{a fabric watch can you do that?}...



I haven't worn a watch in a number of years now.  Every time I put one on, within a short time, it would stop working. I would set it aside and low and behold it would start working again.

This happened with several different watches over many months.  So I just stopped.

The challenge for this watch was the Tie One On at TTAS (Textiles and Textures Artist Studio)

The idea is to use a necktie and create something.



So I took the point end of the necktie and used it as the base for my wrist wrap watch.

I added a digital watch face, some up cycled lace, scrape fabrics from the desk top, a couple of beads and a shabby ribbon for the tie on. 

SO what time is it?  As the watch show it's time to Play

I still have the other part of the tie.  And I have an idea for that too.

Another different wrist wrap altogether.

{Announcing My First Ever Workshhop and New WIP}...

Dear blog friends,

 I've been MIA (missing in action) for so long I hardly know what to say. 

But thanks for stopping back in.

All is well, I've just been trying to do less.

Relaxing, gardening, reading. 

Not a whole lot to blog about.  Or at least I didn't think so.

Then a couple of months ago I was asked to join a new Artist's Studio shop here in Prescott, AZ.  Well when I heard the name Textiles and Textures and met Debra and Nellie, the sisters who own the new shop I was excited and I jumped back in. 

So I'm practicing practicing balance.   

 

One of the things I enjoy about this new shop is that the artists can come in and work on their art right there.  The shop has only been open a couple of months so things are still just gearing up.

I've got a new quilt in progress.

Sorry the pic is not a better quality.  I took it with my cell phone.

But I think you can get the idea.

I'll take my real camera and get a better shop soon.

In the mean time...

 

If  you live local, or are visiting the Prescott area I invite you to stop in and watch the progress.

I am usually there on Fridays between noonish and 2.  Although not always.  Remember practicing balance.

It's already changed since I took this photo a few weeks ago.

 

Now here comes the tricking part in balancing, work, play, art, relaxing.

They offer regular workshops.  And yes, yours truly, has agreed to do one.

Yikes, my first, ever.

 

But I've been asked several times and well

it's just plain time to do it.  So here are the details.



Make your own Art Journal with Autumn Summerfield

Make your own Art Journal! Saturdays 10am-Noon June 15, 22 & 29 -- $75 Autumn Summerfield will share techniques for constructing your journal from fabrics, notions and ephemera. Explore your visual language. In essence an art journal is the combination of making art and journaling. It is a place to play and experiment with art materials in new ways. An art journal is a space for questions, a place for thoughts, a safe container for ideas. Enjoy the process while you listen to your art. Register in advance. Space limited. Techniques oriented for all skill levels. 928-227-2659 or TextilesTextures@cableone.net to reserve your place.   And here is the outline for the 3 classes from my flyer.  It think having the 3 classes is ideal. We could not possible hope to complete an art journal in just one sitting.  No matter how long it was. This way you will have a week to work on your journal pages and prepare for the next class.       Of Cloth, Fiber, and Stitch an art journal workshop   We all know what a book or journal should be.  In this workshop we will see what they can be. I will show you the foundational techniques I use to create my art journals.  Then by repeating and changing up these techniques you will be able to create numerous pages where each is unique to your personal style.  This workshop is for anyone who has ever wanted to create an art journal, for those who have never created an art journal or for those who have kept a journal for a long time.    Class 1- Covers… where it all begins Using photos printed on fabric Adding a pocket Raw edge applique Class 2 - Pages… adding text, layers and interest Journaling with found poetry Creating sheer pages Using lace, gloves or dollies Class 3 - Putting it all together… binding and adding dangles. Creating a fabric spine Attaching our pages to the spine Adding 3 dimensional items and dangles   Well this post is done. Does it really take an hour to post?  Or was it more.  Hope there are not too many typos. Anyway I hope to be back soon. ~Autumn

{a tiny little painting}...

Finally had sometime to do a little painting.  And considering I am painting

entire rooms in my house this really is tiny.

This is the original painting and below

 is another after being altered in PSE.

I'm experimenting a bit with a different style in hair.   She's a little 5X6. 

 I have a large canvas and I'm thinking

perhaps I could do a really large painting

as I am feeling a bit more convenient in my painting abilities.

And seeing how I got the canvas at the Goodwill and learning that

you just keep painting over and over, layer after layer  until you get something you like.

What do I have to lose?

