Embellished Circus

The Fine Art of Fundraising

2011-06-17T13:49:00.000-07:00

Friday Round-Up: Happy 2008

2008-01-04T06:33:00.000-08:00

Ang: Stuff #1

Corrine: Christmas Tree and Children's Art

Jeanne: Moving on

Judi: December 31st, 2007...It's Been a Good Year

Karen: Winter Wonderland

Kirsten: Happy New Year

Nicci: Fish Says Love

Pattie: Taking Flight

Spike: File This under Unbearable Moments of Sweetness

Zhenia: Intentions I: Project 365

New arrival!

2008-01-03T14:46:00.000-08:00

I'm happy to announce that Percy has finally made it from Canada to Iowa, after much travel time. I love Zhenia's creation - and he's very happy in our home (can't you tell?) For more pics, you can check out my blog or flickr.
Happy New Year, everyone!

Friday Round-Up: Last Time This Year

2007-12-14T05:24:00.000-08:00

This will be the last Friday Round-Up until sometime in 2008. Enjoy the rest of 2007 and the opening of 2008.

Ang: I'm a Birthday Girl

Chrysti: Art Mishaps 101 or...

Corrine: Christmas Already

Judi: The Quest for Storage Bins

Kathleen: Don't Take Me Seriously

Kirsten: Thursday Happenings

Maralena: PIF

Spike: Busted

Zhenia: Proof

Friday Round-Up

2007-12-07T06:23:00.000-08:00

Ang: Thongs

Chrysti: Tag Fun with Max and Bella

Jeanne: Clay Day

Judi: The Next Stage in the Fantasy Chair

Kirsten: Handmade PIF

Maralena: CPS Featured: Muse-ical Exchange Revisit

Natalie: A Round Robin Goes Bye-Bye

Nicci: White Angel - Red Heart - Detail

Zhenia: The Thought Process

Friday Round-Up

2007-11-30T20:06:00.000-08:00

Ang: Transformation

Chrysti: Gladness, Sorrow and Promise

Jeanne: Pendants and Ornaments

Judi: Plushie Groupie

Karen: Fabric Book

Kathleen: Just Another Excuse to Make Art

Kirsten: Excited

Maralena: Ariel

Nicci: Holiday Handcrafted Show

Nici: Journals and Mirrors

Spike: What Do You Know?

Tam: The Winner!

Wendy: Check It Out

Zhenia: Ornaments 'r' Me

Friday Round-Up: DIY Edition

2007-11-09T09:52:00.001-08:00

It's another Friday before a weekend in the country, so there will be no formal Friday Round-Up. Instead, I offer you the DIY edition. To the right of this post are links to members' blogs. Check them out. Our fellow circus freaks have been up to some great things lately.

Metallics, Sand & Acrylics - Oh My!

2007-11-07T08:42:00.001-08:00

I've been busy working on paintings and finishing up some art obligations. Here's a sample of where my hands have been. There are more to view in my blog. Critique and feedback always welcome.

Stuffed Heart Ornament - quick tutorial

2007-11-05T18:51:00.000-08:00

I finished my ornaments for Kathleen's ornament swap and thought I would post some step-by-step instructions for how I made them. Nothing tricky here!

Step 1: cut out a bunch of felt circles
Steps 2 & 3: Make a heart template, trace onto felt twice, and lay out the circles on the felt hearts. Then stitch with sewing machine through each column of circles.
Step 4: Stitch buttons onto selected circles (or all of them, or none)
Steps 5 & 6: Put two hearts back to back and handstitch around the edges (adding ribbon at the top) and fill with stuffing before stitching closed.
Step 7: admire your fine handiwork.

Tah-dah!

Friday Round-Up

2007-11-02T08:02:00.000-07:00

&rew: Another Shopping Trip in NYC

Ang: I CAN'T draw

Beth: Abstracted Orange ACEOs

Chrysti: Published Again!

Jeanne: There are only so many hours in a day

Judi: Altered Charms for Charm Bracelet Swap #2

Karen: Broomhilda

Kirsten: Recently

Maralena: Ansel Adams and Gustav Klimt Inspired ATCs

Nicci: Studio

Spike: What DO You Want

Wendy: New ATCs

Zhenia: i carry your heart with me

blue spell book

2007-10-28T16:59:00.001-07:00

blue spell book - overall view
Originally uploaded by anongrrl

i finally kicked myself into gear to do some more bookbinding. i made the exterior cover paper. and the little embellishments. it took me a while to get going, because i'm not really into working with cool colors at the moment. this book fought me every step of the way. it's 5 signatures (80 pages), 7.25 x 5.25 x 1 inch.

do you ever have projects like that? where you just have to push through a little bit at a time until it's finished? eventually we made peace with each other. i felt better about it as soon as i had the signatures in, and the spine one, and put the first pentacle charm on.

i know this image of the book looks a little like i was drunk when i took it... i wasn't. lol. i just happened to be using my powerbook as a stand for it to photograph it. this is an 'out take' from the photos of the book. you can see more professional looking ones @ flickr.

Friday Round-Up: Catch-Up Edition

2007-10-26T05:38:00.000-07:00

&rew: Embedded Thoughts

Ang: Chunky and More Chunky

Beth: More Fall Foliage in Watercolor

Jeanne: Susanna Bergtold's Funny People and My Funny People

Judi: Snail Pincushion

Karen: The Blue Dot Episode

Kathy: Trying to Find a New Direction

Maralena: Green and Blue Art Squared Project

Nicci: Orange Eyelets Make the World Go Round

Nici: Dominomania

Pattie: Published!!

Spike: What I Did with My Weekend...

Tam: Soap

Wendy: sock animal swap

Sock Animal Swap Send Out!

2007-10-17T19:42:00.001-07:00

One of these sock Creatures was mailed to Canada today......
see my blog to see the cute sock creature I received from Spike!

August ATC Swap - The Beach

2007-10-14T18:29:00.000-07:00

Here they are at long last, the August ATCs - The Beach
Top Row - Penny
Second Row - Bonnie & Natalie
Third Row - Jeanne

book stash! binding madness!

