Collecting Life Mixed Media Textile Artist

{WIP-Finished}...

2012-02-10T14:50:00.002-07:00

Today

poem stitching is finished and I have

submitted it for consideration to the Tis Gallery show Piece and Poem

which begins Feb 22

Close up of additional hand stitching and flowers.

The poem that I created of the fabric strips reads:

want to step

beautiful

through

today.

The

truth

of existence

now.

sacred

your

Life.

~autumn

The main poem reads:

Today

do not

want to step so quickly

over a beautiful line on God’s palm

as I move through the earth’s

marketplace

today.

I do not want to touch any object in this world

without my eyes testifying to the truth

that everything is

my Beloved.

Something has happened

to my understanding of existence
that now makes my heart always full of wonder

and kindness.

I do not

want to step so quickly

over this sacred place on God’s body

that is right beneath your

own foot

As I

Dance with

Precious life

Today.

~ Hafiz

{WIP~Machine Stitched Poetry}...

2012-02-05T10:05:00.000-07:00

Ever since I first saw stitched "writing" by Ruth Rae I have been

excited about trying it out for myself.

This is my first large scale attempt.

The peice measures 16x20.

The main poem is by Hafiz titled

Today

Then using the existing words in the poem I created an additional poem by me.

Which I distingished from the Today poem by stitching those words on strips of fabric and applying them 3 dimensionally on top of the original words.

Below a close up of those lines

I also plan to add additional 3d "flower" elements

as shown below.

I will enclude the words to both poems when I show the completed piece.

{New Collage Series}...

2012-01-21T10:59:00.000-07:00

New collage series for the Raven Cafe show.

I am using some of my paintings and ~~collaging~~ layering them in PSE.

I am quite pleased with the results of the first couple of attempts

I am working with a couple of series titles.

Either

Daughters of Eve

Evolving Expressions

These two collages are done using several different layers along with the same

painting.

I loved to know which one you all prefer.

That's the thing with PSE it can go on forever.

And you never know when to stop and just pick one.

{Collage Face #2}...

2012-01-15T10:21:00.000-07:00

Collage #2 for Raven Cafe Art Show

Continuing with my experiments in collage.

If nothing else I am learning how to make my face paintings work. Seems with enough

layering you can make them look nice.

(Christmas Art Journal~part 2}...

2012-01-13T07:34:00.000-07:00

The inside front cover

I've completed all of the machince stitiching so I've attached the inside cover page to the journal's cover. Now on to the back cover pages.

Once I complete those I will be able to start the inside pages.

Below is a close up of some Star stitching

{New Art for 2012}...

2012-01-07T11:50:00.000-07:00

I will be apart of a collage art show at the Raven Cafe this spring.

So I am trying out some new art styles for that show.

This little painting is inspired in the style of Misty Mawn.

I am really pleased with my painting of such a small face. It's barely an inch.

And a body for my paintings. Both are new to me.

I wanted to do some encaustic on it but I used acrylic paint

on it ~ then learned you can't use encaustic over acrylics.

I have 2 more piece of substrate this same size so I will be doing a couple more

pieces in this series for the show.

{2012 Word of the Year}...

2012-01-01T12:18:00.000-07:00

My 2012 Word of the Year

I think this poem sums it up perfectly.

Faith

When we walk to the edge of all the light we have

and take that step into the darkness

of the unknown,

we must believe that one of two things will happen...

There will be something solid for us to stand on.

Or, we will be taught how to fly.

~Patrick Overton

Happy New Year to all!

Please forgive my slowness in responding to comments. I just can't seem to catch up.

{Christmas Art Journal-the beginning}...

2011-12-29T14:28:00.000-07:00

The beginnings of my personal Christmas

photo book

The cover.

The tree photo is an altered photo I started last year with so many layers I can't remember them all.

Obviously, it's not going to be a traditional red and green Christmas journal.

I've been working on this in my head for at least a year maybe two.

So the best way for me to begin is with the front cover. That way I would know what

size book I'm going to be working with. It's 8.5" x 10.5" and it should be quite thick.

It will probably be the first of at least two Christmas journals. I have decades of photos to sort through.

I will need to complete the back cover and their reverse sides before I start the pages.

I think this will be a work in progress for quite sometime. So I'll post as I go.

{Nancy's Texture Challenge}...

2011-11-26T08:05:00.003-07:00

My photo using 2 of Nancy Donaldson's textures.

You can check out the rest of the photo entries here on Nancy's blog.

These are some of the same fall branches I used for

my fall Pumpkin Festival garland wreath.

I really did have a lot of fun playing with these leaves.

When I was a child we lived in Michigan, so unlike

here in Arizona, we had tons of leaves. And my sisters and neighborhood friends

would rake up mountains of leaves and spend many afternoons jumping in them.

Leaves are given freely

for everyone to enjoy.

Today I still enjoy (and always do) kicking up the piles of leaves that gather at the curbs.

And I love, just love seeing them fall from the blowing tress as I drive under them.

So how do you enjoy them?

{Erosion Bundle Art Journal final part}...

2011-11-12T11:27:00.008-07:00

I think it's been about a year since I first created the fabric bundle and buried it.

And after many additional dye attempts and processes

the project is complete.

The cover

New pages, This includes the lace pocket.

The lace was also dyed in blueberries.

I found this specimen jar on a road trip this past summer.

The label really does read

"Specimen of Painting on Linen"

Page with hair embellishment

Page including stitched "sunflower"

And the back cover

{11-11-11}...

2011-11-11T08:12:00.002-07:00

11-11-11 -

quite a powerful number

And on this day, its Veteran's Day in the US, I find I need to say Thank You

Thank You for

the freedom I enjoy

for helping keep my family saver and free

to your families for their sacrifices

{"Captivating" - a book review}...

2011-11-05T09:02:00.002-07:00

Captivating

by John & Stasi Eldredge

I was just wandering, just looking through the bookstore for nothing in particular when I came

across the title -

Captivating

It caught my attention. I didn't buy it right then, though

I kept thinking about it. So after a week I went back and bought it. The only problem was I grabbed the wrong Captivating by "accident". After getting it home and looking though it I realized I'd bought the Captivating Workbook. And after skimming though it and thinking about some of the questions it posed I went and got the book and read it with these questions in mind. And I am glad I did.

In my first "Book Review" on one thousand gifts - by Ann Voskamp.

