Susie's Workshop

Full Snow Moon

2012-02-07T09:49:00.005-06:00

Over at Jamie Ridler’s Studio it is Dreamboard time! This month is the Full Snow Moon. Per Jamie, The Full Snow Moon asks: “What desires lie deep within?”
My ongoing desires are to bring more harmony into my life and the lives of those around me (mood swings of menopause has inspired this desire!). I also want to feel contentment and serenity in my surroundings and make our home a place we want to hang out in. My biggest selfish desire is to someday live on the shore of some kind of water…lake, river, OCEAN! It would be magic to me. For now, traveling to water is the plan for summer. Most of all, I desire to remember to celebrate living and life’s simple pleasures. There are some health issues with a close family member. I want to celebrate each good, living moment with them instead of thinking of what may eventually come. In order to gather these desires and turn them into a daily reality, I need to remember to take the time to be present, plan, and make space for these desires to happen.

Full Wolf Moon Dreamboard

2012-01-09T04:45:00.003-06:00

As I started pulling pictures for my January Full Moon Dream Board, it became apparent there were a few repeating themes. I had a fantastic December and holiday time. It was relaxing, and I felt I really had a chance to enjoy each day. However, January's start has been hectic with family illness, injuries to loved ones, more to do with my job and it seems it should be way past January 9. Everyone is doing ok, now. I am ready for a breath with no worries. So...my dreamboard is reflecting what I am envisioning (and hungry for) for the rest of the time. Time to regroup, find my balance that I had last month. I intend to find time (the clock) for reading, creating, pampering, and trying new things in the kitchen! Thanks to Jamie for having this group!

Wishcasting Wednesday

2011-12-28T00:05:00.001-06:00

My wish for the New Year ...I wish for family, friends, and myself happiness, contentment, and good health. I also wish to have more follow through instead of just thinking of what I would like to do! I am declaring the first half of 2012 the time to finish up all those unfinished projects. I wish to make time to participate in dreamboards and Wishcasting Wednesdays. I wish world leaders would have more compassion and less greed.

LIBERATE YOUR ART Postcard Swap!

2011-08-26T07:37:00.007-05:00

Participating in Kat Sloma's "Liberate Your Art" postcard swap was a lot of creative fun. Participating in a swap is always great because it gives me a reason to have to go to my craft area and create instead of doing all those other things that often squeeze my creating time down to almost zero. Then anticipating the postcards arriving in the mailbox added to the fun. My postcard, "Journey" is a collage made from dress pattern pieces, bits of scrap paper, stamps from Australia, a Tim Holtz charm, and rubber stamp quotes. Thanks to everyone that participated! I enjoyed your creativity immensely.

The Postcards were so varied and creative. Lara sent a wonderful contemporary photo of the Park Playa Hotel in London, Kat sent the beautifully composed scooter photo making me think of going on a grand adventure, Claudia sent the yummy jumbo cookie card and I was ready to get to baking. "Red Velvet" was sent by Cindy and is a cut and paste creation. Hillary's place setting photo made me wonder what delicious goody was to come. Martha sent the marvelous burst of color with her flower photo card.

Carmen's ATC Challenge

2011-07-29T15:00:00.003-05:00

I seem to continue to have few postings. However, I wanted to post the ATC goodies I received by participating in Carmen's challenge/swap. It was fun to create the ATC's, but total bliss to receive everyone else's in the mail. What creative beings everyone is. Thanks for all of your creativeness and effort!

Neglected Blog

2011-03-04T16:44:00.011-06:00

I have been neglecting posting. I wanted to share some of the things I have been working on. Carmen is starting another challenge and we are going to be making ATC's. I am really excited to be a part of that group. Also, I am participating in the Sketchbook Challenge. I am hoping to gain some ability at sketching and improve my lettering. It is a pretty open challenge. I was thinking it would just be drawing (yikes), but anything you would do in a journal seems to be ok. Collages have my interest right now and the one here is for a friend of mine that is a wonderful watercolorer and gives me paintings so I wanted to make her something in return.

Round Robin with Carmen!

2010-08-13T10:24:00.011-05:00

We are on the last pass of the journals this week (August 23). One more is on its way to be decorated by me and then I am so excited that my journal will be returning! I am so anxious to see all of the juicy creativeness that everyone has added to it. Thanks so much to Carmen for arranging this round robin and letting me be a part of it. So here are my pics for the last two journals I have been working on. Two very different pages. They were both fun to do. The last picture is of a piece I created following directions in "Digital Expressions" by Susan Tuttle. It is a great workshop book for Photoshop Elements. The date is really August 23, today. I guess since I started adding pics on the 13th and saved, that is why the date is messed up on top.

