TheFairyyellowbugQueen

Steps to a Valentine...WOYWW[141]

2012-02-15T09:44:00.000-08:00

Hoping that everyone had a wonderful day! To see more artwork from fabby artist visit here.

Thank for visiting and we'll see you soon I hope! *smiles* Norma

Happy Valentine's Day

2012-02-14T15:13:00.001-08:00

A very blessed and loving Valentine's Day to you all.

My heart creation goes out with best wishes to you.

See you soon, *smiles* Norma

Fairy Postcard from Belgium

2012-02-12T17:10:00.000-08:00

Belgian chocolate! Samuel couldn't have imagined anything so delicious in all of her days living in the Fairy Hedgepig Kingdom! She and fairyyellowbug spent many hours making home made chocolates of all kinds and descriptions in the cookbooks that they used to find out by the dump. True, some of these books were moldy beyond use, but some were salvageable and they'd dry them out in the yard by the sunflower patch. They made some pretty good chocolates in their trials but believe me, nothing even close to the real Belgian chocolate that Samuel has discovered on this leg of the journey.

Her postcard from Belgium reads:

"Dearest Fairy! Expect under separate cover 2 perfect gold leafed special ordered Belgian chocolates from me and Pierre, my new love. We are in Belgium sight-see-ing. Pardon typos. Love Samuel,xx"

Thanks for dropping in. To see more wonderful fun postcards pop by here.

Success comes from hard work

2012-02-11T14:41:00.000-08:00

Many the time I have heard this but I learned it for my self these past few days. I've been struggling and failing badly with my attempt to master a zine that I'm designing from used tea bag paper. One tea bag gives one zine which measures about 1.5" wide by 2" tall and gives 4 pages with a front and back cover. I've pushed through to success and am very proud of myself. Here are 5 zines which constitute my first successful batch. There will be no stopping me now!

So I have two zines which I'll keep for reference, one zine is a gift, and two will likely go up on my etsy shop. I am very pleased to be able to offer these.
Every zine is one of a kind. Every one has a front cover with a hand drawn sketch of something and a title that features numbers of some sort with a word or two to give the feeling of the zine. For example below you see: 36 warning as the title, inside there is a sketch of a bird using india ink with yellow acrylic coloration and gold watercolor highlights and the message is~in darkness, Every moment is an opportunity; 47 of mental shows bamboo drawn in an india ink sketch and inside the sketch is a lotus blossom with the message~'I'd like to be flexible.'
My goal is not to explain poetry but for this blog I'll say that 36 warning is a heads-up to remind one that not only yourself, but others can utilize a moment of their choosing, and 47 of mental can be read as of things mental, or of things of the mind.

Messages are made using cut text from antique books and typewritten messages on the paper from the margins of the same old books. I love my manual typewriter.

45 magic is one I'll keep or give away as a present. Inside shows a sketch of an owl and the message says~if you wish, Your life is your work of art.
IV artist is a gift to an artist who gave a wonderful workshop training session which I attended a few weeks ago. I made this zine as a thank you to the artist. The inside message says~Forever, I am learning to trust my intuition. It also features a drawing of an owl.

So that's what I've been up to these days with my head down cutting and drawing and pasting and mouthing expletives with frustration. It's all good now!

Thanks for dropping by and I look forward to seeing you soon I hope! *smiles* Norma

What is on my workdesk today?

2012-02-08T15:48:00.001-08:00

Ironed tea bag paper, india ink, nib mapping pen, rubber stamps and an old book lay on my work surface today waiting to be used to make a zine that I am designing. You can see the zine itself at the bottom of the photo.

The cover of my zine entitled: know [38]

Page 1 showing an owl sketched in india ink.

The center spread (pages 2 and 3) show the message: to go through I listen to my gut feelings

Page 4 and the inside back cover. I sewed a few sequins on to this page. The image is from an Asian stationers stamp. I don't know what it says and so hope I don't offend anyone.

The size of my zine is 1.5 inches wide X 2 inches long (approximately). You can see that tea bag paper likes to bleed. This is part of the visual that is unique in my opinion.

Thanks for dropping by; to see more fabby art from other wonderful players go here.

My favorite things

2012-02-07T09:10:00.000-08:00

In the selfish interest of having a chance to win this:

I am playing along with the butterfly effect and answering ten questions about me.

I. What is your favorite flower to bring to your enemy’s grave?
The grave is a place of memories so I'd bring forgetmenots.
II. What is your favorite bird to dress up as if you were in a parade?
Budgie.
III. What is your favorite pet quality you’d like to own?
Cat~the ability to just walk away; Dog~eternal optimism
IV. Which one of your favorite celebrities would you marry if you could?
Michael Caine
V. What is your favorite food to order when your in-laws are paying for the meal?
Something involving booze.
VI. What is your favorite drink to accidentally spill on a person you like?
Water
VII. What is your favorite destination to vacation and/or live if you won a million dollars?
London town
VIII. What is your favorite color to wear to your best friend’s wedding?
Indian yellow
IX. What is your favorite book or/and book character you’d take with you on a lonely island?
I Ching
X. What is your favorite song to sing in the shower?
My Sweet Lord by George Harrison

We are to do something creative as well so this was the excuse to go ahead and try out something I've been planning inside of my head for about a year now. It's a zine/littlebook made from a used tea bag sheet of paper. Here is the cover which features an india ink sketched bird and a quick collage. As tea bag paper is impossibly thin you can see that it bleeds easily and tears even more easily. Both a rip and a bleed come with the territory on this cover. So here is my prototype of my zine which I plan to make for my etsy shop.

Thanks for visiting, and I hope to see you soon. *smiles* Norma

A woman's work is never done!

2012-02-06T13:01:00.000-08:00

But it sure is a pleasure to do it on such beautiful furniture. This is where my ironing gets done. I've a small collapsible ironing board with two sides so that when you flip it over you have a narrow padded board which you can slide a sleeve into. I love this little thing. I don't necessarily love ironing per se but I do love the effect of a beautifully ironed shirt or pillow case. I even iron my handkerchiefs. I use the gentleman's size handkerchief; not a frilly little piece of nothing that are the ladies size. I was just ironing a shirt this morning and realized that I was surrounded by beauty.

The table is low to the floor so I perch on a very tiny stool that is about ten inches from the floor. Here is the table as it looks when not an ironing table. I love this beauty. It was given to me this year for Christmas from a wonderful friend, former neighbour, and birthday twin, April.

Well, now it is on to the dishes! And then bread making!

Nice to visit with you; we'll see you soon I hope, *smiles* Norma

Fairy Postcard from France

2012-02-05T11:54:00.004-08:00

France has proven to be where the magic is for Samuel. She just feels 'alive' there. I think, and this is just my own opinion mind you, that it is because she has fallen in love. Here is what her postcard says:

"Hi fairy! I've fallen in love. His name is Pierre. We met at a bistro under my room at the hotel. He treats me to croissants and french pressed coffee every morning. I drew his picture so you could see how handsome he is. Love Samuel"

Need I say more?

Let's hope that Samuel's heart doesn't get crushed. She's been in France barely a week but perhaps there really is love at first sight. We shall see. To view more fabby postcards in the Postcard Challenge 2012 visit here. Thanks for stopping by! *smiles* Norma

Bird Tag

2012-01-30T16:17:00.000-08:00

I'm just playing with a tag today. Made a quick painting of a Rufous-sided Towhee (male) and then added a branch and nest (spanish moss) and an egg and real feathers from my budgie bird.

Tomorrow on the TAG TUESDAY blog we will be starting to post our tags with the theme 'lace' and I am testing lace made from paper. I made it with a hole punch. It's placed at the bottom of the tag and I think it may be finished. I'll sleep on it as they say.

Nice to visit with you and hope to see you soon, *smiles* Norma

Fairy Postcard fom China

2012-01-28T16:34:00.000-08:00

Samuel a long time fan of opera in general has had her eyes opened so to speak. Here in China is opera that she's never ever heard of. It appears that she loves it!

Her post card reads:

"Dear Fairy! You cannot imagine how great it is in China!! At the park, they sing opera. Everyone is singing. And even the birds are quiet~when the singing contests (that's what it seems like) are happening~the birds listen too. I am in a place called Beijing. I'll bring you a piece of Jade. Love from Samuel"

To see more gorgeous and fun post cards from China, drop by here.

Thanks for dropping by; I hope to see you again soon, *smiles* Norma

Altered Rolodex Cards

2012-01-27T11:10:00.000-08:00

I'm playing with the zenspiration style bird that I talked about in my last post, and have added a touch of a zentangle pattern called antidot to the bird body; to which I've also added stippling. The background shows a spider gel transfer and another zentangle pattern called heartvine. Now I've got the beginning of an altered rolodex card design so will be taking it from here as the saying goes. You can see my card planning below the card I received in the mail yesterday. This 2012 beauty was made by the talented and fabby Miss Donnalee! I love it, art friend!

As you can see, my rolodex wheel is beginning to load up with art cards. A joy to my eyes!

WOYWW: Zenspiration Bird Beginning

2012-01-25T21:02:00.000-08:00

Earlier today I was at my daughter's house and played around with a zenspiration style bird. I just got the basic outline done with the beginning of a collage background for him to sit on.

We will see where this might lead. It's a complete unknown to me.

To see more wonderful art this day have a visit here. Julia Dunnit's Stamping Ground, a blog featuring creative works by many fabulous artists every Wednesday, and more!

Thanks for dropping in, and I hope to visit with you again soon, *smiles* Norma

Tea with Cathy

2012-01-23T17:17:00.001-08:00

Well today really is pretty much perfect. Earlier my sister Dorothy-Anne dropped by to deliver a tray of home baked treats that she made just for me. I am blessed. Then the mail delivery person dropped off a package that I knew was from Cathy Cullis. So I sprang into action. I knew that tea time had to be made special today. I brought out my favorite tea cup, one made to mark the occasion of the coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and is dated June 2nd, 1953 and features quite the fetching picture of her. Then I laid a white linen cloth on my art table and then made my second favorite type of tea, Earl Grey. It would have been completely perfect if I'd had Irish Breakfast loose leaf tea on hand but who is complaining? Not I!

Here is an original painting by Cathy which is as you can see, a tag. She has added her famous stitching at the bottom as well. This little treasure art piece will hold pride of place on my workdesk.

My sister made for me her famous white fruitcake perfectly aged in booze, and shortbread made to perfection (firm until you bite into it whereupon it crumbles into deliciousness inside the mouth,) and lemon tarts which are heavenly. Cathy also added a couple of post cards featuring her work and really, I am so tickled to have these.

Well now I must break this reverie and get cracking on some art things I have to do. Lovely visiting with you and see you soon, I hope! *smiles* Norma

Fairy Postcard from Brazil

2012-01-21T11:42:00.000-08:00

Our girl hitched a ride to Brazil. Oh what a happy go lucky gal she is eh? She met up with some blogger friends and they decided to have their photo taken together and ... well, I'll let the post card message tell you what happened ... It reads:

Dearest Queen~my friends and I decided to have our photo shot up on top of the mountain and just as the camera went "click" a gust of wind started to blow me away and so Sweet Pea began reciting Shelley and Sugar and I didn't know what to think! We all had a good laugh anyway. Here's a post card of our "kodak" moment in Brazil. Love Samuel

To see more fun and beautiful and creative post cards from Brazil visit here.