2007-10-14T12:02:00.001-07:00

book stash - good witch bad witch shop
Originally uploaded by anongrrl

i guess you can tell what i have been doing this month.

pictured above are several of the one of a kind handmade, hand bound books featured in the good witch/bad witch shop. the square books are 4x4 inches, and the long books are 4x8 inches.

each is hand sewn, embellished, and one of a kind. the covers are either of handmade paper, collaged, or hand drawn and painted. no two are identical. mmmm. book love.

for many of the square books, i used those water soluble oil pastels i was talking about earlier. a couple of them use just paper with collage elements, but those are mostly buried under the others. also, i started doing some japanese stab bound ones. i went a little button crazy. i think buttons are the thing for October. at least in my studio!

you can see more details of various books in my good witch bad witch flickr set. there are also some cards there which i have been working on!

orange spots book

2007-10-13T14:11:00.001-07:00

orange spots book - open
Originally uploaded by anongrrl

i received those handmade papers from everyone on a day i was sitting down to make some 4x4 inch blank books. since they happened to be just the right size, i started using them to make the books! this one incorporates papers from 2 people, plus some stuff i had on hand.

recognize the papers, ladies?

handmade papers, cover stock, medium, thread, yarn, button.

Friday Round-Up

2007-10-12T08:56:00.000-07:00

&rew: Third Day in Southwestern Wisconsin

Beth: Layered Leaf Completed

Corrine: More Poison

Judi: Baby Toys

Karen: Daring Cardmakers - Postcard

Kathleen: My Big Fat Skinny Book: The Journey Ends

Kirsten: New Batch of Paper Beads

Maralena: Wooden Photo Opportunity

Natalie: In the Clouds

Nicci: Mini Journal - Side View - Embellishment

Nici: CD Art

Pattie: Bird

Spike: Nothing of Substance

Zhenia: Birds

mini journals with water sol. oil pastels

2007-10-07T11:04:00.001-07:00

mini journal - guts
Originally uploaded by anongrrl

so. the other day i started some little 4x4 inch cards. but then as i got to making them, and they took longer and longer with all the details i was doing, i decided they should be one of a kind books, not cards. i used several different techniques, and experimented with a new medium.

i have seven completed, mostly just experimenting with the water soluble oil pastels that Karen C. sent me for a swap of materials.

have y'all ever used them much? these were the portfolio brand, and i had never really used them. i find they get really loose when water is added. .otherwise they are sticky like regular oil pastels.

to seal these, i had to use 4 coats of spray varnish, and a coat of medium brushed on top. what do ye experienced oil pastel users use?

Friday Round Up

2007-10-05T11:49:00.000-07:00

Amy: Skinny Book Pages WIP

Ang: Better

Beth: First Morning Rays Completed

Corrine: Poison Bottles

Jeanne: Follow Up on Image Transfer Questions

Judi: Cover Girl

Karen: Molten Rhapsody

Kathleen: How Do You Thank Someone for Buying Your Art?

Kirsten: Hand-decorated paper, step by step

Maralena (mcdc3s): Sweet Orange on Its Own Accord

Nicci: Dad Zine

Nici: Playdate Payoff

Pattie: October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Spike: I Had a Dream

Zhenia: wip: i carry your heart

Hand-decorated paper Sneak Peek

2007-10-01T19:44:00.000-07:00

The results are in and they are gorgeous! You will definitely enjoy the returns, ladies! I wrote a little step-by-step of my paper decorating on my blog if you are interested!

Friday Round Up

2007-09-28T08:14:00.000-07:00

&rew: Itajime

Amy: Next Step

Ang: OUCH

Beth: Funky Tree ATCs

Corrine: Pyramid Swap

Jeanne: Eklutna Village, Alaska Spirit Houses

Judi: I Think This One Is Spot On

Karen: Shadow Journal

Kathy: Getting back on my feet

Maralena: Henna Hands and Feet Deco

Natalie: What I've Been up to

Nicci: minutae

Nici: To Bead or Not to Bead

Pattie: Page 26

Zhenia: square

Insect ATCs

2007-09-24T20:13:00.000-07:00

I decided to go with felt for my insect atcs. I started by cutting out the felt shapes and gluing them to cardstock, then I went for hand-stitched details in black embroidery floss.
When I finished stitching, the background still looked a little blah, so I decided on silver outlines to help pop the shapes a little more - thanks for looking! Can't wait to see the rest of the buggy goodness!

suzi blu

2007-09-22T21:58:00.001-07:00

this is both amusing, and worth a watch.
just do it, baby.

link love.

xox
nicci

Friday Round Up

2007-09-21T05:57:00.000-07:00

&rew: A Week at the Center for Book Arts: Paper Treatment Workshop

Amy: Playing Again

Ang: Bouncing ART

Beth: Solitary Leaf Completed

Chrysti: I'm a Calendar Girl

Jeanne: Thoughts on Art Medium Choices

Judi: What's Not to Love?

Karen: No! She Screamed...

Kathleen: Hello, My Name is Kathleen and I am a Purseaholic

Maralena: Halloween Sketch

Nici: The Skinny

Pattie: It's a Beginning! Skinny Book Pages

Wendy: New Art for the Wall

Zhenia: Insect ATC

EC Paper Exchange - Hello Autumn!

2007-09-18T07:02:00.000-07:00

Sock Monster Swap

2007-09-15T17:55:00.000-07:00

Alright, Wendy has now accessed my inner lemming and FORCED me to go create a sock monster to swap with y'all.

Please allow me to introduce Eufamia. She can only eat foods that begin with the letter A: Apples, asparagus, artichokes, arsenic . . . you get the idea.

She's looking forward to finding her partner and discovering her forever home. Won't YOU help by joining the Embellished Circus October Sock Monster Swap?

Technical note: Directions for Eufamia and more like her can be found in the book Stupid Sock Creatures by John Murphy. These critters are FUN to make--I put togther Eufamia and a different critter for me in an afternoon. The directions are crystal-clear, and the work is straightforward.

green/yellow/red handmade paper

2007-09-12T09:46:00.001-07:00

it's that time again! the hand decorated paper swap. well, this time i decided to play, and made my paper instead of just decorating some other paper. i was thinking of originally doing something similar to the envelope decoration i did for this group's altered envie's swap, but i have been recently making this paper. here's hoping everyone likes green! this paper is pretty simple, as with the other cloth papers--it takes linen, a lot of thinned down glue, and several layers of tissue, with spray pigment over top for some of the red and yellow... or rather, butterscotch and cranberry color. it ends up being pretty thick and durable, and would hold up well to being a base paper for ATCs, or even as a cover stock for some sort of journal. can't wait to see what everyone else sends! (tempt, tempt!)

here's a detail of this particular paper in which you can see that it carries a lot of yellow and red as well as green. i took a piece of it and started making a miniature book from it. it looks pretty neat with a grey on white striped interior paper. pix of that to come, of course, when it is finished and embellished.

