Wednesday, March 19, 2008

The Three Jewels

Like a lot of folks, I seem to be having trouble taking close-up photos of my work. My collages and ACEO's are all small and flat, and I'm able to get really good high-res images by scanning them. I've even put my meditation stones face-down on the scanner and gotten some nice clear images of them, but the scans aren't all that visually compelling. I'd like to take photos that will show what they'd look like in the home - on a windowsill, on a meditation altar, or like this, with the other goodies that I send when someone orders the Three Jewels set. But look how fuzzy it is!

Several of my friends are very talented quilt artists and looking at all their beautiful things has gotten me itching to sew! I finally got out my sewing machine and managed to whip up this lovely drawstring bag from a crane print I had on hand from a fabric swap a while back. Fun and easy to make! My machine was decidedly sluggish though, and I couldn't get the tension right no matter what I did to it. I realized that I couldn't even remember when I'd brought it in last for a tune-up. So in it went to the repair place for an over-haul. She's back now and ready to roar!

Here is a great little pattern for a simple drawstring bag from happythings.
and here is her dee-luxe version, which is still simple enough for the beginner (that's me, yo!) but has a lining. What a great little trick for painlessly putting in a lining! Can't wait to make a bunch. In the meantime, if anyone has any tips for taking great macro shots, please pass them along!

Thursday, March 06, 2008

show me your wild self!

Well, I was supposed to go in to work today and do a short shift while me kiddies were in school. But before I'd dropped the little ones off I rec'd a call from work saying I was not needed on that unit today after all. Wooot! Boy, sometimes you just don't know how much you didn't want to do something until you feel the relief of not having to do it. Am I right?


So, I'm taking today as a "bonus" day. Now that I'm over that horrible "Death Flu" that's been going around and managed to finish a paper for school, I want to clear a bit of clutter, get caught up on the laundry, collage a cover for my 2008 "financials" notebook, and prep some new canvases. I have some paintings that have existed in my mind for weeks and now want to come out in a physical manifestation. I have been (mostly!) sticking to my "daily devotions," creating a piece of art (1) every day -- even when I was recently in Vermont for my winter residency I managed to do some ACEOs(2) in my hotel room on pre-cut 2.5"x3.5" cardstock pieces I brought with me. Now I am itching to start making larger pieces.


Before I head down to the basement workshop, I wanted to share with you this fun little something I found on this gal's blog: a really cool generator that lets you Build Your Wild Self.


Here's me as a Lun-Fly-Lion:



What does YOUR wild self look like?



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(1) oh hush. I'm using the term "art" loosely here.
(2) What the heck is an ACEO? Click here to find out. Then click here if you want to see some of mine.


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MARCH SPECIAL for my Blogger readers:
Pick any 1 ACEO from my Etsy shop for only $6! (usually $8.50)
or Pick any 3 ACEOs from my Etsy shop for $15! (that's a $10 savings!)
Just type "blogger" in the comments section when you order
and then and I will invoice you at discounted price.
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