Birdies of the Month!

Each month I'll be making 3 birdie themed ATCs -- I'll upload them around the 30th of the month. Has anyone noticed that orange has been creeping into my pallet? What's with that???

*** later...(it's a year long swap in the Creative Chix Yahoo Group -- a follow up to the birdie bag that I sent to Jo at the end of June)

Gothic Lolita Blythe

Last weekend Ray and I were out for a walk and decided to visit one of my favourite shops/ galleries called Magic Pony. I love this place! It always has great art shows but the books and stuff cannot be found elsewhere in Toronto. Since we're supposed to be on a budget, we were "just looking" There were so many great books. I really wanted this one:
Then I saw the Blythe dolls. Oh, they were wonderful. But at $120-$140, I really couldn't justify buying myself a doll. Even a super cool Blythe doll...... There were lots of books about Blythe too (and lots about other super cool stuff -- go see the website)
So I consoled myself with this:Isn't she cute? She came in a little box, and in Japan they come from a vending machine -- so you don't know which one you're going to get. I was lucky. I got the one I wanted. I got to indulge my gothic lolita self AND my Blythe fetish. Well, a little bit anyway....

But I got these pins too, so I can wear them at school. And then the kids will think that I'm slightly cool. Well, the boys already think that I'm cool because I know all the words to Green Day songs, and I know who Billy Talent is (Canadian alternative band). The girls think I'm cool because I know the words to all of the songs from The Sound Of Music. Only in Kindergarten can these two musical genres be cool at the same time......Ray got a little figure too -- I can't remember what it was.... but the dog is surely going to eat it soon.....

Etsy!

Okay, I've jumped on board of Etsy. Little by little I will be adding to and improving the shop :) I found it all a bit overwhelming -- all of the descriptions, profiles, announcements. But I think I have it all figured out. Please email me if you see something that looks wrong (something that I HAVEN'T figured out....). I plan to do ALL of my holiday shopping through Etsy. I encourage you all to do the same! Support your fellow artists! Even if it isn't me :)
*** and I've ALREADY made my first sale. Thank you shopaholic! (you know who you are!)
Right now, I only have pins listed. I will follow with cuffs really soon, and some larger, gaudier pins, LOL. I'm haing fun creating with fabric. Maybe I need to take a paper break....... (except for the rubber stamping -- I still need to practice all of the time). Practice makes perfect, right? I read somewhere that it takes 10 years to master a skill. Well, I've been shopping at the same rubber stamp store for 20 years. So I should be a master, right? Oh, what? You have to use the stamps? They can't just look pretty on the shelf? I guess that goes for the gym too...... I HAVE a gym membership. Why aren't I in super great shape? Oh, right, it's the practice thing. You actually have to GO to the gym. Maybe I will...... tomorrow.........
(the pin in the picture is 1 1/2 x 2" and it's listed on Etsy -- in marthabrown's shop!)

I made cards!!!!

Yesterday I took Stamping 201 at Bizzy B's! Daniza is a fantastic teacher -- I can't wait to take the distress inks class in September! I took Stamping 101 last year to try to get a bit more mileage out of my stamps. But most of them still are just looking pretty on the shelf. And I am very determined to use stamps like Audrey Hernandez. Audrey's work rocks! (go and look at it RIGHT NOW by clicking on her full name). Anyway.... these are the cards that I made! Thank you Daniza! We used some stippling, some Versa Mark for resist, some big and juicy rainbow pad... masking..... did I say stippling????
This "dream a little dream" card is my favourite. The large image is a bLine stamp, the Dream a little dream is Catslife Press. I don't know where the imagine stamp is from.... (these were all stamped on scrapbooking paper)


We used big and juicy rainbow stamp with a Stampington big flower.... can't remember the name.... and stamped it all over a glossy panel, then cut it up and made a mosaic card. The orange card in the top photo also uses the same stamp.

I also had fun masking with the tag. The girl on the tag is a Paperbag Studio stamp called Emily. I think that the buttons are BLine. The text is Catslife Press! I went a bit overboard with the stippling and it's a bit dark.... I have to find my stippling brush..... I LIKE stippling...... i even like the name....

Todays Goal? Make 20 Thank you cards for the kiddies in my class who gave me gifts at the end of the year. Yes, I know that I'm a bit late, but it's nice to get a letter in the middle of summer, n'est ce pas? I'll post the results later.... or not, if I get all frustrated and throw them out. I have a pack of 24 Thank you cards from Target, just in case..........

