A BIT TATTERED ART

Mi Casa

2011-09-26T22:55:00.000-04:00

Red Lead Schoolhouse Swap Entries

2011-07-25T15:56:00.003-04:00

Ten Tasks in Ten Days

2011-06-25T22:34:00.002-04:00

Click button on the right to join this blog party.

1. Plant the herbs.
2. Clean the front closet.
3. Paint the chairs for the studio.
4. Clean the back deck.
5. Bath the dogs and put on their flea products.
6. Load up the new cupboards in the den.
7. De clutter and rearrange the double fireplace.
8. Decide on a color and paint my bathroom.
9. Scrub all the steps with the carpet cleaner-yuck.
10. Plant the perennials we bought today.
11. Make the buffet up with 4Th of July stuff.
12. Wash the bedroom windows-all that dog snot.
13. Get the owl print framed.
14. Re-arrange the shadow boxes and hang them in the dining room.
15. Clean off the stairs.

So I've picked 15 things to choose from. Hopefully, at least ten will get done.

On This Night

2011-04-01T14:28:00.002-04:00

I am taking a class called Mixed Media Workshop online at My Creative Classroom. It is a four week class taught by Catherine Matthews-Scanlon. I completed my first assignment this morning. I have started trying to fill the wall in our corner den with a bit of my art work, and this is the second of 12 planned canvases. I am trying to chronicle the first year of our big upheaval and remake of our lives. We moved from a nice town on the Hudson River in NY to a very small Ohio town. We bought a silly contemporary modern house, buried in 4 acres of trees. This canvas commemorates the wonder of the first night spent in this house. We moved from a small raised ranch to a house with soaring ceilings,stone fireplaces and two story windows. There are more windows than walls! Anyway, on the first night we slept on the floor in the den on a pile of scavenged blankets-my husband my daughter and me. It was a full moon, very auspicious, and we were mesmorized by the silvery moonlight behind the soaring trees. We cannot forget that night! It was truly magical.

Mystery Art

2011-03-23T16:01:00.004-04:00

So who was the mastermind behind these beautiful pieces of art? The Gods! This is hail-some even larger than 50 cent pieces, that fell just a few moments ago. I was so entranced by the flower like shapes. The first ones I picked up stung my fingers-they were dry ice! I had to run with the husband and check on the horses before I could grab my camera.

Little Houses

2011-03-08T11:39:00.003-05:00

Red Lead Paperworks is sponsoring a swap using their adorable house shapes. These are my entries-using a lot of their stamps and an image sheet. Loved working with this shape.

Tag Tuesday Feb.8, 2011

2011-02-08T14:14:00.002-05:00

Kard Krazy has challenged us to create a tag on a tag today. Love that idea! I got to use my new set of stamps from Crafty Secrets.

Here is my idea for displaying all the Tags I make on Tuesdays. I had this huge hinged ring, and I am going to keep adding my tags to it. So you won't see much ribbon on future tage holes.

These are two tags I didn't link to the site-some days it is so gloomy-I can't get a decent picture to save my life! I think these are "Circles" and "Valentine's". Let's see if I can make 50 tags this year!

Maya Road Dressforms

2011-01-21T14:21:00.004-05:00

The Bird's Nest idea. The board is covered with tissue paper for some texture. The nest is made of some dictionary pages-shredded and mixed with medium. Thanks Deb for the tiny eggs!

I am Graphic 45's biggest fan!

Winged Things! The top two flutter ladies are from an Art Chix Studio Collage Sheet.

Winter Tag

2011-01-21T14:10:00.002-05:00

I made this tag for Kard Krazy's Tuesday Tag Challenge. The theme is "Winter", and unfortunately WINTER has gotten in the way of a good photograph all week! It has been snowing and blowing and FREEZING. The exciting thing is, I made this tag on Tuesday-using Core'Ordinations paper-then this morning it turns out that Tim Holtz is introducing his own colors of this white cored paper. I ran the paper through the Cuttlebug with the tree embossing folder. I sanded it to reveal the white core. I sponged some background clouds,added some Crystal Dimensions, embossed snowflakes, Tim Tape, and at last I tried embossing the packaging as he presented during his 12 Tags of Christmas.

Tag Tuesday-Mosaic

2011-01-04T12:39:00.003-05:00

Hey! I'm on time for a change-it's Tuesday-and my Tag is done for Tag Tuesday-Mosaic! I looked up the mosaic techniques on Split Coast Stampers and picked this one to try. I inked up my new set of stamps from Fiskers ( I thought they only made sharp things) and made this tag. I think the technique I used could use a bit of tweaking-I used Ultra Thick UTEE-and something less thick would be better. But this was fun!

Tag Tuesday-Christmas Leftovers

2010-12-30T14:08:00.003-05:00

Kard Krazy's Tag challenge this week was to use up some Christmas Leftovers. What a fun challenge, as I was cleaning my art table-what a mess! The tag itself was cut from a lovely Christmas card I received this year-the back of a card no less-in gray and white. I used a scrap of leftover vellum to punch one of TH's snowflake border, a Martha punch to create a cardinal from small scraps of paper, a few scraps of ribbon and ball fringe. I tinted the sky with Tumbled Glass and covered some print with gesso and glitter.

Progress

2010-12-21T09:05:00.003-05:00

The amaryllis bulbs are blooming! What a lot of bang for your buck, when you buy those mysterious big bulbs. Note that the full red bulb is slightly behind-but provides a progression of flowers for weeks.