Sneak preview of Sock Animal swap....

2007-09-11T17:53:00.000-07:00

I thought I might entice some of you into joining our sock animal swap with a picture of two animals I just finished. I just adore sock monkeys and soft sculpture! I had a great time creating this cow and mouse this weekend!

artist book - star

2007-09-09T16:15:00.001-07:00

artist book - star
Originally uploaded by anongrrl

i got a little crazy combining my handmade paper (remember it from my post here the other day?) when hand binding a book. i decided to do smal, portable size sketchbook whilst pondering what to do with a larger book i am working on. i say only a little crazy because there is not yarn exploding from the interior, the spine, and crazy things dangling off every inch of this journal. at least not yet!

take a sneak peek inside this little book, or go to my flickr to see all the gorey details of this little star embellished creation.

i learned to do the hard spine type binding in a workshop with jennifer d. anderson, a printmaker from santa monica, CA.

one tip: if your glue is too thick (when you are making the paper itself), it can tend to crack when it's folded tightly to make this sort of book cover. perfectionists might wanna try this sort of binding with thinner papers!

detail - cloth paper

2007-09-07T12:58:00.001-07:00

red/orange/gridded paper - detail
Originally uploaded by anongrrl

i took a day out for making some paper... well 'cloth paper'. which is a layered paper thing using muslin as a backing. boy can it be labor intensive if you're making large pieces. you have to be really careful not to tear the tissue paper while it's wet, or it globs up. glue glue glue. i found out just how important a thin glue is. also, how much of it you go through making a large piece (a lot!) with layers. whew!

has anyone else tried this? got any tips or tricks? i found running a brush of glue lightly over each piece of tissue paper as it goes down is very helpful to your overal sanity and workability. keep the brush wet or you're going to have things sticking and ripping. it's very much like throwing on the wheel that way--if your hands aren't wet, it creates drag, and things tear!

you can see a full image, and links to other details and images of today's paper @ my blog.

xox
nicci

Friday Round Up

2007-09-07T08:02:00.000-07:00

Amy: Paint Play!

&rew: Book Arts Couterie with Pam Sussman

ANg: What's Next?

Beth: Candle's Flame Completed

Jeanne: Faux Watercolor Polymer Clay Pendants

Karen: Spray-Paint Papers

Kathleen: Jewelry

Kathy: Playing with Watercolors

Maralena: Anything but Paper ATCs

Nicci: Fat Chic - Interview

Nici: Day Counter

Pattie: She Wears Her Heart

Penny: Industrial Junque Deco

Serena: Through my stash and out it comes

skullie sketchbook

2007-09-05T19:27:00.001-07:00

skullie sketchbook cover
Originally uploaded by anongrrl

since my stuff arrived from GA (ah, the move), i have been digging through it looking for a couple of specific supplies among, oh, 18 bins or so. (whyyy do i have so much stuff? i don't know!)

i found my binding system, so i put together some little journals i had waiting to get punched and clipped. i started a hand drawn/painted series of funky 4x4 inch journals. you can see more over on my livejournal, or just click the image and go right to flickr!

i am in love with the black and white ribbon. i bought some of it cheap 2 years ago, but the spools were very short lengths. i adore skinny b&w striped patterns... ribbon and borders. anyone else have an obsession like that?

this is also, btw, how i bind my chunky books swaps when i host them! it works very well. the system, btw, is called ProClick. lurve it. the only thing i love more are eyelets!

Triptych

2007-09-04T10:29:00.000-07:00

It's good to be back creating something other than a tonne of non-fiction prose. Below is the first of ~~many~~ several ATC triptychs (I have the centre panel for another one finished).

acrylics, ink, found paper, embroidery floss

Plushie love

2007-09-02T20:53:00.001-07:00

I'm sorry ... I just *had* to make these, sigh .....

Charity Auction for Breast Cancer...

2007-09-01T10:16:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I dropped off a bench that I painted for our local breast cancer coalition...They invited 75 artists to do a garden themed item for auction....I was one of those invited. Thought I would share what it was that I did!! It is a wonderful thing to give back to my community...and a heartfelt joy for this charity... http://www.explorethecolors.blogspot.com
I highly recommend doing anything like this in your community...It does so much for you!! Both heartfully and getting your name out there....

I see Nicci In CPS!

2007-08-31T22:06:00.000-07:00

Yup...I see Nicci Mechler in CPS this month...Collaged and stitched recipe card!!
How to Inspire your Art Journal...... Page 53 SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE!!!!!!!!
Have to say...JUST WAY TO CLEVER!!!!!!! CONGRATS TO YOU!!!!!!

Questions

2007-08-29T16:57:00.000-07:00

I am just about ready to start on my first Zine. Any suggestions?
Do you copy them yourself? Or do you take them to a printing place?
How many pages would be a good start?
Do you really create the zine to sell (which would be fabulous) or is it more of a self expression and then trade them?
Speaking of zine Nicci has some incredible zines on her Etsy.
I am in love with her "Fat Girl" they are so much fun to read.
This is my first post here.
ANg

pirate charms

2007-08-28T18:29:00.001-07:00

pirate charms
Originally uploaded by anongrrl

yarrr!

i made some more 1x1 inch 'ready to dangle' type charm thingies. cardstock, papers, acrylic medium (i ran out of glue!), and oil based pens with eyelets.

drawing this tiny with fat markers is hard!

why is the rum gone?

round art - cd style

2007-08-27T13:19:00.001-07:00

create cd
Originally uploaded by anongrrl

i bought some of these printable cds over a year ago with the idea of putting together some of my photographic work, and sending them out to galleries to query about show space. i didn't get around to that, what with shipping myself off to georgia (and now back to Ohio).

i thought about it for a while, and burned myself a mix cd of some songs. i am also working on a trade with someone. but what i am really trading with them is art, not music. and so i decided to try out drawing, with posterman pens and silver ink and gelly rolls... i am a little scared to shove it into my powerbook, but i love how it looks. now i am tempted to print the rest of my blank cds and hang them on the wall, installing each with music for a different mood. then i could literally take the art off the wall and listen to it, recording the content of the cd not with words, but pictures that evoke the sense of what is on the cd.

is anyone else painting/drawing/gluing on any non traditional surface (ie, anything other than a canvas or sketchbook or flat paper?) post it here!

we need more activity and inpiration--at least i do!

xox
nicci

The Charmed One

2007-08-26T23:26:00.000-07:00

Speaking of charms, this is a canvas doll I made to hold my charm bracelet. She is decoupaged with many layers of hand dyed paper napkins, her hair is Texture Magic dimensional paint piped on with decorating tips, she is glued to an Altoids Tin (which is a secret stash!)and I guess that's about it. My friend Sherry designed this pattern after an art charm swap we did. The charms from our swap are on it too. Cool, huh!

making charms, yum!

