Art Unraveled 2012

It's that time of year again! Time to pick my classes for Art Unraveled, which happens at the beginning of August in Phoenix (yes, it is hot there, but the only time I actually leave the hotel is to go to the patio during happy hour :) (and a brief trip or two to Trader Joe's)

And I can't wait to see these super fabulous friends of mine (and to eat Greek Fries!)


and to see Adena, Fran, Angie, Tracey, Lorri, Don, Susan... and Michael :) Can't believe that it's still 7 months away, LOL.

This is my lineup for 2012, assuming that I get into all of the classes....

Tuesday - 10 Objects 10 Ways -- a drawing and watercolour class with Jane LaFazio
Wednesday -- Flower Power -- torch enameling with Melissa Manley
Wednesday Night -- Romantic Buckle with Ruth Rae
Friday -- A Cut Above -- Lino cutting with Pam Carriker
Sunday Evening - Coffee, Tea and Onion Skins -- Dying with Lorri Scott
Monday -- Bench Scraps -- jewelry with Richard Salley

I seriously have been considering Deryn Mentock's Alchemy of Objects... if the class doesn't sell out (it might) I might add it when I get there...

I am also considering Joanne Thieme Huffman's Hello Dollies -- I'm not sure if I want to take an evening class the night before I leave... because I have a very large road trip planned with Mr. B right when I get home!


ANYWAY, in the tradition of past years, I have participated in the 4x4 technique chunky book. I had to make 28, 4x4 pages showcasing a technique that I learned at ArtUnraveled. I decided to make some gelatin monoprints which I learned from Jane Lafazio -- you could take her class this year!
I made a few extra -- so I'd like to give 2 away.

Please tell me (in the comments area) What class would you take at ArtUnraveled? Why? I'll pick 2 random winners on January 22. I really should have done this before I sent in my registration.....

Love -- a fabric collage

Finally, I'm listing some work on etsy.

I made this quiltie last year, but couldn't part with it :)

It is an 8 "x8" fabric collage. the background is vintage cotton and silk and it is embellished with vintage and new fabrics, lace and felt and some vintage buttons. It is hand embroidered and hand quilted. It would be lovely framed or applied to the front of a purse.
You can see the listing here.

The Library Rocks!

I have always visited the library often -- but 2012 will be the big year of the library for me (with the no shopping and all). The Toronto Public Library rocks! I love "ordering" books on my computer, and then they arrive at my library a few days later. And I can borrow ebooks for my Kobo! I worry about the libraries closing -- it is in the news all the time here.
Please, everyone, Support your local library!

Here's what I got this week!

Some inspiring reading and eye candy:

(my favourite of the 3 is Jenny Doh's Creative Pilgrimage book -- oh, please let me be able to to to the Squam retreat some day! )

And a few to read on the subway:


For those of you who have asked how the frugal year is going.... I haven't bought anything! Well, 1 lunch at McDonalds , a box of cookies for my class (they were super-good this week) and some stamps at the post office. That's not shopping. BUT... I have dreamed about shopping (seriously, what's with that? It's like a nightmare -- because in my dreams I know that I'm not allowed to buy things and I'm trying to sneakily buy them and hide them :)

In real life I am coveting this ipad cover (bookbook) and this iphone cover (also bookbook) I have been on the waiting list for my new iphone for months! It will arrive THIS WEEK ! .... (hey, that's not a purchase for this year.... it was ordered waaaay last year... )

I think that I can get away with the iphone case as a necessity... but not the ipad case... I do already have one :) And with the iphone case -- I'm hoping to be able to barter one... or wait for someone to give me one as a gift.... Valentines day is coming (okay, maybe too spendy for Valentines day) and Mother's Day is coming (again, too spendy)...

Five Faves Friday - My "Go To" Art Books

I have so many art/craft books! I read them over and over and over. It was really hard to limit this list to just 5, so I am am listing the ones that I keep beside my bed -- the ones that influence me every day. I think that they really give an insight into the art that I am drawn to make -- stitching on fabric and paper, adding some paint and printmaking techniques, scrappy layers, and my big love for making jewelry.....

