MonaLeisa

Mmmm

2010-06-30T08:55:00.001-07:00

Mmmm, originally uploaded by Mona Leisa.

Feeling a little more professional these days with my awesome new tags! It is a little absurd how much I LOVE these things.

It took me awhile to first- find someone to design the tags, and then second- to print them the way I wanted. Jessica Swift was the designer I chose. I love the way she works with text- it was perfect for my tags. And Kick & Screen did the screen print work. Eleanor was lovely to work with & always used excellent Australian slang- such as "bloke". Love it. Now I need to get sewing so I can put these tags to use!

Something New

2010-06-15T05:22:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine needed something to go under her centerpiece on her kitchen table- so i had a go at it. Discovering an upholstery shop (shame on my friends for taking a year to tell me about this place) and some lovely fabric was the best inspiration!

Trellis Hunt

2010-05-23T13:20:00.001-07:00

Rusting Bicycle Trellis, originally uploaded by J.G. in S.F..

I've been working in the garden for a few months now and have been looking for a trellis to grow some jasmine on. Someday I will have a little garden shed or barn- and this will be my trellis! Until then- the hunt for a large trellis continues.

A Success!

2010-04-14T15:50:00.000-07:00

It looks to me like Audrey approves! The Strawberry Shortcake and Dora pillows are so perfect. Her mom said she had to get everything situated "just right" for the photo! Miss you guys!

For Miss Audrey

2010-04-06T11:14:00.001-07:00

For Miss Audrey, originally uploaded by Mona Leisa.

Well, here is my biggest quilt to date! Whew. It feels good to have this one done. Not only is it the biggest, I also haven't tried pillow shams before! That's what friends are for- to talk you into something you haven't tried. I sure hope Miss Audrey likes them.

Raising Support

2010-01-31T13:56:00.000-08:00

Monaleisa now has burp cloth sets to support Relay for Life. They are hip, stylish... for a burp cloth, and for a good cause!

Treasured for the 3rd Time!

2009-11-22T18:42:00.000-08:00

I've made it into my third treasury! Yea! I've been so busy working on custom quilts that I haven't had time to make any quilts to simply upload for sale. I guess that's a good problem- as long as I can get my custom ones done!

A Great (as in awesome) Grandma

2009-11-10T14:28:00.000-08:00

My grandma is awesome- especially when it comes to knitting. I ordered some beautiful hand dyed yarn from EverMoreStudios on etsy and my grandma made us our Christmas stockings! I can't wait to fill them up. Thanks grandma!

Baby Reid

2009-09-29T18:01:00.000-07:00

It's a boy! Baby Reid is here & is already cuddled in his quilt! Scott & Danielle, we can't wait to meet him. He is precious.

Jacob's Quilt

2009-09-26T05:46:00.000-07:00

Last winter I made a quilt and bumper for a baby on the way. Well, he's here and couldn't be sweeter. Another satisfied customer! Thanks so much for the adorable photo, Abbey! I am in love with the stuffed animal too!!

My Saturday Morning

2009-09-12T21:31:00.001-07:00

My Saturday Morning, originally uploaded by Mona Leisa.

It feels good to be productive!

Studio Additions

2009-09-03T15:24:00.001-07:00

Studio Additions, originally uploaded by Mona Leisa.

I'm in love with my new antique wire shelf that my friend thought was just calling my name! I had the perfect place for it. Thanks Maghan!

B & W Fabric

2009-08-15T08:41:00.001-07:00

B & W Fabric, originally uploaded by Mona Leisa.

Working on a quilt with black & white fabrics! I'm really excited for this one.

International Sketchbook Project

2009-07-27T16:30:00.001-07:00

Leisa Wuthrich - Tifton" "Ga USA, originally uploaded by internationalsb.

What is the International Sketch Book Project? A sketchbook will be sent from Northern VA to 50 illustrators/designers around the world. Each artist in a new country must put their design in the sketchbook and send it on to the next person in the next country. The book will start its rotation in April 3, 2009 and be returned back to Northern VA after the last entry has been made.