Thanks for dropping by. See you soon I hope! *smiles* Norma

My 'first' collage piece

2012-01-18T11:36:00.000-08:00

Well I've started my first collage/transfer on a small 2+15/16 X 2+15/16 inch canvas. One of my favorite books "Descent to the Goddess~A Way of Initiation for Women" by Sylvia Brinton Perera features a striking black and white image on the front cover so I'm planning to transfer that image as a component of my collage. In the book (which has sat on my bookshelf since the early 80s) I found a very dried fleur which was originally a delicate lilac color so there's a hint still of that. I sewed an outline of a just-opening crocus onto a used tea bag paper sheet, and I left the long tails of thread so you can see it better. I'll cut them for the collage. There is a quote typed with my faithful manual typewriter along the edge of a very old book from France. It reads:

"Her breasts and arms ached with the beauty of her own forgiveness."

This is a quote by Meridel Le Sueur. I've a snippet of Japanese hand made paper which I am hoping will fit in. I haven't started the collage but you can see my initial planning of what will go into it!

Thanks for dropping by. To see more wonderful work by a group of fabby artists, pop by here.

See you soon I hope! *smiles* Norma

Four ladies dancing...

2012-01-17T11:22:00.001-08:00

A quickly cut scherenschnitte tag for Carolyn Saxby's TAG TUESDAY blog. I need to make some birds today so this is a quick visit. See you soon, *smiles* Norma

My first art class!!

2012-01-16T11:47:00.000-08:00

And what I have to actually show for it is NOT pretty. It's a w-r-e-c-k but I'm showing it to you in case you ever want to go to an art class and think you will produce something hideous. You might. I did. But it didn't kill me. Here's the thing. I wanted to learn how to do a transfer technique (from a master) and I learned what not to do and got a hands on lesson on what I should do. So when I clear my desk I'm going to make art. My own art with transfers in a mixed media visual. I'll show you when that happens. Meanwhile, enjoy my mess (the actual paper from the transfer is stuck on permanently, the transfers themselves are lost, and the colors I chose are from a world I know not of.) My muse must be having a chuckle. Here's my painting. I call it "wound" and the goddess does have a wound out of which falls a thin stream of gold that puddles at her feet.

Artist Jill Pilon gave us the most interesting and inspiring class that I could only have imagined. Except that she did it. It was fun and we learned. This was a special day for me. I felt enlightened on a person quiet level.

Artist and children's book author Heidi Etsell will be published in just over a month or so. Her painting was so gorgeous I was drooling. Here's the bones of it and can you only dream of how fabulous it will look when finished? It was rich and deep.

A close up of Heidi's work:

Jennifer Conway holding her first mixed media art piece. Jennifer has been creating fantastic smaller art pieces for a few years now (atc's and altered rolodex cards and a large variety of collage art pieces on a small scale - for greeting cards and similar treasures) and she is known for her original, fun, spunky wares. This is a leap into painting for real for her. This is what I think anyway and I say this as her mother. You know how mothers are.

A closer look at Jennifer's piece. I know she'll do more work on this as this was the beginning of it.

Here we are taking it all in learning, learning, learning, in the middle of an art class in Jill's studio. The walls were hung with Jill's pieces so we had a lot of eye candy to take in as we worked.

I recommend taking an art class. It took me many years to get the courage to take one; and if truth be told it was a Christmas present from my daughter. So to those of you out there thinking about learning some art skills, let me be the poster child of how to go to an art class and create a d-i-s-a-s-t-e-r but who also received inspiration to continue my art using the techniques I learned. And if I can do it, you can do it.

Nice visiting with you, and hope to see you soon. *smiles* Norma

Fairy Postcard from Spain

2012-01-15T11:46:00.001-08:00

Samuel is in Spain taking dance lessons it seems. Here is his fairy postcard from Spain.

It reads:
"Hola fairy! Greetings from Spain. I'm in a small local tapas bar dining with friends. Last night when a dancer spun past me, a bit of lace from her mantilla veil fell at my feet. Now it's my prized possession. I'm learning to dance a few steps. I'll show you. Love Samuel"

To see more wonderful post cards from interesting artists click on the sidebar on top of the Postcard Challenge 2012 button. There is fun to be had!

Nice to see you again, and we'll talk again soon I hope! *smiles* Norma

Meet Betty

2012-01-10T22:52:00.000-08:00

She is mid-century cul-de-sac and stands 4 feet tall. She came in to my life just a few days ago when I spotted her standing across a crowded thrift store. Now she stands on my work table lighting up my life. The lamp has such a presence I gave her a name. Betty.

Betty lights up my work table where I am putting together a tag which you can see is just beginning to take shape. An outline has been planned and a folded boat newspaper style hat placed where it will sit on the eventual finished artwork. This tag was made for Carolyn Saxby's blog which is chockablock full of wonderful artwork. I referred to an illustration in a child's storybook for inspiration.

Here is the finished tag.

Thank you for dropping by. To see more wonderful art by folk who participate in 'What is on your workdesk Wednesday' drop in here!

I'll see you soon I hope. *smiles* Norma

Fairy Postcards from the edge of the forest...

2012-01-07T11:14:00.000-08:00

"I like spiders and I like nettles
because they are so hated; and because
nothing is heard in their favor
and that everything
chastens their sad desire."
-Les Contemplations, Victor Hugo

A small word about Samuel. She is a spider who was thought to be male when he was found soaking wet and still, laying in the rotting leaves along the river that runs through the Fairy Hedgepig Kingdom. Fairyyellowbug came across him when she was seeking solitude that day. She wrapped him in a dry leaf and brought him home to her studio. There he recovered with thimbles full of hot chocolate and she named him Samuel. Later when she asked him if she wanted a 'girls' name she said no, she liked Samuel. So Samuel it remains and she does not like to be called Sam for short.

She found a place to live under the Oak and with Fairyyellowbug's help, set up house. She loves the Fairyhedgepig Kingdom but dreams of travel. We have much to say about her wanderlust but suffice it to say here that she found herself a stowaway who wound up much much farther away from home than she'd imagined. Austria!

And so with that, let's begin our correspondence between Samuel the spider and Fairyyellowbug the fairy.

Darling Fairyyellowbug
If this were Paris I'd call where I am staying a 'garret' but this is Austria! I am at the top of a house staying temporarily with a lady who makes lace. My webs are never going to be the same after this! I can hardly concentrate for the smell of the pastries. Oh! Have to run now as the dinner bell is ringing. I'll write soon. Love Samuel
P.S. they will forward my mail!
P.P.S. pardon my spiderly handwriting.

To find out what this challenge is all about visit here.

To see correspondence from other players visit here.

Samuel and Fairyyellowbug will be corresponding throughout 2012. You are most welcome to follow along! As these are fairy postcards they are 3 inches X 2 inches; to get them to the regular size they just need to be enlarged 100%. See you soon! *smiles* Norma

The Spirit of Solitude

2012-01-04T12:00:00.000-08:00

Percy Bysshe Shelley offers me not only the backdrop for this tag, but the title as well.

It all started with a visit to the thrift store. One of my favorite finds are in bags that are placed in the 'office supplies' section. There are office supplies and art supplies and sewing supplies and paper arts supplies and you never know what you'll discover along that wall of bags.
A few days ago it was this (the whole bag was $1.99):

A bag containing other stuff as well, but THIS box of 'treasury tags' and how romantic sounding is that! Treasury. Treasure. I've never heard of them, nor seen them in my life. So of course google came to the rescue and they are paper fasteners. For large things like maps and the like. Oh gosh! I've been dreaming lately of making little books with interesting fastening. So this is a push in the right direction I'd say! Also in the bag was a metal box of drawing pencils, and so when I came across this post yesterday I knew that today I'd make a tag using my new drawing pencils and the treasury tags (British made it says on the box).

I chose a wee bird hanging on for dear life to a brittle branch laden with hoarfrost and feasting on the frozen berries. It is a small robin.
Drawn on used tea bag paper with pencils, colored pencils, conte color pencils, acrylic paint and a smidge of sparkle. Here is the beginning of him.

Thanks for dropping by! To see what exciting art other folk are doing go here!

Be Protected of the Gods

2011-12-30T15:37:00.000-08:00

We're nearing the end of one period of time and just about to enter a new period. I've been thinking of beginnings and how a different or 'new' attitude to a same thing, a thing known, can transform it into a new thing, a thing unknown. Like a new period of time, or a new life in fact.

This post inspired me very much this day and so I found myself digging out an egg I'd made years ago from papier mache (I made the mold from plaster of paris from a hand sculpted egg shape) and painted with a coating of gesso and then splattered with a toothbrush with acrylics in lilac, pale and dark brown and a whisper of grey. I'd applied lettering in a phrase in french which I've long forgotten the meaning of and so when I went to google for translation it gave me this: "Be protected of the Gods." So I'm going with that.

May all of you have a pretty fantastic New Years' celebration however you do it. Be safe. Be loved. See you in the new year!

Rolodex Art Love

2011-12-13T15:43:00.000-08:00

Right smack dab in the middle of the season's preparations...the gift making and wrapping and card writing and stollen baking...I discover and fall in love with altered rolodex cards.
So I have to get involved immediately with two rolodex card swaps. There's no waiting even for a moment. Here's my first card (I made one similar and mailed it to my swap partner already!)

Here's the underside of the second card I made. This partner wanted 2012 on the card somewhere so I made the "Fig." reference number 2012. That should suffice.

As kismet would have it, two weeks ago I was at my favorite local thrift store and I asked the stock person if they ever get in any rolodex card holders and he said rarely but they do come in sometimes. Well I'd been looking for months actually so I just thought to myself that I'd have to be more diligent. Not even 10 minutes later the worker came onto the loudspeaker asking if the lady wanting the rolodex was still in the store. I was and got THIS holder for $2.99 complete with a full load of cards. New, they cost $60.00 so I'm pretty happy.

This is the main side of the second card. I'd found this old wrapping paper with a pink background and glued that down onto the card and just went from there. The 'butterfly' image dictated the direction.

So it is back to bird making now (home made presents this year!). Nice to see you; we'll talk soon I hope.

The Gift of Time

2011-12-09T13:12:00.000-08:00

These days when time seems to be at a premium it is even more important to give the gift of it. Time that is. I don't mean humongous chunks of it. Little bits spread out all over the place is what I am thinking of. The tiny moment it takes to give a smile to a person who looks like they might not even have had human conversation for the whole day. The time it takes to notice that the dog tied up by the thrift store is eying your potato chip bag with those hungry eyes and for you to grab a handful and drop it in front of the pooch. The time it takes to listen to a complaining neighbor even though you've heard it a hundred times. I mean to really listen to her. With eye contact. And nods. The time it takes to teach the other neighbor how to make home made bread. From scratch. And so you decide to make stollen because that's what she was wanting to make in the first place. And you share a sip of the brandy used for the stollen, with her.

I'd been thinking of these things lately. Because I don't have a lot of money. And I wished that I could give everybody a box of chocolates and a long-stemmed rose this holiday season. So I give what I can...a bit of time, and something hand made by me. To them. With love.

I came across this post. An impossibly wonderful giveaway where in order to have a chance to win her you must write a bit on your blog about what is meaningful to you this holiday season. This is what is meaningful to me. The gift of time.

Here is a picture of Virginia and I'm praying that she will come to live with me. I love her so.