2007-08-26T11:57:00.001-07:00

heart charms
Originally uploaded by anongrrl

today i made some 1x1 inch charms ready to be sewn or wired on as embellishment or as decorative elements in art. these are made of three kinds of paper, watercolor, and marker, and marker edging. unsealed.

i also made some blank versions, just in case the urge to make more strikes.

i would start using these, but i can't find my twisted beading wire. it's around here somewhere, hiding from me!

there are reasons people who could otherwise have a studio in their home do not. i am beginning to see the wisdom of having an off-site studio. when you have a studio in your home, people assume you're ok to chat anytime they get bored and just walk in and blah blah blah. especially on their days off. *twitch*

you can see some charms (similar to these), in action, if you go check out some of my vinyl postcards:

you are beautiful - vinyl postcard
xox - vinyl postcard

sadly, i couldn't really complete them because my beading wire is still in Savannah! what do you make your embellishments from? i have a fetish for ripping up old dictionary (or rather 1 old dictionary i have had since i liberated it from a donation bin in 2005ish).

pele - serigraph

2007-08-17T13:06:00.001-07:00

pele - serigraph
Originally uploaded by anongrrl

i have been revisiting screen printing recently. here's the last piece i finished, which i have been thinking of working on. some people like it, some people think it needs more color runs.

this is a reduction method, so the only parts i can currently change are the blue areas. the rest of the screen is painted out. to see how this was done, you can check out the tutorial linked at the bottom of the page. please don't click it until you really consider this piece as is (the original concept drawing appears with it, and might influence your thoughts on this piece if you see it before you consider the question.)

i'm on the fence.

what do you think?

tutorial in the screen filler reduction method

Friday Round Up

2007-08-17T06:38:00.000-07:00

Corrine: Pyramid Swap

Jeanne: Letting Go

Kirsten: Today I am excited because...

Nicci: Escape

Spike: Another Finished Object!!!

Zhenia: Inspiration Tree

More Beach Inspiration

2007-08-15T11:23:00.000-07:00

Clover Point, Victoria, British Columbia. This beach is a popular take-off point for parasailing and windsurfing.

July atc swap - Layers

2007-08-13T12:17:00.001-07:00

Happy Monday, everyone! The returns from the July Embellished Circus atc swap are on their way home, and I thought you would enjoy seeing a selection of the artists' work. Great mix of styles and techniques here! Thanks Amy, Bonnie, Wendy, Maralena, Jeanne, Beth, Spike, and Andrew!
-Kirsten

PUBLISHED!

2007-08-11T06:26:00.001-07:00

This is my second publication and I am so excited to be part of this....Thought I would share it with all....I am on my GET KNOWN NATIONALLY NOW TOUR 2007!! So I have stepped of the edge of my studio cliff and I am submitting my art! Which is wide range!! As long as I can get paint on it I am one happy girl...Nothing to lose and everything to gain!!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie

Mixed Media Seaweed

2007-08-10T08:04:00.000-07:00

I have two larger projects on the go chez moi: an artist book and a series of canvases featuring, well, seaweed. I have decided that seaweed is awesome (and the new tree).

The background took more time than the seaweed. For the former, I used the first several steps of Chrysti's background technique that was published in the most recent issue of CPS. I stopped after adding ink, skipped the paper lace steps, and went right to the doodling step, which I did in more artist ink. Man, I love artist ink at the moment. I'd drink it but it would probably make me sick. The border is in gel pen, which smudges super awesomely. The actual seaweed is gel pen and liquid acrylics on a page from an old Soviet lit textbook.

I think that my next study will involve some tissue collage before reaching for the paint. Texture is fun!

(cross-posted without the commentary at Two Bits)

Friday Round-Up

2007-08-10T07:13:00.000-07:00

Beth: Water Droplet

Chrysti: My Bird Skinny Book Pages

Maralena: Photo Project

Natalie: Thorn - Broken - Flutter

Nicci: Studio Closet

Nici: Putting it out there

Spike: I Stole This from Artella

Amy's birdhouse

2007-08-03T11:19:00.000-07:00

Here are the pics of the birdhouse I made for Amy. Done with everything from acrylics and twinkling h2os to beads, wire, feathers, brads, wood pieces, microbeads, embossing powders, you name it.

On either side are a pair of sky blue wings made of real feathers. Bird/house, get it? :D

On the back where the tree is there are pictures of Amy's son and daughter, and around the edge read the words:
"There are two lasting bequests we can give our children: One is roots, the other is wings." a quote which has been attributed to Hodding Carter.

Finished Charms - Embellished Circus Exchange

2007-08-01T08:34:00.000-07:00

Some Beach Inspiration ...

2007-07-27T22:01:00.000-07:00

... for the August ATC Swap which I am hosting. This is Willows Beach located in Victoria, British Columbia. I took this picture today...it was gorgeous!

Friday Round Up

2007-07-27T06:30:00.000-07:00

Amy: Courage to Create in the Raw

Beth: Change Is in the Air

Jeanne: New Information on Transfers to Polymer Clay

Judi: A Wonderful Day

Kirsten: Music, Kid Art, and Nostalgia

Maralena: Victorian Inchies

Natalie: Elfin Challenge

Nicci: Yoni Tiles

Zhenia: Owls

Skinny Fat Book Progress - Stitched Backs

2007-07-24T08:42:00.001-07:00

Well, I finally decided what color I wanted the back of my skinny pages to be. It is the tan and navy checked card stock. I cut the back pages and stitched the two pieces together this afternoon on my sewing machine.

Now I am thinking about the signature/artist identification "badge" I want to add to the back of the work. I have a few ideas in mind - again contrasting the materials already used and adding some vintage page text. I am for the most part finished. Just the last touches and then off they will fly!

