Swallowcliff's Art

Coming to Terms With Purging...

2012-01-25T10:41:00.000-07:00

Since the day after Christmas my plan has been to downsize my studio supplies. Okay! My hoards!

So, for most days since then, I have slowly meandered out to one of my rooms thinking " I will get rid of at least one thing today." It has not been happening. I look at something and that little devil voice in the back of my head whispers to me "you know if you throw that away, I am going to make an idea pop into your head that uses that very thing, and you will not have it available!" I like having things available here, not having to shop for something, because, as you know, shopping is almost null and void around my neck of the boonies.

And then there is the fact that I have been not feeling well, and well, you know what kinds of pitsy decisions you make when you don't feel well. So really, not much has happened with my purge. I did throw away some bin lids that I tried to throw away last year when I got into this "something has to go" mode, but HRH thought I should hang onto them, just in case. I stored them over the book case, and there they have been for a year. So, I tossed them into the garbage bins. He asked me if I fully intended to throw them away and I said in a very definite voice "Yes, you talked me out of it last year but that is not going to happen this year." They have since been hauled away to trash heaven, thank goodness. So, once I got passed that hurdle, (HRH and I have a tendency to talk each other out of throwing things away, lol), yesterday was easier.

I decided before I went to the garage that my target was to empty the wallpaper storage bin. I never use wall paper anymore...a couple of years back I used some of it but, now I know I don't LIKE it...so into the trash bins it went, along with some colored cellophane rolls, some cash register rolls, and other papers I never use.

Deep breathe here, some of that paper is hard to part with! But now that it is in the trash bins, for almost 24 hours, I am actually thinking relief, lol.

I am hoping to be able to target more hoards of things that I DO NOT LIKE TO USE and get rid of it. I think this year is the year I am really going to be able to purge...

Rolls of wall papers and adding machine rolls...GONE!

Rolls of cellophone and sheets of craft foam...GONE

Left overs from the "witches" project from last fall...GONE!

Boxes of ephemera... well, we will see...seriously-I use this stuff but not all!

Boxes of assemblage parts...maybe...

Books...definitely needs to be down sized...

This grouping of paint...maybe...sometimes I make a project where I try to use as much of this stuff as possible but dang, this stuff goes a very long way unless it is one you really love...it is always almost empty, you know? I find that yellow and blue is hard to find in this group...does that say something?

Rubber stamps...most of them will go...I am keeping my hand carved ones...and a couple of others...

Ribbons...or yeah, most them need to go...um, starting with these two boxes...

Craft sticks and such...ummmmm???

Files and files and files...yep, most of these need to go...

Book covers... well, this is getting into a gray area...

All kinds of papers and card stock...okay...I hardly ever use a plain colored piece of paper or card stock but dang, it hard to put them into a trash bin...

Okay, maybe most of this, but definitely NOT the book binding tools, lol

This, that, and other sundries...do I really need my diplomas on the wall still?

Too much thread...

Stacks of fabric... I am so going to only keep pieces I love love love!

Only fabrics that are artsy looking...

Now these are my untouchables... markers, pens, pencils, chalks, drawing supplies...

Shoe box sized greeting card storage... hmmm, I don't really use them that much...

Well, I am proud of myself for at least getting over the first hurdle with the wallpaper rolls...

Related to PURGE

Synonyms: cleanse, purify, sanctify

Related Words: amend, improve, refine; heal,regenerate, restore; elevate, ennoble, uplift; absolve,acquit, clear, exonerate, vindicate

Near Antonyms: corrupt, debase, debauch, defile,degrade, demean, deprave, pervert, stain, warp; poison,profane, prostitute; sully, tarnish

[-]hide

I am thinking that the related words to Purge might help...I like IMPROVE, REFINE, CLEAR..

This started out as a "since I don't feel like creating, I might as well get a jump on some spring cleaning" activity.

And I have no idea where it will end... but, for now I am enjoying much less crowded paper rolls bin...

And for those of you who are saying...I should give this stuff to someone who could use them...you have to realize...I LIVE in the boonies and there is not many available places...so I am not going to try to hang onto the stuff hoping to find a good home for it... nope...if I am truly to let it go...it has to go the easiest route...the reason it is still here is because of that "share the gold" mentality. I have found not too many people like what I like out here in the high desert place I live.

Dyeing Experiment For a Yoolie!

2012-01-23T11:34:00.002-07:00

Remember last fall...when Rice started a Yoolie sensation, I ran out to the thrift shop and found several tops I though I could alter into Yoolies. I made the first one out of the ugliest top, it was one of my fave colors tho, so I do like it and have worn it several times...and it is so comfortable. Then I made another...same color but from a cotton knit sweater. I have worn it too and like it but it still needs some tweaking...namely the neck is now about three times as big as when it started out, even though I did machine stitch around it and then hand stitched around it. I am trying to work out a solution for that. The sweater knit was much harder to alter than the sweat shirt fabric. But, today, I wanted to show you the newest finished Yoolie. When I was shopping for the shirts, I found four 100% cotton sweatshirts in white. After my experiences with the first two Yoolies...I realized I wanted a bit of a different design for this one. The first Yoolie, although I like it, is too short-I prefer a longer looking top... and the second is too big necked, (lol). So, since I had a kind of knit cape top that I like, I used that as inspiration for this Yoolie. I cut up 3 of the four sweatshirts, and sewed the parts together to make a cape. Cut the shape, and then I got to play with my newly purchased fabric dye. I tied the shirt with string in several stages, hung it from a hook in the ceiling, and lowered it into the dye at intervals. I had no idea what it would look like after this process! But, here are the photos:

I cut one sweatshirt up the sides and opened the sleeves.

Then using pieces cut from two other sweatshirts I filled in the notch between the sides and the

sleeves. After that I cut the cape bottom rounding the corners.

After the dyeing experience...I ended up with a mottled blue Yoolie, which I like.

Then I stitched around the raw edges without turning them using a darker blue. Isn't this just a yummy yummy blue!

My next step was to find a "patch" to put on it. I found a piece of fabric I had stained a year or two ago that was greenish with some blue in it, and then I found some buttons from my button bin in blues and greens...

The patch and the buttons give it the "artsy" look I wanted...

And now I will be happy to wear this when I go out to the village next time!

Just so you know, I have been working on this since last November or December! I have not had a lot of energy to use towards projects. OMG, I hope that changes soon!

And now, I have to search for another one of my "Yoolie possiblilities" and start another one!

Four More Inky Faces

2012-01-18T17:16:00.005-07:00

Yep, I thought I had scanned all of the faces but a little nagging voice in the back of my head kept saying...no no no, you made more! So, today, I checked and there they were! I am posting them even though my friend made a selection of the ones already posted. We could change faces if she feels the need, lol.

Too old...

Too splotchy...

A possibility...

Wonky... lol

These seemed a bit wonky to me. I found the process of doing these went like this: The first two were way off from what I wanted and the eyes were so wrong, so I did a couple of eyes studies to see if I could work out the angles and such. Then the next four faces were more on target. Then the next four faces with color were age appropriate but color was not an option and they did not work well when scanned in black and white. Then the last four faces, theses above were moving back into wonkiness, lol.

The face chosen will be the cover of a book that will be released in April or so...a memoir of childhood as remembered by the author. It will be available in paperback and ebook I believe. Wow!

All The Inky Efforts Up to Now

2012-01-16T09:28:00.000-07:00

After several pages I needed to work on the eyes so I did a couple of eye studies, trying to work out the shape plus the eyes need to be confused or scared looking...

I got angry ones

And wonky ones...

And back to faces.. I think this one is good...

And this one is different...

So I decided to try some in color...sort of like the 50's pop art work...

Green and red inks but they are watered down... today I am going to try some with darker colors...

My scan program decided to crop this one a bit but I thought it added a bit of mystery to the over all look...

This is what she looks like in total...

And the blue one below looks like this if printed in b and w...

Blue and purple washes....

Purple and yellow ink washes...

This is an ongoing interesting project for me. I usually don't keep doing the same thing over and over... I don't know when I will be able to stop... it depends on if my friend decides she like one...

If she does, I will tell you the next step!

Inkyfaces 3 and 4

2012-01-15T11:29:00.001-07:00

Number 3

Number 4

I am posting the faces I am working on in the order I created them. As you can see, these two are more childlike...

Ink Faces 1 & 2

2012-01-14T15:57:00.000-07:00

I have this special project I am working on for a friend. She wants a face with a certain look. I am quite amazed at how many different looks you can get using one face as inspiration. I think, after about 10 or 12 faces, I am about to reach the "look" she wants. At least I hope so. The two faces I am showing today are like my first and second try, and they are definitely not the look she wants, but they did give me some practice with using ink and washes, something I haven't played with for some time. I like these faces and they will go into my art scrap book. If I ever reach the goal of the face she likes, that one will go to her.

This was my very first effort. My friend wants a child...she looks way too old... but it is an interesting face, don't you think?

Okay, maybe this one looks a bit younger...but still way too old. She looks angry or mad though,

So, I will keep making more faces until I get it right... the more you practice with a medium the more you know how to manipulate it to get the look you want!

Small Creative Efforts

2012-01-11T19:59:00.001-07:00

First things first-strathmore class. This is the doodling lesson.

I used found items to stencil two sheets of paper...

Then added painting and doodling ....

Made bright colorful painting... what shall I do with these pages?

Then, I prepared a book to make a Book of Days book... tearing out about every 3rd page... the paper in this book is really nice and creamy if a bit dry and fragile...

Then, using stenciling... I painted the book and added a bit of doodling... yep, the same technique as the strathmore class... it worked okay for the book cover. The original book's name was Adventures in Music and it was an early 1940s if I remember right... I taped over the adventures on the spine to retain that part of the name then added adventures on the front edge...

The inside cover I covered with a tyvek envy with a good buy to 2011 letter inside...

and then, decided since this is a book for 2012 I would greet that year too...

