Two Finished Projects

 My last post showed the construction process of this abstract wallhanging that I started in a class with Gloria Loughman.  Well, "started" is somewhat of a loose term because I actually started again from scratch once I got home.  However, the concepts she shared were really great and I came home excited to start again.  I mean, you know how it is--you go to a class thinking you KNOW what it's all about, you have your design in mind (and maybe even have it drawn out)--and then the whole thing is blown away when you find out what REALLY  is going to happen in the class.  I enjoyed the entire process and now I even have another design ready to interpret in fabric--after I finish a couple of other things . . .

 Today at our Art Group, we had our "reveal" in our Zentangle challenge.  It was great.  Our members came up with some really creative zentangles.  Doreen actually made a lampshade with freemotion zentangles, Linda applied her zentangles to a teeshirt, Dotty made two zentangle projects--a beautiful wallhanging and a 3-dimensional piece.  Corky free-motioned zentangles that changed colors as they overlapped--and the list goes on.  They were all so inspiring.  As you can see, I went the 3-dimensional route.  I had seen a picture of an embroidered cat in a catalogue and decided that would work for my project.  I used faux leather and several different kinds of pens.  I also added color.  As I thought through the construction process, I realized I was going to have to insert a zipper because I didn't think that I could sew the opened seam with a hand needle after I finished the stuffing process.  So, I had to draw the outlines for the two back pieces, sew the zipper and THEN draw.  I wanted the cat to be able to stand on it's own, so I figured out how to make a flat bottom and then put a bag of sand in the lower one quarter so it would have stability.  I'll have to say, it was lots of fun and I was glad that it actually turned out the way I had envisioned (well, almost).
Our next challenge is going to be based on a haiku poem--I can hardly wait to see what this talented group of women is going to come up with this time!