I said that that book

could change your life and indeed it has changed my way of thinking about my life. (I'm on 365)

Now

In Captivating

I will tell you

that this book can help HEAL your life.

Possibly in ways you don't even know

need healing.

It will also show you a beauty, Your beauty, the beauty

of all women in a greater and more profoundly real way. Possible in ways

you may ever have believed true.

These are things every female (and perhaps even as importantly every male) should have been shown and taught about herself.

You will also begin to see why your beauty is so important to this world.

It will help you remember things about yourself.

Things you already knew deep inside.

After read Captivating

you will never again look at yourself in the same way.

Anyway -

I think I might go back and re-read it and do the workbook along with it. After all

I do have it.

{Erosion Bundle Art Journal part 6?}...

2011-10-30T16:20:00.001-07:00

3D butterflies attached to the page.

And how it looks as part of the center spread in the book.

Two more pages in the process. I did add the shadow photo to

the journal. The colors were so perfect I couldn't pass it up.

A close up of the "lace" I made. It was an idea

I thought I would try out. I like it for a first try.

Hopefully you can see the flowers in it.

And it's facing page quote.

These last two pages include the beautiful dress

photo I featured on the cover of a recent art journal a few posts back.

Again the color was a good match.

Well that's another 6 pages assembled. I think I have approximately

4ish more to assemble before I focus a bit more on the embellishments

{Playing with the Falling Leaves}...

2011-10-24T19:07:00.001-07:00

Enjoying autumn leaves by making a pumpkin festival garland.

A photo op with the leftover leaves scattered on my front steps

that I used for Nancy's Texture Challenge which you can see here on Tuesday night.

We don't get a lot of falling leaves here in Arizona so I had to go hunt some down and

brought them home where I thought they looked so quaint on my front porch.

{Erosion Bundle Project part 5?}...

2011-10-16T09:57:00.001-07:00

While I still have a lot of pages to create I thought I would give

you a bit of a peek into the creation of this art journal.

One of the page spreads so far.

In order to allow the Erosion Bundle fabric to be a dominate feature in this journal I'm going to keeping the layering limited.

The sheerish layered fabric on the right was dyed in blueberries to blend with the

original bundled fabrics coloring.

Currently this page will become the cover.

Again I took the commercial printed fabric and dyed it in blueberries.

This spread has been embellished with embroidery stitches representing

the fields and roadside niches of tiny yellow flowers that are everywhere here this time of year. They

are so spectacular. I spent the day just walking barefoot in them. And as you can

read from the poem on the left I was not the only one enjoying it.

It reads

Forget not that the earth delights

to feel your bare feet,

and the winds long

to play with your hair.

~Khalil Gibran

{Nancy Donaldson's Texture Challenge}...

2011-10-07T07:15:00.003-07:00

I know I've been gone awhile so busy, busy, busy.

But I got this texture challenge from Nancy Donaldson using her texture.

You can see her post on her blog here

Nancy's Texture

I used a shadow photo of myself which I took a couple of

months ago. I caught the photo "op" by chance when I walked in my front

door early one morning. The sun was shining directly behind me

where it created a shadow image of myself standing in my front doorway. I have an old metal calendar hanging on the wall just inside the front door which created an interesting background.

I wasn't sure how I would use it but I really liked it and didn't dare miss this photo op.

So I took the photo and waited to see what would come up for it.

I added a boken photo layer and several blending modes and duplicate layers later I created this

It's the perfect color for my Erosion Bundle art journal

I'm in the process of putting together.

I hope to be able to post that art journal soon.

{Canvas Wrapped Photo}...

2011-09-04T12:25:00.000-07:00

I had an opportunity to have a photo, canvas wrapped onto

a frame. So I took it. I just received it back and it's wonderful.

It's 16x20 made from a simple photo I sent them online.

Well, maybe not that simple of a photo. I did present them with a bit

of what I would consider a placement challenge. But they pulled it off without a hitch.

The wood is nicely sanded so the back of the art looks nice too. I like the look plain canvas wrapped art gives and a home printer

can only go so large. Canvas Dezign makes it easy to get a quality wrapped piece of art

made from one of your own photos. Canvas Dezign can be found here if your interested. They also

gave me a 10% discount code that I can pass along to anyone who wants to give them a try.

Just enter code 93HEXWF35U at checkout.

I've got knitting on the needles, progress on my

Erosion Bundle art journal as well as what I'm reading coming up.

{Erosion Bundle part III ~ I think}...

2011-08-21T17:05:00.001-07:00

I've decided what I will do with my Erosion Bundle.

I'm make an Art Journal with it.

Not a big surprise I know.

But it's something I can get excited about.

I plan on it being a journal based on the flowers from my garden this year.

Along with some poetry and meaningful words for the year.

Here are the newly washed colors.

Also no surprise, their lighter.

But I like them. Their a really nice shade of blue gray and

a purple piece. The pieces that were treated for printing are the lighter blue gray while the untreated piece remained a fairly dark purple.

{what ifing and my erosion bundle}...

2011-08-14T16:15:00.000-07:00

I have been trying, unsuccessfully, to do something with my erosion bundle.

Nothing seems to get me excited about using it.

So back in the pot it went. This time with some of the blueberries

left over from my smoothie.

First I boiled the blueberries

then left the fabric to soak in the pot for a few hours.

This time I'm letting it hang and dry for a few days before rinsing it.

As I've been having trouble keeping much color in the cloth.

I really love the color. But I haven't rinsed it yet.

SO we'll see how much color stays in.

I like these top two best. I had already treated the fabric for printing before

deciding to do the blueberry soak. So what if , what if I left the treated fabric alone.

I did and so far I'm glad I did.

{Bright Star}...

2011-08-14T07:41:00.002-07:00

"When I don't hear from him, it's as if i died."

When I watched this video my heart wept knowing that within me, I too, have felt this way.

Beautiful.

I will now have to find out more about this movie?

{How to use PSE Photos}...

2011-07-31T12:46:00.000-07:00

OK, so what can you do with all those photos you alter in PSE?

Yes, I love to put them in art journals. And I could frame them and hang them on my walls.

But I do have a few art quilts already on the walls so that doesn't leave

a lot of wall space for other art.

So I made a pillow.

I enlarged and printed the photo of the hydrangea from the last post onto fabric.

