"Thorns and Stings
and those such things
just make stronger
our angel wings."
~Terri Guillemets
"Be as a bird
perched on a frail branch
that she feels bending beneath her,
still she sings away all the same,
knowing she has wings."
~Victor Hugo
"There are two lasting bequests
We can give our children;
one is roots,
the other is wings."
~Hodding Carter
I am a huge Kelly Rae Roberts fan,
and I was inspired by her style
to create these angels on mixed media.
I'm guilty of freezing up sometimes,
when I plan a project.
I KNEW I wanted to design angels,
and I didn't want to COPY.
I prepared the boards about a month or more ago.
Then they sat.
And sat.
So this weekend, I was on a mission to complete
projects, and tackle my "to do" list.
Once I started painting my angels,
I knew I was going to be alright.
Incredibly, each angel has her unique look.
I love how that happens.
Paper collage with gel medium, acrylics,
distress inks, vintage dictionary paper,
sparkle paint, glitter, ribbon, charcoal,
pitt and micron pens, gel pen,
typed text, wood, felt and fixative.
The weather was dreary and rainy this weekend,
with no company,
no committments,
or plans....
So let's create!!!
I drew some tiny faces on osnaberg,
added fixative,
cut out stars from some canvas,
glued on a supporting layer,
painted both sides white first,
then added sparkle paint.
The faces and tinsel were glued onto the stars.
A sparkly wired bow was the finishing touch.
Now I just need to add wire to hang them.
The photos are lousy.
I think they are better in person.
I have 6 finished,
and 10 stars waiting for faces.
I'm also working on these 12" tall cones.
I adhered some red polka dot fabric on one,
with tinsel at the top (with a rusty star)
and tinsel around the base.
I'm going to paint a santa face on osnaberg
similar to these ladies, except a little bigger.
Very whimsical looking.
I recently joined my friend's "ornament club".
The gals get together once a month, and
create ornies to sell in the fall.
I visited their displays of christmas trees
filled with ornaments at one of their fairs.
It was very cool!
So here I am working on ornies while I can,....
won't be long though, I'll be in the garden.
I think I see sun peeking outside,
think I'll get some fresh air while I can!
I experienced the phobia of breaking in that first page
of my brand new moleskin.
I had an initial "vision" and started slow
with distress inks to gently add color to the page....
I thought maybe I'll try that drippy technique with some
black paint....ugh! That didn't work out...
so I tried to cover it up with acrylics paints
using a pumpkin and mustard......still didn't look right.
I sanded the page, and let it sit a spell.
I never used intereference paint before, and wondered what
a dab of it would do to my page.....
well it transformed into a copper-like color.
Unusual, but it appealed to me.
I added the butterflies, the script,
(which looks sloppy to me),
then added charcoal and stickles,
and it's done.
It's a reflection of my desire to
"soar" as I learn more about mixed media.
I love the quote by Helen Keller.
These are the awesome gifts I received
from Chris Cozen today.
I signed up early for a class [Complex Collage]
taught by Chris and Julie Prichard
from the Land of the Lost Luggage...
and the early bird registration entered me into a
drawing, and I won these fabulous Golden Paints.
Thank you Chris!
I am loving this class, and
learning so much!!!
I experimented with the Interference Oxide Red
(on my page above), which gave me the copper finish.
I really need to learn more about this paint,
as it is like no other I have used before.
So much to learn and so little time!
Have a great day!
Once I added charcoal around the daffodill and
April One, it set the "mood" for my journaling.
A hint of sunny yellow paint with glaze medium,
and pen in hand, let it flow.
This journal really appeals to me.
I've lost some of the timidness I felt;
the fear of the "blank" page syndrome.
What a fabulous weekend.
Beautiful weather, and a sense of accomplishment.
My gardens are cleaned out really early this year.
My new attitude on priorities helped.
Cooked a turkey, and the boys came home late,
but that's ok....leftovers will go far.
It was a lovely quiet weekend, and I feel
ready and rested for the work week!
Have a great day!
Four years ago I discovered blogging, eBay, Etsy
and primitives. I participated in themed launches,
swaps and give-a-ways. I worked diligently making
crafts to meet deadlines, and prepared
for shows in the fall.
