Still Icy

This is what we awoke to this sunny Sunday morning.
This is what we're still seeing this afternoon.
It's a beautiful and icy wonderland out there.

GPP Street Team ~ Crusade #36

My introduction to Michelle Ward's Green Pepper Press Crusades came from my good friend Pam Carriker. Pam has participated in these challenges on her blog and I thought they'd be wonderful exercises for my journal. However, it was quite awhile before I found the time to participate.


"Crusade #36 ~ Braving the Elements" is a great exercise in creating your own masks (stencils) and then using those as collage elements on a journal page. Using snowflakes as masks is a wonderful idea, as we all remember how to create these from our elementary school days. I am so glad that I took the time to participate and learn some new techniques in the process.


Michelle Ward offers up wonderful exercises at the GPP blog and I encourage you to check it out. Everyone's welcome!

Logo © Michelle Ward
Artwork © Nancy Lefko

Ice Storm

This picture was taken through my studio window. It's beautiful, but destructive. I'm glad to be safe and warm inside looking out.

"I'm All about Color"

Color ......

I'm All About Color (13"x 17")

Color ...... Color is a prime element in my work ...... there is no Color that I don't like ...... my world is full of Color!

This piece began with a picture taken by the camera built into my computer. This point of view seemed appropriate for my self-portrait since my husband claims I spend so much time on the computer. He often sees me peering up over my glasses and the screen to acknowledge his presence ... or interruption.

Go to the "Interpret This" blog for the whole story. This morning is my turn to reveal all about how I interpreted the self-portrait challenge for January. If you haven't read the posts of the members who've already revealed their portraits, scroll down beyond mine to do so. Also, there will be a new reveal every half day through Sunday.

Collage Play with Crowabout #63

It has been a number of weeks since I have enjoyed taking part in Collage Play with Crowabout. It felt good to play in my journal with the wonderful collage elements that Nancy B. provides.

If you haven't yet visited the Collage Play with Crowabout blog, you really must do so. There is an abundance of inspiration and fun waiting for you there.

© Nancy Lefko

Self-Portraits

In my experience self-portraits are tricky and not easy to execute. It amazes me how others readily observe what we look like as well as all our little mannerisms and tics while most of us are often clueless. How often have you looked at a photo and reacted with "I don't look like that!" When it comes to seeing ourselves it's really hard not to be myopic. After all, we're looking from the inside out. Through the years I've attempted to create portraits of myself. None of them worth completing ... all were scrapped.

The closest I had come was a portrait of the inner me and that was accidental. As this piece neared completion, I felt the patches of colors reflected how I perceived myself.

Patchwork Perspective - 1993
36"x36"(point-point)

The light sunny colors represent my optimism, while the cool stable ones reflect my surface serenity. Tucked under these two are the strong hot colors of emotionalism. And then there's the dark corner of personal history I don't think about or have forgotten. But then, there's the fading, but still present (a lot more so at the time this was created) emotional pain lingering in the purples. It was almost titled, "Pieces of Me". To read more about and see close up photos of this art piece go here.

Finally, I've created a self-portrait piece that's worth keeping. It was prompted by the January challenge for the "Interpret This" group. Because of my past failures, this particular challenge almost made me change my decision about being part of the group. But then, I don't back off commitments easily so I took on the challenge.

Today is the beginning for reveals of the self-portraits made by my fellow members of
Rian and Libby are the first to post. Tomorrow, the 28th, Kay and Judith will post theirs. Friday, the 29th, Karen and I will be on. Then you will see what I did with these glasses.
Go back to the "Interpret This" site on the 30th to see Debra's and Beverly's and on the 31st to view Beena's and Kim's reveals. While you're there, please leave a comment with your reaction and observation of each person's revelation(s) in the tricky task of meeting this particular challenge. I'm very much looking forward to seeing how the other's interpreted this.

Product Reviews

"Fabulous Fabric Art with Lutradur" by Lesley Riley is an all-encompassing how-to guide to working with this revolutionary product. That’s the tag-line on the book cover -- “Revolutionize Your Craft Experience,” and I certainly see how this could be so, through the addition of Lutradur to your arsenal.

Lesley has organized the book into two sections: one containing “27 Things To Do with Lutradur” and the second devoted to 14 projects using Lutradur, all with detailed step-by-step instructions and materials listed.

“A versatile cross between fabric and paper,” Lutradur can be colored, stitched, fused, glued, printed or transferred upon. And that’s just the beginning. It comes in 8 1/2” x 11” sheets; regular (70 gram) and heavyweight (100 gram.)


