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Showing posts from 2011

The holidays mess with my creativity

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and clearly my blog posts!  I have been missing in action and I don't like it.  Look at the cool art goodies I got for Christmas though!  I love the Global Art pencil case.  I knew my dear hubby would get it for me so I was dreaming of how I would artfully arrange the pencil crayons once I did get it.  I could hardly wait for a quiet few minutes to sit and organize my Prismacolors.  Of course, I have the full set but I really didn't like the box and trays that they came in.  The pencils rolled around and the box was too big and not very portable.  Now my pencils are tucked safely in a beautiful leather case!  Plus the trays that they were in are very useful for beading.  Love it. My awesome son with some help from his lovely fiance got me the green set of Pan Pastels.  I can't wait to play with them.  I love the colors.

journal page zentangle

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It took me all year to finish this page.  Clearly I didn't work on it regularly.  In January I decided I would have a word for the year.  Focus was my word.  I can be scattered at times so focus was a good word for me.  I was thinking that copying this page at a smaller size could be interesting.  I don't know what I would do with the copy though. I think I will do more journal pages like this.  Maybe, I will have a word of the month.  That could be interesting.

another snowflake

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I have so much fun playing with Kaleidoscope Kreator.  They really should pay me for all the advertising I do for them!  Nevertheless, I use that program and create with joy.  It doesn't get much better than that!

last bead journal for the year

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Originally I stitched on some beads trying to do it in Robin's style.  I love that style and that is why I joined the project so that I could learn to bead like that.  Well, it just isn't my style and there is no point in trying to force myself into a mold that doesn't fit.  I am learning it is best for me to be me.  I decided I would just cut out that section.  I had been thinking about having a hole of sorts in this piece anyway.  I added some paper mesh across the hole and stitched my beads onto that.  Well, that isn't easy to do but I think it was worth it.  I also added another layer of paper behind the mesh.  This whole piece is many layers of paper all adhered together with matte medium.

on line courses

Hi All I have never taken an on line course.  I think it would be a good idea for me to check one out as I am considering teaching some.  Does anyone have a recommendation for a really great course they have taken?  Would you mind telling me about it?   Or if you were to take an on line course what would you want/expect from it?  Any and all comments on this topic would be greatly appreciated!

playing with Kaleidoscope Kreator again

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Doesn't that just make you happy!  Please feel to use this in your art.  If you do send me a photo.  I would love to see what you do with it!

snowflakes

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It doesn't take a lot to make me happy.  I am a simple girl.  This snowflake just makes me smile.  I am so glad to have my Kaleidoscope Kreator program working again.  I ran into a bit trouble with it when my old computer died.  The tech support was awesome and got me up and running very quickly! I have fresh ink in my printer so I need to use it up before it dries up or clogs.  I will print the snowflake and then bead it.  I can't wait to see it finished!

painted tissue and felt journal cover

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I believe I have not posted this little journal previous to this.  I showed it at the workshop on Saturday and received many compliments on it.  So I thought I should show it here.  I painted the tissue paper with shimmery paint and then adhered it to the felt.  It is a wrap around cover.  The felt works great for that.

a chance to win Japanese paper

http://www.thepaperplace.ca/wp/2011/12/01/the-2nd-great-chiyogami-giveaway I just want to let you know about this amazing chance to win some lovely paper.  All you have to do is leave a comment at the above link to get entered for a chance to win.  It is a bit selfish of me to post about it as it gives me another shot at winning.  If I were really selfish I wouldn't share the link though as now there is more people that know about it and I have less of a chance to win.  Whatever!

staying positive

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I am optimistic and confident in all that I do. I affirm only the best for myself and others. I am the creator of my life and my world. I meet daily challenges gracefully and with complete confidence. I fill my mind with positive, nurturing, and healing thoughts. - Alice Potter   Above is the quote that I wrote on my journal page. I truly believe that we attract goodness into our life with our faith. I have always had an optimistic attitude. There is a Proverb that says as a man thinks so is he. I make it a policy to get rid of negative thoughts as soon as I recognize them.

I love teaching

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Honestly, it is so much fun for me to see students giggle and delight over a new idea or technique.  Too fun! The first two pictures above are samples of Kathy Mostardi's gorgeous paste papers.  Such beautiful vivid color.  Yummy.  Kathy taught this morning and I got to play.  I taught in the afternoon.  We played with all things shimmery and glittery!  You may notice some students sporting tiaras in these pictures.  There were also some boas and loads of sparkly clothing.  We were all princesses playing for the day.  Art therapy at its best!

Pages magazine

I bought the premier issue of Pages by Cloth Paper Scissors.  I guess I am a bit of a sucker for magazines.  I have to say that $14.99 is a ridiculous price for this magazine and it is highly unlikely that I will pay that again.  It is a nice magazine but it is not worth $14.99.  There are some good ideas in this magazine though. 

I am teaching a workshop this Sat. Dec. 3

Hi All This is just a quick note to let you know that I am teaching a workshop this Saturday for the Royal City Calligraphy Guild in Guelph.  If you are in the area there is a spot or two left.  It is going to be fun and we are going to get messy.  If you want details email me and can forward the class info.

