my cup overflows ~

Leslie McNeil Art and Collage Quilts, Patterns 10 Comments

Hello and Welcome! I recently completed another color-way version of one of my very favorite collage patterns, “My Cup Overflows”  ~ inspired by Psalm 23 as well as one of my favorite words  ~ g  r  a  c  e . Come along. EnJoy!  Reflect with me… let grace overflow in your hearts, souls and minds… The last photo shows how “flat” everything …

HINTS & TIPS Threading n’ Needles ~ a repost

MarveLes Art Studios Blogs, Sewing Loves, Tutorial 5 Comments

hello ~i dearly love teaching my students in the bernina “mastery” classes… and because quite a few of my students have asked, i am posting again, just for y’all! i have found that the most overlooked feature of sewing machines, is the lack of knowing the basics! with that being said, here are some of the most common basics that are either …

the red, white n’ blue and a log cabin ~

MarveLes Art Studios Art and Collage Quilts, Blogs, Mixing It Up 5 Comments

happy fourth of july!   more than just red, white and blue, pink, yellow, and green also make themselves known in this vintage-style quilt.  made from reproduction prints, designed and pieced into this log cabin quilt by my friend annette.  she gave it to me to quilt, at least a year ago.  {maybe two?!}  lol it was fun to quilt, even …

SUNSHINE n’ SATIN

MarveLes Art Studios Art and Collage Quilts, Blogs, Sewing Loves 6 Comments

I love to quilt with unusual fabrics – make that more ‘unexpected’ than anything.  In the last few years, these beautifully smooth and satiny cotton sateens have come into the quilt shops, and I LOVE Them!  This beautiful fabric really just showcases quilting, as well as looking like silk ~ dreamy beautiful! I wish you could feel the hand of …

Rawhide!

MarveLes Art Studios Blogs, Sewing Loves 10 Comments

Last evening’s ‘test run’ with a new fabric!  Faux LEATHER! I taught a free motion class at Bernina here in Great Falls, on Saturday, and Deb, the store owner of Bernina Silver Thimble, made sure to bring to my attention some new fabrics.  Faux leather fabrics! So of course, I have to get a cut and try it and last …

Grow

MarveLes Art Studios Blogs 5 Comments

Grow. In every single moment… there is significance. I started with a hand-stamped “g” and stitched around it, free motion with white thread.  Then turned it to the back, and did the bobbin play around the same path. The bobbin quilted flowers were placed randomly. And I then switched to a polyester tri-lobal, and went around them again, adding details, …

Ribbon and Thread Scarf: Part 1!

MarveLes Art Studios Blogs, Tutorial 3 Comments

These are the supplies I began with to make my latest scarf.  You will need Aqua Bond; a water-soluble paper sticky back stabilizer.  And Aqua Film topping.  And lots of pretty threads, ribbons, yarns, lace… fabric strips and cordings can all be draped, laid on, and mixed up. 505 Spray comes in handy to secure the threads, before you lay …

There is Nothing Greater than… GRACE

MarveLes Art Studios Blogs 7 Comments

Inspired by Point Of Grace. The Song: “There is Nothing Greater Than Grace.”  What do you say to someone who feels like they’ve lost it allover the edge with no one there to break their falland what do you say to someone who feels so unlovedgiving themselves away a little bit every day just to be good enoughand what do …

Pick-Up Stix Silk Glitz!

MarveLes Art Studios Blogs 2 Comments

Can you say that title three times in a row?  Reminds me of the game “Pick-Up-Sticks” we played as children.  LOL.  Well, I’ve been cleaning out my studio a bit… found these leftover silk patches from a quilt I free motioned a year or so ago called:  “Silk Road” for The Bernina Silver Thimble showcasing their silk fabrics.  That quilt …

LACE Flowers

MarveLes Art Studios Blogs 7 Comments

I call them “Lace Flowers” but perhaps someone has a better…more creative or original name?  I’d LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!!!!  (pretty please!?)  Hey… anyone out there???  Hmmm… well as I wait with  baited breath, let me tell you a bit about these little jewels of threadplay…. Quite simple to do… and make them as fun as you’d like with …

FABULOUS FIBER SCARF

MarveLes Art Studios Blogs 7 Comments

Oh gosh…I really hope you will want to try this project, if you haven’t already!!  These scarves are not only beautiful, and one-of-a-kind, but functional, AND a great way for anyone who is new to free motion, to get the ‘feel’ of stitching without alot of other distracting issues such as tension.  And one gets to play with texture, color, …

Dancing… with JACK

MarveLes Art Studios Blogs Leave a Comment

BABY… it’s cold out there!  Frosty, take-your-breath-away COLD!  Pastels aren’t something I usually gravitate towards… but I wanted to challenge myself to try something in a new colorway.  I began with a very soft print  of tissue paper as the inspiration for this piece, layered it onto the muslin base… and painted ever so scantily with pearly-shimmery paint, and a …