Modern Nostalgic Blog

mini art quilts for the wall

2013-02-19T18:24:15Z

I had a lot of fun working on these. I like the feel of the natural fibers I used - lost of texture and the neutral colors really make the red of the flowers pop. 10 x 10 and I think I will keep these for me :)

I had done this one a while ago but I felt that it needed something more. Words of course!

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I really have so much I want to say -- but I feel like I am in progress. Weird to say and hard to articulate, but I am feeling a direction I want to go...changes are in the air. And that's a GOOD thing!!

Rustic Valentines Digi-papers

2013-02-12T18:43:41Z

I created some papers for me to use to make cards, and then I thought, HEY - why don't I put these on Etsy? So I did!

Here are the papers I made for me you.

The papers are vector artwork patterns I created in Illustrator, and then gave them a worn & distressed look in Photoshop. The other two are scanned and collaged vintage images from old magazines and love letters. I created the color scheme on Colour Lovers. But I modified it (of course).

If you are on colour lovers, "follow" me or whatever it is over there and I will follow you back!

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Well, hubster and I are selling the house. We have a buyer and we have to take it because we have an incredibly modern house in a very old 1950's neighborhood and it takes a certain people to like this location for this particular house.

We have found a place right down the road (literally, like a mile away) that is a modern live/work loft space that is really perfect for us. I, of course, would prefer an old warehouse that we could convert but that is #1. WAY too expensive and #2. WAY too expensive. So. Not gonna happen. The suckiest thing is that we have to find homes for our doggies because I DO NOT want to live in a condo type environment with dogs. No. thank. you. I am not that much of a dog person to begin with (I know, I know) so the thought of having to get up and take them out every morning, and afternoon, and evening...and what will we do when we travel?? Now we can just leave lots of food and leave the dog door open. So, things come and things go...We are, however, throwing a big party on 3-16 as a house farewell party. It will be wonderful.

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Also went to a publishing conference on Saturday that was AMAZING. I learned SO much!!! I want to publish my children's book ideas - and most importantly, I want to help other people get published! I realized in that conference how many talented people there are, so full of beautiful ideas...I want to help people spread their ideas! Now I am just working on how...

Burlap wreath with fabric roses

2013-01-16T21:15:04Z

I made this a decoration for my booth for upcoming shows. Super easy and best of all, cheap! I bought a straw wreath from JoAnn for $4.99, natural muslin for $2.99/YD and a burlap garland on Christmas Clearance for $1.00. Gotta love that!

Wrap the wreath with the burlap and hot glue your fingers the burlap closed in the back. And yeah, watch the fingers. I burned them more than once. Burlap has holes.

Then Make some cute little rosettes from the fabric. I LOVE making fabric flowers and these are super cute and suuuuper easy. I cut the flowers 3" X WOF. folded in half and you just sort of twist and turn the fabric in a cricle. Here is an easy tutorial or you can find them all over if you google "fabric roses tutorial".

I love making fabric flowers, especially since I do not have a green thumb. :)

Have a lovely week!

Upcoming shows

2013-01-08T21:11:01Z

I think I am the worst blogger. ever. I am terrible about updating and I need to get SO much better about it! So Happy 2013! The world didn't end in december - I didn't think it would anyway. So yay!

There are some super exciting upcoming shows I am doing in March & April so I will get my booty prepared this time for that!

I am getting myself more immersed in the Phoenix community. I love living here and there is so much opporunity here for a business owner. I am also making changed to Modern Nostalgic to Modern Nostalgic Baby. I want to get back into doing quilts, which I love and adore doing! More to come! More to come!

don't tell me what to do.

2012-12-07T16:19:10Z

my play on the famous saying. I don't like being told what to do. It's the ENFP in me. ;P

mini art quilt for me me me!

2012-12-07T03:08:33Z

This is my muse. I have felt creatively stuck - such a crummy feeling! So I decided to create something purely for me, myself, and I without thought to anything other than what I love.

