Art Tart Talks

Mothers Day Gifts

2010-05-20T16:38:00.001-07:00

Again I have started to slack off on doing art daily. Long term motivation seems to be what I need. Now that I have defined the problem, what is the solutions? I don't know. I am holding out that once I move and can be in a new place and set it up I will be more motivate. All in favor say "aye." Hahaha

For mothers day though I did create some gifts. I did tin sunflower collages. I took the idea I learned from Opie and Linda O'Brien and with a twist made it my own.

Ingredients

Wooden Plaque or piece of wood at least 3/4 inch thick

Tin (I used an old folgers coffee can and a cafe du monde coffee can that is not old.)

Heavy Rubber Mallet
Can Opener
Tin Snips
Permanent Marker (I used a sharpie)
Hammer
Pliers
Awl
Piece of Scrap Wood
Carpet Tape
Finishing Nails (I got mine at Home Depot for less than $1.)
Gesso
Paint brush
Water
Matte Medium
Sheets of Music
Glaze or paint mixed with a glazing medium. I used golden glaze in violet earth.
Drink Can Pull Tab

Steps

Preparing the wood. The plaques I used were already finished. So if you are using just plain wood you might want to sand it smooth first. I covered mine in gesso. Let that dry. Then collage sheet music on it with matte medium and let dry. You can use any vintage paper you have. I wanted something to give the background interest. Glaze over the collage. Let dry.

Preparing the tin. Using a can open remove the bottom of the coffee can. Then with the tin snips cut along the seam of the can. I bought my tin snips from the O'Breins and they work great. They sell them on their Etsy site which is the link on the supply list. Using the rubber mallet flatten the metal. Now every thing is prepared.

Using a permanent marker, trace your design on the back of the tin. Simple designs work best but the tin snips do a great job on detail work as well. Cut out your design.
With the hammer, awl and scrap wood tap a small hole in the tin where you would like the nails to be placed. You can use a small metal punch for this but for me the awl works just as well.
Place a piece of carpet tape on the back of each of the tin pieces. Arrange the pieces on the wood as you would like them. Use the carpet tape to hold them in place.
With the hammer and finishing nails, attach the tin to the wood.
Attach the pull tab to the back with a finishing nail. This will work as a hanger for the finished piece.

nothing to report and a book within a book

2010-04-23T09:18:00.001-07:00

Last night, after my injection I went home and fell asleep. So no new art. So I thought I would share something I made last summer and the directions for it.

Its a book inside a book. I started off making a mini book. here is the link to a website that explains it really well.

http://library.thinkquest.org/J001156/makingbooks/minibook/index.htm

I did this mini book in a class I took for free (free is a very good price.) In the class the instructor had the most awesome clip art so the entire mini book is clip art and rub on lettering.

I painted the two page spread with Golden's heavy body acrylic paint in payne's grey. I just did it haphazardly to give it a lot of texture. The lettering is from a text sheet of paper and using my sizzlit machine. I am not sure of the font. I adhered the mini book in the spine of the book.

Now I have a page that has pages to turn on it.

This mini book can actual be a big book too just use larger paper with the same dimensions. Lynne Perrella does this times and it is awesome.

Cover art

2010-04-22T19:00:00.000-07:00

I am on a roll folks. I am continuing to create art on a regular basis. I am doing so much that I decided to only post things that get finished.

Last night I finished a cover to one of my books. I usually do the covers near the end of a book because other wise I am smashing the embellishments and when I am working on the inside the art on the cover makes it hard to get a good impression and such.

The technique that I did on this cover is a faux leather technique. I love it because it uses recycled grocery sacks. Perfect for an earth day project.

Ingredients

Brown Grocery Sacks torn into random pieces
soft gel medium
glue brush (a paint brush dedicated to glue)
Substrate in this case my book cover

Steps

Glue the pieces of grocery sack down on the substrate.
Cover with gel medium. Let dry

Easy peasy huh and it makes a great background. I have a page I will show later when it is finished that I did the same thing. I used an old nylon paint brush I got at an estate sale and as I was spreading the glue bits of the bristles were coming off so my book has these interesting black spots that I had not planned for at all.

Next I stamped the white swirls using white gesso. Let that dry. Then stenciled using sequence waste the purple and yellow dots.

To the spine I add some ribbon flowers along the spine. These are different then the technique I talked about the other day. I will show you how to make these later when I do some step by step pictures. These particular flowers I made last year for Artfest as trades and forgot to trade them.

Final step was to stamp something on the front. Coming up with titles for my altered books is very random. What ever word pops in my head I use. In this case, April the month it was worked on and it fit perfectly.

Circus page

2010-04-21T19:00:00.000-07:00

This page has been worked on different times in the last year or so. It really has gone in spurts. The spread was gessoed first, as are most of my pages. Then the circus tissue paper from the dollar store was added. I thought it was really to bright for anything I would do so I dry brushed titanium buff over it to push it to the background and fade it out. So then it set for a while.

Then one day I was messing around with creating ribbon flowers and realized the orange polka dotted ribbon went well on this page but I did not have any focal image so the page sat with possible embellishments but no focal image.

In September, my friend go married and we made her wedding programs with orange vellum. Well the orange vellum that was not perfect became mine. As I thought about it I thought it went really well with this page.

I stamped the face, buildings and quote (all from Zettilogy) and placed them on the page. I added the ribbon flowers and like the page but it did not seem finished.

On Monday, I had a box of trim out next to me and the braided trim was right on top the perfect color and the perfect size to finish off the page.

I am not sure where I learned to do the ribbon flowers, but I know I was influenced by Sister Diane who taught me how to make flower embellishments out of buttons and trim so I am going to give her credit.

Directions for the ribbon flowers.

Ingredients:

Ribbon about 6 inches but really this depends on how full you want your flower. The ribbon has to be wide enough that you can run a stitch along it. I used 1 inch wide ribbon.
Scissors
Thread any color
Needle
Button
Embroidery thread or fake flower stamens.
Fabric glue or heavy duty industrial glue like E-6000

Steps:

1. Cut ribbon to desired length. Run a running stitch along the edge. This edge will be hidden by the button so don't worry about thread color. Cut off thread. Leave at least 3 inches of thread at both ends of the ribbon.

2. Gently pull the thread so the ribbon bunches up. Tie the to ends together tightly.

3. Thread embroidery thread through button and tie off like flower stamens or use fake stamens. Glue button on top.

This ribbon make great hair embellishments as well.

I know another each ribbon flower that I will share later.

Another completed page

2010-04-20T19:00:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend I did not create any art. Saturday, I did the MS Walk and when I got home I decided to just chill and rest. My reward for being a good citizen. Then Sunday I worked at Petsmart and when I got home did a small bit of organizing supplies so that was my creative endeavor for the day.

On Monday, I was back at it. I worked on several backgrounds. Which I will put in later posts, but if you must see them right now there are in my facebook album.

I did finish two pages. I started this spread about two years ago when I was experimenting with some light blue paint I got at an Estate sale bag sale....I have not idea what kind of paint it is and the texture is very smooth and shiny. The flower is a napkin from the same sale. Yes I just pulled it out of the bag and put it on the page. I thought the paint was too shiny so I brushed over it with gesso. I do like how the gesso really blends the napkin into the background, but this page never spoke to me so there it set for two years.

Then last night, I was thumbing through my incomplete books, and this page was there in a book that is almost done so I wanted to finish it. I had my alphabet stickers out and these alphabets jumped out at me. There were white to begin. Boring. So I thought I would paint them carmine with some iridescent medium mixed in to match the page. Another sticker I had said be yourself so I thought I would use the quote and then added love yourself because it just flowed.

A page I did not like turned into something that is not half bad if you ask me. It is more shiny in this picture then it is in real life.

Napkins and tissue paper are two of my all time favorite art material. When ever I find either at garage sales, estate sales or on deep discounts I buy them. They are usually pretty or interesting and you get tons. I pass them out to my friends because I usually have too many. They are really easy to use. They don't add any bulk to a book. Just peal them down to one ply and apply them to the page using matte medium or gel medium to blend them into the page. Try them sometime.