Wishcasting Wednesday

2010-07-14T08:16:00.004-05:00

It is wishcasting Wednesday over at Jamie Ridler's Studio. Today' prompt is "What do you wish to focus on?" I wish to focus on making our home a calm, tranquil place. Right now I am having trouble getting into a groove (not a rut, just a smooth routine would be nice). Everything seems hectic and just barley getting done. I am not managing my time well, at all. I am going to try starting each day with an intention that will help me on my way to achieving this wish. Happy Wednesday to everyone.

Round Robin ART SAVES Journal

2010-07-09T10:45:00.009-05:00

Even though I haven't been posting, I have been working in the beautiful journals coming my way. I am always so excited to see what creations are in the journal that has arrived in my mailbox or on my doorstep. I am posting pictures of all the pages I have done since the last post. With my daughter's wedding over (it was wonderful) and being back from our trip to Alaska (my 50th state to visit!!) I expect things to be a little slower around here. A few months ago I did a dreamboard that included wishes for the wedding and an Alaskan map. I am pleased to announce that those dreams came true just as anticipated. And now...some more journal pages:

Round Robin Journal

2010-05-05T22:35:00.008-05:00

I mailed off another journal. It is so fun seeing what has been done in the journals as they arrive! In this journal, I used Tilez font for the scrabble board to state the theme "Art Saves". Inside the envelope is the quote by Robert

Fulghum who wrote "All I Really Need to Know, I Learned in Kindergarten". It is a great book. I can't wait to see the next journal arrive in the mail.

Round Robin Journal

2010-04-06T19:09:00.005-05:00

I finished up the page in Serena's journal and sent it on its way to the next artist. It was fun putting the page all together. On the paper in the lower left corner, I have the words "art is a key to the window of the soul" repeated. Be sure to check out the other participant's websites. They are listed in an earlier post. Thanks for stopping by.

Round Robin -Art Saves Journal

2010-03-10T18:53:00.009-06:00

I finally finished up the cover. I used some distress ink over it all to tone down the colors a little and embossed some swirls on it. Then added the fringe, just because! I also attached a multicolored fiber bookmark. I lined it with some fabric that I had that I really like. My second page echoes the "Art Saves" theme. The photos have not turned out the best. My lighting needs improvement, I think. I have gathered up many goodies to construct pages with as the journals come my way. I am so excited to send my journal out on its first journey.

Round Robin Journal Project

2010-03-03T14:06:00.007-06:00

I am participating in a round robin journal project organized by the wonderful, creative mermaid, Carmen. Here is the start of my journal that will travel to eight other participants and be blessed with wonderful, marvelous artistic creations by each of them. I am new to the art journaling world so hopefully my efforts will improve as I get to work a page in each journal that will come my way. We are being encouraged to use just what we have on hand for the pages we create. The theme is "Art Saves". The one picture is the cover for my journal. I am still working on it, but this is a picture of stage 1. I used the paper-cloth technique by Kelli Perkins in her book Stitch Alchemy. I want to add some embossing and some other stuff to it before I declare it finished. The other picture is one of my pages I have created for my own journal. We are given two weeks to complete our creations so I have another week to work on another page before the journal flies away to someone else.

Hop over to the other participants' pages and check out what is happening in their creative worlds.

My Sacred Space

2010-02-07T13:54:00.010-06:00

I am taking an online workshop led by Kathryn Antyr at TrueNorthArts.com. It is a personal retreat workshop and since I don't want to take away from what she is doing, I won't put in too many details. But I would suggest if you are interested in creating sacred space for yourself you consider checking into what Kathryn offers. Here are some pics from the journal I am working on as I go through the workshop. My favorite place is by the sea and if I can't be there (since I live in MO) I try to find time often to spend in nature by water. Being in nature (hopefully looking out at water) is my sanctuary. Creating this little mobile "altar" to nature gives me a place to pause. The hands reaching and touching inside the heart is how I feel when I am outside in a quiet place filled with all sorts of plants and animals. I feel especially close to God then and I feel like we are connecting in a very spiritual way that doesn't happen inside. The image of the hands is by Meganne Forbes. As I read about sacred spaces and "altars", I realized I had many examples around my house in how I chose to decorate and show off keepsakes from or about special family and friends and travels. I have included a couple of pics that seem to fit my idea of "altars". One is a shelf with some artwork my daughter made when she was little and a pic from her starring as Alice in Alice and Wonderland. The other picture is of a shelf with my sons little rubber boots and other things with his pic and below his shelf is a shelf with a fan and glassware that belonged to my Grandma. Even the cabinet these shelves are in honor my grandparents. The cabinet is made from the front doors of their farmhouse that I spent lots of time in with them. They chose to sell the farm because of health issues. Eventually, a church bought it and was tearing it down. I was able to buy some of the doors and an eight pane window. Michael Moore in Hannibal, MO was making cabinets out of old salvaged materials, and I had this made from the doors so I will always have part of the house where so many special memories were made with me. All over I have curio cabinets or vignettes that have special objects that help me remember special people and times. I am learning to pause and appreciate their presence more. I know the people are the important part and not the objects, but since the people can't always be here, it is nice to have something that represents them. I am running a little behind with the workshop. Life got a little hectic for a while. But since it will be open until in March I am good and choose not to feel pressured.