The Winter Solstice Fire

Three years ago today, we got a phone call. A poor abused little boxer needed an immediate home. She was quite young, but had already had one or two litters of pups. She lived under a mobile home, had a raging ear infection, and was severely underweight. When we went to meet her-she could still whip that tail back and fourth when you spoke to her. Wait! A TAIL! We had never seen a boxer tail before! She needed an immediate home, as the dog catcher wanted her out of the system before her abusive owner could reclaim her. We took her home, stopping on the way for extra calorie food, gentle shampoo and some special treats. After her clean up, she curled up next to the Christmas tree, clean, but so weak she just slept for hours! We worried. We argued over names. She was so emaciated-her bones clicked. I lobbied for "Cindy Lou Hoo" as the vet had said the poor little girl-was no more than two. I was over ruled. We discovered that at one time , St Lucia was celebrated at the Winter Solstice. S0 "Lucia" was the winner. Soon to become "Lucy! You've got some 'splaining to do!" The next day she discovered a basket of dog toys behind a chair. Her amazement at the riches she had discovered, had us lying on the floor crying as she took each treasure out and examined it. She had to often stop, and have a nap, she was so weak. Needless to say this story has a happy ending. These days, she is the queen of 4 acres. She has a wardrobe of sweaters, sweatshirts, storm coats-as she never wants to be cold again. She has two humans, trained to fill the bowl at a whimper. She has a silly big brother to run with. She sleeps in fleece jammies under the quilt with her head on Da's shoulder and her cold feet on mama. Life is good. And she is patiently waiting for Santa to come.
Celebrate Lucy!

Tag Tuesday-The Colors of Christmas

2010-12-15T11:44:00.003-05:00

I made this tag for Kard Krazy's Tag Tuesday's Challenge. The challenge was to use Green,Yellow and Brown. That was easy-the real challenge was figuring out how to use my Silhouette cutter! I've had it for 6 months and done nothing with it. So, while channeling Tim Holts's 12 Tags of Christmas-I cut the tag and the two layered ornament with my Silhouette. The BG of the ornament was embossed with some crazy holographic powder-sent me by a friend!. Everything else is stright forward except the snow on the tree is a Snow Writer from Delta-with tiny little glass beads sprinkled in it-a change from my usual glitter. Thanks for looking!

Eskimo Kisses

2010-12-15T11:21:00.002-05:00

This is the small tree in our great room. There is a roaring fireplace just to the left of it, so this is not a good room for a real tree. So I place this beautiful little pre-lit faux tree here.

Little known fact: my DH was born in the Territory of Alaska in 1953. Before Alaska became a state. No, he is not related to the Palins. His dad, pictured above ,was stationed in Alaska. They lived in a small trailer with out indoor facilities. DH was born in a quonset hut hospital-breech. No Kidding!

I put together this little tree using the "Frosty Friends" Hallmark ornaments my MIL has been gifting hubby with for 31 years. They all feature a little Eskimo boy with his dog, seal, penguins, whale,or bears. And they are a little heavy for a real tree-just fine on the faux tree. I added a bucket of ornaments from IKEA (last years). Then I red glittered a hand full of mini clothespins-and included childhood pics of hubby and family.

These are miniature muckluks that were his booties. Gotta keep them from the cats-they keep trying to kill them-again.

Just a close up of one of the sweet ornaments. The tree skirt is hubby's baby blanket-a thick wool plaid from England-a gift from a relative. You'd think DH would be thrilled-not so much. But I love my little tree.

The Tag IS a gift

2010-12-13T11:51:00.003-05:00

A few years ago I started making tags for my Christmas presents. This was only possible because everyone grew up-and got only one or two gifts for Christmas. I offered someone a simple gift-done up in one of my gift bags with a tag, and apologized for the humbleness. They said: "But the tag is a gift too!" And promptly hung it on their Christmas tree. And hung it again the next year-adding the new season's tag. So the strategy this year was to take a pic from Hubby's childhood and make tags for his family and our children. I found this adorable picture of him with his siblings-he is the BIG brother. It is printed on printer ready fabric and stitched to felt. I tried to compose a whole 1960's vibe with color and ric rac and bottle caps and glitter!

I then jumped on the ruffle craze-who would have thought?!?!?! I have jugs and jugs of strips of cloth-I am a string quilter. The strips are from quilting classed I taught-and saved the good trimmings from the trash. I had a friend who worked in a quilt store, who saved all the bits from straightening the grain. So I ruffled and pleated and hot glued and used a Christmas paper doily. So the gifts this year, because of our new circumstances are humble. But the wrapping? That's from the heart!
I am linking this post to the Holly Bloggy Christmas on Tatertots and Jello.

Decking the Foxfire Hollow Halls

2010-12-12T13:57:00.002-05:00

The definition of foxfire is " a magical light glimpsed in the forest". So our cabin like house, buried in acres of woods, protected on two sides by a friendly hill-is Foxfire Hollow. This year I painted the front door RED. I saw this configuration of 3 wreathes in a Martha catalog. I though how cool! Then did the math. Two doors Xs two wreath sets at $99 each-was the same as my electric bill! So I recreated the look for $15. Yep. Six wreathes from Walmart @ $2 each. Three stems of glittered holly berries @$1. I had the ribbon. I added sprigs of real pine, cedar and holly-cut from the property. Savings=$178. What is not evident is that I got the wreathes already to go-realized I would have to drive 6 nails into the door. Then realized the doors are made of STEEL! Fortunately the little trim bits are plastic, and I managed to work the nails into them. DUMB!

The entry way. The rug is a horse blanket. The wooden shoes from my honeymoon in Holland.

The living room all decked out for the holidays. A comfy quilt and some holiday pillows. I am growing 3 amaryllis bulbs-they look like they should bloom about Christmas-don't you think? Please see some more pictures of our holiday house in the next blog entry.

Decking the Halls-con't

2010-12-12T13:46:00.002-05:00

This is a simple arrangement on the coffee table. I try to make my vignettes on trays and platters. That way, if we want to put out cheese and crackers or play a game, I can pick up my arrangement and set it aside. Makes dusting (wait-who DOES that?) easier also.

Okay, here is the family's dirty little secret-we LOVE the Grinch. I was pleased to find this Grinch Green tree in town. The skirt is a doily from the Dollar Store.

This is my dining buffet. The glass hurricanes were a great buy from QVC. The candles are on timers, this is the third collection of goodies I've displayed in them. They have a lovely bubble texture to them. The little floral arrangement is raised on a glass candlestick.

And this little vignette is in the kitchen. I made the banner from recycled cereal and cracker boxes. The trees, alas, are not quite finished. Hey I have two weeks to get them done. Well, two weeks minus a day.