I am extremely pleased with the way these have turned out. Very 'Folk Art' oriented. They are constructed very nicely... very sturdy. I think they will really stand out in the book. I just can't wait to see everyone else's contributions.

promo items

2007-07-22T16:30:00.001-07:00

promo items
Originally uploaded by anongrrl

here's how i resolved my little 'write a note to people with their order and include a button' dilemma. (i have an etsy shop, and i felt like i should have some sort of more coherent packaging) i am just testing these out until i figure out a better way. i like these, but doing a lot of them would suck the ink out of my printer. i get 8 to a standard sheet. i think they're cute. (injet printed on some 'epson scrapbooking paper' which is really just a glorified cardstock. the colors are very nice, however, not at all dull like on regular cardstock).

i'm trying to work out a look and theme to my packaging, but keep it simple so as not to be wasteful.

i used an image from my promo business card back and postcard back, cut it out digitally, and added a frame with some brushes in photoshop. then added text in photoshop, and blurred the edge of the face a little where i cut otu the information to leave the white space for a note. it has my email addy, and, as you can see, i stuck a little button on it (with my etsy shop logo).

this blends both my Fat Girl art and my etsy shop logo, which are also the front and back of my business cards and postcards.

Friday Round Up

2007-07-20T09:40:00.000-07:00

ANg: Everyday

Beth: The QSDS Experience

Judi: If at first... and I'm happy now

Kathleen: Is It Soup Yet?

Kathy: Getting Back to Being Creative

Kirsten: Introducing...

Natalie: Queen of the Goblins

Nicci: Working on making some stuff bettah!

Wendy: New Adventure

Fabric and Paper ATCs

2007-07-18T08:35:00.001-07:00

Returns are being mailed today.

Thanks Beth, Maralena, Kelli, Spike and Kathleen.

Skinny Fat Book Progress - FOOD!

2007-07-15T12:37:00.001-07:00

Didn't take them long to find their dinner!

Skinny Fat Book Progress - EYES!

2007-07-15T11:22:00.001-07:00

Once they were blind... but now they SEE!

Boy are my thumbs sore! I purchased these cute little oval shaped silver brad embellishments for the eyes. They were perfectly shaped. It was a little tough pushing them though the layers - but eventually they made their way though. I carefully pushed all the little pointy ends down on the back so they won't work their way though the 'eventual' backing I decide on.

Now that they can 'see' - they realize what they have been missing! They shout out that they are hungry. Next step... WORMS!

Friday Round-Up

2007-07-13T06:58:00.000-07:00

Ang: Trees

Beth: Completed Day 4 Floral

Kathleen: Funerary Art

Kelli: Fancy Scrap Crows and (a rhetorical question, I'm sure) Who doesn't love cupcakes?

Kirsten: Paper Bead Extravaganza

Maralena: Woman I Admire

Natalie: Busy!

Nici: Birds of a Feather and Charms

Spike: Progress at Last

Zhenia: Monsters

Hands

2007-07-11T07:04:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted in a while so I thought I would share some work from this week. I am officially done teaching summer school and have one month before school starts again so I am trying to be as productive as possible while still relaxing and enjoying summer!

I have been working with the theme of hands this week and I thought I would share some of the ATC's I created.

first mess

2007-07-10T07:55:00.000-07:00

It feels good to spread out somewhere other than on the kitchen table.

What You Can Do With Paper

2007-07-07T16:23:00.000-07:00

I'd mentioned before about making paper mache masks, and now I have one I'm proud of.

(And a not-half-bad photo, too.)

Spike

At Last....

2007-07-07T11:57:00.000-07:00

Altered Bird House - Finished - See My Blog

all about you - deco cover

2007-07-06T21:32:00.001-07:00

tellmeaboutyou.jpg
Originally uploaded by anongrrl

though this image isn't in my blog, i've finally started using my blog here on blogspot. i figured... hey, why not? network here as well as LJ. you can see the updates here:

http://artnicci.blogspot.com/

i used selected work from the last couple of years. more can be seen on my flickr photo stream, which i also just started using. if you're on flickr, please add me and let me know what your links are so i can add you.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nicciwashere

re-visiting so much art has been cathartic today. so here's a friendly reminder to scan or photograph your work and keep a digital archive of web friendly AND printable files. you never know when you might want to revisit them, for publication or personal use.

watercolor faces atcs

2007-07-06T09:44:00.001-07:00

watercolor faces atcs
Originally uploaded by anongrrl

a couple of weeks ago, when i was sorely lacking in ideas for projects (that's such a sad time, isn't it?), i took out some 3.5 x 2.5 inch boards someone had sent me over 2 years ago. i edged them with aluminum tape, and gesso'd them front and back.

it was fairly boring, and didn't do much for me except make a mess, but it was a productive thing to do whilst watching Bones on my DVD player. forensic science jokes and priming surfaces. how could it get better? ;)

those things sat around until the other day, when i was sorely lacking in ideas for projects, and desperate for some inspiration. i took out my stack of blank gesso'd cards, and lined them up. out came the watercolors.

often, when i'm stuck, i doodle faces. this was no exception. i gave myself a couple rules--work on 2-3 at a time, no black lines, just color. GO!

these 3 ATCs are part of the result of that exercise. it didn't start me on some epic crusade of art making, but it did free up the creative juices enough to finish 2 zines i had sitting around waiting for me to do them. which, really, is a gift in itself.

let's hear it for primed materials! (and they're small, so i don't have to work myself into feeling guilty for having a whole hella lotta mats sitting around taking up space. i just cleaned my studio for cryin' out loud.)

cook this! zine (#one, interior shot)

2007-07-06T09:38:00.001-07:00

cookthis5
Originally uploaded by anongrrl

i've been making zines again! these are fairly simple black and white ones. i've been toying with the idea of pasting in color copies, but since i'm moving in less than 2 months, i'm keeping these simple for now. photocopy love!

cook this! is a 24page, 1/4 size zine made for the 24 hour zine challenge! 24 pages in 24 hours.

you can see more images of this in my LJ:
http://nicci.livejournal.com/

it's black and white, photocopied, with hand drawings and handwritten and label text. this zine is packed full of 12 yummy recipes, all taste tested by yours truly! some of them are family recipes, a couple are from friends, and some of them are original things i put together in the kitchen with experimentation.
this zine is hand bound with a japanese stab binding!

this was made for the 24 hour zine project (24HZ), which is a project where you make a zine, start to finish... copies and binding included... in 24 ours. 24 pages in 24 hours. it's great fun! you should try it if you've ever needed an excuse to make your own zine. participants will all receive a button! (which has yet to be designed... they're having a contest for that too!)

here's the website so you can URL your way to happiness!

http://www.24hourzines.com/

Friday Five Round-Up: Bonus Edition

2007-07-05T08:50:00.000-07:00

Chrysti: Speaking through Silence

Jean: New Meaning to Butterfly

Judi: Beta Fish Tank

Kathleen: Inspiration

Nicci: COOK THIS!

