A Floundering Star

Still Here!

2012-01-24T20:06:00.001-06:00

I haven't disappeared again! Just really haven't had much time to post. Although, I could have if I had anything great (or not) to show or tell. I do have a photo to put up tonight. It's simply a bookmark for a friend. BUT, when I say simple, it means I made simple, hard, and ended up with a finished piece that will, again, prove my favorite saying, "Do as I say, NOT as I do!"
Normal people should be able to do a handful of bookmarks in a day, right? Well, I'm never normal. I started this way back in the early Summer! I found some napkins before the 4th of July and because a friend was running a campaign for the WI. Senate, it gave me an idea for a small token gift as a memory of that time. As it happens, I started doing a collage bookmark but then got busy on the computer for the campaign and never finished the bookmark. Poor thing sat neglected in the art room, got buried a few times, found again a few times as I searched for one thing or another and last week I laid it right out in the work area so I would get it DONE!
I finally got to it and then lost time again over a stubborn idea of needing a DOVE and couldn't find one one I liked, didn't want to paint one, either. I finally decided this was silly, it could just be finished without the dove (peace dove). I got the bookmark done and then decided it needed lots of sparkly yarn with patriotic and meaningful trinkets attached. I found some perfect buttons in my button stash, wanted some beads and remembered I gave nearly all my beads away and what I kept had openings too small. Took forever but I finally got the buttons and charms on. I was so proud for finishing, finally! But, whoops! I already had the yarn dangly attached and sure couldn't get it off.....I forgot that I needed to give the bookmark a final spray of acrylic sealer to make sure the top medium didn't get tacky. So, I knew it would create some 'words' from DH for spraying in the house (it's way too cold here to go outside to spray anything) but I went in the art room, tried to hold the yarn out of the way and sprayed.
The glossy spray really made it pop and I was happy with this poor bookmark that took so long, even without a dove! Rather than walk to the washroom to use my blow dryer to help it dry, I decided to just carefully use the heater gun instead. I knew better, I really did, but I picked it up anyway and used it on both sides of the marker. Yup! You know what happened, it got too hot real fast, caused little bubbles to appear and even worse melted the glitter glaze I had so carefully placed on the "fireworks"! I let it dry, decided to maybe do another spray and using the hair blower, it would fix the damage.....maybe NOT!
It could be worse, I mean, it's a bookmark, it can still be used.....it's just NOT a masterpiece, not something that one would want shown in the hopes of orders or selling some. I know my friend will like it anyway and even be graceful enough to say, "I don't see anything wrong", even tho' it's blatant.
Such a tiny thing for a long post, hey? I did remember to scan it so I'll show it now. Haven't done anything else to show; although if I download the pics from my camera I might have some pics of a beginning project. No hurry, it may take me a year to do it anyway! LOL!

The top pic. is where I wanted a dove but that's ok, the gal is looking at the fireworks. The fireworks that were all perfectly glittery but now have tiny bubbles traveling down right across the poor little girl's face. Or maybe it was starting to rain! Ya, that's it, it was starting to do a misty rain and that's what you see in the picture....right? So that's it. Hopefully, tomorrow it will finally be given to the sweet lady who should have had it a long time ago!

Happy New Year

2011-12-31T22:53:00.000-06:00

You are The Moon

Hope, expectation, Bright promises.

The Moon is a card of magic and mystery - when prominent you know that nothing is as it seems, particularly when it concerns relationships. All logic is thrown out the window.

The Moon is all about visions and illusions, madness, genius and poetry. This is a card that has to do with sleep, and so with both dreams and nightmares. It is a scary card in that it warns that there might be hidden enemies, tricks and falsehoods. But it should also be remembered that this is a card of great creativity, of powerful magic, primal feelings and intuition. You may be going through a time of emotional and mental trial; if you have any past mental problems, you must be vigilant in taking your medication but avoid drugs or alcohol, as abuse of either will cause them irreparable damage. This time however, can also result in great creativity, psychic powers, visions and insight. You can and should trust your intuition.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Learning by Scrap Art

2011-12-28T14:38:00.000-06:00

Nothing exciting or earth shattering to share today. Pretty much seems to be the norm. I am trying to start the entrance project but somehow having no place to put anything out of the way and trying to work around a husband just isn't being productive. He'll be gone all day and evening tomorrow so maybe if I put my mind to it, I can make some headway! Trouble is, I always have a hundred things lined up for when he might be G. O. N. E. for a day! He hasn't yet done his part of the entrance room, either, and I really need him to do it. I don't do heights at all, so washing and then painting the ceiling is for him to do. It's not a ceiling that you can do from the floor with a long handled roller, too many little corners to get to.
I'm still un-cluttering a bit at a time also. Hard to go through piles of art related things, tho. You find pictures saved for this or that, art started and left, tons of ephemera to be sorted and saved, art magazines that make you sit down and start reading and then the piles remain! I'm just not organized anymore. I did much better when I worked and had just so much time to do anything! Have to learn to stay off FB when I decide to work at anything, too! Once you get on there you can count on losing at least a hour for sure! But I love it! And I have to be wary of blog hopping, too, I'll lose a whole entire day to that!!
The ragged piece of so-called art I'm going to show is one of those things I came across while sorting out a pile. This wasn't meant to be art. I keep a old larger paperback book on the table to use for protection when gluing, painting smaller items or as a protective sheet when working in a journal or found words books or something. Use it for just cleaning a pen or paint brush, also. Somewhere along the line, I just started another face and as time went on, kept playing with her. Now I found her buried in a pile and wondered why she wasn't thrown in the trash bucket. So being me, I layed her down and decided to just play some more before I gave her the toss. She has so many layers of different media that she's starting to flake off! As usual, I ended up with too big wonky eyes. Don't know why I continue to always do that. There's only one reason I even show this. It because there's a hint of a break-through with her! And the break-through is that for the first time I can actually see the beginning of some contouring in her face! I have never got out of the flat face mode but maybe, just maybe, I'm beginning to! So maybe all this playing on scraps is actually starting to pay off! Now if only I wouldn't do wonky eyes that always look the same! Truth is, I didn't even notice that parts of her were pretty nifty until I considered her played with enough and let drift down into the trash can. As she landed, I happened to look down and thought, h'mmm, I think she might have some good beginnings of facial features. Now she's back out so I could scan her to show. She seems to have a life of her own so now rather than let her be trashed, I'll save her for a journal or collage or something someday. No, not going back in the pile; she's going in a drawer of 'someday I might use this' stuff! And if I don't ever use her, oh well, she's had her day in the spot light and served a purpose.

Guess my scan is rather dark, she does look better sitting beside me.....colors are more real than here. Maybe the bigger version of the picture is better, I haven't looked. But oh well, I dared to show something! Yea for me!

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T19:28:00.000-06:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS to EVERYONE! Wishing you peace, health, love and exactly what you need to make you content!

This was myself and baby sister way back when, after a long Christmas Day of Santa, food, relatives & fun! I think we were sleepy and tired of picture taking!

Found Words

2011-12-20T23:36:00.000-06:00

I wanted to come and put up another 'Found Words' page to start getting in the habit of posting more regular again. I've been busy on FB with some old friends and family just having a 'hoot' remembering our childhood and what a truly magical place we grew up in. Too bad you don't realize that until you're too old to go back and live it some more! Of course, the old stomping grounds and places we roamed don't stay the same, either. It's really a shame, but none the less, we're having such fun remembering and sharing photo's, teasing and catching up. There was a slew of us from a 'location' of 15 houses and the world was ours back then! The computer can be a wonderful tool to keep in touch with everyone; almost like showing old home movies of good times!
But the reason I came on was just to post a page from a found words book. That was about 2 hours ago! I had to peek at my dashboard, then at who made some posts I hadn't seen in a while, then some graphics to save and then I landed on Lynne Hoppe's blog and wonderful paintings!! I got lost there for a while, I tell ya! I just adore her style of painting and drawing so much! I could look at her faces all day long, they just do 'something' to me.....I think they feel like me.
So now it's late and my ever faithful tiny doggy is letting me know we should be heading for bed. She doesn't know I'm not sitting here forgetting bedtime, I'm getting hundreds of images in my head, followed by ideas chasing them, which means it'll be a while before I go to sleep! Besides that, I get to start a new book to read tonight when I do get to my bed! There's something just exciting to me to end a book one night and start a fresh new one to read the next! Sometimes I do have to wait a couple nights before starting a new book because the last one was so good, it lingers a while!
The 'Found Words' page I'm going to show, is again not meant to be good art. It's just relaxing and meditative to me to search out the words to save and then just do some sort of art to block out the unwanted words on the page. No rules, right or wrong, just simply cross them out or blot them out with some form of doodling, zentangling, practice art, colors, whatever!! I only show it because it is fun and even tho' there are multitudes of mistakes in today's picture, it's still a assignment in showing the good and the bad. It's a very very hard thing for me to do.

As usual, I played with this one too much. She was better when I just had had her in pencil with a touch of color. But, nope, I just had to keep on. This is page # 8 in the Inspirational Verses calender I'm using.
I do have more to show from another book but I keep forgetting to get them scanned.
Maybe I'll be back tomorrow. We'll see; depends on whether or not I get going on a big project I want to do. I have a hard time starting things, I worry over them and procrastinate, re-think my idea a hundred times and finally get to it. Then after all that it usually never ever ends up the way I envisioned. Oh well, such is my life! I doubt I'll ever change.

Altered Pages with Found Words

2011-12-14T01:30:00.000-06:00

I did promise I'd come back and show some pictures of something! I searched for envelopes that I've sent but I can't seem to find one I didn't show and sorry to say that one I was really proud of, was sent and I forgot to take a picture first! Oh well, there will be more, I hope!
In the meantime I'm still doing found words and altered pages. I have several books I'm ~~working~~ playing in so I'm just going to show some from the latest book I picked up. Sorry to say it's not great art! There's couple I shouldn't even show but as I said way back, It's good to show complete goofs along with the good. The altered pages / found words are mostly for fun or trying an idea. The designs never have straight lines or perfectly matched designs because I don't do these seriously. I carry them with me and while sitting in the car, watching a game or playing on the computer, i just play in these books.
This one I'll be showing 7 pages from what is one of those "Bible Promises for each day" flip booklet. It was at the thrift shop for .25 and just looked interesting for art purposes. I can't stop picking up books to play in!!
so here they are:

This one is probably my favorite so far in this book. I do wish I had tried a bit harder to get the checks right because I think it was looking kind of cool except for messing up the pattern. It did block out the words nicely just leaving the Found Words I liked. I have a bad habit of getting carried away and all of a sudden looking down to see that I've drawn a line right through a word I meant to keep! So on this one I used some laminating glaze to see if it would protect the words and it did but it also made the ink run a bit, which doesn't really look bad. Somehow I listed the pictures in the wrong order, if it matters, but this is actually page #7.

This is the first page. This was just done with no design in mind ahead of time so it just evolved into this. There weren't too many words to have to hide. This was just a "La-La-La" design while playing Words With Friends on face book! Not great but not bad.

This is the 2nd page and I pretty much flubbed it. This was a blank page and so I added a word of my own. Then tried a new Zentangle pattern and as I said completely botched it. I had a sort of design in mind but bad just went to worse so I quit. I even got carried away shading and didn't leave the right highlights. Oh well, It kept my mind occupied for a while!

This the 3rd page and I quit because I just wasn't making it come together in a way I liked. So eventually someday I'll go back and work it some more to finish. On the Found Words I used Diamond Glaze this time to protect and highlight the words.

This is page 4 and I scanned it crooked! But all in all this didn't turn out too bad. I seem to not pay attention when shading and the book causing me to continue shadow in the wrong places. I'll get that right when I do this more seriously, I hope.

This is page 5. I shouldn't even show it but oh well. This started out as balls with a stripe and then I made them into eye balls but the shapes were all wrong. So then I went back and tried to fix the shapes so they'd be more like eyes but it was just too time consuming and a lot were beyond fixing ....so I quit! Another total Flub!

This is page #6 and the same story here....I got carried away and forgot what I was doing and completely flubbed the design! Good thing I don't do this for pay or I'd starve! I'll try this one another time on a different page and maybe get it right.

So there! I posted again without going away for 6 months and I even finally showed some sort of art!! Yea for me!

Too Long

2011-11-26T19:10:00.000-06:00

I have such good intentions to get back to blogging more often and then I just seem to lose my way. Mostly I just feel like I have nothing worthwhile to say and nothing art wise or interesting to show. I can spends days browsing other blogs or playing on FB but just ignore my blog even when it calls to me.
I had good intentions of starting again in my last post and was going to chronicle a life changing journey I was about to embark on. Well, I did go on the journey, I did do a lot of hard work but nope, I didn't even even post a thing about it! Sorry, I didn't mean to leave anyone who cared, hanging. As it turns out, I did 6 months of work, learning and getting more excited for my big life changing day to arrive! And then......BAM ! As usually happens in my life, 2 to 3 weeks before the much anticipated day, it all came to a stunning screeching halt and I was totally devastated. That was way back in September and after spending time crying, cussing, kicking myself and having evil thoughts toward others, I'm now finally about over it and giving myself until after Jan.1 to decide what to do.
What I embarked upon had nothing to do with art although I was going to journal each day and didn't do that either. I wish I had. Nothing to do with art but everything to do with that dreaded word....WEIGHT and the damage it can do to your health and even worse your state of mind and self-worth. Most of my life I've dealt with being over-weight. Never by a whole lot until having 2 babies and a string of bad marriages and divorces and then bouts of depression and age creeping up and up. For at least 15 years I studied and longed to have the bariatric bypass surgery so I could stop the yo-yo dieting syndrome and have a life I longed for. For several reasons, usually money and insurance, I could never do it. I started once about 9 years ago, only to get started with a wonderful surgeon, start a few med. tests, get terribly excited and then shot down when the insurance wouldn't cover the surgery. Now I had insurance again that would cover and I decided I better do this while I still could. I had to travel nearly 100 miles 1 way to the hospital and bariatric center once or twice a month, luckily they networked with my family Dr. here for med checks and weighing, also any lab tests that needed to be done so it saved a lot of driving and gas money. There are many different places and centers for this surgery but my insurance would only cover for 2 places and both were accredited centers of excellence with very strict 6 month long programs to get qualified and have a surgery date set! Other programs go faster and are not as strict but then they don't have such a high record of completion without problems.
Well, as I said I made to the very end and a problem for me did crop up and bite me. Again it all had to do with money. I sure wish every little thing worthwhile didn't revolve around that green stuff. It just doesn't seem fair. It doesn't seem fair that you can spend 6 months with a bunch of lovely helpful medical people who do care but then when it does come down to the 'green', it's a tear with a hug and it's been nice to see you, come back if you find that pot of gold! My downfall was with a psychologist. Yes, you do have to meet with a psychologist and testing; if you're really lucky (and LIE ) you can get passed through with just the 1 visit. Well, I didn't avoid some of the questions good enough and with a history of yo-yo dieting and being married and divorced too many times, they decided I needed to see another psychologist. Now, honestly, I didn't mind that and MAYBE I needed it (but I doubt it) but here's the kicker.....my insurance wouldn't pay for the psychologist visits even tho they were mandatory to the program and insurance rules for this surgery. Go figure. So the 1 st visit alone was $600.00 out of pocket as included testing and then a session. Now that might not seem like a hefty amount to some people but it's way over my head. So when he suggested I see the 2nd Dr. I wasn't too agreeable but I thought, oh well, what's another $300, I'll do it so I can get over with and move on toward a surgery date. Anther trip all the way down and within 15 minutes of being with this Dr., she informs me that I don't see her for 1 session it's 3 sessions for sure and possibly more. Ya, see? The 1st Dr. failed to tell me of that nifty piece of information! So this 2nd session became a session of her and I butting heads as she said I had to have 3 and most likely 6, maybe more and me saying it wasn't going to happen! That was another $300 wasted fighting after only 15 minutes of questioning about home life and husbands! I finally got it through her head that I had NO money, not even to make payments on what these sessions would cost. Not to mention that at my age (I'm no spring chicken anymore, I've dealt with all my problems, many more than she was ever going to be told! Yes, I'm not perfect, I have depression and anxiety issues but I'm here, not crazy, not a drinker, not a druggy and I'm too old to deal with life issues now way in the past!) and still she wasn't HEARING me. Is there something plainly funny about psychologists who don't HEAR what you're saying? She didn't get the joke when I told her she wasn't hearing me. So, I left, walked out without making another appointment and started to fret all the way home that she wouldn't pass me through.
As it turned out, she didn't not pass me through nor hold me back. She just reported that because of a monetary issue I felt I couldn't complete her sessions. 1 week later she QUITS and leaves the practice! After my last Dr. visit here and just before my last visit down to the hospital to finalize everything, get ready to start the 2 week presurgical diet and set a date, I called to talk with the director and make sure we weren't forgetting anything. I was so excited, I just can't express how much!! She brought up the psychologist visits and I reminded her what happened and no I hadn't called the head Dr. back because no matter what there was NO MONEY! She says she better talk with him and have him call me the next morning with a decision. I stayed awake all night fretting because this was going to set the final steps and bring all to reality or to a squealing stop. I spoke with him, I explained everything, I told him I had already told HIM I couldn't afford more sessions but at my age I didn't see a problem! He didn't see things my way so I lost all dignity, started bawling like a baby and then begged him to please pass me through, this was my last chance for this surgery (there is a age limit). His answer.....he was sorry but he couldn't do that and I'd have to see someone for 2 more sessions for sure or a counselor for even more. I just said, through a snotty drippy nose and tears, thank you for not understanding and further ruining my life & hung up. That was the end of that. I called the director back and asked her to cancel my next app't in 2 days and said it was all over. She did feel bad and later I did have notes from the nutritionist and PT gal, they were very upset over it all and they are the main ones who know the work you've done and changes made.
So by now I should be on here telling my post surgery progress and should be at least 50 or more pounds lighter, able to walk a long ways, make my elliptical fly and fit into new clothes I had waiting. NOT! As this started, by New Years I hope to have my head back on straight and a decision on what diet to do this time but hopefully with lasting results. Right now I just can't seem to care either way but I'm getting there.
In the meantime, I do hope to start blogging again and I don't have much artsy stuff to show but maybe I'll at least show just some "Found Words" pages. I might have a envelope that I haven't shared, too. I did do a envelope for a friend and I really was proud of it and yes, I mailed it off and forgot to scan it first!! I couldn't believe I did that! yes I can....but you know.....
So, I'm really back this time, really! I have managed to peek in from time to time on some of you but I am way behind on that too. Just blame it on Words With Friends and other fun FB games! They do keep me sane!

I'm Back!

