*Bluebirds Living in the MeadowPhotos and Art by Jean Zoss

hand carved hearts....

2012-01-26T10:00:00.001-06:00

working toward using only my own images is my goal for the year...after all week of stamping with my Stampendous cube of florally vines and another stamp of a smudgy vintage flourish by Stampabilities, i decided to tackle my own valentine stamps...here is what happened...i was quite pleased with the results...timber brown Staz-on ink, Neo II colors, scraps of paper and charcoal...xo

on a roll...

2012-01-25T08:59:00.001-06:00

this is the latest heart, wired around the edges with brass wire and freshwater seed pearls...i'm working on trying to make a Vimeo video...if i'm successful, you'll see the felted hydrangea pin video back again, this and a couple others that i made for You Tube...i want them private, on my blog only...we'll see if i can figure it out...there is more to this project but you may have to wait a while to see it..xo

ruffled...

2012-01-24T09:16:00.000-06:00

i made a bunch of stamp+watercolor crayon stamps yesterday...today, i found two stamped images that looked seamless so i cut out a long heart, freehand...remember? cutting hearts? it's like riding a bike...or walking...for me...then i took my crayon and rubbed it along the edge and used the water brush to blend it to the front...

next, i took it down to my sewing machine and pulled out the thread and stitched around the edge...i like to hand-sew...shhh don't tell anyone this great tip...tee hee...(next time i'll make the stitch length a little longer...

i recently received a gorgeous package from you know who and this lace was included (thank you,dearest)...i ran a single piece of embroidery floss through my needle's eye and did a big running stitch through the lace, gathering it up a bit...here is the other great tip about sewing through paper...wax the thread...i know!! i remembered from my beading days that we used a product called thread magic to decrease knots and strengthen the thread...i just used my clear sennelier oil pastel but you could use beeswax too!...we used beeswax when we were sewing beads onto fabric...shhh...mum's the word...(do people still say that?)...

...a little french knot at the end...viola!

the possibilities are endless!! you could use some torn up cloth, ala spirit cloth or you could make the border with tissue paper or a torn book pages by just accordion folding the paper into a ruffle, you could even paint the lace or paper first!...or you could sew it all on with your sewing machine if you didn't want to hand sew it...happy tea tuesday, dearies...

more watercolor play...

2012-01-22T12:19:00.002-06:00

one of my favorite things is handmade valentines...i have loved making them since i was young...last year, i posted this post about making hearts with watercolors, watercolor paper and lemon juice...i used my Stampendous cube of floral patterns...i'm not big on using stamps for my main image but i love the vine pattern on here and use it often...

this year, i've used these things:

140 lb. hot press watercolor paper

caran d ache Neo II water solable crayons

spray bottle of water

water brush

my stamp cube

rub the crayons on the cube pattern

spritz with a couple light sprays of water

stamp on paper

let dry

fill in the surrounding white paper with the water brush + crayon

easy peasy...trace + cut out with heart template

what are you doing today?

rescued...

2012-01-20T10:49:00.001-06:00

the russet crayon came to the rescue...i was forgetful yesterday...i painted in a light layer of color on my fawn and was quite disappointed...instead of talking negatively to myself...i said STOP...leave it be...come back tomorrow...3 days of drawing, painting and fixing my little fawn...creating a library of my own collage images...for the summer colors...maybe i love these colors so much because they are the colors of my son's hair, the sweet spirit that came to us this summer, the snow falling under the porch light and fawns...xo

happy paint party friday

fawn-o-rama...

2012-01-19T10:48:00.000-06:00

i worked a little on this quick, little painting yesterday and today...i'm going to do it again...i love her ears but i see i need a little work on the rest of her...she needs more spots...

morning moon and golden tea...

2012-01-17T08:56:00.000-06:00

...a couple days ago, i let the dog out early in the morning and moon & sky were so beautiful...it inspired my new textile blues...and a little golden for mary helen...she moves pretty fast so it's hard to get a good photo of her...she is very playful and fun and takes up much of my time but she is growing on me in a big way...xo...

...good morning tea persons...i wish you a lovely day...if you'd like to join, you can see how over at kimmie's...it's not hard...

color study II

2012-01-14T09:29:00.000-06:00

more color study work...i've not used some of these colors before and i'm so glad i did this...each color is so different in how appears on the white and the wrappings of the crayons can be a bit deceiving...this is what a sketchbook/art journal is for me...a place to write down stuff...sketch an idea and experiment...

...haiku my heart plus paint...

2012-01-13T09:39:00.005-06:00

Miss Bee Eater has her own Haiku

oh, my darling dearest

would you hold my handbag

whilst i fix my hat?

color study for miss bee

the one that makes it all work

I don't know about you, but I always like to do a color study before I begin a serious painting. Miss Bee Eater began as a journal exercise earlier this week. I then worked on her colors with colored pencils everyday, adding a little layer of color here and there. Yesterday the netting was drawn in and I think I'm ready to duplicate her into a watercolor. The photo above is greatly enlarged, her head and hat are about an inch square.

For my "morning pages" I tore up one sheet of 30 x 22 watercolor pages into 18-5x7 pieces and this is what I work on daily. I can't do a book, it just doesn't work for me.

I remember groaning in every class I took where we had to do a color study. We did them in high school and we did them in college. I even had to do them as an adult taking a night watercolor class through a local college. BORING...making little squares and filling them in with your paints....tedious and uninspiring. BUT if you do what you like with pen & ink like I did here, it's fun and they are totally worth the effort.

For Miss Bee I want to use my Neocolor crayons but the colors on the paper were too much like Easter eggs. Then I had the idea to paint a little Russet over the Rose. The Carmine made the Rose even more pink but the Russet toned it down to a color I could live with. Then I tried it on all the other colors. Worked like a charm. What I like about working with the Neocolors is that you can add color over the top without affecting the bottom color too much. Then, so I don't forget, I wrote the combos in on my sheet with a Sharpie. Color Study made much more fun and interesting! I hope I can capture her coquettish nature with my paints~!

...for Haiku My Heart at Rebecca's and Paint Party Friday...

...and if you have a moment, please pop round and see my new Etsy shop...thanks!

...isn't she snappy...

2012-01-12T09:12:00.000-06:00

...isn't she snappy? more birdie sketch, although i've not shown her entire hat yet...saving that for later...around the clock starting at top left corner...Louis art from 7th grade, Muppet Radio on the way home from Indiana in November (the Muppet's doing "smells like teen spirit" by nirvana made us laugh so hard)...garden orb, bits of pages i was doing in November...more Muppet's and gifts from Patty reflected in my paint water jar...xo...funny, random stuff in colors i am liking...that's all...

Hafiz excerpt today...

...wanting to cast their nets into the brilliant salmon run you become...

...that is how i feel today, like a brilliant salmon run...

...wednesday...

2012-01-11T09:46:00.000-06:00

hafiz today...excerpt

a divine treasury awaits...

that you can really borrow from at any moment,

right now

i have started a new birdie sketch for a larger piece...excerpts are from my journal cards and etsy adventures yesterday, 9 hours of shooting and entering (i also collect rocks with holes...but i don't think anyone would want to buy them :-)

...whew such a lot of work but they have made it so much easier...the shop link is at the top of the blog with it's own page if you are interested...this is just the beginning...whoa nelly, i have a lot of stuff...

...i am also going to start some watercolors from my sister's bird photos...bonded blogging...you can visit her new blog if you want, it's at the top of the right sidebar...off to physical therapy and THEN...(drum roll, please)...to walk the dog!

...collection tea...

2012-01-10T08:20:00.000-06:00

...hafiz today...

Know the true nature of your Beloved

In His loving eyes your every thought,

word, and movement is always, always

beautiful.

...i am sorting through my collections and will be listing things on Etsy...postcards, steel beads, sterling charms, jewelry bits...a lifetime of collection (i blame martha stewart)...it is time to lighten the load...

...my beloved brought me the leaf on my tea plate...his nature is true...xo

...tea on tuesdays, at kimmies...

...saturday...

2012-01-07T12:15:00.000-06:00

If you knew the end of your story, nothing on

any page - not one of your dramas, could bother

you as much.

If you knew the glorious end of your journey,

at least half of your attention could be lifted

from anything you can now focus on that may

cause you pain.

His hand is like that, when it is realized near,

it will always turn your gaze in the direction

of more light.

..grapefruit ode...

2012-01-06T08:42:00.000-06:00

oh, you sun you, how

i admire that you refuse

to lay in the gray

haiku my hearts on fridays, at rebecca's

...less is more...

