practicing thread painting

it is entirely free motion stitchedthe lettering is actually straighter than it looks (lol)

combining threads to create shading in the foliage

but now i can't decide how to 'finish' it. should i mount it on a stretched canvas, or have it framed, or put it in a shadow box......? any suggestions?

another journal!

this one is made with book board covered with fabric/paper http://rcwdesign.blogspot.com/2010/06/playing-around.html. the pages are upcycled magazine pages with a layer of gesso just to obscure the images slightly and finished with fabulous fibers attached to needlepoint canvas for the spine
 (from http://www.weavingedge.com/).  

the fibers are labor intensive, but i think it’s soooo worth it! i love the way it looks like a wooly lion’s mane. you just want to ‘pet’ it!

the art of silliness

i’m taking an online ‘drawing’ course.  (i use the quotation marks because i don’t draw.) it's called 'the art of silliness'.

from the author of this book: Carla Sonheim http://carlasonheim.wordpress.com/

 but the course is so much more than just the act of drawing itself. it’s about learning to accept your way of drawing. and to accept that it takes time and practice to become good at anything.

i think i’m getting it. i am actually satisfied with what i’m drawing. it looks like a kindergartener did it, but i take ownership of that and i accept that that’s the way I draw. For now.

i hope with time and practice i’ll get better. but at least i know i can draw something that is recognizable.  it is recognizable, isn’t it? lol

Help! I can’t stop making journals!

For weeks now, every day, I’ve been “gesso-ing” junk mail, take out menus, old magazine pages, anything I could get my hands on. I really didn’t have any clear cut idea of what I was going to do with them. 

 I also had a bunch of painted and stitched fabric and paper/fabric waiting to be used.

I thought, why not use the gessoed pages to practice my binding stitches? Then I thought, why not try sewing the pages together?

I started with just one, for myself…….. And then another and another……... I can’t stop! It’s like trying to eat just one potato chip.

But they make me happy! How silly, that making a journal could make me happy? I guess that’s what art is all about. It reminds me of this…….. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpunQZ4cUyI

Still practicing

I’m still practicing different binding stitches with odds and ends from around the house. I think I’m improving….sort of................. 

upcycled cereal box

paint chips from Behr paints

cancer

I know someone who has been hit with this dreadful disease. I am awed by her grace and dignity and stoic courage in battling it.  I had this made for her. I haven’t given it to her yet.  I hope she’s not offended by the language. It’s just a small pin but it says exactly what I think needs to be said.

The artist is Sandi Bahr of Tiny Tokens Designs on Etsy.com.  She is lovely to work with. Extremely accommodating, she answers any questions in a timely manner and is lightning fast in fulfilling orders. I convo’d her on a Tuesday and had it in my grubby little hand by Saturday! Now that’s service!

What I’m reading…….

Creative Time and Space: Making Room for Making Art

“With a fresh approach and an A-list group of contributing artists, Creative Time and Space embraces the idea that making time and space is at the core of creativity. It is not just about managing your time or setting up a studio space, it is about your mindset and about making room in your life for your craft.”

And it’s just that, your mindset! (It’s also great to know I’m not the only one to have a dry spell or feel crushing self doubt!)