Hoping that today brings you all that you hope for, *smiles* Norma

Chocolate Bar Swap

2011-12-08T13:26:00.000-08:00

My package to Orit is being put together and will be in the mails today! Here's my goodies side by side with what she sent to me!

Now that I've taken the photo I can open Orit's package of chocolate. Oh heaven!!

This swap was hosted by LaWendula,a wonderful blog friend who hosts an ongoing monthly paper swap but who occasionally throws in a special event like this chocolate swap.

Giveaway for you!

2011-12-08T09:53:00.000-08:00

Well I did complete the altered coaster Seasonal ornament.

And this was so much fun to do. If I had more time I'd redo the writing as my 'hand' is rusty. But I gave it a generous Tim Holtz treatment and wiped it back with sandpaper and gouged it with a knife to age it so now it isn't so strikingly imperfect.

Just leave a comment on this post and I'll draw a name on Sunday December 11th in the evening.

Now it is back to the bird making routine around here. See you soon! *smiles* Norma

Season's Greetings Giveaway

2011-12-07T11:03:00.000-08:00

The other day while walking down the ally behind my studio I came upon this wooden butter mold laying on the ground by a dumpster. At least I think it is a butter mold. There's a handle on it and the whole thing is very smooth. So I took it home, scrubbed it clean, and...

Now it is a holder for my calligraphy pens and inks.

So it sits on my work table and of course inspired me to stop what I was doing immediately (bird making) and begin a piece with some sort of script writing (which I have not done for a very long time.) I decided to make an altered coaster ornament for the season festivities. I began by painting a wee angel.

And she will be the center of the coaster and I will finish this piece hopefully today to be given away so watch for the notice! *smiles* Norma

To see what other fabulous artists are up to drop by here!

Nice to see you again, and may this day be all that you hope.

Mario rocks my world!

2011-11-29T11:52:00.000-08:00

Here he is at his finest. My love Mario. Every year around this time I dig out the Christmas Season records and let him sing to me loudly. This makes me happy as I am cutting, and gluing, and pasting my home made presents and baking the stollen.

Sigh!

Birds have flown...

2011-11-21T14:10:00.000-08:00

I've completed the birds and they are off to the store to eventually live with their new owners. My daughter who is a great photographer, shot these images:

You can see that each bird has its' own number and also a word of inspiration. Now I am ready to begin an altered rolodex card swap. I am so excited about this idea.

Making an ornament from a coaster.

2011-11-16T09:54:00.000-08:00

Here is the coaster complete but it will need a hanging cord added later. This is one of two ornaments that will be sent to my swap partner in the Ornament Swap hosted by Harmony Road Studio!

To start, add layers of text from any source you like, using Mod Podge or whatever glue you like to use. To the left you can see the coaster advertisement I received in the mail recently. To the right you can see layers of paper. I let the paper overlap at the edges. When the glue dries I just cut the overlaps flush with the edge of the coaster. Later everything will be covered along the edges with glue and glitter. That will seal everything around the edge areas.

Here's some sources of images that I liked: a page from a children's book, and an old Christmas card filled with lovely animals celebrating. I'll use some of these images to guide me.

Here you can see that I've begun painting in the image with acrylic and pencil crayons, and have started thinking about how I want to embellish. In this case, a sparkly branch hanging down from the top of the decoration. I painted in a blue sky background but left areas blank so I could see a bit of the original illustration as I was working. I use used tea bag paper and place it directly on top of the original illustration. In between I place a chunk of plastic from packaging so that I can paint with acrylics right over top of the plastic so I don't ruin the original illustration in the book! What I aim for are two things and two things ONLY. Line and brush strokes. I try not to copy per se. Your painting is not going to be 'like' the original but will have strong lines and interesting brush strokes so will have some semblance of being 'arty.'

Keep your pencils sharp but press very lightly if you are using used tea bag paper!

Now I can really see what the ornament might look like, and I'm starting to get excited. The painting part is finished and I've placed a twig to see what that will look like; and dug out distressing pads and glitter.

Now that the painting part is complete, I'm gluing the image which is painted onto used tea bag paper right on to the coaster which had been covered with text. Again, let the edges overlap the coaster. I use a brayer to get rid of air bubbles.

The decoration is almost finished but I noticed that the sky area up top will be a bit boring so I decide to add some words for interest. Place a whole torn out page from an old book [old books that are yellowed with age are the best] and just type in the margin areas, the words you want. In this case I typed: Yes, we're going to a party-party!

Listening to seasonal movies playing in the background and having a sip of something delicious nearby while you are working is entirely optional!

Thanks for dropping by! *smiles* Norma

If you want to see more art from great creative folk go here! Every Wednesday you can see what people are doing!

ATC: Amelie wearing lace collar

2011-11-13T11:13:00.001-08:00

ATC: Amelie wearing lace collar, a photo by fairyyellowbug on Flickr.

Another old a.t.c. I made for a swap. Just putting a visual up for you while I'm cutting and pasting and gluing on my worktable. This card features scherenschnitte which is so dramatic hey? See you soon, Norma

autumn fairy atc-artdoll

2011-11-04T16:49:00.001-07:00

autumn fairy atc-artdoll, a photo by fairyyellowbug on Flickr.

I forgot all about this. Back when I was doing a.t.c.s I did a few in this style. But it holds up well I think. The ivy leaves and burning bush leaves are among my fav. pressed fleurs to use in art.
This little treasure reminds me about fall and fall feelings. Have a great weekend everyone! *smiles* Norma

One, Two, Three Birds

2011-11-02T11:06:00.000-07:00

On my workdesk (well I'm working on the library table presently) are birds, birds, birds.

I showed my birds to a store owner (consignment) and she placed an order for 24 birds on the spot. I've 10 days to make them!

See the fluff on the table in front of them. Those are the armatures of birds. You can imagine they take hours and hours to make.

I make them because I love them. Each has a quote for inspiration, such as: Fulfillment is found in daily life; and, Every moment is an opportunity; and, I am ready for life's surprises. These quotes are on the body but each bird always has a number with a separate word of inspiration that are hanging from the leg. It's my artsy version of 'banding.'

Well thanks for popping in! *smiles* Norma

To see more fabby worktables filled with wonderful things go here!

Fairy Chant - Into the Fairy Tale Forest

2011-10-31T12:59:00.000-07:00

Halloween Altered Matchbox Swap!

2011-10-29T12:17:00.000-07:00

Karla! You outdid yourself! I received the Halloween package containing the altered matchbox you made for me. I cannot even describe all of the goodies in there. How did you ever stuff them all in that package?! Granted some lovelies were on the outside as we were allowed for this swap, but really it is amazing what you managed to fit into this goody bag for me!

I love my Halloween chic flat paper artdoll. Her face is oh so green with a delicate golden shimmer overlay. Her spider logo on her top is fabby! Spiders rule!!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the bit inside of the covering case she came in and the paint decor you gave it is spookily chic! Love the gold trim. Your recycling design sense is over the top. Love the paint chip idea.

You can believe I am going to brew a cuppa 'Autumn Spiced Tea' [pumpkin spice] while I sit and enjoy the small accordion book you made with a matching cover for it to snug in to.

The variety of jewellery and boxes and tidbits are delicious! I have a little 'day of the dead' vignette set up in my hallway and the fuzzy leg bejewelled spider has joined the frey there. The spider captured in the tin is great too!

And I will put the special stash of glitter to good use around here.

Thanks again Karla! You are a creative force!!

A surprise mail day!

2011-10-25T11:36:00.000-07:00

You know there must be some lovely quote I can find to describe the wonderful feeling a friend gives one! Just by being themselves; who they are! But then they go and 'do' somthing that just adds to the good feeling and so it is with a lovely art friend, Firuzan. Look what she surprised me with in the mail the other day!
The package was ripped open (by me in a state of excitement) and inside, a treasure stash of fabby things: handmade jewellery made by Firuzan, and wire sculptures that are so small and so sweet that she also designs and makes, a bracelet of curled cinnamon bark and one of whole cloves, lovely tidbits of seeds, seedpods, dried berries and acorns (Turkish acorns with hats very different from Canadian ones!), a hand sewn silk bag with delicate tassels on the drawstring filled with glass beads (they look like fisheyes),

and a little package of whole coffee beans that smells like chocolate, and a big bag of already ground for a turkish coffee maker coffee (real Turkish coffee!!),

and a stone in the perfect shape of a real egg,

and 3 more heart rocks! Well 2 heart rocks and one that I think may be green glass. It is a perfect green heart that is transparent in a wave-swept way. These I will add to my bowl of heart rocks that Firuzan had already sent to me a few months ago!
She also enclosed a greeting card with a warm message, and pictures of her magical garden, and flowers, and gold edged leaves and all wrapped up in tulle! Olive green and brown tulle.

My heart is bursting with joy! Thank you Firuzan!

To see her art and magic spot go here!

p.s. I found a quote. There are many suitable but this one spoke for me today:

"Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul"

~Bailou

And, all the leaves must fall...

2011-10-20T16:27:00.000-07:00

Today I did something I've been thinking about doing for years and years. And the years pass by and I have to wait for another year to do it. I've wondered what it would be like to press leaves from one sole tree and put them in one spot as an installation so to speak. A friend had told me about an installation she attended where the artist had collected and pressed leaves so that they completely filled a file cabinet pull out drawer. Each drawer had a different species of leaf! Can you only imagine!!!! It's haunted me for years now. I want my own cabinet of leaves. But if I get enough of one kind to maybe store in a box, that will be my version of the installation idea.
Here's the chosen (maple leaf with smallish and fancy shaped leaves) tree:

Here's one bag of leaves. Hundreds it looks like. Who knows. I didn't take the time to count because by the time I got home the leaves were beginning to dry out and curl and not want to easily lay flat in a book. I disgarded a bunch because of this.

Here's a teaser. I did a few in the microwave press. It gives you an idea of the colors. Quite a lot of yellows and rich reds. No greens whatsoever. I do love the combination of rich dark green with deep strong yellow. This tree does not provide those. Nothing is perfect hey?

My goal is to use the leaves as a resource for color choice(s) in my artwork.

Nice to see you again,

Thanks for dropping in! Talk soon,*smiles* Norma

Bird Construction Zone

2011-10-12T12:46:00.000-07:00

On my worktable (ahem! I mean my daughter's dining room table) is the panorama that is bird making in progress!
This pink robin is awaiting a coat of black paint on its' beak; then a light sprinkling of silver acrylic. AND the all important coating of glitter along its' back. Then it'll be banded (number of bird) and will be ready to fly! Well, after the legs get a coat of something that will cover the yellow string and shiny metal, and a hanging thread strung, that is...

Cut, sew, glue, cut, sew, glue, cut, sew, glue...

An early starling joins the fray! Each bird gets its' own armature!!

I am so excited! I finally scrunched up enough nerve to contact a retail outlet to see if they might be interested in selling my birds...and they want to meet me to see them in person. I'm nervous and excited all at once. So I am in full on bird making mode. BUT MY DAUGHTER GETS BACK TOMORROW! (Can you hear the pounding timbal in the background? No, wait, that is my heart!) Time to clean up!

Thanks for dropping by! *smiles* Norma

To see more fabulous artists who show us what is on their workdesk today, drop in here!