December Blue Moon Dreamboard

2009-12-31T09:02:00.000-06:00

My December Dreamboard represents things I want to invite into my life, things that are already planned, and things I am wishing for in 2010. My daughter is getting married in June. She is a great planner so things are going smoothly as we journey toward the event. I want to savor and enjoy all of the preparations and the day of the wedding. So far we have had loads of fun going to wedding shows, trying on dresses, etc. I am wishing that my husband's and my plans to visit Alaska come true. His job is trying to get in the way and he is a workaholic, but I am persevering with plans and an optimistic outlook:). I want to invite more of a healthy lifestyle into my everyday life in 2010. Healthy eating, more consistent yoga practice, exercise, and balance. I want to transform some things and really enjoy life each day. I want to treat myself with starting journaling. I have been inspired by several participants in AEDM. I hope I don't discourage myself with negative thinking about how mine won't be as wonderful as other peoples and just remember it is for me. Hiking and kayaking are two of my favorite things to do because you do them outside. I want to take the time to do these things. That is what the clocks represent. Taking time to do the things that are important to me, taking the time to care for others, taking the time to be healthy and to savor and enjoy all the things that make up my life.

Wishcasting Wednesday

2009-12-23T10:05:00.004-06:00

What Do You Wish For This Holiday Season?

That is the question from Jamie Ridler for this Wednesday's Wishcasting. For myself, I wish the weather cooperates so we are able to be with our children! I also wish for this to be a time of renewal. I wish for this season and beyond, for everyone...tolerance. If we could all be more tolerant of thoughts and people that differ from us, I think the world would be a safer and happier place.

I wish for all of you that your wishes come true, and you have a blessed holiday season and New Year.

"Book" Box

2009-12-21T08:13:00.012-06:00

I was blog hopping several weeks ago and saw a paper mache' box using a picture and thought what a great idea for the kids of the family. We had school pictures of everyone, and who doesn't love a keepsake box for those special treasures?! This is one of eight I did over the past week. We had one of our Christmases this past Saturday and some of the adults wanted their own box, too! The kids really liked them, and I had tucked a little present in each one. Of course, I have no idea where I saw this originally. I just read a blog that said they were going to link back to where they saw the ideas they tried. I think I need to also keep track of where I have been so I can share where I got great ideas. The box is from Michael's. I also used boxes from Hobby Lobby. It was hard finding eight in good shape. Hinges, key, key hole are Tim Holtz's grunge paper, buttons were from a bag I got at Archivers. I gessoed and then water colored the book and then did some stamps with distress inks and sanded the edges to distress it.

December's Full Cold Moon Dreamboard

2009-12-02T07:29:00.000-06:00

This is my first time participating in the Full Moon DreamBoard practice from Jamie Ridler's Studio. When Jamie mentioned that she kept hers where she could see it during the month, I thought that was a great idea so I made one for December. I am learning more about how living with intention is inviting so many good things into my life. My DreamBoard is about how I want to make more time for special just us time for my husband and me. We are together a lot, but I really want some of that time to focus on the "us". I also want to feel cozy this month with myself and family. I want to slow down and not feel like every moment has to have a plan. I started decorating the last day of November and am doing a little more each day instead of frantically trying to get everything done in one day. Replenishing myself in all ways is what I hope for so the New Year begins with me in balance and remembering through everything how important my spirituality is to me. I posted my Dreamboard as my last day of creating for AEDM. There are some close up pictures of sections of the DreamBoard on my November 30 posting.

