Cynthia Shaffer

Chalkboard Paint Art Quilts Part 1 : : Tutorial

I was telling a friend the other day that I think I may have found my favorite medium to work in ... well at least for now that is ... chalkboard paint, canvas and sidewalk chalk ... oh and of course scraps of fabric! I am in love!!!!

It feels like art journaling, not that I'm a big art journal-er, but that's how I approached these quilts. I just started without much thought or plan. Doodling, outlining, random words, my kids poem, or just whatever came to mind.

There's great freedom in working with the chalk. If I don't like the way it is looking I just swipe the panel with a wet cloth and start all over. 

Before I did anything, I cut a bunch of  panels of canvas and then slapped on some chalkboard paint. I set them aside, actually for several month, until the time was just right for me to dive in and experiment.

Here's What I did:

First I cut a bunch of panels of canvas ranging in size from 11 x 11 inches to 7 x 10 inches. I used a rotary cutter and a green mat but it's really not necessary. Next I slathered a thick coat of chalkboard paint on the canvas and yes the canvas does shrink and buckle ... I kind of liked it! 

And then I just started doodling away. I used the white chalk to sort of sketch things in.

And then I added the color, filling in the white shapes.  

But of course I couldn't stop here ... next came the blending of my limited colors of chalk. It feels a bit like the painting classes I took as a young girl. I have great memories of how I thought it was magic, laying two different color paints down on a canvas and then blending them to create a wonderful new color. It is magic!

So at this point there was no stopping me and sometimes that can get me into trouble. I started writing random words and phrases and before I knew it, almost all the black was fill in, which was not supposed to happen, but oh well ... it did and like it!

Next step ... cut a panel of batting slightly larger than the canvas and free motion stitch the panels together. Free motion doodle stitch in the panel as well.

Embellish with scraps of fabric, old book text, beads and perle cotton.

Chalk over any spots that smudged while stitching.

To keep the chalk from smudging, just spray the piece with several light coats of hairspray.

Stay tuned ... more chalkboard paint art quilts to come!

 

Mushroom LOVE

Oh how I LOVE my mushrooms! My husband says I'm a mushroom hoarder ... I don't think I'm alone, at least not in my family ... My son Cameron can eat an entire bag of mushrooms, raw, without a blink of the eye!

These oyster mushrooms are so beautiful and the flavor is just so delicate.

 

Oh My ... have you ever seen anything so dang cute! They're called beech mushrooms and yes, I couldn't resist doodling on just a few of these little happy guys. 

And then there's the usual mushrooms that find their way into just about every scrambled egg breakfast I make for Cameron and myself.

Grilled them up with a few red and green peppers and onion and rolled it all up in a tortilla and topped it off with a little feta ... Yummy ...  dinner tonight!

If you're in the Old Towne Orange area on Saturday mornings, you'll want to check out the Orange Farmers and Artisans Market that just opened up at the old packinghouse on the corner of Palm and Cypress.

And ...go visit my favorite vendor ... the mushroom guy! 

Oh and you don't want to miss this ...

The farmers Market also has a Chef demo series ... Coming this Saturday, July 30th ... Chef Diego Velasco of Memphis at the Santora in Santa Ana! 

 

Macrame Elevated : : Bracelet Tutorial

I remember as a kid making things with macrame all the time. It was what we did during the hot summer months. I always had a project going ... I was obsessed. I also remember using some really icky yarn, rope or string and pretty ugly wooden beads.

 I was just playing around here ... grabbed my hemp yarn, some clear glass beads and hand dyed some rayon ribbon, and sat down to try and elevate the art of macrame.

Quick, simple and yet so sweet.

You may remember here where I mentioned this little macrame trim I made and glued onto the outside of my journal.

Here's what I did ...

Without thinking too much, or planning out my knots and pattern, I just start by cutting long lengths of the hemp yarn. I read somewhere that the length of the yarn should be 10 times the finished desired length of the project. Since I was aiming to make a bracelet, I cut these pieces about 60 inches. The ribbon in the center was cut at about 15" long.

Next I knotted them together at the top and clamped them down on this clip board. Notice I have marked the board at the 3 1/2" point. This gives me a mid point for my bracelet so I know when to repeat the pattern if I want.

 

You'll notice that every once in a while there's a little glass bead threaded on the hemp. To keep the bead from slipping around on the hemp I place a knot before and after the mid point of the outer loops. Here are instruction on the basic macrame knots.

And here's a little trick to making this open macrame more secure. I mix Elmer's glue with water, about 1/3 water to 2/3 glue and then paint it onto the back of the bracelet. I do wipe it off the beads, then shape it a bit and let it air dry!

Sky is the limit here!

Happy Macrame!

For the Love of Epic

Got to love an epic knitting project. While I can't reveal the details of this project I can tell you that I couldn't do it without the help of my friends! Thanks Anna, Maggie, Gilda, Karin, Maddie, Libby, Betty, Mary, Cameron, Teresa and Judy!

Here's a glance at what we've been knitting!

I've challenged myself to knit for twenty minutes or more everyday this summer ... often that twenty minutes turns into an hour or so. If you are a knitter than you know how this happens ... I LOVE to knit!

