Elements.  I am going to take it, and I hope you will join me in this class.  Stay tuned, I will tell you more in tomorrow’s post!

Hugs, Carla

Pixeladies Live Near YOU!

Many of you know  my good friends, The Pixeladies.  Deb Cashatt and Kris Sazaki are amazing artists, authors, and instructors- and they are coming LIVE to a venue near you in 2014.

To refresh your memory about just how cool these two artists are, here is an example of a recent quilt, which was juried into Quilt National this year, appropriately titled, “American Still Life: The Weight of a Nation:”

by The Pixeladies

Check out this wonderful quilt, titled “But What Does It Mean: The Language of Color 3,”  which is on display at Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center until January 5, 2014:

by The Pixeladies

The Pixeladies extensively use Photoshop and technology in their work.   Now you can learn these same skills from them at a workshop.  Can you imagine spending two, three, or four days learning all the great ways you can use Photoshop in your sewing, quilting, and crafting projects –  and with the best two Photoshop instructors available?  Deb and Kris can translate Photoshop speak so you will get the most out of the class.  

The classes are tailored just a bit for each venue, but I’m sure you’ll find a workshop that’s just right for you. Pick from the following classes:

Kona, Hawaii (Feb. 5-7, 2013)  Designing Fabric with Photoshop Elements

New Smyrna Beach, FL (March 12-14, 2014) Photoshop Elements for Fiber Artists and Sewing Enthusiasts

Lake Tahoe, NV   (Nov. 2-7, 2014) Designing Fabric with Photoshop Elements

You can find more details on their website HERE , plus see more of their amazing text quilts, which is a technique unique to The Pixeladies.

Last Chance to Register for Fall eClass

Week 1 has just started in the Pixeladies’ Fall Introduction to Photoshop Elements eClass, and I will be closing registration on Friday, September 21, 2012. 

We have a wonderful group of  artists, quilters, and art quilters taking the current class, which runs for 3 weeks, along with an extra 6 months of course access to finish this self paced class at your leisure.  For more info, please click on “eClasses” in my menu bar above.

Expedition Update:  I have been accepted for the leg of the sailing expedition I wanted, which travels to both The Societies and the Cook Islands in the South Pacific in June, 2013.  This will be a 3 week trip.  Can’t wait to snorkel, see other cultures, and shop for fabric, too!

Works-In-Progress- I will be the guest lecturer/instructor at the January, 2013 Folsom Quilt Guild, so I am busy finishing a workshop project.  It is already quilted, and now I am painting it with pigment colors.  Tomorrow, I plan to quilt a second one to also color.  Keep watching for photos. 

I would love to know what YOU are working on.  Please share!  Carla

Registration Started For Online Classes

Registration for both Fabric Design with Photoshop Elements and the Beginning Class in Photoshop Elements classes have started!

Click here for Class & Registration Info

Fabric Design with Photoshop Elements is a brand new class by The Pixeladies.  Be sure to visit their website and blog to see how wonderful they are!

To show you what they will be teaching in this class, here is an example of The Pixeladies taking a photo and using it to design and create fabric for your projects:

www.pixeladies.com

Here is their fabric designed with photoshop elements:

This is the perfect class for those students who love to create!

Here is a photo showing a picture of Hong Kong and the lovely silk scarf created by the Pixeladies:

In their Fabric Design with PSE class, the Pixeladies reveal their secrets for how to design and create your own fabrics, too!  Pretty Cool, isn’t it?

As a reminder, if you wish to take the Fabric Design with PSE class, you must already know how to work with Photoshop Elements or take their beginning class on Photoshop Elements- which is conveniently offered right before this class.  Both classes are geared for Creative Women (and men, too!).

StepOnPins.com: Registration Starts Tomorrow!

I am pleased to report that the new website, www.StepOnPins.com is ready for registration starting tomorrow for 2 Pixeladies classes.  Please keep reading for more details and links:

Classes at StepOnPins.com

Introduction to Photoshop Elements for Fiber Artists and Sewing Enthusiasts

Instructor: The Pixeladies

Registration begins on September 19, 2011.  Class begins on October 10-30, 2011.  Students to have access to all course material until May 1, 2011.

