Kelly's Art

And So Begins Another Year!!

2012-01-01T22:05:00.002-06:00

And now to begin the year with posting some art. I belong to a small group of art quilters that work in 12" X 12" (remember the hot air balloon?) and the current theme is "Size Is Not Important". And here is my art quilt for that theme.

Title: Five Smooth Stones

Concept: This was the first idea I had when I read the theme for this quarter. (OK, the second idea!) Anyway, I thought of David and Goliath. Truly size was not the determining factor in that confrontation. So I decided on the five smooth stones that David took to take to the battle along with the type of slingshot the used back in those days (and still do in the Middle East I believe). All the fabrics are my own hand dyed fabrics, the slingshot is made of a very soft leather, the leather straps I've had for years (no clue where they came from now). The straps by the slingshot are bound with a speciality yarn I had in my stash. I did minimal quilting because I used the two colors of "sand" fabric to create the undulation of the sand. Also, I sprayed the two sand fabrics with a textured spray paint called "Stone" Not sure if you can see that in the photo.

Five Smooth Stones

Now I'm ready to find out what the next theme is!! Hopefully this time it won't take me so long to get it done!
Oh and BTW -- HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of you! Hoping 2012 will be artful and creative and fulfilling!

My Labor of Love

2011-12-26T22:26:00.000-06:00

It is finally finished. A dear friend of mine died in August. Her family allowed me the HUGE privilege of making two baby quilts and a quilt for her husband out of her favorite clothes. At first I thought it would be so easy because it was just squares of fabric. However, it got more complicated (and some of the complication I added on myself) because there were big variances in the thickness of the pieces and I also wanted to include as much texture and defining bits as possible....just to make it more recognizable. I also left 4 operational pockets in case he wanted to put a treasure in there or something. Then when I began quilting it (it is 60" X 72") I decided to take a bit of artistic license and quilt into some of the pieces things that reminded me of her, things that meant something to her. While it was difficult at times, I so enjoyed "spending that time with a close friend". And I was able to complete it in time for him to have it for Christmas - their first without her. Those of us who have lost close family know how difficult a time that can be. I hoped this would be like a big hug for them, wrapped in memories of her.

So here it is - along with a couple of detail photos:

Now on to the two baby quilts! I think they will seem easy after this one. But what a thrill to think of them cuddled up in the "hugs" of their grandmother someday!

Just Checking In

2011-12-02T10:01:00.002-06:00

I'm still hard at work on the three quilts I'm making for my friend's family. However, in my continuing quest to bring you amazing works of art from other wonderful artists I am passing along this link. Worth your time to check out!

http://www.eckmanfineart.com/works.html

Enjoy!!!

Slight Detour

2011-09-30T11:29:00.000-05:00

Yep...took a slight detour to join another group doing 12" X 12" art quilts on various themes. The theme for this section was HOT. Took me almost FOREVER to get an inspiration that I could get excited about.

One afternoon my granddaughter and I were cruising through Google Images and came across a ton of hot air balloon photos. I loved the color and the brightness and the feeling of freedom they evoked. I knew then that was the perfect concept for my art quilt for this group. So I set about to design one for the quilt. I found this piece of black netting with colorful metallic dots on it. And I happened to have hand dyed fabrics to go with the colors of the dots. Then drew the whole balloon on paper and cut out the pieces to use as a pattern. I tried to keep as many of the dots on the alternate pieces the colors of the fabrics on either side. The balloon is all raw edged applique. Painted very faint clouds in the sky with Lumiere Pearl White paint. The "ropes" on the balloon are from my collection of speciality yarns. I didn't include the basket because the balloon would have had to be smaller and I wanted it quite prominent. All fabrics except the black net w/dots are my own hand dyed cottons.

Full of Hot Air

Taking a bit of a break to complete some other quilts. A friend of mine recently died and her husband and daughters were kind enough to allow me the privilege of making two baby quilts and one adult quilt from special clothing of hers. I'll be back shortly!

Well....it's been a while!

2011-08-13T16:19:00.000-05:00

Life went off the rails big time. Getting back to earth now. This is the second piece in the series of three that I did earlier this summer. The one previously posted was the first one - the girl in the canoe. This is the second. It is all done in commercial batiks. The subject is our granddaughter. This is from one of my favorite photos of her as she is looking up at the sky with the sun shining on her face. Since her favorite color is purple....there is a lot of purple used in her portrait. Just finished the binding today.

Now onto the next one after a slight (oh at least I HOPE it will be slight) break.

It's been a full month!

2011-05-26T15:49:00.000-05:00

So much to do with Wil here! A LOT of shopping.........eating out.......bread and cheese for dinner......etc.

But yesterday I got to work on a piece. It's not completed yet but here is the beginning. Right now it is just on the backing. Next comes the quilting! This subject was chosen because I so loved our wilderness camping trips to the BWCA. She is traveling toward the distant shore with the sun setting just behind the island. To the right are sheer cliffs. And all is peaceful on a calm lake.

Fun Making Journal Pages

2011-05-06T12:13:00.000-05:00

Spent some time making some pages on which to do some art journaling. It was a new-to-me technique. Part of it I liked....other parts of the technique - not so much. But the results????? Well, I'm very happy with that!

This is one of the new techniques on a gesso-ed watercolor paper. This page I actually cut up to use for ATCs. It is even more beautiful in segments!

This one is procion dyes on a gesso-ed watercolor paper with salt added to to the wet page

This is a plain piece of watercolor paper with procion dyes. Sand was sprinkled onto the wet page. ho hum.

Personal Journal Page

2011-04-22T11:08:00.000-05:00

Found this wonderful picture of fossilized ferns and weathered stones and it inspired this journal page. I'm fascinated with old things....the older and more worn the better. I have TONS of photos of falling down buildings and old doors and windows...just to name a few. I think I love them because each of them has a story to tell. I try to listen and tell that story from my own perspective.

FOSSIL - a journal page

Some Journal Pages

2011-04-16T15:21:00.000-05:00

Took some play time today to work on some journal pages. And no.....my studio is not clean/organized yet....and the prospects are looking pretty bleak. No sooner do I get a space cleared off and I find some fun thing to do which messes it all up again. Maybe now that I have at least a path to all the important places in my studio I should call it done!

One of the groups I play in had a list of prompts for this week. Three of them fell into place almost right away.....Night/Day, Song, Lyrics. The main sheet music is of the song Night and Day. The background goes from Midnight Blue to Sky Mist. The songs titles on the left side have to do with NIGHT....We're Tenting Tonight, It Came Upon the Midnight Clear and Silent Night. On the right side are all the song titles that have to do with DAY....Morning Comes Early, O Happy Day and Some Day. Most of the music is from a lot of very old music I got from my mother-in-laws piano bench. Then I chose to journal in the spaces of the Night and Day sheet music.

This one started out because I wanted to try out the Peeling Paint technique (oh and do I ever love it!!). I liked the time-worn aspect of it. And I happened to have stamped watches in the background of it. So, as I'm scurrying around trying to get so many things done before a friend comes to visit, and so many other things that seem to have looming deadlines, I decided Time Flies was an appropriate title and theme for this page.

Fig Number Four

2011-04-15T12:35:00.001-05:00

Here is the photo of number 4 in the Fig Study series. The title is Dried Figs. I finished it this far some weeks ago. Not sure exactly where it is going but I know it needs something else. Just haven't been inspired by it as yet. Some ideas but they didn't look like I wanted. But, in the meantime, here is Dried Figs. The background of the quiltlet is a handdyed piece. The figs are done in painted and melted Tyvek. The finished piece is 12" X 24".

Dried Figs - the quiltlet

Dried Figs - quiltlet detail

Dried Figs on canvas

The fifth and final in the series is just about completed. Then on to the next project!!

Where IS Spring anyway?????

2011-04-15T11:42:00.000-05:00

Tired of the frozen tundra......more snow forecast for tomorrow (saturday). I'm a true snow lover but even I'M done with it already!

So, I did a page in my Windows and Doors Journal this morning. Just trying to keep my thoughts to the spring that will surely eventually arrive.

New Direction

2011-04-14T07:56:00.001-05:00

Any of you familiar with the writing aspect of the Artist's Way? I've enjoyed that for several years but have found that lately it has been less rewarding. Now I think I know why.

I have several kinds of art journals that I work on. Most have been more recording the work I'm doing or I have an Inspiration Journal with snippets of things that inspire me. But this winter I was involved in, what was for me, a new adventure. Just free-wheeling journaling. Well, there was a BIT of structure in that there were prompts. But where I took it from there was totally up to me. One particular journal was more one of self-discovery. And here is what I learned from that. I so much prefer expressing myself visually than in writing (although, there was writing involved on most of the pages - it wasn't the main part. More of an extension of the visual). I found that I learned so much about my view of the world and my art than I have in several years of writing journals.

So, while I'm not giving up on writing in what used to be my daily journal (which is now more my sporadic journal), my main emphasis these days is art journaling. This current journal records my thoughts and just whatever happens that morning. Some pages I might complete in my journaling time in the morning (about an hour) but if it extends to the next day, or even days, that is just fine with me.

I don't plan to post any of these pages as they are more for my own reflection.....but you never know. That might change if there is something I think worth sharing. I'm really looking forward to this particular new slant of my journaling journey.

Back to FACES Journal

2011-04-11T11:34:00.001-05:00

At long last (and now that I had some pages ready to work on) I came back to work on my Faces Journal.

To begin, I had done page 3 months ago and just never posted it so that will be the first photo for today. I had decided that I didn't want to take classes or anything to learn to draw faces....just planned on a lot of trial and error. OK....you can quit laughing now! It made sense at the time. So here are a few examples from various drawing instructions that I planned NOT to use! Don't worry....I moved on from there.

Faces Journal - page 3

Then somewhere I found this free series on How To Draw Faces. It made it all look so easy I decided it just MIGHT be worth looking at. Keep in mind this is not an exhaustive study but rather a beginning place. Which is just where I am. The first lesson was on how to draw eyes. So, that is where I began my journey as a student.

One more caveat - I practice in my sketchbook to learn to get better and better. This journal is just to chronicle my journey....NOT to be a place to draw perfect eyes. So, don't judge my efforts by the drawings in this journal. I read a quote from a mixed media artist in the CPS newsletter just this morning.

“Journal style drawing is meant to be fresh and casual. It's meant to capture a specific time—you do it and then turn the page.” Jane LaFazio

That is where I'm at currently. So here are pages 4 and 5 on Eyes - fresh and casual

Faces Journal - pages 4 and 5

Faces Journal - pages 4 and 5 - details

So...am I on a roll again? We'll see. I do have pages 6 and 7 prepped so who knows when the muse will strike!

It's Working!!

2011-04-10T13:42:00.000-05:00

Found a new gadget that I wanted to put on my blog called - Follow by E-Mail. You can type your e-mail in the box and click submit.(look just over to the right side bar >>>>>this way>>>>>) Then, whenever I post a new item on my blog, you will get an e-mail to let you know! No post - no e-mail. Hope you will take advantage of this option. I'm afraid when I don't post every day you might forget about me!!! (heaven forbid!!) So, this way, you won't miss one exciting piece of the adventure! Thanks for joining me on the journey!

My Altered Book Journey

2011-04-09T09:41:00.000-05:00

I've never done an altered book before but wanted to give it a try. A friend sent me some ideas and I decided that it would be a new avenue of art to explore. So I'll be posting the steps of this journey as they happen. Sometimes there might be a bit of time in between because I'm still doing other things as well (and it will take DAYS if not weeks to get all the pages gessoed!!!!.....is that a word???) So....that being said....let's start the journey!

You know they say that each journey of a million miles begins with the first step. Seems like a logical place to start then. BTW, this is not meant to be a tutorial by any means.....I'm just recording the fun I'm having on this new adventure.

Step One

Well, first I had to choosea book. All of us in our house are book fanatics so I knew it would be difficult to find a book I would be willing to "alter"!! Certainly I could find a boring book in my husbands study but I'm thinking that would not be a smart move! So....I found a hard cover book I had purchased at a garage sale some years ago and never used. It is a hardcover cookbook called "The International Cook". I love it because it is a tall, thinner book and besides recipes it also has history and descriptions and glossaries of countries and the foods of that country. There are also some very interesting pictures to highlight!

