Tradition of the Madonna- for T Tuesday

Celebrating the tradition of the Madonna

for December 2013...from 2005,

the collaged cover of my first altered book, above.

Materials: vintage Madonna card, fabric, 

sewn on beads, watercolor and pen, 

vintage crochet, acrylic, and scrapbook paper.

I entitled the altered book

'Woman Perceived.'  Above, one

page in the altered book, created using

acrylics, cut paper ephemera, and fabric.

Above and below,

Collage and drawings from 2013.

"All the darkness in the world
cannot extinguish the light of
a single candle."
-St. Francis of Assisi

Sometimes color isn't necessary...

2000 drawing 'after Raphael's Madonna.'

Above, an art journal page from 2005,

Inspired by The Book of Kells, an illuminated 

manuscript that is extravagant and complex for its time,

full of symbolism and a wealth of ornamentation.

It was created by monks, so perhaps that is why 

Mary looks a bit like a man...no women in the monastery!

Joining Elizabeth for T on Tuesday

at Altered Book Lover. 

Enjoy some coffee or tea and visit a few

blogs while you enjoy your holidays~

may they be merry and bright!

August Impressions~

Polymer clay embellishments in an altered book.  (This is a re-post of an altered book project from several years ago.) Since Elizabeth did a terrific tutorial on her blog Altered Book Lover, I was inspired to show this spread, which is one of the few times I've used polymer clay.

 The button-shaped pieces of polymer clay were made from impressions of old buttons from my grandmother's button jar. The background is acrylic paint over gesso. Circles were stenciled on, flowers from tissue wrapping paper were applied in opposite corners, and hand-carved stamping in green acrylic was added. The clay buttons were also painted in acrylic, layering yellow, tan, and black to highlight the textures. Words were added in brown Sharpie marker...things that remind me of the month of August and the sweet days of the end of summer.

April Fool

HAPPY APRIL FOOL'S DAY!
Altered book spread using
gesso, acrylic, photocopied drawings,
and pen & ink drawings.