What's in my Studio - Recycled Bar Codes and Envelopes

My muse is having difficulties doing big art, so I'm playing around with Artist Trading Cards... specifically for two swaps I'm hosting on atcsforall.com; Recycled Envelope Liners and Recycled Bar Codes. Three of the atcs sitting on my work table have an envelope liner as background, and tea cup is obviously a bar code. 

Love the Trader Joe's Yerba Mate tea, and the packaging is so creative! 

Hope your week is going well!

Sharing with Julia's What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday 

What's in my studio... blackbirds and flowers

Working on a few series of Artist Trading Cards. The flower cards are potentials for my friend Martha's Spring Flowers swap.  I'm hosting a recycled envelope swap at ATCsforAll.com, so that's what the corner blackbird is about. I'm in search of some red or pink security liners, came across one at thought I'd saved it but can't locate it. Ah well! 

On another note, I dropped off my Orange Flowers painting for the Allied Arts Members Show that opens Friday March 6th. So it's not here, but it's on my mind. 

I thought I had a photo of it framed, but can't find that either. Gosh, wonder if all this "can't find stuff" is part of getting old. Nah, just busy. That's it! 

Have a marvelous week! 

Sharing with Julia's What's on Your Workdesk.

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. 

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!

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

What's in my Studio...

Working with torn paper again/still. I'm doing a demo at Stampadoodle on October 8th, and have several projects I want to show. This one in particular is torn paper birds using scrap bits of paper. Most of these birds will end up on canvases to be sold over the holidays at the Holiday shows I'm participating in this year. 

What you see so far is torn bits of maps and text pages glued onto light cardstock that I scavenged from the recycle bin. Once the papers were dry, I traced the bird shapes on the back - using my own templates - and cut them out. You can also see the mess surrounding the mat where I'm working.

It's easiest for me to do all this gluing and cutting while watching a movie we checked out from the library. We don't watch regular TV, but have watched a couple of series from A&E and PBS. But I guess I'm one of those who have trouble just sitting and doing nothing but watching the television. Waste of time, of which I have little! Must be doing SOMEthing. Ha! So gluing and cutting it is. 

Another unrelated project on the side of the photo are a group of houses for an accordion book project being done by the local ATC group.  More on that later...

I hesitated doing the accordion book as I have little time to spare, but couldn't resist. These are all on scrapbook paper, so easy peasy. I also traced the houses from my own templates and cut them out out while watching a movie.

Thought I'd share a photo from our recent quick trip to Idaho to see my parents. This view at the top of Whitebird Hill is always wonderful. We usually stop and get out to stretch our legs before beginning the descent... well, if the weather is nice. Which it was. :)

So what's on your workdesk today? Check out what others are doing at Julia's: 

What's in My Studio

I'm still working with torn paper...

These three background pages started out with Strathmore Mixed Media paper as a base. Using Matte Medium I adhered torn vintage papers to the substrate. For two of the backgrounds I used pages from an old atlas and the other used a variety of other bits and pieces, including an old school workbook. That is the one shown on top. 

Once the papers have dried, I put a layer of paint or gesso to unify the background - or mute the colors slightly, depending on how you look at it. :) 

The page on the right has a light layer of white paint. I'll add some colored paint.... still debating on which colors to use... and more details before I determine what these will become. 

Here's an example I showed last Friday using this technique as both a background and the focal image.

And that's what I have on my work desk today. How about you?



To see what other folks are working on, check out Julia's What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday.

What's in my Studio

Just a glance at what's going on in my studio this week.

Working on some collage/torn paper critters for a swap. These ones are just at the initial torn paper background stage

What I'll do next is cut out an animal shape, then add more paper and drawn or painted details. I need to get them done so they can be in the mail by Thursday... Wish me luck!

I've also been staining these easels a rustic brown.

I sell them in my Etsy shop, and needed to replenish. I do as many as I can stand doing at one time.

What's on your workdesk today?
Check in with other folks around the globe at Julia's What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday. 

What's in my Studio - Button Sorting

It's been a bit since I joined in with Julia's What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday, so I thought I'd show one of the projects I have going.... button sorting and identifying.

I'm an avid picker at estate sales, and recently bought an old style canning jar filled with old buttons. A treasure trove! I spent a rainy afternoon last week sorting through and matching them up and putting them in little baggies to keep them sorted. I have plans for most of these. 

Some will go in my artwork, some will be listed in my Vintage Shop, and some will be sewn on cards to have at the Home for the Holidays show this coming November. I'm excited about that show in particular, as I'll have my vintage wares there along with vintage themed artwork. 

Today I'm working to identify the unusual ones... aren't these cool? 