Step Two

Deciding on which pages to combine to create thicker, sturdier "pages" was not as easy as it sounds. I did lose some lovely picures just because I couldn't combine then any other way. But I still have enough to work with. I got out my trusty glue stick and went to work gluing pages together.

Step Three

Now to take the "new pages" and stitch the edges of them to be sure they stay together. About this time I'm wishing I had stuck more pages together!! Oh well, I'm on NO DEADLINE so I'm doing it as it stands and just enjoying the process....

Interesting Recipe Pages

Other Pages with Beautiful Pictures

Step Four

The next thing to do is to take all those glossy pages and smear gesso all over them so they can be altered with wet applications if desired. Oh and they WILL be!! Paints, watercolors, etc. So many ideas and with the gesso I have all options open to me. However, for those of us with very little patience....now I'm REALLY wishing I didn't have so many pages (haven't actually counted them yet.....probably ignorance is bliss???) It doesn't take long to get the gesso on...it's the waiting for it to dry before I can do another page! But I've started now and will just go with the flow. However, due to drying times.....you won't see the next step posted for about a week or so....unless I get out the heat gun out of frustration and lack of patience! LOL!!

Adding Gesso to Pages - Highlighting Some Interesting Text

So, unil next time (whenever that may be) I'll be watching gesso dry........

Third in the Fig Study series

2011-04-02T08:49:00.000-05:00

Went a bit smaller for this little quiltlet. The finished size of this piece on canvas is only 14" X 11". The title is Three Little Figs. Even though there is now a fourth fig, the emphasis is on the three together so I'm keeping the name of the original quiltlet.

And this time I actually got photos of each stage of the process! YEAH! Although the ones of the painted piece are a bit shiny....the background very closely matches the quiltlet color as seen in the first photo. ENJOY!!

The beginning quiltlet

The quiltlet stitched onto the canvas

Background painted

Three Little Figs completed

Three Little Figs detail

I used a purple ink on the border of the painted fig to copy the stitching around the quiltlet ones and green ink to give some shading to the quiltlet figs.

I already have the first three stages completed on the next piece so hopefully will have that one posted the first of the coming week! So stay tuned!

Second in the Fig Study series

2011-03-24T16:50:00.000-05:00

I know...I said I would take photos of the process this time. I just have so much fun I forget. Third times the charm???? I have the canvas now for the third in the series. I'll try to do better with the camera this time.

This second piece is called Figs of Gold. The background is hand dyed fabric, the figs painted with metallic paint. The shading is pen and ink. And here it is!

Figs of Gold - the quiltlet

Figs of Gold - stitched on canvas

Figs of Gold - Completed

Figs of Gold - Detail 1

Figs of Gold - Detail 2

(This one looks a bit different because I had to turn off the flash. The reflection was wiping out the details. I wanted to carry through the stitching around each fig so the ones on the canvas are "stitched" around with pen and ink.)

Now...onto the third in the series!!! Here's hoping I remember the photos this time!

Discovered Creativity

2011-03-22T16:31:00.000-05:00

Just received a link to this and HAD to share it with you all. I think it comes under the heading of art. What about you?

Click on this link to the video on YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSKyHmjyrkA

Back now - Hopefully!!

2011-03-18T10:34:00.000-05:00

Yep dark days....survived to tell about it. THEN I get sick....yes....AGAIN!! But now I'm back for what I hope is a good long time!!!

Time has not be totally wasted however. I've started on a new project that I am quite pleased with. I was inspired by a couple of techniques a friend shared with me. I modified them a bit, combined them and found that I really like the results. The origianl idea is to use this technique for my individual manhole cover projects but I wanted to try it out first to see if it would turn out like I envisioned. So, I had a series of little quiltlets that I had done for a class. Why not try it out with those and see what happened???

So here is my Fig Study series as I begin to complete them with these techniques. I was so excited and having so much fun that I didn't take photos of each step (drat!!) on the first one but I'm trying to do that on the second one. I do have one confession.....it was difficult making that first brush stroke with the paint onto the fabric! But I'm glad I did!

First is the branch with little figs growing on it. It startes with the original quiltlet.

Fig - Branch (quiltlet)

Then I stitched it to the canvas (didn't get this photo). Next I mixed acrylic paints to get the color I wanted and then painted the canvas. Also extended the branch and the tip of the leaf. (I did later adjust the color on the leaf tip....looks much better later on.)

Fig - Branch (stitched on painted canvas)

Next I painted with acrylics to add an additional branch and leaves. All branches and leaves wrap around the canvas on the sides as well.

Fig - Branch (completed)

One last step. I added shading with pen and ink on the fabric as well as the painted leaves and branches. Just making little dots with the pen and ink. Here are a few detailed photos.

Fig - Branch (details of pen and ink shading)

So, that's what I've been up to lately. I just stitched the next quiltlet onto canvas and when that one is completed I'll post the photos of the steps on that one.

Journal January 2011 - Days 22 - 24

2011-02-21T10:04:00.000-06:00

Dark days. Dark journal pages. Decided not to post them. Just that the project is now complete.

Hopefully, brighter days are ahead.....somewhere

Journal January 2011 - Days 20 and 21

2011-02-16T12:22:00.000-06:00

Almost caught up! And it is only the middle of February!!! Oh well....I've been working very hard on another project which involves a LOT of lino cutting. Had to give the hands a break today so I decided to do a couple of journal pages.

Day 20 prompt was our front door. Well, my front door is uninspiring to me...especially right now for several reasons. SO.....I decided to expand the topic and chose one of my very favorite door photos to use for this page. This "door" is from a very old building in a very small town in northeast Texas. I like this so much. It is the door to creativity! And why not????? Did my journaling in the "brick" patterns I drew on the page.

Journal January 2011 - Day 20 - Door to Creativity

Day 21 prompt was Bluebells. Well, you gotta understand.....this Texas girl couldn't even think of doing blue flowers without doing BLUEBONNETS!! The Texas state flower. This is my favorite mental picture of Texas.....a vast field of bluebonnets in the Hill Country of Texas with a couple of live oaks just over the ridge. It evokes deep emotions even now. Even though I haven't lived in Texas in many many years. Guess you just can't take the Texas out of this girl after all.......at least in some part of my heart.

Journal January 2011 - Day 21 - Bluebonnets

Well, only three more day to do to catch up on the Journal January 2011 project! Might do another one this afternoon.......we'll see.

Journal January 2011 - Days 15 and 19

2011-02-15T14:43:00.000-06:00

I never did find the photos I was looking for so I went ahead and did Day 15 with generic faces. The prompt was about stories of women. I wanted to do the story of my heritage. My heritage is a long line of very strong women. Not perfect mind you.....but strong and mostly independent! I figure part of the strength I get to jump in and try new things I've never done before is from these women. Chosen out of many are my great-aunt-Orvie (a solo missionary to Burma when she was only 17), my great-grandmother Mary Davis (who traveled to Texas in a covered wagon from Missouri), my maternal grandmother Inez Skinner (who when deserted by an alcoholic husband raised three kids on $12/week - and went on to marry a wonderful man!!), my fraternal grandmother Ocie Lambright (although I disagreed with what she believed, sacrificed so much to stand up for and live by her beliefs), and my mother Dean Guest (left a fine life to head off with my dad to Africa as a missionary with only a one-way ticket). Those are only single examples of the strength that they have lived by. There is so much more. There are other un-named faces going back before these women. Strong women don't spring from the dirt, so I figure there must have been other strong women that were examples for these women in my life. And I was privileged to know all of the ones listed. Now...I can only hope to carry on that heritage to my grand-daughters and make those in my past proud.

Journal January 2011 - Day 15 - Strong Women - My Heritage

Day 19's prompt is Toy Talisman - a favorite toy from our childhood. Well, try as I might I couldn't think of one! No really! But what DID come to mind is all my books. It all started when I memorized (and recited ad nauseum so I hear tell) all the nursery rhymes I could get my little 2-year-old hands on. Even slept with all of them. Then it was Dr. Seuss, then Nancy Drew throughout my early school years. That is when my love of the mystery was born! After that I found Agatha Christie!! Amazing. Then as an adult a friend recommended Anne Perry. Another wonderful mystery writer. Then another friend introduced me to Diana Gabaldon. Not much of a reader of fantasy books but this series is so steeped in history that I fell in love with it! Today, as a voracious reader...I can look back to the beginning and see that my first love of books began at a very early age and I have enjoyed many adventures through these and so many others.

Journal January 2011 - Day 19 - Books

Journal January 2011 - Day 18

2011-02-07T13:10:00.000-06:00

Got inspired this morning and completed TWO journal pages! Well....this second one was rather a fun lark and just playful. I didn't plan really - just took it as it came. I had a bunch of tools on my work area so I just grabbed what was at hand and started making funky letters. It reminded me of how we "decorated" our bookcovers with those big fat letters when I was in school. Who knew it was art back then??? But the practice came in handy it seems!

And my zebra still likes to peek in and play on some pages now and then.......

Journal January 2011 - Day 18 - Lettering

Now, only day 15 to get to....then 19 thru 24. Whew! I hope I make it by the deadline! (Obviously the deadline is NOT the end of January...thankfully!)

Journal January 2011 - Day 17

2011-02-07T12:04:00.000-06:00

This was a fun one for me because I have never drawn a still life. I did some in fabric for the FIG study but that is a bit different than drawing one. I decided to use watercolor pencils because I wanted the more pale yellow/green pears. Found several images of pears online and got the idea of what I wanted. Then I lightly sketched it onto the page and then got out the watercolor pencils (I DO love them!!). Then I used my Aquapen to blend and highlight areas. So, here they are -- plump pears!

Journal January 2011 - Day 17 - Plump Pears

I obviously have a very long way to go to get a still life I really like but I did learn a lot and enjoy the process very very much!

Inspired by ? - a new journal - Joan Miro

2011-02-06T13:19:00.001-06:00

Starting a new journal with art prompts by Milliande. This one is to be inspired by chosen artists. The first one is Joan Miro. I love the playful form and colors of his work. At first I had a subject in mind and tried to draw a Miro-inspired picture of it. Didn't work too well. So, I just started drawing shapes and went wherever it took me. When I started coloring in the shapes, the title came to me. The title is The Embrace. And in honor of our Spanish artist I am calling it - El Abrazo. See the girl near the upper left? Her very long arms are embracing all the varied bits around her. I see it as embracing a variety of things that surround me in art and life. To embrace them and let them change who I am and how I view my world. Truly enjoyed this page!

Inspired by ? - Joan Miro - El Abrazo

Journal January 2011 - Day 16

2011-02-06T13:12:00.000-06:00

Yep, I'm skipping day 15 for now. There is something I need that I can't find right now and I am going to wait until I find it.

So, day 16 it is! Favorite Number is the prompt. My favorite number is 7. However, even though I don't believe in "lucky" numbers or anything, I have playing card, dice and dominoes on my page. I began to wonder....just what attracts us to a certain number and not to others? Some experience in our past, whether remembered or not? I wonder if any studies have been done on that subject?? Anyway, number 7 is the choice for my page!

Journal January 2011 - Day 16 - Favorite Number

Journal January 2011 - Day 14

2011-02-04T10:32:00.000-06:00

Mirror, Mirror! I chose to consider the mirror in my mind instead of the physical mirror reflection. The mind image is the one that has more of an impact on my art. Most days now I see the image of a colorful, playful, creative, imaginative, talented artist. But, there are still days when the "other" image creeps in. That image is pale, disjointed and dysfunctional. Boxed in by the long felt demand to be "perfect", to "perform". I have gotten better at ignoring her and brushing her to the side...but there are still times.....

I've recently been learning even more about the joy of just playing and letting art "happen". It is so much more rewarding and enjoyable!! I am choosing to see more and more of the creative, playful side that I am beginning to recognize as the REAL me!