This is a sneak peek of my contribution! Good 'ole Georgia peaches!

http://www.isketchbookproject.com/

Isobel and Her Quilt

2009-07-24T14:22:00.000-07:00

Photos like this... are why I love making quilts. I love knowing that this little sweetheart will be cuddling her quilt for years to come. Thanks for the great photo, Sophie!

Alexis and the Garden

2009-07-15T12:21:00.001-07:00

Alexis and the Garden, originally uploaded by Mona Leisa.

This is my niece and her family's garden. Isn't it beautiful? They live on a small farmstead and, in my opinion, have the greatest vegetable plot around. My jealousy makes me think... maybe I'll plant my own... next year.

Vintage Fabric

2009-06-29T20:07:00.000-07:00

Thank you, thank you, thank you to my mother-in-law for this awesome stash of vintage fabrics! (this isn't even half of it!) I've already made a curtain for my bathroom and a quilt. Hmm.... what next?

HOW TO: Decoupage Canvas

2009-06-10T06:49:00.000-07:00

So here's another project form the beginning of my summer. Actually, I guess it began last fall, when I came across stacks of Holiday Magazines at a local antique/thrift shop. I had never heard of Holiday Magazine, but was very much in love with the beautiful vintage covers and images. As I was sifting through the stacks- I came across this cover.

Beautiful green fields and it reads, "The Most American of all States ILLINOIS" Love it!

So, I decided that I wanted to hang it in my kitchen- but really it's too small. Then I remembered an excellent White Oak solution! White Oak... or maybe the combination of mine & Lori's brains... really had a solution for everything! Actually, I think this was straight up Lori's idea. Sidebar. Sorry. So, at WO we had enlarged these great pics of the kids- so large that we had to piece them together- and then we decoupaged them onto canvas. So, that is what I decided to do with my magazine cover. We had done the pics of the kids in black and white- so I wasn't sure how color copies would behave- but it was fine.

Materials
enlarged copies of images
canvas- mine was used:)
glue- I recommend Yes Glue or Mod Podge
large brush
shellac- optional

Then you have to trim your pieces and spend some time fitting them together dry and on the canvas. I began decoupaging the edges of the canvas with scraps of green- because I didn't want to frame the canvas. Then, carefully decoupage the pieces down, doing your best to match them up. Really, if some parts aren't perfect- you really don't notice it later:)

While it was still wet, you could kinda see the painting behind it and the individual pieces. Once it dried- it all vanished. I put a coat of shellac on it- and now it hangs in the kitchen.

HOW TO: Self-Portrait Mirrors

2009-06-09T18:30:00.000-07:00

This spring, I was teaching an art class and needed mirrors for students to look at themselves for a self-portrait. So where do I go? The Dollar Store, of course! I completely cleaned them out of 8x10 mirrors.

One problem. They weren't free-standing mirrors and I needed them to be propped up in front of students. Well- I brainstormed and this is what I came up with.

Materials
mirrors
hot glue gun & glue
strips of fabric

1. On backside of one mirror- place a strip of fabric horizontally across the top- half on the mirror, half off- and glue with hot glue. Glue another strip vertically on the bottom.

2. Glue the loose half of the top strip to the back of another mirror (back to back- attached by fabric at top). This creates a flexible hinge.

3. Then glue the bottom strip of fabric, leaving 5 inches or so between the two mirrors.

4. Get to work.

A Quilt for Baby John

2009-05-08T19:23:00.001-07:00

IMG_5760, originally uploaded by sarah_schrock00.

This is where my quilts belong! I love seeing them in their homes... with their babies. Thanks for the pic Sarah!

Bulletin Board for the Studio

2009-04-22T16:25:00.000-07:00

So, I've been arranging my studio and wanted a large bulletin board for an open wall. I am constantly collecting things here and there, with ideas for upcoming projects... or... who knows what. Well, needless to say, I couldn't find exactly what I wanted- so, thanks to an awesome friend who can find a great post about anything, I was inspired to make my own!

So this is where she led me...
http://mayamade.blogspot.com/2008/10/sack-hack.html

and this is what I did....

