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!

My Angel

This is my angel -- my raison d'etre.





Below is a small gaggle of guardian angels that I made for Teri's Zetti swap. This is what was on the cards that went with them:

“Our Zetti Lady of the Lost and Found” will help make all of your art creating stress-free and give totally fabulous results ! She happily guards your art space against lost art supplies.

I think that this is all for 2006. Happy New Year and good night!

After the Bath

There he is in all of his glory -- the little stinker. This is Andy being all soft and fluffy after the bath.

Cori! I did it!

I added a link! You were right -- Beta is easier! Now I have 3 people who read my blog and 3 links. LOL! You're all "C" names too! Woo-Hoo! Life is getting easier.

Levogyrate and Lethal

White

These are some ATCs I made for an AAO swap. The theme was "White". I'm really happy with them. I trapped little bits of ephemera between fabric and a transparency. Thank you Ruth for suggesting that I put little movable bits inside!!! There are sequins and beads in there too. Except for the little "smart" boy -- he is all paper, but I had to get that out of my system before I began on the fabric. Because that little boy has been haunting me for a year! Thank you to Sharon and Carmi who got him to me!!!! I'll give some close ups of my favourites. I call the phrenology (those heads) ones "What's inside my head" Apparently I have a lot of languages and some math in there too. Along with some fibers and beads and sequins. And pretty fabric.

Busy finishing my RRs

I have finished and mailed out a few RR books lately. This is one that I did for Mija. It is quite simple, but I am really happy with it. Her colours were green and purple and her book was "The Complete book of Lawn Care" -- or something like that! I've used song lyrics in all of the books that I've worked in in this RR. It has rained here all day today. It sure doesn't feel like winter.

meme with a difference

Since I signed up on Colette's blog, it's my turn. I'd provide a link to her blog on my sidebar, but I don't know how to add links yet..... but I'll paste it here -- check it out!!! http://a-bird-in-the-hand.blogspot.com/

"The first five people to respond to this post (via the comments section) will get some form of art made by me. The only catch, of course: as with most memes, if you sign up, you have to put this in your own blog as well."

The art will be something fabricky and will help to celebrate the new year.

Finished the Tree!

I couldn't put on everything that I wanted. I collect vintage glass ornaments and I'm too afraid that the puppy will try to chew the tree and make it fall over. Most of my ornaments are pink and sparkly. I collect little birdies too. The paper angel for the top was on my parent's tree when I was growing up -- it's quite tiny -- about 4 inches high. I'll try to take a picture of a different ornament every day for the next week. There are still a few more ornaments to go on -- some special ATCs and some small art from friends.

We listened to Maybe This Christmas AGAIN. The puppy seemed a bit interested in the tree, but really was more interested in playing with Lauren or eating the bits of cookies dough that Ray dropped on the floor. We'll see what tomorrow brings.......

Naked Tree

This is my naked tree. Well, it does have the lights. It looks way better in person! We don't use the back door during the winter, much to my pup's confusion.

Lauren will be coming over tonight to help me decorate. This is her first year living away from home so I think that she misses the festive air...... Ray is going to make cookies while we decorate. We'll be listening to the Maybe this Christmas album, or maybe watching The Grinch (cartoon version) or maybe Rudolph, my all time favourite holiday movie. But hey, why aren't there any Solstice movies? If anyone knows of any, please let me know. Because I celebrate the solstices, you know.
Stay tuned for the finished tree and some close ups of some very very special ornaments.

Holiday Fun

I've been so busy creating things for the holidays tht I forgot to slow down and relax. Now I'm pretty much finished everything and have time to post my thoughts and reflect. This is a card that I made for an artist who inspires me every time I look at her work. It's a surprise so I can't say who it is!

Epiphany!

I found what I really love to do! I like to make dolls -- okay, I kinda already knew this -- but I'm drawn to it in everything I make.

This is an ATC I made for a "Gone Postal" trade.

And to the left is a paper doll that I made for a zetti trade.

In both I pieced together different rubber stamps (the zetti doll is 4 different stamps)

Keely Barham this weekend!

I'm seeing some light at the end of the tunnel! I've finished my swaps and can now concentrate on family stuff, the puppy, school planning and organizing my studio space.

This weekend I'm taking 2 classes from Keely Barham! 1 is a bracelet and the other is a fabric box. I'm sooooo excited. And I get to meet some people who I only know from online. It will be a very special weekend. And relaxing I hope...... because...

After that I have to do REPORT CARDS -- uggg.

After that I'm getting ready for the Holly Jolly show! (November 25 at the Swansea Town Hall in Bloor West Village). This is the first show/sale that I've done with my new jewelry. I'll be posting pics of it if the camera ever comes back from Nikon..........

Charms

These are some charms I made for a swap.

Andy Warhol!

Once every month now!

I've been so busy! Lots of swaps and little mini crisis in life!

We got a new puppy! He is a West Highland White Terrier -- and we named him Andy Warhol. I'll post a pic as soon as I can figure out how to do it!