Altered Books Group has 10th Birthday!

Hello Friends and Family. I hope wherever you are that you are staying cool. I’m sure trying to, but this Texas weather is not wanting to cooperate.

If you have been in altered objects, books, etc., then I know you have heard of the huge Altered Book Group on Yahoo. They are celebrating their 10th birthday! So many of us have come from that group, forming new groups, new projects, new friends. You can clink on the right if you would like to check them our.

The piece of art that I have up today is a 4”X6” heavily collaged page for the group’s birthday. Corinne, who is in that group, is a real doll and she is collecting all of the pages from everyone that wanted to participate. She is doing lazar color copies of all the pages, and sending them back out  to all of us fir FREE! I told you she is a doll! She will accept postage to mail you all of the page copies, and when you get them you can bind them and have a wonderful memory piece of this event. 

You know I am not shy about showing you my boo-boos, and this next one is a dozy:

Yes, the first time I made this I made it in the wrong direction! So from now on I am double checking the instructions. I know it had to be flat and I did pretty good with that, but the orientation got me.

Well, that’s it for today. I will be adding some Torsos for a swap this weekend, and preparing a book for a Christmas Book RR so I will write more later.

COWGIRL COLLAGE FINISHED

I have finished working on my friend Deb’s collage board, and here are my photos with an explanation of what I did. I hope she and you will like it!

Here I am trying various papers and images on the board.

In this photo, I have glued down the red paper in the left top corner, and done some rubber stamping in the background, including a crackle stamp, and the cowgirls on the left.

Here is have used some Delta Dimensional Pant in Blue with a large foam rubber stamp.

Here is the finished project. I am pretty happy with it. I saved room on the left for one more person to work on this, and then it is going home. I hope you are inspired to try a canvas board collage for yourself!

HOWDY PARTNERS

Hello Friends and Family. I hope that you all had a wonderful holiday, and that you had good food, good family and friends, and good fun! I had a great time right here at my new apartments. We had a catered lunch for the 4th, and I didn't even have to leave my place to see a wonderful fireworks show at the Rangers Ballpark. A great show and it was free!

I am preparing to work on another round robin collage board that I received this past week. This board belongs to my friend Deb, and she likes cowgirls and she isn't even from Texas! This collage is done on a piece of masonite board, and it is very flat. The first think I want to do is to add some texture and the appearance of texture. I have a lot of Western images, and embellishments so I am looking forward to working on this one. I have a Western book started, but not finished so I think I will get it out and work on it this week too.

In my online Yahoo group, I am fishing for some new ideas to inspire my friends there. I have lots of new polls and suggestions out there right now. Beeswax collage, microscope slide jewelry, Christmas in July, Christmas RR book, and several more ideas. I am hosting a Torso swap right now, and I am creating Chotski pins for another swap so I will be adding some photos from these things soon.

You know how things slow down this time of year, with the kids home from school, and the weather so hot, well at least here in Texas, that all we want to do is stay indoors, or in the pool, and drinking ice cold tea....with lime. That's the way I love it!

Here is how I make my tea: I start with cold water in a glass measuring cup. I add two family sized decaf tea bags, and pop it in the microwave for about 4 minutes. I take it out and let it stand for a bit, and then pour it in a gallon jug. You can add one cup of sugar now while the tea is hot, or fill the gallon with water and then add a sugar subsitute. Then squeeze in a couple of limes, removing any seeds, and then pour over lots of ice. Ahh....wonderful!

I have been visiting some of my favorite blogs, and I love to visit blogs, and see what everyone is working on, and I will be making my rounds this week doing just that. I hope to add some new art photos this week, what with this newest RR collage board, and I hope you will come by soon and let me know what you think.

Goofy Day, Goofy Play

Hello Friends and Family. I am goofing off when I should be getting some things done around here, and I'm going out to the pool in a little bit. I had fun yesterday putin on the red, white, and blue that I picked out from The Cutest Blog on the Block! I also went to Blingee.com and played and played with the glitter, and sparklies. Here is a new blingee photo of me. It would look pretty good, if I was 25 again!

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Trash to Treasure Art

Hello Friends and Family. I hope you are all doing OK tonight, and if not, well email me, and let's talk. I am a good listener, and I won't repeat a thing.
I wanted to tell you about a new friend, Lynn, who has a blog. Just click on the title above, or here, and check her out. She is celebrating at the moment because of receiving her 200th post! That's great! Also, in these difficult economical times, you know I have been doing more thrift store shopping for objects to alter, books, general junk, old frames and canvases to repaint, and it is so much fun!
Well, Lynn at Trash to Treasure Art and I must be on the same wave link! The big news is the wonderful art give aways that she has right now, and if you don't go check out this great blog you will be sorry. I call dubs on the earrings though. They are just too cute!