Materials:
2 large bulletin boards
a few yards of burlap
staple gun
scissors

Cover both boards with burlap- just like
stretching a canvas- leaving the hanging
hook exposed.

Ooh- so pretty:)

Hang in the studio (while your husband
stands in the kitchen, concerned about the
drilling and hammering noises)

Then, load it up!

Treasury

2009-03-16T08:34:00.000-07:00

I've made it into my first treasury on etsy! YEA!

Goal #1

2009-02-14T16:19:00.001-08:00

ABAC Chapel, originally uploaded by Mona Leisa.

To take the time to sit and draw... every.... week. I would say every day- but that's probably not going to happen. I am so out of practice!

5 years ago

2009-02-11T07:00:00.001-08:00

5 years ago, today, my husband told me he wanted to be... more than friends. He also mentioned that he wasn't trying to be romantic with Valentine's Day only 3 days away. That's my boy!

Italy Travel Journal

2009-01-24T19:11:00.001-08:00

italy mosaic, originally uploaded by Mona Leisa.

I've been reminiscing about my trip to Italy with my mom in 2005- so, I thought I'd put up some photos of my travel journal. Everyday, I collected ticket stubs, receipts, wrappers- really, anything that I could tape or glue into or onto my Moleskine notebook! It was an amazing trip filled with painting, sketching, and drinking lots of wine! Thanks mom!

Loving Custom Quilts

2009-01-12T12:14:00.000-08:00

I have realized, through selling quilts on etsy, that I really enjoy making custom quilts. I love hearing about what someone is looking for- a feeling, a color, a style. Then comes the challenge- hunting for new fabrics, trying to find the perfect print or color. I think that fabric hunting feeds the same part of me that garage sailing:) does. So, here are a couple custom projects I am working on!

"I like earth tones like browns, olives and grey as well as navy and orange.... My style is a mix of modern and vintage." -s.g.

"The feel I was looking for was sort of of a springy, airy kind of feel in the nursery, without too many prints that were really loud-although I don't object to some splashes of color.... My house is cottage style, so I still love the idea of a quilt. So I like modern cottage style, I guess. My furniture is dark cherry so I was trying to balance that with lighter colors."-a.c.

A Gift for Max

2008-12-19T12:58:00.000-08:00

I have kept correspondence journals with friends in far off places for a few years. Now, we are the ones who have moved far off- and away from our nephew, Max. He's homeschooled, so I'm hoping that this will fit right in to his daily routine, and we'll get great notes, drawings, and photos!

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-19T12:50:00.000-08:00

I have to share this great site that makes new photos look old. http://labs.wanokoto.jp/olds We used it for our Christmas card this year!

Back to Life

2008-12-19T12:46:00.001-08:00

I love buying clearance, dying plants and ... usually... bringing them back to life. I'm soooo in love with these hens & chicks!

My Favorite Note

2008-12-19T12:37:00.000-08:00

hee, hee

Oh how I love to gocco!

2008-11-23T15:11:00.000-08:00

I got these tags at Staples- and just wanted to experiment a little. I made copies of a few of my favorite fabrics and started gocco-ing. I'm not sure how I feel about them yet.

I also wanted to try printing a label on fabric that I can use on my quilts. These are a few of my ideas and options- and this is what I came up with.

I'm excited to give them a try- hopefully tomorrow.

My Little Studio

2008-11-12T13:19:00.000-08:00

Right now, my husband and I are in the process of building a house- which includes my dream studio. My current studio can also be referred to as- the corner of the guest room.

I have this Real Simple cover from... 2001 hanging in my studio. At the time, I had never heard of Real Simple- but the girl in the picture is basically me. At just about any moment- this is what I would like to be doing!

And if I can't roll up my jeans and dangle my feet into the pond- then I'll go for my other spot- as a street side artist. I did this in Italy for a few days- and I need to get back out there- and DRAW. I have no discipline.

MonaLeisa @ Suaviloquy

2008-11-08T10:25:00.000-08:00

I'm giving away a mini quilt @ secondsister suaviloquy: piece by piece