So, who got a pressie today?

You did?  Lucky you! A thoughtful partner-hubby who had time to go shopping... give him a super big hug later.

If, like me, you don't really "do" Valentine's day ( preferring a 365 day affair)  and your hubby works so hard he doesn't get time to search out a special treat for you, here's a little message...

Mixed media on canvas-  The Rough and the Smooth of it...

 In the wider universe we are all unique and we are all loved! 

  You too!

And if you haven't got a hubby, then Woohoo! Go girl and have a spa day, lunch in bed,  mani-ped, whitewater-rafting... or anything that you want to treat yourself with... well, why not?

Just as a little sub-note... isn't it typical, a woman came into the studio asking to buy this canvas before Valentine's day, and even though it was reduced because I created it several years ago and wanted to clear out a few old paintings, I went to the studio today to find it had been stolen! I knew it was gone several days ago, but assumed the chap who looks comes in mostly had seen her a second time and taken the payment for it. No! Doesn't it make you seeth!  It was 1/3 of the original price, and still someone had to sneak around to steal it while no-one was looking, appalling. I hope her hubby enjoys it!

Medieval mixed media fun

It's taken a while, but I've finally finished my spread in Beth's journal Bygone Eras, which is part of our 15-15-15 international swap hosted on Milliandes. We're 2/3 through now and it's getting exciting and frustrating at the same time...

I've always been into the nicer side of medieval history, you know- the flowing gowns, knights on horses, dragons and chivalry... so it had to be my theme for a bygone age. 

There's a few personal photos in there, and it took a while to find the right images to go with, but here it is... almost complete. (I've finished it, but there wouldn't be any surprise if I posted it complete, eh Beth!)

This is the 2 page spread together, and I've put each page on my 15-a-15-j-15-m section if you want a closer look.

There's a bit of my chainmaille in there, some embossed copper, lots of stencilled gel medium, acrylics, pastel pencils and inks. Hope Beth likes it...

Machbox revival...

I know with smoking numbers being reduced, call for matches must be dropping in numbers too, but at Milliande's we keep finding a reason to find a box, or make one. Last month was Botanical- where I did my pop-up crystal tree. This month we're going for Rituals... simple ones, like getting ready to meditate, having a special soak in the bath, or setting up for some arting... we often find patterns in our behaviour if we stop and take notice...

Here are my matchboxes for the  swap..

Creating art, setting up and getting laid out... need to add paint tubes though. As a matter of scale- the pencils are 1/2 cocktail sticks.

Learning to fly... Meditating, not something I'm very good at, but I like to try! I've got to add tiny candle, incense and music.

Relax... My ritual of a good soak, candles,lavendar,bath salts,wine, strawberries...lovely!

Why not pop over and join the fun? Use up those boxes lurking in the drawers...

Acceptance..of most things really, but mainly my art

Continuing in my Book Of Days with Effy at  wildprecious.com   I caught up with another spread today. One of the prompts was "Accepting", and I decided to work along the lines of accepting my art for what it is, and isn't, and learning to fly with my wings, not others... here's how it turned out

I haven't done any gel transfers in a while so thought I would use them for the text. There's alot of texture gel in here, both in the transfers and as deep texture as several birds, bird cages and shapes... The birds were a treat from my  arty friend in Bristol- she knows who she is!! I'm not sure it's exactly how I wanted it.. but as it's all about accepting- I guess I'll have to!

Moments....

I sat down yesterday with the full intention of completing a few spreads for my Book of Days running over at effywild.com

With lots of projects on the go I try to allocate a certain amount of time to specific (largish) projects, while sneaking in plenty of impromptu little gems... and yesterday was no exception. I'd settled onto my sofa with trays and boxes of materials and goodies alongside... I'd done a couple of backgrounds and was just thinking I'd overdone my red/ white and blue spread- patriotic colours do nothing for me so I was just going to add plenty of turquoise... when the postie delivered my mail. 

Along with the usual junkmail were 2 parcels, one with the cutest little glass vials for sand, gems, oils or other tiny keepsake that I'd ordered to complete my wand and accessories. The other was unexpected "Happy mail" from Pippa in Somerset. Lots of lovely little arty treats, which instantly resolved my colour issues... and gave me a focus for the spread... moments; special moments, moments in time, living for the moment and living in the moment.... something I'm endeavouring to do this year.