Some days are diamonds and some days or stones….what a week of stones.

This whole week has been nothing but stones. I have been really down the last few days, but I hope things will be looking up soon.

I left my local art group this week which just about broke my heart, but the owner wouldn’t communicate with me, and since I was a Mod there, everyone was asking me questions that I couldn’t answer Like”what is going on with the owner”. Also, the owner was my best friend, and I thought it was mutual, but I guess I was wrong. Well, I guess it was time for me to move on, and I am looking into a couple of local groups again because I just love the meetups.So it has been hard not knowing what is going on with the group….well, the one I was a member of.

Also, I lost my brother Charles a year ago today to cancer, and so I have been dreading this day, and I’m still missing him so much. Why do the good ones always have to go first? Charles would have been 60 on August 9th.

Well I have a lot of projects that I need to be working on, so I am going to get started tomorrow on some of them, and you know I will post some photos.I am starting on the curtains, finally, for my living roon, and some other things.

BTW did you notice my new short hairstyle? Let’s just say it is a little shorter than I wanted, (but Sis says it will grow back Ha), and I dyed it sort of a light reddish blond. I really needed a change. My dear husband used to say to me “will I always know what kind of mood you are in, because the shorter the hair, the more depressed you are”. Well, I guess that still holds true. Hugs to all of you out there, and hey send some back my way!

Canvas for Round Robin

Hello Friends and Family. Here are my beginnings for a canvas RR. My theme is shabby chic. I started with some pale colors of pink, green, and blue, and I just played with them and ended up with the suggestion of flowers. Next I added an image of a rose and then I over-painted it with acrylics, and I added the pink ticket and the three little girls. I don't know what that has to do with my theme, but I like it, as a matter of fact I felt like I could complete the whole thing, but I wouldn't have anything to send to the RR!

I have said in the past that I am decorating my new place with a shabby chic feel, but I keep straying to a more traditional feel. I have some new/used tables for the living room that I just love. They have beautiful pink marble tops, but the bases are dark and ornate. I go back and forth on whether to paint the bases or not, and I have finally decided that I will. I will probably paint them white with a little distressing done with some stain maybe. I will take some photos and upload them, and you can help me to decide. I also have to decide about the dining room area. I have a nice old pine open shelf hutch that I am deciding to paint or not. The table and chairs I have now are pretty country and I don't know if I like them right next to the living room tables. I have a really small space there, but that's how it is in these retirement places. I will show you my whole place eventually, and I hope that you can ofter some advice to me on the decorating.

Well, time to make dinner, and switch the laundry so goodbye for now, and I just thank you so much for listening to me just going on and on about....whatever!

Hello....it's me

Hello Friends and Family. I have been way out of pocket lately, and working on my apartment. Today and yesterday I have been sick with a bad cold. Hope to feel better tomorrow. I am going to load some new photos soon. I had some problems with my computer, but things are better now. Please let me know what is going on with each of you. I will be visiting your blogs soon, just to look around, and say hi! I hope you are all well. More to post later.

More Eggs!

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Easter Eggs Everywhere!

Hello Friends and Family. I am working on my Easter eggs for a swap in one of my groups. We are swapping 6 inch tall eggs and they will be punched and tied together to make a book. They could also be connected one beside the other to make a really cute egg garland. I hope you will enjoy seeing the other 11 that I have to get done Pronto! We are decorating the front and back of the egg shape because it will be a "page" in our book.

I have had a nice weekend, and I hope that you did too. My grandson Alan and his girl Jamie were here today. Alan cut and installed some shelves in the closet in my art room. I have way too much stuff, and I am hoping to clear some of it out as the year progresses. I will be making some things to give away here on my blog as soon as I am caught up with my swaps, hopefully in a week or two.

Sis came over yesterday, and we just hung out and visited with each other. We piled up in my bed and watched TV together for awhile. This is always fun because I have one of those electric beds where you can raise the head and feet. So comfy!

We have decided to go to the auction next Friday, and she will come back here and spend the night. Oh, I have to show you a couple of photos of some of my treasures from the auction that I got last time. This is just a little country auction but it is so fun, and you make friends there, and I meet my cousins there, and if they know I am bidding on something, they won't bid against me! Isn't that cool!

Well it is late and I am going to turn in and get an early start (around 10 which is early for me!) in the morning on these eggs. I am also making a new spring banner, and a tag garland so come back soon and see the new photos, and the how tos. Have a great week whatever you are doing, and happy arting!

