Creative Solace

Living with my Art

2012-02-13T16:47:00.000-05:00

I have a friend who literally lives with his art. Honestly, until I visited his amazing home for the first time, I hadn't even thought about how important that could be. His walls are filled with his paintings which rotate as purchases are made or as his mood changes. His walls are painted bright colours so that he can switch his pieces around to see how colour makes a difference to them. I love visiting and I've thought a great deal about this whole idea of "living with one's art". I remember when my Friend visited and he asked where my art was....um, living with others around the world. Why didn't I have even one piece to show him? I've decided this year to begin to make art just for me. Okay, I don't yet have a piece of mine on a wall in my home but I have dug out journals that were never finished and I'm working on them. I've also launched full force into art journaling and this has given me another opportunity to create just for myself. I think it's somehow about having the confidence to say to a visitor "and this is one of mine". I'm working towards this day. These are a couple of journal pages that I created today.....just for me!

Snug at Home

2012-02-12T10:31:00.000-05:00

All of the elements have come together today. It's cold and snowing gently outside. Breakfast and my run are things of the past. Sweet chamomile tea is brewing and my art journal is calling to me. Nowhere to be....a delicious Sunday afternoon ahead. Ahhh.....well, shoveling may come later but that's later! Hope you have a creative day.

The Sanctuary of Reading

2012-02-10T13:51:00.002-05:00

I have always loved the idea of book clubs and have been a half-hearted member of several over the years.   I had really given up hope of finding one that suited me until this year when I was asked to join one that has been running for years in our community.   It is different from others in which I've participated in that professors from nearby University of Western Ontario lead the discussion and are paid to do so.   This means "no fooling around", two solid hours of talking about the book chosen.....and that suits me just fine!   Last night was one of the meetings and we discussed Alice Munro's "Too Much Happiness", a book of short stories written by one of the foremost writers in Canada.   The stories are so rich in complexity and sometimes disturbing details and happenings that the discussion was lively, intriguing and literally could have gone on for a few more hours. I walked home afterwards still deeply immersed in thinking about the book and feeling blessed to be invited to be in a group of people who treasure reading as much as I do.

Just thought I'd leave you with a few lines from two books that are favourites of mine. The first is "The Shadow of the Wind" by Carlos Ruiz Zafon.

"This is a place of mystery, Daniel, a sanctuary.   Every book, every volume you see here, has a soul.   The soul of the person who wrote it and those who read it and lived and dreamed with it.   Every time a book changes hands, every time someone runs his eyes down its pages, its spirit grows and strengthens....In this place, books no longer remembered by anyone, books that are lost in time, live forever, waiting for the day when they will reach a new reader's hand. In the shop we buy and sell them but in truth books have no owner.   Every book you see here has been somebody's best friend.   Now they only have us."

"....few things leave a deeper mark on a reader than the first book that finds its way into his heart.   Those first images, the echo of words we think we have left behind, accompany us throughout our lives and sculpt a place in our memory to which, sooner or later - no matter how many books we read, how many worlds we discover, or how much we learn or forget- we will return."

The other book is "Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy" by Gary D. Schmidt.   I love this passage, again about books.

"Turner" he said, "books can be fire, you know."   "Fire?" "Fire.   Books can ignite fires in your mind, because they carry ideas for kindling, and art for matches."

Ever wonder what books in a bookstore or library do when humans aren't around? .....Check out this YouTube video:

Special Energy

2012-02-08T08:32:00.001-05:00

I just spontaneously decided to send the photograph below to a few of my lovely friends. I have it on my background at home and at work and it honestly makes me laugh each and every time I look at it. Whenever I'm having a bad day, I seem to gravitate towards things in nature that give me great pleasure and comfort and this little guy is one of them. We met him at a cottage that we'd rented and we fed him so well on peanuts that we're quite sure he's still feeding off them from his "stash". I always am tempted to write a caption to accompany him! I had a response from one of my friends who received the photograph. She sent me her own picture of a squirrel with attitude taken that day and she said this,
I know that artists tap into a special energy that connects us all together.
Cool.

How wise and how very true. Thanks dear Trudi!!

One of Those Days.....

2012-02-07T19:21:00.002-05:00

Do you ever have "one of those days" when you feel as though you are so different that you barely seem to fit into the world? Your beliefs seems to be so at odds from everyone else's and are ridiculed by others? It's that old "square peg in a round hole" syndrome. These pages above were created for a round robin journal swap that I'm participating in and just seemed to epitomize my feelings about myself....in a rambunctious and positive way. Somehow I just need to put them out there and remember that life doesn't always have to rhyme!!

I thought I'd also share this YouTube video that was awaiting me when I arrived home this evening. It was exactly what I needed to hear and perhaps for some of you, it will be the same:

Shrine

2012-02-06T07:02:00.000-05:00

I have always been intrigued by shrines. I think it's because they appeal to my librarian sense of gathering and organizing. After all, items on a particular theme are brought together to create a three dimensional object. I had taken a course from Zinnia on how to make one "from scratch" and had painstakingly done so but that's about as far as I'd gotten. The empty shrine had been hanging around in my cupboard for months. As so often happens, a shrine exchange was posted on one of my groups so I jumped at the chance to give my piece some meaning. The shrine for the group was to celebrate their 6th anniversary so I incorporated some sixes in the piece. The rest is open for interpretation.

Thoughts of a Dear Friend

2012-02-05T11:38:00.000-05:00

Do you ever have times when you have an unidentifiable feeling of discomfort? You're just "off" and you have no idea why. I had that feeling most of last week. I just happened to have a look at my calendar and realized that January 27th marked the 5 year anniversary of the passing of a very dear friend of mine. I felt compelled to honour him in some way and did so in a journal spread. I met Arnold at the library and after getting to know him, he invited me to go canoeing with him. He called his red canoe "Cricket" and he was out in it as often as he could be exploring, often with a tiny teddy bear for company that he called "Grunt". It was a delightful day and one of many more that I shared with Arnold. He was one of those people who just brought sunshine and richness to life. He loved music, movies, fine wine, nature, good books....the simple pleasures of life....and he shared them freely with friends, family and neighbours. I gave him a copy of Kate DiCamillo's "Beacause of Winn-Dixie" and he enjoyed it so much that he spent several evenings reading it aloud to his neighbourhood children. He set up a tent in his living room and camped over Christmas and decorated a tree in the woods for the season. His passing was like a whisper but his life and all he shared lives strongly in my heart and the hearts of many others. He once told me that when he died, he wanted to be remembered by this poem:

Prophecy

Elinor Wylie

I hall lie hidden in a hut

In the middle of an alder wood

With the back door blind and bolted shut

And the front door locked for good.

I shall lie folded like a saint

Lapped in a scented linen sheet

On a bedstead striped with bright blue paint

Narrow and cold and neat

The midnight will be glassy black

Behind the panes with wind about

To set his mouth against a crack

And blow the candle out.

Gone from this earth but never forgotten.

Butterfly Garden 4" X 4"

2012-02-02T07:14:00.000-05:00

I belong to a marvelous group of artists who collaborate each year to work on a project. One year it was a round robin journal book, the next skinnies and this year it is 4" X 4"s. We each choose a theme and take turns creating a piece for each person month by month. "Butterfly Garden" was the subject of this creation. I wanted to capture that serene feeling that comes from losing oneself in a garden when all of the sense are tuned into the rhythms of nature....the flap of a wing, the rustle of the leaves in the trees, a butterfly or bee that alights on a flower, a critter that just happens to appear not knowing that you are near. When we are still, wonderful things can happen.

"Beannacht" by John Donohue

2012-02-02T07:08:00.000-05:00

Effy Wild shared this YouTube poem with us on the weekend and I have watched it time and again because it moves me very deeply. It is especially powerful when read by the poet, John O'Donohue.

Beannacht ("Blessing")
by John O’Donohue

On the day when
the weight deadens
on your shoulders
and you stumble,
may the clay dance
to balance you.

And when your eyes
freeze behind
the grey window
and the ghost of loss
gets in to you,
may a flock of colours,
indigo, red, green,
and azure blue
come to awaken in you
a meadow of delight.

When the canvas frays
in the currach of thought
and a stain of ocean
blackens beneath you,
may there come across the waters
a path of yellow moonlight
to bring you safely home.

May the nourishment of the earth be yours,
may the clarity of light be yours,
may the fluency of the ocean be yours,
may the protection of the ancestors be yours.
And so may a slow
wind work these words
of love around you,
an invisible cloak
to mind your life.

Truth in Decorating and My Art Studio

2012-01-29T11:39:00.002-05:00

I am crazy about decorating magazines.   I always have been. There's just something about the photographs in them that make my heart go pitter pat. I study the textures, the arrangements of furnishings, the ways that patterns are combined, the colours.   I was reading "Canadian House and Home" in July 2011 and stumbled across an article written by Lynda Reeve.   She was talking about the miniseries of "Mildred Pierce" starring Kate Winslet. At one point in the show, Kate's new husband has redecorated their house and has added a wall heralding Mildred's accomplishments as a restaurant owner and pie maker extraordinaire.   Mildred is frankly embarrassed but her husband tells her that this gives the rooms warmth and character and makes it come alive.   I've always believed that decorating a room is about combining what one loves and values in a pleasing and comforting manner.   Have you ever been in a room that is devoid of character?    It is disconcerting and unsettling not to be able to get a sense of a person from the way that they decorate.