I had decided last fall I would use the word Trust for my focus word for 2012... so I did a spread on that in one of my other journals while I waited for the BOD to dry up good.

I thought I wanted to use the word Trust for 2012. So, while thinking about it, I decided the reason why is because my trust is rather rusty... so, when the BOD was dry enough, I did another spread in it.

The problem I have now is I don't like this word, I don't want it to be my focus word and I don't have another word I can work on instead.

Duh!

So, perhaps I will be focus wordless for 2012.

Just kidding!

And the last fun thing I have done lately is to play with the oldest car girl. We decided to "scan" her face on the scanner. She had fun with this idea!

First try, she was a bit shakey...

Second try better and she liked it cuz it "looks like a heart."

First scan cropped...

So, what creative things have you been playing with?

Journal Pages and Doodles

2012-01-04T19:02:00.001-07:00

I have been sick so not much art going on around here. I did feel better today so a couple of journal pages and some doodles occurred.

This is in reference to my focus word for 2012-Trust. I plan to grow my trust level. I am not sure how I will be doing it, but it will be my focus.

Since my sketch book sits next to my recliner, I dug it out and decided to play for a few minutes. I was glad to read in the new CPS that the census on bird art showed that most of us still like birds...and I am definitely going to be doing some bird things this year~

I found the writing (in black) somewhere unrecalled. I tore it out and pasted on this page for a future journaling activity. Everytime I flipped through my journal, I would think "this looks like a dress." I think the words are in reference to having cancer. I have decided I am tired of all the hype over cancer. So, I made a banner with the big pink C and at the bottom it says, C is for Courage, for Carol, for communicating, etc etc. I guess this does not help someone who is in the throes of battling cancer, like my friend Lisa, but it makes me feel better to know there are other things C can stand for, like courage! So, to Lisa, myself and anyone else who needs... here's to Courage, Companions, Confidence, Caring, and any other C word you want to put here!

Fabric Batik

2011-12-30T19:20:00.001-07:00

So, I gathered up some tools...measuring things, notes,

and I dug out the beginner's kit + some extra dyes,

and I found my prewashed ready to dye 100% cotton big cover up I bought at the thrift shop a while back.

And I made sure I had a clock handy to time the process.

I mixed up two dyes, one dark green and one lemon yellow and put them in two tubs.

After stamping and playing in wax to make patterns on the hoodie, I put half of it in the green dye and half of it in the yellow dye.

Here is a close up of the stamping starting to show through the dye.

As the fabric stayed in the dye, I agitated it every few minutes with a big spoon.

Once the time was up, I added some soda ash and let it keep dying for another 30 minutes. Then took the hoodie to the sink and rinsed it thoroughly and hung it up to dry. Then I ironed the whole shirt using unprinted news print to remove as much was as possible. Then into the washer and this photo is what it looks like now.

This is the back... it still has the wax on it here...

This is the front still waxed and wet...

So, I rather like this shirt. I will see if I still like it when I try it on tomorrow when it all dryed and ironed.

The batiking was a fun project. I learned a few things like metal things put the wax onto the fabric best. I am going to just dye some fabrics now, with out the batiking. It will be much easier. I like the idea that I can overdye another color so I am going to try that too.

Dying takes patience which I know I don't do well with. I have found that if I can switch to another project while I wait for things to dry, or in this case dye, I do better. So, while I waited for the dye bath timing, I worked on another cloche using two colors of very soft cordoroy. It turned out fun!

And I also gave the deep purple cloche a dip into hot water and put it on the hat block ball so when it dried, I could give it a shot of the felt hat stiffener.

I like this hat. I think a nice broch on it will be nice. Or a little green frog, lol.

So, today I feel pretty good about my creative endeavors!

Getting Clocher...Er, I Mean Closer

2011-12-28T14:36:00.000-07:00

I really like the look of the 1920's cloche hat. Recently I found a "reproduction" pattern for them. I have been playing with my wool pieces, trying to make one that fits me "just right."

My first effort is made from an aqua and purple wool felted sweater. I love this sagy green and the purple is okay.

I had to trim the brim and I added a flower to embellish it. I am not too sure I am done with this yet. I think some more embellishing might be in order...just have to figure out what that will be.

The hat is a bit too long. The crown does not sit right down on my head like I wanted it to do.

This is a very deep purple upcycled piece of wool. Nice, it almost looks dark navy blue. I took an inch off the bottom of the crown pieces.

It fits me much better. I need to block it now and add the embellishments.

I am going to try another one soon...

I think the felted wool fabric makes perfect cloches!

And, am also playing with rocks, lol. I know, nothing new in that, he he.

Altered Book-A Woman of Property

2011-12-26T08:57:00.002-07:00

I fell in love with altered book making about eight or so years ago.

I have always loved books... they are my very best of friends and always have been. My mother taught me to turn to reading for all the ups and downs life sends me. She always said "friends will come and go, but a good book will always be there for you."

So, when I discovered the idea of altering a book I dived right in. I did not do a very good job, although I do still have my very first altered book. But, when I was in Vegas a couple of years ago, I saw some books that had been sawed into shapes. (Sorry, it has been to long for me to remember who had those books). But, since I always have a plethora of books around I sawed a few thinking I would see what I could make of them.

Nothing, they are still in the cupboard waiting to be altered. But, I read this book called A Woman of Property, by Mabel Seeley. It was not a very good book per se, but I did relate to the main character in that she worked her whole life to become a woman of property thinking that that would make her become "one of them", especially for the man she loved who belonged to the upper eschelon of the area, so they could be together.

It did not work, poor soul.

I could feel her drive and her pain... I think I tried to become something I was not for so many years, trying to fit in, to please, to belong. My main objective was to be number one, the chosen one, in the eyes of another.

It did not work for me either.

Any way, the book moved me and so I took a profile from a magazine, drew out the ladies head, cut the book into that shape. I then removed many of the pages, glued the remaining ones together to make a few heavy pages. If you have ever done this you know the book gets a bit soggy and it takes a while for it to dry. I kept the book around my studio, and every once in awhile I would find something to put into it. Not much but a few things I added. The vintage sequined piece I put on the front because it reminded me of something rather pretentious. The edges of the pages were ugly so I added beads to them. I wired a row of pearls on one, I sewed a red seed bead necklace to one, and I sewed some blues one on another. Then the book was forgotten. But this last week or so, I picked it up again and beaded the other pages. Now, I am ready to finish it. I think it is looking pretty good so far

I am now going to add somethings about "being yourself" to the pages...

The sequined head dress and bead edges are lovely...but don't change the fact that the book was boring, lol

Once in a while I added a few background papers to some of the pages...

The section titles I liked so I made sure they were left when I was cutting out the extra pages...

First sight and second sight were the two parts of the book... that seems to point me towards something...

Sometimes I empty brushes from another project, or a piece of tape...

The silver paint left over from another project gives the woman a face...

Each time I work on this book, it reminds me to forget those who don't already value me as a part of their world...

Journaling, Collaborating, Collaging

2011-12-20T12:00:00.000-07:00

Do you ever happen on someone's blog, and you just have to give their technique or idea a try. I do that often. Today, I worked on some pages from this lady's blog: http://katthorsen.wordpress.com/

I will be interested to see where her journal prompts take me. This first scan is the result of prompts 1-3. I combined them all into one. You are to start with free conconcious writing. Then you list the words into negative and postive lists. Then you make a drawing of a heart, and add words to the heart drawing...the words you have used that really affect your heart. I still have to add the words. I started with a gessoed spread, then wrote on the left page and sorted on the right page. I decided rather than do another page with the heart drawing, I would just do it on this spread. I used my new Portfolio oil pastels and an aquabrush to do the drawing. One thing I like about doing journal pages is you can try out new art supplies to see what you can do with them. If they don't work out, it's no big deal.

For page four, we just did a collage, just to relax and have fun. I had a box of black and white images so decided to use those. Then I began adding the yellows to brighten it up. By the time I was finished I had the distinct feeling this collage was a direct result of having lived in a foggy overcast environment for what seems like months, although it has only been a few weeks. So this is my "looking for sunshine" spread.

It does cheer me up a bit, lol...

And my friend Lori from the sketchbook group sent me an art journal to share with other artists in a collaboration. Here is the first page I did in it.

The first step, I used a stencil I made from a magazine...the girls face. I have used this stencil before and I am always happy with it's image. This time, I used regular paintable bathroom caulking on the stencil, which gives the eye brows eyes nose and mouth a 3-D effect. Once that was dry, I washed the face with acrylic to model it. I keep noodling with this page. I am not sure why. I don't really like this but I do like it... I wanted to add some really bright colors, but that didn/t happen. I think because my inner critic interferred. I still might do somemore to her.

I Won!

2011-12-17T07:32:00.002-07:00

I don't know about you, but I am not very lucky when it comes to winning give a ways. But, yesterday, I recieved this darling book in the mail. I won it! My car girls are going to love it. It is a fun story and has great art work in it. So, thanks for the book...from which ever blog I signed up for it. I am ashamed to say I can't remember the blog or the name or what I had to do to win. (my age and thyroid deficit is showing). But I did want them to know I appreciate it and it is so much FUN to win something!

Thanks to Jenny Sue the author, and the blogger who drew my # or name!

Paper Weight Dolls

2011-12-15T17:34:00.000-07:00

You remember the pink fairy from a couple of weeks ago? She was the first of three dolls I planned to make. I finally got the heads for the other two sculpted, thanks to Terri Brush's encouragement through her fantastic online class. I have to tell, you, that my mixed media art world has expanded since I took her class here in UT, and the dolls are just one example of that.

I never considered myself a doll maker. If you knew some of my online friends from three or four years ago, or maybe longer even, they would tell you I was adamant that I did not make dolls. Now, lately, I seem to be making more and more of them. I love creating unusual assemblage dolls! I think assemblage is so much fun because you have to solve how to put unusual things together.