Mirror, Mirror - Knowing Who You Are

Journal January 2011 - Day 13

2011-02-03T14:35:00.000-06:00

And another interesting day! This one is really playful. The idea is to just draw lines on the page and see what happens. What do you see? What forms take shape? Which lines go together? I'm enjoying the "not having to be perfect" aspect of these recent pages. I'm LOVING the play time! Now what will be interesting is how continuing this will impact my other art. Being foot-loose and fancy-free in one's journal is totally different than being that way in the art one presents to the world....and perhaps hopes to sell. But will the playfulness and freedom carry over anyway? Will it be something acceptable? Only time will tell I suppose. Or perhaps the whole thing is to have a very playful area to bring the relief of the precise in other areas??? hmmmmm interesting thought....well....interesting to me anyway! So, here is my journal page for Day 13 - Taking a Line for a Walk

Journal January 2011 - Day 12 - Taking a Line for a Walk

Journal January 2011 - Day 12

2011-02-01T12:03:00.000-06:00

Today was a very weird kind of journaling experience. I've been trying to just let it go and do whatever comes to mind or hand. Not trying to prove anything to anyone -- just having fun and seeing where it takes me. I started with the face and it turned out really sad and when my aquapen ran it looked like tears...so I let it be tears. It's been that kind of week so it just came out. Not too sure where the dead stick-figure came from (perhaps because being sick for what is now 3 weeks and no sign of an end - well, let's just say there are days that the final option is not all that bad!! LOL!!) Since the prompt for this day was Daily Detritus I challenged myself to work with the bits and pieces from recent other works that were within my reach on the island. I have been involved in many different projects until recently so there were many to choose from but it might have made it all seem just a bit disjointed. Oh well, that is also my life so I guess that makes this an excellent page! And here it is....

Journal January 2011 - Day 12 - Daily Detritus

Journal January 2011 - Day 11

2011-01-31T15:50:00.000-06:00

Yes it's been two weeks! This cough/cold has really hit hard and long. Day 18 and no relief in sight. But life and creativity must go on!!! So, I'm getting back into the studio and working on my Journal January 2011 art journal. Needless to say...too far behind now to ever even dream of catching up but I just want to keep doing the journal for now and see how it goes.

This is day 11 and is across from day 10. The edge you see on the left of this photo is where I carried over day 10 - just cuz I wanted to. Back to mostly black and white for the Crossword Puzzle page. This is the first time I've played with my Pentel Aquash brush. I think there is more of a learning curve than I anticipated. But I did get better by the end of this page and THINK I know a bit more what I'm doing with it. So, here it is -- Day 11.

Journal January 2011 - Day 11 - Crossword Puzzle

Journal January 2011 - Day 10

2011-01-14T16:58:00.000-06:00

I know I'm four days behind! But I had some projects that HAD to get out the door to meet deadlines! But today I'm back!

Day 10 is a Dragonfly. There really is a Twelve Spotted (or Striped) Dragonfly! Who knew?? With the black and white stripes it goes so well with the Zebra as a Design Element theme. Also, I planned to have the dragonfly to be seen in the reverse view of the Stripey Window. (one of the advantages to being behind!!)

Working on some other projects tonight and hoping to get to day 11 tomorrow! I desperately need to get two done on a couple of days to at least get CLOSE to getting caught up!

Journal January 2011- Day 10 - Dragonflly

Dragonfly seen through the reverse view of Stripey Windows

DAG Quilt 2011 - January

2011-01-12T17:46:00.000-06:00

DAGgers are going to be doing a quiltlet each month for 2011. Each month is assigned a color and the quiltlet for that month uses only that color! It's not as easy as it sounds. Most of us are used to developing texture and depth with color and contrast. So it could prove to be a bit of a challenge. These will be non-bound and then at the end of the year each person will put their quilt together however they want to. I'm just making the quiltlets 10" X 10" and currently have no plan at all as to how to put them into a single quilt. I'll worry about that closer to the end of this project. The reason? Because my life and perspectives seem to change so much during a whole year. I want the journey of the quiltlets to be where I am at that month but the final piece I want to be centered more around where I am at the end of 2011.

So, let's begin! The color for January is WHITE. I chose a white-on-white for the base fabric. White grosgrain ribbon bisects the square but not quite in half (you know how I hate exactness!!) Since this winter is the snowiest we've had in years, I decided to add a snowflake motif stitch down the middle of the ribbon. The top right "half" is overlaid with a tulle that has silver circles on it. I had these three embellishment pieces from a friend who gave me tons of lace and stuff. On the bottom "half" just under the ribbon I roller painted "snow" circles using Lumiere Pearl White. The lace on the left side of the square is also from the lace stash from my friend.

JANUARY

A couple of close-up detail photos

Journal January 2011 - Day 9

2011-01-12T15:12:00.000-06:00

Ok, so I'm not a really "stripey" person as a rule and frankly, was not looking forward to this page very much at all. But then I decided to tear some of my TONS of paper towels I've collected. These are paper towels used to clean up messes mostly after dyeing fabric. I found early on that they are often quite gorgeous! Knew they would come in handy more than once! And here they are the stars of the page!

I also used white acrylic paints with the lino cut zebra elements from a previous page to add some depth to this page. Don't know if you can see it or not, but I journaled in the white parts of the zebra striped tissue paper.

Zebra Stripes and So Much More!

Journal January 2011 - Day 8

2011-01-11T15:47:00.000-06:00

Day 8 revolves around vertical journaling. I chose to go with the page of the African Veldt that I painted for my zoo zebras and also work with the page that is the back of the stripey "window", making this a 2 page spread.

Up and Down - full two pages

Left page - in a few days there will be a dragonfly to view through this reverse side of the stripey window. I also added some left over pieces of my zebra mandala to keep my zebras playing in my journal.

Right page - Journaling vertically is more of a challenge than one might think. Took a bit more concentration than I imagined before I started. Even though the letters are English, I think the journaling part looks almost Oriental. Now you can get a better view of my African Veldt. Can you tell I'm not used to drawing animals?? LOL

Journal January 2011 - Day 7

2011-01-11T15:39:00.002-06:00

Today is Stripey Windows. Cutting out a "window" to see through to another page. I went with a theme of Freedom....well for zoo zebras anyway. Figured if I was in a zoo I would long to be home...surely they do too. So here are three zoo zebras looking out through the bars of their cage...and in their minds see the African Veldt at sunset...their ancestral home where they long to be roaming free.

Show Me The Way To Go Home

Journal January 2011 - Day 6

2011-01-09T16:43:00.000-06:00

Today's idea was to make a centipede. The feet pictures were supplied online. Our challenge was to use them to make a centipede. The example used torn/glued newspaper for a background. Hadn't done that before so I thought I would try it. It didn't take long to get the inspiration for this page in my art journal for January 2011. As you can see....I'm only now posting Day 6....and today is the 9th. You'll understand why that is humorous to me when you see the page I did. And here it is

I Keep Getting Ahead of Myself

LOL! Like signing up for so many fun and challenging things that I can't keep on top of easily. I'm struggling with the schedule but I don't want to miss any of the fun!!! And gee....I only have 4 days to catch up with tomorrow!!! Piece o' Cake, right?

Journal January 2011 - Day 5

2011-01-07T11:45:00.001-06:00

Still playing catch up but hanging in there!

Ok, the prompt today was to make a zebra page in the style of GuidoDaniele. Here is a link to her painted hand animals. Zebras are near the bottom of the page. So for the journal we trace our hand to start. Then it goes from there. I traced my hand (backwards which wasn't as easy as it looks!!) painted it and while thinking of where to go next...I thought of my granddaughter who is most likely my budding artist. So, I used a trace of her hand and titled the page "Art...Passing it on" As an artist, one of my greatest joys is passing on art to my four awesome grandchildren. It is my special gift to them.

Art...Passing it on

Journal January 2011 - days 3 and 4

2011-01-06T15:57:00.000-06:00

Journaling using the zebra as a design element has proven to be very interesting. I hope to have the link button on my blog soon. My techie muse has vanished on this one!

Day 3 - Lino print of zebra elements

I had some lino product that I had never tried. Just small pieces to try out so this project was perfect for that. Let's just say that if I had used this product for my first lino cut....I would have NEVER made a second! But I struggled through and completed the project the way I liked it.

Day 4 - Draw a face that has zebra elements

On day 3 I was thinking of how the wrinkles on my face are similar to the zebra stripes. That lead to the inspiration for today's journal page.

This is the full page "When Did I Grow Old?"

The "old" side - The way I look on the outside

The "young" side - The way I FEEL on the inside. I CHOOSE to live HERE!

Last 3 canal houses

2011-01-06T15:47:00.001-06:00

Ok, you just gotta understand that somtimes I get so involved in what I'm doing in my studio that I totally forget about anything else! So, without further ado......here are the three houses to finish out the Amsterdam Canal Houses. Their stories follow the photo. Again, keep in mind that there are a bag of embellishments which have items that pertain to the story....like a sewing maching button, tiny flowers, etc. Oh and don't know if I mentioned it before but because my signature color is purple....each house has some element of purple in it.

Home of the Local Seamstress (aka House I)

But she is not just ANY seamstress! Her designs can be found gracing the elite models all over the world. Her house may seem unassuming but that is because she so greatly values her time alone in her design studio creating fabulous garments for her collection, royalty, super models, movie stars, etc. But when she goes out, she dresses in a manner not to attract attention. When she is not designing, she is traveling to exotic locations all over the world looking for wonderfully luxurious fabrics, unusual adornments and, of course, inspiration! Perhaps that is why there is often a jet flying over her house! And who knows…soon you might even be wearing a beautiful gown from her latest design collection!

Home of the Mayor (aka House J)

This substantial home is the residence of the Mayor. Being politically ambitious, he figured the best way to curry favor with the Queen was to build his house with orange bricks! (Orange being the Queen’s color). He even keeps orange fish in the canal in front of his home. So far, no royal appointments have been forthcoming but our intrepid Mayor will not give up easily. During the day his windows are closed with thick copper colored tapestry shades. His phone is in one window because he is never far from it. He often shows off his home with lavish parties that last late into the night. If you look into the windows (unless you are one of the very fortunate people to actually be invited!) you will see two HUGE fireplaces at either end of the grand hall that runs the full width of the home at the back of the house. Parties in the summer always spill out into the back courtyard that will have a “ceiling” of Japanese lanterns. He will be very friendly when you meet him on the sidewalk. But be cautious…he IS a politician after all.

Home of the Chairman of the Flower Guild (aka House K)

Not difficult to find the house of the Chairman of the Flower Guild. The full window boxes give it away I think. She purchased this house mainly because it had so many windows and she wanted flower boxes on every one of them…even the one for the attic! Even her window treatments suggest pink hydrangeas. She used to have many many flower pots on the sidewalk in front of her house but so many people picked them because they were so beautiful that she plants them along the sidewalk close to her house. They attract butterflies and dragonflies and usually a little frog to eat all the bad bugs. The rest of her wonderful flowers are in her back courtyard and of course…in EVERY room of her many-roomed home. In the spring though, she will place specially made planters along the steps of her roof just to add to the abundance of color and scent to welcome the milder weather. Her real prize is in her attic which she transformed into her indoor hot house with many large skylights. So, please do enjoy her floral display but please don’t pick the flowers.

And One More Thing for Today

2011-01-03T16:22:00.000-06:00

I was doing watercolors today and just wanted to share them with you. The theme was to be where land and water meet. Here are the ones I did.

North Shore Cliffs

North Shore Sunset

North Shore Rapids

Frozen Stream

Got to play with some new "toys" on these....well one anyway....masking liquid!!

Journal January Day 2

2011-01-03T12:13:00.000-06:00

Still working a day behind as far as posting the journal pages on my blog. I was working on this on into the night so it didn't get photographed and posted until today. It will probably be the same for day 3! LOL! These take a bit of time and I have to take breaks to work on other stuff that has deadlines looming. Anyway, here is day 2 - The New Year brings a New Perspective.

Still working on the zebra as design inspiration. Part one was to zendoodle a zebra mandala. Part two was to cut up and use that mandala to design the journal pages. I did a two page spread on this one.

Zebra Zendoodle Mandala

The New Year brings a New Perspective

Now onto day 3!!!

Canal Houses - next set

2011-01-03T12:06:00.000-06:00

OK, here are the next set of canal houses and their stories. The next three are E, F and G/H (two house made into one.) The stories follow the photo.