2012-01-05T08:59:00.000-06:00

...morning meditation...

a poet is someone

who can pour light into a cup

then raise it to nourish

your beautiful parched, holy mouth

from "A Year With Hafiz" Daniel Ladinsky

when i opened the box to store my cards

there was a heart

forever and ever

connecting me to the one who came before

and opened my eyes with

a paintbrush

...found...

2012-01-04T08:59:00.019-06:00

...found...

a reflection in a garden globe

snow fall at night, lit up in a flash

renewal of love, picasso's pastels

words that wrench and nail my heartstrings to the table

comfort in a familiar, writings wrought upon her

a crushed coin and feather, gifts from the street

sunrise in a solstice sky

busy man on a snowy morning

snow fall in the porch light

...this is my kind of journaling...welcome to the new year...

...art journal piece today...watercolor pastels, oil pastels, acrylics, white pen, gesso...

I Have Gone Marking by Pablo Neruda

I have gone marking the atlas of your body

with crosses of fire.

My mouth went across: a spider, trying to hide.

In you, behind you, timid, driven by thirst.

Stories to tell you on the shore of evening,

sad and gentle doll, so that you should not be sad.

A swan, a tree, something far away and happy.

The season of grapes, the ripe and fruitful season.

I who lived in a harbor from which I loved you.

The solitude crossed with dream and with silence.

Penned up between the sea and sadness.

Soundless, delirious, between two motionless gondoliers.

Between the lips and the voice something goes dying.

Something with the wings of a bird, something of anguish

and oblivion.

The way nets cannot hold water.

My toy doll, only a few drops are left trembling.

Even so, something sings in these fugitive words.

Something sings, something climbs to my ravenous mouth.

Oh, to be able to celebrate you with all the words of joy.

...oooh my...the way he writes...xxx...

...fleeting...

2011-12-23T10:23:00.000-06:00

...clematis flakes taken today...

...it is rare to NOT have a white christmas here in MN...day before yesterday i caught a fleeting glimpse...the top clematis snaps were taken today when another flurry started...it is blustery and windy out so no chance of seeing indivuals like the bottom shots...in all my years of snow flake watching, i have never seen (or heard) snowflakes like this...so completely formed and solid when they landed on the dried garden plants, i could hear them...it was only an instant and then they were falling apart...and the lacing only lasted minutes...a holiday gift i will always treasure...may peace always follow you and light be your guide...xo...see you next year...

...more birdies...

2011-12-19T09:47:00.000-06:00

...more birdie ornaments from prior 'experiments'...i haven't strung them yet and i think they will be giftie tags...

...in case you haven't seen this short film, it's a new word for me...murmuration...

...art journal ornament...

2011-12-17T10:36:00.000-06:00

...just doesn't seem like Christmas time to me unless I've made an ornament...here is this year's...peace to you and yours...xo

...spirit walks...haiku my heart...

2011-12-16T08:51:00.001-06:00

filled with joy and so

much mischief my days belong

to spirit walking

for haiku my heart on fridays...at rebecca's...i'm just rambling on this morning, so please forgive me...my scattered brain is completely particled this morning as i have already spent an hour taking care of the toddler...NO don't eat the dry wall...what is THAT in your mouth?? NO you can't have my breakfast...STOP barking for the back door...ahhhhh oyyyyyy....puppy-ness

...and i must admit...i have nothing done for the holiday coming up...nothing, nada, zippo...and i'm okay with that...

...a couple weeks ago, i had a matchbox swap with kimmie at art in red wagons...we are blog buddies and over the last 3 years have shared tea, art and life together here in blogland...she creates the most beautiful things...and i loved my matchbox so much, that i bought one from her shop...

...hoping your days are coming together nicely...i think i need a maid AND a personal assistant AND a dog walker...then my life would be perfect......(like THAT will ever happen)...and some snow...snow would be nice...we have had the strangest weather here...any hooo....

...what i sent her...

...what she sent me...(she has no idea that i LOVED popeye when i was little because my dad was a sailor)...

...hope you all get your stuff done...wish me luck...i have to go walk the dog now...xo

...spirit tea...

2011-12-13T09:54:00.000-06:00

...i have been carving stamps a little bit...i liked the angel one but struggled with the pine cone one i carved...i left it and came back, left it and came back...today decided i didn't like it enough to carve it apart...much better...

...i will be round later to visit the tea bloggers...somebody is crying for their walk...xo

...see kimmie and the other ladies here...

...snow...

2011-12-07T09:30:00.000-06:00

...for my dad who lost a lot of friends, 70 years ago today...thanks for teaching me to love the snow...xo...i miss you every single day...

...my lady of the perpetual art mess...

2011-12-06T08:23:00.000-06:00

...yes, my house is an art mess...i no longer contain it in one room...it is in bits and pieces all over...by my chair, at my desk, in my studio, by the ironing board in the bedroom...and i would be lying if i told you it didn't bother my husband...he tolerates it but i know he'd rather not have it this way...but...its how i am...

...i have so much of it going on in my brain all the time that i'm sure i'd be diagnosed with something...so...lucky me...i have a dear one who puts up with me...i also have many other things to be grateful for, two of them are shown above...even though already this morning i've had to goad and prod one of them to get on going to the school bus and the other? well, she is a very naughty 5 yr. old in a darling package...big brown eyes get you out of a LOT of trouble when you are a butter knife stealing, shoe eating, eight month old puppy...

...and i have you guys...thanks for all of the wonderful, thoughtful exchanges throughout the mary days...i treasure our connections here...i painted my little mary here and if you'd like to try your hand, you can find a tutorial here......in fact, there are several pages of watercolor stuff starting last year in December and going on into January if you care to poke around the archives..it's my way of giving back, paying forward, showing i care...the magic of the internet, it's a beautiful thing...please visit all the participants in the mary celebration over at rebecca's beautiful blog...

...here is some more bruce for you all....xoxoxoxo..

...for rebecca, noelle and joe...

...o mary, don't you weep...

2011-12-05T08:09:00.001-06:00

...subtitles...say BOOING at the end...i think they are saying "bruuuuuuce"...just sayin...for a virgin a day over at rebecca's, day 5...different Mary but still a good way to start the day...history of this spiritual...

...it's personal...

2011-12-04T09:38:00.000-06:00

...of all the shrines I viewed at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, this was my favorite...it was very small...a personal shrine...about the size of a playing card when the side were folded over...it was Italian and very, very old...I wish I had taken the shot of the placard which detailed it's creation...oh well, guess I'll have to take another trip down there...I love the colors and the starry night but mostly, I love the tiny serpent because he looks like a Viking dragon...is that wrong?

...a Virgin a Day over at Rebecca's, day 4...

...grace...

2011-12-03T09:32:00.001-06:00

...first of all, this one was huge in dimension...it was also difficult to photograph because it was soooo full of gold...her hands were twice the length of ours and because she looked a little like an alien, we made up stories about her....like maybe she has a winter place near Roswell, NM...a Virgin a Day over at Rebecca's...xo

...Minneapolis Institute of Art...

2011-12-02T08:01:00.001-06:00

... i made my peace shrine 2 years ago, i saw this in May of 2011...virgin a day at rebecca's...mornings with Mary...sweet...what a great way to start the day...xoxo.

...virgin...

2011-12-01T12:20:00.021-06:00

.... rebecca, elizabeth and stephanie...3 ladies who still influence me... for a virgin a day over at rebecca's...

...this is a re-post of a post i did on 1/26/09...

I am totally inspired by eb at be...dream...play. Her photos, art work and prose really intrigue me. It is through this blog post of hers that I was to also be inspired by Stephanie at Rodrigvitz Style...they both made peace shrines so I decided to add another one to the world. Thank you, ladies....

I have been working on this for a week. My husband cut me some wooden pieces to start. I painted it with gesso and acrylic paint. A little blue lumiere around the edges, a shrine from Retro Cafe Art, a snippet of journaling about peace onto the painted page, and the offering altar is a petal from a redwood pine cone....on the altar petal are my precious blue stone and 2 small pieces of cobalt beach glass I found on the shores of Lake Superior a long time ago....at the top of the shrine is a blue enameled religious charm with a small knotted thread...although I am not Catholic, these medals are so beautiful that I have started collecting them...I find comfort in the Mary images...

...we can make a difference...

...for tom...

...home again, home again, jiggity jig...