2011-06-15T22:35:00.001-05:00

I lost my way for a long while, I guess! Hard to realize that I actually let this go for just over a whole year. Not even sure I know how that happened. Can't say I did a whole lot in that year other than to grow older! I believe I can blame GAMES on FB for taking up a whole lot of my time; can't complain too much about that tho' as I love playing games with friends & family and competing against each other.
Now, I'll still play some but I need to start metering my time much better. I haven't done a whole lot of anything art-wise in that time either. Think I might have 1 or 2 mail art pieces to show that actually got finished and sent. I have a stack of cards and envelopes waiting for me to get to it!! I promised my sister she would get one for her B'day no matter how late it was.....that was in April. I did do some 'Found Words' pages and have been brave enough to show that book and the yet unfinished Fantasy altered book to a few friends and even my Family Dr.! I only showed the 'Found Words' book to the DR., I had a reason for doing so and besides I take it with me so I can fiddle with it while waiting. I was pleasantly surprised when he was completely taken with it, the words, the art and the whole concept of an altered book. I explained how 'Found Words' can actually be very therapeutic while showing him the story I had started but not yet finished and then just the random pages. He had never heard of altering books. I forget not everyone loves art or the many aspects of it. And then, believe it or not, I actually showed it to a Psychologist who thought the idea was wonderful but I guess he either just didn't 'get it' or didn't want to to take the time to really look. I suppose doing therapy on yourself and saving $300.00 an hour didn't sound good to him! I'll tell about why I had to see him in a post to come. So anyway, no painting that I can think of, no more totems finished and now the itch to find my way back to it really needs to be scratched!
I have decided that the totem glass has to go! It takes up too much space and too much time. Trying to sell them here is also time consuming and most just want free directions so they can make their own. Maybe I price too low and should try pricing at $75 to $100+ and see what happens! No matter, I want the glass out of here. Yesterday I did work on one that needed fixing and a part re-glued. Had it all washed and the section fixed and glued back in place. It was still on the pipe and inserted into a (upside down crate so the pipe can insert into a hole)milk crate to dry! I warned Rocket not to stomp anywhere near the totem and walk softly when going past! Later in the evening I was on here...actually looking at some blogs and catching up on gathering some awesome graphics, when the phone rang and startled me. I pushed my chair back too fast and jumped up for the phone and CRASH! There went the totem, just missing my head! I take that as a omen my feelings are correct to follow and stop doing the totems! LOL! That's the first one I crashed! Now I have to re-work the short section I just fixed! Luckily just a clear glass bowl broke into pieces but getting all the broken glass off now to replace it should be fun. 2 years outside in the weather and I smash it in the house!
So my plan is to start blogging more again and get back to doing the art I like. I'll be cleansing the art room of all the crafty things and items I don't want or need any more and then maybe it won't be so cluttered and overwhelming when I sit down to do something. I just want to get back to painting 'stuff' and learning more drawing. I also have a idea swimming around in my brain but I'm scared to try it. Ever since I saw the paintings (LOON) SHARON did on a cabinet door, I've been thinking about this. In the entrance / laundry room there are old cabinets with tall doors. The walls need painting bad as do the cabinets. That room also holds the water heater and furnace (boiler) so there are pipes and such in the way. I did go as far as nearly making the color choices and bought some curtains and a rug to match. They all SIT because of this idea.....I'm thinking the walls are old and not in great shape anyway, so why not maybe do a mixed media collage right directly on the walls? I just can't decide how to start; maybe just gluing on some newsprint first or slip-slap some old paint on and then start adding some print? Anyone have some ideas....easy, cheap ideas? It's a tiny room and just partial walls.
This is getting long so I'll quit for tonight. I mostly just wanted to say "hi" and that I'm back. I did keep up a little bit with a few of you but have a lot of catching up to do. Maybe tomorrow I'll get back on and start on another item I want and need to blog about. Maybe blogging it will help me stay the course and might even help someone else who is going the same direction I am or thinking about it.
Wonder what it could be?

More Totems

2010-06-04T18:36:00.000-05:00

I'm still making more garden Totems, slowly. I also did a couple birdbath/feeders, which could also become butterfly feeders. I have a few more of them to make , too.
I haven't done much in the flower beds at all. The weather, except for a few days that have been perfect, hasn't been good for me working outside. We had June and July weather for all of May and now that June is here we're having April and May. It's just plain goofy. And we are in the 10th year of a drought, which is now listed as severe. I'm not watering flowers this year. I did last year, when I said I wouldn't, and it only made for a high water bill (after we ran out of rain barrel water) and the flowers still didn't do good. Watering keeps them going but they don't thrive like with rain. So, most of them being perennials, this year they're on their own. Lost a few plants to late snow and then 3 freezes after that. Luckily TODAY we are having a cool day but our first nearly all day rain! In May we broke records for heat and humidity. I did nothing on those days but sit at the computer or sit out on the deck. Humidity makes me ill and I swell, horribly.
I've also been putting off THE DIET but now I'm trying to get serious about and get going again. Not sure why it's so hard to start and keep going longer than a few days at a time. I have to start back walking, too, but I'm needing a good pair of shoes. Everything I have right hurt my feet. I had to go for a physical (UGH!!) and so far it hasn't been too bad. Almost everything wrong is WEIGHT / AGE related and so the diet. Being heavy I was hating to have the reports come back on cholesterol and triglycerides. I was most pleasantly surprised, as was the DR. to find neither was bad at all. However I was borderline diabetic for the first time ever and also something doing with my heart, high something or other, didn't make him too happy......ergo diet and walking.
I do Medifast for a diet. 2 years ago I did it and lost 87 pounds in just over 5 months. But then there was a family disaster and I quit, then I had cellulitis in my legs and spent a Winter in bed. I ate my through both and found nearly all of those pounds and let them back. It was dumb but it's what I do and what I really do best in my life is eat! I eat happy, I really eat sad, I eat well mad, I eat grief, I eat depressed, I eat bored and then I eat the past. Inbetween I eat regular meals. Eating and snacking is comfort and maybe a tad of security for the few times in my life when I had no food. I gave thought to blogging my progress and thinking it would help push me to get it done this time BUT I think I'm not that brave. Maybe I don't believe I'll succeed and I don't want everyone in the world knowing. I have lost 14 pounds but that's a small dent in what I have to lose.

So here's pics of a few more Totems.

This last picture is of the 2 bird feeders or birdbaths. They aren't mounted on a pole, they just sit on the ground. They're all lined up along the driveway and fence waiting to be sold!

New post and New class!

2010-06-04T14:13:00.000-05:00

I'm either a bad blogger or it's SUMMER and I have other things to do even tho' the blog is on my mind. Maybe it's just both!

So the first thing before I start to ramble on is that there is exciting news from Sharon at http://allnorahsart.ning.com/, a NEW class is beginning. I already told you about her FACES class, which is still going and by all means, just take the class if you still haven't!! There's no end so you can begin at any time and even have fun along the way and Sharon is always there to help if you need it. And yes, she'll critique your faces and art as well.....not mushy gushy and say that every one's face is perfect, nope, she'll tell you nicely what you can do to improve it or add to add to it or maybe remove something. It's learning in a fun pleasant way! No FEARS! So now begins another class on faces.....TECHNICOLOR faces, having fun with color and learning where to use color as shadow and highlights. Kinda like going back to Kindergarten or Sunday School and everyone has already grabbed the white, black, green, red and the flesh ......now you are left with purple, yellows and shades of blues and greens to color with. How cool will that class be? So go register and see for yourself. You truly get a big "BANG" for your bucks, too!! If you don't want to check out the Ning site first then just go here http://allnorahsart.blogspot.com/ to read about it and see a peek of what you'll be learning. Just DO IT!!! I really can't afford another class but you know what, I'm gonna do it anyway because I want it and what are credit cards for anyway? It's worth it for the smiles and good feeling Sharon brings!!! And if Summer gets in my way of art, then it'll still be there waiting for me!!

Ok so I was gonna go on but I think I'll leave this post as it is and I'll go start another new one. Two in one day to make up for a month of none at all! So while I go round up some pictures of totems for the next post, just go ahead and check out Sharon's blog or class site.......go......just do it!

Newest Totem and sign

2010-05-13T11:54:00.000-05:00

I finished the 2nd totem for this year and hope to work on the 3rd today. Sometimes finding the right fitting & matching pieces takes a bit. I have assorted color groupings put together all over. LOL! Also did the for sale sign to go with these totems. The weather is supposed to finally be nice and be done with this rainy cold snowy stuff by Saturday so maybe people will come past and see my sign. Every year people stop and ask about selling but I never have. It always seems that they want you to give your pieces away.....yet they'll go to one of our many festivals and craft / art shows and pay way more there. I don't get it. It's fine tho, what doesn't sell gets to go in my flowers! So I did a cobalt blue and now a Aqua color so today will be crystal and red, I think. Also going to do some short pieces for bird bathes or drinking water. Sometimes you have pieces of gathered glass that you think you'll never be able to use and then all of a sudden while you're playing and stacking various pieces a "DUH" moment comes on you! Hence the birdbath/water keepers. I bet they'd be good for mealy worms/grubs for the bluebirds, too!!

Speaking of which, yesterday I finally had a pair of bluebirds here checking out a home for nesting. It's on the opposite side of the yard from the house they chose last year. It's a Prim house. Every year I have the same wren....Mr. Buddy Wren....come and usually nest at least 2 times. Last year he tried for 3 but just couldn't get a 3rd GF in time. He's such a slut! Anyway, he tried to give the bluebirds a hard time last year but now they're here and he's not. It's worrying me. Sure hope nothing happened to him. I loved watching him and he sings so pretty. Maybe I need to finish the birdhouse I was painting and give him a new home to build in. Some of the others are getting kind of shabby now. I never saw a oriole this year either.
And....were having puppies again! Just pretend puppies thankfully! I have a tiny Teacup poodle....Ebony (Star's Ebony Jill) and never had her spayed. I should have but wanted to breed her and then found out we couldn't, did have an app't made for spaying and a knee fix but that day the vet she was seeing was not nice and hurt her with a shot ( I believe he nicked a bone, she still has a lump after several years!). So I brought her home and cancelled the surgery. So it never got done. The bad thing is that she has always had FAKE Pregnancies! Every year she goes into heat and then a while later she starts licking herself to bring in milk and then at the proper time she has babies! Yes, ALL of her toys instantly become her new babies. For 13 years the first toy she ever had becomes her 1st baby! It's a terribly dirty squeaky yellow cowboy! It's so old I can't get it clean anymore and it's getting brittle but you don't dare take that toy away at any time. She makes nests under the beds, behind the couch and up on my bed. You don't dare move them unless she wants help. She gathers them together in a circle, climbs in and feeds them! If she's really proud of a particular baby she will come show it you! Then you have tell her how good she did and what a pretty baby before she'll go decide what nest it goes into. Just having the babies and then feeding and moving them goes on for over a month! I'll try to see if I still have pictures of Ebony and her babies. So now at night I not only get to sleep with Ebony, there has to be a mound of 'puppies' to feed and you best not kick one off the bed during the night!!

For sale sign. I can never paint my lettering straight or the same size! But I like this sign anyway.

2nd totem in aqua colors.

Cobalt totem (and please ignore the shabby house!!)

As always, click for a bigger pic.

Catching Up & stuff

2010-05-06T17:53:00.000-05:00

I've been on reading blogs every day but still I'm behind. Didn't have a whole lot to say here either. Spring arrives and it's a tug of war between inside duties and outside work and or sitting on the deck watching the birds and enjoying the sun!
Our Spring here came way too early....the flowers are coming up too soon! Now everything is growing, the weeds and leaves haven't been tended to and I have too much to do. Of course, as usual we'll be going down into the 20 degree range this week end and they're calling for 2 to 3 inches of SNOW! I can't cover the whole yard so it's not going to be good for the flowers. Gardening here in the Northwoods is a definite trick! It's had me in tears more than once thanks to late freezes (until the 2nd week of June) and critters and deer making snacks of my plants! I have learned they're only plants and things could be worse!

I haven't done too much art wise. I did do some Found Words pages but haven't tried to scan them yet. And then, finally I just got started on making Totems! I have the first one done and I'll show it. It'll be put outside for sale but not until after the week end and the weather clears. Tomorrow I'll start another one. So this isn't a great picture but you can see it ok, I guess. Please ignore the messy house showing! Other than that, I haven't worked on Sharon's faces class anymore but yet I have faces drawn on every scrap of paper around the house!!! I'm still uncluttering a bit, too. Although, I went for lunch and to the $ store again today so came home with MORE glass! I needed certain colors!

Besides gathering the glass and roaming outside, I've been visiting the DR. I have meds now to combat the wonderful latex allergy and other allergies that keep showing up. Just had to take my wedding ring off as it's eating my finger! Poor finger was all blistered and raw where the band was. Jewelry does that to me now and then. Also got started on a anti-depression/anxiety med and I think it's just starting to help a bit. On the next visit we'll double the dose and see if it helps a lot more. Then also got help for sleeping! Must be a sign of old age because now every morning I have a handful of darn pills to take. Also had to start a physical to appease the insurance so had blood draws and a mammo and soon a darn colonoscopy, too. Then, after all that I started back on a diet. That's a whole post by it's self! This a must diet and will take a while!

So that's what I've been up to!

Pretty Gifties

2010-04-21T14:00:00.000-05:00

I know I haven't been on again in a while. I was here, just didn't have a lot to post, I guess.
But today I do have some pictures of some very nifty gifts that were given to me by my step Son who came to visit for a week end! I have to tell you that he always brings me the most wonderful gifts....he totally 'gets' me! He's also a wonderful step Son and not just because he gets me and brings me such wonderful things. He's just also fun to be with and his visits are always pleasant and interesting.
This visit he brought me a most wonderful big wall calendar....ZOZO the Magic Queen! If you haven't seen this artist or her works just Google it! Then there's gorgeous ceramic sphere on a iron rod for the garden, a box of different blank ATC cards, a big bottle of glitter glaze and it was all packed into a very shiny pretty satin tote bag that he made! Yup, I was in heaven!! So here's some pics to show of the calendar and some of the page art, the sphere and a not so good shot of the tote, but at least it shows the pretty colors of the satin.

The calendar!

ZOZO Queen Art

another page

and one more!

ceramic garden sphere!

Luscious tote bag!

More Mail Art

2010-04-07T17:10:00.000-05:00

I finished another card and envelope today. Isn't it funny how some days you can sit down and everything just comes together; you're in a fine mood and you're off in La La land, humming away and the art is just almost making it's self?
Then other days, sometimes in the very same day, you walk away, come back, start something new and BAM! the magic is gone. So it went with this next card. I just had a horrid time trying to bring it together; finally got the card done and it's ok but I'm not excited over it like I was over yesterday's. This isn't balanced right and what I had in my head didn't quite make it on the paper. Then I went on to the envelope and oh boy, made a disastrous mistake but I guess I managed to fix it. I thought, I would've sworn, that I had sealed the little corner face. So I grabbed the gel when putting it all together and as soon as I made a swipe across the face.....it pulled and smeared the paint...hair, eye, skin; everything smeared! I won't say the naughty words that took over the humming sounds! I don't know why I do such things more often than not!
I want to be one of you who can (seemly) just sit down and dash off a pretty little piece of art sometimes!
But anyway, it's fixed as much as it can be and I did remember again to scan before the address went on. So that was good.

This the front of the card

This is the envelope front.

I didn't do art on the back of this one or the one yesterday, either.

Both faces were on tracing paper lining my art tables. They were both just practice, sort of doodling things but I decided I liked them and so saved them to use. Flowers and butterflies are napkins and then the usual caran d'ache for the faces, colored pencil and stamps.

New collage mail art

2010-04-06T13:35:00.000-05:00

I just finished this card and envelope for my middle brother. I guess it's safe to show it on here because I don't see that he comes to visit very often. This card is late....nothing new for me....his b'day is today and I'm just now sending the card today! Better late than never! I kinda like this one. This is only the 2nd card I've ever done. I do wish I could learn not to smudge or get marks in the wrong places.
I really like the envelope. This time as I was out of time, I just did art on the front of the envelope but used it as the back so I didn't have to incorporate the address and postage. The other side is just plain with address this time.
And now I'm working on one for my middle sister who also has a b'day this week!
So no more writing, gotta get back to the art room.

This is the front of the card. it's collage using paper background prints and of the phrenology heads. The words are from a Dove's promise chocolate and then touched up with gold ink, markers and buttons. It's on a deckle card.

This is the mail art on the envelope to match the card. I do like this one a lot!!

It's just typical collage, all prints and cut-outs with a touch of stamping and water soluble pencils.

More Garden Art

2010-04-03T10:54:00.000-05:00

I was over looking at Emelie's blog and her newest lovely picture http://emeliesartandsuch.blogspot.com/ when she made mention of a weather vane and it reminded me that I still had a few more pictures I could show for now. These are just some pictures of more garden art features.

This is the gate into the front yard and the taller gate is to the back door and yard.

It was due for a over-haul last year and it didn't get done....maybe this Summer I can re-paint and tidy it up again. What I really need is a new gate and fence! I wouldn't need the taller gate/fence to the back but because we have a tiny doggy, it keeps her from running out into the driveway.

Not the best picture, I had better ones, but lost all the pictures in a computer incident because someone (who me?) didn't back everything up correctly. Anyway, the wind was whipping around as I tried to get this picture of my little Caged fairy who flutters around in her cage hanging off the arbor.

And this is just a little gnome watching over the flower bed. He's a content little guy. The old window was retrieved from a friend and it marks the end of a pathway and the 'window' into the flowers.

Yard stuff

2010-04-01T13:08:00.000-05:00

I'm always waiting for Spring and then when it arrives I'm impatient for the flowers and greenery to appear. Once it does appear, I start to lament that it'll be short lived and darn Winter will come too fast! I want to place a huge bubble over the yard to preserve and keep the prettiness and warmth all year long!!
Here's some pictures from last year showing what I'm longing for:

This is another totem....I covered a bowling ball with mirror tiles and it's sitting on a glass punch bowl with crystal dangles. I sprayed the inside of the bowl with stained glass paint for color.

This was a old pump from my family's Hunting camp in the U. P. of Michigan. My dad was going to throw it away!! I think not!! I left the paint on it just as it was at camp for years and years.

Bird House

2010-03-31T16:48:00.001-05:00

I might as well make up for those days I didn't post and do a twofer today! I finished revamping the bird house and it's outside waiting for Mr. Wren to appear. It replaced a blue bird house that now needs to be revamped, too. I painted the blue bird house in 2003 and it has now worn away most of the paint. So it's next in line; maybe. Might be faster and less work just to work on a new house waiting to be done so I don't have to the dreaded sanding and stuff. I'm a stickler about prep work but I hate doing it.
These aren't great pictures of the bird house but good enough. I decided not to take time to paint and mainly used stamps and just filled in with color. Not a major piece of work, but it was fun. I'm sure the birds won't notice the mistakes.

Totems

2010-03-31T10:57:00.001-05:00

I went outside yesterday and tried to take some pictures of the totems. It was so windy that it was hard as everything was blowing and swaying. I went out at the wrong time of the day, too, and I'm not the most camera savvy. Several of these Totems have been outside in the garden for 4 years and a couple just for 2 years. But they stay out there all year, we just bag them for the winter. So far none of the glass has cracked from freezing! They get dirty from the dusty dirt and dried rain but from a distance you can't tell. LOL! The birds, esp. the hummingbirds just love perching on the top of the totems. At the beginning of Spring I go out with a soft brush and give them a little TLC, maybe replace any baubles that came loose. I haven't done that yet, so these pics are the Totems after a long Summer and the Winter's nap. I've only ever had 1 to break and that was because when DH was snow blowing the blast of snow hit the same spot each time and it finally broke but it just came apart at a glued seam. He fixed it last Spring but last Winter broke it again so it's not there now. It'll get fixed again and set out in a new location! I also have some colored wine bottles that I decorate and put on stakes but they aren't out yet.

This one is 2 years old. It was a test to see what would happen if I set it close to the street. I wasn't sure if it would come up missing or someone might decide to have target practice with it. One never knows. But she still stands there in one piece! So I think you can see how this is made except for the very bottom that isn't showing. They all start with the same cheap flower vase as a base to start building on. This flower vase fits over a copper pipe which sets in the ground about a foot or bit more deep. You decide how tall you want the totem, you can set it close to the ground or raise it up. This one is nearly 1 1/2 feet off the ground. You can also forget the vase & pipe and start with a heavy bigger base and set it directly on the ground, building a shorter totem. Totems can be 2 or 3 pieces or however many pleases you.