The Residence of the Pink Princess (aka House E)

This is the house of the Pink Princess. She is all about hearts and flowers and the glam! Shiny things excite her…especially PINK shiny things! She IS in residence most of the time but the entrance to her pink palace is through the courtyard in the back so no one is ever REALLY sure when she is at home. She can sometimes be seen walking her pink poodle along the canal sidewalk in the evenings….just when the sunset is nice and pink. During the day…even some of the wispy clouds seem shiny and sparkly over her house and only pink fish seem to swim in the canal in front of her house. Her favorite holiday is Valentine’s Day…of course. But it is not just on that day that her heart is open. Her favorite pastime is working with charities for children…giving of herself and her vast fortune. Her little pink poodle is a favorite in the hospital children’s ward. When the weather is not pleasant, she spends her days sitting in front of her fireplace on her pink chaise reading romance novels. I think you might enjoy getting to know her in your neighborhood.

The Royal Residence (aka House F)

Obviously this royal purple house with the precious metal décor is the home of a royal family. No one is sure just WHICH royal family though. Rumors abound but because the entrance to their home is through their back courtyard, no one has ever actually SEEN then arrive or leave. Some conjecture that they are a members of the once well-known Russian royalty. Others believe they once recognized a Scandanavian prince in the window. But alas…no solid lead has ever surfaced. This mystery is furthered along because their house is at the very top of the bridge so to be less visible from the canal itself. Perhaps while they are living with you, you will catch a glimpse of them and final reveal their true identity!

European Home of Jackson Pollock (aka House G/H)

When Jackson Pollock was alive, he loved to visit Amsterdam! He visited so often that he decided to purchase a large home on one of the canals. Not long after moving in, he painted the outside of his house. Now it is unlike any other. As his legacy to the art world, his will left instructions for his Amsterdam Canal home to be turned into an artist retreat. Artists needing to get away and rejuvenate their creative muse are welcome to stay here at no fee for three months. These visiting artists each leave a wonderfully creative touch on the inside of Pollock’s former house. While Jackson Pollock was a painter, ALL genre of art is encouraged at the retreat. At any given time, the residents could be painters, musicians, poets, writers, sculptors, mixed media and fiber artists, etc. Culinary artists also visit regularly so the kitchen is constantly supplied with tasty tantalizing morsels to sample. It is possibly the liveliest house on the block…so drop in sometime, sit around the kitchen table and just drink in the air of the creative soul.

Tomorrow I'll post the final three houses. Enjoy!

January Journal 2011 - Day 1

2011-01-02T23:26:00.001-06:00

Like I need another project but this one I just couldn't pass up. In Milliande's group she is doing a January Journal 2011. We started with Z for zebra for the inspiration. Each day has a new art prompt. Haven't finished day 2 yet but here is day 1. Will post day 2 and 3 tomorrow.

1-1-11 Z is for Zebra

Here is my first journal page.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

2011-01-02T10:45:00.000-06:00

Yep! Here it is.....2011!!! As you can see, the holidays knocked a big whole in my schedule plans but I'm not back in the studio and will try to catch up somewhat with posting here.

First thing I want to do is show you the stories I wrote to go with the canal houses. Here are the first four houses. The stories are below the photo which are left to right A B C & D. Please keep in mind that many of the embellishments were sent along with the individual house so some of the story references revolve around those embellishments which will be added on by the recipient.

Three Generation Family Home (aka House A)

This is the residence of a large family. Currently there are three generations living here together…the grandparents, parents, and seven children (three of which are under 4 years of age!). It is a happy home, even if somewhat chaotic and noisy at times. There is an artist studio at the back of the house that looks out onto the back courtyard. The grandmother spends almost all her days out there. But sometimes, she invites in a grandchild or two to begin to teach them the joys of art. At least one of them shows great promise of talent even at the age of three! The 10 year old doesn’t visit as often but has artist talent all his own! The room in the attic is very special. It is the guest room for visiting artist friends!! Every morning the kitchen smells of freshly brewed coffee and on the porch you can hear the murmur of friendly conversation and watch the cardinal on its daily visit.

Home of the Chief Judge of the Kennel Club (aka House B)

While Chief Judge sounds ominous and intimidating, this judge is very friendly and approachable. Especially when he is on one of his twice daily walks with his own lovable dog. In fact, you might even say this is the Dog’s Home as almost everything in this house is doggie friendly. The morning newspaper is left by the front door for him to retrieve and a bone has been known to be buried at various times in the flowers under the windows. He’s a very friendly dog, too, so be careful when walking by dressed in your fancy clothes. He WILL jump up and give you a big lick! But only if his master is not around. All in all though, he is a well-behaved and beautiful dog. So, walk along with them sometime and hear all the amazing stories of the Kennel Club annual competition!

Residence of the President of the Yacht Club (aka House C)

Yes, he only has a small skiff on the canal but at port he owns a fairly large ocean-going yacht! He loves all things nautical or having to do with water and boats. Even the window treatments are the color of a lagoon and have waves stitched into them. And his weather vane is a canoe. He so loves being as close to the water as he can, that he has his study on the basement level with a window practically at water level! The red and gold color of his home remind him of the brilliant sunrises out on the open sea – ushering in yet another wonderful day of sailing. The sky over his home even takes on a wavy look just for his pleasure. Next time he’s pulling out into the canal, if you ask nicely, he’ll probably be more than happy to take you out on the water with him!

The Bakery (aka House D)

While some claim that the Pancake Bakery is the best….we know better! Wil’s Bakery on the Canal tops them all! AND they serve delicious Starbucks coffee! Now what could be better than a cream cheese croissant and a Pumpkin Spice Latte! There are tables inside so go on in, grab a newspaper and your yummy treats and spend a leisure morning. Sometimes it is difficult to concentrate on one thing because ALL your friends seem to pop in while you are there. But that is a joy in itself. Coffee, croissant and friends…well, that’s just about as close to heaven as one can get! One group that meets here on a regular basis is the artist ladies! Wil is one of them and they meet here because she lives upstairs. (You can tell because her sewing machine is by the window.)They’ve been know to spend an hour or two here before they head off on shopping sprees to buy the latest art tool! They aren’t around every day because their trips usually have to take them to the US!! But…they will be back before you know it! So, enjoy your baked treats and Starbucks lattes and keep an eye out for them!

I'll post the next three houses and their stories tomorrow!

FINALLY!!!!!

2010-11-30T22:11:00.001-06:00

It is DONE!!! I was beginning to believe this day would NEVER arrive! ALL my canal houses are completed and ready to put in a box and mail to the Netherlands tomorrow!!! It's been a HUGE project and a fun one. But at this moment in time...I'm very glad they are finished!

Now the go off to Wil and she will swap out all the houses and send us back at least one of our own and the rest from the other Fractured Architecture group! I can hardly wait now to see what I get in return mail! Probably after the holidays however.

So, without further ado..........

Here is the whole row of houses. Each house is separate. I just put them really close together so you could see how they would look.

Group 1 - the first four houses

Group 1 - the next three houses (These three houses are the ones on the bridge)

Group 3 - the last three houses

Now...I'm off to a VERY blissfull night's sleep!!!

New area of art! - For me at least!

2010-11-29T17:06:00.000-06:00

I had heard about this but had never participated until recently when I joined Lenna Andrews Mail Art Swap. I chose for this one to make my own envelopes and make them artful. These are actually mailed individually to Lenna and she swaps them out and sends envelopes from other artists back to each participant in an art envelope of she designs herself.

Here are the 4 which I sent.

Garden of Dreams (front and back)

Gotta Love Mail Art (front and back)

Just Waiting to Hear (front and back)

Time For Mail Art (front and back)

It is a lot of fun and I'm very excited to see what mail art I get in return. I'll post them when they arrive!

Just a short post before lunch

2010-11-23T12:47:00.000-06:00

Just posting a quick ATC before I head into the house for a bit of lunch.

Sleep has been illusive lately. On one hand that is not good because it does take its toll on one's energy. However, sometimes the creative mind does come out to play!!

One of the ATC swaps I'm participating in has the theme of Snowman. Here is my first card....

The background is curved computer keyboards and at the bottom is a white keyboard. His name is Techie Snowman!

Just for the fun of it!

2010-11-04T17:06:00.000-05:00

This is an ATC swap that was just for the fun of decorating a moose.....yes....a moose. Every participant uses the same moose drawing and then decorates them according to some holiday. I chose some more obscure holidays because.....well....just because I wanted to! I did all of these with colored pencils. Not a medium I work in much but decided since I'm just having fun it was an excellent time to pull out the colored pencils and be a kid again and color!!!

Here is my herd!

Stamp Collecting Month (October)

Great Outdoors Month (June)

Golf Month (August)

Cinco de Mayo

Arbor Day

and my personal favorite (just LOVE his glasses!!!)

Eye Care Month (January)

Holiday Swap

2010-11-02T16:27:00.001-05:00

Or not...that is what I decided to do though....Christmas ones. There are 2 different fronts but all the backs are the same. Fronts are collaged from received Christmas cards and the back was hand painted. They have a snowflake eyelet in the top and embroidery floss to hang it on a tree if desired. Otherwise the floss can be removed for just a plain ATC. These were my first Christmas "thingies" of any kind for this year!

A New Art Form For Me!!

2010-10-30T12:05:00.000-05:00

OK, well not TOTALLY new.... I first tried watercolor over 30 years ago. Naming the piece (had I kept it) would have been soooo very easy. Like "Mud Puddle"!! I actually knew NOTHING about watercolor and it definitely showed. So terrible that I never even considered watercolors again.

Until.....well I DO use watercolor to create backgrounds for ATCs and my original note cards sometimes. But that is very different from trying to make something that someone else will recognize. But, a new swap appeared on AFA with the theme "Water Water Everywhere". What better theme to try out this technique? Seemed appropriate, right? So, I decided to give it a try. Still knew almost nothing about this medium but I have learned some of what it does and how it acts. Part of my continuing artistic journey.

Here they are....what do you think?

A Mirror Lake
At the end of summer a few years ago, we went wilderness camping in Quetico Park in Canada. It is a "no motor" park so the lakes are always clear and peaceful. However, one day we were out in our canoe and I felt like I was in some surreal painting. The lake was perfectly calm and provided a perfect mirror for every bit of nature on shore and island. It was an experience I'll never forget.

An Agate Beach
The Minnesota North Shore of Lake Superior. Many of the serene beaches of the North Shore are scattered with agates. Most of the big ones have been taken out but it is still an enjoyable afternoon to sift through the small rocks that make up the beach....just in case.

Frozen Gooseberry Falls
Gooseberry Falls is an amazing place on the Minnesota North Shore of Lake Superior. While it is beautiful in its race to the lake in summer, it is majestic as it is frozen in place - just waiting for spring thaw.

Sunset at Duluth Harbor
Lake Superior is seldom calm but in the evening, when the sun is just above the horizon, it can become less turbulent. This is the time when it is so beautiful and peaceful.

I'm thinking I just might keep working on this.....

A Birthday and Blue

2010-10-28T17:31:00.000-05:00

These are for a swap called Tangled Up In Blue. The idea is to have a mainly blue card. Don't know if it was the "tangled up" concept or because it was a dreary day, but the whole thing seemed to turn rather pensive. Interesting how that happens, huh?

Faded Dreams
Dreams - once so vibrant and alive, over time unfulfilled, fade into wafts of smoke as they evaporate..sometimes forever.

Faint Hearted
Our hearts reach out again and again. Too often rebuffed and left alone. We try again only to suffer the same fate. After time, the heartbeat is barely discernable.

Adrift On The Sea Of Time
TIME - never enough or too much. Most of us have at one time or another felt adrift and our schedules tossed upside down by unforseen happenings. We feel amazed that we even keep out head above water.

Trapped By Our Own Words
The words left our lips before they were adequately considered. Too late. They are out there now for all to hear and judge. One can only hope for kindness and understanding.

Then, my final Birthday ATC card - October. I kind of used the technique for abstract gel medium. I just didn't paint the whole background. I liked the collage pieces so much I didn't want to cover them up! The title is Pumpkin Pumpkin.

That's it for today!

2010-10-28T14:55:00.000-05:00

These are some of the most fun photos I've gotten to take in a while. The photo swap is themed for old sheds and shacks. Here are four of my favorite shed and shack photos in my collecton.

Shed As Billboard
Found this shed out on the back roads of rural MN. Someone decided to give it the new job of advertising.

Shed Near Rogers
This shed is just up the road a ways just outside Rogers.

