Saturday I went to the Original Rubber Stamp Convention at the Carson Community Center.  There were so many great ideas to absorb - my head is still spinning!  I took a class in how to use Copic Markers. It was taught by the folks at Krazy Kreations. It was a great class and I can't wait to get some projects finished to post here so you can see how fabulous these markers are!
Of course, I headed over to see Tim Holtz, my guru!  I just love the stuff that he creates.  
Stay tuned for some great copic marker projects!
 

Complete, At Last

Some detail of the what lies within:
the door knobs are two lamp work beads with antiqued brads.
Some seashells and coral from a friend's trip to Florida for a Judo competition and the crucified Christ is made from floral wire, wrapped in twill tape that was inked with terra cotta chalk ink. The face is Fimo clay, also inked . The nails are crimp beads and the cross is layered in handmade paper from China, newspaper and twill tape that was stamped with more Lumiere paints. The Christ and Sun were sprayed with Smooch Spray in Gold and Vanilla.




The last photo is the completed piece. After it was finished, I really wanted to keep it, rather than auction it off. It pleased me, not only because it was complete, but because I had faced the challenge ... stepped way, way out of my comfort zone.
I was completely fascinated by the process of building, assembling and finding the objects for the shrine. Each piece of the process was a true joy for me and I'm looking forward to creating similar pieces.

The shrine comes together - at last

Poor shrine! It sat, in pieces, unattended for more than a month. I dislike that life gets in the way of art, but it happens.
Here are some photos of the piece coming together:

Have art, will travel

more painting today - adding some dimension to the pieces - flat paint is about the most boring thing on earth.

I've been working on my lunch hours, in the break room, so I have to carry my supplies to and from work. I prefer my studio, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.

BTW - I've been working with LUMIERe PAINTS by Jacquard to add that special touch. I found this paint a few years ago when I was working on some stoles for our clergy at church.
The paints are so easy to work with and though they are primarily for fabric, they are awesome in other applications as well. I have rubber stamped with them, used them on paper and wood and metal. Great stuff, that!
You can check them out here:lumiere

Now the painting has begun - I have a vision of what I want it to look like and yet, until it comes out of my hands, I will only know if this is it or not. I wonder just how many times I could repaint it before it completely fell apart.

As I try to achieve my vision, I am already thinking ahead to the actual building. I am thinking that some brass nails would add a great deal to the interest of the actual piece - think of a piece of upholstered furniture with studded accents.

The Building of a shrine - part deux

The shrine and I continue on our creative journey - through the papering process, as seen above. It was indeed a sort of peaceful thing to do - the papering. It was quiet, contemplative time as I thought about where each piece would go and what treasures the niches might hold.

What's new

One cannot live by cards alone - I have started to build my first shrine -
I want to document each step of the process and being me- got a book - one can do anything with a book or internet instructions - right?
Anyway - first step - cut the pieces from foam core - why not balsa wood? Heck if I know, but I was following instructions - so here are the pieces cut and put together -
Step 2 - cover each of the pieces (about 25 of them) with rice paper. The rice paper will presumably keep the foam core from warping when the layers of paint and glue are applied.

This is, in my estimation, madness, although as I sat in the studio last Saturday, cutting and wrapping each piece, I found a sense of peace and some satisfaction in creating each piece of this shrine. I feel like I'm really building something.
My sense of peace aside, the next shrine will be from balsa wood!
The next steps will be paint and assembly. Stay tuned for more photos

Stampin is awesome and....

Sometimes I like to shake it up a bit. Here are some dry embossed cards that I've been working on. I hope you like them.

Summer, how I love thee

Yes! Summer has finally arrived and I am loving every minute! The sun just feels lovely on my face and when I put the top down on the car, I can feel the wind and the sun at the same time!
My thoughts are on the sun, surf and sand, of late - and always on my flip flops!

I've been going a little nuts with the flowers lately, but it really is the weather that's inspiring me. Here in Cali, we have May gray and June gloom-cloudy and cool in the mornings and in the afternoons, that marine layer burns off and the rest of the day is lovely and sunny.
here are some of the flowers I've created. They are for sale. If you are interested, please contact me!

Ah Spring -

The weather has been lovely (off and on, that is) and the warmth of the sun, the blue of the sky is inspiring to me.
I've had a busy few weeks preparing for a bake sale, Easter cards and making my flowers.
The flowers, I think, are a lovely accessory for spring and summer. By Palm Sunday, I was just exhausted! I promised myself I would take a break from all of the craziness at least until after Easter.
Then yesterday happened! I was surfing for some supplies and I couldn't wait to get home and make something - ANYthing!
I refrained, but that urge to make something is still strong.
The flowers were a smashing success at the church bake sale!
Wouldn't you like to add one to your wardrobe? I'll be working on some alternative patterns as soon as my break is over!

