TEXT BALLOONS

Zach's 5th book was more time consuming to get into the BookSmart program. He used text balloons in this book for the first time. They were a challenge. 

I wanted his book to be as authentic as possible BUT his printing in the balloons was hard to read.  What to do? 

Here's the original (at right) and the page reworked (above) to be legible. I hope he likes it! 

ZACH'S 5TH BOOK IS PUBLISHED

Our grandson's latest book, The Kitty Food Machine, was just published by Blurb.

It is his 5th book! There it is with all the others!

I do art with our grandchildren. The art is usually a book. On our last visit to see Zach and his family, he made this book, The Kitty Food Machine.  Like the others in his Kittykee Series, the collaged scenes and story are all his work and ideas. I bring the painted papers, rubber stamped images (i.e. cats), accordion books, glue sticks and scissors.  Our grandkids need very little help, if at all!  So really I don't 'do' any art with them, I usually just sit back and enjoy watching them create.  Back our house, we scan each page, put it into Blurb's BookSmart program, send it off over the internet and a couple days later the published book arrives at our door. We'll be giving Zach his copy real soon.

GRANDPA WITH GRANDPA

Grandpa holding the 'look-a-like' grandpa doll. Both wearing the Big Five T-shirt and jeans.

Our granddaughter loves when her grandpa wears this T-shirt. It was Nelson's idea to use the THE BIG 5 image on the doll's shirt.

I think she's going to love it !

(click on lower picture to enlarge)

GRANDPA DOLL COMPLETED!

finished Grandpa doll today 

check back tomorrow -

see the 'real' grandpa and doll

why the T-shirt logo ?

'til tomorrow.............

TODAY WORKING ON GRANDPA DOLL.

 
• Chose background fabric for head area.
• Ironed on fabric transfer of grandpa's head. 
• Put together the front and back of the body of the doll. Not sewn together yet. 

• Oooops! Almost forgot to reverse image I want to iron-on T-shirt. 
• Image reversed and ready to iron-on.

PHOTOS TRANSFERED

Yesterday:  Transferring Nelson's head photo directly on painted sky fabric. Fabric coloring came through the photo. Did it again on white. Ironed on 'Wonder-Under' to back of photo on fabric.  Bought unbleached muslin & iron-on interfacing for T-shirt body. Made a 'body pillow insert' for completed doll. (top photo on left)

White doll is prototype from grandma doll-making experience.

STARTED GRANDPA DOLL

• started grandpa doll.       

• figured size-Nelson's face and T-shirt animal image.  

• printed images on transfer paper.

• arms made with handpainted fabric.
• decided not to use already made legs (at right)

• painted fabric works great with photo skin tones.

• jeans colored fabric for legs.

• next: iron-on images and start sewing.

STOCK IS REPLENISHED!

Over the years, I've handed out 2 or 3 thousand Creation postcards. By now they are on 5 continents. It's the image of what some would call my signature art quilt and many people's favorite Marge Malwitz quilt.

  In the fall, a friend asked for the last 50 I had in stock, to use in training classes in South Africa, India and the Philippines.  Early in January I ordered another 1000. They came last week.

2014! TIME FOR A NEW 'TO-DO' LIST

 

A new year!  Time to make a new to-do list. Some are interested in how I do that. So here you go.....

Depending on what is going on at any given time of the year, I change subtitles under the big heading. Currently these work:

creative projects a couple unfinished projects to finish from 2013

art ideas new projects I have a strong  interest* in-will choose best of the best!

house projects new-repairs-purchase  

other to-do's  or 'want' to-do's; misc.

contact people phone, email, text.

• I print to-do list on card stock  

• new sheet filled in weekly  

• separate shopping list

• A simplified home helps!

-furnishings minimal-easy care

-goal not to 'collect'

-drawers/closets - organized/uncluttered

-periodically get rid of unused stuff

This approach of organizing with an intent to accomplish, works for me. 

HEADER OF MARGE IN THE STUDIO

This header was used for a few days of the new year - 2014. 
Some have wondered what I'm looking at? Perhaps something is wrong? 

I'm looking the quilt, "In Him," figuring out the next design steps. (click for process)

SLEEPING ON CHRISTMAS NIGHT

Our son sent this picture taken on Christmas night. Our granddaughter sleeping with grandma doll and new pillows.

On facetime a couple days later, the grandma doll with our other granddaughter, who it was actually made for. 

4 VERY COLORFUL NEW PILLOWS!

The new pillows completed - ready for FedX'ing across the miles.