A Frame Texture - Wonderful

I do love a surprise and what a surprise it was this morning when I found a new texture. Was fun using the frame to alter a photo of my coneflower art quilt.






Then added the frame to a picture of artist Kees Van Dongen's The Two Cousins. I have a most wonderful set of books purchased in a garage sale back in the 1980's (back when I was still trying to furnish and accesorize my home). So, this morning as I was flipping pages, I ran across this picture. Had never noticed it before....but aren't the cousins sitting pretty in this new frame?

Signs of Spring - Oh Boy!

A nondescript picture of one of my garden gates


Combined with a branch from the flowering crab apple tree



plus a couple of textures thrown over and blended in.....this could be a postcard!
Click on the photo to see more of the texture. I love my photoshop play.

Yesterday was just another day

A fellow I once worked with passed away a couple of days ago. Reading about the death of someone I know is never easy. HuMAN got to the obituary section before I did, so he was reading to me.

The conversation went something like this -

he said "Forrest Harvey passed away"

i said "Who?"

he said "Forrest Harvey passed away"

i said "I thought Paul Harvey passed away several years ago"

he said "Come in here and read my lips....Forrest Harvey - dumb dumb - not Paul Harvey. Forrest Harvey passed away."

Yesterday was my birthday. My hearing is better today. Or, did huMAN mumble a little louder this morning!

Please don't misunderstand....I am not making light of the death of someone I knew, just passing on the seriousness of humor in the Mason household in our "golden" years!

Watercolor Note Cards

Easy as 1 - 2 - 3




Come fly with me.....

Etsy Browser

Finally - an easy way to browse Etsy - PicClick Etsy Browser

Just another photoshop day!

Yes, I have truly enjoyed playing with Alphabet Soup's latest texture. It can really be seen here with thirsty boy. I did take the time to erase all the bricks, then changed the color hue a tad....wanted more the sepia look - as if it's close to sundown!

Another Playday in Photoshop

Shadowhouse Creations posted a tutorial for us to download about how he makes textures.

Alphabet Soup became addicted a few days ago and has been creating up a storm. Here's today's creation from her studio.


Okay....here is my original face sketch with other textures layered in, on and around.



And here is that same sketch - altered somewhat - with the newest texture added. Such a different look from Alphabet's original texture. That's the beauty of Photoshop. So many options to alter and manipulate photos.

Photoshop Play

I guess I had way too much fun sewing this past weekend - Sweet Bernina went to the doctor this morning. Hope she'll just have one overnight stay. I hate it when she hurts - her pain is definitely my pain.

Good news is - I got a little time to spend playing with photoshop. I first took one of my fabric art cards - this is Colette - and mixed her up with layers of fabric and trees and scratched metal.




Then decided to try to duplicate her with my Bamboo tablet and pen. Close, but no cigar! I like her anyway.




Hundreds of these little birds flew through a few weeks ago and stopped for water. They drained all the watering holes and then off they went again. Thank goodness the camera was nearby.



This pretty one posed for me.

Jumping Jack Flash

Don't let life get you down. It's a gas, gas, gas! Here's an interesting take!

Musings and Spring

While I was sewing away on my mystery quilt, I was puzzling through life's puzzles. I've come to the conclusion that, while I don't like to be spit on when in conversation with another, people who speak with a very dry mouth are boring conversationist. I go into zzzzzz in short fashion.

I've told you before about a local commercial where very dry mouth guy talks about his experience with a local flooring company. In short order (presumably) his wife gets a word in to tell us that her bathroom is her favorite room in her house. (I've already expressed to you how much I thought she needed a sewing room, so I won't go there again.) But anyway, I was so happy that she interrupted his end of the conversation (before I nodded off) that I actually listened to what she had to say even though I thought she needed to expand her horizons a bit and get out of her bathroom!!

