New Opportunity!

Hello Everyone!

 

I am really excited about a new opportunity here in Franklin, IN. A cute boutique opened up recently, and I am now selling my cards and sketchbooks there! It's called Simplify, offering all kinds of handmade goods by local artists. I am thrilled to be a part of it! Here are some pics of my display and some new cards. I have kicked into high gear getting inventory for the shop, and I'm starting a full time job this Tuesday as well. It was a big week!

 

Card Mania!

 

 

Some close ups!

 

My new friend, Franklin, hanging with me all day. Love him!

 

Sold!

Hi everyone! I haven't been around much lately. We have been house hunting, and found the One in Franklin! I am so excited.......it's lovely. I will get some pictures posted soon. The inspection is this Friday, and I'm hoping it all goes well. Looks like we'll be moving again in June. Wait, didn't I just do this? Yup. Good thing I left 70% of it packed!

I also have all my postcards from Liberate Your Art to post! It's has been a fun 6 weeks! Wow- that time flew by!

Last weekend, a friend an I went to an auction for Indianapolis Public Schools. It was my first auction and I didn't know what to expect....it was AWESOME!

 There were all kinds of things....and about 20 Singer sewing machines mounted on sewing tables ( not in the picture...but you know what those look like!) that sold for ( GET THIS!) $5!!! Yes, 5 bucks! That's the price of a latte!

 I figured I'd get one, and even if the machine didn't work, I could use the table! I plugged it in today and it appears to run like a champ! It seems to be missing a foot though. I may have to look this up online. I'm planning to use it for odd mixed media, encaustic, and paper projects. 

I wonder how many kids came through high school Home-Ec learning on this?

Hope you're all having a nice spring! I'll be stopping by blogs soon! Sometimes, I lurk around and just don't comment! XO

A Slideshow with Ford

Last weekend, a friend and I went treasure hunting at the Indie Arts vintage Marketplace! 

I am always attracted to old photos and film...it's sort of my version of "bright shiny objects".

A small box of old slides caught my eye. Upon further inspection, I realized they were old slides from the Ford Motor Company. There were all kinds of factory shots, men working, and only one with an old truck in it. The slides are 4'' x 3'' and framed with a thin metal. 

I gathered up a pile of some of my favorite images, not knowing what I will be using them for. I believe this is how I acquire most of my art objects. I just know i want to use them. I have visions of some kind of window panel or light box.  Maybe a stained glass lampshade for a shop light. Oh yea, Dad would love it!  Truthfully, it could be years until they work their way into my art, but I am guessing they will.

What do you bet this first slide says, "Safety is everybody's business"?

I love images from big industry. The machinery fascinates me.

Moving to Indiana has been great for the vintage shopping alone! 

Paint. Draw.

Here's a canvas board I did with acrylic paints, sharpie pen, and oil pastels.

I like playing on small canvas boards, and it just so happens I have a big stack of them!

I want to do some small paintings that will translate well to postcards and greeting cards.

In the Works

Yesterday, I met up with the art journaling group in Indy. Here are the pages I worked on. 

I used Distress Ink Stains for the background and covered it with a layer of gesso. 

This background is acrylics and I just started doodling and writing. 

I got my postcards in the mail to Kat for Liberate Your Art!

Today's project: Keep working on another art quilt.

I ordered a lot of cards from MOO this time. I often put them in packages as a Thank You, and send them to friends. I took a few and put a set of my mixed media collage images in my shop. I am trying to get the inventory built up in there and want to do more with it. 

She found a home...

...in an art quilt!

Here's the first of the girls. This quilt is 20'' x 10''. I had the embroidered "Create" waiting in a fabric book for about a year. It found a home too. She's in my shop now as well.

I love this fabric I found. It has a cute story throughout.

I learned something about my sewing machine and free motion quilting recently. I have been messing with the tension and things trying to get the back of my quilting "prettier", but there were always big loops and it was quite messy. A couple weeks ago, I went to do some free motion and forgot to drop my feed dogs.....and it worked better! It moved around better and got a lot cleaner on the back.

Everything I have watched and read says to drop those feed dogs...but I think I may never drop them again.

