Artist Trading Cards: Threads for Soldiers

This batch has 9 cards, that make's a total of 28 trading cards for soldiers.

Background is made using a copy of my postcard fiberart on a 8" by 10" cotton sheet printed from my computer, craft ribbon is laid on then tulle with free motion stitching. The hearts are felt that I hand dyed.

contact me if you want to join us creating Art from the Heart for our wounded soldiers in our Threads for Soldiers. mom99x@aol.com

Threads For Soldiers:ATC's

I am working on new ATC's. I made these for Threads For Soldiers : http://threadsforsoldiers.blogspot.com/

This is our way to let our wounded warriors know that people at home do care about them and for them to have a little piece of inspiration to carry with them.

Venus Midnight Bloom 3 (finished)

I might as well keep going since I am on a roll. For some reason this might be what I am destined to create, who knows? So far I have made ATC's, postcards, 4x6", 5x7'" and 8x10"s. Maybe I will venture into a larger size. The only problem I see in working in a larger size is the peltex being too stiff to do the free motion stitching I am so fond of doing on my pieces.

Venus Midnight Bloom #3

Finished a 8"x10" piece. Almost didnt think the background was Venus because of the multi color free motion stitching. Now that it's fully embellished I have to make 2 more smaller ones ot go with it. These will be a little larger than Venus #2, 5"x7". I'm really liking where my thought process is going.

More New FiberArt work

I have been working on this new series and I think I will finish it until there is no more to be created.

This 3 piece is comprised of one 8" x 10" and two 4" x 6"

these are framed in a 11"x14" and 8"x10" frames

Venus: Midnight Bloom

I find I like working in larger dimensions. I made Venus: Midnight Bloom in 8" x 10" and now finished another piece. Venus: Midnight Bloom #2, 8" x 10" I matted and framed myself in a 11in x 14in frame. Kimscraftyapple http://kimscraftyapple.blogspot.com/of my Quiltsy team suggested I step outside of the box and do some silver needlelace in the corner and I took it a bit farther and added the silver cord needlelace throughout. I did more machine stitching on this piece with the cotton pearl instead of the hand stitching and no distressing the background.

Donation to ACS

Finished the donation and submitted it now to find out if it is accepted, if not I would be happy to keep it but I created this piece for such a worthy cause. A print of one of my fiberart, organza's, tulle, free motion stitching, handmade buttons, needlelace, hand embrodiery, silk ribbon embroidery, beading and swarovski crystal roses montees.

Remember to visit Virginia's website for all the details on donating or purchaseing for the fundraiser:

http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/CollageManiaCall08.html

Thanks you for visiting!

Fiberart for a Cause

Fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, read all about it here,

http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/NewFiles/ACSFundraiser.html

For several years I have been donating fiberart postcards and 8" x 10" collage for fundraisers benifiting the American Cancer Society. We are all volunteers who donate our fiberart, I wasnt sure if I would have time to make something this year but after going to my Fiber Art Fusion meeting last night I decided to work more on a 8" x 10" piece I have started and submit it for consideration.

You can see last years submission at this link and if you scroll down to the bottom of page 3 is the one I submitted

http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/CollageMania083.html

May 5th is Gold Donor day, 6th and 7th is Regular Collage Mania day.

There will be updates for this fundraiser as the time draws near.

ACEO's

I made these little Artist Cards Editions and Originals with my original artwork, computer, silk, artist stitcks and stitching by hand or machine. They measure 2.5" x 3.5".

There is a large ACEO group at Etsy and to read about us check our our Blog: http://acetsy.blogspot.com/

American Cancer Society Fundraiser

"Fuchsia"

All generous donations goes directly to ACS, checks, money orders, credit card, paypal payments are written to "The American Cancer Society", no middleman handleing any payments.

This is an ongoing fundraiser that started a couple of years ago you can read up on it here:

http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/NewFiles/ACSFundraiser.html

Fiberartists from all around the world have donated their Fiberart for the fundraising. Any research done benefits all humankind not just Americans. I have donated many works of fiberart. Collage Mania II fundraiser starts:

Monday, May 5, 2008 starting at 9 a.m. CSTAll collages available for a minimum donation of $80.

Tuesday, May 6, 2008 starting at 9 a.m. CSTAll collages available for a minimum donation of $40.

My donation (above) is done on silk then using Neopastel Artist's oil crayons for highlighting, silk, felt, bonbon wrappers, leather and seed beads then free motion stitching. I am still learning with 3 years of experience.

Instructions on Poetic Postcards "FAT"

Several persons has asked me on how I created my new set of postcards, I will try to instruct, altho I am not computer savy even after 11 years of owning a computer.


This is my 2nd attempt as the 1st attempt has photos and words all over the place, up, down and sideways. Thanks to DebMarie and Carmen from my FAT group for detailed isntructions on how to do this right.

First my poem that will go with the postcards.

July 27, 2007
"Colors" by Deborah Ann Smith

To pick up a pencil and draw with no design in mind,
trying to capture the meaning is so hard to find.

Truly to see hope come alive,
through the struggle we do so strive.

In our eyes sometimes we do fail,
those that love say we prevail.

Yes hope is alive,
we see it all the time,
the colors of you and I and all of mankind.


My supplies:


PhotoFabric 100% silk Habotai 8-1/2" x 11", Kona cotton, original ATC, timtex, stiff craft fusible stabilizer, HeatnBond LITE (this does not gum up my needle), Neopastel Artists oil crayons, baby wipes (great tip by Heidi) black Sharpie pen, Stampabilities Postcard rubber stamp, Inkadinkado ink pad, Coats and Clark hand quilting multicolor thread. Sewing machine with foot off/shank on, iron. I use pressing cloths when ironing my pieces.

I printed a copy of my 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" ATC full size onto a 8 1/2" x 11" ready to print on silk.

I use my template to map out which part will be used in my postcard and pencil trace the outline. Peel the backing off and straighten as much as possible and lightly iron on heat and bond lite (tricky as this will melt into the fabric and give it a different feel and lose cohesion), cut postcard outline made and peel off backing. Place onto cotton and lightly iron to stick. With all the layers and heat and bond if done correctly you will have no problems sewing on your sewing machine. Iron the timtex onto this. I use the black Sharpie to define the lines and circles where I will be free motion embroider. (layers will be: silk, heatnbond, cotton, heatnbond, timtex, heatnbond, craft fusible, cotton. fuse the craft fusible to the cotton first before the heatnbond.)

Now I use my Neopastel oil crayons to color my piece in of color of my choice. This is the really fun part, put color on and use the baby wipe or your fingers to blend the colors in then I cover with the paper backing and iron the top of the postcard. Put more color on until I have the colors I like, light colors and stems and leaves.

Some more fun is fme-free motion embroidery with your thread choice. I free motion the black lines I drew in and the circles, stems and leaves.

I used a poem I made July 2007, made labels of them in different colors and printed them onto cardstock, ironed stiff craft stabilizer onto the back and sewn them onto my postcards.

To make the back of my postcard I used craft fusible stabilizer and cotton. I cut out my pieces 5 x 7 and fused the craft stabilizer onto the cotton and sewn a line down the middle. Once again I used heat and bond lite, fuse the back to the front.

To finish I trim flush to 4x6 or as close as I can to those dimensions and satin stitch the edge. Stamp Postcard, sign, date and sometimes name the piece.

Now here is a base that had gotten messed up printing but still came out beautifull after adding the colors to it.

All the Poetic Postcards together.

I hope the instructions are understandable for you and have fun making postcards!

Debbie