I really feel an accomplishment when I finish a book and this one is getting close.

ArtFest 2010

2010-04-18T12:50:00.000-07:00

Artfest this year was much different experience than the year before. The biggest difference was I was part of Camp Runamuckus. A collection of some of the most creative, animated, funny, caring women I have ever met. I really feel privileged to be part of this group.

Since I have in Camp Runamuckus, Artfest had a much more "camp" like experience then last year. I love camp. I went to camp as a kid many many times. I loved it for all the arts and crafts we did....yes that might be where this obsession started. Then as an adult in college in the summers I was a camp counselor. So camp for me is like heaven.

My first class was with Lynne Perrella called Going Baroque. This was a class focusing on texture gesso backgrounds with lots of color and then using a large image and developing the story around that image. I choose Ludwig II because he was such an interesting guy and had some great castles to throw in the mix.

Lynne is a great instructor and has been doing this for years. She was great with suggestions and explaining techniques. There were some moments of touchy feely stuff I could have passed on but what was the class going to do while the gesso dried.

This class I really got the chance to explore textured gesso with all sorts of things, using stencils and reintroducing me to portfolio water soluble oil pastels.

I love the piece and I am so impressed how much it looks like a painting and not a xerox copy. This piece is not finished for me. I plan to stencil the word "vision" on the bottom and embellish it more.

My second day was what I called my branch out day. I was doing something I am not familiar with and don't really know how to do it. The class was called Getch your paint on but really should have been called getch your caulk on since we drew with bathroom caulking to make cool raised out lines. Michelle Allen was the instructor. Michelle is new to teaching and so at time had moments where she had a hard time articulating the techniques, but was great at demoing them. At times, I was explaining the basics of stamping to her but she was great with suggestions and her whimsical technique was so fun. I always loved caulk as an adhesive but now I will for sure use it to draw with.

I do not do a lot of painting, so this class was really a stretch for me. I took the leaf and flower motif from my doodles during staff meetings and just expanded them. I really liked how Michelle encouraged us to use contrasting colors. That got me out of usual color pallet. I never have done anything so vibrant before. I am still not sure I like the piece. All the artwork from Artfest hangs in my office and this piece is the one everyone comments on and praises....go figure.

The last day I purposely choose a class that would come easy to me and was right up my alley. Collage a Trois with Linda and Opie O Brien. I love them, so much so I wish they would adopt me and I could live in their art world with them. I choose this class, because by the end of Artfest I knew I would be brain dead and needed something that I could do without too much thinking. I have never worked in tin and really this class was collage with tin. The tin was nailed to a wood base with finishing nails. Sarah, from Camp Runamuckus was with me and she is a hoot. It made the class so much more fun. Both of us finished in about 4 hours.

I named my piece the butterfly dancer of New Orleans and I just love it. I think I will do tin collages for mother's day gifts if I can find some brass finishing nails.

Artfest was so awesome once again I am just counting down the day til I can sign up for next year. You should join me.

I want to give a shout out to a great crepe place in Port Townsend, Water Street Creperie. Food was great, services was supreme and the prices were very reasonable. If you are ever in Port Townsend try them out. (The don't seem to have a website, so I can direct you there. So come on boys who own the creperie get with it so I can send peeps your way.)

Day two of the new me

2010-04-17T19:00:00.000-07:00

Ok day 2 of my new art everyday commitment. I did not want to do any more background because right now I have at least 5 altered books with lots of backgrounds but no finished pages. So I set the goal of focusing more on adding embellishments and focal images to the page this time. I am still working with limited resources since I have not started to organize my art room.

If you remember this background was from Wednesday. I stamped the image from Artistic Outpost on tissue paper and adhered it to the page. I am still brain storming how to complete the page but I am sure it will be soon.

This page was kind of meditative to do. It started months ago as play session with iridescent medium and an ink page. I stamped the flowers in the iridescent medium and then run an ink pad over it to get the resist. It was so long ago I don't even remember the name of the ink pad or the company that makes it. Well last night, I decided I wanted to try out the inksentials white pen from Ranger. I have heard so many people rave about it I wanted to try it out. Also I have been intrigued by the zentangle crazy that it inspired me. I just doodled and drew lines between the flowers, filling up the space. This page is so interesting to me I may just add a simple quote and call it good. Any ideas of a good quote for it?

Here is another page I have had for a long long time that has been unfinished. The background is another one I learned from Claudine Hellmuth but I also have seen it before I believe it is an old painting technique.

Ingredients

Book page
Acrylic paints at least two contrasting colors
Plastic wrap
Paint brush
Water

Steps

Paint page in a solid color. In this case red. Let dry.
With watered down acrylic paint in a contrasting color paint over the painted page. Before the second coat dry lay plastic wrap over the page and smoosh it around creating wrinkles and such. Let dry without removing the plastic wrap.
When completely draw remove the wrap.

After I did this technique I dry brushed white paint over it to give it some depth. I added the felt embellishment which I got at an after Christmas clearance sale. And there the page sat until Thursday night.

I found the image in an old calendar I had but it was huge and I had to cut it down. The expression on the persons face was so jubilant, the quote came easy. The quote is spelled out in vinyl letter I got at an estate sale.

I love the page and was very happy to have finished a page. I have not finished an altered book page in months.

So I am going to keep on trucking and creating.

I started

2010-04-15T07:00:00.000-07:00

I did it....I went home and I did art for over an hour on Wednesday. It felt great. I did not think it was going to have because I worked over 90 minutes so I was sure I would be exhausted and not have the creativity to do anything. But I was bound and determine to work towards one of my goals.

I grabbed supplies that I had handy which was all the stuff from Artfest since I have not unpacked my art bag. I worked on several backgrounds.

This was the first one. I had already adhered the circle tissue paper months ago. I colored it with one of my favorite supplies portfolio water soluble oil pastels. I love them, they are vibrant, creamy and cheap. Only complaint...they only come in 24 colors. Once I applied the oil pastels I used a wet paper towel to blend them. The water caused the tissue paper to peal and shred giving it a totally cool distressed look I had not even planned on.

This one I used the oil pastel again. At Art fest I had covered this page with gesso and then textured it with fondant cutters and tissue paper. On Wednesday, I then colored over the gesso with the portfolios and blended it with water. This time the colors came out very subtle. but you can really see the texture, even in the picture but in real life it is much more interesting.

You guessed it portfolios again. I told you I liked them a lot and they were handy. The background here is a collage of dictionary pages that I distressed with a Claudine Hellmuth technique with masking tape. I might share the technique with you later but really her two books are great and technique packed so I strongly suggest you buy them.

I color and blended the portfolios. The dog image is from an old calendar from the dollar store. I am not sure how I will finish the page out but maybe something about dancing cheek to cheek.

Quick and easy page. This is a fancy napkin I found on clearance. I glued it down with matte medium. I think it has a real arabesque feel and will keep my eye out for some sort of image.

This last technique was purely play. The page was covered in white gesso months ago. So squirted out acrylic paint blogs in white, yellow and two shades of green. I then used a barbecue brush (the silicone kind I bought at the dollar store.) to spread the color around.

Here is a close up of the awesome groove and textures that it created. Don't have any idea of how I will finish the page but I am sure it will be awesome......hahahah

I am proud of myself for even starting. This goal is the easiest for me to start but why not start with the easiest to be a motivation.

MIA

2010-04-14T12:38:00.000-07:00

My friend Sue posted that it has been a long since I have posted. Which is sooooooooooo true. It is also a long time since I have created anything. I have been in a real art slump. There are several factors that have come into play, not excuses mind you just factors that made me less motivated to do art.

1. I started a new job in November so I am not available to do art as often as before.

2. With the new job I have a 45 min commute each way, so by the time I get home I feel really wiped out and just have not wanted to pick up supplies and create.