I call these dolls paper weights because I filled the glass globes with glass decorative globs (or whatever they are called, lol) and they would make very good paper weights. How, would you like one of these on your desk keeping your papers from wafting around in the...um air conditioning? JK

Or, can you just see your earrings hanging from her cute little wings sitting on your dressing table?

These plaster hearts are going along slowly... mostly because I am not sure what (and they haven't told me) they will be when they grow up.

I am still playing with felt pieces...hearts are new

but cats are old.

I got an unexpected package in the mail. It came from my friend Lori W over in sketchbook group and she sent me a journal. It is supposed to be a cooperative journal. I am to do two or three pages then send it on to someone else. Eventually, it will return to Lori and her very special Art Camp for Women group.

This is the beginning of my first page. Lori...if you see this...are you sure I was supposed to have one of your journals? And anyone else, if you want to collaborate on this journal send me your addy via my email, and I will send it to you when I am through.

My second in line Granddaughter, KKK, brought me these two books today, as her Mom and her knew I was wishing for a really good book to help me get through the uglies...I am talking about our weather. We are socked in with gray cloudy foggy smoggy absolutely no sunshine...not unusual for our area really but happening way too early in the winter cuz once it arrives it usually stays for weeks! Nothing better than a good book to escape into! And I really have been wanting to read this series! So, thanks girls!

And I have played on Yearbookyourself.com site before, but it is always a fun place to play so I thought I would share with you. I really laugh at these altered photos. You just have to take a picture, and then you can download it and the site makes a year book like picture of you. I think this one is so funny... I was never a hippy, I was in the group of "too late for the fifties and too early for the hippies, lol.

Creative Winter Cycle

2011-12-13T09:32:00.000-07:00

Over on Creative Everyday, a guest post talks about cycles and asked "What do you to do honour and embrace your personal creative winters? " referring to the cycles of creativity we all go through. In my head, if the creative cycles can be attached to seasons, right now is my winter. I have no stirrings inside to go to the studio and try this or try that. My creative juices seem to be frozen. But, looking at this in the light of "seasons" lets my inner critic say...wait, soon the spring thaw will come, and the creative roots and seeds will begin to grow and grow and eventually become something fruitful. Deep breath, and thankfulness for this bit of "winter hibernation".
Not, that I am totally NOT creating...I am just doing some art things that are just mundane...some art journaling, and a bit of embroidery on wooly things that I never finished when I was in the throes of wild abandoned creating last fall. This is creating without an end in sight, just playing to be playing.

Now see, I am already loving my winter! I keep picking up this wooly cat in the evenings and just randomly sewing on it with no definite plan in mind. It is a happy looking little creation!

Covered in Roses

2011-12-08T14:28:00.001-07:00

Or not!

This page today is in response to being disillusioned with something in my life. I won't say what... as it is a personal thing. But for a couple of weeks I have been quarreling in my head with the pros and cons of all kinds of actions. I have finally decided to just accept the weak and unprofessional ways of some people I am interacting with, and go on with life. The page says "Not everything in life is going to be covered with roses." I think that says it all. Can you see the girl covered in yellow roses?
I did a bit of journaling around the edges about the specific situation that has been bothering me. I think I am almost to the point now, to stop the mental wrestling match, and enjoy my happy, trusting, creative life!

This is a spread that I did last winter. I had pages of naked girl bodies (some of you might remember those) I made using a stencil. I collaged one of those on the right. And, a couple of years ago, milliande did a quick tute on making rose stamps using a styrofoam tray. The yellow roses are stamped using the stamp and yellow and orange acrylics. Yellow roses are a special to HRH...being raised in TX and all, ya'll.

I think the blue background part was tinted blue gesso with scrapings which left the lighter colored lines, where I journaled about life sending the stinky and the sweet things to us...sometimes it's a skunk and sometimes it's roses!

The blue writing is oil pastels,

I am pretty sure that before the gesso and the roses and the collage, there was a basic colored background but it has been too long to remember.

What I am finding is that I really do enjoy having pages ready to journal on. This spread just happened to fit with what I wanted to say today.

I need to get busy and do some more backgrounds!

Heh, I was going to give up creating but I haven't. I will be posting some more cats, and ornament boxes soon.

Back to Art Journaling

2011-12-06T08:34:00.001-07:00

I decided to art journal again. I think I need to. I have some "issues" I need to work through and art journaling is the very very best way to do that! My friend Lani, over in 14 secrets has been following the "occupy" movement, and then yesterday, she threw out the prompt of "what will you occupy?" Or, what will occupy you? Since, I am kind of at a cross roads of what kind of art I will be doing next, I thought I would start my art journaling re-entry with this prompt. Thanks, Lani, for the prompt! It is an interesting idea...something to mull around and play with mentally, as well as creatively.

Last year, I spent lots of time art journaling. I prepped pages in several journals with gesso, and some random color...using up left overs from other projects. Some days I just added random words or collage snippets. Once I had located one of these journals, I sketched in the face because the last entry had a self portrait with the words, what do you do on a cold gray day? A portrait of course. I did not want to spend the time noodling with a self portrait per se, so I just quickly sketched in the face, painted it with acrylics, collaged things from a box of ripped out images from various sources, using my 2" punch to isolate the images I wanted to use. I have my mom, a swallow image, myself, and a couple of other ones there. I wrote occupy with oil pastels, added some detail with a dark/shadow drawing pencil. I probably will go back to this and develop it more someday. I found the pre prepped pages to be very dry after six months or so, and I really liked the feel of them to work on.

Hope you all are having a great month!

Loose Ends Creations

2011-12-05T12:15:00.001-07:00

I am finishing up all my projects in the studio today and tomorrow. Then, I said to myself, I am not doing any more creations. However, just as I am saying this, I remembered I just signed up for the Terri Brush online class. So, I will be creating some things after all. Hopefully, not too much.

Here is what I have been doing the last few days.

I so enjoyed making the previous shrine (from last post or so) from a book cover, that when I ran onto this cover I had to make another one.

The book was "Famous Poems"... very vintage.

And I had this wooden piece setting on my art desk so decided to put it ON a book cover... after I added a picture and more flowers. I am thinking I might keep this one for awhile...

It has a secret compartment in the back...well, slightly secret, lol...

And lovely ladies on the back

And the front...

I finally got Catty a dress made...from a vintage dresser scarf...

She is looking finished...well, maybe a bow and a button from being finished...

And got some heads sculpted for these ladies to be...

I really thought once I finished all these projects I would just switch over to art journaling for a while. I am not too sure JFG Mamas is going to keep working as my selling connection and since I have no place to store creations... well, have to stop! But, you know, if I am not creating I am really un happy so journal pages will be substituted!

A Shrine

2011-12-03T15:07:00.001-07:00

Yes, I made another shrine today. I had an Epiphany in the night that I might could solder one together. Well, soldering didn't work...except around the door, so that is the only thing I soldered. I like how this one turned out.

The soldered door...

A peek inside...

A side view...

Nostalgic Thrifting

2011-12-02T16:36:00.001-07:00

When I was in 4th grade, I learned to sew. I started out with pot holders, and then moved on to cloth napkins, and then aprons, and from there on skirts and blouses. I had to sew my own clothes because I was tall and thin and nothing ever fit me right. In JHS I fell in love with border print skirts, and since my Mom was thrilled with me sewing my own clothes at big savings, she bought me lots of fabrics. And sometimes, friends would buy one from me if they happened to love the border print. And that was okay by me cuz then I could buy more fabric and never have to keep wearing the same outfit over and over.

By the time I started HS, I was six foot tall and had to lengthen all articles of clothing by at least 5 in. I had to add inches to waist, sleeves and skirts. But, by that time I was a very good seamstress so that was easy enough for me to do.

Our HS had a sewing teacher that taught tailoring...I loved that class. In the late 50's early 60's coat dresses were "the fashion statement". And dresses with big collars and bell skirts... Since I was very thin and tall, I could wear the coat dresses easily. I still remember many of the dresses I sewed back then.
And then, on Wednesday, we had to go to the city for Drs. appointments, I got to have a little "thrifting" time. Amazingly, I found some wool pieces that reminded me of my HS wardrobe. I am dismantling the wools but thought I would share my thrifty finds with you today.

The wool in this jacket is almost identical in color and in pattern to a coat dress I tailored...since I was thin, I was always cold and so wool dresses and big bulky sweaters was my thing...

I love the colors, you can actually see red, magenta, turquoise, purples...

And I found a long blue wool coat, styled like the long wool coats I used to wear...very tailored heavy blue wool... love it! I wet felted it and now it is drying...hopefully a new hat!

I will trim the edges of the hat and maybe do some wool embellishments, once it is dry... this is all an experiment so who knows if the hat will be wearable? I used to love to wear hats too. Still do actually. Lately, I have been wearing lots of ball cap type hats but I am moving back to something a bit more feminine...

And this 100% wool sweater is exactly like one I had in HS, except the one I had was red...

I loved that red sweater and I was so upset and sad when I lost it...left it on a bench at Disneyland and of course did not get it back...I have thought of that sweater so many times since then...I just never got over losing it!

I don't know what I will be making with the felted wool from these items, but it was fun to journey back through time because of them...

Shrines, Stuffies, Dyes, and my Chairs

2011-11-29T21:32:00.001-07:00

According to Carol Owen, a shrine is an enclosure for displaying objects of personal significance. A few years back I made some little shrines. They are all gone to other homes, except for one. I keep it, and I still love it. It not a piece of art that I have grown tired of and wanted to send on to a new home. This week I have been designing some new little shrines to take to JFGs. Hope someone falls in love with them!

Little palace looking buildings...

One with a guardian within its embrace...

One with handmade papers and a dragonfly for it's guardian, although he is rather hard to see in the glare of the upper part...

This one's guardian is a little bird...I am sorry people, I am still in love with birds, even if some people are thinking they are tired of them...I have daily visits from all kinds of birds where I live...today, two hawks...maybe Job has found his true love!

The stuffie I started with the 100% scottish wool...

Is looking better everyday, and so is his little strange buddy...

In this box, is my next project...it's from dharma trading...