Not surprisingly, I am also passionate about magazines and books that show artists' studios. Here are a few of my favourites:

Creative Time and Space: Making room for Making Art by Rice Freeman-Zachery
Organizing Your Craft Space by Jo Packham
Where Women Create: Book of Inspiration by Jo Packham and Jenny Doh
Art Making and Studio Spaces by Lynne Perrella
Where Women Create:   Inspiring Work Spaces of Extraordinary Women by Jo Packham
Inside the Creative Studio: Inspiration and Ideas for your Art and Craft Space by Cate Coulacos Prato

Cloth Paper Scissors Studios magazine
Where Women Create magazine

That being said, I thought I'd give you a tour of my sanctuary, my art studio on the second floor of our home.   Welcome....

Summer Afternoons

2012-01-26T20:01:00.001-05:00

Don't get me wrong. I like winter. In fact, I really do enjoy the changing of the seasons and the changes that each brings with it. However, I've been reminiscing very fondly about summer the last few days. Perhaps it's because I've been scouring cottage rental sites and choosing a destination for a vacation in August. Yes, I'm dreaming about packing all my art journalling supplies and taking them on the road to a place where the livin' is easy. Honestly, I find packing my art supplies to be the most arduous part of any vacation. It causes me a great deal of angst and, believe me, the car sinks lower when the "art box" is slid into the trunk!! Here's to dreaming about summer and vacations!

Not a Fan of Housework

2012-01-24T17:16:00.000-05:00

Well, this was Saturday's journal page. Ummm....can you tell what I was doing....and what I wasn't particularly enjoying? Okay, I've tried liking housework....vacuuming, dusting, washing floors, you know the drill....but honestly, it's difficult to cherish living in the moment with my head stuck in a toilet bowl. Just sayin'....

Ode to Running

2012-01-21T13:08:00.000-05:00

I've been a runner for about 10 years now. I don't run races. I just run for myself and my own mental and physical health. It all started when a good friend of mine asked me to join a running clinic with her. I can remember my nervousness in the car as we made our way to our first gathering. What if I wasn't in shape enough? What if I couldn't do it? What if I was the last one in the pack? What if.....you know how that story goes! Well, it turns out that I was indeed suited enough for running and I haven't looked back. I like going in the early morning when most of the world is still asleep. I like listening to the birds, spotting the wild nocturnal creatures out doing their business. I like it when people I don't even know say, "oh I know you, you're the runner". I like the solitude and the chance to ponder and think without interruption. People ask me about winter running. Don't my lungs freeze? Don't I slip? Isn't it too cold? The worst part is crawling out of a very warm bed and layering the clothing. Everything from there is uphill....the brusqueness of the air, the crunch of snow under my feet and the beautiful glow of the early morning brought upon by the brightness of the snow. This spread in my "Book of Days" celebrates the joys of running.

Out of the Fog

2012-01-20T19:34:00.000-05:00

The fog of the last year has begun to lift and hopefully that means that I will be able to see the direction of my blog more clearly. I have definitely fallen out of the rhythm and habit of regular posts so I've decided to try just chronicling what I'm creating art-wise, whatever that may be. This year my muse is steering me strongly in the direction of art journalling. The wonderful Effy Wild and her generous "Book of Days" videos and prompts have been such an inspiration to me. So, to kick off a new "lease on life" with my blog (yes, yet another one!), I've decided to post the spread I completed today in my own "book of days". It was inspired by the house finch who is an integral part of my family. Yes, that's her in the photograph, bottom left.

"My Memories Software" Winner....

2011-10-31T15:21:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the slight delay in announcing the winner of the "My Memories" software.....drumroll please......The lucky recipient is APB! I'll be contacting you with instructions on how to download this wonderful software. Thank you to each and every one of you who left me a comment. If you'd like to purchase it, you may click on the icon on the top right hand side of my blog for $10 off.

An Obsession with Tins

2011-10-29T14:19:00.003-05:00

I have a bit of a "thing" for containers of all sorts and particularly for tins. I've been known to buy something for the vessel it's in rather than the product itself.    I use these containers to create assemblages.   I find the layering of elements and images both fascinating and calming.   Here's my method:

Scope out your tin or container.    Believe me, once you get hooked, your cupboards will be filled with them.   The one I chose has a window which I like very much.    I often choose the container first then give myself some time to match it with an idea.   In this case, the tin with the handle reminded me of the lunch boxes that we used to bring to school.   This was a perfect fit with the French Kissed school- related images I wanted to use.    Sand the tin (you don't need to do the inside of the front if you are going to keep it closed when it is finished).   Wipe off the "dust" and coat with gesso. Allow to dry.

Choose colours of acrylic paint for both the outside of the tin and the inside. I like using Claudine Hellmuth's paint in particular as it has excellent coverage and a thick, buttery texture to it. I tend to favour a darker colour for the outside and a lighter for the inside but it is entirely up to you.

Now it's time to do a little gathering.   Choose your focal image or images and gather related papers and embellishments. You won't use them all but you'll have lots of choices when you are creating. I find that hunting for these items while I'm creating is distracting.

Choose paper that will form your background inside the tin.   In my case, it is a piece of scrapbook paper with a school theme.   I used beeswax to build layers and add texture but you can use any technique that you wish.   I then added the image of the school children and a quotation that I found.
I never want all of the background elements to be flat on the background so I add foam squares to the back.   One set of squares for the first layer, two sets for the second and so on.

Embellish as you please.   I used a key to highlight the word "school" and had the teacher holding a clock. I also added a little wooden window to bring to mind a one-room schoolhouse.

I like to have the background raised from the tin to give depth so I added foam tape to the back before I affixed it to the base.
I thought I needed a little something on the ground so I used my shredder to shred some vintage papers. These I glued to the bottom.
Once I was satisfied with the inside of the container, I closed it and began working on the outside. I found that the film on the "window" added a murky look that I didn't like so I removed it with an exacto knife. I then added the image of the little boy and additional embellishments. As a finishing touch, I outlined the tin and the window with gold ink just to make it pop.

"My Memories Suite" Giveaway

2011-10-23T12:43:00.000-05:00

Okay, confession time.....I have a digital camera. I take lots of digital photographs and download them onto my computer but....here it comes....that's where they stay, rarely looked and frustratingly difficult to access when one particular photo is sought. I sometimes long for the days of albums. You know those wonderful books that you can flip through with a mug of tea when you have a few quiet moments. Well, you might say a recent opportunity just provided a solution to my woes. I was asked to try out digital scrapbooking software called "My Memories". I was a bit apprehensive but decided to give it a try. I found it surprisingly easy to use and was pleased with the possibilities. You can make scrapbook layouts, photo books, cards, videos, you name it! Okay, the page above isn't perfect but it was easy to assemble and now I have a snapshot of my feathered family members in 2011. I'm also excited to explore the possibilities of using the software to make my artwork into cards, albums etc.

Here I was playing with a canvas that I made for a dear friend of mine a couple of years ago. From here I could create a card and send it out at Hallowe'en. Just think, I might even be on top of my Christmas cards this year!!

If this digital software from My Memories is something that you think you'd enjoy, you are in luck. I'm having a giveaway for a copy of it. All you need to do is to leave a comment on this post and you will automatically be entered. You may leave a message as anonymous but please be sure to send me contact information via my email address. I'll announce the winner next Sunday and provide the information needed to access your free copy.

Art in Stages

2011-09-25T15:34:00.000-05:00

Okay, I'll admit it.....I get crabby when I can't squeeze art time into my day in some way. Do any of you share my pain? The solution for me has been art in stages. Often each stage only takes a half hour or less so it is reasonable to accomplish in a jam packed day. Let me demonstrate with the progression of a canvas.

First Stage: Prep the canvas. This involves sanding it, wiping it off, applying a layer of gesso and leaving it to dry.

Second stage: Choose your paint. I usually have the focal image in mind when doing this. The little guy with the jar and little net reminds me of the summer days of childhood, warm, bright and full of potential. The yellow background was selected to evoke sun-drenched days, the green was the lushness of trees and grass mid-summer and the red to me was the excitement of discovery. Paint the background colour on the canvas and leave to dry.
Third Stage: Dig through your scrap paper boxes or drawers for papers that capture the mood that you wish to create and that coordinate with your background colour. Cut them into pieces of various sizes. Using gel medium, glue them to your canvas. Don't overthink this just do it intuitively until you are satisfied with the look. Remember to also add a thin layer of gel medium on top of each piece as well. This will allow you to add additional layers of paint. Allow to dry.

