A Charming Exchange!

FINALLY, the book is out -- I've been waiting a year and a half for this!!!! I am so thrilled. You can order it through Canadian Amazon, Chapters/Indigo, and of course, Amazon for my American friends!
Ruth Rae and Kelly Snelling organized this whole collaboration -- we sent in individual pieces and Ruth and Kelly combined them into beautiful pieces! (there were also other collaborations , but I wasn't a part of that)

The photography is stunning! And the projects are absolutely brilliant! There are many step-by-step projects, but this book is not your average how-to. This book is all about sharing and collaboration between artists.(I made the little square beads with the birds on them -- so cute)
[this picture is from Catherine's blog -- she does fabulous PMC work and is featured prominently in the book!!!!]

Thank you Ruth and Kelley for putting this together -- and thinking of me when you were looking for contributing artists! Not only to I get to share the pages with you two talented artists -- but with so many other wonderful artists. Yay for us!
Go buy one now!
You can also visit the website/blog for the book -- www.acharmingexchange.com
(all of the jewelery in the book will be auctioned off at a later date -- to raise money for breast cancer research. Stay tuned for that)

Bird Collage

I like the one that I did for Magda so much I made one for my etsy shop. It is about 5x7, and doesn't come with the twig (costs too much to mail it!)

Fabric spread for Magda

I am really loving this fabric RR! Magda's theme was "play" so I figured that I could just do what I love. I'm so happy that I did, because this spread is very "me" It is about 11" long and just over 5" wide. It will fold in the middle when sewn into the book. There is something hiding in the bird's nest pocket. (the overall theme of the RR is "hidden treasures"). I'm off to make some similar collages for my etsy shop. See you there!

Pretty Cards

Hey! I CAN make cards! And even pretty ones!!! They are getting easier... but still took forever. Some of these are off to Heather for her card swap. Some are staying with me to use when I need cards! Maybe I won't have to buy cards for awhile! Yay!

(make sure that you click on the picture!)

Finally -- new art on Etsy!

These fabric collages are about 7" x 9". Very summery aren't they? They can be hung by a twig, or the loops can be cut off and they can be framed. More art is coming on Etsy. I'm getting ready for Christmas! (really! no, really!!!) Maybe I should make some Halloween ornaments first....

We're Back!

We shopped with Lynn Whipple, learned from Sally Jean, then had dinner with Drew Barrymore. Honestly!!! (I can even say I spoke to all 3 -- and yes, they all heard me)(hello; what the heck am I doing wrong?; and excuse me - in that order).
Here's my soldering suitcase during the class -- not as pretty! I didn't take any pictures -- I'm not really a picture taking person -- Ludgera took this one! (thank you!).and these were my charms:
(mine are the six on the left -- Sally Jean made the three on the right)The "Beauties" was my first. I kept overworking it, so I just gave up and I'll save it as "my very first attempt at soldering" . The others aren't too bad. I made them in the order of top row, left to right, then bottom row left to right)They look a bit rough when I compare them to Sally's but when I compare them to all of the other soldered charms that I have from swaps (that I wear all the time), mine look about the same. Jump rings are hard. I really need to practice! I destroyed most of the ones that we got in class. My hands were shaky (not enough lunch) so they just kept going on crooked! I'm going out today to try to find more lead free solder so I can attempt some more. Guess what everyone is getting for Christmas this year????

The Ann Arbor Art Fair was great! Unfortunately it poured rain the whole day, so we only went to one section. The store Found that hosted Sally was a great source for vintage stuff to go into altered art. I bought lots of anagram letters (those vintage cardboard ones) and I even found this:an antique spelling game. I've been searching for one for years. Now I have one! Yippee!

On the road again....

On Saturday Ludgera and I are going to Ann Arbor, Michigan to take a class from Sally Jean at Found! (Soldering for Virgins). We're also going to check out the huge Ann Arbor Street Fair (that's on Saturday -- the class is on Sunday). This fair has hundreds of exhibitors from all over the USA -- and about 500,000 visitors!!! Then we'll do some shopping (at hardware stores) on Monday. Doesn't this sound perfect??? I hope that I don't drive Ludgera nuts in the the car. I'm an excellent navigator/co-pilot, but I tend to talk to much. (Ludgera -- feel free to tell me that you need "a piece of quiet" so you can concentrate on the road -- that's what my dad says to me). I always feel that the job of the passenger is to keep the driver entertained (errr, I mean alert). You know, putting on the perfect music, providing the perfect snacks, giving long heads up on the upcoming exits....
So, I've packed my "soldering suitcase" and I'm ready to go!

Zetti Charms

(sorry, blurry picture -- I tried, but the camera wouldn't cooperate)
These are also going out for a swap today. I'm winding up my swaps this week. I'm going to be concentrating on
a) art for me
b) gifts (working ahead toward Christmas/winter solstice)
c) art for publication
d) art for sale
I will continue doing smaller swaps and a few round robins to keep me on my toes!
(but first I have to finish some cards for Heather's swap -- I can't believe that I signed up to make cards. I don't make cards. I buy them)

zetti style banners

I'm in a swap for zetti banners -- these are so fun -- my colours were black and white with green accents. They are a bit small -- just over 4"x5" -- we had to keep them small because the swap is 12 for 12 -- they will look so fun hanging in my studio! I've been in 3 banner swaps now -- soon they will be hanging in every room! The middle banner is what is on the back. (click on the picture for a close up)

Local Artists to visit

I was at the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition this weekend and I came away with a few small things. I had a limit of $40 to spend and I spent $45. Usually, I pick up a pin or something tiny (we're not even done painting yet -- I can't get big art)I got this cool cup from Krystal Speck. I had a beer in it last night. Worked just fine. I'll drink my tea from it from now on. Ray didn't want me to buy it, but I did anyway, because I just LOVE it. But then on the way home he told me that it looks like little penises hanging off of the scalloped border. I see flowers, he sees genitalia. It's a boy thing....Danielle Hession does the coolest collages, often adding wax or resin. Go and look at her website or blog. Very cool. I would have bought something much bigger, but I'm budgeting, right? I bought an "inspiration kit" . The theme for this one was "journey". Inside was a collage, a few tags, some postcards and some meaningful messages. The red collage coordinates well with a much larger collage that I own, and will look perfect hanging together. I'll have to make a coordinating one too - because groupings always look better in 3s.......

