Charity Art Quilt Project

Some of you may already know that I am hosting a charity art quilt project to benefit the Strive For Life Foundation.
Artists from all over the world are each contributing one 8"x10" quilt square with a gypsy theme, which I will assemble, and then auction off to raise money to help the street kids of Romania.
I have already received a few of the squares, and I am so impressed with the beautiful handiwork of the talented artists.
Everyone has such a unique perspective on the theme.
I left the door wide open to interpretation and style. The squares can be pieced, appliqued, embroidered, cross stitched, fabric painted, etc.
I am still in need of more artists for this project.
If you think that you may be interested in participating in this creative project which will benefit a cause so dear to my heart, please leave a comment below, or email me at heidig@gmail.com
I would be so very honored and grateful to have more of my creative blog readers share in this international art project with me.

Here are the first three wonderful pieces so graciously contributed by some of the artists:

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The first piece is by North Dakotan artist AlwaysInspired

She chose to make a beautiful applique Gypsy portrait, accented with embroidery details and beading.

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The second square that I have received is from the lovely and creative Knickertwist from my home province of Ontario! She created this beautiful square on a background of rich maroon brocade accented with lace, crochet applique, beads, buttons and all kinds of goodness, with a gorgeous focal piece. I apologize for the quality of my scan. It is so much more lovely in person.

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The third square that I have received is from the brilliant Virginian textile artist PixiesInTheHouse . She designed this charming art piece on a background of rich chocolate velvet, appliqued felt, and beautiful dimensional accents with buttons and silk flowers.


I would like to take this moment to thank the three of you so very much for being a part of this project. I also want to thank all of the other artists who are still working on their pieces. I will post those pictures as they come in. Hugs!

The Strive For Life Foundation works directly with the street kids and orphans of Romania, as well as with other NPO charities in the country to help bring hope, health and happiness.
If you would like more information about Strive, and the work that it does, you can message me or visit the website . I apologize for the website being a bit out of date. Our website girl got married and moved to Belgium. Strive will be changing web hosts soon, and a full update with past projects and current goals will come.

Les Oiseaux

I realized that I have never posted any of my non-plush art on my blog!
Since I am participating in the 2009 One Word, One Heart caravan, and my giveaway is for a piece of my mixed media art, I thought I would share some. Or one. LOL!

This was one of my first pieces, Les Oiseaux. It is an 8x10 stretched canvas done in acrylics, a vintage page from a 19th century French poetry book, feathers, metallic ink, and of course the always-fabulous Mod Podge (I have finally been able to drop the habit of calling it modge-podge!).


I would love to post more pictures, but all of my other pieces were made for swap partners that have not yet received their packages, and I do not want to ruin the surprise by posting a spoiler here.

Note that the painting above is NOT the one I am giving away in the OWOH event.

One World One Heart

****Comments are now closed. Thank you for participating. Winners names will be announced tomorrow by 5 pm EST****


I am so happy to be a participant in the 2009 One World One Heart blog event.
OWOH was founded by Lisa Swifka in 2007 as a worldwide event to bring together the blogging artist community in friendship.
This year there are well over 400 blogs participating in the caravan.
Each member is hosting a giveaway on their blog to celebrate the spirit of OWOH. Please click on the OWOH logo above to see the list of participants and take the time to visit each blog.
Remember, if you want to enter one of the giveaways, you must leave a comment on the OWOH post on THAT blog.

To celebrate this wonderful event, I will be giving away an original 5x7 mixed media artwork on canvas board. I do not have a pic yet, but I will have one up by Monday at the latest. (ooohh the suspense!)
If I get more than 100 entries, I will draw a second winner (prize TBA).

Entries will be accepted until February 11, 2009 at 11:59pm EST. I will draw the winner(s) on February 12 and post the name here. I must be able to contact the winner, so if you do not have a blog that I can reach you on, please leave your email address in your post. If you do not have a way for me to contact you, I will draw a new name. If I do not hear back from the winner within three (3) days, I will draw a new name.
This giveaway is open to EVERYONE around the world.
Entering is simple - just leave a comment at the end of THIS post. I would love it if you would share with me where you are visiting me from. I am so excited to be a part of this international event!

Hugs from Ontario, Canada,

Heidi
aka Digital Misfit

edit: pic of giveaway piece #1 prior to coat of matte sealer application

Heart of Mary: Some 'firsts' for 2009 ( a new bag and a giveaway!)

Heart of Mary: Some 'firsts' for 2009 ( a new bag and a giveaway!)

Visit Heart of Mary's blog to check out her new bag and enter to win a pattern to make a fab purse or wallet of your own!

01.20.09 CHANGE

The day has come.
Today Barack Hussein Obama took an oath and became the 44th president of the United States of America.
I do not envy him this job. There is a lot of ugliness around: two unpopular wars that have gone on too long, a fallen economy, and tragic national debt. He cannot fix all of these ills. Not overnight. Not alone.
He is only the leader - but he can only lead if people will follow. We talk of hope and change like these miracle words alone will conquer all. They won't. We all need to put on our big girl panties and get to work. President Obama (gosh, I do love saying that!) can point us in the right direction, but we must go forward together.

I propose that we wake tomorrow to start the first day of the Pay-it-Forward Administration. It is pretty simple really. You already know how it works. Just do something kind for someone for no reason at all, and without expecting anything in return. Volunteer with an organization in need - and not just so it will look nice on your resume. If you see a need and there isn't an organization in place to fill that need, START ONE!
Buy some extra groceries and donate them to a shelter. Help build a home with Habitat for Humanity. Send a care package to an active duty soldier that you don't know. Make a special memory album for a senior citizen. Take the time to learn about the strife in other countries, and not just the ones who make the front page news this week. Find out what YOU can do, as a citizen of the WORLD to help make this a better place to live. We are all neighbors on this planet that grows smaller by the minute.

This would also be a good time to begin writing a journal, if you do not already have one. Make it special. Draw in it, cut and paste images into it, fill it with thoughts and dreams and ideas to make a difference. Share notes. Blog. Inspire.

In the wise words of Mahatma Gandhi "Be the change you wish to see in the world"

I welcome your comments and ideas on how we can make positive changes in our lives that can impact the world.