Fourth Stage: I like to add a layer of light paint that has been watered down. It just calms the base colour and sinks the papers into the background. Allow to dry.

Fifth Stage: Add stamped script to the background using StazOn ink. As you can see, I've separated the rubber from the wooden mount. This allows me to get the best coverage. You don't want to fill the background with script. I usually ink the stamp only once then stamp it randomly.

Sixth Stage: Using a foam stamp, apply green paint and stamp randomly onto the background. Again, you only need to actually put paint on the stamp once or twice, not before every image. This way you'll get some darker and some lighter images. Allow to dry.

Seventh Stage: Using a stencil, in this case an alphabet stencil, and a stencil brush, stipple colour through the stencil holes onto the canvas randomly. Allow to dry.

Eighth stage: I like to reapply another layer of watered down light paint at this stage. I don't want the letters and stamped images to be as prominent as they are. After this layer dries (you can help it along with your heat gun, just be sure to keep the gun moving so it doesn't burn), I used the top of a jar, applied some white paint to the rim (not all the way around) and stamped it onto the canvas. Allow to dry.

I also use sequin waste and a stipple brush with light coloured paint on it to add texture and to blend elements together. Allow to dry.

Ninth and final stage (usually when I have a bit more time and am well rested): This is when you use your focal image and other elements to create your collage. Arrange and rearrange until you like the look then apply images with gel medium. Don't forget to apply a layer on top of the images as well. Do a little shading and outlining with charcoal pencils and a blender. Add a border if you wish. You might want to dig out that lid and light paint again and stamp over top of your images to sink them into the background. Embellish as you wish and voila! Your canvas is complete.

Banish Store-Bought Card Guilt

2011-09-23T13:24:00.000-05:00

OK, be honest, how many of you have ever made a handmade card for someone? Perhaps it was for their birthday or maybe you were ambitious and tackled Christmas cards for everyone on your list.
OK, now how many of you have then turned around and given a (gasp) store-purchased card to one of these same people and gotten "the look"?You know, the look that clearly demonstrates dismay at the fact that you, an artist, didn't use your talents to create a handmade card just for them. I've been there, my friends, and I have found a solution that will ease those feelings of guilt. I use store-purchased cards, but then add my own creative touches to them.
Before
After Of course, you can buy these cards or recycle ones that you've received. I don't know about you, but I always feel a deep pang of sorrow throwing out these beauties after enjoying them. I look for cards that are fairly plain but that have potential for the addition of images, background papers, embellishments, etc. Sometimes I work right on the front of the card and other times I cut up the card as I see fit.
Here are a couple of greeting cards that I've altered using those wonderful French Kissed images. Note that you can even cut up the message inside the card and reuse it in new and interesting ways. Challenge yourself -- it's fun and you'll find that those "looks" you get turn into squeals of delight. The one at the beginning of this post began its life as a sympathy card. Sorry, I forgot to scan it in its initial form. Yes, that's beeswax that you see on its surface!!
Before After

Beeswax Collage Tutorial

2011-09-11T10:44:00.000-05:00

Ah beeswax!

If you haven't tried working with it when creating backgrounds and collage, you might reconsider. It gives warmth to your work, does a wonderful job of melding elements together and the bonus is that it smells divine in your artroom/studio.

I like to purchase my beeswax from local apiaries, not just one but several as the wax varies in colour from one to another.   I often give them a call in the Spring and ask them to save me a block of it. Another option is to purchase wax pellets such as those sold by Ranger Melt Art. They are more expensive but easier to handle.

Okay, let's set up our work area before we get to work creating.

I use a cutting board that is covered with a sheet of waxed paper.   This ensures that my art table is protected and the wax paper protects the cutting board. Otherwise it gets drips of wax on it and become uneven.   Plug in your melting pot or small crockpot and insert in it a piece of wax or a few wax pellets.   Allow to melt.

Also plug in your iron or irons.   I use a quilting and an encaustic iron (one for small surfaces and one for larger) but a craft iron works as well.   Dig out foam brushes to spread the melted wax.

While everything is heating up, you can be thinking about your collage.   I like to start by creating a background of layered papers. Very thin papers work best such as tissue paper, handmade papers, Japanese papers as well as vintage sheet music, ledger pages etc.

I first dig through my scrap box to find a piece of scrapbook paper that I like and it forms the base of the background.    Tear the papers to layer on top rather than cutting them.   They just blend better.   Using a foam brush, cover the scrapbook paper with wax and use your craft/encaustic iron to smooth and remove excess.   Arrange the thin papers and adhere them one by one using the beeswax until you are satisfied with the look.

At this point I like to add images from napkins.   Remember to separate the top layer from the other two and to tear the images.

The other two napkin layers can also be separated from one another. I like to stamp on them then tear them to use in my backgrounds.

Smooth the wax with your iron and let it cool. It won't take very long!

Now that you've created your background, you can work on adding images and elements and building your collage.   True beeswax collage means adhering everything with the wax. However, I generally clue everything down with crystal lacquer.   I've had the unfortunate experience of sending something through the mail especially in the summer months only to have it arrive rearranged and stuck to the envelope. If you don't want your recipient to have to guess at your creative intentions, you too may want to use an adhesive. Once all of your images and elements are adhered and you are satisfied with the effect, once again use a foam brush to carefully cover the surface with wax and an iron to smooth and remove excess wax.

If you work carefully, you can add pressed flowers and leaves and embed them in the wax.   I don't use adhesive when I do this but rather very gently add wax and touch the iron quickly to the surface. The heat has the potential to scorch the flowers and plants.

I wanted to capture the feeling of France in the two collages below. I have always loved seeing photographs of the fields of lavender so I used napkins that I happened to have in my supplies that featured sprigs and pots of lavender. I then built up the collages using FrenchKissed images, French postage stamps, perfume labels and papers that somehow represented France to me.

Childhood "Instructions"

2011-09-04T16:13:00.000-05:00

I am thrilled to be an aunt for the very first time. My little nephew is about 21 months old and I must admit to missing him very much between visits. I appreciate the way that he makes me see small things as though for the first time and to delight in them. Our house fan fascinated him. He sang and danced in front of it, giggling and reveling in the air being blown towards him. I introduced him to water in our pool and he splashed and blew bubbles for over a half an hour. I can't wait to introduce him to books and poems.

Speaking of poems, I came across this one when someone on Facebook mentioned that they were using it at their wedding. It is by a wonderful author named Neil Gaiman. You may know him as the creator of "Coraline" but he has written many other books that are powerful and amazing. Here is is poem entitled "Instructions" just in case you find yourself caught in a fairy tale:

Artist in Residence....What a Thrill

2011-09-02T11:51:00.000-05:00

I was so excited to be asked to be artist-in-resident at French Kissed for the month of September. What that means is that I will provide a technique that will be posted on the French Kissed blog every Friday during the month. Trishia's images are a delight to use and if you haven't had a chance to see what she has to offer in her Zibbet site, I've added a link on the right hand column of my blog. This week I decided to begin with a technique for creating backgrounds for cards, assemblages, artist trading cards....anything really!

Okay, let's begin. You'll need to gather your supplies and let me warn you that it's a little messy! That's what makes it so enjoyable!! I actually worked outside. Gather a shallow dish with water, pieces of 90 lb. hot pressed watercolour paper, plastic wrap, food colouring, fine or coarse salt and gold or silver ink (optional).

You'll want to cover your surface with something to protect it and you may want to wear gloves to protect your hands unless you like the multicoloured look!! Ensure that your watercolour pieces of paper can be dipped thoroughly through the water. Once dipped, allow the excess water to drip off them then lay the paper down on a protected surface.

Drop food colouring on top of the paper, using as many colours as you wish. There's no need to cover all the white space at this point.

Cut off a piece of plastic wrap that is slightly larger than your paper. You will use the plastic wrap to gently spread the colour to get the coverage that you wish.

At this point, you can sprinkle fine or coarse salt on top for a tie-dye look or swirl in a bit of silver or gold ink...just a bit though. Finally, crinkle the plastic wrap on the top of the paper and leave to dry.

Once dry, remove the wrap and....voila!....you have a gorgeous background.

I've used the faux watercolour background in this assemblage. I love the dreamy quality it gives to the piece.

Okay, it's your turn! Be sure to let me know if you try it....or if you have questions.

Enough

2011-08-31T18:45:00.001-05:00

I was recently at a Fred Eaglesmith concert at our renovated train station. At one point in his dialogue, Fred told the audience that he was the "richest man alive, probably richer than anyone in the audience". He could make this claim because he was someone who had "enough". Enough.....a word that has personal meaning to me. On one hand I struggle with being "good enough" all the time....talented enough, a good enough artist, friend, daughter, sister. On the other hand, I feel just like Fred Eaglesmith in that I feel gratitude for having "enough". I love this post from a blog called Brave Girls Club and think it relates so well. Believe me, it's worth reading!

What is it about me and birds?