There are very few button books at our library and fewer at the used book stores. While some internet searching has been helpful, sometimes you need a bit of a clue to know what exactly to look FOR. A little bit of mystery and one discovery leads to another... it's all part of the adventure. 

Hope your week is going well! Thanks for stopping by!

What's in my Studio... and EPSTeam Treasury Winning Week

A mess on the computer desk... with a small book and some vintage buttons waiting to be listing in my Vintage Etsy shop. The rolodex, glasses case and display ATCs are always there on the left. And of course the cords connecting the USB hub and camera hook up. 

Totally stoked for my Vintage shop(naturegirl22.etsy.com) to be "Treasury winner" this week with my favorite Etsy team -  Etsy Pickers and Sellers Team (EPSTeam)! A gazillion treasuries (well, 28 so far) featuring my item and one from Victoria of MyPalPeppy.etsy.com. A fun time is being had by all!

I love being part of a fun, cooperative and caring team! They are a fabulous group of supportive people, and really I wish I had such a group here locally. Seriously, it seems like most of the supportive people I have in my life are online or at-a-distant art friends.
Not sure what that says, other than I'm not apparently not searching out and developing this locally. I must work on that.

Here's the item I chose with Fathers Day in Mind

Healey Coachworks Solid Brass Precision Tire Gauge

And here's Victoria's ... isn't this the cutest little rabbit?

Spanish Rabbit Jam Pot

In other news, the garden is growing by leaps and bounds. Here's a shot of some of the foxglove that is scattered about the yard. They are one of my favorite garden flowers.

Hope your week is going well!

Sharing with WOYWW - What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday hosted by Julia. 

What's in my Studio... and Happy Anniversary WOYWW!

Happy Fifth Anniversary to WOYWW - What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday, hosted by Julia at stamping-ground.blogspot.com.

This week I'm playing around with gesso and watercolor paintings again. The one below I had started and finally added the green leaves last week. Unfortunately in acrylic paint rather than watercolor. O.o

I have a small acrylic set in small tubes that look very similar to my inexpensive watercolor set. And I used the acrylic by mistake... on three different watercolor paintings. Sheesh! 

I'm actually amazed I got it looking watercolor-ish, however am not sure how it will work out from here. I've added a layer of watercolor over the top and we'll see what happens when it dries. 

This is the Lewisia WIP - I've added a layer of yellow watercolor (yes, it IS watercolor), let it dry and then added a layer of blue. It's almost dry and ready for the next layer. I realized that I forgot to leave the blue off where the petals will go... *rolls eyes*  

I apparently love a challenge. :D 

What are you working on today?  To see what other folks around the world are doing, check out Julia's What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday. And while you're there, wish Julia and WOYWW a happy anniversary!

How to cure the blahs....

One of the ways that works for me to banish the blahs 

is to go outside and take photos of the garden. 

Or dig in the garden. Or do some weeding. 

Or just be OUTSIDE because it's warm enough to do so.... finally! 
We had sunshine so must take advantage, it can be elusive here. 

 Native Yellow Twig Dogwood blooming along the fence.

Native Bleeding Heart with bee

Wild strawberries! We're going to have a bumper crop this year. 

Poppy  growing on steps (ignore the weeds, I'll get to them soon!)

And since I'm out in the garden, I'm not at my desk...

 so this is the workspace I'll show today. 

The garden bench. :)

P.S. The spray bottle has a mix of ammonia and water which works to, um, dispatch of slugs that are in the veggie garden. The best time to go out is just as it's getting dark as they come out of hiding. ;)

Happy WOYWW everyone! 

Check out what others have on their work desk at Julia's

What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday

What's in my Studio...

I offer a variety of small easels in my Etsy Shop, to go along with the small art I tend to create. This is a selection of colors for a potential customer. She favors the light mahogany in the front. I hand stain the darker brown colors in my studio. 

This customer would also like a chevron pattern on them, if I can make it happen. I have yet to find a stencil with a small enough pattern to create it for her, however have one more shop in town I'll try tomorrow. Wish me luck! 

And from the garden... our blueberry bush has blooms! Perhaps we'll get more than the hand full we harvested last year. :)

Check out what others have on their work desk at Julia's What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday

What's in My Studio... After SeARTle

What's on my desk this week? 

Piles from SeARTle Art Retreat that I haven't put away yet. (I didn't photo the ones on the floor because it's not my desk...haha!)  

These are some of the gelliplate prints I made. It was such fun playing with the other gelliplate maniacs, and I learned a new technique I'll share later... 

A few ATCs for swaps on atcsforall.com

In other news, we have lovely sunshine and 66 degree weather today which is high for our neck of the woods. Yay for spring weather!  

Flowering currant in the sunshine! 

Dandelion fluff in the sunshine! 

Gotta love sunshine... although you can see I need to get some weeding done.

Sharing with Julia and What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday.