A Midwestern Conundrum

I got an invitation/request to donate something to the ReStore Art Show/Auction next year.  They asked for another doll but, since I haven't been making them lately, I offered them a quilt instead.  They said yes.

I'm a little overwhelmed with the idea of making something new but I'm pretty sure I only feel that way because it's so close to Christmas right now.  I don't have to start anything till afterwards.  But it occurred to me today that I could just donate this older quilt.  

I'm proud of it and all it really does right now is hang on a wall.  Someone, somewhere might really get some use out of it.  I'm pretty sure I feel that way because I'm from the Midwest and tend towards being practical even when I don't want to be.  Plus, I LOVE ReStore and want to support them.

What I don't know is what how to price it.  It took for freakin' ever.  Whether I make a fresh quilt or not, pricing is going to be hard. 

Any advice?  I could really use some.

Also, here's a bonus photo of the last drawing I made in my last Figure Drawing class.  Looking at it now, I can see that her neck looks crazy huge but I'm very proud of the hair.  I'm trying to decide if I want to take the class again.  It was really fun but not particularly practical.  Again, such a Midwestern conundrum. 

Cloth Instant Book

One last Instant Book made for displaying at my Saturday program.   I mentioned this one earlier so this could be considered to be more follow up, right?  I'm growing up. Here's the front cover of the book. 

 

I randomly used images from a pair of pants that I found at Dig N Save and cut up.  I want to know who thought: You know what will make great pants: Pictures of people!  It's whack-a-doo and will not be seen walking around in a town near you because those pants are now a book. 

There's something you don't hear every day. 

 

Next pages.

 

The book in the book.  In staring at these randomly placed images while sewing on and playing with the book,  I kind of came up with a story/non-story thing.  So I used my daughters junky old typewriter (Best kind for this project) and typed it up.

 

Then I stapled the cut up pages into the paper Instant Book that lives inside the cloth Instant Book.

 

 

 

 

 I hope I was clear enough about this story really making no sense.  I embroidered a little yellow and green thing onto each page and that thing is what the story is about.  Really. 

Then I just stapled the paper book into the cloth book. 

And the back cover.  

In sewing it up, I embraced the messy!  But that's hardly worth mentioning because I always do. I feel like I'm pretty well set for my program.  One whole person has signed up...that's actually pretty typical for a library program.  People tend to sign up at the very last moment so wish me luck.  I'll run it no matter what. 

Seven!

So, I wrote a little comic book 'zine thing.  I'll use it as a display for my Instant Book Program that I'm running at the Library this weekend.  I just found out that the Madison 'Zinefest is this weekend and I might bring it there, too.

 

Here's a page done just in pencil.  I only posted one picture here because it's not very interesting to see them all. I thought it would be but, no, it's just repetitive.

I went over the pencil with a superfine sharpie (truly a super and fine marker - I love them).

Cover

Actually, I decorated it a little bit more - it looks so boring here.

 I have to preface this with these disclaimers:  I don't obsess on my school years; this story happened to come up as the result of a Lynda Barry workshop.  I was a weird and nervous child but I'm fine now, thank you.  This story is totally true.

I did add the words "Math Test" on this one.

Scary Miss O.  I used to have nightmares about her.

And I added the words "Test Results" because it wasn't really clear.

 

Here's the whole shebang before it gets "instant book-a-cised"

 I made a few copies just to see if it would work.  I'm going to make some more now that I've seen them.  It was truly fun. 

Follow Up!

I realize that I bring things up here sometimes and then never mention them later.  So, here are some things that require a little follow up:

Lynda Barry workshop:  Soooo fun.  I was inspired to write a little 'zine in Instant Book format but haven't finished yet (Yes, this follow up requires follow up - I see that now).

I brought my bargello quilt to the Modern Quilt Guild and we did our swap.

My partner was very gracious.  I was hoping there would be a picture on Facebook that I could use here but it never got posted.  She made me a lovely purse with my denim scraps.  I think I'll keep going to the meetings after all. 

The shoe insert idea?

Total bust, didn't work at all.  They made the orthotics slip all over the place.  Oh well.  They are cute but I don't know what to do with them now. 

Hand Map thingy: 

Back burner.  I am going to move the hand to a larger backing piece. I am too busy preparing for two different library craft programs to work on a project with no foreseeable purpose.  I don't think I'll even have time to make Christmas gifts this year which is totally freaky. 

I'm sure there are more but I can't think of them now.  Pictures of the 'zine and the purse will be here soon...I imagine...