On a more personal note, I took this picture because I had been thinking I wanted a new dining set. I have had these vintage chairs for quite a while for me. I recovered them a few years back...you could view that process if you go back in time here on my blog. But, when I was cleaning house on Monday, I had the chairs in the family room and realized, I still really love these chairs, the table not so much, so I don't think I do want a new dining set. Maybe just a new table...

Boxes and Wool

2011-11-26T16:45:00.001-07:00

This morning I finished up some unfinished projects. I had two boxes I have been working on. They are not beautiful. I always think I am going to decorate these boxes and make them beautiful, but for some reason, they never are. But, they are fun and someone might like to have them for a jewelry box or a keepsake box.
I finished up my commissioned ornament box too. I really like it.
And I felted some wool and started another cat...bigger than my usual ones. I see stuffing and stitching in the unforseeable future, lol.

I put this box on a pedastal...not so good... it is fine when closed but tips when you open it. HRH told me this would not work but I didn't listen... I may have to do some design adjustments...if something comes to mind!

The top of the box in pretty nice...

The inside has red with a gold lace across it...

The other box is black with silver on it...very tiny legs so it sits nicely, lol...

The interior is actually black but the camera red it...I don't know, mauve?

And the starting of the cat...

The third box I finished was an ornament, the picture of it is on my phone I guess... it doesn't pay to have too many photo devices around... you think you have a photo but you don't, hehe.

Sock Making

2011-11-25T16:09:00.001-07:00

While Mom and Dad went Black Fridaying... the car girls decided they would like to make some stockings. We dung into the fabric stash and found some green velvet...perfect, dug out buttons, ribbons, trims, glitter, and such. The two oldest car girls were able to draw, cut out, and design their own. Littlest car girl needed her's drawn and cut and sewed but she picked out the design elements and told me how to put them on the stockings... we had a fun creative day!

Age 4...she is very creative and knows exactly how she wants things!

Age 11...she is getting so big and independent!

Age 8...she too is very creative...and she loves the new left handed scissors I bought just for her!

Whoops, this one calls for a re-take, lol.

Ahhh, much better and very proud of her creation!

And my left hander... also very proud of her creation too!

Birds

2011-11-25T08:45:00.001-07:00

On Wednesday, we traveled to a near by (30 miles) town. There, a national meeting of Falconers was being held. I don't know what I expected, but I am so glad I went! The birds are awesome to see up close. I did feel rather sorry for them too. It is not natural for them to be tethered. Nor is it natural for them to be carried around on someone's arm. But, having said that, I know it is a very OLD sport, and there are people who are passionate about their sports... we accept diversity. The birds are so beautiful... we got to talk to a man from Houston who filled us in on a bit of information about falconry and the different species of hawks and falcons used to hunt...

A field full of majestic birds...

The one in the front looks like the hawk that stays around our yard, the one we call "Job"...

Many different colored hawks or falcons on display...

A welcome sign with information for viewers...

A very large golden eagle...

Plus this guy...

A horned owl... seemed to be the biggest of all the birds...

And this little falcon was the smallest... about the size of a robin...

He has a cute little stripedy face...

As an artist, birds are one of my favorite subjects... so I really enjoyed seeing all these special breed...

And in keeping with the bird theme...my car girls and I spent a bit of time making cookie and candy turkeys to hold name tags for dinner...

They and I had so much fun making the turkeys, lol.

Day 21 of Creative Everyday Challenge

2011-11-21T17:08:00.001-07:00

It doesn't seem like Creative Everyday has been going for 21 days, but what do I know, lol. Today I got to play in my studio with some dolls and an ornament. And, yesterday, when I was out on the deck, I peeled a layer of ice from the bird bath and stood it up thinking I might make something with ice. We will see...

I started this little lady in the Terri Brush workshop last week. When reading "supplies to bring" before the workshop, a globe was mentioned. I went shopping but found no globe. I did find two of these pink and one turquoise glass thingies at a thrift shop, all for $1. These seem to be some sort of candle holding device but must have had something else with them... A protrusion of glass made a nice connection for the clay head to attach to. The hat I found at a thrift shop too... it actually was a little pin made to put a fresh flower in but looks so cute on her. The wings are recycled from a discarded elf doll given to me by Gypsy Mama. And the hat pendulum-a glass tree ornament I think, I am sure must have come from a thrift shop or YSM. Her body is filled with crystals from an old crystal chandelere from the YSM too. Her necklace from the scratch and dent stores. I feel she is all done now, thanks to Terri for the inspiration! She is so cute!

This is a big jar that was filled with pasta...one of those gift ideas I believe, from a year or few back, lol. The head is a ceramic ball. I found two of the balls at the scratch and dent store a few years ago, and painted faces on them. The faces have been hanging around in my studio, waiting for my intended completion of making dolls. I just never quite felt like I had found the right body, ya know? But last week I went to the thrift shop and found the big jar and it was just the right size and shape for the head. I think this will become my new cookie/candy jar for the car girls.

My friend Jen, over at JFGM's gave me this broken bird, no head. I brought it home and since I have the glass grinder out, I smoothed off the broken neck...

Found a head from my box of doll parts that fits the body size...

Gave her a layer of solder on her head. Now I have to attach the head to the body, and give her some embellishments. I don't know why, but I am already in love with this girl!

I continue to work on a charm with an angel in it. I got the angel suspended today...

Terri Brush's workshop has opened up a whole new world of creativity for me!

Yesterday, when out on the deck, I peeled a layer of ice from the bird bath, and stood it up at the base of the bath thinking I might make something with the ice disks. Today, even though it snowed and has been cloudy all day, it seems the temperature was warm enough to thaw the ice disk enough it fell over and started to melt. Then, the temperature dropped and the disk re froze over some dried foliage. Rather pretty don't you think? A gift from Mother Nature. With all the things we are paying attention to in thankfulness with the season, don't forget to look for and be thankful for "unexpected" gifts!

Last but not least... I have returned to the old format so my friends can find their way around my blog!

Yoolie Number Two

2011-11-19T15:24:00.001-07:00

I made another Yoolie a couple of weeks back. But, (don't you just hate that word?) once I cut away some of the fabric and roll hemmed the edges I did not like the bottom. It looked too much like what I describe as a man's cut-away tuxedo jacket. You, know, short across the front with tail(s) in the back? I was not happy with that. I did like the little twisted tails in the front. Also, since I cut the sweater down the front, when I had it on, the top corners wanted to lay out kinda wonky like so I turned them out like lapels and stitched them in place. I hemmed the sleeves shorter than what I originally cut them and I like that better too.
Then, a light bulb went off in my head. I could put back what I had cut off in the front. So, I picked through my pile of discard fabric, found the front pieces and played around with them. I found that if I swapped sides and turned the pieces up-side-down, they made a nice flowing rounded hem to the back. Just what I wanted. So, now I am happy with this yoolie. I think I might add a little applique to it yet to brighten up the forest ranger color, lol. That is still in maybe stage. I used varigated blue embroidery floss to do the hemming, to add a bit of color to the 100% cotton knit sweater...

You can see the pieces I added back in here.

I have been playing too, with some dolls using glass containers for bodies. Here is a peek at their progress:

I am going to make the large one into a cookie jar!

I like the little winged one lots!

And, when I posted a peek of my ornaments on fb, I got an order for a commissioned piece using this darling little angel:

So, my daily creativity continues!

Trying the Heating of Craft Foam

2011-11-17T17:19:00.001-07:00

I have had pieces of craft foam in a drawer for months. I knew eventually I would find a use for it. I read about using a heat gun to heat it, press it on something and viola, a stamp! I decided to give that a try, with a voice in my head saying "well, the dang stamps could not be too great!" But, I am pleasantly surprised. I used a figurine and a shell to make these:

Left to right: one side of figurine head and arm,, wing, other side wing, head and arm, shoulder rose, and the shell... the shell reminds me of my eye con, lol.

A close up of the figurine head and arm... I think I will have fun stamping with this one!

Darker head and wing parts...

I have to find some more things to try this on!

Charms, Ornaments, Fun

2011-11-16T20:13:00.001-07:00

I really did not have a clue what Terri's workshop was going to be like when I signed up! I saw a post on Cresendoh, followed the link, saw that Terri was going to be "in my neck of the woods" and signed up. I loved the charm making, and relearning to solder. I did some of the sculpting, but found the small sizes were not easy with my stiff arthritic fingers and hands. I have a tendency to drop things too.
So, after I arrived home and started to play around, I decided to not reinvent the wheel. I dug out some rare finds, and made charms and ornaments using that. I think they are okay, not as beautiful as the hand sculpted angels, santas, and snowmen and such that other workshop attendees did. You have to do what you have to do, don't you? I did.

I have been playing with boxes to see what I could do.

Isn't this one cute?

I love that the music paper behind this one is "Hark the Harold Angels Sing". Serendipity...

How often do you find a triangle box?

Cute little wooden snow angels...

A woodsy sort of ornament...

Cute...

A poensetta charm...

A cute angel with a kinetic rhinestone swag...

A charming star...

A vintage look

A vinginette...

A swaddled baby...

And, tonight, a most beautiful sunset...

Terri Brush Workshop!

2011-11-13T09:23:00.001-07:00

Yeah! I found out that a Terri Brush workshop was going to be very close to my neighborhood...if you can call a four hour drive close, he he. HRH and I loaded up our suitcases...the most important one being the one I take to workshops full of things I just might need when I get there.
We left a day early so I could hit the thrift shops. I did find a bag of rhinestone and pearls at one... so thrilled!
The next day I arrived at a beautiful home where the hostess for the workshop showed her "artsy" style in all the right places! Thanks Lorraine for having the workshop in your lovely spaces!
The teacher, Terri Brush, and Lorraine had the tables set up with lovely trays and lovely surprises each morning when we arrived. I reconnected with some ladies from a previous workshop, The Art Nest retreats.
The first day, we spent making such fun necklace charms. I am very charmed!

These charms were so much fun to play with...