A Flock of Seagulls

2011-10-07T10:55:00.000-07:00

Make that one seagull, one starling, one dove (use your imagination~he's generic), and two house sparrows.

What's wrong with these pictures! EVERYTHING! And that is why they made it to this post. Because today is 'Failure Friday!' I came across this post and just loved it so. This very day I'd planned on saving some failures in my bag; and so timing is everything here. In actual fact, I've already 'saved' a lot of what is wrong but I keep giving away the birds I make so never have any on hand. First, all beaks get a kiss of silver or gold acrylic. I mean a 'kiss.' All eyes are no longer a seed bead because they roll over. Now I use bugle beads that have a flat plane to rest on. And I've developed a technique for construction so that the eyes don't have to go through the ordeal of being manipulated through a sewing machine phase. Believe me they don't want to have to go through the sewing machine phase. The best 'save' is the seagull feet. I was originally (this is my very first prototype in fact) going for feet that kind of bend back (you know how pathetic bird feet are of deceased birds? The kind that pull your heartstrings) but these are ridiculous. I wanted some bulk in the legs so wrapped them in fabric. Forget that noise. I've figured out the feet on my birds.
Each bird I make has a number (like on real birds who are banded with a metal ring on their leg) as well as a word or two of 'inspiration' such as JOY or LOVE, etc. These are inspirational birds after all. I painstakingly hammered the metal letters to spell the word on used aluminum can metal. Forget it; they break in two in no time at all (by the way for folk who are reading this who have received one of my birds as a gift, I apologize for the breakage; if it's happened to your bird). Now I am going to try banding them with paper. It's a work in progress let's just say.
The glitter is heavy and rubbing bare in some places. Wrong kind of glue. I've got that sorted too! And that dove? Skinny as a rail. Maybe he is not a dove after all. We'll have to see.

So there can be a lot wrong with one's art. Someone once said something like: "Art is just figuring out problems." I like that.

Thanks for dropping by! *smiles* Norma

p.s. for those wondering when their birds will arrive; know I haven't forgotten you!

Halloween Witch

2011-10-05T15:37:00.000-07:00

She is waiting to be made. Her bits and pieces surround her earlier today.

She stands made. Looking out of the gothic window at who knows what? A magic pumpkin coach arriving to take her to a party perhaps.

At the window in the next room a bride catches her breath.

Thanks for dropping by to see what I am working on today. To see other fantastic artists pop on over to this site. Every Wednesday it is a party!

*smiles* Norma

Gothic Bride

2011-10-04T15:45:00.000-07:00

She always was a rebel so she wore white.

This wee thing was a complete inspiration due to having come across this post by Wendy at Bliss Angels. Have you ever seen something on line that you just have to have immediately and so you have to make it? That's what happened to me.
I am house sitting for my daughter currently so used the cardboard from a Kleenex box in her living room, and then I routed around her stash of supplies. This is what I was able to come up with. I plan to make more.

Talk to you soon! *smiles* Norma

Fall Collage Sheet

2011-09-28T10:11:00.002-07:00

On my workdesk today is a sheet of collage elements that I made for a paper swap hosted by LaWendula. I made other sheets as well but am just showing you this one.

These images are meant to be cut out or torn apart and used in other collage projects by my swap partner. Sometimes using anothers' creative bits throws your own art endeavors into a different space.

Thanks for dropping by! *smiles* Norma

To see more fabby artwork for What Is On Your Workdesk Wednesday, go here!

HALLOWEEN FUN!

2011-09-27T13:28:00.000-07:00

My altered matchbox has been completed and is ready to be mailed off to my swap partner, Karla! This is my contribution to the Vintage Dragonfly's Altered Matchbox Swap hosted by Joanne. Karla will receive two flat paper artdolls which don't fit into the matchbox so will be catching a ride on the outside of the box. I don't want to say too too much about what's inside the box as it is a surprise!

Please put up with my lousy photographic skills everyone! I am on a learning curve with the photo edit program on my new computer system. It'll take me a bit to really feel the sway and roll of this saddle!

Lovely to visit with you all again!

Thanks for dropping by! *smiles* Norma

Fabby Giveaway!

2011-09-17T11:59:00.000-07:00

Wouldn't you love to own this little treasure! You have a chance to!!

Hello friends! I've had computer woes and now have a brand new (to me) used laptop loaded up with Ubuntu so I'm on a learning curve not only for Ubuntu (I love it so far) but really more importantly [to me] for the ins and outs of this wonderful powerful laptop. I need a manual!!
So I haven't been posting and I miss you all.
I found a gorgeous and fun giveaway that I wanted to tell you about. If you go to this blog post you'll get all of the details.
Just as soon as I learn how to upload photos on this laptop I'll be back in the blog saddle. Meanwhile, I am thinking of you all! *smiles* Norma

Watercolor Sky

2011-08-31T18:17:00.001-07:00

Here's the new cover for the wee bird book I am working on. It began as an idea for a fall themed pumpkin image but turned into a blustery sky scene. All of the pages are now complete so it's just a matter of finishing touches and it's ready to be put together! This has taken a bit of time as I've come up with 'page' designs so it will be easier to make more of these (with different covers of course!).
Have a look at more projects with many different artists. This is a fun weekly event.

Thanks for dropping by! *smiles* Norma

Tiny Bird Book on my workdesk...

2011-08-24T16:21:00.000-07:00

On my front lawn (was on my workdesk!) lays a tiny bird book in the process of being made. It's about half complete and so for photographic purposes I inserted the covers for the original prototype that I started making last Christmas. I've only just now got around to it again. Here is a close up of the cover which was 'winter' themed. My new cover will be fall themed I bet.

I joined up to play in a paper swap and it's my first so I'm not completely certain about what I should be making but this will be my contribution as it is made of paper. Here is a photo of the pages loosely stacked along with the front cover of my prototype. I'll do a new watercolor painting for the swap.

Two pages from the actual book I am making.

Two more pages below.

First page with front cover. Notice the tea bag paper being used! I adore tea bag paper.

Front and back cover. The back cover features a cut paper scherenschnitte composition. I may use this actual piece or do a new one.

Well this gives you an idea of what I am working on today and these days. Much more work to go on this project. It'll need a Tim Holtz procedure for sure!

Well thanks for dropping by! *smiles* Norma

To see more fabby artwork and what people are up to go here.

Making Wings

2011-08-19T13:25:00.001-07:00

Every morning for days now, I've been making wings!

These are for a set of fairy doll prims that I hope to submit to a magazine for consideration.

The delicate little things take hours and hours to make as they feature found text which then gets applied to the tulle and fashioned into removeable wings. I am also working out the finer points in the doll construction. They are slowly getting there...one step at a time. Hope to see you again soon! *smiles* Norma

I BELIEVE...

2011-08-13T21:34:00.000-07:00

In front of me sits a 'storyboard' (a skirt hanger rack holding eight little sketches either drawn, colored, painted or collaged and with a given color as the only guideline for each.) They are done on used tea bag paper and now await their story. Up until this point the muses have had full freedom to express themselves. They have had their way and now it is my turn. It is up to me to bring the story to light.

I think this process has been about my beliefs. So what do I believe? Let's see what the pictures tell me about that.

As the story told itself to me, the order of the pictures changed. The bracketed number is the original order (for reference.)

[1] 1. If you spend some time alone dreaming, ideas will come to you. These ideas are important to you right now in the present moment. Remember these ideas.
[6] 2. There are helper beings that assist us in finding our way. We may never see these helpers. The important ideas are like little nuggets of valuable gold. They are like cash in the bank for our creative selves. We can withdraw the valuable ideas when we need them.
[2] 3. You do not have to travel far to find the valuable ideas you need. Wherever you go, there you are. Just open your eyes and look. There is one within sight this minute. Look for it. Believe you can find it.
[5] 4. Even if you don't know what to do with these ideas, pay attention to them. Honor them. Write them down. Keep them in a special spot for when you need them.
[4] 5. When the time is right, share your ideas with others. Listen to others' ideas. We are all teaching each other.
[3] 6. Feel free to fly without wings. You've been walking a long way amongst the golden nuggets and the gold has transferred to your feet. You do not need wings. Your feet will carry you as far as your imagination allows. Imagine BIG.
[7] 7. Even if your world is black with thunderous scary forces at play-you can find the silver lining. Even if it is not readily apparent. Look in the shadows. Mine the silver there.
[8] 8. With these beliefs you can attain great heights.

FINI

The Summer of Color has provided me with an amazing wonderful journey and I want to thank Kristin for her generous effort to allow us a magical summer. I thank you from the bottom of my heart!! *smiles* Norma

p.s. these pages will make up a little accordion book and have the messages somehow incorporated. It will take longer than a week for me to pull this together but I will blog about it when it is done. I have enjoyed the art that you all have made in this amazing journey together. So much fun!

TRUTH OR DARE

2011-08-10T10:11:00.000-07:00

TRUTH!
This is my drawing table/light table/work table. It sits on my bathroom counter directly on top of my sink which I now don't use.
Truth: In the photo below you can see my laundry pile. It is truthfully towering over my work table.
Question: I ask myself "What is more important? Laundry or Art"?
Truth: Art

On my workdesk this day of What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday, are wings I am making for my artdoll prim fairies. They have removeable wings which tie on, made of tulle, with found text applied and made fancy with sequins, beads, etc. I cannot describe the enjoyment I get in making these. Hours of enjoyment. They take hours to make if you can imagine!! Finding the text is what eats up the time.

Here's a closeup of a wing with text. I am imagining a face in the style of Suzi Blu for this doll.

Thanks for dropping in! *smiles* Norma

Grace Under Fire

2011-08-08T19:43:00.000-07:00

Found words on her removeable wings read:
"she still wore her black hair in an old-fashioned bun at the nape of her neck.
Because she had been complaining, between tight-pressed lips to express her feelings.
People would shout and wave right in front of the old lady.
and because she was certain
All will be lost but for the dignity of the black intensity,
she sat transfixed for the first time.

Well I am coming closer to what I wanted to do with this artdoll prim. She has all limbs and a decent dress (needs tweaking at the neck) and her hair is way scaled back but I think still too bold. I am going to try a more subtle color, or if I use this wild red then the hair 'do' needs to be more controlled I think. I am very pleased with her face. It hasn't had the 'encaustic' treatment yet and while I was working with it I managed to tear the left (her right) eye in two. Such is the fate of artdolls I guess. She stands a grasshopper head above six inches. Her dress is seersucker in a pastel polka dot. Her wings are tulle with sequin trim and with found words applied to used tea bag paper and then attached to the tulle.

Well I'll call it a day as it did take me all day to make her. Every stitch was done by hand with a needle and thread and I love not having to worry about sewing machine tension or threading the bobbin, etc.
Nice to visit with you, and we'll talk soon! *smiles* Norma

Week Eight: Summer of Color (Orange)

2011-08-07T14:14:00.000-07:00

Here is a close up of this weeks' color offering of orange. Really, the only three things that are actually orange are the eye, beak and legs (oh yes, the toes too!) ~ but there is a reflection of golden pale orange from the hot hot sun that the crane is flying in view of, on the body and upper wing. This guy was painted onto used tea bag paper with sumi-e ink, india ink, acrylic paint and watercolor paint.

Here you can see the grouping of eight tea bag paper sketches which will compose the greater part of a little journal.

