ARTRIX-PLAYTIME

Transparency Painting

2010-07-24T17:00:00.000-07:00

A Peggy Gatto challenge! Such fun watercoloring on a transparency that was printed (& dried, of course) and covered with Golden's Fluid Matte Medium. When finished painting, turn it over to the unprinted/unpainted side. Peggy's link here http://fridayfotocollage.blogspot.com/2010/07/sharing-latest-photo-transparency-from.html along with Jamie's free image site.........tons of images she gives away so generously! This image is from Jamie's Flickr site http://www.flickr.com/photos/viewarteology/sets/72157619102274783/

Older Posts and Picturetrail

2010-06-23T10:43:00.000-07:00

If you are interested, please check out "Older Posts" at the bottom of the current post. Also, there are a bunch of pictures on Picturetrail. The link is at the top of the Artrix-Playtime page. Thanks for looking!

An addition to the steampunk horse.......

2010-06-23T10:40:00.000-07:00

Here I added some metal letters I picked up on sale for $2 in a nice box. I should have bought them all but unfortunately, I didn't. They don't have any more.....bah! Now I think I'm really finished with this guy. Renee in Oklahoma gave me the "saying"! The coloration is so different from the picture in the previous photo. I didn't change the color....the camera's fault! It's black....not blue!
Back to the vintage look......I love it too much to give it up. Steampunk was different and a challenge for me.

Revised Steampunk

2010-06-11T23:40:00.000-07:00

The horse below is no more! I painted the area around the horse grey with some drybrushed areas of metallic pewter which doesn't show in the photo......darn! I also put a rod underneath his feet to "ground" him.
I got a chuckle when Renee said my horse had a spring in his step! : ) Did you notice the frame is now painted black? I think the whole thing is better thanks to some much needed advice from friends. Click to enlarge.

Steampunk

2010-05-30T13:23:00.000-07:00

Yahoo group, Latest Trends in Mixed Media, recently played with steampunk ideas thanks to Sanna who offered to tutor us! I had never done any steampunk art before and now I may be hooked! The group is so encouraging and as many times as I thought I'd throw in the towel, there was another encouragement to keep me plodding along. I think the chain will most likely come off and there will be scrap paper pieces of steampunk illustrations on the top side of the frame. Not sure yet! Oooops....now seeing the picture more closely, I notice that I tore the paper with the horse a little close to his head!

Happy Memorial Day 2010

2010-05-30T12:37:00.000-07:00

As the wife of a career Air Force Officer, I spent many years moving here and there with a big family. The military is an exciting, adventurous life.....until the kids become teenagers and they don't appreciate moving away from their friends and school. We managed to finally settle down in retirement while the boys were in their mid teens. Only one of our children entered the military but I'm proud of hubby and our son for serving. Fortunately they both came home unscathed. I wonder how many younger folks have a sense of what it's about....many probably think of it as a picnic day or the beginning of summer without a clue that for many, it is a bittersweet reflection of lost loved ones whose bravery has kept
America free!

I'm posting a picture of another shadow box that I did recently. It's a 12" square box that is 1 1/2" deep. The pods are "love in a mist" from my friend Sally Paul of Dillon Beach, Ca. She grows these lovelies there by the ocean and generously shared big bundles of them with me. They are sweet.....like Sally! Click to enlarge.

Spectacles

2010-04-28T10:38:00.000-07:00

Another assemblage..........love making these but finding the boxes isn't all that easy. I had a pair of old specs which I glued to the bottom. She's wearing specs, too, but they are her own! The box is about 8 x 8 inches. Vintage ribbon made up the flower on top left with an old velvet leaf. Click to enlarge.

Lois

2010-04-28T10:13:00.000-07:00

Here's Lois! I love this picture of Lois holding her dolly and her kitty cat. There's a happy dog sitting next to her. This photo came from my friend Charlotte. It was a family member but I've forgotten what year it was taken. My 4 year old granddaughter said "She looks mad!" and yes, she does. It's like "Alright already....take the picture and get it over with!" I think she's adorable! The assemblage was fun to make! Box is 8 1/2" by 10". Click to enlarge.

Easter Decorations

2010-04-01T07:16:00.000-07:00

Some Easter decorations....made last year. No muse yet!

April Fool's Day

2010-04-01T06:11:00.000-07:00

Well, I guess I should explain my 3 month absence. On December 21st, I had 6 of my friends coming for Christmas brunch at 10:00 o'clock. I awoke at 5 AM that morning with severe pain in my right side....more or less in my hip.....but found out later the pain was coming from a degenerated disk in my lower back. I couldn't even get out of bed without almost screaming! It took me about an hour to finally maneuver myself out of bed and then I couldn't stand with any pressure on my right side. To make a long story short, my friends came and had to practically serve themselves and ended up cleaning up before they left! (Real friends!) I ended up going to the hospital that night in an ambulance (which I fought all the way -- but couldn't get myself into our car because the pain was so great!).

I was admitted and was in the hospital for a week (yes, over Christmas!). One of my sweet daughter-in-laws offered to transfer the family Christmas brunch to their house on Christmas morning. The whole week was spent in testing, x-rays, CT scans, etc. While I was in the hospital, several other weird things were happening to my body and when I was released, they just called it "weakness". Hmmm. I came home and spent most of my time in bed. Went back to the hospital 2 weeks later for more tests, an MRI, (stayed a week again) and 3 months later I have just begun to feel normal. The whole thing has affected my memory, my physical ability to walk a straight line, and many other strange conditions. Wish I could say this was an April Fool's story but it's all true and probably the worst 3 months of my entire life. So many prayerful friends and family continued to pray for me and I count it the very reason I am doing as well as I am now. Not once during this time did I have any creative ability or desire. I was glad I had finished the ornaments! (See earlier posts) Thus, my absence explained and I'm planning on finding my muse once again so be watching!

100th Post and 2 new ornaments!

2009-12-08T20:29:00.000-08:00

Gosh, some people give things away on their 100th post or whatever. I'm selfish so I'm giving myself a pat on the back for just getting to that 100th post. I don't even remember when I started this crazy blogging but it's a good format for showing off my work. Wait, work isn't the right word! It should have been "play"....there's a big difference! So here's two of my latest "plays" and I'm up to 4 of 12 ornaments I'm determined to finish by Christmas. Fortunately some of the grands aren't going to be at our house that day so I won't have to have theirs until later. Wonder how "up" I'll be for making ornaments AFTER Christmas??? Hmmm.....maybe I'd better push for getting them all done by the 25th. The one on the left is actually 10" tall....it will have to be for one of the spaces on the Christmas tree that is missing a branch and needs to be filled in with something! Don't forget to click so you can see the hot glue strings....LOL!

Santa Ornament

2009-12-06T23:11:00.000-08:00

My first ornament of the season....took all evening and part of the afternoon to finish. I finally gave in and used the glue gun as there were just too many things to fasten. Hate all those stringies from the hot glue but I may be able to melt them away with the heat gun. I used clear glass ornaments and poured cheap acrylic paint into them....did't get many swirlies but the 4 of them seemed to get better as I went along. Hoping to get several more finished in the next 2 weeks for the adult grandchildren. Thanks to my Wacko friends, Sally Paul, and the gals on Latest Trends in Mixed Media for ideas and encouragement. (Why do I wait till the last minute? ) Click to enlarge!

Peat Pot Santas

2009-11-25T20:54:00.000-08:00

I made 5 of these peat pots with Santas, bottlebrush trees, some crepe paper garland and mica flakes. Lots of fun! The trees were very dark green and I read somewhere that you could bleach them with 2 parts water to 1 part bleach! It didn't take long at all and they look quite vintage in person.

In case you might be wondering, I have not touched Photoshop Elements yet....just too many irons in the fire. It may even be a January project at the rate I'm going! Happy Thanksgiving to all...........We get to go elsewhere for dinner tomorrow! Yipeeee!