It's 10 x 10 x 2 -- mounted on canvas for easy peasy hanging. I used my new technique for constructing a wall art quilt (which I will write a DIY about - it's SO easy!), stitched, painted and glued to the canvas. The flower comes from a lovely little book I stumbled upon called Roses by Fiorella Congedo:

I found a brilliant way of printing on tissue paper too - Take a piece of freezer paper and a piece of tissue paper. Leave about 1/4 overhang at the bottom (side that doesn't feed into your printer) and firmly iron the SIDES ONLY - then gently press the middle down but not too much or it will be hard impossible to peel your image off without it tearing and you swearing. Well, I swore but that's me. Then I adhered it to the fabric with Mod Podge.

Pretty huh? And it super inspired me. And that's always a wonderful thing!

Reason #754 I am glad I am not a 1950's housewife.

2012-12-06T00:59:55Z

At least they come back with "fresh crisp newness". And I love this "about" $3.98. How is something "about" $3.98? That seems like a really specific numer to me...and I can't help but wonder what the men of 1951 (from the era of the magazine I scanned this from) would think of the Victoria Secret angels in their jammies. You know, since they are NOT tailored to a man's taste.

collage necklaces.

2012-12-04T23:14:22Z

Look what I've been making! I have made way more than this one but keep forgetting to photgraph them before I take them to JAM or sell them! They are little mini-quilt necklaces with sterling silver tags. Some I sew a word on to the fabric but this one I made for me, since I have decided my motto for 2013 is "live with intention".

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If you know me, you know how much I LOVE music! My hubby hubster and I go see live music often. Recently we saw a band called The Parson Redheads with Sara Calhoon at The Sail Inn in Tempe. Check them out!

Business card design, getting ready for a craft show, and TREED!

2012-11-05T19:57:30Z

I came up with a new design for my business cards (finally). I have such a hard time making something for myself! Here it is:

I also came up with a new logo for the hubster, designed him a new card and he wants me to work on his website too - but that's gonna have to wait until after the craft show! He knew what he wanted and that font was really pushing it for me. He wanted Comic Sans. I don't think so, mister.

There is still much to do to get ready for the Big Heap, and I am very excited!! I am staying SUPER organized thanks to the best app EVER - it's called TREED! I was looking forever for a goal setting app, and this one is perfect for a visual thinker. I found a write up about it from another blog and she was right - this app is awesome. I use it for everything and it keeps me on task. And I am one of those people who loves checkboxes :) I apply daily from Treed tasks into my google calendar and I feel so type A -- which I am defintely. not. sadly. But I am making a good wanna-be!

Enjoy your week!

Collaged vintage Christmas Ornaments - how to make your own

2012-10-16T16:52:15Z

Wow has this year flown by or what?? I can't believe the holiday season is upon us...

I love making my own ornaments. Last year I made glass ones with glitter, and this year I am making these:

I thought it would be fun to offer a little tutorial on how to make these yourself!

First, you need some small canvases (they sell them at Michales or Joann), some vintage papers or scrapbook papers, ribbon and mod podge.

I like matte finish mod podge because I don't like a glossy sheen, but it's really individual taste.

I also had some vintage Christmas images I printed out on tissue paper to give it a translucent finish. Here is an awesome tutorial as to how to print on tissue paper: http://sarahsprojects.blogspot.com/2010/02/wall-art-for-siennas-room.html

I start by putting a layer of glue on my canvas, and then place some paper down. Don't worry about the edges for now.

Keep layer papers until you are happy with the overall composition. I add a translucent girl last.

When the glue dries, turn it over and trim off the excess paper. I use a rotary cutter.

Next paint the sides of the canvas. I used a light green, and when it dried added a light wash of off-white.

Then find a coordinating ribbon and glue it to the back. I like to use a hot glue gun for this part. Voila! After the glue dries you are done! These are also fun to make with kids :)

I also scanned some of the ornaments I made and turned them into Photoshop Brushes!

If you would like them for your PhotoShop (these are made in PS5) you can download them here: http://modernnostalgic.squarespace.com/storage/downloads/cs-christmas.abr

Go into your PS>presets>brushes and drop them in there.

Hope you enjoy the fall weather!