Pop over to the Summer of Color event hosted by Kristin, and see what other artists are up to! This has been a very fun event for all. I want to thank Kristin from the bottom of my heart. Due to having to come up with something every week for eight weeks running now, I for the first time really have some sort of grasp on using paint brushes and india ink and acrylic and just generally more able to let go of the fear of failure in an attempt to make art. If I fail the sky does not fall in. I just throw the paper out and start again. Every attempt teaches me something. Every attempt is a building block to where I want to go.

Thanks for dropping in! *smiles* Norma

Drawing faces...argggggh!

2011-08-03T12:11:00.001-07:00

What is on my workdesk on this Wednesday? Faces! YUK! For those of you out there who think you can't draw? Neither can I! But I am learning. I sat in front of the computer screen this morning watching youtube and trying my best to draw a face on used tea bag paper.

This sheet of five faces was the result and I wish they would not all look like deer stuck in the headlights. It's a learning process. There is something I like about each one of these faces. But overall YUK. The next batch will be so much better and that is what keeps me going. I know I am very slowly learning.

What I learned today was the colors I like so I did a color key. Looks as though I like: light black, black, white, grey, burnt umber, berry, peach and olive green so I am going with that. I also learned that I like a soft fuzzy edge (hints of this in attempt no. one at the top left). Now I am going to try a thin vine charcoal for my next attempt.

These faces are meant to be used for my current art project which is 6 inch cloth artdoll prims with removeable wings.

Thanks for popping in! *smiles* Norma

Golden Ambition and Illimitable Dreams

2011-08-01T15:11:00.000-07:00

Several huge bats with white heads darted in irregular flight over her. While in the unearthly starlit gloom, a shining, red-tinged dust cloud shrouded her soul. She saw through the eyes of golden ambition and illimitable dreams. She welcomed answering to some strange need in itself. Her unforgettable interpretation of that ~ love.

This artdoll prim started out to be a planning doll for myself to give to the Comfort Doll Project. The only rule is that the doll be no taller than six inches so as to be able to fit into a pocket. I'd planned to give this away and then make one for a giveaway on my blog and then to maybe make some for my etsy shop. The only thing I knew for sure was that the entire doll was to be hand stitched (absolutely no machine stitching) and that she'd have wings that were tied on so they could be removed or attached according to whimsy. I knew that the face would be adhered with acrylic gel medium and then encaustic, and she'd have hair but not necessarily a lot of hair. So I began. Sketched in the face on used tea bag paper and right off the bat she reminded me a bit of Amy Winehouse so I gave her big hair with a pouf. I wanted a quote for the wings that said "Tears dry on their own" or "My tears dry on their own." I sat at the kitchen table (I am house sitting for my daughter so do not have any of my art supplies so I am digging into hers...which are very different than mine...and very exciting really) and started pouring through the only two books that I could find in english that I could cut up to get the quote. Fast forward two hours. Still no quote. One was a dud sort of and the other was a Zane Grey mystery. Wowser! I never did get the Amy quote but some phrases jumped right out demanding to be used so I followed the lead of the muse and let it happen. Thus the quote in the first paragraph. I quickly made the wings (which tie on) and put a very makeshift dress together and called it a day. I am disappointed that I can't give this particular doll away [her dress is hideous and the colors of hair (way over done) and wings, etc. don't work]. She doesn't even have arms. But she will be my prototype and now I can plan better to make a nice dress with wings that at least match it and hair that is way scaled back.
Just wanted to show you what I am working on today. Nice to see you, *smiles* Norma

I am off to Value Village to look for Zane Grey novels! Wowser! Who knew? A goldmine of found words!

Giveaway goes to...

2011-07-31T11:57:00.000-07:00

Incipient wings! I'll be popping this in the mail to you just as soon as I have your snail mail addy!
Thank you to everyone who left a comment. It just makes me feel so great. *smiles* to all of you especially, Norma

Look for the Silver Lining

2011-07-31T11:13:00.000-07:00

It is said that every dark cloud has a silver lining. I say that if you can't see the silver lining in the cloud, look in the shadows of the cloud. That is where I mine most of my silver.
Week seven in the Summer of Color gave us the color purple to work with, with an addition of glitter if we chose. I chose silver glitter where the lightning strikes clouds and where the shadows of the clouds can therefore be seen and therefore where the silver linings shine brilliantly. Painted on used tea bag paper with acrylics. Sparkle added as well.
I am house sitting (cat minding) for my daughter so don't have my pants hanger display here.

Thanks for dropping in! *smiles* Norma

Buried Treasure

2011-07-28T10:43:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Buried Treasure: an online, collaborative project that invites art bloggers to go into the depths of their blogs and dig for buried treasure. Each participant was asked to repost one (or more) or their favorite posts from their own blog. There are so many brilliant artists out there but so little time to explore all their work fully. This gives us all an opportunity to see highlights from posts we may have missed from so many of our favorite bloggers!
This event is created and hosted by Seth at The Altered Page so pop on over there to have a look at what other artists are loving about their work or just loving period. Have fun!

If you want to see my contribution, I am number 12 on the list. I chose this post because while the photography is fuzzy, it shows an atc artdoll that folds down into itself. This was an early atc for me and one I did before I picked up a paintbrush. Now I paint my own faces.

Thanks for dropping in! *smiles* Norma

What is on your workdesk Wednesday

2011-07-27T11:57:00.000-07:00

AND A GIVEAWAY!

Yesterday I started what I thought was to be a very quick sketch for today's post and it was going swimmingly until I started to sketch the pinecone! Have you ever drawn a pinecone? I immediately ran into trouble so knew I'd have to do a preliminary sketch and when I carefully began that part I came to realize that a pinecone is probably one of the most difficult things to capture in a drawing there ever was (in my opinion now). So I slowed right down and did the best that I could. I have a new appreciation for those little things!
This giveaway will be drawn on Sunday. It is an unknown flower seed pod, another heart rock that I found the other day, a pinecone, and with a few real lupin seeds thrown in for good measure. India ink, watercolor pencil on used tea bag paper. Just leave a wee comment for your name to be added!

Thanks for dropping in! *smiles* Norma

What is on your workdesk Wednesday? Drop in to see what great art happens!

Week Six: Red (Summer of Color)

2011-07-24T11:45:00.000-07:00

A fire bird takes flight. He has these gold globe shape things on his head and when he gives his head a 'flip' they scatter to the wind. More continually grow back. We don't know exactly what this means. Look for gold in any event. It may lay where you least expect it!
Week six of the Summer of Color gave us the color red to work with. Thank you to Kristin for hosting this fabby and fun and 'teaching me how to work with acrylics because I actually have to produce something' event! *smiles* Norma

Week Five: Brown (Summer of Color)

2011-07-17T11:42:00.000-07:00

Donkey (well yes he is a rabbit but his nickname is Donkey) keeps watch. He keeps finding golden round things and has started to collect them. He has two sections of his warren set aside to house them (he is thinking BIG and he is one of my favorite friends because of this trait of his) and so far he has about eleven golden round things. Where do they come from? It is a puzzle.
Week five of the Summer of Color asked us to use brown. I immediately thought of earth. So an underground habitat came to mind for me.

Sunday draw for botanical still life sketch goes to...

2011-07-17T10:22:00.000-07:00

Corrine! I'll be in touch later today for your snail mail particulars.
I want to thank each one of you who put your name in for this giveaway. Because of you I am practicing what I love to do but what I avoid like the plague. Thanks to you I am drawing (learning to draw). I embrace you for that! Talk soon, Norma

Where Bloggers Create 2011

2011-07-15T11:27:00.000-07:00

My studio is in a closet 3 feet wide by 4.5 feet long. If you took a single size bed mattress and cut off 1.5 feet from one end of it and laid it down on the floor that would be my floor space. The images here are my sewing space only. It is 3 feet wide by 1 foot deep (on a shelf) so that is 3 square feet. Behind the sewing machine is my inspiration board. I set up my Indian gold trim holder (really a pants hanger with multi tiers) to add some interest to the shot.
My entire studio can be seen on a previous post entitled 'studio move.' I have one other work space in my apartment. I have set up a light table right on top of my sink in the bathroom. I draw and paint there.
Well hope you enjoyed the tour! Much *smiles* and creative hugs to you all, Norma

Thanks for dropping by!

To return to the blog hop: click here.

Still life botanical sketch on tea bag paper

2011-07-13T23:00:00.000-07:00

Sweet peas, lupin pods and a heart rock feature in this sketch. Done on used tea bag paper with india ink and watercolor pencils. This will be another giveaway so just leave a comment and I'll pick out a name on Sunday. I had so much fun doing the last one I decided to do more!! *smiles* to you all, Norma
P.S. This will be my post for What is on Your Workdesk Wednesday? Have a look at what other folk are doing. It's so interesting and varied and fun.

Sweet peas, Lupin pods and my first heart rock

2011-07-11T19:30:00.000-07:00

On my way home from the thrift store I popped in to the community garden which I often do. I chose a few stems of sweet pea and a couple of lupin seed pods (they are so furry on the outside) and planned to do another botanical sketch on tea bag paper with these as the subject. As I walked through the garden I saw in front of me on the path as clear as a bell a heart shaped rock. My own heart stopped for a second. This is my very first find of a heart shaped rock and I've been looking for years! So the rock will be in the sketch as well. I am planning to do another giveaway if the sketch goes okay. *smiles* Norma

The sentiments of the hearers were various.

2011-07-10T16:04:00.000-07:00

Summer of Color: Week Four (Yellow)

In the yellow house lived a lady with yellow hair. She was a soothsayer whom it is said, had the "sight." In the corner of her parlour sat a golden samovar that never ran dry. It was here that she told fortunes by reading tea leaves. Some believed more than others.

Do you believe?

Have a look at what others are doing in the Summer of Color.

And the Winner Is.....

2011-07-10T15:41:00.001-07:00

My daughter Jennifer makes scrabble tile necklaces along with tons of other fabby things. As there were ten players for this giveaway, I decided to pick out ten random scrabble tiles with differing images and give them a number. I tossed them into a bowl, had a good stir, and chose...number 6 which corresponds to...indie grrrl. So I'll be contacting you for your snail mail addy. I had so much fun doing this, I'm going to do more! *smiles* Norma

Giveaway of a botanical sketch on used tea bag paper

2011-07-06T20:43:00.000-07:00

I've been itching and itching to do a sketch on tea bag paper. Specifically, a botanical sketch. I'm working on other projects right now but this has been pressing for some time now. So tonight as I walked home from the grocers I picked a small unopened bud of a cream color peony and then a few blocks later spotted some maple seeds hanging from the branch and ready to fall. The maple tree has a medium size dark burgundy color leaf and there is very very dark plum colors on the edges of the cream peony.
When I got home I put dinner on the stove which would take about 30 minutes to cook and so when the timer rang to tell me dinner was ready I stopped sketching and that is what I am giving away.
It is done with india ink and watercolor pencil. As it is done on used tea bag paper there are the normal holes and wear and tear of the paper. Usually I manage to tear another hole in the paper as I press too hard in a spot or two. This did happen with this sketch. And of course, there is the usual india ink blob. A solid dot that speaks for itself. So this is not fine art I am giving away here. It's a sketch. I am thinking it will be easy to mail out and you can use it in your art somewhere. Maybe part of a collage. Or maybe you can just spray it with adhesive and put it on a card. Anyway, just leave a comment below and I'll pick a winner on Sunday. Talk soon, *smiles* Norma

This post will be the Wednesday post for What is on Your Workdesk Wednesday. See the button on the sidebar and have a look at what people are doing!