Editor's Notes: Later that day....
I think that I need to take Stamping 201 again. I'm no Audrey Hernandez........

Bird Skinny Book

I'm participating in Amy's Bird Skinny Book. the pages are 3" x 6" . I like the look of this format, but I still prefer working in squares.

The backgrounds have about 7 layers of paint (!) . Yellow ochre, magenta, mixes or the two, stencils and prints. The tree rubber stamp is called "Spooky Branch" by Stampscapes. Sanctuary and the eggs are Michelle Ward's -- from the Clearly Impressed line from Stampington (thanks again Kelly!). The bird images are, well, bird images...... from somewhere....

I found these letters...

On Flikr. I don't know if I'm allowed to use them or not. I've emailed the flikr owner -- so I'm not sure if I can share the link. But as soon as I find out, I'll share it, or remove the image!

Robin O's CJ

This calendar journal had small pictures and inspirational quotations by Paramabansa Yogananda. I decided to leave the pictures and the quotations "as is" (well, some are altered a bit), and I tried to respond to them on the facing page..... It was a bit hard.

Waterlily (above)-- I stitched on top of petals from a really tacky fake rose. I really like this one.

Play -- These are Crowned Herons (from Africa? I can't remember, I covered their descriptions...) I used coloured staples, which I'd never tried before. I'll use them more often.....

Garden -- Now that I step back and look at this spread, I wish that I had put some text on it.....

I really struggled with this spread. This is its third incarnation. I like it all except the border around the quote. Oh well. If you click on it and make it larger, you can see my layers of paint, scrapbooking stickers, paper and more paint washes and finally lots of rubber stamping.

My Feet

These are my poor feet. See my lovely bunions? They are the cause of my foot problems. They made me walk funny, so my metatarsil bone had a lot of pressure on it and one day, BAM! I couldn't walk. So now I have to wear custom-made orthopedic insoles (orthotics) in all of my shoes. I can't even walk around the house without my insoles. So finding shoes that will fit my insoles inside is a challenge. My summer sandals have to have a back part. They are so unpretty. Last week I was cross-border shopping at TJ Max, and I found these cool shoes. I can walk many miles in them (literally). I'll tell you about THAT in my next post.


Boy, my legs look big from waaaayyy up here.....

Mixed Media Mosaics

I love this book!!! I've never worked with polymer clay-- but this book rocks!!! I'm going to try, for sure (maybe tejae can help me! -- she makes amazing polymer clay pieces). I do have clay already -- but this book has great ideas for embellishements, and explains a lot to me.

Oh My Goodness!

I went to bed last night (early, Lauren needed the computer), and I got up this morning, and POOF! The blog fairy had hit. And I love it!!! It made me all teary. (um, those would be joyous tears, not the other kind) The blog fairy is Heather Simpson Bluhm . The third egg from the top (on her site) is the banner fairy egg. She can custom do banners for blogs and things like etsy -- and I know that she does business cards too!. But don't forget to look at her other eggs too. Thank you , Heather, I love it immensely! (and it's all your fault, that , once again, I'm teary..... hahahaha)

poof

The banner fairy

has struck.

Today's fortune cookie

My Fortune Cookie told me: Take time today to pay more attention to your imaginary friends. Get a cookie from Miss Fortune

Zetti Pages

These are in Vale's zetti book -- for our zettiology journal girls RR. It's finished now, and I was supposed to have Vales book back to her about 2 months ago. My bad. Vale, you should have it today! (Vale lives less than an hour away from me. I've never met her, because neither of us know how to drive. Well, I think that I should take a day, and the Greyhound, to meet her!)
The images are from a French fashion magazine. And Lauren's face, of course. The little butterfly postage looks a bit out of place. Oh well......

Zetti Fabric Postcards

They didn't have to be black and white, but that's what I conjured up.

All I want to do is just pour some tea for two....

This is my spread in Rachelle's Book (Colour Me Silly RR). The theme of the book is "Book of Pleasures". I had to decide on my pleasures. I have lots, LOL! Reading, art,family, children, Ray, tea, food, music..... I chose tea. I love curling up with a nice cuppa. Even in the middle of summer. And then, I always have a jug of home made (sweet) iced tea in the ice box. (we don't really say ice box in Canada, I'm just foolin' with yer heads, eh?) After I made this, I wanted to keep it. I could have, and made another -- I created it and then glued it in the book. In the top pic, there is a lovely teapot button that I cherish, it's hard to see among the fibers....... I hope that Rachelle likes it........
(made from fabric backgrounds, and some paper. I even rubber stamped a bit!)