Photoshop Elements 8

2009-11-14T06:35:00.000-08:00

Wow, I just bought myself a birthday present! I am now the proud owner of Photoshop Elements 8 which I purchased at Costco for $49.95 with their coupon! The regular price at Costco is $79.95 and probably close to $100.00 elsewhere. My Yahoo group "Latest Trends in Mixed Media" is so helpful with these things.....everyone jumps in to help whenever you have a question or problem. A great CD was included by Linda Sattgast that appears to be the perfect tutorial. I'm excited about learning so watch for me to post something soon! If you are interested in the software, it's available for $49.95 for a while longer....ask for the coupon at the customer service counter if you didn't get one in the mail. The CD from Linda is considered to be superior in helping in the learning curve. Wish me luck!

Missing Stuff, Sketchbooks, and Blogging Without Obligation

2009-11-13T21:39:00.000-08:00

Just can't figure out why my "Best Places To Visit" has disappeared from the right hand side of the page. I can see it when I go behind the scenes but the actual blog doesn't show it anymore. Boo hoo! I did just put a link to a neat little video that CNN put out regarding sketchbooks. I just completed one and haven't scanned it yet but eventually I'll post it here. I got the idea from Roberta Schmidt (we just pretend we're 'cuzzins' since we share the same last name) because I fell in love with hers. Mine has no rhyme or reason....just stuff I've collected forever and finally found it's home in the pages of the book.

I'm blogging now WITHOUT OBLIGATION. Such a great idea....no more pressure!
PS: I just looked again and the "Best Places to Visit" is back!!!!

Apple Pie

2009-10-07T20:33:00.000-07:00

I got busy and made an apple pie tonight. Served up a piece to DH and didn't hear any comments good or bad. I finally asked him how it was and he said it needed more sugar and more cinnamon. It had 1/2 cup of brown sugar and 1/2 cup of white.....hmmmm. Wonder if the fact that he's under the weather could have accounted for him not getting the full taste? Maybe I just can't accept that my pie isn't up to par! I'll admit it's not the prettiest pie in the world. I've only been at this cooking/baking deal for 56 years! Anyway, pies are a pain to make and Costco makes a fabulous apple pie. This might be the last apple pie to find it's way out of my oven. Bah humbug!
PS: The apple peeler/corer/slicer is the best thing ever invented!

Sewing Assemblage

2009-09-29T17:09:00.003-07:00

Vintage sewing items and old advertising scrap is what makes up this assemblage. It's at Katrina's in Folsom on Sutter Street. I think it turned out pretty sweet. Everything is removable.....held together with glue dots. Old spools, little bottles of buttons, odds and ends of sewing ephemera. I had made another and permanently affixed everything.....people wanted to take things out! I'm very stingy with my advertising scrap but just had to use the old Coats and Clark advertising on this piece.

Leather Pendants

2009-09-29T17:00:00.000-07:00

Here's a couple of leather pendants made for an online class .....New Trends In Mixed Media Yahoo Group. I made several and traded one for one. They have little "books" inside. Always have in my mind a teeny tiny pencil to put through the front but the only source I could find said they were discontinued! If anyone know a source, I'd love to know. They aren't fat like golf pencils.....they are only about
1/8 th inch thick.

2009-08-26T14:47:00.000-07:00

Here is the Crow Theater starring Miss Crow-Ella Birdsong. She not only sports the shiniest black feathers, but has a crown on her head, a necklace and an ankle bracelet! This is about as "Halloween-y" as I get. Crow-Ella is a famous singer but only sings on stage....not outdoors. Occasionally she yells "CAW! CAW!". The glitz and glitter don't show up but it's there! Get ready, Crow-Ella....the show must go on!

Never Leave Me

2009-08-04T18:59:00.000-07:00

CLICK TO ENLARGE

Whew......what a relief! This whole Etsy thing started eating away at me and what was supposed to be an adventure in the selling of our wares became a monster! My friend, Char, and I really and truly thought this was what we wanted to do, but suddenly we became acutely aware that is was a JOB now and no longer fun! So once the decision was made, I could again "play" and feel free to choose what I wanted and not what I thought our potential customers wanted. Charlotte designed a gorgeous banner for our blog and for the store. I wish we could use it for something just because I like looking at it! I admire all the Etsy members who pursue this way of promoting and selling their art and handcrafts because it is a heck of a lot of work and planning. I'm retired and want to stay that way!

Here is something I finished today. DH made the wood part for me. When I finished it, he said "who are those girls?" I said "they're your sisters .....don't you recognize them?" NOT! The key is tied with some very old silk bias tape (which is actually a soft aqua and not blue like the photo) and some vintage millinery flowers. I bought a little bunch in Amador City at Sandy's Country Home and I'm being stingy with them. Millinery flowers are hard to come by and expensive! They are limp and faded but I still love them. In fact, the wood isn't blue at all so why does it appear so in the photo? It's cream with a little crackle. The photo isn't good....I need to try it in a different light. The top photo is a close up behind the rusted antique metal fence....the rolled up letter says "Miss you. Come home soon". My mother had 3 sisters and left home at 18 for the big city. She missed her sisters so much and cried for them. This reminds me of all the sisters who have had to leave theirs behind.

2009-07-01T08:43:00.000-07:00

Finally finished this cowgirl/boy box. I've had it for 2 years just waiting for inspiration. I still need to put some words in the left upper corner by the big nail. But nothing is coming to me right now.

The little hangings were fun to make from scraps. Might make a few with vintage ladies. They're about 4 x 6....give or take. My good friend Charlotte and I are working on an Etsy store in the near future.

The "loving cup" is another use for cabinet cards. I used 6 original cabinet cards on the 6 cups...they're nice and stiff .....better than photographs.

Ancestors Charm Bracelet

2009-06-12T19:40:00.000-07:00

Got this idea from one of my groups....Red Lead...from St.Louis. Kitten (Debbie) made such a charming bracelet that I couldn't help myself and had to make one for our upcoming family reunion. I suppose both sisters and a few nieces will try to take it away from me! Wearing charm bracelets makes me sort of nervous...all that clanking around. Maybe I'll get used to it! I still think it's cute as a button (or a scrabble tile!) Thanks for the idea, Kitten!

Hydrangeas....Altered Art?

2009-05-30T07:18:00.000-07:00

I couldn't help but post my 2 year old hydrangea (bottom picture). I tried to make it turn dark blue to no avail but it did go from pale lavender to lavender-pink. I'm convinced it will never be blue!

The little hydrangea in the top picture is just in it's second season and started out as a little branch which I just stuck in the ground! It isn't even a foot tall and blooms it's little head off! It loves being blue but had no choice since I fed it regularly with "Tru Blue" aluminum sulfate. I think they need to have a tendency to be blue on their own before the aluminum sulfate actually works. Is this called "altered art"???

4 year old Lauren

2009-05-26T07:53:00.000-07:00

Grandmother's Day Gift from Lauren
Clay pot transformed with crackle paint, tissue paper, real ferns and pressed daisies. Gel medium used to apply all materials.
Same technique as the frog pot. Paper napkin bird and nest. Pressed pansies. These are really fun to make!

Had to post this! Little Lauren is my arts and crafts buddy and I couldn't help but share her pre-school picture. She just turned 4 and attends preschool and is smart as a whip. I can't help but wonder what she will become! I do hope she keeps her interest in art. She is forever making wonderful little things with her full cupboard of art and craft supplies. Yesterday, I received a little heart doilie completely covered with tiny stickers and her name printed on the back. It was delivered in 3, yes...3, envelopes. (?) I think providing children with fun materials at a very young age encourages a strong desire to create. But, on the other hand , I had nothing in the way of supplies as a child and I mananged to develop a strong creative desire. The creative desire must be built in...I 'spose you either have it or you don't. I'm glad I was one of the lucky ones. Can you say "never been bored?"

Artist's Trunk Show....selling our wares...

