This is a padfolio I made for Tote Tuesday. It will be in the auction to benefit the American Cancer Society on February 23 and is in the tote called Color Me Bright.

The padfolio is made of a base of rust-dyed fabric with photographs of trees printed on it to represent a woods. The fairy is from a Dover clip art collection, and the ancient writing (Tamil) is from a photograph of the text cut into stone.

Sorry about the unlined text. I accidentally hit a keyboard command and don't know how to turn the darned thing off!

I've stitched on the trees to give them definition and texture.

The photo doesn't show the gold paint on the words and around the fairy's head very well, but it is WAY COOL! I made the gold fabric paint from Earth Safe Finishes gold metallic powder + Colorant + Fabric Magic!

This is something I've been experimenting with the past couple of weeks. I mix the paint and pour it into a shell or small container to dry into a cake and then rehydrate it, like watercolor cakes/pans. If I use water alone to rehydrate the paint it is gorgeous on paper. If I use water and Fabric Magic, it is permanent on fabric!

It's true! I'm so excited!!!!

The proportions in the cake still need a little finessing to eliminate cracking as it dries, but the recipe should be ready for revealing in a few weeks. So, stay tuned!

The closure is a drilled beach stone with Velcro underneath to hold the flap in place when it's inside your purse or tote.

I am so grateful to Virginia Spiegel for giving us the opportunity to help the ACA! It is so comforting to know you are able to contribute in this manner.

We've all been touched by cancer in some manner or other. How many times have we felt powerless to personally fight cancer? This is very empowering for those who contribute the artwork and for those who bid and purchase the totes.

I hope you will visit Virginia's blog to see the wonderful totes and bid on the totes—especially Color Me Bright tote on Tuesday, February 23!

You can see and read more about Tote Tuesday on Virginia's blog. Here's a link http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/blog/