New Napkins

Napkin Art Assortments for layering all over any project.  The Napkin Swap hosted by my sweet daughter really added to my stash of goodies.  With all this new variety, I can't wait to get the glue mediums out and start layering on a new art journal to hold my ATC's.

The presentation of such simple art items were quite fun and creative.  The hostess made tie-on napkin rings to bind all the napkins together and of course it was covered in napkins.

I love the subtle layer they can add to canvases......

...or to the pages of a journal layered over paint.

I used several to add interest to my tool kit that carries class supplies.

This close up shows how the white background napkins have a beautiful transparency quality.

Now that we all have expanded our art stash, all we need is to start applying them to a new surface.

Get Glueing Gals!!

Swap Heaven

Hey y'all, I've finally made it back home and uploaded pics from Paper Cowgirl and trips to yonder and back again.  It is truly a blessing to be with other creative women that inspire me and spur me to go a new direction in art.  LUV it!  I had joined a few more swaps this year and was truly blessed with some awesome creations.  I will have to stretch the pics out over a few days to do justice to some of them. 
The swaps are a bonus gift to an art retreat and the Queen Sash was awesome. 

I really enjoyed creating a sash for Marie Jenkins.  She is just adorable and was an inspiration. 

She hinted at Frenchy Blues which I adore and off I went.

Tiny beads to accent swirls and vintage sequin trim from my dear grandmother's stash.

Dream is a fav past-time and is important to wander beyond our daily restraints

and to realize we can do more in all our endeavors. 

Here is sweet Marie modeling her Queen Sash.  She is just so cute and such a sweet spirit.

 

This awesome box held the sash created for me by Marsha Albee of Kentucky. 

Wowza, she had the presentation done right and I can use this in my creative space also.

She created a masterpiece for me and I love the push to CREATE when I gaze at my sash. 

I will be hanging it in my creative space soon so I can enjoy it all the time.

The accent that joins the sash was so cute with the cowgirls and the paper ruffles

for just the right glitz and tattered glamour.

Thanks Marsha, I really love my Queen Sash!

I also was the recipient of this unbelievable cuff from Elizabeth Deuson.  It is covered in embroidery and silk ribbon embroidery with beautiful buttons and crocheted closures.  I am all over it and wearing it often.  She took a lot of time and her expertise is just oozing out.  Awesome!

I created a cuff for Elizabeth also.  We both love turquoises and apparently silk embroidery.  What a coincidence that we would both pull out our silk ribbons.

I threw in a couple of charms engraved with PC 2010 and a hot air balloon from moi with little chunks of turqoise.  Each cuff that exchanged was a mini artwork in itself.  Great work gals!

I'll post paper dolls and blooms ASAP.

Thanks for stoppin by and come back soon...ya hear?!

Happy Trails

Ahhhh, Paper Cowgirl Retreat is gone into the sunset again....until next year..  I am still on the road and I can't wait to post some of my pics when I can download all my stuff at home.   Thanks for the patience and stop back soon.

Swaps R Fun

The Paper Cowgirl Art Retreat is just nearly here and I've been breaking a sweat getting ready for the swaps that are such a bonus gift of fun.  It is an exercise in creativity for me and pushes me out of my 'safe' box of art.  I actually woke up a few braincells in the process.  Quit laughing, I know they were hard to find in the first place!!

I found last year that the act of giving away my little bits of art were my inspiration to do more and inspired me to go further creatively when I was exposed to so many extremely talented gals that weekend.  I bow down to their awesome skills.  The thrill of keeping a secret is fun, but I am bursting to share what projects I have been working on in my sweat shop.  Most evenings found me staying up til 1 or 2 a.m. to complete these little art extravaganza's.  It was fun time spent and a guarantee that I would fall into bed with exhaustion and be asleep instantly.  Bonus for me with no tossing and turning.  I just love when that happens...the instant sleep part, not the tossing and turning.

So....I am bursting with excitement to share a snippet of my projects.

I am always at a loss for the presentation of a swap after I've slaved over it's creation.  This is a little envelope I created from a vintage dresser scarf.  It was the perfect size...meant to be.  It holds a cuff I created for my swap partner. 

I loved that she also liked turquoise and reds like myself.  After much deliberation, I went with the shades of turquoise and blues.  I used  several silks and threw in some silk ribbon embroidery and wonderful laces.   Yum, I won't reveal the complete cuff yet cause I still love a surprise.  I will reveal the completed pieces after the retreat at the end of this month.  So you'll have to be patient with the tease.  Forgive me.  tee hee.

Then I have to introduce my paper dolls.  These gals have all assumed a serious attitude and personality since they first escaped the printer as bare-bones unassuming paper dolls.  You give a girl some sassy clothes and boots and I am here to tell ya they have been strutting their stuff around the work table.

A couple of them look like they may have been hanging around the saloon a bit and couldn't stand up straight.  I have them scheduled for a photo shoot and they will come back for an encore soon.

These late nights have also included ATC's (artist trading cards).  I am in love with these mini works of art.  I often pull out the ones I have received from friends and enjoy looking at them.  With all the artist's information included, they are like elegant business cards....the type you would actually cry to lose.

This series is called Too Hot to Handle.  For the presentation, I created mini hot pads so she wouldn't burn ya.  ha ha.  I had the big idea to cut out each word and paste individually...which I did X 20 cards!!  OK, with that experience behind me.  I now know some words are easier to find than others.  Size is the next issue, these words are teensie tiny and I had to use tweezers just to place them.  Ai Yi Yi!!

