Funky Art Queen

Somewhere in between the laundry, housecleaning, and grocery shopping, I decided to work on fabric postcards. I finished this one. I must say that I like my first one better as it was stiffer and that is because I used a stiffer pellon. So, forgive me-oh receiver of the not-so-stiff fabric postcard. You will know who you are in a few days unless the wimpy card gets lost in a crevice of some mailmans car or something like that...oh well...."small things.....great love" lol. Then, I made fabric postcard number 3. It is a Halloween style card and it is not even worthy of a picture. Really, it looks like something a first grader would make. You still want to see? OK, here it is..... Did I scare you? This card is being mailed to a family member tomorrow. I am working on number 4 fabric postcard tonight. I think it is cool that you can send these in the mail. Please email me if you have any questions about making these. I have found a few really helpful tutorials and then I do...

I made my first fabric postcard today! I enjoyed the process. I followed a couple of online tutorials (just google "fabric postcard instructions" and you will get all kinds of information.) I love the whole idea of mail art and since I'm enjoying fabric art right now....it seemed only natural to try some fabric postcards. So.....without further ramblings......here is my first fabric postcard..... One of my loyal followers will be getting this in the mail in the next few days. Today we went to Midland to get a new pump for our pond. We stopped at a few other places and ate at Texas Burger. YUM! Craig started packing for Seattle which got me inspired to start packing. (Heather is already packed). We leave Tuesday. Tomorrow will be a day of getting everything ready for our trip as we leave Tuesday morning.....I'm so excited. Will keep you posted.

I finished this one this week. I am working on another and I have a custom order. I enjoy making these little purses. I'm thinking of making a bigger/shoulder bag for me. I prefer a shoulder strap. Also, I think they need at least a pocket for the cell phone....so I'm working on a design. It has been a quick weekend. Feels like it will be time to go back to work so quick. Looking forward to our trip to Seattle in September. It will be here before we know it. We are all so excited to go somewhere. Hope you are having a FABULOUS WEEKEND!

I finally bought my first ipod ! For several years I have wanted one. I just could not bring myself to spend over $200.00 on one (for me that is). Both of the kids and the hubby had one though. (Hello, my name is Lesley Chandler and I am a poor abused/neglected mother and wife... LOL ). I have known about podcasts for some time now and always thought that if I ever get myself an iPod that I would love podcasts ....TRUE THAT!!! Oh, first let me say that I was wrong about the price! Not all of the iPods are that expensive. They vary in terms of space and price. More space....more price. So, I got an Ishuffle for only 45.00 at walmart which says it has enough space for about 250 songs ( I believe that is what it said). So I bought it. I could not wait to get home and download Itunes . After I got all that done, I downloaded some of my favorite music using my Paypal account....YES, isn't that great?...they accept Paypal . Then, I clicked on the PODCAST section. Then ART (oh yes) ...

I decided this morning that I wanted to make a fabric birdhouse. I saw one a while back on the internet and for the life of me, I could not find the one I liked so much. The one I liked was quilted and all kinds of crazy fabric was used. But, I just had to do it anyway so I came up with this one. I started out by using 8X12 canvas pad pages for my pattern. After some folding and cutting I was able to construct a paper birdhouse. I used masking tape to put it together so I could see if it would work. It all seemed to fit together nicely so I dove into the fabric and cut out my patterns. I filled each piece with batting to make it stiffer and easier to stand. I used the sewing machine to sew the quilt like pieces. I applied the little "opening" with a felt circle and the blanket stitch. I used the blanket stitch to assemble the entire piece. I stuffed with polyfil. Now that it is done, I have all kinds of ideas to make it a little more creative. Oh, and hubby says I should put...

This is a mixed media piece I completed yesterday. The little tulips were created from muslin, machine stitched, stuffed, gessoed, embedded with vintage dictionary, glazed and protected. Then I added the little striped stems and added them to the already prepared canvas. I added the letters GROW. The frame was built by me from a yardstick donated to me by my good friend Renea. I knew I would find a good use for them some day. I don't like how I kind of did a wash on the frame. I am thinking of painting black and white checks. Here are the sides.....what do you think? I think I may have cracked the code for crackling fabric! I don't know if I told you but I have mentioned it on facebook about trying to figure out how to crackle fabric! Man, I have tried so many things! (I have been using muslin). Finally yesterday, I used these steps to create a fairly descent crackle on muslin. I'm still going to try another thing I read about yesterday called one step crackle by deco art...

My goodness, I just realized today that this post will be my 400 th post since beginning this blog in 2006. Did I really have that much to say? Does anyone really want to hear from me that much? I think YES!!!!! OF COURSE THEY DO!!! SO, I continue on Dahling ! I love blogging, love my blog friends, love the feedback, love the creating part of typing up a post and adding the pictures that fit the subject just right, love the give aways, contests, and challenges....what's not to love about blogging?!!! ! It is all a blessing to have this much fun, I think! I will continue to blog as long as I have something to blog about and the mind and hands to do it. I completed this fabric soft sculpture heart this morning....very early (since I could not sleep-day 2 of the interrupted sleep cycle-probably hormonal and a whole other post). I wanted this piece to have the crackle effect and it does in some places, just not as much as I wanted.....I'm experimenting with different techniques ...

