Family Tree house project pages

I'm almost to the end of pages to post for this project. More art projects to follow.

I'm very pleased with the response to the free image I posted so another will be posted next week.

Happy 4th and Happy Arting to all!

Free Background

Here as promised yesterday is a free image to save and use any way you wish in your art!

Enjoy! Remember I will be posting one a week for the next month. If there is enough interest then there will be more!

Family Tree House Project and Announcement

Here are more pages from my Family Tree House.

Also I'd like to announce I will be posting a free background page once a week for you to download and print and use in your art anyway you wish.

If there is good response I may offer them more often.

Tomorrow will be the first image. Please check for it. It will be high quality that you can print full sheet size or save and alter as you wish.

Family Tree House Project

Here are a couple more images...

Family Tree House Project

paste paper background with prismacolor accents, wedding photo is a computer generated image that has become a contact paper transfer, images of myself and my husband and home, accented with prismacolor

I think it's finished

I am pretty sure my Family Tree House is finished. I did the last gluings and binding yesterday and too photos of everything this morning. The house is a pre made paper mache house painted in colors I seldom use but I like its vibrancy. The booklet is made up of individual page signatures tied with ribbon. Backgrounds of pages are paste paper designs in the same brilliant hues. Prismacolor stix (a favorite staple), regular Prismacolor pencils, photos, transfers, transparencies and stickers make up the images on the pages. I'll post pages for the next several days.
Let me know what you think!

ideas beget ideas

I've never had the problem of lack of ideas. My problem comes in not having enough time, energy and resources for implementing my ideas. If only....boy! I'd be something!

Currently working on a submission for Somerset Studios theme Le Chateau. My idea started with a paper mache house and my love of family and family history, thus Family Tree House.

The house is painted in bright colors, not my usual palette of natural earthy hues. Then I thought what goes in or on the house, well.....the back has a transfer of my family tree (from my son as a starting point since he will someday own my legacy of art.) Then a house shaped book sewn together in single signatures painted in paste paper fashion in the same bright colors as the house with images, transfers and more family tree imagery collaged on the pages. So far I only have an image of the house and yet another idea from that. A self portrait witht he house as my torso...thus suggesting the John Biggers' idea of women carrying their house with them. Digitally executed of course... no time for the real thing.

So let your ideas grow, you never know where they will take you!

Nice Girls Finish

Sorry it's been so long since I blogged but I took my parents to see my son who moved 5 hours away to work for a newspaper. He's doing great but still settling in and needing a little family visit to encourage him. He moved to New Bern, NC and it is an absolutely charming historic town.
Since returning I've been busy doing all the post travel stuff and just not had much op to do art but did this little journal page last night while watching TV. I started with a paper doll and some stick on letters and along with prismacolor art stix (absolutely wonderful if you haven't tried them DO!) and a black sharpie. I think it has a positive message and nice graphic appeal.

By the ways everyone says I'm nice and I always protest. Maybe I am and I will finish all I aspire to do and be some day!

with one stamp challenge

Here is my offering for the one stamp challenge. I used my own rubber stamp image and will be doing a blog article on that soon. The legend for the images:

top row left to right:

gift card in mini bag, altered christmas tree playing card, tag bookmark, accordion tag book

bottom row left to right:

layered greeting card, mini mat, altered greeting card

Thanks to Linda at http://www.craftygallinda.wordpress.com/ for the challenge!

New Technology for an Old Lady

I got a new digital but now I hate the process of learning all the bells and whistles.

I really loved my old Sony Mavica! The new one takes great photos and does lots more than the old camera but.....I just hate changeand relearning............

Here's a sample of an old watercolor; I have tested taking mostly photos of my art which is

what I use a digital for mostly but I am doing a wedding next weekend and better be practicing on people!

Good Vs Evil

The good first....I have been asked to supply ATC's for an artist's missionary trip to Albania. I said YES of course because I like the thought of my art in another country and doing good. I cannot send anything that is overtly religious but I am sending things that can be interpreted and witnessed to through Jesus Christ. For example, a vessel being me, having three flowers, being God, Christ and the Holy Spirit, the Trinity. I am posting the image so you can find other hidden Christian ideas.

Now the bad...I got the printer fixed and working without cost. I had to buy a new ice maker $200+. Now my digital camera needs service...at least $211.

Help! When does it stop?

