{Art Journal #2 Let Your Beauty Sing}...

I've completed the covers of Let your Beauty Sing Art Journal.

This is the back cover.  I just love this new stamp I got.

I will be using it a lot.  It's a bit fussy though

not always coming out very clear on fabric.

 And the completed front cover.

 Below the inside front and back covers.

I still need to add  the signatures but will add them all

at the same time when all of the journal covers are completed.

      Another new stamp.  And still not happy with how they are stamping onto fabric.

Perhaps if I used paint rather than ink they may work better.  But that's for another time.

So, in the meantime I decided to stamp on paper and then using gel medium

turn it into a "leathery" type surface to stitch onto.

I like how it came out.

  Below yet another stamp which I colored in with colored pencils.

Then I quick stitched frame and Ta Da!   It's beautiful.

Ready to be completed by it's new owner.

{Let your Beauty Sing}...

Experimenting with some of my paintings and PSE for

Art Journal covers.

I thought I might give a go at collage layers as

covers for Art Journals rather than just using

a single print of the original painting.

It's a bit "blocky"  But all in all good

for a starter.

{How Much Snow does It Take}...

for 2 brothers to have a snowball fight?

Not much I will tell you.  My sons are now 27 and 34 and if there is

snow to be found they will find it.  Here in Arizona we don't always

get much snow at Christmas time.  But it snowed a bit a couple nights ago, here in the mountains,

 and we had about this much snow left on the shading side of the hills.

But that's all they needed. The snowball fight didn't last long.  Not even long enough to

run and get the camera.  But it was long enough to bring back wonderful snow filled

times when they were younger.  I do have pictures of that.  Which will be apart of the

forth coming Christmas Family Art Journal.

May your Christmas be Merry and Bright

{Journey Toward Yourself Art Journal}...

Blank art journal cover finished.  I will be in the Mezzanine of  the Tis Gallery

for the entire month May.  So I hope to spend

as much time as possible creating pieces for that show.

I've decided to start with Art Journals.  It's hard for me to

switch between different types of art.  I am more focused and productive

when I am doing one thing at a time whether it's quilting, knitting, working in PSE or making specific

mixed media items like Art Journals.  I don't know why that is.  I can do multiple items of the same media at one time.  But switching between them is not easy.  So it's Art Journals for the next few weeks.

The first is an original face painting I did a month or so ago.

Her hair didn't come out as well as I was wanting but through the magic of

layers I now really love her hair.

The inside front cover has a sheer-ish pocket.  Something I always like to include.

And the book title theme ~ Journey Toward Yourself

The inside back cover.

Includes a new stamped background fabric.  I will be using

this in a lot more of my journals.  It's pretty neutral and I think it will be easy to

use as a base for almost anything.

And the outside back cover.

I want to include more thread stitching motifs.

Trees seem like a good subject as they can easily

be done freehand and have endless possibilities for styles and shapes.

I will leave the inside pages blank for the new owner to complete.

{Echo} Week 28 ~ White

There are so many things that White can be, daisy's, clouds, animals,

cars, stars, even surf but for me I could only relate to

White during December, as Winter White.

I came across this white dress in the winter snow

a few years back and have always wanted to do something with it.

This was the first photo idea that popped in my head when thinking about

this weeks theme - White

Marty's photo also ties into the winter season with it's Christmas holiday theme. Marty and I both being

art quilters would naturally be drawn to this

quilting. I think it's so beautiful and magical.

I'd love to give it a try sometime.  I may try something like this

in my Christmas Art Journal.

{The Days of Christmas}...

Continuing with PSE Christmas photos.

 As I think back on the PSE photos I did last year at this time working

towards creating photos for my Christmas art journal I feel

I have gotten soooooooooo much better at it.

 I now have several which are lovely enough to last hopefully,

for generations.  So I can beginning to assemble the journal.

 In some cases it will be hard to pick which one to use

as is evident with these 3 photos of the same Christmas

tree my sister sent me last year

I will start by creating the front and back covers

before moving on to the inside photo journal pages.