2011-08-30T17:22:00.003-05:00

Okay I just had to share......Last Sunday I set out on my morning run. I run the same route because I find that the regularity of it allows me time to think and meditate somehow. Anyway, I run on the main street of our city and as I was trotting down the sidewalk, I noticed a little bird lying on its tummy. I proceeded a few paces and then (yes, you guessed) I turned around to have a look at the situation. What I saw was a sweet little fellow with a brown grey back and the most beautiful golden breast. I gently pushed him with my hand to see if he would move but nothing happened. He looked alert enough but he wasn't budging. The options were playing in my mind....leave him and have him trampled, pick him up and run him home, pick him up and finish my run. I chose the last option making a bargain with myself that I would let him go if he rallied before the end. Well, he didn't. Instead he settled into my hand, even going to sleep at one point. He decidedly complained, however, when the wind was directly hitting him. Once home, we set up the "hospital" cage and tried to figure out his species. We finally did and were surprise to discover that our little house guest is a Canadian Warbler.

We Googled his favourite foods and discovered that he liked bugs and worms. My DH dutifully traipsed to the pet store to purchase some meal worms which were met with delight. He slurped them down as though they were spaghetti!! Since Sunday he's managed to tuck away 100 meal worms a day!! He promptly hops to his dish when I get home from work and he's not disappointed. Another cup of mealworms....today it was 500! The pet store clerk asked me to call ahead next time. Yes, birds just seem to be woven into my life....like it or not. And like it I do.

Celebrating Differences

2011-08-24T07:25:00.000-05:00

I recently attended a full-day workshop on balancing multiple projects and time management. As part of the course, we were asked to complete a personality test. Who hasn't, in the course of their life, completed one of these? Perhaps it was Myers-Briggs or True Colours. Maybe you found out that you were an introvert or an extrovert, analytical or empathetic. I find the results of these test comforting somehow. They seem to explain why situations and relationships with others can be difficult at times. They also emphasize what can be accomplished if everyone's skills and strengths are used together.

Just stumbled across a quotation on Facebook yesterday that really moved me.....

"If you knew who you really are, you would always treat yourself with respect. You would be in awe of yourself."

Crystal Andrus

The View Through Branches

2011-08-23T15:17:00.000-05:00

Okay, I have to know.....how are you enjoying your summer? It started off drippy and wet, spent a little time being dry and drought-like and now it's settled somewhere in between. I just was looking at some of the photographs from the tornado that touched down in Goderich, Ontario on Sunday. This is a place that is very dear to my heart having spent so much of my childhood there on visits to my grandparents' house. My thoughts are with those who have been affected by it.

Even though I haven't been posting on my blog, I have been creating though not with the fervor I experience in the winter months. I am grateful to be part of a round robin journal project on a Yahoogroup called PaperTraders. Round robins really excite me. I love the variety of themes that challenge me and the opportunity to watch the books develop. One of the journals in this exchange was blessed with the theme of trees. I've always felt that trees were one of my personal symbols. I used to lie underneath one in our backyard when I was a child and watch the patterns created by sunlight, the way the leaves danced with the breeze and the activity of birds that often goes unnoticed.

Blame it on the Garden

2011-05-10T06:12:00.000-05:00

My dear blogging friends. I hope that you will forgive me. I promised to draw for my giveaway on Sunday...and I did.....really I did! However, I made the fatal mistake of not sitting down right then and there and writing a blog post to announce. My gardens were calling my name. This is the first weekend that we've had sunshine and I just couldn't resist reacquainting myself with all of my old friends and new (and not always welcome) arrivals. So, without further adieu, the winner of the altered tin is Bev! Do check out her blog for some amazing artwork! Congratulations and thank you to everyone who left such lovely comments on my new look and my new attitude.

Medical Advances

2011-05-04T06:00:00.001-05:00

I'm in the process of reading a book called "A Fierce Radiance" by Lauren Belfer. I'm finding it to be a fascinating read. Here's the description provided by Harper Collins:

In the anxious days after Pearl Harbor, Life photojournalist Claire Shipley finds herself covering one of the nation's most important stories. At New York City's renowned Rockefeller Institute, researchers are racing to save thousands of wounded American soldiers and countless others by developing a miraculous new drug they call penicillin. For Claire, a single mother haunted by the loss of her young daughter—a death the miracle drug could have prevented—the story is cuttingly personal, especially after she unexpectedly begins to fall in love with the shy and brilliant head physician, James Stanton. But Claire isn't the only one interested in the secret cure. When a researcher dies under suspicious circumstances, the stakes become starkly clear: someone understands just how profitable the new drug could be—and will stop at nothing to get it. Now, with lives and a new love hanging in the balance, Claire will throw herself into harm's way to find a killer—no matter what price she may have to pay.
What has really struck a chord with me personally is the fact that at the time when this novel was set, a person could die from a scratch on the skin. I knew that but hadn't really given it much more than a passing thought. Heck I periodically trip and fall on my face while running, ending up with nasty looking knees and hands. What if penicillin hadn't been invented? What if we weren't immunized against the terrible diseases that claimed so many people in the past? My Grandmother's Sister, Grace, died from a scrape that she received when she was riding her bike down their family farm's lane to retrieve the mail. She was only 8 years old and is pictured in the photograph above. She's the little one on the left at the front. I, for one, am grateful for the amazing medical advances and dedicated researchers who discover them.

New Beginnings and a Giveaway

2011-05-03T06:05:00.002-05:00

No stop....you've come to the right place. Really you have! It just has a new look thanks to my talented and wonderful friend Trudi from Two Dresses Studio. As you may or may not know, I took a LONG hiatus from my blog. I was feeling burnt out, dispirited and downright ambivalent. I was hoping for that lightning bolt of genius to strike me and tell me what was wrong. This came in the form of a post by Lenna Andrews. Lenna had created skinny pages for me on a "Woman Who Dared", Martha Graham and had written a very personal story about her connection with this great woman. That post nudged me into realizing that I needed to write blog posts about what was going on in my life, in my heart and in my head. AND I had to be kind to myself and allow time in between posts if that was what I needed to do.

Enter dear Trudi. Trudi and I have known one another for a while and really "clicked" right from the beginning. We've had wonderful conversations via email and have exchanged art in groups. Trudi is an amazing artist and designs blogs as part of her artistry. For the past week or so, we have been exchanging email messages fast and furiously. Trudi had seen my photograph of the baby robin and asked if she could play with it. I was amazed at the depth of our friendship and how well Trudi knew me as a person and wove what she knew into the blog header with symbolism.

So without further adieu, I present to you my new look and my new lease on blogging....oh, and a new piece that I created on the weekend. I'm giving this altered tin away in celebration so please just leave me a comment if you'd like a chance to win it. I'll draw on Sunday.

Voting Day

2011-05-02T06:21:00.001-05:00

It's federal election day here in Canada. Over the past few weeks the parties running have bickered and toured and tried to win voters over with issues and promises. It's difficult to burrow through all of the rhetoric and to decide what is actually best for the country but that will not stop me from showing up to the polling station. I feel very strongly that we, as women, cannot let down people like Nellie McClung and the Valiant Five who fought for our rights to be regarded and treated as people. Here is an excerpt from "Canadian Encyclopedia" on this great woman:

In 1911 the McClungs and their 4 children moved to Winnipeg, where their fifth child was born. The Winnipeg women's rights and reform movement welcomed Nellie as an effective speaker who won audiences with humorous arguments. She played a leading role in the 1914 Liberal campaign against Sir Rodmond ROBLIN's Conservative government, which had refused women suffrage, but moved to Edmonton before the Liberals won in Manitoba in 1915. In Alberta she continued the fight for female suffrage and for PROHIBITION, dower rights for women, factory safety legislation and many other reforms. She gained wide prominence from addresses in Britain at the Methodist Ecumenical Conference and elsewhere (1921) and from speaking tours throughout Canada and the US, and was a Liberal MLA for Edmonton, 1921-26.

Forgotten for a decade, she was rediscovered by feminists in the 1960s. Although some criticized her maternalistic support of the traditional family structure, most credited her with advancing the feminist cause in her day and recognizing the need for further progress such as the economic independence of women.

A Sweet Exchange

2011-05-01T10:54:00.002-05:00

My DH recounted a conversation that he had with his friend and I had to share the details. DH was introducing his mate to our bevy of birds (5 in all). Some turned on their charm as they do when meeting new people and others studied the intruder warily from corners of their cages. This prompted DH's friend to talk about his pet cat. He said something like this: "You know I sometimes can't believe how much I love that cat. I think about him about 4 or 5 times a day with a smile on my face." Yup, so do I! I feel grateful for the joy that they bring to our lives. I know when I get home from work I listen for their chirps and whistles to welcome me. They even respond to my raspy morning cough heard outside after my morning run. Their antics and cuddling make both my DH and I laugh and feel cherished. So indulge yourselves in thinking about your beloved pets as you scurry through your days.