And they are double sided so what ever is showing is fun and beautiful...

Is this not beautiful if I may say so myself?

We used jewels and tinsel and glitter to make them bling...

Words, glitter, and why do some photos end up sideways?

The generous Terri gave us a beautiful blue stone we encased in class...how cool is that. She said it was very old...

Old photos and such became miniature pieces of art...

Even a photo of a early 20th century weight lifting woman is pretty...

On days two and three we began to make larger sized boxes

And we were to make a scene inside the boxes, then cover them with glass...

We started out sculpting tiny figures to go into the boxes...this was a problem for me...they were too small and I had a hard time with my old stiff fingers...

But, I did sculpt a budda... he was too fat to fit in a box so I have to make a box for him to fit in, he he..

And I started this sculpture...she might be an angel someday...

Terri gave us some cute little bottles to play with... I did get this little punky girl started...

And a larger glass box which I still need to put a scene in and finish. I did sculpt the bird, but I am not sure I like him...he rather looks like he had too much egg nog or some such thing... lol.

So, I came home with lots of partially finished projects and can't wait to get into the studio to play with them and some more. I so enjoyed the workshop, the learning curves (I learned lots), and the new and old friends there. Terri is a very capable and helpful teacher and if you ever get a chance to take one of her workshops I recommend it. You will make some lovely projects! Thanks again to Terri!

One Day On Earth Photos

2011-11-08T09:56:00.001-07:00

I signed up for this collaborative photo shoot, and you can too! The information is here:

e share the project by posting to your facebook page and twitter
account. Ask your friends to join http://www.onedayonearth.org -- feel free
to post the trailer:
http://vimeo.com/26378195

For twitter, use @onedayonearth and #onedayonearth

2) Sign into your One Day on Earth account and share what you plan to
film/shoot on 11/11/11. We have lots of groups online. You can find people
with common interests in your area or around the world via this link:
http://www.onedayonearth.org/page/find-a-group

It will be interesing to see the results, don't you think? I am not a very good photographer so I feel lucky to be able to join others who love this art form and I am sure, will post beautiful photos! I will be in a Terri Brush workshop so will post a photo of that...art must be represented! Where will you be on Friday?

The photo ideas in the picture above is for the month of November gratitude journey...this could be fun too, if you want to do that!

Vacuuming

2011-11-07T13:00:00.000-07:00

Is vacuuming your art space considered creative? Surely the answer must be a big YES! How can one create if their space is too neglected? I decided to show you the floor space in front of my art desk in the garage. I so love this space cuz I can really just let my muse take over and create, create, create. My other art spaces, not so much. I have ruined the carpet in the spare bedroom &<{ , really! And I tried to be so careful. But in my garage space...

What does it matter if those snips of paper fall on the floor rather than the trash bin? What does it matter if some drops of glue or paint fall to the floor?

My muse just loves to create out there for this reason! This strip of carpet I layed down to try to warm up the cement floor needs to be replaced now. I think next week I will be doing that. I have had this 4 ft wide roll for years so I just take a strip off long enough to lay in front of the desk and it makes it a bit warmer on the feet.

But, let's move on to "real" creating, lol.

I started two new Yoolies. I am roll hemming this one right now. It looks brown in this photo but it is really my "forest ranger green that I like". I like how the bottom curled as I rolled the edge. It makes for an interesting hang y thing, lol.

And, I finished up my map chunky book pages. They are all stacked up and ready to be put into a package to be mailed. I hate it when the sparkly layers don't show up in the photos! These are so pretty, at least I think so!

I got into drawing with my paint pens and gel pens on black when I was involved in a DOD swap. I really enjoyed how the colors popped off the black background (You can go to youtube to see a video on the DOD. The pages are beautiful. Or, if you are with me on fb, I put a link there.)

The backs of the pages-keeping with the map theme I put a compass rose there. I am very happy with the results of these chunky pages. Much more so than the previous music ones!

The next set of chunky book pages has to do with the circus I think. I am not into that very much. I am looking for inspiration for it! Any suggestions?

Boxes

2011-11-05T19:18:00.001-06:00

I dug out the patch all, mixed it with water, added some white glue thinking that might make it stick to the YSM wooden boxes I wanted to apply it to. I used a piece of a plastic table cloth that I picked up at the YSM and another stencil from the same source. I taped the stencils to the top of the boxes, and applied the patch all mixture with an old credit card. After letting it dry, I gave it a light coating of spray gesso. Now, I have to decide...what next? Or should I say what color will be the base color? I have some crackle something of other...have to go find that, maybe I could use it around the edges of the stencils...well, any suggestions will be helpful, lol.

Friday's Creativeness

2011-11-05T07:51:00.002-06:00

On Friday (yesterday) HRH and I traveled to the village for the annual Holly Fair. It reinforced my dislike for these sort of venues...again! There was nothing that stood out to me. The booths take on a "cookie cutter" look, ya know? But, I found some treasures at a new over stock type store...some fun beads, a hat, some assemblage possibilities. Then I spent the afternoon at Junky Funky Gypsy Mamas which is always interesting. The store is becoming the place to be so I am glad I get to show my stuff there! Here is a snapshot of some of the stuffies I delivered there.

So, I didn't actually "create" anything today, but I was involved in being creative. I hope that will work for the Creative Everyday Challenge, lol. Oh, here is the link to Creative Everyday if you want to get involved: http://us.mg6.mail.yahoo.com/neo/launch

I hope that gets you there!

On another note...do you like the new formats available on blogspot. I am giving them a try! You just have to move you curser over the photos to read the posts you want! I like that.

Using What You Have

2011-11-03T13:53:00.002-06:00

I am a firm believer in using what you have available to make art! I seldom ever go out shopping for something to play with. I get most of my toys at the YSM! (The sweat shirts to make Yoolies being an exception and then I went to the thrift shop.)

So, as you might know, I finally found an outlet for my creations, a store near me by the name of Funky Junky Gypsy Mamas. They have embraced my creations with open arms, and I am grateful for that. It is so much fun to create something knowing that it will have a chance at finding a new home.

I am having to change how I have created a bit because of this. I know that creations sell better from a retail shop (my experience from owning a gallery back in the 90s) if they are tagged with some information, which improves their presentation. I have to get better at this!

Todays activity in creating every day was to make some tags to put on my creations. I would use what I have. Tags, not a problem, I have a boxful of them. But I wanted them to look "artsy", you know? I decided to use up some of my stashes...today rubber stamping and stickers. OMG, I have oodles of stickers so why not dress up the tags? I also had several sheets of those "rub ons" thingys.

I and those rob ons have not gotten along very well in the past. I just acquired them here and there in boxes and piles of stuff from the YSM, and after playing with them once or twice, I can guarantee you I would NOT go out and buy some. The couple of times I did try to use them, they did not work out so great...I stuck them to my fingers, to the protective sheet, to the plastic bag they came in, to the stick you are supposed to be able to rub them off with. I did not get much of them stuck to whatever it was I was trying to stick them to. I even tried glue and matte medium to make them stick with no success! I decided today, I would see if I could figure them out and make some tags in the bargain! Out came my box of tags, and out came the drawer full of stickers where I kept the rub ons. I played with them with the idea of fancying up some tags to tie onto my creations and to use the rub ons or else!

Here is what I discovered:
1. Rub ons are not so bad once you figure out there is a right side and a wrong side to them and you put the uncolored side onto what you want it to stick too.
2. Rub ons work better if you put the paper you are going to put the rub ons on onto a flat hard surface so you can rub the rub on harder.
3. The color of the rub on will fade a bit with the rubbing using your fingernail or the provided pop cycle stick and that tells you it has stuck to what you want it to stick to.
4. Not all of the rub on will stick.
5. Tags are a really great way to practice with new media... you really can't hurt them much!
6. Tags look so artsy with some color added with bits and pieces of ephemera.

The round ones are going onto my stuffies. The others back into the tag box for later use. Making the tags are a light hearted creative everyday activity and can add a lot to your creations!

Creative Everyday

2011-11-02T23:32:00.000-06:00

I joined the Creative Everyday challenge. I will have to post the information and link another day as it is so late right now. What it is about is doing something creative and blogging about it everyday. I have done this before on CCS. It actually got me started to thinking about doing something creative everyday to feed my creative soul. After one month, I was enjoying it so much, I extended it to another month, and then another. Now, I have no problem being creative on a daily basis. I have fell by the wayside on blogging about it however. So, expect a blog a day for the month of November!
Here is a photo example of something creative I worked on today!

Rice Inspired Sweatshirts

2011-11-01T14:49:00.000-06:00

Rice posted a tute on altering sweat shirts. http://voodoonotes.blogspot.com/2011/11/what-is-it-about-these-things-anyway.html
Her inspiration came from some frothy looking haute couture something she tried on somewhere. She toned it down to some fun t-shirts and sweatshirts. I have always been a big sweater/sweatshirt wearer fan, so when I saw what she did, I had to give it a go. Right now I wear a sweat shirt that is a kajillion years old, one with the sleeves hacked off and the front cut open so I could/can throw it on and off as my body demanded/demands. The reason I still wear the darn thing is because it is made from 100% cotton, which I love. I love the feel of the cotton, the way it hangs so comfortable, the warmth, the fuzzy nap on the inside... This old sweat shirt has paint one it in lots of places. It was a sage green, one of my favorite colors, but now it is pretty dingy looking. But I love how it has worn thin and how it feels on. So, I keep on wearing it everyday around the house and studio, and probably will like forever. Anyway, when I saw Rice's altered shirts, I had to have one! Really! I jumped up from whatever I was doing, and hitched a ride with HRH to the nearest thrift shop (30 miles away). I was so thrilled to find just what I wanted. Here are the tops I found and my very first practicing altered sweat shirt. Woo hoo!

I could not believe my eyes when I found four brand new white sweatshirts! And a white woven hoodie too, used.

And a sweat shirt in one of my favorite muted green colors...what HRH refers to as my forest ranger outfits... lol

And two 100% cotton sweaters, one in extra tall which I am sure to love...tall fits my stature, he he.

And another green 100% heavy duty sweatshirt. I forgot to take a picture of it before I started to hack away on it, sorry! I cut the front off with an arc, leaving it as long as I could and still get an arc. Then I cut the back ribbing, sleeve ribbings and neck ribbings off. Those things are always more abrasive than the sweat shirt fabric. I used random colors of embroidery floss and the blanket stitch to replace the ribbings.

The shirt had two pockets-one with a leather button, and leather buttons down both shoulders. Here you see them after I painted them to match the embroidery floss colors I used to finish the hem, sleeves and neck.

One of the pockets had a logo from some lake lodge in New Zealand on the pocket so I cut a piece of the ribbing, letting the part where I cut it off sort do it's lettuce edging thing, and sew it over the logo. Then, I noticed a spot or two I needed to camouflage so I added some mini pockets at random too.

Here is a side ways view of the pockets. I decided to leave the skee wampus one alone rather than pick it off and try to straighten it. I count this as a learning curve.

And, HRH was kind enough to a take of picture of the shirt... it is so damn warm and comfy I want to wear it everyday!

If you want to get inspired do go check out Rice's posts about her altering...she is much better than I at this and gives good tutes on things.

Now, which one of the above shirts is going to be my next victim?

Art Dreams

2011-10-31T10:33:00.000-06:00

You know almost everyone secretly if not openly wants to get published in one of "those" magazines!

I told my self, at the beginning of this year, more as a growth in techniques inspiration, not a s a career maneuver, to submit art to them. I put the words, "submit art" on my vision board. So, because the words were posted and I saw them often, I did send in a few pictures. I joined the black and white all over ornament challenge. And now, I have just discovered, that one of the ornaments I made is published in the CPS Gifts edition!

Well, I had forgotten about sending them in... that was like way last May or so, until Deb over in mmartfriends group posted she had been published. I got out my latest CPS and found the add for the CPS Gifts. And there it was, my ornie, on the tree! I wrote to Deb and asked her to check if I was also included and she said "yes!"

I did not think this would be a big deal, considering where I live-way out in the boonies-and almost all my art connections are on line. And as you know, I am a senior citizen delux. I am not trying to start a career, nor am I trying to become one of the well known artists on the circuit of mixed media art. But, it is a thrill to know that my art is appreciated enough to have it happen and I guess that is what keeps artists sending in those art ideas and photos. It's the idea of having your art valadated by "the professionals!" If you haven't sent something in, and you want to, I say, just do it. Do it now while it is fun. Do it because you want to. Just do it, lol.

The altered tins ornaments I sent...

This was the inside of the altoid tin...

And this was a tall thin tin...about four inches tall before alteration...

And here she is on the tree in the add selling the Gifts edition of the latest CPS...peeking out from behind an inset photo...she is kind of shy, just like me!

A bit closer look...

And the photo in the CPS Gifts is really nicely done... you will have to check it out if you get to a store that sells these magazines.

Today, I will be starting a new project on my newly cleaned art desk.
My biggest car girl spend Sunday afternoon with me and she made a duck tape wallet, a duck tape rose, and some yo yo hair pins and helped me clean the studio. I love it when the car girls come over to play.

And I love to see my art desk looking like this, but I love it more when it is covered up in bit and pieces of mixed media supplies, paint, wire...what ever!

The Wooly Birds Progress

2011-10-26T09:54:00.000-06:00

I cut out a bunch of woolly birds. I sewed their wings on each side. I put the sides together. I threw then in a little basket. I gathered up my embroidery thread, and other decorative bits and pieces. When ever I sit down in my chair...I pick one up and do a bit of stitching and decorating. They are looking so pretty now...

Black wool, red wings... we have red winged black birds spend time in our yard so I had to make one!

I have not made birds of a color other than black before, but my black wool is almost gone so I thought "birds of color" might be interesting...

I had a face or two left over from making my "little darlings" dolls so I thought "why not..."

Old holey doilies cut to wing shapes are rather eye pleasing...

This was one of those doubled doilies to make a hot pad thingy, separated by scissors...

Some velvet upholstery makes a nice soft touchy freely wing...

Another old hot pad recycled....

More upholster wings with other bits and pieces added... don't you just love the top knot?

The art dolls and the birds have kept me stitching for a while now...

All dressed up and ready to go to new homes... I really enjoyed my journey with these beauties...

So lovable... I hope someone else will give them love too!

And this is my table by my chair. I actually took this picture because Seth, over at the Altered Page had a challenge up...he wanted to see our stacks...This is my stack of "stuff" I use on the hand stitching birds and dolls...it looks chaotic but it is actually quite organized, he he, with floss in one bag, bric a brac in another, a little box (or two) of different colored beads, bits and pieces of felt and fabrics...thread, needles and pin cushion..

And, in the studio, I had to make some paper mask prototypes to take to the middle school for a mask making play time with my middle car girl's third grade class...

I think we will have fun with that on Friday...

Now I have to go get prepped for a journal making class at Gypsy Mama's on Saturday...I hope enough peeps signed up to have the class!

Last but not least, we woke up to snow falling and the wild turkey's dancing in the rain (er snow) this morning!

Breaking Out the Wool

2011-10-23T18:13:00.000-06:00

Yep, I had to do it. I dug into my felted wool scraps. I have been playing with them for several days now and having so much fun. I really started out to make some more wooly birds (photos of these later). But I could not resist taking the cuttings from the birds and putting them together for some fun creations.
And at the YSM on Friday, I bought an old Brother sewing machine. I had to see if it worked, it does, and I just sort of played around with it sewing some odd shapes. These too became creations in the making. Since I wanted to blog today, I thought I would show you some pictures of silly but so fun little stuffies.

My intentions for the wool was to make birds...

I found some of those old crochet hot pads at the YSM which I think will make very cute wings...

After cutting out the birds, I had bits and pieces of wool left...and since I really love the wool I picked up the pieces and started fitting them together to see what would emerge...

A cat of course...

But this guy was a great surprise...

She looks rather like an alien but I am waiting for her to tell me what to add to her to make her more lovable...

Cat wanted some beads and some whiskers...

And what emerged with playing with the new old sewing machine-maybe a body?

And a tube...

And my daughter said this reminded her of the story about the king with no clothes... he he

And a tube with legs-or maybe antennea...

And what the tube looks like now that I have played around with it for a bit...

And I just found this amongst my stuff and it rather looked like a mask so I thought I would throw that in... lol

And now... I just added a cute little tail to the birdie thingy...

Do you have some fabric scraps to play with? Just go sit at the machine and make funny shapes... stuff and embellish... too much fun!

Hunting

2011-10-22T09:29:00.002-06:00

One thing I love about being the kind of artist I am is the hunt.
Here, in Utah, it is the opening season week end for the deer hunt. My family used to make the deer hunt an annual family reunion. We always camped for ten days on the same mountain, in the cedars and junipers, below the quaking asp and pine level. Our friends and relatives knew we would be there, and always welcome to come camp with us. We always ate dutch oven cooking by my dad, then later the sons in laws and son and even I learned how to use the dutch ovens and had some of my own. They are too heavy for me now, but boy do they make a good meal taste sensational! My memories of the deer hunting camp outs are beautiful to me.
Our family no longer camps together, which is sad, but I have moved on to other activities that are not as hard on an older, mature body, lol. Namely art. My art allows me to do a different kind of hunting...I hunt for treasures I can use in my art. I travel from hunting ground to hunting ground (YSM, thrift shops, scratch and dent places, hardware stores, etc), searching for treasures I can incorporate into my mixed media art. I continually find the unusual (hmmm wonder what I could do with this), the beautiful (I so love this-I must have it), the "I can't turn this down" (I have no idea what this was or what I will do with it but the price is too good to turn down) treasure. I recently found a stack of postcards with old photos on them. They are sepia colored and since I live on a reservation, they caught my eye. The price was perfect so home with me they came. I thought you might like to view them too. I think they would be great printed on fabric, on a journal, in a collage...

Little Big Man

Red Cloud, Satana, Binito, Ar-ke-ke-tah

Annie Oakley, Young Man Afraid of His Horses, Rain In the Face, Buffalo Bill Cody

Frontier scouts, Broken Arm, American Horse, Washakie

Mescaleo Apache Camp, The Apache Kid, Homesteaders, Wagons Ho

Indian hunting party, Plains indian womem, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, , Frontier Trading post. (sorry about the orientation on this one).

The Apache Kid, Old Washee, Gayetenito and Wife, Quanah Parker

Gall, Rain in the Face, Low Dog, Showeway

Western Stagecoach, White Mountain Apaches, Apache Indian Scouts, Satanta

Don't you just love some of their names?

And for a change of pace, a painting by my littlest car girl who is age four. What a fabulous abstract!

Leonardo Center

2011-10-19T09:25:00.000-06:00

When we traveled to the city to see the Frida exhibit we also got to visit the Leonardo Center, which is located on Library Square next to the beautiful new City Library, where the Frida exhibit was. The Leonardo Center is a new type of museum that mixes art, science, and technology exhibits in a hands on manner. HRH and I had lots of fun playing with the exhibits. I took a few pictures to show you.

One of the labs had art centers set up where you can set down and try your hand. This is just a photo copy of butterflies. What you do is cut the photo copy up into about 1 inch squares and put it back together like a puzzle onto a piece of drawing paper. Then you pickup one square at a time, and draw just that square...

Here is one in progress. You just keep drawing a new square until you have your drawing complete. Since I help out a bit with my middle car girls third grade class art activities, I thought this might be something to try with them. I am actually going to try it myself just to see what kind of drawing I can do with this interesting method.

They had quite a few 3-D diorama assemblages made of cardboard. The frame-everything made of cardboard... I loved them! I most certainly will try this.

This is a close up of a paper cut that was on one of the walls next to another exhibit...

The paper cut was about eight foot tall! The artist's name I did not write down, darn!

