The Colour Guru

NEW BLOG ADDRESS

2006-10-30T11:29:00.000+11:00

My blog updates will no longer be here on blogger. I have been having significant technical difficulties every time I download images as my blog gets bigger & bigger each time I load them. (to be fair, blogger is great, it is FREE, which is a bonus to see how blogging is for you...and it isn't too hard to work out [sometimes!!!]) As a result I have moved over to TYPEPAD now, where I can pay to use more space & I hope to not have the frustrating downloading problems that I have been experiencing with Blogger.

The NEW blog address as of today is:

http://thecolourguru.typepad.com PLEASE UPDATE YOUR LINK as of today, by adding this address once you get there, to your favourites.

For the moment, all of the archives are here at Blogger, I feel as though I can't completely abandon them, and I am not sure how to import them to Typepad...........

thanks for your positive feedback for my work............I look forward to sharing it with you in the future.

Bear Slide Show

2006-10-22T19:23:00.000+10:00

Well, it has taken me nearly a full day, but I finally have photographed all my bears! A big job out of the way, that I have been wanting to do for ages. With the exception of 3 bears, (Crystal, Bessie & Nancy) all bears are made from either English or German mohair. They all have glass eyes & Edward, Dr. Bairnsdale & The Wounded Soldier have antique boot buttons for eyes. Most I have designed from scratch from paper & calico patterns & models, but there are about 5 or 6 that have been made from other people's patterns. All of the clothes I have designed and made myself & the cardigan on Nancy was my daughter's when she was newborn.

Theres a Bear in There!

2006-10-21T18:32:00.000+10:00

Get Your Own! View Slideshow

WHAT'S NEXT????

2006-10-20T07:06:00.001+10:00

Well, as you are aware, (with the posts from the last few weeks being mostly text) I haven't been arting much lately, and I am just BURSTING with ideas. We have our annual Paper Arts show here in Melbourne next week too, so I guess I will be having some new supplies (I can't help myself, dispite my well stocked studio) Some of the things that I am exploring at the moment are:
* a page inspired by 'The Devil wears Prada' (MUST SEE, girlfriend, it is SOOOOO funny)
* 'the secret life of bees' is a term that keeps coming up in some other art posts and it is intriguing me, I feel an ATC series coming on there.........or maybe a journal page...........hmmmmm.............
* I have seen a quote (I am a passionate collector of quotes) that has really inspired me lately by Richard Kamler........'ART is our one true global language. It knows no nation, it favours no race, it acknowledges no class. It speaks to our need to reveal, heal & transform. It transcends our ordinary lives & lets us imagine what is possible.'........WOW, how true.............this requires a response in ART!~ I have found some wonderful 12 x 12 paper with Northern & Southern hemispheres on separate pages, perfect for left & right hand pages.........I am thinking something along the lines of a world map with minatures of art styles from around the globe on it.......hmmm...........that's still brewing.........Richard, it is coming to my journal sometime soon!!!
* I have a plethora of Russia 'stuff' from my newly arrived DH, some more inspiring than others....I think this will end up scrapbooked with photos rather than in my art journal, but you never know...........the pics from red square are really nice.
* Specimens............I am squirreling (thanks Julie) away bits 'n' bobs for this swap, I am looking forward to producing some more cards along this line. For more info on this swap, jump onto over to my swap blog:
http://queenofswaps.blogspot.com

WELLLLLLLL..................no shortage of inspiration, just need some time..........and now, for the real world..........yes, I must go to work!!! Have a great day!

'Tis the Season

2006-10-20T06:45:00.000+10:00

It hasn't all been doom & gloom & war!!! I've had fun starting to make my Christmas tags for the 'Tis the Season swap on my Swap blog. It's a fun & easy swap using manilla tags. They were created by painting the tag, applying crackle medium, then painting over with gold or silver. I have then used all sorts of bits 'n' pieces to decorate them. Here's the info on the swap, come one, come all, come swap with me!!! http://queenofswaps.blogspot.com

GALLILPOLI FINISHED

2006-10-20T06:25:00.000+10:00

Here is my finished Gallipoli page, it is such a tragic story in Australian War History (one my Grandfather played a part in) that I wanted to record it in my art. For the sake of my overseas visitors, in 1915 Australian soldiers were landed on a beach in Gallipoli, Turkey, & were outnumbered & out gunned by the Turkish. It resulted in the wiping out of a generation of young men from outback & country towns & it had a huge impact on Australian life. (PLEASE...........any war buffs, please don't be offended, this is not meant to be trite in anyway, just a very simplified description) My son has a copper looking 'slouch' hat pin from last Anzac Day, (25th April) which would have been perfect for this page, however he wouldn't SHARE!!!!!.................oh well, it may still get some additions down the track. Everything that I make is subject to change! For anyone who is interested in the story the long version (blow by blow) is here: http://www.awm.gov.au/histories/ww1/1/index.asp
a more suscinct, narative style version is here: http://www.anzacsite.gov.au/1landing/why.html