AEDM Day 30

2009-11-30T10:16:00.015-06:00

For my last entry for AEDM, I am posting my dreamboard. I have not made a dreamboard before, but have been following them at Jamie Riddler's Studio. At the first of November I decided I would make one for the December 2nd full moon. It is the full cold moon, or as I read in the almanac it is also called the long nights moon. I don't like the long nights, but I thought if I looked at it as more cozy time I might not dislike the long darkness as much. I started looking for pictures and words that called to me about December. I love the holidays! This December I want to make sure I slow down and make special time for me and my sweetie (my husband) and myself. This December I want to take time to replenish myself instead of drain myself. I love this time of year, but sometimes tend to go overboard with the "stuff". I want time to sit, relax, rejoice. Today I will start my rejoicing by decorating! All of the pretty lights, scenes, and scents of the season make my heart smile.

It has truly been a joy to participate in AEDM!

AEDM Day 29

2009-11-29T10:04:00.006-06:00

I had very little time since we are still traveling. But what may look like little to some means a lot to me, because I made time, however little, to do something artwise and it is important to me to actually make it through the whole month doing some art each day and posting. I sometimes have trouble with follow through so I am so excited that I am going to make it through the month (unless all connections to the Internet crashes)! I like the difference the color makes to the design I posted yesterday. I thought I had my watercolor pencils with me, but when I pulled them out they were just regular colored pencils and I didn't have time to finish coloring the whole thing, yet.

AEDM Day 28

2009-11-28T08:05:00.000-06:00

Still on the road, today, seeing more family. So another zentangle. I am really liking doing these and they are so portable. Thanks for stopping by. Have a wonderful day.

AEDM Day 27

2009-11-27T08:52:00.003-06:00

My mom's birthday is tomorrow. We celebrated yesterday during the Thanksgiving celebration along with my children's birthday. I made this tag out of water color paper. I did a wash, then when almost dry stamped it using one of Tim Holtz's blue distress inks, glittered it and added the dragonfly and gems. It turned out very nice. Mom was pleased. We are off on more traveling and more family. Happy day!

AEDM Day 26

2009-11-26T07:34:00.003-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving. Today will be a busy day for many. We are traveling to family across the state today ( celebrating for Thanksgiving and celebrating 3 birthdays), tomorrow 2 more hours to see more family, then Saturday 3 more hours for more family and Sunday heading 7 hours back home with a baby shower on the way. So I anticipate doodles/zentangles, photography, sketching as the posts for the next few days. Safe travels to everyone on the roads this weekend. I think I was dreaming of summer days as I sketched this.

I am so grateful to all the participants in AEDM and for Leah for arranging it. You all have been an inspiration to me through your sharing and through comments made.

AEDM Day 25

2009-11-25T08:14:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, I was listing a bunch of stuff I have tried and like to do. I really enjoy playing around with stained glass. My technique on soldering the foil needs lots of practice! I was surprised at how much I enjoyed working with glass. I was use to working with more forgiving materials. This is a fan light that I designed and made. The name comes from the shape and the small light behind it. I use to think they were something for ceiling fans when I would hear the name. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving tomorrow. I am thankful for all of you!

I had to share this goodie...a family at the school my husband works at made these little cookie turkeys. Chocolate sandwich cookies, peanut butter cups, malted mild ball, candy corn, and icing. It was in more pristine condition before the plastic baggie ride home. Very creative I thought.

AEDM Day 24

2009-11-24T09:42:00.011-06:00

I chuckle a little to myself as I post and look back over the month so far. I feel like I must have some kind of crafting attention disorder. Perhaps if I stuck to one thing, I might get really good at it. But what fun would that be :) I really like learning how to do different things. Over the past lots of years I have taken short workshops in applique, tin punching, throwing pots, tatting, oil paints, stained glass, scrapbooking, drawing (totally stressful)...I have tried simple jewelry making, I love counted cross-stitch, sewing, faux painting on my walls, small table fountain making, wood crafts and I have reupholstered a few pieces of furniture (I learned that from watching my grandparents). For my 40th birthday, my dad gave me a scroll saw. Trying all these things are so fun, and I am excited to have found new things to try while visiting other participants sites during AEDM. What kinds of things do you like to do besides what you have posted this month?

I have been working on and putting away this applique/quilt top for awhile. It is from the company Calico Station and is called "Winter Stew". I have gotten it back out and now I am ready to stitch the wording (Be Warm) and give details to the snowmen. Then stitch around everthing else. Maybe I will actually have it done for this Christmas!