Leaving the edges loose I messy stitched around the photos to secure

it to the pillowcase and tacked the corners with knotted pieces of scrap fabric.

Now I can see my art and remember the poem.

{enjoy me}...

2011-07-29T13:58:00.000-07:00

a poem and a flower

Laughter Came From Every Brick

Just these two words He spoke

changed my life,

"Enjoy Me."

What a burden I thought I was to carry ~

a crucifix, as did He.

Love once said to me, "I know a song,

would you like to hear it?"

And laughter came from every brick in the street

and from every pore in the sky,

After a night of prayer, He changed my life when

He sang,

"Enjoy Me"

~ Teresa of Avila

{one thousand gifts}...

2011-07-24T10:45:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading one thousand gifts by

Ann Voskamp.

And it sounds so cliche ~ but this book can change your life.

It is one of the most heartfelt, soulful books

I have, or perhaps, ever will read.

I read a fair amount and I will count this book as a keeper.

I have empty my large book shelve 3 times, keeping only the best

though each recycle. This book will remain always.

I have a long way to go. But I am thankful for each one.

{are you having a hard time posting comments?}...

2011-07-22T07:19:00.004-07:00

I have been having a hard to impossible time leaving comments on blogger

and I know some of you have too. So I looked it up.

And yep, there is a "known" problem. Here's a work around fix.

When you are directed to your account's Google page connection, do NOT check the box "stay connected"
I tried it
and it worked for me!
Thanks for trying. I really do enjoy getting and reading your comments.

{ok, so I was just wanting to relax}...

2011-07-21T19:43:00.000-07:00

and feeling like trying something new in PSE. So a bit of

layering on the painting from the previous post.

It's not exactly what I set out to try. But I just went with it. (I'm a bit sleepy too}.

And while I was playing around I started doing a little what ifing and thought I might try using

just the eyes, nose or mouth on some project. So these might be showing

up on some art doll or maybe even on a small quilt.

{be...dream...play...}

2011-07-16T16:04:00.000-07:00

Just being ~ playing around with a bit of face painting.

This time using watercolor pencils and acrylics. I used acrylics mostly because I got impatient with the watercolor. But will continue to practice with them. Maybe with flowers

or animals as I would not need to be so concerned with flesh colors.

{how do you define beautiful}...

2011-07-08T06:51:00.000-07:00

The new art journal is done. Well, done in the sense that's it assembled. Are they ever really done.

The cover photo of course was my inspiration.

I just love this dress. Makes me wish I had somewhere to wear such a beautiful dress.

And 30 years younger. Or maybe 30 years older.

This dress and many others was made by Nattyboho at http://www.etsy.com/shop/nattyboho .

This particular dress has been sold. But Nattyboho was so generous to allow me to use her photo.

Which is almost as wonderful as being able to wear the dress.

Above ~ the covers opened out showing the binding.

And the complete book page by page

including six blank pages. That's a blank paper page on the right.

Ready to add additional thoughts to or whatever.

I must say I have gotten over my, shall I say phobia, of loose threads.

Loose threads were always a big no no when I was taught to sew.

Not any more. I've been allowing more and more frayed and loose

threads in all my journals. But this one is over the top with them.

And I am loving it. Although I must admit I still trimmed the thread after sewing

with the machine. Oh well. Maybe next time I can leave them long too.

It's size it really fun to hold.

{the pages}...

2011-07-04T17:57:00.001-07:00

In no particular order.

I've used a bit of the erosion bundle fabric on the edge.

I think these little wires make for some

really cool hair

I really like these little wires. I could have used them on every page.

The cover

and the back of the book.

I'm almost ready to finishing binding the journal. I just want to add a few blank

pages for personal journaling and a few surprise pages. All in all I think there should be about 19 pages including the front and back covers.

{in the studio}...

2011-07-03T12:20:00.001-07:00

I've been inspired. So into the studio I went to begin

a small art journal. More on the inspiration with the completed journal.

For now a sneak peek and a look into

my creative process.

This is where I am at now.

The book is only 6" x 3.5"

and 10 pages in length ~ counting the covers.

The layers are building and the pages are nearing their final appearance.

I still want to make a few more edits and additions before assembling the book.

But hope to have it completed soon.

The following 3 photos show the earlier beginnings.

It can be really hard for me to cover up the lower layers as

I tend to like a simple look.

But all the layers add a ~~greater~~ mysterious beauty that draws you

even deeper into the pages, so cover them up I do. Perhaps that's why I

photograph them now so I can enjoy them too.

Except for the inspiration photo I am using only what I have on hand.

And because of it's small size I can use up lots of remnants.

Can you see my little helpers paw?

{morning latte and PSE}...

2011-07-01T08:33:00.000-07:00

Just relaxing with a latte and playing with a bit of PSE.

I can remember when working in PSE was anything but relaxing.

But it has become so.

One more hydrangea :-)

So if your new to the whole Photoshop process don't give up.

Keep on keeping on.

{finally a light soft image}...

2011-06-26T07:53:00.001-07:00

Using more images from the rose photos I took a couple weeks or so ago.

And I am so pleased that I finally was able to create an image

with a light soft feel to it.

For some reason I have had a difficult time composing photos that are light and soft. But persistence has paid off. (It's the way with PSE).

And one with a bit more of a worn look to it.

{whitewash update}...

2011-06-26T07:39:00.001-07:00

This is just a quick update on the dresser. It was just too white

and too much on the gray side of white to blend in with my other

home furnishings so I yellowed it up a bit. I used a real creamy color paint

that looks nothing like anything near a white in the store and then reapplied the

brown for depth and aging.

Below is the before, it's a subtle change but just enough to blend in with the room

and not stand out.

{whitewash renewal}...

2011-06-25T10:41:00.000-07:00

This is the finished result.

Scroll to the last photo and you will

see it's quite a change, especially

when you consider it's not solid wood. It's original finish was veneer.

I did 3 separate color coats, plus a chalky primer to help hold to the painted surface underneath.

The base layer was the bluish gray.

Then I did a light whitewash with the white.

It was pretty. But I wanted something that looked old, worn, and more like wood.

So I went back to the paint store and got a really dark black brown paint.

I then applied it using a dry brush method. Following quickly by wiping it off with a damp rag to soften and remove most of the dark color.

