Tonight was the art show opening!

The art show at the Washington Center for Performing Arts opened tonight. My parents came to town for the event, too. We all went out for a nice dinner before and made an evening of it.

 

Here's me with my art quilts!

 

The auction helps support the Arts Center here in Olympia, WA. If you want to check out all the art, or bid,  go to www.biddingforgood.com/centerfest

 

 

What a fun night. Once I get settled in Indiana I'll have to look into doing more shows.

Only 3 more days before the movers come. Tonight was such a great way to say goodbye to Olympia.

 

One of the things I'll miss

I love all the different views of Mt Ranier I get in Western Washington, and especially the ones from an airplane taking off out of Seatac.

 

 

Good news though- we found a place to live! We're going to be in Shelbyville, IN. It is such a cute, small town about 20 miles from Indianapolis. I've been researching the community and it appears there are a lot of cool things happening there.  And, I must say, those Hoosiers are the nicest. I just got off the phone with my new landlord and she told me she put toilet tissue in the bathrooms for us. She also said she'd have "her guy" mow the lawn so it looks nice when we get there. I am not used to landlords trying to make things more comfortable for me.

 

The house here is a maze of boxes, and I think I've already done 3 trips to Goodwill. It's starting to come together, thanks, too, to my parents coming last weekend to help! My mom is like a professional mover in the dining room!

 

More updates soon.

 

 

 

Farewell Washington, Hello Indiana

That's right...........I am moving to Indiana!

We found out Friday that my husband got the job and it has been a whirlwind of planning and packing. The moving truck arrives on Sept. 25th. That leaves me a little over 2 weeks to have it all done. ( Just packing my craft room took a day and a half!)

I keep meaning to post, and had ideas of uploading pictures of things in Indiana, but, you know, I honestly have no time for uploading pictures. So, I thought I better at least type something and let you all know.

 

The big quest has been finding a place for the movers to take my stuff. I'm hoping to have one locked in tomorrow. ( fingers crossed. more on that if we get it)

 

We'll be living about 20 miles south of Indianapolis. I really liked that city- small and laid back. There is going to be a lot to explore. And, in Franklin, where my husband will work, I already made a friend who is going to teach me to weave!

 

I love moving. Actually, being in Olympia for 4 years was unusual for me. I thrive on new places and meeting people and discovering a new area. I never planned on Indiana........but I generally just go where the wind blows me. This time it's gonna plop me down in the middle of a corn field.

 

I'll post when I find some time here and there, and I'll be stopping by your blogs soon.

Lubomyr's Mail Art Project

Here is my altered envelope I did for Lubomyr, my wonderful and talented mail art friend in Ukraine.

Check out her blog to see more of them.

 

 

I'll be posting more this week. Big changes and adventures coming soon...

 

Art Journal: The Goodies from Mail Art Friends

I get a lot of cool stuff pouring out of envelopes from mail art friends. I have piles of it. Boxes of it. Tins of it. Envelopes of it. Folders,too.

Why have I not been using it? Why am I hiding it away? Dare I say, hoarding it?

It should be used!

So, I started a new art journal- my first themed journal- and it is all about using these bits of paper, ephemera, stamps, cancelled stamps, envelopes themselves, stickers, altered and painted and stamped paper, and all kinds of fun stuff!

Here are my pages so far! ( Maybe you'll see some of the things you've sent!)

It is going to be fun to have a journal of these treasures from my lovely friends.

News, and new goodies

 I am excited to tell everyone that my two 12'' x12''  art quilts made it into the show, "27 Feet of Art",  here in Olympia, WA!!  I am jumping for joy!  It's the first time I've entered a juried show.  They will be holding a silent auction to raise money for the Washington Center of Performing Arts on Sept. 21st! Thanks to everyone who congratulated me on facebook already! I appreciate it!

Also, my custom stamp for my shop came in the mail! Didn't she turn out cute! I couldn't carve one myself that was small enough, so she used my girl image and added in the words, and made it with a machine. The Etsy shop, Terbear, helped me out with it. She was great to work with.

While shopping there, I finally found the 'postcard' stamp I have been searching for forever. I had only been able to find the stamps that put the 'postcard' writing at the top, but have searched high and low for one with lines and stamp spot, etc. I'm loving it!

I just started a new art journal this weekend- it's all with mail art goodies. I will post those pictures tomorrow...or maybe later tonight!

Little Stamped Book

I took a class at Art N Soul stamp shop in Lacey, WA last night. I loved the sample book and had to try it for myself.

The pages are wood. First, we colored them with alcohol inks, added a stamp or two, and colored them in with pencils. I love the effect! And it was so easy and meditative....like zoning out with a great coloring book.  I need to keep an eye on their upcoming classes. What a fun group of ladies, too.

Here's how mine turned out. I'm pretty much done unless I add some words and text.

If you live in Washington, or pass through, this is a great shop. Try to make it on the first Saturday of the month for 'Recycled Rubber'....seemingly endless tables of stamps people don't use anymore, and are selling super cheap! This girl on the cover was one I bought last week for a couple bucks. I had a basket full of stamps! There are also all kinds of stamping accessories,too.

See you all soon! XO

The New Girl

I made another one of the girls! Here she is.

Also, all throughout August, my felted dolls have Free Shipping worldwide. You can check them out in my shop.

I still have so many things on my list for this week. I did finish some more felted beads today. I'm almost done with another silk cocoon book, and some time over the next week I need to clean. My friend is coming to visit and there is no way she can sleep on a bed covered in wool, fabric, magazines, paint, papers, and a whole variety of art supplies.

See you soon!

A Peek at my Heart

Lubomyr, my mail art friend in Ukraine, is doing this great project on her blog. She sent me a stamped envelope with a giant heart made out of stamps from the Ukraine. She is asking people to alter them and mail them back.

Here is a peek at mine. Check out her blog to see more! They are really great!