These journal pages were created as a tribute to my feathered family members, one of whom, Smidgeon, is featured.

Smidgeon making herself at home.

Do You Know Where Your Ham Is?

2011-04-24T08:20:00.000-05:00

I was just at my hair stylist's house getting my Easter "doo" and he told me a very funny story. His wife is a vegetarian but on special occasions she buys a piece of meat and cooks it for him. She had been the grocery store and had purchased a piece of ham for just this purpose. As she was hauling the grocery bags into the house, the telephone rang. She dropped the bags at the door and went to answer it. When she returned a few minutes later, she was just in time to see a very large raccoon with the piece of ham clutched in his teeth waddling away triumphantly. The morale of the story....."always keep an eye on your ham" and "we are being watched!" Warm Easter greetings to you all.

The Power of Words

2011-04-23T12:44:00.000-05:00

I am a great believer in the power of the unexpected as you may have guessed from my posts. For as along as I can remember I have kept journals full of quotations, photos, letters, passages from books....anything that has moved me in some way. I mentioned a little while ago that I was having trouble sleeping and that I was trying meditation using CDs that my DH had purchased for me. One of them ended with the most beautiful poem by Wendell Berry.

The Peace of Wild Things

When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

— Wendell Berry

Coincidentally, I was to make skinny pages for an exchange with the theme "The Essence of Dreams" so I used this gorgeous poem as my inspiration.

Lessons in Nature

2011-04-22T11:24:00.000-05:00

I witnessed an amazing occurrence recently. I was walking into work early in the morning when I noticed a disturbance in the sign above the Mall door as I entered. It is one of those large lit signs with each individual letter lit from behind. I had noted that sparrows were nesting in it but hadn't paid much attention. A furious flapping, however, beckoned me to take closer note. A male sparrow was hanging by his foot from one of the letters. At first he desperately flapped his wings to try to release himself. This didn't work. All of a sudden, another male sparrow made an appearance and took hold of his "friend's" beak and pulled, flapping his wings furiously. After approximately three tries, the trapped bird was released. I felt so blessed and humbled to have been witness to this display. Why did I not think think that birds, like humans, would come to the rescue of another?

The journal pages above were created with the parallels between humans and birds in mind. I used quotations from a vintage bird book about the care of the young. They just struck me as so similar to the care of our young. Ah, nature has much to teach us if we pay close attention.

Today I'm Gonna Try to Change the World

2011-04-17T18:36:00.000-05:00

Have you ever had a piece of music immediately speak to you? bring tears to your eyes? a smile to your face? Songs are so powerful that way. I just borrowed the latest Johnny Reid CD from the library called "A Place Called Love". On it is a song called "Today I'm Gonna Try to Change the World". It made me stop as soon as I heard it and listen closely to the lyrics. It's all about those things we do day to day without thinking about reward or return that do make a difference in others' lives. We may not know this for a while or ever but a smile to someone who is lonely or a kind word to someone who is hurting can indeed change a person's outlook. I was having a very bad day this past week and a colleague stopped by the area where I was working with a piece of warm banana oat bran loaf. It was like a hug to me. Did she know that she had perked me up and made me feel nourished and nurtured? Maybe or maybe not....but she had. Hope you enjoy the song as much as I do.

Life is Like a Dance

2011-04-16T14:16:00.002-05:00

I just spent a marvelous, soul-warming few hours with a good friend of mine. We went for lunch to a lovely tea room nestled among pine trees. The place started as a potter's studio and continues to run as one in addition to the restaurant. They actually serve the meals on the potter that they create. In the course of our discussion, my friend imparted something that she had recently heard. She said that instead of looking at life as a journey, we should perhaps regard it as a dance. Sometimes the music changes but we are constantly moving in some way. We may change partners, dance alone or even collide with people but we continue to move to the rhythm. I thought this was a lovely metaphor and could feel the wisdom in it. It reminded me of this piece that I had created a while ago.

Worry

2011-04-15T09:54:00.002-05:00

I consider one of my biggest struggles in life to be "worry". I live sometimes in an almost constant state of anxiety. Did I do the right thing? Am I good enough? Did I remember to do everything I should? Should I really be taking time off work when I have so much to do? This constant circular thinking sometimes keeps me up at night and tends to rob me of precious moments that could be spent in more relaxing and beneficial ways. My DH, in turn, worries about the effects of my worrying and purchased a CD for me on meditation. Think it's time to gift myself with a little time each day not spent in anxiety of what could of been or what might be. It's time to live for the now.

Awakening

2011-04-13T06:08:00.004-05:00

So is anyone else checking out their gardens VERY frequently discovering sprouts here and there. Perhaps, like me, you planted spring bulbs in the fall hoping that the squirrels wouldn't eat them all!! I'm already seeing crocuses fully bloomed and daffodils and tulips well on their way. I'm amazed by the bird song on my early morning runs. After a winter of virtual silence on the bird front, the noise just seems almost deafening at times!! Well, 'tis the season to find a mate and produce some of those wacky babies we all know and love. I'm looking forward to watching their antics. Stay tuned for spring/summer 2011!

Above is a photo of a wee robin who visited a couple of summers ago.

Mina Benson Hubbard

2011-04-12T18:10:00.005-05:00

I read a book....yes, I know that is shocking given that I'm a librarian....but it was a book that has stayed with me for years. It is a book about a woman called Mina Benson Hubbard. She was a remarkable woman. This is how the online Canadian Encyclopedia described her and her accomplishments:

From the time she plunged into the unknown Labrador wild, crossing huge lakes of wind-whipped white caps, running kilometre after kilometre of dancing, foam-flecked rapids down the George River until it lost its wilderness spirit in Ungava Bay, Mrs. Hubbard was not idle. She brought back the first maps of the Naskaupi and George River valleys, which were accepted by the American Geographical Society and the Geographical Society of Great Britain. She made notes on the flora and fauna of Labrador. She described in detail the great Labrador caribou migration and photographed the Naskaupi and Montagnais Indians who hunted the animals for their food and clothes.

Mrs. Hubbard's expedition was extraordinary by any measure. Given the era and the fact that she was a woman, her trip stands out like a beacon in the annals of Canadian exploration.

I'm blessed to be a part of a round robin journal exchange that has just begun. I have to admit that I am partial to exchanges in which the journals actually travel. I know the risks....postal issues being the biggest....but it means something to have a journal in one's hand. To feel its textures and experience it's colours and vibrancy. The theme of my journal is "Women Who Dared...." and that is what inspired this post. The spread on Mina Benson Hubbard had been nibbling at my artful subconscious for some time and this was my chance to release it. I hope to continue to commemorate females who accomplished extraordinary feats in times of incredible hardship and in societies that discouraged them.

If you get a chance, check out the book on Mina....you won't be disappointed. I'd love to hear about the women who inspire you!

An Unexpected Surprise

2011-04-11T06:06:00.003-05:00

I belong to a wonderful yahoogroup with a small group of artists. Each year, we select forms and themes of art we'd like to exchange with one another. For the past 12 months, we've passed around skinny pages. I find even a change in shape of page can be inspiring and this long thin form is no exception. I've been in an artful funk for about a month now so was overdue with my March pages. The wonderful theme was "From Grandma's Attic". I don't know why it took me a while to get my head around the subject but it did. I procrastinated and half-heartedly gathered bits and pieces. Yesterday, my muse finally stretched and awakened after a long nap. I remembered that I had purchased a packet of old letters on Etsy a while ago. When I had received them, I hadn't really paid much attention to the contents. I dug them out and discovered a bunch of love notes sent by a young woman to the man she adored. Included in one envelope was a series of tiny photos and a lock of her hair! I was thrilled to say the least and used one of the letters and an envelope for these two pages.

For the Love of Birds

2010-11-24T07:04:00.007-05:00

I am a little shocked when I troll through the photographs of my work and see how many pieces have birds and bird-related elements in them. As anyone who knows me is aware, birds have always been an important part of my life. I as introduced to them at an early age and spent many delightful hours watching them at my grandparents' house and at my own. I also live with five feathered family members who bring me great joy each and every day.

Mixed Media Monday - Boxing Clever

2010-11-22T06:58:00.003-05:00

Books and boxes are two passions of mine. The former I like to alter and the latter to recreate into shadow boxes and assemblages. I have to be careful when I go into a store like Michael's because I tend to sometimes be more fascinated by the packaging than with the contents. That was the case with this little suitcase-like tin box. It languished for a while in my cupboard of odds and sods then one day I was inspired to pluck it out and use it. What came to mind were doctors who would make house calls often in rural areas where house were miles apart. This is my tribute to those men of medicine and my submission for Mixed Media Monday this month.

An Ode to Swimming

2010-11-21T10:33:00.004-05:00

I'm sitting here writing this blog posting looking out the window at the swimming pool all sealed up and put away for another year. I know it's inevitable but a part of me mourns its retirement. I decided to pay homage to my love of water and swimming in these journal pages. That's what I love about art journaling....you can write about whatever takes your fancy. I was running one morning and a childhood ditty was firmly playing in my head, over and over again. I didn't have the coordination to do the accompanying actions, thank goodness! I would have looked ridiculous. Do you remember it?

