"ESSENZA" Quilled piece for THE ITALIAN CATHOLIC FEDERATION

This is a picture of one of the greeting cards that I drew.

Living the Year of Faith

This post is to share with you the beauty of my faith and part of my heritage.

In 1924, in San Francisco CA, Reverend Albert R Bandini and 

Sir Luigi Providenza, founded the organization "the Italian Catholic Federation."

Their goal was to "awaken a more intense Christian life among the Italian population of 

California."

The co-patron saint for the ICF is St. Mary Frances Xavier Cabrini. She was the major
benefactor for Italian immigrants to the US. She was the first naturalized US citizen to become
a saint. To know more about this beautiful saint, go to ICF website.

 Over the 89 years, the charity and good works done by this group, has grown. And so has the 

organization. There are now 172 branches. Most of them being in Northern CA, but

also in Nevada, Arizona, and Illinois! It's an awesome organization, with 

an awesome purpose!

This Labor Day weekend, the ICF  celebrated its' 83rd convention. (This convention is held

every year, on Labor Day weekend.) It is a beautiful weekend, shared with people of astounding 

faith, unity and love.

We had a wonderful opportunity to attend it this year. In fact, our district, hosted it. A beautiful

mass was celebrated every day of the convention.

 A big part of the charity that the ICF donates to is Cooley's Anemia. Childrens Hospital & Research Center Oakland, is one of the specialty centers, that help people that are suffering from Thalassemia(Cooley's Anemia). Thalassemia is a genetic blood disorder. Italians are at high risk of this blood disorder. Hence the reason why the ICF adopted this charity.

Another charity is for young high school graduates. 

Scholarships are given at every branch, and continued throughout the students 3-4 years they are attending college.

The ICF also gives out a Pope John XXIII award every year. This award is given to a lay person, who best exemplifies the humanitarian qualities of this exemplary pope. This year it was awarded to
Bruno Serato, owner of Anaheim White House Restaurant. He is also the founder of the non-profit organization, Caterina's Club. Caterina's Club feeds low-income families, pasta and
vegetables, 7 nights a week! Bruno Serato has been doing this for the past 8 years. He has served
more than 500,000 meals to date. His story of coming here to America and his inspiration for doing this act of kindness, is amazing, and
heartwarming! He well deserved this honorable award!!!

 So many other good deeds are done by the ICF.

If you are Catholic and Italian (or even just a part Italian), look up the ICF

 to see if there is a branch near you and JOIN!!!

 Wonderful, faith filled Italians coming together as a 'Familia'

"Ah, Bellesimo!!!"

The branch my family and I belong to was hosting this year's convention, so
I thought I would donate some of my quilling art to the boutique and donate the proceeds to the ICF.
I had quilled one piece and drew up 18 different styles of Italian greeting cards.
(I enjoyed myself so much as I was creating all of these items.)
The quilled piece that I did was sold by a silent auction. It was exciting to see
that my work touched people, and that they were bidding on it.
 The couple that had the final bid on it had to leave early, so unfortunately, I was unable to meet them.
(May God bless them and may my work bring them joy! )

I had seen this saying on a plate and it inspired me to make this!
The design is my own!

Please, I would love to hear any comments or questions you might
have!
IF IT IS EASIER, YOU MAY CONTACT ME
 CALL IT WHAT YOU QUILL/Facebook



PEACE  BE YOURS
ANNETTE CARLO

:0)

BABY KAIYA

SWEET BABY KAIYA

I have a girlfriend that just had a 

baby girl. She named her Kaiya.

I asked her if I could make her something for her room.

She sent me a picture of her decor.

(I tell you, it makes me want to have another lil' one. )

Isn't it precious?

So this was my inspiration,
and reason to get started!

I actually went and bought papers to match her docor, and cut them to quill with. I used a heavy cardstock, and I probably won't ever do that again. It kept wanting to peel apart, and separate. But I was able to make it work!

This is the completed project!!!

 NOW,..........
I HAVE A CONFESSION.

MAKE SURE WHEN YOU QUILL A NAME OR WORD,
YOU SPELL IT CORRECTELY!!!! (heehee)

So this was the actual completion of these piece!!!!
OOOOPS! I spelt her name wrong!
So I actually took the 'Y' and 'I' off and repainted and then requilled those two letters.

notice I had the letters 'Y' and 'I' switched

 So if you ever
make a mistake, don't be too quick to
throw it out and start over.
Thank goodness, my mistake wasn't
a  big one. But I do
have to say, it was a challenge,
none the less!!!
But I did it!
:0)

And mommy loved it!!!
I'm just thankful that I caught the misspelling before I gave it to her!
(Can you believe that I didn't catch that error until I was totally finished with it?)
Crazy!!

PEACE BE WITH YOU

 Goodbye 2012
and
Welcome 2013

THIS,........IS.......MY WISH,........... FOR ALL,
IN THE
*NEW YEAR*
AND
ALWAYS!!!!