2011-11-30T10:45:00.001-06:00

...went to Indy for Thanksgiving...good to see family again...on the way home, i shot 600+ pictures out my window in the car...looking for the elusive whooping cranes i spotted last year...i did not see any this year, perhaps last year will be my only sighting but at least i got to see them once...rural illinois and wisconsin, in the fog, rain and chill...luckily, no ice or snow...hope you all had a wonderful holiday...i missed tea on tuesday yesterday but i did have tea last night...Tazo Wild Sweet Orange, 1/2 tsp. orange blossom honey, 1 clove and a slice of organic orange, muddled in the bottom of the cup...mmmm...the perfect nightcap whilst watching Rudolph on TV...thank you, kimmie, for mentioning this tea...it is my new favorite...

...i'm sorry i haven't ever mentioned my friend Billy McLaughlin on this blog before...he is an amazing musician and he currently has a lovely new Christmas CD available for download here...after years of enjoying a successful career, Billy developed dystonia and had to relearn everything with his non-dominant left hand...i am glad to say that he has come back, into the light...enjoy...

...shades of indigo and payne's gray....

2011-11-14T11:43:00.002-06:00

...stuff i'm gathering...in my new favorite palette...indigo, payne's gray, white and charcoal...the shades found in bird feathers...i have always enjoyed a crazy plethora of colors but lately i am so fascinated by this grouping...

...the bottom two are pogo prints for kimmie...the top one is 2 photos i ran over each other and on both of the prints, i wrote journal words with the tip of my xacto knife, sanded and then gently heated a couple edges before i ran them through the printer...i keep that blue piece of paper and run that through before i run each print...i also gently brush away any scratched up emulsion from etching into the film so it doesn't clog up my pogo...then i rubbed some payne's gray oil pastel into the words with a soft cloth...

...even though i posted on monday, this is my tea post...happy tuesday, girlfriends...

...friday stuff...

2011-11-11T09:00:00.000-06:00

...a couple weekends ago, we celebrated my mother's 90th bday...my cousin came from north dakota and brought some of our great aunt's artwork for the cousins to take home...she gave me the most cherished box from my childhood...i have always had a thing for boxes...i loved this piece of my aunt's artwork more than anything...i guess my uncle loved it too because he kept in his studio...i used to go to his room in the basement just to look at it...i have many happy memories of all my trips to ND...thank you, paula...xo

...i think this box was a kind of "tramp art" but i assure you, she was no tramp so i will now call it folk art...it is a wood burned cigar box and she probably made it in the early part of the century when this "art" was popular...from 1880 until the 30's, people made a little money by using what was lying around and turned it into something special...i just happen to have several wooden cigar boxes and a woodburning tool, come january, i'm giving this a try...

...the bottom collage is for kimmie...these are my POGO prints from yesterday...love how they turned out...happy friday...and of course, thank you to all the veterans of this country who have served and protected our rights, liberty and freedoms...who would we be as a nation without you?

...the fall of fragments...

2011-10-28T09:31:00.001-05:00

fragmented falling

catching all that i can of

color before white

all the while missing

the one who created this

memory in me

...for paint party friday and haiku my heart...

it has been a long time that i have felt fragmented. trying to find dibs and dabs of time to make something, anything. as most people, and particularly women, probably feel....too busy...too busy to make time for myself. so, i sit at my desk for a minute at a time and do something. if i do not, i lose it.

so, the tissue fragments i have been doing for the entire summer...laying them in on top of painted pages turning plain white paper into leaves and then hanging them about...watercolor ornaments...trying and flying...

...harvesting what is left of the morning light...

2011-10-27T11:04:00.000-05:00

...who says you shouldn't shoot into the sun?

...beautiful morning here, cool and sunny...leftover raindrops...today is my mom's 90th birthday...anyone's 90th birthday is worth a blog post, don't you think?

...leaves and toads...and puppy dog tails...

2011-10-06T10:31:00.000-05:00

...angel or demon dog...you decide...ggg

...six months old, 50 lbs...learning the rules and ruling the backyard...good thing i saw the toad before she did...painting autumn leaves on scraps of paper...xo

...button bracelets...

2011-09-28T09:33:00.002-05:00

A three bracelet necklace

Before I started my blog here, I was mostly making jewelry over the last 20 years. I started with off-loom bead weaving and took classes from a wonderful teacher. My husband and I were both working full-time and this was a great stress release for me. I had done some loom beading in the 70's with my mother and sister, so I've always had the interest. I've collected jewelry and beads all my life so, naturally, this project was perfect for something quick & easy at the cabin.

We went to the cabin for Labor Day and I brought my little beading kit with. I came up with this simple bracelet and like many happy accidents, was so excited when I realized they could be combined to form a necklace. This little project kept me creatively happy all week.

I would like to share this simple technique with you. I am supposed to go to a friend's house on Friday evening and was planning to share this but I am under the weather and not sure I can make it so I will share it here. I was so lucky to be artistically indulged as a child that I feel sharing here is paying it forward.

Here's what you need:

Waxed linen cord (if you don't have waxed linen cording, you could try another strong type of cording)

Size 6 seed beads - These are the larger sized seed beads with bigger holes. Any bead your cord will fit through will work.

A button with 2 holes or a shank.

A place to work where your beads won't roll away and a pair of scissors and a large, blunt needle (or the point of a sharp pair of small scissors will work too) - years ago, I purchased a small piece of cut blanket fabric to bead on...it's man made fabric that is very soft and doesn't pill...perfect for working on

1. Start by length of cord about 22 inches long. My bracelets are approx. 9" long with the knots, so make sure you have a least 20 inches. You may also need a little extra to trim your cord as you are threading the beads.

2. Fold your cord in half and run an end through each hole in the button front to back so the ends are coming out the back of the button. If using a shank, run through the shank. Now tie an overhand knot. To help you cinch the knot tight up to the button, use a needle or pin to anchor the knot close to the button. You put the needle inside the knot, up close to the button and gently pull the ends. This will move only the knot closer to the button so you can slide it up snug. You could also use a pointy needle nose pliers or a sharp pair of closed scissors to help you snug your knot.

3. String about 7 inches of beads on both strands. If the holes in your beads are big enough, you can string both strands through the beads, it all depends on your beads. To make 7 inches of bracelet, I used approx 60-size 6 beads, on both strands.

4. If you have a smaller wrist, you can do about 6 to 6.5 inches. My favorite way to always make my bracelets fit is to use one that I like and measure the new bracelet against it.

5. When you get to the end, tie another overhand knot.

6. Leave a space big enough to just fit over your button, about 3/4 of an inch, and tie another knot. Trim the ends close to the knot. The waxed cording will stay tied. It is popular now to wear loads of bracelets so stack them up or combine for something different.

A four bracelet necklace.

A good project for tweens and teens too. Let me know if you make any, I'd love to come and visit.

P.S. If you go thrifting, lots of times you can find inexpensive bead and shell necklaces to take apart and remake. That is what I did when $$$ was short. Reduce, reuse and recycle.

...time for tea tuesday...

2011-09-27T09:50:00.001-05:00

...new cup matched my painting colors...kismet...

...blooming sedums...

...POGO print & paint...

...painted tissues drying on the lamp...

...playing with my paints...

...more play...i used the end of the celery stalk...

...more...

...well, i feel as if i've been long lost...spirit and child have been keeping me very busy...i managed to sneak away for an afternoon a couple weekends ago, all by myself...a peace & quiet day...drove out to my favorite little town in hudson, WI...i popped around my favorite antique store for 2 hours, went to the art co-op and bought myself a new coffee mug for my collection of linden hills pottery...and treated myself to lunch at urban olive and vine...ahhhh, perfectly rejuvenated...the last stop? knoke candies to get a treat for my boys...

...i recently splurged on a moleskin watercolor notebook...it's okay...i don't like cold press paper nor do i care for the ecru tone...i like a bright, white, hot-press paper...but it's fun to have an actual book...off to visit my friends where i'm long overdue...xo happy tuesday...thanks to our lovely hostess for this gathering...

...o, summer, please don't go...

2011-09-09T12:20:00.000-05:00

...ah, it's going to be over soon...sigh...

i have several files in my photo files labeled "end of _____ (season)" then the year...

...although i love the crispness of autumn, i have had a glorious summer...

...this week it was back to reality...school, puppy and finally a chance to putter at my desk...

...i have scraps of painted Yupo on my desk and last week i had combined the Yupo with painted gompi tissue...after it sat around for a while, i got back to it yesterday for a few minutes and added some citrasolv paper and my fav circle tissue, oil pastels and white gel pen lamenting about the end of summer and finally having time to putter with my colors again...

...and as you can tell, i need to wash my front screen door...can barely see the green bug who visited the first day of school...child is shy and does not want pics on here but he is healthy, and almost as tall as me...8th grade this year, BMOC...what are you all up to?

...gompi or gampi tissue...

