I do...for ever and ever

Just a page in another art journal. 

I didn't have any idea where I was going with it until it all came together. 

I'm finding that I'm working more and more that way lately. 

As an aside...I'm looking at moving my blog to Wordpress to actually USE the domain Mr. G bought for me a while back. 

I'm having anxiety about making the move since I've been with Blogger for so long.

When I make the move I hope you will come visit me there....

I'll definitely keep you posted...

 

Summer Breeze

 

I got up early...well, early for the weekend...and  this is what poured out of me.

The cold weather has me dreaming of summer now that the Holiday season is over. 

 

Beauty of nature

I was inspired to pull out the book I used for my friend Elizabeth's AB 101 class I took several years ago. 

I never did complete the class. I figure I can join back in where I left off since she's currently reteaching the class for free on her blog. 

My altered book theme is Nature.

It was so fun to play in paint and glue again. I have to keep at it since it makes me feel so carefree.

 

Sewing, gardening and painting

Not necessarily in that order. 

Or maybe I should have called this my 

late summer catch-up post.

Regardless of title...

I found a few fun garage sale deals this summer. Mostly storage items that had seen better days...such as a set of two copper canisters.  

Only one pictured. 

Not sure why,  other than laziness on my part.

I soaked all the black paint off using my favorite product Sol-u-mel and a scrubby pad. 

After carefully taping the rims of the copper tin where the lid fits down over, I gave them new life. 

The color is "celery". Not my first choice but what can a girl do when free is the price.  

Thank you County Reuse Center. 

The black I had on hand...although now I am out. Good colors like that don't generally end up at the recycle center.

Aside from painting the tins and a little bit of the lawn...oops...over-spray,
I've been sewing a lot!!

We've had a hot summer here in MN. Ways to stay cool are in high demand. 

If you may recall back at the 4th of July, I made a bunch of neck cooling wraps for the days festivities.

I carry a zipper bag of them with me all the time now because you wouldn't believe how often it has come up in conversation. 

People asking if I know where to get them.  Well yes, in fact, I do!  *grin*

In addition, I've been gardening. 

My green beans have been a disappointment this year, especially if compared to last years bumper crop.

My tomatoes are really starting to ripen and are oh so yummy.

Labor Day is quickly approaching...the kids head off to school the next day. 

It's bittersweet for me. 

I like the extra freedom I am allowed but I honestly miss them not being around. 

I won't miss the bickering or tattling. Geesh, when will that end?!?!

The homework, the early mornings and activities add a different layer that always takes a bit of adjustment as well. I've started my list of  "projects" to tackle once my time is mostly my own again. 

Until then...I'll be around haphazardly....

sometimes posting...sometimes silent.

No worries...I haven't gotten lost. 

Just soaking up the remainder of summer with the family.

 

Inspired by Pinterest

It's happened again...I just have to make some new things I've seen on Pinterest.  

Such as these Kale chips! 

OH YUM!

Crispy, crunchy, healthy, yummy.

Here's a link to the the original post. 

Credit where credit is due....

The second inspiration didn't have any readable instructions...just a series of photos pinned. So, unfortunately, I can't give credit to whom it's due.

Here's the original "pin" (left) which summed itself up nicely.

<-----

I used an ugly canvas I picked up at a garage sale...gessoed and tissue papered it before painting it green.

I thought the green left behind my leaves was a little boring so I went back with painted and retouched them. 

Looks pretty dumb on the shed door but I happened to have a nail there for the photo op.

Have you been inspired lately?

 

Postcard Challenge week 21

After weeks of absence from Darcy's postcard challenge, I have finally found my characters. 

Apparently they had been spending some time together in the English countryside. 

Their relationship has definitely made some big changes. 

Maggie writes:

Thadeus,
  The past few weeks have been like a dream. I pinched myself this morning just to make sure. I miss you already. I thought this painting would remind you of our week in the country. The stonewalls. The picnic. The inn.
Hurry back to me....
           Always- Maggie

Ah... the excitement of new love. 

This weeks page is pretty simple. Aged papers and doily scraps.