2009-05-24T09:55:00.000-07:00

Surprise! I can't even imagine where I've been for two months regarding this blog. I just suck at blogging I guess....I think about it and then by the time I figure out what I will post, I've gone on to something else. I did decide to post the picture of our table when we tried our hand at selling our wares on May 16th. I am referring to Charlotte Stott...my partner in crime. We had an opportunity to join with some others in Folsom at an Artist's Trunk Show sponsored by Bobbi and Katrina...owners of Not Too Shabby, (shabby chic), and Katrina's specializing in vintage laces, ribbons, trims, etc. As it turned out, some of the other vendors didn't show up, nor did any customers for that matter! It was the hottest day of the year so far and for the few people who braved the elements, it was just too hot to stand in the sun and look at the merchandise. We displayed a lot of our funky jewelry, collages, journals, tags and more. It was somewhat disappointing but we knew it was due to weather and the economy.

I am going to try to do better at this blogging thing....promise!

2009-03-26T21:16:00.000-07:00

I made 10 of these puppies....errr, bunnies for a swap. Can't wait to get 10 different ones back! 10 is manageable....44 is not! : ) The flowered paper is wall paper and I loved the colors so much it was a shame to cover it up. I had this anaglypta (embossed) wallpaper and rubbed a green inkpad over it.....reminded me of some leafy green garden stuff. Then I made some 3D carrots with Sculpey and glittered them. That's it!

2009-03-25T21:20:00.000-07:00

Here's a little Easter arrangement I made after seeing Cindy Powell's on her blog. http://www.cynthiapowell.blogspot.com/
Thanks, Cindy! Hers is so enchanting and I feel like mine is really rather overdone. As usual, I don't know when to stop adding! Oh well, 4 year old Lauren and 5 year old Sam will like it!

44 Page Spring Tag Book!

2009-03-04T19:05:00.000-08:00

This tag has embossed "Spring Fashions" in pink at the bottom though it's difficult to see on here. Better IRL!
The Morning Glory tag is my favorite. It has beautiful blue glass chunky glitter on it which really makes it pop.

These are the tags I made for the Red Lead Spring Tag Book....I made 22 of each for a total of 44! They are about 3 x 6 approximately. I really don't like making that many of anything because as I was finishing up, I kept finding fault with them and actually remade several from scratch. I'm blaming all this on my friend, Sally Paul, who forced me (at gunpoint) to join this swap. I don't think anyone actually dreamed there would be that many participants. It's going to be one awesome tag book....can't wait to see it. So that's the reason I haven't been posting or creating other kinds of art. I can't wait to get these out of my hair....and to the Post Office for their journey to Ohio. Whew!
Another note:
I put Sally's Shutterfly album link over on the right under the heading "Places to Visit"....what beautiful work she does! Check her out when you have time to be transported into a beautiful world of art!

Cuties

2009-01-27T13:54:00.000-08:00

Are these too cute? You can make them out of felt or paper....go to http://pixiesponder ings1966. blogspot. com/ and get the template for both boys and girls! Hope is the creator of these precious shoes and is giving them away on the 30th....sign up now! She suggests putting a little chocolate in them for a valentine! : ) I have to get going on these!

Paper, Glue, I Love You!

2009-01-26T19:21:00.000-08:00

Went to a fun day at the Stamp Art Shoppe with about 16 other girls and we had a delightful time making valentines. I think, in all, we made about 8 different projects. I have sent some of mine off already. Sandy and Richele always make their workshops fun....we had a great lunch and little surprises throughout the day. I even won a doorprize! So here are three of my valentines.... The top card has one of the Tim Holtz "acrylic fragments" over the paper. I actually am not much of a card maker, but I learned to use the Cuttlebug embossing technique where you use double sided paper and sand the top to reveal the second color! Love that! The post below this one shows a sympathy card using the same technique.

Sympathy Card

2009-01-26T18:39:00.000-08:00

What? It's been that long since I posted anything? I don't know where the time goes. I have been making valentines but what I have here is a sympathy card that I made to send to my cousins in Illinois. Their mother was my aunt who was only 6 years older than I, and died after only one month of being informed that she had bone marrow cancer.Her children adored her and I thought this was better than a commercial sympathy card. Inside I wrote a personal message and added this poem because she was a very selfless, generous person not only to her children but to everyone in the community.

"A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces
of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care
for pie." T. Jordan

There have been some very sad situations in my family as well as families of friends this past week or two. Hopefully, things will look up and I'm waiting for the sun to shine! The card was made on the double sided cardstock that I ran through a Cuttlebug with an embossing plate, then sanded the brown side to reveal the pink inside.

Valentine Fatbook

2009-01-10T13:04:00.000-08:00

I just finished 16 of these for our Altered StART's Valentine Fatbook hosted by Dee Moran. I know it's going to be one awesome fatbook....can't wait to see it completed. Here's my page....all 16 of the little cherubs are popping out of the page with their heart in their hand!

Lil' Sweetie Pie and Valentines!

2009-01-10T12:28:00.000-08:00

4 x 6 Valentine
Lil' Sweetie Pie open
Lil' Sweetie Pie closed

Here's a little folded ATC (well, almost! After it was finished, I measured it and it was only 2 1/2 by 3....what happened to that other 1/2"???!!!) I swear I didn't realize it till it was all finished. My swap partner was sweet enough to say it was fine with her....otherwise I was going to add a piece on the side....now that would probably have been a band aid!

The valentine is for a 3/3 swap on the Latest Trends in Mixed Media Art group...a fantastic group with loads of information and talent. I guess I have lurked long enough so thought I'd play in this one! It is 4 x 6 on watercolor paper. I used Golden light modeling paste over a doily to give some texture...then removed the doily. (Thanks, Charlotte!) When it was dry, I poured on the ultra fine glitter which doesn't show up at all!!! Then I mounted the image using the sticky dots so it would be raised a bit. The birds are red foil from a box of chocolates punched with Martha's bird punch. Glad I only had to make three!

2008-12-23T17:31:00.001-08:00

Woo hoo! Merry Christmas to me! Went antiquing with DH today and spotted this old piece that claimed to be for seed packages. It's just the most awesome color of old pine and all the drawers now hold rubber stamps! There are two dividers in each drawer giving it three sections. DH said it "doesn't do much for me"....but ok, it's Christmas! What a guy.

On top of the piece is a 2009 desktop calendar that 13 of the girls in our Altered Start made. Dee kindly hosted the swap and bound all the calendars. It just arrived today and every month is amazing, including the covers that Sally Paul designed. Thanks to all the girls that participated in the calendar making....I'm very, very happy with mine!
Wishing everyone a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Merry Christmas Book

2008-12-17T20:43:00.000-08:00

I made this Christmas book of vintage postcards of birds from a nice little teddy bear album from the thrift store. I've already given it away but I'm thinking the size was about 5 x 7. All the hard pages are covered in scrapbook paper with lots of glitter! The inside pages are on my picturetrail site. If you'd like to see the inside, go to Thanks for looking!http://www.picturetrail.com/members/edit/

Den of Temptation

2008-12-17T19:53:00.000-08:00

I made this "Den of Temptation" for a friend to celebrate coupons! I especially love the temptress arm handing her a fistful of coupons. Not visible, but nevertheless very cute (if I do say so myself!), Charlotte's hands (also known as Carlotta) are actually little scissors. One hand has a coupon and the other has a little purse. Her body is an vintage candy tin. I removed the blonde hair from the doll's head and put black hair on her. I had this crazy idea to wax her face and as careful as I was, wax got in her eye (ouch!) and now her eye doesn't open too well. The sign at the bottom says "Den of Temptation". We love our coupons!

2008-12-04T12:27:00.000-08:00

Just had to make Santas out of these guys! They were asking for it!
What do you think about desecrating old cabinet cards? Doesn't faze me as there are zillions of them and I think they should be put to some kind of use......however, I'm not sure what kind of "use" these might have except for a bit of humor! The beards are lambswool. Real crystals, too! They both already had beards and a kind of Santa Claus look about them.........I just added to it. I think the bottom Santa got some soup on his beard and mustache...
Click on pictures to enlarge.