AEDM Day 23

2009-11-23T07:49:00.004-06:00

Very early in AEDM someone posted their art that was made by swirling or dragging a string dipped in India ink around on paper and then coloring/painting in the spaces made. I thought it looked interesting so a few days ago, I went and got some ink. I should have gotten some string, too (lol)! All I had at home was some twine which was too stiff and "hairy". I didn't know if I was suppose to drag or lay it in loops...neither worked. So I took the dropper that came with the ink and just dragged it around on a small piece of watercolor paper and then had fun using different colors of watercolor to fill it in. I could see scanning this and printing it out on card stock to make note cards. It was meditative for me, much like the zentangle/doodle was yesterday. I like getting friendly with the watercolors. It is much more fun to use them than just looking at them tubed and boxed up!

Have a wonderful week.

AEDM Day 22

2009-11-22T08:53:00.002-06:00

After seeing all of the wonderful doodles and zentangles, I just had to try one. I tried some actual zentangle patterns and some of my own ideas. I can see how it could be a meditative process. You get caught up in your designs and the repetitiveness. I kept wondering if I would run out of ink. I used a fine black Sharpie pen that is not supposed to bleed through paper and it didn't! It was fun to try something new. So many great and fun ideas have shown up during this month.

AEDM Day 21

2009-11-21T09:25:00.005-06:00

I can hardly believe there are so few days left in November! I was looking through the latest issue of Cloth Paper Scissors and saw beautiful tags. I got my basic idea from that article. I found these great charms from Explorer and the fibers are from basic grey. I watercolored my background and stitched onto the tag, stamped with a paisley stamp from stampabilities, and went around the edges of everything with ranger distress ink (vintage photo). I made my text on photoshop elements and the paper under the text was a clipart from dover. Have a great weekend.

AEDM Day 20

2009-11-20T07:57:00.000-06:00

There is this decaying barn in Memphis, MO, and I find it fascinating. I wonder about all the things it has been witness to through the years and why it has been left to the elements. It is sad and beautiful at the same time to me in its demise. I sketched this from a photo I took of it. Sketching is hard for me. I have trouble with the perspective, but I am continuing to work at it from time to time. Little indivual things aren't too hard but a "scene" is. I read a book not too long ago, "The Zen of Seeing: Seeing/Drawing as meditation by Franck, that basically said you needed to become what you were drawing. Really see what you were drawing. I am going to try that approach in the future. Like becoming one with the subject of the sketch.

AEDM Day 19

2009-11-19T07:31:00.005-06:00

Another rainy day here, I wish I were sitting on a beach somewhere. Another play with watercolors. It would be nice to be having a fire and a picnic just beyond the edge of this scence. The best thing about AEDM is seeing and reading so many inspirational works of creativity. The next best thing is becoming more comfortable with taking some risks. I am hoping to try a sketch for tomorrow. Thanks for coming by.

AEDM Day 18

2009-11-18T13:46:00.005-06:00

After a deep cleansing breath, I have chosen not to let things get in the way of this magical month of creating. Today is a new risk for me. To actually draw and watercolor something and share for others to see seems very daunting to me. So, I started small with this mushroom and iris. Not claiming they are scientifically correct, only that they are my interpretation. Thanks for coming by to see.

AEDM Day 17

2009-11-17T10:29:00.009-06:00

Well, I am back to Christmas cards. Thought I would try a red and green background with some yellow (I was thinking stars). Then sprinkle it with salt to give the effect of snowflakes. I ended up with a blizzard, but I learned to not use so much salt! I had the "joy" stamp and watercolored it and edged in gold pen. I put pop dots behind it to make it 3D. I also made noodles this morning to freeze for Thanksgiving. I do it the way my grandma taught me so it was fun to think of her as I worked. Is anyone else feeling like they barely have time to do something for AEDM with Thanksgiving and Christmas coming? Is your home becoming disheveled just at the time of year you want it to stay neat so you are ready to decorate for Christmas? I think I need the accountability of daily posting to make sure I do something and not slide back into seldom going into my creative area. I feel like the daily posting is creating a habit of creating daily, but I am starting to feel flustered. I do plan on pushing through, though. Just pressure from myself, not the challenge.

AEDM Day 16

2009-11-16T11:41:00.013-06:00

Leah suggested we might want to do something small today. I decided to take my background I created a few days ago and scan it. I am not sure I want to commit anything permanently to it, yet. So I added some quotes after scanning that I think go along with Leah's message today about hanging in there (to paraphrase). I printed it out and have it hanging in my creative space. I do want to collage on the original, but I am searching for just the right images for what I want it to say to me. Happy creating! I also made peanut butter cookies and that was pretty creative for me, lol. They are for my grownup son's bday--his favorite. Thanks to everyone for the supportive comments as you visit my blog.