I didn't really know what I was doing but I like how it came out. I have other pieces I want to whitewash so I used this piece to experiment on to develop a technique to use on the other real wood pieces.

The technique worked out well but I may want to make the brown paint either the first or second coat rather

than the last coat.

Sorry, I don't have any photos of the steps. I had to work very quickly. With 0% humidity and a temp of about 90 degrees the paint was drying within seconds not hours. This may actually have been beneficial.

Or, I simply adapted my method because of the weather conditions.

Either way it was painted, dry, cleaned up and done in no more than 2 or 3 hours.

I may yet add another very light coat of the white to this piece.

But for now I really like how it came out.

Yep ~ this is the before. It was giving to me, free about 20 years ago.

I painted over the really ugly veneer and I was never quite sure how well

that paint job would last. But it held up and I expect the new paint job will too.

It was always a good storage piece. But never really a pretty looking piece.

But now I think it is. I'm really glad I kept it.

{just consider}...

2011-06-20T18:57:00.001-07:00

What if the Hokey Pokey

really is what

it's all about?

I'm just saying ~ consider

{watercolor flowers}...

2011-06-19T07:24:00.000-07:00

Wow, that's a post title I never thought I'd make when I first started my blog.

Blogging can really help put things into perspective

and act as a chronicle to your changing's. (I don't think that's a real word, but I'm using it anyway)

Your changing's

in style,

in media,

in your interests,

your focus,

your progress,

your triumphs,

your hopes and dreams realized,

and yet to come...

YES You Can!

Well that said nothing about watercolor painting.

But it was fun and never the less it's ~ it.

Have a great Sunday ;-)

{It's all about Hydrangea}...

2011-06-18T08:03:00.001-07:00

I have a new Hydrangea bush in the garden, and along with watching

it grow outdoors I am taking lots of photos of it.

Of course!

One reason to take photos is to play with them in PSE,

and a second reason is because when I planted the bush I planted it with all of the blooms

facing to the back corner so they aren't very visible from the house or yard.

But not to fret - there are plenty more blooms coming.

As I try all sorts of layers and blend modes different images appear as

if by magic. I liked this one for reasons I can't even fully explain. But it

has sort of an old worn look to it. I may still add a bit of a frame around the edge

and call it printable.

Above I am using multiple png. files and masks. (Hope that's all the right lingo).

Which needed a blank background layer first in order to create a solid printable image.

At least it did for this image using two masking layers.

Below a simpler version. But oh, so lovely!

And a watercolor painting of the bloom. (Now remember, I am a fiber artist, I can sew anything with confidence but painting not so - yet!

I have a few more watercolors of flowers which I will share in another post.

This painting was my least favorite so I used it to experiment with. Including using a gel medium over it.

It works just fine and created a nice leathery feel and usability to it.

And once I stitched it to a black and white background it became one of my favorites.

It'll probably become a back cover to a journal.

And it all started from this one single photo.

Well, out to play in the garden some more.

This time I have a new Peony bush to plant.

{Tuesday Morning Musing's}...

2011-06-14T06:34:00.001-07:00

a sense of awe

connection to the sacred

falls into breathless experience

{SP-Pausing}...

2011-06-11T09:21:00.001-07:00

SP-Pausing

I got these hugh roses at a new local floral shop

A Garden Within

The folks there are so nice and helpful. The store has some really unique quality gift items as well. (which I went back for the next day). Anyway if you live local you should check it out. I went in to get some

Peonies but the color was not quite what I was hoping for - turns out it's a bit late in the season for them.

So they helped out by generously offering

three hugh pink roses instead.

I took a bunch of photos (more to come later) including a couple for

another SP.

It was early evening and the light inside was very low so I stood near the doorway to catch as much light as possible which created a backlight photo. I was excited to work with it a bit so I took

just a few minutes this morning to see what I could come up with. The backlight is my fave but while I

was at it I thought I would do the other at the same time.

But that's enough time inside. It's great outside so I am off to play in the garden.

Till next time :-)

{photo painting}...

2011-06-05T14:56:00.002-07:00

Painting practice.

This time I painted over a canvas photo that was nice

but not very interesting. So what better item to trying painting over ~

nothing to lose.

All in all I am pretty pleased with it.

And I am ready to try some more.

{new finds}...

2011-06-04T10:13:00.001-07:00

Went to Phoenix yesterday and took the opportunity to check out a shop

that Karen Valentine over at My Desert Cottage blogged about.

It's so great that she does this. Phoenix is nearly a two hour drive

from me and I would never know about all these great places just trying

to drive around looking for them.

At Rust and Roses I picked up some old letter stamps with my initials and middle name

In a couple of different sizes. (No, not that one - it's Joy)

As well as this old window frame. I woke up last week and thought I want to

find an old frame just like this. And voila! I could not have found a

more perfect match to my imagination than this one.

I'm not sure what all I might do with it. But, among other things, I think it

makes a great prop for photo opts.

The morning lighting was too strong for much experimenting

but I had to give it a quick try with these tall beauties

{self portrait-sp}

2011-05-30T12:41:00.001-07:00

New series of self portraits.

I call this the feminine

I did a series of sp a couple of years ago.

And now that I have time to work on personal art projects

one item I want to explore is an art journal based on self portraits

It can be difficult to take and accept pictures of yourself

and even more so to post them on a blog. So not all of the sp that

I take may make it on to the blog. We'll see.

Anyway

I plan on using different themes to help.

Misty Mawn's sp inspired me a couple a years ago and she

again is my inspiration. In her new book just out unfurling she discusses self portraits.

And I wonder who am I, what makes me tick, why do I like what I like, what

does my style tell about me, and on and on

{new banner}...

2011-05-27T08:55:00.001-07:00

Maybe it’s because it's spring time

(although, I suspect there could be a half a dozen other reasons)

but I’m feeling so refreshed and renewed

and I feel it's expression in so many parts of my being and

my life surroundings. So natural my blog would also

benefit from that new sense of being.

Hope you all enjoy it to and it brings a smile to your face as well.

{for the beauty of it all}...

2011-05-26T06:53:00.001-07:00

Gerba Daisys are so beautiful. I've been doing a fair amount of PSEing with

all the wonderful spring time beauties. These all show a single gerba daisy

all using a couple of textures layers and then making filter adjustments.

