Creatively Amused

page for journal exchang

2010-10-25T19:47:00.001-04:00

I'm doing a journal exchange with some wonderful artists, here are my pages In Melissa McCobb Hubbels journal.

Creatively Amused: Whew! Finally thought of a name

2010-10-21T14:00:00.003-04:00

Creatively Amused: Whew! Finally thought of a name
Check out the link!

journal pages

2010-05-13T15:05:00.004-04:00

Steam Punk

2010-05-08T14:16:00.004-04:00

I'm really loving Steam Punk, which is kind of like Victorian Tech.
Is anyone else posting this style? I'd love some links to share.

Back in the studio!!

2009-06-02T13:34:00.003-04:00

Yay! I've been depressed and not creating - but I got back in the studio last week.
I'm working on an old 45 phonograph book - I'm calling it Madonna 45

Jingle Necklace

2009-03-06T16:42:00.002-05:00

I made this necklace last week, using a hinge for a connector and an old earring which I drilled holes in. I just looked around my studio for things to hang from the bottom holes. It was so much fun, I'm going to make another one. This one jingles so you can hear me coming - lol

Decorativity

2009-02-19T17:38:00.005-05:00

I've been posting to my other blog; Decorativity again, check it out!

New Studio Pics!

2009-02-05T12:48:00.003-05:00

I had to give up my big room for my son, his girlfriend, and my grandson but the added bonus is now I'm organized!

Nice view!

This is my lampshade.

I can put my machines right on the bench.

I know where stuff is!

It looks nice!

And I'm hoping for spring!

Making Xmas Cards

2008-12-14T11:17:00.003-05:00

I love making Christmas cards! Here is a foldout from the middle card. So much fun!!

more new comp books

2008-11-04T19:01:00.005-05:00

Got to go to BJs for a new package of comp books - 5 for around 6 dollars - you can't beat the price.

New Composition Books

2008-11-02T13:35:00.002-05:00

I love covering composition books - as far as journals go - these are just the best. I have one for Words, Poetry, Everyday Stuff, Quotes, and Works in Progress.

Love Your Blog Award!

2008-09-23T17:20:00.002-04:00

Wow, thanks Nici for the award, I love your blog too!
Check out Nici's http://artshapedworld.blogspot.com/
for a taste of her multi-faceted art life.

Journal Page

2008-09-21T20:24:00.001-04:00

Journal Page

2008-09-16T15:58:00.003-04:00

Desk Storage Stuff

2008-09-12T11:46:00.003-04:00

Ugh~my desk was a pit! I grabbed some of those nifty desk organizers and arted them up so I'll keep it clean. This photo stinks, bad light, but you get the gist.

Miss Egg Head

2008-09-08T20:19:00.004-04:00

Don't you wish you still believed in the Magic 8 Ball.
Those were great times ~ No worrying about who's going to be president, or how you're going to pay the bills - just that cool little "more will be revealed" triangle!

Altered Sweatshirt

2008-08-18T17:59:00.007-04:00

I chopped this castoff sweatshirt of my son's right down the middle, through some patches on, added chenille to the sleeves and completed with a ribbon tie for this cute little jacket. Fun huh?

Journal Page

2008-08-18T10:24:00.002-04:00

More Journaling Pages

2008-08-09T14:06:00.008-04:00

Here are some journaling backgrounds
I'm just having so much fun with them. And it's wonderful that Teesha Moore and Anahata Katkin are so generous about sharing their images.
Mega inspiration!

Vogue and Vanity Fair are the best magazines for cutting up - they have great clothes and faces for mixing and matching - lol - I got this ladies bottom half from Vogue, and the polka dots above are from a scan of fabric.

I've been on a journaling jag

2008-08-08T13:30:00.003-04:00

But I think this one is too pretty to write on. What is everyone else working on?? Leave links so we can check it out! And Renaissance Girls you can start sending your jpgs to me anytime now~ I'm really looking forward to posting them, (and to passing them on to CPS).

Altered Tees

2008-07-04T11:02:00.004-04:00

I've been playing around with old Tee shirts, they are such fun to alter! The first one was a long sleeve slightly fitted tee that I cut the sleeves from, ending with a rolled and tied treatment. I have several more to go, and lots more ideas!
Is anyone interested in a Workshop on Tee Altering?? It would be for three different Tee treatments at a cost of $25. Let me know if you're in.
ALSO - re: the Renaissance Girl Challenge - we have a fantastic group of players! I'm very excited. The only guideline is a finish date for the end of August. Other that that you can go any size, or subject -the object being to work the piece with all of your different skills!

