Change: New blog on wordpress

I have created a new blog on Word Press. Reason: When I created this one I made a mistake in choosing the user name. This cannot be changed. Please go to my new blog for current news!

Thanks

Debbie Babin

Slide Show

Absent

I have been absent.  In February my  husband fell and crushed his left heal.  Shortly after that my computer started failing.  I am the official NURSE for my husband thus, my time has shifted from my normal activities.  I do have a new computer but switching over is such a PAIN!

During all of that I was asked to write a new online class for Joggles.  I did manage to squeeze it in, barely.  I am really excited about it!

The subject is a vintage style botanical.  The techniques are multiple but mostly center around using Ranger Ink Color Wash on paper and other surfaces.  Here is a peak at the finished art work.

22″ x 25″

This combination is MIXED MEDIA.  There are two separate pieces that are made independently and then quilted together.

The flower is an Orchid-Catteleya which is the only cotton fabric in the combination.  The other materials are paper, interfacing and organza.

This piece was so much fun!  I am totally sold on Ranger Ink Color Wash.  The results this product can produce are amazing!

The best thing about the colors is no matter how many are combined, the colors stay pure and do not get muddy.   They come in a small spray bottle which allows for misting several colors to create wonderful nuances.

Close up of upper left

Stamps are used to add text to painted organza and paper surfaces.  The word ORCHID is stamped onto painted organza and then hand stitched.  Most of the stitching is done by machine.  The applique of the orchid is done using my favorite method and a tool I call a “Search Guide”.  A close up of the upper right corner of the base layer

The base layer includes stenciled organza and interfacing.  These are quilted together and embellished with buttons.  These details are brief as there are many more aspects to reveal.  I hope to wet your appetite and peak your curiosity.  This class will be available in August.  See the new schedule at Joggles.com.  See the complete description under my class titled: Vintage Botanical Interpretaion

Goodbye my furry friend

Milo when he was a kitten.

A tribute to Milo

June 1999-November 2008

My cat Milo became sick suddenly last month.  He had to be put to sleep.

He was ten years old.  He was the most “normal” cat I have owned out of five; if there is such a cat.

Everyone loved Milo.  He was gorgeous and he knew it.  He would greet everyone and plead for affection.  He had this cute mannerizm of using one paw to stroke your arm; which meant “pet me please”.One Christmas I put out a pretty globe shaped antique glass bowl half filled with water and floating peppermint candy candles.  Milo immediately thought this was his special drinking bowl!  He jumped to the table to check it out.  He is looking right at me as if to say, “This is really pretty but how do you expect me to get my head inside this bowl?”

Next thing you know he gave it a try!  His head fit okay but his tongue couldn’t reach the water! This was so funny.

He will be remembered fondly.

Loving Frank

I have just finished reading a great book!

Title: Loving Frank by: Nancy Horan

It is historical fiction and is based on the true story of the love affair between Frank Lloyd Wright and his mistress Mamah Borthwick.

What a wonderfully written story! Poetry, art, travel and of course love and romance are intertwined with the frustrations of the era. The time frame is between 1907-1914. The cause for Woman’s Suffrage was on the rise in the US and abroad. Frank was struggling to establish himself in the world of architecture in ways that had never been seen before. The love affair was quite the scandal.

Loving Frank

On Line classes begin soon!

Two on line Classes begin in October~sign up now!

Hello-I will be offering my two online classes in October.

Sign up now to participate

Classes

1-Textile Art with Pizzazz! (TAP)
Oct 6, six lessons, $65

2-Think “outside” the Take out Box (TOB)
Oct 7, four lessons, $45

These classes were available on Joggles in July and have now completed. They will not be offered again on that site until February. This is last opportunity to attend these classes this year.

Flora Rosa

Created by: Bente-Norway

New!
Refresher course offered-For those who have previously attended Textile Art with Pizzazz! (TAP) and for any reason were unable to complete the course OR would like to refresh your memory/review. Fee $25

Contact me about taking this course.

