ATCs and 29 Day Giveaway

I was really in the groove yesterday. I'm thinking it may have something to do with rearranging my art space. I have a room dedicated to my art/craft, but somehow it still doesn't seem big enough. I guess it is like the saying goes - the more you have, the more you need.

At any rate, yesterday, I was in a place where things just flowed. I finished the day with a handful of ATCs that I am quite pleased with and I gessoed over the mess I made on the LP and then used a credit card to add some quinacridone magenta sparingly and then put a wash of pthalo green overall. I think it will be either a winter theme or a Christmas theme.



I have a couple of ATCs that I must get in the mail today - one to a friend who already sent me one and one to the winter of the November challenge. I also have some wonderful reading to do. The library called me yesterday to tell me that four of the books that I had reserved were in so I drove over to get them. Imagine my surprise when I found I actually had nine. They have wonderful titles like: New Creative Artist; Collage for the Soul; Altered Books, Collaborative Journals, and Other Adventures in Bookmaking; altered book collage; Collage Unleashed; The Decorated Page; The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain; and poemcrazy.

Many of these books were mentioned as favorites either online on blogs I read or in magazines like Cloth, Paper, Scissors. When I find reference to a book that is highly recommended, I get online and check to see if my local library has it. If they don't, I go to MelCat and can usually find it somewhere else in the state. The Interloan Library program is fantastic. They not only let me borrow a book from faraway libraries, but they have it delivered to the small branch nearby.

I just realized I missed listing a book that was at the bottom of the pile. It is Ed Emberley's Drawing Book of Faces. It is a book about drawing cartoon-like faces. I think maybe it would be fun to share it with the 5 year old and we could do some drawing together. She gets frustrated trying to draw people faces that actually look like the person. I totally understand!

Another exciting giveaway to tell you about. Kristy will be giving away something for the next 29 days. How exciting is that!? Whether or not you are into freebies, go over to her blog and check her out. I'll bet you add her to your list of must-reads.

I will be babysitting every day until next Monday. I will try to get some art in and will surely spend some time devouring these books. I will post about which ones really resonate with me. Maybe it will help you to select books that you want to see.

Until next time, don't forget to live in the moment.

Book Giveaway!

This just in: Susan Tuttle's new book, Exhibition 36: Mixed Media Demonstrations + Explorations has just been released in bookstores and online. To celebrate, she will be giving away one copy to an eligible person -- the random drawing will be held on Tuesday, December 16th at noon.

To find out how you can have a chance to win this fabulous book, visit Susan's blog, Ilka's Attic.

Don't you just love a giveaway like this.

That's it for now. I am working on some more art and will post my progress tomorrow. For now, don't forget to live in the moment.

Trying Some New Things

This morning I finished a girl I was working on and then made an ATC using some of the products from UAQ*.



I absolutely LOVE the PPA (Perfect Paper Adhesive) and will not be buying anymore gel medium for collage. I also used the Duo with both the Jewelz and the Gildenglitz. I am posting these two cards now even though I am not sure they are done. I think I need to add some color or wash to the words on both. Otherwise I think they look too stark.


I had such a lovely time with Tina yesterday. It is a real treat to spend time with someone who is of the "art" persuasion. Now if I could only spend some in person time with other friends around the world. Unfortunately, Australia is much far to go at this time. Maybe we could meet somewhere in between. Ah, to dream!

I am going to get some cleaning up done today and try my hand at some Christmas themed ATCs. It is very wintery here and snow laden trees get me in the mood.

Until next time, don't forget to live in the moment.

*USArtQuest

My New Favorite Art Store

Today is the day I'd been waiting for since the art day I had in Olivet in early November. One of the artists I met there planned to come over to my place and trade knowledge. She brought her Spellbinder Wizard and all her accessories to show me and I spent a little time at the computer giving her hints and tips using Photoshop.

We then headed to USArtQuest, which up to now may have been one of the best kept secrets of the Jackson area. I must say, it might have been easy to miss it. The sign out front is not very large and the drive is somewhat obscured by large, beautiful evergreens. What a lovely spot and such a gracious hostess/owner, Susan Pickering Rothamel. I knew as soon as she greeted us that I was at a very special place.

The facility is not only an art supply store, but there is so much more - they make their own paints right on the premises. They have a large, spacious, well-stocked classroom area where classes are offered throughout the year. I can't wait to take a class there. The entire building was decorated with a multitude of different styles of art using their products, as well as items from past classes. It was a wonderful afternoon.

And even better, Susan is having a grand redesign and opening of their retail showroom. There will be refreshments, demonstrations and prizes. All this is happening on Thursday, December 11, from 2 pm - 6 pm. I am so looking forward to it.

USArtQuest is located between Sargent Road and Race Road on Ann Arbor Road, 7800 Ann Arbor Road, to be exact.

While this is not the time of year to be spending on myself, I couldn't help it - I had to try some of her products. I have a feeling I will not be going back to gel medium any time soon. Here is a picture of the items I purchased. I will be spending my free time in the next few days/weeks trying out these products and will report back on what I think. I will also upload pix to show the results. I didn't buy the iPod there. That is just part of the clutter on my work table. *-)


Well, it is almost dinner time and then I am going to start working on some ATCs using these new supplies. I'll post an update tomorrow. Until then, don't forget to live in the moment.

Altered LP

I was really having fun with the altered 33 1/3 vinyl record and took pix along the way. I am really in love with making "people" with mismatched body parts and think I will do more with this. My original intent was to add a little more color to bring the pieces together and then add the words "About Face" arranged in a circle around where the label used to be.

However, I overdid the adding color until even after scrubbing a bit with a paper towel, the figures were too obscured. I then decided to make a face in the middle with the hole for a mouth, but I wasn't happy with that either. I am quite frustrated. I can draw a face well enough that I am willing to share it, but when it comes to painting said face, I can't do it at all right. I really can't wait for Paulette Insall to offer her faces class again in 2009 so that I can find out how to draw the face lightly enough and blend the paint well enough so that it looks natural.



I am having an art friend come over for the day to play with the Wizard and play with Photoshop for awhile. I think we might drive over to USArtQuest in Grass Lake after we play for awhile. I think lunch is also on the agenda.

Until next time, don't forget to live in the moment.