Northwoods

Found this shed hidden way back in the trees up in the Northwoods of MN.

Stillwater Shack
Found this beauty on the way to photograph a lift-bridge in Stillwater, MN. If you look closely you can see straps holding up the little room on the side of the shack.

Sometimes I wonder just what I find so absolutely mesmerizing about old falling down structures. Something to do with their history and character...

ATCs from yesterday's studio time

2010-10-28T14:48:00.000-05:00

Oh yes there are more! I'm working to complete my obligations for these swaps and then get onto some other projects that have been calling my name a lot lately.

Another photo swap for ATCs. This one is Autumn Splendor. Needless to say, in Minnesota I have plenty of photo opportunities for this one.

Autumn Waterfall
On the east bank of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis. This is a small waterfall in Fr. Hennepin Bluffs Park near the area of St. Anthony Falls.

Tree On The Corner
This tree is actually on the corner of my street in Rogers, MN.

Urban Autumn
View from Nicollet Island in the Mississippi River toward downtown Minneapolis.

Autumn Sumac
Sumac along a path in Fr. Hennepin Bluffs Park in Minneapolis.

I don't think there are many things more wonderful than wandering through the outdoors in Autumn in Minnesota!

Just a couple for today

2010-10-28T14:45:00.001-05:00

Well, the ATCs are winding down here for a bit. Only a few more sets to go.

This one is for the Birthday ATC swap for the November birthdays. I always think autumn is exciting with all the colors. AND that certain aroma in the air that is so difficult to describe in words....let alone in art! So I opted for some gold color hand dyed fabric for the background, some fabric autumn leaves and some metallic acorns. I think the result is very happy. Hence the name....Autumn Excitement!

This is one I've had a lot of fun with. Over a year ago (perhaps even two years ago or more) I had a class in image transfer using gel medium. I had a beautifully colored bird picture from a magazine in the early 1900s from an ephemera lot I purchased on e-bay. So using that technique I transferred the picture of a Yellow Headed Blackbird to fabric. It's been in my bits and pieces box.....just waiting for inspiration. Then I needed a bird ATC for a thank you to a hostess and this turned out to be the perfect size. In the upper left corner is mulberry bark painted brown acrylic and brushed with Lumiere Gold. I'm hoping she will enjoy it!

So at this moment, the October Birthday cards are drying. And I have backings to add to another set of cards to post later. So.....back to work!!!

And yet some more!

2010-10-25T15:41:00.000-05:00

More studio time working on some of my new favorite little bits of art - ATCs.

These are for a swap full of fun and whimsy. Don't know if you can call the "art" but they were a nice fun diversion and much needed play time. The theme....If Pigs Could Fly. You just know I couldn't pass this one up. All the little piggies I get in return will find a new home is MY little piggy's flourishing ATC collection! Here are the ones I'm sending in. We could do 6 this time...so with one extra for the hostess...here are my 7 cards.

My How PIGS Fly!
Another play on words kind of. Time flies.....pigs fly.....watch face on the flying pig...

Red-Eye Flight
Silently whooshing through the starry night sky. Winging his way to his destination during the wee hours of the
morning. Struggling to stay awake!

Swine Flew
Get it? Swine Flew (flu). Couldn't pass that one up. Well, I COULD have but where's the fun in that?

Angel Piggy
Little angelic piggy with her halo only slightly askew. Still, all in all, a heavenly sight.

Pink Pig Of Happiness
Forget all about Blue Birds...This little piggy has happiness enought for everyone! And he's spreading it all around! Just look at that face! How could you see him and NOT be happy?

Pontoon Pig
Not only does this little piggy fly...THIS little piggy can land on water!! There he is now...headed for his favorite island!

FLYing pig IN THE OINTMENT
Poor little piggy! He's really in a sticky situation now! Causing trouble for everyone!

So much fun! Now back to the "real" world.

Latest art from my busy studio

2010-10-25T15:27:00.000-05:00

It continues to be a whirlwind around the studio these days. So much inspiration...so little time!! Let's see, where did I leave off.....

Ok, here are some new ATCs for swaps I'm participating in.

These are for the Let's Get Messy swap. The rule was that all the cards had to be painted without using ANY tools other than finger, elbows, toes.... you get the picture. Those of you who know me, KNOW how difficult this one was to get into! NOT!! It was great fun actually. So much so that I find I'm fingerpainting a lot of my backgrounds since this swap completed.

A Day At The Beach
Waves breaking. Seagulls calling. And the only footprints in the sand are your own. Ahh what peace!

Cave Drawings
Decided to go primitive on this one. Okay...abstract primitive might be a better description. I painted the shapes with the side of my little finger dipped in paint. Then overwashed it with some Marigold Procion Dye.

Patiently Waiting
It fits the title because I dipped my fingertips in several colors of acrylic paint and then drummed them on the card like one does when waiting. If you look closely you can even see my fingerprints.

Grape Hyacinth
Lots of tiny purple flowers with white tips to make up one stem. The look very similar to a bunch of grapes...hence their name.

Inspiring Artists

2010-10-23T17:35:00.000-05:00

You know how I like to share with you artists that inspire me. Well here are three pieces from three different artists. All of them are abstracts from three of my favorite artists. I like the last one particularly. Hope you enjoy them!

Bridge Photos

2010-10-19T17:57:00.002-05:00

Well, it took me a few days to recover from the harrowing evening of trying to get a night photo of one of my favorite bridges. But I finally got them printed and mounted on ATC cards for the very first ATC swap I get to hostess!! Here they are:

Third Avenue Bridge
The Third Avenue Bridge is the longest S-curve shaped concrete arch bridge in the world. The bridge was completed in June of 1918. The curves in the bridge were dictated by the rock in the upper level of the Saint Anthony falls. By the 1970s, the Third Avenue Bridge had deteriorated badly. Due to cost, it probably would have been cheaper to abandon the refurbishing project and tear the bridge down, but the city decided to continue. The refurbished bridge opened in late 1980.

Stillwater Lift Bridge
The 1931 Stillwater Bridge, spanning the St. Croix River, was the last vertical-lift bridge to be completed. The 140' central span is engineered for a rise up to 51'.

Stone Arch Bridge
Completed in 1883 for Manitoba Railway, this is the only arched bridge made of stone along the entire length of the Mississippi River. It curves over the river just below St. Anthony Falls. It was built of locally-quarried limestone and granite, and also limestone quarried in Iowa. In 1994, the Stone Arch Bridge became a pedestrian and biking bridge.

Father Louis Hennepin Bridge
The Father Louis Hennepin Bridge - The location of this new bridge was the site of what is believed to be the first permanent bridge over the Mississippi River. The original very important bridge over the Mississippi River is now the most beautiful bridge (especially when lit at night) on this river. The first bridge was built in 1854 and was opened on January 23, 1855. The new bridge was opened in September of 1990.

While the photos are all mine, I want to thank and acknowledge John Weeks for his thorough website page of the bridges in the Minneapolis area. There are so many more. Here is a link to his website: http://www.johnweeks.com/highway/bridges.html

Thanks, John!!

Graffiti!!

2010-10-19T17:50:00.000-05:00

OR......Getting in touch with my inner gangsta!!

One of the swap themes is graffiti. Well, how could I say NO???? I have been using paper under a lot of my projects lately...to keep the island top FAIRLY clean. Kind of like a drop cloth except paper. I used the paper as the background for these cards. This was so much fun!

AFA stands for AtcsForAll - the group sponsoring the swap. The KITY one is a thank you card for the hostess. The other two are self-explanatory.

Although it was great fun....not sure I see a life of "tagging" in my immediate future!

10-10-10

2010-10-18T10:52:00.000-05:00

OH almost forgot all about the 10-10-10-a-thon we had to acknowledge that date - October 10, 2010. The idea was to make ATCs with some kind of allusion to the number "10" on them. We had from midnight to midnight - 24 hours - to make these. As we made them we posted them to the other players and trades were made throughout that time. Here are the the "10" ATCs I made. All but two have been swapped.

BUSINESS AS USUAL

A DIME A DOZEN

KNOW WHEN TO HOLD 'EM

SAY WHAT?

(the number "ten" in different languages)

THE DOMINO EFFECT

TICK TOCK

(notice the time on the clock button -- 10:10)

THIS LITTLE PIGGY

10 IN BRAILLE

(the black dots for the braille are actually raised on the card)

(available for trade)

KH #10

(inspired by Jackson Pollock's #10)

(available for trade)

10c A DANCE

This "a-thon" was great fun but it took me two days to recover!! Whew! That was a lot of work and I don't guess I even need to tell you how messy my studio is at this point!!

Button Button Who's Got The Button

2010-10-18T10:35:00.000-05:00

Yep, that's the theme for the latest ATCs I just completed. It was great fun to use some of the special buttons I've collected the past several years. And here's the results for the swap.

Just...A...Little...Closer......
Such patience! Sitting on that lily pad all day...just waiting for that dragonfly to come just a little bit closer! Then....LUNCH!

Fun In The Sun
As we head into winter here (Minnesota), it is nostalgic to look back on fun days at the beach. The seagull looks ready to battle the crab for some tasty morsel hidden in the sand.

Something Fishy This Way Comes
Here fishy fishy fishy!! Must be something inmportant for them to get to. Late for school perhaps?

L'etoile du Nord
Star of the North. The Minnesota State Motto. What better for the star to shine on than a scene from the great North Woods!

OK, now off to complete some other obligations. These all came together fairly quickly....others...not so much.

Season ATC Swap - Winter

2010-10-17T16:07:00.001-05:00

Currently in a swap which will eventually cover all four seasons. We are starting with WINTER....seems appropriate somehow! Here are the ones I completed today.
Midnight Blizzard
In Minnesota blizzards are going to happen. Might as well celebrate them!

Neither SNOW Nor Rain
Inspired by the quote, "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds."

Snowed In
Swirling snow all around. The little cabin can barely be seen by the frozen stream. Nestled against the pines at the top of the hill.

Winter Moon in Bare Branches
Steel gray sky and an icy moon. Broken up only by the black slashes of the bare tree limbs.

I did another group today and I'll post them later!

One Addition

2010-10-16T12:19:00.001-05:00

I already posted the "Sayings of Time" cards but I have one to add to it. It is a hostess gift because I can't send money or postage to Australia! Here it is.

Time flies on restless pinions - constant never. Friedrich Schiller. A bit of a different quote from the old time flies by itself I guess. The background is finger painted sky. The wings are made of Angelina and the clock face is part of my huge collection of watch parts.

And the Beat Goes On!!

2010-10-16T09:59:00.000-05:00

Well, at least the ATCs go on........and on.....and on.......

Theme of this group is Old Churches. We had so much fun driving around looking over the treetops for interesting steeples! One of the most fun hunting trips ever! Here's what I found!

The first is the Basilica of St. Mary - Recognized as one of the finest examples of Beaux Arts architecture in the country, the Basilica of St. Mary was constructed in Minneapolis between 1907 and 1915. It's also the first Basilica in the United States, honored by Pope Pius XI in 1926. And it has been named to the National Regtister of Historic Places.

Next is Scandia Church - One of the earliest of the Swedish Baptist Churches in Minnesota, Scandia Baptist Church was founded in 1855. The diary of the carpenter who worked on the Scandia church building was used by Moberg in the writing of his famous trilogy about Swedish Immigration.

Third is St. Katherine's Ukranian Orthodox - St. Katherine Church in Arden Hills, MN is designed in the Ukranian Baroque Architectural style. The Cathedral of Sophia in Kyiv provided the inspiration for the design of St. Katherine Ukranian Orthodox Church.

And last but not least is St. Constantine Ukranian Catholic Church - The area of Northeast Minneapolis is home to a large Ukranian population. One of the oldest congretations is St. Constantine's Ukranian Catholic Church established in 1913. It has a beautiful domed roof.

As you can see, the Minneapolis area has a significant Ukranian population! There are several other churches I photographed but those will have to wait for another time!

Completed Another Set!!

2010-10-02T18:01:00.004-05:00

This was a really fun one to do. Those of you who know me know I have a passion for bits of watches, time, etc. Well, the theme of this swap is Sayings of Time! Right up my alley as they say. I had fun finding watch parts to use in each card. Enjoy!

