Inspiration heaven......

That's where I've been for the past couple weeks!  Used my Christmas gift cards to buy art books...four really, really good ones plus a Stampington Journaling magazine.

I have been inspired to try some new, and some old, collage and painting techniques.

One of my favorite of the four books is Pam Carriker's "Art at the Speed of Life".  This is what that book has inspired me to do.....so far. 

This is a 12"x12" canvas, the background is collage and acrylic paint, the little dress is canvas covered with gauze, cheese cloth and plaster then collaged and painted.  So fun to do!

Join me at Vintage Inspiration Friday,  The Answer is Chocolate's Open House Link Party.

New journal pages......

Wow!  I have played with paint and paper A LOT this week....worked on a painting, some envelopes for the swap and my journal pages.............like this....

Be a little more interesting AFTER I write on the pages...

  experimenting with pens, paint and pages from the phone book....

detail of left-hand page, facing page below says "let them grow"..........

"Creativity takes a leap, then looks to see where it is".

Makein' use of some fabric "yo-yos", that I have in my stash!

Totally, loving how this page turned out!

Live well, laugh often, love much and eat blueberries!  Oh, yeah!

This is it for now....but there are many pages left in this book to cut and paste and paint and write and, and, and.  

Join me at Boogieboard Cottage's Masterpiece Monday and Creative Everday

Who knew, collaged envelopes!

The other day, I shared one of the envelopes I made for a upcoming swap, well, here's another one.......

Yes, there is an envelope under there.....somewhere!

This is a white, birthday card size envelope that I covered with pink satin, some sheet music, some homemade paper, ribbon and lace.  Notice the pocket full of vintage calling cards, a 1893 calendar and an advertising card.

And then, there is the back side..................

I know, you still can't see the envelope.  I covered the back side 'cause I didn't like how the top stitching looked.  BUT, I added an envelope.....and it contains.......

This little card made with cotton batting and denim check fabric and a cute little pre-made piece........

That says "Dare to be yourself"! 

The idea is that these pages will be bound, in some fashion, and made into a book.  They are so darn fun to make......I'm having a "envie-ball".  Hope you enjoy,too.    

Join me at Met Monday on Between Naps on the Porch.

Crocus are pushing up.......

I feel guilty mentioning this.....but my crocus have pushed through the soggy soil and the little purple flowers are givin' it their all!

AND they are my favorite color combo....bluish purple with gorgeous orange stamen.  It just makes my heart sing to look at them!

In January, I said I was going to attempt to be creative everyday in 2011.  One of the ways I am encouraging that creativity is by starting a journal.......here is the cover.......

and a couple of inside pages.......

I've been doing a garden journal for several years.  This journal is going to incorporate more daily stuff, along with what's happening in the garden.

While we talking creating, pictured below is a sneak peek of an envelope I've completed for the upcoming  "envie" swap!

Here's hoping the snow storms end soon so the rest of the country can enjoy bits of spring color bursting from the soil! 

I'm linking to A southeran Day Dreamer's Outdoor Wednesday

Horses, stamps and half-a-terrarium!

Crazy busy week with a fun filled ending!

Yesterday, Saturday, we journeyed over to McMinnville  to watch our, almost 17 year old granddaughter, participate in the Oregon High School Equestrian Teams District meet.

This was the first time she and her horse, Oreo, have been a part of such a meet.  The event was spread over four days and included 25 high schools.  Here, she and Oreo are doing an event called "reining". 

Another Granddaughter and her two girls came to watch, too, and afterwards we were off for some shopping and lunch (after a little cuddle with Ben).

"Mac", as it is commonly referred to, is a small collage town with a great downtown shopping district.  There is an incredible fabric store and an art store "to die for".....not to mention some great restaurants.  All of this is located in the heart of Oregon's wine country.

A while back, I bought some material that is used to carve your own rubber stamps.  I've made stamps before using just an X-acto knife but I decided I wanted to get a set of carving tools....I found a set at the "to die for" art store and came home and carved these.

Some times, mistakes make for some cool results.  In the bird stamp you can see where I drew a different style bird on the material first, then changed my mind, and carved the larger bird.  Now, I have a bird within a bird....a weird concept....but I like it.

Well, now, that was fun!

But, wait there's more, I said I've been busy....on the way home we visited a flea market.  For a "buck", I found a cool little terrarium.....all white and shabby with a pointed roof-style top. 

Guess what, getting out of the car the top fell off onto the garage floor and smashed to pieces......shoot!  Time to make some lemon-ade, so here it is................full of shells, not plants.

Not bad for half-a-terrarium!

Been working on my journal and creating some envelope art for a swap, too.  I'm just having too much fun.  Think today will be my day of rest and then we will see what next week brings.

I'd love it if you choose to become a follower and left a comment!  Enjoy......

I am linking with Metamorphasis Monday , Creative Everyday, Coastal Charm's Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Spring and other things!

I feel a little guilty talking about spring with half of the country buried in snow.....hopefully, I will give encouragement.....it's coming, maybe not fast enough, but it is coming. 

In Oregon, today was sunny and 55 degrees, not bad for January.....so I headed to the nearest garden center and purchase my first blooms of the season.................

Cheery primroses!

Made my day!

Yesterday, I took a wonderful collage class and produced this........

Not everyone appreciates abstracts but they are such a challenge and fun to do, learned a lot.  Great teacher. 

Another abstract with wax, paint, paper and string.......

Still trying to be "creative everyday"!  Enjoy, while I link to a party or two, Get Your Craft On and Creative Everyday

Altered Book

Yesterday, I demonstrated how we were going to "color" some old black and white photos for the altered book class I'm teaching in March.

Today, I finished most of the class demo book....it's the preparation that takes the time.  This is what we are going to do with those lovely altered photos, students.

Here's the cover.......

The bathing beauties in the right are my mother and sister!

The story line of this book is "my sister had cuter clothes than I did".  Actually, my mother was an accomplished seamstress and she made most of our clothes.  I think I was just more of a "tom boy" than my sister, actually, she was my half sister and she was 13 years older than me.  She died in an automobile accident when she was 39 years old.

She has the stylish hat and a really cute pants suit, in the picture above, I have the "dorky" hat and the dowdy sweater and knee highs!  But, check out those cowboy boots.....truly something a girl could dream about!

On the left is a piece of fabric from my mother's maternity dress when she was pregnant with me, the attached note was written by my mom.  On right is a photo of me and my dog, Mickey.  Me, pants and a dog.....yep, the tom-boy!

These pages tell the story of the time my sister danced in a recital at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota.  She wore this dress, that my mother made and I still have, for that recital.  The woman in the photo is a relative, not our mother.

   Altered books allow the artist to tell their story, their way, using their choice of words and art. 

My demo book is a tribute to my sister and my mother.....I'm sure my clothes were fine but, I still think I should have had a cool hat like my sister!

Linking to Brag Monday at Graphics Fairy, Creative Every Day, Sue's Rednesday