A NEW LOOK

2006-10-17T05:36:00.001+10:00

It has taken a couple of days to get the new swaps blog sorted & we have a new look here. I quite liked the other header, however the formating was rather limiting, so here we have a new look, so that both blogs are in sync. I am working on a page in my 'A Time in my Life' art journal at the moment as a record of my work in Mary's journal........it is all about ANZAC's. I have some of my Grandfather's original records & have used photocopies of these on the page. It is still emerging and feels a little 'raw' right now. I have the key imagery in place, but it needs some 'depth' and I haven't quite decided how I am going to do that yet. I have used my fav. Paper Loft paper as the backdrop to the page, and the imagery is a combination of bits 'n' pieces, I have collected. Stamps are Collections.......those numbers work so well........
http://members.westnet.com.au/collections/
rub ons are 7 Gypsies..........one of my other loves! Have a great day............big day at work then off to see The Devil wears Prada.............should be a fun night.
ps the scan is a bit dodgy, but don't have time to do it thoroughly this morning...........off to WURK (sob)

AT LAST A PLACE TO SWAP

2006-10-16T00:57:00.000+10:00

I have spent the evening tonight creating a site (for Australian Artists in particular) to swap their paper art. It is a fledgling at the moment, I have posted six swaps, (2 for each month). It's a start & there will be plenty more in varying formats. If there is a topic that you are interested in, email me and let me know so that we can gauge interest. I have had lots of enquiries over the past year via both my website & my blog, so now, here it is. If the topic posted doesn't suit you, don't worry, more is to come, it is just a start. Also, being mindful that it will be Christmas soon & people will be busy with their life & family (alas) aside from art!! LOL!!

I have created a link in the sidebar, which, due to my Russia slide show is currently residing in the bottom right hand corner, but should reappear soon, as the slide show moves down the page.

Hopefully there will be as much support as there has been interest shown, the link is

http://queenofswaps.blogspot.com

STILL no ART

2006-10-14T07:46:00.000+10:00

STILL no ART.......how can this be????? There won't be much over the weekend either.....working today (gosh...........is that the time???? must fly....well, just a few words), welcome home party tonight & baby shower tomorrow. I am in the euphoric bliss of romance that happens when you have had some extended time apart from your loved one..............just spending lots of family time together. We are surrounded by new life right now, it is a spring of blossoming things..........little Princess 'L' is glowing, having lost her 'newborn' look altogether, she is now gooing, & cooing & kicking furiously in her little rocker with suspended toys.................Our puppies are 3 weeks old now, and SOOOO fat............they have their eyes open & are stumbling around...............and our new little 'grandie' is due in just 6 weeks now.......our daughter in law is in the 'beached whale' stage of pregnancy where she looks bigger everytime I see her..............She is beautiful & we can't wait to hold our new little blessing.......It means there's no art time & I am bursting with ideas right now........(must be all the joy, I feel so creatively alive!!!).....realizing I have missed the deadline for Gisele's tag swap I am tempted to join another journal project along the same theme, however, having had the trouble I just did with one journal topic, I am a little hesitant to sign up for another........there is alot of bravery required to do art!!!! What if people hate it???? At least with the new project (potential) it is a 'tip in' project meaning that you send all your pages at once to a co-ordinator & they are not actually in a bound book, so essentially, if they were REALLY bad, you could just not include that/those pages. The scary thing about the current project is that the books are bound and if you stuff it up..........it's too bad, I tell myself I can always paint over something or 'stick' something over it if it is really bad............but still, it does make you hesitate starting your contribution. I have made a rule for myself that I work on them as soon as I get it (they are mailed the 20th of each month), that way I don't procrastinate & get intimidated by it. I have known since the project started 5/6 months ago what each of the journals are about and when they will arrive, so I have plenty of time to think through what I am going to do. have a great weekend all.................IF I get to art at all, it will be tomorrow night.............so there is hope in the future!!!.........xK

No art days

2006-10-12T22:30:00.000+10:00

not alot of time for art right now, with DH back, we have been watching some movies together & the kids have been coming over for some of our 'bought air' (airconditioning) to escape the recent spait of 30+degree days we have been experiencing. In short, that means no 'me/art time'. Nothing that I am creating is terribly exciting, but just some bookmarks for friends & a few finishing touches on some things.

My next cards will be for Gisele's tag swap, from Jersey in Great Britian. I have had SO many ideas for this one that I am running hot................I hope to get to them soon, but it will be a busy weekend with a welcome home party for DH & baby shower No. 2 on Sunday. Fun, fun, fun. I can hardly believe that it is only 6 weeks to go til we'll have another little blessing added to our family. A word of advice to my online friends..........being a grandparent is MUCH more fun than being a parent! 'speak soon x

Home at Last

2006-10-11T05:35:00.000+10:00

Well at last I can hug my DH in person & debrief my very ordinary month of wearing two hats in our business.........his & mine!!! He has amazing stories of thirsty souls desperate for someone to see their needs. The level of privation in the Ukraine towns they visited was suffocating as such a small team of people (serving within a greater network) could only do so much. They took over 60 kg of hand knitted hats & scarves to give away, which were quickly exhumed by desperate people. DH eventually was confronted by need so great that he gave away his own gloves to someone that was homeless.
There were stories of the dichotomy of economics..........the castigated poor & homeless & the incredibly wealthy driving luxury cars. The irony is them being covered in mud up to the windows because the roads that they were driven on were not much more than we in Oz would consider a bush track, potholed, unsealed & poorly maintained (if at all). Stories of encounters with beautiful souls, people that were touched by the hope that the team bought were captivating & inspiring.
One of the intriguing tales was the bridge pictured above. There is a local tradition where couples in love purchase a padlock (some are engraved with messages), lock it on to the bridge & throw the key into the river as a symbol of them being eternally 'locked' together. There was a married couple in the team and the husband rushed off to find a padlock & carried out the beautiful ritual, every woman wanted to be his wife!!