New spreads in an AB and preparing for a journaling class

Hello Friends and Family. Here are some scans of an AB that I recently worked in. The book was called Recycled Relatives, and we were to use a real (or not) relative and tell some history and in a way write a story about your relative. I chose my Aunt Avis who worked for the FBI. I had so much fun with this theme, and I loved tying in my story with real facts during WWII. I am sorry the scans came out so awful. I was the last one to work in the book, and it was fat and hard to scan. I should have done photos, but I was in a hurry, so I did get some poor results. This book belongs to my friend Livia who lives near me. We are getting together for a "play day" of eating and arting. These days are so fun! I am hoping some others will be joining us as well. I am making a pork stir-fry for lunch with some brownies with fruit on top, and drizzled with sweetened condensed milk. Um! Delicious!

I have been working on some Easter and Spring things. I have also been preparing a couple of books for art journals. One is for a soul journey, and the other is for a class that I am starting tomorrow night. Journals have never really been my thing, and I wasn't sure I wanted or could do one with any continuity, but I am not doing a daily journal, so I don't think it matters. In some ways I think of an art journal as a simplified altered art book page....at least that is the approach I have decided to use.

I am still deciding what the subject of my second journal will be. I know it will involve quotes or saying though, and maybe some words of wisdom that I have discovered along the way in my life. Since I am a big advocate of women supporting women, I thought the journal would be all about women, but I am not sure yet. I will decide tomorrow, and I will show you some of the background pages that I am preparing in advance of the images and writing. I am more than a little nervous about this because I have seen so many beautiful journals that I don't want to fall flat on my face with this, which I might.

If you would like, send me an email or post a comment about any experience you have had with journaling, or a web site that you recommend to learn about art journaling. I am looking for information and support on this one.

When I can later this week, I will scan in the Easter art that I am doing, and maybe the Spring banner that I will be working on as well. This project is a joint project with some group members in one of my groups, and the Easter project is pages for an Easter egg shaped swap book. I know I am going to enjoy that one for sure.

Well, I will close and say that the weather here in Texas is just beautiful right now. We are expecting some rain, but that is a good thing! I could so enjoy weather like this all year, but alas it won't last. Have a great arting week, and send me your link.

Post Script

Don't forget that tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day so wear your green, and also remember that Lisa Vollrath's countdown to St. Patrick's Day will be ending soon, and then you will miss out on all of those free images.

I have spring fever!

Hello Friends and Family. I am just about having to force myself to sit here today. I was so pretty outside that I really wanted to play outside somewhere. Of course we just had freezing weather here last week. You know what they say about Texas, if you don't like the weather, just wait a minute and it will change! I have been doing some work in a RR book and I will post those photos tomorrow. They are actually scans, and they didn't come out very well. I should have done photos, but I was in a hurry to get this off to its owner.

I know you are wondering why I have this Valentine related art on my blog. Well, actually this was mail art for my friend Lisa, and she just isn't into Valentines....I know I go overboard....but I made this for her, and then someone packed it and it didn't get mailed to her on time, but I have given it to her now, so here it is! I hope you like this quirky side of me. I am thinking of an AB for myself called "The Anatomy of Love" with all these body parts and pieces in it! What do you think? Should I go for it?

Yesterday I spent the day with Sis (that's Jeannie for you who don't know my sister), and we had a great time together. I love to laugh and talk and share my time with my family, and my sister is very dear to me. We got on the computer, and I helped her to set up her new blog here on blogspot. Her blog is Jeannie's Expressions. She doesn't do any of the art that I do, but she loves what I do. She is into fabric....big time! She sews home decor items that are to die for, and quilts, oh my goodness. She can make anything out of a piece of cloth, and it looks like a million dollars. She had her own sewing business "Jeannie Marie's", and was the seamstress for a famous designer for years, and her work is flawless! If you get a chance go by her blog and say hello some times. You know how it is when you first open a blog, and no one knows you are there. What am I talking about! I still feel that way. I just talk (write) to hear myself doing it! I hope you had a good Monday, and a whole week of great days. Happy Spring Break to all of you that are off the next couple of weeks. Being a retired art teacher, I know how much you need some time off!

New Art Room

Hello Friends and Family. I have worked all day in my new art room putting things away. I still have a few more boxes to go, but I am hoping to get some art made this week. I am ready to make a mess and have some fun! I have seen some new techniques that I want to try out, and I will write how I do anything new, well new to me anyway.

