A Place for Everything and Everything in It's Place

My friend Graciela and I have recently created a challenge for ourselves. The idea was for each of us to write down a topic, question, thought, random word, group of words, anything that came to mind. We each had to come up with 50 topics. We placed them in a bag and each week on Friday we both draw from the bag, one of these topics. Our challenge is to create a journal page on the chosen topic. We work on our journal page independantly until the following Friday when we get together to share our journal page and thoughts about the topic. This journey is about finding out who we are, getting to know each other and to produce some critical thinking. We never know what topic we'll pick so there is no planning ahead.

This week's topic was "A Place for Everything and Everything in It's Place".

Next week's topic- "What I know about fishing...

I will post a new journal page every Friday. If you feel like meeting the challenge, please do.. no rules, no committments, just do it when it feels right. Post a comment with a link to your page.

Cheers, off to Monterey until Sunday.

Don't forget to stroll on by my other local "The Way I See It"

:::This just in from my news desk:::

I'm perking up...I just got done posting on my other blog when I decided to look outside and check on our local raging Santa Ana winds. (You know those winds that help fuel all our firestorms in sunny California) and once I recovered from the electrical shock I received through my body from all the static electricity due to the dryness and lack of humidity. I found not one but TWO packages left by UPS on my doorstep.

Inside first package- 3 humongous catalogs from
Rio Grande filled with tons of goodness to buy. Can't wait!



Inside second package:

My recent order from : WholeLottaWhimsy

I'm officially an addict, a "silver clay addict" that is...see my syringe of clay, rubber block, agate burnisher, 45grams of pure silver clay, cork clay, a .999 stamp, 2 cute red containers of smelly liver of sulphur and a gift baggie of candy.

I'm on the mends! New mantra "must get better soon, must get better soon..."

My other blog "The Way I See It"

Glass House-Vintage Christmas

Front of the house


Back of the house


Side (1) of the house


Side (2) of the house

The glass house front panels are 9" tall
(collage between 2 pc's. of glass x2)

The pitched roof of side panels measure 4" X 7"
(collage between 2 pc's. of glass x2)

The lower side panels measure 5"X 7"
(collage between 2 pc's. of glass x2)
---some sewing included

All individual panels were copper foiled and soldered, then panels were soldered to form the house. The house sits over a "tap" light that can be turned on to illuminate the imagery.

Thought for the day-
"People who live in glass houses should not throw stones."

--- something made of glass can easily break; it is vulnerable. We are all vulnerable in different ways. Sometimes we forget our own vulnerability and "throw stones" at other people in the form of criticism. In other words, check yourself before casting a stone or an unkind word.
I bet you're far from perfect.

BTW -No one lives in this glass house, just good 'ole friendly spirits of the past.

Thanks for stopping by!

Be sure to stroll on over to my other blogspot: "The Way I See It"

OuR NeSt

What I present to you here, is a 9" x 12" collaged shadowbox. There is a glass front to this box which is hard to tell by this pic, which slides open to the right. The small box within shown with stamped writing and image of birdsnest opens to present a small speckled blue robin's egg. There are painted thread spools for the feet. This box currently hangs on a wall.

Off to create some journal pages...Wish me luck.

Be sure to visit my other blogspot: "The Way I See It"

Ada

My sad news today is that my dear mother-in-law Ada passed away yesterday. I contemplated writing a post that comes with such sadness, but the truth is that 'death' is also a part of life so it must be faced no matter how awful it feels. I am blessed to have known such an incredible woman, one who has met many challenges in her lifetime... and throughout these challenges was always inspired to bring joy and comfort to so many others. She lived a pure life, filled with unconditional love and faith. I'll take good care of your son. Rest in peace, dear Ada.

Please stop by "The Way I See It"

Wild Turkey

I found this beautiful painting by Rebecca Latham while I was searching for turkeys online.
This particular painting is acrylic on panel.

Top 3 reasons to be searching for turkeys online:

1) cooking instructions
2) to see what a wild turkey really looks like

(the wild turkeys in my neighborhood don't look this good) I think this is a Hollywood Turkey!