In working with Lutradur, I added color with acrylic paints, oil pastels and water-soluble crayons. I stamped upon it with Staz-On inks and did rubbings over raised elements, using oil pastels, to add texture to the Lutradur. I think I was most impressed by the printing of images onto the Lutradur via my ink-jet printer. I experimented with printing on treated and untreated Lutradur and definitely like the crispness of the images on the treated Lutradur better. (It can be treated with matte medium, gesso or as I did, spray matte sealant.) I also printed onto painted (and then sealed) Lutradur and really liked the effect.

I certainly only scratched the surface of the possibilities Lutradur offers and the techniques which Lesley Riley guides the reader through in her book.


Although the non-fray quality of Lutradur is what attracts so many artists and quilters, I actually would have liked a torn edge on some of my Lutradur pieces. However, one can manipulate the Lutradur with heat to achieve a less than sharp edge or lacy quality.

Lesley Riley has succeeded in writing a thorough resource for newcomers to this “revolutionary” product. Readers can take their experimentation with Lutradur as far as they like; using as few or as many materials and techniques as suits them. There are enough techniques and sample projects to keep multiple levels of artists interested.


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“Ready To Go” Blank Canvas Book



For the artist who likes to add a little stitching to their altered books, the canvas book is a wonderful product. This “ready to go” book measures 8 1/2” x 11” and has six pocketed pages (which can be cut to make a 12 page book.) The unprimed 100% cotton canvas is ready for all you can dish out -- painting, stamping, embellishing, journaling and more. The zig-zagged edges prevent fraying and there is a spine that can accommodate a dowel should that be desired.


Before starting to alter my canvas book I cut it in half to make two 6 1/2” x 8 1/2” books. I also cut open the pockets to give myself 12 pages (including front and back covers) to decorate. Because I cut the book down in size, I went around the cut edges with a zig-zag stitch.

I used a variety of mediums to color the pages: acrylic paints, oil pastels and water soluble crayons. I collaged papers and Lutradur onto pages with gel medium, stitched, stamped and sewed on buttons.


Canvas books hold a host of possibilities. I can envision creating books to commemorate special occasions such as weddings or babies’ births. They would also be a great venue for art journaling or could be used for children’s art projects.



Product Images © C&T Publishing
Artwork © Nancy Lefko

Bra Bags From a Bag of Bras

Do you remember this bag of voluptuousness from a post last April?It was the project my friend and I worked on while she visited from Milwaukee. They became Christmas presents. These were wrapped and under the tree waiting to be opened.
We called them "pin-up potpourri pouches" since we thought few of our friends would carry these suggestive beauties as evening bags.
The recipients came up with some other terms ... "boob bag" being one.
My favorite is "brapourri".
I wish I'd had my camera at the ready when each of them were opened.
All of the recipient's reactions were much like these two ... amazement, delight, awe that anyone put so much work into "this". There were even a couple who declared they would carry theirs as evening bags.
The one made for me by my friend hangs here in my studio.
The one I made for her hangs in her bedroom.

Something New

I haven't had much time in my studio of late, so it felt good to finally finish a piece I had begun quite a while ago.

I played around with my Caran d'Ache water soluble crayons on this painting and really like the way they respond.

This image makes me long for spring and the scent of purple coneflowers in my garden. Ahh well, to everything there is a season.

Mixed media collage available in my Etsy shop.

© Nancy Lefko

Mixed Media Monday ~ WINGS

This week's challenge offered by Mixed Media Monday is WINGS. This was an easy one for me; I love to use the image of wings in my artwork. The text reads, "My heart sailed with open wings."

I encourage you to visit the Mixed Media Monday blog and view the wonderful creations inspired by this prompt.

Collage available in my Etsy shop.

© Nancy Lefko

Pounded Leaves Piece

Since the beginning of this new year I've been struggling to make this piece work. Even the possibility of cutting it up to make smaller works occurred to me.
I'm pleased with the background piecing. All those elements came together easily and fit together so well. The negative maple leaf images in the discharged linen fabric mirrored those pounded into the muslin square. The bottom piece "reflected" the muslin square. While the fabric with stripes of natural colors became winter time tree trunks. The five tapestry woven dragonflies seemed the perfect topper.
It all began with this piece of muslin that got an impromptu pounding of leaves into it. I've had moments of nostalgia for its original fresh appearance of simple leaves.
Over time I've added paint, ink, oil stick pastels, and lots of seed stitching trying to make it work ... to integrate it with the background ... to keep it visually anchored instead floating above. In recent days even more paint, ink, and pastels were added. This solution of darkening the muslin panel came to me when I began to see and think of this piece in a different context.
Earlier this month I joined the Liberated Quilters Yahoo group. The group's project, The Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative (AAQI), got me thinking about this disease that afflicts loved ones in so many families. At some point, I began to relate the dimming and loss of memories to the background elements within this piece.
From my own experience, I know the joy experienced when a memory or moment of recognition surfaces momentarily in a loved ones afflicted mind. That is what I now see in the muslin square.

