Tidbits

I mentioned in another posting about the new books I received. They are fabulous! I keep taking them to work in my briefcase to read over lunch. The one on zentangles is so much fun. The ideas are endless. I picture doing them in my journal and even on fabric then thread painting. Imagine!!!

Challenge 1 - I owe you photos. I finished mine but I know Susan has not had the time - too much to share!

CREATE

It's almost time for the Cloth Paper Scissors CREATE retreat in the Chicagoland area. Of course Susan and I signed up immediately ... in May! I've got a long business trip to Thailand immediately prior so if you are at the retreat and see me snoozing during my classes - just nudge me.

We've signed up for classes in every time slot! I've been assembling my tools and supplies required by each class so that when I get back from my trip the day before, I can be ready to go.

What have I been working on, you wonder? A couple things including the whimsical t-shirt quilt. It's ready to be quilted. Just...need...time. A couple more commisions have come in for small doll quilts. I'll get those finished in September as they are for Christmas.

Not much else unfortunately -- I've got a bad sinus infection (day 8 now) and just getting up in the morning and going to work has been too much. Off to bed to continue the recuperation....

Celebrations!

The birthday celebrations continued through the weekend. Such fun! Sushi dinner on Friday, Saturday was an outdoor concert with picnic featuring Sting on a beautiful summer weekend. We feared the heat but we were fortunate to have a lovely breeze and a gorgeous shade tree over us the entire evening. Sunday topped off the weekend with a new smart phone - the new Samsung Galaxy - with so many tools to allow me to do more online and remotely. I spent last night just figuring out its features.



In between work hours (lunch time) and evenings, I've been reading several incredible books that I mentioned in my prior entry. Stitch Alchemy from Kelli Perkins is amazing and so inspiring to jump up and try them all! I think I reread the pages using alcohol inks three times with mymind running ragged with ideas and uses and ideas and and ... overload achieved. So instead of rambling on, I'm signing off and going to try my hand on a couple of the ideas.

TIdbits

I don't have much to post today other than "It's my birthday" and it's been a fabulous day! I'm very lucky to have the family and friends that I do and of course my husband! I love you all!


Now about a little working on my various projects - I've done quite a bit but of course haven't posted pictures. Yet. I promise this weekend.

I've received (ordered) several related books that I can't wait to get to reading, including:

Mixed Media from Debbie Crane and Cheryl Prater
Stitch ALchemy from Kelli Perkins
Collage Journeys from Jane Davies
Zentangle Basics by Suzanne McNeill

Okay have to go read..... well not tonight... my birthday isn't over yet. :)

Another idea...

I'm constantly looking at new methods for my art and collage is the newest thing on my radar. Mixed media as it's called, mixing fabric, paper, metal, glue, thread, paint, stamping and oh so more. Challenge 1 incorporated a lot of this technique but I've got a long way to go with it.

Stay tuned.

Challenge 1 - Update, status, whatever you want to call it

So I'm on vacation for a couple weeks. It's amazing how fast the time flies (week 2 is almost over). But I have worked on challenge 1. I'm not sure how far Susan has gotten but I'll let her chime in on that one. Okay for the initial photos in the process.



It will be a wallhanging and yes Paris is the theme again! So many projects to work on...

Musings...

Have to add that I'm noticing that my "art" is exploring new edges. I tend to like formulaic items and symmetry in my own art but admire "pushing the boundaries" in others. I'm looking at the mixed media techniques as my opportunity to think outside the box. Some outcomes will be "less than desirable" but no less a success than the inspired pieces.

New adventures await...

In August, the CREATE Retreat by Cloth Paper Scissors Magazine will take place in the Chicagoland area. Check out the website www.clothpaperscissors.com and click on CREATE Retreat. Yes we're already registered.

Challenge 1 - Status

Progress is...slow. Both Sue and I were distracted by our day jobs and other life occurances and slowed us down. This weekend (4th of July holiday in the USA) is our deadline. I've taken two weeks off the "day job" to regroup, rest, tinker, sleep, cook (made biscuits from scratch this morning -- hadn't done that before), journal, sew, gather things for good will, clean our storage unit, create, garden, and general catch up with my friends. Not in that order, of course.

Lunch has been scheduled with several of them and my massage today was an excellent start to it all. (Pedicure is later this week).

I'll write more later....

Challenge 1 (to ourselves)

Well, as I mentioned in a previous entry, Susan and I are looking to continue our creativity exercises via a challenge. It won't be monthly but we'll take turns building two identical kits to see how the other will use it. The rules are: 1. You have to use everything in the kit but not all (i.e. you can use smaller pieces of the items included). 2. everything type of technique is encouraged. 3. Have FUN!

So off we go! I have to deliver the kit to Susan. Amazingly, we live 1 mi from each other and I drive right by her house each morning and yet we don't see each other daily! I'll get it to her tomorrow! Promise.

This kit focuses on multiple items Paris related. (No surprise there.) One of the items I"m looking forward to playing with is the color photo copy of a pictorial french dictionary from the mid 1950's - it's incredible!

No time limit on us but we expect 4-6 weeks. We'll post our progress.

Class Projects

One of the classes we took was on "scrapbook quilting", laying paper and fabric, free motion quilting and using ink pens (Fabrico) that are fabulous!!

The second class was with Rebeckah Meier - making fabric out of paper and such! Such fun painting, stamping, glueing, fusing, embossing foam, etc.! I love my little project and how it turned out.