Russia Trip Slide Show

2006-10-10T20:11:00.000+10:00

Get Your Own! View Slideshow

A slow art week

2006-10-09T06:34:00.000+10:00

Well.........a slow week art wise............I have finished off a few ATC's and been working on a quilt I started a while ago. I have finished the top of one of the cot quilts I am making for my 'grandies' (new grandchildren) for their first Christmas'. I have been working at rearranging my studio so that I can have my sewing machine set up in there permenantly. While DH has been away, I have had the dining table strewn with sewing. Prior to this my former best friend (my sewing machine) has been stored in the attic as other things like, an extension, a wedding & babies take priority for my time. Now that she's back down, I am not keen to put her away again as I have lots of things that I'd like to sew for my new 'grandies' and know I will only do it if I don't have to get everything out of the roof!! DH is home tonight.........So I am giving the house a big sprouse up....so no art today! I must say, although I have missed him terribly, it has been nice to have no routine & some 'space' to make creative mess without having to apologize for it!

My City - Melbourne

2006-10-02T22:48:00.000+10:00

FINALLY.............I have this journal completed, you would think it was an easy topic............'where do you want to be?' but it turned out to be quite a challenge when my two fav. places in the world (Paris & Italy) had already been spoken for...........I just got stumped...........anyways, here is the result, and I am pretty happy with it considering how much headspace has gone into this one to get a result............some times it just works out that way!

A little bit of Bling for Mary

2006-10-01T22:46:00.000+10:00

I received another one of my Paper Trader's Art Journals in the last couple of days, that titled Portraits & centred around a black, white & sepia theme. Just for something different, I made some 'bling' (sparkly, shiny, gorgeous) to go on the outside in the form of a collection of 'dangles' hooked together. Or as my special pal Ally would say..........it's the Zhuzzy bits! They don't scan to well, but you will sort of get the idea. The double page is my spread in this journal. A bit of a sombre topic, but I had some great images in B & W & it just came together so easily.

cARTalog project

2006-09-30T19:50:00.000+10:00

Town Planning; unaltered manilla card, In Two Minds, Field Notes; A Heart to Create, Cultural Exchange (it was not a requirement, however, I have used the subject of the card as a spring board for my designs)
These pieces of mixed media collage are created from old library indexing cards. The library cards are from the University of Iowa Libraries’ main card catalog, which was retired in 2004. A small community of library staff—motivated by both nostalgia and library subculture-- has come together to give the card catalog cards themselves a rebirth, to celebrate the significance of them in library history. Other libraries have also done the same. The project is titled cARTalog project & involves the recycling of the indexing cards into 'another life'.

cARTalog hopes to find as many creative uses as possible for the salvaged card catalog cards and generate a sense of community among those who love the card catalog. Participants include: librarians, artists (sculpture, mail art, book art, calligraphers, photographers)
educators & students (K-12, college, graduate level), musicians, chefs, historians & story tellers

If you are interested in the project, you can read more about it here:
http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/pr/cartalog/home.htm I believe that all of the cards have been distributed.

More babies

2006-09-24T22:58:00.000+10:00

Well, the 'lurgy' is settling & I ventured out to visit my dear art friend Ange (above, holding 'L'). What fun. The other surprise is that on Friday night (unexpectedly early) our dog had puppies..........just a small litter, but totally gorgeous............here is Princess L after her bath, with one of them..........48 hours old.............DH is back in the land of the living (ie reachable by mobile phone) & we talked for the first time since he has been away. His missionary work is going well, but is challenged by a bout of gastro.....I well remember that experience from when we went to Egypt in 2003................yuk, it took the shine off things.........anyways, I told him I had packed travel sickness pills & I think he wanted to marry me all over again................Mind you, he could have looked..............!! He's a man, what was I thinking? LOL!!!

Meet Mother & Father Christmas

2006-09-23T22:10:00.000+10:00

Still sneezing & nose running hideously, I have decided though, that I think that it's hayfever.......we are having unusually windy weather at the moment which is blowing pollens and stuff around everywhere. Not good for Ms Allergies here. Anyways, meet Mother & Father Christmas, my understanding is that every Cabinet Card Collection should have at least ONE with a Christmas theme.........so here it is! (NOTE TO SELF: sparkly foil paper melts when you try to emboss on it!) The back of this cabinet card was so beautiful that I didn't want to cover it up.........so they don't have a story.....children all over the world already know it!

