Life's Unexpected Gifts

Louise Kirby's journal from our small group Sisterhood of the Traveling Art Journals arrived today in the mail. I must say that Helen Lindton's maple leaf is even more impressive in person. I immediately got inspired by the feathers I found in my yard earlier today. I felt so good to just flow. I included three quotes that I love. I will let it rest until tomorrow when it will be revisited to see if I am happy enough to send it home. I think the book needs a bookmark so I am off to create one.

I also think it is pretty incredible how small the world can be. I participated in Shannon Ganshorn's International Mixed Media Postcard Swap where you make 10 postcards and receive 10 postcards. Well, you can imagine my surprise when I got a small envelope made from an old calendar not only filled with a wonderful postcard but Australian postage stamps and paper. Next I got an even bigger surprise. The package was from Pam Parker who just happens to be Louise Kirby's mom! I love it!

Mixed Media Postcard Swap and Friendship

Shannon Ganshorn is once again hosting her International Mixed Media Postcard Swap Version 4.0 so of course, I signed up. You can too. Deadline for signing up is May 10.  You send out 10 postcards and get 10 in return. I've been working on mine. Each is a little different but the overall design is the same. I made two new friends last round. Jill is now a member of heARTist Trading Cards which is also the reason I will continue to do these kinds of trades.

Today was also my interview for becoming a resident artist at ClaySpace. I will admit to being a little nervous but there truly was no reason. Theresa was warm and welcoming and Sharon who sat in unofficially was a jewel as always. I will be presented to the board for a vote then placed on the waiting list. Not sure when I will become an RA. Hopefully I will only have to wait a couple of months. I feel strongly that ClaySpace is going to continue to help me grow as an artist and a person. I love the people I am getting to know. I've been putting poems on Hannah's shelf, a 26 year-old with an old, caring  soul, after learning we shared Mary Oliver as our favorite poet. Today I found on my shelf a gift from Hannah. I am blessed and sad. Hannah is moving to upper Minnesota at the end of May.  I am sure we will stay in touch. We have shared such a deep connection. When was the last time you made a new friend with someone much younger?

International Postcard Exchange

I have been ill with a terrible cold since Wednesday. I hate being tired. I hate being sick. Yesterday the thought of staying in bed was making me crazy so I decided to play. I really thought that what I would make would probably end up in the trash. I signed up for Shannon Ganshorn's International Mixed Media Postcard exchange (Thanks Marie Z. Johansen).

Before Christmas I had treated myself to some of Tattered Angels' Naturally Aged Paint System in Turquoise.  The purchase was made thinking I would use it for the verdigris exchange with Arts in the Cards but I ended up doing Mother Nino and using a photograph instead. Anyway, I created the background using the "paint system" (FYI- the paint does not easily come off your hands and I think is going to take some practice to have the results look like the photo on the package). I do like the layered look I got for the backgrounds and I'm pleased that they are all a little different. My original idea was to use a photo of a window and some ruberstamps. Digging around looking for a star rubberstamp, I came across a tree stencil. I decided to go with the flow and my winter scene was born. I created the tree using a makeup sponge and a StazOn stamp pad in Forest Green which also did not easily come off my fingers. Seeing a theme here? There is also a hint of texture created with Dew Drop Brilliance ink in pearlescent olive and sequin waste ribbon. I used a punch to create the snow flake and the words are stickers. I'm happy! They will go out in the mail tomorrow. Hopefully the recipients will be happy too. 

Running Full Speed with an Idea

An 8" x 6" journal page for a journal exchange, created a desire to explore using the image of Mother Nino (I've never heard a Georgian refer to her as St. Nino but she is a saint in the Georgian Orthodox Church and I have visited her grave.) in more art. I'd like to thank Helen Lindton for causing this journey. I don't think I would ever have created any of this art if her journal had not been about icons. And while I love icons, I've never created any art using them.

Part of the reason I wanted to continue to explore was I was not entirely satisfied with the journal page. That's what I get for not entirely planning things before I start gluing!

The next step was to create a 6" x 4" postcard.  I have joined Shannon Ganshorn's International Postcard Swap V 3.0 (encouraged by my friend Marie Z. Johansen). We have to make 10 postcards and mail them to 10 different people. I love the idea of being exposed to art created by other people. I'm particularly interested in art being created outside the US. I thought if the postcard worked out that I would have one less postcard to make. By the way, there's still time to join in the fun! They just need to be mixed media creations.

Next I created a 2.5" by 3.5" ATC (artist trading card). Arts in the Cards theme for our January trade is verdigri. The background of the ATC is from a photograph of a patina part of a building that I took in one of my trips to Georgia which seemed perfect on so many levels. I love the way this background works for both the theme and the card. I'm a very literal person so being able to come up with art that is not literal to the theme makes me very happy. Also I'm done early so less January stress! Of course, this is creating more December stress but I truly believe one needs to listen and answer the call to create when it happens (if at all possible).

Last night I became inspired once more. This time I made a small quilt (7" x 9").  The transfers were printed on silk habotai. Georgia was part of the silk route so I thought this was appropriate. It was the first time I worked with using silk habotai for transfers. It has a great hand but the background colors bleed through. For the most part this was okay except for the image of her head covering around her shoulders. This presented me with the challenge of fixing a problem. I'm actually quite happy that this accident occurred! I like the look I was able to achieve.

So which one do you like the best?

Don't forget to enter my blog giveaway! (see below)

I have gotten a glimpse of some of the 12/12/12 Project quilts and all I can say is "Wow!" I am going to have to definitely step up my game! Thanks! You still have time to join in the fun. Details are here. Make it a creative day!