• Art - Blog - Creativity

    Impressionist poppies

    August 19, 2016 - By 

    Yesterday a recommended video came through a YouTube update email. Normally I ignore those but this one combined with the fact that I actually had the time to watch one made quite the impression…or perhaps that should be impressionist. *wink* Thanks Jane.

    I was instantly inspired to give this technique a try. This also gave me an excuse to start another journal. Yeah I know…like I really need another journal. This one is actually a Creative Memories scrapbook album.

    album turned journalI decided to get real with myself.  I’m never going to scrapbook. And certainly not in this album. It’s the same as some of those clothes in my closet. I’m never going to wear them so why have them unless they can serve another purpose.

    Since Creative Memories albums have a metal edge on each side of the page, I decided to cut a piece of scrapbook paper down to the proper size to fit in between. IMG_1391

    I had originally intended that some of the original pattern would show through but evidently I was heavier handed with the paint than expected.

    Impressionist Poppies

    I created the page in a similar manner to that described in the video. I really like the result. I’m not into recreating others work but I do really appreciate the inspiration and willingness of others to teach and share.

    Mini-me saw my practice page and said she’d really like a painting of this in her room.

    Impressionist Poppies

    I think it would really look great on the grey walls. I’m sure there will be a few more practice attempts before the real deal on canvas.

  • Around home - Blog - Crafts - Creativity - Kitchen

    T Tuesday: domestically inclined edition

    August 9, 2016 - By 

    Hello there…you came back for yet another edition of T stands for Tuesday! Thank you! For those of you who are new to my blog, WELCOME and let me tell you a little about T stands for Tuesday. Elizabeth aka alteredbooklover hosts a weekly link up or virtual tea party, if you will, where we share what ever the heck we want for the week as long as we can somehow tie a beverage or beverage related item into the mix. Pretty simple huh? So lets get on with it, shall we…

    This week I’ve been a mix of artsy and domestic. I’ve previously posted a couple of artsy things so now you get to see some of my domesticity. Last week…no, two weeks ago (geez where does the time go) I shared our “new” hutch for T stands for Tuesday. I mentioned that I need to make a curtain to cover the wine rack shelf. I went searching through a box of vintage linens and found the perfect solution.

    vintage linen

    Simple beauty. These were my Grandma’s as well. Or perhaps her sisters…a cousin of mine just told me a story that my grandma talked her sister out of a bunch of linens saying that she needed them more in the parsonage than her sister did on the farm.  Hmmm…

    vintage linen

    I’m guessing these were purchased by my grandparents in Minneapolis if the stickers are to be believed. Dayton’s became a upscale department store here in the midwest and started the discount chain Target.

    After ironically running to Target to pick up a tension rod, I realized that I wouldn’t even have to cut these linens. I folded them in half and ran a straight line of stitching an inch from the fold.

    vintage linen curtain

    This gave me a double layer of fabric providing more light blocking which was exactly what I was going for with this project.

    vintage linen curtain The linen curtain makes this piece feel more Scandinavian. Marvin still loves his spot by the door and really could care less about the curtain.

    canning

    I did a bit of canning and baking as well when the weather cooled down.

    spicy beans

    I made spicy beans, zucchini bread and pumpkin bread. I like having a little bit of baked goods in the freezer just in case we are suddenly having company and I was completely out.

    I also have to share a day that Mini-me  and I had about a month ago. I keep meaning to share but it just hasn’t worked out. She’s been wanting to dye her hair…not all of it but some. A streak or some underneath. She just couldn’t decided so we waited. She finally decided, so we did it.


    IMG_1210

    IMG_1211

    It’s faded now quite a bit so we are going to redo it likely in the next couple weeks before school starts.

    We went out to eat at Old Chicago to celebrate her fun new hair. It’s one of her favorite restaurants.

    20160723_9733

    Well that’s it for today. I’ve got another busy Tuesday ahead of me but I’ll be around eventually to visit.

    What are you doing today?

  • Art - Blog - Creativity

    It’s a wonderful world

    August 6, 2016 - By 

    Spending time out doors since the weather has finally started to cooperate is definitely inspiring me to create. Seems odd but there it is. Fresh air and sunshine can do a lot for ones perspective…especially after days of sticky, hot disgusting weather. The kind that has you wanting to take a shower…again…after walking out to the mailbox. Those days just make me crabby.

    wonderful world

    For this nature themed page I used cardboard from the end of a notepad as my substrate. I covered it with random book pages then used gelatos for the background. I was originally thinking I’d have a whole forest of trees with a small break of blue sky in the middle. Then I decided that just one large tree would be a better visual statement.

    wonderful world

    I once again was able to use some recently gifted collage fodder on this page. These daisies from Krisha were the perfect edition to the edge of the vellum word block. The wooden bird in the tree was another recent gift…this time from Patty. These two elements came together quite nicely to add the right finishing touches to the page.

    After I punch the properly spaced holes, this page will end up in my polka dot journal.

    I’m linking up with AJJ today to meet the current months theme of Nature’s Wonders.

    Art Journal Journey