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Her Eminence the Very Viscountess Martha the Formidable of London by the Bow Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

Please refer to me as your eminence from now on.... hmmm, how intriguing, m&ms are my favourite candy........ and I really am from London.........

oh, by the way, dear loyal subjects, I found this on Veronica's blog.

Oh, Lost Love.....

This is my spread for Donna's Sepia book. It is the last of the "We Dream In Color #1" RR. 15 spreads - 15 months! It's the last one of the series that I have challenged myself to incorporate music lyrics into. Sepia was difficult. I guess that I still have to do my own (chartruese and violet) too. I'll do that when it comes home from June!

When I chose the lyrics, I knew that the spread had to be bittersweet. A man, remembering the past, pining over his lost love...... What happened to her? What did he put away somewhere safe?-- the picture? a letter? his heart? her body? (mwaaahaaahaaa)

The sepia Lyrics are by jazz singer Al Jarreau
L is for Lovers
Yesterday, just a
photograph of yesterday
And all its edges folded
and the corners
faded sepia brown
And yet it's all I have
of our past love
A postscript to its ending

Brighter days
I can see such brighter days
When every song we sang
Is sung again
And now we know
We know this time it's for good
And we're lovers once again
And you're near me

I can remember the
rain in December
The leaves are brown -
On the ground

In Spain I did love and adore you
The nights filled with
joy were our yesterdays
And tomorrow will bring you near me

I can recall my desire
Every reverie is on fire
And I get a picture of
all our yesterdays
Yes, today
I can say, "I get a kick every time
They play that, 'Spain," again"

I can remember the rain in December
The leaves are brown-
On the ground

Our love was a Spanish fiesta
The bright lights and songs
were our joy each day
And the nights were the
heat of yearning

I can recall my desire
Every reverie is on fire
And I get a picture of
all our yesterdays
Yes, today
I can say, "I get a kick everytime
I see you gaze at me."

I see moments of history
Your eyes meet mine and
They dance to the melody
And we live again
As if dreaming

The sound of our
hearts beat like castanets
And forever we'll know their meaning

You gaze at me
I see moments of history...
Your eyes meet mine
And they dance to the melody
And we live again
As if dreaming...

Hot Women

Last night was my local ATC night at Bizzie B's. The Hive is growing! I made 15 ATCs, but the number is getting unmanageable. It's hard to do your best work when you're churning out a production line! I like my ATCs to be individualized....... Thank you everyone for trading! And thanks to everyone who came for the socializing. And a special thanks to Ray for coming and driving me home!

I did these with transparencies (layering background paper underneath. I think that this is my favourite way to make ATCs. The bottom right card (feelings could get hurt) isn't a transparency -- it's images with tulle over the top. I also made some others with paper /paint etc, but I lost the scan somewhere on my computer, and I can't remember what I named it...

Someone asked me where I get my word text from -- sometimes, if I need a specific quote, I print it on the computer and then age it with tea. But usually, I cut from books. Lately I've been using an old horoscope book, as well as a Trixie Beldon book and Little Women. Oh, and I have a few copies of "The complete works of Shakespeare", so they are bound to show up in next months "Quotes" ATC theme at Bizzie B's! (August 10th -- put it on your calendar right now!!) Although I do have a set of Shakepeare quotations in rubber somewhere......

Bird Obsession

I was really excited to work in Karen's journal because it kind of had a bird theme (The journal is called "A Song in my Heart -- and it has a little quotation at the bottom right of every spread, with an image of an egg). I had so much trouble working with birds! I think that they'd rather be off soaring, than being stuck in the pages of a book, LOL. The image of the girl is a postcard by Anahata -- it was from ArtFest. I love how Anahata puts together her collages.....

hearts

I just love hearts. When Jo asked if anyone was interested in a heart danglie swap, I jumped at the chance. They are not due until August 30, but I was mailing some other things to Jo (in Australia) so I sent these along. They were to be ATC size -- and I wasn't sure if they were to be ATC dimension ( 2 1/2 by 3 1/2), but I made them that way anyway. I really enjoyed making these, so I made some extra. I sent one to my dentist, who retired last week. I'll miss you, Dr. Charlebois, Happy Retirement!