Esther and Fred? Who Knew? Oh my! We have quite the scandal in Fru-Fru town. I was not going to say anything......I found out about the actual elopement last month. I just thought it was not my place to say anything.....but everyone in Fru- Fru town is whispering this and that.....oh the gossip is flying. So, I feel it necessary to explain what happened. It seems that Esther really did like Fred . They took off and eloped on April 21. (Purchased on Etsy that day-LOL....oh just go with it!) Who Knew? OK, Esther was the new school teacher that came from the town of Bla-Bla for her first teaching assignment. Fred, was the local banker. Everyone knew that Fred kinda liked Esther at first but she said she thought he had "little man syndrome" and she did not care for him. Well, she must have liked him in private because they just up and left and got hitched! Yep! They got married. They came back after about a week or so after spending some time in Bla-Bla with her family. What a ...

I finished these fabric flowers yesterday. I loved the polkadot material. I just used fabric stiffener and I baked them some to make the fabric hard. I hot glued the stems and tied pretty ribbon. These are my kinda flowers......I can't kill these. Just dust and go. LOL Then after thinking about it a bit, I decided to make some round ones....kinda like pansies. That was not enough though.....I wanted them to be sort of primitive so I tea dyed them and baked them to stiffen. I also added polyurthane.....which by the way, I don't like as it seems to have a very mild stickiness even after they dried. So we live and learn....anyway....here they are. Then I decided to so something else with fabric....something different and unique. Oh my goodness, sometimes I can't leave well enough alone. I do not like this creation but I like the concept so I might have to play with the idea some more. I wanted to make a fabric sculpture piece of art that you could hang on the wall. This is ...

I s it just Tuesday? I feel like it should be at least Thursday. I hurt my ankle yesterday trying to walk in high heel boots that I wear often and love so much. I was unloading the back of my car after work and I kind of "rolled" my heel and fell. That is what the ortho nurse called it ....."rolled". fUNNY! It felt more like "yanked". Anyway, the right ankle quickly began to swell and I was so worried I had fractured it. But my husband and I decided it was not a fracture and stuck it out until this morning and self treated doing the RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation) thing. Neither one of us wanted to be in the ER for God knows how long. I went to see the local (only) ortho and after xrays and a quick exam....discovered it was only a sprain. What a wimp I am. DUDE it hurts. How can this only be a "sprain"? Heehee, I'm so dramatic. So, I got this brace thingy (hubby called it a "tendon compression device" because he kn...

Did I Take a Picture She Asks?! I made this little doll for Renea and I gave it to her the other day. Does it remind you of anyone? Today, I received an email from her asking if I took a picture of this doll? (heehee) AND, if I did, I should post about it. Of course I did! Here it is! I made this little F.A.Q. Fru Fru so that I could always be with Renea! Funny~! I love making these little FruFrus. I have decided to make them a series. Each doll will have his/her own name and story. I will sign each one on the back (Yes Renea, I know I have not signed yours yet). So, I have 4 (not counting Funky Lady here). Let's see, first I made "Rebecca". She is a sweet, young lady (17) who loves working in her rose gardens. She has every kind of rose possible. When not working at the general store that her parents own, she is either working in her rose garden or attending social gatherings with her friends. She is a faithful attendant at her church and often teaches Sunday School to t...

After playing a little yesterday with the staining and baking of fabric.....I had to go further. I am so inspired by artists like Jennifer-Butt Uglee that I find myself wanting to do more art with fabric and prim techniques. So, today, I set out to make a doll. I wanted to do something Valentines. I made my own pattern for this doll. Meet Ms. February: I'm not kidding, I worked on this little lady all day long. This would be my first "rag" doll and it took some thinking to construct her properly. Then, I had to create her clothes and her little heart banner. But, I enjoyed making her very much. She is listed in my Etsy shop now!

prim hearts close Originally uploaded by Funky Art Queen I started making these fabric heart ornaments yesterday and finished them today. I had a lot of fun with these. I am learning about distressing fabric through staining with tea/coffee and baking. One of them is actually felt and was not baked. Everyone should have a bowl of hearts don't you think? Well, everyone except for SEBASTIAN ~! He had one already (he snuck it off the table right before their photo shoot) and he seemed to like it. Oh the challenges we face! LOL

mr and mrs frufru 2 Originally uploaded by Funky Art Queen I finished Mr. Fru Fru tonight. Now Mr and Mrs can be together. How appropriate since Valentines is coming up! Oh, and Mrs. FruFru is so excited about the Valentines swap going on over at Pocket Full of Pretty's and so am I. Get over there and sign up. What fun!!!! Also, be looking for my challenge that is coming soon! I will need your help on this one!!!! It will be fun! It will be a celebration of my 350th post! Wow, can you believe I have been blogging since Jan of 2006? Oh my, it is probably the longest I have ever done one thing. Anyway, to all you people who love to take pics.....get ready.....