I am a winner!

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I am a follower of the Thread Studio on Facebook.  Today I received my prize for commenting on a post a couple of weeks ago.  This came all the way from Australia pretty darn quick.  I am impressed.  I can't wait to have time to read this lovely little book and use the walnut ink crystals.  Fun. 

needle felted, quilted and embellished

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I had this piece for sale yesterday but it did not sell.  I am not crushed.  I really like it.  I did sell a few scarves and one art piece and I forgot to take a picture of it!  Oh well.  I am so grateful for my wonderful friends who supported me in my first sale.  I was a bit anxious about it but I received many favorable comments about my work so that was encouraging. I needle felted some knitting yarns on to painted silk for this piece.  I then did some free motion quilting and then added some transfer foil.  It was looking good but needed a focal point so I added the piece of dichroic glass. 

Take a stitch Tuesday

http://www.pintangle.com/journal/2011/11/21/take-a-stitch-tuesday-back-by-popular-demand.html I have just signed up for Take a Stitch Tuesday with Sharon B.  It might be a good idea to incorporate the stitches I learn into my crazy quilt project.  That would kill two birds with one stone.  I am all for making things easier for myself!

fibre scarves

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It was a productive day.  I love productive days!  This probably just looks like a mass of fibres but it is a photo of six scarves I made today.  I will have them for sale on Saturday.  I will be participating in my first art sale!  I also have seven art pieces in varying stages of readiness.  Some are framed.  Some aren't yet but will be by Sat.  I am also working on some teaching proposals for CREATE in New Jersey.  Yikes, I am tired.

my journal cover

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I showed what my friends did but neglected to post my journal cover.  So here it is.  I would like to tie some fibres onto the spine to hide the spiral binding.  I think that would look pretty.  It might be a bit tedious to do though and I am not good with tedious.

kitchen foil in art

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I did this technique years ago with my kids.  One of my sons actually won first place in the fall fair with his foil art.  Pretty cool.  My friends created these a while ago.  I just found the camera, thankfully.  We glued down some string, covered that with foil and then added layers of acrylic paint.  These make great journal covers.  Oh yes, I also put a coat of varnish over it all once it had dried for a few days. 

more beading

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Here is November's bead journal project.  I can hardly believe it is almost the end of the year and I only have one more project to go!  This is the second year that I have participated and I have really enjoyed it.  Having a deadline really works for me.  I used kitchen foil as the base.  I adhered some painted tissue paper and then stitched and beaded.  I also added a piece of doily I cut up and painted.  I am pleased with the way it turned out.

Being published

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Shelly Stokes of Cedar Canyon Textiles has graciously accepted some of my art for publication in her new book.  It is terribly exciting to me when someone else likes my work.  I love my art and yet I still have some pretty big insecurities about it.  Maybe not big insecurities but insecurities nonetheless so when I get approval from someone else it means a lot to me.

alcohol ink book covers

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I watched a youtube video about using alcohol ink yesterday.  I should have saved the link!  Anyway, it did inspire me.  She glued down all kinds of bits.  She started with tape-masking as well as scotch tape.  She added sequins and tiny beads - the kind without a hole.  So here is my go at it.  I also added some transfer foil but just glued down the whole thing rather than transferring it.  I also added some cello wrap and bugle beads.  I was going for lots of texture.  I did achieve that but it made it difficult to apply the ink.  It was hard to get into the crevices.  I forgot to mention that you apply a layer of white glue over the top of everything before you go at it with the alcohol ink.  That layer of glue helps keep those silly rolly beads in place.  It also means that you cannot work with the ink for too long as it will reactivate the glue and then you end up with a sticky mess.  Of course you have to wait for the glue to dry before you apply the ink. I hope to get thes

a busy week

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I have been busy creating all week but don't have any finished projects to show.  So I dug out this piece that I completed a while ago.  I don't believe I have posted about it before this.  It seems like I do a lot of the tear drop shape.  I guess it is a recurring theme in my work.  This piece is one of my bigger pieces. Hopefully, I will get some of my other pieces finished so that I can post them soon.

more good news

Today I found out that my proposal to teach at the Elora workshops was accepted.  I am super excited about it.  I think I will be a really good teacher.  I have tons of experience teaching.  I have been told that I am a really fun teacher too.  It is going to be good! 

I have joined CT Publishing Creative Troupe

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I believe that is a good thing.  I hope it leads to some opportunities for me.  I guess I will find out.  It certainly can't hurt to be connected to a publisher in a little way!

bead journal

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I used Setacolor sunprint paint to color this fabric.  I added beads, sequins, fibres and the feather stitch.  Maybe it could use a bit more glitz.

bead journal

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Honestly, I had this finished in Sept. but forgot to post it.  You can imagine that my mind was else where! I used a photo of shattered glass that I took at the wrecking yard this past spring as the background.  I love this photo and will likely use it in my art work again!  I added beads and fibres.  I printed the photo on paper and adhered it to fusible interfacing before adding stitching.