3. I have not been taking any classes. Classes always motivate me to create and explore.

4. My art group, The Counsel of Muses, has ceased meeting due to lack of space to meet. This once a month group was a great way to explore, create and talk about art. I miss it and wish we could figure out a time and place to meet. Any ideas?

5. The biggest reason of all......My house including my art room is a total uncontrolled mess. I just dread going into the art room (can you believe that) because it is so chaotic that I can not find anything without making a bigger mess. The entire house is this way. I hate it. It makes me depressed and miserable. I am so ashamed of it, I do not let people even close friends into my house. Right now I feel stuck I don't know how to change it. I need help. Any volunteers? Hahahaha.

Pity party over....

Ok I am not the kind of person to wallow in self pity for very long. None of these problems are going to fix themselves. I have to do it. My way....make a plan that usually includes a list and tackle the problem. I am going to make several pledges and plans how to get back on the art track. Every good goal has a time line. I will outline the timeline here as a way to organize it.

1. Each day for one hour I will either create art or clean my art room. Cleaning for me means organizing it as well. Starting tonight.

2. I will ask my mom to help me with the organization because she is a wiz at that. I have asked her before but secretly I think she is overwhelmed by the project as well. Maybe my friend Anna, a gifted organizer can help me if my mom can't, which would require me to deal with my shame and guilt. Dealing with the shame and guilt might not be such a bad thing either. I will ask my mom next week when she is back in town. Sigh still dreading this one

3. Take more classes - I did go to artfest (will blog about that later) and I really enjoyed it and was inspired. I am signed up for a poly clay class at the end of April. I plan to attend art and soul in Portland(I always wait until the time of the event to sign up class and buy classes from people who can't make it since I am local and do not have to book a motel.) This goal is in process.

4. Move closer to work. Not a direct art goal but one that will essentially give me more time and energy for art as well as improve my overall mood. I am already working on this, once I get my taxes I will have the money for the deposits. So then all that will be in my way is finding the right place for me and Roux. I am going to set a date of June 1st.

5. Find more art groups or create an art group. I have re established myself with one group that meets in hillsboro at Art on a lark. I know there are more out there just have to find them. I will even look in Salem since that is where I am work. By June 1st, have found out if Salem has any such groups.

6. I will make more art dates with my friends. In the next two weeks, schedule at least one.

After reading the list, all seems very doable except the cleaning, I told you I dreaded it but it is needed.

Ok I will report back here weekly about how it is going. Feel free to add suggestions, as you can see I really need them.

laugh

2009-10-28T22:05:00.001-07:00

Carousel

2009-10-28T22:02:00.001-07:00

love hurts

2009-10-28T21:59:00.001-07:00

Marie

2009-10-28T21:56:00.001-07:00

summertime.jpg

2009-10-28T21:55:00.003-07:00

seashells.jpg

2009-10-28T21:55:00.001-07:00

the sea makes no promise and breaks none

venice.jpg

2009-10-28T21:53:00.001-07:00

2009-10-18T18:12:00.000-07:00

Here is a simple technique that uses supplies I will bet you already have.

Ingredients
image from magazine or catalogue (I love to use images from J. Jill and I get them free in the mail.)

scissors/ xacto knife

paint (I used black and blue mixed on the paint brush.)

decorative paper (I used an old dictionary page)

foam paint brush

ingredients for rest of the page

double spread of an altered book

black gesso

paint brush

gel medium

vellum

black permanent ink

letter stamps (from purple onion)

photo corners

Steps

1. Cut image out. I turn the image over to see how the image would turn out to see how the image would look.

2. Lay image down on decorative paper. Start at middle of an image paint out, to create halo around image.

3. Pull up image. Let dry.

4. Add to a page lay out.

day 8 of 22 dsj part 2a

2009-07-14T22:32:00.001-07:00

the instructions say to do 2 pages so i do....problem is my pages do not lay side by side like in a conventional journal. i bet ill have extra pages at the end......while this page drys i am going to go play mafia wars

day 8 of 22 dsj part 2

2009-07-14T22:25:00.001-07:00

while the gesso dried i went and soaked in the hot tub....when i returned i painted on two colors of paint a cobalt blue and a celery green color...mixing them right on the paper then wiped some paint off with a paper towel

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day 8 of 22 dsj

2009-07-14T22:23:00.001-07:00

ok after the tape then i dry brushed gesso and whiped it off....cool ghost effect huh

7th day of 22 dsj

2009-07-14T22:22:00.001-07:00

on the 7th let there be tape......todays assingment.....journal with a ball point pen then cover it with all types of tape....finding a ball point pen was hard.....but finding all kinds of tape easy....i love tape especially medical tape.

day 7 of 22 dsj

2009-07-14T22:19:00.001-07:00

wow one whole week and i am still doing it.....i am noterious for starting something and then not finishong it....or finishing it months or years later...

armour page complete

2009-07-14T11:57:00.001-07:00

i ruined it.....here is the page post the coffee bath....i dont like it because the colors in the armour fades......lesson learned

Soul Journaling with Sarah Whitmore day 3 and 4

2009-07-12T08:55:00.000-07:00

Days 3 and 4 of Soul Journaling were working on the same page so I combined them. This exercise was to think and contemplate our "art amour". What we need to be creative and nurture our souls.

Again, I started with journal page that was gesso over journaling on collaged dictionary pages. I then took an image of a suit of armour, printed it out in stark black and white contrast.

I colored it with all kinds of different metallic and glitter transparent markers. Wrote words that I believe I need to create great art. I then cut out the image and glued it to the page.

On day4, I embellished the page with words and phrases that represent what I need externally to help me create and be daring. I need support of artistic friends. I thrive under their patronage.

I stamped hearts in 3 colors in the background to cover the journaling as well as fill the page. Then I stamped on 3 manila tags and added bows for movement. The instructions called for a walnut wash but I thought I would use coffee instead. Did not work so well, the gesso resisted the coffee and the liquid loosened the tags. Lesson learned.

A word on my art allies, the Council of Muses is a group of women I met with once a month. We get together create art together, bond, eat and laugh. I need these women in my life to really push me forward art and life wise. Some of us have even started a zine together....topic of first zine artistic connections.....ironic huh.

Soul Journaling with Sarah Whitmore day 2

2009-07-12T08:47:00.000-07:00

Day 2 was more fun for me...over the dried gesso I stamped "this book belongs to:" with green acrylic paint then wrote my name numerous, numerous, numerous time with different markers. My favorite were permapaque markers I got at Joann's. They really are opaque, coming great colors including metallic and are easy to write with. Doinjg this exercising I really felt like i claimed the page.

Soul Journaling with Sarah Whitmore

2009-07-12T08:37:00.001-07:00

At the invitation of my friend Keli, I joined a journaling yahoo group based on the techniques of Sarah Whitmore's 22 days of Soul Journaling.

Here is one of the pages I did on the first day. I started with a recycled manilla file divider. Collaged old dicitionary pages over that, journalled with a black sharpie and then did a gesso dry brush layer over that. At this stage, pretty boring visually.

Soul man

2009-07-05T20:51:00.000-07:00

Here is a quick and easy embellishment trick with stuff I am sure you have in your stash.

Ingredients
Masking tape
Non stick sheet or wax paper
Stamps The yard stick is from Ma Vinci, The clock is from Non Sequitur and I do not know what company made the stencil letter stamps.
acrylic paint (I used black)

Place strips of masking tape side by side on a non stick sheet.
Stamp images using black acrylic paint.
Let dry.
Peel off the tape and place on page. The word "soul" was printed on tape that was over lapping so I peeled it off as one big "sticker."

The rest of the page

The background was purple acrylic paint brushed on a page. Once dry super sparkle lumieres paint was sponged over it. Then images of yard sticks, clocks and rulers were stamped using lumiere hi lite blue and black.