AEDM Day 15

2009-11-15T12:30:00.009-06:00

Today, I decided to work some on my paper sack heritage scrapbook. Since it is made from paper sacks there are pockets for journaling pages to be placed in when it is folded and put together. The pics are some older ones from both sides of the family and newer ones, too. I have included pics of only a few pages. The ribbons sticking out from the sides are attached to journaling pages in the pockets and some pages have little pockets on them for journaling or holding whatever. The edges of the bag are inked and there is quite a bit of sewing involved on the pages to put everthing together.

AEDM Day 14

2009-11-14T19:48:00.005-06:00

Today I tried out another project from the GreenCraft Summer 2009 magazine. This one is reusing a toilet paper roll. It is to be a gift card holder. The image is from Dover. I chalked the roll so it was a little softer in color. Cut the ends with pinking shears and sewed across the bottom. It was a fast project and turned out fine, I think.

AEDM Day 13

2009-11-13T11:54:00.007-06:00

Up until today, I have avoided paint projects for AEDM. I like playing around with paint, but it is scary to me to actually try doing a project with it . I came across a how to video on the Bluebirds Living in the Meadow blog that seemed not too threatening. It was called "Write, tape, scrape, stamp". You water color, then write in metallic pen (I wrote some affirmations), tape off stripes, use all sorts of paint and apply with a palette knife (I didn't have one so used a foam brush) and then take off the tape and stamp with your leftover paint. I am not completely happy with the final project because I wanted more of the second layer of paint, but as I was taping off the stripes, I guess I was thinking backwards and was planning on what I was taping to be covered up. Perhaps, I am too tired from 12 other days of AEDM! Anyhow, it was fun ,and I plan on using this as a background for a collage. The video was very good, and I plan on doing more and getting more pleased with my results. I have wanted to start an art journal...so I consider this my first step.

AEDM Day 12

2009-11-12T07:33:00.000-06:00

I really like moose (and dragonflies), and I got a letter with this stamp of a moose on it one day. I tore it off and had it in a row boat shelf in the bathroom. Every once in a while, it would blow off into the sink. I have been afraid it would get ruined. I kept seeing soldered charms with various pictures in them and decided to frame my moose stamp that way to protect it and give it more substance. After I had cut the glass and foiled it, I decided not to solder. I think the copper look is better than silver or black for where I have it ,and I don't have much luck getting my solder to look coppery even with the correct chemical stuff. And besides, I can always solder later if I decide to.

AEDM Day 11

2009-11-11T07:00:00.001-06:00

I love Stevie Nick's music. This year for my birthday, my hubby took me to a Fleetwood Mac concert and it was fantastic. I really wanted a t-shirt, but did not want them as much as they cost!!! Outside, t-shirts were being sold for $10. Well, of course, I thought even though they aren't the official ones it would be fine. Not so...didn't fit right at all, back graphic was on to one side. So I never wore it. Yesterday, while cleaning out my closet and thinking to donate the t-shirt to a charity... the thought "pillow" popped into my mind. I had seen a pillow on one of the AEDM posts so that is probably why it popped into my thoughts so easily. So today, I cut up the shirt, stuffed a pillow form I had into it, and now I have a reminder of a wonderful time where I can see it all the time and not hidden away in a closet.

AEDM Day 10

2009-11-10T07:57:00.004-06:00

I make a bookmark for today. The idea was in GreenCraft magazine-Summer 2009. The "green" part of the bookmark is a used dryer sheet that was tea dyed for the front center panel. The other green part for me is that I used stuff I already had instead of buying anything new. The dryer sheet didn't seem to take the tea dye very well, but it did color a little. I used a charm instead of printing the word on canvas as suggested in the article. This was fast and fun, and I think I will do another one before long and use a more contrasting thread for the decorative stitching.

AEDM Day 9

2009-11-09T10:37:00.005-06:00

Am I done? I am not sure, but I think so. I finished up with journaling today, finished painting some on the edges and curled corners, made the title and like the looks of the book. I never like blank spaces, so if in the future I find the items for the two largest blank spaces I can always add them in. I would like to find just an outline of a dragon that I could use. I like the way the color of the book looks against the wall on the white shelf. I am ready to work on something different for a while. I have found that I get really impatient to have a project done when I am not following a specific plan. I need to chill a little, I think, and learn to allow ideas to flow instead of trying to

force them.

AEDM Day 8

2009-11-08T12:14:00.008-06:00

Ok, I am progressing slowly due to beautiful weather and playtime during the weekend. I added some borders to the pictures, tried some journaling ( a little generic in looks), and a "highway". I am liking the overall look, but may redo the road and try more creative lettering elsewhere on the page. Still needs lot of work, but it is definitely a learning experience.