Blessings to you reading this!

Mandala Mania is good for design study

Just devide a circle into at least six equal parts and design each part the same or as a series of designs that repeat. The sky's the limit so let your imagination and fun side run wild.

Use lots of color, shapes, images, ANYTHING!

Mandala designs are made as a prayer thought within the sacred circle and is used by Tibetan Monks. Lots of nifty sites and designs online and if you teach, try it with your students, all ages will have fun!

I did a lesson with my kids and now I keep doing more and more and even did a circle book (book from 7 Gypsies company.)

Vent Time! AKA Meltdown Mania

This will be a fractured entry at best...............of random stuff that is on my mind.

• why does everyone want something from me? friends, relatives, strangers even? I don't have that much to give and yet they all seem to think I do! Well, I don't! How do they think I ever get any art done? Chores? Errands? Family time?


• I miss my son terribly and plan to go see him next week! By myself if I have to!


• Finally got the printer working again but for how long?


• Making art, self portrait collage ATC, mandals circle book (great for design ideas), other collages, digital art, images for aunts cd cover, and writing and painting and preparing a lesson to teach at the local senior activity class......the list goes on and on.


• I want that studio my husband is designing for me in his mind...an upstairs bonus room at our new home with bay windows overlooking the woods at my beloved Fernwood. It will be like being outdoors with no bugs, ticks, spiders and snakes!

I'm tired now and have vented all I dare by chance someone I really know reading this and figuring out who is who!

Thanks for letting me vent dear blog o mine!

necessity is the mother of invention and inspiration

Creatively, I cannot live without my computer and printer. I print much of my own art and clip art for various projects. I always make my own greeting cards and usually I do them digitally.

Well, my printer is on the fritz. (Canon i960 has a design flaw that when the waste ink tank is full {which really is felt pads not a tank unless you consider it is in the bottom of the printer case so could be called a tank} it fails to print anylonger.) I was already working on Father's day cards digitally and then the printer goes so just in case I am not up and running in time to print, I pulled out my stash of digital images and leftovers and made two cards manually and it was as much fun as the mixed media ones I just shared.

Here is a digital collage I had stashed away aftering doing my recent ruler book on the measure of a man. I simply cut it and matted with two shades of cardstock to enhance the image.

when life gives you lemons

make notecards.....I had made some watercolor notecards recently that just did not turn out too well....so I gessoed over them, pressed stamps and distressed the wet gesso, dried, glazed with watercolor, dried and attached more of the mixed media vessels I have been doing....comment with your email and I'll contact you for a special freebie!

Why do birds sing in the morning?

Inspiration comes from unexpected creative play!

I admit it! I get stuck on ideas and themes that I never get finished with. Actually that's

a good idea for kick starting creative slumps. just revisit an old theme. I did that whole series of vessels in the early 90's and now I'm back at and more obsessed than ever. The little image I cut from Art business news for an ATC started me doing them in a different method that includes my new passion for collage!

The single vessel on a fern background is about 11X 14 inches but the idea began from the two small ATC's The one with the man rising from the vessel is a total magazine collage on a watercolor background; the one with the daisy is a watercolor vessel with a magazine flower on a watercolor background.

You never know where inspiration will start or end or if it ever does!

New ATC series

I spent a relaxed morning at my beloved Fernwood on Thursday, making ATC's from magazine clippings and watercolor backgrounds. I cut various parts out of old Art Business News to make one set and the other set is made of cut up watercolor backgrounds and re invented as vessels, one of my absolute favorite themes.

Here are some of the results

one more seedy lady

Not the last and not as good but different...

seed packet dress, hand cut arms and legs, magazine head, watercolor markers and collage from paper towel images for the back ground.

seedy lady collage

Here is the actual cut and paste version of yesterday's digital collage.

Somerset STudios free artist page was scanned and altered. Color book image

of black eyed susans was colored with markers. Actual seed packet and clip art heads from Lisa Volrath's free images were all adhered with double stick tape, a favorite adhesive of mine.

Digital Seedy Ladies

I am working on an actual collage but here is a digital version

I call Grow Your Own Seedy Ladies.

I used background image from Somerset Studios free artist pages, clipart heads from Lisa Vollrath, created my own black eyed susan image from a color book page, and made the seeds and seed packet completely on the computer.

