Showing posts with label ATC trading group. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ATC trading group. Show all posts

Monday, March 25, 2013

Sometimes You Just Have to Stop Fighting

Sticks and stones my break my bones,
but words can also hurt me.
Stones and stick break only skin, 
while words are ghosts that haunt me.
Slant and curved the word- swords fall,
it pierces and sticks inside me.
Bats and bricks may ache through bones,
but words can mortify me.
Pain from words has left its' scar,
on mind and hear that's tender.
Cuts and bruises not have healed,
it's words that I remember.

-Ruby Redfort

Next month's theme for heARTist Trading Cards is Sticks and Stones. The first idea that popped into my head was quite literal which I decided was not artsy enough. I attempted several other ideas and none of them worked so today I went literal with an homage to Ruby Redfort's poem. I used a piece of commercially available paper, a rock and grass rubberstamp, a branch rub-on, a swirl rubberstamp, a Stazon stamp pad, my computer for the "Be Kind", some fun scissors from my friend Marti and some paint. Sometimes you just have to stop fighting an idea and go with it. I'm happy and done early. The tree branches look very much like the ones outside my window.  Creating these today definitely helped my ever growing need for spring.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Look to the Sky and Blossom

 My new Artist Trading  Card group, heARTist Trading Cards, with my talented friend Marie Z. Johansen, is up and running. I am thrilled! Linda Edkins Wyatt and Patty Van-Huis Cox are wonderful artists whom I have traded with in the past. Penny Stuart has also joined us, I love her enthusiasm and look forward to getting to know her.  Our first trade is the theme "Sky." I decided to try my hand at creating something that had movement and if you have followed my blog for any length of time, you know I love crows and quotes. I thought the Bob Dylan quote, "No one is free, even birds are chained to the sky," worked well. I can't wait to see what everyone else creates.

There is one opening in the group. We plan to keep the group at a maximum of 6 so that we can make great cards and not feel like we are having to mass produce. Let me know if you are interested.

Creating artist trading cards are a great way to explore and try new things. I also love being in communities that are supportive. You learn a lot about yourself. Marie likes to tease me that I am only feel good when I am ahead of the game which I have come to realize is true. And yet, I still consider myself a procrastinator. I view life as a continuous learning experience.

What calls us to create? Each calling is unique. No one responds to life the way you do. Emerson wrote, "To believe your own thoughts, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men--that is genius." Did you know "genius" come for the Latin meaning "in the spirit of a place"?  And as Ian Roberts said, "We give voice to how our spirit blossoms in the face of something that moves us." Here is to your spirit blossoming today.

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

A Book Unfolds and an Invitation

Block by Marti Porterfield
 I am excited! The heart block exchange book is coming together nicely.  Making the blocks into a book has solved so many problems plus it gives me an opportunity to showcase each block/maker. I decided to include quotes on friendship and love and the quotes reflect the theme of the block and/or the maker.  Still working on the quotes. I hope to have the book completed by Valentine's Day. How's that for a goal!

Block by Debbie Garffon
Now don't laugh but I am really excited because I did make a real dent in my bits and pieces of Timetex, Fast-to-Fuse, etc.! I have a running joke about this with my friend Barbara so I can't wait to share this news with her. I also managed to use up all the little bits of my Steam-A-Seam! I find this truly amazing!  Okay, you can laugh just remember it is the little things in life that make life fun and interesting! Of course, as I continue to work on the book, I am sure I will be creating more bits.

Block by Rebecca Terry
Now for an invitation, I am starting a monthly ATC trading group. If you are interested, there is a limited number of spots available. I'm keeping the group small so that everyone does not need to make a lot of cards each month. I have fallen head over heals in love with trading ATCs. It is such a great way to explore new ideas and techniques in a wonderful, caring environment. And it makes trips to the mailbox very worthwhile.

Happy creating! Is anyone else working on completing UFOs?