Miss (sniff) Amelia (cough)

2006-09-22T03:54:00.000+10:00

Well................not much sleeping happening, (cough, cough) so I thought I'd scan Miss Amelia & introduce you. She's a sweetie. I thought.........enough intrigue...........she looks like she has a pure countenance.........and so she has! Enjoy.

the dreaded lurgy

2006-09-21T22:21:00.000+10:00

well, I guess it had to catch up with me eventually..........I have 'the dreaded lurgy'.....my nose is running like a tap, my head has it's own 'doof doof' party happening & my throat hurts..........yuk I hate being sick. Okay, okay, I REALLY have been pushing it over the last couple of months, but a girl's gotta do wot a girl's gotta do!!
DH has now moved out to do some satellite work with a group in Kremenchuk (I must look up where that is!) & is out of phone contact again until Monday. My plan for doing a whole lot of indulgent things that I have been hanging out to do hasn't been too successful so far........I have been working hideous hours putting out the fires that inevidably occur when a key team member is missing from a small company.
I have managed to come up with a new cabinet card........(drying, so I will post it tomorrow).....you may think that this is wonderful. In fact I am in denial, I have some one's travelling art journal from our Paper Trader's Round Robin Journal Project that I was supposed to have finished a couple of days ago.............I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO INSPIRATION FOR IT AT ALL...........I hate that.............Inspiration Absentina............Zip, Ziltch, Nada..........yup........you got it............nuttin' I also have some ATC's I need to be working on as deadlines are looming.............but no, I am STILLLLLLLL making cabinet cards! The new one is called Miss Amelia and is sweet.
Time for me to have my nightly wrestle with the sheets in an attempt to sleep.......'nite.

Sewing & Playing - Miss Flower Fettish

2006-09-19T22:35:00.000+10:00

Yesterday I had a delightful day with my art friend Abby..........sewing. My poor sewing machine (a former best friend) took one chug & said .......... Nooooooooo......... don't expect to pull me out of the cupboard after years & me still work! So off it went to be repaired/serviced........& I was left without a machine for my planned sewing dayI fiddled with some designs for wee little 'boots' for Princess L, then Helen to the rescue (thanks 'sis), I had a loan machine. SO, I commenced on a cot quilt for Princess L & really enjoyed doing that. Abby at some point rescued my fledgling 'Miss Flower Fettish' Cabinet Card by doing some of her ledgendary shading on my 'flower legs'...........and tonight I have finished it off. It was a gorgeous Art Nouveau (my fav. design period) card in soft cream & I wanted to enhance that. I have purposely chosen soft & pearly tones & paints. My mistake was using blue & purple..........I ALWAYS struggle with those palettes. Anyway, I am happy enough with the result now, there are micro beads, frinkles, jewels & beautiful pearl paper that you can't pick up on a scan. Read the story...........she really is a woman of mystery......and not all good!!!

Have heard from DH today, and apparently the weather in the country of the red flag is 18 & sunny..........here we were worried he wouldn't have enough warm clothes. Sorry honey (only 1 tee packed!).......he had a good sleep between Hong Kong & Moscow & so he hit the ground running.

Slide show - Cloth Dolls

2006-09-16T23:28:00.000+10:00

The Calm

2006-09-16T23:10:00.000+10:00

Today I saw my DH off to Russia for 24 days on a Missions trip. He has a long & truncated flight Melbourne to Sydney + 2 hour layover.......Sydney to Hong Kong + 7 hour layover...............Hong Kong to Moscow + 3/5 hour layover.......then on to Kiev..........where he will step straight into a conference.......poor honey, he'll be exhausted!!! For about a month now, I have been referring to the time leading up to him leaving as ' the storm before the calm'..........so at last the calm is here. Alas, I must work (this will be rewarded next year when I have a sojourn in Italy when he will work), however I hope to fit in some things I haven't gotten around to. There is an exhibition of Leonardo Da Vinci's machines I have been wanting to get to & a Piccaso exhibition on at the gallery & I hope to go to the theatre as well. I told him I don't intend to cook or clean, just work & 'play' (ie do art & fun things).............today I have been a bit brain dead, so I scanned in heaps of old pics of my cloth dolls, bears, quilts & embroideries (remember......COUNTRY WAS in at the time!!!)

The Botanist - Cabinet Card No 4

2006-09-14T22:52:00.000+10:00

DH is off to Russia for a month the day after tomorrow, and I have spent all day fetching & carrying for him so he can complete the work he is doing, and packing his things. So tonight, (he is STILL working) I have stolen away into my studio to 'create' & have some time out. The result is my latest Cabinet Card. I had this great background paper from a Paper Trader's friend of mine (who generously shared!) & I had not had an opportunity to use it. This card limped along a bit at first, I painted the background, and it ended up looking a bit Chrismassy, even though that wasn't my intention. It evolved once I 'discovered' the paper, which gave me both some direction and a springboard for my title & story.

Individual ATC's & Small Series' Slide Show

2006-09-12T22:42:00.000+10:00

Alice Slide Show

2006-09-12T22:31:00.000+10:00

Antiquarian Alphabet Slide Show

2006-09-12T22:20:00.000+10:00

You asked for it!

2006-09-12T21:34:00.000+10:00

There have been several 'Ellie followers' that have asked for recent pics...........this is her.........9 weeks old now! WOW that has flown! Poor Jess has just had her third operation in nine weeks and is holding up remarkably well considering. Ellie is now having a bottle (& lovin' it), still enjoying bathtime best & makes cute little grunts and mumblings that are the beginnings of her acknowledging the world around her. Still famous for her 'serious' faces, she totally cracks us up when she puts on one of her frowns.........or a wide eyed 'what the...????' look.
I thought this was a particularly special pic of mum & bub looking at each other. All the stories are true.......'tis much funner to be granma.......or 'nonna' as in my case!