Freebie cabinet cards for you

2008-12-02T09:59:00.000-08:00

Haven't put much up that I've been working on lately due to the fact that most are being made for gifties for friends. I did find a couple of darling cabinet cards yesterday on one of my binges....I've been looking for photos of old men who could become Santas! I'll post one soon and show you what I've been up to. But here are a couple of freebies for you....these two photos just swept me away and I actually paid $1.50 each for them! Usually, I like to pay no more than $1 but my heart got involved. If you like them, they're yours to do with what you will.

Whitney's Playland at the Beach Ride Tickets

2008-11-20T14:32:00.000-08:00

Here are some wonderful old ride tickets I found at an estate sale the other day. The top three are the original color before I beefed up the color a little with my image program. Actual size of each is 1 3/8 x 3". Whitney's Playland at the Beach was in San Francisco and closed in the 50's. It was very famous for it's many great rides and carnival atmosphere. There's even a website where nostalgia reigns as people who loved Whitney's talk about the good ol' days there. Feel free to use these tickets in your artwork.

Altered Artist

2008-11-09T08:46:00.000-08:00

Had fun with 3 1/2 year old granddaughter, Lauren, whom I am grooming to become a famous altered artist! She was making a book for her mommy and daddy. She used all my handmade paper flowers - especially the ones that had micro beads or glitter. Actually, I tried to steer her away from them but to no avail. When she said "I didn't know you had THESE!", I knew my stash was toast. She LOVES the punches and has to stand up on the chair and press down on them with all her might. All the pages had to have rounded corners with the corner round punch. Then she wrote WOW which was supposed to be MOM but it was upside down. Too cute.

Freebie

2008-11-06T21:32:00.000-08:00

Here's a page from an old schoolbook I found in my stash.
Scanned it and I share it with you to enjoy!

A Tim Holtz Weekend

2008-11-03T14:13:00.000-08:00

HOWDY PARDNERS! Taking a class from Tim Holtz was the most incredible event! He is absolutely the best teacher ever........very organized and very sharing of every possible technique. He holds nothing back! He taught at the Stamp Art Shoppe in Roseville, CA over the weekend and I, in my attempt not to spend too much money (oh sure, Pat!), only signed up for one class. His projects are awesome and he supplies everything....you come empty handed and leave with a fantastic piece. My class made a little collaged frame piece that can hold one collaged domino (we made three).
It's just too sweet! It's a project that can be made up with different backgrounds for different seasons, birthdays or whatever, although this one is obviously for the Christmas season. Can't wait to put it on an easel.

Sandy, owner of the Stamp Art Shoppe was celebrating her 6th anniversary and Friday night, she threw a party with a western theme you wouldn't believe. We had a true western bbq, door prizes, & mustaches for all. See group picture. Tim was there with his cowboy hat and his accomplice, Mario. Tim has already blogged about this weekend on his blog. You have to take a look! There's a group picture and I'm on the far right with the pink shirt and blue ball cap (my jeans zipper was down I discovered later but fortunately it didn't show....LOL *(I'm not kidding.....I was so excited and anxious to get in the picture that I actually forgot to zip my jeans after a trip to the ladies room!)
Anyway, it was the most fun weekend ever. I just feel bad that y'all (cowgirl lingo) couldn't have been there. If you get a chance to take his classes anywhere.......go for it. You won't regret it!

2008-10-23T10:45:00.001-07:00

I've been having a ball cutting, pasting, trimming, etc. Found this idea on the Stampington site and knew it was something I'd enjoy playing with....I had so many papers that needed to be used up so this was perfect for "scraps". The book was just a regular book from which I removed all the pages, and then covered the inside with scrapbook paper.Then I added two pockets to hold the recipe cards. The thickness of the cardstock with the added papers didn't allow more than three in each pocket. Shouldl have made the pockets a wee bit larlger. I typed out some recipes and pasted to the backside of each card. The outside of the book worked perfectly with checked tissue paper after I first gessoed it to cover up the title. This little book is only 4 1/2 by 6 1/2. I am working on a little larger one but I really like the charm of the smaller one. It's fun finding images that work with the papers....get your scraps out and have fun. You might end up with a neat gift for your favorite cook!

Spooky Halloween and Barley Water

2008-10-01T10:02:00.000-07:00

Here's a little ATC I made for Altered StART's mingle. The theme was "spooky Halloween" ....hope this doesn't scare anyone too much! LOL

As promised, here's the easy recipe for barley water. As you probably know, barley is one of the most nutritious foods you can eat. I love barley in soups, salads and even as a cereal for breakfast. Barley water is simply the water in which you cook the barley, but you need to do a couple of things to make it a very refreshing drink. It is really an English idea but seems to be catching on here.

Cook 1 cup hulled barley (don't use quick cooking...may have to search for "hulled" a bit in 4 cups of water. After it comes to a boil, simmer for 30 minutes & let stand for 30 minutes. While the barley is cooking, peel 2 lemons (try not to get into the white part) and place the peel and the juice into a 2 quart pitcher. Strain the barley water from the barley with a fine strainer into the pitcher. Most recipes call for honey as a sweetener but since I am diabetic, I use blue agave as a slight sweetener. Actually, I could drink it without any sweetener. It's quite refreshing sort of like lemonade but with a lot of nutrients. Try it!

A Few New Fun and Games

2008-09-29T19:56:00.000-07:00

Here's a few new things over the past 6 weeks or so. I had fun with them which is the best part. Don't you love it when you have all the components for something....no scouring thrift stores, yard sales, etc.? The arcade was a cigar box, the little girl shrine was a tall wooden whisky box, the flower pot was a scroungy looking thing which now has a new life thanks to some gesso and crackle. I'm happy to be getting some of these wooden boxes off my closet shelf....Fibber McGee's closet for those of you who remember! The bird image was from a napkin that I decoupaged onto the pot. I liked doing it so much that I scored a bunch of nice clay pots recently and plan to make a production line of pots....good gifties, ya think?
The little square bird is a 4 x 4 canvas that has a strip of scrapbook paper on the side with a bird napkin decoupaged on it and then covered with beeswax. I'm going to be very sad when the bird napkin supply runs dry. I only have one or two left....they are as scarce as hen's teeth! Next post will be a recipe for "barley water". Before you poo poo it, you must try it! Nutritious, but more than that....it's delicious!

55th Wedding Anniversary

2008-09-29T18:20:00.001-07:00

Wow! This can't be! August 12 was my last post? Lots of craziness in my big family so I've focused more on this stuff than on art I suppose. I did a few things which I should post although I've hesitated since they were things that magazines and books had inspired me to try. I always feel like I should have more ingenuity and not have to use other people's ideas. But I did like the results!

We just celebrated our 55th wedding anniversary on September 26th at Lake Tahoe which was a lovely, relaxing time. Marriage is really an interesting topic these days as I've received comments all the way from "I'm sorry!", to people who are stunned that anyone could actually stay married that long! We are parents, grandparents and great grandparents, and though I will admit it wasn't always a bed of roses, at this stage of the game, we both thank God for His provision and blessing in our marriage. I made Ed a little book that pinpoints some events in his life and he seemed genuinely touched. Whenever I have made a book for anyone, he always asked "Is that one for me?" He finally got his book! When I look at our wedding picture, (and he was movie star cute!), I wonder if I would have ever dreamed what the next 55 years would bring? I think it's good that we can't always see into the future. I was not even 19 years old and had no vision of real adulthood but I learned FAST! As an Air Force wife, we had more than our share of separations but oh, those reunions!!! : ) Life is very comfortable after 55 years together. Enough of this....off to post some more pictures finally!

More Storage.....Woo hoo!