You can see the sequence of building the Totem. Usually I start with a wide and heavier piece on the vase bottom to start to give it balance. Not always....depends on how tall I think I might be going. This starts with the plate (usually, upside down so as not to catch water and debris), I glued marbles on the plate, a bowl over the plate, a very thin glass vase that I spray painted inside for color, a clear stemware glass, a candy canister also spritzed with paint for a hint of color, a candle holder, a fluted glass shade (also painted), a crystal ashtray, a bud vase, another candle holder and a Fairy on top so she can watch over the yard! The paint used was stained glass spray and then spritzed with Mess off spray to make it run and just leave a tint. Some might have a frosted spray. Click for a bigger picture.

I managed to crop off the top of this but it really doesn't matter. This is 4 years old and needs a good cleaning and maybe some baubles, which were pink acrylic cubes, replaced. This a plant pot base started on the vase, then a big black fluted flower vase (upside down), then a decorative etched plate (14 k gold!) left up to show the design and so it stays dirty, a Kahlua bottle from Mexico, a candle cup and topped with another iron candle holder. The pink acrylic cubes were mounded in the top and several glued on down the pieces to make look like they were falling out. The metallic pieces are from jewelery I had laying around. He wears one dangly earring but you can't see it too well in this picture.

This is 2 years old. This is a amber pie plate, a bowl, a liqueur bottle, amber stemware, smaller amber stemware, bowl, tiki vase, ruffled light shade and a glass bottle stopper on top.

This is getting old and was one of the 1st. It's a bit lop-sided. The top I had on it, weathered and I replaced it with a heavy fairy and didn't get it set straight to balance. Oh well, she still sits there!! This starts with a crystal lamp base (hardware removed), a frosted lamp shade, a crystal vase, a ruffled candy dish, candle holder and a Fairy. It did have dangly earring hanging off the candy dish but they have rusted and fallen off. She's about a foot or so off the ground.

This one is old also. By now you can look and see the what the different pieces are. In the early morning the sun hits this one and shines through the green glass, lighting it up!

This is the fav of most people and was the 1st or 2nd Totm I did. It was named Pearly Blue because I did have strands of pearls looped from each tier. I just took them off as they were too weathered now. The blue glass plates are a set of 3 footed cake plates! The delft bottle on top is a liquer bottle and there's a glass bluebird perched on top. ( I bought the set of tiered cake plates for my mom at a rummage sale....she never got them! See what happens when you start doing these creatures?)

As you can see, our snow is just barely gone and so yard work and raking hasn't happened. By July the Totems are mixed in with the flowers.

Rainbow of Glass

2010-03-30T17:16:00.000-05:00

The last 2 years at Summer's end, I said I wasn't going to worry with flower gardening or do any more garden / yard art. The flowers could just go wild and tend to their selves and as the rest weathered and died, then that was the end.
Well, that's what I say towards Fall when I'm tired of the yard and just want to sit and not do the work any longer. It's a terribly lot of work up here for maybe 2 1/2 months of flowers, if it's a good year. Trying to grow a actual big juicy red tomato is a chore in it's self!
But, with that being explained, now it's SPRING and there's hope and wonders to come in the air, the SUN comes more often and with it is the dreams of lush colorful gardens and soft green lawns. Well, ok, so maybe that's in the garden magazines, but one can dream of all the lushness. My yard and flowers are more willy nilly, I'm not a gardener, I plant and then hope it grows! My flower beds roam along a rustic fence line that curves along the front and side of the house. I don't mind mowing but I much prefer flowers, so the more flowers that go in, the less mowing there is to do! A whole yard of flowers and pathways with no grass would be fine with me. Anyway, I call what I have a Fairy garden, full of fairies, sprites, creatures here and there and always maybe a surprise waiting hidden among the rocks or plants.....maybe hanging from a limb. Butterflies and birdies, toads and lightening bugs abound. One must have wind chimes, not just one but a whole chorus chiming away with the chirping of birds and twittering Fairies!
I used to do a lot of wood cut-outs for displays but pretty much gave up on that mostly for lack of space to do that sort of work. Now I do smaller things that I can do inside the house or at least on the deck. I said I was going to stop all that stuff, too! Of course, I love bird houses, too!
Then, I went shopping with a friend on Saturday to my favorite little store that has tons of pretty glass! First, we stopped in a small Goodwill store, where I was just going to look through the books right quick. I did find a great little trilogy set of paperback books good for art and maybe even to read, first. Then I made the mistake of wandering to the next aisle and there was a perfect piece of glass beckoning to me. When I grabbed it, it had friends there, nearby, calling my name, too. I left there with 1 set of books and 2 bags of glass! So, on to the store we meant to go to.....a hour later I pushed a cart full of a rainbow of glass items to the check out. It took the gal checking me out to get through half of the glass before she finally had another checker looking over her shoulder and she asked "what in the world am I going to do with all this glass?" So I was explaining what I do with it and she was amazed as I did a small demo with a few pieces. There were oooh's and aaaah's all over! Then we came to the last item in the cart buried under the glass, 2 packages of napkins! They have colorful birthday candles on them, so she says, Oh, someone is having a birthday! I say, nope, at least not at the moment but these napkins are to be used for mixed media / collage art or mail art when there is a birthday. Now she just gives me the "ya, right" look. Soooo, I explain a bit about separating the napkin layers and using bits of napkin in a art piece. There were gasps of delight from the small crowd that gathered to see the crazy lady with boxes of glass and 2 little packages of napkins and stories to tell on what to do with these items.
So what do I do with the glass? Totems! Totems for the garden, made of mostly stacked glass. I said I wasn't, but it's Spring and rows of colored glass get me excited! If you catch on to doing totems, it's like all the other altered arts or mixed media; anything and everything is looked at as a possible art piece and nothing in your house is safe. Hide the antiques because Grandma's crystal sure would sparkle out there in the sunlight amid the flowers!! But I have other art projects and lessons waiting and I have Sharon's faces calling to me....and now there's glass and SUNSHINE and warmer temps!!
Here's what awaits me on the table. It all has to be washed and labels removed before using, of course. I hate that part! Good thing we never eat at the table!! I just finally had it all cleared for 1 whole day because I needed to use it for something else. Ha! Here's my table now:

Isn't it all just luscious? And don't for one second think that this is all I have. Ha! I have 4 plastic totes that will now be hauled out of storage to mix and match with this new load. Because, you just never ever have just the right piece or color that you have to have to make a perfect totem! Like art supplies or books, you need more and more! I'll do a 2nd post to show what this rainbow of colors becomes.

Another Mail Art

2010-03-25T10:14:00.000-05:00

I am way way behind in getting packages ready to mail. I have several things I need to be packing up and sending on their way. For one thing, it's so expensive to mail packages now that I put it off. I mean to say that a lot of the time the postage or shipping costs more than the item in the package. That's just not right. I love sending cards and trinkets but it's pretty much nearly halted thanks to a tiny fixed retirement income for 2!
Then, too, I love doing the mail art on these packages or envelopes but they get held up until I finally get a brain storm on what art to do! Why can't I just sit down and dash off some great looking, pleasing art that also pertains to the receiving person in some fashion? Yet, other times, I find a certain scrap or image while sorting through and then can't wait for the right package or envelope to do the mail art on! Have I said I worry too much or I'm weird? Oh! What? I don't need to tell you this fact?

So today I'm happy to show another picture of a package with some mail art on it. It's awful how long this sat just because I really wanted to do art on this one. Had to find the right size box and then I had a theme in my head which didn't work at all. But, in the mail I got last week from Emelie, was the perfect napkin that gave me another idea and it fits the person perfectly, too! So here's today's Mail Art photo. I even remembered to scan before the address went on!

I used white freezer paper to wrap the box. Then I used Twinkling H2O's to paint a background. The rest of the picture was done entirely by tearing up one small napkin and rearranging it all and adding a butterfly. Then went back and did the ink work and such. It was a little too big for the scanner so it's not really cut off as it shows in the photo.

Tin Roof & allergies

2010-03-24T14:55:00.000-05:00

I wanted to show the results of using alcohol inks on a tin birdhouse roof. It's a tin tile roof with a raised design. It was very easy to do but messy because you can't get into the corners or some low spots with the applicator, so as I said earlier, I took the cotton swab off the applicator and used my fingers to dab. It would probably be a good idea to use rubber gloves! However, I hate wearing gloves for anything, I have to be able to 'feel' what I'm doing. Besides that, until I find new latex free rubber gloves, guess I won't be touching what I have on hand.
I guess after the house is painted and it's put out in the weather for the birds, we'll see how the inks last. I'll probably use outdoor varnish or a spray to protect the whole house and roof when I'm done.

I mentioned in the allergy post that I removed all the erasers from my work areas. However, until getting latex free erasers, one must erase. So I very carefully used the tiny eraser on the end of a mechanical pencil; sheesh.....still got the tingles in my mouth! Night before last I was in the art room and using the computer in there. I have a wireless mouse and keyboard and don't really need a mouse pad BUT I have a darling pad made and sent by a Fairy friend and so I keep it there beside me. After removing the erasers so I wouldn't be touching them, I was still noticing a reaction when I was on that computer or sitting at that table. Not as bad as to the erasers but still a definite reaction. So I went back to the list of latex items to watch for. Sure enough, mouse pads have latex! I took it away and now I feel much better when at that table. Who knew? I've been using that pad for a year!! So sorry, VAL, your pretty birthday fairy mouse pad now resides in the Starock office!!
Do you know that even remote controls have latex? Golly! Do you know how many remotes we have in this house; our coffee table overflows with them!

So here's a few pics of the tin roof. Not sure they really show how pretty it is but you get the idea, if you haven't tried the inks on tin.

More Mail Art

2010-03-23T12:25:00.000-05:00

I just sent a small package with some mail art on it. We were exchanging napkins for mixed media art (http://emeliesartandsuch.blogspot.com/ ) so I had a quick idea for her package. This is the gal I just showed in the previous post. I decided she needed to go on a trip so I ripped her away from her confines and made her into mail art. I think she was happy to go on to Emelie. I like how the background changed her into a sassy Tattoo lady.
This was just done using the face done on tracing paper covering my work table, as I had already described and then the added elements are all things I printed, cut out and collaged together.
Now I need to do another piece of mail art but the graphics I want are bigger than the package! Guess I need to re-size. LOL!
Haven't really done much of anything else. Worked on a idea for a painting or maybe journal page and I've been refurbishing a bird house that got crashed and needs to get back outside. It has a tin roof and I decided to see how alcohol inks worked on it. Turned out really pretty but my finger nails may never be clean again! I couldn't get into the sides and pattern good with the applicator so I pulled the pad off and used it with my fingers. I can say those inks do stain well! Now I have to decide what to paint on the house before nesting time gets here and passes me by. I see some of our birds already looking into houses and Robins and Blackbirds gathering nesting debris. Mr. Buddy Wren hasn't appeared yet and this is his house.....one of his many houses. He's so greedy to show off to his Females that he builds in every house I have out. He did allow Bluebirds to nest last year but there was a heck of a fight, first. Before that chick-a-dee's nested not far from the wrens but not last year.
Here's the Mail art:

Art?

2010-03-18T18:59:00.001-05:00

I'm going to come on here one day and just surprise the heck out of everyone and show something really nice......maybe not good but nice.

I did have intentions of starting a mixed media painting 2 days ago! I still haven't because I can't seem to find the right size board. I mean to tell you that there just has to be something laying around here that I can use....really!
So I got 'in a mood' because I couldn't find a suitable surface to get started and retreated to the art room to work on a greeting card. Nothing too daunting or hard about that hey? But, nope, I have a start but for some reason an idea for continuing just isn't jumping out at me. Maybe I'm just trying to do too many different things at once and so accomplishing none? Here's what I have to start the card layout. This is another face (1/2 face) done on tracing paper that covers my work tables. I really have to stop doing that!! I cut her away to use because I really kinda like her even if she's not all there! This is as far as I got so far. I like her on the dots and I wish I had done a whole face. But maybe then she wouldn't have turned out:

Then I sort of gave up doing anything for the rest of the night so watching Idol last night here is what appeared next to my keyboard....on the darn tracing paper once again. This really is just unmindful play and testing of colors and a new pen. Notice one eye so much bigger than the other? Because that's how this started, with a playful folk art eye and as I played, it evolved into this gal who will now keep me company in front of the art room computer!

That's it for today! I think bigger pics show up if you click as per usual. For some reason sometimes they don't and sometimes they're too big. I haven't mastered this photo thing yet.

Discovery

2010-03-15T22:13:00.000-05:00

I love spending time browsing my fav blogs and looking at all the wonderful whimsical, beautiful and imaginative art by these artists. Sometimes I learn a thing or 2 or 3 art-wise and every now and then I discover something that just blows me over.
Such was the case today when I was visiting and ogling the art here:
mariapacewynters.wordpress.com . Maria paints with such admirable whimsy and wonder! On one of her posts she was talking about her LATEX allergy and how it changes your life to a degree and how as with other things, people just don't understand it. Maria mentioned a few items containing latex that perked my ears up! Last year I discovered quite by accident that among a list of other things I had a allergy to latex. I never really gave it much more thought; just stayed away from regular band-aids and I know not to be around rubber gloves. But, not even giving it a thought I bought 2 different kinds of masking to use in water colours and for altered books/found words. I found out real quick that I can't even hold the bottle of masking without having a major attack....never mind that the label clearly states it may cause a reaction if allergic to latex. I put those bottles to the side and there they sit until I find someone who wants them. They are evil to me! But since then I've been having regular reactions almost daily, some bad and some just minor. I figured it was Winter, the house is closed up and the allergies to dust, mold, scents etc. are just acting up and no, I'm not going to spend every day dusting! I'll just suffer. Now, after signing up for several on-line art classes I needed to buy some of the right needful supplies. Some of the items were simply some different erasers! It was time to learn what eraser to use for the right types of pencil or charcoal etc. And I've enjoyed using those little rascals and seeing how they work and don't tear my papers or leave smears! What I learned today after being with Maria is that they are making me sick! After reading her mention of erasers, I went and finally did some research and then decided to test myself. I know, dumb thing to do but I needed to know. So I got ahold of that neat little kneaded eraser and molded it a bit and then made pencil lines and erased with it. Before I even got to the erasing part, my lips and mouth were tingling, then around my teeth and I took a massive headache. That pretty much ended my day but told me what I needed to know. Tonight I went around gathering erasers and in just picking them up and placing them in a bag, I was back to tingling and the headache came back. GEEZ!
Now here's another problem and I can see this one is going to cost some $$. I've been having a 'underwear' problem with rashes and itching. Turns out that 'undies' and bras also have that nasty latex in the elastic and even cloth covered, it gets you! So that explains the rashes and the itching, making me long to just rip the under garments off! I did some research tonight and you can get latex free undies and bras at a nice price. You can also get latex free erasers!! We won't even mention shoes and a whole list of other items! So, I love Maria's art and I owe her a huge thank you for opening my eyes and causing me to discover why I've had these attacks nearly every day.
I've had allergies for a long time but just in the last year or so, new ones, such as the latex and sulfa, are starting up. It's just weird and rather irritating!

So tomorrow is another day and I'll be wiser. I definitely won't be erasing anything and doubt I'll run any tests on myself either. Didn't accomplish any meaningful art over the week end; I just played and fooled around. I do have a project that I had put to the side and tomorrow I hope to find the right size board and get it started!

Too Funny

2010-03-11T13:51:00.000-06:00

Nothing major to say again today but I did just find something that I found funny so thought I'd share. I was talking on the phone, sitting right here at the computer and as usual doodling away....making doodles over my notes and doodles on doodles. You know how it goes and I've shown what happens to my desk pad. It never lasts long. So there I was doodling with the ink pen and pencil, can't stop doing any faces now thanks to Sharon; and trust me, she teaches better faces than this. LOL!
But I went to walk away from the computer and this face caught my eye again and I thought, hey, that's not a girly that's a guy and who does he look like? Tell me if I'm wrong.....Stephen Tyler with maybe a hint of Mick Jagger (love of my life) thrown in. Too funny but thought I'd give everyone a chuckle. I have his 'groupies' down below. They were there waiting for him to appear!
I know, I better go find something to do......

Sometimes

2010-03-08T10:54:00.000-06:00

Sometimes a piece of art meant to be just practice and learning turns out surprisingly well and you dare to show it! Such was the scrap art on the waxed paper. Today I'll show a page from a little sketch book. I did it while watching the Nascar race and then the Award show last night. This started out a few nights ago just sketching some small faces but then I started to add color and play.....ended up playing a bit too much and I just never could pull the whole page together. But staying with showing the Good, the Bad and the Ugly....I'm showing it.
The faces were done in pencil and started out not too bad, then used derwent watercolour pencils to lay down some color. It wasn't going too bad until I got the paper too wet (remember it's a sketchbook; not meant for wet work) and it started to rip apart layers. Then, too, as I continued to lay on color and blend the facial features kept growing. Sheesh! I finally added some ink lines; only of course I didn't pay attention and grabbed the wrong size pen so the first lines were too thick. Switched pens and gave them some hair. Then I was just going to do another line of faces but decided the page needed some background color even if it wasn't meant to be seen, just drawing faces. I got the Twinkling H20 paint and added color to the page. Thought then it looked like sky and clouds.....forgot I was just going to practice faces and added some strips of script.....didn't like the strips but too late because they were glued in place....still forgetting I was going to do more faces, I grabbed a new bird stamp and put birds above the faces and started to give them some color with derwents and markers, added some leaves and then had this thought.....those pretty little birds are going to be pooping on the little heads below! Too late now! I added the napkin border top and bottom, added dots and then the words because it needed something up there and finished with butterfly. I never did get to practice another line of faces. So it goes......next time!!

Scrap Art

2010-03-07T17:21:00.001-06:00

This is getting to be old but again, I still don't have anything good to show you or even talk about. But, I did do a piece of scrap art the other night while watching TV. You know, one of those things where you're watching tv and just reach for whatever scrap is nearest you and start doodling or sketching or something?
In this case, I reached for the Portrait Pastels that were sitting next to me because I thought I'd just play with blending some colors and see how they blended with a wet brush after finger blending. That led me to thinking about something I saw SHARON (All Norah's Art) do on her blog one time. Rather than sketch out a outline for a face, she just laid down some smears of paint where the facial features would be and started painting from there. I grabbed the only thing in front of me, which turned out to be a piece of used waxed paper that I use to protect work from sticking in a book. Anyway, not really giving it any thought I laid down some fleshy color with a pastel for the area of eyes, nose and mouth and from there just played with layers of colors and eventually outlining the face and a neck. I sit next to a heater because my legs and feet get too cold, so for some reason I got the bright idea just to see what would happen if I took that scrap of waxed paper with the colored face on it and put it in front of the heat for a bit? Well, it melts and blends together FAST! Luckily for me, it also cools very fast. Now it had blended away some color so I went back and added more and being just play I started on her hair adding more and more colors and heating now and then to blend. I got to a place where I decided I was rather surprised and thrilled that I actually had a pretty good face. I wanted to scan it because you always see so many more mistakes and good points, even, by scanning and looking at the picture. I was thinking being on waxed paper I probably needed something behind the face so I reached over to my pile and took out a piece of script background paper and now I'm thinking that if it shows through the wax paper it just might be pretty cool.....maybe. While setting a piece of the torn paper to the side, my hand brushed a pkg. of new clear stamps that had just come! So, yup, decided I'd see what the scroll stamp looked like on the top and bottom and at the last minute also tried the bird stamp. I forgot to say that first, I used gel medium to glue the script to the waxed paper and then went over the top with gloss decoupage medium which politely bubbled and buckled! So I let it dry and then turned it over, pressed it down and smoothed it out. It left flattened wrinkles but it could've been worse!
After all the play and what ifs....here is what I ended up with. I sort of wish now that it was done on a good piece of paper or something. Maybe it can be used on a journal page or collage sometime.....maybe not.
I forgot to say that is was all finger blended and until the end and then I got a pen and did some definition.