2011-08-24T06:27:00.006-05:00

...i am not a big art technique book buyer...but darlene and sandy's image transfer book is fantastic...and the newest one, on surface treatments is on my list to buy...i do not receive any $$ for saying this, it's just my .02 worth of opinion...i found this video this morning, i have been working with the gampi tissue and love it (you can see it in lots of my recent posts)...it is stronger than regular tissue paper and puts up with all sorts of abuse...love that...

here are the links

http://www.amazon.com/Image-Transfer-Workshop-Mixed-Media-Techniques/dp/B005EP1OJW/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1314184872&sr=1-2

http://www.amazon.com/Surface-Treatment-Workshop-Mixed-Media-Techniques/dp/1440308241/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b

...she has another video on applying gold leaf...it's on her website here...(you can also see samples of her beautiful work...)

...text tea...

2011-08-23T09:47:00.000-05:00

...deciding whether or not to add the text...happy tea tuesday!! please visit the other (almost typed otter) tea blog partiers here, at kimmie's blog...art in red wagons...

...working on layers...lots of sheer layers layered upon one another...using my robin template...going out to gather leaves for pressing today...really hot here, how about you?

...she read the dream outloud...

2011-08-21T19:24:00.001-05:00

...mixed media journal page for august...paint, gesso, charcoal, oil pastel, graphite, lace paper, micron pen on fabriano artistico 140 WC paper...can you see the lady on the left, the 3 birds and the crystal ball?

...what can i say? this is what came out of the background...

...puppy notes...

2011-08-18T13:11:00.000-05:00

...what i've learned about my dog (the dog no longer belongs to child who does nothing except remove her from the couch when he makes his daily "i'm hungry" appearance)...

...when her fur/hair gets wet, it looks so cute and crimped...

....when her fur/hair gets wet, she smells...

...she loves to eat the apples from the tree in the backyard (only one a day)...

...she loves to eat everything else and i am down one garden because she ate all the coneflowers & daisies (please don't eat the daisies didn't work)...

...she can whimper, whine and now has a watch dog bark that she saves for special occasions...

...she can bark....a LOT!!!

...not wanting to have "that dog!" in the neighborhood, husband and i, lovingly, take her out for 2 walks a day...i do the a.m. and he does the p.m....

...it's been a very hot and rainy summer...

...and just like little boys, she is very happy with a plastic cup and the hose...

...hope you are all having a happy day...xo

...just because...

2011-08-08T10:15:00.002-05:00

...swan for paint party friday...

2011-08-05T08:34:00.003-05:00

...most recent rendition using my "homemade" swan collage sheet...5" x 7" mixed media collage using original images and a couple of postage stamps...acrylic paint, oil pastel, charcoal, gesso...

...copy of my collage sheet, printed on really good copy paper...basically i created a set of wallet sized prints in picasa and printed them off...

...original water color sewn onto journal page as a pocket...

...this is my entry for paint party friday...i painted this watercolor in january...then i scanned it onto another watercolor background...i cut it out the orginal and hand sewed it to a page i was working on for a free class i took through strathmore artist papers...pam carriker offered a great little free class there and this was my journal page...reusing your images (journal pages) was her main topic...i loved using the watered down gesso and oil pastels, that was a new thing for me and now i do it all the time...

...sennelier makes some wonderful oil pastels...as usual, when i try a new product, i buy one in my favorite color or metallic...and if i like them, i fill in more options when i can afford it...at $4 each, it's an investement...

...new class information at strathmore will be posted in september...

...i'm off for my favorite summer activity...fishing!!!

...what i did next...

2011-07-29T06:32:00.006-05:00

...after the paint was dry (i used my heat gun to set the Lumiere)...

...i went in and redrew my sketch lines and adjusted the colors...

1. Redrew the sketch lines in charcoal.

2. Looked at my original photo and darkened some areas with a mixture of Quin nickel azo gold+alizarin crimson hue fluid acrylics+slow medium. Used straight gesso on the point of my angled brush to add the white highlights back in. I also scanned it at this stage in case I don't like how it turns out, I have this stage which I really, really like. I scanned it 3x, once at 150dpi, 300dpi and 600dpi.

3. Added a bit of my favorite lace paper and cut the main image out.

4. Played with journaling and the background. After I was done, I pressed it in a big book to flatten it. If I had used good WC paper I probably would not have needed to do that part. You can double click on any of the pictures to see the nitty gritty up close version. I will also probably give it a spray shot of varnish/fixative to set the charcoal and let it air outside.

you can see the first part of this process here

and this is my post for paint party friday

...a little tiger lily toot...

2011-07-28T09:09:00.002-05:00

...so...

...i am in love with these wild and crazy lillies...blooming summer fire is what i have called them in the past...

....how much i miss my bloggy friends this time of year when all seems to pass in the misty summer haze...

...i wanted to paint this flower again...i have done so in the past...

...so, let's paint it, shall we??...

1. You will need a piece of watercolor paper or a piece of plain white card stock which is what I used because I'm low on WC paper.

2. Photo you love of subject you love.

3. Print your pic on the cardstock or WC paper. I have an inkjet printer. I am also out of cyan ink. So, my photo came out like this:

4. I sketched around it in charcoal pencil.

5. I choose my little palette. Quin Nickel Azo gold fluid and Lumiere gold were the main colors. Gesso, a water spritzer and a small angled brush were also on hand ready to go. I also added the slow medium to my fluid colors. This time, more medium than paint 2:1. Because I'm working wet into wet.

6. I watered down a little gesso in my gum palette and spritzed my whole 5"x7" print and began with the background.

7. After I gessoed the entire background, I spritzed with water again and added my colors, just blopping them in and then working out the details later. Using my print for the color selections and highlights...

8. While everything is still wet, I softened the hard edges with the point of my angle brush and then added a bit more gesso to the background.

9. While waiting for the main image to dry, I brushed in some cobalt teal to the background. Using my brush at the flower and brushing out to the edges.

10. Then I used my Pthalo Blue (plus the slow medium) around the edges. I switched from brush to cosmetic sponge. The tool I can't live without. After I did the background, I went into the main image with the point of my angle brush and made some fine lines for the darker veining of the flower. Viola, now I'm ready to journal on it (and add some white highlights, more charcoal, and touch up the striking gold leaf in front...)

...happy july dear bloggy friends...i hope you'll try this sometime...xo

...random summer thoughts...

2011-07-27T10:29:00.000-05:00

...crop circles...made with ring pasta...

...asiatic day flower...wildflower found in my garden...

...the tail of the storm...

...right after the storm...

...look mom!! i can lay down in the hole i dug!! tree stump courtesy of july 1 super storm...it's now a yard chair...

...journal page in my favorite summer colors...stargazer lily pink and fire flower orange...

...is it just me? or does anyone else think that gum packaging these days is completely stupid?? i am now using my empties for palettes...

...new impressions...

2011-07-21T07:47:00.001-05:00

...july 2011

...fern journal page...reworked...dog walking time...cooler weather here today...if this week's weather is going to be the new norm, i'll have to move to baffin island...yeesh...stay cool, friends...xo

...april 2011...

...fluid acrylic tip...

2011-07-20T08:18:00.001-05:00

...since my art budget has shrunk, i have been hoarding my favorite colors...instead of replacing my goldens, i bought a cheap set of atelier acrylics...this medium came with them...while i'm sure that golden offers a similar product, this one works just fine and has extended my favorite paints beyond what i had hoped for...and it makes a beautiful glaze...i've been using the cheap acrylics & watercolors to create the base paintings and then i use equal parts of my precious golden fluid acrylic paints mixed with this slow medium...mix it up right on the page i'm working on, paint in around and then i take a big, dry brush and take away the hard edges...amazable...have to go walk dog now, going to 100 F here today...blech...xo

...swallow tea...

2011-07-19T09:24:00.001-05:00

...original water color+fluid acrylic+colored pencil...

...latest rendition...mixed media background+bird...

...i did another one here of the same bird only i used a copy of the watercolor and painted over it after i'd adhered it to the painted background...the latest one is traced onto tissue and then adhered...after it was dry, i over painted with irridescent watercolor and fluid acrylic glazes...the texture you see in the background is brown rice...i saw on FB that Mary Beth Shaw had posted a photo of rice, pearl barley, tapioca and various pastas...and given the topic of her book, the flavor of mixed media, i thought perhaps she used them in wet paint like you can use salt...so i tried it...and it worked...i used water+black fluid acrylic on watercolor paper and then put the rice on, let it dry, then scraped it off into the garbage with my palette knife...then painted over it with many washes of fluid acrylic+fluid medium...then i used my oil pastels to accentuate the areas...it's quite pretty in person...the beauty of not having big blocks of time to paint is that i am forced to do a little and then come back...happy tea tuesday, ladies...hope you are staying cool...we are unusually hot and humid here and i'm sorry to say, it's moving easterly...you can visit everyone here at kimmie's place...