Felted Flowers

2008-06-13T14:40:00.004-04:00

I'm still enchanted with my needle felting machine and I have a new trick! You can open up silk carrier rods into flowers. You just peel apart the two layers and rub them between your fingers a bit to make them supple, then fold them into the fan shape. I used the inner and outer layers on some of these, you can tell the difference because the inner layer has more white on it. You have to sew the rod down before you felt the top layer, I used silk caps, (hankies), on most of them, I love the edge pieces.
What's also great about this machine is if you don't like what you've done, it's usually easy to cover it up, just like collage. Oh, also - this was a piece of white felt when I started, it's very easy to cover larger spaces. Does anyone have an inexpensive source for silk rods?

Renaissance Girl Challenge

2008-06-05T12:18:00.005-04:00

So I was just talking to Amy Munson
a multi-talented woman, who like me wants to try everything, and I was thinking it would be very cool to post a challenge for like minded souls to incorporate all their passions into one piece of art.
For example my piece might be a mixed media crazy quilt with silk ribbon embroidery, needle tatting, knitted accents, needle felting, vintage beading, and soldered charms.
If you're up for the challenge just post a response to let me know you're in, and if at least two or three of you Renaissance Souls are ready to play, I'll let Pokey Bolton of "Cloth Paper Scissors" in on it, I know she'd be happy to check out what we come up with!

Felted Piece

2008-06-03T13:32:00.003-04:00

Oh I love this machine! I can't wait to try new types of roving, silk, soysilk, wool curls, oh my!

Joined Strips of Fabric

2008-05-23T10:14:00.004-04:00

This is another other cool thing an Embellisher can do - I cut strips of fabric, overlapped the raw edges slightly, then ran the machine over them to join the fabric, it creates a lovely lacey join. I added ribbons of organza, (the poly type goes on with lots of thread pulling so it appears very gauzy), and nylon ribbon which joins to the fabric with a puckered effect, really fun. I'm going to use this piece as a background for silk ribbon embroidery and beading.

Huskystar ER10

2008-05-19T12:21:00.007-04:00

I've been playing with my new embellisher - trying out different fibers to see what will felt and what won't, it's fabulous! This is just some doodling i did yesterday.
So what works - you can join almost anything to wool - joining fabric edges to each other needs natural fibers - if it's synthetic organza you can stick some batting under the edge and make it stick, but silk and cotton join nicely, something with wool in it, or very fibrous makes the seam look gorgeously lacey, I couldn't find any silk organza at Joann's so I'm looking forward to seeing that, those colorful silk hankies that you can pull apart look fabulous, I'm planning a purse of wool felt with hankies and roving circles of bright colors, then beaded. This thing is going to keep me busy for a while. My friend Frances says she has to limit her time on her embellisher or she'll go without food and sleep. lol

Color Charts

2008-05-17T14:20:00.005-04:00

I played with different brushes on each chart also. The red chart in the post below was done with a sable brush which holds more water, (I've read sable is supposed to the best). It made big wash puddles even though I dabbed some of the paint off on a paper towel. The yellow chart was done using a synthetic watercolor brush, and the blue chart was done with a cheap nylon brush.

color chart

2008-05-17T10:26:00.004-04:00

I've been painting color mixture charts - they are so pretty.
Reds, greens, blues, and purples, just gorgeous!

Painting Lesson

2008-04-29T11:35:00.003-04:00

Jude gave me a painting lesson, (my first -I really needed one - check out her blog for my before pic). Anyway, she showed me how to mix paint for gradations, how to paint an eye, and how to shade. I love the results. My before painting really was abysmal. So these are the two Fiesta Ornaments I made from her designs.

Mitsuwa

2008-04-28T19:57:00.004-04:00

We went to Mitsuwa, (a Japanese Shopping Mall), the other day. What an amazingly colorful place. Here is Judy looking at the beautiful craft magazines.

These are the little goodies I picked up. In the center are candies shaped like mushrooms for my grandson, a gorgeous book of Japanese designs for embroidery, a booklet of little blank cards, (how much fun is that!), and some tiny little bottles that I plan to use to hold mixed paint colors. The caption on the bottles reads - "Pal Time; We had a good time today. If it will be fine tomorrow, let's play together. I wish everyday is holiday."
Sounds good to me!!

Painted Fuseables

2008-04-27T12:36:00.003-04:00

I used some painted Misty Fuse and Steam a Seam on these - what a great addition to a mixed media stash!
You can make up a bunch in advance and have it on hand for when you need it.