Nose job completed

2010-03-02T12:05:00.000-06:00

I got the courage last night and this morning to go back and give this newest face a nose job and other facial tweaks. I still have a ways to go but at least this time I can say I like her now. One note, however, there's a speck showing right above her nostril....that's not really there! That's a speck from the scanner because I was bad and didn't check and clean the window before scanning. That will teach me!! I find enough bad spots without creating some that aren't even there!
I did change the hair a bit, added some background back in, added flowers to her hair. The bird, flowers and butterfly are cut from napkins and touched up with paint. I didn't show the sides of the canvas....it's a studio canvas with 1 3/8 inch sides so I did a crackle finish and tried to make it look like weathered wood. But then I got white paint on my fingers and managed to get that spotted on the sides. LOL! It'll do. And so I do think I'll go ahead and dare to gift this one. Hopefully the Fairy girl will be happy with it for real and not just looking at a picture. So here's the final piece after surgery:

We have SUN and BLUE skies today! Actually, the sun made an appearance finally, yesterday around noon ! We're going to have almost a week of warmer temps and pretty days before it goes back to snow, cold and gloom. March and April are always roller coaster rides. Our temps are going to hit 40! I can tell you that when we go into town there will be people in shorts walking around with no jackets! That's a virtual heat wave!!

Another Painted face

2010-02-28T19:50:00.000-06:00

I finished a 2nd face painting on a 4 x 4 studio canvas. Well, I shouldn't say finished because she has problems and needs repair.....mostly she's going to have a nose job done and hopefully she won't need a whole face lift/reconstruction when she gets it! I'm going to show her tonight anyway and then when and if she's all fixed, then I can show the difference. In my mind she was going to be a gift but she didn't turn out good enough so some poor birthday fairy is going without a gift. If I can do the nose job right, then maybe it'll be a gift again. LOL!
I have to say that Sharon's (All Norah'S art) class is just wonderful and her instruction videos are clear, easy to follow and fun. Doesn't mean that I follow along and make instant perfect faces as there's a learning curve to learning to paint more free and with a bigger brush and lighter paint. But it's fun and I'm starting to get it. I love being able to see what all the other members are doing. Some of the first time painters are just amazing with their faces! When I thought about that, I actually did better painting way back when I knew nothing at all and simply bought a pattern book, some oil paints and decided to paint! I painted on any wood I could my hands on and I didn't do so bad....even sold a lot! But now, I out-do myself, worry too much, want to be perfect and try too many things all at the same time. I want to go back and just be free to do art again.....good or bad....just art....but still learn to be better at it. I do need to go back to the basics.....the basics I never started with, just jumped in and painted!
So here she is for now. I hope I can fix her and show her again! Click for a bigger view.

Beginnings defined

2010-02-25T15:41:00.000-06:00

This is a cherished photo I'm sharing. If I had to go way back and choose a point that defined the fine line of happy and content to the beginnings of depression, anxiety and phobias.....this would be it.

That's me on the right, the oldest of 3 of us there but with 4 more in the future. Yes, the straight blonde hair and red red nose which hasn't changed a darn bit! Hear that song playing right now while you look at this? "Catch a Falling Star", is one of the songs that my dad would teach us to sing sitting on his lap. There were more songs and advertising lingo's from that era....Sugar in the Morning, the Marlboro commercial ditty, the Hamms Beer commercial song (from the Land of Sky Blue waters....), the Alka Seltzer song! Sitting on his lap and singing, hearing stories and rhymes, being teased; those were such happy times.

On his left side is Shelly, a naturally wavy haired, strawberry blonde that I loved beyond measure. In the center, as a 3 month old new comer was my first brother. I know he doesn't appreciate it but I have no memories of him until he's a bit older. I think maybe it's possible I wasn't too thrilled with him sharing time with my Dad and Mom. Shelly and I were as close as sisters could be and still I feel how much I loved her.

Not long after this photo, within a year's time, Shelly died. I still have vivid memories of that time and a big part of me left along with her. Shelly died from Rhys syndrome; she had a cold/flu whatever and was given aspirin as we all were in those years. We know better now days but it was too late for Shelly. Over 50 years and I still miss her, ache for her and I talk to her. My Dad is gone now, too. A part of him is with Shelly here on earth and I know up in Heaven, he's with Shelly and my Nephews, still telling jokes and singing Catch a Falling Star.

Anyway, I think this was the defining time that made a change in my young life. It took away a piece of my heart, trust & comfort. There were other things going on then, too. Things I don't talk about too much to anyone and things my Mom and Dad didn't know then and don't know now. I also had a "invisible friend" during this time. I don't know why because Shelly definitely consumed my time and thoughts; I was her protector. We had a large fun extended family; we always had plenty of attention and love. But still, I had 'Seymour', a tiny man dressed all in green. I'll tell the story of Seymour some other time. I wonder where he was during this picture. LOL!

I think when Shelly was taken away so sudden, with no time for good byes or explanation, part of me just shut down. I became shyer and more held back as years went on, I found it harder and harder to trust, I had no confidence in myself. Being alone with music, playing with dolls, finding special quiet places outside and most of all coloring on paper and in books made me happy and content.

You would think that with the passage of many years I would understand this defining point and "get over it" but it doesn't work that way. Other things through the years add on and add on until you can't go back; you try but really it's just all too much.

Well, anyway.....sometimes you can see where maybe depression and anxiety got it's start, you can see where choices made it even worse....what I can't find is the end of it. I can say that the depression sort of comes and goes but the anxieties and the phobia's, now they're tough to handle. You have days where you push them to the side but they never ever leave you alone. It's a battle and I always win in the end. So I don't know the whys; I know others have been through much much worse but I know this was the beginning.

Still, I love this photo. I was so happy.

I really am here

2010-02-24T22:32:00.000-06:00

I can't believe I let so many days get by without having anything to post at all. Life gets that way sometimes....well, for me, it gets that way a lot of the time. Sometimes I don't realize what a bluesy slump I'm in until it lifts just a bit and then I start to realize that I thought I was around here but in reality I was gone. I know, hard to understand to anyone who doesn't go through this and lives with depression, low esteem and so forth. Sometimes it's just too hard to fight and others not so much.....some days you fake your way through and some days you just can't. I long for a little cozy cottage where I could just pack up and go stay alone for a while. Read, do art, watch movies and just relax; not have to get dressed, not answer a phone and no need to speak unless I want to!
Winter is hard, too. By this time of Feb, the cold dreary days are getting old and the tiny hints of Spring coming in the future are major mean teases! We haven't really had a hard Winter this year but it's been long anyway. It always is; and then Summer finally comes on in a rush and is gone before you can have time to enjoy it fully.
I had another birthday this month, too. This one didn't really bother me much....I'm at that sort of nothing age again. Too old for a lot of things but yet too young for others. Like being 12 & 13, you remember those years?
Anyway, I am here, I get on and check all my fav blogs and even find more to add to my list. I've been diddling with art but haven't really done much that I can show. Soon, though! really....

4 x 4 mixed media

2010-02-10T10:44:00.000-06:00

I have a little 4 x 4 studio wrapped canvas to show today. This started out as a lesson piece from Sharon's (All Norah'S art) faces class but I flubbed it really bad not once but twice! I didn't want to just toss or let a piece of canvas go to waste so I went off on my own, gave up on the paint and used caran d'ache, portrait pastels and touches of stabilo pencil. The background is nearly totally lost because I re-worked this so many times. The background is a dictionary print, washed with acrylic paint and a house transfer. The print does show on the sides but I didn't get a picture of that. Of course, the flowers and butterfly to finish are from napkins.
I was looking at a photo to do this face. I'd say who it is but I'm sure she wouldn't appreciate it. LOL! Her eyes do look comparable but that's about it.
Later today I'll watch the class video's once again and start another canvas and hopefully will end up up with something to show! As usual click on image for a larger view.

7 x 5 mixed media

2010-02-06T09:35:00.001-06:00

I finished another practice mixed media last night. This one I'm happier with, even with the mistakes. Today I'll start a practice canvas from Sharon's FACES class and see if I can maybe get that right....or close. I have to say that her class is wonderful and Sharon, herself and the members are all very nice and FUN!!
Click on the image for a better picture.

This is another mixed media, using torn security envelope pieces and a vintage music sheet, some portrait oil pastels for a dab of color and a wash of iridescent gesso for the background. The bottles are painted on with acrylics, the checks are stamped and the flowers and Flutterbys are cut from napkins. The striped border pieces are also ripped from napkins. Shading is a bit of paint & some marker here and there.

Journal Page

2010-02-03T16:14:00.000-06:00

I played on another journal page last night. It's probably another example of what not to DO but it seems I continue to do the Don'ts! My favorite saying has always been, "DO as I say, not as I DO"!
I started this page a while back just playing with paint, I think it's all Twinkling H20's but I don't remember. Then a few nights ago I found this rose image I had torn from a gift box ( a gift from a Fairy, containing the most gorgeous china mug and matching coaster with this design on it) and decided before I lost it, I'd go ahead and glue it on. I was going to just leave it as it was. But, nope, because it was laying nearest to me I saw another piece of the copper thread laying there so I grabbed it glued it on and of course then needed to find a bird. I found a bird, added that and thought I was done. But, nope, it was still laying there last night and I wasn't happy with the bird and rose because the rose was just sort of floating in space which made no sense. So I got a tad of paint and added the teeny bit of stem and leaf and while doing that I discovered I had glued on the rose image and hadn't finished trimming the white away! Oh well, it was too late to fix that. I was searching through the piles of small stuff sort of looking for some old lace when I found the lady image and I liked her so she went on instead of lace; then I found the quote which seemed to belong so that went on, only when I was tearing around the edges I ripped off a 'I' by mistake. Glued it on anyway because I liked it! Then I decided I didn't like the single bird so found another bird and also added a little butterfly from a napkin. All in all, it's just a journal page not meant to be a great piece of fine art but I still hate it when something just refuses to please me! Sometimes it is a good idea to have a sort of design in mind and not just start putting down images, especially if it's a one of a kind image that you didn't make a copy of! So, I'm not unhappy with it, just not pleased. Oh, and I wanted matching birds but couldn't find another gross beak at all so the bluebird was the right size and on it went! This is another pocket journal page.

Accents, a story

2010-02-01T18:15:00.001-06:00

Today while watching Sharon of All Norah'S Art talk about class supplies, I found myself getting tickled over her words and mannerism's; she's always a delight to read or watch and listen to. There were several comments made about her cute Texas accent and pronunciation of certain words. So it brings back memories of accent and speech problems I've had along my merry way through different sections of the states. I've been from Upper Michigan to Illinois, Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arizona and Wisconsin; so I now have my own mixed accents and mixed way of speech!
I was born and raised in the U. P. of Michigan. That's the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, mostly along Lake Superior and lake Michigan, too. It's the part of Northern Michigan that people tend to think is Canada or part of Wisconsin. Nope, we're YOOPERS, folks in Michigan who live ABOVE the Mackinac bridge. According to Yoopers, those who live BELOW the bridge in Lower Michigan are TROLLS. Ya, you know, those little guys who live under the bridge in the Fairy tale. Some like to say that we talk like in the movie, "Fargo", but really we don't! Close maybe, but not that bad, hey?
When I first married, we left the U.P. en-route to Texas but ended up living in Illinois. Now you wouldn't think there's much of a change from the U.P. to down in Illinois toward Chicago. That's when I first discovered I had an accent! I never knew! The first question after meeting someone was, "so you must be from Canada, hey? NO, really? Well then you must be from way up there in Minnesota!
No? Upper Michigan, the U.P., really? I always thought that was part of Canada, you talk like a Canadian." Really? Well, Illinoisans have accents, too. It's just a tad more modified and toned down from Yoopers. I lived in Illinois just long enough that I thought I was toning down the Yooper accent.
While still in Illinois, I went through my 1st divorce and later met and married a guy from ALABAMA. I took the new husband to my hometown in the U.P. in the Winter to meet my family. That visit is a story on it's own. Let's just say that he had my siblings and the whole neighborhood in stitches, laughing over his speech, accent and antics playing in the snow. I mean, he had seen snow but never heaps of snow! Here's a sample: On the way to the golf course to go sledding, we stopped in town to buy a cheap sled or coaster. It was a like a thick piece of plastic that you could roll up for storage. My hometown is on a steep hill, so you learn to park accordingly and you learn the penguin way of walking in the Winter so you don't slide all the way down Main street on your keister. We come out of the hardware store and he says he's going to try that coaster on the sidewalk and slide down to the car. "NOooooo! Don't do that", I yell, as he sits on that slippery piece of plastic and takes off. OMG! A minute later he has flown off the sidewalk and is wedged under a parked car! People, after seeing he's OK, are standing there laughing their butts off, as he exclaims, "Well, ah declare! Ah didn't know it was gone take off like that!!" Whoowee what a ride!" We get him out from under the car and we head to my Grandma's house which sits by a tee-off on a high hill on the golf course, making it the favorite place for kids in town to go sledding. It's a nice sunny day and the hill is crowded as we trudge up and stand in line awaiting our turn to slide down. Now again, CJ doesn't bother to wait and listen to me, nope, he unfolds that piece of plastic, jumps on and away he goes! This time the yell is, "Y'all look out!! Move Y'all!! Whoa, Y'all look out!!!", as he literally flies down the hill, scattering kids and adults in his path. He comes to a halt in my Grandma's yard, up under the clothes lines. Grandma is in the kitchen window, shaking her head and laughing. I am red faced and refuse to go back up the hill after running down to make sure he stays put. I worry for the safety of the kids who are all laughing and pointing to the crazy "hillbilly guy" who just cleared the hill and went for a heck of a ride. It was also during this week end that I learned the difference in what things are called. We had a local hill for sledding near our Location ( a Location is a number of houses together in a country spot, we had 15 houses). The sledding path was cleared of trees, but was very bumpy as it was on a small bluff and along the sides and at the bottom were trees. Once again, he's on that coaster and still not waiting to learn how to use your body to steer or your feet for brakes. Down he flies, catching good air over the bumps and at the end of the run, realizing he's out of room, starts to tumble and crashes to a stop in a patch of brush and pickers. He struggles up, brushing off snow and then says, "Aw man, I got briers stuck on my a**!" The kids are just doubled over laughing as he tries to remove the 'pickers' from his sleeves and pants, which are now also torn down the back seam! The kids want to know what a 'Brier' is because we call the burrs 'Pickers'. To this day when we have get togethers we laugh over the week end CJ came home with me.
I moved with CJ from Illinois to Alabama, to Tennessee and Mississippi! I learned real quick to just keep my mouth shut and try not to talk while straining to listen and figure out what all the folks were saying to me! They would do anything to get me to speak and then squeal in laughter! I had to learn real fast that you didn't ask for milk; it was sweet milk or butter milk but not just milk. Tea wasn't ice tea and there was no such thing as a cup of tea (hot tea)....it was Sweet Tea, which is actually too sweet, iced tea that you brew and then make in a gallon jar! Coffee was the same, thank goodness, except when I eventually went to New Orleans and took the offer of a cup of coffee. After spitting out the first sip, I learned what Chicory coffee was! I also learned that my POP was soda, sody pop or coke; mainly that you got a bottle of RC cola, emptied a bag of salted peanuts into it and drank it along with a Moon Pie or pack of peanut butter crackers for a snack. And, oh boy, cornbread was a trick! Now up here in the North, cornbread is yellow and sweet, cut into squares, like cake. CJ said I never made the cornbread when I cooked, so to please him, I made cornbread one evening for supper. He asked "why" I made CAKE and served it with our meal? Took a while to catch on that cornbread is white, no sugar is added and it's cooked in a black cast iron skillet and cut into wedges to be used to push veggies and greens (a whole 'nother story) onto your fork.....or you take a bite of onion, take the wedge and get a forkful of food, and then a bite of cornbread. The left over bread is saved and when you want a snack, you go get a slab of that bread, crumble it into a tall glass of sweet milk or butter milk and spoon it out! My daughter thinks it's a wonderful snack.....I still refuse to do that!! I learned, too, that a meal can be a plate of veggies and greens or peas and greens with cornbread and not meat and potatoes!!
Anyway, I could continue on for days about accents and different words and ways of doing things. MY FIL at that time always called me "Yankee" and delighted in laughing over my accent and ways. I live back near home now after a long time in the South but my daughter is a true Southern Belle and has remained in the South all of her life except for a short time when I brought her to "da U.P." and attempted to make her into a Yooper. My brother and a friend came down to Alabama and picked us (my daughter and I) up. During the long trip back home, the two guys tried to teach DD how to talk Yooper! We laughed 'til we cried teaching her how to speak: the alphabet... A,eh...B,eh....C,eh....D,eh! She let them bring her through the alphabet several times and then she looks at my brother all serious and says, OK, y'all, I get it! And do the animals go.... moo,eh.....meow,eh....tweet tweet,eh? That was when my brother learned my little Southern Belle was a step ahead of him! She was a instant hit at school, sort of. All the teachers adored her accent when they could understand her and she had all the little boys swooning over her, making it a bit hard to befriend the girls! It all worked out but in the end she opted to go back to the South. Coming to the cold U.P. was too much of a change for her to handle.
Now she calls me and I still have to ask her to repeat things because she definitely has that Southern drawl!!! Her favorite trick is to get me to talking and then put me on speaker for her friends to hear her Yankee mother!!

Poppies Revisted

2010-01-31T21:10:00.001-06:00

Today I went back and tried to do more to the poppy piece. I guess I did improve on it somewhat but it just isn't pleasing me. I made a mistake early on with charcoal and it just wasn't a mistake that I know how to overcome, I guess. I did want more of the checkered background to show through and around the poppies but it's just too dulled and the layers hid most of it. But once again I'll show it because it is what it is. Sooner or later I'm going to learn from all these mistake pieces and make one darn good art piece that I like!....sheesh....

I added the butterfly, bumble bee and more flowers, a bit more color here and there; the additions are all ripped from napkins.

Journal Pages, maybe

2010-01-30T20:51:00.000-06:00

I'm still working on these pages just a little at a time as I watch TV and such. These are more of the pages that I ripped out of a notebook I had started some journal pages in. So eventually these will get holes punched and be put together in a binder of some sort. I play on them and then set the page to the side until I pick them back up and decide what else I can do on them. Each page started out with 3 small notebook pages glued together. This is the same piece I made the bookmark from. Just thought I'd show a few that are nearly done....I think. More pages of learning what and what not to do.

This one has layers of torn wallpaper and music pages, metallic paints, a napkin for the bunch of grapes and a Alice graphic from a decoupage sheet. I just add writing lines with charcoal or a marker and then wipe most of it back off.