...cabin tea...or...what i did on my summer vacation...

2011-07-12T10:39:00.002-05:00

...wild roses by my driveway...

...all the woods have filled in with ferns...

...one of the few trees we lost in the horrible storm...we were lucky though...

...i have blueberries!!

...new beverage...yum, sour cherry beer/sparkling wine...delicious!

...giant spider found on the screen tent...maybe he lost his leg in the storm...his legs were as wide across as my husband's hand...

...my reading corner of the cabin...

...spent much of my time making food for these two...and watching them grow...

...thanks for all the encouraging words regarding spirit and her puppiness...i am happy to report that we are almost over the naughty biting everything stage...she is still a shoe thief but i'm hoping that will pass as well...she is 16 weeks and 25+ pounds now...with really big feet...and did i mention she loves water?? and her boy?

...hope you are all well, and please, pop over to kimmie's and join us...tea every tuesday...

...cabin prince...

2011-06-28T11:17:00.001-05:00

...spent the weekend with girlfriends at our cabin...here is our tree frog prince attached to the back door window...isn't he cute? we tried kissing him but nothing happened...he was teeny, about an inch long, attached outside in the dark and me, trying to get a picture from inside the house...if you look closely, you can see his eye looking at me...it is finally summer-like weather here and we could not have asked for a more beautiful weekend...we ate deliciously, drank fruitfully, had s'mores....we enjoyed all that Woodpecker Woods (our new place's name) has to offer...and hardly any wood ticks...yay.

happy tea tuesday, won't you join us at kimmie's place?

...where is the heart in bleeding?

2011-06-20T12:09:00.001-05:00

...seven by seven inch mixed media acrylic painting on 140lb. fabriano artistico watercolor paper...from a journal painting of bleeding hearts...i am reading this book

...my page developed into this painting from my feelings on the subject matter, detailed in the beginning of the book...infertility and the treatment of it..."not for the faint of heart" is another title...

...spirit and child are home and my house if full of life and summer...i must take this breath and enjoy them both before they grow older...xoxo hope all is well with you...

...modern sepia...

2011-06-05T06:53:00.001-05:00

...i am so sorry i have not been out to visit all your lovely blogs but i am running on 2 hours of sleep...my yard is blooming but it seems i am trying to stay ahead of what is poisonous...fencing it off...feeling like homer simpson when spirit runs and knocks down the fence on her first leap...i worked really hard, spent money and i guess i forgot that puppies are masters of destruction...child is done with school this week, maybe i'll be able to get some rest...and some art time in...hope you are all well and thanks for sticking with me...xo

...new tool...

2011-05-25T11:14:00.000-05:00

...i stole a few minutes while the baby was sleeping (puppy....what WAS i thinking??? )

...played with wet into wet, happy acrylic background/journal postcard...i love to cut my huge pieces of WC paper down to tons of smaller pieces, makes me feel rich...tee hee....

...and because i like the color shaper tools and i didn't have the one i wanted upstairs, i used new pencil erasers and my xacto knife and made my own...ta da!! paint shapers...for the price of a new pencil...use it to drag paint around, write and make marks...

...anthem...(for paint party friday)

2011-05-18T08:45:00.002-05:00

...6" x 12" mixed media/torn paper & acrylic painting of the badlands of north dakota...my mother grew up there and they were indeed, the badlands...enduring many hardships, my mother and her sister came out of there with very strong wings...the badlands there differ greatly from the ones in south dakota...there is more raw edge and color...my entry for paint party friday...

...when i was young, bruce springsteen was my hero...i sang the end of "badlands" at the top of my lungs, in my car, every time it came on...it was my anthem..."for the ones who had a notion, a notion deep inside, that is ain't no sin to be glad you're alive"...my favorite part at the end...

...here is a vid of the hardest working guy in music...the boss (and that guy from the sopranos)...my favs...

...new job description...

2011-05-16T11:59:00.001-05:00

...no? i can't have this one??

...i can't have this one either??

...all tuckered out and sleeping in my under-the-futon den..

...ok i can chew on this one?? are you my mother?

...my new job title is chewing redirection manager...xoxo...say hello to spirit...(i'm a girl puppy)

...wren tea...

2011-05-10T08:48:00.000-05:00

...walking in...dining/kitchen on left...living area on right...furniture assembly...

...last week there were chickadees...the wrens returned yesterday and had a hissy fit...today they are cleaning house and moving in...it's been their place for many years now...the nerve of those chickadees, don't they remember they live in the light pole across the street? yeesh...

...it is summer in MN...we go from winter to summer here...spring has been left out again...80 degrees today...

...saturday is the day...

...you can visit the other tea on tuesday blogs here...happy tuesday everyone!!

...spring journaling...

2011-05-06T07:55:00.001-05:00

**dreaming of dogwood spring journal page**

...my days are heady...a new home to set up and a puppy baby arriving next weekend...i am so excited for my family and we have furniture set up now...can't wait to see what kind of trees bloom on our property...on one side, there are loads of saplings just waiting to be weeeded out and made into walking staffs and campfire sticks...i am certain i will be hit or miss here over these next few months...please forgive me...xo

...art in bloom...

2011-05-02T08:58:00.000-05:00

...i took almost 700 photos...but of all these, the top iris is my favorite interpretation of what "art in bloom" is all about, you can see the abstract painting behind the iris and i thought the line of this was beautiful...each year, the MIA holds this event...it is hosted by the friends of the museum and is well attended....and this year, because of the royal wedding, there were some ladies in hats and tiaras...i went with four of my ya-ya girlfriends and we had a lovely day...it was sunny and mild for most of the day and it smelled like heaven in the museum....it is all about the floral designers interpretation of the art in the permanent collection and i threw in a pic of my very favorite piece, the mandala...the mandala is a special piece as they are not usually preserved...you can read more about the MIA and art in bloom here...you can see more about mandala making here...

...little layered love...

2011-04-28T10:37:00.000-05:00

...2.5" x 3.5" ACEO's (art card editions and originals)...loving lots of layers...xo

...a postcard to spring...

2011-04-26T10:46:00.001-05:00

...a postcard to spring...a triptych of colors dipped and layered...practicing more of my own techniques...perfecting and elating in them...delighting in the image left when something is removed...4" x 6" mixed media collage...making way for spring today...much needed rain to water earth's garden...(click on the pic to enlarge)

...word on a wire...

2011-04-22T10:21:00.000-05:00

...happy earth day...happy easter...happy spring...you pick...

...bird brain tea...

2011-04-19T09:57:00.002-05:00

...because we really do not have "spring" yet (yes, we are getting more snow) i have birds on the brain...i have missed their song so much and it is back even if spring is not...over the last 20 years, we have made conscious plantings in our yard to attract birds (and butterflies)...we have 24 cedar trees surrounding our small, suburban lot...our queen crapapple tree (which the birds adore)...and our latest is the mountain ash, which was a volunteer from our old compost heap...i don't feed the birds at a feeder anymore, that only attracted the hawk...but i did when my son was little...we spent many happy mornings watching the birds...

...we planted grasses that we let go to seed, a small swale full of lillies and ferns so they can hide from the resident hawk...we added a couple bird houses...i keep my bird bath refreshed and clean, all summer...and i sit back and watch...i have several perches...my favorite being my little patio in the front yard...can't wait to get back out there...it is my favorite tea spot...i also have two 6 foot windows, upstairs and downstairs, that face my swale full of tree, ferns and lillies...they also happen to be where my art desks are...so, it is only natural that i have them on the brain...perhaps the term "bird brain" is not a bad thing...in fact, i don't mind it at all..

...i also thought i would share a bit of my collection...i collect music boxes and the two swans play songs from dr. zhivago and swan lake...the small square plates are royal adderly bone china...i have been practicing my bird paintings over and over again...and more wings...the bottom is my 2nd stiched piece (in progress) of orchard birds fabric...you can see the first one here...

...happy tea tuesday, fellow bird brains...wishing you nice weather, where ever you are...please send some our way...xo

...please visit the other tea tuesday blogs here...

...julie & chris are at it again...

