Canvas for swap

For Carol A.

Inchie Frame finished

Here's the finished inchie frame from the Dream, Create, Inspire group. From the top left, inchies by: Linda, me, Lynn, Vickie, Mel, Trizzy, Carol, Rena, Tracey, Chris, me again and Rhonda.

I finished mine in a mix of brick red and nickel azo gold, dry brushed with a mix of green and gold paints, sanded, brushed with crackle glaze. The center panel is made from a toilet paper wrapper--really crinkly tissue, glued on cardstock and painted. The leaf is made from cool stamps by Sandy Obertin and "aged."

This was fun. I have just the place for this. Thanks everyone!

Rainy-day blue & silver

It's been raining here today. A friend had asked me to design something in blue & silver for a friend of hers. Sifting through cool blue & silver beads felt just right for the weather. Designed several pieces today.

Inchies, by golly!

OK, some friends on the Yahoo group "Dream, Create, Inspire" decided to have an inchies swap. The concept has been around for a while--art that is 1" square. Let's just say I felt very challenged by working this small. :) But here they are. I'll be getting 10 back in various fall colors (my choice) and they will go in this frame, which I'll decorate when I have more of the inchies in hand.

Canvas for Heather

I participate in an artists' group that is mostly Australian women, with a few of us from North America involved. I was so thrilled to be asked to play with this group. We're doing small canvases each month and this is what I did for Heather. She wanted a grungy white/violet colorwash, which is right up my alley!

Of rust & spent gardens

Rooting around for the last of the sweet peppers and snagging a few fading zinnias on the way, my hand raked across a piece of rusted metal in the raised bed. Remnant from one of my kids’ art projects, the tin lid had obviously spent the summer being irrigated, and was revealed in its deconstructing glory only when I started to clean up the garden. Not sharp (fortunately), the lid called to me through a tangle of weeds.

My garden, overgrown and neglected through the end of a busy summer and start of school season, is undergoing seasonal deconstruction of its own, breaking down and beginning to return to its energy into the earth. It was just the right place this morning as I was struggling to recover energy after a flu that really knocked me down this week. The September sun warmed my back, and the colors of the late flowers—salmon zinnias, deep-orange Tithonia, amber Rudbeckia—were mellower and more comforting than the shocking pinks and oranges that dominated the garden earlier in the year.

I’m not sure if it was the flu, or that I was missing people who are not here right now, or perhaps the wistful rumblings of the wild turkeys’ daily parade through our neighborhood, but I was feeling a little melancholy as I pawed aimlessly though the bed. That’s when I found the lid.

My kids’ wanton mess making in the yard frequently annoys me. Near the trampoline, there are remnants from dozens of popped balloons. I’d rather they weren’t strewn about the yard, but I’m remembering the giggles that preceded the popping frenzy. Even better, I recall coming out to the living room on my birthday and finding the floor covered with those same balloons. We played balloon volleyball until the smell of pancakes lured us to the table.

In another corner of the yard, iridescent scraps of punchinella (sequin waste, left over after they are punched) litter the lawn. And on the patio table (which is inadvertently devoted mostly to arts and crafts), there is a cereal box covered with blue and purple paint. Nearby, a paintbrush’s cheap bristles glisten with that same paint, forever frozen at awkward angles. I’m not entirely sure, but I think my youngest daughter is the culprit there. Now 9, I can picture the intense look of concentration on her face as she cuts and paints. The image mostly banishes annoyance from my mind.

The tin piece once belonged to an Altoid tin. I’ve collected and been bequeathed many an empty Altoid tin over the years. I’ve sanded, painted and altered them into small reliquaries and repositories. My kids love their size and last year went through a phase of painting and decorating many. This one bears the remnants of primary-bright acrylics favored by my son. The inside though, is gorgeously rusted and I am reminded by the shape of what a perfect little shrine this vessel makes.

You see, I love rusted metal objects. I want to know the stories behind the patina, and I can feel the passage of time encoded in them. I delight in finding rusted objects in my daily travels, and I love when I am gifted with random bits. So finding one in the garden today was a happy discovery. As I began to envision the work ahead—of pulling weeds, taking stock, deciding what seeds to save, what needs to be composted or tossed to the curb—I was rather pleased by this rusted object and immediately began to envision in it an art project. Can’t wait to play with it.

None of this means my children are off the hook for cleaning up the yard. But I am grateful for having had a tranquil moment to think about kids and art, rust and gardens, and the cycles of change. I sometimes worry that I keep my art too private, that’s it not something I share enough with them. But then one of them gifts me with an ATC or a pair of earrings, or I pause to consider the tangible signs of an artful life strewn around our house and yard, and I am reassured. It’s enough to kick melancholy in the butt.

Think I’ll ask the kids to hide a few metal things in the garden and see what the winter rains produce!

Christmas in September

I've been participating in some monthly card swaps on the Stampsmith group. This month it's been "Christmas in September." I dragged my heels on this one--not ready to think about Christmas! But I've received some lovely cards.

Here's what's going out from me. I love the look on Lucy's face and decided to take a humorous twist on it.

I'm looking forward to making some autumn-themed background papers and Halloween cards.

Gatefold CD bday card

I learned recently that these plain CD holders are called "gatefolds." I have a bunch of them and enjoy making cards from them. They are handy to tuck stuff into.

Had not played with my alcohol inks in quite a while so I pulled them out recently to make a gift for a friend. Tucked in some goodies including ribbons and vintage images for her to play with.

Waiting for Inspiration

Too much busyness and a dry spell. Organizing, cleaning, making background papers....

Winged Heart

We're beginning a round of monthly swaps on one of my groups. This small canvas is for Trizzy's theme, wings in blues and greens. Hope she likes it!

Me & Mr. Moon

A small canvas, this one for Rena. This features a Stampsmith image as well.

Recent necklace designs

I love to play with metal and funky beads. Here are two recent designs.