Through online lessons, videos, and webinars (real-time online meetings), you will learn the tools that allow you to perform magic with Photoshop. We will focus on selection tools, their function, and how to use them. We will introduce you to the wonderful world of layers. Working with layers is much easier than getting out the seam ripper!  Click here for more information

(Note from Carla: This class fulfills the prerequisite for my long awaited  Tablet Design Class learning how to draw on quilts using PSE and a tablet.  This is the last time I am offering this Beginning PSE class before my Tablet Design Class.  I will be finally scheduling the tablet class for early December.)

Designing Fabric with Photoshop Elements

Instructor: The Pixeladies

Registration begins on September 19, 2011.  Class begins on October 31-November 20, 2011.

Designing Fabric with Photoshop Elements!  Want to learn how to turn a photo into a border print, design fabric for that special occasion outfit, or create a unique fabric panel for a memorable quilt? In this course, we will work with filter galleries, blend modes, layer styles, and adjustment layers to help you go from ordinary to extraordinary. Click here for more information

Course Requirements: Student must know how to use the basic tools of Photoshop Elements and layers or have taken the beginning PSE class above. Consider taking the introductory course if you need to refresh your knowledge of PSE.

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For more info, please post a comment or visit the new class website at www.steponpins.com.  The quiltwhisper.com forum will remain up and active.  Thank you, Carla Barrett

Latest Banner

OK, here’s the second banner for my blog site:

I incorporated your feedback (thanks for it, btw).  Still I’m not 100% happy yet… need to redraw the chicken again, he looks a bit sad with the facial expression.  I’ll also change out the blue quilting lines… think I’ll add a chicken feather motif there.  Last… I need to find a new font.  The one in the above pic is just OK… I want just the right “feel,” plus I need it to be very readable.

Let’s just say it is evolving…LOL!!

I love your feedback, so bring it on again!  Where else can you help design a blog banner??

In case you are curious, I draw and color using photoshop.  Why photoshop?  Because that is the program I learned to use about 5 years ago when I took Digital Imaging courses in college. On of these days I want to take an illustrator class, until then… photoshop it is!

Today I had fun taking the class with Deb and Kris, the Pixeladies.  They are wonderful teachers and I just adore both of them.  They are also co-chairs and very active in the local Studio Art Quilt Association (SAQA).  Today we talked about doing some more collaborative work… can’t wait!

Regards, Carla

New Banner

Good Morning!! I thought I would digitally draw and color one of my chickens for a header- stepping up the illustration just a bit from the typical cartoon. I’m not 100% sure if the Banner Header above will make the cut, I’ve been thinking of making several and then letting my frequent blog readers the opportunity to provide feedback.

My skin is pretty tough, so I can take any constructive feedback you give me on this one. Do you like or dislike the black blackground? What else should I add to it? To be honest, I’m not crazy about the quilted thing on the right side… what else should I put there? I think the next one will have some buttons instead of the eyelets- which do not have the visual appeal. Anyhow, later on I will work on it some more.

I have a fun day planned… I’m attending a class given by the Pixeladies– which is bound to be fun! I rarely take classes, but thought their class would provide a nice break. Deb and Kris are so funny, my face will probably hurt from all the laughter!

Enjoy your day! Regards, Carla

Upcoming Classes

I love to take classes to expand my horizon on a particular technique. I do have about 4 classes coming up in the next month or so I wanted to share with you all.

Paulette Insall is an artist whose work I stumbled across one day and instantly loved! Here, see for yourself in this series of painting/mixed media videos:

Part One: The Background:

Part Two: Mixed Media Elements added

Part Three: The Face is added:

I want to learn how Paulette paints her backgrounds and her faces, so I am taking both her classes to learn these techniques from her.

Also, I am signed up for a class with the Pixeladies, whose work I also admire and LOVE! I love visiting their work studio, Deb and Kris are kindred spirits! Go check out their website, they do fabulous work and I especially love their purse patterns. Anyway, they are teaching a crazy piecing class. Shhh…. I already know how to piece this, but I am taking the class to just have fun, laugh, and soak up their creativity!! LOL!

The last class I am taking is another beading class- a crochet beaded rope. Check out the class picture:

I never would have guessed the rope pictured was not beaded with a peyote or other stitch… instead it was crocheted using a technique that hides the thread you are using. Anyway, I am looking forward to learning how to make the rope.

Hugs, Carla