Winter at Foxfire Hollow

2010-12-12T10:02:00.004-05:00

We didn't set out to be a hobby farm. We're older, and a little tired of taking care of things. But, the universe had different ideas for us. And I'm glad.The two gentlemen in my life: Gentleman Jones and Chuck.

And Elvis Too is in the house-the hen house that is. Flashy fellow that he is.

And my new girl friends, okay it is a gratuitous shot of hen butts. Reminds me of those ruffled panties I wore (and not happily) when I was a little girl.

More snow is expected-for 3 1/2 days. So we have made sure there is feed for everyone. Really, we had to get eggnog and rum. C has overfilled the wood box. The heaters are turned on in everyone's water bowls. Fortunately, the eggnog will not freeze with that much alcohol in it...
'

My advice: get yourself some chickens, and a thoroughbred who thinks he is the family dog, a handsome husband, and lots of eggnog...

The Ice Queen Cometh

2010-11-29T13:06:00.004-05:00

Our float for the Carrollton Christmas Parade. That's me in red, with DH behind. SIL is on the right. The Queen is constructed almost completely of recycled materials. She is lit with battery pack lights, and moves because she is attached to my BIL's Gator. The parade was short, but I think the children were very surprised and amazed by her appearance. The Queen regally waved her scepter at one and all! Um, this is what passes for fun in the country, folks!
BIL and DH constructed her underpinnings, we all collaborated on turning discarded packing and building materials into her regal and icy garments, and I painted her tear drop face.

Tag Tuesday-Colors of Christmas

2010-11-23T12:34:00.005-05:00

The challenge over on Kard Krazy is to create a tag for Christmas using the colors navy, turquoise and red. Okaaaaay. I flipped through my, ahem, meager (she's fibbing) collection of holiday papers to find that none matched that challenge. I did kind of like the pattern on one, and thought I could try to recreate it with inks in the challenge colors. And as most stuff goes, it didn't end up looking like my inspiration at all, but I kinda like it. So the BG is Faded Denim over clear embossing. I used the TH Alterations flower die, Martha's snowflake, and the Silhouette for the outline flake. A little(or a lot) of bling and we are good to go. Thanks for the challenge!

My Studio

2010-11-21T09:24:00.000-05:00

Okay, so next time I will clean before the pictures!

First Snow

2010-11-06T09:57:00.002-04:00

Stopping by the woods, on a snowy day...

The road less traveled by...

Dress Forms Part Deux

2010-11-03T10:21:00.001-04:00

Okay, thanks to Graphic 45 I have gone Steampunk! The pair of forms is also Graphic 45 paper-it is Domestic Goddess. I could play all day with scissors and paper when it is Graphic 45~

Autumn in the Hollow

2010-10-29T12:29:00.003-04:00

Just a few pictures of our situation in the woods. The leaves came tumbling down during the windstorm this week. We have not yet had a killing frost! The large black equine is Gentleman Jones-a retired racing thoroughbred that has come to live with us. His companion is my daughter's Curly-Zypher. They are just hanging out-waiting for the next apple hand out. Life is Good.

Moo Triptyche-Altered David

2010-10-28T11:08:00.004-04:00

These are what I created for the Moo Triptych Swap on SCS. My subject matter would be offensive to some of the sensitive souls who play there. The second set is decidedly a little racier. But it is all in good fun-and I love Michaelangelo-any way you display it.

Lisa Pace -It's All About the Dress

2010-10-27T22:21:00.002-04:00

My version of this online class. I love these Maya Road Dress Forms. The paper is Graphic 45-Domestic Goddess.

Be careful what you wish for

2010-10-27T21:40:00.003-04:00

I could not WAIT for my dear chickens to start laying eggs. SO now we get as many as 11 a day-which is awesome! I love going into the hen house-the girls all race out into the yard-they can't wait to get out. I get to gather the still warm, incredibly beautiful brown eggs. If some one is still in a nest, they are making cute little chuckling noises. OK. Now my fridge is full of eggs-all sizes, all lovely shades of brown. But lots and lots of eggs. I am in pursuit of some great egg recipes-I'll try anything. Tonight's Breakfast for Supper was from the new Rachel Ray magazine: Puffy Pancake with Nutty Banana Butterscotch. Not your lowfat version-but it used 6 eggs-the recipe called for 5-I snuck an extra pullet egg in.There is one of the perpetrators now-Olive was pecking at the back door-begging for a treat on the back deck. She is making her get-a-way. Send me your favorite egg recipe! Olive needs the work.

Shabby Cheap Post Cards

2010-10-20T08:38:00.002-04:00

Just for fun this fall, some swap friends and I are exchanging home made postcards. Postage has gotten very high, so 28 cents for a postcard seems to be a bargain. We have limited ourselves to using paint, ink and stamps on recycled cardboard. What a challenge! I am so used to pulling out the drawer that is labeled "BLING" and jazzing my projects up. This card is for my second round, it is a 10x sugar box-cut down to 31/2 x 51/2-then gessoed and inked with various shades of blue,gray and beige and a cloud mask. Simple stamping in charcoal and black is the finishing touch. I wonder what my mail box will yield today...

Owl Shrine in Progress

2010-07-21T12:24:00.002-04:00

I love the kits from Artchix! This is a work in progress. It needs something at the top and some goodies inside, and maybe some more danglies.

Make a Mooooooo

2010-07-12T22:07:00.001-04:00

All Done!

2010-06-29T21:10:00.000-04:00

This Summer's First Knitted Project

2010-05-24T12:32:00.004-04:00

This is what is on my needles-I'm one of the last knitters in the world to make a Clapotis! It is being done with a beautiful hand dyed fingering weight yarn from NH Knitting Mama. The idea is to drop one stitch every 12 rows or so to create the ladders. This will be a very light weight sheer sort of summer shawl. Thanks for looking.

Goodwill Art

2010-05-21T12:08:00.003-04:00

Yesterday I needed a piece of art for in my weird Victorian/Wild West half bath. I didn't dream this theme up-I inherited it from previous owners. I had purchased a square picture in a frame from Goodwill. It was nice. I decided it was a little boring-so I gave the mat the Tim Holtz makeover-then the little picture of the potted plants did not go with it. SO I put new art in the middle too. Added faux leather and lots of copper Tim Holtz stuff.