2008-08-12T12:44:00.000-07:00

I just found the neatest thing for storage. I have a shoebox full of ribbon spools but then there were all the pieces of loose ribbon too long to throw away and not fitting on any spools. I saw this on someone's blog (not sure who!) and she said it was from Lowes....only $11.97. (Doesn't that actually mean $12? LOL) Anyway, the little doors LIFT. They are not drawers. It sits or hangs, and is 14" wide, 19" high and 5" deep.
I also discovered that it will hold spools up to 4" wide so I may get another for the spools and ditch the shoebox idea. Believe me, I've tried all sorts of things to store ribbon! Anyway, for me, this is the cat's pajamas. I love it!

Revised Collage.....

2008-08-08T11:12:00.001-07:00

What? It's been since July 28th since my last post? Well, I think I might have removed the Lauren and Sam post since I thought maybe my grandkids antics weren't all that interesting to other people after all!
This post is showing the revised (again) collage now named "The Girl and the Bluebird". Revised because I had to put a piece of handwriting somewhere on it to enter in the New Trends in Mixed Media group's August collage contest. I also added a few other things (shouldn't I be taking things away instead?). It takes courage sometimes to promote our own work and yet I get a lot of satisfaction out of knowing what others think, good or bad. It's sure not a perfect example of collage but I think I'm growing each time I attempt something. Hopefully....

I've not done a lot recently....life seems to get in the way of art, doesn't it? In a way, I look forward to fall and winter and being "holed up" in the house; on the other hand, I somewhat dread the craziness of the holidays. I need to learn to take life as it comes....one day at a time.....not look too far into the future lest I become overwhelmed with what I know is coming. I don't handle the holidays so well anymore. It's almost like "been there, done that" and maybe I'm just enjoying the simple things of life more and more. Dragging out box after box after box of Christmas paraphernalia seems so redundant after 55 years of Christmases with my DH and family. Do I sound jaded? I don't mean to be....just being realistic, I guess.

New Collage

2008-07-19T15:11:00.000-07:00

Finished a collage I worked on the past few days. I just can't quit when I'm ahead. Well, it's all stuck down now and if it wasn't, I'd probably remove the book...I don't think it needs it now that I look at the thing with a jaundiced eye.
It's about 12 x 20 in an old frame. There are some flowers from a napkin thanks to Norah's tutorial here:http://allnorahsart.blogspot.com/2008/06/napkin-play.html. The bottom area has some anaglypta. I never knew that embossed wallpaper was called that until my friend, Sally Paul, clued me in about it and sent me a piece. I asked her for some advice along the way and unfortunately, I don't think I followed it very well. She's been an art teacher for many years (I think she said 40!!) and I would probably be considered one of her most difficult students. Go ahead, give me an F, Sally....I deserve it! That's it for today. Just going to sit back now and pick it apart in my mind and wonder about all the things I did wrong and if I had it to do over again, what would I do differently? I would love some feedback....and like I told Sally, be truthful because I'm tough and I can take it.....LOL
PS: You can click on it to enlarge. Better to see all my mistakes...: )
PS again! Revised picture added above. I tore off the top piece of heavy lace and replaced it with some player piano paper...trust me, it's better in person! Well, at least I think so.

Tea Chest

2008-07-09T14:13:00.001-07:00

I'm on a tea kick...here's a little tea chest that I made; front, top and side view. It has German scrap roses and birds and some hand painted strokes here and there. I had it filled with tea bags but have been using them regularly so I need to replenish my stash! There are napkins in the drawers and a little sugar and Splenda.

Is this a shrine? I never know!....Mary Green Woman says a shrine is paying homage to something you love and I love tea! A bit different than my tea shrine that I posted earlier.

It's 108 degrees today in the Sacramento area (and smoky from all the fires around us).....after a high yesterday of 113. When my first son was born in Salina, Kansas on July 8, 1954, it was also 113 degrees.....we had no air conditioning in our little place, nor did the air base hospital! I was 19 years old and thought I was going to DIE. When I came home from the hospital, DH went to Sears and bought a table fan which we placed next to the crib and turned it on the baby full blast. He had the worst colic ever....duh!

Brian and Bird Condo Side Views

2008-07-01T11:33:00.000-07:00

Two posts in one day? Glory be! I'm supposed to be cooking turnip greens. Why can't I do what I'm supposed to do instead of playing with this blog stuff? I just wanted everyone to see darling grandson Brian with his grandma. This was after he got his altered dictionary grad gift (see earlier post below). He really, truly seemed to love the book and thanked me over and over. Pretty neat for a 23 year old. He's got class....heh heh!
Also, I'm posting the side views of the 2 story condo (earlier post) as a couple of people asked to see the sides. So here they are in what is my poor photography attempts. Don't forget to click on the pictures to enlarge!I just can't get the lighting right and I'm too lame to understand all there is to know about basic photography. Maybe I just don't want to take the time. I have to go cook turnip greens now.

A Spot Of Tea

2008-07-01T11:01:00.000-07:00

I saw this idea in a book by (I believe) Anna Corbin and fell in love with it. Can't remember the name of it now. DH made me a wooden box which became this little tea shrine/assemblage. Can someone explain what the difference is? If a shrine has a religious connotation, well then, so be it. I don't worship tea but I sure do love it....expecially fruity teas and Tazo. The Tazo website is great fun if you've never visited it. Here's the link. http://www.tazo.com/noflash.html
Last night, Lauren, the infamous 3 yr old, came to visit while her mommy and daddy celebrated their 7th wedding anniversary with a dinner out. Immediately, she saw the dining room table was still looking very "cwafty" after the bird book completion. There was no turning back. She had to make a bird book for her mama and daddy and one for her day care lady, Miss Hannah. She worked hard at it and punched more birds with my new bird punch than you can count. Then, when there was paste and scraps on everything (except the book) she announced that I was to take it to the post office and mail it to them (they were picking her up in a few minutes)! So I was to mail it today. Actually, I was supposed to take it last night but I explained that it was closed so the mailman could rest. Did I mention that I left the room for a split second and when I came back, she had a pile of Diamond Glaze the size of an elephant on a piece of paper?

Oh, and I got busted, too. She walked into the "cwaft" room/office/storage/junk room and said "This room has too much stuff in it". Wait a minute, girlie, who's the boss of this house.....you or me? If I want too much stuff, (which I do), then just wait till you get your own cwaft room! I hope I'm still around to point out that you've got too much stuff! Anyway, you will never be an "ahtist/cwafter" if you don't have a lot of junk around to play with. LOL

Bird Book Play Day

2008-06-27T20:33:00.001-07:00

Charlotte and I had a play day yesterday. We both worked on bird books. Our inspiration was from the new Somerset Studio Gallery....Charlotte's was completely different and very lovely. I wish she'd "blog" so she could show off her work.
Mine is 5 x 7 illustration board....quite heavy. I covered the pages with different papers and dry brushed some of them. I was pretty unhappy to find when I filled the xyron with a new roll and ran two pages through before I realized it was laminating stuff!
$20 down the tubes. Shoot....the pages were weird and nothing wanted to stick, of course. No extra rolls so I just used soft gel medium to glue the paper to the rest. Then the fun part was embellishing with stamps, scrap, all kinds of birdies and eggs. I'm sort of hipped on birds....can you tell? Well, actually the gold finches in my yard have eaten the zinnias down to bare bones. They by-pass the seed and eat the flowers and leaves. We can't make them stop so I didn't put any gold finches in my book. Bah on them!

I just finished it up tonight and scanned all the pages. I should post a picture of my dining room table, too....I don't think the surface is visible at all. When it gets to that point, I can't find anything so I spend most of my time looking for things I need. I thought I'd clean it off tonight but I'm too pooped. Art is hard!
Remember, you can click on the pictures to enlarge. Better to see my mistakes...heh heh.

2008-06-25T14:45:00.000-07:00

Just finished this little bird thing that has been calling my name. It fell off the closet shelf a couple of times in it's original state of navy blue, orange, yellow and red. It had drawers in it which had to go bye bye. This mother bird is resting up after laying 2 eggs that were big enough to do her in real good. Actually, she's thinking about a sitz bath. On the sides, there's a copy of a child's story about a robin. The photography is lousy....should have taken the picture in the morning light.