Try your hand at digital collage. It's a great way to iron out problems before actually cutting and pasting your precious images or wasting ink by printing and re printing images to use.

Seedy Ladies Trio

Cut seed packs in the shape of apparel

Add clip art heads and cut legs and arms from patterned paper

Place on decorative background.

Voila!

Seedy Ladies ATC's

These miniature seedy ladies were made from little seed packets again from Lisa Vollraths free images and other bits of vintage clip art along with Prismacolor color sticks. A great way to add color to art work. They are much like color pencils in square sticks so you can use the whole side like an unwrapped crayon which makes them very versatile. If you like to do rubbings they are perfect for that. If you haven't tried them, do, you will not be disappointed.

Seedy Ladies-Next in series

a 3X12 inch canvas with clipart pieces, handcut pieces, scrapbook paper and seed packet

adhered and covered with gloss gel medium

working with collage images now to make into drawings, paintings, and future rubber stamps

New Mini Art Series

I had the grand idea after planting flower seeds yesterday to save the packs and make paper dolls from them. The idea mushroomed and I now have a mini series of pieces I am calling SEEDY LADIES. I used clip art heads from Lisa Volrath's just print something freebies. Made my own legs and arms from scrapbook paper ads. The seed packets are the torso. Found more flower clipart to embellish and attached all to a vintage looking flowery scrapbook page. The finished piece is 12X12 inches.

I have more pieces to share over the next few days including a 3X12 inch canvas collage, ATC's and another 12X12 piece. Hope they inspire you to create with seed packets or other things we usually throw away.

Have fun and find your own seedy project.

Busy days of summer

Where are those lazy days of summer?

You know...

When you lie in a hammock in the shade or bake in the sun.

When you sip lemonade in the porch swing.

When you sit in the shade and read a romance novel.

When you go shopping at the local green house.

When you plan and go on vacation.

When you go to the drive in and eat popcorn and watch a fun movie.

When you just slow down and watch the grass grow.

When you get caught in a summer shower and don't care that you just washed your hair.

When you stay up late and sleep late too.

When you just enjoy being..............

Where are those days?

How do you keep the idea in your head?

I always find wonderful thoughts when walking...sometimes poems, just phrases or images but I do get distressed when I forget them before I can get back to the computer or pen and paper to make note of them. Does this happen to anyone else or just me? Tell me how you remember.

I try repeating it over and over and visualizing it. Could it be I'm getting old or just too stretched with ideas to retain them?

Made this image in watercolor and scrap book paper for a friend's daughter who is having a baby. Used a clipart image and changed the colors to suit myself. Clip art is a great jump

start for art making.

Somerset Studio Gallery, Summer 2007 issue

Hooray! It was in the mail today!

My submission for the "ten" theme is included!

It's such a high and rush! I want to go clean a path and get to work in the studio on more!

Maybe I will after the house is quiet tonight.

baby greeting card

Made this card for my cousin who is having her 4th baby, a girl finally after 3 boys!

Idea came from Paper Creations magazine. Made my own baby feet charm with sculpey clay.

moved and settled?

Matthew has settled into his apartment in New Bern NC and will begin his work as education reporter on Tuesday for the Sun Journal newspaper.

He is both nervous and excitied as expected but will do fine. He is hard working, courageous and dedicated. He will do fantastic. I will too after I adjust to the fact that he may not live at home again. I know this is part of kid's growing up but it is difficult to let them go. I do have the good fortune to have his love and open invitation to visit often and I get to learn about a part of our home state I know little about. I do know it's the second oldest town in NC and had the first printing press in the state. It has an unusual population of black bears. New Bern is also the home of Pepsi Cola. It is a charming town especially in the historic district.

settled?

today's GIVEN BY GOD

With God in our heart

We are never apart.
For where we are He is;
We are always His.
Giving his support and love
And all good gifts from above;
Without Him I would surely fall
But can't since He is my All.
With Him I will always stay
Following him the rest of my days.
He gives me joy and peace
With which my worries release.
Filled with His spirit
Lifting my own spirit;
Fearing not the unknown
Rejoicing in Him, my safety zone.

more sculptures

The kids really enjoyed the class. It was frustrating trying to keep the pieces together while they painted them, but it was one of the more successful classes we have done.

Here is a smathering of their efforts. Enjoy! Try it yourself!

sculpture and atc

Even with the hustle bustle of moving my grown college graduated son to his new apartment and job I made this sculpture to use in a class demo and a new ATC.