This one started out as a pocket page so I left it as a pocket and just re-glued it. It may need some sewing or staples or something. This has a couple different wall paper pieces, acrylic paints, markers, glitter, torn script and a graphic of a stone angel. I think this is done, although a little butterfly might find it's way to the roses.

Not really room for writing on this page, it's just for keeping notes or a surprise.

This one wrinkled when I was gluing it but I kept it anyway. It's a torn piece of wall paper, music sheet, acrylic paint and the graphic with a touch of markers. I might leave this one alone, now. That's it for tonight! Just thought I'd post something twice today to make up for the days I don't get on here! I think clicking on the picture will bring it up bigger.

Background Play

2010-01-30T10:44:00.002-06:00

In Sharon's (All Norah'S Art) Faces class we're just getting used to navigating on Ning, getting to know the delightful members, beginning to learn ways to make backgrounds using security envelopes and napkins, and getting needed supplies before the class actually starts. So last night I pulled out a piece of 5x7 flat canvas board and made a background. I managed to get carried away "playing" and sort of over did the canvas, losing much of the checkered security envelope detail I wanted to show through but that was the least of the mistakes. I'm still going to do more on this later, this is just the background and it awaits either painting a face or maybe collage type things on top. We'll see.

This starts with Lascaux Perlacryl paint in 3 or 4 colors swiped on the canvas. Then a layer of torn checkered security envelopes and a few pieces of torn script and music sheets, a bit more paint and then pink peony flowers ripped from a napkin, some colorful swirls cut from scraps and then poppies ripped from another napkin. Lastly a few pieces of copper metallic thread and stamped dots. I nearly completely lost the swirls because of too much layering (I doubled some of the pink flowers as they were too light...so I thought). I then had the not too bright idea to rub the swirls with charcoal to help define the edges in spots even if I had lost the color. That was the major mistake....I knew the charcoal would smear and I still went ahead with it rather than simply reach over for something else. It's still not bad, just not what I intended at all. Art is like that and play leads to learning.....if you heed the lessons learned!

My Book Pile

2010-01-26T19:35:00.000-06:00

I've been busy still trying to declutter the art room in order to make more room for different clutter! I am making headway, just slowly. On a small shelf next to my chair was a stack of books and so I took the pile down to see what all was there. It was a stack that I spent last Winter with and many days out on the deck last Summer.

I had a horrid case of Cellulitis in my leg (actually both legs) and ended up from late Fall until late Spring in bed or doing couch duty, staying off the legs. So I ordered these books and along with these were also numerous Cloth Paper Scissors, Somerset Studio's, other various how-to art books and sketch books, pens and pencils and last but not least always a novel or 2 to read and a book for Found Words! There was barely room for myself and tiny doggy to get in that bed and I always had to unload it each night! The pages of these books are all marked and dog-earred although I can't say I did DO any art to show from them. I think it was a matter of too much all at one time. My mind flowed from one idea to the next and couldn't settle on any one thing for very long. About the time I thought I decided what to try, a new book would come and I'd start all over again. So, in one of the books I found this scrap of paper as a bookmark along with many other scraps starting supply lists! In one of the books I had come across a exercise of drawing with your LEFT hand. Right! Hard enough to learn with the right, let alone the left. So, in still trying to be brave and showing the bad, I scanned this scrap and thought I'd show it. Using my left hand is hard enough but trying it while sitting in bed surrounded by piles of books and a dog is another thing!

Give it a try sometime! It's so hard but fun.

The main books by my side were: COLLAGE JOURNEYS (a practical guide to creating personal artwork) by Jane Davies, TAKING FLIGHT (Inspiration and Techniques to give your Creative Spirit Wings) by Kelly Rae Roberts, MIXED MEDIA SELF-PORTRAITS (Inspiration and Techniques) by Cate Coulacos Prato, COMPLETE GUIDE TO ALTERED IMAGERY (mixed-media techniques for collage, altered books, artist journals, and more) and right at the end came Somerset APPRENTICE! Of course, there's still other books waiting in my Amazon Wish list but I'd say if you want any books to get started, these I listed are just awesome and I can't really pick a favorite.

Part of decluttering in the art room is having to get rid of years of painting publications (how-to & patterns). I have toted these magazines with me from state to state and town to town. I sat last night going through 5 containers, leafing through each magazine. Each one, all the way back into the early 80's brought memories of where I was and my life at the time, good and bad, happy and sad. I even lamented the books and supplies I had to leave behind a time or two! It took all evening but I do have a bare spot on the media shelves and a huge box is filling to be given away because I just cannot throw these items away.

Even if I don't use my books or supplies every day, just sitting and being surrounded by them make me happy and give a sense of well being. Do these things do this for you?

Charcoal & Stuff....

2010-01-23T17:48:00.001-06:00

Once again I haven't had anything much to show and I've been busy with the clutter and getting ready for those much anticipated classes that I dearly need; I'll even show proof of that!
I did get signed up for the Shades of Grey and finally got signed up for the Faces class with Sharon/Norah'S; I still have the Fantasy Folded Altered Book class going and my book is feeling very very neglected and I also have a class at the Junk Art Queen's Society (also on Ning) for painting a Rooster which is still waiting in the wings. I just wanted to get my art spaces cleared and in some sort of order before I start. Otherwise I'll end up trying to work on everything at once in one place and really get myself into a bind. I just still have a problem going into the art room to work on clutter cleaning and not sitting down and playing with something! It's a horrid habit and I can't stop it! I did make some headway, however, and when I find my camera I might show a picture. I wonder if someone 'borrowed' my camera and it's out in the shop? H'mmmm.
The other day, Emelie from here http://emeliesartandsuch.blogspot.com/ talked about trying her hand at charcoal for the first time and was brave enough to post a picture (which wasn't bad at all). So I got out the NEW charcoal pencils I just got and some of the pencils I've had here and never touched except for some outlining, one of my small practice sketch books and had them ready. As it always happened, I was watching my Thursday night must-see TV shows and my hand reached for the nearest things which was the charcoal and book. So I played, giving the TV and sketch book half attention each. Not that full attention to charcoal would've done any good! Anyway, I started to sketch 2 different faces and they weren't really too awful for a first ever try. BUT, then I decided to try and fix them and they got worse and then even worse! You know what happens if you try to mess with eyes or lips after they're already drawn and have a touch of ink also? On top of that, I had never worked with anything using eraser for highlights etc., either. That's a new trick! And I was getting the charcoal smudged all over the place! Again, I was going to just toss these and not let anyone see but what the heck, if Emelie can do it, I can, too. It did dawn on me that it's only in my mind ( a scary place) that I can hear people laughing and making rude comments. Might as well show them and then I have a beginning shown to compare when I post pictures of improvements!! Right? So here goes:

See those eyes, well, you can't miss them can you? The more I tried to fix them the bigger and worse they got! She looks like she belongs on the Edward Gorey site http://goreydetails.net/home.php for sure! We won't mention the ears, her see-through shirt neck or anything else, either. Right?

Now, she's not as bad as the first but again, she didn't start out as bad but when I tried to make corrections to the eyes and other things it just kept getting worse so I quit. I can see that me, charcoal and eyes will be having a battle! I better learn better pencil and paint first and leave the charcoal for outlining and such.

I'm off to search for that camera.....

Classes

2010-01-18T17:00:00.001-06:00

I decided that this year I would finally take some on-line classes and try to learn a thing or 2 or 3. Funds are way short so I have to be choosy even though I'd like to take a whole bunch.
I signed up already on Ning for one painting class which I haven't done yet for lack of the right supplies, I just ordered supplies and will sign up for the Shades of Grey with Pam Carriker as soon as my package arrives. And then this Friday will sign up to take the new class with Sharon of All Norah'S Art. Yes, the much anticipated class is about to unfold and in her honor for all her diligent hard work answering our pleas for a class, I've even changed my music to go along with her blog post announcing the class!! Wanna-be face painters are dancing in their seats in anticipation!!! The gang's all here......roll out the barrel!!
Go here: http://allnorahsart.blogspot.com/
Go here: http://www.pamcarriker.com/

A Fantastical Give Away

2010-01-16T12:06:00.001-06:00

No, I'm not doing a Give Away but I know who is and let me tell you that this is one of the greatest most divine Give Aways ever! I mean to say that it's so awesome that I did hesitate to tell you to go take a look because the LESS folks that comment on his blog means a better chance for ME to win! I want this real bad, I tell you!! It's like a artist's dream package of goodies.....makes your heart race and you'll have to wipe the drool from your lips!
So go here http://tristanrobin.blogspot.com/ and take a look. If by any chance you haven't been to Tristan's blog you're going to love it! You can also find him on my sidebar in the blog list also..."Enchanted Revelry" and trust me again, it is a aptly named blog!
Hurry over and remember, IF you dare to win you can always send the package on to ME!!

Another Altered page

2010-01-15T21:51:00.001-06:00

I decided not to show this and then changed my mind and remembered that my word is DO and DOing meant learning and showing what or how I learned. This a page torn from a poetry book; I liked the paper and the poem, too. I knew the poem would be lost but I like that it's there. The poem is "The Woman I Am". I've played with my watercolor pencils but never did too much with them yet and I've never done a watercolor, pen & ink except for one teeny picture a while back. So what I'm saying is that this is basically my first real try. I do have pattern books and instructions but I decided to really play and see what I could do without tracing a pattern and just go off on my own, but still looking at a picture. I did get lost in a few places and I see mistakes but I guess for a first try it's not a disaster. The poor little bird was growing plumper the more I tried to get him right so I just quit. Hopefully next time it will get better! Now I don't know what to do with this piece of paper, either. Don't know what I was thinking starting it on just a page of a book! It was way too thin for doing any watercolors! I'll have to mount it onto something else eventually, if I keep it. I suppose I have to keep it to use as a reference and to see if I get any better.
Today I also finally finished that art supply list and sent it off! I could have had it all here now if I hadn't procrastinated so long! I better not find anything else I need for a while! Although I sure was ogling a Bind It All machine!
So with that, here's tonight's picture. This is watercolor pencil with pen and ink (micron pen).

The Woman I Am

By Glen Allen

The woman I am

Hides deep in me

Beneath the woman

I seem to be.

She hides away

From the stranger’s eye—

She is not known

To the passers-by.

She goes her way,

The woman I seem,

But the woman I am

Withdraws to the dream!

The woman I seem

Goes carelessly—

When love goes by

Does not seem to see.

But the woman I am

Knows sudden fear…

And hides more deeply

When love draws near!

For love might look closely

Perhaps… and see

Her beneath the woman

I seem to be!

Found word page and Clean table!

2010-01-14T19:17:00.000-06:00

I didn't post anything for several days; just didn't have too much different to say and I really was doing some un-cluttering. Didn't have much choice as I was out of work space and so had to start the clearing. It's a good thing, really. Each time I say never again will I allow my work spaces to get over run with piles....we'll see. There's always hope!
I did finish the book mark by adding the fibers and dangly stuff but I never did do the mail art. I think it'll have to go with just a tiny bit of art. Again....we'll see.
I did a Found words page last night while watching TV. I was thinking I'd stick to the black marker only and show it on Campbell Jane's Altered Pages. But, it takes me a while to get directions right, even simple directions. I forgot it needed to have more than 1 found word on the page. So, I went ahead and added a tad of color to it and I'll show it here, just so I have something to show. It's just simple but these are just so calming and usually easy to do without much thought given to what you're doing. I like browsing for words and if one page isn't giving up any words, you just roam to the next. And then I took a page from a book of poetry and started a sketch to try and do a watercolor on it. I might work on that tonight while watching Thursday night TV.
Then, I just finished cleaning this table where I have the computer and also do art.
I forgot to take a before photo but take my word for it, it was bad! When I was going through other things in the art room last week, I came across a large old, as in inherited old, drawing pad. I did put it in the trash and then I couldn't stand it and took it back. I laid it over the desk top calendar so I'd doodle and make notes on it, rather than fill the calendar like I usually do. I pulled it off today and moved it over when I put down clean new table covering! I did take a picture but I sort of hate to show it. it's mindless doodles and notes but it never fails that it's how whatever pad I have in front of the computer looks. So pictures are of the cleaned up table, waiting for me to do something worthwhile art wise.
And, I'm still contemplating my order from Dick Blick. I really do need to finish and get it ordered, I need some of the items like last month! But I'm trying to make one order and get everything I need! That means finding all those lists I have jotted in ten different places and putting them together into one! Of course, I totaled it the other day and knew I was going to have to whittle that list down considerably! I do wish that art supplies, especially paint and brushes, canvas and papers were so much cheaper! It has to be finalized soon because I can't take a class I want without the pens I need. Well, I could.....but you know how it is?

Hopefully you can read the word by clicking on the photo, but if not it says: 'enduring'

Drawing pad in front of computer....doodles, notes and doodles gone bad!

Back to normal! Notice the date on the bottom of the calendar? I redid all the dates so they do match up with Jan. 2010 not Oct. '09! I do need to use this as a calendar and not just a note pad!

Clean area next to computer! I can find what I'm looking for!

And the rest of the table all neat and clean, even a hasty put together shelf from scrap wood I begged Rocket to hurry and build for me! I moved the storage containers holding images back into the art room. I have boxes and lids I'll use for images for this area.

And lastly, a new pencil holder and matching pen! Isn't it just scrumptious? It's all sparkly and bright. This was part of a Christmas gift from a dear fairy!!! One can never have too many pencil cups or brush holders!! The teddy bear mug in the background holding markers was also a gift from a friend.

Collage Piece?

2010-01-10T11:28:00.001-06:00

I went into the art room last night with intentions of starting the mail art. Before I could start it I needed to clear away the mess from from the last couple things and that led to : Oh hey, look at this scrap, I like this, I should try DOing what others have said and just slap some paper bits and paint on a page and see what happens, ya, I really like this scrap and here's a couple more that might work with it....h'mmm, maybe I'll sift through this pile and see what else I have, oh ya, I really like this but don't know what to do with it so maybe I'll just glue it on this scrap I like....what else do I have here....
So much for the mail art, the envelope is still laying right where I laid it, waiting. But I did this piece of collage. This is done on a page from the small note book where I started doing the pages and then had the fit and tore the pages out. So this does have a sort of journal page done on the back side also, leaving me to wonder what the heck to do with this, if anything. As I started to play and put down pieces it wasn't long before I was thinking, oh carp, I don't like this at all, this is going to end up garbage and I'll have to paint over the whole thing. But I kept on adding more and more and right to nearly the very end and I was about to quit, I added one more scrap and then I had a tiny feeling crop up that said, hey! maybe I like this, it has possibilities. So I finished it. I have no idea what it is, just a collage; I think a lady laying on a star studded beach basking in the sun, talking to the birds. ME! I must say this is totally weird how it happened because it simply started with a small blue circle sticker from a piece of junk mail and the scrap of star wrapping paper. The background color was already on my page to begin with.
I wasn't going to show it and thought what the heck, I might as well show everything I do, good or bad, it's good for me to learn not to hide everything thinking someone will laugh. Besides, I suppose I do need feedback and thoughts, good or bad or how will I learn what's a good piece of art or not so much? What do I do with it now? At the end, it was fun and it was very weird how it turned out something representing myself.
So here's a picture for today:

This is 3 small notebook pages glued together, some paint, then different paper scraps from wrapping paper, a music sheet, spiral cut from junk mail, a circle sticker from junk mail, flowers cut from different wrapping papers, a bird image printed when the printer was running low on ink, a sculpture image from a book, and then touch ups with more paint and markers.

With that, I better go get busy. There's a big PACKER game this afternoon! I'm making crock pot Apple Crisp from here: http://artatthespeedoflife.blogspot.com/

and Buffalo Chicken Dip with tortilla chips from here: http://wanderinglily.blogspot.com/ (The Bee Hive) and maybe my own split pea soup. Then tomorrow there will be no need to do any cooking as there should be plenty of left-overs for Rocket to eat while I DO start the diet, again.

Nothing much

2010-01-09T15:18:00.000-06:00

I did survive the grocery store trip yesterday. It wasn't fun but now it's done until the shelves empty out again. When I came out of the store pushing the cart through the dreaded slush and ruts I was hot from roaming those aisles, like I said I'd be. So loading the bags I was thinking, gee, it's not so bad out here. Then about half way through I started to get cold and by time I finished my hands and cheeks were freezing. I got in the car and looked at the temp gage and it was only 12 degrees so of course I was cold. Actually that's warmer than we've been and after today we're going to enter a real January thaw and go to 30! A few warmer days and some sun will be wonderful!!

I was catching up and reading blogs today and they all made me think of appropriate words for the year. I can think of a few for myself that would fit but wouldn't be too helpful to the esteem which always needs a huge dose of help. So I'm thinking that because I always procrastinate or think about things too long, that my word needs to be "DO". Yup, just "DO!" If I could actually "DO" something artful everyday without over thinking it or procrastinating, if I will DO just one cleaning/uncluttering thing a day, it might be amazing what I can accomplish. If I would just make myself "DO" something each day or at least once a week that I'm scared to "DO" or think I can't "DO", then what possibilities might open up to me.
Maybe the self-esteem will appear a little at a time, maybe the anxieties will fade, maybe I'll decide I am somebody and really "DO" have a life. Maybe.....I just have to "DO" one little baby step at a time and if I can "DO" that then next year I'll be happy to choose the word "DID"!
I read Sharon/Norah'S post a little while ago. I got so tickled reading because she reminded me of something I do constantly but always lose. Finding faces or creatures on the wall, floor, clothing, everywhere and anywhere. I love watching the fluffy clouds and how they morph into faces, bodies and creatures, but I seem to never have a camera or pencil & paper ready when I see them. There's one room where I spend a lot of time thanks to nature and a tummy that gets upset at the least thing.....the bathroom! And while I sit there, it never fails that I find a face or creature in the tiles on the floor, the patterns on the wall, the towels or the latest one that I lost now....the little hallway rug! I'm always tempted to jump off the ~~pot~~ THRONE, run for a pen and outline what I found! If I went in with pen in hand, I might've captured some of those fleeting fairies, gnomes, witches, bugs and creatures! For 3 days in a row I saw a face in that rug and it really crossed my mind that it's my rug and if I want to take a marker and outline a face, I can....because it's mine and it's not like I live in a mansion or anything. So if I mark the rugs or in the very dinky bathroom, if I mark the walls & floors to draw out the faces and things, so what? How many others constantly see faces and creatures everywhere? What do you do with them when you find them? There's a little store we stop at that's covered with field stone. While I sit and wait while Rocket runs in, I study those rocks and have found many creatures ready to jump out or weathered faces wanting to come alive. Wonder if they'd mind marker on their stones?
So it's nearly 3 pm and I have that mail art to start on and I want to do a altered words/altered thoughts page, too. I'm going to grab another book from the pile and pull the pages to work on them and do them following the rules and guidelines on Campbell Jane's page. If you don't visit her already, go here : http://www.alteredpages.blogspot.com/ . In the Readers Digest Condensed book I work in now, I'm leaving the pages in, even though it does make it hard to work on some pages because as I've shown I work with different colored pens and some paint here and there and then add images if I'm so inclined at the end. So this will be faster and easier doing some pages Campbell Jane's way. I adore all her work, btw, not just these pages.
I'm off to "DO" it, now!

ARGHHH!

