What's in my Studio... Houses!

I thought I'd share some photos of a House Accordion Book project done with the local Artist Trading Card folks. We traded them this past weekend, and constructed our books while we were together. I still need to decorate the covers of my book, and am debating whether I want to attach a ribbon... we'll see. 

This was based on a project created by radiantcrust, suggested by my friend Nancy, an ATC enthusiast who is in three area ATC groups, if I recall correctly. There were 11 of us who participated, from our ATC group here in Bellingham, and from the two groups in Vancouver, BC. 

These were my submissions: 

Most folks did Christmasy houses, however I decided bird houses would be perfect. I created my own template and traced then cut out enough for 12 houses. The front and back pieces are glued together on either side of the base. 

All in all, the project was fun, even during my busiest part of the year. 

Wishing you all a happy and creative New Year! 

Joining Julia at Stamping Ground for What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday

Merry Christmas!

This is an older piece, but is just right for wishing you a Merry Christmas! I hope your holiday was special! 

Winter Solstice

Happy Winter Solstice! 

Solstice Snow by
Helen Campbell

Stop and Listen

Clear Directions
from brianandreas.com

Flowing Colors

Playing with a technique for a demo I did yesterday at Stampadoodle and the Paper Cafe. It was based on the article in the Sept/Oct 2014 Somerset Studio by Mary Beth Shaw - The Art of Pour. 

So.... mine did not come out quite like hers did at all. Part of that is because I didn't have fluid acrylic paint, so used acrylic ink and reinkers. I didn't have birch panels so used canvas panels. I did have GAC100 polymer medium, and also tried liquid matte medium, which worked alright... just not the same. :)

You see, my goal was to try to do the technique WITHOUT buying anything new. 

Always a challenge when improvising! In any case, it was fun, and messy, and we had a good time playing with it at the demo. 

 This is using GAC 100 and acrylic inks. Do you see the tiny heart that appeared? 

Using liquid matte medium and reinkers

 Using matte medium and acrylic inks

This is an offprint from a matte medium and reinker attempt. We (I) didn't like how it was going, and this smooshed print made us happy. 

Playing with reinkers dripped on water color paper, sprayed with water and tilted. 

We had a good time making a mess. At least I was entertaining.

I'll keep playing with the technique to see if I can get some similar to those in the article. Art is always an adventure! 

It's been a few weeks, however I'm checking in with the folks at Paint Party Friday to see what they have been creating.  

Happy Thanksgiving!

Borrowed from  http://www.scienceofrelationships.com

Artificial Urgency

In the midst of all the rushing about, take time for the little things.  

Annas Hummingbird in snowy tree

"There is what I call an "artificial urgency" that can screw up our lives, if we let it.

Social commitments, work deadlines, spouses, kids, parents...all of that daily maintenance that life requires...it doesn't feel artificial, it feels REAL.

Radical hospitality starts within - you gotta be ok with being ok with yourself. 

Respect yourself enough to step away. 

Set priorities and boundaries that work for you and your family and let the rest go. 

BE RADICAL. 

As much as possible, optimize the things that energize, minimize the things that drain. 

And persevere."

Wise words from Jane Somerton (aka my big sister)

One down, one to go...

We're set up for the opening of the Holiday Festival of the Arts tomorrow, and I'm pooped. The show runs from November 14th through December 24th.
It's interesting how the set up works one way  at home in the "trial run" and another when actually setting up on location. :)

Here's a shot of the booth, which will morph after the show next weekend when more goodies will be moved over. Unless of course, I sell out next weekend. Ha!

And since I've been so busy getting ready for the two shows, I haven't done any regular artwork. Well, I guess I've worked on some ornaments, but it's too dark to get a photo now. I'll try to remember to do it tomorrow for posterity.

Happy Friday!

Holiday Festival of the Arts opens Friday!

The Holiday Festival of the Arts opens this coming Friday, November 14th and runs through December 24th!

We set up on Wednesday... and I'm nearly ready, but it's interesting the little things you realize aren't quite ready as you do the final set up run through. :)

If you're in the area, do stop by! You'll find a variety of art, both original and prints, greeting cards and ornaments in our booth and many lovely local artisans work to browse.

Happy Monday!

Until further notice...

Celebrate Everything! 

Happy Halloween!

I'm busy working on holiday ornaments, but took some time today to play with some friends on atcsforall.com at the Halloween-a-thon. Here's a few Artist Trading Cards/Altered Playing cards I created....

Queen of Art

5 of Pumpkinhead

Cat with leaves

And with everything else, I'm also working on a custom order of this little beeswax collage ornament.

I hope you have a fun and safe Halloween! Happy, happy!

What's in my studio

Besides a mess, I have tiny bird ornaments on my work desk - getting ready for the holiday shows!
I am so behind. EEK!

I also have some hearts in blue that will also become ornaments... although you can't see them. Just the one little red heart in the corner leftover from last week.  

The bird ornaments will be similar to these...

In other news, our internet modem went out yesterday late morning. After calling the Comcast "help desk", then their "specialist", it was determined we needed to go get a new one. Waited in a long line, and then when we got home it wouldn't stay connected. Reset, reset, and another call to Comcast. Most of my yesterday was working on that bugger, and getting all our devices connected to the new Wifi setup.  And then this morning we had to reset again to access internet. Sheesh! :)

Anyway, I'm feeling a bit behind today. One of these days I'll feel caught up. Really I will. :)

Sharing with Julia's Whats on Your Workdesk Wednesday. 