While not forgetting the reason for the season

I think I would like to have a Christmas tree

on the cover.

These are definitely apart of the auditioning

group.

{Saturday Morning Photoshop Play}...

A couple of before and after photos from my time in PSE this morning.

First a little Christmas tree sprig I picked up in  

Colorado last fall  on the road trip my sister and I took.

I've been practicing using repeated layers of the same textures

in different blend modes and placements in the layers panel.

I like this version as it looks a bit like a layered quilt I might do.
The results are so numerous it can be hard to know when to stop.

The before shot.

 Using all but a couple of the textures from the Christmas tree photo

above I repeated the same ideas for the paint brush photo below.

What I really like about this photo was that I used a Vivid light

blending mode.  That's not a blending mode I have used with much

success very often, if ever.  But in this case it really popped the photo

and gave it an ole world look.

 I think it came out really splendid.  And really very different from the

original.

I've got another Christmas photo to try some of this out on but it's enough for today.

It's going to be a really wonderful day outdoors here in

Arizona so off I go to spend some time in my yard before

too much winter weather sets in.

{Christmas Food Court Flash Mob, Hallelujah Chorus}...

I wish I had been in this mall when this happened.

What a wonderful expression of Christmas Giving, Love and Joy.
here is the link.
"May we all enjoy each note of surprise in our lives, and may those moments provide us with love, peace and joy during this holiday season and always".
~L. Steven Sieden
Merry Christmas to everyone.

{Sunday Afternoon Painting}...

Life is slowly getting back to a quieter pace.

So after getting out the Christmas decorations

I found a bit of time this afternoon to paint.

I am starting to be more relaxed in my paintings.  Feeling more confident

in my ability to complete a painting.  Hair is still an issue for me. 

I my still add a bit here and there but she mostly ready to become an

art journal.

{Echo} Week 27-Branches...

Yet another two Echo posts in a row !!!!

Honestly, I am getting myself back to a simpler days.

I hope.   Yet tax season is just around the corner.

Oh well, we'll see.

In the meantime...

Branches. 

I've been working with several branch and tree photos for upcoming

fiber projects.  The photo above is one that I have printed on fabric along with

 a second one printed on sheer fabric.  So they are ready to go.  But into

what?  A quilt, a journal, a scarf?  I for one look forward to seeing what I do with it.

And my partner Marty's.  Which you can read more about on her

blog here http://martysfibermusings.blogspot.com/

I really like the photo.  There is something about it's

composition or some unspoken quality that really

captures my imagination and draws me into it.

{Echo} Week 26-Clouds

Clouds- I do love clouds.  And in Arizona because we don't see

clouds everyday or sometimes even for several weeks

I really notice them.

Arizona has some of the best sunsets in the world and

when you add Clouds - it is magnificent !

 And my partner Marty's post can be viewed here

{It's Done!}...

The tiled counter tops are done!

I did like the teal color but it was time for a change.

So out it went.

 Detail of the back splash

And the espresso center

I'm loving it.  And Stacy if you stop by this blog to check it out

thanks for all your expert help.  It was a pleasure working with you.

{under construction}...

It's 3.30am when I wake up and the house is a wreck, again.

So why not post whats happening here.

New carpet is in.  What a job that is.  It's almost as much

work packing and unpacking as if you were moving.

 The old white wool carpet. 

I liked the white color and it was nice having wool but

wool carpet is hard to clean and it does not wear well.

SO no more wool and just a bit darker.

SO now onto the kitchen

 This is the starting point.

I still love the teal and had to pull myself back many times from choosing

a tile with hints of teal in it.

 First some of the smaller changes.  Above are the old lights.

They cast plenty of light in the kitchen but they are old and I want to

replace them with something fresh to go along with the new kitchen counter.

The first replacement lights that went in are below

a nice mosaic shade that had a slight yellow tint to them when on.

But alas they were too small and cast deep shadows throughout the whole kitchen.

 There was just noway they were going to work.  So down they came.