2010-01-08T14:17:00.000-06:00

Today is one of those days! I didn't sleep good, so slept too late and that started the day (yesterday, too) not going my way. I want to do some art just because there are artsy things swimming in my head I need to let out (good or bad) and there's another piece of mail art I need to get done although seeing it's not done (not even started) and in the mail TODAY, it's gonna be late anyway. BUT, I need to go to the grocery store and I cannot tell you how much I hate going, but I have to, I put it off until I'm out of things I have to have. I'm in a decent mood, too and so I don't want to ruin it by going to the darn grocery store! By time I get to the register, I'm hot and irritated, grumpy because of the prices and already dreading the walk through the parking lot with a loaded cart, trying to push it through snow, slush and ice. Try that, when you're fat and having to dress in boots, heavy coat and gloves.....try getting in and out of a car with all that on. Yes, I could park the cart, go get the vehicle and drive up, but even there you have to keep stepping off the sidewalk and it's built up with ice and it's way too easy to slip and break or sprain a ankle or some other body part. Don't even dare to ask if there's HELP to take your cart (s) to the car and loading. The prices keep rising and the help goes away. We won't discuss baggers, either, except to say that I don't think they bother to train them any longer. I load the conveyor right and they still pack everything wrong.
So see, my mood is trying to escape and I'm not even gone yet! There's also the drive there. Now I only have to go like 5 minutes away, across our little town. But, for those living in snowy Winters, you know what happens. It's snowmobile season, so you have to watch out for those buggers pulling out in front of you, hidden by a snow bank or thinking they can cross the highway before you get to them. In the Winter you can't just pull into parking lots, you have to watch for those snowmobilers because the trail runs right through the entrances to parking lots.
Arghhh! I've tried to convince Rocket to go to the store for me, but unless I bribe him with "I'll pay for HIS beer" with grocery money (if he's out of beer), it doesn't work.
And then, back a few posts I did mention the diet word! It's time. I'm already a week off the scheduled (in my mind) start and it's now been pushed to this coming Monday. But, going back to the store, I'm not good in a grocery store. No, you have to walk in and you're immediately in the BAKERY/Deli! Now what kind of cruel joke is that to those like me who happen to start drooling at the very smell of sweets and carbs? I've done it, I have gritted my teeth and made it through without stopping but it's not fun and I fight the constant tug to turn around and go back. Of course, then you also have to pass up the cookie /cracker aisle, the snack aisle, the breads and of course the candy aisle. And in the Dairy, just grab the milk, eggs and Smart Balance margarine while ignoring the luscious coffee creamers calling to you and the sour cream and cheeses beckoning you to come get them. You look at the celery staring up at you from the cart and it's begging for you to grab some dip or even some cream cheese to make some dip or spread on those green ribs.
So I don't wanna go but it's 2 pm and I better go or I won't and tomorrow it'll be even worse to go. There's tourists in town and it's going to really get built up with them as the week goes on, we're talking thousands of them! It's the National Vintage snowmobile races this week end as they gear up for the World International Snowmobile races next week end.
For sure I'm not going into town or any store/restaurant then. If I was a Winter person, a snowmobiler, a snow & cold person, I'd love it. But I'm not. I want long warm sunshiny days, blue skies, a lake and birds chirping out happy songs. Not the roar of snowmobiles and stench of exhaust. ARGHHH!
And with that, I'm really going off to the store....I will SURVIVE but my arty mood will be gone, I'm afraid. On a good note, the Packers play in the first rounds of play-offs on Sunday and I can pick up treats for the game because the diet doesn't start until Monday! YEA!!!

New Mail Art

2010-01-07T16:16:00.001-06:00

The mail art I sent out reached it's destination so I can show it now. The special birthday fairy hasn't even opened it yet to look at the card. I did send her a email just now telling her how to open the envelope without damaging the art. I just always think who ever gets the mail art will figure out how to open it. She was thrilled and I was thrilled to hear that! As usual as soon as I set it in the mail I began to fret that she wouldn't like it. I did scan a picture of the front and back before I put on the address and postage this time.

This is the front minus the address. The background started with blends of Twinkling H2O's, then a piece of wall paper border. The gal is painted over a magazine advertising I liked. I just printed it in b&w, glued it in place, covered it in gesso and then painted, using acrylic paints, more H2O's, white gel pen, and some metallic acrylics & glitter glaze. The bird was just a image I've used a lot because I like it! After adding the address & postage I added some flourishes. (which didn't look right and should've been added a couple steps before that).

This is the back of the envelope. It also started with Twinkling H2O's for the background border and then a piece of background print from Altered Bits http://alteredbits.com/free_art.php that I just adore!! The flower is cut and rearranged from another piece of wall paper border, another bird image and the Fairies are from yet another piece of border. Crowns were from Lisa's Altered Art. It all has a touch of glitter for sparkle, of course, and shading. Both sides are glued and protected with Mod Podge, some glue and a final spray of glossy protective finish.

Click on the pictures for a larger size to see it better. The scans never show the pretty sparkle or shimmer.

So, I'm back

2010-01-06T14:57:00.000-06:00

Once again I let days get by me without getting on here. Mostly I was too busy reading other blogs to do any posting of my own. And I guess I just didn't have anything much to say and nothing to show. It's the January doldrums but they last until April!!
I do have a couple things to show today! One is just a non-sense play thing and the other a collage bookmark. I think a piece of mail art may arrive at a Fairy house today and then I can show that also.

So here's the fun part. This is one of those little wooden manikins used for posing when learning to draw bodies in motion. You know, one of those things you have to have and then you never use it? This gets moved from shelf to shelf, looks over me and taunts me. It always worried me because it was faceless and up here in the North, you really can't stand around naked for long without freezing or getting frost bite! So I gave that Manikin a face and then found it some clothes; now it's a LADYKIN and doesn't bother me anymore. I know.....I never said I was a sane person!

Her face was a doodled face done on the art table covering, you know one of those things you do mindlessly while watching TV or something. When I changed the covering I ripped off and saved a tidbit here and there for use in collages.

I taped this face to the blank head and she's been standing there with just a face, naked, freezing on the shelf right in the window! Last night I decided she really needed some clothes on so I sifted through images and found this suit cut from a sewing pattern. I posed her to fit the suit and taped it in place! Now I have a Ladykin who isn't bugging me any longer! Should I decide I really need to use the ladykin, like I should, the suit just pulls right off.

A while back I picked up a few cheap notebooks and thought I'd use them for journals. They were wire bound and had some pocket pages, too. But they were cheap....like a $1.00 so really had thin paper. I started working in one and right away knew I'd have to glue 3 or 4 pages together to do any art on them. So I did that and decided to fold several pages together and glue as half pages and so forth. I started to do art on the pages and the more I did, the harder it was to turn the pages because all that paint and medium was sticking to the wire. Then one page got so stiff it started to tear away from the wire. So, I had a teensy fit and ripped all the pages away! They will now be used as tip ins in another project someday. I need to learn how to keep the paint and such away from the wire binding if I want my pages to open/turn. I took one of the folded pages and just played with it some more and decided, even though it was a little wide, it would still make a dandy bookmark! So I continued doing layers and collaged both sides. I just kept playing with it and laying it aside, but last night I finally finished it, except for adding some tassels and stuff.

So this is 3 thin sheets of notebook paper glued together, folded over and glued again. Next was layers of torn printed card stock and several metallic paints, some other ephemera bits and pieces, glitter, cheese cloth, a bit of crocheted lace, images and more paper bits and a bit of stamping, covered with glossy Mod Podge and a touch of irridescent gesso. The red poppy is cut from a napkin, outlined with a white gel pen, the little Fairy girl is from a collage sheet from Lisa's Art. I can't find the little siblings to give any credit but when I do I'll come back and add it. I think the bookmark will be a B'day gift to my Mom who is an avid reader! I think clicking on the pictures will gave a bigger clearer look.

Happy New Year

2009-12-31T19:44:00.001-06:00

I don't have art to show again today. I could probably dig around and find something but it can wait. I did work on some mail art last night while watching a movie ( The Secret lives of Bee's ). I only did the front of the envelope because it took me so long to come up with an idea I liked. Tonight I'll do the back, have the design in mind, just not sure how I want to do it. Because there's been a quite recent change in the life of the intended mail recipient, I think I might change the design as I had it set in my mind. I wanted to try something new, too, but I'm balking because I sure can't ruin a piece being done on an envelope with the card already sealed inside!
Anyway, thanks to all for the comments on my art and what I have to say. I hope to continue blogging in the new year and maybe even get better at it as I learn how to do better posts, pictures and so forth.
I don't usually make a New Year's resolution because I always break it but if I wanted to try one, I'd say, once again, to lose weight and KEEP IT OFF and to do some art EVERY DAY! The weight part is a must.

And speaking of ART every day; The wonderful, most exciting, whimsical Sharon of Norah'S will be holding a video class showing how she paints her girly faces!!!
It will be on NING and probably sometime later in January! I'm so excited that I can barely contain myself!! I did tell Rocket that a class is coming up and no matter what it costs I wanted it to be my Christmas gift!!! So watch here for info, if you don't already: http://allnorahsart.blogspot.com/ and if you haven't seen Sharon's work or her blog be prepared to be in for a charming treat! I sure hope I have what supplies I'll need on hand. That is going to be a wonderful start to the new year!!!

And to end the year....a BLUE MOON! How amusing is that? I haven't looked out tonight, not sure if we can even see much of the moon as we have clouds and snow on a freezing night, again. However, I did spend time viewing the moon last night a couple times when I had Ebony (teeny dog) out to do her thing. It was a very eerie but yet gorgeous moon.....it was enveloped in a deep tunnel of broken wavy clouds and created a reddish gold glowing halo. Hard to describe but I hope others in this area got to gaze at it. It was quite amazing. I can never get a good picture because we have a street light across the street too close and it ruins the picture.

Happy New Year!
Star

Blog Hopping or Stalking

2009-12-30T11:00:00.000-06:00

I don't have a picture to show this morning but I did just have a thought roaming about in this head. Is blog hopping really a form of stalking if you continually go to your favorite blogs more than once a day or on a schedule every day? Just kidding, but really, isn't it?
Here's my routine every morning and trust me, I get cranky if I can't follow it, unless I'm the one who decides to change it! I'm not a morning person at all; I can't get up and just hop to things for the day; if I get up early I get morning sickness, really, I get dizzy, have dry heaves and a headache! The few times in my life where I worked morning shifts were not pleasant beginnings. I get my bearings and come to life at noon or later. It's not a good thing that the world is timed opposite of me!
I get up, stumble to the bathroom and do that whole routine, go directly to the kitchen for the morning pills (old age) and then turn to the coffee pot, hoping the husband hasn't drained the pot before I get the last cup (because he arises around 5:30 which is middle of the night to me). I then usually start another pot of coffee and head for the computer, cup in hand.
First, I check e-mails and note anything that needs attention.
Next is checking in on my special fairy girls, see if there are new posts and how they all are.
Third is going to my blog and see if I had any comments or even any visitors. I decide then if I want to hear music or not. If I need it to wake up and get myself in the right mood, I turn the volume up and let my music play. If I need quiet a bit longer I turn the volume down on the speakers because I'm usually hopping over to others from my page.
Then, usually in the same order every morning I go visit my most favorite blogs and anticipate what wonders will open up! I visit 4 or 5 usually in the same order and then from those I might choose new blog links to peek at or I go back to mine and peek in on more of the blogs I visit regularly and maybe pick a new one from each of them, too.
By now it's a 3rd cup of coffee, I have too many ideas starting to chase each other in this over-loaded head, and I need to go tend to the e-mails and do any business things that need doing. Now it's 10:30 or so and I'm not dressed, but it's time to think about starting the laundry or other household things; I might even decide it's time to have actual conversations with the husband. If all else fails and I still don't feel like starting the day, I go back and check the fav blogs again, check the Fairies again and maybe play a card game until I know I have to get busy.
Later, I'll come back to get on the computer if I need to hunt images from a folder or something along those lines, and might sneak a peek at my blog or fav blogs again if I was anticipating a post being made.
I love my computer! I'd marry it but it has a dark side that makes me think of ex-husbands; not always loving, fun and easy to get along with! I live with depression and anxiety; some days I feel pretty good and manage just fine. Other days, I can't go out in public, don't want to see anyone (it's more I don't want anyone seeing ME). In the Summer, I love to spend mornings on the deck, watching birds, looking at the flowers, looking at magazines, reading or doodling but if too many folks are walking by and wanting to talk, I have to go back inside. Sometimes, it's 2 or 3 weeks before I can make myself go to the grocery store; I get ready but then can't go out the door. I know it's silly but it's how I am. So I love the computer. I can go where I want, talk if I want, look at things I love and even learn a thing or two! I can tell about myself but don't have the worries of anyone seeing me. I can be myself on here where as in real life it's too hard....in real life I'm not sure who I am. I lived my life to please others for too long and now I still try to fight that, become myself and be allowed do the things I love.

So I got off the topic; but what's the answer? Blog hopping for enjoyment and a learning experience or stalking?

One more Altered page/found words

2009-12-29T11:11:00.003-06:00

I only have 1 page to show today. After this I need to continue to find words all the way to the end and be done with this story. When all the art is done I'll decide if it stays in this book or if I'll take these pages out and put then into their own book; which is what I'm leaning toward. We'll see, I may change my mind a hundred times before doing anything. It's that this a Readers Digest Condensed Book I'm working in. It has 4 different stories, meaning that for each section the words to be found change considerably. This section is the only one I'm trying to do as a complete story on it's own. The rest of the book is just doing a page where ever a word catches my eye as I browse the pages, I don't do them in order. I usually leave this on the coffee table along with some doodle sketch books and a container of markers and pens. While watching the games, races or a not so great movie, I play in these books or look for words. Sometimes, I push it all to the side, grab a stack of magazines, catalogs and junk mail, a trash container and just make a mess clipping and tearing images I might use some way, some how.
So here's the picture of a page I did yesterday. Today I fully intend to do some mail art that needs to get done and then I think I'm actually going to clear the table of paper scraps for a bit and haul out the paints.....if they haven't all dried up!

I read on another blog about using a CLEAR Sukura Gel pen as a resist. Of course, I don't have a clear but decided for this I'd try a WHITE Sukura Gel pen and see what happens. While searching for something or another, I spied the neglected container of twinkling H20's. I picked out 4 colors and used them to go over the entire background. They worked out great! I always love the shimmer with these paints although I don't think it shows in the scan. I don't know why the container gets shoved where I don't have these ready at hand. Well, I do know, TOO MUCH STUFF! That's the other thing I'll be working on; packing up boxes of supplies to be sold on eBay and other boxes to be given away or sent to friends who need what I don't need! It would be nice to start the new year on a cleaner, neater, less congested work space.

Note: The stone angel on this page came from ART FREEBIES http://artfreebies.blogspot.com/

More Altered Pages/Found Words

2009-12-28T10:19:00.001-06:00

I did 4 more pages in the altered pages/found words book over the week end. Before I show them I have to tell about an idea I had that went wrong.
I was wondering what I could do to protect the found words on a page so that it would be easier to do art on the page without having to stop and go around the words or get carried away and draw right over a word! I read somewhere on another blog about using water colour mask. I went to the small local office supply where they carry a small assortment of supplies and found 2 types of mask. The price wasn't great but thought I'd get both to see which I liked better. I bought a bottle of Winsor & Newton Art Masking Fluid and a bottle of Grumbacher Miskit Liquid Friskit. Not giving it any thought, even after reading the labels, I shook the bottles and opened them ready to test and play. I was pleased with how they both worked but took a bad headache so put them away and left the art room for a while. The next evening I got them out again and was going to try one more experiment before using them on a page. This time I had a horrid headache starting, my mouth, teeth & tongue were tingling & burning, my eyes burning and watering. Yes, you guessed it, a full blown allergy attack! Had I even been in the right mind I would've remembered that earlier this year I ran out of fabric band-aids and used some latex band-aids instead and it wasn't long before I was burning and itching where the bandage was. Now I do have allergies, but latex never bothered me until the band-aid episode and now I can't get near latex. So much for the Masking, it's liquid latex and as soon as I open the bottle and get a smell, the headache and tingling start (yes, I had to try it a couple more times just to be sure ). I guess I'll have to come up with another idea. Darn allergies! I really like the masking!

Here's the pages I finished last night. Hopefully I scanned the pages better this time.

page 11

page 12

page 13

page 14

I'm not sure how many more pages there will be. I have 3 more with words found but the story pages I'm using are changing so the words are harder to find to finish my story. Maybe I'll have to wait and find another book and story to get the final words to finish my story. I'm considering removing these pages and putting them in their own little book.

2 more Altered Pages

2009-12-26T10:11:00.001-06:00

I finished 2 more pages in the Altered Pages...or found words pages last night. I started the background around the words on the next 2 pages and maybe I'll get them finished today.
That's my plan for today, to work on art. Meaning no cooking, no dishes, just relax and do art.
Our snow storm ended today. We had snow, sleet, rain and more snow. Now the temps are dropping so we're going from fluffy snow, to wet snow and back to crunchy snow. The sun was shining this morning making pretty DIAMOND snow sparkling away but I couldn't a picture to come out right so no picture! I like when the smooth snow sparkles like diamonds.
The found words continue:

Page 9

Page 10

Altered Pages

2009-12-21T12:12:00.002-06:00

I did a few more pages in the Altered Pages book. I went in the art room to do completely different things and well, you know how it goes. I sat down, picked up this book, happened to get an idea and there I sat. So much for anything Christmasy at all. This isn't at all happy art nor Christmasy so if it'll ruin your mood, don't look until a later date. I'm not feeling very happy this year nor in the holiday spirit but I wouldn't want to ruin it for anyone else.
I had already shown the beginning of this story way at the beginning of this blog, so you can go back to earlier posts to see any changes. I decided to start all over and show what I have done in this series of pages so far because I did go back and do a bit more to a couple pages. Maybe not noticeable but still thought I'd show them again from the beginning.

The beginning of this story. Page 1

2nd page. Remember to click on the photo for a bigger view.

I can see I didn't crop these very well. I'm still learning the scanner and I get in a hurry and forget some steps sometimes.

3rd page, one that I went back and added images to.

page 4 not shown, page 5 is on left, a 1/2 page fold.

Page 6 on the right is a page I think I showed but went back and added images and some shadows. I didn't like it before, now I do. It was actually supposed to be a page divided in half but now as it turns out it's more of a single page.

Page 7 is a new page. I've gone ahead several pages and found words and now went back and covered unwanted script and added a image. Sometimes I sit with this book and can't find a word, let alone a thought. Other times I find what I want on page after page so I keep the words and go back later to work the page.

Page 8. I found the words, then several weeks later did the art to cover unwanted script. I wasn't pleased at all. Last night I went back, added the image, played with the art some more and now it's more to my liking. It was too happy before for this story. This story is mine, it has to be able to at least come close to conveying the feelings at the time. I didn't set out to find these words, they were on the page and needed me to let them out. They are feelings I try to keep hidden in the past. Sometimes it's just too hard.

