Mixing canvas, painted papers, beads and floss....

I should be playing in my garden

rather than playing in my studio....

but you know how it goes

when you get that nagging to notion to play.

I have a pile of painted papers that I decided

to cut into shapes, and applique onto canvas.

Pastels add sparks of color.

Next comes the stitching with floss,

 embellish with beads, followed by

inspiration quotes and inky details.

Eyelets and beaded wire are the finishing touches.

A few closeup shots outdoors....

a few tweaks in photoshop...

Ready to list in my Etsy Shop.

I have chosen this one as a giveaway

in the HAF

Handmade Art Fair

openhouse August 31st.

Stay tuned for details....

Lazy Sunday

Another hot, hazy summer day.

Did some chores around the house,

watered and weeded a bit in the the gardens

and brought in a huge bucket

of cucumbers, squash and zucchini.

I also finished this needlepunch project I've been working on.

My design felt a little drab, so I decided to kick it up

a notch by embellishing with beads.

I really like the way the beads catch the light

from different angles.

This angel was an unfinished project,

that somehow managed to call to me today.

A few minor changes left me feeling a little better about it.

I didn't have music playing in the studio,

and I suddenly noticed the cat point his ears to the window.

Moments later, I heard the same sound.

One of the triplet fawns sounded distressed in the woods.

It sounded like it was calling for it's mom/siblings.

Suddenly, another fawn came running to it's sound,

and together they bolted to another section in my yard.

I didn't disturb them when I quietly walked out on the deck

to take pictures of them, being playful, and grazing on my plants. 

Mom was no where in sight.

I suspect they were mischievous

and sneaked away without her permission.

All three together in this shot.

They are different sizes by comparison.

I'm particulary fond of the smallest one.

It is truly a gift to witness this rare event.

Full Tilt Boogie - Good Friends in Wells

There is a new buzz word catching on:

Full Tilt Boogie journal

The old buzz word was ROD;

the shortened form of Remains of the Day journal.

So I confess, I took the ROD class,

and watched the videos over and over,

and still couldn't pull it together

to complete a journal.

Then I dragged my feet about taking

Mary Ann Moss's new Full Tilt Boogie class;

kind of punishing myself for not making a ROD journal.

I couldn't stand it any longer.

I did it, and I

LOVE LOVE LOVE

this class.

I knew I would,

and I'm so glad I did.

Mary Ann's classes are so chock

full of juicy goodness.

I absolutely love her style of journaling.

What used to be a The New Yorker book,

became the cover to my new FTB journal.

This journal is primarily made of wall paper; but in this

shot, I have painted both sides of the wall paper.

The pages are embellished with graphics from children's books,

envelopes, cardstock, ledger paper, tape, stickers,

pattern paper, homemade paper, photos from a 1930's

book, cartoons, french poetry, lined paper, and stamps.

It's made of 10 signatures,

with about 3 pages in each signature

I attached this belt with embroidered flowers

and D-rings to bind it together.

I have already decided on a new book cover,

and my next journal will be slightly bigger.

I will have trouble parting with this journal.

* * * * * *

We packed the camper, 

and invited my mom to join us,

and headed to Wells Maine,

to have visit with our friends.

It was a rather warm day,

but very cool in the shade of trees in our campsite.

After a hearty meal of lobster, steak, salad, garlic

bread and many cocktails,

we took a stroll on the beach.

Ok, we are feeling pretty relaxed about now.

Mike, Doris, Nettie and Tim

Yes the water is cold!

Doris and Mike with a beautiful sunset in the background.

My sweet hugger!

It was fun day in Wells!

A mermaid, backgrounds and triplets!

"A mermaid found a swimming lad,

picked him for her own.

Pressed her body to his body,

laughed; and plunged down.

Forgot in cruel happiness,

that even lovers drown."

~William Butler Yeats

Another journal page in my newest altered book journal.

Background created using Kate Cranes' technique.

Acrylics, cutout illustration by Tony DiTerlizzi,

inktense water colors, stickles, ink, and text.

prepped background showing new technique

I recently purchased a combo DVD pack

on Art Journaling techniques by

 Kate Crane of  The Kathryn Wheel

titled:

Right From a Blank Page

and

There are No Mistakes in Art.

Fabulous!

I highly recommend this purchase.

prepped background #1

prepped background #2

prepped background #3

Recently I heard/saw a baby fawn in the woods

crying for it's momma.

I felt sad and helpless....

Later in the week, my mom

witnessed triplets with their momma.
I knew the little one found it's way.

At first I thought they munchined on my lillies.....

but found they were eating sumac seedlings.

Yay, less weeding for me.

You don't usually catch them out in the middle of the day.

I suspect the little ones have energy to burn!
That's a busy mom for sure.
I hope they live well and long.

Sadness and Faces

Today I was inspired watching a video

by Mystele demonstrating her

"gut art" painting style.

I hope to sign up for her class in the fall.

This sad face appeared,

when I attempted to paint

like Mystele (without taking her class).

I just used my "gut" to paint.

I love that!

It was so much fun.

I don't like following rules,

painting within the lines;

nor do I necessarily paint with

someone else's suggested palette.

It's the experimentation

and the "I wonder what this will look like" result?

that is so much fun,

and my journal is the perfect place for that.

The clay faces on this journal page were cut out of

a Stampington magazine some time ago,

and I do not remember the artist that created these figures.

But they were whimsical and I kept them with

the intent to collage in my journal.

A fun way to keep cool in the basement

on a beautiful, hot lazy day.

Now I can go play outside and enjoy that sunshine.

Happy 4th of July my friends.

Courtship

I had a few minutes to work in my journal.

My intent was to work on the latest

prompt from A year in the life of a journal,

but this happened instead.

One thing lead to another.....

This is the first page in my newest altered book journal.

I thinned out the pages,

then glued the pages with YES glue.

Next, I painted each page with gesso,

on a sunny, windy day on the deck,

with a heat tool.  THAT really

speaded up that task!  Awesome.

It was formerly a National Geographic

Wilderness USA, so I will dedicate

this book to all things nature.

Now I'm off for a boat cruise to the

Isles of Shoals on the Thomas Leighton.

Have a lovely day!