Have a great weekend!

The New Girls

I starting painting some new ladies on denim. I haven't decided where or what they will end up as. I had done some fabric journal pages with the first ones.

I think these could end up in art quilts or even a big shoulder bag. 

They start as a pencil outline.

Add paint.

Add more paint. 

Give them some color!

More shades and color.

Almost done with the painting part.

They are waiting on some free motion quilting for that extra detail!

Alcohol Ink- Lovely Messes

On Saturday, some of my friends from the art journaling group came over to do some sewing, painting, book making, cutting, stamping, and of course, eating and chatting! 

Shaun showed a couple of us how to make a simple book with all kinds of flaps and possibilities. Do you ever see something made and wonder why you never thought to do something so easy as fold the paper differently? That's how I feel about this book. It's really just 3 long sheets of paper stacked and all having different sized flaps and folds. Simple and yet so much more interesting!

For the cover, I basically just went crazy with alcohol inks and blender solution! I let it drip and run and bleed through. I really liked the effect, but wasn't so happy the next day when I picked up my journal and had silver hands! Ha! The blues and pinks were fine, but the metallic silver transferred onto my hands easily. Nothing a coat of varnish couldn't fix...but good to know for the future! 

Day 6: Raw Food ( Leftovers)

I have a fridge full of salads and things I have made all week. I decided to eat those and spend my time in the craft room room instead of the kitchen! 

I gathered my beet- dyed paper I had made a couple days ago and cut, folded, and tore to do some little envelopes with messages.

I also have some mini 2 inch x 2 inch canvases I am making into tiny books, or just a fun way to send a quick letter to friends.

Cut paper to fit, folded it accordion style, and glued it into the opening. It tucks in to mail and friends can pull out their message, note, doodles, or whatever I put in there. 

Sorry, no food pics today, but tomorrow I think I should go out with a bang! Dare I try "cheesecake"? 

Thanks everyone for all your comments. I'm so glad you are having fun reading about this challenge. It's been great fun....and healthy! 

Good thing ART is healthy too! xo

Goth Girl Gets Quilting

Goth girl has some color!

 

It's like the Manic Panic hair dye I used in highschool!

 

( I don't know why my dad didn't like my blue hair.)

 

 

I think I'll add some embroidery detail in those boxes.

 

XO

 

 

 

Art Journal: In Paint & Stitches

Hello!

I have been inspired to do more art journaling since joining the meetup group in Indy. I like to sketch and doodle, but I usually don't love it. That is, until I start doodling and sketching with fabric and mixing things up.

So, I started a new fabric journal. This gal is painted with acrylics and stitched---had to dust off the free motion foot. Gonna need some more practice with that. But, that's the great thing about making things for me--- there can be some loose threads and funky harsh lines in what should be a swirl.

 

 

I'm going to take it to the journal group tomorrow and sew on some words and play with embroidery. We'll see where the book goes.

I love Craft Fairs!

The craft fair was so much fun!

 

My little table turned out nice and I had lovely neighbors, most of whom were doing their first craft fair too. I went in not knowing what would sell, how many people would turn out, how the whole experience would be,  and how I would do...but I had hopes. I feel like like those hopes were exceeded! I met so many wonderful people- customers and vendors alike. It was great to get feedback on my artwork and display.

The most wonderful part was hearing why people were buying any particular item. A woman bought one of my sketchbooks because she LOVES to make lists and wanted one place to keep them. I am crazy about making lists! I love to plan something just to make the lists! It made me happy to know the sketchbook would be a list keeper for someone!

A young woman stopped by and purchased several cards to send to her boyfriend, a Marine being deployed overseas soon. I love the idea of this heart card carrying romantic messages to her man.

 

I had so much fun making the cards and was glad that people seemed to enjoy them.

 

One of my dolls also found a home with a wonderful woman. There is something extra special about the dolls. Once I paint on a tiny face and give them a personality they become more than a "thing". I am always so happy when a doll goes to live with a new friend.

 

I am already looking into next year and what craft fairs I may do!

 

Thank you everyone for the well wishes and luck! xo