Fall Art Retreat

Saturday was a lovely sunny day that I spent at a Fall Art Retreat at Sparrows Nest Studio. I actually finished (mostly) two of the three projects. I started out taking pictures of projects in steps... lost that fairly quick! But here's the first project we worked on. I can't remember what our wild birds are called. They are plaster of paris forms with dyed paper towels as the covering and assorted embellishments including petal wings colored with water soluble oil pastels.

The second project was a Bird Stuffie which you can see in the bottom left of the above photo. We had a choice of several bird templates, and I chose the owl. I actually "beaded" the eyeballs, (okay, only two beads but it's my very first beading work!) and got the stitching done around one eye but I was sooooo slllooooowwww at hand sewing and beading that I did not finish this one.... yet.  I may do again as it was such fun, plus I have a lovely piece of fabric I "painted" left over. Since I am no longer under the pressure to finish in a time frame, it will come with me camping this week.  :D

The final project was the most in my comfort zone, Encaustic collage. Of course, I mucked it up, but had a marvelous time playing. (You'll note I included a piece of napkin) The difference with this type of encaustic is that the collage is done and sealed with gel medium before applying the wax with a brush, then "fusing" with a heat tool. While the wax is still warm you do the toner image transfer and then (when cool) add other embellishing marks. With this style of wax collage, you have to be sure the image is how you want it rather than have the beeswax meld the layers.

All in all, it was fabulously fun day with good energy folks!

A few camping pictures...

View from trail behind campsite

 Campfire under arching trees

Awesome old tree... the light did not capture it well. 

 My honey watching the river during one of our walks

Art day

Yesterday was an art day for me. Some of us black bird crazy folks at atcsforall.com held a one day Black bird a-thon yesterday and there was some incredible art created. I spent the day playing with beeswax and tissue prints....

  

And in the middle of the day, our monthly art group met and shared what was going on in our lives, art wise and other wise.
Hubby was fine with a quick chicken and rice dinner which I cooked too long so it was a bit dried out (note to self: set timer next time I'm cooking when a-thoning) and letting me sit at the art table and computer while I "played" in the a-thon all day and night. I heart him. :)

Bird series

   

Stamped script, inks, paper napkin, beeswax, stamped images, inked edges. Have I mentioned I love playing with beeswax?

Haunt

In My Dream

Card received from a friend... just what I needed.