I love Chenille!

2008-04-26T16:21:00.003-04:00

It makes great ATC material. The background on the right is a newAmy Butler print, the designs are gorgeous as usual.

mixing it up

2008-04-25T12:15:00.005-04:00

It's great fun to mix it up, using my supplies complimented by bits of stuff from Judy's stash. That swapping factor is one of the cool things about art groups! I'll be seriously looking for one, either to join or to start when i get home so drop me a note if you're interested.

The fabulous seaweed, (or sweetpea), paper on the right hand card came from Paula's Kit Club. She finds the most gorgeous papers and ephemera.

Mixed Media ATCs

2008-04-24T10:11:00.005-04:00

One of the great things about getting together with Judy is that we can raid each other's stashes. Her first altered book was from my stash, and I raided her scrap bin for bits to use on these ATCs.
Both pieces have bits of her altered and stitched Peltex, and the one on the right has a bit of painted Misty Fuse. Way cool ideas I'll be incorporating into my art from here on out. The Peltex adds dimension as well as interest, the piece on the left card is left over from one of her houses.

Embellished Purse

2008-04-23T16:51:00.005-04:00

I picked up this nifty purse along with a bag of roving and some felting needles from the Art girlz at the Chicago show. After raiding Judy's wool stash and cutting out circles I started felting the centers and arranging the circles in groups, Jude suggested notching the top ones, which looked great of course. After adding leaves, embroidery and beads it looked way cute, so I just twirled up some yarn and felted it to the handles. Art girl Allison inspired me to try this out with her little free hand felted purses - I was a fiber artist before mixed media and I'm finding myself really jazzed about adding more fiber into my work.

Quilt Festival Treasure

2008-04-21T13:12:00.003-04:00

Here's a photo of my festival treasure. often the goods at these things are over priced but you can find goodies, The two cards of antique lace were marked down to two and three dollars, and the buttons were in a big package with some other not so great ones for five dollars. I paid a dollar for the beaded bodice and a dollar for the antique silk rose, and got a big bag of chenille scraps, I adore chenille! Also I discovered needle felting, I know you all have been doing it for ages but wow, it's very relaxing! So Judy and I have been busy. I needle felted a purse, and made a bunch of mixed media ATCs. I'll start posting them tomorrow but I had to show off my cool stuff first.

More Fun Artist Photos

2008-04-17T12:09:00.005-04:00

Deb, Laura and Judy in front of Laura's Quilt

Laura Wasilowski in her Art Fabrik Booth

And here is the Quilting Arts staff in their "Surviving the Runway" gear

Bernie Berlin, I love this woman, what a wonderful spirit!

Lynn Krawczyk, gorgeous work.

Frieda Anderson doing
her Open Studio.

The always smiling Bernie
demonstrating
LuminArte Primary Elements, they are brilliantly colored powders that you mix with different mediums, next on my wish list!

Tracy Stillwell of Artgirlz
Surviving the Runway

And Kelli working on her surviving
the runway creation

Beryl Taylor at Open Studios

2008-04-15T12:39:00.009-04:00

I adore Beryl Taylor's work so it was a treat to see it up close. It's absolutely gorgeous, as is she. She was demonstrating needle felting on an embellishing machine. I want one!

Open Studio post two

2008-04-14T20:54:00.006-04:00

The lovely and talented Kelli Perkins took this photo of me doing my thing for Open Studio.
Kelli is doing "The Hustle"in the photo of her, stop by her blog and ask her about it, (see I told you it was fun)~ lol

Open Studios

2008-04-14T12:24:00.003-04:00

The Quilt Festival was amazing, as usual. I have many, many photos of the action. But just to get things rolling, the first gals we ran into were the always fun and fabulous sister duo of the Artgirlz. So here is a group sister photo, Tracy, Me, Judy, and Allison.

ipod sweaters

2008-03-29T15:45:00.003-04:00

I've been busy knitting sweaters for my ipod touch - they're such fun to make I just can't stop so if you'd like to have one for your very own ipod make me an offer!
oxoo

Sedlec Ossuary

2008-03-26T19:42:00.004-04:00

I'm involved in a fabulous mixed media group project whose focus is body parts - I found the photos of this Ossuary very inspiring.

Make It University!™: Open Studios

2008-03-13T17:10:00.007-04:00

I'll be participating in Make It University™ with Cloth Paper Scissors®
Open Studios again this year at the International Quilt Festival -Chicago!
Click on the link to see who else is coming...

