WOYWW

What's On Your Work desk Wednesday??
Fun day to check around here and see what everyone is up to.
I have been making cards. The one in back on the left is Citra-solve paper; looks like a fish in water.
The valentines were made using a combination of Gelli Prints with embossed hearts.
I just took everything I had in my stash and put them together. That is usually my procedure when I make cards. That way I end up with a lot of different ones. 

Surprise!!

Look what I found in my in-box!

Keeping Busy

I know, it may seem like I have been missing in action, however I have been keeping busy.
These chairs in our living room were looking a little, well maybe a lot, worse for wear, especially on the arms.Rather than run them to the upholsterer, at quite a cost, I'm sure, I thought, "what have we got to lose"??I took some vintage doilies, and designed some arm covers. They won't be falling off, like they usually do, because I glued them on.... Yes, glued them! Can't hurt anything...I can still take them to get covered if I get too many weird comments. I kinda like them though, but then I have been known to like unusual things. That's OK, my excuse is "I'm an artist"!

Wednesday Workdesk

Can you tell what is going on here? You are right if you say that I got side tracked once again.
I had been reading Linda Kemp's book "Painting Outside the Lines", and learning to paint in the "negative". She discusses transparent verses opaque paint, so of course I had to see just what I had in my stash; which took me away from my painting. Does anyone else have this trouble? It seems to happen to me a lot. I might be looking for a certain paint brush, and then end up reorganizing  everything within eyesight.
Sometimes my organization skills show up at the most inopportune times. Here are a few of my attempts at negative painting, and of course the tubes of watercolor paints in every color I might ever need. You might want to check other desks over at Julie's site to see what others are learning, or perhaps organizing.

My Word for 2014

For the last few years I have been choosing a "word" to listen to, to follow for the New Year.
As I was thinking about 2013, and looked forward to 2014, the word "Trust" chose me, instead of me choosing it.  Perhaps I am to Trust that I am exactly where I am supposed to be, doing exactly what I am supposed to be doing. Perhaps I am being encouraged to enjoy the present moment. I have decided to Trust life, and intuition, to see where things go in 2014.
I saw this morning on-line, where Kelly Rae Roberts, one of my heros in the art world, also chose "Trust" for her word for 2014. We all have different reasons for finding our word for the year, but I am "trusting" that it is a good word for me, and it will be a good year. When I have a question about something, I will trust that still small voice; the answer will come, and it will be the right one for me.
Kelly Rae is offering a painting e-course that begins real soon, so check it out here. I took her course called "Flying Lessons", a few years ago, and I am still using the information I received there. I am putting this in my blog only because she is such a wonderful example and mentor to me.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Just reflecting on 2013, and thinking about what I would like to see, and do, create, and accomplish, in 2014.  It is always good to have a plan, even though I may not stick to it entirely. I also think it is important to remain "open" to what can happen, perhaps something I may not have even imagined!
This past year, creatively, was spent making a special effort to use the supplies that I had on hand. The jewelry I made is a combination of found objects, some given to me by friends, a few special purchased supplies, all re-purposed to make a new necklace, pendant, or earrings. I learned a lot about "cold connections", chemically bonded connections, and a little more about my Dremel tool.
My challenge to myself was to get my jewelry "out there". It is a bit hard for me to sell myself, but I am proud to day that my jewelry is now for sale in a boutique, an art gallery, and a co-op, at Gallery Off the Square. That gives me incentive to make more beautiful pieces.
On a personal note, I think it is very important to give back; that has been a big priority in 2013, and will be again in 2014. There are many ways, both big and small to help out.
The mediation, marinating, dreaming, continues as I reflect on the coming months.

WOYWW

With a new beginning to the year, sometimes I am encouraged to clean up what has been sitting around for awhile. I decided to get out the sewing machine and finish up this project. I am adding lace to a plain white blouse. I sewed some by machine, and some by hand. I plan to dye it, and I feel sure that the lace will take the dye differently than the fabric. Haven't decided on a color yet, but it just might be purple. I want to start a new project on my "missy" form, so I had to finish this one. Be sure to stop by Julie's site and see how others are starting off the new year.