This one using Polerized

This one is Poster Edge

Just using an additional whitish layer and soft light

adding a mask

and Watercolor

It's so exciting to be at a point with PSE that I can try using some of the other adjustments

to achieve amazing results. So glad I kept up with it in the beginning when it took hours even days to

get anything worthwhile

{Erosion Bundle Step 2 or is it 3}...

2011-05-22T08:47:00.001-07:00

I didn't mean to be gone so long from blogging. But it's spring time and

even though I am stepping back from creating art to sell I am a very creative person

so I keep creating. And the wonderful part of not creating for profit (if you can call it profit) is that the

pressure is gone. I have been doing a lot of garden renovation. More on that later.

For now it's about the Erosion Bundle.

Because it's spring time there are so many flowers in bloom. So one fine

spring morning last week I decided to try adding some of their color to my

Erosion Bundle. These photos all show color added by "beating" the flowers

into the cloth. Once I got past the "beating" part I took some of the purple

Iris flowers and with one petal at a time. I covered the cloth and flower with a manila folder (wait till you see the manila folder it's gorgeous)

and hammer it. The color took easily and the purple became this beautiful blue.

I then took some leaves, as they are in abundance on the plants and did the same. Some worked better

than others. I was still having a hard time "beating" flowers but pushed on.

The pansies we're still blooming, but wouldn't be for long with the hot weather

approaching fast. So I took some of their flowers and transferred (I like that word better) there "faces" to the cloth. This way even though the plants were gone apart of them would remain with me and

even continue on in whatever piece of art I create with the cloth.

They transferred perfectly. The flowers all contained a lot of moisture so I

allowed the cloth to dry. I wanted the new "dye" to last.

I'm not sure how to best go about this (it might have to do with waiting, which I'm not so good at). So doing what I know best. I decided to

heat set the color before washing this time. So I ironed it. The heat from

the iron brought out the earthy smell from the transferred dye. So it had to be washed.

A lot of the color came out while I was rinsing it in the sink. So I didn't rinse too long or use soap.

I will continue with the washing to see what happens.

But in the meantime, I wanted to try making something with the cloth.

One idea was to create these little flowers with strips of the fabric.

So I ripped off the edge and began wrapping. The very edge of the cloth didn't have a lot

of color to it so the coloring is very subtle. I love it. This dying process is unique so the cloth

becomes unique in it's coloring also. I don't believe I could get this with commercial fabric.

I still have the other piece of cloth from the original buried piece to experiment with and most of this piece also.

I have yet to decided what to do with the remaining cloth. Perhaps part of a journal, or a collage, maybe even as ribbon for hand sewing, and of course more flowers ????

{Erosion Bundle Unburied}...

2011-04-30T07:50:00.001-07:00

I actually unburied my bundle on Easter Sunday. Somehow that seemed the right time to

do it.

I had originally been concerned about it getting some moisture. So I buried it in the ground

where I knew the ground would have moisture regularly. That was last January, I think. Anyway about half way through the process I moved the bundle to a huge pile of wood chips to let it continue.

When I unburied my bundle it was quite soggy - and slimy.

There was only one thing left to do and that was to unroll it.

I was so excited. I felt like a little kid.

The bundle did reveal a nice green tinge to it.

At first anyway. I hosed off the debris and slime.

Unfortunately most of the green went with it. And nearly all of the original

pink from the blood orange wasn't to be seen at all.

And it smelt mildewy.

So after a washing this is what remains.

Mostly it looks like an old mildewed rag that it's time to throw out.

And there is a hole in it. Which I would say just rotted away from too much moisture.

But the over all color is a gray with an ever so light tingle of pink to it. Along with it's black mildew

spots and rust. I expected the rust to take on the heart and star shapes of the rusty steel I put in.

But it didn't. So now, what oh what, to make with it.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

{ so, What's Been Happening, You Ask?}...

2011-04-22T08:08:00.001-07:00

Well tax season (my 10th) is over. So that would help explain

why I have not been blogging or posting lately.

But I'm back with exciting news. First up I am doing a solo show (my first)

at Tis Gallery for the entire month of May. So for you locals I hope you can all stop by.

Here is the official poster. Patti over at Tis designed it and I love how it came out.

She's been so helpful. Patti if you see this - Thanks again

I will start setting up Tuesday or Wednesday this week.

And will be in and out as time permits except for the two listed receptions which I will of course be there for.

Hope to see you.

This is the last show I am scheduled to do this year.

I've decided to take a new direction away from the Les Femmes shows which many of you know me from.

I want to explore some new ideas in my art and do some personal art work. All of which

takes time. So it may be a year or two before I do another public show. Or who knows what exciting

opportunity may come along that I jump into.

I will keep posting what I am up to on my blog. So keep checking in and let me know

what you think.

And I still have that Erosion Bundle buried in the yard that I am sooooooooo

wanting to dig up. Perhaps even later today.

{Echo} Week 29 - Flight

2011-03-22T07:19:00.001-07:00

Just the sheer delight in taking flight.

Such joy do I feel. That I am beaming from ear to ear.

High above I am one with the heavens that reach out around me as

far as I can see.

I love taking flight and I most often do so as a bird. But for this particular Echo prompt I

couldn't resist this smiley face in flight.

And my Echo partner, Marty's

Marty’s photo editing has made this flight (of stairs)

so metaphorical.
As I sit and look at it I take flight to so many places.
She did a really great job. Check out her blog here

{Welcoming Life}...

2011-03-05T09:25:00.001-07:00

Welcoming Life this

fine winter's day.

Technically, it's still winter but

I am always ready for spring to come

and this is a very springy feeling quilt.

It has a light and fresh feel to it. Just light spring.

I grabbed a couple of scraps laying on the desk for a

little surprise patch on the back.

And I received a surprise myself when I turn it over after doing some of the quilting.

Although I was careful to pull up the bobbin threads each time I quilted a new line

on the petals this little "thread knot" appeared. At first I thought it needed to come out.

But while looking at it I saw a little flower design in it. So I have decided to keep it.

I may yet add a tiny bead to the center to enhance it's look even more so.

{be true art quilt}...

2011-02-26T08:19:00.001-07:00

Below is the back label of the Be True Art Quilt.

As you can see from the pins on the binding I still need to do the hand stitching.

I've tried the "stitching in the ditch" method but it never looks all that great

on the back to me. And I have to go really slow on the front to get it perfect.

So I am ok with doing the hand stitching.