That said, please don't call me to prepare your ransom note with cut out letters.  It is safe to say there will be NO RANSOM note painstakingly created with exacto knife, glue and tweezers with an occasional magnifying glass needed for good measure.  I will just chalk this one up as a learning lesson.  (smiling)

Phew,  it's been busy and I also have a napkin swap and vintage trims that I bundled up.  No pics yet, so I'll round those goodies up soon.  OH yeah, and the Blossom swap.  Wowza, I already have those packed and ready to travel.  My head is swirling and I need to start gathering stuff together for classes.  I'll yak with ya in a bit and share the other pics.  Thanks for stopping by for a chit chat.

Now it's paper dolls!

I have been revisiting a most favorite childhood past time.  Paper dolls! but these are paper dolls on steroids.  These gals are going overboard on their outfits and all because of a swap that happens at Paper Cowgirl in Waxahachie in June.  Yippee.  The teachers and their classes are awesome and the swaps are like a bonus gift.

I joined the paper doll swap and these past couple of days I have started knocking them out. Haha, well by the looks of the body parts scattered about, it does look as if I have been knocking someone over the head all over my art table.

Then you have to understand there is torture involved.  Be still you paper hand or I'll clamp you with a  clothespin.

Oh my, now what shoes for the occasion?!!!  I may need to go shopping for just the right pair.  Who carries 1" size?

Trims and tassels will be involved....OF COURSE!

One gal is dressed down to her boots.  Good shoe choice!  Comfy and ready to hit the dance floor.

I have created a rat's nest of a work area now and I still have several dolls to complete.  At this point, nearly all of my supplies are OUT and around me.  I have to be careful how I even roll my chair back and take a step because of the craziness.  It may take me a couple of days to just find my way out of my studio space so just deliver food and water for now.  I'm off to play with my dollies.

New additions

Saturday, my garage saleing (sp?) buddy and I went to a neighboring town to check out a sale that had already been shopped over the day before, but this estate had so much stuff you wouldn't have known this was the 2nd day of shopping heaven. There was a ton of stuff and I was in a sensory overload from the minute I went through the door. I am so excited to share my greatest find yet! On the floor, partially tucked under a table was the most unassuming little black box. It is the newest baby of my collection. As if the 3 on my sewing table right now are not enough and the other 4 that I own needed company....sheesh. But this one is special because it will be dedicated to my quilt piecing. It has just the cutest carrying case and perfect for transporting to classes. I had never paid much attention to these little work horses called Featherweights, but I'm in the club of ownership now. Yeah for me.

Then we take a gander here at the silvery and shiny stuff...The oval platter is a nice large size with an art deco motif and is a heavy aluminum I think. The covered server is in the most excellent condition and I loved the beaded edging on that piece. Then there is the silver footed platter.

I must be a magpie at heart because I am so attracted to shiny things. I love silver trays and have several stacked up already. There were a few other trays at the sale, but I really exercised self-control and just brought these few home. This one got the cut because it was footed. A little polish and it will be a real show off.

This is a sewing box I scored at a sale a couple of weeks ago. It was packed with goodies inside and was just like Christmas going through all of it. It had several marking pens for fabric that aren't in the pic because they have already found a home at my work table.

Just looking at this cute basket makes you want to mend something......or not. At least it will look adorable while waiting to be put to a good use when needed.

I did take more pics of the other goodies, but Blogger is challenging me on every photo upload.  More at another time.

A footnote:  It is funny how I was just fixin' to publish this post the other day when the phone rang which led to dinner out for father's day, then a nice visit afterward.  Then, unexpected and terrific surprise company that dropped in and ended up with an overnight visit.  And all the while I am gathering stuff for my trip away for the next week.  May I emphasize Chaotic??!!!  understatement, for sure!  haha, but I scrounged this post up from the drafts and finally can share it.  Enjoy, and I can't wait to post about the Paper Cowgirl retreat in Waxahachie this weekend.  Check ya later, alligator.

Next Verse, Same Song?

I have another chapter in the "why I've been gone so long" saga. I had mentioned that I was able to swerve by a couple of garage sales. That was besides the one I helped with in Justin with my dear SIL. I had snagged the berry basket for just pennies and then hit the mother load of flatware for just a tad bit of elbow grease to uncover the treasure. Phew! It is a complete set..nearly..just short a couple of pieces. Shockeroo. I will clean several of these pieces up and probably use them. Now, the piece in question is the wooden plaque thingy with the swivel hooks. I am assuming it is a tie holder in it's original life? If you have another tidbit of info, I would appreciate the heads up. My favorite find is the pair of sconces. One is missing the center nut cover, but I am sure there is some decorative alternative to fill in the void. I love the plug in outlet on each one. I am thinking I will be using these in a farm house redo I have on the back burner of my 1000 projects.
In the stop by my house to repack my bags for another road trip...I had a package waiting and it was this awesome charm. Tina Wright made these and sent them to the first few registrants for the Paper Cowgirl retreat. This is a great prelude to a great weekend that is just around the corner and down the road. Yee Haw!

It got a bit dark before I could gather up all the other garage sale goodies. I will corral those and snag a pic tomorrow and share some more goodies.

Thanks for stopping by y'all!

Altered Art

Don't fall over in a faint just because there are 2 posts today. But, I just discovered My Vintage Studio . It is an inspiring blog and this site is awesome. You jest hurry on over there honey child and peruse the giveaway too. 2 great mags....sigh.

I have only dabbled in altered art in the past and I am seeing so many great artists and I want to do more. Believe me when I say I have the supplies and now I know what I can do with all those goodies collecting on the shelves.

If you haven't heard of the Paper Cowgirl Retreat, you must have been hidin' out somewhere fer, fer away! I hope y'all add a little Texas drawl to some of this commentary. This is sizin' up to be a great showdown and hope you can make it.