The rest of the place is pretty much finished. I still have pictures and stuff to hang, but for now, I am in and very happy and comfortable here. I haven't been out much this week to mingle too much with others here as I have had a really bad cold. I am feeling better though so I am back at getting things done around here. I don't have any drapes up, but I do have mini blinds so I am not in a big hurry to get that done because I have to go shop for them.

I had the saddest call from my dear grandson Alan this evening. Jamie's grandmother came home from the hospital yesterday, and today she passed away. She was to start chemo treatments for an inoperable brain tumor, but she didn't make it into treatment yet. She was recovering from a broken hip caused when she had passed out, and then one thing lead to another and the doctors found the tumor. I was just talking to Sis about her today, and saying that I hoped that she would go peacefully and without pain, and thank God she did. Jamie was very close to her grandmother, and Alan loved her very much too. He was crying on the phone and he told me he felt awful that he couldn't get his emotions under control to help Jamie. She is of course there at grandma's and grandpa's house with all of her family. I told Alan not to worry about controlling his emotions that they are one of the reasons that he is so special and that is why Jamie loves him so much, just as I do. He said he just had to call to hear my voice, and to talk to his family. What a dear young man, and we are very close also so I know that in one way he was thinking about when he lost his grandpa (my husband), and maybe he is worried about me as well. I will be there for him anyway I can for as long as I live. I'm not sure what the next few days will bring for them both, but I pray for them to find strength in each other and in our heavenly Father.

Playing and Packing

Hello Friends and Family. I have been busy getting all of my utilities, cable, phone and Internet turned on at my new place. I will move on Friday and Saturday. I am trying to finish up a few projects before I finish packing up my studio. The piece above it the cover of one of those $1 calendar/address books for your purse. I made this one for my grandson's girlfriend for her birthday. She loves paints and collage, and I am hoping we can get together to make some art since she will only be about 10 minutes from me after I move. Her name is Jamie, and she has her own unique style, and she is a beautiful girl. Here is a photo of her and my grandson, Alan. This was taken a couple of years ago, so they are older now. I am hoping that they will marry some day. My grandson is 25 and Jamie is 21. Part of the reason that I chose the place where I am moving to is because of Alan. He and I are very close, and he will help me with anything I need done in the future. I love him and Jamie and I hope they will continue to be happy together.

At the Auction Tonight

Hello Friends and Family. In a small town close to where I live there is a little country auction on Friday and Saturday nights. I went tonight, first time in over a year, and I really had fun. I bought some little cabinets for the bathrooms in my new place, so old threads and spools, a little bottle, and a rug. I will get some photos and upload them so you can see my finds. I have found lots of really good deals at this auction, especially before summer gets here when more people come out. If you have an auction house near you then check it out. You will be surprised what you can get for a great price.
I am wanting to do my new place with more shabby chic stuff and less traditional, and I am going to make some canvases for the walls, and some new art pillows too. You will get to see all this and more, and I will even tell you how I make them. I will move next Friday, the 27th, and then I have to get set up, but then I will get to work decorating my new place. Photos of that will be here too. I haven't even been inside of it yet so I am so excited! If you don't remember, I am a retired art teacher, a widow, and I am moving to a retirement community.
I will try to add the auction photos tomorrow, but I am going to go see my Sis and take her to lunch at La Madeline's and maybe do a little shopping. TTYL

Love Valentine

Hello Friends and Family. Well, this is my last piece for today. I have new things coming tomorrow though, and I hope that you will stop back by and take a look. This one was fun to do with the paints in the background. I first traced my bird on some cream and red paper, but it seemed to get lost in the background so I added a black cutout over it. I also used glitter glue in the background on the hearts, and then added the 3D flowers. Have a great evening and a wonderful Monday....if you can!

Forever More

Hello Friends and Family. I really like the way this one came out. I have another bird one that I am working on now. I love the contrast and that it isn't too fussy. Just find yourself a bird image, and you can cut it out to make a pattern, and then trace it onto black paper. Add an image of your choice, and some eggs, and you are done! I hope you will like it too.

Valentine Art

Hello Friends and Family. I can this piece Kiss Me. If you know me at all you know that I am a dyed in the wool, forever, and ever romantic! So, at Valentine's I get to make as much sappy art as I want, and I get to mail it to other people! So, here is my first piece for today. I am putting some others together, and I will upload them when they are done. I hope you like this one.

Free Images

Hello Friends and Family. I am taking a break, and went to Lisa Vollrath's Ten Two Studio. She is again giving away some awesome images to use in your art. If you are making Valentines for anyone you can find the perfect image here. Please stop by her site, and leave her a message that you love the new images for FREE! There will continue to be a new free collage sheet or something everyday for 14 days! I'll post an image later of what I am working on today.