I'm going to be working on a re-bound altered book.
I had such fun last year. I'm so looking forward to seeing Frieda Anderson, Laura Wasilowski, Julaine Lofquist, Debbi Crane, Kelli Perkins and the lovely and talented Ms Pokey Bolton herself, (as well as the folks I haven't met yet)!

Also....
I found a really great flexible cover journal, (not spiral bound), with unlined pages at Borders. The cover is some type of textured vinyl so customizing wasn't difficult. It lays open well so is easy to write in, and the blank pages are thick enough for collage and paint - best of all it was only fifteen bucks.

And Then I Read the Directions

2008-02-23T19:53:00.004-05:00

Yes, I finally read the directions. Apparently you use the paper quilt stuff to cut into, how much fun is that!

New Paper Quilt

2008-02-17T17:00:00.005-05:00

I was wondering why Judy's Paper Quilt's were so different than mine when we both took the basic idea from the Quilting Arts Magazine Challenge. Turns out when I did my my usual quick skim of the directions I got them totally wrong and Judy didn't read them at all... I
guess neither one of us have ever been directions girls - but I like what we came up with, (she said modestly).

Bunny Botanical

2008-02-14T11:15:00.004-05:00

Judy, (my sis Judy Perez), has been working on mixed media paper quilts and it looked like so much fun I had to join her. My first one was abysmal, just wretched. But this one I like. If you're wondering about the title, I was thinking about a time when Judy and I were little that we got labeled. Judy drew constantly, I swear the girl drew 500 bunnies, anyway, she got labeled the artistic one, and I was the smart one, which explains why her paper quilt is so much better than mine. In her honor, I hid a bunny in my quilt, can you find the bunny?
lol
Love you Jude~
oxooo

Independent Fashion Label

2008-02-12T18:42:00.001-05:00

Oh My! Go check out Designs by Bonzie to see some exquisite creations!! This is a
Regal Victorian Tatter Cuff

Nightmare Journal Page

2008-02-08T20:13:00.001-05:00

I had a dream based on childhood abuse, but basically it had a good message. It was about coming up through the depths of very deep water , ledge by ledge, which i equated with releasing pain.
~ I'm ready to release old pain - anyone care to join me?

Frustrated Journal Page

2008-02-07T12:15:00.001-05:00

I'm so frustrated I can't even spell it right!
If you look at the label on the poor annoyed girl's chest you'll see she's "frustrasted"
Can you relate?

Woohoo Red Redux!

2008-01-31T16:17:00.001-05:00

So, at the risk of sounding like a reality show, (if you can't laugh at yourself on the verge of 50, you're in trouble), so back to the self parody - lol
I just wasn't getting the red i wanted - whine - and I finally found it! And I love it - it pops my hazel eyes to green too - what could be better!

My Son's Band

2008-01-31T12:11:00.001-05:00

This is my eldest son Alex's band Mechamorphesis, he's the handsome devil with the tattooed neck. The music style is Industrial, swords and gas masks are de riguer, (makes a mama proud!)lol
Seriously though, he's also a website designer, documentary film maker, and artist.

The Cupcake Company

2008-01-25T15:36:00.000-05:00

Oh my gosh! Look at these gorgeous things! I came across these fluffy lovelies and had to share - this is what the owners have to say about their cupcakes and themselves:

A chance meeting in a gourmet food shop several years ago brought two like minds together to form a friendship bound by a love of food, baking, design and style.

Inspired by all things beautiful and gorgeous, Keren and Sharnel are two friends with a passion for cupcakes and love nothing more than being surrounded by books, magazines, ribbons, paper, yummy cuppie batter and their fabulous Kitchenaid Mixers!

Hmmmmm?

2008-01-22T14:14:00.001-05:00

What do you think? Some of you know i have prematurely white hair, (I'm coming up on my 50th birthday), which I suppose is what caused the wild hair, (haha), that possessed me to put color in my hair. I definitely think it's a love it or hate it shade - so help me out - should i keep it, which will mean using the other half of the box for more saturation ? Or maybe go for electric blue like the ladies in Tokyo?

Whew! Finally thought of a name

2008-01-20T15:58:00.001-05:00

I actually finished this book two weeks ago, but I couldn't come up with a name. The concept is a special family book with "unusual" recipes for "unusual" occasions. All the names I was thinking of were either incredibly corny or spooky, and I wanted the book to be benign enough that it would just be considered curious by muggles - as opposed to all the other things that could be conjured up - lol

There was a crooked purse

2008-01-19T17:17:00.001-05:00

As I finished up this purse I was thinking, it's been so long since I actually constructed anything, you know just cut and sew, that wonderful freedom of designing as you go along. It wasn't until I photographed the thing that I realized one side is longer than the other. I'm telling myself it adds character. Ya think?

Ribbons, Lace and Tatting oh My!

2008-01-17T13:22:00.000-05:00

As a person who adores vintage lace and tatting I was thrilled with Paula's Kit Club this month. The theme was sewing, and Paula went all out by including gorgeous vintage pieces, everything inside the box on the right, (including the exquisite lace on the lid and the buttons) are from this months kit, that just leaves the flowers that aren't - whew - that was long winded ~ lol
So - these boxes are just cigar boxes with fabric glued on using Sobo - They are fun to make and fun to stash ribbons and embroidery supplies in.

Great Quote by Otto Rank

2008-01-15T13:49:00.001-05:00

Otto Rank was a contemporary of Sigmund F. - I love this quote. It makes so much sense, don't you think?

More Vintage Jewelry

2007-12-14T15:47:00.001-05:00

I really love the Vintage goodies at French General - I made these gorgeous trinkets last weekend, AND then i found out some way cool news - Paula is offering a French General/jewelry kit club starting in January - enrollment for the January-March quarter is over on December 15th!

Cookbook

2007-11-29T14:51:00.000-05:00

I've been keeping my recipes in a looseleaf binder for years - and always wished it was arted-up.
Well - "Paula's Kit Club" for Oct. was a cooking theme - so I got right to work on prettying up my cookbook - I love it now - (and I'm working on a xmas book with Nov's kit now) - you should check out her site - good stuff!!

Red Dog's Annual Halloween Deck!

2007-10-31T09:23:00.000-04:00

Red's Halloween Deck is always my favorite, here is the 2007 theme along with my card.
Red writes, "This year, we're doing the 'storyline' theme, coupled with your art piece. The idea is you art up your piece, AND do a text piece wherein you tell YOUR story based on the following line:
"It was the afternoon of Halloween, but suddenly the day was gone and night came out from under each tree and spread...""
View past cards and the fabulous
new "Carnivale Mystere" Tarot
Deck at the Capolan Website

Fireplace Art

2007-10-29T16:08:00.000-04:00

Maine is getting cold! Our fireplace is drafty, so I made a cover for a piece of insulating foam to stick in the opening.
I enjoyed the recent piece Judy and I did so much that I went with that technique, and here it is.

Technique Sketchbook

2007-10-26T16:44:00.000-04:00

I've just started a technique sketchbook - I plan to fill it with all my favorite paper and textile techniques - It will be a reminder of things to do when I'm staring blankly at a new page - lol
I'll also be experimenting with new threads - while in Chicago I met Liz Kettle of WonderFil,
WonderFil Specialty Threads U.S and she sent me a sampler of wonderful threads - I used a beautiful green on the front of my sketchbook and it sews like butter, very smooth!

Book Project

2007-10-12T16:57:00.000-04:00

Judy and I did this piece for a friend's new book - isn't it cute!
Also - check out Judy's blog - Fauna won 2nd place at PIQF!

The Little Match Girl

2007-10-06T15:45:00.000-04:00

I've been having a grand time decorating match books - I'm going to use them for stocking stuffers. As you can see I have way to many - so you can choose five for only ten dollars -
You can use the pay now button at right.
Let me know which ones you'd like by number -
1-5 down from the left. So the Circus pack is number 17 A, the Owl pack in the lower photo are number 6B .
The third photo is of the backs - they are just as cool on the back as on the front. Many have Yuzen paper, or authentic vintage match book covers.
P.S. - these are real match books with matches inside - let me know if you'd like them shipped without the matches.

Creatively Amused Swaps

2007-09-26T16:44:00.001-04:00

Hey Kids,
Join my new eclectic swap group - our first swap will be Business Cards! Click the Google Group box at right to join, or go to the Current web address: http://groups.google.com/group/creativelyamusedswaps

Vintage French Delights

2007-09-15T20:21:00.001-04:00

These pierced earrings are lovingly made from Vintage French beads and findings - just 19$ each includes postage - "Buy Now" button at right, please select by name in the message box.
(Louise is SOLD)

Lovely Comments on Mixed Media Grab Bags!

2007-09-07T18:41:00.001-04:00

The mixed media grab bags have been flying out of here and I'm starting to get thank you's~From Judy Benchek;

Got it today! I have no idea what I am going to do with it all but its wonderful.