Sayings of Time ATCs

Title: Making Alterations

Quote: "Time is a dressmaker, specializing in alterations."— Faith Baldwin 189 –1978) a very successful U.S. author of romance and fiction novels, often concentration on women juggling career and family.

Title: Killing Time

Quote: "Life is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils"-- Louis-Hector Berlioz , 1803-69, French romantic composer

Title: Hurry Please!

(this one has a door that opens. the next photo is with the bathroom door opened)

Quote: "How long a minute is, depends on which side of the bathroom door you're on." -- Zall's Second Law (kind of like Murphy's Laws)

Title: What's A Calendar???

Quote: "Calendars are for careful people, not passionate ones." -- Chuck Sigars, newspaper columnist and author.

Additional ATCs

2010-10-01T14:33:00.002-05:00

Was it I who said I was done making ATCs for a while?????? hmmmmmm NOPE! Must have been someone else! Anyway, I'm afraid I must admit to addiction. Can't seem to say NO when a really interesting one crosses my e-mail......no thanks especially to WIL!!!! heheheh

So, here they are with the titles of the swaps for which they were done.

Postage Due - Must use stamps in the ATC design

Photo swap - Doors

That's it for today. I have a photo swap of interesting old churches but I'm re-doing one of them so I'll wait until I get them all together. Stay tuned for upcoming ATCs!!! OH yes...there are MORE coming.....................

Another VERY interesting artist!!

2010-09-27T11:22:00.002-05:00

Yes, I'm still here. I guess after such a full tilt whirlwind creative spurt I took a bit of a breather. Not that I wasn't doing things...just nothing completed enough to post this past week.

Went on another photo safari this weekend in preparation for some ATCs....yes I know I said no more...but a little "devil" out there keeps finding such interesting topics that I just finally admitted defeat and addiction and am just moving on!! LOL!! There will be more posts about those in the coming days of this week so check back in soon.

In the meantime, check out this amazing artist (a link sent to me from a friend)! Kylie Stillman carves trees and birds from books. Here is a link to her images. Amazing! This artist definitely understands the concept of negative space!!

http://www.kyliestillman.com/page2/page2.html

ENJOY!!! I'll be back later!

Faces Art Journal - page 2

2010-09-20T16:33:00.000-05:00

My goodness this is fun! Just completed page 2 in my Faces Art Journal. Originally I had planned to do page 2 and 3. But I found that I really wanted the third face drawing and the original picture that I was working from on the same page. So...here it is!

The quote on the bottom of the page says: "The face is the index of the mind." -- Proverb

Faces Journal - page 2

Faces Journal - page 2 (detail)

Face number 3

2010-09-20T10:00:00.001-05:00

OK, here he is....my third attempt at drawing the face depicted by a Roman statue. He is still not exactly right but I'm happy with him since he is just the third face I've ever drawn....in my whole life! He's getting closer to the original picture (which I now feel OK posting for comparison). The shape of the head is not quite right and something else that I can't put my finger on. The original seems older somehow. So, I'm just envisioning this Roman as a younger man....yeh....that's it!!!!! LOL!

Oh well, you can make your own judgement I'm sure.

Roman Statue - Face 3 (left is the original and right is my drawing - as if you couldn't tell the difference!)

You at least have to admit that this one is better than the two posted a month ago on August 18!! So, now I'm ready to put these pictures in my Faces Journal. Pages 2 and 3 are prepped and after these are in the journal I'll post those two pages. Have to admit....this is really exciting!

Faces Art Journal - page 1

2010-09-17T14:49:00.001-05:00

Well, I finally got to work on my actual journal page today. It is the first page and the introductory page. I had a lot of fun just experimenting with the look of this page. While I THINK I want my journal to all go together, I'm not sure just what will appeal to me on any given day. We'll just have to see how it all breaks down in the coming months.

I'm working in 6 page signatures of 140lb. watercolor paper. I chose this paper because I LOVE to work with wet dyes and paints and watercolors for the backgrounds. Wanted something that could stand up to the moisture and not fall apart. Plus, I love the slight texture of this paper and the way it deckles (I might have just made a noun into a verb but - hey, it works!)

So, started out with a wash of diluted brown procion dye (leftover from a fabric dyeing session). Then I played with some pastel chalks. Then I outlined the space for the two first drawings with a gold Shiva stick. Some more painting with some acrylic and then some distress ink. Adhered the two drawings and then color washed them with the same diluted brown procion dye and added some more distress ink. It really mutes the drawings -- which is just what I wanted to happen (they aren't very good anyway) but I at least got my first two struggling efforts into the journal. You can still see them in person but not too well in the photo. I then adhered two strips of metal painted with alcohol inks from another previous project (see, I try to re-purpose even the scraps!).

Then I made a pocket with a wallpaper sample from a hardware store(also painted with a color wash which dried in an interesting pattern) and attached it to the page with eyelets. Inside is a card which reads: "In the beginning…I’ve never drawn a face before. Now is the time to challenge and stretch. So, here goes! These first two I drew on regular paper with a #2 pencil. Not easy to work with. But I felt I should include them anyway. I have a picture I’m working from but I don’t want to reveal it until I get closer to what I’m trying to accomplish. Where this will take me, I have no idea. I’m just planning to enjoy the journey!" That card can be pulled out by the special ribbon I attached to the tag at the top of the card.

Is this exactly what I wanted? Well, not quite but making an art journal is also a work in progress and I hope to learn a lot along the way. Without learning new things...I think life would be unbearably boring!! So, now, as in the agreement with my friend Wil, I have one more page to get done by the end of September. We are striving for 2 pages per month. Today, however, is drawing to a close for me so this is it for now. But tomorrow is STUDIO DAY!! So be prepared for more to come!

And FINALLY....at least for awhile

2010-09-13T14:10:00.000-05:00

OK, these are the last ATCs for a bit. Starting tomorrow I'll be working on two longer term projects and the ATCs will take a breather for a bit.

The theme for this swap is Thankful For Chocolate. I almost missed this one. Thanks, Wil, for keeping me in the loop!! I do think I must have gained several pounds just making these cards................

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

SATISFY YOUR CRAVING

FRENCH CHOCOLATE

mmmmmmmmmm eclairs..........

and last but certainly not least.....

THE BEST CHOCOLATE IN THE WORLD!!!!

OK, now back to other projects!! Thanks for dropping in!

Nuturing Creativity - Week 37

2010-09-13T10:06:00.000-05:00

It's been so hectic these past few weeks that it was difficult to keep up the posts about nurturing creativity. And here we are already in week 37! Time is just zipping by! The days here are feeling more and more like fall. There's just something in the air....that and the geese honking overhead as they marshal their forces to head south. That is one of my favorite sounds because I know the crisp fall days and cool nights are just around the corner. And since the forecast for the end of the week is highs in the low 60's (F), it seems it will be turning that corner rather rapidly. And I say, "Bring it on!!" Fall is such a beautiful season here. I'm picturing many "photo safaris" in the near future as we roam the countryside looking for that elusive single flaming red maple in the midst of the yellows and browns of the other trees. I saw that once and never forgot it. What I DID forget is where the heck I saw it!! Oh well, the thrill is in the hunt after all.

And here is the card for this week:

Stretch Yourself

Maybe not what you might have thought. I know the title suggested something else to me....like exploring some new technique or materials. But no, it is really talking about physically stretching. Good advice really....and advice I seldom remember to take as I'm in the middle of a project or as recently, an ATC marathon (tomorrow is the last of the marathon ATC posts! -- or later today perhaps). I get all stiff and creaky by the end of a session. And I'm choosing to believe it is from not stopping to move around and stretch for a minute or two. It is CERTAINLY NOT my age!!! (Don't think I didn't hear some of you say that!!) LOL!! So, my challenge as I head into another intense project (the canal houses) is to remember to take breaks so I don't break!! At least the canal house project is so big I have to often get up and at least walk back and forth, to and from my design wall! Does that count do you think??? hmmmmmmm Where is Jack LaLane when you really need him??? oops...showed my age again!!

So, happy stretching and moving to all of you this week. I'm going to try to keep up my discipline in that area. We'll see how it turns out.

And STILL MORE!!

2010-09-13T08:44:00.000-05:00

The theme for this swap is: An Apple A Day! The first thing that came to my mind was Apple Computers (can you tell I live with computer techie geeks??) The apple dessert one made me long for a hot apple dumpling....or apple pie ala mode!!mmmmmmmmmmmm

APPLE GEEKS

JOHNNY APPLESEED

APPLE CRATE LABELS

APPLE DESSERTS

More ATCs for Swaps!

2010-09-10T16:44:00.001-05:00

These are for a swap with the theme called Beverages Anyone? All cards had to have something to do with some beverage....duh. Anyway, here are the ones I did.

BOTTLE OF WINE

WHISKEY ON THE ROCKS

MARGARITAVILLE

BIT OF THE BUBBLY

The ATCs Continue - In Your Own Words

2010-09-08T10:45:00.004-05:00

This theme requires that at least three words are on each card written in your own hand. This was a little stretch for me as I don't usually write on my cards. I have been working on this set off and on for weeks. But at last it is complete.

Bubbles - "Everyone's life is filled with troubles. May all yours burst like fragile bubbles." OK, so I'm not a poet. Still.....

The Color Purple - "All other colors are just colors, but purple seems to have a soul. Purple is not just a noun and an adjective but also a verb - when you look at it, it's looking back at you."---Uniek Swain I obviously chose this sentiment because purple is my favorite color.

Days of My Life - "I look back at the days of my life...each one distinct...and yet, woven together, they make up the rich and beautiful texture that is My Life!" Sentiment is my own composition and does reflect part of my philosophy of life.

Two Roads Diverged... - Part of the poem by Robert Frost, "The Road Not Taken". It has been one of my very favorite poems since I can remember. I have posted the complete poem below this card so you could have the joy of reading it.

The Road Not Taken

Robert Frost

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

WARNING! ATC marathon in progress!

2010-09-07T16:25:00.000-05:00

Yep, I'm doing a LOT of ATCs the beginning of this week. Have several commitments and I want to get them in early so I can concentrate on a couple of other intense projects.

These cards are for a swap called Let's Travel the World 2 (we did part 1 recently). The theme is for 3 countries of the world. This has been great fun and very interesting because I get to learn some new stuff about countries I'm not all that well-versed on. Like Greenland. 1) I didn't know it belonged to Denmark (duh) and 2) it is the largest island in the world that is NOT a continent. Plus the scenery you see pictures of when looking for items for the ATC is gorgeous.

So, here they are - Greenland, Germany and Italy:

And the marathon continues so I'll have more tomorrow!

More Old Building ATCs

2010-09-07T11:32:00.000-05:00

I'm so excited! There was another swap for ATC photos of old houses and buildings. I've been taking photos of old barns, houses, buildings and stuff for years so I already had a good "stash" to work with. Here are the ones I made for this swap.

Open House - I took this photo on our trip to the International Quilt Show in Houston, Tx in November 2006 (see - told you I'd been doing this for a while!) We were in some very small town in NW Texas and this building was on a side street. I love the play of light and color because there is no longer a roof on this abandoned building.

Stuck In The Middle - This poor little shed looks like it is being squeezed to death by the big silo on the left and the big barn on the right. No wonder it is caving in!

Crooked House - This little house used to be at a nursery/market not far from my home. It is no longer there so I'm glad I took a picture of it when I did! Just love the whimsy of it all.

Now I've Seen It All - My husband and I take Photo Safaris along the back roads of Minnesota. We were driving along and saw this just next to the road. Needless to say, we came to a screeching halt and stopped to take a photo. Not sure what on earth it is all about but it is one barn I never forgot!

That's all for now!

Abstract ATCs - Completed

2010-09-05T17:23:00.000-05:00

The remaining steps didn't take as long as I had thought and I completed them this afternoon. I didn't post pics of them dried because when the matte medium dried, the cards looked just like the cards before the medium was added....not much new to see.

Step 3 -After the matte medium dried, I lightly rubbed a chalk pastel in black over them to highlight the raised areas. Supposed to use charcoal but I don't have any.

Step 4 - I then pulled out the appropriate colors of Lumiere paints and went to town! The paints are very watered down for this technique. Still want to see some of the card base showing through....some more than others ended up that way. In fact, I'm not sure it will show in the pictures but it is there. Here are the completed cards. I really had fun with this technique!