Wendy: More ATCs

friday five round-up

2007-06-27T17:51:00.000-07:00

Aimee: Greeting Card

Andrew: Origami USA's Gift to Japanese Visitors, Origami ATCs, and Origami by Children

Kelli: Am I Dancing?

Penny: Inchies!

Wendy: Summer is Here

Dorothy in the land of disfunction

2007-06-25T17:31:00.000-07:00

The Wizard of Oz has long been my favorite movie. So it is no surprise that I often think in "Oz" terms. I will make a real bone-head mistake and think "If I only had a brain." I will get totally lost and lament "Where is that yellow brick road when I need it?"

My fascination with all things Oz has also led me to examine some of the finer points of the characters more closely. I have always loved Professor Marvel's term of "care worn" when reffering to Auntie Em's face. What a great term! I'm not wrinkly - I'm care worn!

Additonally, it occurred to me a while back that Glinda, the Good Witch was quite passive-agressive. Think about it. She antagonizes the Wicked Witch endlessly - she is already majorly peeved at the poor girl when Glinda "reminds" her of the ruby slippers. Then, while she goes to get them, Glinda magically places them on Dorothy's feet and tells her "Tough cookies, sweetie. You can't have them, unless you kill her." Did Dorothy ask for the shoes? NO! Can't she see how scared Dorothy is of the Wicked Witch? So Glinda's response is to make the poor girl wear these damn shoes she didn't want, dooming her to be endlessly chased by the homicidal hag. Her final indignity is to say "Oh by the way, Dorothy, you can't stay in Munchkin land. You know the place where you'd be safe?!!" So off Dorothy must go with a powerful and unstable witch after her. Such nice hospitality. Why does everyone think the chick in pink is so great?!!

Anyway, that is the way my brain works. It is little wonder I made the journal shown above. I mean, shoudn't the kid get something for all the crud she put up with?

Kathleen

Little bit more on Bird House....

2007-06-24T06:50:00.000-07:00

My thumbs are sore! I thought that the colored thumb tacks would be a cute finish on the edges. They remind me of m&m's. Still thinking about what to do on the front. I also picked up a cute little bird I want to attach to the little perch.

friday five

2007-06-21T09:47:00.000-07:00

People are posting on their personal blogs again, so I'm resurrecting the Friday Five Round-Up. As long as there are posts, there will be this weekly feature.

Amy: Should or Want

Beth: Quilt Surface Design Symposium: Day 1, 2, 3

Kathleen: To blog or not to blog?

Maralena: Watercolour ATCs

Spike: Artist's Statement???

hey now

2007-06-19T11:05:00.000-07:00

Ptichka and I have been reading the same procrastination book lately. The whole premise is that people need stretches of time during which they should engage in guilt-free play. It's a lovely idea and I'm working on working more efficiently so that I can do the fun things in life.

So even though I'm still revising as my hard and fast deadline approaches, I've been taking more evenings off to do exciting things like see Ocean's Thirteen, paint the bedroom, go grocery shopping, and hang. Last night, Ptichka and I went to a stitch in bitch. Three people knitted, one just hung out, one drew plans for a cloth book, and two of us (Ptichka and I) cut paper.

Below is a scan of the first ATC I've made in Winnipeg.

acrylics, scrapbooking paper, Indian paper, Japanese paper, gold leafing pen

What is Wendy Into Right Now?

2007-06-18T18:30:00.000-07:00

What am I into right now???
Summer art classes for kids ALL AGES.
papier mache.... to tie dye..... to gyotaku (fish printing) and pirate ships, treasure maps, and more!
Here are a few images of my last week of summer art making with kids....

HaPpY sUmMeR!!!! hApPy ArT mAkInG!

Altered Birdhouse Progress - Part Two

2007-06-16T07:27:00.000-07:00

Working a little more on the base of my birdhouse. I am going with a game board theme. I am going to add quite a bit more layer wise and of course my embellishments. But per request - here is Step Two.

Altered Birdhouse - Embellished Circus Exchange

2007-06-14T07:05:00.001-07:00

I hemmed and hawed for a bit before deciding to go ahead and commit to this project. We are to buy a small bird house and alter it for an exchange. I picked up these two yesterday at JoAnn's Fabrics and painted the roofs this morning. I have a few ideas in mind for this project... but they are in the early stages. Process thus far:

Watercolor ATCs

2007-06-08T16:37:00.000-07:00

No Pictures This Week . . .

2007-06-07T09:35:00.000-07:00

But 500 words of fiction on Madwoman's Lunchbox, my personal blog.

Blame this one on Li'l Brah, who wrote a great "This I Believe" essay from the point of view of a G.I. Joe villian. This has been brewing in my mind for a while--what if Lovecraft's Great Old Ones really do walk among us, but have the smarts not to scare the sheep?

Heh.

Spike

"Out of the Blue" Mail Art Party Challenge

2007-06-06T12:56:00.000-07:00

I feel so lucky! Artist Pattie Mosca invited me to play a fun art game, started by Deb Silva...

Pattie is creating 3 small works of art. She will send one to the person who invited her to play, and one to the two people she invited to join...myself and another artist.
I in turn (as will each player) will create 3 works of art. I will send one back to Pattie, who invited me, and one on to each of the two artists I invited to play along.

Next, they pick two art friends to invite to play; make 3 art pieces, send one to me and one on to each friend with instructions as to the nature of the game.

Did that make any sense? You can read more about it here,on Deb's Blog.

Well here is what I crafted for Pattie; a little funky handbag using papers, pearlex, embossing powders and acrylics, with a finishing flourish of fancy fibers!

vinyl 4x6 postcard

2007-06-01T12:07:00.000-07:00

this vinyl postcard is an entry in the Cloth Paper Scissors magazine reader recipe card swap. i'm mailing it in today! this was a really fun project, and if you wanna see the back side of this, just visit my LJ: nicci.livejournal.com.

also there are finished images of my bird book pages, which are also going out today. i am not posting them here in case anyone wants to be surprised when the book is finished! so. many. hours. whew. worked on those suckers for daaaays. (all of my online non-artist-friends have been asking for updates haha).

i am loving seeing everyone else's works in progress on this bird book project here in the journal! xox ~nicci

More Birdie Progress

2007-05-31T06:20:00.002-07:00

I finally got all the bird bodies cut and collaged to their backgrounds. Today I went with a contrasting wing. Currently they are all basking in the sun - drying from their most recent acrylic topcoat. Now... on to embellishment. What to do - What to do - My brain is pondering all the folksy possibilities.