2011-04-17T13:06:00.000-05:00

...i have taken two classes with julie and chris...and loved both of them...i heard about their classes by bloggy word of mouth and was very satisfied with the content, the connection through their manned network and the price...i thought the information was excellent for anyone, beginner to an old salty dog, like myself...i learned a couple of really invaluable tips so for me, it was completely worth it...i have taken lots of different classes over the years and i count these among the best...and i also think that julie and chris are right on the leading edge of the mixed media movement with their workshop content...i am hoping to take the pixels and paint class soon...you can go here and look around...gotta get out in the sunshine now before it snows again..:o)

...cobalt wings...

2011-04-13T08:20:00.001-05:00

...i have a thing for cobalt blue glass but it has become more and more difficult to find these days...and i know there is much reproduction...we went to WI to close on our new cabin and while we where there, we went to my favorite antique shop...imagine my delight at these cobalt drops with a brass bail embedded into the top...not sure what i'll do with them yet, but they are delightful in the morning sunshine...and i'm doing another wing...i'm really studying the bluebird wing...it's full of beauty and strength...sketch one and watercolor detail in payne's gray...

...singapore tea...

2011-04-12T09:37:00.001-05:00

...when i posted about turning 50, steph from purple lotus art sent me an email and said she was sending a package...it has arrived and look at the beautiful papers, gorgeous hand made tag and batiked fabric she sent me!! and a copy of art journaling magazine to boot!! thank you so much, steph...the paper cut piece is astoundingly gorgeous...i could look at it for hours...and that fabric...i have already had too many ideas and can't bear to think of cutting it...i'll treasure it for a while...

...and thanks to kimmie for hosting such a comfortable gathering of lovely people each week...

...weekend...

2011-04-11T11:46:00.001-05:00

...spring has finally sprung here...one week of cold/warm/coldish weather and then a little rain=green...and purple...and i am thinking of wings...and weekends with puppy breath...journal half pages with embossed tissue paper for patty and a pressed fern from last summer...hope spring (or just nice weather) are flying your way...on blue wings...

...video on citrasolv techniques...

2011-04-08T11:42:00.000-05:00

...you can learn some techniques here but i just took my mag out to the garage and used an old paint brush (2") and brushed the stuff on each page that had images....and let it sit....then i went back and separated the pages onto newspapers and other detritus and let them "air out"...after they were completely dry, i stacked them and let them sit in the garage for nine months...there is another video on citrasolv photo transfers on stampington's you tube channel...you can also buy citrasolv at the shoppes at somerset...

...citrasolv half page...

2011-04-07T08:15:00.003-05:00

~*double click on the pictures to see them larger*~

...half page of citrasolv papers, over painting, tissue paper, oil pastels, colored pencil...i am thinking about adding beads or shells wired onto the side...

...citrasolv journal page two...

2011-04-06T07:53:00.002-05:00

...am really liking the pages i am pulling out of the citrasolv papers just laid into the page with massive amounts of gel medium then over painted with layers and layers of glazes + gesso...white gel pen to journal...i can't wait until my new batch of pages dries...i read over on linda's blog that you can do an image transfer onto fabric using fusible bonding material...am going to try that this week too...cheers and happy spring!

...citrasolv journal page and tea...

2011-04-05T11:29:00.005-05:00

~*click on page twice to enlarge*~

...drinking puerh tea, a gift from patty, today...listening to the new adele cd...over and over...love her...21...

...todays journal page using citrasolv pages i made last summer...layers and layers of papers then over painted and written in white gel pen...we saw our puppy litter on saturday...adorable and yet so fragile, shivering in the spring coolness...patient, sweet momma dog let us visit for a bit even though she appeared to be a little nervous...they are one week old today...the chosen name is "spirit"...

...it's tuesday tea time...you can visit the other tea drinkers here...

...experimental tea...

2011-03-30T08:22:00.002-05:00

...i missed tea yesterday but plan to catch up today...it was sunny and mild here so i went to meet a friend for coffee in the morning and then my mother & sister for lunch...then you know how the after school scene is...feed growing child (for the rest of the evening until bedtime), make dinner, do homework, visit with hard working husband and view pictures of brand new baby puppies and think of what an interesting summer this will be...

...i have been playing with my acrylic paints again...doing a printing technique i came up with a couple years ago...they were just sitting on my desk drying so i decided to play a little more...i had viewed this video about a year ago but never remembered to get the 91% alcohol...i finally remembered it and boy, what fun i had laying washes over the layers of my other paint prints and flinging alcohol over them...i even did it on top of my POGO prints...made really fabulous textures on my journal pages as well...

...sunny & mild again today...i'll take the sun and be grateful for it...running errands today...maybe i'll get back to this soon...am almost out of most of my paints though...xo

...pets...

2011-03-26T11:41:00.000-05:00

...we went to meet the mother and father of our puppy to be...should be any minute now that he/she will be born...the woman who owns the farm was concerned about what we might think about the spring muck...we assured her we were not city folk...we brought our wellies...

...they have been raising goldens for 18 years...but they also offer a place for school children to visit...along with the miniature horses, bunnies, goats, chickens, and ducks, they have these sheep called Jacob's sheep...they have remained genectically pure for over 3000 years and can grow up to 6 horns...they were very careful of their little one...as soon as we came close to the pen, they all rallied around the baby...and of course, my son wanted to bring home a bunny...but we think a cat and dog are enough...still waiting for green here..xo

...wired...

2011-03-23T14:26:00.002-05:00

2008 ATC for TMTA - turquoise heishi

2006 valentine card + magnet size 15 & 22 seed beads on brass wire...i sold lots of these over a 3 or 4 year period...i also made blank gift tags for hanging on wine bottles and such...the back was blank and you could write on them...i wove silk ribbons under the wiring...

1999 - Mixed Media piece that hangs in my studio - fiber papers, mixed paints, tulle, angelina, thread, glass bead

2011 - i saw on FB that ingrid has an article in an issue of art journaling where she uses beads and buttons on the sides of her journal pages but i knew i knew how to do this already...it was a fun addition and i can imagine a whole journal like this...

2011 - today's theme at wednesday stamper is colorful...2x4 mixed media collage...watercolor, my favorite foliage stamp, tissue tape, oil pastel, cigar box foil from patty, brass wire and carnelian heishi a friend brought back from one of her walkabouts, 30 years ago...we had MORE SNOW last night so i am trying to stay sane today...i have learned the D chord on my free guitar lessons and also how to tune...my fingers are a little sore...but i hope you get your beads and wire out too!!

...spring cleaning tea...

2011-03-22T10:57:00.002-05:00

...happy tea tuesday...my tea today is a cleansing tea by yogi...i am listening to my new favorite pandora station, wish you were here...david gilmour, tom petty, gimme shelter as loud as the speakers will allow...when i think about it, i have never played music this loud...i've either been too busy, rented or lived with someone who can't handle it...son is back in school and i am rocking out...shhh dont tell...

and i am cleaning (for the new puppy)...sigh...cuz if i just show you the bottom shot, you'll think i'm a slob (which i kinda am)...hence the cool macro's

...visit kimmie and the other tea tuesday blogs here..

p.s. do you see the electric guitar in the gesso?

...reworked...(or DO-OVER)

2011-03-21T12:45:00.004-05:00

...i did a journal layout for michelle ward's challenge, self-evidence...i kept looking at it and just did NOT like what i had done...when i am in my genuine, zenlike creation state, i do not layout like a scrapbook page...i did this thinking i would try a more scrapbook-like layout and it has bugged me ever since i posted it...and the three pogo prints on each page was just wrong...blech

...my pages will not be bound but kept loose, in a pile because that is how i roll...maybe someday i'll bind them but i can tell you that i really enjoy the process of making the background...then letting it be...then adding some paint watered down gesso + oil pastels...then writing down words from the music i am listening to...just the flow of the words in no order...makes interesting statements...and i also like grabbing things from around my desk...i love the black striped paper, the background just melts in and leaves the black lines (thank you patty)...it will show up again...so, here is my re-post for michelle's challenge...this is more self evident of me...and yes, sometimes i have edges toothed like a saw...imagine that...

*
....so here is the process...

1. rip up big sheet of WC paper into smaller pieces
2. smoosh some WC paint right out of the tube onto the paper
3. swish it around with a big, wet brush
4. throw some salt on it, crunch up some plastic wrap and lay it on the wet spots
5. go have breakfast with your family for the last day of spring break
6. come home, take off the plastic and brush away the salt
7. water down some gesso with your paint water and mush it around the edges
8. dab at it with a paper towel and make some cool texture
9. go play some scrabble
10. get up the next day and turn on the radio, remembering how much you love pink floyd, thanks to patty's post quote
11. find pandora radio station titled, "wish you were here"
12. get out pages...too big...rip them in half
13. color some pastel around and rub in
14. write down some words
15. remember you had those great POGO prints from those pages you hated...rip them off. glue them on new pages
16. get out that old favorite stand-by, fluid medium, that make the tissue papers melt right into the background
17. eat some food and dance around a little to lynard skynard's free bird...(lynyrd skynyrd?)