Swimming, swimming in a swimming pool,

When days are hot, when days are cold, in a swimming pool,

Breast stroke, side stroke, fancy diving too,

Oh don't you wish you never had anything else to do but....

Theme Thursday - Faces

2010-11-19T06:56:00.002-05:00

Do you find that you fall in love with techniques? When I do, I find myself craving the opportunity to use them. This is the case with Joanna Pierotti's (Moss Hill Studio) layered backgrounds. They take a while to create but they look stunning surrounding cabinet cards. These two lovely ladies are part of my vintage photograph family.

Three Muses Challenge - Automobiles

2010-11-17T06:54:00.003-05:00

When I was young, my family and I used to visit friends who lived on a farm. They didn't actually farm but instead used the property to store vintage cars. We used to wander through the barn where animals used to be sheltered looking at all of the old automobiles. I remember the cracked seats, the instrument panels, the cranks that were used to start them and the smell of times and travels past. Occasionally we'd get to ride in the rumble seat as the owner tootled us along the country backroads....always exciting! This is my entry for this week's Three Muses challenge with the theme of "automobiles".

Crazy Amigo Challenge - Fall

2010-11-16T08:02:00.002-05:00

Well, the last few leaves are stubbornly attached to the trees but the majority of their cohorts have fallen and have already been raked up, vacuumed up and bagged. I notice a loneliness about the landscape when I am out on my runs in the morning. The air isn't filled will the bird calls that I enjoyed in the spring and summer months. Yet, at the same time, there is a peacefulness about the time between fall and winter. These round robin pages are my entry for the Crazy Amigo challenge this week with the theme of fall.

Think Monday, Think ATC - Spotted

2010-11-15T08:04:00.002-05:00

Good Monday morning. Hope you enjoyed the weekend. The weather was spectacular here in my "neck of the woods" although a good friend sent me a photo of her backyard covered in a white blanket of snow. There is something cheerful about polka dots isn't there? The theme for Think Monday, Think ATC this week is "Spotted" and this is my entry.

Guest for "The Artist Trading Club...Swap 'Til You Drop"

2010-11-14T11:01:00.002-05:00

My very talented and sweet friend Chriss Rollins runs "The Artist Trading Club...Swap 'Til You Drop" and has bestowed me with the honour of being the November guest artist. The theme until the end of the month is "Man to Man". I'm always ruing the fact that male images are difficult to find but I've been fortunate to unearth a few fantastic sheets from favourite online vendors. They inspired me to create these "manly" artist trading cards. More can be found on Chrissy's blog.

Think Monday, Think ATC - Odd Creatures

2010-09-27T05:55:00.002-05:00

I find myself very attracted to these doll images from Retro Cafe Art Gallery. They are created with a wonderful array of unusual items. In this case, this wee gal has an egg for a body! I provided her with a pine cone and a hat of pressed flowers and she is my odd creature for this week's Think Monday, Think ATC challenge.

Mixed Media Monday - Art

2010-09-26T18:53:00.002-05:00

I don't know an artist who doesn't have a fascination with colours. I enjoy the freedom of just sifting through my drawers of paint looking for a colour that beckons to me. Who know why I choose the one I do but I find myself excited by its possibilities. What other colours will I selectt to use with it? What mood will I create when I do? Whenever someone asks me what my favourite colour is, I always answer with difficulty. Red seems to come to mind immediately but I feel that I'm almost betraying all of the gorgeous hues and shades that give my life excitement and portray a myriad of emotions in my artwork. Judging from the quotations from artists used on these two journal pages, I'm not alone. This is my entry for this week's Mixed Media Monday challenge.

After a Long Hiatus

2010-09-26T14:14:00.003-05:00

I can't believe that it is already nearly October and the date of my last post was mid-June! I told myself that I was only going to take a week or two off. I was just feeling burnt out and bogged down. Two weeks has turned into over three months. Thank you to all of you who have checked in with me to see if I'm okay. I felt missed and in turn I missed all of the wonderful connections that I have made through the blogging world.

Well, I haven't taken a break from art during my hiatus. In fact, I've been exploring the big, wide and marvelous world of art journalling. Do you know that feeling you get when you see an art form that you've never tried before and it just calls to you....a niggling feeling at first that becomes a roar. Well, that's the way it was with me. That and the fact that I wanted to be able to do art each and every day. Art journaling is portable and I'm finding that I just can't wait until lunch at work to dig out my supplies and lose myself in doodling and thinking and writing. It truly is my solace.

I hope all of you have been well and have enjoyed the summer months. I look forward to reconnecting with you.

Three Muses Challenge - Buttons and Bows

2010-06-16T05:59:00.002-05:00

The beauty of online art courses is that you can work away at them at your own speed....in my case that speed is slow, very slow. It's not that I don't have the will to forge my way through them but I often lack the energy and the time. However, I take great comfort in knowing that they are there when I need them full of interesting new techniques and knowledge. This canvase are created in the "Mossy Style" a.k.a. a style that Joanna Pierotta likes to use. I had a marvelous time layering paints and creating texture with my heat gun. This is my entry for the Three Muses challenge this week.

Think Monday, Think ATC - Groups

2010-06-14T06:04:00.003-05:00

This was my project yesterday and I had the pleasure of completely losing myself for an entire afternoon as I created these ATCs. The background is a faux watercolour technique with food colouring. I then added a transparency with bird cages on it. Next I applied real flowers and finally the lovely ladies and embellishments. Oh, and don't forget the German glass glitter. These cards are my entry for the Think Monday, Think ATC challenge this week.

Mixed Media Monday - Vintage Ads/Labels

2010-06-14T05:56:00.002-05:00

My goal with these two fabric journal pages was to recreate the feel of "Grandma's kitchen", the gathering place for family functions. The women would chat as they coordinated the various dishes and the aromas were familiar and comforting....roast turkey, cherry pie, chocolate chip cookies. These pages are my entry for the Mixed Media Monday challenge this week.

Theme Thursday - Men with Hats

2010-06-10T06:03:00.002-05:00

This gentleman obviously cherishes his car and the adventures that he's had and will have in it. I wanted the background to capture a sense of nostalgia and dreaming because he does look rather pensive. Of course, his wizard-type hat just adds a dash of whimsy. This is my entry for the Theme Thursday challenge this week.

The Three Muses Challenge - Take a Song, Any Song

2010-06-09T05:49:00.002-05:00

Anyone care for a Beatles tune or two? When I learned that I was going to have to create round robin pages around the theme of "The Beatles", I must admit that I panicked. But hey, I work in a library, why not start with books on the group and the 60s when they were most popular. These two pieces are what I concocted from my research and they are my entry for this week's Three Muses Challenge.

Created ByHand Challenge - Graduation with Bling

2010-06-08T05:56:00.004-05:00

Well, I'm not so sure that this card has a whole lot of "bling" but.....I was asked to create it for a woman who had just passed the bar here in Canada. I thought that this D.J. Pettitt woman looked very wise and composed. I also tried to weave in legal symbols and definitions. It's not exactly your traditional graduation card though....sure hope she likes it nonetheless. This is my entry for the Created ByHand challenge this week.

Mixed Media Monday - Floral Tributes

2010-06-07T05:54:00.002-05:00

I grew pansies and violas in pots this Spring not only because I love their sweet floral faces but also because they press beautifully. I own a Microfleur and love the easy and speed with which this process happens. I'm presently eyeing the lavender which is growing in abundance in my garden. Of course, pressing lavender has the added bonus of infusing scent when microwaved. These round robin journal pages are my entry for the Mixed Media Monday challenge this week.

Theme Thursday - Bright Colours

2010-06-03T05:59:00.003-05:00

As I was designing these pages, I was thinking about imagination and how important it has always been in my life and how essential it is in childhood. It stirs the creativity within and provides opportunities to escape into worlds, places and circumstances that are wild, wonderful, full of adventure and sometimes dangerous. I hope I've somehow captured these thoughts in my two round robin journal pages. They are my entry for the Theme Thursday challenge this week.

Three Muses Challenge - Time

2010-06-02T06:05:00.003-05:00

Do you remember those lazy summer days as a child. You awoke with the whole day stretched before you and no commitments. What would you do today? I don't remember much planning. Perhaps you'd head over to your friend's house and he/she might have some good ideas for catching frogs in the pond, playing "Peanuts" (I was always Lucy!) or riding bikes somewhere (perhaps to purchase some candy at the local variety store). I often think we should all take a day like this every once in a while if we can. They are good for the soul. These two round robin journal pages are my entry for the Three Muses Challenge this week.