Skinny Fat Book Progress

2007-05-28T19:50:00.000-07:00

I started working on my "Skinny Fat Book" Bird Theme today. I have decided to go with my traditional "Folk Theme" that I have been working in most of pieces as of late. I wanted to keep all my 20 pages somewhat the same so I decided to make a template for the main bird.

I want the look and feel of my "Folky Bird" to be Americana - Red, White and Blue... and am still working/thinking about the direction I want to go with that.

I like the shape of the bird - and am now in the process of sizing things out and deciding what my backgrounds/foregrounds will be... as well as the bird itself.

I know it will focus around collage and painting... but I'm also toying with sewing too. Still in the planning stages... but it's coming together.

bird book pages + egg envelopes

2007-05-27T12:19:00.000-07:00

As you can see, I've been working more on the egg pages, adding a little here and there. I figured I would post once more with some process images, and a better image of the little aluminum heart, which doesn't scan so well (so I bounced in more light and photographed it instead, as my dying digital camera decided to come on today!)

The orange egg is one of the samples of the first stage where I got stuck, and then I added some stars, a bird, and more attention to the top of the page. This could become the back later--who knows! It all depends on what happens to the current back, which is still blank!

I think another watercolor wash may be in order. Thanks to everyone who commented on these the first time! I didn't level the colors a lot, but they're really a bit brighter in person. I used a more opaque watercolor than usual on these, so they're not bouncing the light around as much as usual. That's definitely something to keep in mind for the future! I think I like the transparent ones better.

I use royal talens watercolors now. I used to use the expensive tube kind, but that seemed silly when the cake variety are so portable and some in a neat metal box!

Edit: added one more pic in the process... a further attempt at unifying the design!
I killed a whole Sakura glaze pen (black) drawing swirls everywhere whilst watching episodes of Torchwood (spin off of Dr. Who).

This has got to be the craziest book page I've ever worked on!

Meanwhile, I did some envelopes on the egg theme. EGGS!

Layers - Embellished Circus - ATC Exchange

2007-05-23T09:54:00.000-07:00

I enjoyed making these. The background was torn images glued to card stock. Acrylic clear top coat. Then I topped that layer with a light coat of colored acrylic paint. Another top coat of clear acrylic. Finally I added some transparent floral art with sparkles and a transparent word to name the piece. Another coat of clear acrylic. I am very pleased with the finished cards and the layering effects.

Done Beats Perfect . . . Hmmmm . . .

2007-05-22T08:48:00.000-07:00

It's been one of those weekends. I looked at the calendar and realized that I needed to get three sets of ATC's done and in the mail RFN¹ if I was going to swap them. Trouble is, two were 6/6 and one was 3/3.

So . . . as I was chasing my tailfeathers and throwing together backgrounds I started thinking. Always a bad sign.

On the one hand, it's good to have some tricks up your sleeve for times when your muse is off having coffee and the well's dry. Good to have motifs and methods that you own because you've done them over and over again.

But at what point does it stop being "your special thing" and start being just a bag of tricks?

I do backgrounds like no one's business. I have five-six methods for getting marks and color on paper to use for backgrounds that I can do in my sleep. Like here--faux batik.

The swap theme is "Fortune Cookies," so the use of a preprint is ok. It needed something to give it more weight, hence the torn paper background. It's diagonal because it's a cheap way to get a feeling of movement going. (And because I hate to have to line things up just perfectly and true. On a slant can be a smidge off and still look good.)

And here--a haiku swap. As an English major, I can bang out seventeen syllables on the QT. Sometimes they even make sense. And the rhythm of a haiku lends weight to even banal statements, the same way that Yoda-speak, in its foreign flavor, personality imbues the little green handsock with.

And yes, woven backgrounds are one of my go-to's. These colors are so cute and lively, they have kind of a Japanese feeling to me. I like the way this set cut up--the eyes were placed just right to be looking vaguely at the words.

I tried something a little new to me, using coloring book images and searching for backgrounds --realistic backgrounds to place them with.

You can see I gave up on the last picture and used a standard Spike layout--torn scrap art paper placed diagonally (leftover bits of batik) with a central image (the pelican stamp) and a touch of whimsy (the hat sticker).

I was going to send this one:

But I'm not sure if the story reads. I was aiming for "the robin has a red breast because he neglected to use his SUNBLOCK, even though he had it with him." I tend to be a person of the WORD (duh, English major!!) I find myself groping a lot for my visual vocabulary, and wondering if I'm just shouting "Radish transmissions frammitz the tractor, buttercup! Briefcase, booger, buttocks!" Only, in pictures. So it makes even less sense.

Or am I being silly? While some things I do may be just like Kinkaid and his sunbeams, is that such a bad thing? Is "commercial" really a synonym for "overexposed" and "lowest common denomenator"?

Confuscius say:

Hmmmmm.

Spike

1 Right Freakin' NOW

if wishes grew on trees...

2007-05-21T18:55:00.000-07:00

...this tree would have some leaves. Heh.

Here's hoping that when I have time to do art again, I feel like clothing my trees in some foliage. They tell me that they're cold. Poor things.

As for the ATC: I macgyvered the inky layers technique in Bernie Berlin's Artist Trading Card Workshop because I don't own dye ink pads and my pigment ink pads are in Winnipeg. Okay, the pigment ink pads belong to Ptichka...but they're still in Winnipeg. I do own acrylic paint and medium and ink. The background is found paper with ink and acrylics. The tree is all ink.

Skinny Book Progress

2007-05-19T10:45:00.000-07:00

I'm also working on my skinny bird pages. These are some of my starter elements here.
I'm also in a "dotty egg" mode! Great minds think alike.

Edit: fixed link

Happy Feet!

2007-05-16T20:24:00.000-07:00

This may qualify more as craft than art . . .

But the socks are finally finished!

Or is that all an artificial distinction??

Does it help if one knows the model is nude except for the socks in question? Could we call it a "mobile conceptual installation with organic components?"