...then? go do some laundry...

...for you...

2011-03-19T10:56:00.007-05:00

...a while back, i sent this project to a magazine and they sent it back so i decided to share it here...for spring...for light...

1. i went through my favorite flower pics and chose a few and cropped them

2. i created a collage of them (a "niner" - nine wallet size pics on a page) or you can do a single of course

3. i used my photo editor (picasa) and filled the light (in picasa there is a tool to "fill light" whatever editor you are using, you want to take away the contrast and leave the pastel-like colors) on the whole thing

4. i printed it off on nice, 98 lb. bright white copy paper...the good stuff

5. i sat in my chair with my little set of colored pencils and colored in front of the t.v.

using the pastel-like picture to guide my pencil choices...shading gently...

6. i learned i needed something smooth to color on or i would get chunks on my pretties

7. then i made a copy of the original and printed it again...and then shaded some more...

8. then i made another copy and cut them up and glued them to my pre-cut ATC blanks...then i filled in with a little colored pencil here and there to make them look like originals...i plan to do more with this technique..

...they make lovely cards i think or giftie tags for a bottle of wine...just in time for spring...if you try it, let me know so i can come over and visit your pretties...xo

sorry for the format, blogger isn't letting me add spaces

...totally pat...

2011-03-16T09:43:00.004-05:00

...back around my bday, i received a big package in the mail...from pat, at artfully ooglebloops...inside was a plethora of delights...from one horse lover to another...her cheery stitched card, tea drip catcher, lavender wand, star formed from rusty barbed wire, tiny white horse charm on a yellow string and my favorite...(be still my heart) a horse shoe...fresh from the barn...i hung the star by my entry way and the shoe is already in the box to go to the new cabin...for luck...thank you so much, pat...your thoughtfulness touched my horse-girl heart...i'll post a pic when i get the shoe hung above the door at the new place...xoxo

...awaiting green, tea...

2011-03-15T09:20:00.006-05:00

...photo of leaf page...

...scan of leaf page...

...more journal pages...i am working on more pages in my handmade journal and have decided to no longer paint/play/glue in a book format...it drives me nuts...i thought before that i would just work on blanks and bind them together afterwards...adding some control to the story as well...or not...i'm am decided now...

...i think you could take the spiral binding off of a pad, journal it up and rebind it...i'll let you know how that goes...

...i took the free pam carriker workshop over at strathmore...the bottom aspen leaf page (which was a real pressed leaf that fluttered it's way out of a library book) is a re-worked section of a page i created in that workshop...i painted over a copy of it with mica watercolor then stamped it with lemon juice...all the more reason to take scans and photos along the way...the possibilities are endless...many of us were already doing that but i did like the addition of the oil pastels and gesso i tried in her lessons...

...my tea today is republic of tea's organic double green matcha...and yes, i am going to finally take down the paper cut snowflakes as i truly think spring is on it's way...

...you can join the tea blog party over at kimmie's...

...march journal...

2011-03-14T14:23:00.004-05:00

...evidence...

2011-03-11T13:01:00.006-06:00

...michelle ward's challenge this month is to "evidence" journal yourself...these are my birthday pages...my husband and son gave me pink and orange roses...i used my bits of birthday $$ to buy myself a polaroid POGO printer...i have been playing with some old photographs of mine...altering and reshooting...printing with POGO...

...i have also included some painted yupo (which was a bday gift)...i love sewing pockets onto my pages with embroidery thread...the POGO printer is not so great with portraits but my pink crown and boa came out okay...so these were definitely the colors of my birthday this year...

...look for a 3 year blogging give*a*way soon...

...for rebecca...

2011-03-07T08:18:00.004-06:00

***double click for better close-ups***

...for mosaic monday and postcards from paradise...

...haiku my heart...

2011-03-04T08:44:00.008-06:00

sharing the sunlight

the colors hurt like arrows

i must drink you deep

i, like an insect,

seeking the sweetness inside

fall in spins of joy

...see the other haiku posts here...

...tea cups for tuesday...

2011-03-01T07:33:00.012-06:00

....i have let it be known that i am a fan of ann wood...it is pure joy to poke around her blog and shop...whimsical and playful...i especially love her pirate birds...aaaaarrrrrr...(i have a thing for pirates)

...so, in honor of her 5th year of blogging, she has offered a tutorial on paper mache tea cups...you can find the tutorial here...

...i made two - the first one i goofed and it only had 5 sides because i was toodling along and overlapped the last two sides...listening to pandora radio, not paying attention...the other one looked like a first grade bowl project so it went back to the recycling bin..i even made my own wheat paste...what a hot mess that was...still...it was very satisfying to make something out of nothing...the waffle box and some newsprint...a bit of tape and some flour+water...makes me appreciate ann even more! i will keep poking around, i've started another one but the flowers on the paper i chose make it look rather reptilian...so perhaps another fresh start tomorrow...

...here is the 5 sided cup, painted and then i rubbed in some oil pastel...i think at the very least, the crop shot would make a cool PS layer...

...won't you join us for tea on tuesdays? the details are on kimmie's blog...

...playing with what to do next...

2011-02-28T09:49:00.004-06:00

...small quiltie i made over the weekend...laid out on vintage linen dogwood hankie with MOP buttons, a bakelite heart and a hand sewn, vintage velvet ribbon...

...fabric swatch from my stash was purchased years ago...the artist's name is rosemary millette according to the salvage edge printing...it is a beautiful quilting cotton printed with birds and orchard fruits...

...making art for the cabin...just not sure where the next step will take me...i started this as just a fun, little journal cover and it may still end up as one...i have begun adding my watercolor birds to spoonflower and have had one printed up as a swatch...as soon as i get them all loaded in, they will be available for purchase...the organic cotton printed swatch was $5 + s/h and it turned out very well...

...i love my pogo printer...

2011-02-24T08:11:00.003-06:00

...4 small altered pogo prints...the prints are 2" x 3" and center perfectly on an ATC...pretty cheap fun, actually...so much for cleaning my studio...ggg

...kim klassen rocks!

2011-02-23T09:28:00.006-06:00

...some seriously cool stuff happening over at kim klassen's awesome photoshop class...she really makes PS super easy to understand...you can visit her site by clicking on her button over on my side bar...

...here is another version using my own photos and one of the textures kim generously provides in her free class...i have signed up for more!! do any of you have the recipe book? i'm seriously thinking of purchasing and would love to hear from you...

...busy busy busy...

2011-02-20T08:52:00.005-06:00

...i would like to introduce Marcus...he is an Ann Wood bird...i have been in love with her creations for 3 years...i often look at them but they are always sold out...i think she is very collectible...i had a little birthday money from my mother and mother-in-law and was able to finally get Marcus...Ann names them, it a surprise, the name is handwritten and attached via tag...lovely packaging and timely arrival (i added the feathers in his scarf)...every tiny stitch just perfect...he will be the first wanderer i will take with on our new adventure in the big woods of wisconsin...yup, we are done camping and living on the edge of the meadow...i will truly miss my bluebirds but i look forward to the new adventures in the big woods...we have purchased a cabin...and Marcus get first pick of places on the mantle...i will begin looking for a bell jar to place over him and will surround him with lichens and agates...

...i made a piece of wet felted wool a while back...this is a close up of what i worked on for friday night sew in...a story of friendship...felted wool machine stitched, hand embroidered, and a small camp fire girl button, a bit of lace and a cut out from one of my hankies...for a friend of mine who has also turned 50 and loves purple...and we've known each other for about that long...old friends from the hood...we were camp fire girls together and are still very outdoor girls...she has a small business making custom fleece mittens...if you are interested in a great fund raising item for your school or organization, you can see what she does here...

...and lastly, the gorgeous sunset we had last night on our way home from visiting our new cabin...from the car window...we are due for a major blizzardy type snow event today...hope you are all warm and safe..xo

...oo, did mention we are also getting a puppy??...

...friday night sew in...

2011-02-18T16:31:00.001-06:00

...i'm getting settled in for the "friday night sew-in" hosted by heidi...here is the info if you want to join in...

...i am playing with synthetic paper...it's really cool...

...one world...one heart...winner...

2011-02-17T08:16:00.005-06:00

popped by the random.org

number generator and the winner is...