Now that this piece has a meaning beyond that of being a delightful whim, I can take it to completion with thought and care.

"Mix It Up with Melange" Challenge ~ TIMELESS

This week's challenge over at the Melange Team Blog is TIMELESS. When I think of things that defy time, I think of friendships that endure despite distance and life changes.

The collage pictured was made as a gift for my friend of almost 40 years, and our friendship is indeed timeless. We have lived as much as 3000 miles apart and have been "out of touch" for as long as two years, but we have always managed to find each other again. A friendship that began in the sixth grade is as strong and sustaining as ever. And now we are blessed to watch the friendship between our boys blossom and grow. A timeless gift.

© Nancy Lefko

Speaking of Portraits

Click here to view the making of this velvet Elvis portrait. You will be amazed and entertained.

Speaking of Elvis, Lee and I were photographed with him at the big 75th birthday bash. My t-shirt reads," Elvis Is Dead, Get A Life!"
Lee's says, "Nobody Knows I'm Elvis." Note his "velvet Elvis" pants.

"Interpret This" Teaser

It's time for teasers that hint at the self-portraits being created by member artists of "Interpret This". Click on the icon photo located in my sidebar for that group to go there. Your comments and observations are welcome. This photo is one of my teasers.
I have a love/hate relationship with my eyeglasses. They are a part of every outfit ... everyday. They've become my only neck jewelry. The top pair is made from fabric and will be an important element in my self-portrait. Our finished pieces will be revealed over several days at the end of the month.

Still Playing With Dolls

Well, not really. I like setting up scenarios. This one is nestled in the corner on top of my bedroom dresser.
The mother and older daughter dolls were rebuilt. Their porcelain heads are from long ago while their leather bodies are about twenty years old. That's when I made them into this family. The younger daughter and baby are porcelain reproduction dolls that I bought about twenty-five years ago. The little girl is holding an old celluloid baby doll.
The table dressed with old linens is set for afternoon refreshments.
The star of this scene is Bernice. I designed and made her three dresses. The one she has on is cotton velveteen trimmed with old cotton eyelet edging.
She's also wearing fine sewn undergarments that are suitable to this period. The striped dress hanging in front is made of silk. I designed and stitched the battenberg lace collar.
The light colored dress is made from a printed linen and trimmed with silk taffeta.
The dresses were designed and sewn by me. For about five years I taught pattern making for dolls in workshops. I also restored and dressed old and well-loved dolls during those years. All of that seems a lifetime ago. Those skills are resurrected occasionally for the dolls of those who are dear to me. Such as my granddaughter's inherited dollhouse family and a friend's old family Bylo Baby doll. I'm afraid those naked baby dolls in my cupboard are doomed to stay that way.

The Doll Who Has Everything

This doll is living my childhood dream. She has toys and books. She has drawers and a closet full of pretty clothes. She has more than one pair of shoes. She has a beautiful room all to herself.
She has a smocked top to go with her pinwhale corduroy pants.
She has a smocked bubble playsuit for summer days.
She has a pretty smocked dress for cool fall days.
She has a pleated silk taffeta skirt to wear with a fine cotton batiste blouse.
She has snuggly undergarments for everyday wear.
She has pretty embroidered undergarments for good.
She has a beautiful party dress ... and a hat that goes with it.
I made the bobbin lace trim with silk thread. There's also shadow-work embroidery and smocking that adorns this fine Swiss batiste cotton dress.
She likes what she sees in her silk trimmed mirror. This doll is named Terra after the little girl in that photo on the dresser.
Terra has a silk lined wool coat and smocked velvet bonnet to keep her warm.
At the end of the day she puts on her pajamas and slippers.
...and after storybook time says, "goodnight."

I fell in love with this 8" tall doll because she looks the way I imagined my then daughter-in-law-to-be, Terra, did as a child. Kemper, her future husband helped me to construct the box in which to build this dream room. I constructed the dresser, closet, bookshelves, and bed. It was a joy to paint and wall paper and outfit this fantasy room. Her wardrobe grew until no more would fit into the drawers and closet.