ATC night -- The beach, the sea, whatever.....

I love our camaraderie at the store! Friday night was ATC night at Bizzy Bs. The cards were so fun and so different! Marissa also did a demo of packing tape transfers --with pearl ex on the back. hmmm, I should have done that for my cards....
After many, many, many trials and errors with collaging on my cards, I decided to go with stamping. I distressed the backgrounds, then added some stamping in coordinating colours, then I embossed either the fish or the vintage beach postcard (Crafty Individuals). Then I stamped on some text, and away we go! Thanks Daniza for teaching me all that I know. !@#$$ hehehehe. More stamping coming soon!These are some cards that I received:(from the top row, left to right:
Ludgera, Sandy, Marissa
Daniza, Lili, Colette
Kimberly, Bev, Kris (on it's side, oops!)

What's in a name?

A lot, apparently! I'm extending my giveaway until August 5. I am so loving the name ideas -- see my post on July 3 for more information or click here

Friends

I made this collage for a friend for her birthday (click on it to see all of details and layers)-- I've started hanging them with twigs -- I like it!
A few of us got together and played with some art supplies. We dyed tags and cheesecloth with tea. (and some back-up easter egg dyes) Don't they look beautiful drying here on the line? My art-soul needs more days like this.......We also played with bleach. I had so much fun with the bleach that I came home and played with it lots more. I am just loving the fish tags!

White

The theme for my spread for Saundra was "White" She also requested that we used African American images if possible. I wanted a wedding theme, and I just love this little girl. It is on of my favourite spreads ever.... but, sigh... I must send it to Saundra....... it looks waaaay better in person, I must say. And I really must stop using my patio concrete as a background. Maybe that can be my goal for this week. To find some better backgrounds for my photographs........

Southern Belle -- a giveaway!!!!!

Edit:I'm going to extend this until August 5 -- when I get back -- I'm having such a hard time deciding on a name, and whatever I name myself will likely be changed by my cottage companions!! Right now I'm leaning towards Martha Lou, and Martha Mae Billy Rae. Having spilled those beans, I'll throw everyone's name into the hat -- I LOVE hearing your suggestions, they really brighten my day!

Every year I go to my best friend's family cottage, with her sister and her sister's good friend. We always have a theme. We've done Japan (we wore Kimonos) and Ancient Rome/Greece (togas) and this year is Southern Belle. Well, I'm making my corset, and chemise and pantaloon thingies (too hot for the full dresses -- plus we take the train for 4 hours -- and last year I took my sewing machine, so not much room in my suitcase).

But here's the dilemma -- My name. We have to have a Southern name -- here are some options:
Martha Belle?
Martha Rae?
Martha Lou?
Martha Lynn?
Martha Mae?
or should I put something in front of my name?
I'll give a prize to the person who suggests the name that I decide to go with...... so, pick your favourite that is here, or come up with a better one. It has to have Martha attached to it somehow. Thanks a lot mom, for giving me such a boring name........
I'll pick a winner next week, say, on Friday July 11. I don't know what the prize will be, but it will be something that I made....
(oh, and a note to the pay it forward people -- you will be pleasantly surprised some day soon!)

My Dolly

I made this spread for Barb for my "Colour Me Silly" RR tip in.Aren't dollies fun?

On that note -- to reward myself for a job well done with my report cards (error free, commented my principal!) I bought myself a Raggedy Old Annie from Nicole Ellison. Here she is! And she even smells nice!

Why

Lots of people ask me why I stopped making art full time and became a teacher. This is why:It's summer vacation now, I'm going to miss all of my kindies so much! But I can make art full time for 2 months! Well, make art and plan for the next school year.....

Dante Gabriel Rossetti

I made this spread for Cat. It's a weeee bit late (okay, very late -- due in May, I think.....)
I don't usually work in yellow -- I'm trying to stretch myself. Cat's theme was "Romantic Literature" I find the Pre-Raphaelites most romantic.
This image and the accompanying part of a poem is called "Sea-Spell" The poem is considered one of Rossetti's "lesser" works.

Hens and Chicks

I planted a Hen and Chick Sedum in a planter in my back yard -- and two days later it flowered. So Pretty! The plant is quite large -- about 8" across. I don't normally have yellow in my garden -- but I think that I can have an exception in this case......

FabricGirlz! I'm baaaaaack!

This is the page that I did for Belinda's Hidden Treasure book. I had so much fun. I did it in the style that she started for her book -- using lots of Kaffe Fassett fabrics -- and embroidery quilting and beads.
This is the front -- with the little door open and closed.Then the back -- and in the pocket is a hidden treasure!Okay, I'll show you it -- it's a pin!The great thing about fabric pages is that I can do them on the go -- in a car, on the subway, watching tv, talking on the phone. I can't do that with paper! I have some paper pages to finish on the weekend. Report cards are finished, edited and signed! I can happily putter in my nice, cool basement. Yay! I'm finally catching up! Yay!