Cabinet Card - The Lost Family

2006-09-11T23:13:00.000+10:00

Another completed cabinet card....I am really enjoying working these stories up from the expressions in the subjects & the 'vibe' of the photo. I am also enjoying creating the narrative, it is fun. ENJOY

Cabinet Cards - Miss Far Away Eyes

2006-09-08T09:10:00.000+10:00

Cabinet Card No. 3............I think I'm likin' it.........hmmm..........I am dreaming of Cabinet Cards.......yes, I FEEL an obsession emerging........This is Miss Far Away Eyes, I hope you will take the time to read her story. This card was altered with paints, perfect pearls, packing tape transfers, rub ons & stamps. What fun!

Cabinet Cards - Miss Love Lost

2006-09-08T00:30:00.000+10:00

If you're like me, the first time that you hear the term 'Cabinet Card' you will wonder what one earth people are talking about. I must admit although I had seen them as scans, I had not, until I held one in my hand, realized how beautifully detailed they are. The photos themselves, like all vintage photos, invoke a sense of mystery.......who is this, when was it, why were the photo's taken (an expensive commodity in those days)....trying to place this evidence of history in your hands. The card on the left, I have called 'They're playing our Song'. It is my first Cabinet Card, and I guess it is a bit lame.........I just had to work my way into vandlising them! The one in the centre is my second attempt, I have called this one Miss Love Lost and have created a story for the back around my card theme & the facial expression in the photo

2006-09-04T22:20:00.000+10:00

Well, another day, & some more art! Today was spent with my art friends, & I worked on an intricate little project of making tags to hang from my wirework Effiel Tower, now gracing our corner table in the family room. We had a lovely day & these were the results.

What is a Cabinet Card?

2006-09-04T06:50:00.000+10:00

I have recieved from some overseas Paper Artists, some Cabinet Cards, which are essentially vintage photos that were mounted onto thick card. Many artists decorate & alter these as an artform. They are just so beautiful though, I am struggling, so my first one is more 'decorated or embellished' rather than altered! I wrote to my dear friend & told her that 'I have such a problem.....the cabinet cards arrived today, and, and, well......I adore them....I REALLY don't think that I can bring myself to deface them....I don't know what to do.....I haven't seen anything so lovely.' LOL...................she replied 'C'mon, they're dingy and faded and beat up and friendless...give them some paint or poetry or fancy hats. Breathe life into them and share them with the world!!!

SO........above is my first effort. CERTAINLY, more decorated & embellished, rather than altered, but I think I could catch a bug for this............watch and wait!

Here is a more thorough description:
The Cabinet Card has the appearance of a larger version of the carte de visite, retaining the photographer's imprint and shows similar styles of decorative artwork on the card face or back. Like the carte de visite, it consists of a paper photographic print mounted on commercially produced card stock of standard size. Despite the similarity, the cabinet format was used for landscape and vernacular views before it was adopted for portraiture and likely borrowed influences from both the "card photograph" (carte de visite) and stereographic views of the period. Styles of portraiture generally copy those of the carte de visite but take advantage of the larger image area. The majority of cabinet cards were albumen prints, but toward the end of the nineteenth-century other types of photographic paper began to replace albumen papers. The albumen images are yellow-brown or purple-blue in tone, a result of the common practice of gold toning ("sepia" tone includes the effects of yellowing and albumen fading in addition to the original tone). You may see cabinet card images from 1890s that have the appearance of a black and white photograph. These photographs exhibit what is called by photographic experts a neutral image tone and were likely produced on a matte collodion, gelatin or gelatin bromide paper. Sometimes images from this period can be identified by a greenish cast. Gelatin papers were introduced in the 1870s and started gaining acceptance in the 1880s and 1890s as the gelatin bromide papers became popular. Matte collodion was used in the same period. If you have a black and white image on cabinet card, it is likely to have been produced in the 1890s or after 1900. The last cabinet cards were produced in the twenties, perhaps as late as 1924.

Precious Memories

2006-09-02T08:38:00.000+10:00

These ATC's are for a Paper Trader's swap called Precious Memories. The swap was to have your heritage family photos as a central theme. I must confess, I was a bit over it in the end, but I really enjoyed making these, as each of them has family history. These pics are all from my paternal grandfather's collection. The bride is my grandmother, & she also features in the 'Glenelg Beach' one, she is on the far left. The one with the open bible my grandfather's family, the three young men are his brothers, & the school pic is him in primary school. I make individual labels for each of my series' & this one has a Wild Asparagus paper as the background.

More Hitch Hiking

2006-09-02T07:44:00.000+10:00

It isn't that I haven't been arting this week, it is just that I haven't had much time to sit with the computer. I have done several Paper Traders (for info see link) Hitch Hiker cards (see previous post to find out what they are). the pic on the left is how I recieved the ATCs, the one on the right has my additions. Some lucky person will recieve the finished 'Travel' card with my next mail out. The top one, 'la parfumerie' was a bit tricky.......my dear Paper Traders friend Connie started this Hitch Hiker with a lovely 'watercolour' styled background, & being the first person to add to the background, I had trouble committing to a particular orientation & where to place an addition because of the two tones & the placement of the dots. I had these gorgeous pics from a glossy mag that reminded me so much of the beautiful Le parfumeries' of France, and thought this would be a good match. Some one more clever probably would have drawn or painted onto it, but I am a 'no draw' artist........I just cut & glue! (well..........and sand & scrape!) I hope she feels I have done it justice. This one will be added to by 3 other artists before it is completed.