Well, this morning, I had two more dry mouth experiences....another commercial that was made locally and airs locally. At least I hope it only airs locally! A husband and wife law firm. Her dry mouth drone voice is actually more dry mouth and drone that her husband's. If these two are in the same courtroom at the same time, I can see the judge getting in a very long nap. And, Lord help their children get some spittle into their little mouths before they break into commercialdom!

Just in case I've been puzzling over life's puzzles too long, I decided to get outside and take pictures of spring to clear my head. What a beautiful day we've had!

We have an abundance of wild violets that come up everywhere! They would rule the back garden (along with my mint) if I didn't do some strenuous weeding. Guess I missed this little cluster and aren't they delightful.



The bumblebees are already stocking up on nectar in this old plum tree. I try to steer clear of their path. They do gather with a zest! Fun to watch bee activity.


And, this bird nest is a reminder of someone's happy home in years past! But I'm sure the mockingbirds will find this Japanese Magnolia again this year!

My Quilt is a Mystery No More

Finally finished with this very labor intensive quilt. I had enough fabric for two borders so it is a great size at 98" x 88". Just need to find a fabric for the backing and it will be off to be quilted. I'm very glad to have plunged into the unknown to come out with such a winning look. I think my conservative fabric choices did me proud!

Mystery Quilt Pattern

I've been feverishly working to get the mystery solved. Finally completed my 42 blocks then addressed the part of the mystery that makes this quilt come to life. The pieced sashing sewn between each quilt block gives this one a totally different look. Not even the same look I originally expected to see! Isn't it amazing how one 2" pieced strip provides a wonderful alternate block. I'm still enjoying my very muted fabric choices but can't wait to add a little more jazz in another border.

I've now completed 3 of the 7 rows. Yippee! At this rate, I may get the borders on in this lifetime!

Face Sketch

I call this one my dream boy....he has a far off look in his face that makes me think he is deep in thought about something or someone!

Mystery Quilt Being Solved

My quilting group has a project or two every year - one of which is usually a mystery quilt. The hardest part of this mystery is fabric selection. It's almost like closing your eyes and making an intelligent choice!! My fabric choices are much more tame than my usual, but I'm loving the monochromatic feel this one is going to have. This will allow me to add a touch of spice in the border.

The keeper of the secret of the mystery quilt has been doling out instructions for the past few months on how to cut and sew to eventually solve the mystery. We finally got the final link at our March meeting. And here is the block. I love it. The sashing (not yet attached) adds more intrigue to this quilt. I'll post as I go.

I've been busy....I counted them this morning. I now have 18 of 42 blocks completed. Gotta go and sew!

Another Free Project - Hurry

I need a new project like I need a root canal. But who can resist Twiddle Tails Pinwheel Block Party? I can't - for sure. For the next 12 weeks, we'll get free blocks and instructions to complete this little beauty. Hurry on over to get the FREE block pattern.



Oh, my and now the second block is ready to be printed or downloaded!




I'm already behind on my newest project!

Here's my first Twiddle Tails BOM project - in aqua and orange fabrics with lots of white background. Paper piecing...I love the accuracy one can achieve in piecing little bits of fabric into a whole.

"Can't see the Forest for the Geese." As always, I make quilts much better than I take pictures! But if you click the pictures, you can still get a semi-good look.

Here's Where I've Been

My Coffee Station....Almost my first stop each morning. The kitty cats call my name first so I feed them while the coffee drips.

Here's my newest coffee mug. The Cotton Corner Quilt Show had some of the best vendors...The Dirt Dauber had some very original pottery...I could tell by his pottery that he loves playing in the dirt. And I had fun getting a personal fitting session. Don insisted that the mug must fit just right before he would allow a sale. Of course online purchases aren't allowed the personal fitting session, but no problem...you won't be disappointed in any of his wares!

I'm moving on....to Anita Bradshaw's booth. Most original wallhanging quilt patterns. Her work took my breath away (and some of my cash)! The temptation was just too great. Go see for yourself....Another by Anita....a real treat!


Moved on to Diane Springer Designs. The Best! Her marketing skills are to (almost) die for. A most unique shop full of energy...full of pizzazz. Go see her online shop....you'll be there a while!