The main image was stamped on a recycled tag using black permanent ink. The image is from After Midnight Stamps

waterfront blues festival

2009-07-03T14:44:00.001-07:00

this is a clip from geno delofose and the french rockin boogie as they preform at the eaterfront blues festival.....on the front porch stage.....it was on 7.2.2009......its no jazz fest but is an excellent substitute here in the pacific northwest.....and now i want to say "et toi" at the end of each sentence

Royal We

2009-06-28T16:25:00.001-07:00

I have two ways of working....fast where I finish quickly and then some pages take months (or dare I say years) to finish....this one was month to finish. The page was gessoed white and then swirls were stamped randomly using blue Lumieres paint (sorry not sure what company made the swirl). Then the page sat....for months

Til last week, I wanted to experiment with the lyra gel crayons I have. These are water soluble so i wanted o see how they would do as a wash over an image. They worked great. The princess image is from Lost Coast Designs and the lettering comes from Purple Onion Designs. I over sprayed with glitter spray because everything I worked on that day got sprayed. I still think it needs little bling on the bottom of the page, I imagine that will come soon.

My girl Patches

2009-06-28T16:21:00.001-07:00

Here is an altered book spread I did of my John Wetzel Terrier. I painted a black and white picture of her using watercolors....the background is black gesso and metallic markers swirled around. The lettering is an soda can that I ran thru a die cut machine. Way to recycle huh? Quick and easy page

Path to Self

2009-06-28T16:20:00.001-07:00

This page was a lot of fun I will share the techniques later. The image of the woman is from After Midnight Stamps.

2009-06-26T17:09:00.000-07:00

Altered Book Swirl Page

2009-06-01T23:24:00.000-07:00

This page I have been working on a few months. Yesterday, I decided to finally finish it up. There are three separate techniques here - the swirl main image, watercolor resist background and dry brush technique for the circles the letters are printed on.

Ingredients

Two page spread - for this technique to work you need two page spread
White candle - taper works best
Watercolors - I used Dr Martin liquid watercolors
Watercolor paint brush
Water
Two sided cardstock - both sides must be decorated.
Circle Cutter
Scissors
Pop dots double stick
Additional cardstock
Stamps and ink - I used Bird by stampers anonymous, Flowers from Judikins, Letter unknown. Ink is my favorite Archival Ink by Ranger.
Glue Stick
Children's writing tablet
Acrylic paint - I used orange
Gesso
Paintbrushes
Ruler
Pencil
Circle Punch - 1 inch

Watercolor resist - I was just experiment candle was as a resist. I think the same effect could be achieved with a crayon.

Using white taper candle draw a design on the page. I did just swirls and wrote the word "spring" several times.
Using a paint brush wash clear water over the candle drawing.
With watercolor paint brush, wash watercolor paint over the page.
Let dry.

Swirl pop up - Just like the pop up books of my childhood.

Using a ruler decide what size you want your swirl to be. I decided a 4 inch circle would be best.
Cut out circle with circle cutter.
Using scissors, cut circle in a swirl
Place a pop dot at the center point. Attach it to one page.
Place a pop dot at outside end of the swirl. Close book and then open it. This make sure the end lines up nicely. Use more pop dots to line up the swirl as you wish.
Stamp bird and flower images. Cut out. Using glue stick, attach the to swirl. I put some backwards so that no matter what side you are looking at you can see birds and flowers.

Dry brush technique - This is a quick technique that uses up the left over paint from other projects.

Brush acrylic paint over children's writing paper. Use a light hand. Let dry.
Brush gesso over the paper. Again use light hand and they let dry.
Using a circle punch, punch out circles from the paper.
Stamp letters on each circle.
Cut pieces of scrapbook paper into 1.25 inch squares
Attach squares to page with glue stick.
Attach letter circles to the squares.

home sweet home

2009-05-22T14:53:00.000-07:00

camping is great.....kicking back listening to skynard .....sunny and put tent up all on my own...i am woman here me roar

margaritas and mothers days gifts

2009-05-06T22:00:00.000-07:00

For the last month I have not been blogging or creating art....real life is getting in the way of feeling creative.....no job, health insurance costs, taxes, medications, calling off a marriage, re working a relationship all got in the way of feeling creative. Not a good situation.....the remedy...pack up the car with art supplies and go to friends and create.

Sue is part of the Council of Muses, she is a pheno when it comes to art but sadly she is not a stamper....I am convinced it is my role in life to bring her over to the stamping side. We decided to plan a day to work with polymer clay and stamps to make some tiles like I learned at Artfest in Laurie Mika's class.

This weekend while estate saling I found a bag of poly clay with about 30 blocks of clay for $12.50. I took this as divine intervention.

I packed up the ECHO with the clay, mica powder, clay tools, acrylic paint and some picture frames as well a huge pile of stamps. Remember, my intent was to bring Sue over to the other side.

We spent the afternoon making tiles, singing to Janis Joplin and laughing. Here are my finished project. Gifts for my mom and grandmother for Sunday, Mother's Day.

When Sue and I scheduled the day it happened to be Cinco de Mayo, so of course that meant we had to include some Mexican culture in the day. We decided to go to On the Border for dinner and margaritas. Julia, Sue's daughter accompanied us. She busted open the pinta, go girl power. Denise met us for dinner. Food was yummy.

It was a great day and yes I believe Sue is closer to joining me in Stamping Obsession. hahaha

2009-04-05T01:08:00.001-07:00

this piece of art work was a true collaboration and a culmination of serveral other classes i have taken

last day of art fest

2009-04-05T01:01:00.000-07:00

3rd and last day of artfest.....today i took the class whose you dada....taught by linda and opie o'brein...it was awesome...my doll is a demented hussy..

day 2 of artfest '09

2009-04-03T23:59:00.000-07:00

2nd day at artfest....weather was better than i could hope for...sunny and 60 degrees. class today was a disappointment and the vendors fair was all the teachers art work so no stamps or art goodies for me....too bad. tomorrow is a class i have been awaiting to take for over 5 year, linda and opie o'brien's whose your dada..making mixed media collage dolls. the picture is of the mould castings i completed. nothing i would write home about but maybe i will find an ab page to place them in.

first day of artfest

2009-04-02T17:25:00.000-07:00

first day of artfest. it is as amazing as everyone said it was. here is the project from my first class. it is a mosiac shrine in class taught by laurie mica.

One reason New Orleans is special

2009-03-27T16:45:00.000-07:00

Here is a message I received in a yahoo group I belong. I asked Paul Hoffman the author if I could share it on my blog because he really speaks about one reason New Orleans is so special.

On a personal note, I am really home sick for New Orleans and have been thinking about it a lot.

So here goes and thanks Paul

I just returned from a refreshing little weekend trip to SoCal for some fun in the sun. As I was driving down the coast I happened to catch a radio showcalled "Ridin Dirty" (http://www.ridindir tyradio.com). They were enlightening their fellow Californians about Carnival in NOLA. They even interviewed Arthur Hardy, Mr. Mardi Gras. I listened for about half an hour as they tried to describe something you really have to see to appreciate. I was amazed to hear that even people in Los Angeles are jealous of New Orleans' ability to throw a party.... and this was the day AFTER the Oscars. L.A. only knows how to throw parties for the uber rich while the not so rich have a riot. In NOLA, rich, poor and in between flood the streets to celebrate life. It is the greatest free party on Earth. Ain't no hurricane ever gonna stop it... New Orleans isn't a place so much as it's a cultural experience. In the words of one great Angelino,"Mentally or physically I want to be in New Orleans"... sitting on a sack of beans, of course...

2009-03-01T20:47:00.001-08:00

roud x and his dad

Dogs

2009-02-24T22:37:00.000-08:00

I got this as a forward, which I usually ignore but for some reason I did not just delete it and actually read it. It made me laugh as my two dogs sleep in their usual "T" formation. I hope you enjoy it. I do not know who wrote it so I can not give that person credit.

the following was found posted very low on a refrigerator door.

Dear Dogs and Cats: The dishes with the paw prints are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Racing me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort, however. Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other, stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out on the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.

