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Showing posts from July, 2010

Door Hangers can be Fun!

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My best friend's daughter is 22 and she came to my rescue a couple of weeks ago - my studio went from the bomb/shrapnel decor to being sorted, mostly de-cluttered and while still messy, slowly but surely each category has its place. Marina is also moving into a new apartment with new roommates, one a long-time friend and the other a newer acquaintance. I decided it would be fun to make a door hanger for her room so one side is inviting - today I am a princess. The two square images are from a Debrina Pratt inchie sheet - it's fabulous fun. The other side is still fun but suggests that a little solo time is in order. When she and Hannah disagree on something their catch phrase is "Never Everything." How cool is that?! And the best part is the fun I had making it - I've had a few hotel door hangers for, well, a long time:) I so enjoyed a small, fairly quick project as well. I've been so focused on the 12" x 12" canvases that are to be at New Editions

A Haven in the Country

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Some people have the knack. I don't, but wish I did. My husband's aunt, a former New York jazz singer, definitely has it in spades. When she moved here to be closer to her sister (my mother-in-law), two sons and one grandchild (and us:), she found a one room house for rent on a farm in the middle of lots of other farms. What might look like a big empty space took on an aura of charm once she took over. She's managed to create one of the most fabulous homes I've seen. I'm always amazed by the many faces of creativity - music, art, writing, cooking and decorating. Before Gail this was a concrete walk with a plain door (which she stained). She transformed the entrance, where my son hung out, into a quaint garden laden with flowers... they're everywhere you look - planted in the ground, in pots, on vines, and window boxes, a talent I wish I had; unfortunately, I have a brown thumb (raw umber:) Along with the lake - my absolute favorite place - I love being in the

Collage from a Box - Finally

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I posted this photo a few weeks ago, my selections from the collage box, another fabulous project from Lawendula at Woven Letters . Aside from a challenge in 2008 by Jane at Random Arts I don't recall ever taking specific ingredients and making a collage with them. The rule for Collage Box was that all pieces didn't have to be used (phew, though I only left out a couple of papers) and other elements could be added. I decided to use a 9x12 canvas board and started by layering every shade of brown and dark yellow I have, which is about 10 - 12 shades from burnt umber to ochre to bronze Lumiere. As I started pasting a few things down, adding some old newsprint, tissue paper and rub-ons, I realized I had no clue what I wanted to do. The next two photos were taken with my phone, which is good, but not great. I love the way everything is distorted at the top:) I began to commit, pasting down a little house I drew on newsprint and a couple other paper scraps, but mostly sticking

A Summer Day in the Country

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(please scroll down for the Buried Treasure post) A Summer day in the country When the ordinary ceases to amaze… the unblemished coreopsis fanned out in perfection alongside the old black barn; when I tire of the honeysuckle, lush, fragrant still beneath the withering July sun; when I no longer notice the checkered flight of a startled butterfly, or a female cardinal paused in the sanctum of fallen branches as though hiding, for a moment, from the duties of her nest, that to an uninterested eye, might appear casual, dull even; when weathered wood Isn’t poised for the click of my shutter, just peeling paint, curling away from the knotted grain; Then I will know that, even on an otherwise remarkable day I will have forgotten how to see. dedicated to Jilly

Buried Treasure - post #1

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This Post, entitled, Polymer Clay Not my Forte, originally aired in September 09; I think it's one of my favorites because I had such a great time - close friends, art community, creating using a new process... hope to read your buried treasure soon! Click on the Buried Treasure icon in the right-hand column for more details! (Sorry, no intent to dis myself, the title just rhymed:) Still drenched in the flavors and sights at Hotel 21C, we ventured across the street to the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft for our afternoon with Polymer Clay. Our wonderfully talented and gregarious instructor, Lisa Simon , began by talking about the basics and showing us a few of her wonderful creations. Yes. She's the kind of teacher that makes you feel like any and everything is possible, if not in a four-hour window! Looking at the variety and complexity of her dolls was quite daunting for me though, a newcomer to clay, as well as Cassie, who is enormously creative but says she doesn't &#

Collage in a Box

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Lawendula was kind enough to enroll me in the second collage in a box swap - in June. I think one day I'll post the events of this past June, now mostly a blur but time consuming nonetheless. I did faithfully take the photograph of the elements I picked out of the box, but just yesterday sat down to see what I could make with the eclectic assortment of goodies that caught my eye... Anyone else doing this one??

Hot Fun in the Summertime

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This canvas, which there doesn't seem to be a decent way to photograph, is the second in a series of flowers (the fourth of which is nearly complete). I've spent most of my free (ha) time working on these 10 x 10's and haven't had much else in the way of projects to post. Wow, the weeks have zoomed by faster than I can say "blog post." As soon as I vowed to post more often the world began to turn (hey, good name for a TV show); from having our upstairs bathroom ripped out, collapsed sewer lines (out in the street:), Alice's recital, birthdays and an anniversary (20 years!), a visit from my best friend... and did I mention ten days at the lake? And now it's July. My father asked me why I blog (oh yeah, Father's Day too:) and I thought a minute and told him that I do it for my self. Sure, I like to share art and ramble but the biggest benefit comes from the other bloggers out there - yes, you. If you are reading this then chances are I've visi