Transfers

2008-06-19T11:09:00.000-07:00

I have been trying transfers for what seems like forever! Never had much success but I'm pretty excited about what I tried this morning. For what it's worth, here are the pictures of what happened. I belong to the Yahoo inkjet transfer group and have mostly just lurked trying to glean information. I have tried a lot of posted techniques with little or no success. Now I don't know if anyone who is good at transfers would think much of these, but I'm happy enough that I would attempt to put one over something that I previously was afraid I'd ruin. I followed Angela Silva's (Inkjet Transfer group) directions and used Office Depot High Gloss Premium Photo Paper, 9 mil thickness, heavy weight. There are 25 sheets and it was on sale a week or two ago for $9.99. Then I used Golden Soft Gel (Matte) on the substrate with my finger, just making a nice smooth layer. At first I used too much and it was obvious when I removed the photo paper that it was really oozing. When I printed the image onto the photo paper, I used the regular printing option (standard) and glossy photo paper setting. I have a Canon Pixma 6700. Funny thing is that the picture of the little boy actually was a black and white cabinet card. The black ink evidently turns blue when it hits the Soft Gel. Oh, and I tried the back of a spoon, a bone folder, the scissors handle and a brayer. Didn't seem to make much difference what I used. Why does a transfer always leave out someone's beak or nose? Hmmm?
Thanks to Angela for helping me make some fairly decent transfers!

Rust and Cwafts

2008-06-17T19:48:00.001-07:00

What's this? Two posts in one day? I just wanted to share the beautiful rusted paper (so much prettier in real life!) that I learned to make from Val's blog at http://valsalteredheartjourney.blogspot.com/
It was just on regular copy paper but it almost has a parchment feel once it's rusted. To learn how to rust stuff, you will need go to her blog, scroll all the way down and then go to "older posts" and it's about half way down the page. I doubt if you'll get there very fast because she has the most delicious textured things to look at on the way! The rusted technique is wonderful and she even does fabrics. So here's to Val...the texture queen! Thanks for sharing your technique, Val.

Rusting aside for the moment, I wasn't going to bore you with this but I can't help myself. I watched my barely 3 yr. old granddaughter, Lauren, today and she said "Gammaw, I want make a cwaft (craft for those who don't know 3 yr. old talk), ....we made crafts for 2 hours and when she had made one for everybody in the family, including both grandmas, mom, dad, the daycare lady, and the cat, she said "I'm an ahtist, gamaw. Are you going to be an ahtist, too?" Just too much fun, these 3 year olds! If the truth were known, I would have been very sad if she hadn't wanted to be an "ahtist"!

Brian's Altered Book

2008-06-17T19:36:00.000-07:00

Finally finished the altered book for my grandson's graduation gift. The pictures are on Picturetrail and here's the link. (Gosh, it's been so long since I posted, I can't even remember how to make a link!) http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=19880460&uid=8870981
He will see it Saturday night at his grad party. It's big and fat...it was a dictionary but not the one I originally intended....the ten pounder! I soon realized I couldn't deal with that one so this little less weighty one worked out fine. It took me about 2 months to complete. A description of the cover and each page is on Picturetrail.

2008-06-01T13:53:00.000-07:00

As we have told our children many times, there are consequences for not eating your vegetables. Here is a shrine depicting what happens (eventually) when you don't eat a healthy diet. This is so NOT ME to make something like this....a far cry from vintage darlings and spring flowers and birds. Not sure what took hold of me other than I had a couple of medicine bottles that looked interesting. My friend Charlotte (who is a veritable gold mine of supplies!) came to my rescue when I said "I think I need a skeleton....where would I get one?". She (as usual) said "I have one". Not only did she have one but it fit EXACTLY inside the shrine. One leg is a itsy bitsy longer than the other (you see, other maladies occur to the human body when you don't eat your vegetables!) but he is perfectly positioned just where he needed to be. Thanks, dear Charlotte!

Who Are These People?

2008-05-17T17:51:00.001-07:00

It was a hot day in Sacramento....3rd day of near 100 degrees but not too hot to keep me home!
Went garage sale-ing today and found a few items. One is a dictionary that is 4" thick and weighs about 10 pounds! It's going to become an altered book for my grandson's college graduation. I needed a huge book because his mom has given me so many goodies that I'll have to make a few niches to get them all in. Glad he's a big strong guy so he can lift it...LOL
Also, today I picked up two very old lovely frames with what looked like cabinet cards. When I got home, I took them apart and found two other folks inside the frames....so now I have a husband and wife plus their child and the stern mother-in-law. I'm just guessing about MIL, but I know the couple was married. The 70ish lady who sold them to me said she remembered them in her grandmother's house and thinks they were her grandmother's great-grandparents....I'm thinking mid 1850's by the dress. Anyway, you are free to take them and do with them whatever you want. Another successful garage sale day!

Sew What?

2008-05-09T15:43:00.000-07:00

Had a lot of vintage sewing ephemera and have been wanting to do an assemblage or shrine type thing with it. Finally got busy and put it all together. I love the colors and all the little doo-dads. The lid is shown on the left. It's in a wooden box about 8 1/2" square painted an oldish blue-green. Pretty much every thing is vintage. Some of the hooks and eyes and button cards say 4 cents or 8 cents! I found that J. C. Penneys was a great source for the home seamstress. The picture on the inside of the lid is a copy of some vintage scrap advertising Clark's ONT thread. If I ever get my Etsy store (scary!), I might sell this baby although I am pretty attached to it already!
I have a 6 drawer antique spool cabinet that is one of my favorite things....teardrop pulls and glass fronts on the drawers that are backed with red. The drawers read Clark's - Spool Cotton - On White Spools - O.N.T. (our new thread) - George A. Clark - Sole Agent.
I'd like to say click on pictures for a larger view but it rarely works for me. Maybe I just don't know how to do it. Good possibility! Sorry.

Chipboard Jewelry

2008-04-23T08:58:00.000-07:00

Charlotte and I attended a class recently where we made jewelry....I'm not a "regular" jewelry wearing person as I wear the same gold earrings every day....even sleep in them! So I'm not sure what prompted me to sign up but I'm glad I did now, as I really love the look of this and will probably wear it when I put on my "grubbies"....it's just grungy looking and fun! There isn't much to it except painting the cardboard (pounced on acrylic paint in metallic colors) and gluing & wiring on whatever little goodies you have on hand. The piece with the couple on front is actually a little book of black pages. Three of these pages have pictures of vintage children on them. Of course, they must be the couple's children!
On to my next project....it's in my head. Now to get it from there to reality!

MaryTagged Me!

2008-04-17T14:57:00.000-07:00

That "Green Woman", Mary, tagged me....I think it's a compliment!? Ok, I'll write a few things about me that might surprise some of you....
then again...? Here's how it works, you get tagged and you list 6 things about yourself, unimportant, random,habits and quirks. Then you tag 6 people and link them at the end of your post. Then you inform them they've been tagged and on it goes.

1. I was born in 1934 but I'm only 49 years old. Amazing, isn't it?

2. I have been married since 1953 but I'm about to celebrate my first 100 years with DH....(time goes fast when you're having fun! LOL.......just kidding, Ed)

3. I have 7 sons, 19 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. (Well, jeez, since I've been married so long I should have something to show for it, right?)

4. I am still amazed by the computer and can sit forever looking at blogs, history, email, etc. (so much for walking 10,000 steps a day) I just read (online) the entire true narrative (42 chapters) of a slave woman named Harriet Jacobs. I couldn't stop reading her fascinating history, though terribly heartbreaking.

