making art.

I am still working away on my carving class...nothing new to show at the moment...but soon. I finished my January Jump Start Summit. One of the best ideas I got out of it was below...

One of the artists said she always keeps a stack of watercolor paper nearby, and when she finishes with some other project, she uses up the rest of the paint on these blank pages off to the side. Then, they are art journal pages, just waiting to be "finished" I have these three already.

Today I started a new on-line class: 30 days of Art Journaling. I tried to put a blog button on the side but as usual I had trouble. I might try again. Anyway, this promises to be a great class - spending just 10 minutes a day journaling and making art.

Friday activities...

I had planned to babysit today, but it turned out I was only needed for a couple of hours in the afternoon. Wonderful to see adorable baby - crawling so well and wanting to stand! I'm glad I got my little grandma fix, but I did have more time to accomplish things at home too. A little coffee is always a good way to start...

If you're observant, you'll see a tea bag in that Starbucks cup...I bought this with a gift card I received at Christmas (Thanks Walker!)...Super neat and it keeps my tea hot as I move from project to project...

This is the project I had THE MOST FUN with today. I got a wild notion (inspiration?) to make a little book, using the scraps and bits I've been collecting for years (but never used for whatever reason)... The cover is a music book I cut down. I bound it with a sheer black ribbon, not really visible in these pictures.

This page spread has a tag from clothing I found on my granddaughters bedroom floor, a flashcard, a page from a children's book that I dissected...pictures cut from magazines etc. All just sitting around in a box in my studio.

I've been collecting security envelopes with interesting patterns, which I used quite a few of in this book (see the red and the green above), cut outs, tissue paper, stamps, playing cards...it was an experiment/exercise in putting pleasing colors and images together. I stapled, glued, taped. It was almost like therapy - so fun to use those images and things I loved enough to collect.

Later that night...I am continuing with my stamp carving class. This is what I did tonight.

Banners. I am going to do something a little more artistic with them tomorrow and show you again. They are so addictive to make. But, Michaels is the only place to get the stamp carving material around here and they are all out! I may have to do a quick mail order.

Random stuff

I thought I had sworn off Goodwill, but I was lured in today. Actually I went in with a "shopping list" and didn't find what I was looking for, but I did find something...

You know how I collect cigar boxes? Well, I found these two cigar "tins". They look like an old metal cd case, but not quite as square. I don't know what I'll do with these two - but I HAD to have them. A piece of future art I think. They must have held very very skinny cigars!

This is my January book I mentioned yesterday. I am just loading it up with anything artsy that comes my way this month. It is already a treasure of information and reference material.

I made tabs to separate the actual classes and tutorials.

Of course there are a couple of miscellaneous tabs too.

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And for one last random thing: I made a deliciously easy dinner this week: Chicken Enchiladas. I know everyone has their favorite recipe for CHICKEN ENCHILADAS, but this is how mine goes:

1 package tortillas (flour or corn)

1 jar (about 2 cups) green salsa

1 deli chicken

monterey jack cheese, grated

Heat up the green salsa in a big pan that the tortillas will fit into. When the salsa is hot, dip a tortilla in it, both sides, set it in a 9 x 13 pan, put a big handful of shredded chicken in, and roll it up. continue until there is no more room in your pan, or the ingredients are used up, whichever comes first. Then, pour the leftover salsa over the top. Grate a bunch of monterey jack cheese to go on top of that. Put in the oven (375) for 15 minutes. Serve with sour cream. I didn't do this, but the original recipe suggested making a green salad with an oil and vinegar dressing - put it right on top of the enchiladas just before serving. Each serving will have enchilada and salad. I would have done that but didn't have any lettuce at the time.

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It was so good, I think we'll have it again soon. But the main thing - its easy!

Jumping in...

This month I started a little journal, one of those composition books that are so inexpensive to buy for back to school...I have nearly filled it with the classes, tutorials, and ideas I have encountered just this month! I am still taking my stamp carving class online. I only get two classes per week. On one hand, it seems like its going too slow. On the other hand, I really look forward to my Monday and Thursday classes!

