Ancient Woman Mini Book

Hello, readers! For those of you still with me despite my infrequent posting over the last year, I'd like to share a new project I just finished up.

I'd been wanting to take part in a Blockheads Technique Challenge, and when they issued the call this month to work with simple bookbinding techniques, I just knew it was the perfect time to join. I've been making handmade books for years now, and even though I find myself drawn to more complicated binding techniques nowadays, it's always nice to get back to your roots. This little book was a blast to work on, and the added motivation of winning something fun from Blockheads kept me in the zone and focused.

I made the front cover by sticking some foil tape onto cardstock and running it through my Sizzix using a Tim Holtz Texture Fade. Alcohol inks provided the color. I cut out a window for viewing the ancient woman I had stamped onto the first inside page. A sheet of acetate was attached to add some stability and keep the cover from flopping around all willy-nilly.

I embossed a piece of acetate using my Sizzix as well, then used alcohol inks once again. I love embossing acetate!
 

Detail of the acetate page.

Back cover.

Stamps used in this project: Ancient Woman 3, Cosmos Collage, Stargazer Set.

I had so much fun creating this, and it's got me wanting to make a few more books. I already have a rough idea in my head of the next one I might make.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Be sure to check out the other players via the blog hop!

Another edition of The Pulse

Hello, readers! I'm still here, and hope to have a real post up before too long. For now, just popping in to say that I'm in tomorrow's edition of The Pulse.

Thanks for stopping by!

Sale in my Etsy shop.

Happy Saturday, everyone!

As I'm busy creating new items for my Etsy shop, I'm also trying to clear some old stock. I currently have a sale going, so if you see something you like, grab it now while the price is right!

Blue Monkey Market Just use the coupon code SPRINGCLEANING to receive 25% off of anything in my store. Out with the old, in with the new!

Hope everyone has a beautiful day!

Changes, and yay, I've been published!

Hello, readers! I know I've been silent for awhile. Thanks to those who still pop by and visit my blog; it means a lot to me!

I'm not one to share a lot in the arena of the personal here, but I do want to say that my life is transitioning in a big way right now. These changes are not ones I expected or could foresee, and even though they come with untold amounts of hurt attached, in the end, it is for the best. I am finding I am so much stronger than I ever imagined, and so is my amazing son. Everyday we grow closer, and for that, I am grateful. I'm also reminded, through this upheaval, just how many unbelievably awesome and supportive friends I have, as well as a loving and close family. I know that my son and I will get through this, and though the road to healing may be a long journey, we have each other, and our family, and I look forward to the journey.

And now for some very welcome exciting news! For the first time ever, a bit of my artwork has been published in a magazine, and not just any magazine, but my very favorite magazine, Cloth Paper Scissors! Can you hear me squealing?

You'll find an image from my handcarved bird stamp on the letters to the editor page in the current (March/April 2012) issue!

Here's a less-than-stellar photo just to prove it (after a recent move, I don't yet have a good photo spot set up, so bear with me, please):

Hope everyone has an artful day!

Nachooo!

I'm right in the middle of packing for yet another move. This makes the third time my family and I have moved in 3 years, so I've become a pro at this gig. I'm not, however, looking forward to the logistical nightmare that is moving a family where one member is an artist (moi) and one is a computer hobbyist (my better half). Oh, and we're both collectors (*cough* not hoarders! *cough*). We're staying in the same area, so it won't be as difficult as our last move when we found a place 2 hours away. Suffice it to say, this blog will be taking a back seat until we're settled into the new place.

Amidst this chaos, I'm still creating. I was in a swap with a woman whose son is a big fan of the movie Nacho Libre. My son and I are, too, so she asked me to create some artwork based on the movie. She gave me free reign. I'm not the world's greatest illustrator, so I knew drawing Nacho himself was out. I decided to explore the food themes in the movie, and came up with the 2 following mixed media pieces. Both works are done on 5"x7" canvas board.

 "Get that corn outta' my face!"

 "Eagle eggs?! I'm not listenin' to you, you're crazy!"

I'm really happy with how they turned out, and after my initial panic of not knowing exactly what I was going to come up with, I was pleasantly surprised with the direction, and grateful for her helping me to think outside the box a bit. After all was said and done, I realized I should have had the egg opened with the yolk spilling out to add more visual interest, but c'est la vie. Art is like life sometimes, as it can be a learning experience.

I really hope she likes these! They were mailed today, so I've got a few days of nervous waiting to hear back from her.

Thank you, as always, for stopping by! Hope you all have an artful day!

Just a bit o' mail art.

Life takes many new turns, and for us, it means another move. We're staying in the same area, but want to find a smaller place in the country. I really miss seeing trees out my window instead of a busy road, and being able to have a camp fire at night, and seeing deer in my yard. Suffice it to say, with a move coming up, I'll be posting here less in the next couple of months, but I promise I shall return!

In between the packing up, I have been creative, mostly making mail art. I find that handmade postcards are a nice way to squeeze a little art into a day. Here's a couple recent ones:

Hope all of you are doing well and enjoying a great start to the New Year!

The Pulse!

Tomorrow is Sunday, which means a new installment of Seth Apter's The Pulse. Yours truly will be among the artists featured. Seth puts a lot of time and work into this, so pop over and have a look, please and thank you!