5. I'd rather play with my art stuff than clean (duh) and I like to cook because I like to eat.

6. I'm blessed beyond comprehension thanks to my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

That's it! Now to tag some unsuspecting blogger friends:

1. Jillian http://elinorscloset.blogspot.com/
2. Francine http://francines-amusings.blogspot.com/
3. Brenda http://dragonlady-1.blogspot.com/
4. Gabrielle http://parissalon.blogspot.com/
5. Danielle http://wahm922.blogspot.com/
6. Kim http://threadtales.blogspot.com/

Circles and Daisies

2008-04-09T20:45:00.000-07:00

Here's an ATC for Altered StART mingle. The theme was Circles....hmmm. I think I could have done better with the theme but this is what came to mind. The paper is beautiful handmade, very colorful paper I picked up at a yard sale. The embellishment is foam with a sun stamp....and some gold embossing. I always wish I had made two of the mingle pieces....one to swap and one to keep, but I never do!

The daisy picture is a vintage postcard that had daisies pictured so I just embellished with pressed daisies over the printed ones and covered the entire card with beeswax. Love the salutation "Hello Girlie"! I'm thinking of sending it in the mail just like it is to see how the PO handles it. The colors are really prettier in real life.

New Collage...is it finished?

2008-04-08T22:24:00.001-07:00

This is the first thing I've done for several days. I must have spring fever as I haven't felt like hanging out in the studio/crap room. Ooops, I mean craft room. Don't want to garden or clean or anything. Just lazy!

It was fun to work on, as this little guy reminded me so much of my youngest son, Tommy, when he was about 3. I used some gold angelina fiber on his hair.....just enough, but not too much. The piece is on heavy matt board and is 8 1/2 x 8 1/2. It hangs by the blue ribbon. I used stamping, vintage paper, crochet from a very old pillowcase and buttons. I always have a hard time trying to figure out if it's "DONE" or if it needs more. Maybe less? Well, it's finished and I'm not doing anything else to it.....so it must be "DONE"!

2008-04-03T09:57:00.001-07:00

Our "music" mingle at Altered StART just made me think of Olivia...my dad's first cousin. She died in childbirth with her first child in the late 20's. Her name's mention was always followed with "Olivia...she died in childbirth, you know". Poor Olivia....she was an only child herself and in this photo was sitting by the piano with a piece of sheet music on her lap and a big hairbow in her hair. Her parents were well-to-do, owning a retail store in the little town of Ludell, Kansas. Her cousins, on the other hand, were not so well off, but Olivia always had nice clothes & shoes, not to mention a piano! She was perfect for this "music" mingle theme. Frances, our group mom, will receive this piece in the mingle draw.

Pansies and Cherubs

2008-04-03T09:25:00.001-07:00

Here's a spring lottery card for Altered StART group. I used dried pansies and cherubs to bring a spring theme to mind. I love the pansies....they dry so beautifully between pages of a book and keep their color so well. Gold micro beads make curls on the cherub's hair. Beeswax covers it all.

Visiting Tucson

2008-03-29T11:05:00.000-07:00

Since I am away from my art table and have no art to post, I thought I'd share this silly picture. Here I am standing in front of the famous suguaro cactus in Tucson, AZ. My sis says this is the only place they grow and it takes 100 years to grow an "arm". Not sure this is all true but it sounds good! I can see that I need to lay off the Mexican food....yikes! Anxious to get home and start creating something to add to my blog. I'm not a good traveler.....more of a homebody these days. Love being with my little sister but I'm ready to go back to California. Bye bye, Arizona!
PS: Click to enlarge....never mind, I'm "large" enough without! LOL
PS: Just found out that saguaros grow only in the Sonoro Desert....not just around Tucson.

Only 1 Mother 4 Me

2008-03-12T14:40:00.001-07:00

I have neglected my blog for over a week. I have been playing with some different things but nothing worth posting. I made an ATC this morning for Altered StART's bi-weekly (does anyone know what that really means?) "mingle" which is our group swap. It was to be something with a number or numbers. It turned out to my liking and it has my beautiful mother's youthful photo as the focal point so I'm going to share it here. My mother has been gone for 5 years and spring never comes without me thinking about her bluebird houses and bedding plants. Jill asked me what the background was.....don't you hate it when you don't know how you made something? I did it awhile ago and put it away without keeping a record of what I did. I wish I could duplicate it because it truly is pretty. I probably found the technique in a book or online and can't take credit for anything more than just copying what I read. I do think that it's nice to have backgrounds made up....the whole thing only took me a little while simply because I didn't need to make the background before I ever started! Hope all of you are getting a little taste of spring. It's definitely arrived here in Northern California and it's always amazing to me to see nature spring back to life. Birds are flirty and I spend far too much time just watching their antics. We saw a couple building a nest in a BIG old birdhouse which was sitting on a lawn chair with a hole far too large. They worked so hard on it and then abandoned it even as he was bringing the last twig....I wonder if she said "This is way too much house for us...let's look for a smaller place". I need to get back to work!

2008-03-02T18:38:00.001-08:00

Interestingly enough, I decided to take some much appreciated advice and add a couple of elements to help balance the collage. It will be interesting to see if it helped....I rather think it did! I also intensified the color with "levels autofix" which actually made it a bit more like the real thing -- except for the birds! They became lavender! What's up with that??? Here it is, for what it's worth....my new improved (?) collage baby.

First Collage

2008-03-01T22:51:00.001-08:00

Worked on a collage today and really enjoyed it. Composition is the thing and I'm not sure I got it right but for a first attempt, I like it! The color looks very washed out on here and I'm not sure why. The background was a pretty matt that I removed from a photo album. I gessoed it to dull the color. The peachy effect in the lower left is a piece of a chiffon scarf that has pretty soft flowers. It's laid over the background. Fortunately, the oval opening was already cut for me! The pretty robin's egg blue "ribbon" at the top is actually vintage silk bias tape wrapped around a piece of the original card. There is some German scrap, mother of pearl heart shaped buttons, heavy vintage antique lace inside the oval and some birds that I cut out and applied. The size is 7 1/4 by 9.....definitely not ATC size. I'm spreading my wings!
PS: The baby is a copy of a cabinet card. I tinted it a little to pick up the peach tone. As always, you can click on it to enlarge.

2008-02-26T09:00:00.001-08:00

Our Altered StART mingle theme was Asian...this is my first Asian piece. It's ATC size 2 1/2 x 3 1/2. Hope whatever it says is something nice! My niece teaches English in Japan and sent me some little goodies...the 3D piece in the middle was too pretty not to use! Thanks, Melody!

2008-02-25T15:35:00.001-08:00

Here's a birthday card I made for our darling granddaughter, Stephanie, who is turning 18 today! I have a funny little program called Mr. Presto where I can remove parts of pictures and put in something different. I took out the girl's face and added Steph's baby picture. I'm sure there are ways to do that in Photoshop but since I don't have it, I use this one for some fun effects. The inside of the card says "but you're even more beautiful at 18!" That font, BTW, is called "King and Queen"....it's wonderful. If you Google it, I'm sure you can find it and add it to your fonts. Oh, and the wings and skirt are cut from some petals off a big 99 cent store flower. Hmmm, wonder if 18 year olds appreciate these kind of cards?

You Make My Day Award

2008-02-22T08:47:00.001-08:00

Jill, one of the mods on my Altered StART group surprised me today with this lovely treat! Jill was primarily the one who kept encouraging me to start a blog....thanks, Jill!

The rules for the "You Make My Day" award are to re-present it to 10 people whose blogs bring you happiness, inspiration and make you feel happy about blog land. Let them know through e-mail or by posting a comment on their blog so they can pass it on. Beware you may get the award several times, and if you do, consider yourself really, really loved. So to pass it on and keep the love going ~ here are some of the 100's of blogs that keep me inspired and bring a smile to my face. Please check them out when you have a few minutes...perhaps there are some new friends to be made! My list is on the right sidebar and I am adding all the time. I'm so slow at editing and posting! I don't have all my favorite blogs listed yet but this is a start. I'll be adding soon.....
There are two special art friends who don't have blogs that I'd like to mention....Charlotte S who inspires me always and Lindy G in Buffalo who makes beautiful things....when are you two starting a blog so you can share with the art world?