It felt like Christmas opening the package and looking at all of the wonderful contents. Thanks again!

From Pattie Mosca;

A whole package of things to alter with...dropped from the creative hands of DEB ...RIGHT OUT OF THE BLUE!!!!! Can you believe that?!?!?! Thank you so much Deb for this wonderful envelope filled to the brim of all sorts of delightful things!!!!

and from Lisa Huesler;
Received these goodies today, Deb. Thanks so very much. What a mix of stuff, some of which I have seen before and some I have not. Lots of variety and maybe even the perfect item for the difficult project I have going on.
Thanks much,
Lisa H.

So, I still have a Valentine Pack - SOLD, an Asian Pack - SOLD, and two more Vintage Packs, as well as oodles gorgeous fat quarters!
(I'll do coordinating fat quarters by request - these are a fantastic value for premium quilt shop fabric).

And P.S. - Did you see my fabulous sis, (Judy Perez), just taped a segment for the new "Quilting Arts" TV show!!!! Check out her blog - as well as Lesley Riley, and Frances Alford who also taped bits~

I'm Cleaning Out My Studio~

2007-09-06T14:42:00.000-04:00

Holy Cow! I'm cleaning out my studio, I have too much cool stuff to use by myself so I'm making up some fabulous Mixed Media Grab Bags to sell for a mere fraction of their value. I'll send you
a large Priority Mail Envelope full of paper, fabric, cards, ribbon, collage sheets and ephemera valued at over $100, for just $15, or a large Priority Mail Box valued at over $200 for just $25. Themed collections by request, Halloween, Xmas, Vintage etc... or, 30 all different top quality fat quarters for just $15.
Paypal to debmail@maine.rr.com - and you'll get a fabulous goodie assortment within the week. (U. S. only please)

Fit for a Queen~

2007-09-04T18:31:00.000-04:00

This is the bedroom I stayed in when visiting Frances Alford in Vermont - Frances is a consummate hostess, and I felt like visiting royalty in the beautiful museum quality room!

My Little Gothic Darlings

2007-08-29T17:33:00.001-04:00

Well, Judy and the kids have gone back to Chicago so it's very quiet around here, no madly barking Chihuahua every time a door opens, sigh. We had a wonderful time in Vermont last weekend while visiting Frances Alford. I'll be posting pics of her gorgeous house once I get them out of the camera, aren't digitals magical?

The Wiped Out Necklace

2007-08-20T18:18:00.001-04:00

Is anyone else exhausted - i am just so tired, bone tired. Can you relate? Let's talk -
and by the way - here is another necklace i made.

Paper Bead Necklace

2007-08-13T21:24:00.000-04:00

I made this gorgeous necklace using Paper Beads that Kelli Perkins made and generously shared at the Chicago Quilt Festival - I absolutely adore these beads!
(and p.s. - that's not hair on my chest, it's sun damage - lol)

Painted Threads: Look at this

2007-08-07T18:46:00.000-04:00

Painted Threads: Look at this

Check out the photo directly under "we're pleased to meet you" on the right~ It's me and Judy with "Art Girlz" Allison in the background.

Rockin Girl Blogger Award!

2007-08-02T09:48:00.001-04:00

Thanks Pattie!!
I nominate Judy and Cheryl, and a few more artsy girls after my second cup of coffee!

Out of the Blue from Pattie!!

2007-07-25T11:52:00.001-04:00

My Darling Friend Pattie sent me this fabulous little chair with a beautiful hand made pillow she made~ I absolutely adore it!!
thanks Pattie!!

journal page

2007-07-23T09:18:00.001-04:00

Journal Pages

2007-07-18T18:15:00.001-04:00

Journal Pages

2007-07-16T10:02:00.000-04:00

Journal Pages

2007-07-12T15:38:00.000-04:00

Inspired by Teesha's Art & Life Zine

From Glenda Miles

2007-07-12T09:48:00.001-04:00

Thank you Glenda! I love this, and love your wands, (i have a pink one).
oxooo

From Art Junk Girl

2007-07-09T11:48:00.000-04:00

http://www.artjunk.typepad.com/

Thanks Lia!

Journal Pages from the Hospital

2007-07-08T12:52:00.001-04:00

7 Things that Rock!

2007-07-08T10:58:00.000-04:00

Well - i'm starting a new meme - instead of "7 Random Things About Me" -
it's "7 Things That Rock!" (way more fun!)