Support Your Local Artist

"When you buy from an independent artist you are buying more than just a painting or a novel or a song. You are buying hundreds of hours of experimentation and thousands of failures. You are buying days, weeks, months, years of frustration and moments of pure joy. You are buying nights of worry about paying the rent, having enough money to eat, having enough money to feed the children, the birds, …the dog.
You aren't just buying a thing - you are buying a piece of heart, part of a soul, a private moment in someone’s life. Most importantly, you are buying that artist more time to do something they are truly passionate about; something that makes all of the above worth the fear and doubt; something that puts the life into living.” - Rebekah Joy Plett

Image from Jessilyn Park Art Studio.

Paper Quilt

Ah, the power of blogging and Google search. I had a random request from the Presbyterian Women Magazine for the use of this image that I posted on my blog in January 2012. They wanted to use it as part of the background in their Nov/Dec 2014 issue that focuses on Giving and Receiving Care. A bit of serendipity... considering I've been a caregiver for my developmentally disabled son for many years.  

This paper quilt was created in a class by Debi McManus-Plett in January 2012…. and it still isn't completed. There is a bit of decorative sewing I intended to finish and I didn't get back to it once I got home. I have found that if I don't finish artwork in class, I rarely finish it after. I'm odd that way. :) 

The "paper" is grunge board (Tim Holts/Ranger) embossed by running it through a die cut machine like the Sizzix Big Shot. We used layers of Distress Inks  by Ranger to color the grunge board. It all started out gray. Cool, isn't it, how the layers of colors work. Luckily, we were given all the pieces that fit within the 12 x 12 canvas board background so we just had to figure out our piecing and design our quilt. It was quite fun. I may have to revisit the technique again. 

And I just received the cover of the Presbyterian Women Issue. How fun to see my art used this way!

What's in my Studio?

Bits and pieces...

I've been working on a couple of custom orders. One is this personalized heart pendant...

It is curing right now and I will have it on the way to it's new home by Thursday morning. Our weather has been a bit warmer than usual so perhaps it will be cured enough I can mail it off tomorrow. We'll see.

The custom order inspired me to finally get a listing up for personalized heart pendants. I've done a few, and doesn't it make sense that I make it easier to order? *rolls eyes* :)

Another custom order is a batch of small easels painted gold, for a customers wedding tables. The easels will be ready to mail tomorrow.

And I can't remember... did I show you how the torn paper demo went? I did post a bit here, however I'll add a few photos in case you're interested.

I'm having fun with torn paper, and will most likely have more to share soon. :)


To see what fun things others are working on, check out Julia's What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday!

Quiet week

I've been quiet on the blog front. It's been a busy week of doing too many things at once. One month away from the Holiday shows!

We've been working on the set up for the vintage booth at Home for the Holidays, and pricing and putting in boxes in an "orderly fashion" so set up is easier, we hope. This is the first time we've done a vintage booth, and it will be great fun!

Tweaking the booth for Holiday Festival of the Arts, although that set up will be easy. It's always easier when you've done it before... have you noticed?

Happy Sunday! 

Moonlight Haiku

Early morning flight

Darkness broken by moonlight 

floating in the clouds

Playing with Paper

One of the final pieces from the torn paper techniques I demoed on Wednesday. Torn paper flowers and layered torn papers on an acrylic painted canvas panel.

Here's a few other samples of what we played with...

Torn paper birds layered on 4x4 canvas panels, torn paper sunflower on torn paper background, and background samples

This last project was a quick start of a vintage collage on 8 x 10 canvas panel. I had pages from a 1890s - 1905 ledger and receipts that became the background. The old photo was from my stash and dated 1918. It will be fun to see how this ends up. 

What's in my studio

 What am I working on today? Last minute prep for the demo I'm teaching tomorrow at Stampadoodle - on torn paper.  So many things one can do with torn paper....

The sunflower canvas will is in progress. I've completed it since I took this a few hours ago. The other canvas will be completed at the demo, a torn flower garden.

The two smaller backgrounds started with torn paper and have a variety of paint and ink layers on them... and they may get more. Wonder what I'm going to put on 'em? We'll find out tomorrow!

I need to get back to finishing the supplies prep and make sure I have everything I'll need tomorrow! 

What are you working on today? 

Check out what others around the world are doing at Julia's What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday

Picture Perfect

Gosh, I live in a beautiful spot of the world! 

We took a drive up to Artist's Point near Mount Baker yesterday, our annual trek. We hope to go up again next week as the colors are barely changing. It's already winter up there and the higher spots have had a bit of snow... 

Playing with the lens adjustments on my point and shoot. 

This shot makes my photo of Mt Shuksan look like one of those cool old postcards; taken from a wide spot in the road on the way back down from Artist's Point. 

I loved the look of these pillar rocks along the side of the road. This was taken from the wrong side of the road still winding down from Artist's Point. Luckily most motorists up there are most patient with crazy camera carrying folks. :)

More photos to come soon...

Happy Friday!

Altered Sunflower

Playing around with altering photos. Today's guinea pigs are sunflowers 

It's kinda fun to see what one can do to alter/enhance something digitally. 

What are you working on today?