So here is the finished piece...

BOS adventure continues....

It's been a lovely couple of days... sitting with piles of paper, beads,gel and ribbon up to my elbows around me, I'm totally- literally- immersed in my bookmaking!

Having finished the cover, which I decided to make rather than a whole book, simply because I know I'll fill these up quickly and I'd like to keep the same cover for a while.. (maybe a new one each year as work continues) rather than spend all this time creating it and needing a new one in a few months! 

So yesterday I worked on the section headers, the front page and dedication pages etc.

 I also managed to get some better pics in daylight....

 

 I'm happy with the outside now...so onto the insides...

  The front pocket and endpage. I saved lots of birch bark over the last few years  and loved including it in the book. I also used the soft lino cut I did a few days back to make an embossing for the centre.

 

 The first few pages are inked and are for my dedication, goals, index etc....

 In my many hours of searching and learning I came across some rather nice backgrounds, which I'm sorry to say I can't refind to add a link (thankfully I'd saved the PDF's as I found them) . Being me I didn't want to use them as unchanged pages, I always add my own work, so I collaged them with some lovely textured heavy papers.

This is how they are all laid out. I inked and stamped the titles the same as the front pages. The main area will be for detailed indexes...

Now I need to get all my notes together and start to add them in... and begin the long journey...

Can't wait, but am kinda nervous too!! Having spent so long making it just right, I don't want to mess it up... and I'd better dedicate it first.... Oh, just thought, I need to add a feather in there somewhere... a work in progress indeed!!

Materials used;

Felt, leather, ribbons, angelina, brass beads, silver beads, semi-precious crystals, cord, wool, bone,bark, vinyl, plastic, papers, cards, inks, stamps, book pages, wire and probably a few things I've forgotten!

Book of Days journal

Well, I simply had to do it, saw it and couldn't resist!!

I came across the Book Of Days 2012 project and thought it would be good for me too, with Milliande's Seed journal project exploring my potential and attitudes, this will go some way to consolidating my self-analysis and healing processes. So looking forward to it this year, it's something I keep putting off.

Now I'm making books on a regular basis I decided to use one of my already made signature sets and just make the covers...

So here's the finished (maybe) journal and opening pages. The covers are mixed media (rather than my usual textile/embroidered ones) because I wanted to really build up the layers and interest in a different way for a change.

Covers, collaged papers, netting,wool,perspex,inks, leaves and beads

Title page and envelope, alcohol inks, pastels,stamps,embossed letters,charms,silks,sharpies

The back page has an envelope too, for things I want to forget/throw out/release from 2011. Now I just need to go through the videos and catch up a bit on prompts.
It's a free project, so pop over and have a look, it promises to be great fun, judging by the comments of those who started on day 1!!

I've added the process in the how-to's- books section in case anyone fancies trying one for themselves.
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Seed Journal 2012

Milliande started this prompt Seed Journal 2012 earlier in the New Year, but as you know I've been busy playing on other projects....

But , true to form I did sneak a day off to make my journal cover, first with the fimo seeds, and then to paste,etch and later ink the front. I quite like it in the white too...

white fimo and modelling paste on canvas

 But I had to colour it to make it right...

finished with acrylic inks and matt varnish

 

It might keep me inspired to pick it up often, inbetween a multitude of other projects.

Folding Book Project

Well, it's January 2012 so the first prompt for The Hinges book-making adventure  was posted by Ruth and Dawna. I only saw the post this morning and thought it would be perfect for a birthday pressie for a relative who hasn't got any pics of our branch of the family. 

I'd been prepping for a batch of birthday cards and covers so had an armful of materials at the ready... so I ended up doing it straight away... naughty me, considering I hadn't finished the fabric cards yet- tch tch! I took some pics along the way, so if they come out okay I will post a tutorial for you to follow.

Here's how it's turned out so far.... I need to print out the photos before I can go any further with embellishments

 

My daughter squealed "that's so cute" when she walked in, so I can see me having to make several more!! No great hardship- so much fun.