AEDM Day 7

2009-11-07T09:45:00.003-06:00

I am still working with my "altered book" project. I am playing with picture layouts today, and I like the color a lot better now that I have the pics temporarily placed on the page. I think I will try painting around them so they look more a part of the page. Just random brush strokes around the edges, maybe. My next step will be to journal incorporating the words already in the book. All of this is to commemorate the trip we took on the Harley this summer to the TN.NC border to ride the Tail of the Dragon! I am pretty pleased so far. With the weekend here and it being gorgeous here today I am heading outside and leaving this until later.

AEDM Day 6

2009-11-06T07:55:00.005-06:00

Well...I decided to try out color on the pages this morning knowing I can always paint over it if I don't like it. I may end up with a lot of layers at this rate!!! I am walking away thinking it looks a bit like a poopy diaper color. I wanted a golden look with accents. Maybe I added too much or muddied it up too much. Any suggestions would be appreciated since I am knew to all this. I don't have much time today so will come back and see what I think, later. Didn't paint the edges until I am good with a color. I think I need to also pick the pictures to add to the page before I go any further. Busy weekend ahead, not sure if I will get to commit too much time to this project until Monday.

AEDM Day 5

2009-11-05T07:47:00.005-06:00

Today I started on my altered book project. It is my first attempt. It will be more of a wall decoration when I am done. At least, that is my plan. I saw in a magazine a wall display with all white objects and one looked like an open book that was all white. I decided to combine that idea with the altered book idea. I found an old book being given away at a local library and it had words I could pick out that related to a trip to North Carolina we took this summer so I gessoed around those words and will include them when I hand write some journaling in. Then I plan to add a couple of pics from our trip. I have gessoed everything and now have to decide if I want to paint it white or make a more colorful background. I don't want my pictures to get lost in a busy background. Maybe a golden color, don't know yet.

AEDM-Day 4

2009-11-04T15:21:00.004-06:00

It is now day 4 of AEDM. I am noticing that I think about what I will work on next, constantly. It is fun to have creative thoughts right there all the time! I have a new laptop and decided to make a bag and sleeve for it. I already had the black southwest looking material and found a nice contrast material for the lining and sleeve. I added a pocket inside for pens, pencils and a small journal. I made up the simple pattern myself, but it is typical of many such bags. I am very pleased with it and know it will work great for me when I go out and about with my laptop.

AEDM Day 3

2009-11-03T11:33:00.007-06:00

OK, I have been struggling with what I consider creative and artistic. It is an inner struggle. So much of what I see in blogs or other places seem so wonderful and I wonder "why can't I do something like that?" It seems I think for something of mine to be considered artistic or creative it should be worthy of hanging in a famous museum which makes it impossible to feel really good about what I make. I can be happy with it, but it is hard to share because I hardly ever feel it is good enough. Years ago, I did not feel this way. I was pleased with what I did and wanted to show it off and give things I made as gifts. One of my cheerleaders has died, and I guess that is part of my problem. So to me, posting some of my things is risky. I am going through the the Joy Diet with Jamie Ridler, and one chapter was risk. You were to do something you found risky, each day. Posting on AEDM will be my risk everyday all month. My wish is that I stop worrying about what others think and get comfortable with what I think, again.

I worked on a Christmas card today. Not sure if I am finished or not. I am thinking it is lacking a little pizzaz. But I am out of time so will think on it. I am working on a snowman in Photoshop Elements to either add to the inside or switch around the outside layout and add him there. I don't like that Christmas doesn't look capitalized, but that is the way the rub on was, so that may change, also.

The other picture is from when I went and painted a swirl on my wall after reading SARK and she said go paint on a wall so I did take that risk (my husband about had a cow) and painted on my studio wall!

AEDM Day 2

2009-11-02T14:13:00.011-06:00

Today, for AEDM, I completed my eight pane that I have been working on. My grandparents farmhouse was torn down, but I was able to retrieve some items including the eight pane dining room window that sat high on the dining room wall above where the table was. I used papers and embellishments from Archivers, dried ferns and pansies from my flower garden, and lace I already had, to decorate the backgrounds and used each pane area as a frame. The photos I chose for the top are happy memories from time spent with my grandparents and the farm, itself. The photos on the bottom are pictures of my dad, me, and my children all in my dad's Christening outfit. I plan on switching out the pictures from time to time to highlight other smile times.

AEDM Day 1

2009-11-01T19:23:00.005-06:00

Today is the first day of Art Every Day Month. It already seems like a challenge since I was gone all day and wasn't sure of what I would be able to create. We were at a state park and did get some good photos and so my contribution today is a photo that to me has many layers of contrast, bright color vs. neutral, soft vs. hard textures, alive vs. not alive, small vs. large...