I'm a Chick-with chicks!

2010-04-24T20:17:00.003-04:00

These are 3 of our newest chicks, A Black Austrolorp, and 2 Amercuanas-they lay the blue eggs. We find them endlessly fascinating, and play with them all the time. The next stage in their developement they will resemble dinasaurs.

What is that girl up to?

2010-04-22T22:51:00.002-04:00

The top picture is an altered Altoids Tin for a swap. Recycled the silver lining of a can of coffee-embossed in my Cuttlebug. Then faux finished it in patina copper. Inside are some cute little glass marble magnets.
The second picture is a pair of anklets from some leftover yarn. The pattern is from Ravelry-it is called Duckies Socks. I shortened the pattern to the cuff length I like.

Hey-I'm Back!

2010-03-30T22:06:00.002-04:00

I just managed to get back into my beloved little blog. It's been months! I just have to get my camera together again. I have made a little art-that is a big step! The studio is still in chaos. But there is a little light at the end of the tunnel. Stay tuned!

The First Snow

2009-11-29T17:45:00.002-05:00

Thanksgiving week brought the first snow to Ohio's farmlands. Our new home (as of Dec. 1) got a soft little coating of fresh snow. We missed it, but my BIL kindly sent us this lovely picture. We can hardly wait. I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve. A lot of hard work is ahead, preparing our NY house to meet the winter-and the Ohio house to meet the holidays. And MOVING all the STUFF. Believe me-"stuff" is a nicer word than DH labels it! Thanks for letting me share-I'm just bubblin' over.

My Messy Life

2009-11-12T12:38:00.002-05:00

I read an article the other day in a lady's magazine. You know the kind of magazine-it touts perfection and creativity in every aspect of your housewifely enterprises. And I was just about convinced that I could turn out a pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving with little autumn leaves cut from pastry all around the crust. Yeah, I could do that while living in the motor home. Not so much. Any way, one article had a byline of "I'm thankful for my messy life". A stay at home mom/journalist who makes herself cheery by thinking that she is grateful for having to wash dishes-because it means they have enough to eat etc... I thought "Nice sentiment" and continued to consider cutting tiny oak leaves from pastry dough.

A few days later, I was-butt in the air-kneeling in the kennel-cleaning up after 4 kittens that someone had dumped off at the house we are in the process of buying. Yep-4 scraggly, sickly, starving bundles of fleas, etc..We took them in-thinking to make them healthy-then pass them off to the local shelter with a nice donation. Stop right there! All the shelters are over flowing with animals abandoned by home owners who have lost their houses, or those who can't handle additional bills in this monetary climate. So, after looking at the local bulletin boards-already plastered with pictures of kittens "Free to a good home". We decided to keep the little buggers. Now, you all know I am a dog person-my boxers really are my furbabies. And we already house a cat that is elderly, and can't follow DD2 to college, and a cat that hates me from my mother-who was placed in a home. So this Thanksgiving, finds us living in a motor home with 2 dogs and six cats. I am getting around to being grateful-just hang on! I realized as I was cleaning up a kitten mess of litter, food, vomit and little kitty deposits-that I was grateful for the kittens. To watch rescue animals slowly learn to trust, to fill out, to become fluffy little mischievous kittens is truly something to be thankful for. They love me-unconditionally. That is a really wonderful thing.... Will post kitten pictures whenever I reunite the camera with the recharger and the download cord-I think some parts are in Ohio-others in NY. But my life is MY MESS, and I am grateful for it.

Long Summer Days

2009-07-22T10:43:00.002-04:00

Just to let you all know I am not MIA. Still living in the motor home, hoping to sell the house. It is a long and tough process in this economy. All my art supplies remain in storage. I miss playing the day to day challenges and checking everyone's blogs. But internet connection is difficult in our present position-this too shall pass. Leap-and the net will appear. Well, come on then NET!

No New Art

2009-05-10T08:28:00.002-04:00

Sorry to have forsaken my bloggy friends, but the house is about half packed up and the realtor is coming Monday to take some pictures, and tell us how little our home of 27 years is worth. I have packed half of my studio-so art-while not impossible is not easy. It is OK, not feeling incredibly creative just now. The poor dogs are bewildered, and can't figure out why things that were previously OK-have now become punishable offenses. Keeping your house clean enough for OTHER people is back breaking work! Soon we will cruise off to spend the summer in the motor home-kind of a halfway house to the rest of our lives. What a crazy twist our lives have taken. But maybe we need the adventure to stir us up and keep us changing and growing. There just has to be a reason!

DD 1's BIrthday Gift

2009-04-30T08:48:00.002-04:00

I have been packing up our household the last few weeks-little time for paper crafting. So I have been knitting again-and managed to finish and ship this sweater to Robyn for her 29th birthday. A little heavy for a May birthday-you might think. But she is headed to Alaska to work the cruise ships again this season. This is a Knitting Pure and Simple Neckdown Pullover Tunic, knit in Hudson Valley Sheep wool in Gunstock. It looks very light in these pics, but is really midnight with the hand dyeing adding striations to it. It is knit in a slightly scratchy Shetland wool that will withstand a lot of heavy use. I lightly felted it to create a tight weatherproof knit. I like knitting for my family-I think of them wearing the stuff I make-and imagine it is a warm mama hug -thousands of miles away.

Theme Thursday Challenge-Paris

2009-04-02T09:27:00.002-04:00

Here is my entry for Theme Thursday Challenge- Paris. This little dollie is created from a page from a French textbook, her bodice and tower accents are sequins. Gotta love a French girl in grunge couture!

Cards for Pick a Theme

2009-04-02T09:25:00.001-04:00

My Weekend fun. Thanks to Artchix for the images, and Tim Holtz's new mini masks.

-Gothic Arch Challenge-Vernal Equinox

2009-03-22T10:57:00.007-04:00

Don't you just love to start a new project? I found this lovely little chunky book at Red Lead Paperworks-it's Gothic Arch shaped! It has 6 chipboard pages-if I use the front and back-that is 12 weeks of Gothic Arches to display here! The paper is Poppy finch from Ellen Hutsen, the stamp a Paula Best, the bird from an Artchix page. I will add lots of lovely hoarded ribbon and charms on the coil and more edge interest-after the book is full-as I have to remove the pages to fill them. This weeks challenge at Gothic Arch is "Vernal Equinox". Thanks for looking!