The TAP course provides quite a bit of good information and practice. The “meat and potatoes” are served following lesson 3. Many times people have written to me explaining how circumstances interfered with their best laid plans to complete the course; some only able to make it through lesson 3.

If you would like to refresh your learning experience, regroup and start again; the refresher course is for you.

You may sign up here

*I have two blogs, this link will take you to my other blog. I am in the process of switching over and combining everything, blogs and my website. This should be set up in the next few weeks.*

Look for the pay pal button on the right column.

If you are interested in the refresher course, I am in the process of setting up a separate pay pal button this week. In the meantime, Contact me instead to express your interest.

The TAP class is for people who are developing textile art and want to push the envelop and enrich the results. This course is not difficult, but to get the complete presentation you should plan to make a commitment to complete all of the lessons.

Think “outside” the Take out Box is a light hearted fun class that has a focus towards CRAFT but is definitely still about art.A detailed description of both classes and supply lists are available here

I look forward to having the opportunity to share these classes with you.

Please tell your friends about the classes; word of mouth is the best form of advertisement.

Thank You,

Debbie Babin

What are we afraid of?

I have a aquaintance who wrote a book titled: “What are We Afraid of?”

I often ask that question. I ask myself and others that question often. It helps to keep me grounded.

When making art, I often wonder, what makes us hold back? What makes us stare at a piece of fabric fearing any alterations will destroy or ruin it? Where does this come from? Frugality usually plays a huge role in that thought pattern for me. At some point though, I crossed over the line. Once I took the plunge and started realizing that the fear was baseless, I became free to truly embrace the fabric and go for it!

Some of my best work develops from cutting fabric and (yes!) quilts apart!

What a horrible brick wall we put ourselves in front of when we let fear drive us and stifle our creativity.

I love the saying: “It’s only fabric!”

Vessel with three sides

This vessel was created by accident. I save all of the pieces that are trimmed from the edges of my art work.

I had several very interesting pieces that compelled me to experiment. The results were this vessel.

I wrote an article about that experience for Quilting Arts last Autumn. Title: Spontaneous Composition

We all know that famous quote, “there is nothing to fear but fear itself”. I agree!

My Article in Cloth, Paper, Scissors-Sept 2008

Check out my current article Title: Crossover Collage

Title: In Honor of Leaves

Close up of the center section.

Madeleine’s bedroom is complete!

This is a quilt I made for my granddaughter Madeleine last year for her fifth birthday.
Title: Zertz
Size: 80”x80”(original design)

I started this project with a “lap quilt” size in mind. Needless to say, the size evolved. This is the first time I have made a large square quilt. I enjoyed making it and am pleased with the results.

Madeleine LOVES to eat dessert. Her name for dessert is: Zert.

There are 5 hearts in each corner to represent her age. One big heart is in the very center. There are yo-yo’s in the center of each heart as well as the center of the four pinwheels. The yo-yo’s are hand button hole stitched. Yo-yo’s are also used as flowers in each basket.

Each outer corner has a sweet treat:
Ice cream cone, piece of chocolate cake, cup cake and lollipop.

The theme fabric is used for the border; it has all kinds of desserts on it.

Recently I visited her in Seattle. She now has a new bed which is a twin size day bed that has a trundle bed underneath. She needed a bed skirt to not only hide the extra bed but to also complete the look. I used left over fabric to make a multicolored the bed skirt. I barely had enough!

Madeleine loves the results and so do I!

September 3, 2008

Madeleine (AKA Goober)

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You Are Worth the Time

A friend forwarded this link to me recently. It is titled: You Are Worth the Time
It is also, WORTH the time to go to this link to see the video. The message is pertinent to artists of all mediums and beautifully explains why artists DO make art.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EaUb4zk0Ow

I would love to hear your comments about this video.
Debbie Babin

(Thank you to Linda from Sunny St PetersburgDomestic Goddess – Contessa of Da Messa)

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