Discovery: Stretching for a contest

Eye looking at wonders in the grass to show Discovery.

So, Susanna Leonard Hill is hosting the 2nd Annual Pretty Much World Famous Illustration Contest for Children’s Illustrators This week.
The rules are here.

The contest is to Draw/Paint/Create a children’s picture book illustration (no text required-art only) the topic for which shall be DISCOVERY.
Not sure why this poked at me. As you know, I’m a writer.

I dabble with paper quilling and wanted to try … so here is my entry:

Anyone else stretch when given a challenge vs. just thinking “oh I should try that?”

For this effort, I tried three new-to-me quilling techniques and shredded my own paper. And, since Hubby wondered WHAT I was doing at the kitchen table … I thought I should post it.

To see the entries in Susanna’s contest, visit her site.

56 Comments

Wendy Greenley on June 22, 2015 at 5:30 am

Oh, Stacy, this is gorgeous! Your kitchen table is the place to be. You are an amazing artist!
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- stacy on June 22, 2015 at 7:46 am
  
  Thanks Wendy. Hubby was also glad I cleaned off the table too. 🙂
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Cathy Ballou Mealey on June 22, 2015 at 5:34 am

Amazing! I discovered lots of interesting insects among the beautiful curls and swirls that you created. Love it Stacy!
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- stacy on June 22, 2015 at 7:45 am
  
  Thanks Cathy!
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Cathy C. Hall on June 22, 2015 at 6:00 am

And I discovered a new art technique: quilling! Absolutely gorgeous, Stacy, way to stretch!
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- stacy on June 22, 2015 at 7:45 am
  
  Thanks Cathy!
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Penny Parker Klostermann on June 22, 2015 at 7:50 am

Wow! Stacy this is so amazing! I love it! So glad you stretched and shared your artist quilling skills 🙂
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- stacy on June 22, 2015 at 12:29 pm
  
  Thanks Penny. Now I need to stretch with some revisions.
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Heather Dent on June 22, 2015 at 8:28 am

That butterfly! I love this piece. I am so inspired to learn the paper quilling technique now.
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- stacy on June 22, 2015 at 12:29 pm
  
  Thanks Heather. The butterfly is one of the new-to-me techniques. Get lost on Pinterest and look up Quilling.
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Julie Rowan-Zoch on June 22, 2015 at 8:34 am

Fantastic! I was blown away with your poem quilling, but this is even more exciting! You go, girl! So impressed!
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- stacy on June 22, 2015 at 12:30 pm
  
  Thanks Julie. After I did the poems, that probably helped me stretch a little to do this stretch. 🙂
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Susanna Leonard Hill on June 22, 2015 at 9:46 am

This is gorgeous, Stacy! A whole world discovered in the grass with so many beautiful details! Thanks so much for joining in the fun!
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- stacy on June 22, 2015 at 12:30 pm
  
  Thanks for offering the fun prompt. Can’t wait to check out all the illustrations.
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Teresa Robeson on June 22, 2015 at 10:17 am

You know I love your quill art, Stacy! So beautiful!
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- stacy on June 22, 2015 at 12:31 pm
  
  Thanks Teresa. (I still see all the flaws, but I’m trying!)
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  - Teresa Robeson on June 22, 2015 at 12:44 pm
    
    Trust me when i tell you that no one else will be able to see the flaws (I tried looking and I can’t). 🙂
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    - stacy on June 22, 2015 at 2:08 pm
      
      Well, you are super kind Teresa. Thanks.
      Reply
    - stacy on June 22, 2015 at 2:09 pm
      
      🙂
      Reply
Jilanne Hoffmann on June 22, 2015 at 12:19 pm

Oh, Stacy. You have such a talent! You should start illustrating your own books, NOW! 😀 Am I being overly enthusiastic? I don’t think so! Cheers!
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- stacy on June 22, 2015 at 12:32 pm
  
  Ha. Ha. That’s is a lot enthusiastic. Thank you Jilanne.
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Darshana Khiani on June 22, 2015 at 12:44 pm

Wow! That is so cool. Beautiful!!
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- stacy on June 22, 2015 at 2:08 pm
  
  Thanks Darshana!
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Sue Wang on June 22, 2015 at 2:50 pm

It’s so fabulous! Very crafty and inspiring. I think you are a patient person 🙂 in addition to whimsical.
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- stacy on June 24, 2015 at 8:52 am
  
