Mini Books for a Swap

Handmade books have always held my attention.  So I had to jump in and join a mini book swap on my favorite mixed media forum, Milliande.

I decided to sew some seed beads along the spine and conceal my stitches.  They look kind of like missing teeth, I have to admit. Just a little whimsical touch to these tiny presents.

             Please excuse the shadow from my fingers!

 "To find the joy in little things, sometimes you have to wing it."

        They were quite a big challenge for being so small.

CalicoStudio: I realized it's been awhile since I posted, so I t...

CalicoStudio: I realized it's been awhile since I posted, so I t...: I realized it's been awhile since I posted, so I thought I'd look through my painting pics from the last ten months and see what I h...

I realized it's been awhile since I posted, so I thought I'd look through my painting pics from the last ten months and see what I have to share.

Here are some watercolor cards I taught in a class at a place called "The Caring Place."  It's a place where those with cancer can come for support and all kinds of free classes. This is not a convalescent center, but the people who come are trying to get their life back to normal while dealing with the effects of this horrible disease.

This is just one of the classes I taught along with the help of my painting chapter, Silver State Tole and Decorative Painters.

"What's New?" Fluffy white chick patrols the farmyard. 

"Feathering the Nest" Orange chicken keeps the nest warm.

"Breakfast Time" Stripped chicken is always hungry.

"Hear I Come" Yellow chicken looks for his friends.

 

 

 

And here are all of the feather dusters together.  I really did have a blast creating these watercolor cards for the class.

Getting in the Springtime Mood

My recent foray into gardening has brightened the front patio quite nicely. This year I was determined to find new perennials that hopefully will last through our blazing summer sun and sometimes winter snaps.

So I picked out some purple and yellow Marguerite daisies, petunias, and lavender to put me in the planting mood. 

Had to set up my blooming angel designed by Shara Reiner and painted by me.  It seemed the perfect setting to greet anyone coming to the house.

I love how my iris and roses are blooming their heads off this year.  Must be doing something right.

Geranium design by Kim Hogue, painted by me.

Painting up a Storm

    Last week I attended the Creative Painting convention, which happens here every year about this time. The convention took place at the Tropicana Hotel, but I slept in my own bed.  After all, it's only 25 minutes away.  There are so many exciting classes going on and a tempting trade floor to stroll, that I had a hard time deciding where to go next. I had a great time taking a few classes during the convention and one the Saturday before. 

 Here are two that are works-in-progress. The butterfly basket was a class with Lynne Deptula and amaryllis box with Ginger Edwards.

 I painted this blooming iris on a textured canvas with Diane Trierweiler, whose work I really admire. The canvas surface has a rough texture that was applied with a palette knife. It was an interesting experience to work on this gritty texture. 

I did finish my Song Sparrow painting with Shirley Koenig, even though she is a quick painter and am very happy with my new little bird painting. It was such a fun week and I even managed to learn a thing or two about painting technique.

Domino kitty is enjoying her new post by the window and naps in this snuggly spot whenever most mornings. 

Melted Some New Little Trinkets

Made some little pins this month for an Art Pin Swap on Milliande using my melting pot and the embossing gun.  I hadn't used them in so long it took a while to dig it out from under the stash mountain. But what fun!

Recipe for Embossed & Recycled CD Pins

CD- cut into desired shapes, UTEE, 

Bits & pieces of Friendly Plastic

Seed Beads, Sequins

For the backs- Copper sheeting & Pin backs

 Backs must be as pretty as the fronts. Now they are ready to go. Wouldn't you agree?

Beginning the New Year with some new ideas

   The first day of the year should be celebrated with something new and fun, so here's my take on that idea. 
  I have resolved to make more art this year. And have several ideas rolling around in my head.  Number one is to find a way to make several designs in a repeated fashion, so that I could create cards easily.  So that is how this hopeful little bird with a heart shaped message to deliver for the new year came about.

Carving the linoleum was a challenge, because the linoleum is a bit hard. And  I hope it does not look too primitive.   I used some acrylic gouche paint for my print and made several postcards for a birthday card swap  I am in on Milliande.

Another new thing I learned is how to upload pictures from my phone and post them on my laptop.  So although I am without my regular computer and scanner,  I will be able to get back to blogging.
Yay! for bright New year! I am on my way to some new creative explorations.
Happy New Year everyone!