I've now posted a tutorial in the how-tosbooks section. Have a go and enjoy!! Don't forget to send me a pic!! xx

Bead Journal Project 2012

Hooray! 

I've just got my link to this years Bead Journal Project .

I wasn't sure what I was going to do, but I think it will be a felted zodiac/wiccan based hanging with beaded segments incorporated as they are completed. Just need to come up with a workable design now...then chill for xmas, and add it to my list of "must-do" art over 2012.

Fun and games!

xxx

17-17-17 becomes 15-15-15 +1

Well, yesterday was a shocker!!! Our swap host turned out to be a devious, needy, selfish individual who despite pleading difficulties and illnesses galore on our 17-17-17 swap, begging for patience and support which we willingly gave- in abundance! was accidentally found out to be doubling up exactly the same on a different community art site.

Sadly she forced us into taking the robin into our own hands, having pretty much done so from the beginning anyway, due to lack of steering and communication. So 17 became 15, and 1 came back, so now we are 16 at last! http://15-15-15.blogspot.com/

So we continue our journey... a load lighter and with positive future. Roll out those journals!!!

17-17-17

I've just finished my entry into Trine's journal in our 17-17-17 Round Robin. ("host" deleted site)

Details are over in my 17 A-17 J-17 M page. This is the second journal I've added to in this RR. It's always so difficult getting started, but the journals so far have been beautifully made and designed so having them a little while helps to get the imagination flowing...

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Prayer FL-inchies...

Having come up with the funky idea of  mixing inchies with prayer flags, I hosted a swap for prayer fl-inchies on Milliande's .
Well, I was so happy today, mine arrived from Letizia in Italy...

How gorgeous is this??  painted papers, stitched and beaded inchies, organza ribbons and lovely penned letters...
See more work from other friends in the Gallery  of friend's work.


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At last- a website!!

Well, I'm not particularly software minded, and I'm not very skilled at learning programming, but at least I can say I'm tenacious and dedicated!

So at last, a website with selections of my work in a variety of mediums- painting, photography, textiles, a bit of  digital manipulation- all the things I love doing...

I know it's not fancy and professional like all the great sites out there, but it's mine. There's time to add elements like a cart and buy it now, but that will come as I learn how to do that....

In the meantime, enjoy a bigger display of my work than I'm able to show on my favourite community art site  , here is my site                                  

  Kalona Creativity

A selection of my acrylic work

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Catching up on ATCs...

Catching up on ATCs, these were made for the ATC Trees swap on Milliande . Two went off to a friend in Australia and arrived safely, thankfully.
They are mini versions of a large mixed media canvas work I did earlier this year called "Metamorphosis"

As I get older I'm really loving the idea of getting closer to nature and refinding all our natural/ spiritual selves. Alot of my artwork is beginning to reflect this now...


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Another Prayer Fl-inchie

As is normal for me, once I start an idea I have to make several, or more, until I'm exhausted of ideas...
Having come up with fl-inchies there's a new inexhaustable area to play in...so here is a second creation....

These inchies are created in the same way as the tutorial for fl-inchies shows. The lettering is wool. Other squares were embellished with ribbon and glass beads.


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Windows ATC's

Patty kindly hosted an ATC swap themed round windows, and as the idea was to try and make a window rather than just draw one I decided to try my embossing on perspex to fulfill the brief....

Windows ATC's

Sadly the photo  shows them while they were still foggy from the heat, but the layers are still discernable. Sequins, organza, skeleton leaves, sharpie and embossing powder were used in layers to build up the scene.

At the same time I used up some bits and bobs that I'd just used in another project and created these windows too;

Funky window ATCs

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My first hosting of an "art swap"

I've taken part in a couple of swaps at Milliande's Art Community for women, and they've been great fun, so I decided to brave hosting one myself.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
Inchie/Twinchie Box Swap is running through September, and some lovely boxes have been created already!

Here's a couple of mine

A card twinchie that can be posted flat and reassembled and one of my felt inchies which also opens flat.
There's a step by step for the felt inchie in the tutorial section.

A pair of embossed/stamped MDF tile inchies


I have made several more, in different materials- it has been great fun, and I shall post more pics later, including those from the other ladies.







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