1. painted pages by sarah ahearn bellemare (look inside at the link)

2. cut it, paste it, sew it by Chisa Itou (look inside at the link)

3. Jewelry Lab by Melissa Manley (look inside at the link)

4. Layered, Tattered & Stitched by Ruth Rae (look inside at the link)

5. Scrapbook Workshop by May Flaum (look inside at the link)

(the links are to Amazon.com -- because the US site has more "look inside" features -- but if you are in Canada, buy them from an independent retailer, or Chapters.ca.... or amazon.ca -- preferably in that order :)

I also look at the Art of Personal Imagery by Corey Moortgat often, and Printmaking and Mixed Media by Dorit Elisha.


What are your favourites? Why?

Winter morning

Today I'm back to school after a two week break. I'll miss curling up in bed in the morning with my tea, my ipad and my little dog....

Welcome, winter!

This weekend I (finally) wasn't sick any more. I've been a bit under the weather. For pretty much my whole school break! But Saturday was a beautiful day, so Mr. B and I walked to the beach. It was much colder there than at home (I live maybe a mile from the water?). I brought some cards that I made on Saturday morning so I could have a little photo shoot.

But first I shot my toes in the water. Normally there is ice out for a few hundred feet, but it's been so mild this season! If I closed my eyes, I could hear the waves lapping the shoreline... just like in the summer :)


Welcome, 2012! Welcome, winter! There was a little pile of ice, so I shot my cards there. I'll post more throughout the week.

Five Faves Friday - Favourite Decor Books of 2011

This list was hard to narrow down!
My five Favourite Decor / Design / Style Books of 2011

1. Nomad ... & Etcetera (Sibella Court)
2. Dottie Angel (Tif Fussell)
3. Decorate (Holly Becker)
4. A Perfectly Kept House is the Sign of a Misspent Life (Mary Randolph Carter)
5. Creative Walls (Geraldine James)
6. Pale & Interesting (Atlanta Bartlett)


okay, I can't count :)

Andy's pajamas

Andy patiently awaits breakfast in his super cute pajamas ...(he loves them)(really -- he is the best dog ever for dressing up -- he pushes his head through when you ask him, and lifts up his paws to put them into the sleeves).

A year of living frugally

(frugal - 4x6 -- made from stuff that was already on my desk)

I am challenging myself in 2012 to a year without retail -- in-store or online shopping. This is not something I'm undertaking lightly. I am very serious and committed to this. Why? Because I feel that I'm buying things that I don't truly need. Last year (2010) I read Annie Leonard's book "The Story of STuff: How Our Obsession with Stuff is Trashing the Planet, Our Communities, and Our Health -- and a Vision for Change". Read it or read about it if you like. don't worry -- I'm not going to try to brainwash anyone into joining me. This is my journey, not yours :)

I am going to (try to) buy only consumable items for the whole year. Consumables include toiletries -- I might need to buy some antiperspirant sometime during the year and I don't want anyone else to have to suffer through my challenge :).

My exceptions will be books if they are gifts or for my classroom -- I live a few blocks from the library and really should be using it more than I do-- and anything that I already have that breaks and needs to be replaced (like my washing machine that currently needs replacing) (and something like a toner cartridge for my printer -- printing report cards and newsletters, etc. is part of my job).

I think that I'll allow myself exceptions at thrift shops and yard sales... (and I get to use up the gift cards that I currently have -- those were GIFTS to me-- and I have one for the Workroom and to Deserres to use when I really need an art fix :)

I have enough art supplies to get me through the year (okay, to get me through a lifetime). Enough paper, tape and staples...

I have enough clothes. And plenty of fabric if I run out.... I even have enough thread...

I certainly have enough stuff... too much stuff....

So, if you are getting a gift from me, or a trade in 2012, it will either be thrifted or handmade using materials that I already have. Or it will be edible -- I promise that I won't use any thrifted ingredients to make food, lol.

Anyone care to join me in this challenge? I am going to list every single purchase that I have made and then publish it at the end of each month (Mr. B buys the groceries, so I should be able to "balance" my wallet).

The part that I anticipate as difficult will be the online shopping, and the book buying. And the magazine buying. Wish me luck!!