New Mail Art

2009-12-18T16:25:00.000-06:00

Finally the last piece of mail art I sent has reached it's destination so I can show it today. Once I mail a envelope then I worry worry worry that it'll get lost or damaged or even worse that the recipient won't like it. Wish I could just drop it in the mail and let go about it's merrily way, I had fun making it and thinking about who sees it along it's journey ( or is it just machines)? So I should just be happy and not worry! Right? Nope, I worry. I was born a worrier and a worrier I'll always be.
And for all that worry, the birthday fairy who got the mail had an absolute wonderful reaction when she saw it! I'm very touched! The problem with these pieces of mail art is that no one knows how to open it without damaging the art. Once they settle down and really look at it, you realize you can slit it or cut it along the very top or a side. There's a card inside but it won't hurt the card. And yes, it's a envelope, a envelope has to have something inside it....it's a envelope, after all!!
So here's the mail art for today:

I just went searching through folders to see where I got the fairy in the top picture but I can't seem to find it. If I find it later I'll come back and give credit if it needs it. And I believe the tiny fairies came from Lisa's altered art again but then again, without going in the art room to look, I could be wrong. But I'm sure they did. The front (top) was just pretty simple; images cut and collaged with a bit of marking pens and glitter, of course! The hardest part was trimming those teeny tiny fairies! I cannot tell you how many times my stiff fingers lost grip and the fairy tumbled to the floor! Even picking it back up was a trick! After trimming that many teeny fairies I felt like I had done a much needed exercise work-out! Sheesh!

The bottom (back of envelope) is using a print of a photo taken of two dear fairy friends, one of who's birthday it was this week. The photo was of them having lunch and eating strawberries so I added the cake. This side, I used a napkin for the flowers, the images, some stamps, markers and glitter.

So that's all until I do another and send it along on it's journey!

Mail Art 3

2009-12-17T10:26:00.000-06:00

Just have a bit more to show this morning and then I better get busy and DO something artful today. Other than the piece of mail art and playing with a bookmark, I've done nothing in about a week other than cut and trim or browse through piles of images hoping a great idea will jump out at me. It's not too many times that I don't know what to do or don't feel like doing any art; no, it's that my head is so stuffed full of ideas, all different and all different methods of art so that I don't know where to begin! What I want is a huge open loft studio with huge windows so I can have different areas for different forms of art and be able to move from one to another at will! Wouldn't that just be the greatest thing? Of course, I need to be able to have all those different needful supplies and the right lighting for old eyes, and a library to hold art books and it all has to be neat but yet delightfully decorated! And and and..... I don't want much, hey? Oh well, if dreams were dollars, I'd be so very rich!

This was sent to a sweet fairy friend who writes wonderful fantasy stories (I told you about her in a earlier post and you can see a couple of her books on the book shelf). So this bottom picture (front of envelope) is combining my version of the wonderful NITESH white dragon with fairies and maids & things Renaissance and fantastical as she also dresses and sells her wares at Ren Faires. This is all collaged images with some paint and probably watercolor pencil.

The top is the back of the envelope and again is made from all cut and collaged images along with some paint and watercolor pencil. This is because WE ALL love a man in a kilt! I liked this so much I also did the page in the Fantasy Altered Book.

This was to another friend in Tennessee. I waited until the last minute and only had a couple hours before the mailman was due so I had to work in a hurry to get it out as it held a birthday card that was going to be late! So both sides are some hasty cutting and collaging along with some paint, watercolor pencil and glitter.

She's as lovely as a dragonfly and wants to spread her wings and fly!

This one went to a friend who delves into many things! One of the things she does is to make Sea Anchors ( like parachutes) for fishermen to use on their boats. So I decided to do a fish and under the ocean fantasy theme for her. This is all cut images collaged with touches of glitter and behind the fish to represent the water are torn pieces of holographic wrapping paper. I also did another take on the under the ocean piece in the Fantasy Folded altered book.

Mail Art 2

2009-12-16T09:48:00.001-06:00

Decided I would show some more of the mail art this morning. I'm hoping the newest piece I just sent will arrive to the special girl today and then I can show it. Can't show it this morning because I know she'll come on and peek!

This was sent to my sweet baby sister. This was the first envelope I tried doing mail art on. The top photo is the back of the envelope.

It was done with some water color pencils and lots of images collaged together with some stamping added. I use mainly Mod Podge and gel medium for gluing and covering, some water color pencils for more color and shading, sometimes some glitter mediums or other paints /inks. I print, cut and trim all the images. The envelopes all get a gloss protective spray before mailing to protect them.

The bottom photo is the front of the envelope. It has a napkin in the background and the girl is from Lisa's Art collage sheets, I think the hat might be also; the wings are filiment leaves.

This is another one I sent to my baby sister. This has some paint and layers of collaged images. The image on the left is from Patty Van Dorin from some images we were given when doing her Fantasy Folded Altered Book class. I just love this image. I cannot remember where the image of the 5 children came from but I love it, too. The old house in the back, the kids and the lady all made me think of myself and siblings when we were young. I am the oldest and always looked over the younger ones. It was amazing to me that each child truly represented one of my siblings, so I labeled them. The sister who got this piece is the youngest child as represented by the baby and she understood right away what I was trying to convey!

This one was sent to a dear friend in Canada. I was sure hoping it would go through customs unharmed and it did! The top photo is the front of the envelope. It's mostly all images collaged with touches of glitter and water color pencil.

This friend has an amazing garden and yard in Ontario,Canada, full of flowers and whimsical displays, hordes of birds and other creatures, we belong to a small close group of Fairies and she likes mushrooms and fantasy. So that explains that!

The back of the envelope is the bottom photo. It is just purely whim on my part using images I really liked. it's all collaged images and then some paint or alcohol ink, can't remember now. I liked these images so much that I used them again on a page in the Fantasy Folded Altered book. I don't doubt that I'll use them again in some fashion on something else! Trimming the flower head took a while, but I like doing the cutting and trimming as I watch tv!

This one was done for a friend's son who got injured playing soccer. That's him in the bottom center and he was injured shortly after that photo was taken! Both sides are all representing things and places he likes. He's a Dallas Cowboy fan so I had to give him images from the Cowboys BUT being a PACKER fan I sure did want to throw in a Packer! I resisted though! This was all collaged using layers of printed images. The cats did come from a purchased collage sheet but at the moment my mind is blank as to where I got them.

I'll show more later today or tomorrow.

Shameless Plug

2009-12-15T14:29:00.006-06:00

I wasn't going to do this on MY blog but it seems I always end up doing what I say I won't. There's a hundred stories I could tell from my life on that comment but we won't go there, either. Not now anyway.

I own a small home computer business. I own it, my husband (Rocket, to me) D J to others, runs the business and does all the work. Trust me, there would be no computer business if it were left to me to do anything much concerning those lovely machines. I play on computers and use them to spend hours browsing for information and artsy things.
We are Starock Diversity, a small computer shop refurbishing mostly IBM lap tops, and also building desk top models. Besides building the computers, Rocket will also fix most problems, get rid of viruses and other bad creatures lurking on your computer, clean it to allow it to run faster and do whatever else these lovely machines need doing. Don't be afraid of the word REFURBISHED, it only means that while the whole inside works have been checked and new guts (parts) put in, there could be a scratch or scrape on the case or maybe a small mar on the screen. Any imperfections are minor and are pointed out to you before purchasing. They are built to run like new and are many times much better than new from a store. These will come already loaded with anti-virus and other bug preventing programs, they'll also be loaded with other needful programs included in the price. No need to have to go out and spend another unspeakable amount buying the programs you need. Some programs are ala carte and you tell him what you need; they are available at a discount of what purchasing a new program would be. Most of the laptops are set up as wireless and again, is already in the price quote.

The good thing about being small and having a home business is that you can usually reach him at any time, 7 days a week with questions or for help. If he's out on a house call or other errand, he will always call you back where ever you are.
DJ is just starting his own blog and learning the ropes as he goes. You can see it here:
http://starockdiversity.blogspot.com/
And he also has a web page. It's rather confusing at first, but stay on and keep scrolling and it will bring you to a wealth of needful information:
http://www.starockdiversity.com/

So if you're having computer woes or in the market for a new laptop or desk top model, need some more memory or a crashed hard drive needs digging into, just call DJ. He'll help most of the time....if he can't help you out, he'll tell you and suggest what to do, if he can. Oh, and yes, we do have a limited warranty that is better than most stores offer.
Check it out. It might be just what you looking for and in these times we all need a real deal on things we need!

So there's my shameless plug. It could save you a bundle and many headaches, too!! Oh, and obviously I cannot figure out how to do a clickable link, so just copy and paste the link. sheesh.....more to learn.

Mail Art

2009-12-15T12:20:00.000-06:00

I couldn't show these pictures of mail art before now for a real silly reason. I really didn't know how to erase the addresses from the photo. Somehow every time I tried cropping or cutting, I'd take out the wrong part of the photo. I don't always get along with a computer too well. But today, after a friend even offered to have me send her the photos and she'd "fix them" for me, I gave it one final try and I DID IT! I have no idea why it never worked before this, I don't see that I did anything different. Such a simple task that gave me such a headache! We own a small computer business and some days I feel real SMART when I can help a customer with some simple task on the computer or show them how to do something easy. This task was not one of them, until today! Mostly I leave all the computer things to Rocket and I stay away. I'm much happier reading a thriller or trying to do some art.
So here are some of my sent cards with mail art. I always try to do something that's meaningful to the person getting the card, using a photo or other images but I don't always come up with an idea or a photo I can use.

This was made for sweet friend in PA for her birthday. The bottom picture is using photo's she took while on a cruise recently with some added ephemera befitting her. Unfortunately this is the one card that did not reach it's destination and it's probably mangled and in some P.O. trash bin. It's my fault as on the front (the top photo) I added a small metal piece. I thought it was flat enough not to do harm, even added extra postage for hand cancelling but still it never made it for some reason. I couldn't do it again because as you know, you can never get it the same twice and I used up the napkins I used for the flourish border! The top photo was using napkins, a boy from Lisa's art again and other ephemera. I really did like the way this turned out and hate that she had to settle for a picture instead of the real envelope and card; not to mention that the card had additional art to match!

This was done for my baby brother, an avid hunter and fisherman. I was in a hurry and really didn't do too well on the fishing painting (see that big pole...it comes from grabbing the wrong brush and not paying attention until the stroke was finished!). I figure he's deep sea fishing on a small lake! This was just fast simple painting with silhouettes.

This is front and back of a card sent to my middle brother. He's the only brother who "gets" my art and likes it so I can do anything for him! He is a PRINCE of a brother! The top was using a napkin background with added ephemera and again a boy from Lisa's art. The bottom (back) was done in mostly different images and some paint.

This one was made for my Daughter. The front (bottom) was using a napkin only.

The back (top) was using photo's of my Grandmother (center), my Mother (top left), myself (right) and center fairy on the bottom, and my daughter on the bottom on either side of me. I used the same napkin for background and added in some other elements.

That's it for now. I might come back later and show some more.

Blizzard!

2009-12-09T13:26:00.000-06:00

This is part of my yard in June and July....

Below is part of my yard early this morning! The wind is still blowing and the snow continues to fall this afternoon.

Looking out the patio doors

I don't know how much snow there is so far. It's hard to measure because the wind is sustaining at 20 to 30 mph, so it's blowing drifting. I would guess about 8 to 10 inches. The school kids have their first Snow Day of the season pretty early!

I'm just going to hibernate until late April!

Shoes

2009-12-07T15:17:00.000-06:00

Boy, I'll tell ya, if ideas were like money, I'd be RICH! Unfortunately, some of my ideas and visions cost too much, are too involved or just plain don't work. Now this one would work but I need a certain 'Man of the House' to help with the very end and hardest part. So far he refuses, so these shoes sit here and will probably end up in the flower garden or maybe given away as a gift. I haven't decided because I really want them to go where I wanted them to go! Not like I'm stubborn or anything! ((giggle)).
You've seen Shoe trees and Arrow trees out in the country or along a road somewhere? They intrigue me. I decided that in a small Industrial park right near us, where there's a little holding pond (when there's any rain) and surrounded by trees and a few dead snags that it would be perfect to do some sort of art and hang it from a tree.......at night when no one was around, just throw it up and let hang down, then see if anyone even notices. Watch to see if it stays there, gets taken down or maybe someone else will add more to another branch. I don't want it to be tacky, I want it to be a point of wonder and fun! With my luck the City will figure out it was me and give me a ticket for littering or something. That's my luck.
I need help with the throwing part, these would be tied together and then thrown so it loops over a branch and hangs down. I can't throw or aim worth a toot!
Anyway, I did collage stuff on a pair of leather boys shoes. They're completely covered and the soles have glow-in-the-dark paint on them. I didn't paint the inside because I was thinking maybe a bird would build a nest in them or something. They could just sit on the deck steps or on the garden rocks planted with flowers, also.
So here's the shoes:

this isn't the greatest picture. I tried with the camera but they didn't turn out at all so I scanned instead. I had good pictures and lost them in the computer switch-a-roo. I can't take pics outside because it's cold and snowing. This shoe is covered with Paper Illusions wall paper, some paint, some swirls, jewels, a boy, mushroom and wand from Lisa's Art again, alcohol ink on the sides, metallic paint here and there and water color pencil for shadow. The swirls I cut from scrap, the butterfly is a print and there's also some swirls stamped on as well.

The glow paint isn't on this sole yet.

This one is covered with torn strips of holographic gift wrap, glued and covered with Mod Podge. It also has all sorts of images and definitions, assorted paints, and the bottom sole is covered with glow paint. It has layers of Mod Podge & varnish for protection.

That's it for today. It's time to start supper and get ready to watch Packer football tonight! We have friends driving to Green Bay for the game. I can tell you right now it's going to be COLD, windy and snowing on Lambeau Field. I'll be in front of the TV with food and wrapped in a blanket! You couldn't pay me to sit outside tonight; well, maybe for a million or so, I might get stuffed into a snowmobile suit, don the swampers and set a Klondike cap on my head over the face mask! Couldn't drink anything though because going to the bathroom could be a nightmare! Gonna be football, Wisconsin style tonight!! Go PACK!!

Rocks

2009-12-05T20:04:00.000-06:00

Last Spring I got the idea to do some collage art on rocks and lay them outside in the flower beds as a little unexpected surprise when folks are strolling through on a garden tour. I was all excited and it was too much fun doing this art on the rocks. But, the idea I had for the method I used wasn't such a keen idea. Turns out, unless sheltered, the rocks didn't like the hot sun beating on them or days of rain and temperature variables from hot to cold in a single day. Now if I were painting them, it wouldn't matter and they would hold up. But I didn't want to take forever to do these little wonders, I wanted to do a lot of them and have fun, too, not be all tedious. So I did little collages using the same things as other collages, napkins, ink jet prints, stencils, paint, rub ons and so forth. The first few I used outdoor Mod Podge to seal them, gave them several coats or until I felt they were well covered and sealed. On others I used some triple thick glaze and now I forget what else I used. Most of the gluing was with mod podge I think and some have layers of glitter mod podge or other glitter stuff. I wanted them to sparkle in the light and catch someones eye. So, as it turns out, they'll make cute paper weights, sit on tables or desks as a little pretty or go out on a covered or protected porch or deck, maybe peeking out from a potted plant, but not in the weather and hot sun. I think using ink jet prints wasn't good, they fade in the sun even under layers of glaze, a couple turned cloudy and stayed that way, others clouded in the cool dampness and cleared in the sun, a couple that were more hid by the flowers or shaded did pretty good. None the less, I got irked with myself and quit working on them. I was hoping it would be something to sell cheap and not cost a lot to make nor take a lot of time. Just fancy free and fun! I may end up doing more but doubt they'll be going outside in the flower garden with the fairies and totems! If anyone has a suggestion for weather proofing, I'd love to hear them. I'm sure maybe using ink jet prints isn't a good idea. Here's a few pictures of what I still have. These were outside and they weathered fairly well but I rescued them before they got too bad. The little fairy babies did pucker and start to crack, so it looks like crackle! Maybe I didn't glue them down well enough. Tomorrow I'll show and tell about another "bright" idea I had.

I used a magazine print for the background and the little fairy is from Lisa's Altered Art collage sheets. Remember to click on the picture a better large view.

For this one I used a napkin for the background, using gel medium and a print of the gargoyle, I don't recall where I found the quote. It's touched up with water color pencil. This is my favorite; I'll use him more in other things.

These little fairies are also from Lisa's Altered Art collage sheets, I'm not sure about the nest or quote. I added some glitter to the wings and their dresses. This one tried to lift and pucker and you can see the crackle effect that is unintentional!

Oh, these images are all shadowed with either watercolor pencil or marker.

This one is just a simple print with watercolor pencil and glitter. I cannot remember where I found the print. Even though I sized the print wrong, I used it anyway and this simple little rock got lots of comments! Go figure.

This is a painted background, a print from the internet and again I forget where the quote came from. Just a touch of pencil added. I have several sheets of words and quotes from different places, some bought, some free.

art/computer table?

2009-12-04T12:04:00.000-06:00

Just going to show one more photo for today. This is where I migrated to the dining room area and set up a table for art and the computer; thinking I would do collage stuff out here. It didn't work, so when there's a clear spot I do smaller things here . I will be trying to clear this off so I can use this area to work along with classes and video's from the computer. I had an idea to use the lap top in the art room but I'm not sure how that will work; we'll see. I'm not good on the laptop at all, not even close.
And BTW, yes, that is snow you can see out any window views. Just having flurries today but it is COLD and going to get COLDER and stay that way for a while. I ~~dislike~~ Hate Winter!

Art Room?

2009-12-03T14:03:00.002-06:00

I'm gonna do it! I'm really going to show pictures of my room. There's one way to make myself get in there, not get side-tracked and truly finish changing it around and cleaning it up so I have room to do any art in there; that's to embarrass myself in front of the whole world. Keep in mind when I show these that the room was in disarray as it was, then I changed it around but it didn't work ( I know, measure twice, move once!) so it had to be put back the way it was with some minor changes. So now it's really a mess and believe it or not I have toted 3 trash bags out from amid that mess. Some of the piles are to be gone through and put away yet, others are to be listed on eBay at some point. A lot of the containers hold pictures to be used in collage, some cut and trimmed, some not. Most of the stools showing aren't to sit on, they're waiting to be painted along with other things shoved in there. I have no where to keep them so they get shoved around. Well, no more excuses; here is where I attempt to do what I do.

Looking straight in from the entrance; it's a deceiving picture!

Where I sit, do some art, watch TV

on the right side

continuing around to the right, another table and book shelves

The right of the shelves and drawing table in the center, closet behind

continue around to the right and the entrance

shelves of things waiting to be used and back to the beginning.

Don't even think that's all of it! I didn't show all the containers and piles below those tables and I still have a table art/computer area I use in the dining room, too. I'll show that next time. Right now I'm going to hide and work on that mess! Really!

Did it Again

2009-12-02T19:37:00.001-06:00

I went days without posting at all. I think maybe this will take some getting used to or maybe I just need to think I have something interesting to say. I found some pictures I can show of things I had done already but still need to take new photos of others I have here and lost the pictures. I started to take pictures and of course the batteries died in the camera and so I just bought more today.
We spent part of the afternoon at the Credit Union re-financing the Explorer. Such fun! On the Saturday of father's day week end, Rocket was going to lower WI to bury his Mom's ashes and 1/2 way down the Jimmy decided to quit. On a Saturday! He called home and we decided he'd look over the car lot where he was and see about a new (new used) vehicle because he couldn't stay down there until Monday. His son met him there and helped to make sure he picked something nice and got a good deal. I got on the phone with the salesman and swore I'd do bodily harm if I found out we didn't get a deal. YUP, I'm tough! Not really, but I can pretend sometimes when I need to. We did get a good deal but had to take financing where ever we could get it that day. We've paid on that since June and decided now was the time to do a local re-fi and save some much needed money.
Funny how a trip to the local small Business Supply store to get ART SUPPLIES on Monday made me realize even more how tight our money was. I haven't gone on-line to check Blicks price but it has to be better than the $9.89 I had to pay for a small bottle of Masking Fluid! Then I noticed a small...I say SMALL glass bottle of Matte medium that I needed.....that was $6.75! Most of the time I forget where my mouth is and stay quiet but I managed to give the owner a little monologue on what art supplies to stock along with what size and even mentioned brands other than Windsor & Newton! How I wish we had a Blicks or Michael's or anything with art supplies near here. We don't. It's either on-line or drive almost 100 miles one way. Of course, a gal could learn to happy with what she has in that art room where she can barely move as it is! But you know, just one more medium, one more color of paint, new brushes and the must have patterns or How-to books and magazines. I can never choose a project where I have everything I need. Hard to believe when you look in my room but it's sadly true. Actually I haven't touched the paint in so long that some of it has dried up. That's so bad!!!!
So here's a few pictures of things I have here that I did a while back. I haven't done another page in the altered book yet so nothing new there; not even in the altered pages book.

