Fabric pages in progress....

It went from this: To this:
The top pic shows my fabric and trim and the bottom pic shows the fronts of the 4x4 pages. I still have to embellish them (beads, sequins and embroidery thread), then make the backs, then bind them and add fibers around the edges (maybe). The images (faces) are by Teesha Moore. http://teeshamoore.com

Who knew that you couldn't complete 16 fabric pages (fronts and backs) in 1 day..........? I gathered my fabric (purples, blues and greens) and away I went. I'm still going. They ar 4"x4".I've made the fronts of more than 20, (I had the bright idea that I'd make extra for trades). These are for an ArtFest Fabric Fatbook. I have to mail them this week. Then Sara will bind them and give them to us at ArtFest. I'll have a 15 page book. The extra page is to make a book for Teesha Moore, the host of ArtFest (with husband Tracy). I'm loving them so far. I want to keep them all. I'll post the final pages within the next day or so -- and of course, I'll post the final book -- but you'll have to check back in the first week of April. (ArtFest is in Port Townsend, WA, from March 28-April 1)
( so far I've used 3 spools of thread and made a teeny weeny dent in the pile of fabric)

Red

Lynnette April's book colour is red and black. I chose the song "Red" by Treble Charger



"Red"

Saw you looking for a light
Face painted cigarette white
You asked the cleanest boy you found
You couldn't see me turned around
His fingers stretched across your empty gaze
That I just can't escape

As the red fades from your wrinkled dress
A picture of the people you've impressed
Hangs on a wall around here
Vision starts to crawl when I'm near
And the evening waits
While you get caught up to your own mistakes
Made up different lines
I wouldn't wanna keep in my mind

I wondered why you'd come around
Remembering your little girl frown
Your answers kept the crowd at bay
With compliments unwilling to pay
I had some things I'd like to say to you
But they just can't be true

Bye Bye Little Women!

I struggled with this book. It should have been easy. The theme is (loosely) paper dolls and the colours are browns and pinks. This is part of what I did in it. I'm sending it off to Debby today -- it will be gone for a year! I wasn't happy with the right side of the spread, so I'm not showing it. Here is the cover and one spread. The title of the chapter was called "Experiments". I really like using the Phrenology images. I have 5 different rubber stamps and I often use the image as a transparency too. Why do I like it? Because it's different. And I'm different.

Tag, I'm it!

I was tagged by Carmi to reveal 5 things little-known things about me.

1. I hate travelling. Anywhere. If I could stay in my house and yard forever, I would.....

2. I don't like to shower-- I don't like the feeling of water falling on me (no, I don't smell bad -- I take BATHS). I stood in a waterfall once and the pictures of me look like the little drummer boy with that painted-on smile.

3. My age. It's little known. I admit to being 27, because I was, once, but this year I think that I'll be 28. So, there you go, I'm 28.

4. I am a compulsive list maker. And I rewrite the lists every day. I might have 20 lists on the go. Grocery lists, to -do in the house lists, to-do at school lists, art due lists, people to phone, people to email, gifts to buy,.... I've tried to keep it all in a journal, or a notepad, but, nope, I like the bits of paper floating around. Just think of it as future ephemera, okay? It really sucks when I wash the black pants with the lists in the pockets though. And THAT happens more often than I care to admit.

5. I keep a suitcase packed all the time. I have a recurring nightmare that I've forgotten that I have to be at the airport in an hour, and I can't get my act together to get there. To make the dream go away, I keep a suitcase packed under my bed at all times. I haven't had the dream since I did it!

6. Rules are for sissies. You ask for 5, I give you seven.

7. Unfortunately, I'm not this amusing in person. I'm shy. Really. No, really!

I can't tag anyone else because Carmi tagged everyone who I know well enough to tag. Except my mom. Mom, when you read this, please email me, or call me and tell me 5 little known things about you, okay? I'd ask Lauren to do it too, but she never reads my blog. But Ray does. Ray, you've been tagged!!!

I've added a #8
8. I hate phoning people. I hate the phone. I wouldn't have one, but then people would be annoyed with me. And confused. "Waddya mean you don't have a phone? That's what they say about the fact that I don't have cable. Because I don't really like televison. I'd say that I'm a luddite, but I REALLY like the computer.

Danglies

Aren't these cute? They are the bottom dangly part for some things I'm making to swap. The fabric part at the top won't show -- it's just to hold the fibres securely. But I can't show the finished art! That would ruin the surprise. But I really like these, and boy-o-boy, was it ever hard to thread the fibre through a needle. Is there an easier way to put beads on a fibre?

Feeling Blue, well not really....

Okay, I said that I wasn't going to make ATCs any more.... but these were so fun to make! Although, perhaps a bit busy looking -- especially when they're all together like this. But they are so easy to mail !!!! -- I'll just pop them in the box to Debby when I mail my RR book to her! Like, tonight! It will be a monthly colour challenge. This month was blue and white. I especially like my new ATC back! (that's the middle image on the top line) It's a stamp by Catslife Press. You can get Catslife stamps here in Toronto at Bizzy B's -- or online http://www.catslifepress.com/ Catslife is one of my favourite stamp companies. I embossed them too! (hey, give me a break, although I've had my embossing powders for 20 years, this is the first time that I've used them) (sound familiar, anybody?) (click on the image and it blows up really huge -- ooh, scary)

Live by this

This is a 4x4 that I did for a mingle. The theme is celebrate. The quotation is from Sam Walton (1918-1992), owner of Walmart. This is the full quotation "Celebrate your success and find humor in your failures. Don’t take yourself so seriously. Loosen up and everyone around you will loosen up. Have fun and always show enthusiasm. When all else fails, put on a costume and sing a silly song." I love it!