Rustified

2006-08-22T04:44:00.000+10:00

These are the little canvases I made yesterday. They are made on 4 x 4in block mounted canvases with paint & wax treated surfaces. They are titled 1. Soulful Rust 2. Rustification & 3. Crystalized Rust (L to R) The bits I have used on them are from far & wide.........never dismiss the possibility of finding treasures at the op-shop 7 your local $2 shop!!!

Our Gorgeous Girl

2006-08-21T23:53:00.000+10:00

I did do some nice art today.......I made 3 mini canvases with wax 'n' wire & worked on another journal page, however I will scan them & post them tomorrow..........I couldn't wait to share this with you though. What a great pic. Princess 'L' is showing signs of growing and smiling and these are some of the first shots. SOOOOOO CUTE!

A Time in My Life Journal - what's it all about?

2006-08-20T17:14:00.000+10:00

This is the title page for the journal you have seen some pages for. I guess the reason it was born was that I created a little coptic stitched book for a 'travelling journal' project on a single theme........and once it was gone, I missed working in a larger format. (I primarily create ATC's for those that didn't know)......... & I decided that I wanted to explore some different themes & materials so this journal is just a page at a time.......what ever happens to inspire me. It represents this 'Time in My Life'. Once the 'travelling journal' project commenced & I started to recieve other artists' journals, I wanted somewhere to both keep a record of the work that I did for others & to flesh out some of my ideas so, there you have it..........no mystery, just a collection of thoughts. I have travelled back in time recently creating a little scrapbook with Princess L's first pics..........& I really haven't enjoyed it at all.............it has been more like just assembling, than creating.............so I definitely think that my scrapbooking days are numbered!! It is more a chore than a pleasure & I only have a limited time for art work anyway, so I NEED it to be fun for me!.............til next time........ps arting all day with friends tomorrow.............so hopefully will cook up something good.

Rx Murder - Death in Venice

2006-08-20T05:17:00.000+10:00

SO, one of the bizarre things that's been going on in my life was that I was struck by a car in a parking lot. I was in the emergency ward, waiting for scans & xrays to my aching body & my DH read to me this incredible story from a National Geographic mag to distract me. The story, apparently a true one goes that in Renaissance Italy poison was the solution to delicate political problems. Poisoning was as much an art as painting, architecture & sculpture as it was discrete & dignified. The Borgias family - Alessandro & his son Cesare specialized in faith-based poisonings. The Borgias selected & laid down rare poisons in their cellars with as much thought as they gave to their vintage wines. As pope, Alessandro appointed wealthy men as bishops & cardinals, allowed them to increase their holdings, then invited them to dinner. The house wine, dry, with overtones of arsenic, neatly disposed of the guests, whose wealth, by church law, then reverted to the Borgias, increasing their influence & wealth. The capital of conspiracy in Italy was VENICE, where the architects of evil were the Council of Ten. A special tribunal, created to avert plots & crimes against the state. To accomplish poisoning, the council would contract with an assassin, paid by an intermediary & often from another city. Funds were readily available for such matters & the Council kept two sets of records, one for public & one for private dealings of a less savoury type. The Council’s cloak & poison doings were officially recorded in a thin volume marked Secreto Secretissima (top, top secret)..............and this book still exists and is housed somewhere in Venice for public display. (I missed that last time I was there)...........OF COURSE............I couldn't help myself..........I JUST HAD to turn this into art! It was too delicious a topic, complete with mystery & intrigue.....this journal spread is the result.

Rx murder

2006-08-20T05:10:00.000+10:00

Inspired by a great story

Art during difficult times

2006-08-19T23:12:00.000+10:00

We have been experiencing a further raft of challenges with hospital visits & becoming surrogate parents over the past 10 days as poor Jess has been in & out of hospital.........so unfortunately not much time for art...........I have managed to complete some journal pages.....& am working on some digital 'Thru the Looking Glass' ATC's for a Paper Traders swap I am hosting......& hope to post them soon....... as a special birthday treat............I am spending Monday with some art pals...........so hope to produce something wonderful.

Grandad's Babysitting

2006-08-19T23:06:00.000+10:00

I REALLY didn't want this blog to be all about babies............but now that Princess L is here, I JUST can't help myself............and you MUST see this pic of grandad 'babysitting' this morning. Our daughter walked in and caught them both snoring together! The funny thing is, somewhere or another, I have one just like it of him with Ellie's mum in a similar pose.............19 years ago!! Rock on Grandad

Finding Stars in the Darkness

2006-08-09T23:30:00.000+10:00

We all have times in our lives when things aren't as rosy as they could be, & I guess to some extent I am there right now. I love this quote.....it reads 'I will love the light, for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness for it shows me the stars.'

Hitch Hikers

2006-08-03T07:01:00.000+10:00

These are some 'Hitch Hiker' ATC's that I have been working on recently. The concept started in my Paper Traders Group when Cheryl sent out a whole heap of backgrounds. The idea is that 5 artists, one after another add their contribution to a card, which travels along as we mail out swaps & journals......hence the name 'Hitch Hiker'. When the last person has added their contribution, they send it off to someone as a RAK (Random Act of Kindness). I added the Thai looking paper to the one with the orange & gold background the Hindu Princess one, above went on to another artist after me. These two below, I am the final artist on, so have the job of bringing the pieces together. (& then the lovely task of blessing some one with them!!)