In the pictures below, on the left is the first color wash and on the right is the completed card.

Abstract Pastel - I applied the watered down Lumiere paints in this order: a full color wash of Halo Violet, then strips of Pearl Magenta. Painted the curls with Jaquard yellow textile paint. Then a color wash of very diluted Lumiere Metallic Gold.

Abstract Purple/Green - First a full color wash of Halo Violet. Then painted the inside of the circles with Pearl Emerald Green. Then the final Metallic Gold wash.

Abstract Brown/Blue - First a full color wash of Metallic Rust. Then a full color wash of Pearl Blue. Painted Metallic Olive Green in the center of the circles. Final Metallic Gold wash.

Abstract Blue/Green - Full color wash of Metallic Rust, then Metallic Olive Green on one side of the curved line. When that was done the curves reminded me of a river so I painted that with Pearl Blue. Metallic Gold final wash.
I found this to be a very interesting way to add texture. And I was actually amazed at how flexible the card was when everything was dry and before I added the backing card. Gets the brain going, ya know!!

Happy Day

2010-09-05T10:38:00.000-05:00

I don't often post anything about my personal family stuff here but because the main topic is ATCs I am adding this one anyway. Today is my older granddaughter's birthday celebration....even though her actual birthday isn't until Wednesday. She will be THREE! AND she is already beginning her own ATC collection! Sooooooo...I made her a few cards for her big party.

First you should know that Piggy has been her nickname since she was born. She even calls herself Piggy. I know she will not be that accepting in a couple of years but for now, she knows it is our love name for her.

She also has the nickname Diva Pig since she IS the center of the universe after all!!! LOL! She and her little sister have discovered the joy of dress-up. They put on their own fashion show and I can assure you Piggy has her own fashion sense. That plus, she won't wear anything that isn't purple or sometimes pink without a fight. And she loves her sunglasses and her purple flip-flops! OK, she loves anything purple.

She is just now big enough to ride her Little Mermaid tricycle but she wants a PURPLE motorcycle! I told her she has to learn to ride her tricycle, then a bicycle with training wheels, then a regular bicycle. After that she can get her motorcycle. The other day, for the first time she rode her tricycle to the end of the long driveway and back and announced. "I'm done. Now I want my motorcycle" So, she is getting THIS motorcycle instead. It's a picture of the bike I rode until two years ago.

This is just an amazingly cute sign we found out on one of our treks to take photos and have an amazing lunch and buy amazing bread in Stockholm, WI. Seemed appropriate!

And lastly, my birthday wish for my precious little Piggy.

Thanks for bearing with me for this personal little art moment.

Abstract ATCs - Step 2

2010-09-04T12:53:00.000-05:00

Wow! That didn't take as long as I had anticipated so I completed the second step before lunch!

STEP 2 - Creating Texture

First I got all my imprinting tools together -- a twisty plastic straw, plastic core of a roll of cellophane tape, a piece of plastic diamond grid and the end of a small paint brush. Then I got out a foam brush and was ready to start the texture layer.

I painted on a rather thick layer of matte medium and then made texture marks.

Here they are all covered and "drawn" on. Difficult to see the under layer at this point but the matte medium SHOULD dry a bit more clear.....I hope! Now for the long and patience-demanding DRYING period (certainly not my favorite part!) Fortunately, I have several other projects needing attention so they will provide the necessary distraction....well.....that's the plan at least!

Abstracts with matte medium - wet and waiting.....and waiting....and waiting......

Afraid we won't be seeing them again until tomorrow. OH well, on to lunch!

Another New Technique!! YEAH!

2010-09-04T12:26:00.001-05:00

OK, I'm involved in another ATC swap. This one because it is an abstract technique that I haven't tried yet! Can you think of a better reason to join a swap?? HUH??? Nope, I can't. (is that a bad sign? when I ask the question and answer it myself....all alone....in my studio....?) Anyway, I wanted to chronicle it as it goes along. The members of the swap got the directions but since I'm not sure how public the hostess makes her directions....I'm just going to give the basic steps as I go through them.

STEP ONE - making the base background.

Just taking various papers and adhering them to the ATC card backing in some manner. I chose 4 different color combinations as I get bored too easily to do all of them alike! So, here they are in all their "nude" glory. Later today I'll be covering them but you'll have to check back for that one! hehehe

Abstract - Green/Brown

Abstract - Purple/Green

Abstract - Blue/Green

Abstract - Pastels

Now to go get the next layer done because it takes a bit of time to completely dry.

Nuturing Creativity - Week 35

2010-09-04T12:17:00.000-05:00

Ok, I'm really behind....again. But I DID read this card on Monday...just been so busy I haven't taken time to post. Moving on....

Easy Art Access

Well, not too sure about this one I must say. It is about having bits of art or art encouragement all around you. For example, putting colored pencils and paper in your silverware drawer, crayons in your medicine cabinet....and so on. Only problem for me???
I can't keep track of all my stuff when it is IN MY STUDIO!!!! Heaven help me if I need my colored pencils and I can't remember which drawer in the house I put them in!! I think my poor sieve brain is way to old for this particular nurturing activity! Oh well, you can't win them all!

Nuturing Creativity - Week 34 and NEW ATCs

2010-08-25T15:58:00.000-05:00

I chose this card earlier and had planned to post it earlier but ended up with a weird week that vanished into thin air somehow!!

Anyway here it is:

Change Your Limitations

Work in another medium! Well, I think drawing experiments qualify for this one BIG TIME! Oh, I haven't drawn my newest face yet. BUT, I did sell some note cards so had enough to go to the art store and purchase some real sketching pencils and a pad!! Now to get busy on that little past time!

Have completed a couple of ATCs this week and thought you might enjoy seeing them. The first one is for the Birthday ATC swap for September birthdays and the other ones are for an Illuminated Alphabet swap. I really enjoyed doing the research on that one. These are from historic manuscripts where they made rather ornate and interesting and larger first letters of the chapter, line, or page. Had seen this technique before and found it very interesting but have never even THOUGHT about doing it myself. Sounded like a fun way to get outside my comfort zone! The first swap is for A B C and D.

September is PIANO MONTH!!! So here is the slightly blurry card for the September birthday people!!

Illuminated A, B, C and D

Nurturing Creativity - Week 33

2010-08-18T13:42:00.000-05:00

I tell you...I have not idea WHERE time goes. I picture some huge black hole that just sucks the minutes, hours, days, months deep into its core before you know what happened!! That's what it seems like anyway. So, here it is Wednesday and I haven't posted my Nurturing card for this week yet. But, like they say, better late than never.

Imagine You Can

This is interesting in its timing...what with the Faces Journal and all. Concept is that even though what ever creative project you are working on, even if it isn't as good as the "professionals" in your field....SO WHAT!! Those "professionals" started out once with as little experience as you have and they would not be where they are today if they listened to that voice that says we should stop because we will never be as good as .. (fill in name of professional here) ... Lesson? If you are enjoying your creativity discovery and journey...keep on going and doing what you love to do! Who knows!! Someday you may be one of those "professionals"!! (If you are...please don't forget what it was like just starting out!)

So, I wish you all wonderful days of exploration and joy and fulfillment in whatever you are doing to make this world more beautiful!

S-T-R-E-T-C-H-I-N-G

2010-08-18T10:42:00.000-05:00

I recently read in the Kemshall's wonderful publication - 3Fold - about a challenge journal they did and it excited me a lot! I've lately felt a real desire to do something outside my comfort zone....to learn something new...try something I've never considered possible before. Sure, I might fail miserably. So?? I've done that before and lived to tell about it! So, I contacted my good friend and fellow risk taker, Wil! It's always more fun to do these things together, right? Well, she was on board to do that and we had several e-mail conversations about just what we wanted to do. As you can imagine....there is only one rule! NO RULES!! We won't even be working on the same theme but will have a generous and very workable timetable just to keep each other accountable. I'm SOOOOOOO looking forward to this!

I know, I know.....it's not like I need more pressure or more to do, right? BUT....there is something to be said about stretching oneself. I think it keeps the creative juices flowing and enhances the other skills as well.

My challenge to myself -- a journal about FACES! Mostly drawing but any technique is applicable and expected. Depends on what "toy" grabs me when I enter my studio in the morning!

The next two paragraphs are rather philosophical so if you aren't into that.....just skip them!!

Now, in the spirit of true confession. Drawing is an area of abject fear to me. Comes mostly from a very fearful experience in elementary school about a drawn dinosaur whose feet didn't touch the ground when the picture was completed. Can you say humiliation????? That is one of the areas of challenge for me...to face that fear and deal with it. That coupled with the fact that many people say that anyone can LEARN to draw. OK, so let's put that theory to the test shall we?

The second confession is that I am going to take this journey publically on this blog. Why? Because that helps to reinforce my commitment to vulnerability with my art. I had to give up the quest for "perfection" when I became an artist. Not that I don't strive continually to improve and learn. I just had to realize that it IS a journey and the first steps can't be expected to be "perfect".

In light of all that soul-searching and philosophical stuff.....here are my first attempts at drawing a head/face of a Roman statue. I like starting here because the pictures are all gray-scale so I have more chance to get acquainted with light and shadow without being distracted by color at this point.

Now.....with fingers crossed and eyes half closed.....I'll jump in this new ocean of discovery!!

I guess I am protecting myself just a bit. I'm not showing the original picture I'm sketching from until I get at least a little closer to what it looks like. My goal now is just to be able to tell it is a human face!!! And the other caveat.....I'm just working with a #2 pencil at this point. Haven't yet purchased actual sketching pencils. Perhaps this week??? I sold some note cards so have some available art supplies money!

Face 1 - Roman Statue -- For this one I started with the eyes as suggested by one person. Found it terribly difficult to find a point of reference that way. But alas.....here it is. I know classic Romans had long noses but I think I got this one just a tad too long!

Face 2 - Roman Statue -- Started with the head shape this time and like it much better. It is still more narrow than the original but I think a better proportion. Although, the head is still a bit mishapen.

That's it for today kiddies!!! Will post more when I get the next drawing completed. Have a very busy day today getting some things done to meet deadlines and some other things in the mail. Hopefully I'll get to it this afternoon.!!

Just Playing Again

2010-08-09T12:23:00.000-05:00

Was just playing the other day and I was thrilled at how it came out so thought I would share it here with all of you (you know who you are!!)

When Wil was here we played with some encaustic wax. L O V E D it!!! Don't have any myself but I'm all about making do with what I DO have these days. Fortunately, with grandkids there are always broken and no longer used crayons around. Thought I would see how they worked together and below is what I came up with. It was a bit plain though so I got out my other latest toys....alcohol inks. Fantastic fun BTW!! The inks are eggplant and a silver additive ink. The paper is almost regular size (8.5X11) card stock. I see more playing with these babies in the future!!!

I titled it "Solar Flares from the Purple Sun"

Nurturing Creativity - Week 32

2010-08-09T12:16:00.000-05:00

Wow! Can you believe it??? August already....It's been hot and muggy here mostly. So glad the studio is air-conditoned!! So, a card for this week..... here goes nothing!!

Celebrate Small Successes

Not hard that one! At least not having to pare down some HUGE success at this time in my life, right? Small ones are about it. Still, they need to be celebrated. Can you say short term goals???? Yep, it works. In fact, there are many many days that I have to settle for just getting something done that day! That's about as long term as it gets sometimes. And on the days I don't get anything "productive" done....I celebrate having some time out just to rest and chill! I think I've got this one handled! I kinda prefer longer-range goals...and I DO have many of them. Life lately though...often seems to be mostly just surviving to create another day! Just think how much I'll enjoy the coming time when life will be a bit more predictable???...maybe???? Oh well, a girl can dream right?

More Little Treasures

2010-07-26T09:05:00.000-05:00

One of the ATC swaps I am participating in is themed: "Wake Up and Smell The Coffee". Well, I ask you now, could I actually NOT do this one???? Hardly!! It had my name all over it! I had a ton of fun with these. The back"grounds" (lol....get it???....."grounds"....oh my) I made from used coffee filters which I tore, let dry and then cleaned off. I was hoping for the coffee aroma to remain but alas....no such luck! Bummer! Some of them have pieces of Caribou Coffee bits on them. Caribou Coffee is like our regional coffee house. All I know is that they are closer than Starbucks....which on some days is a definite advantage! The metal bits are from a coffee flavored energy drink can Wil came across when she was here this spring. That is drink is named Java Monster. Sounds like me before I get my first cup in the mornings! One has stamps on it that I made with an actual coffee bean....Italian Roast to be exact! So...enjoy while I go grab a cup of coffee!!