Faith

A 4x4 for Vickie. Some artists are getting together to make a Fatbook for Vickie Mack. She is the owner of BMuse -- and she has been hospitalized since Jan 1 with a brain aneurysm. As far as I know -- her prognosis is good. The pages were supposed to be uplifting. I don't know how uplifting this is, but the sentiment means a lot to me. Thanks for organizing this, Sandee. (this looks really beautiful in person -- there is gold leaf under the angel transparency and it just shimmers in the light!)

Winter ATCs

Friday night is ATC night at Bizzy B's -- I love going there and seeing everyone and trying to make something (I don't work well with an audience -- LOL -- not good for a teacher) and learning new techniques. And trying not to buy anything hahahahahahahah. I DON'T like making 10 cards though. I think that my limit is 3...... Here is a sneak peek of what I'll be bringing on Friday!

Playing in Vale's Calendar Journal

I'm in a calendar journal RR!! --I get someone else's calendar journal to use for a month-- I can journal in it, add momento's, and alter the art in the book (or create new art). For January, I get to use Vale's Leonardo's Notebook. I've never done this before --- but I'm really into it! Doesn't it look fun??? This is my first attempt. I might add some more, but I'm onto the next week now!!!! For the first time ever, I'm ready to ditch my leather bound dayplanner (well, the dog chewed it anyway) and buy a calendar journal!!! The one that I want is sold out everywhere though. A Song in my Heart. I have it on order from Amazon, but I'm not holding my breath. Speaking of Amazon -- I just got the book that I ordered with my Christmas money -- Bernie Berlin's ATC Book -- Artist Trading Cards Workshop. What a great book! It has so many cool techniques. I can't wait until next weekend so I can try some.

Bobbin Charms

Today I made a set of charms from sewing machine bobbins! The top pic shows the bobbins with the paper around the core. I coated the paper with diamond glaze (2 coats) for durability. The middle pic shows the danglies I added -- beads, and washers and gear things. I put some on with a head pin and some on with jump rings. The bottom pic shows a finished charms on the right, but the left charm is still waiting for more jump rings full of goodies. I really like these, but they might be too funky for some people. I've already attached some to a bracelet that I have!

Charmed, I'm sure....

Okay -- I finished the first charms and am well on my way with the next set. I'm still not sure which set is going to which swap though!!! I'm happy to trade with anyone who wants one and doesn't get one though!!!

The top picture shows the slips of paper -- some are waiting to be glued (I folded little lines from a book in half and then glued them) the book is --- Alice in Wonderland!!

The next picture shows the vials all lined up (they are poked into a piece of foam core -- they have to stay upright for many hours)-- they have been filled with the slips of paper and some tiny seed beads (7 or so....) then they have been "capped" with a larger bead, and then sealed with diamond glaze (2 coats of glaze -- let dry 4 or 5 hours in between-- preferably overnight). They really have to dry in the foamcore -- if you move them, the inner sead beads will all stick to the top (don't ask me how I know........)

The bottom pic shows the finished charm!! They are just over 1 1/2 inches long. I did most of them like the bottom one - but with more wire. I wrapped copper wire around them (20 gauge?). Next time I would put a little copper bead or something copper inside.

I'm happy!!!!

Next charms will post tomorrow!

Friends

I had a lovely afternoon with my friend Colette yesterday. She is THE most generous person ever! She is a true "kindred spirit". She shared some of her fabric and paper stash with me. Oh such pretty fabrics!-- and some really cool fibres made by someone near Toronto (I'll have to buy more of these. They are so precious and I have a hard time using things if I only have a little tiny bit). Hence my giant apartment that is FULL! Colette has the most lovely apartment full of beautiful art -- her own and many other artists too. It is a true atelier!!! We shared some wonderful "whole flower" tea -- it looked so pretty unfolding in the cup. I wish that I had pictures! How will I live up to that when Colette comes to visit me?

Today is Robin's birthday! HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROBIN. Must call Robin. Must call Robin..........

Charms

For the next few days I'll be focusing on making charms for a few swaps -- one is Dawn's and the other is Amber Dawn's. I'll likely bring similar ones to ArtFest too. I'm going to start with some little glass vials and put in little "messages" (in many different languages). Then I'm going to wrap the tops with copper wire and age the wire with stinky liver of sulphur. Then I'll hang off some little dangly washer thingys. Wish me luck!
The top photo is my desk with my supplies on it. Okay, this desk is an antique harvest table about 5 1/2 feet long. I work on a space about a foot square. Surrounding me is a mountain of supplies. LOL.
Th bottom photo is my preparation of my papers -- I coat both sides with acrylic medium. It's not quite as durable as a resin (like envirotec). But I plan to seal the vials.

My Other Angel

I promise -- no more puppy pictures! Ray has been playing with the camera. Honestly, he only looks angelic. In reality there should be a movie: The Devil Wears Westie Fur...... I'm going to do some altered pictures of him -- then you'll see his true nature!