 

Longing for Summer

 

After a few glorious days in March that made us here in MN forget that we should still have snow on the ground...our weather has turned. It's cold again. 

It's has me "Longing for Summer"...

I used lots of yummy texture. 

Honestly...the background is my favorite part of this piece. 

It was just too plain to leave on it's own but I wanted lots of it to show.

 

Equinox

Mixed media painting on a recycled book cover created yesterday on the Vernal Equinox. 

Postcard Challenge week 9

Switzerland was chosen by Darcy this week. 

I thought of many options for this weeks card including a mountain chalet, a Swiss cow, chocolates...just to name a few. 

I decided that Maggie should keep sending "her" paintings as postcards as much as possible. 

I started with a piece of black cardstock. It gave the much needed depth and shadow to a two color palette. I learned this technique from watching Bob Ross painting series on our local PBS station

I mounted the finished painting on an oversized piece of white cardstock then cut it down with my deckle edge scissors. 

Maggie writes of days filled with painting and the wonderful chocolates. She slips up an mentions that she may have to let out a seam or two...how embarrassing for her. 

The stamp and tiny flag are from my Swiss friend, Margaret who is also participating in this challenge. 

She also sent me the Swiss cow ribbon and flag pick that I've added to my page.  They add that special pop of color and whimsey to the page. 

Thanks Margaret!!

 

Walercolor Haiku

While watching my new obsession on Netflix...Mad Men...I painted this little fall scene.

I added the Haiku this morning.

What do you think?

Experimen-Tea

So I did get inspired from sorting buttons. Not to actually used any of those buttons but by color. 

I painted a 12x12 deep edge canvas with several shades of yellow.  Then using a palette knife applied a bold wave of burgundy then some thin lines with the edge of the knife. 

I knew I wanted a circle...I love circles for some reason.  I knew I had a perfect piece of Citra Solv paper. I used gel medium to adhere it to the canvas. 

It' still needed something. I decided to try out beeswax over the top. I've always wanted to try it so why not right!

It wasn't as easy to spread as I thought so I decided to get out the heat gun to try to smooth things out a bit.

After several minutes of fussing with it ...melting,...cooling...melting some more...

I came up with my finished piece.

Or at least I think it's finished... This is where I struggle...not knowing when enough is enough.

I love that the paper that once looked slightly out of place is now firmly set into the painting..looking as if it is "one with the canvas".

Stop by Kimmie's to see what the Tea Tuesday gals are doing today....maybe you'll even see a teacup in a picture.  :)

"Grow"

Little bits of creativity

I've been working on a few things over the last couple weeks.

I made the cover for my ABC_alteredbookclub 8th Anniversary swap book. I'm waiting on the last page to arrive before binding.
I used Citra Solv paper for the background then cut the flower from a photograph I took a few years ago.
I added the paper flower and "Joy" brad for interest.

Since we have a few September birthdays in our family I've been busy making cards. This one is for my mom. She loves butterflies and flowers.

Lastly, I'll share a little peek at a mixed-media painting I've been working on. It's not finished...definitely a work in progress.

Painting...Tests of Significance

I had been planning to stain the deck today...well actually we were going to start yesterday...but it's been  so cold that at times there are snow flurries in the air.

I already had "painting" on the brain, so I decided to work on a canvas that I'd covered over the previous painting with gesso and left for the past...well, forever.

Earlier today I took this photo while trying to decide what else it needed.

I took a "type" rubber stamp to it in a couple of places and then decided I hated it. I then grabbed a wet rag to try to scrub the ink off in places. As I was scrubbing I was liking the effect. More scrubbing and I was liking it even better.


After all the scrubbing, I did go back and add a few more bits of paint here and there.

There are lots of layers on this canvas...just the way I like them. Lots of wrinkles from tissue paper, some modeling paste, book page scraps and the found text that has become the title of the piece.

Quote pages

After a little nudge...I thought I'd show some of my pages. Some of these have been shown on the blog before quite a while ago. The rest were made in my pre-blogging days.

I'm only showing my pages as I didn't ask permission from the others to display their work.


Please forgive the weird formatting...not sure whats up with the pictures and why they won't go where I want them!