Now what to do?  First I tried another lighter shade but the light bulb was too big.  And still not enough light.

 So off to yet another store to try and find something I liked.

Not always an easy tasked in a smallish town.

 So  I found a fixture I like but they only had one

in stock.  And they couldn't guarantee they MIGHT get them in by the first of the year.

Well after the 3 month delay in getting the cooktop in last year I wasn't

willing to try that again.

The store was kind enough to let me take it home anyway to see if

this type of shade would cast enough light in the kitchen.

(that's one of the great things about living and doing business with a small

company).  Anyway the shade did work.  And it fit on the cords that were already up.

So could they order just the shades?  Yep, they could and it would only take a couple of weeks.

They were in stock so lets chance it. They came in as promised.  So while not overly dramatic

they are quite nice and cast plenty of light.

 And the refinished hardwood floor I did about a month ago.

What a job that was.  But it was now or never.  Why wait and do it after the

new carpet is in.  After all I didn't need to be careful were the hardwood met

the carpet.  SO off I went to rent the floor sander and 8 hours later

it was ready to be stained and sealed.

I'm glad I did it.  It looks really great.  But I hope I never have to do that again.

 And a brand new rug for the center of the kitchen.

Something a bit fun and cushy on the feet.

BUT...

oh what is still to come

more mess!!!!!!!!!

And were right smack dab in the middle of it.

But progress is being made and they tell me it will be done later today.

{deliberate resting}...

Just as we can choose to live deliberately

we can choose to rest deliberately

I am sooooooooo choosing to rest deliberately.

I have been going too much, work, art shows, and just plain living which you all know about.

But I have also been sanding the hardwood floor in my kitchen, dusting, cleaning, running around and then packing up everything off the floors for new carpet in the entire house then unpacking it all, and then in just over a week we'll be getting ready for new tile kitchen counters.  It's all looking really great but it's been go, go, go.

So when I heard we can choose to deliberately rest... Well that's all I needed to stop and enjoy sitting and doing little other than resting deliberately

{Blessings}...

Thank you to everyone who stopped by Les Femmes des Montage

art show yesterday

and

too everyone who stops by my blog and so graciously leaves comments.

I would like to share the above photo for your own personal use.

Link here to get a full size download

{Happy Birthday}...

to Me ;-)

Today is my Birthday. 

And while attending to last minute details before

tomorrow's Les Femmes art show I needed to pick up one of my

display mannequins from'Tis Gallery. 

Well, while I was there I couldn't

resist getting myself a little birthday gift.  This funky raku house.

Well off to make a birthday wish!

{Echo} Week 25-Homestead

My "Homestead"

in its autumn colors.

My little corner of the world;

my home,

my sanctuary,

my space

it's mine and I love being home.

 and my partner Marty's Homestead. You can find out more about it here

{Art Journal part 3}...

Art Journal #3

This journal is sold but I wanted to show a different

type of cover.  Rather than being an original painting it is a

fabric printed copy of the original.

It comes out very nice.

And allows me to offer  two price ranges.

One for the original paintings and another for the copies.

I plan is to offer only a limited number of any print.

Say 5 to 10 and number them.

So this one would be 1/10

 I usually use light or bright colors.  Never really working with black or

navy blues.

Which is what I like best about this art journal.

 And the inside front and back covers.

These journals are all pictured without the inside blank pages.

Of course the finished journal includes paper pages

for your delight

Well lots to do before next Saturday.  And not all of it is art.

So off I go

{Art Journals part 2}...

Art Journal #2

The front cover has the original painting.

Colors include pales yellows, grays and teals.

 The back cover includes

a nice little "ruffle" at the bottom edge.

I love it's messy crunch.

It's taken me quite awhile to get comfortable

with doing messy stitching.  Having spent 40 years trying to sew

perfectly.  It's nice to know I can when I need to.

But I think this type of sewing is what makes these art journals so beautiful.

 And the inside front and back covers.

Including it's pocket

Also for sale at Saturday's Les Femmes show