Thanks to Leah for hosting this challenge.

2cre8art-Beeswax Collage Challenge

2009-04-28T12:11:00.009-05:00

Oh, my golly. This was a lot more challenging than I anticipated. Part of the challenge was getting the materials. Living in a small town away from everything, I had to order beeswax and the heat tool.
The final product was fair. I learned that I used way too much beeswax to start with, so when I applied the tissue paper, there were bubbles underneath that I had a hard time getting out. It took me the whole project to master the small iron and as I tried to apply the hearts, stars, frames, etc., I ended up melting them off again.
I used papers from The Paper Studio, foof-a-la, and DCWV-Once Upon a Time, Kryon's Gold Leaf Pen, almost all of my patience, and my grandpa's eyes from a favorite photo.
It is something I will try again, now that I feel more comfortable with the technique. It did photograph cloudier than it looks in person.

Art Pieces ATC Challenge-Music

2009-04-15T09:35:00.004-05:00

I decided to try a transfer technique for this week's challenge. I scanned some music, "yellowed" it with photoshop and added in some notes. Printed it on a transparency and then using gel medium, transferred it to some cotton canvas material I had. Then I fringed the edges. for the background on the ATC, I used a Krylon gold leaf pen and drew in some notes and designs. Finally, I watercolored the background using Phthalo Turquoise and Cobalt Blue Violet. The pen acted as a resist when I watercolored. Then added an embellishment from Blue Moon Beads-Lost and Found, and some wire along with an extra note in the corner.

Thanks for coming by for a look.

Art Pieces ATC Challenge-Easter and Mosaic Challenges

2009-04-09T09:02:00.009-05:00

Here is my Easter ATC for Art Pieces. The art is from Dover and the background I created in Photoshop. It is edged in my new favorite--a gold leaf pen from Krylon. Thanks for coming for a look.

Here is my mosaic ATC. It is a picture I took of my pansies and friend! The background was created with stream and plum Adirondack's Alcohol Inks.

Caardvark Challenge-Fantasy

2009-04-07T13:57:00.002-05:00

I used DCWV "Once Upon a Time" mat stack and used Photoshop to layer two of them together. The dragon is from Dover clipart and the charm is from Blue Moon Beads. I also used photoshop to make the corners and borders. Then printed it out and affixed it to a card front.

Tag You're It Challenge

2009-04-07T10:36:00.002-05:00

Happy Birthday to Tag You're It!

The hearts were cut from DCWV Once Upon a Time mat stack paper and outlined with a Krylon gold leaf pen. Nothing else still had their labels.

Caardvarks Sketch Challenge Card

2009-04-02T11:31:00.004-05:00

Here is my Caardvark Sketch challenge card. Thanks for coming to look. I used a stamp set I have had for a long time and never used from Close to My Heart, the stickers are from Creative Imagination, Stampabilities inks, and All Night Media color brushes.

Art Pieces ATC Challenge

2009-03-30T15:58:00.003-05:00

Thanks for taking the time to stop by.

This is my first ATC, and I had fun making it. Thanks for giving out this challenge!

I used a blank ATC by Strathmore and applied Adirondack alcohol ink “stream” for the background. I embossed the bottom circle swirls with an emboss tool from EK Success. I highlighted the embossing with Decorating Chalk from Craf-T Products. The fish were from some tissue paper scraps I had and the glitters were champagne and diamond Stickles from Ranger.

Art Pieces Challenge can be found at http://artpieceschallenges.blogspot.com/

Tag You're It Challenge Tag

2009-03-30T08:08:00.002-05:00

Here is my tag for the Cute and Cuddly Challenge from Tag You’re It. Thank you for stopping in to look.

In doing this tag, I realized I only have holiday words on stamps and none seem to fit either in context or size. So I have something else to shop for when I go to the city next time. I felt like some text was needed to fill some of the space, but opted for the little ribbon, instead.

The materials I used:
Susan Branch Color Brushes from All Night Media
Shy Hedgehog stamp from Penny Black
Flower Hearts paper from Creating Keepsakes
Sepia Archival Ink from Ranger
Fibers and ribbons from ????

The under tag of cream cardstock seemed too bland so I tried Adirondack Alcohol Inks in Wild Plum, Stream, and Butterscotch along with the blending solution on acetate and used that as an overlay on the cardstock.

2009-03-24T16:15:00.002-05:00

Here is my entry in the 1-2-3 Challenge. Thanks for looking.