ATC-Automobiles

2009-03-02T15:04:00.002-05:00

These are for my last monthly swap on Stampin' D'amore. My theme is "automobiles"-I had this cute model A stamp that I had never used! I took a local road map and Tim Holzed it (new verb). Then stamped over it. Thanks for looking.

New Beginnings

2009-02-16T07:48:00.001-05:00

This is the result of my time in the art room this past weekend. I was working on my swap for the Stampin' D'amour group. The photo is from a collage page from Art Chix, I altered it with pencils and ink.

Tradition

2009-02-15T09:39:00.002-05:00

I've been thinking about the word "tradition" lately. We have, in general, dropped a lot of the traditions that our ancestors gifted us with-we don't attend church regularly, we keep sketchy, expensive versions of family holidays etc. DH and I decided when our children were small (they are 25 and 28 now) that even if we could not keep or did not have "traditions" we would make them. We were a little $$$ challenged in the early days, and February usually found us in debt to the pediatrician and the oil company, and I was usually housebound by weather and sick kids. There wasn't any money for elaborate celebrations-so I started making heart shaped meals. Cream chipped beef on toast cut with my heart shaped cookie cutter. Mounds of mashed potatoes formed and baked golden brown on a cookie sheet. Heart shaped pancakes. One year I was down to a couple of packages of ground venison a neighbor had gifted us, I don't care much for it, but my Valentine did. So I constructed a heart shaped meatloaf! DH was so amused and touched-it's one of his favorite meals, and I don't often remember to make it. So for more than 25 years I have been making my Valentine a heart shaped meatloaf, mashed potatoes and corn. When the girls had boyfriends, they sometimes brought them to supper-just to prove their mother was that crazy. So for your amusement I am including a picture of this year's creation. I will also use this pic in the cookbooks I'm constructing for the above mentioned children. DH and I recently celebrated our 35th anniversary-it must be the meatloaf.

Gothic Arches-Hearts

2009-02-08T15:19:00.003-05:00

This is my offering for this week's Gothic Arch Challenge. I originally cut the right side of the paper lace heart off-to conform to the arch-then wished I hadn't-soooooo...being as I had 6 kinds of glue on my table top-I glued it on behind-kind of recessed. It is kind of cool. Notice that the weekend's warmer temps have not made much of an inroad on our snowpack! Ick...

Two More Matchboxes

2009-02-02T11:50:00.000-05:00

Altered Matchbox

2009-02-01T12:06:00.003-05:00

I still have that pad of Basic Grey Bittersweet paper on my art table. It blends so nicely with the die cuts from Tattered Angels. This is the first matchbox I have altered, so I don't know if I broke any rules-but then again-would I be me if I didn't bend a few rules along the way?

Gothic Arch Challenge

2009-02-01T11:18:00.004-05:00

This week's challenge at Gothic Arches is Tag Your Arch. I made a heart shaped tag from rusty screen, added a face stamped and distressed and some butterfly wings from
Tattered Angels.These components are layered with Glitter Mist in two colors. The background papers are again from my new pad of Basic Grey Bittersweet. Used my little Distresser from Tim Holtz-sure is easier than the old emery board method. Thanks for looking.

Sunday Post Card Art

2009-02-01T11:05:00.005-05:00

This Sunday the challenge is Circles. My circles are very little, but I love that sequin scrap ribbon, and used it to stencil circles in the back ground-then as a tag. I also added circular postage cancellations. I used my new pad of Basic Grey-Bittersweet and some new German Scrap from Artchix. Thanks for looking.

Here ya are Kimmie......

2009-01-29T13:40:00.001-05:00

My friend Kimmie on Art in Red Wagons ( see her links to the originator of this idea) inspired me to celebrate some Disintegration. I have some troubles lately that I have been "chained" up with, and unable to lay down. I found this piece of chain and hung it in the old wisteria vine on our deck-a place of peace and friendship-where all our neighbors and friends stop by in the summer for a beer or an ice pop and a rest in the shade on an Adirondack chair that DH built. Into the links of the chain I placed old photos of relatives and bits of their belongings. These things need to return to the Mother and become new again. This is not a finished piece of work, I was unable to find some bits I was looking for, then stopped panicking- this is an ongoing piece of work. I can add anything I want as I go along. The chain is kind of like Marley's chain in "A Christmas Carol"-it is of my own forging. I have to carry it-but it doesn't need to be weighed down by things I add. I need to allow my chain time to clear off. I have included some nice crinkly red paper that the birds already covet. Thanks for the idea Kim.

Gothic Arch Challenge-Winter Sports

2009-01-26T11:30:00.003-05:00

This arch kills two challenges with one creation! The challenge at Gothic Arches yesterday was "Winter Sports". And a wonderful friend sent a group of us these cute Christmas cards with the little girl sledding on them-and challenged us to make a piece of art. I copied the little girl and tinted her coat and hat with Prisma pencils. The background is just Charcoal Pallette ink, a couple of my favorite stamps and a little sponging with a piece of torn edge. Perked it all up with some heart stickers! Thank you for looking.

Theme Thursday 2X4

2009-01-22T14:21:00.003-05:00

This Thursday's Theme was to create a 2X4. I have never worked in that size before-so it was a real challenge! I used this little dog image, and am going to send it off to a friend who is getting a puppy much like this one soon. And I am sure the new puppy will make her "Smile"!! See this challenge HERE.

Sunday Post Card Art-Turquoise

2009-01-18T10:05:00.002-05:00

OK-this is a little spooky-but kinda cool-kind of outside my box. The day is a little washed out-it is snowing quite steadily-so the photo is a little pale-IRL is is really vibrant TURQUOISE! I do like this challenge at Sunday Post Card Art.