And,

I would like to share with you how I did this project.

I have a sketch pad that I usually will draw and start each new project with.

It's my idea book and my inspiration.

After I draw my first sketch, then I draw out my project in the size I want.

I was lucky that I was able to see my lettering through this blue paper.

I used a light box to make it more visible, and then I lightly traced it onto 

the snowflake paper.

As you can see I use the wider paper. It is 1/4 inch.

I used my rough draft to help size and shape my paper before I glued them down.

One letter at a time and it starts coming together!

This is the way I do most of my projects. I create as I go!

I then added snowflakes to give that 2D affect.

 Photographing quilling can be fun and yet tricky.
So with this project I tried all kinds of different angles and other things.

This project was not made for anybody in mind so I really haven't done
anything with it. But I did add it to my Christmas card!
And I did think about sending it to Snowflakes for Newton, but
I actually have a new inspiration for all those
beautiful little children going back to school, to help make
their first day back, a true winter wonderland.




These next photos are just pics I took and then changed with
 my computer. It was kind of fun to see how one
picture could look so different.

 

I do have to say, this post was done last minute and very, very late at night

and it probably will not be one of my favorites, but I wanted to get this out

before the new year begins!

God Bless you and your families

and I will post again 

next year!!!

:0)

Love to you all!

Annette Carlo

NANA'S GARDEN OF LOVE

A Gift for my Secret Pal in Bunco

I am in a Bunco group that gets together once a month! We draw names in 

December to choose our Secret Pal for the upcoming year. 

This, I made for my secret pal that I had for the year 2012.

She is a wonderful woman and so I wanted to do something special for 

her for Christmas! 

She recently become a Nana (Grandma) for the 5th time!

She, also, has a love for red roses!

Therefore my inspiration!!!

I do have to say, I had an idea of what this project was going

to include, I just didn't know what or how I was going to 

present it!

I was having a block!!!!! (Ewwww, I can't stand when that 

happens!!)

I wanted it to be dainty but I also wanted to use a 

little modern quilling and not too old fashioned,

styled.

Here are the stages that I progressed in.

 I fumbled around with the placement of roses and different
swirls. (It's probably a bad habit, but I like to create as I go along,
not really having it drawn out exactly before I start, ooops!)
*Anyway, another helpful thing is my camera on my phone. I may
stand up and look down on my project and see it a certain way, but
when I take a picture on my phone and then view it that way, it gives me a whole different perspective! (just a helpful hint when
your working on your projects.)

Read after *  (above) to learn a helpful hint that I find very useful as I work on my projects!

 All of the roses are made with paper!
I do apologize, but to keep this blog short, I am not including the how to's on this project. But I do promise, after the holidays, I will have a second part to this blog, and include some
'share and tell' with you! :0)     (I promise)

If you notice, I used a Sharpie marker to run along the top edge of the hearts and the word Nana. I wanted it to help give a little more dimension and color.

And, WahLa!! Here is the final outcome!

As always, depending on who I make a gift for, they always bring me 

out of my comfort zone and stretch my imagination. (And they

don't even know that they are doing that!)

But I do thank them for getting me to think outside of my own little box!!!

Again, stay tuned for a Free snowflake pattern, and some

'share and tells' about this project!

(I have been a little short of free time, as I am sure all of you are. 

With all of the Christmas things to do.)

I do hope that somewhere in your time of busyness, that

you may find that place of silence, and reflect on

the true meaning of this Holiday!

"A King is to be born"

"Give Praise and Thanks"

"Alleluia!! "

:0)

Ps. I do welcome any comments you might have on any of my projects or blogs. You help keep me 

inspired too, so for that, I THANK YOU!!! :0)  Annette xo

"LOVE" on Canvas

'Another Love'

Don't let the title fool you! (I do not

have 'another love', in my life, my husband is my only love!)  :0)

I have quilled another heart with the word 'love' on it.

I did this one for my sis! 

I actually did it for her for Mother's Day! Since I am

not finished with the project that I'm working on now, I needed

something to put on my post.

The photo below, is actually a clearer photo, but this one shows more of the true colors of the paper I used. Remember that, when taking photos of your work, take some at a side angle so that your colors show more true. (I am still playing with photography of quilling, and learning more all the time)

Again, I used the 'S' coil shape with this piece. I really like how it

shows movement and doesn't necessarily have to fill the shape in all the way, to

give the shape. (I don't know if any of that made sense) Anyway,

I do use that a lot, and now I also use the beehive technique for filling in too.

The Open Flower technique, I learned from purchasing

the pattern from Cecilia Louie @ Crafting Creatures.

If you have any questions or comments please, feel free to do so. 

I always love to have feedback.

Go share the LOVE!!!

:0)

<3

A Finished Request!!!

For a Special Lil' Lady

My niece, on my husband's side of the family, made a
quilling request for her daughter, Erica.
(I am embarrassed to say, that was back in May)
But, I did finally finish it!!!
Nicole told me that she had just bought new bedding for
Erica's bedroom and then sent me a photo of it.
So that is where it all started!
Inspiration!