 

Until later.  Thanks for stopping by.

{give it a go}...

A Sundance catalog painting by artist Rebecca Puig, inspired my painting.

I really found the painting unique so I thought "just give it a go and try

it yourself".

She's titled expressing thanks.

My painting is a personal reflection of me . 

 And when I display it in my home it speaks directly

to, or perhaps is speaking to me from my soul. 

Jeanne Carbonetti said "that when we create from the unity of

body, mind, and spirit, we are one with our muse, and our work

is always original, and always powerful".

I think she's correct.

the inspiration

{continuing pages for Christmas Art jOURNaL}...

A few page options for my Christmas Journal.

I've included a couple of magazine pictures I have been saving to use in the journal

along with a couple of altered photos.

 

 The page below includes more personal Christmas items.  Along with one

of the same magazine photos.

I plan to use one of these 1st two photo layouts as the first page in the journal. Then beginning with page 2 I will

begin the family photo pages interspersed with all sorts of non tradition page sizes and items.

 

The 2 photos below are from the box I packed these ornaments in last year.

 I'm not sure which of these photos I perfer.

But I think they will be on the inside back cover.

Before I can assemble the pages I will need to decide what will be on the outside back cover and page 2.  I have begun the first of the family photos from 1972.  But haven't any idea about the back cover yet.

But enough time has been spent on this for now.

 

I didn't get enough takers for my photo challenge to do a post.  But if Eden still wants to send hers I will post it.  Thanks Eden, maybe next time more will join it.  I think maybe you have to have hundreds of viewers for a challege to work.

{from photograph to faux painting and challenge}...

I set out to create a piece of art in red and yellows.  Not colors I usually work with.

Using only PSE, and a bit of luck with my layering I came up with this.

I am really pleased with the results.



Once I created the photo I attached it to a 3" wide styoform block that I had prepared with a

plaster texture.  This allows it to sit on a table or hang on a wall.  It's now at the Raven Cafe

Collage Show.



Below is the original photo from moguefile.com  

I don't have all of the layers available to show as I work with so many combinations

it's difficult to remember which one's I keep. 

But after doing a bit of cropping, and a hue/saturation to tone down the colors

I tried a Gaussian blur, which I often try, but rarely keep as the results seem to just create an out of focus photo.  And not in a pleasing way.  But this time it looked really great and showed real promise.  I then add a greenish yellow layer a couple of times and grunged it up a bit with some brushes.

 

It's just amazing how this nice photo can become so much more.

If you took a dozen people, even a hundred people they would all come up with just as many

other amazing results.

 

Which suggests.

 Why not offer a challenge.  Is anyone game?  What can you do with this photo?

Here' the link to the original photo.  http://morguefile.com/archive/display/690489

As these photos are free to use I don't think this is a problem.

 

If you leave a comment to let me know you'd like to participate I'll know who to wait for

and collect everyone's

photo for a later post.

 

Just email me your photo and I will post all the results here.

My email is at the top right column.

 

No rules.  Just do your own thing.

 

I hope you will join in.

{last hurrah for summer flowers}...

" they" say Summertime is coming to it's  official end this weekend.

But our temps are still well into the 80's  (which is a very summertime heat) and yes the wild sunflowers are in full bloom.  But I'm not quite ready to bring in the yellow sunflowers.

 Yet.

So after bring in some fresh cut Echinacea flowers.  I shot a few photos of the old dried

Echinaceas.  Then spent too much time playing with them in PSE.  But I enjoyed every moment

of it.  I haven't been in PSE much this summer so it was time well enjoyed.

 

There are sooooo many choices in photo editing and I always wonder why I am so attracted to

whatever it is I see in them that is so beautiful to me.  Why this combination of layers?   Rather than another?   So when I came across the following quote from Carl Jung.  I knew I was not alone in my wondering.  And that there must be something to it.

 

Trust that which gives you meaning

 and accept it as your guide. ~ Carl Jung

 

Now if I just knew where is was guiding me!

 



{Raven Art Show}...

I'm excited to let all of you locals know that I will have several pieces of art

at the Raven Cafe.

I'm with a great group of Collage Artists

that will have our art displayed until Oct 7.

The Raven is a really fun cafe in downtown Prescott.

Opening reception is this Thursday, August 30th from 5-7 pm.

I may not be able to get there until 5:30.  So I hope you'll wait around for me

I love to see you.