This week's Think Monday - Think ATC challenge was a "colorful" ATC - Since I had lots of red/white/blue items already on my desk, this is what I came up with
This is an image of a pin up girl titled "On the Deck" - I used red, white, and blue with some bright yellow thrown in.
I spent most of yesterday playing catch up for one of my yahoo groups. I created a small pennant out of tags with a red/white/blue theme.
Then I created a tinney (made from a tin can) with a red/white/blue theme for a lottery I'm in.
As you can see both of the above pictures have a bit of "blur" to them. This is because they are not "flat" pieces and I have taken the pics by using a flat bed scanner (not a photo). This is my new Epson RX595 and I cannot tell you how disappointed I am. I had an Epson RX600 that I literally wore out that was wonderful - it took this type of scan with no problem whatsoever!!
Today I altered a chambray shirt for the Artful Gathering Retreat I'm holding in less than two weeks. I also created a very simple book bag out of the pant leg from a pair of large bluejeans. I'm loving this - it was so simple to do - of course you are going to say, "it looks simple" - lololol. This was done by cutting the leg from the bluejeans and then cutting along the side seams - in other words, cutting the side seams (on each side of the seam) to form a strap that is then tied together at the top. Then one top side of the leg is cut away leaving about 2 inches to fold into the leg/bag and stitch down. Then the other side of the leg is folded over (and cut to the length you want) and this creates the flap. Then sew the bottom of the leg together and embellish. My embellishments include several colors of ribbon tied on one side of the strap and a leather strip with a concho glued to the flap. There are a couple of decorative items at the bottom of the bag. My book bag will hold the Spirit of the West book that I have created to teach at the Artful Gathering. It took about an hour to cut/stitch this.
Now to double check all the items I've packed for the Artful Gathering and to complete my altered shirt - you know you can never have too many doo dads on an altered piece of clothing! I think I'm down to a bit more cleaning to put the western "stuff" away in my art room, buying beer/salsa/chips, packing my art bag, and packing my suitcase. Yee Haw!!
July 4th - normally and day filled with family, food, and fireworks - but not this year. My children/grandchildren had a huge cookout for their friends. Hubby and I spent a quiet day - had breakfast at Panara Breads, one of my fave places to eat. I spent a good part of the day creatng art. I'm in a couple of "red/white/blue mingles so created a "tinney" and a small banner. I will poste those tomorrow.
Check out my new banner created by Kris Hurst to celebrate the spring and summer! I cannot say enough about Kris' banners - if you need one email her - the link is on the upper right side of my blog page.
I've been working very hard to get everything ready for the Artful Gathering Retreat and I'm just about done. As I've mentioned many times, I'm a maker of lists, and my Artful Gathering list of things to do is down to about 6 things - hey, I did finish earlier but added some more to the list!!! I am planning for tomorrow to be the day I complete the list!
I created a bite of art this evening just to relax and try to move in a different direction. I created a 3"x5" piece of art with a shadowbox in it - this was done for the Skinny Saturday Challenge . This picture is not very clear as the shadowbox is raised - I always cover the printer with a towel when the top becomes raised but it didn't do too well this time. The shadowbox is a tiny tin from Maya Road and there is a little fairy inside with some flowers - It is adorable IRL -
Next I created an ATC for Mixed Media Monday - the theme is dance -
I am also adding some of the art that I created at an art retreat this past weekend - but let me tell you about the retreat first. The Rockin R Ranch in Temple, Texas - an absolutely fantastic retreat center for all types of artsy ladies - scrapbooking, altered art, rubber stampers, quilters, etc. 30 8' tables - 30 bed GREAT food, lovely facility!!!! I just relaxed and enjoyed myself all weekend. The first project I worked on was creating the 3x5s for the Artful Gathering - everyone attending will trade these and create a small book from them - I used the catseye chalk pads to rub color over this sepia picture, added some stamping along with some embellishments and here it is ~
I created another set of the 3x5's but they are a bit risque so I won't show them~
Then I used the Cricut to cut out some of the cutest little dresses - here are a couple of them after I added bits of lace and buttons and other embellishments
Then I decided to watercolor a bit. I created 3 more of the little baby doll dresses I've already shown on the blog, and I worked on a ballerina tutu but still can't get it right - Here is a watercolor of the above flouncy dresses. I adore this little irridescent looking dress!!!!
That's it for my weekend art and my challenges - I am going to try hard to get back into the habit of doing 2 or 3 challenges each week!
I recently hosted a Row House swap and all of the packages have been received by the participants with the exception of one package sent to Pauline in Malta - I'm hoping to hear from Pauline any day now!!! One of the participants, Susie Crozier, did not have a blog to share her houses with everyone so I told her to send me a pic of them - here are the houses Susie received:
ow is about all I can say - wow wow wow! I have all but completed all arrangements for my Artful Gathering Retreat in July - VERY BIG GRIN HERE!!!!!! The book is complete, the kits are complete, all agendas, instructions complete, most all packing of supplies is complete too! I have one make & take email that has not been answered and my personal art kit to pack. I am so excited for now I can turn to art for me again. Tomorrow I am going to take a look at the various challenges and do something for me!!!
Here are all the pictures of the book with the exception of the front page:
This afternoon I needed to do something creative, to get away from the final stages of the western book I've created. I literally took my arm and swept it across the table to clean a spot. I played around with watercolors and created the following little dresses - I've never ever done anything like this before - take a look!
The green dress has no enhancements/embellishments.
I never could get the color of the ochre areas exactly right - it should be more yellow and not quite as orange as it shows up here. This one does have embellishments - I have created a pink one also to go into an altered book I'm working on in a round robin. I may use those sweet little French hangers for these. I'm extremely excited that I tried my hand at this and foresee making several more of these!
I've been fascinated with all the paper dresses I've seen over the past few months. I recently joined a Paper Dress Garland swap and I've created my first dress - these could fast become addictive like those row houses I was making during the last couple of months! I am hoping to be able to play around and come up with a couple of different patterns. What do you think? I think I'll make some more little girly girl dresses to match Cookie's little red shoes!
The particular paper for the dress is a bit wild but it was a picture that I was supposed to use as inspiration.
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