For the last time, there is no secret exit from the bathroom! If, by some miracle, I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge in an attempt to open the door. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years - canine/feline attendance is not required.

The proper order for kissing is: Kiss me first, then go smell the other dog or cat's butt. I cannot stress this enough.

Finally, in fairness, dear pets, I have posted the following message on the front door:

TO ALL NON-PET OWNERS WHO VISIT AND LIKE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT OUR PETS:
(1) They live here. You don't.
(2) If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. That's why they call it 'fur'-niture.
(3) I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.

(4) To you, they are animals. To me, they are adopted sons/daughters who are short, hairy, walk on all fours and don't speak clearly.

Remember, dogs and cats are better than kids because they

eat less
don't ask for money all the time
are easier to train
normally come when called
never ask to drive the car
don't hang out with drug-using people
don't smoke or drink
don't want to wear your clothes
don't have to buy the latest fashions
don't need a gazillion dollars for college and
if they get pregnant, you can sell their children ..

Flower altered book page

2009-02-23T08:43:00.000-08:00

Here is a simple altered book spread.

Ingredients

Altered book
Gesso and paint brush
Two colors of acrylic paint - I used pink and green
Paint brushes
Clean water
Scrap pages of a book
Technique Tuesday stamps
Ink
Adhesive - I used Uhu glue stick.
Scissors

Steps

Gesso two page spread. Let dry
Paint pink acrylic paint over the top 2/3rd of the gessoed pages. Let dry.
Apply a water wash over the bottom 1/3rd of the pages. Paint over with green paint. Let dry.
On scrap book pages stamp the flower petals and circles. I used Technique Tuesday stamps and ancient page ink.
Using clear water on a paint brush, draw a line you would like to tear around the petals and the circles.
Glue petals and circles on the page. Cut off any pieces that do not fit on the page.

Here is the same idea but placed on a greeting card. The only difference is the background square which is just a children's writing tablet with gesso and then acrylic paints in the same color pink and green. All was glued on a white greeting card.

Here is a close up of the same card.

corgilicious

2009-02-14T18:44:00.001-08:00

This page is made up of several techniques - cheesecloth background, plastic wrap background and the Andy Warhol inspired painting. This is a recent picture of my Pembroke welsh corgi Roux D. He is very corgilicious.

Ingredients

Two page spread
Gesso
Paint brushes
Water
Acrylic paint in several colors (I used purple, green, blue)
Plastic wrap
Cheesecloth
Liquid glue (I used soft gel medium in gloss)
Black and white laser print
Glazing medium or fluid acrylics
Embellishments (I used rubber stamps, stazon ink, circle tags, purple twill and colored label stickers)

Steps

Paint a two page spread with white gesso. Let dry. If you do not want white as your background paint over the gesso with the color of choice. Let dry. I liked the contrast of the white so I did not do this extra color
Apply a watery layer of purple paint. Before it dries lay a sheet of plastic wrap over the wet paint. Smoosh it around. Pull up the plastic and let it dry with all the swirls created by the plastic wrap.
Dye white cheesecloth color of choice using an acrylic paint wash. Let dry. In this case, I actually found purple cheesecloth on clearance.
Cover the background with liquid glue of choice. I used soft gel medium. Cover the pages with the cheesecloth. Make sure to create wrinkles and bumps for interest. Let dry.
Using acrylic paint, stamp design over the cheese cloth. (I used Technique Tuesday circle stamps in blue and purple paint. Make sure to wash off acrylic paint ASAP when using rubber stamps).
Find a picture you like. Print out in laser black and white. I took an ink jet picture I liked and color copied it in black and white at Kinkos/Fed Ex (or whatever it is called now).
Using glazing medium, mixed it and acrylic paint together. About 10 drops of the medium to 1 drop paint. You can use fluid acrylics as well or watered down acrylics, but the watered down acrylics may cause the picture to wrinkle.
Paint your picture as you wish. Let dry. I used Andy Warhol as inspiration. Glue on to page spread. Again I used gel medium.
Embellish as you wish. I used round tags and colored labels with stamped letters using Rubberstamp Ave Stamps to spell out corgilicious. I used staz on black ink.

2009-01-26T00:40:00.001-08:00

2009-01-24T22:29:00.000-08:00

Siren Song

2009-01-24T17:36:00.001-08:00

Here is a page from one of my altered books. The background was gel paint then I embellshed the piece with vintage velvet wallpaper, vinyl letters, cardboard, sheet music and a chinese scallop shell that I found when I was a kid.

Obey the corgi

2009-01-24T17:28:00.000-08:00

The background for this page is masking tape placed randomly and then liquid watercolor brushed over it. Then I stamped the words obey the corgi in white stazon ink and then using the eraser end of a pencil and white acrylic paint for the dots.

boat drinks

2009-01-22T12:31:00.000-08:00

John's birthday drink.....he has a weird habit of taking pictures of his food.....and now he wants to have em posted on the web...crazy guy...hahaha

Paul Carlile

2009-01-19T19:45:00.000-08:00

There will be a memorial service for Paul at Knight Library/Browsing Room on the Uof O campus - 14th & Kincaid St. in Eugene. The service begins at 5:00 on Wednesday, January 21.
JD Roth and Tom will be heading down early afternoon to help set up.

There will also be a service @ Ascension Catholic Church (76th/Yamhill) this Saturday, January 24th This will be non-denominational even though it is a Catholic church. The time is still to be determined, but will probably be 11:00. Please let Tom Stewart know if anyone would like to speak. Paul's family welcomes your stories and would be beneficial to ALL of us for healing.

For those who are just learning about this, Paul took his own life last Thursday. He had apparently been beyond sad for quite some time, but only let a very small circle in on his true status. I am sure this comes as quite a shock to most - including myself.

I hope to see you all this Saturday.

Bishop John

2009-01-11T18:52:00.001-08:00

for my birthday John got me the snugglie....so here he is performing sunday services in it. I might need to sew a gold felt cross on the front

roux and john

2009-01-05T21:34:00.000-08:00

Just the boys playing

Ode to Eartha Kitt

2008-12-31T22:44:00.000-08:00

This altered book page is one I made with Eartha Kitt in mind. I was sad to hear she had died. She was an admirable woman. She was one of the great sex kittens of our time. She played Catwoman on the old Batman TV show. She was well know for singing the song Santa baby.

I did not purchase anything specifically for this page, I just had it all all ready. The background page is one I did several months back. It is masking tape and an acrylic paint wash. I accidently got black paint on the edges and so I used white gesso to cover the edges, which in the end worked great to give it a snowy like finish.

The picture was one I purchased about a month ago at Loose Ends in Salem. I loved the vampy naughtiness of the image. I have had hte velvet holly embellishments for several years, just waiting for the right moment. The dried baby roses I bought the same time as the image. The special delivery stickers were an estate sale find.

I stamped the letter with pink acrylic paint. Used an old dymo label maker that has this really cool italic font......I wish they made different fonts fo the new ones.

This page was not a summary of her life but a dedication to her spirit and the impact it had on me. I love you, Ms Kitt

Nutcrackers 2008

2008-12-27T23:25:00.000-08:00

Here are the newest additions to my nutcracker collection. I started collecting nutcrackers after Katrina. I procured many of them from Estate sales as well as I buy a couple of newer ones each Christmas. These came from Cost Plus World Market during their 75% off after Christmas sale. The first one starting on the left is a Mariachi Guitar player, a cowboy, a gladiator, an Eskimo, and an Imperial Chinese man.

Three Dimensional Image for altered books

2008-12-18T23:00:00.000-08:00

This is a technique that I learned when I first started rubber stamping. I thought it would be a great one in December, since for Christians this is the times of many many cards, but you can really used any image. You just need multiple images.

