Pandemic Surprise.

Shock, surprise. What happens when we take off our masks and see each other in person? 

Every birthday I write a poem or doggerel for the grandchildren along with a small quilt, or now a card. With little information I search for photos and put them into Comic Life which enlarges and makes smaller without loss.  I collected photos from young to teen last year, but I asked Erika if I could see her favorite photo should I want to paint her. I had sent her birthday card, but when I got the photos of this year, her favorites without the mask, I saw she had grown up and I needed another card,  I returned to Comic Life. I added a flattening filter just for fun and more mystery.

The first card I created, made more sense of the "ears." Looking at the two, you can see what a difference a year has made...what I didn't see happening under the mask.We will all have plenty of visual surprises once this pandemic has passed, as it will. Click to enlarge.

Marathon Quilting Satisfies the Soul, creates chaos

     Over the river and through the woods, back and forth to NYC, birthdays to note... Crafting both calms and excites. Click on the photos to enlarge.

     At a journal quilt meeting I noticed delicate earrings on petite Elana. I was stunned they were made from Shrink Art which I played with 40 years ago and never imagined such artful renderings. I drove way out into the suburbs for our play date and was immediately stunned on walking inside to see the large quilt she had made for her late dog Marty's comfort. I took photos of her clever Shrink Art procedure, but for brevity here, I recommend the book Shrink Art Jewelry by Klutz. I ordered a copy for the grands. It tells all the steps and includes everything! See Elana's hands quilt in the recent Quilting Arts magazine!

      Next, I had an hour to make a surprise birthday card for Patsy when several of us gathered to see Ann's grandchild in a show. I sewed embellishments in the car on the way to NYC, listening to a CD of The Zookeeper's Wife. I took the quilt-like bracelets I recently made to give to friends who gathered.

 

        Hannah was born at the time of the Boston Marathon. Both are celebrated this weekend .  I whipped up a solar system throw from a panel from the City Quilter. A bookee, the birthday girl has been zipping through the Rick Riordan modern Heroes of Olympus books, some names found in the constellations.  Her accompanying soft birthday card this year is a 3D book, seen below the throw.

     And finally, just in time for an 80th birthday dinner last night, I worked on one of the hulk panels with imagery (logos) appropriate for Roy's company and his wife (tattoo on the arm). This birthday card completed,  I think I can take a break now to catch up and clear the massive clutter I produced!

Note: I used more fabric paint than usual for solutions...and experimented with rhinestones. If you have questions, post below to Comments to say "Hi" and I will try to answer. In most cases, you are viewing fronts and backs of cards and the throw.

Now We are Six: Erika's Valentine birthday card

     On birthdays, I try to make a quilted birthday card the children can keep. Erika was born on Valentine's Day, and this year I had trouble coming up with an idea.

     Not looking, I found a fabric lush with grown-up roses, probably two dark for a youngster, but I wanted to use it. Also Erika has taken to wearing a bee antenna headband on most occasions. Next, I thought of the six of hearts card,  had seen a quickie cathedral block technique I wanted to try, and had memories of the book, Now We are Six. If you click on the quilt to enlarge it, you can see all of these elements and how I combined them.

      Maybe I should record the poems on a CD for her and make a fuzzy pillow she loves. One can go on and on. There are beads sewn to the red hearts on the card, and I am thinking the rose fabric could be stuffed with rice and lavender for a pad to rest the eyes. Just a matter of time :*)  Ooops. Maybe I should return to the machine to stitch, "Happy Birthday!"