I have also been doing some work in Linda's art journal, I hope to post that tonight.

Gilded Lilies

2006-07-24T18:44:00.000+10:00

I have had a lovely day today creating beautiful things with 'Sisters of Art'. This is the result. The backgrounds are created from many layers, worked over & over, then the image (taken from one of those cheap shiny greeting cards) has been added to the top & sanded and embossed. It is my intention to add the words 'lily' in big loopy writing, but I haven't yet found a way that it will successfully stick! I am referring to wise ones for help! More later!

Autumn Graffiti

2006-07-16T23:21:00.000+10:00

As a trial run for Cheryl's Seasons Journal, I created a page in my current art journal titled 'A Time in My Life'. (more about the journal itself later) Although I feel I have lost a little of the impact of all of my beautiful built up layers on my wall.......I enjoyed 'graffitiing' it & have titled the page Autumn Graffiti. I have used Dee's Design's rub ons, & a combination of letters & numbers from various sources. EVERY ONE of the leaves is separately punched & shaded (I won't be hurrying to replicate this look...........although I am happy with the results.

Cheryl's Seasons Journal

2006-07-14T08:09:00.000+10:00

I created this page for my Paper Trader's group's Round Robin Journal project. Those that wanted to participate chose a subject & have been mailing a journal each month to each other to contribute to. For these pages I used acrylic paints, beeswax pencils, metallic pens, oil pastels, gold leaf & stamping ink.

People of the World

2006-07-13T11:27:00.000+10:00

these are quick compositions, that I have pieced together from my 'desktop box'. This is where I throw little bits 'n' pieces of paper off cuts & interesting images I have clipped out of magazines, to add when I am looking for a little extra something for a piece of work. they are on an acrylic paint background, with tearaways & cutouts & 7 gypsies rubbings.

Studies in Red & Gold

2006-07-13T11:02:00.000+10:00

although I have limited time to art at the moment, with a new baby in the house for a week or two, I have produced these Studies in Red & Gold. I started out with an acrylic paint base....added a slither of an image (all were made from pieces of the same image), then worked it up with oil pastels, paint, gold leaf & rub ons. They have a shiney finish from the oil pastel fixative.

the latest pics from Nonna

2006-07-10T07:19:00.000+10:00

well, when I started my blog I spoke about the arrival of grandchildren changing my life.......and it has. As I heard in a movie.......'how can you love someone that you have only just met, so much?'

Our angel comes home from the hospital today, so lots to do, I have been managing SOME art in the wee hours after visits, but it all seems pale next to photos of Ellie! I will post some art tomorrow!

Welcome to the World

2006-07-07T23:15:00.000+10:00

Last night, our new little grand daughter, Eleanor Grace was born by emergency Caesarian section. She weighs just over 6 pound and is 3 pounds lighter, & 10 cm shorter than her mum was when she was born. This is her about 10 hours old, sucking her thumb for all it is worth. Welcome to the world Ellie!

welcome

2006-07-03T19:41:00.000+10:00

welcome to all those joining up with my blog.........it is great to share art together! cheers the guru

At the risk of becoming Cutsie

2006-07-02T23:55:00.000+10:00

At the risk of being cutsie..........I made this today in a class with our own Jenny Crossley. Keen to have something different than the black, red & blue 'Collections' style sample & with limited supplies, this is what I came up with. There is grograin ribbon that brings it together as a concertina folded deco, which I intend to scout around antique & op shops to find a silver spoon for. After Ellie is born, I will decorate the back a little & add in the birth details & give it as a birth momento.
We are only 9 days (in 2 minutes) from the due date.............what's a due date any way?

Red Rose Girls

2006-07-01T09:36:00.000+10:00

These are my new ATC's for the Red Rose Girls swap for Paper Traders (my main swapping group based in USA, with members across the globe). They have been made with a combination of oil pastels, prints on photo paper & artificial flowers.

Roses, red red roses

2006-06-30T08:40:00.000+10:00

Things are coming up ROSES! I have been working on some ATC's for a swap with my special Paper Traders called Red Rose Girls. The title refers to a group of 4 women who lived & worked in the first half of the 1900s. They 'branded' (in a marketing sense) themselves the Red Rose Girls after a picturesque inn in Villanova where they lived and worked together.

The artists were: Elizabeth Shippen Green, Violet Oakley & Jesse Willcox Smith.
The fourth member of the Red Rose Girls was Henrietta Cozens. Cozens was not an artist, but gardened, cooked, and managed the household for the other three.

They lived together in a most unconventional family for the day, that liberated these women to some extent from the day to day hum drum of domestic distractions, while the supportive environment they allowed each other encouraged and sustained them in creating a world where art and life were inseparable.

These girls were pioneers for women, each in their own right having significant bodies of work and notable commissions. Green had an exclusive contract with Harper's Magazine, for which she designed hundreds of covers and interiors for more than 20 years. Oakley was awarded a commission in 1902 to paint eighteen murals in the new Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg, the first time an American woman artist had been given such a prestigious public commission. Jesse Willcox Smith became famous for her idealized pictures of children and domestic life in Collier's, Harper's, Ladies Home Journal, and Scribner's magazines, among many others. In addition she illustrated more than forty popular books, among them Dickens's Children. These are the main images that I have drawn on for my work.