Well, I had to tell you, that at the trunk show last Saturday at Gypsy Mamas, who have embraced me and my art, I sold both of these dolls and more! I am so thrilled that I finally have found an outlet to sell. One of the Gypsy Mamas loves my art and talks about to customers lots, and the other Gypsy Mama (there are two of them, lol, ie the mamas) is an artist herself. The trunk show was to celebrate the 1 year of business for them.

Big Ben was purchased by a native american older lady in a wheel chair. She was very very quiet and didn't have much to say, but she loved Ben. Her companion, who may have been her husband or a brother bought my Shrine to Aging Fears, if you remember it from an earlier post. Interesting to see who buys the art...

This steam punk doll went to the vendor next to me. He had lots of really old bric a brack, but he likes my work and actually took two pieces, the being one of four steam punk pictures I made last spring.

I also sold a Marie Antoinette doll left over from a swap last winter I think, to a very young girl, and the wire sculpture doll to a middle aged lady, and the empathy monster to a tween native american, and one of the little paper mache birds to a very young girl, and a couple of other things.

I am trying to decide if I want to do an annual fair the first of November. Do I have enough inventory to do that? I would if it was not at Gypsy Mamas, but since they have been the first to embrace my art, I am not taking items from there to do a show. So, probably not.

BAD11

2011-10-16T09:07:00.001-06:00

Today is blog action day. Thousands of people are blogging about food since it is officially food day. I had a couple of thoughts on this since I signed up but now they are gone. I just want to say I am so grateful that where I live, as opposed to many places of the earth, I am free to buy safe food, or grow safe food in a garden using clean safe water. I have been thinking about this in the last week and it breaks my heart that so many people in the world do not have access to the food we pretty much take for granted.

As I was growing up I was taught to not waste food, to eat what was on my plate, to not ever complain about what was served, to come to the table at 6 pm sharp with my hair combed, my face, hands and arms, washed and clean, my clothes changed from dirty play clothes. We had to ask for things to be passed to us if we wanted something on the table. We were taught to appreciate that my father worked hard in construction to provide money to buy the food, that my mother worked hard preparing the food.
We were told there would be people in "other" places that were hungry and we had it good so we better act responsibly about it and appreciate it. I do.

So, I tried to teach my children to be responsible about food too. Some how I was a much better learner than I was a teacher. I have been aghast at times at the waste of food my children and then their children have practiced. Eeeek! But, I have had to ignore it, as it is not my place to say anything, you know?

I encourage everyone who reads my blog to at the very least, as you shop for food, prepare foods, eat and enjoy the food, and store foods, that you keep those in the world who do not have the opportunity of having much food in your thoughts, that you care a little bit, that you appreciate your blessings as you mourn for others lacks.

Here are my photos of the fall tomato crop again (I think they have been here before, lol) to share the beauty of food with you.

Just a small thing...a cup of tea... how grateful would some people of the world be for that?

Our fall crop of tomatoes. So beautiful in color, so tasty, so healthy. Something to be thankful for.

As you go about your life, think about food today!

Here is a link to all the others who blogged about food today: http://blogactionday.org/participants/

Viva Frida!

2011-10-14T08:47:00.002-06:00

I drove three hours to the city to see a Freida Kahlo exhibit yesterday. I found out about this exhibit accidentally when I was on the web. I suggested the trip, HRH wanted to go too. It was a combination of photos from a photographer friend of hers that was from UT and prints of her paintings. Her paintings are beautiful in color. I loved the information included in the exhibit. Here is many of the pictures I viewed.

The colors in her paintings are so vibrant and beautiful...

And I loved that she played with reality...

She too is a pet lover...

She used photos for her paintings...

The information was a nice addition...

She painted herself a lot evidently...

And still lifes too... very colorful and beautiful too...

The photos give a peek into how she actually lived... and her collections of folk art...

Lots of playful photos of her...

How she used photos for ideas...

At home with her...

In her home with her collections...

And I expecially found this painting interesting...

Because it is a collage using magazine and newspaper photos- this is a close up of the part right under the dress...

The exhibit was in a building with glass walls and the morning sun made this photo a bit hard to get but is telling about the use of collage...

Frida had her own color chart codex... I am going to make one for me. I like her magenta notation!

I like that she created her own myth...

So, today, as inspired by Frida, I challenge you to make your own color codex and to begin to create your myth!

Now, back to work on my creations for a trunk show Saturday.

Saturday Chaos

2011-10-08T13:52:00.000-06:00

I don't know. They say elderly people sort of eventually return to their childhood mentally. I have never been one to play with dolls but since the new CPS arrived I wanted to make a steam punk doll, which I did, and then this last week I made another. And then, for some reason, since I had dug out the box of doll parts I have had stashed forever, I decided to make a few more dolls. I have been working on these two tin babies. They have been fun, but very challenging to get the parts together with enough connection to have them be sturdy enough for people to-well you know, lift them up, look at them, feel their parts, and hopefully Ooo and ahhh over them, lol. So, am I returning to a long lost childhood? No, I don't think so... I am just having so much fun creating!

Introducing my first ever tin babies, Ben. He is too cute1

And this is Lilly...

Lllly needed a design adjustment, lol. I like this better, I think...

Ben and Lilly have a few friends hanging out with them waiting for attention...

And since we have woke up to thick frost on the deck

And the bird baths frozen solid

And the snow on the mountains way down into the foot hills

The babies and I had to dig out the fireplace and fire it up

And the mug warmer too...

So we could continue with our Sunday chaos...

This and That

2011-10-07T09:08:00.000-06:00

My mummies now reside at Gypsy Mamas waiting for someone to take them home and love them...

This was a fun little project that started with a trip to the scratch and dent store. While poking around in the piles and stacks, I saw this shape of something which I extracted from it's hiding spot, only to discover that it was a plastic body of a goose hunting decoys...no head. As I held it up, the shape just said "mummy." I asked about the price, the lady said there was two and dug around until she found another one. They got the bodies but no heads...??? But she sold them to me for $1 so I was happy. Then, as I was checking out, she had some eyeball rings that had been smooshed and she sold those to me for 30 cents, lol. Back in the studio it was a fairly easy process to cover the bodies with paper mache and add the eyeballs, teeth and some old sheeting strips. An unplanned but satisfying art project!

Our deck was covered with very thick frost this morning... the first time this fall.

And, I was surprised to see the bird baths frozen solid! Eeek..the tomatoes never had a chance!

And when I looked north to the mountains and westerly too, they are covered in white...burrr. This picture I used the seldom tried zoom trying to show th mountains... aw well, just take my word for it, he he.

And another interesting find...Over in the sketchbook group I belong to we are doing some chunky book pages exchanges. This month's theme was music. I have my music pages done, and then I found these at the local thrift shop. Since my mind had been focused on music they caught my eye. 50 cents brought them home. Each note is filled with a letter...the whole alphabet is represented. I think I might have fun with these. Do you have some favorite alphabet stamps you like to use? You know, the ones you reach for each time you want to write out something with stamps?

And last but not least...I have been playing with making steam punk dolls. CPS has some on it's cover. I used paper mache for the head and bodies (this is my second one) and bits and pieces for the rest of the doll parts. I really really really like these ladies! The just speak to me!

Whew!

2011-10-03T17:07:00.000-06:00

I am so happy. I have my zine all printed and ready to bind. It is looking pretty good, I think. The first year I joined the zine swap over at I Heart Zines, I worked all summer on my zines, totally making every page by hand. That was really fun. That was also really confusing. And, I get tired of doing the same thing over and over, so all the zines were a bit different. That is not a bad thing. Last year, my zines were not so hot, but I did manage to make the dead line to get them sent in. I just waited way to late to start, so had to leave off the little special enhancements I like to put in my zines. This year, I have been about right on time so, the zines look good. Plus, after working on zines for two previous years, I of course have learned a bit about creating a zine. The main think is the KISS principle. I tried to put way too much in the last ones. I wanted to put more information in this one this year, but didn't. IT looks better that way! And I am sure it is easier to read too. And, with the newer printers, the printing of the pages is much easier too! I will be looking forward to receiving zines from lots of other artists. Good reading this winter! Here is peek of a few the pages. My zine is about building my labyrinth, which was a really large art project. I hope whoever receives one of the zines will find the subject interesting!

Front and back covers

Back cover

Information pages

About labyrinth designs

Photos of my labyrinth

Basic designs

Opening pages

Every year when I finish my zines and put them in the mail, I know why my friend and mentor Alma started her "I Heart Zines" swaps.

Playing, As Usual

2011-10-02T16:49:00.001-06:00

Yes, I have just been playing around this last week or so. Trying some new things. I am into paper mache right now big time. I like the ability to create something with just paper and a few armature items and some glue, then paint.
Yesterday, we drove to Colorado and attended an auction, which we haven't done for quite some time. It was a beautiful hot day and we took our camp chairs and sat around the auction site and watched people. There was two tins of buttons I was going to bid on, but by the time the auctioneer got to the table they were on, one tin was GONE! OMG, I cannot believe someone walked off with an 8 in. round tin full of buttons when there were hundreds of people milling around looking at all the auction items! The remaining tin brought almost 20 dollars in bids, so I did not try for it. The away from home day was very good for me. I know I need to go out on artist dates/days more. I usually stay home cuz I am playing in the studio and have on my "painty" jeans and T-shirt. It takes an inner need to score an art supply treasure to get me out and about, ha ha.
On Friday, we browsed the YSM, and the scratch and dent store. I did find a few stimulating items to play with, heh heh.
I have been working on my zine for the I Heart Zines swap for this year too, and on a beastie card for another swap. The beastie card is not working out somehow. I may just have to give it another go and see if I can come up with something I like better.
A couple of weeks ago we took our middle car girl hunting for bugs for a science project. We found a catapillar. We put it in a bottle and it spun a cacoon. When we returned from the auction, it was a beautiful Monarch butterfly. We have to turn it loose this afternoon but we have to wait until the middle car girl can come help with the release.
This morning we had a bit of rain then sun came back to us. And to end this rambling I will use my daughter's favorite saying: "Life is Good."