Oh, and Greystone Wood where I found quilt racks, quilt ladders and screens. They called some of their items gadgets....I called them "mine"....thread holders and thread feeders and more! Oh My!

There were many more wonderful shops for me to wile away my time. Yes, the quilt show is over, but I'm still enjoying all of my purchases.

Save the date....the next NLQG quilt show will be February, 2012! Can hardly wait!

Face Sketch #9 (or so)

Schzam!

Who am I? I once profiled myself as a quilter...a quilt artist...mixed media artist...maker of note cards. I once made purses and knit scarfs and went out for ice cream on Sunday afternoon. I once exercised and practiced yoga and got out of my pajamas before noon.

Today is a new day and here's where I want to be.....I want to be a person who breaks the mold!

Happy Monday.

Finley in Bouquet of Mums

She must have been a beautiful baby....'cause baby, just look at her now!

Face Sketch "After the doctor visit!"

Not a pretty sight - After the doctor's done. Will somebody help me! Please!

It's been over a month now since my sinus surgery and the doctor just refuses to set me free! Finally got an all clear yesterday on the left sinus. But he still found lots of (I'll just call it) stuff lingering in the right sinus. I continue each day to follow his orders to flush twice daily with a waterpik! Don't even think about getting a picture of this! I'm hoping for a clear report in two weeks. In the meantime....happy weekend.

Tree Trimming

Before -
After - you can really see the difference when you click on each picture to enlarge.

We've been waiting since October to get our two live oak trees pruned. The rain here these past few months has put a halt to many outside activities. Both trees had many unsightly sucker branches that were hiding the beauty of the trees. And, each tree had branches that were beginning to hover over the house, much too close for comfort. We knew that with the dense growth pattern of live oaks, we probably would not have a problem with a limb breaking, but, why take a chance in the event of a storm. And, we wanted the house opened up a little bit.

We're still standing in the window looking out admiring the nice clean look. HuMAN and I think it was money well spent!

No, the house is not sitting in the clouds....I found a cloud download and a picture frame download and played around in Photoshop this morning.

He's Six Years Old.....

Batik fabric picture holder
Originally uploaded by Martys Fiber Musings

He's growing up....he's 6...Happy Birthday Cody.

Fabric Art Card "Leaf It Be"

Here's how I took one of my original, one-of-a-kind, fabric art cards entitled "Leaf It Be" and made it a background for my face sketch of the day. In two photoshop blending modes!

Face Sketch # 8

It may be getting closer to Spring, "But, Baby, It's Cold Outside!"

I am so ready for bloomin' flowers....I'll probably be busy really, really early in the morning, so thought I would get my daily sketch done early for Wednesday. Hope you don't mind. I also hope that after next week, my world will be more normal (that means I hope I learn to say NO!) so I can get back to my sewing machine.

xx's and oo's

Marty

Face Sketch #5 (or 6?) (or 7?)

Just a quick photoshop fix before I head out for the rest of my day.....Birds Rule

Low Country Housing

This is so reminiscent of the old houses that once were seen on every large cotton farm here in Louisiana and across the south. My grandparents house was very similar, except it was just one of two houses that sat on the 80 acre tract that Grandpa had acquired in the early 1900's. The house was raised like these. They lived on Bayou Macon, but more of a flood threat then was the Mississippi River - this was way before levees were built.

Their front and back porch was much larger than these and they were screened! A class act - their house - it was filled with love and all of us kids loved to visit. Well, we actually wanted to stay forever!

The remodel took place in the late 1950's and while it was hugely more comfortable, it certainly lacked in personality!

Wil Opio Oguta

is having a giveaway. I love celebrations and what a better way to celebrate than with a 333rd blog post. That's what Wil Opio Oguta is celebrating and what a prize she's giving to one of us - one-half yard of her lovely snow-dyed fabric. Her art quilts are beautiful. Go see and give yourself a chance to win and

Good luck!