WOYWW

Wednesday is here and I am playing with fabric and paints.
I am using everything that I have, that I think might stay on fabric when it 
is washed and heat set. I have used the Crayola fabric markers
on the rainbow, spaying half of it with water. You can see it bled a little. I like that look for some things, especially flowers. The flower is Deka fabric paint. I used tacky glue as a resist and I'm not sure it is going to wash out. I also wrote with varies pens and markers. When I'm finished playing I will heat set this with an iron and then wash it in the washing machine to see what happens. Then I will be ready to paint on a white blouse that I have been saving for just such an activity.

South Texas Sunflowers

It was so hot the weekend we were in  South Texas, I'm surprised these little flowers could bloom.
Our Grandee, Megan, was feeling a little under the weather, so we wanted to do something to cheer her up.
We picked field sunflowers and put them in an empty water bottle. Of course I took a picture and made a little sketch while we were there. The flowers made her feel better, and I had a new subject for a painting.
The design on the left is made with one of my favorite hand cut stamps. I found just the perfect frame for the sunflowers. Megan hasn't seen this yet, but if she wants it, it is all hers, as a reminder of a great time on the South Texas Ranch.

WOYWW

Wednesday is just about over, but for some reason today I have taken 2 steps forward, and 3 steps back!!
I have been trying to amass a stash of greeting cards so I will have enough to send throughout the year. People say that a hand made card is much more meaningful than a store bought. I spent an entire day with card making supplies and envelopes all over the dining room table. The hardest part for me is to find a place to lay the cards flat until the glue dries. Does anyone have a good idea? I have been piling all of my art books on top of them, but I run out of room and I have to get up from the chair after I finish each card.

Blue Hat

You must check out the blue hat on my talented friend Dixie's blog. It is absolutely beautiful, and made from a brown grocery bag! It looks like a real vintage find! She will be giving a how-to in Taylor, TX on Sept 1st at Frills on 4th Street. You can find them on facebook . 

Another Blue Monday

This one slipped up on me, so I am posting a piece of art that I used for a color challenge many months ago.

This is acrylic on canvas, and I named it "Doorway to Heaven" I love the misty look, and of course I love the color blue. I hope you do too!!

Casein paint

Casein paint, or "milk paint" is very different to work with. It is an opaque watercolor that actually dries flat, and eventually gets hard. The colors are more grayed, which I happen to like. There are many articles on the Internet, if you Google "casein painting". There are even a few tutorials. 
This is the piece I started last week. I'm not sure that it is finished. I may need to do a little work on the faces, although I do not want them detailed. It is good to put the painting on an easel for awhile and see how you feel after a couple of weeks, or even longer. I like the subdued colors for this subject matter. Anxious to start another one soon.

Wednesday already

My desk is ready for some fabric painting.  Alisa Burke is going to help me out with all of her knowledge.
Can't wait to get started. Meanwhile, I am putting the finishing touches on the casein painting from last week, and will post it soon. It is so interesting to see what others are creating out in blogland.  I have to put the timer on so I don't get carried away.

Blue Monday

It's Blue Monday in blogland. Texas is brown with no rain, so I am including some of my favorite blue things.
The small blue painting was a gift from our grand daughter. She is becoming quite a little artist. The blue vase looks especially nice with the orange red lantern flowers. They look very oriental, which I love.

I have a whole wall of blue and white; the bunny and the plate are a few items on the shelf. I picked up the plate in Fredericksburg, Virginia. It depicts some of the historical homes in that area.

Lunch box purse

Does anyone out there remember these?? A workman's big lunch box made into a purse.
The inside is lined with padded fabric. The outside is decoupaged with small cut outs. This was way before the cuddle bug, or any of those die cut machines that are available now. Each one was unique, and there were plenty of them around; I wasn't the only crazy crafter. The handle is some kind of heavy cording. I can't believe it is still around, but I'm glad to see it again just for fun. No, I'm not going to use it for a purse.  ;>)

WOYWW

Wow! Wednesdays come around so quickly. My desk was still full from last week, so when I decided to paint with casein, I just pushed the acrylics over to the side. Casein is an opaque watercolor that should be interesting to use. I have not painted with it for quite some time. I needed more room, so I found that if I laid my french  easel down flat, it is a place to put my board and paper. It is held at a very slight angle which is nice for watercolor.

Blue Monday

Blue is my favorite color, so I always try to be a part of Blue Monday.

I have met some pretty interesting people who love blue also.

I have this really neat blue shirt that got a grease spot right on the front of it.

Almost pitched the shirt, but then got this idea to try something that I have been wanting to experiment with.

Went to the grocery and bought a bleach stick. It has a fine point on one end, and a round brush on the other end. It comes out pretty thick and is easy to use. After the shirt dried overnight, I washed the bleach paste out.

I was pleased with the results. Although I could have painted it with white fabric paint, I wanted to try something new. What do you think?

Showing my age

Age is only a number, right?
I feel very young, and my mind is still sharp!
I was remembering the decorative painting class I took while we lived in St. Louis, MO.
That was in the early 1970's, and my teacher, Gerry Klein had her own shop.
This was an unfinished wooden barn, that I painted on all sides, and put a handle on it for a purse.
That is also back when they were using men's lunch pails for purses. I happen to have one of those too. :>)
The barn purse has been used for many things over the years, and now it is on our front porch, as a holder of napkins, or whatever we want to keep safe. I am pleasantly surprised that the finish has held up after all these years, and there are still a few farms out there.
My hubby and I love antiques, and this almost qualifies.

WOYWW

It's Wednesday and my work desk is so full I had to take the card making into the dining room.
 Have been painting with acrylic on canvas, and I always seem to make a mess. Acrylic drys so fast that it is easy to change things here and there, after I look at the piece for awhile. I found it easier just to leave it all out in case a wonderful stroke of the brush needs to be added. 

Painting again

After some months of fabric collage, I wanted to take a break and get back to painting. This on-line class  just drew me in. It was sponsored by Artful Gathering. I followed right along with the instructor, Shiloh Sophia, to paint "Our Lady of the Divine Spark".The class is meant to inspire me to receive my own "spark" so that I can paint with" intentional creativity".

I'm sure this is the first of many ladies, as they seem to be a close relative to my Madonnas that I have been making. The birds reflect freedom, the little house, is my new studio. The heart, of course, is love. I wrote on the bottom a quote by William Wordsworth:
"All that we behold is full of blessings". This is acrylic on watercolor paper.