Loss

I am still reeling from the loss of a friend's son. The list of friends that have asked for prayers seems never ending lately. It makes me so sad and yet, it inspires me to create, create, create. Doing something seems to take away some of the sting - like if I make this thing with this person in mind, I will never lose them.

I did switch gears from making cards and flowers to something that I haven't done in years - needlecraft - I am making a pillow using quickpoint (cross stitch with REALLY big yarn)
It's a lovely abstract pattern in blues and greens and it is soothing to work on during my lunch hour or in the evenings. I find myself completely lost in moving the needle in and out and watching the pattern take shape, anticipating the next color change or the completion of one pattern or section. - Escapism at it's finest.
This week I will get to turn my attention to Easter and create some cards to sell, some to send. And back to the flowers - I cannot wait to get back to the flowers. They are fun to wear and oh so much fun to make!
Pictures soon...

Spring is almost here

I know it's hard to believe, especially for the folks back East, but Spring is almost here. Here in So CA, trees are budding, flowers are blooming and the weather is getting warmer.
It's in the air and it's kind of taken over my thoughts and my creations. Here are some lapel pins that I've been working on, using the Big Shot.


I think they are so fun to make.
I've also been working on a Facebook Challenge to create handmade gifts for the first 5 people to sign up - The photo Albums for Froilan and Dalton were part of that challenge. Here are two journals that I made as well - they will be mailed out this week.

My Lenten Journey

Lent is here and for awhile now, I have been adding something along with giving something up. Christ gave and so it is my intention, in my walk to give as well.
This year, I am making cards to be given to survivors of breast cancer.
I will be giving about 30 cards to two organizations.
Sounds like a lot, but I will have help!
Here are some of the designs for the cards - can you tell that my colors for the week are Wild Wasabi and Blushing Bride?

I've been really busy lately - the creative urge is strong and I've driven myself almost to the point of exhaustion, but it is a feeling that will not be ignored and so I work and work. Oh, don't feel sorry for me - a day spent in the studio is an excellent day! Above is an explosion box. It opens and expands and it's as lovely on the inside as it is on the outside. It can be used to give a small treat or to showcase pictures.





This is one card from a set that I made for my friend Claudia. I love this set!









This is a "brag book" I made for Debbie, who is a new grandma. I made the letters with my Cricut. I love that it's not just a brag book but one just for Froilan Daniel. She is also expecting a granddaughter in a few weeks, so I made the other half of the book for the soon to come girl.

I will add her name after she's been born.
I made a similar one for HiKath and her grandson, Dalton. I am not into scrapbooking, but the mini albums allow for a lot of creativity and just a short amount of time.

I hope something here will inspire you to create!

A fallen angel

Last week a friend lost her son in a tragic drunk driving accident. He was struck and killed and in an amazing act of forgiveness, she asked our community to pray for the family of the young man who took Chris from them. This so speaks to the person that is Mary Ann and I know that her son was like her. I never met him, but through her stories and her tears, I feel like I knew him and I feel the loss too. I was inspired to create something so that she would know that I will never forget her young man. I began, simply and it struck me that she is not the only one that I want to make something for. Chris left a brother and a daughter and a father and a step-father. I know others who have lost children as well and that gives me much to think about and adds to my list of must create projects.
Most importantly, I will hold each child in my heart, forever.

Valentine's day is coming

And so we are back to cards - wherever I wander, I come back to my cards.
We've gotten settled in our new place and I'm ready to start classes again -
January 29 - 10 to 12
Here are the cards we'll be making!

2011 - new year, new attitude

It's 2011 and with the new year, I've adopted a new attitude about this blog - everything counts! Everything gets logged and blogged!

I used to make excuses for not blogging - the latest being that I couldn't find my camera. If I couldn't take pictures, certainly I could not blog about my art. But there's so much more - my ideas, my creative process, etc.

I am taking a drawing class from my friend Claudia. I LOVE it and I am terrified at the same time. Somewhere in my head, I got the idea that drawing should be easy if I'm an artist - that it should come naturally. Ha ha - it's not easy. Sometimes it is difficult and frustrating that things don't look "just right" but I will keep plugging away at this and I do look forward to my time with Claudia. If we aren't actually drawing, we are discussing ideas, concepts. It is wonderful to be able to pitch an idea and have someone understand what I am talking about - someone to add to the idea or steer me in a completely different direction with just a few words.

So there you go - perhaps I will even get brave enough to post a few of my drawings here. Ok, I WILL post some of my drawing here - next week -