Swap Pages

Here are some swap pages that I received

from a private swap that I'm in.  My theme

is Mexican folk art, and these lovely

pages were created by Kathy.

Kathy doesn't have a blog of 

her own, so I am showing them here.

There is also gold glitter that doesn't

show up in this scan,

and there are charms 

dangling on the right side.

The fiesta page is covered with squares

of tissue paper, just like a pinata.

The tissue flower and paper 'candy'

make this a fun page!

Kathy included a

 quote by Frida Kahlo:

"I paint self-portraits because 

I am so often alone, and

because I am the person

I know best."

Kathy's decorated skull doodled in black pen,

and lovely black feathers with ribbon

and beads in the corner.

Thank you Kathy!  These will be

wonderful additions to my book.

I plan to show the other pages I've received

when I get them put together as a book.

In the meantime, I have pages with 

sunflowers to create for the

next 'round' of the swap!

New Art Journal

Spread in my new art journal:

acrylic, painted papers, marker,

pastels, collage images...

watercolor, inchie collages,

hand-carved stamps,

and vintage papers.

This journal has heavier paper and

is spiral bound.  It's larger in 

page size than the last journal

I used, which unfortunately means

the entire page doesn't quite fit

on my scanner. I was hoping the paper

wouldn't buckle when I painted it.

It still buckles, but flattens out nicely

when weighted overnight beneath a 

stack of heavy books.

I found myself hesitant to create

the first page in the new art journal...

so I made a collage on a separate

piece of paper and then glued it into

the new journal.  One way of

overcoming those blank

pages and wanting 

the first piece to be "good."

Art Journal Pages

Continuing to work in the Green Scrappy Journal
that Elizabeth sent me.

'Plunge into Life' is created on top of

a page made from brown paper bag.

The next page shows the tags

peeking out of the paper bag opening,

and from behind the cardstock that

had been sewn to it.

One side of the larger tag is above.

The quote was torn from an old

psychology textbook.

A quote written on hand-painted paper

is on the other side of the large tag.

I made this paper while

painting with poster paints with

my grandson one day...
you can see the crayon resist
beneath the paint on the right side.

I love this quote...

Go throw some paint!

Shades of White

Pages for a swap...

the theme here was "white."

Materials include sheet of music background,

copy of a vintage photo, lace, fabric,

beads, paper lace doily,

and a button.  I really like

that long necklace on the little girl!

On the back, a dictionary page

with a light wash of gesso,

and fabric pocket to hold

the atc.

More paper doily applied to 

background of scrapbook paper.

Fabric & felt frame a small

reproduction of vintage-style angel.

Detail of the back of the page,

showing fabric & lace pocket, 

made to hold another atc.

Stitching and beads 

add some texture.

A very blurry scan of the

second atc.  The background was

a scrapbook paper with a

peeling paint image. Fabrics

and papers added in

creams and tan.  My favorite part

is the embroidery stitching

on the creamy scrap of linen.

The tiny white paper rose

embellishment came from my stash,

and its 3-D thickness caused

the blurriness.

Fondly dedicated to the 

memory of the

talented mixed media artist

Gina Wise,

who had a love for the theme "white."

Scrappy Green Journal

More pages from the Scrappy Green Journal

that was a gift from Elizabeth...

She created the lovely rusty orange background

that had 2010 stamped on it,

paper doilies, along with the strip of

tan paper with "All Soul's day" sewn on, and Grow."

I drew and painted the images and text:

the rose, decorated skull, and

the painting of the marigold.

The next page shows the postcard

that Elizabeth sewed to the page.

Some other images that I added

peek out from beneath it.

I like how the pages are all 

different sizes and shapes, and

you can see some of what's

to come in this scan.

On the back of the postcard I glued some

fun fabric and added text and dots.

I wrote on the cool textured blue background

that Elizabeth provided with white gel pen.

A strip of the same fabric was added

along with the cards that were

gifted to me by Marlynn.

It is a fun challenge to create on

the substrate that someone else made!

What do you put in your Art Journal?

Portals

Possibilities

What lies beyond?

Walk through the doorway

Potential

History...