VICKIE

from

Whispers of Inspiration

dear vickie - please email me with your snail addy...i'll you an email to you as well!!

congrats and thanks to everyone for visiting me in the meadow

by the way!! kim klassen is offering a free mini-photoshop class - you can sign up here!!

...new blog love...

2011-02-15T07:19:00.005-06:00

...good morning, tea tuesday friends...

...i have two blogs to share that i thought you all might be interested in...one is little red house...she hosts a photo mosaic event on mondays...

...the other is my world tuesday...bloggers show a little of their world every tuesday...

...one world...one heart...

2011-02-14T11:46:00.001-06:00

Please leave only one comment

...the fifth and final year of one world, one heart...an international blogging event running until 2/17/11...
...just leave a comment on this post and i will use the random number generator to draw a winner...

...the dish and lace are NOT included...BUT the love pendant and 4 handmade copper buttons ARE!!!...

...hand hammered and filed smooth (i've even filed the inside of the button holes), my handmade buttons are about 3/4" in diameter...i have not coated them and the patina is lovely...

...the love pendant is slightly under an inch and i have softly stamped L O V E into the metal, again soft coppery patina...the enameled heart is by c. koop and the jump rings are sterling...

...i will not be actively blogging during this event, instead i will be cleaning and sorting my studio...again...as i have now begun to take over yet another room and the hubby is a little peeved...

...please feel free to visit the other OWOH bloggers at lisa's blog here...

...thank you, lisa, for organizing and running this event...you are an amazing gal...

...mosaic monday...

2011-02-14T11:21:00.003-06:00

...i've found a new blog (little red house) in my recent travels and she has a nice monday gathering called mosaic monday...this mosaic is a gathering of recent love offerings...it has been a blessed winter...happy Love day to you all...

...three muses...

2011-02-10T09:39:00.002-06:00

...the theme for three muses challenge this week is "quotation"...

...i am enjoying my daily practice of painting...small paintings, mixtures of watercolors, neo colors, colored pencils...my dahlia faery is peeking out of the winter blue her petals have become...

'Tis my faith that every flower enjoys the air it breathes!

Wm. Wordsworth

...thank you for visiting...

...blackbird...

2011-02-07T11:45:00.004-06:00

...the theme for "take a word" challenge today is blackbird...this was the most challenging bird i have painted so far...i thought he would be easy because he was black...HA! not!

...i am out of painting time so i will leave him as is...i rather like how he looks taped to the yard love background...tissue tape by tim holtz...thanks for looking...and if you haven't already done so, pop in to the OWOH giveaway here...

...connection...

2011-01-31T08:34:00.001-06:00

...my birthday present from the sweetest gal in blogland...

...i had one of those aww/ohhh moments when i first began my blog...i had chosen the name magpie nest...because like all resourceful magpies, i loved to bring home all the shiny and interesting things...so...i start my search to see if it's okay and up pops the blog, magpie's nest...bitze...hmmm...i was so bummed...but then, i started to poke around and thought to myself "she looks really cool" so i left a comment...and then i started playing some of the art games...and i would see the kind comments she made on everyone's work..."gosh, what a special lady" i would think again...

...so, because many of you know miss patty, i would like to thank her here for all of her kind words of support and light...you made my birthday celebration so special...your lovely package, so carefully wrapped, arrived on a saturday when my boys were out...i made myself a cup of herbal tea and began opening, with my camera by my side...it was just so darn magical...full of gorgeous handmade and thoughtful

things...and of course, some very special "patty" things...an altered spoon...a velvet heart, hand sewn and embellished with a patty nest...sigh...so many lovely papers and teeny bits...and a flow blue butter pat plate (pitter patter)...all wrapped in bits of beautiful hand dyed laces...

...thanks so much for making my half century mark so special...xoxoxo...

...grateful...

2011-01-30T12:56:00.001-06:00

...grateful...

...for everything and everyone...
...good friends, great food, laughter, packages in the mail...
...a thoughtful family...
...who could ask for more...

...tomorrow i am fifty...

...and i am truly grateful for that...

...owoh starts tomorrow for me...are you playing for the last time?

...ink...

2011-01-28T08:28:00.003-06:00

white stayzon

azure stayzon

...the theme for wednesday stamper this week is ink...belinda has a great post on different inks, liquid watercolors and sprays here...

...i have just done some fun, basic stamping...i'm not much of a stamper...they are so expensive and the ones i really want, patty already has...ggg...(she really does have a wonderful stamp collection)

...the stamp is by hampton arts~it's called "diffusion" by jill meyer...

so i was playing around with ink pads on watercolor paper and thought "i'm going to try the lemon juice on my stamp"...well, that didn't work so well so THEN i thought, "i'm going to stamp with my cotton white stazon on the white paper and paint them in"

...so i tried the lemon juice...it didn't work because the stamp was too detailed...then i tried the white ink...the lemon juice had loosened up all the prior inks on the stamp so when i tried to stamp white, it came out white/blue/green...which i thought was pretty cool...it was time for a new white pad anyway...i hate the smell of the stayzon cleaner so i don't clean off my stamps very often...that stuff is nasty...so happy accident...wish i had scanned it before i painted...anyhooo...

...top one painted with Dr. PhMartin's radiant watercolors which are super fun but the colors are fleeting and are meant to be scanned and used that way...but the way they stain the paper all the way to the back of the paper, i wonder how "fleeting" they are...they really are beautiful and bright colors and i love them mixed with gesso...it was better before i stamped the image again over the top hoping to created the white lines again but you all know how that went...i just made a bad double image...then i used a little pearl white oil pastel over the top...this one i will probably do over...maybe i'll cover this one with watered down gesso...

...bottom one just painted with WCs...i bet you could cut a cute heart out of these...or cut them in strips for journals...or cut them into inchies for mini books and ATC's...i do like this stamp...

above = inks + white stayzon + oil pastel

...i heart this...

2011-01-27T07:31:00.001-06:00

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in

my heart)i am never without it(anywhere

i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done

by only me is your doing,my darling)

i fear

no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want

no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)

and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows

higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

e.e. cummings

Selected Poems

...another heart...

2011-01-26T09:06:00.004-06:00

...i was not very happy with my very first chickadee...but i showed him here and kept him for a reason...i showed him to show you how you can use the WC techniques to give yourself a "do-over" and get new results AND i kept him because i thought i might be able to make him into something else...and that, i did...using the heart template, i cut him out and using the outside of the heart template, i cut another heart out of card stock...then i hand stitched them together with some cross stitches...now he is an ornament...dee dee dee...

...ps...my favorite new way to add colors to my supplies...embroidery thread...so inexpensive and so many beautiful colors...ahh..and a little bit of nostalgia for my younger days...i quite like sewing the paper...

***Bluebirds Living in the Meadow**Photos and Art by Jean Zoss

hand carved hearts....

on a roll...

ruffled...

more watercolor play...

rescued...

fawn-o-rama...

morning moon and golden tea...

color study II

...haiku my heart plus paint...

...isn't she snappy...

...wednesday...

...collection tea...

...saturday...

..grapefruit ode...

...less is more...

...found...

...fleeting...

...more birdies...

...art journal ornament...

...spirit walks...haiku my heart...

...spirit tea...

...snow...

...my lady of the perpetual art mess...

...o mary, don't you weep...

...it's personal...

...grace...

...Minneapolis Institute of Art...

...virgin...

...home again, home again, jiggity jig...

...shades of indigo and payne's gray....

...friday stuff...

...the fall of fragments...

...harvesting what is left of the morning light...

...leaves and toads...and puppy dog tails...

...button bracelets...

...time for tea tuesday...

...o, summer, please don't go...

...gompi or gampi tissue...

...text tea...

...she read the dream outloud...

...puppy notes...

...just because...

...swan for paint party friday...

...what i did next...

...a little tiger lily toot...

...random summer thoughts...

...new impressions...

...fluid acrylic tip...

...swallow tea...

...cabin tea...or...what i did on my summer vacation...

...cabin prince...

...where is the heart in bleeding?

...modern sepia...

...new tool...

...anthem...(for paint party friday)

...new job description...

...wren tea...

...spring journaling...

...art in bloom...

...little layered love...

...a postcard to spring...

...word on a wire...

...bird brain tea...

...julie & chris are at it again...

...cobalt wings...

...singapore tea...

...weekend...

...video on citrasolv techniques...

...citrasolv half page...

...citrasolv journal page two...

...citrasolv journal page and tea...

...experimental tea...

...pets...

...wired...

...spring cleaning tea...

...reworked...(or DO-OVER)

...for you...

...totally pat...

...awaiting green, tea...

*Bluebirds Living in the MeadowPhotos and Art by Jean Zoss