Challenge - Recycled Junk

The finish recycled junk clutch.

Sample of melted plastic sheet with paint.


The challenge was from Mixed Media Monday www.mixedmediamonday.wordpress.com and here is my entry. I used a technique I found in the January/February 2009 Issue 22 of Cloth Papaer Scissors. The article was called Paper & Plastic by Alisa Bruke (alisaburke.com). You take plastic grocery bags and essentially melt them into one sheet, paint the sheet and embellish the new fabric and turning it into something else useful. I made a small clutch purse. I lined it in muslin, quilted it after using liquid acrylic paints. The paints did chip off a bit when sewing so definitely put a clear coat of varnish on after you sew it. The varnish will not be good for your sewing needle. It was fun and a good way to kick off my stay'cation (vacation at home). Enjoy.

Stalled but thinking...planning

My hands have not been idle but they are involved in other projects that are not art related. Can you say - blocked? I am just not there for some reason. I am not with the art vibe. I keep painting journal pages one spread after the next but nothing comes to me. I figure I would take many creative people's advice and cover the scary blank pages with paint and see what happens.
So, what has happened is I seem to be content to study various 'how to books' like the wonderful publication of Jane Davies'. Hoping for inspiration. The sparks are being nurtured.

In the meantime, I am working on a different creative endeavor all together. Yes, it is creative as my dearest friend Catherine has said many times. I am building an 18th century gown from scratch. Yep, for me not a doll. I belong to a group called La Société des Lumières. A group of women and men who love all things French and 18th century. We are having a picnic this coming weekend and I don't have a stitch to wear. Mmmmm...perhaps that is where the artistic juices are going? I have the sewing skills and costume design skills - so I guess I am indeed engaged in the art of designing clothing of another time. Will keep you posted.

Impossibilities challenge

So there was a challenge to do art work around the word: Impossibilities. The impossible headdresses and hairstyles of the French court in the later 18th century were the inspiration for this piece. Now, I attempted to submit my entry but couldn't remember which challenge group proposed this topic. Geeze! I believe it was Illustration Friday http://illustrationfriday.com/ but they have moved on to another topic, so I will try to submit it there. When challenges go up on blog sites, people seem to submit images right away! I am just getting started so I need to be patient with myself and keep up as best I can. Anyway, enjoy.

Inspire Me Thursday Challenge - Green

Here is my entry for Inspire Me Thursday Challenge (www.inspiremethursday.com). There is something very beautiful and sensual about a fern frond uncoiling. Enjoy!

Wednesday Stamper Challenge

Spring has been a mix of rainy days, chilly air inspite of a bright sun and then down right HOT! And I am lovin' it! Anyway, got back to checking my favorite blogs and those blogs with challenges to spur on the creative juices. I took on the curent challenge of Mittwochstempler or
Wednesday Stamper
(http://wednesdaystamper.wordpress.com). The challenge was to take the back of a postcard sent and collage, stamp and whatever. I live near a harbor and coastal area and on my walks I am inspired by the beauty of the sea, the shoreline and the animals that inhabit the ecosystem. Dare I call this: Post card from the Titanic? Maybe not. :) Enjoy.

I am back! Phew! I thought I would never get a minute to work on my blog. I haven't had internet service at home for a while and working on my blog at work just isn't an option. But, here I am. On a rainy day, spring break - and I decided to take the break off - and I am still in my jammies and love'in it!

Now, what is this little tea-cup clothed, articulated doll all about. Well. I took a class at Castle in the Air (www.castleintheair.biz)
on April fools day and I had a blast. The class was called Art dolls and was given by Deborah DiSalvo (deborah_disalvo@agilent.com ). There were only 4 of us in the up stairs studio and for 2 hours I was able to let go of any expectations and made this kitty doll and started another one that I plan to finish this week. It was just the simple act of cutting and putting together little articulated paper dolls that opened a flood gate of thoughts.

Recently, I have been working on an art journal that is based on the guidance of "The Creative Entrepreneur: A DIY Visual Guidebook for Making Business Ideas Real" ( by Lisa Sonora Beam) and it is really getting me to think about what exactly do I mean by, "I want to be an artist." Can't make art my business until I know what the heck I really love to do, right? With that said, the art doll class got me thinking about what it is I really like to do. I like to make things. I like the challenge of putting together a design or image and figuring out how to make it real. By training, I am a technical drawer - i.e. I can produce botanical and entomological portraits without a problem. Sigh, they just don't really sustain me. I costume, I like to sew. I like cutting out things and gluing them down. I think the urge to construct things came from my architect father. This art doll class - as simple and fun as it was - became a window into my own soul - a simple eye opener that perhaps my "art" is more craft oriented. I am feeling pretty jazzed about this discovery! In fact, I got a bit over excited and ran right out to get the Xylon machine to make stickers - a great way to back papers to card stock without all the mess of glue. JoAnne Fabrics stores have coupons for discounts all the time for those machines - Score! I also ran out to the Alameda Flea Market on Sunday April 5th and scored some German scrap and other vintage ephemera. So, here we go! On to a new adventure? Yep. The second doll will come.

In the meantime, I am learning to make time for "art and play". I finally got exercise into the routine - making it a natural - must do. Now, getting my art on the same track is going to be important. I am taking another class at Castle in the Air on the 22nd of April. This is a watercolor class centered around birds. I can't wait!

Yikes where have I been?

Sorry folks - but life happened! I have been on the move since I last posted - Geeze! a month ago. Believe me it was hard to have to let many things go to the back burner. In anycase, I am alive and kicking! So what have I been up to? Work - the mundane habit of work - Monday through Friday. It is a good thing that my job is rewarding - education. I did get a bit of travel in. I got up to Yosemite, California for a few days! I belong to the Art Deco Society of California - a non-profit group that works to preserve and educate the public about

art, architecture, and social culture from the 1920's to the 1940's. The Ahawhanee Hotel was built in 1927 so our organization puts on a heritage program at the hotel. We have lectures, tea dances, speakeasie cabarets and a big gala ball and everyone is dressed 1920's to 1940's. It is very fun. Here is a pic of the winter wonderland, Yosemite fresh with snow!