last one

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I have a few more purchases  that I could show but they are nothing too exciting.  This fabric was a happy find however.  Our very last morning in Paris we had a bit of time before we needed to check out of our hotel and go to the airport.  We decided to wander around a bit and hopefully see something new.  Well, we happened upon the best little street.  It had a great deal of stores that were very interesting.  We were out early so the stores weren't open.  That was a bit disappointing but it was also good.  We got a few photos of some interesting windows and I am sure the shop owners wouldn't have liked that had they been there to see us.  As we window shopped we happened upon some stairs that led up to a park that was above the stores.  How cool is that?  We enjoyed the park immensely as we made our way back to where we started.  The first cool store that we had happened upon was a stitching/quilting store and it was open by that time.  Again, how cool is that!  A perfect w

Flea market finds in Antibes

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I have to say that I enjoyed the flea market in Antibes much more than the one in Paris.  It was a great deal smaller and so much easier to navigate.  The top picture shows the lace and trim that I found.  Granted it is not old like the lace that I  found in Paris but it is still lovely. The bracelet was calling my name.  I wear a lot of this color so it was perfect me.  Plus it sparkles so!

From the calligraphy shop in Paris

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Don't you just love the delicate lacy paper.  I am guessing that they are place cards.  I will use them in my journal though.  The pen nib seems to be of high quality.  I have one like this but not all the prongs hit the paper at the same time so I hope this one works properly.  The shop owner had a beautiful display of calligraphed envelopes she has received over the years.  I can't believe I didn't think to get a picture of it.  It makes me glad that I have saved my envelopes as well.

super cool pen

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Galleries Lafayette is a magnificent department store in Paris.  Clearly, not the kind of department store that I am accustomed to.  Each designer had their own small section in this store.  Shoes and boots were well over a thousand euros.  Yikes!  I was out of my element.  But, in the pen section they had this little beauty for 29 euros.  The pattern on it reminds me of a zentangle.  Also, it takes cartridge ink but it does not have a fountain pen nib.  It has a ball point.  Different than any other pen I have seen.  So cool.  It writes like a dream too.  Check out the nifty book shaped box it came in.  It was definitely calling my name.

Monet inspired purchases

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I think you know by now that Monet is my favorite artist of all time.  These are the purchases I made while in France.  Napkins, small journal, stickers and the coolest paint tube pen!  I love the pen.  I have a slight addiction to pens so this is a great addition. Truly the day at Giverny was the highlight of the trip.  So beautiful and  peaceful.

who doesn't love a good pop up

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Truthfully I am a big kid at heart.  I think it is important to keep that inner child alive.  One way I do that is by collecting awesome pop up books.  LOVE them!  I purchased these pop up cards in Paris.  We saw them in a store window in the Marais district.  Unfortunately, the store was closed.  But, I am married to the most wonderful man in the world.  He explained that it really wasn't that far from where we were staying and we could come back the next day.  Thankfully we easily found the store again and made these fun purchases.  Don't you just love them? 

flea market finds

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Our first full day in Paris we ventured to the flea market.  Oh my gosh.  It was quite the place.  When we first got there all we could find was junk.  Gangster clothing and cheap stuff.  Not what I was looking for.  With much persistence and an extremely patient husband I finally found some cool stuff.  Ephemera, beads and lace!  What could be better?  Well, quite frankly the prices.  It was quite pricey really. Honestly the supplies that I find here in thrift stores are just as good and a LOT cheaper.  I can always find a bargain here at home.  I hope that doesn't sound like complaining.  I mean to sound extremely grateful for my beautiful life here in Canada.  I am truly blessed beyond measure!  I am also grateful for such a wonderful trip and the chance to shop for some treasures.

opulence

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What can I say about Versailles?  Opulent to the max.  It was just too much for me.  As much as I like to think of myself as a princess I could never live this way.  I mean the studio space would be amazing but...

another from Giverny

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It is still rather like a dream to me that I actually got to go there!  It was pleasing to me that my husband enjoyed the gardens as much as I did.  He really went out of his way to make this trip wonderful for me.  I have the best man!

Giverny

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My all time favorite painter is Claude Monet.  It was one of the best parts of our trip getting to visit his beautiful home and gardens.  The lily pond was so beautiful.  We packed a picnic lunch and enjoyed eating, people watching and generally just being in nature.  My soul longs for nature especially after being so busy in such a big city.  I love this image I captured.  I have a few actually.  I would love to print this on fabric and then do some stitching. 

sculpture from Antibes

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This massive sculpture was a two minute walk from our apartment in Antibes.  I knew my calligraphy friends would love this!  So cool.

last page of calligraphy book

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I guess really it is a book that is anything letter oriented.  It is not all my work but things that I have collected over the years.  It is good to have it all in one place.  Tomorrow back to pictures from France!

oh yeah, I forgot about my calligraphy book

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I just remembered I had these pictures of the book to show.  Blogger is not co-operating and I don't know how to fix this.  I will keep it short as I don't like what it is doing to the text.

home again

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I am feeling almost human again.  I might even get my creative juices flowing today.  That would feel really good.  Until I get back into the swing of creating I will show some images from my trip.  France is such an amazing place and we totally loved our holiday. This is the staircase in the Swarovski store on the Champ Elysees.  Pretty fabulous!