Another Canvas

I did this canvas a few weeks ago, and then promptly forgot about it. When we decided to put some of our work in the new shop, I pulled this out and thought "hmmmmmm". Not sure if I like it. I am trying to work up the nerve to do faces. Just don't have enough confidence yet to do that. Besides, this is mixed media, and not meant to be accurate or a true facial drawing. Still.....

Going to attempt to give both dogs a bath and take some pics of the aftermath. Notice I said "attempt." Jake seems to have a 6th sense about bath days, and will hide in the yard under a shrub. Always fun at our house. Always.

Have a great day.
Linda

This and That

I just completed an online course in color inspiration from Christy Tomlinson. It was a great help and a lot of fun. So the 3 6x6 canvases were the first attempt at a project after applying the guidelines from that class. I cheated. Black was not one of the colors originally selected, but I liked that black flower against the turquoise background. These were also forcing me to step out of my comfort zone by using other materials. The stems of the flowers are rolled pieces of old pattern pieces. Rusty wire was twisted and looped to form the background flowers.

Cathy and I have found another outlet to try at selling our creations. It would be nice is something, anything sold. I don't care if it's hers, mine, or both. SOMETHING!! The stacks of canvases are growing.

After I took the shots on the dining room table, I turned around to see the babies looking very intent out the living room window. Aren't they just too cute? Brats.

Have a great Memorial Day. Say a little prayer for those who have served.
Linda

Spring Flowers

Does my butt look big? No, Gracie. Not at all. Snicker, snicker....

My heirloom Iris have opened. The blooms do not last long, so when you have the opportunity to take a few shots it has to be done regardless of the weather. Our mornings have been overcast, which in some instances can make the colors more vivid.

This is the strangest spring in recent memory. It has been colder than normal, and is getting chilly once again. We are getting rain, but not a lot at one time. Little showers pop up several times an afternoon, just enough so the flowers stay watered.

Enjoy your Memorial Day weekend.
Linda

I MUST clean this room

The 12x12 square canvas with just base papers

And here it is finished

Starting to adhere old book pages in strips on this wooden box

Started 5 tags...and they still look like this after 2 weeks. Shoot me now.

Okay, seriously? Do you see this stack of canvas? And there are more.

The main problem with most crafters and artists that are female is they don't know what they have. I know this because I am very guilty, as is Cathy. When I drove to Moline, IL. to take classes from Dyan Reaveley, I discussed this with the 3 women from Chicago when we were at dinner. Yep. Same syndrome. Donna Downey has said on her free videos, "She who has the most products wins".

I have one rule: do not pay full price for anything. I don't care how bad I want it, or need it for a project, it either has to be on sale or I have a coupon. Or, I work for Cathy for the remaining years of my life to get it wholesale. Therefore, when canvas goes on sale it is party time, dude! Michael's has had 40 to 60% off sales this past month, and I stocked up. But really? This photo with the stack of pretty white canvases is just the tip of the iceberg. There are 2 drawers full of smaller sizes.

When I am stuck on an idea, or just need a good kick in the ass, I will start to apply colors and inks to tags. A little technique that can get me started again. So now I have these half finished tags. See the one third finished wooden box? Yeah, well I saw a finished box approximately this size in Hobby Lobby that was $24.95. Stood there and examined the box, went over to the wood department, chose this box and whipped out my phone that has apps for Michael's, Hobby Lobby, and Joann's. Used that week's 40% coupon to purchase the plain box for $4.20. I already had book pages and Mod Podge at home. Is it done? Why do you ask? Do you think I have unfinished projects scattered all over this room?

Enjoy yourselves.
Linda

The yard revisited

The yard with squirrels. Why can't we have squirrels, Mom?

Amos

Otis

I thought I would add where the squirrels hang out in Cathy's yard. All the way at the back. The last time I had Gracie and Jake in this yard, they spent the majority of the time under the arch in the corner, looking up. Jake will occasionally try to climb something to get closer to the tempting, chattering toys, and perhaps make a lap around the yard, but Gracie hardly moves. Can we say obsessive/compulsive? Anyone who has an Australian Shepherd knows exactly what I mean.

I tried to take some decent shots of Cathy's dogs. they weren't having it. Amos is the man of the house. (Sorry, Vern. You know this is true). His teeth are crooked, he has major attitude, and he is adorable. Cathy has had him since he was a pup. Like Gracie, he has been spoiled from day one. Unlike Gracie, he doesn't like normal, dog stuff.