1. Cheryl Prater's Blog ~ http://praterposte.blogspot.com/

2. Teesha Moore's "Art and Life"

3. My sister Judy Perez

4. KINDNESS!

5. Blogs! Susan Tuttle has a fabulous list of links on her Blog.

6. Bird Art! I got some awesome little birds from Melissa McCobb Hubbell

7. HBO's "John from Cincinnati"

And I'm tagging Cheryl, Teesha, Judy, Susan and Melissa.
John from Cincinnati isn't available right now -

A Bird in the Hand?

2007-07-05T11:20:00.000-04:00

I'm so glad to be home, and looking forward to posting Mail Party Art tomorrow! Thanks so much for all your support, artists are the best!!!
oxooo

In Hospital

2007-06-10T10:43:00.001-04:00

HI Everyone - Sorry for not responding - I've been in the hospital - and will probably be out Tuesday - I'll catch up with everyone then!!
oxooo
Deb

Mail Party Specs!

2007-06-04T12:56:00.000-04:00

HI Everyone!!
Specs are - send ANY art size you feel moved to send - as soon as you want - and post to your blog before you send so we can all see what you've created for your mail party buddys!!
Sound good? ( you can also warn your mail-ee not to peek at your blog if she wants a surprise) oxooo
Deb

"Out of the Blue Mail Party" Challenge

2007-05-28T14:18:00.000-04:00

Want to do something fun?
I was feeling like sending a little piece of art to someone today, just for fun, when I had this, (totally unoriginal), idea, and it goes like this; I will select three artists and send them this post explaining that I'd like to send them a little piece of art for my "Out of the Blue Mail Party", (they can always refuse to give me their address - lol). They in turn would send out a piece, (all different or three of the same), to three artists, one being the original sender, and two new artists etc...and off course post everything to their respective blogs! (Does that make sense?)
There's no obligation on anyone's part to play - but if it goes really well, I'll ask Pokey Bolton, (Cloth Paper Scissors), if she would be interested in it for CPS.
If you're jazzed by the idea, don't wait to get asked, just go for it, and if you leave me a note with blog addy i'll keep track of you in case of a future article.
My three choices will be Calamity Kim, Art Junk Girl, and Pattie Mosca
oxooo Fun!

"I haven't the least idea what you mean", said Alice.

2007-05-26T16:15:00.000-04:00

Alice Image is a gift from my friend Jill at The Muse is In, it came from her Grandmother's Scrapbook~

The Fabric is here!

2007-05-23T09:52:00.001-04:00

links for this post: Anna Maria Horner, Sew Mama Sew, Purl Soho, and Amazon.com

Rosy Little Things

2007-05-21T12:34:00.001-04:00

Have you seen these? They are showing up all over - felted and fabric - and are just so cute!
These are from Posy
and sell for $18, but I'm pretty sure we could come up with our own take on the idea. I'd love to post your version~ just send it along!

Scrap Book Recover

2007-05-20T10:59:00.000-04:00

I've been looking for a scrapbook for about six months, (now that i have a grandbaby, this is a huge deal - lol). Anyway, I couldn't find one with a cover I liked. So yesterday it occured to me, Duh!, recover one! I used raw edged and pinked pieces of fabric, and glued them on with Sobo Fabric Glue, (that stuff is wondy), then glued on the little tufted edging and finished with a tulle bow. Did you know they have rolls of tulle, 6" wide in the wedding dept at craft stores? I was in hog heaven when i discovered that, I'm always the last to know - lol

The Tag Farm

2007-05-17T17:49:00.000-04:00

Having making some nifty tags, and needing someplace to put them where i could see them - i made this - I think it looks like a tag farm.

If you want to make one, cover a block of wood with paper, (Dick Blick glue stick works on everything!). Then take some wire, put bends and paper clip syle coils in one end and set aside. Take a small nail or upholstery tack and hammer holes into the block, put a dot of glue into the hole and stick the wire in, (once the glue is dry you can bend the wires around a bit if they aren't quite right). Lastly, make some little xmas tree style hooks to hang from the bendy spots for your un-strung tags, and insert others between the coils.

A Studio Challenge

2007-05-16T14:11:00.000-04:00

So okay - i tried to put these in order around the room - from left to right, top row - sewing table - (cool mirror from Goodwill), painting table, glue and tape type supplies. Second row - (same order) - paper table, supplies in front of Judy's first version of "There's a Place Called Mars", and the soldering bench. Third row - fabric shelves behind the door, dress form (she needs a name, suggestions welcomed), and the paper hangers.