Be aware of possibilities...

Cherish the present...

Seize the day!

Fabric Collage

Fabric Collage

3 1/2" x 6 1/2", 

hand-stitched, beaded, embroidered,

lace, paper, fabric & felt.

Felt backing stitched by hand

with buttonhole stitch around

outside edge.

An exercise in cream, white & tan.

These could be bookmarks, or

hung up on the wall as art.

The paper scraps are from a

vintage French textbook.

The fabrics and lace were

mostly scraps I had on hand.

Buttons and beads add

some sparkle, along with circles of

fabric or felt edged with

buttonhole stitch.

I call this fabric collage because

a traditional seamstress would not usually

have unfinished edges showing.

I did whip some edges with thread,

but some I did not.  The 

 paper gives additional

texture. I coated the paper with

gloss medium & let dry before

sewing onto the base fabric, which

gave the vintage paper more strength.

Had a lot of fun creating these

for gifts and made about a dozen!

Sewing gifts has been the order

of the day this Christmas.

Looking forward to drawing, painting

and art journaling again!

Happy Holidays to all!

Santa Collection

My growing Santa collection...

includes Father Christmas 

and Santa Claus,

homemade and purchased,

fabric and paper...

On the top shelf you'll see a

very simple Santa made from yarn--

I made that when I was in high school!

I'm not telling how long ago...

The Santa on the far left was made by

my dear friend Diana. He is adorable!

The Father Christmases (no faces)

I made myself. The sleds were from

Boyd's Bears.

I didn't intentionally start collecting

Santas. It just kind of happened.

Then it tends to snowball!

There are more Santas on the tree,

but this little doll is also a favorite.

Our decorations are quite eclectic.

Hand-crocheted by my grandmother,

cross-stitched or sewn by me,

glass and wood, and yes,

plastic too. The non-breakables

are near the bottom of the tree

this year in honor of my 

14 month-old granddaughter!

The little wreath made from 

puzzle pieces was made by my 

daughter-in-law--very cute and clever!
I always leave the tree up until
New Year's Day. Sometimes I'm
slow to take it down, and my
husband says I should just
make it a Valentine's tree...hmmm.
Lots and lots of hearts...
What do you think?

Happy Holidays to all!

Bits of Rust

Pages for a swap

done on watercolor paper.

The theme of the recipient's book

is Rust, a bit of a challenge for me

since I am often drawn to

using bright colors in my work.

Subdued color and actual

rusted metal was the goal.

Managed to work in some

copper, fabric, metallic thread

and painted cardstock as well.

A bit of embroidered fabric is combined

here with rusty bits--washers I think--

watercolor, metallic thread, stamped designs,

and a DaVinci quote.

Back of page with a library pocket

to hold a tag. Copper wire,

silk leaves in a "copper" color, fabric,

and a rusted flattened bottle cap

are incorporated here.

 

Tag inside the library card pocket,

with an original poem and

a vintage charm from my

grandmother's stash of

craft supplies.

These pages are about 8 12" x 11"

and holes were punched to 

be collected into a ring binder.

A swap is a good way to stretch

yourself and try subjects you

wouldn't otherwise consider!

Theotokos

Theotokos
The Greek term for

"Mary: the one who gives birth to God"

watercolor, 8" x 11"

in my hardback art journal.

The paper in this art journal is not

for water media, and so it was 

difficult to get the shading

smooth as I would like.

The paper absorbs the water

and wrinkles. So my next art journal

will have heavier paper for mixed media.

Below, is the photo used as my model.

Color illustration from the book

Early Christian & Byzantine Art

by John Lowden, 1997.

In the illustration in the book, 

Mary's head is about one inch square,

so my version is greatly enlarged.

The actual original artwork is a mosaic in 

the apse of a large church,

St. Sophia in Istanbul, and the figures of the

mosaic are about 16 ft. 4 in. tall!
(Click on the image for enlarged view)

Since they are seen from far below,

however, they seem relatively small

to the viewer.(According to the

author of the book.) I found Mary's 

face and expression quite sweet, 

and was inspired to try creating

my own version.