Ingredients
At least 3 copies of the same image (I used some holiday cards I found at an Estate Sale
Altered book spread with a background (I used the acrylic paint and alcohol background)
Xacto knife and cutting mat
Ruler (I like using a clear one)
Dimensional adhesive or window insulation
Adhesive (I used double sided tape)

Recipe
1. Look at image and identifying the foreground, background and the center ground.
2. Cut out the foreground of one image using the Xacto knife and cutting mat.
3. Turn image over and place dimensional adhesive on the back. Set aside.
4. With another copy of the image cut up the middle ground. Set aside.
5. Repeat placing dimensional adhesive on the back of the images.
6. Attach foreground to the middle ground image, lining up the images as close as possible.
7. Attach middle ground image to the background image lining it up as closely as possible to the background.
8. Attach the completed 3 D image to the page
9. Complete the embellishment of the page.

my sisters wacky collection

2008-12-13T15:29:00.000-08:00

my sisters collection of elves on a shelf.....

My grandfathers birthday.

2008-12-02T22:10:00.000-08:00

My grandfather turned 88 on Monday. He is an amazing man. In fact, he is my hero and my greatest role model. I am soooo lucky to have him as my grandpa........Bop I love you.

Newest Art Project

2008-11-25T23:05:00.000-08:00

The newest art project. It is a foam beast but to me it looks like if Eric Cartman and a hot tamale candy had a baby

Faux Chipboard Technique

2008-11-22T22:34:00.000-08:00

This technique is from Bernie Berlin’s book Artist Trading Card Workshop: Create, Collect, Swap. I love it because you can always find the fun foam shapes on clearance for really cheap. This works great to alter pages in the children hard page books.

Ingredients
Page Spread
Fun Foam Shape (I used self adhesive)
Gesso
Foam Paint Brush
Background Rubber Stamp
Acrylic Paints (black, light color and dark color)
Bristle Paint Brush

Steps:

1. Seal the page with a coat of gesso. Let dry.

2. Apply fun foam shapes. I cut some in half to apply along the edge.

3. Using foam paint brush paint over the foam shapes. Make sure to cover the edges of the shapes. Let dry. Apply a second coat if needed. Let dry.

4. Paint over with acrylic paint in a light color. I used light pink. Let dry.

5. Dry brush the darker color over the lighter color allowing some of the lighter color to show through. I used a fuchsia color. Let dry.

6. Apply black acrylic paint on the background stamp. Lightly stamp only on the foam shapes to give them some depth. Let dry.
7. Decorate the page.

Twilight lived up to the

2008-11-21T12:12:00.001-08:00

Twilight lived up to the hype. I enjoyed it and was glad we went to the first showing so I did not have any expectations.

24 hrs and I will

2008-11-20T00:18:00.001-08:00

24 hrs and I will be watching the midnight showing of Twilight. I am obsessed with the books.

my favorite room

2008-10-22T20:14:00.001-07:00

This is my view from our balcony...it is one of the favorite things about our condo

cool it worked

2008-10-22T19:51:00.001-07:00

cool it worked

I am trying to set

2008-10-22T19:50:00.001-07:00

I am trying to set up mobile blogging. Once this is in place watch out I will be a blogging fool. Might even take Sue a run for her money.

testing

2008-10-22T19:40:00.001-07:00

testing

Lisa Kaus's Class

2008-10-14T11:48:00.000-07:00

What saying "Lisa Kaus's Class" is a tongue twister, but well worth it what a great teacher. I took a class from her in July at her home studio...that happens to be in the town next to me. My friend Denise had enrolled in the class first and I enrolled on a whim but I am so glad I did. This is the first time I have been taught how to use acrylic paints to get deep rich applications of paint. You can really see it in the house creations.

The first day we worked on birthday cake boxes. The base is wooden boxed glued together. The top box opens to hide treasures.

The base color was a Tiffany inspired blue that I embellished with a lime like green color and white stamp impressions. I stamped Peaceful on it since that is what the finished piece (peace....hahaha) made me feel. The top of the cake is embellish with a vintage deer I had bought at a recent estate sale. The deer is on a daisy Lisa helped me develop because I was stuck on how to give the top deer more presences. Diamond dust was glued on to imply snow. Some old twine was wrapped around tacking nails for the lid and then cooper tape was wrapped around the base of the top box.

The bottom of the cake was painted the same way as the top piece but instead of works I did large dots of vintage text. I distressed some carnival tickets to wrap around the bottom with accents of my newest favorite thing, plastic beads. (As a side note, my mom had olive green ones hanging in one of our bathrooms in the 70s.) I then used tacks to attache the frilly fringe. I love to juxtapose the frilly with the hard coldness of the the hardware tacks.

Lisa really encouraged us to incorporate all the sides in our pieces. I think I did a nice job including them without over powering the front or back.

The second day we did whimsical house. Houses really resonate with me and so I really love doing this piece. You can really see the deep color I achieved with Lisa's Painting techniques.

This drawer pull was something I found in a free box a few weeks before the class. When I picked it up I was not sure how I would use it so I dropped it in my purse and forgot about it. In class, some of the example used old door nobs on them. I instantly remembered the pull and decided to build the piece around it instead of the bird I originally had as inspiration.

The roof is a collection of vintage text laid out in a hodgepodge fashion then a light glaze of miceous oxide was brushed over it. I think the slight tint of black makes the roof seem like it is was back in London in the 19th century with the coal dust covering everything.

I was really stuck on what to put in the middle between the door and window. I had the gold numbers and since #58 is the condo number of where I live it was perfect. But just placing the numbers on the house seemed dull. Lisa suggested using some cooper. At first I did not really like it but I was willing to trust her. Once the beeswax was applied it developed the perfect patina for the piece.

I have a ton of keys and I love to hang them off pieces of works. To me it gives it a lot of movement.

On the side you can see I placed tacks and on this side I nailed wooden stars I distressed.

Lisa was a great instructor and it was so much fun to be at her home studio. I plan to take some more classes from her.

The house hangs on my patio and the cake box is at work impressing me all the time at how much I like it.

Artfest Drum Roll please

2008-09-19T13:17:00.000-07:00

Here are the classes I am taking during ArtFest

I am taking
Portable ShadowBox Shrine Laurie Mika on Thursday
Central Casting with Marcia and Ty Shultz on Friday
Whose your Dada with Linda and Opie O'Brien on Saturday.

I am so excited....All of these classes are outside my paper comfort zone. I have both the Mika and O Brien books and have wanted to do more with the skills. Mika focuses on polymer clay and the O'Briens use a lot of metal. I have never done any mold (mould) making or casting so this is a huge jump for me. But hey that is what classes are for.

I am going to artfest

2008-09-18T13:17:00.000-07:00

Ok after all the worries about not getting into Artfest I did it.......so the only think left to do was figure out a way to pay for the event. Providence (Divine power not the hospital system) intervened and I found that some money I have been waiting for will be coming through so I will be able to pay for it and have enough money to take a local class with Deryn Mentock that my friend Denise set up. So right now I am feeling art blessed.

Of course, as a person living with an anxiety disorder I am anxious about my swaps. I thought about doing an updated version of the yarn octopus I had as a kid. I wanted to make them more grungy and scary then the cutesy ones....but I am stomped with how to do it. I know I will substitute felt eyes that are scarier than the googly eyes. I might use darker fibers that are more bumpy. So stay tuned to see how this turns out.

Artfest jitters

2008-09-02T13:51:00.000-07:00

I am so nervous. Today is the due date for artfest 2009....ok it is the due date for the post date but still the same. I am going with 3 other art tarts and possibly more. This event is something I have looked to do since I learned of it. My friend Pilar went one year and loved it. I never could go when I lived in NOLA because it takes place in Washington State and conflicts with my "nephew" Cole's bday. I always choose to fly back to spend time with Cole instead of Artfest. But now that he is older....having old people around on his birthday is not fun. Plus now that I am back to living in Oregon I see him more often.

So this year I am going. Keep your fingers cross that I get the class I wanted. Really I am not worried about that because all the classes are so cool I could take anyone of them and be happy.