And the front.

I did choose to go more with the folded fabric shape for the dress.

I am so thrilled with being able to use one of my facing paintings on a quilt.

It's one of the many things I love about the Art Quilt. So much is possible.

I just need more time to create all of the ideas and images I have in my head just

waiting to become an art quilt, journal or some other piece. I still have many more face paintings ( I wish I had a better way to describe these paintings. Portrait paintings seem to formal and face paintings are not quite right either. ANYBODY have a better name)? Anyway, I digress.

Another quilt with a face will have to wait a bit. What I have in mind for the next quilt

is of a single flower. And it will not wait.

So before we get snowed in again I'm off to the quilt shop to check out some

fabric options.

[Allowing}...

2011-02-19T09:25:00.001-07:00

Allowing the space

to take hold

and bloom

{And the OWOH winner is}...

2011-02-17T20:06:00.001-07:00

I am so glad I participated in OWOH again this year. It was so nice to meet all of you who stopped by and

left a comment. And some of you even became Followers.

I feel so blessed by these actions. I just had to moved my Follower's badge down

to the bottom so that all of you can be seen.

I am still exploring all of your blogs and have even add several to my blog list.

So without further ta do using the.Random Number generator

the winner is

Laura at artworks studio

Congratulation Laura

I've sent her an email and will be getting her postcard in the mail as soon as I hear back from her

And thanks again to each and everyone of you who stopped by and left a comment

I had a wonderful time.

{Late Night Musings in PSE}

2011-02-12T22:30:00.001-07:00

Not really trying to complete anything worthwhile

Just trying to relax before bed. I created this late night musing

{Gathering the Fabric and Creating the Patterns}...

2011-02-12T16:39:00.001-07:00

Getting a new quilt shop in town helped in gathering enough

coordinating fabrics for the quilt. But which ones for what?

Pinks and browns, blues or

blacks and grays with a bit of teal?

The teal wins!

I tried out several body shapes. I finally decided to go with just the upper body as

I would prefer the quilt not be long and skinny. At least not this time.

I removed the wings from the original painting so that I could

add larger wings to the quilt surface.

Also with the magic of PSE I was able to change the background of the painting

to match the fabric nearly perfectly. Now that's just plain cool. I love it.

The body fabric when just laid down to get an idea of

the fabric combinations I want to use is not as curvy as the paper pattern

which I just might like better. We'll see.

So now I just sit with it for a while longer as she continues

to speak to me before proceeding to cutting it all out.

{Art Portrait to Art Quilt}...

2011-02-11T19:24:00.001-07:00

My newest portrait painting step by step. I paused in painting just

long enough to capture some shots for the progression the painting took.

Follow the photos to watch the digression of this finish painting

Next Up ~

watch how I create an art quilt with her.

{Eco ~ Erosion Bundle #1}...

2011-02-05T08:18:00.003-07:00

Something I have been wanting to try are Eco or Erosion Bundles. You can learn more about

these Bundles here

My bundle is a base of muslin fabric which I had soaked in

Blood Orange juice I squeezed last week.

On the muslin I then placed dried leaves, evergreen berries, eucalyptus from the store, (which I hope will

do something because I don't have easy access to fresh eucalyptus), I then sprinkled

some dried herb tea and placed bits of misc fabrics that were laying on the counter.

I then placed another piece of un-dyed muslin on top to help

roll it up without the contents spilling out.

I am also a welding artist, so I had some

pieces of a rusty star, a heart and swirly shapes left

behind from other projects which I placed on top

before rolling the whole thing up.

All tied up and ready to be buried.

While we get more precipitation in the form of rain or snow

here in the mountains of Arizona. It's still not all had much.

And it seems like the process would need some moisture. So I decided to bury mine

Here it is in the moist ground where it will remain until April.

I forgot about some large

berries I picked off the ground in town last fall to experiment with as a dye for fabrics

so I just dropped a few in the ground under the bundle and I few more on top

before covering the whole thing up with the dirt.

So now I wait till April when I will dig it up to see what Mother Nature

and I created.

{Today is a Good Day to Be a Butterfly}...

2011-01-30T17:48:00.001-07:00

Watch and Enjoy

I Did

{Sunday Morning Truths}...

2011-01-30T09:51:00.001-07:00

{OWOH}...

2011-01-30T07:14:00.002-07:00

Starts at Midnight.

But I'll be asleep so see you on the 31st.

{5 + 1 Art Journals Complete}...

2011-01-28T08:32:00.001-07:00

The 5th blank Art Journal is finished. And 1 completed Sheer Fabric Art Journal.

I will be taking the Sheer Art Journal to the Tis Gallery today. For the

The others will be for the month of May Show at Tis.

This is the 5th journal. It is a fabric printed copy of an original painting.

I still need to add the pages for journaling.

the inside front cover is a napkin which I have use gel medium

to adhere to fabric. I also plan to scan the napkin and print on fabric

for other projects. But it came out very nice like this.

Below is the inside back cover with a nuno felted pocket

And the outside back cover.

I am really becoming comfortable with loose threads.

Although I still seal the raw edge to prevent too much ravelling

{A knock at the Door}...

2011-01-26T19:25:00.001-07:00

I would open the door

A really beautiful video that reminds me that very
little is needed to make a happy life.

{Blogiversary}...

2011-01-23T10:40:00.000-07:00

My Blog is 3 years old this month

so I thought I would create a little word montage

to represent it.

Blogging has become apart of my life.
Not only have I enjoyed creating posts for myself as

a journal to chronicle my art and share it with others. But I have enjoyed using it to

capture moments in my life as a way to connect with others

around the world and as a way for them to get to know me as I have them.

I have "met" many new people and feel that we are friends even though
we have never met face to face. Many of their names appear in the montage.
I love hearing from everyone through your comments and in emails.
SO on we go toward year 4. I wonder what all it will bring?

{Art Journal #4 Elfish}...

2011-01-21T10:48:00.000-07:00

Here she is all bound into a beautiful Art Journal.

Below is the inside front cover

which includes a pocket.

And the inside back cover with the altered flower photo

from a couple of weeks ago.

The outside back cover also with an altered photo.

Its where our elf on the cover

spends her time.

One more art journal to go.

Although I could count the sheer journal as #5 ~we'll see.

{Sheer Art Journal Challenge Finished}...