Thanks for dropping in!

Spirit Bottle

2011-07-05T11:54:00.000-07:00

My bar is one of my favorite things in the world. I don't drink. A sip of liqueur in a shot glass maybe six times a year. When I write out my Christmas cards, when something really special happens, when something really awful happens, you know, those kinds of events. And sometimes just because.
I have a full bottle of Cointreau unopend that I received last year for Christmas. Same for a bottle of Baileys. My favorite drink is B&B and that is what I usually have on the go. But a bar is one of the most fun, social, inviting, warm, and just visually beautiful things in this world that I can think of. So I love my bar. A full on chandelier sits under my bar as I have no room to hang it. It sits on a mirror on the floor which reflects the light, and there is a full length mirror at the back of the bar so when the chandelier is lit up there is a whole lot of reflected light going on. Nothing subtle here.
Yesterday I received in the mail a beautiful 'spirit bottle' that is a piece of art made by an artist that I met on line some time ago. You shake it for luck. I put it in with my other bottles of spirits on my beloved bar, where it has pride of place. I shook it up real good and I am thrilled to have this treasure. Thank you Corrine!

Corrine also sent a large skein of hand spun natural fibre which will find its way into something I have in mind. It looks hand dyed and there is a bag of gorgeous linen and some glass beads which are tiny, tiny, tiny. I am truly thankful for this package of delicious things. Thank you again Corrine!

Flying Pink Horse

2011-07-03T15:06:00.000-07:00

Week three of the Summer of Color gave us the color pink! My story unfolds as we see a flying pink horse with gold hoofs passing by a group of houses. One of the houses, the bright yellow one, has a golden door. I wonder who lives there?

More blue birds...

2011-06-26T12:52:00.000-07:00

The second week of The Summer of Color hosted by Kristin featured the color green with a hint of citron.
I started with the color citron to make yellowish-greeny flowers and then went from there. A green tree and the birds just came on their own. They happened to be blue so maybe I am thinking they will be related to the first blue bird. We shall see. When I was coloring in the blue of the eggs I got carried away and forgot I was working on tea bag paper which is fragile and so when I pressed too hard the paper broke through and I am not kidding I felt like I had just broken a real birds egg. The feeling is awful. So in the nest are two eggs and a broken egg. Such is life.
All of the birds seem interested in one direction and what are they noticing? Do they hear something? Smell something? Imagine something? We shall see!
Of course you know I am leaving a part of each picture unfinished in case I want to tie in a theme as I go along, or at the completion of the ten pictures.
Hope you are all having fun with this event, *smiles* Norma
P.S. I wonder what those gold round things are coming from the tree? Or are they coming from the sky? It is a puzzle.

Thanks for dropping in!

Come to a Fortune Reading Mad Tea Party!

2011-06-25T11:31:00.000-07:00

Oh I do hope you will drop by. You are invited! We are reading fortunes. Our special guest, the Cheshire Cat was here earlier but had to rush off somewhere. But he will be back! He's left his calling card (a self portrait drawn on a used tea bag) so he would feel a part of the ceremony and left with these words..."I'll be back." So we are expecting him any moment. But meanwhile won't you join in?
We have been practicing tea cup reading and are having so much fun! So far, it's been foretold that crow will find a solid silver button and will be able to cash it in and move to warmer climes (it is hailing outside today so we've had to move the party indoors. It is June 25th! Four days ago it was the first day of summer in this neck of the woods!) And one eyed' Jack (the red jack-in-daw in case you wondered) will find a cashmere red knitted vest to keep him warm. He's lost his feathers many the year ago and shivers mercilessly. And henny-penny (we couldn't resist naming her that due to the child's storybook but we call her hen for short), well she will discover that she has a knack for cooking and will open a vegetarian cookery around the corner. The house wren will assist and go from table to table to sing to the clientele. Budgie will get a very very large new cage. So large that it has to sit on its' own table. This cage will be hand wrought in India!
And me? Well I will find my wings! Of course!
p.s. I do hope you like Turkish tea!

Thanks for dropping by, *smiles* Norma

To get back to the blog hop!

Tea and Scones with Dostoevsky

2011-06-20T12:24:00.000-07:00

Today I decided to make myself a tea tray and go back to bed to read. I'd made a batch of scones so they were at the ready, and I put the water on to a rolling boil and set out a tea tray for myself. A while ago I finished reading "The Gulag Archipelago" which reduced me to ashes. Now I am reading Dostoevsky 'The Brothers Karamazov' and as I sat at the side of my bed munching on scones (I had two pieces; oh my!) and sipping my second cup of tea, I found myself wiping away the stream of tears that were falling down my cheeks. I am so apprehensive about a 9-year old boy (one of the characters) I am fearful may die. Gosh those Russian writers know their craft.
Well now it is now on to the daily things...

Blue Bird

2011-06-19T10:50:00.000-07:00

The first week of The Summer of Color event hosted by Kristen has begun with the first color assigned being BLUE. I am working on used tea bag paper and have left some wiggle room for additions to my drawing in the event a story unfolds (of course it will!!!) and I might want to add an element or two later.

She sits on a branch looking out...dreaming...

There will be ten drawings in all to fill a skirt hanger. The next color is GREEN! So let's see where that takes this bird.

Thanks for dropping by! *smiles* Norma

Heart Rocks

2011-06-12T13:53:00.000-07:00

In the mailbox an interesting looking package sat~a lovely surprise from Firusan, who is an artist friend that I met on line. I'd contacted her to ask if she might be able to send me a heart rock. Her art contains that element and I wondered if heart rocks might be more prevalent in her corner of the world. I've not found even one, here, in the years that I've been looking. So I thought that the heart rock had arrived.
But the package looked bigger than one containing just one heart rock. I carefully opened it and found a bundle of magic wrapped in deep burgundy tulle tied all together with a thin length of ribbon.

Inside I found a necklace art piece and a ladybug bracelet made by Firusan, FIVE heart rocks, and scattered throughout, lovely color images of leaves edged in gold glitter along with an image of a saint (my idea of a saint).
Firusan thank you for your generous spirit. You touch my life in a special way and I am honored to call you a friend. *smiles* Norma

p.s. Firusan's art necklace is made of a combination of very cool elements. The central focus is a stone with a natural indentation containing an added crystal, and encased in a hand crocheted wool cocoon of folding petals. The cocoon is embellished with impossibly tiny sequins hand stitched on to it, and with more crystal decor as well. It has a hand crafted clasp at the top on which to attach a necklace chain. I've got my eye out for the right chain.

Idyllic Dreaming

2011-06-08T13:43:00.000-07:00

Today I began working on the first composition for the ten week long "Summer of Color" challenge hosted by Kristin at Twinkle Twinkle Like a Star. Each week we will be given a color and this first week it is BLUE.
I'd been wanting to work on the size of my new MOLESKINE and when I started mixing up some blue gouache I spotted out of the corner of my eye, a stash of prepared (dried and ironed flat) used tea bag paper. So I'll be using that as a ground. My subject is a blue bird from my imagination, who is dreaming. So the picture is called 'Idyllic Dreamer.' I've used india ink, acrylic paint, gouache, pencil crayon and rubber stamped lettering thus far, for this mixed media piece. I'm thinking very much of the fragility of things (and of life) as I am working because the paper is gradually tearing as I handle it. Everything is temporary. I love the metaphor.
Well you can see that the tea bag picture is hung from a clothing hanger (skirt) and at the end of the ten weeks it will be full. I have an idea to make a book but the muse will tell me what to do as time goes on. The hanger may be an installation piece.
Well nice chatting, and hope to see you soon. *smiles* Norma

Thanks for dropping in!

Blue is the color of...

2011-06-06T21:12:00.000-07:00

The first week has the color blue for the challenge in the Summer of Color event.
I am planning to do paintings and mixed media compositions using a size to fit my new MOLESKINE book (5.5" X 3.5"). I might make a little book at the end of the project but will let the muse decide what will happen. It will be a surprise to myself as much as to anyone else.
All I know is that the color blue will be prominent in the first composition. So I will mix up some paint and see what happens.
Talk to you soon I hope, *smiles* Norma

Hearts

2011-06-05T09:44:00.000-07:00

These are some hearts that have come into my life recently. The first picture is a grouping showing a tree branch heart laying on the road, with a large glass silver heart and two very small white heart shaped rocks from the beaches of Turkey.
Yesterday I noticed the heart shaped branch with leaves laying on the road in front of where I live. I didn't add to it and considered it a gift of mother nature and took a photo. I still cannot figure out how to rotate a photo so it's sideways (sorry).
Then later that day my neighbor gave me a heart shaped glass decoration. They reminded me of the rock hearts that were sent to me a few weeks ago by an artist friend that I met on line.
So I went back outside the next day and found the heart shaped branch laying on the road but by this time it had been run over by a few cars. One car was even parked on it; the folk were leaving so I waited to compose the shot. It's a bit worse for wear in the group photo.
Well my dears out there, have a good day! Talk soon, *smiles* Norma

MUDRAS

2011-06-01T14:51:00.000-07:00

Yoga in your hands...
On my workdesk today is a small acrylic painting of the 'Ganesha Mudra.' The elephant Ganesha is the deity who overcomes all obstacles.
The painting shows the hand position for this mudra. While doing it, visualize the color red~perhaps a mosaic of all shades of red, or a persian carpet or a tulip petal. Focus on all of your senses while feeling the color strengthening and warming and widening your heart; giving you the courage to be open and confident.
The affirmation is: "I meet other people with courage, openness, and confidence."

I will be completing the painting of the hands proper, with shading and all, but wanted to get enough to show you what I am working on this week. The painting is small, 1" X 2" and is edged in very shiny over the top (gold) Indian trim.
This painting is meant to rest on a book shelf, or can be hung on the wall.

Thanks for stopping by! *smiles* Norma

On my worktable...

2011-05-25T12:08:00.000-07:00

You'll have to use your imagination here! This is the very very beginning of a painting which is a flat paper artdoll made for my swap partner for this month. The theme was using a bird head with a human body. I've roughed out the top part of the doll on my drawing paper and have begun to fill in some areas with watercolor. This crow head with human body will be holding a small bird in her arms. The title of the doll will be MOTHER. So we will see how this turns out.
Looking forward to seeing what the rest of you are up to on What is on your Workdesk Wednesday! See you soon, *smiles* Norma

Thanks for dropping in!

Zora and Jazz

2011-05-22T14:38:00.000-07:00

These gals are just catching a breather as they have hung their fairy wings to dry and are waiting for the water to boil for tea. They've just returned home from a very long journey to a bird fairy conference that took place this year in Mexico! This is a long flight for the friends, but was well worth it.
As you can see by their colorful blouses and head gear, the hot sun and bright colors have inspired them both to a wardrobe treat. It is raining cats and dogs here but that doesn't deter their cheerful disposition and they are glad to be home here on the west coast of Canada, at the edge of a rain forest.
Jazz and Zora are looking forward to assisting even more birds who have found themselves in trouble, or ill, or lost. I guess you might already know, but these bird angels have bird cage skirts and they live in garden areas, both public and private so that they can be of service to birds. The cages are home to any bird who needs or wants it. They can stay as long as they want and there is no rent. The bird angels have a network so they can help locate family members of the sorrowful birds.
Humans have never actually seen these bird angels who live in the gardens but perhaps it is because it has never been reported per se. Sometimes you may think you have seen one, if you've sensed a movement just out of sight, or heard a soft fluttering. But even though invisible to the human eye, they are there.
These two paper artdolls were made for two swap partners who have had to wait far too long for me to mail out the regular swap dolls and so therefore will receive one each of these surprise bird angels flat paper artdolls. I hope they will be enjoyed.
Well now it is time to begin two more paper dolls!
Fairy hugs, and hope to talk again soon, Norma

THANKS FOR DROPPING BY!