The sculpture is made of paper tubes and a coffee can, glued with Aileene's tacky glue and painted in various acrylics.

The ATC is a magazine photo with a word from a magazine and the crown is made from half of the top of a Christmas ornament. Just remove the hanger, flatten and cut into 2 halves. Instant crowns. Great three d element.

New Circus ATC's

I finished these 6 ATC's yesterday in between, teaching, getting car maintenance done and taking care of household chores too.

The best thing about ATC's--

• portable


• good use for small windows of time


• keeping creativity pumped

Make ART

BE HAPPY!

New Chapters in Life

My son graduated with honors from Gardner Webb University on Saturday.

He has a wonderful new job in New Bern, NC at the Sun Journal. Transitions for us all but

he is an amazing, strong, christian young man and will be great wherever he is.

I too am strong and a christian and will survive this new chapter.

It's still difficult but life goes on!

Here is a digital collage I made of him!

endings and beginnings

Well, my son graduates college in three days. He has a job and we are going apartment looking on Monday. I am hoping I can stay calm and upbeat and IBS free for the transition.

I do well with constants and changes are difficult for me. With God I CAN make it!

Excited about some art projects but not ready to share so for now ....

Bliss

Bliss is simple joy and pleasure from everyday life and family. Living for love, experience, fellowship and happiness. Find it simply in seeing a flower's blossom or a son's smile, feeling a husband's hug, knowing a parent's health or a friend's laughter.

Once you really understand bliss you will find it everywhere you look, smell, taste, see, and listen. Wait, I hear it calling me now. Go find your bliss.

new collage

I finally broke the blue funk yesterday and worked on a green piece for an upcoming Somerset Studio submission. Here it is:

Green Geisha.

free images again

from Lisa Volrath at the following link:

http://countdown.tentwostudios.com/

Thanks Lisa!

TGIF? Menopause! and Middle Age Crazies

Here is my sweet Mom and son and me after my son received his journalism award from Gardner Webb University on Tuesday. I should be on cloud nine. I am but anxious too. I await Terry getting home from Montreal tomorrow after being gone for 2 weeks again. It's been the longest 2 weeks yet. I have my work done and should be relaxing and enjoying the day and anticipation but I still have this scratchy allergy throat, no energy cause I didn't sleep enough last night, and scattered thoughts.

I want to do art. I can't concentrate for the first time in a long time. I have 2 new art books, the new Somerset Studios and a couple other magazines but can't relax and read them. Is something wrong with me or am I just agonizing on the new changes in my life?

Matthew's graduation and moving away to work. Terry retiring soon. Possibility of building and moving. Is this normal or am I crazy?

As the song goes....maybe I'm crazy or just a little unwell...

Wisdom from Morrie

My son graduates in 1 week from college. He will start his new job in 3 weeks.

I am happy for him but it's change and adaptation, which I don't do well with.

I will be okay but it will take me some time. I don't go with the flow like my friend.

She complains when she's not happy with situations and lets all concerned know it.

I silently suffer and when it comes down to it, I survive.

I am prone to IBS. I've never blogged about it and would rather not but maybe someone else will be encouraged. I'll take my meds, eat little, and survive. I am a survivor.

One of my favorite movies and books is Tuesdays with Morrie. He really didn't let anything get him down. He enjoyed everyday and lived it fully till his last. I have no real problems but create them in my mind and let it spoil my day. I will deal with this. I will not let this take over my life.

I will not!

These are good times and I want to enjoy them and be happy.

The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in.
Morrie Schwartz, Tuesdays With Morrie

The image is me having fun on the computer.

Art Sites and Family Blessings

My review of a favorite book is on the front page of the Artella Daily Muse today. You can see that much for free actually by going here: www.artelladailymuse.com.

Also the site I suggested is today's link latte: http://www.vintagepaintworks.com

Still floating on air that my son is such a wonderful young man with a wonderful future.

I thank God for His MANY blessings.

Here is a little digital collage of my son.

Proud Mama

My son has decided to accept a job at the New Bern Sun Journal as education reporter beginning in about 3 weeks. He also won an award at Gardner Webb University today in Journalism for excellence in broadcast and print journalism. He's also a really great son and guy. I call him my gentle giant at 6' 4".