Damask pattern

I had a lot of fun working on it! The reason it took so 

long was because I had quite a few other projects going on at the

same time that actually had a dead line to be completed.

Anyway, here it is!

The green paper, I actually cut myself. If you notice it is white on one side and green on the other. I kinda like how it turned out, so that you can see both colors, depending on the angle you look at it.

To get my pattern started I used my Sizzix, Nesting Swirls, Sizzlets dies. The lettering I did freehand. I first drew them out and then cut them with an exacto knife.

I really like working on canvas, you ought to give it a try!

Because the background can be any color you want to paint it

and the rest is up to the papers you choose!

The great thing about inspiration, is, it could be anything!

A napkin, fabric, a plate, a flower, a bedspread,....

whatever it may be, go for it!!

You never know what you'll come up with!

Like I always say, 

go get inspired!!!

:0)

"Mia Familia"

 My Family Tree

 

I first want to say my family tree project was inspired by a picture
I had seen on Pinterest. Megan Petros' blog, No Dime Design,
had done her own remake of a family tree from
Wallverbs Family Tree. It's a great blog, you need to check it out!

Anyways, thank you Megan Petros!

This is the beginning of my design. I used that cling on vinyl you can buy at
any craft store. I first measured my space on my wall and what I had to work with.
Then I started cutting out strips of the vinyl and placing them on
an open space on the floor. (so no, this is not my wall, it's just an area rug.
thank goodness, right? That would be pretty busy wallpaper!!!)

these are the stages of the tree

Tree stump with the root of it being Family!!!

My second inspirer was famous quiller, Yulia Brodskaya
She does the most 'awesome' artwork with quilling that I have ever seen!!!
Her webpage is a "must see". You're mouth will drop open when you see
what beautiful art, paper can create!!
Anyway, I knew I wanted to include quilling in my family tree. (Yulia's work actually
brought my passion of quilling, back into my life. Yeah, thank you, Yulia!!!)
I did one practice one on paper before I made this one on canvas.
I really didn't have a pattern of any sort, I most of the time, just create
as I go!

All four placards, had different designs but 

same technique and colors

 I, then, knew I wanted to create a collage of pictures, blended with canvases of quillings. So I created name placards of the generation that is no longer with us. Which would be mine, and my husband's grandparents. His grandparents I never got to meet, and I believe he only met them once when he was little. He only met one of my grandmothers before she past away. (I also figured it's kind of a nice way to honor them)

 As you can see, I moved things around quite a bit, until I was really happy with it.
In this one, the only quilling I had done was the tree stump. (I even ended up
moving some of the lines of the tree. And since I used the vinyl cling on, I was
able to do that easily with out leaving a sticky goo on my walls.)

This was the start of this canvas.

The next quilling canvas I wanted to do would have the word
'Love' on it. (because that is what makes a family grow)

I actually thought of leaving the heart the way it was up above. It kind of had little abstract look to it. But I didn't. I kind of created the letters on my own.

This is my own design. And I was so happy and pleased with it when I was done, I made one, similar for my sister!I used my 'Serendipity' style to fill in the heart. (S shape coils) Down in the corner I tried the white puffy paint with paint over it to give an embossed technique. (not too sure I like it so I didn't do it on the other corners)

 Next, I wanted to add our family initials to show my husband's side
and my side of our families.

This project didn't really cost me much either. Most of my frames were
from the .99cent store. The colors I chose for my quilling pieces are the
colors I have throughout my home. (not so much turquoise as that vintage aqua color)
If you notice, in the center is a carved piece of art, of the Blessed Virgin Mary
with the Infant Jesus. (I wished it was 'The Holy Family', but I received
this as a gift and figured since it was carved out of wood, it would be
perfect there. I really wish it had St. Joseph there too)
 I believe that in my family, we should always try to have
God as the center and focus of our family!
(because that is what feeds our family)

I had actually, almost, finished this project about 5 months ago, but was waiting on
two pictures, to make it complete.

The base of the tree is the stump and word 'family', then I have our grandparents wedding pictures with their name placards, then the next level is our parents wedding pictures, then our wedding picture and at the very top are the pictures of our three children. (their pics are when they were at the ages of 2)

This is the completed project!!!
I know, there is a picture missing. Well, both my husband's grandparents
came here from Italy, and no one here has been able to trace
his dad's parents heritage. So with that, no one has a picture
of their wedding day or any other picture of just the two of them together.
(I always have that 'want to know' everything I can find about our family's history. And back then
 immigrants had a much harder time coming here to America. My dad's parents were second generation here from Italy and my mother's parents were first generation from Slovakia. Alot of great history!!) Anyway, I still have hope that I will find a picture to put in that
last frame!

I had so much inspiration to do this family tree wall, I hope that
 'it' may touch your
inspiration!!

:0)