"Java Monster"

(Savor every sip)

"Life Is Short"

(This is the tag line for Caribou Coffee)

"Caribou Coffee"

(Just a little "shout out" for the locals!)

"Coffee Java"

Little Treasures

2010-07-25T15:40:00.000-05:00

I think ATCs are so wonderful when you just need a bit of something creative to do. I'm in several swaps and am just under the wire on a couple of them due to circumstances. But I have completed them and here they are! These are for a Birthday ATC Swap. There are about 30 people in the group so everyone on their birthday (or at least clost to it) receives about 30 little greetings from all over the world! I so enjoyed savoring each one in March! Here are the ones I did for the June, July and August birthdays. Also, in case I mentioned it so long ago no one remembers......I have also set myself the additional challenge to theme each month. I check out an online calendar that lists all the special themes for each month. So...here goes.

June - Roses Month

"A Rose by Any Other Name"

July - Ice Cream Month

"We All Scream for Ice Cream"

August - Water Quality Month

"Cool Clear Water"

There is more to come...perhaps even later today! So check back with me, OK?

Fun Stuff From The Past Month!

2010-07-08T14:22:00.007-05:00

FINALLY!!! I am getting to post about all the fun stuff we did when Wil was here! Always a fun time of "playing" in the studio!

First is a pounded fabric piece. (Ahhh the patience needed for this one! Good character building actually I guess)

Then a couple of sunprints. On the purple one I used the plastic rings from milk containers and some river rocks. The picture is actually of the piece all ironed and smooth. The "wrinkles" were made when doing the sunprinting.

This one I used rice and salt. This one is also ironed.

I had never done any splatter painting so one day we took the paints and fabric outside to play. We had picked up a tile covered little breakfast type table for free on the side of the road just up the street. It was PERFECT for these projects because we didn't care if it got paint on it or got left out in the rain. These were lots of fun and I really like the results.

Next we did some ice cube dyeing. We used some dye that I had still in leftover from a previous project. All mixed with water but no soda ash. Thought it would be interesting to see how much "oomph" it still had. Not too bad really!! Especially considering some of it had been quite diluted for the original dyeing session. Another patience builder but this on is only overnight! The fun of it is that when the dye is frozen in the ice cube trays you can't tell what colors are in which cube! Always a surprise! I love that!

Then I wanted to do some more breakdown printing. (I must have a need to build patience come to think of it....this one requires waiting 3 days or so for the thickened dye to dry on the screen! No instant gratification there!) These started out as red and purple I think...but ended up a bit more on the red side actually. A bit too much on the red/pink side for my taste but they are so beautiful and textured I know they will be awesome either overdyed or as a background for some other technique! I just love the urban-ness of them. Totally different from my love of outdoors and nature. Funny how that works, huh? I am posting them below in order of the printings I did. The first one is the lightest because not that much of the dried thickened dye comes off in the first pass. They get progressively darker.

I've been busy this month getting some things ready to sell (at least hopefully sell!) So, now...back to the "grindstone"!!

Nurturing Creativity - Week 27

2010-07-08T14:16:00.002-05:00

Didn't post this earlier because I got tired of posting just words! But just after this one I'll be posting those pictures of the fun stuff I did while Wil was here!

The card this week:

Live With It

The idea is to surround yourself with art...in your home, office, studio, car or anywhere! This one is not to difficult for me. My first adventure into the creative side (after a long stint working with the left brain) was in decorating our home. Come to think of it...that is also when I really got into reclaiming and recycling found objects. Found many things dumpster diving, garage sales and thrift stores. Even found a couch on the side of the road with a FREE sign on it once...won't be doing that again. It ended up that it smelled something awful! Ended up having to pay our garbage company to come pick it up! So much for FREE! Thankfully though, most of my "finds" were much more of a positive experience.

OK, now on to loading some pictures for the next post in just a few minutes!

Nurturing Creativity - Week 26

2010-06-29T13:05:00.003-05:00

This week the card is to:

Name Your Demons

The inner (or sometimes outer) voices that hold us back from trying/completing/sharing our art. The fear of failure isn't that big a deal for me any more. At least not for the creative process. The selling process.....well.....that's a WHOLE different ballgame! Just venturing into that arena and hearing some of the old tapes running. But, I've gotten much better at telling them to shut up and I then drift along in my own little happy world....doing what I need to do.

My main demon now is feeling selfish spending so much time in my studio. I'm trying to overcome that and have limited success. I do OK until someone makes some "urgent" demand on my time. Usually that demand takes a big chunk out of the middle of my creative time. I'm working on saying no but I'll have to be honest and admit that it is difficult. Still, what is life without a challenge??? LOL!

Still haven't gotten to posting some of the fun stuff we did when Wil was here but I'll be getting to it hopefully this week.

Nurturing Creativity - Week 25 -- oops

2010-06-21T12:12:00.002-05:00

Yeh, I know it has been a month...........

There are some pictures from that month that I want to post this week. Just got behind with company here and then regrouping after company left. Now.....I think....I'm back on SOME schedule in the studio again.

So, after a rather long hiatus....here is my nurturing creativity card for THIS week. (I thought about going back and catching up but.....not happening....)

Laugh At Yourself

OK, well.....this one shouldn't be difficult!!!! My life is one laugh riot most of the time. Either things are really funny or I just laugh to keep from crying. Either way....I get to laugh at myself. Now....let's see what the card says....

Ahhhhh seems to be the idea of keeping a balance (gotta love that word) between maintaining a sense of humor about your work and yet still taking your art seriously.....just not yourself too seriously. I think I can do this!!

HA HA HA HA HA...................(how's that????)

Quickly - Nurturing Creativity - Week 20

2010-05-20T08:51:00.002-05:00

Not much time to write much today. Just wanted to finally get my weekly creativity card posted. BUT -- will have pictures probably tomorrow. Definitely by the weekend. Doing a lot of making stuff but busy shopping, lunching and watching paint dry....literally. We did some sun-printing yesterday and decided that it needed A LOT of supervision (lol) so we sat outside on a beautiful day, with iced tea and some chai chocolate from Gena and watched the sunprints dry! What a life!!!!!

Now for my card this week......

Fire Your Critic!!

OK, I fired mine years ago but have to admit he keeps popping up! (also, wonder why I always consider my critic a "he"......hmmmm.....) Anyway, I wish I didn't listen to him but sometimes I do. Every wonder why you can hear positive input all day and then receive one negative comment and the thing you remember at the end of the day is the one negative one. Why are we so ready to believe the negative and doubt the positive.

Here's to all of us firing our critics and clinging more to the many many positives that come our way!!!!

Nuturing Creativity - Week 19

2010-05-10T09:49:00.002-05:00

Wow, another week already. Last week just disappeared in a whirlwind of reorganizing, cleaning, dusting, and generally trying to find a place for everything. Let's just say......you don't really want to peek into my garage! But hey, I can still at least park ONE car in there! That's an improvement. I've had the spring cleaning bug for months now but Wil's visit has prompted it into high gear. It has been difficult to keep things straightened up with 3-11 kids here on a regular basis. But they are learning to pick up after themselves (even the 2 and 3 year olds!). For the older kids......if I find stuff scattered where it shouldn't be.....it goes in the trash. You won't believe what a motivation that is!

Wil arrives on Wednesday. Given past experiences....I'm sure I'll have creative stuff to post later this week!!!

OK, so now for my creativity card for this week......

Recipe Book

At first I wasn't really thrilled about this book. It is generally a journal of images, etc. just because you like them. Something to inspire me in the cold days when no ideas are rattling around in this noggin' of mine. I keep many different journals of projects, pages, ideas, etc. But I do have a really cool little accordian book a friend sent me from China. I'm beginning to put stuff in there "just because". It is a bit different to make a journal/book of things just because I like them or feel like a certain color one day. Only problem I've found so far is that the paper is not watercolor friendly! So....I'll have to figure out another method for marking my pages and expanding on them. I'll think of something I'm sure.

2010-05-05T14:03:00.002-05:00

In my unending quest to share unique (and often unusual) art, here is the latest one for you enjoyment - and perhaps inspiration!!

Nuturing Creativity - Week 18

2010-05-03T14:51:00.003-05:00

Haven't posted much to look at lately. Getting everything ready for "company" in 10 days!!! My friend Wil is coming to visit me from the Netherlands for a months!!!! Can you say PLAY DAYS?????? Wheeeeee! I say "company" in quotes because she is more like wonderful family than "company".

We have TONS of fun together and I am so looking forward to experimenting and playing in the studio, and going to garage sales, and shopping of course!

My Nurturing Creativity card for this week is:

Add Comfort

The idea is to have things around you that make you feel special while you are creative. I have my big comfy chair, my tea pot and lots of different kinds of tea, and a studio full of fun stuff to play with! This week is not difficult for me at all. My studio is my oasis and my sanctuary. I keep it pretty well stocked with things that inspire me!

Nurturing Creativity - Week 17

2010-04-27T10:00:00.002-05:00

Computer hiccups yesterday. No reason why they started and no reason why they abruptly stopped. Just glad I'm back up and running again today.

It is going to be a hectic week at best. The twins (Justine and Joseph) turn TWO on Friday. Unbelievable! So, there is a lot to be done this week for that and just some annoying errands (like renewing my driver's license,etc.) So, I didn't get to pick my nurturing card until this morning. And the topic is:

Live Dangerously

OK, HAD to laugh at that one!!! That is pretty much a description of my whole life. You'd think this would be a no-brainer for me! The concept is to take risks! HELLOOOOOOO, no problem there! I wonder if something will come up that will require even more risk that I'm used to??? hmmmm. We'll see!

Nurturing Creativity and A Sad Week

2010-04-22T15:02:00.003-05:00

First, the sad week. I found out earlier this week that a dear friend of almost 35 years was diagnosed with mesothelioma. It really knocked me for a loop. She's young and isn't in any industry or anything that would provide prolonged exposure to asbestos. As far as I know for now, they have no idea how it was caused. That's all I'll write because I'm still processing it all. So my week started on a very very sad note.

But even though late, here is my Nurturing Creativity card for this week.

Have A Fan Club -

Keeping notes, e-mails etc. from people who appreciate your talent and encourage you. I already do that and read them sometimes when I feel like I can't even mix blue and yellow and end up with green. Somehow though, this week it doesn't seem to matter much.

I did find that keeping busy did help. So, I completed some ATCs for a swap entitled Tower of Bable. Requirement: each card had to have a foreign language text or word on it. Here they are:

Spring in the Nederlands

Pharoah Dreams - sorry it's a bit blurry

Chinese Happiness

Memories of Spain - this one is special to me because one of my favorite memories of my summer in Spain was riding horseback at Sotogrande (horse on the stamp and a horse charm) and, of course, my black lace mantilla. The background is a Happy Birthday note from a friend in Spain.

2010-04-12T11:26:00.002-05:00

Don't you love serendipity?? I do!! I just love the feeling of surprise and yet it seems like something that want MEANT to happen.

We spent the day with friends on Saturday. She brought something with her called "Tea Bag Folding". I had never even heard of it! So, she showed me some of the projects she was working on and then taught me how to do it! So much fun. Another relaxing, kind of therapeutic pasttime. Something while watching TV when I don't feel like doodling.

OK, so this morning when I logged on to the women's art group where I play sometimes, I found a new thread called Tea Bag Mandalas!!! NO WAY!! Yep, I checked it out and wouldn't you know...it is just what I learned only two days ago!! How cool is that?

Here are my first two attempts at this form of origami (from what I read). These two pieces are apx. 3" in diameter.

Mandala 1

Mandala 2

Something tells me these won't be the last ones. In fact, I just printed off a page of little squares to fold tonight. The color is purple, of course.

So do you see what I mean when I say I don't think I could ever run out of new things to play with or new techniques to try if I lived to be 100??? Oh, the only other thing to point out is that the next day...my poor fingers ached terribly! Using those muscles in a different way....never fails to be a bit painful! But I think worth it.