(the fronts are on the top, the backsides are on the bottom!)

Some birds fly alone

I am one of those birds. And I'd like to thank everyone in my life who has let me soar freely, and who has understood how important that has been to me.

Avast, ye scurvy dogs!

I be going on a voyage south in the Black Pearl (or perhaps the Red Echo). We be back on Wednesday.

I'm no Jack Sparrow -- but I'd do well as one of the crew, wouldn't I???? I'm not sure which one I like better -- Yo Ho a pirates death for me, or Arrrgh Shiver me timbers! I'm pretty distasteful in both.

White

I've started another colour RR. This time my colour is white. I LOVE working in white. This is the book that I sent off to Bonnie this week -- all ready to be arted in. I used a children's dictionary -- it was the size that I wanted. The friendly words page is the sign in -- there are 11 participants across the US and Canada. I will really enjoy this book when it comes home -- I can continue filling the pages with white! ( I took the pages at sunset, so the colours look a bit pinker than they really are.

Sometimes I scare myself.....

Lauren and I went to the mall today and played in the photobooth. We have some wonderful photos! We're going to make this a regular occurance. Aren't we cute? But wait, there is a piece de resistance! Look to the right! I brought props. This cretin is me! No extra makeup! These strips of pictures were taken seconds apart! I would switch sidewalks to avoid this pirate! (all I put on was the scarf and a piece of candy wrapper on my tooth) . The pirate pics will be made into ATCs for Dawn Supina's Wacky Photo Booth Swap. I will include a "real" pic of me on the back. Although, scarily, those to the left are just as real. And sheesh, I usually think that I look better without my glasses. Please click on the photos for super scary enlargements!
Who knew that a pirate lived inside of me?????
Maybe I should start talking pirate!

Now, mateys, if ye intends to go on readin this blog, ye better get used to the new way a talkin. Avast and shiver me timbers!

"Avast belay, yo ho, heave to,

A-pirating we go

And if we're parted by a shot

We're sure to meet below!"

"Yo ho, yo ho, the pirate life,

The flag o'skull and bones

A merry hour, a hempen rope,

And hey for Davy Jones."

(Peter Pan)

Hey! Did you know that September 19 is International "Talk Like a Pirate" Day? I'm definitely celebrating this one!

Birdie ATC bag

The details of this swap:
We were to make a birdie bag that could hold about 30 ATCs. We were to send it, and 3 ATCs to a partner. Then, for the next year or so, send 3 Bird themed ATCs to each person in the swap. My bag and my first ATCs have gone to Jo in Queensland, Australia. I will post the ATCs after Jo has received the bag -- something HAS to be a secret!
The bag is about 6" square and about 3" deep. I forgot to take pictures of the inside. There is a little hidden nest!
(I should really find some new backdrops for my pictures, LOL)

I LOVE to swim

During the school year, I swim twice a week (even all winter). In the summer, I barely swim. This summer I'm going to try to swim more often. Swimming frees my mind. I'd start today, but it's pouring rain..... excuses, excuses....
(this is another spread in Karen's CJ)

What's with THIS ???

When we were in Quebec last summer, we came across this road sign. It is just outside of an English speaking town called Arundel. Its weirdness speaks for itself. Although I'm pretty sure this is what it means: If you come across a sleeping child in the middle of the road, please drive around them. Pay special attention not to run over their floppy socks.
** I welcome your interpretations too!!! Leave a comment!

aahhhhh, summer

Finally. I'm finished school. Now I can relax. Hahahahahahaha. Today I'm finishing up some things that need to be mailed out, then tomorrow I'm making some art to sell! That's the best kind for me to do -- not because of the selling, but because I get to make exactly what I want, without a hard deadline.This is a spread that I did in Karen's calendar journal. The journal is beautiful. But huge and heavy and a b**** to mail. I got to use my new pink stamp pad. It's exactly what I wanted.

Happy Canada Day!

We celebrated in style! At a Rowing Regatta -- The Dominion Day Regatta at Toronto Island. It was the 123rd year of this event. Lauren was rowing. Here she is in all her glory! GO LAUREN!


After the races we had a picnic. Then Ray and I went to the beach. A wonderful relaxing day. And we get to do it again tomorrow (the relaxing day, not the rowing) Because Canada Day fell on a Sunday, we get to holiday again on Monday. Yay!