I collected textile bobbins, rusty springs, and
odd items to be refurbished. My kitchen often
smelled of cinnamon and vanilla, and everything
was grunged and distressed.
When the economy soured, I watched fellow co-workers
lose their jobs, endured a paycut, and sadly listened to
story after story of financial distress.
EVERYBODY knew SOMEBODY
touched by hard times.
At the same time, I realized how much the computer
consumed my time, leaving me with an empty feeling.
I wasn't getting anything accomplished, and saw I
was missing out on quality time with family and friends,
and my house and gardens needed the attention I
used to give. My home lacked that cozy feeling to me.
So I began removing myself from the online groups,
and a local juried artisan group I belonged to.
I closed my Twitter account, and rarely visit
my Facebook page anymore. It was my intention
to spend more time with family and friends,
and not cringe when I heard company was coming
to visit, because it was time I had planned to
make a project for a group deadline.
Four months ago, I began a new creative journey,
with a new attitude to "re-invent" myself.
I decided to take an online class with Suzi Blu,
and I've been on an exhilirating
roller coaster ride ever since.
I have entered the realm of the
"mixed media movement",
and there is NO looking back.
At the beginning of this year, I cashed in some
vacation time, and purchased new supplies, books
and lessons. My new addiction is journaling.
I'm still timid, yet giddy with a new page to
paint, embellish, and express myself.
I just finished making my first journal with
watercolor paper, linen thread
and presentation board. I'm taking an online class
with Pam Carriker, and she begins the workshop
with lessons on how to make this journal.
It's gorgeous to me.
I've taken apart a calendar to create a journal
filled with paper, fabric and ephemera.
I now collect discarded manilla folders, cardboard,
childrens hard page books, cereal boxes, newspaper
and even the Cabella's annual hardbound catalog.
Yes it WILL become a journal.
I have taken this watercolor pad,
and on each page, I painted a color with
acrylics, watercolors (tubes) and
twinkling h20's as the first layer.
Inspired by Teesha Moore, I added elements that
are glued magazine cutouts, to set
the mood for the page. I plan to add tons more
layers of paint, text and images
before the pages are done,
or ready for journaling.
I'm learning about different fluid mediums;
painting with different forms of watercolor;
(pencils, crayons, and tubes),
I plan to make cloth paper;
and I'm even now sketching!
I have begun to purge, and it feels awesome.
I started with magazines, and cut out images,
and large text for collage. I'm sorting through
patterns with the intention of using in my mixed
media projects, or selling as "destash".
I purchased some sequin waste online, and it
arrived wrapped in a tissue sewing pattern,
and pink lace. How cool is that! I even
saw a project in Kelly Rae Robert's book
"Taking Flight" with sewing tissue paper
collaged in the first layer. I love it!
It's been about a year since I was painting
with an instructor in a class. I used to
organize my paint bottles alphabetically by
color. Now I have turned the bottles around
to SEE the color, and they are randomly
organized in their color family. COOL!
So now I spend my time learning as much
as I can about mixed media.
Anything mixed media.
I now look forward to this summer with plans
for camping and going out on the boat
more with my boyfriend.
My gardens will receive more attention,
and I hope to sketch flowers in my garden,
and old boats as I spend more
time getting out of the house,
and away from the studio and computer.
I will bring my journals, and bag of
pencils and paints, and I can satisfy
my creative hunger, while I enjoy LIFE.
It's also that time of year for yard sales
and antique shopping! Sage Farm Antiques
opened yesterday for the season.
It's only open for 3-4 days,
on the first weekend of the month,
and each day the vendors bring in new stuff!
Yesterday I purchased this vintage dictionary for $2!
I couldn't bear to use the dictionary I already own
for collage purposes, but this one is already pretty worn.
I will make pillow covers with the ticking, and
the cool vintage "autograph" book will become
a new mini journal. The silver rug braider tools
were only $2 as well, and I couldn't resist.
(I plan to go again today,
and I will bring my bring mom!)
I would like to end this post with a picture of my uncle.
Yesterday was the one year anniversary of his passing.
It's been a rough year for his family,
as he has been deeply missed,
and the void without him is deep.
I love you Uncle Ernie.
I know you are raising the dickens up there!
