Evie's Ark, All Things Animal
One feisty redhead, her two adorable cats, and a whole lot of painting and sewing!
Welcome to Evie's Ark, All Things Animal! Since 2001.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Tattoo Girl quilt - the process begins

The Art of Tattoo art show is quickly approaching, so I'm getting my sewing butt into gear! Here's what I've been up to with my next quilt project. I'm working on the Tattoo Girl quilt using the fabric that my mom gave me for Christmas. I'll combine the purple and yellow fabrics to create a double nine patch quilt block.


I started by cutting out two inch strips of the yellow and purple fabrics. This handy ruler with the slits in it pictured below is called a June Tailor. If you don't have one, then you should run out and get one right away! It makes rotary cutting consistent and easy as a snap.




I cut many, many strips of yellow and purple fabric because I knew I had a lot of nine patches to make!




I felt terrible for disturbing the sleeping kitty passed out on my sewing chair!




I then began to sew the yellow and purple strips of fabric together by facing the fabric toward each other and working with a 1/4" seam allowance. Purple, yellow, purple. Then yellow, purple, yellow.




Here's what the two color combination fabrics looked like when they were finished being sewn together.




I then went back to my cutting mat and June Tailor ruler to cut the color combination strips into two inch segments again. Here's what the two stacks looked like afterwards.




I then used one piece from the purple stack and sewed it to a yellow piece, which was then followed by another purple piece. Again, face to face with the fabrics with a 1/4" seam allowance.




That process completed a nine patch block. Not too shabby on my points matching either!




I'll then take the above block and sew the solid yellow piece pictured below next to it in order to complete the process of the double nine patch. Purple, yellow, purple. Followed by a yellow, purple, yellow underneath that row. Complete with a purple, yellow, purple at the bottom. Does that make sense?




I plan one making 6 double nine patches to border the Tattoo Girl fabric focal piece. But all that sewing is for another day. And so it that blog with more photos! Stay tuned!

Friday, February 20, 2009

Tattoo quilt. Yeah, really!

So a few weeks ago, one of my Mom's friends went to the new quilt shop in Citrus Heights. And she immediately called my Mom when she saw a bolt of fabric called "Tattoo Girl." She told my Mom that it was soooooo me! So of course, my Mom zipped right on over and picked up five yards!

So when Side Show Studios announced that they will hold their Art of Tattoo art show in March, I knew what had to be done - a Tattoo Girl quilt! Here's a few pictures of this beautiful fabric. It's so lovely that I almost don't want to cut it!










Here are the fabrics that I will use to create this quilt. I'll do a double 9 patch block to tie in the many colors of the focal fabric.




Mark your calendars now because this art show will be off the hook!

The Art of Tattoo art show
Saturday, March 14 from 6-10pm
Side Show Studios
5635 Freeport Boulevard in Sacramento

This annual art show explores one of the most ancient arts - tattooing - from skin to canvas! This exhibit not only displays tattoo art as contemporary art, it takes visitors on a visual journey. Local and national artists will display their tattoo inspired artwork and photographs, Side Show's 9 highly trained artists will be on hand to discuss current creative approaches to tattoo designs, and people with amazing ink will show off their skin as canvases!

Sunday, February 15, 2009

How we found love

Last night, we held the Sacramento Art Connects "Looking For Love" art show fundraiser at Vox Sacramento! And we had an overwhelming amount of support for not only the art on display, but also for the drawing baskets which had been publicized as the fundraising prizes! I was able to get over $1,200 in donated goodies to put into the six baskets! I pulled an all-nighter the night before the art show assembling these baskets. I'm very pleased with how nicely they turned out.




Emily was kind enough to push her Valentine's dinner plans back to a later time in the evening so that she could come help out at the show. And Char was just thrilled to be out of the shop. She had her pitch down on selling the drawing tickets!



So while Emily and Char were manning the table, I snuck off to take a peek at the art on display. I snapped a few pictures for your viewing pleasure!


Gabriel Sanford.




This piece just makes me smile!




Kelly Croisdale. I'm loving the new look to her art.




Mark Stivers.




Jim Shepard Jr. I think he might have camped out to get all of his art hung!




My favorite animal has always been the cat. Elephants are a very close second. There is wisdom in their beautiful eyes.




I was crushed to find out that this vanity piece had already sold. Someone got a great deal and a stunning piece of art!



Thanks to everyone who came out to support Sacramento Art Connects and Vox Sacramento!

Friday, February 13, 2009

I scored!

So while taking a brain break, I decided to cruise around the Craig's List arts and crafts section. That's when I came across an ad posted by a woman who said that she just didn't have time to quilt any more and was selling off her stash. Wait, what? Who doesn't have time to quilt? There are days when I forget to eat because I haven't once gotten up from the sewing machine! So I jumped on this opportunity and sent her my my best pleading email about how I would take tender loving care of her dear fabric.

So after the long trek during rush hour traffic and a torrential downpour, I reached my destination in West Roseville. And for a few mere bucks, here's my grand prize!


I so love the kitties on these fabrics. Those pieces will be incorporated into the Evie's Ark Rat-a-tat Cat Mats, which will soon be brought back by popular demand. Wink, wink!




These brightly colored fabrics are all fat quarters. I wonder what I should create. Perhaps a sea themed baby quilt?

A day of love

Happy Valentine's Day!

Love, Evie and Zoey




Friday, February 6, 2009

Just in time for Valentine's Day

Organic catnip toys - for the love of your life!


Hearts.




Stars.




Is anyone else craving Lucky Charm's cereal, or is it just me?

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Looking For Love art show

Vox Sacramento was looking for love - and they found it with Sacramento Art Connects!

Join us at the new Vox Sacramento location in West Sacramento for a February Second Saturday Art Walk fundraiser to benefit Sacramento Art Connects.

Saturday, February 14, 2008
6-10pm
Vox Sacramento
4th and F Streets in West Sac

Sacramento Art Connects will hold a drawing at the art show. For a donation, you can drop your name into one of the 5 "wishbowls" for a chance to win an amazing art inspired package created from the prizes donated below!

The following artists generously donated originals artworks to support this cause:
C!nder
Kelly Crosidale
Lori Ann DeLappe-Grondin
Amy Fort
Char Hall
Jennifer Keller
Matt Marsango
Krissi Sandvik
Jill Allyn Stafford
Temple Terkildsen

The following companies and organizations have also generously donated:
Crest Theatre - 5 admissions and concession snacks
Deeda Salon - $50 certificate and hair products
Enotria - hors d'oeuvres party for 10 people
Healthy Habits Fitness and Yoga Studio - 1 month of unlimited classes
Sacramento Theatre Company - 2 tickets to an upcoming performance
Side Show Studios - tattoo gift certificates and t-shirts

If you or your company would also like to support the Sacramento art community with a donation, please email evie.turner@sacartconnects.org.




The featured artists on display at Vox that evening will be: Justin Emerson, Carmen Gonzalez, Elizabeth Wocasek, Kelly Croisdale, Medeya Kikabidze, Lob, Jim Shepard Jr., Jamie Casteneda, Mark Stivers, Jared Konopitski, Gabriel Sanford, Casey Alford, Yelena Kopylov-Alford, Tony Allen, and Rachel Young.

Music will be provided by: You Versus Me, From Soil To Sand, Chelsea Wolfe, and Coolfield.

Hope to see you there!

www.SacramentoArtConnects.org
www.VoxSac.com