Otis came from a rescue group last summer. Cathy had been thinking about this ever since I got Jake, and saw a picture of Otis from that group posted on the net. She went to the Pet Supplies Plus on a Saturday, thinking she would just look at the rescue dogs available. After holding this guy, she went back home, got Vern, back to Pet Supplies Plus, and adopted him. Otis has bonded with Cathy, to the point that I told her she needs to get a canvas baby carrier, so she can cart his ass around the house. Otis has literally stopped her from working in the studio, demanding attention. He is particular about who will get his attention and affection. It took a few months, but if I go over there and sit down, the boy is on my lap. Curled up, waiting to be petted.

Otis knows a soft touch when he sees one.
Linda

Prom and a garden

Ally and Derrick

Last night, Saturday, was the Prom for the Juniors and Seniors at Avon High School. I was invited to Cathy's to see THE DRESS on THE GIRL. Long story that I probably can't go into on this blog due to legal reasons, (laugh, it happens) but not only did I want to see THE DRESS I wanted to keep Cathy from being arrested. She would have been charged with assault with a deadly plant or something along those lines.

They live on a corner lot with an old stand of trees behind them. The yard is not big, but she makes the most of it. My yard does not look like this, and never will. Gracie and Jake enjoy snacking on mulch. They also get a kick out of digging plants out of the ground, so my backyard has a pussy willow tree (really a large shrub), 2 maple trees, and 4 decorative grasses.

Cathy worked for the past 2 weeks to make this yard the perfect photo background. It was beautiful. Gracie and Jake have visited this yard several times. They love it because it smells like Amos and Otis, the two little Shitz Tzu's which I have misspelled and can't find in the dictionary because I just checked, and due to the trees has a large population of birds and...wait for it...squirrels.

While Amos will occupy himself digging in the center mound of flowers, Gracie will sit under the canopy of leaves, looking up. For hours. I really should have bought a house with mature trees in the backyard. Really.

Have a great day.
Linda

Winding Down

Several weeks ago, I purchased a book from Amazon called "Art+Life Combined". It is full of projects you can duplicate. I so wanted to do this heart canvas. Really don't know why it appealed to me so much, but just wanted to try it. Now that it is done, I can't make up my mind if it is completed, or waiting for me to add something else. This happens. Sometimes you just need to walk away from something you create. Forget about it!

Jake was doing his level best the other morning to ignore me with the little camera in my hands. Perhaps he thought if he closed his eyes, I'd stop taking pictures. Guess again, little guy. And, lastly, we have Gracie doing her Snoopy impression. What really happened was that she was in the hallway, realized her brother was getting all of the attention, and jumped up on the bed to intervene. My Diva. She is unique.

Have a restful weekend.
Linda

A Whimsical Owl

Perhaps I will call him Fred. No reason.

His eyes are metal brads

Jake on the freshly laundered quilt.

A very famous nose.

I worked yesterday at Allyscraps, so the dogs went to Puppy Playground for a half day of fun. The owner, Deb, does a daily picture of whatever is going on and posts it to her Facebook page. When I arrived to pick up the babies, she showed me yesterday's chosen photograph: Gracie's nose. As Deb was snapping a photo of the various dogs, Gracie came up and sniffed the phone, giving Deb a little kiss. Basically (knowing my Aussie) she was checking for treats. One never knows how a treat may be disguised. It could look like a cell phone. One never knows.....

I am in the process of taking an online course from an amazing mixed media artist, Christy Tomlinson. She recently had a sale on her classes, so I bought 2 of them. These classes are not just "2 hour" wonders. They are divided into weeks, and there are several videos per week. Monday I watched the 2 part Owl video, and this is the result. He's suppose to be funky, whimsical, and very colorful. Still not happy with his body, but I do love the colors.

Have a wonderful, colorful day.
Linda

A Fine Mess

Old Beach Towels on the table. I am a slob.

Forgot to move the step ladder back to the utility room

Open art journal on the cabinet.

My new inspiration wall

Just finished this week

I am not proud of the condition of this room. And, trust me on this, THIS is clean! It was horrendous about 5 weeks ago, when I got in a whirlwind of activity and put everything in it's place. But it is getting out of control again....

Most of my canvases are at Allyscraps in Plainfield, IN. We put them there to entice people to buy the supplies needed for creating Mixed Media art. Cathy and I have them scattered all over 2 walls. But this week I decided to put a few on my wall in the craft room. Still can't make myself call it a studio. Maybe some day I will.