Ah well. Happy feet in their new duds. 'sall good.

working on that BIRD skinny book thang

2007-05-13T17:43:00.000-07:00

SKINNY (FAT) BOOK PAGES:
so i'm working on these pages for the BIRD themed book. i decided that nowhere on the page would i drawn an actual bird. this is pre-bird. or post-bird, depending on how you view that age old argument.

i'm not sure how i feel about them just yet. i feel that something may be missing. i'm going to live with them for a while before i decide. lots of hours of work, and i haven't even started on the backs! these are all different, but i chose to post this particular one because it's my fav. you can see one more in progress over on my livejournal: http://nicci.livejournal.com/

materials: watercolor, dictionary pages, aluminum tape, india ink, hand carved stamp, pigment based ink, gel pen, oil based sharpie, black label tape, tags, & metallic pens on watercolor bristol board.

thoughts? inspirational images to check out? anyone else working on this willing to post progress work? xox

inspire me thursday

2007-05-07T17:24:00.000-07:00

After much hemming and hawing and contemplating, I finally finished something for Inspire Me Thursday. It only took a year! The prompt for this week is foliage and I couldn't resist this tree I came upon during my walk tonight:

fine art valentines - 2007

2007-05-03T10:29:00.000-07:00

every year (for the last four years), i've hosted a FINE ART VALENTINE swap, roundabouts january-may, depending on the craziness of the year. sometimes the returns go back in february, but usually they do not.

why? well, the mail art world is a crazy thing, and sometimes i'm willing to wait for what i know is quality work. sometimes i get a little impatient, but it always works out in the end.

this year, 16 sets of valentines were shuffled and made their way back into envelopes to be returned all over the country, and also overseas.

people do all sorts of things from hand carved stamps, to intaglio, to serigraphy. it's really a wonderful sort of experience, with all sorts of skill levels involved. they're little gems of art, and i can't wait for next year!

when i finish scanning all of them, i'll send a link! this is one of my prints from the exchange (i did 2 sets). xox nicci

ducks in progress

2007-05-01T20:07:00.000-07:00

working on the first hand carved stamp in forever. it's about 1.75 inches tall, and each of the duck prints is hand altered with watercolor. the heart is also a mini hand carved stamp.

when finished, these 2x2 inch squares will be affixed to 4x4 inch paper for a valentine. i'll post an image of the finished edition when it's... finished!

xox

Hand-Carved Stamp Crazy!!!

2007-04-29T19:50:00.000-07:00

So I went a little crazy one night this week and created a bunch of new stamps. They were so tiny and sweet that I decided tiny note cards would be great for these 1.5 inch little guys! Now I feel I have to tackle making little envelopes for the cards! Wendy

Sisters Series - ATC's

2007-04-28T19:05:00.000-07:00

Long time no post

2007-04-19T06:56:00.000-07:00

Hey kids...remember me? I know...I have been under the radar so long there are names here I don't even recognize! Hello all (relative) newcomers! Anyhoo, hoping that I can get back into some things here at the Circus; I have so missed my fellow freaks and my mailbox is sad and empty. Hope there is still room for me under the big top....

Been on a major bead kick; accumulating them by the score and fashioning all sorts of pretty things that don't really seem to sell, but hey, I still like making them!

Here's a peek at one of the sets I just made; you can see more of 'em on my blog.

Inappropriate Connections

2007-04-10T13:11:00.000-07:00

I have one of those minds which is cross-wired--everything is connected to everything else. Which is probably why I can never find anything in here . . .

One day, I was reading email for an artsy yahoo group, much like the EC. One person was getting down on herself and her art. "Nothing I do looks like what everyone else is doing," she said. "I suck."

I have very little patience for pity parties. I tend to crash them, with tubas playing "Flight of the Bumblebee," chocolate devil's food cake frosted with black licorice, and single malt scotch. So I dropped a note that there were plenty of folks in the world who'd be happy to rag on her. She didn't need to do that to herself. And I finished with, "Don't make me get out the Altered Spanking Paddle and chase you down!!!"

I hit send, and a second later thought, "Well, I LIKED being in that group. I'll probably get several flaming emails and then get banned. Oh well."

No, instead I got back a chorus of "Altered SPANKING Paddle?? Sounds like a swap to us!" (I love this group.)

So, this weekend, I assembled my entry in the ASP swap.

The picture is true to color, but the part I wish showed more clearly is the coppery glittery stuff in the center of the paddle. That's knitted copper wire. Much cooler in real life.

I'm really looking forward to seeing what comes my way from this swap. And I have a couple of friends who've asked me to make them one . . . Hmmm. It would solve what to do for Christmas nicely.

Spike

Helloooo....

2007-04-09T19:15:00.000-07:00

...from my crazy bird for the sewn surprise swap. This silly felt stuffie will be heading over to Wendy tomorrow. For more pictures, you can visit my blog.

Up to my armpits in 1" squares!

2007-04-06T11:18:00.000-07:00

I have to say that the 1" squares that came in for this swap are smoe of the most creative and lovely work I have seen in a swap so far. I really enjoyed seeing what everyone did. I swapped them all out, and I will be mailing them on Monday. I tried every way I could think of to swap them so noone got their own back. I was tearing my hair out. Finally I gave up and dumped them into a big bowl, and just counted them out from there. So, everyone will get some of their own back.

Contortionist Act

2007-04-02T13:48:00.000-07:00

As a knitter, I read knitblogs. One of the common conventions upon finishing a pair of socks is to take a picture of your feet shod in the knewly knit footwear. Hey, knitting is the new yoga, so achieving the appropriate position to take good clear pictures of one's pedal extremities should be a cinch. All the flexibility you get from the knitting you've been doing should make it simple to get your head and hands on the floor with your feet and the camera.

You can stop laughing now.

However, taking pictures of your tootsies pales in comparison with taking pictures of your hands.

I made the bracelet with a jeweler friend of mine. We got together with her toys, some wire, and a picture off the net and played it all together. The concept is simple, the execution darn nigh killed us both.

I think it was worth it, like learning to read cable charts. THAT was a nightmare, too.

However, yarn is much softer than baling wire. Hence, I will keep on knitting. And who knows? Maybe you'll see my dancin' feet in a brandy spandy new set of sockies one day.

Spike

tree trio

2007-03-29T17:17:00.000-07:00

I made these for the March swap. I may keep them for myself, though.

What I Did With My Weekend

2007-03-18T21:03:00.000-07:00

The laudry's undone, the kitchen is a train wreck, and we won't even get into the state of the living room carpet . . . but I did make some art.

Hey, a gal has to have her priorities in order.

These are for a March challenge swap. The hostess sends out a pack of goodies to however many players signed up for the challenge, the players make between 3 and 9 ATC's and return them for swappage. Each ATC has to have at least one piece from the challenge pack on it, so it's kind of like my "Clear Yer Desk" personal challenge, where I can ONLY use stuff that's out and in my way to make art.

Now if only I could set something like that up to help with the housework . . .

Spike