Crazy Amigo Challenge - Friends

2010-06-01T05:54:00.002-05:00

These photographs remind me of birthday parties that I used to have as a child. I would invite all my friends from the neighbourhood and my Mom would execute a very carefully planned party including games, cake (with waxed paper-wrapped money in between the layers), decorations and, of course, gifts. I look at the pictures from these events and see a bunch of little girls, all dressed up in their finest with party hats and excited faces. These banners are my entry for the Crazy Amigo challenge this week.

Mixed Media Monday - Personal Symbols and Myths

2010-05-31T09:46:00.002-05:00

The theme for Mixed Media Monday this week gave me pause. I sat back and tried to think of a personal symbol that seems to recur in my artwork and I kept coming back to trees. I am drawn to them when I see them or read about them in any art form including paintings, poetry prose. I was always moved by the tree in the opening scenes of "Six Feet Under". A friend of mine grows Christmas trees and loves to take me for a wander through his property. He shows me the babies just beginning their lives and the massive adults that have spent many years on this earth. I feel a sense of calmness and awe among them. These two pieces are my entry for the Mixed Media Monday challenge this week.

Three Muses Challenge - Card

2010-05-26T05:46:00.002-05:00

Claudia Roulier shared a wonderful technique for altering playing cards. She begins with a coat of gesso then adds layer upon layer of gel medium, pages from the telephone book and gesso. She rips the telephone book pages to add texture and leave the imprint of the information on the pages. Sometimes when I'm particularly tired or creatively challenged, I'll just sit down and alter a deck of cards. These three atcs are created using Claudia's technique. They are my entry for the Three Muses challenge this week.

Crazy Amigo Challenge - Sea and Beach

2010-05-25T05:58:00.003-05:00

Whew, I'm still wiping my brow from the heat of the long weekend. What a beautiful few days filled with planting and "gussying up" the yard. A dip in the pool proved to be a welcome relief from the blazing sun. I've always been a bit of a water baby. It all started when my swimming teacher told all her tiny students to act like ducks and jump into the water. My mother had trouble getting her duck to return to dry land. My thoughts are turning to a couple of weeks at the cottage on Lake Huron....soon.... This altered tin is my entry for the Crazy Amigo challenge this week.

Mixed Media Monday - Marie Antoinette

2010-05-24T12:36:00.002-05:00

Marie Antoinette....her image seems to be everywhere these days. She can be elegant and graceful or sexy and mysterious. I'd say she's a bit of both in the collage images that I've used on this altered house. This is my entry for the Mixed Media Monday challenge this week.

Theme Thursday - Hands

2010-05-20T05:22:00.004-05:00

Hands are parts of the body that have always fascinated me. I notice them almost immediately when I meet someone. Often this begins with a handshake, a gesture or a wave. Perhaps the hands are working or offering a kindness. The latter is what I was trying to capture in this round robin journal page that celebrates not only youthfulness but also friendship. This is my entry for the Theme Thursday challenge this week.

The Three Muses Challenge - Relationships

2010-05-19T05:56:00.002-05:00

Are you seeing lots of babies these days? I am, especially in the bird world. They are easily recognizable by their fluffy feathers, their fluttering wings and their mouths almost constantly wide open. We laugh at their awkwardness and at their antics in the quest to be fed by one of their parents. This round robin journal page celebrates family in both the human and bird realms. This is my entry for the Three Muses Challenge this week.

Upside Down and Backwards Journal Giveaway Winners

2010-05-18T12:24:00.002-05:00

Please forgive me for being so tardy in announcing the winners of my "Upside Down and Backwards Journal" giveaway. I have 5 journals in total so I decided to draw 5 names and send one to each of these folks. So, without further adieu, the winners are:

Mary Beth from My Journey into Art
Debbie from Simply Debbie
Lotus from Whymsicallotus
Alan from Talk Alan Talk
Calej from Just Another Day in Paradise

I just want to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you who visits my blog. Each and every one of your comments means a great deal to me. I've not had much time to visit in return and for that I apologize.

Created ByHand Challenge - The Letter X

2010-05-18T06:08:00.002-05:00

Joining an alphabetica swap is all fun and games until the difficult letters come along....like "X". Luckily the theme of the book that I was assigned for this letter was names of women so I grabbed a baby name book from the library and set to work. May I introduce you to Xerena. This is my entry for the Created ByHand challenge this week.

Mixed Media Monday - Child's Play

2010-05-17T05:59:00.004-05:00

"Child's Play".... this conjures up an image of long, lazy days sitting on the floor of my bedroom surrounded by dolls, especially paper dolls. I was crazy for them and saved my hard-earned money so that I could buy more. I think I even had the Partridge Family! My only regret is that I didn't keep them but I do have fun every once in a while creating the joys of playing with paper dolls in my artwork. These two round robin journals are prime examples of this and are my entry for this week's Mixed Media Monday challenge.

I've made the draw for my upside down journals and will be announcing the winners' names a little later today. Sorry to be a bit late doing so.

Theme Thursday - Butterflies/Butterfly Wings

2010-05-13T06:04:00.003-05:00

This tiny fabric piece was created for a round robin journal swap. I shy away from using fabric in my artwork but whenever I do (which is usually when I'm forced or urged to do so), I wonder why. I very much enjoy working with all of the various textures and the sewing machine is not the daunting beast that I fear it will be. This is my entry for Theme Thursday this week.

Thee Muses Challenge - Legs

2010-05-12T05:54:00.003-05:00

Well my legs managed to get me through my run this morning and home. Everything is a bit drippy and damp after a day and night of intense rain but I don't think that I've seen the gardens and lawns so lush in a long time. The colours of the outside world are exquisite. When I read the theme of the Three Muses Challenge this morning, I thought about art dolls and their various parts so these two lovelies are my entry.

Crazy Amigo Challenge - Numbers

2010-05-11T05:52:00.002-05:00

As I was designing this altered tin, I thought about all of the ways that numbers weave their way into our lives. We measure and count our ages, how much money we have, our height and weight, where we live on a street. How many? How much? How long? "Numbers" is the theme for the Crazy Amigo Challenge this week and this is my entry.

Mixed Media Monday - Wedded Bliss

2010-05-10T05:57:00.003-05:00

I find myself drawn towards vintage wedding photographs. First of all, I feel sadness that they are lying in an antique store, often unmarked with names, awaiting a new life. Then I think to myself, I can revive them by taking them home, cherishing them and using copies of them in my artwork so that's just what I do. I enjoy seeing the different styles of clothing and imagining how the folks in the picture lived. Don't you think this fine pair has a very charming house? This is my entry for the Mixed Media Monday challenge this week.

Please feel free to enter my "Upside Down and Backwards" Journal Giveaway if you so desire. Anyone is welcome to do so!!

Upside Down and Backwards Journal Giveaway

2010-05-09T10:48:00.004-05:00

It all started just before Christmas. I was patting myself on the back for having started altering composition books to give as gifts to family and friends and all was well until I discovered that the covers I was so meticulously designing were backwards! In disgust, I tucked them away in a drawer.....until a couple of weeks ago. I thought to myself, so what if they're upside down? The lines are still inside and they are still useable. So I finished them! I must admit that I have a bit of a reputation for upside down and backwards having cooked my very first turkey at Thanksgiving a few years ago on his back!!LOL

If any of you who so faithfully follow my blog and leave me such lovely comments don't mind an upside down journal, please just leave a message and I will put your name in a hat for a draw. I'll announce the winner next Sunday at which time I will post a second upside down journal. Hey, life isn't always the right side up in my world!!

Theme Thursday - Vintage

2010-05-06T05:58:00.002-05:00

I am fascinated by vintage labels. I don't think I really even thought about them before I began creating collages and mixed media art but I naturally gravitate towards old photos and images so they just seemed a natural part of the process. I liked the freshness and brightness of the ones that I used on these two fabric journal pages. I wanted to recreate the sweetness and simplicity of a time when home baking was so much a part of growing up for children. I still, in fact, collect recipes that I remember my grandmothers and mother using. They all added their own essence to them that I can never fully recreate. These pages are my entry for the Theme Thursday challenge this week.

Three Muses Challenge - Stars

2010-05-05T06:06:00.005-05:00

I alway equate stars with dreams and imagination and that is what I was trying to convey in these two round robin journal pages. I remember having a dollhouse much like the one in the bottom piece and spending hours weaving tales of the lives of those who lived within it. This is my entry for the Three Muses Challenge this week.

Crazy Amigo Challenge - Birthdays

2010-05-04T06:04:00.004-05:00

A friend of mine has a wonderful garden in her backyard that she enjoys tending very much. I love to visit and sip tea in her "sanctuary" while her beloved cat pads through the plants sniffing and exploring. I sent this card to her for her birthday this year. It is my entry for the Crazy Amigo Challenge this week.

Mixed Media Monday - Mothers

2010-05-03T07:11:00.002-05:00

I decided that I'd pay tribute to my own mother by creating a canvas that captured her passion for learning and teaching. I used photographs of her teacher's college and her best friend and her sitting at their desks in the one-room schoolhouse that they attended and transferred them successfully onto the background. I then continued layering the collage with a photograph of Mom at her desk in high school and a copy of the inside cover of one of her textbooks that she'd adorned with her own name and practice printing. Here's to you dear Mom. This is my entry for the Mixed Media Monday challenge this week.