This was my first (only) attempt at a beeswax collage. I made it into a magnet for the fridge.

This is a button fairy also made into a magnet

Another Button fairy as a magnet

Another Button Fairy

and one more Button fairy.

I don't have pictures of more because they're given as gifts and I lost the pictures.

That's all for tonight. I have batteries now so maybe pictures of the art room tomorrow, IF I don't chicken out on showing that!

Why?

2009-11-28T09:52:00.000-06:00

I missed posting anything for several days again, well, a week or so even. It's not that I've been terribly busy; I think just busy at not being busy! I'm very good at it!
I did have several days alone again while Rocket (DH) went back up to camp with the boys, but even then I found myself getting irritated with disruptions to my ALONE time and just never made it into the art room at all. I did have time to catch up on blogs and find many more that made me gasp with delight!
Yes, the art room is still waiting for me to get in there and seriously get it into shape. I had to undo what changes I made which in turn made a bigger mess; as I try to get it back together I am managing to pick through and empty several containers and piles of paper, books and ephemera. It doesn't look as if I've purged anything but truly I have! Maybe today I'll remember to take a few photos of my glorious inspirational space. HA!
Last evening I did go in there and do a little purging but I made the mistake of sitting down at the painting table and started to tear off the paper cover as I watched TV. To clear the paper, of course I had to pick up and move paper scraps into a pile for later inspiration BUT it inevitably led to playing around. As I watched a show, I started to play with a scrap of paper and as I played with the pencils and neo colors I started to like this little scrap of trim and decided I'd keep it for "whatever" came along. BUT, then I did what I ALWAYS do, I ruined it! Why I always manage to do something silly or overwork something is beyond me. It never ever fails that I make a blotch, smear, tear, make something crooked or noticeably out of whack! I mean, those little imperfections have their time and place but just never where I want them! And it just irks me and can ruin my mood for days.
I'll show a picture of this little scrap of a trim where the gold leaf pen finally did the unthinkable and made a big splotch of paint instead of a nice dot. That pen had been working so perfectly and I was so proud of it! Then because I'm always impatient, I never give things the proper time to dry and so to make matters worse, I then smeared 2 of the perfect dots! Such a tiny piece of scrap and I was destroying the cute little thing with the after-thought of gold dots. I'm going to make myself use it on something along the way; it'll be a further lesson in not being so anal about being mostly imperfect at everything; not just art. I suppose it may not show on here but here's the little scrappy mood changer:

I still have to go on Rocket's computer and find some of my picture folders seeing I managed to lose mine in the computer transition. Luckily he'll have the pictures I need to show some pictures of 'this and that' artsy stuff I've done.

A new page

2009-11-21T15:49:00.000-06:00

I finished another page in the Fantasy Folded Book last night. I'm supposed to be in the art room, changing it around and de-cluttering. I changed it so well on the first try that I had to squeeze in and out the door; so that meant moving everything back into the original places and contemplating a different move! So I'm on the 2nd change and still it's not right! What I need is just a little more room.....like moving the long outer wall out about 1.5 to 2 feet. I mean, really, it would just make a world of difference on what I could do! It's not going to happen, so I have a too narrow, too short room for a too short, too fat gal with way too much "must have" art supplies. I am finding things to actually toss and some that will go to eBay and more that will go to others in need of more "stuff", but still it doesn't open the right space I need. Most of the reason, beyond just having too much because I want to do everything, is that when you don't have the moola to buy the right storage containers, shelving and tables, then you use whatever you can steal from other rooms or buy cheap and then.....they don't work right and the room isn't right!!
On the other hand, I do recall getting a lot more art done, in the years that I worked, had a growing family and only used the kitchen table that had to be cleared every day for meals! How did I do that?
Well, anyway, I'll continue to ponder that darn room and get it workable, soon. I tried not to get side-tracked BUT I can't move in there without seeing THE BOOK or The Other Book and each time I dare to move a container of images or a pile of magazines or heaven forbid, a painting pattern book, they call out to me and before I even realize it, I'm sitting down and playing. It's the devil and he tugs hard!!! Part of de-cluttering is putting the painting pattern books and other 'how-to' books back where they belong and so I have to look at them!! I'm out of space for those, also and haven't yet got up the courage to tell someone else here that I sure need another book shelf unit built for me! I mean, really, you can NEVER have too many, right? I do get rid of some but I usually replace them at least 3 to 1! I won't even discuss regular reading books, yet!
So here's another page in the Fantasy Folded Altered book. This sort of got off the Fantasy theme but I just had to do it, anyway. This was from a page of advertising in one of those vintage magazines I was given. It just tickled me....the words are funny and the name of the cigs is just ridiculous! SPUDS! They make them sound so good! Here it is:

This is 2, 1/3 fold pages that I used as 1 page. You can see some of the previous pages showing in the corners. I used paper from a card/envelope from my step-son (the black/white pattern), a piece of wall paper, a flower image cut from something, a gal from a clothes pattern cover, the advertising from a 1932 magazine, a poppy that I drew on paper covering the art table and decided to use on here and then the usual markers & watercolor pencils. I hope you can read the words in the advertising. They are so funny! Click on the picture for a larger view.

More Fantasy Folded Altered Book

2009-11-14T10:48:00.000-06:00

I have no idea how I managed to lose the days from Tuesday until today. It was just "one of those weeks" I suppose.
But, I had part of yesterday, all of today and maybe all of tomorrow all to myself!!
It's that time of year up here....DEER SEASON....where most of the men disappear from home to go stay at deer camp for 1 to 2 weeks. Oh how sad for all the women folk.......NOT!!!! However, a smart gal will put on a show like she doesn't want to be left alone for any number of days; she'd much rather have her guy stay home with her. You can't be in too much of a rush to get them packed, goodies packaged up, and shoved out the door! The women folk (in my family) are not allowed to be at camp during Deer season; we have to try to fake being upset over that, too. I mean, really, at our family camp right now are anywhere from 4 to 10 guys, eating, drinking, hunting, doing what guys do best when left alone and then all sleeping in a small cabin bunking area and on couches; the nightly sounds and smells wafting through the cabin. You get my drift....you don't wanna be there, but you pretend you're upset that women aren't allowed.
Yesterday, I waited until I saw the Explorer turn the corner and go out of eye-sight and then....I did the HAPPY DANCE!!! After that dance, I just sat for a hour or so doing nothing. No TV, no music, no scanner, no noise at all. Just perfect calm quiet. The hushness was heaven!
After sitting and reveling in the quiet, I did have supper while watching the news and after dishes, I went to the art room to watch TV and did a new page in the Fantasy Folded Altered book. Before I did the page, I was looking around in there trying to decide how to change it around to make it workable, so did some measuring and tried to see what I'd have to move out in order to make the changes. While doing that, I opened a drawer in a storage container and what did I find that had been stashed in a safe place during the last non-completed attempt to unclutter? A couple collage sheets that I knew I had, just didn't know where I FILED them. Now if I could find the rest of them that must be in another safe place! LOL!
As I said, the Fantasy book class is given by Patty Van Dorin of Tuscan Rose. In her shop she has a lot of very nice goodies, including some nice collage sheets which I had purchased earlier this year, maybe even last year. So I was just giddy to find a couple of her sheets and one of my favorites, at that!! I sat right down and played, making a new page and then started to get ideas for the next page to work on later today. Before I can play, I promised myself I would mop the kitchen floor and then further contemplate how to change the art room into a workable space.
The solution of a much bigger room/space isn't a option. We have a tiny house with tiny rooms and that's the way it is. I don't have too much "stuff ", though! No, that's not the problem at all; I have one whole room and part of another just for the heck of it! I can't even begin to say that with a straight face! And I was on eBay last week looking around; which means I have several pkgs. of art books coming my way! Can't ever have too many, right?
So for today, here's the newest page in the Fantasy book. Maybe I'll take pictures of my "oh so neat art room" later and let you see why it takes much pondering to figure out how to move it around yet again.

More Fantasy Folded Altered Book pictures

2009-11-10T14:23:00.000-06:00

Before I put up today's pictures, I want to say thanks for the comments that have been left for me. They make me feel soooo good! Thank you!
I'm starting to feel better today but now everything smells and tastes like good ol' snot! Hope I get over that part soon!
We're having a week of Indian Summer here in the Northwoods and it's warm (during the day) and sun shiny and I don't even feel like going outside. I enjoy the sunshine, even just looking out the window. We go way too many days here in the Fall/Winter without a peek of sun.
Anyway, I'm going to go ahead and show the rest of the pages I have done in the Fantasy Folded altered book and then I'll decide what else to show tomorrow, maybe. I changed computers and in the transition I lost a whole heap of saved pictures. I knew it would happen; email addys and favorites were lost, too. G'rrr! I'll have to take new pictures of some other odd artsy items I have sitting around. I think I may have lost a whole heap of yard/garden pictures, too.

So here's more of the book; after these pages I still have about 10 pages to work on before doing the cover and final touches. Seems like it's taking me forever but being my first altered book there's a long learning time in there! I didn't heed one of Patty's suggested directions for choosing the right size book correctly and now it's giving me a problem! You'd think at 50+ years, I'd learn to follow directions or advice, but I never seem to get it right.....always wander off on my own, even if just slightly, and then pay the price later. That's me!

Now tell me, who can resist doing something with these "men in kilts"?

I just love these 3 lads. I giggle each time I look at it. I've used these guys recently on a piece of mail art so it's not new to one special FAIRY sister, just a different take on the same theme. I might just do this one over and over!

This is 1 page, then a half folded page and then the next page peeking in to show what's next!

and this is the next page; it's a half fold and a I guess maybe a 1/3 fold. Now you can start to see the surprise at the end starting to peek through the folds, too.

And this is 2 pages, both 1/3 page folds.

That's all I have done for now. Enough bravery for today!!

Decisions

2009-11-09T16:21:00.001-06:00

I couldn't decide if I should or if I did, what to show today. It's a Monday, I'm still sick and I've been blog hopping, looked at so many marvelous things & ideas that now my head is really spinning. If I'd spend as much time DOING my own art as I do oogling others and trying to learn techniques, looking up supplies and books, well, then I'd have plenty of art to show! I need a sort of schedule and I need to stay away from the computer; but what wonders lurk in this beloved machine!!! One little click leads to thousands! And on top of blog hopping I dared to sneak a peek on eBay last week and look at painting books, painting patterns and other needful things. I know better, but I did it anyway! I promised myself I'll truly get back to art everyday and even back to some painting because these books and patterns coming will give me that spark to start on the growing gift list in my head!
I did manage to do a couple pages in the Fantasy Folded Altered Book so I suppose I'll just keep showing more pages in the order that I have them done so far. Showing pictures of any art I do is a lesson in bravery, especially if I dare to show it to others than the few I dare show it to before now.
So here's a few more pages for today:

That's it for today!

Fantasy Folded Altered Book

2009-11-07T20:44:00.000-06:00

I'm still in agony with the dreaded cold but wanted to come on and post a bit anyway so maybe I'll get in the habit of posting more often.
I did do a 2 page layout in the Fantasy Folded Altered Book last night. I don't think I'm done with it yet but thought maybe I'd come here and start to show some of the pages I have finished. On the side, I was also working (fooling around) in a cheap little notebook that I liked and decided to alter. Well, I altered it so well that it fell apart. There must be a trick to doing those flimsy lined pages that are bound with the coiled wire? I did glue 3 or 4 pages together and the pages held up fine but soon I couldn't get the pages to open and slide along the coil even though I was trying to keep the coil clean of paint and mediums. It started to tear and come apart at the perforations. I'll just save those pages and use them elsewhere on down the road.
So back to the Fantasy Folded book; before I show some of the pages I have to say that because this book is just my own, I haven't paid a lot of attention to what images I use or where I got them. If you happen to see any images that I got from "you", then I thank you so very much. I can't give any credits on this book too much, because my memory is the size of a dried pea and I'd have to go searching through the image files to see IF I did save it correctly using the person's name I got it from. ( I know.....I write long rambling sentences, too!) Anyway, I have tons of images, I love searching for them, finding them and hopefully using them and again I thank anyone who has shared their images for any of us to use. Most of these pages are done just cutting and trimming the images, doing the collage using gel mediums and or mod podge and maybe some markers, ink, caran d'ache colors, glitter and possibly other ephemera here and there.

I don't have these pages actually numbered yet as I'm working willy nilly on whatever page suits my fancy at any given time. I think this will be page 6 & 7. The creases on any corners are where the page is meant to be folded. I opened them to show the whole page.

This might be 8 & 9

and this would be page 10 and then a 1/2 page fold (you can see a portion of page 12 that was waiting to be done when I scanned the page).

and this page 11 (half folded page) and then page 12 finished.

Remember to click on the picture for a larger view (if you dare).

I'll show some more tomorrow....after the game & race!

Altered Pages

2009-11-06T18:07:00.001-06:00

So much for blogging a little each day! I've come down with the dreaded cold so been laying low this week. Thought maybe I'd be real brave and show some pictures from a book I've been "fooling" around in since last Winter when I was laid up with cellulitis and a venous ulcer in my legs. Wasn't much fun but it gave a lot of bed & couch time. So, much easier than a Altered Book is doing Altered Pages. I grabbed a Readers Digest Condensed Book and have been slowly altering the pages with found words. I usually keep it on the coffee table and then grab it while watching a Packer game or a Nascar race and spend time finding words or taking sharpies and blocking out words. The art isn't intended to be great art; it's mainly just doodles to block out words. Then later I go back to a page and maybe add some image or do further doodling. At this point I can't say that any page is finished. So because this book has 4 different stories, the form and choice of words differ in sections. That doesn't really matter but I found in doing these that one story gave me found words that brought back memories and feelings I tried to bury. It's amazing when doing these pages how certain words will just jump out at you. Just like a form of therapy.
I'm finding it hard to scan these pages to show. So I spent some time trying to learn to scan better and so now I'll see if I got the words to show or not. The print is small and some have a glare because I scanned some after I went in and put a protective coat over the page. I'll never learn to scan first in order to reduce glares.
So here's 2 just random pages that I went back and added images to:

(what's a pretext to a rueful smile?)

(she can't understand this, she just wanted it; reflected on wider implications)

Next starts a different section of the book and this will show the beginning of a series of pages that will tell a story....maybe. These aren't finished but I'll show them anyway:

(terrible secrets of the past, haunted by truth)

monster, the smell, the sound, was terror spun into nightmare. destroyed life; it would be finished)

(a flicker. The monster's here. I had to hide)

(hands shook, didn't speak; there were signs.)

This one (above) actually shows 1 page and a half page

(door shattered; Horror)

This just shows another half page and then a page with only the "found words" and the rest of the page not blocked out yet. Hopefully the words will be readable. I saw they weren't so came back in and added the found words under each image.

One Thing Leads to Another

2009-10-30T22:25:00.000-05:00

I'm taking a altered book class given by Patty Van Dorin of River Bend Ranch. My first ever class! This class is called Fantasy Folded Altered Book and I highly recommend it to anyone who has never altered a book or has and wants to learn another style. It's easy to follow with many pictures, Patty is always willing to answer questions and best of all for folks like me, the class is affordable! Here's a link to Patty's blog and a link for the class is on there also. And take a look at patty's wonderful books, journals and assemblage's!
http://ramblingrose.typepad.com/
This is my first altered book. It's coming along and as a first book, it has a definite learning curve to it. Hopefully I'll get faster and better on the next one! I'm just going to show 1 double page layout from the Fantasy Folded Altered Book tonight. I'm showing this because I have a friend who's a author of Fantasy books, a much better writer and story teller than she gives herself credit for!
http://jennakayfrancis.livejournal.com/ and http://www.jennakayfrancis.com/
Now to be honest, I love some Fantasy art and some fantasy things but I don't usually read Fantasy as my every day reading choice, far from it. BUT, Jenna wrote a book ( this book is just 1 of about 30!) that I fell in love with. I was tentative about reading it, but once I opened the book and started on the first page, I was hooked! The name of the book is NITESH, a Fantasy romance with adventure and a touch of the dark, a White dragon, elves, fairies, and other fantasy people & creatures.
So Back to my picture. As I said, this is a spread in the fantasy Folded altered book and I made it with Jenna and Nitesh on my mind when I found the dragon. The art on the pages doesn't fit the story exactly, and it's a a white dragon heavily shadowed with blue but still, I was thinking of the magnificent Nitesh!

I should say that the art in this altered book is mainly collaged images with a touch of paint , markers, watercolor pencils or caran d'ache crayons. If you click on the pictures they should show a full page view.

So see, one thing leads to another.....

Star

surprise

2009-10-29T14:57:00.000-05:00

I had a wonderful surprise today! At least, it was a wondrous surprise find to me and I'm sure to anyone else who's into altered art, altered books, mixed media and so forth. I have a friend who has been cleaning out her closets and doing a general whole house purging. I'm very glad to be on the receiving end of some of this "junk" she's been saving for years ( inherited from parents and other relatives).
Hopefully I'll be able to add pictures so you can see why I'm just so excited.
First was this medium sized suitcase that must weigh 30 pounds or better.

And when I opened it guess what it's filled to the brim with? Vintage magazines, recipe booklets, catalogs and other home leaflets!! Here's a sample:

Now that's just a sampling of those goodies over flowing from the suitcase.

Next was this darling box:

And this treasure box was filled to the top with these!

Yup, it's filled with her old valentines from the 40's and see that little girls hair do with the bobby pin? That's a real bobby pin inserted into the card!

But that's not all, next was this:

A vintage lace veil; her actual 1st communion veil! Along with it was this:

A very nice small lace shawl or scarf! Then lastly but not the least were these goodies in a basket:

A whole handful of keys and 7 or 8 wooden spools!

So, I had planned to do laundry and then head for the art room to do a bit more de-cluttering which always leads to playing in the Fantasy Folded altered book or other art started, BUT now I'm brewing a pot of coffee and intend to sit and flip through these magazines and catalogs!!! What a bright thing to do on a awful gloomy damp Wisconsin day!!

first post

2009-10-25T11:43:00.001-05:00

So here comes the scary part, making that first post. I've put it off for several days while setting up the blog and then spent hours wondering how to start and what the heck to say and still wondering why I'm doing this in the first place!

I've given all that some thought and maybe that's where I'll begin after getting this first post out of the way and making sure the world doesn't crash down on me because I dared to send off a post.

So here goes, I'm going to click the publish button.....and then I'm running to hide!

Actually it's near time for GB Packer football and a Nascar race to start and I'm not ready so I have to go.

You'll never know how hard this was!!

Maybe .....maybe, I'll be back tomorrow .

Star