Speaking of epic projects ...I was at the Orange County Fair yesterday and came across a group of tables that had all been pushed together and a bunch of people sitting around knitting. At first it just looked like a 'knit and bitch' group, but then as I came closer ... oh my, I realized they were all knitting on the same project ... a gigantic sock!

The sock was started by Newton's Counrty Yarns back in 2006, I think, and has been traveling around getting knitted here and there ever since. Too, too, too much fun! 

Of course I had to join in and get my daily 20 minutes of knitting in! How fun is that?

Happy Epic, Happy, Knitting!

 

Smoothie Love!

My go-to breakfast for busy days ... fruit and veggie smoothies.

A couple of years ago I read a post on a blog that said you could attach a mason jar to the bottom parts of a blender and then just pop it on the blender and whirl and grind away.

In my smoothie this morning I have a collection of carrots, red cabbage, non-fat yogurt, a banana, a squeeze of honey, some non-fat milk and a few ice cubes. I Ran out of green grapes ... I read somewhere that the green grapes helps to neutralize the taste of the red cabbage. Oh well ... I love cabbage so I'll be all good.

Screw the top on tight and flip the mason jar over and then tap on the pulse button to grind and blend your smoothie.

And there you have it ...

A perfect energy drink for my busy day ... lots of project in the works!

A little of this and a little of that!

After putting the finishing touches on my next book, Stash Happy Applique I took some much needed time off and did some spending on a little bit of this and a little bit  of that! First it was The Farm Chicks Antique Show where I found this fabulous step stool. I couldn't resist and scooped it up right away. 

While it was a bit too large to stuff in my suitcase, the good folks at Blue Canoe, here in Tustin, transported it home for me in their trailer! Thanks Tim and Lisa!

This vase is my next favorite purchase of the summer. Believe it or not, I found it in a tack and feed store in Ojai, while on a mini vacation with my mom, sisters and niece. Love, love this vase, especially on my new/old step stool!

What's so great about it? Check out the holes in the lid, this makes it so easy to use just a few flowers and make such a whimsical arrangement ... Ice burg roses and fading hydrangeas.

And some of my favorite flowers in my garden are my hydrangeas. I love to watch them change from vibrant pinks and lavenders to this dusty rose and melon color. In a few weeks or so they will be faded away to taupe and tan and even more beautiful than ever.

But probably the purchase I get the most comments on ... these many fabulous pieces of jewelry I purchased from artist Lisa Souers. Apparently Lisa has been a vendor at the Farm Chicks Antique Show for several years and always has something new and different to sell. Love, love her art!

Last, but certainly not least ....

A stack of vintage hexagon quilt blocks. Love, love the old 1940's fabrics!

So my summer spending has come to an end (Oh wait, the Long Beach Quilt show is coming soon!) and now it's time to get back to work ... After I clean and organize my studio, that is! 

 

Turning 80, Sparklers and Pie!

My mom's birthday party went off without a hitch thanks to the help of my sisters, niece and nephew. Here are just a few of my favorite photos of the night.

Here's my mom sitting and listening to friends and family members talk about her and her many passions. I can only hope to look half this good when I turn 80! 

Long-time friends shared favorite stories ...

My sister shared a bit about my mom and what it was like  growing up with a mom that was and still is on the go. She talked about the role model my mom has been to all of us girls, a women of passion and real compassion for the needy and less fortunate.

And then it was my mom's turn to talk ............ she kept is short and simple. 

And finally, pie was served. We had 9 different types of pie, all served with vanilla ice cream.

Can you guess which flavor pie was the favorite of the night and is my all-time favorite as well? Rhubarb! I LOVE IT!

 

I love this photo ... notice that this man was very smart and helped himself to a small slice of several different pies! Needless to say that at the end of the night, there was only a slice of peach pie leftover.

We had to hide this slice of rhubarb pie for my mom ... her favorite as well!

Happy Birthday again mom!

 

Just A Little Glimpse

 

The centerpieces were ready a few days ahead ...

 Mason jars with votive candles ...

 Antique linens were purchased at The Farm Chicks Antique Show ... 

Star crackers were arranged ...

And these fun little lanterns were lite as the sun started to set ...

More photos to come when I return from a mini vacation with my mom, sisters and niece!

The Party Is Today! : : Birthday Invitaion Tutorial

Tomorrow is my mother's 80th Birthday ... but today is her party ... at my house!  Yes, her name is Betty and she is a 4th of July baby! 

Here's a quick peek at what the invitations looked like.

And here's what I did:

First I printed out the word Celebrate onto card stock and then cut them out.

Next I cut strips of patterned star paper, then punched out a scalloped edge.

Then a slathered a few old book pages with gesso and then tore the book pages into little rectangles.

Cut red dot fabric into strips.

I created the party details and information on the computer and cut out the panel.

Then I assembled the invitations all at once, then went to the sewing machine and started stitching.

Gathered star brads ...

Insert the brads ... and stitch the information panel to the inside.

Oh ... and here's the response card.

And ... the name tags!

Here's a quick shot of the Birthday girl and some of my helpers after a long day of work!

More photo's to come ...