My zine using mini me on the cover, lol...

And the above two photos are a pair of mummies in creation process using paper mache and stuff from the scratch and dent store...

I also have made two steampunk dolls and some eyeball spiders with p mache. Yeah, I am having fun with that cheap art media!

And the last two is of the Monarch waiting to be release. It is hard to take a photo through a bottle and netting!

Fabric Printing

2011-09-29T16:19:00.000-06:00

A couple of weeks ago, as I browsed the YSM, I found four cards with old photo images on them. I printed them onto fabric and then played. I am going to use the native american one for a journal cover. The military one will be a card, I think. It might be a journal cover. Just have to see where my muse takes me with these.

I am now using my iphone to post photos on fb. You can search for Carol Swallowcliffs and friend me if you want to see other creations I have been working on. I tried to somehow get the photos from fb so I could post here, but, as usual, my techie inadequacies are interfering with my wants!

Rock Garden Update

2011-09-21T12:37:00.002-06:00

As some of you may know, my summer art projects involved rocks! That trait was handed down to me by my father, who was also a rock hound. And, you know one of my philosophies is "use what you have to make art." Since we are surrounded with rocks of all kinds, the idea for the labyrinth was born. And, once that was almost finished, and I was having so much fun playing with rocks, HRH and I decided to cover up a weedy area along the walk to our most used door with a rock garden of sorts. We plan to cover the other side of the walk next year too. Here are some recent photos of the progress we have made so far.

HRH and his beloved JD brought some huge boulders to the project. This boulder is about three foot high.

The rocks follow along the edge of the deck which is surrounded by lovely smelling plants like lilacs, and in this picture, lavender. Makes sitting on the deck a fragrant experience, lol.

This is a desert four o'clock... picture taken before four o'clock, he he.

The walk from the cement sidewalk that gives us access to the great beyond (back yard.)

HRH and the car girls thought the rubber snakes must be involved in the rocks.

If you were coming to my door, you would see this from the road.

And the solar lights let you know where the sidewalk is if you arrive after dark...

Utilitarian Art

2011-09-20T10:18:00.001-06:00

Rice, somewhere on the net, mentioned she wanted to make an iphone "purse" so she could be hands free but still have her phone handy, and the phone would be safe from dropping! I thought this is a great idea! Especially since many times when I go out and about, I do not take my purse/bag, or I don't have pockets. Rice mentioned having some surplus leather around to do hers with. So, as I perused the YSM las week, what should appear before my very eyes but a well maintained leather jacket. And since the price was only 50 cents, I brought it home with me. Here is the results...

I cut the leather away from the lining. The jacket had nice straps over all the seams and some buckle embellishments. Nice!

Using the top of one sleeve, I cut a piece of leather that could wrap around my phone...

I sewed some seam binding on the back of the strips for a handle. The handle is long enough to go over my head, across my body, and the phone sits on my hip now...

Pretty plain, but I did not want something that shouts out to people but rather sits quietly working hard, lol. I love the feel of the leather which is very strong but thin and soft and creamy. I might try to make another one that is way embellished, but this one will be my everyday protector.

Monsters?

2011-09-18T08:38:00.000-06:00

I have been trying to come up with an idea for a "beastie". I haven't had much luck with that-sort of out of my realm in art I think. But, I had this little booklet show up amongst my artful mayhem and it reminded me of an art activity from when I was in elementary school-ink blots. I took some paper, folded it in half, opened up the paper and dropped some ink close to the fold. Refolded the paper and rubbed the ink about a bit. Open and let dry. Now, to see what is there...

If there was a beastie he/she would of course have a pet...

And some beasties would welcome you with open arms...

And some may look a bit friendly, even if they are a beastie...

And, of course, beasties have a leader... a queen or king...

And like artists at an art retreat, beasties have so much fun together...

Mmmmm... I wonder what the psyc people would say about my mental state if they say these? LOL

They're Back!

2011-09-14T12:20:00.000-06:00

Yes, I dug out the mini doll creating stash from last long winter's evenings and have been playing again. I am not too sure I like this years models. What is different? I made the face out of felt last winter, this year I tried a piece of muslin dyed pink. The bodies for some of this year's models are wool. Mixing things up, huh? The little darlings are fun to fidget (is that what it is?) with. Throw in a bit of embroidery, a bit of beading, a bit of creativity and you end up with little friends1

The first finished one this year...

And she invited lots of other friends, lol.

And adding hair really gives them a personality!

Change of Pace

2011-09-11T13:57:00.003-06:00

After spending hours and hours making crows, and then making Garden girls, I have moved on to other things. The cold feeling temperatures here made me get out my "by the chair" hand sewing box. I found some half finished Dotee dolls so decided to work on those a bit. I joined a swap over in the sketchbook group, a paper bag day of the dead book. I have been working on the book in the evening while watching tv. I like it!

I have a basket full of little people parts to play with in my hand sewing box. I love seeing their little personalities develop. This one's body, I call her Star, is waiting for some embellishments.

And the two garden girls, this old witch and a young witch, I finished, along with the crows, I helped move to their new home, ie, Gypsy Mama's, which is my new outlet for art sales. Hope they sell soon.

The Day of the Dead book pages. The paper bags were white. I cut out the skeleton profile from an old anatomy book cover for a stencil. I like these sorts of stencils. I layed the stencil, or some might call it a mask, on the paper bag and using a soft sponge roller brayer coved the bags with black chalk board paint I happened to have from summer before last YSM. That left me white skeletons to embellish. I like the matte look of the black paint and it made it easy to draw on with my white pens, sharpy poster paint pens, and gel pens.

The color on these are really more vibrant in real life. I love the look of my skeletons and the bright colorful flowers and doodling.

Art Frenzy

2011-09-04T13:13:00.000-06:00

Right now, for this labor day week end, I am involved in several art projects that are just getting started.
I seem to have a tendency to do that sometimes. You know the old adage "it's a feast or a famine?" I am there! Sometimes I am just lost cuz I don't have a project and I desperately search for something that I want to attempt. Then, one day, like today, I find myself immersed in all kinds of ideas and projects. Today, I give you a glimse of a few of my on going projects.

This morning my middle car girl and I made oven bake balls which will turn into eyeballs eventually, lol

Of course, I still keep making crows for the upcoming next Saturday workshop examples...

And yesterday, while I was at the farmer's market (which was a bummer of a day really) HRH went to the YSM and he brought me these plain white patches. I see, tags and such here, don't you?

And here is one of the garden girls becoming...

These are garden girls waiting to become...

And some days I make homemade tomato juice just because HRH picks all these tomatoes from his vines.

Plus, I am still working on my labyrinth and the new rock garden!

Tomorrow, even though it is Labor Day, (hope you all are having a lovely holiday) I have to stop and smell the roses...er, I mean have to stop creating long enough to do a bit of house cleaning, he he.

Fabric Greeting Cards

2011-09-02T19:11:00.003-06:00

I have had fun stitching away on these fabric greeting cards and their envelopes this week. I love that I can use up some of my fabric stashes this way. I could make maybe a kajillion of them and still have fabric left over, I think. I am going to take them to the Farmer's market tomorrow so we will see if there is any interest in something like this. Hope so!

Bits and pieces of embellishments layered on make the cards so pretty. Hand dyed fabric for the envelope on this one. Very shabby chic, I think.

Lovely lace piece with a silhoette of a woman sets this one off. The muted colors of the wrong side of the fabric for the envelope is nice.

Pieces of hand embroidered fabrics and old lace from discarded pieces, ribbons and such. I love this one! More hand dyed fabric for the envy too.

These cards are very vintage looking, soft to the feel, lovely.

Rock and Summer Late August Fun

2011-08-28T17:47:00.001-06:00

Here are some more random rock pictures.

I am adding littler rocks in the corners of the labyrinth to round the paths...a little bit every day or so.

This corner was rather large so rounding them made the paths look better.

This is the east/west line of rocks of the labyrinth looking to the west where the sunsets are beautiful most times.

This is a small path to the bird feeder in the new rock garden area.

This is a narrow spot along the sidewalk.

This is blue berry checking out the rock garden from the kitchen window... yes, she is that spoiled! Argahhhhhhhhh!

This is the lovely lovely cup of hot homemade tomato juice left over from canning four quarts a couple of days ago. This is one of my favorite beverages in the fall. The temperature was over 90 degrees but I could not resist having a cup...

This is the rock wall I made over ten years ago looking to the south of our property. HRH calls it the Great Wall of Carol, lol.

This is more of the new rock garden we are putting along our walk to try to stop the morning glory invasion and to do away with watering the flower bed that has been there.

And my little rock hound helper...the littlest car girl!

And, I have to share that yesterday, at the Farmer's Market, I sold two collage paintings, two of my handmade journals, and the trunk I made for the Artist Guild writing experience from last winter, and another package of basil. Next week I am thinking I might try a few packages of lavender. Does anyone know what is best... just the stems with seeds, or some of the leaves too?

Recent Summer Art Activities

2011-08-26T17:34:00.001-06:00

This is a hand crafted hinge I made for a glass journal cover I am attempting to make.

This is the tiny handle I put on the front of the journal.

This is the inside of the journal where, if things work the way I have them in my head, round journal pages will be.

This is the front of the journal.

I have been prepping for another workshop I will be teaching at Gypsy Mama's in September. This is my "art props" box for that, lol.

I had to pull up several of these as I am working to change a totally un-usuable wild flower bed that became overrun with wild morning glory with a rock garden.

And, if you have followed me for long and you remember the "haute tomatoes" from a couple of years back, you will know why I took this picture, he he.

And these will go with the above photo too!

This is what the left overs look like...

And this is before the the second picture above spent time at the beauty parlor getting a shampoo...

Nest post will be an up date on the work I have been doing on the labyrinth and some photos of the new rock garden.

So, what have you all been doing this summer?