Sunday Post Card Art & Gothic Arches

2009-01-18T09:56:00.002-05:00

My Gothic Arch for the "Gypsy Challenge" looks a little more Byzantine than Gothic. But I was thinking gypsy/gold/exotic. Thanks for looking!

Winter in New York State

2008-12-21T12:52:00.002-05:00

This is the 3rd day of snow here in Upstate NY, all Christmas parties have been canceled-everyone is home. I thought I would share some of the wonder out my window! Can you see the large deer through the trees and snow? And as a bonus: here is a picture of me with Gus and Lucy-who think they are racing boxers-tearing around the paths through the yard that Chuck has made for them with the snowblower. Happy Holidays to everyone!

Lamps or Lanterns

2008-12-15T13:03:00.002-05:00

Think Monday-Think ATC had a challenge today to use Lamps or Lanterns. I don't own one of those cool lamp post stamps-and could not think how I would play today-then I found my Japanese Lantern stamp and this lovely turn of the century girl lighting one! I've done better, but a step away from my Christmas colors and supplies was good for me!

Gold

2008-12-15T12:58:00.002-05:00

Today's challenge on Mixed Media Monday is "Gold". So how much German scrap in gold can a girl own?!?! Here is a sample of it! Thanks for looking!

Bright Colors

2008-12-14T15:35:00.004-05:00

The day is a little gray-so my picture isn't as bright as usual. The challenge on Sunday Postcard Art is to use bright colors this weekend. I used a treasured Paula Best stamp-made a cloud background for it-then used my Prisma pencils. thanks for looking!

Think Monday-Think ATC-Red

2008-12-08T11:53:00.002-05:00

This one was very hard to photograph! In order to get enough light that you could see the metallic red thread and the Perfect Pearls gold snowflakes-I washed out the main image! TFL

Gothic Arches-Trees

2008-12-07T10:12:00.004-05:00

I combined two weekend challenges-Trees from Gothic Arches and Fairies from Sunday Postcard-sort of. My Arch is 4x6-missing two corners-LOL. I created a frame for this using Fantasy Film and Fiber-I wanted to try Tim Holz's new snow technique,but lacked many of the ingredients-so I dug out some old favorites. I thought we refer to Santa as a "Jolly Old Elf" so I gave him some wings. Forgive me-too much egg nog already. I should mention I am thankful for the lovely light snow that fell on the wreath on my deck waiting to be hung-It made a great background for my picture today.

Created By Hand-Red and Green

2008-12-02T21:12:00.004-05:00

Sorry about the poor quality photo, but I'm at work all the daylight hours this week. My indoor photography is not so great. This is my version on Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of Christmas. I used my mask, used the Glimmer Mist, and silver paint dabber, and Basic Grey Wassail Paper. The beautiful stamp is Red Lead. Find the challenge here.

Wednesday ATC-Glitter

2008-11-26T08:09:00.002-05:00

The branches in the background is black paste forced through a brass stencil and sprinkled with black glitter. The background is a metallic paper sprayed with Glimmer Mist. Isn't this vamp so sexy with her red lips and Santa hat? And the flakes are from the kid's section at Mike's!
Wednesday ATC Challenge

Arty Girlz Challenge

2008-11-25T13:54:00.002-05:00

The challenge is to use your favorite colors. I did. Soft blue, black and silver.
Arty Girlz Challenge

Created by Hand-Christmas Music Card

2008-11-25T13:16:00.002-05:00

Rockin' the House!
My snowman has got the tunes on and is making merry!
Created By Hand Challenge

Think Monday Think ATC-Cloth and Paper

2008-11-24T09:43:00.002-05:00

I found this scrap of chicken fabric and just went on from there!
Think Monday Think ATC Challenge

Art Creations Friday

2008-11-24T09:37:00.002-05:00

A new Challenge in town!
Art Creations Friday
I love this concept-they offer an image-and you make of it what you will!
I Love IT!

Gothic Arch Challenge-Celebrate

2008-11-23T16:07:00.002-05:00

A bit of bubbly, some music and a few dapper bears-what a celebration!
Gothic Arch Challenge

Sunday Post Card-Jokers

2008-11-23T16:00:00.001-05:00

This is my interpretation of the challenge "Jokers" found on the web : Sunday Post Card Art.

Wednesday Stamper

2008-11-19T19:13:00.002-05:00

Snowflake Kisses
The background is created with Glimmer Mist and a snowflake stencil. My favorite stamp from Red Lead Paper.

Three Challenges

2008-11-17T09:39:00.002-05:00

Monday Mixed Media-Ornament
Think Monday-Food and Drink
Gothic Arch-Silhouette
TFL

Yuletide Gothic Arch Contest

2008-11-16T14:37:00.002-05:00

This is my entry to the Yuletide Gothic Arch Contest.
It surely did not turn out the way I expected! I was looking for an image of a Victorian Santa-thinking of creating a window looking in on Santa. So I cut a watercolor paper background, and went looking for background stamps. A primitive Santa caught my eye, and I thought-gee he is the shape of a Gothic Arch! So I recreated him. I was looking for a stamp to give some texture to his robe and found my skeleton tree stamp-soooooo. I practiced with my Copic markers, I used my new Versamark stamp pad to add swishes of stars to everything. Thanks to Phyllis, who sent me a paperclip with my initial "S" for Sue-that is also "S" for Santa! I smudged a bit on his cheek-thus the sparkle star! When life gives you lemons....

Lovin' the Twinchies

2008-11-11T12:06:00.003-05:00

Today I cleaned off my table top-all of it. I use an old enamel kitchen work table-I love it. I found it in a junk shop in Lehigh Co., PA more than 25 years ago-I paid $20 for it. It has a beautiful red pattern on the top that I never see. So today I plowed it off and scrubbed it clean. In the mean time I found this lovely sheet of photos from ArtChix-they are an odd size 1.5 inches-a little too large for an inchie. So I made them into Twinchies. There was a nice transparency too. So here is what came of cleaning my table. Heaven knows what I would find if I cleaned the whole room!

Little Monkeys Stamp Storage system

2008-11-10T09:31:00.003-05:00

Here is my unmounted stamp storage system from Little Monkeys, I have 6 boxes and need at least 7! I have embellished mine with the inchies that I trade for-these are looking pretty cool in my studio-I just have to find somewhere to display them so they face forward-so I can see my collection. You can find the storage system here:Little Monkeys.