What is on your workdesk Wednesday

2011-05-18T10:56:00.000-07:00

Just discovered this fun place. See the button on my sidebar? Check it out! Do you love to see where other people create? This is a bird's eye view and oh what a view. Way fun. (My workdesk photo for today was actually posted Sunday, but as it was the last post, people can find it). Looking forward to blog hopping now, to see what other folk are up to. *smiles* Norma

THANK YOU FOR DROPPING BY

On my art table...

2011-05-15T11:33:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you just have to go for it. I am no artist. No training. No anything...except a box of watercolors, a stash of pencil crayons which I love, some pencils, a needed eraser, and a whole lot of hoping. I copy from books. You know how that goes~it is impossible to get what someone else got in the first place. But you know what? I love my work. I hate it too but try to turn the hate into something positive...rename the feeling...like 'dislike' it. I am working on a watercolor (pencil crayon) face for a paper artdoll that I am doing. Here is my art table set up on my bathroom vanity (I live in a small studio apartment), and here is the beginning of a face. The eyes go one way, the nose one way, the lips the other; but so do faces, really.
Well, just wanted to pop in to show you what I am doing these days. *smiles* Norma

All is like a dream or a magic show.

2011-05-14T13:52:00.000-07:00

It does seem like that these days. Like all is a magic show. The title of this post is a direct quote from a Tibetan Buddhist Treatise from the 11th century. Remember the story about how I found a book about submarines a few posts back? Well the magic is happening again. Same bookstore too!
Here is the lead up (to the story). I did scherenschnitte and fraktur back in the 80s and enjoyed it thoroughly. Over the past year or so I've been called to think about and notice these artforms once again and I sort of dreamily imagine things I would do. I even did a few cuttings and put them on ebay not too long ago. But I didn't want to just go over the same ground artistically speaking. Having said that, I didn't really know what I wanted to do. All I knew is this: a) I wanted script writing, not heavy gothic lettering, b) I wanted to join up scherenschnitte with fraktur in some way, c) I wanted a quote [this being the most important 'want' on the list], d) I wanted to incorporate india ink line drawing by my own hand, and e) I wanted to mix up the spiritual with the religious and add a dash of magic for spice. I really did not want to take it too too seriously. I needed to find some quotes that allowed me to quote from one religion so I could maybe use an image from another religion that had an organic attraction to one another. For example I have a cutting of Jesus on the cross in one cutting in my stash of cuttings I did years ago. He is surrounded by wonderful flowers and shrubs and urns and I was thinking that maybe I could put a line drawing of buddha in there instead. You get the idea. I thought that I'd have to google quotes and just start compiling quotes willy nilly.
UNTIL yesterday, when I found this book: The Quotable Spirit ~ A Treasury of Religious and Spiritual Quotations, from Ancient Times to the 20th Century.
The day before yesterday I went shopping and it means walking 3 miles and because I have M.S. I take the walking as a serious blessing and enjoy every step. I am glad to not be in a wheel chair. I have long periods of remission and I live my life not only a day at a time, but an hour at a time. But I do get tired. So anyway, I purchased purple onions and other heavy stuff and I just knew I would not have enough energy to do anything but go directly home. I wanted to so badly go to the library and sniff around and then pop into my favorite used book store but I wisely talked myself out of it. I made it home. But the next day, the pull was still there and so I just let myself drift in that direction and soon found myself browsing the stacks in the used book store. It did not take me too too long to find the book. I knew as soon as I put my hand on it that that was what I need and that is why I made my way to the book store.
Yes I know that if I'd of googled it and typed in the correct information, I'd of found similar books (it didn't occur to me to do that because it didn't occur to me that a book such as this exists) and I'd of been able to obtain a book like this, or even this book. But I feel the specialness of this event because I felt the specialness of the pull to the bookstore. It was s-t-r-o-n-g! So it may be just one of those things in life where you pay attention to what you notice, and notice what you pay attention to, but in the end I have this fabby book and I'm inspired. I have a 'vision.'
I think I will add f) a tiny bit of sparkle, to my list of what I want to do in my scherenschnitte/fraktur art piece(s)!
Okay this is all and well but I have to put this on my back burner because I have some paper artdolls on my plate, and a few other things. At least I know in what direction I am going with this.
Hope everyone is having a fun time. Talk soon, *smiles* Norma
P.S. look at those heart rocks on the cover beside the box of glitter. I just received them in the mail from Firuzan, a generous and wonderful artist who has become a friend.

Cherry Blossom Lady paperdoll

2011-05-04T18:03:00.000-07:00

This gal is a lover of cherry blossoms so this is her special time of year. They are in full bloom. She is painted on watercolor paper with layers of used tea bag paper collaged with music sheet paper. A line drawing of a cherry blossom is outlined by machine stitching, and a poem by e.e.cummings is stamped overtop of everything. Celery seeds are scattered about in between the layers of tea bag paper while she is edged with sepia colored lace. Her painted face is not my best, but I think she has a look about her.
Now she can be sent by mail to go live with her new friend, Elaine. Hope you like her!
So now I am about to plan a doll that has a body of a human with the head of a bird. Maybe I'll be able to use the idea I've had for awhile of a window with a bird peeking out and a tree and house in view in the background, all placed where a heart would be. Fun, fun, fun.
AND I will also plan an a.t.c. artdoll that features sewing of some sort. I am thinking hand-sewn sequins and seedbeads. We'll see where the muse leads this time...it's as surprising to me as to anyone. *smiles* Norma

Cherry Blossom time...

2011-05-03T13:01:00.000-07:00

This paper artdoll is coming along nicely I think. I've painted the face in watercolor and made the basics for her skirt which is a line drawing of a cherry blossom that has been stitched onto used tea bag paper placed on top of a music sheet base. This will be the makings of her skirt. Now I'll figure out the bodice/top section, and the arms, and paint the hands. Then she will be assembled and ready to go live with Elaine who is my swap partner. Talk soon, Norma

A bit of magic...

2011-05-02T18:14:00.000-07:00

Well you know how the muse works! Surprises everywhere...today is another mystery. I am supposed to be working on a paper artdoll. I have started to paint the face and I've got the dress designed in my head so it's off to a good start. The dress (skirt at this point) is made from used tea bags (paper) and I've sewn the outline of a plum blossom on it using music paper as a base. Lately I've been noticing the use of tea bag paper and let me say I'm speechless with excitement about using it, and often I am thinking. The first experiment was the skirt of my paper doll and as I said I'm off to a good start. Except that I looked at something on line (a blog I follow) that talks about using Pine Sol cleaner as a transfer technique. Somehow I got off on a different path altogether (this is the surprise part). The transfer technique didn't work at all (this will be another blog post), but here is what designed itself. Where it came from is a COMPLETE MYSTERY to me. My muse is at work here.
This is a wee bird pretty much the same size and shape as my paper inspirational bird (small size), but is made of used tea bag paper that was doubled over for strength. Encased inside are some fennel seeds which are believed in some folklore to ward off evil persons but I am using them to ward off evil thoughts. Sequins decorate it and chicken feathers (oh I am feeling the voodoo vibe here) feature in the tail. There's a small bell for the idea of sound and the bird hangs on a gold cord.
I am calling this a paper bird talisman to ward off evil thoughts. It is a complete prototype and I've used sequins and cord that were readily available so have given no thought as to color. It is stamped with the rubber stamp which says 'aspire to BE' and this talisman will hang by my computer screen to remind me that I would like to be a person who has more positive thoughts going on.
Now it is back to the paper doll. Have fun everyone! *smiles* Norma

Happy Easter Everyone

2011-04-21T12:52:00.000-07:00

May the bunny stop by your home to play you a tune on his seed pod violin. This remarkable piece was done by Laetitia Mieral and please take a look at more of her tremendously spectacular work.

Peace Activist

2011-04-08T22:20:00.001-07:00

Well the submarine image made its' way into this piece. It's a paper artdoll made for my swap partner. The theme was BY THE SEA and my muse came up with a mermaid holding a small submarine. I couldn't figure out what to do with this so put off working on it but finally when I steered myself to work on it, the meaning discovered itself. This is what usually happens. I fight things and then just do it. The submarine is a toy nuclear powered atomic ship that was lodged firmly in a coral reef. The mermaid came across it and noticed that someone had placed the words "peace out" and some flowers on the side of it so she thinks it might be from the 60's. In any event, she decided to become a peace activist as a result of this find.
Now I am ready to tackle other things on the list. A fairy paper doll, paper birds (inspirational) for my giveaway, a collage transfer technique I am dreaming about, an illustration of a bird with a window where the heart would be, a small stuffed doll/bird or elephant, and the list goes on...and on...and on! Talk to you soon I hope, Norma xo

I had a dream...

2011-03-27T11:08:00.000-07:00

Do you ever dream about art? I mean clearly: either a visual that is so strong and in focus that there is no mistaking it?...or words, like a message? That happened to me this morning (it was the last dream of the night I guess) and I wanted to blog it because I plan to draw it and don't want to forget. Already after two turkish coffees it becomes foggy. So here's the visual/audio.
...who knows what happened earlier in the dream but at the end, I was leaving a room and a friend shouted out that the important thing was what was happening between the two images on the drawing (she was commenting on a drawing laying in the room I was leaving) and so I went back to look at the messy vague roughly drawn pencil crayon chicken scratch in between the two birds on the page, and realized that NO, THAT WASN'T IMPORTANT, WHAT WAS IMPORTANT WAS THE OPEN DOOR THAT WAS WHERE A HEART WOULD BE ON ONE OF THE BIRDS AND THAT THE OPEN DOOR HAD LIGHT SHINING OUT AND THERE WAS A SMALL HOUSE ON A HILL AND A TREE THAT COULD BE SEEN THROUGH THE OPEN DOOR. So there's my visual and what a nice gift this dream was...