And........yet again, Magpie Post

2006-06-27T20:07:00.000+10:00

Colourful life

2006-06-24T00:21:00.000+10:00

Tonight on my way home I bought some wonderful wool (yarn) to knit up some delights for the coming munchkins. What great textures & colours are available, I am so glad that knitting has come full circle again & is back in vogue. Alas, my skills are average so I am knitting now for 12 months old, 'cos it won't be finished in a hurry!!!

Working through the Magpie Post 'thing' I have become instantly hooked on Seneillier Oil pastels. WOW..............I love 'em. They have a great feel about them and the 'blendability' is amazing.

the passing tide of life

2006-06-22T18:51:00.000+10:00

.....it was with sadness, that I learnt today that a client I knew quite well passed away. I feel sad at the loss of such a fine man. Tragically & suddenly it was well before time. I can only imagine the hole this man of integrity & honour has left in the day to day life of his loved ones.
It is the tides of life, little Ellie about to be born and others passing on. The death of anyone always makes us reflect, on the value & impact of our time here & what we want to spend it doing. For me, I hugged my man, apologized for being snipey & rang each of my children & told them how much I loved & cared for them. Although we have all heard it so many times, it is only when we are confronted with mortality, that we realize our life is a transient thing that can be over in a blink. Goodbye Kep, it was an honour to know you, rest in peace.

Magpie Post

2006-06-20T16:05:00.000+10:00

These are some of my new ATC series called Magpie post. (Ashamedly), I am not mad keen on Australiana in general, however, I was inspired by a recent art catalogue and came up with these. I have used paper, golden paints, oil pastels & wax crayons. This is only the first 3, I am already working on some more & probably will end up with at least a page of them...........9 & may swap some out.

Arting

2006-06-14T05:55:00.000+10:00

I have been arting over a long weekend year to produce something personal & special for my DH for our wedding anniversary. I have used one of those blank cardboard foldout booklets with 6 folds and have decorated front & back. It is about 150mm high (6") & folds out to about 900mm long (30"+).

Pardon my inexperience, but I am not quite getting the posting pics yet.............each time I do they TOTALLY throw out my block format, so I am still on my 'L's' (Learner Plates) & hope to have some pics up soon.

After painting the background with a spatula......I have used a combination of antique postcards sourced on my travels, rub ons (my fav. embellishment), & travel ephemera (paper stuff collected & stashed) the biggest challenge was to keep the theme flowing, which I think I was more successful with on the inside, than on the outside (it got a bit murky between the red, white & blue for France & USA, to the ochre colours of the deserts of Eygpt. No doubt part of its uniqueness.

WOW.......what can I say?

2006-06-10T03:08:00.000+10:00

WOW....what can I say? It was a surreal experience watching little Ellie on a scan and at the same time watching my daughter's tummy move as Ellie moved away from the scanning wand. We could see her little face so clearly & one of her hands was clenched up in a fist under her chin (in the thinker's pose)...........she is in the appropriate position for being born now, and not much room to move, but she was kicking & moving her limbs around. Such an amazing experience..........when I started this blog..........it was to mostly share about my art, but I think it will only be babies for a little while. It is even influencing my art........I have recently completed a series of 9 ATC's (Artist Trading Cards, for those that don't know) that are based on the 9 months & 3 trimesters of pregnancy. The other work I have done is a series of ATC's called The Saints we can't live without. It's a silly, nonsensical look at Patron Saints (no offense intended to anyone) using Collections new kraft board arches.

mistaken identity

2006-06-08T10:56:00.000+10:00

Alas, it is a case of mistaken identity............this is not the REAL Eleanor Grace.........this is a pic of another little baby in utero at the same stage of growth she is at..........as yet.........she remains an 'Ellie Belly'...........this afternoon we are off for another scan and hope to see her like these pics.

In the Pink

2006-06-07T09:30:00.000+10:00

well, it's a while since my original few postings, working away intermittently means I don't have as much time for 'arting' as I'd like........but that's how it goes sometimes. We have just had a baby shower at the weekend for our 35week pregnant daughter..........we know she is having a girl, so it was pink everything.........pink flowers, pink icing, pink cream, pink balloons, and of course pink presents. Babies are so much fun

So far: So Good

2006-05-24T23:05:00.000+10:00

well, much toing & froing with photo bucket to attempt to have a sampling of my art on the page......and now we have mostly art.............these are some ATC's from my Antiquarian Alphabet I completed over summer. I hope you like them. I have added some links & hope to sort some other things over the next couple of days.........so far: so good!

A selection from my Antiquarian Alphabet ATC's

2006-05-24T22:11:00.000+10:00

In the beginning

2006-05-24T09:05:00.000+10:00

It's only right that a first post, begins with a significant title. Today is the beginning of my blog...........TAWANDA............righter of wrongs...........web page programs be damned..........long live the BLOG!!!!...............Now, to anyone that doesn't understand all that, many moons ago I started with a gorgeous web boy to develop a great resource site for Aussie ATC'ers & paper art people. It was SOOOOOOOOOO complicated, it has NEVER been edited, and I can't add to it. DAH@! who want's to see what I made a year ago...........not me!...........I have sooooooo much more to add now. Anyways. Today it begins, I am investigating photo buckets, links & addresses and hope to have this linked to my web address soon...........artisttradingcards.com.au

for now, off to the real world...........wurk!