Mixed Media Monday Challenge-Purple

2008-11-10T09:16:00.002-05:00

Violet is her name-I am sure. Lovely stamps from Red Lead. Thanks for looking.

Body Parts

2008-11-10T08:25:00.001-05:00

I love making these peculiar little dolls-this one I tried to use up my favorite Basic Grey Wassail paper for my version of a Christmas angel TFL.

Tastefully Nude Twinchies

2008-11-09T10:16:00.002-05:00

Fortunately I have the kind of neighbors who don't ask too many questions when they see me kneeling out on my deck at 10am on a Sunday morning in my new red snowflake jammies-photographing little bits of paper. Here are my first 8 Twinchies for Dena-bean88's Tastefully Nude swap over on SCS. I believe most of these images are from a collage sheet I got over on Altered Pages. I spent a lot of time trying out inking techniques on the backgrounds-sometimes putting so much ink on the white paper that it was limp! TFL

Altered Board Book Beginnings

2008-11-01T17:18:00.002-04:00

I was sad that I had no more Christmas ATCs to make. I wanted to use more of the lovely Wassail papers from Basic Grey and my new colors of Glimmer Mist. I also wanted to get back to trying to alter books and journal. I decided that as this blank board book from Alpha Stamps had exactly 12 pages to it-I would do the 12 Days of Christmas through out the holiday season. I tried tons of techniques on this cover alone. I tried printing with the Glimmer screens-wish you could see that in the photo. I altered the partridge with colored pencils and white pen. I Need some smaller leaves around the partridge's feet-but I have time to find those. It doesn't have to be perfect-it's for me. So I can tweak and fuss with it as long as I want! TFL

Turkey Day!

2008-10-28T14:17:00.004-04:00

I wish I had more sunshine and less sleet to photograph by today! This is for Tuesday's Challenge at Created By Hand.
The challenge is to use ribbon or trim. My own personal challenge this week is to use up stuff I have and hoard. So on this set of cards-destined to be swapped on Stampin' D'Amour, I used up some beautiful skeleton leaves from my friend Sharon, some gold Bazill scrap paper, some bits of fall colored ribbon, some brass clips (colored copper) and a $1 stamp set of Thanksgiving sayings. I love this image-probably from the 1950's of central incisor challenged kids grouped around the family turkey.

For a simple finished product, this card took a bit to get together. I first stamped some swirling falling leaves all over the Bazill stock with C0lorbox chalk inks. Then I spritzed it all with 3 colors of Tattered Angels glitter spray. Then I cut the paper-inked the edges with a Terra Cotta ink. Stamped "Turkey Day" with Stazon Timber Brown and Distressed Vintage Photo EP. Glued the skleleton leaf down. Added Zips strips to the back of the ribbon scraps. Then colored the brass clips from SU to make them copper. Cut the images out with an old pair of Fiskers scissors and popped the photo up on Scotch foam tape. WHEW!

Let it Snow!

2008-10-27T09:42:00.003-04:00

I love this precious little child stamp from Red Lead Paperworks. Lots of distressing here to get a vintage feel. The papers are Basic Grey "Wassail", the inks are Tim Holtz Distress Pads. The Dec 24th is from the new Christmas set at Artistic Outpost. I am in the mood to create! We are predicted to have a few snowflakes here-before Halloween!

Instead of Paper Crafts...

2008-10-26T20:54:00.002-04:00

Working on a Christmas gift. This is a scarf meant for one of my daughters for Christmas. It is knit of a lovely yarn I got last weekend at the Wool Festival-half llama and half merino. I am hoping to make it really long-so it can be wrapped around her neck-and still have long tails. This is what I have been doing instead of my paper crafting.

Vintage Christmas ATC

2008-10-21T21:54:00.002-04:00

This was designed for Sharon's Vintage Christmas Swap on SCS. I love vintage Christmas stamps, I used 2 stamps from Artistic Outpost and the Santa is from 100 Proof. All inks are Tim Holtz. It really got me in the holiday mood to start work on these!

Time Crunch Inchies

2008-09-26T10:25:00.003-04:00

What do you do when you have 99 other things to do-your studio has been dumped into another room-and you want to make some art? Make inchies -of course! These are made from little scraps and freebie inclusions from various places I buy stuff online.

One of My Other Beautiful Creations and my Grand Doggie

2008-09-22T08:57:00.002-04:00

This is my Oldest daughter Robyn-and her pup Sigmund i.e. Siggy-until he grows into his big boy name. We are a family of boxer lovers-Siggy is a white boxer. DH and I have 2 boxers a big white male named Gus and a little scrappy fawn female named Lucy. We have owned and loved other breeds of dogs, but boxers are a breed apart. They are playful and moody and needy and loving-they make me laugh every day. Although it hurts a lot to lose them-they are worth it. Haven't met Siggy in the flesh yet, but I am looking forward to more boxer wiggles and boxer kisses.

My New Grandhorsie and Some of My Best Work

2008-09-18T08:59:00.003-04:00

Being the mother to two adventuresome adult women is ---interesting. Today's pictures features one of my most beautiful creations-my daughter Caryn and her new baby. Caryn is my baby and she will be 25 next week. She is strong and beautiful and brave and yes- adventuresome. The little fellow's name is Zypher- a curly horse. I hope to get to meet him some day.

Shine On Harvest Moon

2008-09-08T09:37:00.003-04:00

It's been a long time since I got to work a little at my table. This is one of those that is nicer IRL, but thought I would share it with you. The BG is brayered with a rainbow pad from Adirondack-called Timberline. The top is rust, fades to gold then olive. I stamped the moon and then this little harvest stamp from 100 Proof. Colored with some Copic markers, and tattered and aged the music from "Shine on Harvest Moon". I highlighted a bit with my white pen and added the obligatory embellishment of a star beauty mark for Mother Moon. I made enough for a swap I am in, and extras to swap at the Heirloom Stamp Show in Rhinebeck, NY in a few weeks-can't wait-I'm saving my pennies!