Theme Thursday - Black and White

2010-04-29T07:12:00.002-05:00

I'm having one of those mornings that promises a day of "late". I was scheduled to meet a friend for a walking date and woke up about 20 minutes before I was to get up but then promptly fell asleep again until 10 minutes after I was supposed to meet her! It's gone a bit downhill from there so here's hoping I will get back in synch and all will be well. Here is my black and white entry for the Theme Thursday challenge this week.

The Three Muses Challenge - Music, Music, Music

2010-04-28T05:52:00.003-05:00

Music and dance....where would one be without the other? Whether it be ballet, jazz, hip hop or ballroom, the music gives guidance and spirit to the body. I used to love watching scenes in movies with women in long dresses and men in suits sweeping around a ballroom floor in synchronized elegance. This is my entry for the Three Muses Challenge this week.

Crazy Amigo Challenge - Birds

2010-04-27T05:54:00.004-05:00

Well, let me tell you, the birds begin their days very early. I've noticed when I happen to be awake around 4:00 a.m. that they have are loudly vocalizing their intentions to other birds. On my morning runs the sound of birds is almost what you'd call noisy....in a good way! My DH is very accustomed to me exclaiming in the middle of a conversation....look outside!! He patiently grabs his glasses usually missing the bird in question. These altered composition books are my entry for the Crazy Amigo challenge this week.

Theme Thursday - Black and Red

2010-04-22T05:56:00.002-05:00

Don't you just love the sultry look on this beautiful woman's face? Red rose in her hair, black dress and red lipstick .... colours of mystery, passion and love indeed. This is my entry for the Theme Thursday challenge this week.

The Three Muses Challenge - Hats and Crowns and Wings and Things

2010-04-21T06:02:00.002-05:00

Okay, I admit it! I resisted the zetti style for such a long time but a friend challenged me to give it a try and I'm hooked. I love the freedom it affords to be silly and carefree and colourful. Striped socks, hats and wings for all! Hope you enjoy it as much as I do. These atcs are my entry for the Three Muses Challenge this week.

Crazy Amigo Challenge - Flowers; Created By Hand Challenge - For the Beauty of the Earth

2010-04-20T06:07:00.004-05:00

I like to take a few minutes each morning and just wander around my gardens looking to see what has appeared over the last 24 hours and what has grown and changed. The lily of the valley is coming along nicely as are the tulips that I had completely forgotten were there. These round robin journal pages are my entry for both the Crazy Amigo and Created ByHand challenges this week.

Mixed Media Monday - Look What I Found

2010-04-19T06:02:00.003-05:00

Do people look at you a little oddly when you exclaim over something "ordinary" such as a wonderfully shaped board book or an altoid tin? Well, my colleagues at work wondered about my sanity when I gave a little cry of delight upon finding this great circular tin with a window in it. I decided to make it a homage to the cupcake. This is my entry for the Mixed Media Monday challenge this week.

Theme Thursday - Hats or Crowns

2010-04-15T06:00:00.003-05:00

When she was in her early twenties, my Grandmother sat for a studio photograph while she was living in Toronto. I've always loved the dreamy quality of this picture of her and wonder what her life was like back in that time. I decided that I wanted to use it in one of my pieces and that I wanted to give my, now 96 year old, Gram royal status by adding a chipboard crown. Her favourite colour is purple and I always think of her love of flowers and the row of multi-coloured snapdragons that she so carefully tended along the side of her house. This is my entry for the Theme Thursday challenge this week.this week.

The Three Muses Challenge - Maps

2010-04-14T05:57:00.002-05:00

Ah, Christopher Columbus and the myth of the flat earth.....that was what I was trying to capture in this round robin journal page. I liked this photo of him seeming to ponder the weighty issue very intently. This is my entry for the Three Muses Challenge this week.

Crazy Amigo Challenge - Favourite Background Stamp

2010-04-13T05:57:00.002-05:00

I tend to use the same rubber stamps again and again for my backgrounds. I seem to favour scripts as well as these marvelous swirls with hearts. The latter just seems to give pieces a sense of movement and energy that I like. This background seemed particularly suitable to these three lovely siblings posing in their finest for a photograph. This is my entry for the Crazy Amigo challenge this week.

Mixed Media Monday - Hello Dolly

2010-04-12T07:04:00.003-05:00

I just can't seem to get enough of these dolly images from Retro Cafe Art Gallery. Kris Hubick has created them for a number of themes including Valentine's Day, Nature and Hallowe'en. These and other fabulous collage sheets can be found in her online store. Check them out via the button on the right side of my blog. This atc and altered tin are my entry for the Mixed Media Monday challenge this week.

Crazy Amigo Challenge - Eggs

2010-04-06T05:51:00.002-05:00

Eggs seem to be the theme of choice this week on the challenge sites and that's just fine with me. This round robin page was created for an Alphabetica swap and celebrates "kin" both in the human and bird realms. It is my entry for the Crazy Amigo Challenge this week.

Mixed Media Monday - Eggs

2010-04-05T11:44:00.002-05:00

I just couldn't resist posting another entry for the Mixed Media Monday challenge this week. The theme of "eggs" has been extended and since they appear so frequently in my pieces, it wasn't much of a stretch. This little box is one of three that nestle into one another and each came adorned with a snowman. Winter and snow is long forgotten, however, in this altered version complete with birds, a nest and eggs.

Think Monday, Think ATC - Nature's Awakening

2010-04-05T11:30:00.002-05:00

My DH and I spent a lovely couple of hours this morning on our front porch warming ourselves in the sun while sipping coffee and reading the newspaper. I'm not sure that I actually read much. I was much too busy watching the antics of the birds and studying the rapid growth in our front gardens. These ATCs are my entry for the Think Monday, Think ATC challenge this week.

Lots to Do Challenge - Vintage

2010-04-02T09:57:00.003-05:00

I am fascinated by the interplay of vintage images and papers with colourful, vivid and often busy backgrounds. I think these backgrounds give old photographs a wonderful sense of whimsy and playfulness despite the fact that the subjects were often very solemn in their stance and expressions. I envisioned this woman, whom I named Juliet, flipping through the Eaton's catalogue choosing furnishings for her home. Perhaps she can actually afford them or maybe she just likes to dream. This is my entry for the Lots to Do Challenge this week.

Mixed Media Monday - Eggs

2010-04-01T13:53:00.005-05:00

Can you believe that the Easter weekend is almost here?! I hope that it is as warm and lovely where you are living as it is here and that you are looking forward to celebrating with those you love. These two altered cigar boxes feature beautiful vintage ledger papers with a variety of eggs printed on them. They are my entry for the Mixed Media Monday challenge this week.

Theme Thursday - Favourite Letter of the Alphabet

2010-04-01T13:43:00.002-05:00

I think of the letter "M" as a friendly one somehow. Perhaps it's because I'm reminded of food when I stretch it out or maybe it's because it it the first letter of my maiden name. Whatever the reason, it's a favourite of mine. I've used it to create a collage around the theme of "manners". They are such an indicator of respect aren't they? The recipient of a "thank you" or an "excuse me" feels acknowledged and considered. This is my entry for the Theme Thursday challenge this week.

The Three Muses Challenge - You Are What You Eat

2010-03-31T06:03:00.002-05:00

I don't know why but when I heard the theme of the Three Muses challenge this week, I thought of the rhyme "What are little girls made of?"....sugar and spice and all that's nice.....soo I dug out these little girls perched atop cupcakes with sprinkles! All images are from Retro Cafe Art Gallery.

Think Monday, Think ATC - Bud, Flowering

2010-03-29T06:10:00.002-05:00

We are expecting a high of 19 degrees Celsius today.....woo, hoo! The earth is coming alive after a few months of rest. I see the birds outside busy with their mating rituals and the building of their nests. I look forward to watching the antics of the babies when they are born. I'm also noticing quite a few green sprouts in my garden. Now if I could just remember what they will be when they grow taller...hey, that's the joy of surprise. These atcs are my entry for the Think Monday, Think ATC challenge this week.

Crazy Amigo Challenge - Butterflies

2010-03-23T06:00:00.002-05:00

This wonderful lady is one of my "adopted" relatives. The photo has the most lovely colour in it, subtle and warm, and I'm enamoured by the fact that the woman is captured with her violin. I've always equated the sound of music with nature and wanted to capture that sentiment in this piece. This is my entry for the Crazy Amigo Challenge this week.

Mixed Media Monday - Vintage Children

2010-03-22T06:00:00.005-05:00

Give me one papier mache house, acrylic paints and a variety of PaperWhimsy vintage children and I am in creative heaven. I have always been drawn to the haunting nature of the PW images and I'm thrilled that they are now available in digital form. This means that I can weave them into my artwork whenever I am in the mood. This is my entry for the Mixed Media Monday challenge this week.