Notebooks -n- stuff

This evening, Daisy helped me sort some ribbon ... Last week I was inspired to make a lot of little notebooks because I was a vendor at a local town festival. I used a lot of the papers I've made over the last year, especially fusion and dyed paper towels. It's great when you're ready to make something and you have a good supply of papers on hand! Just wanted to share a few ...

Meet Daisy

If I've been a little slow posting new items to the store, here's the reason why! We got Daisy Friday evening from the Humane Society. She's a 9-week old lab mix and was found with her 7 other littermates in a barn. She's keeping us busy!

A Very Good Day - Update

OK, apparently I was wrong ... the day *could* get better. Late this afternoon, I learned that something I submitted to Somerset Studio is going to be published in the Oct/Nov/Dec 2009 issue of "Somerset Life" as a feature article ... I can't stop smiling ... would someone please pinch me?!?

A Very Good Day

As if finding that doll buggy yesterday wasn't enough excitement for the week ... I woke up earlier than usual because I was excited about going to an estate sale at a mid-19th century farmhouse that was the home of a former antique dealer (can you sense why I was so excited?) I found a lot of great paper stuff, but was most tickled about the huge box and album of cigarette cards! They are absolutely beautiful! I also found oodles of postcards, old playing cards, ephemera galore and a beautifully rusted wire basket (like might be used in a barn). I just want to sit in the middle of all my treasures and bask in the glow. Can this day get any better?

Look what I found!

I was driving home and passed a house that has had an ever-growing pile of stuff at the curb the last few weeks. I glanced at the pile as I drove past, then slammed on the brakes and backed up! I couldn't believe it! Isn't this the cutest thing? I've been looking for one of these, but haven't wanted to pay a flea market price. Granted it's missing a wheel (on the other side), but it still stands up and I think it would make a great display. The wicker is in excellent shape. It's always a good day when one finds a find!

May Flowers

Today in the mail I received from my mom an instruction sheet to make flowers using zippers! I could hardly wait to make one. I used old zippers from my stash and added my own twist to them (the leaves and the button in the center of the one). I was getting frustrated at first, but eventually got the hang of it. I put pin backs on them and am pretty tickled how they turned out!

Angst

I sent my book off to the magazine today ... I had so much angst! It felt like I was sending my child off in a box! At the moment, I'm not feeling worried about whether or not they'll accept it ... I'm worried I may never see it again (so I took lots of pictures). But as one of my friends told me, I know it's traveling in a virtual protective bubble, and it will make its way back one day ... After going to the post office, I was able to distract myself for 3 wonderful hours by going through the house of the mother of a friend of a friend (does that make sense?) I love savers and packrats and people who hold onto things. They're my favorite people! I've posted some of my new finds at the store. http://www.thepaperfleamarket.com/ When I got home, I found my Mother's Day gift had arrived ... I had requested a little tabletop photo studio. As soon as my son got home from school, he set it up and we were able to take some wonderful shots ... see ...(guess who took this one?) The final topper to the day was when I was in the basement moving a few things around and found a box with an old gingerbread house in it. Only I noticed that much of the house was no longer in there ... and there were mouse droppings inside ... along with a mouse! Just like a cartoon, I let out a scream and yelled for my husband! Long story short, we took the box and its occupant outside and left it there to finish off its snack. When I peeked out the window at the box, I saw two little brown shiny eyes looking back at me. He really was cute ... a missed photo-op (I need to start wearing my camera around my neck!

Altered book spreads

These are from a book I've been working on for a couple of years(!) and recently finished. I've decided to submit it to a magazine, so I'm not going to write too much about it in case they're interested. Just felt the need to share a couple spreads ... wish me luck ...

Trinket display

I saw this idea at Vendor Night at Art and Soul last weekend. A woman from Kentucky named TJ had the most awesome old stuff and display ... she had a bunch of pins and keychains and sparkly things pinned to a styrofoam head! I thought what a great way to display all those pretty little things that are tucked away in a paper sack or box in my art room. I figured if I could see what I have, I might actually use it! I was so inspired that I decided I had to make one when I got home.

I couldn't believe my good fortune when I found an old styrofoam wig stand at an estate sale Thursday. When I got home, I immediately got to work. First I sprayed Lysol all over it (you can never be too careful!) then I collaged pieces of dictionary page onto it. I let it dry overnight, then pinned old costume jewelry, key chains and random metal and plastic pieces all over.

Now that it's done, however, I can't decide if I like it or if it's creepy (although I *am* thinking of naming her "Alice" so maybe she's growing on me). Maybe I should have used a Christmas tree shape ... Anybody?

How to Grow Wings journal

This is the journal I made in the class I took with Leslie Riley at Art and Soul. We painted the pages with Golden Fluid Acrylics (her favorite) and did a lot of inkjet transparency transfers using gel medium. We used canvas boards for the covers, but you could really use any old hardback book cover. The covers were connected using fabric and then the pages were sewn in with ribbon. This class was so relaxing ... the bird motif is so timeless and universal ... and one of my favorites.

She gave us a package of faux wings to place in the journal.

This is a gel medium transfer on a painted page. I did some doodling after.

The inside cover is the paper towel I used to clean up my brushes and mess while painting the journal pages. I adhered it with gel medium.

Art & Soul recap

Had a wonderful weekend at Art & Soul! It was inspiring to be surrounded by so much creative energy. There were so many beautiful works of art to see ... I could hardly take it all in! Thanks to those of you who stopped by on Vendor Night ... hope you had as much fun as we did! For those of you who couldn't make it, here is an image of part of our display. Standing on the "vendor" side of the table was a real treat ... almost everyone who walked by had on an outstanding artistic necklace ... it was like a moving gallery. I took two classes over the weekend ... one with Susan Lenart Kazmer and one with Leslie Riley. In the next few days, I'm going to finish up the projects I started in those classes and I'll share pictures. I came back feeling so inspired to create and journal and doodle and experiment!