3) to see if it was anyone I knew

Check out the beautiful wildlife artwork done here
"The Wildlife & Nature Art of Latham Studios

Happy Thanksgiving One and All!
Don't forget to visit: "The Way I See It"

WhEn I GROw UP I WAnt To BE a PiLoT

5X5 Acrylic Block, vintage photocopy,Golden Fluid Acrylics

My plan is to work 1/2 day tomorrow- Wednesday.
There..I wrote it down, that should bring me closer to my intention.
Now listen and watch below.: Don't forget to fly by: "The Way I See It"

A Mother's Love

5X5 acrylic block, Golden paints, gel medium, vintage image

This is one of my favorite all time projects. I took a class awhile back from Chris Cozen at Stamping Details. Chris is a working artist for Golden Paints. If you ever get an opportunity to take a class from her, just do it. I loved this project so much that I went out and bought sheets of 1/4- 1/2 inch thick acrylic and had it cut up into many assorted block sizes so that on any whim I can create a little masterpiece. When these pieces are placed near a window they look like stained glass.

Check out my other post: "The Way I See It"

If I had a hammer...

I know right now there's a few of you humming that song and you know which one I'm talking about. Okay... It's getting to be that time of year where the desire to 'illuminate' is great. Here's a fun project for those of you with time on your hands and a hammer.

What you'll need:
coffee can (who drinks canned coffee? check around the office)

water
hammer
sharp nail or awl
10 or 12 gauge wire

I spray painted a cleaned out coffee can to look rusty. (inside and out) Using a combination of matte brown, green and copper Krylon spray paint (any brand will do) You can use sandpaper to scratch through some of the paint and add some worn looking texture to the can.

Once dry, fill the can with water and freeze to a solid mass. Now here comes the fun part...

Using your hammer with a sharp nail or awl start tapping a design into the can. The tough part here is holding the freezing cold can. I sat on the concrete on a nice sunny day and placed a towel on the ground around the can securing a good position to hammer away. Once you are satisfied with your pattern. There is one more thing to consider and that is, will this luminary stand or be hung. If you decide you'd like to hang it, tap side holes for your 10/12 gauge which you will attach to the can. Let the water melt and pour out. warning : Be careful when trying to dry out the inside of the hammered can because of sharp edges caused by hammer and awl. You can use a metal file to smooth those edges down. Now it's ready to make it's debut at your entry, on your patio table, around the pool. Insert votive and viola! These are very pretty when lit and can stand being outdoors for long periods of time. Now if this seems like to much work and your desperate to illuminate, go buy a Yankee candle. By far the best fragrance candle ever made.

Don't forget to stop by my other place "The Way I See It"

Have a great day!

"In the Spirit of TOO"

Tasks, Overwhelming, Overload. It's that time of year folks, where there is "TOO" much going on, "TOO" much to prepare for, "TOO much stimuli, "TOO" much food. Aye... why does it have to be this way...and I have so many excuses as to why I'm here at "TOO" time. Only to blame myself. Lately, I've really tried to pay attention to how my days are spent and I was surprised by some of the many 'timewaster' activities that distract me. Try it sometime, try to pay attention to your every move. You'll see what I'm talking about. TOOday I'm trying to stay on task. TOOmorrow is another day.

Here's a pic from Aquinnah on Martha's Vineyard to slow us down. Cheers!

Be sure to check out my other blogspot- "The Way I See It "

Take a Breath

" Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy"- Apollinaire

Grace

This is small 3X3 pre-gesso'd canvas. I like to see these as "collage on the fly" they are small enough that you don't get wrapped up in the details. Doesn't she look "Madonna-esque"?

How Do You Like Me Now

This is an 8 X 8 wood board, about 1/2" thick. I started this piece with absolutely no plan. First I spackled board with heavy gel medium to create texture, leaving a circular area in center for something. Then I gesso'd the board. I starting laying down color- starting with my usual Golden favs and then got bold and threw in some Cobalt Blue. I did a gel medium transfer on top of the color. Used rubber stamps with Stazon and layers of collage pattern paper.

Evening Talk

This little 3"X 3" canvas collage incorporates an aged and handtinted photo, beeswax and acrylic paint. Snippets from a textbook attached to canvas with beewax. Small glass vial attached with beeswax house tiny watch part elements.

Taught by the fun and fabulous: Tim Holtz here at Stamping Details

All You Need is Love

I love this site. Go there now Typogenerator.net and check it out. Type in text and blammo, out of the generator emerges this cool graphic. Who thinks of this stuff? I love you.

Fetish Necklace

I've been working to complete so many projects I had started when I enlisted myself in myriad of classes at my favorite local craft supply store Stamping Details. This particular class was taught by a wonderful artist named Sandra McCall. I have to say, this necklace was no easy feat for a beginner like myself. All the wire work is handmade and most of the embellishments were also handmade with wire and found objects. If you ever get a chance to take one of Sandra's classes you should. Thank you Sandra for sharing your knowledge.

Flower Meditation

"The sun came like gold through the trees, and over the fields, and I felt like I was in heaven."

-Harriet Tubman