This is what I made last night. So easy! It took me about 40 minutes, tops. The time just flies when I'm concentrating on it. I have to wear my reading glasses for all that detail.

I stamp the results right into my January book...Also directions, notes, sudden inspirations, the website and information of the artist, etc. I have a vision of a full book every month. I'll post a picture tomorrow. Its kind of freeing to have a book just full of notes and slips of paper...

I am still enjoying the January Creative Jump Start Summit. Every day I get a little video from some artist, either a how to use some product, or just ideas for jump starting your creativity. I have a space in my favorites for all the new sites I've discovered on this summit. These two art pages are created by Robin Palazarri. This is this is the kind of stuff I like to do! so messy and imperfect. But, just perfect in a way.

Inspiring. Hey, I could do this! I read that the Creative Jump Start Summit has 4000 followers! The originator had to give up on answering everyone's comments - there are too many every day. What a great way to expose your art and your website. They all have etsy accounts too of course. I can see it is a marketing campaign on many levels.

See who missed the daddy cat? Our cat is not an affectionate, lap sitting, purring kind of cat. She has become more tolerant over the years, but she still doesn't like to be picked up, or told what to do. So, when she decides to perch precariously on the knee of the daddy cat, I think she is saying she's glad he's home. The picture is fuzzy because she is purring so hard.

Next are some photos I have promised of my studio organization... First, I took this little desk out of my studio, and put it at the end of the hallway. I think it looks really cute here and it is holding my letter writing things. Yes, I do occasionally write a letter!

I think I actually have room to set up my sewing machine in this room now.

This shelf area is one of the first things I did, and I think one of my favorites too...

The top shelf is little books with things I may tear out, or use in some way in art journals...

The middle shelf is all my empty journals...

The bottom shelf is my journals that I am working on,

even if there are only one or two pages filled.

My studio is by no means finished, but I have decided to forget cuteness and go for practicality. I have set up my main work area - desk, tools, supplies, etc. all within pretty easy reach from my chair.

This is actually two smallish desks, one in front of the other. I was going to go out and buy a 5 ft table, but since I couldn't get out because of the weather, I decided to try this, and I may like it better. Like I said, more practicality and less cute.

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I will be babysitting tomorrow. I haven't seen little Wyatt in two weeks! He is crawling now and I bet I have a busy day ahead. I'm looking forward to it.

Back at my computer again

Snowstorm! Ice Storm!

Phil is living it up in Las Vegas, I'm home in the middle of the worst snowstorm in decades!

I did feel pretty self sufficient though - building fires, baking potatoes in the wood stove, listening to classical music on the portable radio...

The ice was amazing. This picture doesn't really do it justice.
Icicles on the roof...

This is a better example of the extent of the ice.

A nice little mugho pine branch totally encased in thick thick ice.

And snow piled on branches, with a thick layer of ice on top. But, while this was going on, I was working on my projects...

2011 Christmas Album...

some inside pages

Family party

I did a little stamp carving, by oil lamp light.

and some more, from my online stamp carving 101 class.

I feel like I've been to some kind of retreat. I did start reorganizing my studio, and I would say I'm about half done. I hoped to get further, but I did pretty well.

Picked hubby up from the airport today, Nice to have my house back in order.

Snow Prediction Accurate

I was going to post pictures of my projects today, but the snow is the real news.

We got about 13 inches.

The vehicles are buried in the snow.

I'm fine with staying home. The day just flew by.

I've been enjoying seeing everyone's facebook posts, especially with snow pictures. I agree its a treat once in a while. But okay, time to melt away now.