2011-01-16T09:33:00.001-07:00

The Sheer Art Journal challenge I set for myself

came out really beautiful and so soft.

It's hard to capture the sheer layering in the photos

as they tend to blend together.

the pages

and the back cover

{destination... PSE}...

2011-01-14T09:25:00.001-07:00

I was just playing around last night in PSE, with no outcome in mind,

and quite simply by accident I came up with these 2 little pics

The above photo had a background that just disappeared when I clicked

on a blending mode. I think perhaps it was either multiply, or darken. And it appeared to

have something to do with the color of the new layer and the color of the flower.

More experimenting is needed.

Anyway it was sure easier than trying to erase or blur out the background.

There is something I really love about paths.

And I will be spending sometime in my dreams exploring where this path may lead.

And I think both of these pics may end up in an Art Journal.

{Sheer Art Journal Challenge part 2}...

2011-01-09T19:00:00.001-07:00

I wasn't able to finish all of the pages today.

But I thought I would share what I have done so far.

The fabrics are so sheer I am not sure how well

they look in photo format without being able to hold

them at the same time.

Well back to the day job tomorrow so it may be next weekend

before I complete any more.

{Sheer Fabric Art Journal Challenge}...

2011-01-08T19:46:00.001-07:00

I have decided to give myself a little art journal challenge
by using only sheer fabrics for the covers and pages.
So first I created the photos for the new journal.

I felt like I needed some new fresh photos for this Art Journal

Some light colors. To go with the sheer fabrics.

With just a hint of color to add to the whites of the sheer fabrics.

Then add just a hint of words to inspire thought

I also had a bit of fun playing with a portrait painting in PSE.

And the sheer fabrics for the covers and pages.

I hope to start assembling the pages tomorrow.

{#3 Art Journal ~ Believe}...

2011-01-05T06:48:00.001-07:00

Journal #3 is an original painting I did awhile ago. It was one of

my first. I have always really like this one. Which I guess is why

it has taken so long to get use to the idea of parting with it.

Below is the outside back cover.

The inside front cover with a nuno felted pocket

for saving all your special treasures.

And the inside back cover. With a copy of the 2011 word Believe.

Which seems the perfect title for this portrait painting. As I really needed to believe that

I could paint.

{2011 Word}...

2011-01-01T11:52:00.002-07:00

My word for the New Year is

BELIEVE

2010 was the first year I chose a word, as my resolution, for the year.

As I looked back on 2010 and my word which was Expect.

I was amazed and blown away by it.

My intention (see original post here) was of

expecting more,

more good,

more blessings,

more happiness,

to be able,

to Expect anything.

At the beginning of 2010 I would never have thought I would be able to

replace my old worn out carpet, or get a new tile kitchen counter top,

or have a lower house payment to boot,

but I did.

I didn't think I would be doing my own art show,

but I am, in May 2011 at the Tis Gallery.

I never expected to take a trip, but my Sister and I did,

to Colorado.

And that is just at the material level.

I have also experienced more, deeper and meaningful

levels of personal growth.

And at the same time I realized how surprised I was at my level of disbelief.

So for 2011 it's BELIEVE.

Believe in Love of God,

Believe in Oneness,

Believe in the beauty of life,

Believe in still greater good,

Believe in the perfection of the world,

Believe that all things are possible with God,

Believe in happiness,

Believe in abundance,

Believe that everything will work out for the good,

Believe I can overcome any obstacle,

Believe in the abilities of my family,

Believe in Myself,

Believe in...

Happy New Year to you All

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

2010-12-31T10:14:00.001-07:00

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}...

2010-12-26T15:17:00.001-07:00

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}...

2010-12-24T13:23:00.002-07:00

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}...

2010-12-19T06:43:00.001-07:00

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

2010-12-18T08:48:00.001-07:00

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}...

2010-12-12T10:57:00.001-07:00

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}...

2010-12-11T11:37:00.006-07:00

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}...

2010-12-07T06:04:00.005-07:00

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}...

2010-12-05T18:14:00.001-07:00

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...

2010-12-03T08:05:00.000-07:00

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

2010-11-23T06:49:00.000-07:00

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!}...

2010-11-21T16:58:00.001-07:00

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}...

2010-11-20T07:26:00.006-07:00

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}...

2010-11-13T11:38:00.002-07:00

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}...

2010-11-07T10:03:00.001-07:00

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}...

2010-11-05T19:05:00.000-07:00

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

2010-11-05T08:48:00.000-07:00

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}...

2010-10-30T09:19:00.001-07:00

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}...

2010-10-30T09:06:00.001-07:00

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

{Art Journals}...

2010-10-30T08:56:00.001-07:00

Journal #1

The front cover.

Has the original painting

I am really attracted to more subtle colors lately

and I don't think that's going to change any time soon.

So that's reflected in my current pieces.

The back cover

and the

inside front cover

And of course the inside back cover.

I like to include a pocket in each of my journals

making it easy to include special treasures.

This journal will be for sale at next Saturday's Les Femmes show

{ECHO} Week 24-Liquid...

2010-10-26T06:50:00.001-07:00

{ECHO} Week 24 Liquid

What a great shot Marty got of these refreshing liquids

You can check out more about my partner, Marty's

photo on her blog here.

I choose water as my Liquid. I LOVE WATER

I just love it.

.
I Love it in all forms.

I love it's feel

as it's moves across my hand or down my body in the shower each morning,

how it feels as I fly across it on water skies, and even better when I let go and fall into it.

I love it's smell

whether from the ocean air or from the incoming rain storm.

I love it's sounds

the crashing waves or the rain on my roof as it lulls me to sleep

or fall down the side of a mountain

I love how it looks

with the twinkling light from the bright sun on it's shimmer surface

or as it ripples from a stone tossed into it and

the single beam of moon light laid out across it's entire length.

And I love playing in it.

Running in it, splashing it with my boot, dodging the rain drops trying not to get wet

and MOST of all I love swimming in it.

I love it as ice

as it cools my drink in summer,

I love skating on the frozen lake in winter,

(that was, of course, when I lived in Michigan) I even like scrapping it from my

windshield on cold winter mornings

and it's healing comfort of a swollen bruise.

I love it as vapor

in the clouds moving across the blue sky above me,

as mist across the mountains in the morning light

I love it as

snowflakes,

icicles, and snowballs

in puddles and fountains

in hot tubs,

and as it's waves met the shore.

And I love just sitting beside it

{Knitted Wrap and Nuno Felted Scarfs}...

2010-10-22T09:07:00.001-07:00

Only 2 weekends left before Les Femmes des Montage

Art Show. Our 6th annual!!!

Last weekend's projects included the completion for this lacy, wooly

wrap/scarf with a delicate crochet edge.

And 2 nuno felted scarfs. The first is this delicate

teal and black scarf.

This was the first time I made 2 nuno felted items in one day.

While it was great for inventory my body did feel

it a bit later.

But there came out soooooo beautiful.

I wonder if I will have time to make any more before the show?

But not this weekend. This weekend

is devoted to art journals.

{Hats, Hats, and More Hats}...

2010-10-16T15:06:00.003-07:00

Finally time to post something new.

Between house guests, birthday's and spending time with friends

I haven't had much extra time.

Oh yea! and the fall Les Femmes show is in 3 weeks.

SO I'm busy creating items for the show.

These hats are my all time favorite to make

There are endless combinations of yarns you can use.

This one is 3 strands of commercial yarns for the cap

and some handspun with a bit of are commercial novelty yarn for the earn flaps

This cap is made from handspun yarn from Erin48 over at Esty
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Erin48 and some bulky wool

and ribbon yarns for the ear flaps

Again this one has two strands of handspun which I got from Inspiration Fibers on Esty. (You can see her yarns here http://www.etsy.com/shop/inspirationfibers ) with 3 strands of

commercial yarn novelty yarn for texture on
the ear flaps.

I've also been doing some nuno felting and art journaling which I hope to post soon.

At least this isn't an Echo post

(Echo) Week 23-Minimalist

2010-10-09T08:29:00.000-07:00

Despite what the last 3 post's show (uugh) this is not an Echo only blog.

I just can't seem to find any time to post other things.

One reason is that I am spending time in my garden.

Below is my entry for (Echo) Week 23-Minimalist

My front yard is graced each year with a lot of wild sunflowers that

the birds and I enjoy for many weeks.

But, alas the sunflowers are nearing their end with only

a few, or should I say Minimalist number of flowers

left on these huge plants.

I tried to take a photo of them but the sun was shining so brightly

(I'm not complaining, I love the sun)

it was tough to take a good photo of the whole plant with just it's one last flower

blooming among the dozens and

dozens of it's dried flower heads so

when I spotted this last bloom with only one petal left on it.

Perfect!!!!

Above is my partner Marty's entry. You can check out her

post here.

{Echo} Week 22 Sweet...

2010-10-01T14:11:00.000-07:00

Sorry about 2 Echo post in a row but

I've been out of town for awhile on another road trip with my sister
and am just now getting my life back to normal. What ever "normal" is.

My "Sweet" photo is on the right,

a Cream Puff Hot Fudge Sundae,

and my partner's Marty is on the left.

I was born in Michigan and we had an old fashion ice cream

store called Sanders. Michiganders will know how great there were. I say were because

I don't think they have stores anymore. But you can still get their hot fudge and even

their cream puffs through the mail.

But when I first moved to Arizona 26 years ago you couldn't. So I had

to learn how to make my own cream puffs.

At first they were not as "good" as Sanders but over the years

I have grown to love them just as much.

I've changed the flavor of the ice cream from the original vanilla

to coffee. And I really like that :-)

Back to regular posts soon.

{Echo} - Week 21 Portals...

2010-09-11T08:29:00.001-07:00

I enjoy the casual nature of this "bi-weekly"group.

Echo - Week 21 Portals

My entry is on the left and my partner, Marty's is on the right

When I think of Portals I think "other worldly" like walking into

some mystical light down a beautiful garden path.

Hey, I live near Sedona, AZ

(If you are aware of Sedona you know what I mean)

Hop over to Marty's blog and learn more about her "backdoors"

{portraits and hair...)

2010-09-10T07:12:00.001-07:00

New portrait painting.

I have focused on eyes, noses, and lips.

Thinking they would be the most difficult. I admit noses can be the trickiest.

But hair has proven even more so.

Luckily I prefer less to more.

And even like messier portraits but somehow I have

gotten a method down that makes my ladies

a bit to polished I think.

Don't get me wrong I still like them.

But I also want something a bit more rough around the edges.

Here she is before adding her hair. I may try printing her out from PSE and then

trying out new hair "styles" on her. That way I don't have to

spend all the time painting (and still stressing) over painting her face.

Could be fun

{the art of silliness...}

2010-09-06T10:43:00.002-07:00

I'm not comfortable drawing and want to learn to draw with more ease and enjoyment.

So with the help from The Drawing Lab book. I drew 100

cats from different references. This is one I took

to the next level by creating a canvas painting from it from the 1st lesson.

The book.

I love her style of drawing and the book's lessons are fun

(or at least could be if I wasn't stressing about drawing )and easy enough to do.

The online class

While blog hopping I found this class by the Carla Sonheim, the author

of the book Drawing Lab.

This looks like an excellent class to complement the book and

help keep me focused on it for a least a month.

You can find the outline for the class here.

So while I could just follow the book, her online class is so affordable.

And it just plan feels good to support someone offering online classes

at such a reasonable cost..

{quirky house...}

2010-09-05T14:31:00.001-07:00

Well here it is. The quirky little house quilts. All lined up

and ready to be attached as soon as I get to the hardware store.

So I can't hang it on the wall yet.

It's a fun piece that gave me a chance to try some ideas out for putting

quilts in frames.

{roof top bird...}

2010-09-05T07:49:00.002-07:00

Final photo for the roof top frame

of my 3 part house.

It's quilted and ready for its frame along with the door knob and window photos

from the last couple of posts.

The frames are painted but I think I am going to grunge them up a bit first.

I will have the quilts in their frames soon. And will post maybe yet this weekend.

I will also need to finish the backs neatly once the quilts are in their frames.

I have a couple of ideas for that too which kept me awake last night thinking about it.

It will require a trip to the store first.

{We Are Nourished...}

2010-08-29T08:20:00.000-07:00

by earth's beauty

{ok, I couldn't wait...}

2010-08-28T11:04:00.000-07:00

I had to "fix it" now. (see previous post for the source of my obsession)

After making a latte I had a

couple of more minutes in me to give it a quick try.

It worked and I do like it better