  I’m trying to be whimsical Sue. Trying all the time. 🙂
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Mike Allegra on June 22, 2015 at 7:16 pm

This dazzled me. I love it!
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- stacy on June 24, 2015 at 8:52 am
  
  Thanks Mike.
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C.L. Murphy on June 23, 2015 at 2:19 pm

I love this textural piece, Stacy! I so want to try quilling, now.
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- stacy on June 24, 2015 at 8:51 am
  
  You should give it a try C.L.
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kath unsworth on June 23, 2015 at 3:20 pm

Stacy, wow! This is so beautiful. A 3 dimensional story. Loving the bright colours. Also loving connecting with all the wonderful creative people. Kath
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- stacy on June 24, 2015 at 8:51 am
  
  Thanks for connecting Kath.
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Rosi Hollinbeck on June 23, 2015 at 11:04 pm

That is fantastic! I had no idea what quilling meant. Thanks for the example.
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- stacy on June 24, 2015 at 8:51 am
  
  Thank you Rosi. I didn’t either until I found it on Pinterest a couple years ago.
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Coleen Patrick on June 24, 2015 at 7:43 am

Beautiful, Stacy!!
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- stacy on June 24, 2015 at 8:50 am
  
  Thank you Coleen.
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Mishka Jaeger on June 25, 2015 at 9:44 pm

WOW I am fascinated by this technique. There’s so much energy in your work and I love how all the colors pop. I’m getting lost looking for all the bugs. Wonderful!
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- stacy on June 27, 2015 at 9:04 am
  
  Thanks Mishka. It was a stretch for me.
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Yvonne Mes on June 26, 2015 at 5:03 am

Great image inspiring some interesting story lines!
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- stacy on June 27, 2015 at 9:04 am
  
  Thanks for stopping by Yvonne.
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Clarbojahn on June 26, 2015 at 10:31 am

Way to go, Stacy! So beautiful. So many new things hidden in among the grasses. a whole new world.
Makes me want to go to pinterest and look up quilling as well. You did an amazing job. 🙂
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- stacy on June 27, 2015 at 9:03 am
  
  Thanks Clara.
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Michelle Kogan on June 26, 2015 at 11:59 am

Captivating and colorful!
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- stacy on June 27, 2015 at 9:03 am
  
  Thanks for stopping by Michelle.
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Joanne Roberts on June 27, 2015 at 8:24 am

I was glad to see your creativity soar. Who knew you were so multi-disciplinary? Awesome!
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- stacy on June 27, 2015 at 9:03 am
  
  Thank you Joanne.
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Ms. Ng on June 27, 2015 at 11:07 am

This is pretty fantastic. How long did this take you?
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- stacy on June 27, 2015 at 11:20 pm
  
  Thanks Ms. Ng. I’m horrible at tracking hours … shredding paper, research, design, doing all the pieces … plus I always end up with something I can’t/don’t use. I assembled some items while listening to a book on tape, so I was multi-tasking.
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Suzy Leopold on June 27, 2015 at 6:52 pm

Beautiful. Such an amazing and unique creation, Stacy.
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- stacy on June 27, 2015 at 11:20 pm
  
  Thank you Suzy.
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Dow on June 28, 2015 at 3:19 pm

Wow, that’s exquisite, Stacy! Great job!
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- stacy on June 28, 2015 at 3:39 pm
  
  Thank you for your kindness and stopping by.
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Tracy Campbell on June 29, 2015 at 3:16 pm

Hi Stacy, Your paper quilling piece is stunning! And I know you’ve put in many hours on this. 🙂
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Shannon Lawrence on July 23, 2015 at 2:20 am

That’s some awesome artwork! Did you turn it in, or is it something where you do that?
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Robyn Campbell on July 27, 2015 at 3:43 pm

Stacy, I missed all this. But yours is gorgeous. I love the paper quilling. I think this must have taken a lot of time. I hope you won.
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Sue @ Kid Lit reviews on August 29, 2015 at 3:16 pm

Wow! I have read a few picture books illustrated with paper cut-out or twisted and your paper quilling is publishable. Just awesome!
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- stacy on August 30, 2015 at 10:49 pm
  
  Thank you Sue. You are very kind. I love the paper art illustrated books I find each year.
  Reply