"If you hear a voice within you say, 'you cannot paint,' then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced." --Vincent van Gogh

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Infusing Color

I am tired of brown, green, gray. No offense to those lovely colors, but the bleak winter landscape has been weighing on me. Maybe it was the cold spell we had, I don't really know. I decided what I needed was some color - bright, vibrant, and warm - to bring me some enthusiasm.
I hadn't painted dryer sheets in a while,so I decided this was a good place to start. Look at these beautiful colors! An instant mood lift.
But then, what to do? I decided to take a stab at making coffee cuffs ... you know, those cardboard sleeves you get with your hot beverage-of-choice so you don't burn your hand? I have a fabric one that my friend Carolyn made for me a couple of years ago and I use it every time.
This is actually the second one I made. The outside is painted dryer sheets, free motion quilting and some beads. The inside is hand dyed cotton. This one is laced up with yarn to keep it closed.

This next one is the first one I did. I had a little trouble with getting the shape right and had to re-do it a few times. Still, I think it came out nice. An unconventional nod to Valentine's Day...

I satin stitched this one closed, which was no easy feat on my machine. I love my machine, but it lacks a free arm ... and stitching inside a small circular shape without one is a trick!

Now I need to test them out ... coffee with a friend sounds like just the ticket! Then I will make more and put them in my etsy shop.
I wonder if maybe I am missing the Caribbean? Spring will be here soon! In the meantime I'll enjoy my soft sweaters and warm socks and get my color fix through paint.

8 comments:

Genie said...

Beautiful colours would make great Bracelets Too>

Elizabeth said...

Great idea and wonderful colors!! SPRING is coming , Right??????
Yes it is!!
hugs!
E

Jeanne Turner McBrayer said...

Too pretty for coffee holders...definitely bracelet material! Very tropical!

Quilter422 said...

those are adorable - i thought at first they were the wrist cuffs that are so popular right now.

carole brungar said...

Actually I agree, YAY for bright colours!! :)

morningDove said...

oh i love the snow we are getting today. a clean slate to color whatever i want. love your dryer sheets, saw that in a mag. recently.
may dry snow dyeing. i have a bunch of dryer sheets i want to try coloring too. thank you for your eye candy.

NEEDLEWINGS said...

Oh what a wonderful display of color! I need that too as we are so dreary brown. Looking forward to spring already! Glad to see that your studio is blooming!

Karen said...

Cute Michelle what a clever idea and practical as well.