Meet Mrs. Fru Fru Originally uploaded by Funky Art Queen I would like to introduce you to Mrs. FruFru. I created her today. Once again, I was inspired by Renea my dear friend. Her recent interest in all these fabric photo people..... I probably would not have stopped long enough to notice if Renea had not pointed them out to me. So, I just had to try and make one. I created Mrs. FruFru in a relatively short amount of time today. Now, I'm going to share a tutorial with you on how to create your own fabric family. Please go make some! The FruFru family would like some company in their town. They run the little General Store in FruFruVille. Papa FruFru will make his grand entrance soon as will the children! First, find a vintage photo that you really like that would make a good little Frufru person. Make sure that there is not too much detail in the outline or you will curse this piece of art while sewing and stuffing! Now follow my old tutorial on printing on fabric here . I used mu...

OM gosh, only 7 days. The panic is setting in. I think I must work better under pressure because I'm suddenly making lists...checking them twice....etc. Anyhoo, just a few things to share this morning..... Debbie over at Suburb Sanity featured me in her blog! Well, I say "featured" as it seems a little more special then saying "mentioned". Anyway, if you don't visit her blog, you are missing out on lots of laughs. She is very good at capturing the day in the life of women, mothers, etc....to me, she is a lot like Erma Bombeck. I hope she will write a book someday. She has over 99 followers, maybe you can add to her numbers. Oilcloth: Yesterday, I was listening to Martha Stewart 112 on serius radio and she was talking about making oilcloth placemats. I have been interested in making oilcloth somethings for some time but could never find oilcloth. Here is the link she suggests for purchasing oilcloth But she also gave some tips about sewing oilcloth. She sa...

Well, I'm kind of in a creative funk again. I hate it when this happens! I'm so glad that next weekend I am going to Fredricksberg, TX again to the trade days. I know it will inspire me in all kinds of directions. Meanwhile, while I am trying to get my groove back........I have been making a lot of little short term projects in the paper department. I made this little posey pin from faux vintage post/letters etc papers from the scrapbooking department. I actually wore it yesterday on my jacket. Then I spotted this book on Fabric Flowers by Elizabeth Helene Searle at the fabric store and I had to get it. I used her instructions to make this first fabric flower. I want to try several of her other flowers instructions. Now, what will I do with them? Who knows? Does it really matter if I am enjoying myself? Probably everyone will get fabric or paper flowers for Christmas! Heehee Have a great day.

My dear friend Renea inspired me once again. She said something about the birds I had made and that made me want to make another one. I was really planning to do another wordy bird but you know how I get distracted. I saw this purple and gold fabric in my fabric stash and it was calling me. What a funky bird this would make! My husband loved it. He said it reminded him of a hologram for some reason. I guess the contrast of the orange checks and the purple checks is a bit much for the eyes! Heehee The legs on this one were so much easier than the last ones I made. I used floral wire and taped them with brown floral tape. I guess the stiffness was just right and the tape gives you something to anchor it to the body by sewing. I finished the big painting!!!!! I emailed a pic to Tandi (the lady who ordered it) and I'm waiting for her response. Then, if she does not hate it and I am not in a deep dark depression.....just kidding, I will show it to you. Anyway, I'm glad I fina...

DAY 2 of 29 DAYS OF GIVING Yesterday was day two for me. I thought all day long but nothing came to me until late in the day it hit me. Lately, I have been making these little fabric houses. They are just little funky, stuffed houses that are ornamental and fun. I had thought these would make fun little gifts for people who have recently bought a home. A house warming gift. But that idea was brought about as a marketing idea. I'm always making all this stuff and trying to think of ways to sell it. Then, DUH! It hit me. My sister and her husband recently bought a beautiful home. Why could I not make her a special little house. Usually when these thoughts occur, I selfishly think how that will keep me from making something that I might can sell. Well, it's not like I"m poor! I have a day job. I'm just obsessed with the idea of making this art thing my day job some day!!!!Anyway, I decided to make Rhea (my sister) and her hubby (Jesse) a little house warming house. I spe...

Happy Funky Fabric Houses! I started making these little houses a month or so ago and I really enjoy them. They are just little pieces of fabric art that can be embellished in so many ways. The one pictured above is my most recent. I loved the little fibers hanging off the chiminey on this one. I love the "house" shape and pictures with houses. I wonder what that means? I think the house shape/pics of houses represent home, safety, security, love, warmth, many many happy things to me. I think these little houses would be cute house warming gifts. I made one of the little houses a Frida house. I know her house was blue and so I started with that. Then I added several fabric transfers and some letter buttons to spell her name. Then with Halloween coming, I felt the need to make some Halloween houses. This is the latest one. Happy Halloween! All of these houses are available at my Etsy shop today! Go and check them out!