Art Room Hiatus

2008-08-29T21:53:00.003-04:00

Funny to just be writing-no new work to share. As some of you know my workroom has not been accessible these past few weeks. The contents of two bedrooms have been stuffed in my studio, as we struggle to paint, trim and refurbish the girls' deserted bedrooms. Company is coming the end of September-gotta have a nice room or two available. I have been wall papering the bathroom today. A nice organic design, distressed plaster-inset with tiles and beautiful leaves. There must be an ATC in that some where. I picked a new shade of green paint for the one bedroom-and realized it was dead on for Shabby Shutters in the Distress Ink line. See? I can't stop thinking of my art-but then we have proven time and again that all the colors and designs in our lives are integrated. Chuck and I viewed a lovely ten acre farm while we were in Ohio last week. It would make a great retirement project. There was a wonderful bank barn on the property-with its original slate roof in really good repair. The beams were all pegged-an example of skilled labor-more than a hundred years ago. Always fixing something-that's us. I suppose the day we run out of projects will be our last!

Think Monday-Think ATC-Turquoise Challenge

2008-08-04T09:06:00.002-04:00

Think Monday-Think ATC-Turquoise
Brayered blue and green ink on a glossy playing card blank-stamped music-and added a transparent image, text and a small copper light house=Sea Music.

Stampin'D'amore Challenge

2008-08-03T13:42:00.002-04:00

School Days Challenge at Stampin' D'amore

Made this postcard for Kris' challenge-School Days. I used the same background as the previous bicycle postcard-so they look quite nice opposite each other. These images are stickers-aren't they darling?

Sunday Postcard Art-Bicycles

2008-08-03T12:31:00.002-04:00

The Sunday Postcard Art Challenge

is where I got the idea for making my first altered book. I was looking for some place to keep the postcards I made from these challenges and also have wanted to attempt an altered book. Turns out that this book I bought at a tag sale just accommodates the postcard size of 4x6. Because I don't know exactly what I'm doing-I'm being conservative about my embellishments. I did remove a few pages from the book-hoping not to break the spine of the book as I fill it. The cover of the book is a project for another day. Thanks for looking.

Shades of White-Gothic Arch Challenge

2008-08-03T09:58:00.002-04:00

The challenge is shades of white. Used my trusty gesso to whiten most parts here-with a bit of grey and blush. Reminds me of the inside of the seashell it is leaning against. The challenge is here: Gothic Arch Challenge.

Teal,Lime, Black Tag You're It

2008-08-03T09:54:00.002-04:00

Loved this color combo. I, of course, went vintage. Distress Inks make up the background. The challenge is here: Tag You're It.

Tastefully UNdressed

2008-08-02T13:30:00.002-04:00

This is my offering for Dena's Tastefully Nude Swap over on SCS. I have veiled my beauty behind some vellum. I stamped the frame in Stazon. I chalked a little green on the vines and sparked it up with some bling. This was a fun challenge!

SCS ATC Weekly Challenge-Brown Baggin' It

2008-08-01T08:59:00.004-04:00

This week's challenge is to use a fragment of a brown paper bag on your piece of mini art. I used the edge of the sack and crumpled it, inked it spritzed it and ironed it-WHEW!
Then I stamped the image with Versamark and used TIm Holtz's Distressed Embossing powder. My image disappeared, so I highlighted it with the Ink Essentials white pen. "Alaska" was stamped on a fragment of mica and attached with a brad. The whole shebang was glued to a squish printed background of green and copper! Come play with us:

SCS Weekly Challenge

SCS ATC Weekly Challenge-Tooty Fruity

2008-07-24T12:02:00.002-04:00

This week's challenge is to use a piece of fruit in your art work. I was inspired by some beautiful photos of raspberries that a friend shared with us. I really stepped outside my comfort zone to create this ATC. I used patterned background paper, and six different stamps. Thanks to Kim for the ribbon and Phyllis for the button. You can find the challenge here: Tooty Fruity

Fired Brick Distress Ink

2008-07-20T13:25:00.003-04:00

Have you ever started using an ink color-and then you can't put it down? My new favorite is Fired Brick Distress Ink. I made this ATC for a single swap and loved it. Now I have decided I will make some slightly different for my August Western swap on Stampin' D'amour. I like the sassy Gil Elvgren pin up juxtaposed over the weathered old cowgirl stamp. I am looking for a different embellishment, as I am out of those cool red star eyelets. That is the problem with buying the mixed color packs-there are never enough to complete a swap of 9 or 10 ATCs. I have amused myself this weekend with focusing on one Distress Inkpad at a time-and trying to create a monochromatic ATC with it-try it sometime-it's challenging.

SCS ATC Weekly Challenge-Sketch

2008-07-17T10:43:00.005-04:00

This week I have offered my friends on SCS a Sketch Challenge-kind of unusual for ATCers. This first pic is the challenge design. Did you ever start a piece of art with a simple, quick idea-then the whole story behind the art grows and grows?

I started out to make a card to answer my own challenge-then I thought I should just make a card for another swap I am in-Sharon's Pick a Theme 8 on SCS-then wondered which theme to pick-then I thought Jan Darrah's theme of ""opposites" would be a good fit-then I looked for images like "young and old" etc..-then I opened my order from Inka stamps and there was a lovely transparentcy of a fisherman and his little daughter as a gift-BINGO!

So my card is about "Opposites":

Land and Sea
Blue and Brown
Father and Daughter
Staying and Going

Now I think my card has become about my youngest child leaving home-the longing to stay and the longing to go-I think that is what my husband, my daughter and I are all feeling-torn in two about the change in our lives. A little irony in the picture is the little girl has a boat in her hand-she feels the same pull as her father. And as some of my friends know my oldest daughter left earlier this year to work on an adventure cruise ship in the Alaskan waters, now my second daughter will join her-a continent away......Another piece of irony is that my husband was born in Alaska-and left as a toddler. So strangely enough-my card is also about daughters following their father's footsteps...

SCS ATC Weekly Challenge

2008-07-02T08:09:00.003-04:00

This is my sample for my challenge on SCS this week. I hope everyone has a happy and safe Independence Day!