smile

altered book art journal pages

"be of good cheer"
~ using black pen, markers and a water brush, as inspired by Alisa Burke,with touches of acrylic paint left over from another project.

I think this message from Charlie Chaplin and Michael Jackson shows that regardless of what is happening in my life, it is probably best to try to smile and "be of good cheer".

striding through March

I have been trying
to stride through March
with all of its changes
all of its roaring
few of its calm "bleating" 
moments

in some moments
I
have been trying to organize
my creations
and sharing
of them

in other moments
I
have been looking for colour
and joy


hoping your own striding
through March
brings much colour 
and joy
and certainly
many angels

Do you remember?

So often I forget to take time to play. And then I wonder why I get so many headaches and why my jaws hurt and my shoulders reach the clouds. Ahhh, if only I could just remember that simple solution to take time to play.

At times I wonder if it is really acceptable for someone that is more than half a century old to be skipping through the house whilst going from place to place. Then I recognize how wonderful I feel when I am doing the cavorting. I look for an excuse to move again in that very playful fashion.

And so I decided I could put it down in writing ~ that reminder to take time to play. What better place than my "to do" altered book.



With the written reminder, I had focus. It took me a while to get to it, but finally more time to play ~ with paint and fabric.

These are all fat quarter size - about 18 inches by 22 inches in case you are not a quilter. Each of these is on flannelet - just happened to be the fabric I had along to the farm when I originally dyed light green colour. Should mention that I used a "plate" for each of these pieces. The first is my fave, I think, anyway at this moment.



I am uncertain about the next one. I do love the effects in particular places. I will be working with it much more.



Abstract flower with fuschia addition:



And this is another of my faves. It was the first one I did with the plate.



So I will leave you the reminder ~ do not forget to take time to play.

In case you didn't know ~

I absolutely love doing texturing and layering and backgrounds. I suppose that is somewhat, maybe quite, typical for mixed media artists. The following image is just a smidgen of a taste of my book of gigantic proportions. I am nearing completion of that lovely creation and am planning a video to present with the entire book. If you have any possibility of seeing the book in person I encourage you to do so. Some lucky folks got to see the work in progress when I did a presentation to a smallish group of people at our local library last week.



If you would like to learn more about altering books and making books and making wonderful textured backgrounds you may want to join Dale Anne Potter and myself on a nature and art filled CRAFT cruise to Alaska, taking place next June, 2010. I personally love the ocean and all it's critters. Bald eagles will also be, apparently, in migration. Looks to me like a guaranteed fun time. More details to follow in the next few weeks.

A couple of pictures displaying book covers I have done. I would plan to use similar techniques for the cover of a board book we'll be doing while cruising the deeps.




Angels and art filled days be with you.

SNATCHING MOMENTS for me
two photographs from last evening's walk



Just a glimpse of something I've been doing on the creative side:



I'll be announcing the give away tomorrow. Stay tuned.
Angels be with you.

Watching for angels while being in limbo: I'm trying to be patient as I sort through this commotion about the psychiatrist. I've been listening again and again in the past 24 hours to the "Take That - Shine" video which some angel left me anonymously yesterday. It has lifted my spirits immensely.
I did try to break away from the mode for a few minutes to finish this altered book spread which I did on the weekend. I did the background with stamped and sponged ink to begin with and then found the fashion image in a 1967 Chatelaine magazine. I then played with it.
I should mention the three images in the corners are all tape transfers which I had made last summer and discovered recently. They seem to fit perfectly within the collage.
I also started another page spread background and did some sketching. I'll maybe share those later after I've received the phone call about which I'm having to be patient.

I've been investigating other videos in the same area as "Shine" and I got quite carried away with "Angels" by Robbie Williams. I found the lyrics so I could sing along as the audiences do in a number of the recordings. I also found the original.
I'll let you know as soon as I have any more information .
Angels be with you.

Presents and WIPs: I have much to post about today so will probably need to do more than one post. This one is about presents I received in the mail in the past few days. The first present was from Mary Ann who is so kind with her giveaways every other week. I was so excited to be chosen to receive this book titled "Designing with Fabric". It is an absolute treasure trove. I can hardly wait to dig into it. At first glance I noticed a reverse stamping technique. I did not have any bleach here otherwise but decided to try some liquid dishwasher soap which I had purchased a couple of years ago for stamping on jeans. I thought if it worked on denim - why not other fabric. I did some stamping on a piece of this sheet which wasn't quite right for what I had purchased it. I want to turn it into a journal quilt sometime. I'm not certain what I'll do with it yet but hopefully I will come back to it.
The next day I received a wonderful paper doll from Emily. I so admired the paper dolls of Emily which I had viewed on flickr. They are fabulous. I am inspired once again to try something that I thought I never would. Hmmmm - that list of things to try keeps getting longer and longer. We'll see.
Then yesterday there was another parcel card. Because we have to pick up our mail at the post office we need to be there before 5 on a week day. I got the package at lunchtime today when Greg walked in the door. I'd kind of started to worry about my "cuppa tea" swap package. Sometimes our mail is SOOOO SLOOOOW. But after I opened the package I had to put on my "be inspired - not intimidated" hat. There were many gorgous pieces in the package from Regina. I admire anyone who can do paintings. And today I received this wonderful card, together with the fabulous case, some stamped cards, vintage postcards, buttons, and these whimsical angel earrings.
Huge thank yous to Mary Ann, Emily, and Regina. This emotional artist has, well, I think you get the picture. I'll get some tissues now to dry my face.

FLOWERS