One of my favorite books is "Where Women Create", after Susan Tuttle posted photos of her new studio, it got me thinking about a "studio challenge" for lack of a better term - wouldn't it be cool to see where we all work? So I'm putting it out there~
and asking Cheryl Prater and Celine Navarro to be the first participants, so Cheryl and Celine- after you post your photos, you get to pick the next two lucky bloggers!

My darling Judy tagged me for the 7 random things meme, here goes:

2007-05-15T07:54:00.000-04:00

1. I love creepy, weird kinds of things, but I also love lace and ribbons and pretty packages, vintage shiny things, kind of like a crow I guess. Victorian Lowbrow is right up my alley.

2. Louisiana is my favorite locale for fiction, I adore James Lee Burke.

3. I listen to Audiobooks while i do art to get more books into me~

4. I'm a food snob, one of my favorite things is going to High Tea at the Ritz

5. I just ordered this Amy Butler fabric from
Purl Soho.

6. I'm an HSP; The Highly Sensitive Person
if you are an HSP your nervous system is more sensitive to subtleties,
your brain processes information and reflects on it more deeply, and you are more easily overstimulated, stressed out, overwhelmed.

7. I have an Elna, and I know how to use it!

I'm tagging Sarah Fishburn, Patti Mosca, Melissa McCobb Hubbell
Ro Bruhn, Kelli Perkins, Lani Gerity, and Tiffini Elektra X

Anna Maria Horner: Making a Splash

2007-05-14T08:06:00.000-04:00

Anna Maria Horner: Making a Splash

Is this not gorgeous? After I saw this skirt the other day I found myself going back again three times - (after I put Ms. Anna Maria in my links list) ~ so I just had to post~
Her creations are amazing, thanks for making our lives brighter Anna Maria!

Happy Mother's Day!!!

2007-05-13T09:07:00.000-04:00

Happy Mother's Day!

My Son Colin has started a Mother's Day "Cows on Parade" collection for me, last years gift cow was "Chelsea" at right, and this year he gave me "Lactose Intertolera-Bull" - loving those Art Cows!! (I want the Day of the Dead Cow next!)
And what could be a better Mother's Day present than a Grandbaby!! Colin's boy Tiernan is 18 months old and I adore him ~ (he talks with his hands already, just like Gram, I love it!)
His current favorite phrases are "what do'in?" and "where go'in?", which he very sweetly asked the ants I introduced him to in the front yard the other day~ lol

Judy Meets Oprah

2007-05-11T09:16:00.000-04:00

Judy, (my sister), went to a cocktail party last night with Oprah, Michael Buble, and Rick Bayliss.
Go check out her Blog for the juicy details~ Painted Threads

As seen on Calamity Kim

2007-05-11T08:38:00.000-04:00

As i was browsing blogs this morning, inspired by the SO many amazing talented women out there, i came across this dress on Calamity Kim's Craft Cottage, (she has more photos there) and had to post it. I'm very into feminine now that I'm 49, no more hiding my lace and ribbons, sheer wonderfulness!

Check out the lovely and talented Ms. Prater!

2007-05-09T22:01:00.000-04:00

Cheryl has an article in the new Cloth Paper Scissors! Have you seen it yet? She makes a tiny little piece of art every day - way cool~
Also in this issue, great articles by Kelli Perkins and Julaine Lofquist-Birch

Journal

2007-05-08T18:33:00.000-04:00

- The actual trip home from Chicago was quite interesting. My first seatmates were two German exchange students, (from Wisconson as Max claimed - lol- they were charming). Anyway, you'll see them on the right hand page, they were so far ahead of American kids their ages, both socially and intellectually - wow. So Hi Guys! Leave me a comment so i know you got back from NY okay - (they were site seeing on their own in the city) - Addendum - thanks for the magazine guys - you rock! I'll use it in my journal, and teach my Grandbaby some German too~

I had a long layover at LaGuardia, and met Patrice K.M. Ognodo, who runs the Neighborhood Good Samaritan Center in Charlotte. I had just been at the Immigration March, which started a fascinating conversation about immigration law, and statistics, and theory, (i was a Sociology major and love it), so that was great.

Then on the final leg home, my seat mate was Laura from Port Clyde Maine, who teaches ESL in Costa Rica, she was fascinating, and easygoing, and we laughed about the sticky bathroom floor which was fabulous ~ (it was a long day) ~ so she was a total breath of fresh air~ Even though it took twelve hours I had a great trip home - in our little Global Village.