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Today I have gone out in the snow (twice). Once to brush the snow from the bushes, and once to drag the garbage can down. I know, the garbage truck probably won't come anyway. But, just in case. I finished Donna Downey's on-line 7 day inspiration class where I just watched her make an art journal using all kinds of techniques. Fascinating and I learned a lot I want to try out. I made good progress on my studio -- but there's still lots to do! I am going to stay up until 2:00 a.m. this morning and try to get a LOT more done. I have almost finished my December journal. A few stickles to apply and some hand written journaling. I really like how it's turned out. A lot of the pages are Christmas cards we received. I've also been catching up on Doctor Who episodes, Revenge, and Desperate Housewives...I thought about doing a cleansing fast this week, but, nah...

waiting for snow

To keep my mind off the impending snow-Armageddon coming up, I'm working on some further projects...
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A double page spread in my art journal. I laid some string down on the paper, then painted over the top of it, embedding it in the background. I also used some of my new stenciling techniques, image transfers (still need more work on that). I just keep adding stuff until I like the way it looks.

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The inspiration for this came from Donna Downey's blog, Simply me. Every Monday she shares an art journal idea. Wednesdays she demos a new collage.
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And I finally got my Christmas photos printed so I can work on my December Journal. I found I really enjoyed looking back at my previous December Journals to see what we did and how everyone looked.

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finally, I went to a former post on Donna Downey's blog from March 2011. she spent a week making these art journal pages. Just what I needed this week! She demonstrated lots of new techniques, using lots of different materials. The base is canvas, then she image transferred pictures onto each page, then going on to stamping with paint, using stencils and masks, edging, I watched 5 of the 7 this evening.

I accidentally deleted that final project. . . Watch for it tomorrow.

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What do you think? a foot of snow by morning?

Art Retreat day one...

I drove hubby to the airport this morning...off to Las Vegas to a "convention" hmmm... BUT, as my friend Susan said "When the Husband's away...the Wife will ...create...!"

First thing on my agenda: re-organizing my "studio".

That is I hope to turn it into a studio. Right now its a cluttered closet like area...

and this is the partially cleaned up version! I have been following a new blog: see Balzer Designs over on the right. She has had a week long organizational seminar going on. She had some great ideas and has inspired me to dive in.

I am moving everything out of that room. Then, organizing it according to the various artsy things I like to do: paper crafts, art journaling, sewing, etc. I actually think there is some hope for me! I am only posting this as a way to be accountable to my readers!

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From the same blog (Balzer Designs), I signed up for "Stamp Carving 101". Below are examples of the stamps we will be carving over the next 5 weeks. she guarantees her students will be addicted to stamp carving by the end of the class.

An alphabet, some words, those chevron things are little banner stamps. I watched the first class video, and made this little heart stamp. Of course I already have lots of heart stamps, but this was an exercise in using the "speedball carving tool" and the carving material. It was pretty fun to make and I made these tags using it. I'm also working on an art journal spread, which is drying under weighted books at the moment.

I'm having fun multi-tasking. I do a little cleaning, a little reorganizing, some art, some laundry, watch a little tv and then start all over again. The snow helps keep me at home and on track!

Saturday and Sunday Snow and other unexpected events

Not really unexpected, Phil has been talking about replacing his 14 year old Cadillac for a while...just unexpected that it happened so quickly!

We were driving home from Fife (me in my car, Phil in the new one) in a snowstorm! What a day to be driving a brand new car. Survived it though and it got tucked into the nice dry garage for the night...

and then the snow began piling up! You know me, that I don't get very excited about snow. It ties me down when I have things to do and places to go. And I am afraid of icy snowy driving conditions. Tomorrow morning I have to get Phil to the airport at about 5:30 a.m. no snow no snow no snow...but I think its hopeless.

It is pretty though and I wandered the yard trying to get photos somewhat different from the ones I get every time it snows...

aha - something different.

We went out and sat in the car and looked at everything and listened to the stereo for a while, but no we can't take it out yet...

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Phil is going to be gone Monday through Saturday.

Judy is going to be having a private (one person) art retreat here at Cedar Shores.

Watch for what I get done!

FLY!

Frosty cold morning.

early start

Strong coffee...

off to the airport.

The beautiful sunrise tried to cheer us up as we left the airport departure zone.

A great visit.

A couple of videos to share...

Watch for the smile - that's for ME!

and

I got a personal concert last night.

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Now, time to dive into all the crafty ideas I have in mind.

First, reorganize the "studio" (yes, again!)