Everyong needs a good friend

2008-08-26T19:00:00.000-07:00

Wally is Roux D's older brother. He is from the same mom but has a different father. Their mom gets around. Wally is owned by my friend Anna.

I met Anna at work. It was my first job after moving back to Oregon. I was thrilled to meet someone just as obsessed with corgis as I was. When I met her I had my second corgi Betsy and she had not yet received Wally. But we bonded instantly over Corgis.

When Betsy died, Anna told me about Wally's mom getting ready to have her next litter. So I contacted the breeder.

So Roux D became ours. They have very similar eyes but Roux is long and thinner than Wally.

They have really become good friends and when they are together they just run and wrestle and don't forget heard other dogs. In fact, at the dog park they really work as a team to get the other dogs where they need to be.

Catching up with Altered book techniques

2008-08-26T17:00:00.000-07:00

Not only did I neglect my blog the last few month I neglected my duties on the Yahoo Altered book technique person. So I have promised to post a technique a week until I catch up.

Here are two techniques with something I bet everyone has in their stash. The background one I learned years ago in girl scouts then was reintroduced to by Claudine Hellmuth at Art and Soul 2006. The 2nd one was something I learned from Scraptastic!: 50 Messy, Sparkly, Touch-Feely, Snazzy Ways to Jazz Up Your Scrapbook Pages by Ashley Calder. I have yet to try it but I thought I would present it since it uses the same thing as the background technique.

Masking Tape Background

Ingredients
Page
Gel Medium
Masking tape (any size, though I like to have a variety of sizes)
Paint brushes
Water
Paint very liquid paint works best like fluid acrylics or watercolors

Steps

1. Seal your page with gel medium. Let dry.
2. Apply masking tape to your page. You can do it randomly or in some sort of pattern.
3. Paint liquidy paint over the tape. It will be darker around the edge of the tape.
4. Let dry.

Embellished Masking Tape

Ingredients
Page
Non stick craft sheet or wax paper
Paint brushes and paint of your choice
Stamps and inks
Markers

Steps

1. Lay out non stick craft sheet. Lay out masking tape close together, not overlapping but so close it looks like a solid page.
2. Decorate as you wish. You can paint them; you can draw or doodle on them with markers, stamp on them or a combination of any of these techniques.
3. Let dry.
4. Carefully peel tape off non stick sheet. Apply to page as you wish. You can apply them randomly or keep the pattern you created.

I have returned

2008-08-25T18:00:00.000-07:00

I am so so so sorry. I am sorry to ignored you. I have not had consistent Internet access since May and so I could not blog. I have not had Internet access because I took sometime off work to reorganize my life. In October of last year I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. The symptom that impacts myself the most is the extreme fatigue. In May, I realized I could no longer be a case manager because I just did not have the energy. I spoke with my doctor who agreed and so applied at work for reasonable accommodations and I got them. I know work part time with a different population as a therapist. I am enjoying it and glad to be back in a social work capacity.

I promised to return to blogging at least once a month. I will start getting new pics and new techniques up as well as I am some exciting news and stories to share.

Tag You Are It

2008-05-05T19:00:00.000-07:00

Tag You're It!
Well, I've been tagged by Dawn. The rules are:
1. Once you are tagged you have go to their blog and let them know.

2. Post THE RULES on your blog.

3. Post 7 weird or random facts about yourself on your blog.

4. Tag 7 people and link to them.

5. Comment on their blog to let them know they have been tagged.

Here are seven random facts about me:
1. I have only grown 3 ft 8 inches since I was born. I was born 24 inches long. This coming from two short people was just this side of a miracle.
2. I really did meet my boyfriend on a internet dating site and no he is not a freak.
3. Coolest place I have ever lived was I spent a summer living in a tree house that hung over the Sandy River. I was only attacked by a squirrel once in the 3 months.
4. I decided to be come a social worker after seeing the movie Long Time Companion.
5. The first car I ever owned was a '73 super beetle. It had a sun roof and I loved that car. I should never have sold it.
6. I know the exact date I started doing art seriously. March 28th, 2000.
7. Sappy as it sounds my all time favorite song is Time in a Bottle by Jim Croce.

PS I am not going to tag anyone else because I think everyone I know has been tag a dozen times. See what you get for being so slow.

Why you should never answer your email on payday

2008-05-05T13:07:00.000-07:00

Ok no one really gave me that advice but boy I wish they had. Why you may ask?....well the one thing that keeps me from spending money is not to have money. So when people talk about all these great classes they are taking and how they have just had an opening I can ignore them. Oh but not this time, my friend Denise announced that Lisa Klaus had an opening for her class. When does Dear Denise send this email, on payday so my bank account was flush. Never mind rent was due or anything else.....I enrolled in the class. Actually I am glad the class looks kicken and I really Love Lisa's work. But gosh next time Denise could you do it a week after payday.

HAHAHAHA

Here is a link to Lisa Klaus's art

http://www.lisakaus.com/showsandevents.htm

Don't you love it too....aren't you jealous you are not going to the class......hold on I might have to sell it soon. HAHAHA

Spring is here.

2008-04-04T19:10:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of my most recent swap. I made these 13 flowers from scrap fabric, pipe cleaners, and some of my vintage beads. This swap is through Cooper Crow. It is really a group of women who are such incredible artists. I am just tickled to be invited into their swaps.

The pink fabric is a fat quarter of peacock material and the white petals are from fabric I created by taking an old sheet and rubber stamping on it with lumieres.

The golden rod fabric is s sheet that I got really cheap because it was defective. Still perfect for me. The colorful fabric is from a good bag I won on the van ride from Collage on Alberta to Art and Soul last October. I did not win this bag because my mom was the driver of the van, I won it because I was the only one on the van that trip. Hahaha

I learned this technique from Sister Diane at one of her classes she teach at the Multnomah Library. She does such a great job explaining the technique I am just going to quote her.

Kanzashi is the Japanese craft of folding squares of fabric, origami-style, into beautiful flowers. These are traditionally used in the elaborate headdresses worn by Geisha. But they're also fun to make into jewelry, magnets, toppers for special gifts, and they're awfully cute on a handbag.

I am not going to go into great detail about how to make the flowers just because it is Sister Diane's technique and really you should take the class from her to really understand. But I will tell you it is easier than you think.

For each flower, I cut 8 squares of fabric 3 inches by 3 inches. I cut 4 in the white and 4 in the darker color. Then I did the secret Kanzashi fold and then stitched them together. Glued on the vintage button with hot glue. Then glued the green pipe cleaner to the back and covered that with a circle of green felt. I twisted another pipe cleaner to create leaves.

See easy peasy.

Altered Book Technique for Earth Day In Mind

2008-04-02T06:00:00.000-07:00

This altered book technique is in honor of April 20th being earth day. This is a fun project using a old used dryer sheet.

I started doing this technique because John uses dryer sheets and when he is done they seem to float all over the house. I hate dryer sheets and don't use them because they seem to get everywhere.

Dryer Sheet Haze

Photo of entire lay out

Ingredients

Book to alter

Glitter the finer the better

Neutral Card stock

Xyron, double stick sheet or spray adhesive

Used Dryer Sheet (Cheap ones work great)

Sealer or Fixative

Close up of dryer sheet haze technique

Steps

Step 1. Stamp image on neutral cardstock.

Step 2. Color image or parts of image if desired.

Step 3. Run image upside down through Xyron machine to make the front side sticky.

Close up of dryer sheet haze technique at a different angel

Step 4. Peel backing from image and apply used dryer sheet over exposed adhesive.
Step 5. Trim dryer sheet.
Step 6. Pour glitter over top of image and rub into dryer sheet. Really rub it in. The longer the better because the dryer sheet holds the glitter in place.

Close up of dryer sheet haze technique at yet another angel

Step 7. Tap off excess glitter.

Step 8. Spray with sealer or fixative.

Step 9. With image face up, run though Xyron adhere to book.

Close up of the opposite page using a layered paint technique.

My Boy Roux D

2008-03-28T19:00:00.000-07:00

Now is he not the cutest little thing? This is my boy Roux D, pronounced like Rudy. He is 9 months old. He is a Pembroke Welsh Corgi. He is so snuggly and sweet which is strange for a Corgi, usually they are independent though they like being near their people they do not necessarily give kiss and what to be held. Not so with my little guy. He loves it. He love so it he would probably walk over hot coals for loving. For example, last night I was working on some fabric flowers, I had petals with stick pins spread on the lap desk in front of me. Roux D wanted to snuggle so badly that he tried to walk over flower petals. When he got stuck he had this look on my face like "how could you let that happen to me." I broke my heart.

Roux D's interesting name is a collabroation between John, my boyfriend and me. Our other dog, Patches makes this sounds which is a howl but come out like "roo roo roo." John wanted a name that would be similar to that sound so Patches could call the puppy. I wanted a name that would reflect Louisiana. So we decided on Roux D or if the puppy had been a female it would have been La Roux. Roux D is the perfect name for a perfect puppy.

Wow it is Friday

2008-03-21T18:00:00.000-07:00

Do you think that is the most common title for a blog? For me it is not that I am excited about having the traditional two days off....though I am....but I was off work for 3 days with a nasty flu. Since being diagnosed with MS I have noticed that when ever some yucky germ is going around the office I get it and I get it worse than anyone else. This week it was the flu everyone has had, but for twice as long.

I was home sick for 3 days. The first day getting out of bed even to walk the dogs was not fun. By Tuesday I was up and moving just not very fast or far. I did make it into the art room. I finished finish up my examples for the altered book technique for next month. I will post the pictures once I post the technique on the yahoo altered book group, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/alteredbooks/?yguid=59621766. I worked on some other trades and just played around. I did do some organizing too, but really the more I organize the worse it looks. I need my mom to help......Mom please. So needless to say, this does not feel like Friday.

If you want a sneak peak of the altered book technique come to DIY Lounge at Collage http://diylounge.com/classlist.php?id=90 next Friday 3/28/2008 for a hands on instruction.

This weekend is Easter. Happy Easter to all the Christians. I will be going to the church of craft on Sunday with my sister and John. http://www.multcolib.org/events/diycrafts.html I have been collect neck ties....but boy are most of them really ugly and not girly. I hope I can vamp them up. I will have pics of the finished product.

After that we are meeting my grandparents, aunt and uncle for dinner.

Of course, I will be going to estate sales. I will update you on the most fabulous find of last week. I am so excited.

My dogs think they are the swiss miss

2008-03-12T14:11:00.000-07:00

Here is my first video on the blog. It is of my two dogs laying next to each other not moving, but making all this noice like they are. It was so funny John and I were laughing so hard I had tears coming down my cheeks.

ATCs PDX Style

2008-03-12T10:42:00.000-07:00

I facilitate an Artists Trading Card Swap at DIY Lounge at Collage on Alberta. Recent the day was changed to Friday. So this friday will be our first Friday Swap. If you are in the area please join us

ATCs Portland style Come join the fun! This free Artist Trading Card group meets monthly on the 3rd Thursday of each month to swap ATCs. Come meet other ATC artists in a relaxed, fun and supportive environment. Be prepared to swap at least 5 ATCs. Each month there will be a theme--- Interpret this theme as you wish. Did we mention it’s free???

Friday March 14th, 2008 at 6:30 pm

Theme is Mr. Sandman Bring Me a Dream

collage creative classes & supplies for artists of all ages
1639 ne alberta street portland, or 97211

503.249.2190

Cabb

2008-03-10T16:44:00.001-07:00

Cabb

The MS Walk

2008-03-04T09:40:00.000-08:00

I have registered to be on a Team Kenneya for the Multiple Sclerosis walk in Portland, OR. It takes place on April 12th.

I was diagnosed with MS in October of 2007, so this is my first walk. If you can please support me in my walk.

Go here to donate or learn more about MS.

http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR/Walk/ORCWalkEvents?px=4348896&pg=personal&fr_id=8131

Sweeper Sisters

2008-03-03T16:22:00.000-08:00

How can you tell spring is here? A groundhog tells you? No....The birds sing.....No.....the scent of Daphne is everywhere?....no

It is that the weekends are filled with more and more Estate Sales. I love estate sales. The longer the person has lived in the house better because I am not looking for antiques I am looking for knickknacks, old office forms, vintage fabric and trim....or strange art supplies. That is what I love.

My sister is really the queen of the Estate Sales she finds them and plans them. She finds them on http://www.estatesale-finder.com/ or craig's list.

We like to go on the last day of the sales....when traditionally the prices are cut in half or better. We sweep in and clean up on values. Just rake in the goods.

My sister and I have developed many traditions around saling. One is at the end of the day, we pick one item that we find and call it the find of the day.

Sunday's find for me was not even art related. It was an adult size bubble umbrella in perfect condition. The day before I said to my sister while at a sale, I wish I could find a bubble umbrella. And the next day at the first sale we find one. Now I would have paid a lot of money for this item. But the best part was it at a sale originally for $2 (which is a steal as well) but the sale was clearing things out for 75% off. For 50 cents....by far the greatest treasure ever.

That sale was a Kevin Bowers sale. I just love him. We spent $11 and got so much stuff......even found a copy of the Artist's Way which I already have but they books were free so I took it. I also found a mini crock pot for bees wax for 12.5 cents. I could not pass it up.

Saturdays item was a big wool orange sweater hand made that fit and is the perfect thing to wear around the house. A bit much for $10 but it was a once in a life time find.

Other traditions I have is I like to investigate the people who use to live there. Try to figure out what they did for a living and what was important to me. I am a voyeur why else do you think I am a social worker. When there are more than two or three each weekend, then plotting to get to the best ones early enough because a study in navigation.

So get ready next week is almost here.

I am obsessive about art

2008-03-03T16:17:00.001-08:00

Here is a list of all the art related yahoo groups I am in. I am pretty quiet on all the list since I check my email through my phone on most days. But boy does it help the with my technique jonz. In fact, this queen of technique posted the March technique for the altered book yahoo group. The slider page. When I get a better pic of it I will post it here.

PDX_in_PDX

Art_Gals

alluringimpressions

alteredbooks

artandsoulretreat

ArtFest2008

ArtistsOfTheRoundTable

Beeswaxrubberstamps

bellarosa

CharacterConstructions

cherrypieartstamps

coppercrowstudioswaps

craftychica

divasdeste

MaVincisReliquary

Next-Generation-Stampers

pdxvisualjournaling

purpleoniondesigns

StampCampRubberStamps

stampsmith

WCMMA

Hold your breathe

2008-02-25T14:51:00.000-08:00

Ok I admit it. I am a procrastinator. When I am creating art I seem to thrive under the threat of a deadline.

For example, I was in a swap for an altered bag which was due in Connecticut on Saturday (2/23). I have been signed up since the first of the year. When did I get it in the mail? Tuesday the 19th and to top it off on Wednesday it got returned to me for more postage. So I jumped into my car and run it to the USPS added the postage. Holding my breathe that it would get there on time.

Wellllllll.....it did but it was the last bag to arrive. Ok this is the part where I commit to being more timely. Yeah right.....stay tuned to see how it goes.

In the beginning.......

2008-02-25T14:32:00.001-08:00

Ok I always have a hard time with introductions. I waffle between sounding arrogant or self deprecating. I wish I could just jump in and not have to do it but it seems rude not to let you know why I am entering the blogosphere.

Mainly, because people tell me I should. Or they ask if I blog. Now don't think me a lemming and doing what the crowd does but some of these people I trust and admire so I thought why not.

Another reason is.....I do a lot of art and this is a great way to share it.....track it and archive it.....

Another reason....I like to rant and always have an opinion.........

Another reason I am a news junkie and I know everyone wants to know my opinion....

Another reason is keeping a journal has always been a great mental health tool and why not do it this way.

See I told you I liked to rant.