Blog Troubles

2008-02-22T07:09:00.000-08:00

When I tried to make a link for my http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Altered_stArt/ group this morning (editing previous posts) , some of my posts disappeared. Boo hoo!..... I know how to make links when creating new posts.....just haven't figured out how to do it once the post is in place. Not too savvy when it comes to this blogging stuff but I'm taxing my brain to figure it out. Don't they say it keeps your brain young to make it work harder? I need all the help I can get in that department!
ps: hope that link works.........

Pansy

2008-02-20T08:30:00.001-08:00

The Northern California Mixed Media Artists meeting is Sunday. We are supposed to make an "art doll"....I hesitated for a long while because the muse wasn't cooperating. Then I remembered a book "Paper Projects" by Sandra Everton that was languishing in a drawer. I leafed through it and saw this pansy doll and so I went to work scanning her pattern which had a paper pansy for a costume. Of course, I couldn't let that be....I had to get my pressed flowers out and found a gorgeous purple pansy that begged to be a topper for the paper pansy. That wasn't good enough! I heated the beeswax and waxed the thing onto her underskirt. Arrrggghh. Not a good idea. Finally, found another pressed pansy that I put on the top of the waxed one....her headpiece and booby cover-up are pansies/pansy pieces. Her arms and legs are lace covered cardstock. I'm not sure she's anatomically correct but I love pansies....therefore I love her! Click on her for a larger view.

Valentine Cookies

2008-02-13T08:11:00.000-08:00

This isn't too artsy, but I made these little sweet treats for a neighbor who brings our garbage cans up to the garage door every Monday morning without fail! She's in her late 80's and as frail as she is, it's a sure thing they'll be there when we open the garage door. I need to take her cookies over to her as DH is causing them to disappear pretty fast! Happy Valentine's Day to everyone. Bite my cookies!

2008-02-07T06:12:00.001-08:00

Here's a little Valentine I made for a friend. It's 3 1/2 x 4 1/2 ....just a little box I covered. The flowers were cut from scrapbook paper and shaped with my fingers a little. Not sure if this will enlarge for you to read the note but plain little birdie in the background (with maybe a bit of envy!) says "So! Just who do you think you are with that purse and crown?" Sometimes, these little fun projects are very satisfying. Hope my friend likes it. I will tell her upfront that after a spell, she is welcome to ditch it, pitch it, hide it or whatever. I hate that some people feel they must keep a gift forever....I'm not that kind of giver.

Button Fairies and Button Regrets

2008-02-06T07:33:00.001-08:00

Made these little gals for a swap in my Altered StART group. I cast the faces with Sculpey. They were quite fun to make, though I'm not good with beads and wire. The fingers don't cooperate! When I moved a couple of years ago, I gave away a quart jar full of my mother's buttons to a thrift shop. Some of them were from the early 30's. What was I thinking? Did I just become overwhelmed with all the "stuff" that needed to be moved....or what? I had no clue about altered art at the time, but even so....what a dumb thing to do! I can remember her showing me how to string buttons with a needle and thread when I was about 4. Wonder who has those buttons now?
Off to figure out how to make clickable links in my blog!

Bees Wax Love

2008-02-02T17:45:00.001-08:00

I decided to leave my house guest to his own devices this afternoon and ended up with this ATC for Altered StART's bi-weekly mingle.
Actually, I nearly missed the deadline but I really wanted to play
with bees wax! It went quickly and I found some dried flowers in my Microsoft for Dummies book between some tissue that I dried last summer. I made this little cutie a wreath for her hair and applied the wax over the entire card. She's actually cut out and glued to a piece of embossed white cardstock that I smudged a bit with pink chalk. It disappeared after I put the bees wax on but I still like the effect. It's always funny to me how things come out when you aren't really trying! Thanks, Jill, for encouraging me to put her on my blog and for telling me about http://stepoutsideyourboxsaturdays.wordpress.com/

Valentines and River Walks

2008-01-28T15:35:00.001-08:00

Here are a couple of darling Valentines that Janene and Barbara gave me at our Northern California Mixed Media Artists meeting yesterday! The round Valentine was my "altered CD" which was our challenge for the meeting. The base is scrapbook paper with antique looking text, added a paper doily, antique lace and finally an image that I printed. A bigger doily on the back, a ribbon, some glitter dots and an enameled heart finished it off. The heart isn't really as yellow as it appears. I promise. Aren't Valentines fun?

Our local meeting yesterday afternoon was interesting! We had several new people, Valentines were traded, we had a lesson from Lois on drawing a human figure with only one line....I failed the class I fear. It was interesting seeing everyone's results....very obvious who were "real" artists! Barbara brought pumpkin bread and Sally brought brownies .... a nice treat to be sure. Janene is heading up a project to bring awareness to the homeless plight. I have an idea forming in my head.....not sure how it will play out.

My dear brother, Tim, from Boonville, Missouri, is visiting me and my other brother, John, here in California. Fun to hang out with them....we walked along the American River this morning and I got my 6,400 steps. Whew! I'm tuckered out.

2008-01-25T16:33:00.001-08:00

Here's a little birdie I made for my brother who lives in Boonville, Missouri. It's tummy is a funny little oval frame that looks like metal but I think it might just be plastic looking like metal....a serendipity dollar store find. His wings are thin copper which I cut with a scissors. His head is just a paper bird's head out of a magazine. I rusted the tummy & wings with a rusting kit from Michaels. So Tim, who has his own cedar trees in abundance, cut their Christmas tree, took it in the house,and never got around to decorating it except for this bird! They had a lot of out of town commitments and decorating the tree seemed to be at the bottom of their priority list! My inspiration came from Somerset Studio Nov/Dec 2007.

3rd Post

2008-01-22T15:37:00.001-08:00

Hmmm....I'm on a roll! I did type a long paragraph and then I lost it somehow. Blogging ain't what it's cracked up to be!
Weather in northern California is rotten, though I dare not complain to those in the north and east. We're just sissies here, I suppose, but it feels cold and has been raining most of the day. Because I need to walk 10,000 steps a day, I put on my pedometer and walked the length of the mall 4 times..... only to reach 2679 steps! What's up with that? Is it the pedometer or what? I went off my Boniva (osteoporosis preventative) because I've been hearing about osteoneurosis and I didn't want to be a victim. In order to go off the drug, you need to really beef up your exercise (woe is me) and do some powerful walking. If anyone knows anything about osteoneurosis, (just corrected this to osteonecrosis!) I'd sure like to pick your brain. Evidently it causes some jaw changes which in turn can cause your teeth to crack.
Not much to blog about today....stay tuned.

2nd Post

2008-01-20T08:17:00.000-08:00

Thought I'd publish a couple of pictures to see how it works. The first picture is of the boys when they were from about 3 to 9 years. We had just returned from Germany with the US Air Force. We lived on the 3rd floor of base housing in Bitburg. Hauling groceries and laundry up and down 3 flights of stairs (4 flights to the basement) for 3 years was a real challenge, but boy, was I svelte in those days! Tired, but svelte! The next picture shows our grown up sons including an additional one who wasn't born in time to be in the other picture. They are all delightful people and have given us the blessing of a lot of wonderful grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

First Post

2008-01-20T08:14:00.000-08:00

Thanks to some dear friends in my Yahoo mixed media art group, Altered StART, here is my very first post. I wonder if I will be able to find the discipline to make entries often enough? I have a bad habit of starting journals and diaries and letting it all fall by the wayside after a time. Maybe at this stage of my life, I need to learn some stick-to-it-ivness and "get my blog on". I have been sitting here all afternoon trying to figure out how this thing works. I must have lost a bunch of brain cells in my elder years because it doesn't look that easy, and yet there are thousands of people blogging every day. So hang with me and see if I can figure out how to put some pictures on here. I'll be begging for help, I'm sure of it!