Dawn arrives with Changeling friend

2011-03-20T17:00:00.000-07:00

Well here's "Dawn" who arrived during an early morning snow storm with her changeling friend. She took a long time to arrive but at long last she did, and so she will now go to live with my swap partner.
A few posts back I talked about problems in art. 'Dawn' gave me a huge seemingly insurmountable problem but I found a way to solve it. In the end the doll is one of my favorites and certainly one of my strongest visuals.
The problem was with her skirt and especially at the bottom. I'd wanted to introduce the idea that dawn was coming in the early morning sky of her skirt so I decided to dip my brush into a strong pinky color and even though it was quite diluted the color grabbed and I mean grabbed and wouldn't let go. No amount of washing and scrubbing (literally) would release the tint of the darkish really, hue. I wanted pale pale. Then I decided to cover it by introducing a dark blue so as to maybe suggest a storm. It became a muddy mess. Ruined. Drat!!
But then I reminded myself that art is problem solving. How to solve this mess? Cover it yet again by a darker color. Black!!! So I dreamed up a black bird and started painting and let me tell you...putting the first tiny brush stroke of black was an act of faith. It was scary. I painted the pupil of the eye and then painted in pure undiluted gold from my favorite sparkling H2O watercolor pan, the iris. I knew I was off and running. The bird eye was ferocious. So I made the whole bird a bit wild and the result is that not only did it cover the muddy mess but it tells a much more interesting story than just plain sky. So I enjoyed the pleasant surprise.
This is an a.t.c. doll and so folds down into itself to fit the standard 3.5 X 2.5 inch dimensions. I am glad to let go of this doll because holy cow there are a lot more ideas I have brewing inside this brain of mine. Next I am thinking about doing a tutorial that Monica presented on her blog. I am getting my head around it as we speak. So have a great day everyone.

Bird Angels and Submarines and the full moon...

2011-03-19T21:40:00.000-07:00

I was just out looking at the moon and enjoying the beauty and wonder of it and remembering magic and how somehow it seems that the moon and magic are tied together and I don't know how this is but it just seems like it is. So here's the magic part. About three weeks ago I passed up a book, a funny little book that I would never in one thousand years find myself interested in. Nonetheless I noticed it right away in the stacks of hundreds and hundreds of spines at my local thrift store, and found myself leafing through it. I couldn't put it down. I did this twice during two different visits. You know, if I was paying attention I should have known that this was an important book for me. But it is so out of character (subject wise) that I just didn't know what to do so I put it back. And then went looking for it the next time I was there and it was gone and I've been chastising myself for not buying it ever since. This went on for days. I even go back still to that same rack hoping for a miracle. Nope, somebody else got it. Dang. I had no choice but to let it go, forget about it and move on. So today, a full moon day, a day of magic, I'm enticed to walk two miles to a second hand book store (different from the thrift store) and you know what's coming, right? Right. This book store is undescribeable. I was there only yesterday when I combed the stacks. There was absolutely no reason for me to go there today. You cannot imagine the mess the books are in. It's one long wall in a dimly lit back room and say 30 feet long of floor to ceiling books that are in no order and shoved in sideways, etc. The draw is that all books are either one dollar for anything paperbacked and two dollars for anything hardcover. Obviously I have scored major finds in that back room. But anyway, today I waltzed in there just to have a peek at goodness knows what and the book jumped out at me in under a minute at eye level in the very first shelf I looked at. The book! It was the book! I grabbed it, pressed it to my heart and immediately went to the checkout as obviously that was the sole reason for my going in there, of walking two miles to go to a bookstore I'd just been in the day before. This time...the third time I held the book in my hands, I bought it. What is the book? SUBMARINES OF THE WORLD a fully illustrated with superb side-view artwork of the vessels and weapons. I don't even know what to say. Only that I am not into war machines let alone boats of any description. My muse is up to something. This book was very important to her (I think my muse is female [but now that I think of it maybe it's male].) So now the muse is happy and who knows how it will appear in my work. It'll be as much a surprise to me as anyone. But the point of the whole story is that this little bit of magic (my finding the book in the way I did) happened on this full moon day.
So in the spirit of magic, I dug out an old photo of a little papier mache beauty I made years ago and who does much magic herself. She is a bird angel and her job is to help sick or wounded or dying birds in garden areas of the city and to find their family and bring them back together. This doll was a prototype and her woolen dress has been attacked my moths and her papier mache parts have been eaten by mice and so she is looking very very bedraggled. But she is a cutie hey?
Well, happy full moon day to everyone! Actually, it is night here now. Make a wish!!

Happy New Day

2011-03-16T17:01:00.001-07:00

Here's the completed paper doll wishing you a happy new day each and every day. Her bff, a warbler, sings for you.

Paper doll: New Year's Child with friend

2011-03-12T23:29:00.001-08:00

Paper doll: New Year's Child with friend a photo by fairyyellowbug on Flickr.

Well the paper doll is slowly coming along. You can see the earlier version in one of the photos of my studio in a closet a few posts back. The girl (who is a New Year's Child) is still at the beginning stage but I've completed a watercolor of a warbler who is her bff and is now accompanying the child wherever she goes. You see she was on her way to the New Year's celebrations when she came upon an injured bird. She stayed with him to nurse him back to health and since then they've been joined at the hip. So she will be attending the New Year's celebration but will be very very late this year. Made for my swap partner at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fantasticflat_paperdolls/

It's Nice to be Nice...Pay It Forward!

2011-03-12T13:56:00.000-08:00

This idea caught my eye just now and so I am on board before it slips my mind! Thanks to Sharon at from my heart primitives, I am joining in and giving away 5 handmade things (birds) to the first five people who leave a comment on this post. In turn each person agrees to blog about this on their blog and give away five items that are hand made, and so on it goes! A grand and lovely idea.
Yesterday I came across two sad birds that I made a few years ago. My technique has improved, although I must say these are pretty great right out of the gate. I'm going to pick apart their tails and add more volume, reattach bead eyes and string a brand new hanger and these two will be ready to fly. They look much like starlings although they are primarily white. One has a quote: Without constancy there is neither love, friendship, nor virtue in the world! Addison; and on the other side of the same bird is the word 'aspire.' The other bird says "We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey." Kenji Miyazawa.
So leave a comment and be in the first five to do so and you'll get a bird. I will make 3 new ones as well (they are already half way made).
Creative hugs to you all, Norma

Studio move

2011-03-06T19:33:00.000-08:00

My under 600 sq. ft. studio apartment was getting a bit cramped to say the least. As the years rolled by and my arty/crafty life rolled along with the years, the lines between living space and creating space blended wholly. I couldn't separate my life-life from my arty/crafty-life. They both suffered consequently and so when a few weeks ago I found myself crafting on my bar (of all places) because every other inch of space had been taken over with my art stuff, I knew the time had arrived when I had to make a drastic change in the way I live. I had crystal decanters mixed in with bottles of modge podge and glitter glue mixed in with bottles of liqueur alongside ornate metal candle holders and cocktail shakers from Turkey. Balls of tulle lay nestled in between wine stem glasses and the wooden carved masks from India and other far away places competed for space in the midst of it all. Jars of glitter demanded their own spot and when finally there was not even elbow room (to work) I knew the time had come. Soooooo...I now have a separate studio work space (in a 3' by 4.5' closet) and I am carving out, or reclaiming actually, my living space. Then I plan on having a life. Inviting people in for eats and socializing. Here is my studio closet. I can work in the blink of an eye and just as quickly leave it behind, shut the door, and live.

Fabric collage

2011-02-20T21:04:00.000-08:00

Lately I've been noticing wonderful fabric collages and I finally succumbed to the mystique of this lovely artform. I just had to grab a pair of scissors and root around in my sewing basket for snippets of lace, and any tiny bit of flower I might find, and then figure out what papers I had (lots of music sheet pages), what rubber stamp images (I knew I wanted a bird of some sort) and the quote was actually what launched the whole piece in the first place, so I didn't have to source out a quote specifically for the piece.
Well it took not long at all and was very satisfying to say the least. There's not much to it and as I have to get back to the pressing things (creatively speaking) that are calling, I don't have time right this moment to play with the collage artform. But I do look forward to revisiting this experience. So relaxing. It's a wonderful way to settle down.

AND THE WINNERS ARE...

2011-02-17T10:28:00.000-08:00

The One World One Heart event has been an enjoyable ride and thanks to Lisa for hosting it. I've chosen the 5 winners of a bird which I've been making while waiting for connections online (my computer is slower than molasses in January). So chosen out of the hat, the winners are:
1. Frog and Beef of "The Adventures of the Arrogant Frog and the Smug Beef";
2. Laura of "Sahara's Memories";
3. Lesley of "Harmony Road Studio";
4. Lemondrop Marie of "Lemondrop Vintage";
5. Jules Woolford of "Adventures in Thread."

I can't say enough how much I've enjoyed this ride Lisa!
Now that it's over I can take the time to visit more thoroughly, the creative minds I have met at this event. Have a great day everyone, *running and sprinkling fairy dust*, Norma
p.s. I'll be contacting the winners today.

Dawn is appearing slowly

2011-02-15T23:11:00.001-08:00

Dawn brings a warm light...
Originally uploaded by fairyyellowbug

Dawn has given me a new problem. This time, it's the red at the bottom of her gown. I'd wanted to introduce a soft pink glow to a morning sky and the red I chose from the watercolor box just grabbed the paper and wouldn't let go. No matter how much water I used to flood the paper and no matter how hard I scrubbed the paper the red won't leave. So this is a problem. I decided to make that section of sky (gown) very dark blue and so that the red will hopefully show as pinkish through the blue. That's the plan anyway. I have absolutely no idea what I am doing. It's all a surprise.
I solved the original problem of her hair (I hated it) by giving her a completely new head. Smaller. A new face and new 'do' - a bob. I like it much better and hopefully I'll be able to introduce pencil crayon to soften the effect and get away from strong rigid lines. We shall see!

Dawn: a.t.c. artdoll

2011-02-10T20:07:00.001-08:00

Dawn: a.t.c. artdoll
Originally uploaded by fairyyellowbug

She is the very beginning of an a.t.c. artdoll and her name is Dawn. The theme of this swap is snowflake, and she will have snowflakes all over her gown but will also have the starlight of a pale dawn sky. Usually I use India Ink but for this doll I am trying regular ink which will run and I am hoping will give a fluid feeling to her. I hate her hair. They say art is problem solving. So we will have to see how I solve this hair problem. I don't know the solution yet. Guess I'll find out.
Within the boundaries of her skirt is a regulation size a.t.c. and her skirt will fold into itself to fit the a.t.c. as well as her bodice, arms, head and headdress (maybe a crown). This whole little creation is a complete experiment. Just flying by the seat of my pants on this one!!

One World One Heart

2011-01-30T14:26:00.000-08:00

I am happy to be a part of this event for this, its' final year. My giveaway is a wee bird sewn and constructed using mainly paper with metal feet. Tulle and beads and sparkle are also part of the components to make up quite a small and cute (if I get to have a 'say') bird ornament. I'll be constructing completely new birds for this giveaway and I am thinking they will have more of a spring feel so may be blue in hue rather than the winter bronze. But you will love it I am certain!!
Well a bit about me. I am an artisan who somehow always has either paper somewhere in my art, or quotes or calligraphy. These creep in. My tastes are eclectic but I am drawn to drawing these days. I recently purchased for the first time, drawings which I found on etsy and luckily for me the artist offered me a deal so to speak so I was able to obtain two drawings from the artist. I love them to bits. Anyway, I am very happy to be able to join in on this event and look very forward to seeing all of your art!! Best greetings to all, Norma

http://awhimsicalbohemian.typepad.com/a_whimsical_bohemian/2010/12/annoucning-the-fifth-and-final-one-world-one-heart-event-.html

hand made dolls.

2011-01-14T13:46:00.001-08:00

hand made dolls.
Originally uploaded by oldflowers4me

I found this photo on flickr. just now and truly cannot believe how it inspires me. This artist (on flickr. www.oldflowers4me.flickr.com) is a unique wonderful lovely inspiring artist with a vision of her own. Hats off to you my friend! You inspire me to make my own dolls and try to find my own vision.