(my word of the year this year is "frugal" -- and it's not even a pretty word, like meander was in 2009, remarkable in 2010 and content in 2011)

starting balance in my wallet:
$100

Happy New Year!

Source: brentfosterphotography.com via Martha on Pinterest

What are you doing New Year's Eve?

I will be spending a quiet evening with friends.....

Five Faves Friday! Favourite Fiction Books of 2011

My favourite fiction books that I read this year (not necessarily published this year)

1. Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
2. Come, Thou Tortoise (Jessica Grant)
3. Room (Emma Donoghue)
4. The Red Queen (Philippa Gregory)
5. Never Look Away (Linwood Barclay)

13 Days of Christmas - Day 9,10,11,12,13

oops... I kind of dropped the ball on the 13 Days of Christmas! I was too too busy with school and preparations at home. I didn't even get my tree decorated for Christmas! That's okay, because my mom had a beautiful tree and I was able to spend 4 days looking at it!

Back to the 13 Days...
(Most of the unwrapped images were taken from Leslie Brier's blog -- because I forgot all of the gifts and my camera at school for the holidays... )

Day 9 was Hope

Hope made these beautiful pins --she is so talented at painting faces... my pin is actually a bit darker grey/ blue and goes with my grey sweaters perfectly!


Day 10 was Terrie. The clasp on the bag is a vintage candle clip for a Christmas tree!


Inside was a pretty ornament -- vintage sheet music wrapped around a wooden spool -- it has the perfect amount of glitter on it, and looks fantastic on my little tree! (I have a twig tree up that carries all of my 13 days ornaments from this year and years past)


Day 11 was Linda Morgan


Linda made beautiful assemblage dolls --= the arms and legs are vintage doll parts uneartherd (literally) in Germany.
Day 12 was Terry

-- she made us these super cute birds -- I love the eyelash detail and the plumage :)


Day 13 was Pat Winter


Pat made us each a pin -- it is very romantic and filled with lavender so it smells so pretty!


So many of us made ornaments this year! Our instructions simply said to make a gift for each person in the group. I'm glad that some people made pins though -- I can wear them all year round :)

Next up with this group is a Valentine Charm swap (not a 12 Days or 14 days -- just a simple swap)... I'm off now to start sketching charms !

13 Days of Christmas - Day 8

Day 8 was from Corinne


This garland is BEAUTIFUL! The photo doesn't do it justice at all. I have this hung in my kitchen doorway now. It looks fabulous!


Thank you, Corinne!

13 Days of Christmas - Day 7

Day 7 is Vivian!
Viv is fabulous at making very detailed little bundles of whimsy!
This is the group of them (photo from Viv's blog)

13) Days of Christmas - Day 6

Day 6 is me!


This is my gift all wrapped up. I recycled a bird seed sack and cut it into small pieces, sewed them into small pouches and then stamped a 6 on each one. then I punched some holes in then and tied them up with yarn. I love white and red. So pretty......

I made some decoupaged glass ornaments. First I made collages and then I decoupaged them on to the backs of glass hearts.


Then I collaged the backs. SO one side is under glass and one side isn't.


I'm sure that everyone expected a stitched ornament (or gift) from me this year. I hope that I didn't disappoint anyone! I really wanted to try these :)

13 Days of Christmas - Day 3,4,5

Oops -- I went awol for a few days -- I even missed Five Faves Friday! (it will return next Friday)

Day 3


Day 3 is Elizabeth. Elizabeth was our lovely hostess. I give many thanks to any American host of a swap that has me in it. Not because I'm difficult, lol, but because they have to do extra work to get my package back to Canada. THANKS for having me, Elizabeth!

Elizabeth made us pretty hanging fabric cones. She sun-printed the fabric herself. It is so pretty and this photo really doesn't do it justice :)


Day 4

Day 4 was Leslie.
She made these super cute little snowmen and trees in a basket. They are so fun in the tree!
Here is a shot of them from Leslie's blog -- I love them all grouped together!


Day 5

On the fifth day of Christmas Patti and Elizabeth were channeling each other :) Patti made ths sweet vintage cone. It was nicely wrapped in a piece of muslin (all ready for me to use when I make some fabric tags for Christmas gifts)