Starting to Crazy Quilt

I've launched my new hobby. While I was waiting to recieve the small silk package from Delectable Mountain Cloth, I started working on a practice Crazy Quilt. I didn't want to ruin my silks with ignorance. I need practice with piecing, embroidery, layout and just figuring out how the whole crazy quilt thing works. I'm using  Allie Aller's Crazy Quilting for direction. This is just a part of my block so far. I'm calling it my crazy quilting sampler:

My sewing machine has been acting up whenever I try to do something fancy so off to the shop it went for maintenance. Now I'm in withdrawals and having to do all my stitching by hand. Very time consuming!

Some pictures of the beautiful silks from Delectable Mountain Cloth. They are gorgeous!

Can't wait to get started with these.

Fun With Hipstamatic

 I've been having some serious fun with the Hipstamatic app on my iPhone. I never quite know what the final result will look. Often I'm holding the phone at weird angles and trying to hit the photo button without moving the phone too much. The app comes with different lenses, film and flashes. You can shake the phone to come up with random combinations. I'm not sure if everyone has this much fun with the app or I'm just easily amused.

Almond Blossoms on the tree and on the ground.

California Poppies.

 Cherry blossoms from underneath and cut flowers from my garden.

 It looks like some strange jungle scene but it's really just some random tree near my home.

Pink Kabuki

Pink Kabuki by cmcarino featuring a silk shawl

Stella McCartney print dress
$1,405 - mytheresa.com

D G flower dress
£340 - vanmildert.com

Pink jewelry
jewelry.1stdibs.com

Mary Katrantzou green scarve
$595 - barneys.com

Antik Batik silk shawl
€137 - antikbatik.fr

Bindya pink shawl
£125 - liberty.co.uk

Antik Batik pink scarve
€105 - antikbatik.fr

Pieces pink shawl
€18 - welikefashion.com

Pip Studio Pink Bird Print Breakfast Plate
£8.95 - liberty.co.uk

Jenny Packham Pink Star Sequined Cocktail Dress
€1.789 - jades24.com

Pink/cream Vitality Floral wallpaper
£18 - debenhams.com

Another New Hobby

Well, I just got off the phone with the wonderful lady at Delectable Mountain Cloth. Once again, I've decided to embark on a new form of creating. I'm starting to think I have ADHD when it comes to Arts and Crafts. Or maybe I just have a shopping addiction. Anyway, I was working on ribbon flowers last week when I did an internet search for Candace Kling ribbon flowers. I was trying to get an idea for compositions. I didn't really find what I wanted but I did find Susan Elliot's Blog, Plays With Needles.  She had attended one of Candace Klings's workshops and was blogging about it. Of course, I had to spend time perusing her blog and from there, I decided I might want to try some Crazy Quilting.


Crazy Quilting. It looked like it might be a good use for all my ribbons, ribbon flowers, lace, buttons, montees, fabrics, threads, etc.. So I ordered Allie Aller's Crazy Quilting book right away. I read the book, decided I could possibly create something and went back to Susan's blog to find the entry where she talked about the beautiful "small silk pieces assortment" that she received in the mail. That's what led me to Delectable Mountain Cloth. I should receive the bundle in the next few weeks and I will take it from there.

In the mean time, here are a few ribbon flowers and ribbons.

Mountain Bluebird

Trying to add a little bird photography to my portfolio. I really started taking photos just to have pictures for my own mixed media art; however, I find myself a little obsessed with creating good photos. Everyone has to start somewhere. I went out searching for Mountain Bluebirds near my home and found a few. They're much more beautiful than I can capture with my current skill level.

After visiting the Contemporary Craft Market at Fort Mason and viewing some beautiful ribbon flower brooches, I felt inspired to make one of my own. I pulled out The Artful Ribbon by Candace Kling and stitched up a few flowers, added a few jonquil Swarovski montees in the center and voila, an enormous ribbon brooch. Now I just need a beautiful hat to pin it on.

The Mind

I think creating digital art on Polyvore is taking up too much time and I should get back to some paint. It's just so addictive.

The Mind by cmcarino on polyvore.com

Bassett Mirror Basketweave Round Mirror
$262 - bloomingdales.com