I purchased the 2 Kelli Rae prints years ago when I was visiting my friend Sandy in Green Bay, WI. We were in one of the small towns north of Green Bay, and had gone to a gift shop. The two canvases to the right are mine. I've been exploring using more texture, and the one above was done with modeling paste that I colored with paint, then smeared over a plastic template or stencil. When you carefully lift the template, you are left with the image. It takes about 24 hours to dry completely and cure. (First applied old dictionary paper to the canvas with Mod Podge). Then I sprayed over the entire area with Dylusions Pure Sunshine spray. Let that dry, and decided to add some more modeling paste in black with a letter stencil. THEN decided to add the letters, which I stamped on yellow card stock.

I am having way too much fun. It must be illegal.
Linda

And what did you get for Mother's Day?

This is what I saw when I walked into the bedroom this morning

Don't bug me, Mom!

Green paws. I mowed yesterday.

Her Highness, the Diva Princess of Avon

Yesterday was Mother's Day. I received several calls from my step-daughter, a text from my granddaughter, a call from a daughter-in-law, and absolutely nothing from the 4 legged kids that live with me. I took them to the dog park for well over an hour, to run off some of that energy. I did inform them that it was Mother's Day, and they could be nice for 24 hours. That resulted in a few kisses.

We have a regular routine in the mornings. They go out, and when they come back in I have their breakfast ready. I then sit down in the kitchen to stand guard while Jake eats. Gracie is a piglet, and will try to get his food. I am the wall that prevents that. After I finish my breakfast, normally, I go to the computer to drink my second cup of coffee and check emails. This is the time they settle into their favorite spots. For whatever reason, Jake returns to my bed. He is still there. The dogs are creatures of habit just as their human owners are.

Whatever you do today, enjoy it.
Linda

Just have to share

My friend, Cathy, has holed up in her studio all week. She is churning out pieces of art like crazy. I know this is happening when she doesn't answer the phone, nor respond to a text message. When Cathy is in the zone, nothing else exists. Except the dogs. They are very demanding, and won't let their mom ignore them for long.

This is a paper mache boot she found on one of her buying jaunts. We have this little joke between us: she who has the most products wins. Cathy is in the lead. She covered the boot in some Prima papers, book pages, and paint. I am not sure what else is on here. Then she added the girl. I love this, love the colors which remind me of spring, and the placement of the girl on the side of the boot. Just had to share.

I have 3 days of no obligations, no reporting to work, the house is clean, and I am going to play in my studio. What better way to spend a rainy day?
Linda

Art Journal

Scrapbook paper from 7 Gypsies

Dylusion stencils and sprays

Dylusion sprays, alphabet, stamps, and various stencils

Good Morning.

Last week I was feeling at loose ends, not sure where I was going with the art. So I just played in the journals, liking the colors, enjoying the experiments. I had also tried to make some greeting cards. Yeah, no that wasn't in the plan either. Just couldn't seem to get in that mode of thinking.

One of the things Dyan taught us in the journaling workshops at The Scrapbook Studio in Moline was not to waste any ink. So once you use a stamp or stencil, you turn to a clean page and clean it off. You will indeed end up doing something with it. I had tried painting with Gelatos from Faber Castell in the top photograph, and ya know how you think you can make something right and it doesn't happen? Those two pages were bugging me, so I papered over them with 7 Gypsies, added Flossie (Dyan names her stencils), colored her in, and added a few stamps. It's not all that creative, but I like it. And it's my journal....

The last 2 entries had stamps and/or stencils cleaned off on them as blank pages, and I just added to it. All about having fun. All about trying new techniques. I am not going to hang these up on a wall, framed. This is for me.

Try something new today. It's fun.
Linda

A Laugh a Day

This is a mixed media canvas I did last week. We now have a huge stack of these suckers, so thinking we will do a craft show this summer to try and sell some of them. It would be nice. But Cathy and I agree, that even if they don't sell, we won't stop making them. I'll give them away. Just plain fun. It's a happy time.

I was watching an Inspiration Wednesday video on Donna Downey's blog, and she had this quote that was going into her art journal. It made my morning. Enjoy.

"She is crazy. And just when you think you've reached the bottom of her craziness, there is an underground crazy garage."

The older I get, the more that applies to me. Have a good day.
Linda

Catch Up

A journal double layout. Just having fun.

Gracie, wondering what the hell I'm doing.

Jake, on my pillows on the bed. His usual spot.

Caught the baby in a yawn. A little blurred.

Trying to nap here, Mom.

So damn cute.

Thanks for stopping by. I have had problems with blogger of late. Not able to upload photographs like I used to, so not sure if there is a problem, or if I missed some hidden update.

We are having kind of a lazy day, due to the weather. Rain this morning, with more on the way. If we catch a break here, I will get the dogs out to the park. They need some exercise, and so does mom.

Have a great day.
Linda