Friends + Art = Happiness

I have just had two great days with my art friends. The comradery by itself was worth every moment we spent together but we touched so many things that I only had thought about doing and we were able to share things that we thought others might enjoy.


This was the first time I tried rust dyeing. Some came out great and some that we tried in a big bin did not (too much liquid). But we learn from out mistakes also.





This was the first time I tried a silly kids product, Friendly Plastic. I had so much fun with this stuff. I have a bunch of ideas for future projects. This is about 5 sticks so $10 bucks. I felt I got my money's worth.


I hate working with wax resist so I was more than ready to try one that was supposed to wash out. We used glue gel to make a design and then painted Dyna Flow over it, then dried it with a hair dryer. The next delima was do you wash the fabric to get the glue out first or heat set the fabric to set the paint? Both seemed like a bad idea. I was picking at it while we were talking and found out you could just peel off the glue. Fantastic!


I must have had a deprived childhood (actually just a neat mother) because no one could believe that I had never done anything with paper mache (my school also was not very art oriented). But now I can not say that anymore. We started armatures with foil and then began the paper mache part. Great fun but I still am peeling glue off my fingers. I spent last week trying to get paint off my hands from the Jesse Reno workshop. Maybe it is going to be a permanent condition. I started a few pieces so I can work on one while the others dry.




We also worked on paper cloth. There are so many twists on doing this that we just shared the way we choose to do it and learned from others. One friend, Holly, was using copies of some of her artwork. It should have been obvious that that was a good thing to do but I never thought of doing it. I will now. Elizabeth showed how to make really cute books out of this stuff. She also shared on how to make a stamp pad for using acrylic paints. Again pretty obvious but we hadn't thought about it so thanks Elizabeth. Right now mine are pretty ugly so I will post them when I am further along.



One of our members is going to Africa to visit and work with some young girls. Hopefully she will have a chance to share some of the ideas with them. She is excited to be going and I wish I was mouse size so I could fit in her pocket.

Flying outside my comfort zone

I had an opportunity to spend a day with Jesse Reno. The class was fantastic! Those of you who are familiar with his work know it is wild and expressive. I have never attempted anything like it before and I wanted to push myself. I had a blast!

The pictures I am posting are not finished but they are pretty far along. I will show them later when I have time to work on the details. So much fun.

What did I start?

I keep emptying bins, drawers, and bags of stuff. I feel like they will never end but each time I finish each one I am so proud. There is hope! So far I have cleared out a couple of car loads of stuff. I am so glad I found our local art center. I can not throw things away but I feel good when I know someone else will have access to my excess.



Finding time for some art. I took another class from Leighanna Light. Her classes are so much fun. I do not get uptight, I can relax and learn while I play. This one was collage on canvas. I really like how they are coming along. I will post again when they are done.

Our art group met the other day. I love show and tell there are always so many good ideas and examples and we got a mini demo on wire wrapping from one of our members. Thanks Elizabeth! We are going to do an ATC exchange next month so I will post them then. And we are going to do a mini 2 day retreat. I am looking forward to spending extended time with my art buddies.



I made my first charm swap. I have not done this before so I am a little nervous that I did what I was supposed to do.

OK - Back to Play I mean Work

Even though I am not done reorganizing my work space I am feeling optimistic. Today girlfriends and I took a sledge hammer and crowbar to one of my old work tables. Tomorrow two new ones (new to me) are coming in. I will have an eight by eight foot table space!

We tore it to bits to get it out of the house.

An empty floor for 24 hours.

I decided to join Seth Apters disintegration project so my piece is now in my backyard.

I did not roll things real tight because I have started sort of late and I want the weather to have a chance to do its thing. I also added strings and fluff for the birds. It is about nesting time here.

Finished and mailed my 22 ATCs for a swap. This is my first swap so I am enjoying it and excited to see every ones work.

Machine felted backgrounds with embellishments.
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Worked on my Fabric Art Workshop. I am really enjoying this and learning a lot.

Dyna Flow on silk (Lasagna dyeing)

Sun printing with Dyna Flow on silk.

Bubble wrap and Dyna Flow on silk.

Accordion pleats with Dyna Flow on silk.

Saturday I am taking another of Leighanna Light's workshops. This one is called "Funky Found Object Canvas Village". It also should help stretch me (maybe I could get tall and skinny). It is going to be held at Off Center in Albuquerque.

Last night I went to a local quilting chapter (New Mexico Quilters Association) and heard a lecture by Lauren Camp. It was exciting and I loved her Jazz series. It is interesting to see how different artists approach their work.

Beat but happy

It has been way too long since I have posted. I stay busy all day but sometimes I do not seem to get anything finished. Have been working on ART workshops and a couple of swaps. The ATC's are almost done, they should be finished this weekend.

A local frame shop decided to close up and had lots of mat board they gave away. I was able to save some for myself but most of it I hauled down to Off Center. They were happy to get the mats, some nice frames, glass, some shelving and some display stuff. Many thanks to Diana and happy framing to Off Center! It was five loads of stuff and I am tired. Over sixty and fat can do one in.

I keep seeing artists on line who are straightening or redoing their studios or work spaces. Maybe it because it is almost spring here but I have started to work on mine. I have fives different spaces available to me and they all need work. Right now I am working on two of them and they are coming along nicely. I get so frustrated when I can't find things so I am labeling everything and it already is helping. Mixed media uses so many different things and I want to save everything because i just might need it someday.

Well, I guess I better get some sleep so I can start again tomorrow. I will post picture next time. it just doesn't feel right not to have color on my blog.

Keep working forward

OK I am breathing normal again. It is nice to play off of all the things I started in my week of chaos. Yesterday I worked at a polling place for a local school election. Boring!!! However, good things come from strange places. One of the ladies there uses Adobe Photoshop (a program I just got) and she showed me how to get started on the system. So much better than trying to learn from a 700 page manual. Also with the down time I was able to do a Zentange that I really like.

My Zentangle

Done on a piece of paper from a card I received. Look at Christmas cards and other cards, they often are done on wonderful paper. There are areas of the paper where there is no writing or it is thick enough that the printing does not show. In these cards there are other gorgeous papers that can be recycled.
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I am working on some ATCs for an exchange. Not done yet, but definitely making progress. I need to make 22 of these puppies.

These are all made from scraps and recycled items (an old lab coat, scraps from my machine felted art pieces, pieces from upholstery samples).

I have been working on an ATC workshop. I love working on the pieces but so far have only been working on the bases. I think I am intimidated by the paper. I just am not sure what to put on it. I will figure it out, but right now fabric is easier. But what the heck, by the time I finish the workshop I should be able to sing and dance, stand on my head, and put embellishments on paper, right?

intuitive drawing on watercolor base

stenciled acrylic - acrylic base

stenciled acrylic - acrylic base

acrylic paint on stamp - watercolor over metallic pen for base

acrylic paint on stamp - watercolor over metallic pen for base

pearlized paint on paper towel - torn and applied to base

torn paper applied to base & inked

Lumiere paint on paper towel and applied to base

Lumiere painted paper towel - torn and applied to base - ink stamped

slide holder painted and stenciled

slide holder painted and stenciled

I have not forgotten about my photography. I still am carrying my camera most places I go. I was in the bread store the other day and snapped this picture. I love fresh bread but I don't make my own anymore.