Fiberlicious Artventures!

I finally completed a sample of my bird themed Mini Tag Journal. This is before I could decide which fibers worked with the pages. At this point I only had one set hanging at the sides. By the end of my decision making that too had changed.

I pulled out balls and yards of fiber that I thought would work. Some made it while others didn't - this time!

I L-O-V-E FIBER!

Here's one more look at the Mini Journals that we'll be putting together in Sunday's workshop. Three themes to choose from: Birds, Frida, or Asian. Cost of worshop is $35.

Why I waited a few days before a workshop to create a sample I'll never figure out. But this I know for sure - I have enough fiber to fulfill my daily requirement for years to come! I can't help myself when it comes to balls of yarn that have things clinging to them. I spent my entire childhood, teen years and young adult life to just a few years ago with my neck up in plain and simple skeins of yarn thank-you-very-much. Not that there's anything wrong with that. I just find it more interesting to see and touch bits of blobs, threads, fabric shreds, fuzz, etc, clinging to a strand of yarn. Don't get me started on ribbon. Not the kind my mother would tie onto my ponytail to hide the hideous rubber band that held my ponytail in place. Back then we used "RUBBER bands" not scruchies. And these thick things could make you tear up when it came time to give that ponytail the final tug to make it stand up properly. Where was I? Oh yes, ribbons. I make it a point to check out the ribbon aisle because you just never know when a project will require a length or two. Always best to be prepared is my motto when it comes to deciding whether to purchase an art item and YES, FIBERS - fancy yarn and ribbons, are considered art supplies in my world. So I became a very happy camper when it was time to choose decorative strands to hang from the holes of my mini tag journal samples that I'll be having a workshop for this coming Sunday. It was like taking a trip to the yarn store or ribbon aisle as I held the pages of my tag book against one fiber after another deciding which colors worked best together. In the end there stood an assembled mini journal bursting with fibers. And it was good.

If you're in the Los Angeles area and would like to join me on Sunday for a relaxing day of painting, stamping, gluing and oohing over fibers, give Stampin' From the Heart a call to hold your spot at (310) 391-0466. I have three themes to choose from - Frida Kahlo, Asian Beauty, and Birds. You should bring a bone folder, scissors for trimming, an awl, a glue stick and a black ink pad such as Memories, if you'd like to stamp quotes. Let the shop know which theme you'd prefer so that I can bring your kit ready for you to play with. Oh yes, and a snack for energy. I'll bring the rest (fibers included!).

Now I Know My ABCs....

There are a lot of plastic sleeves in this album. Enough for 2 more rounds of ABC ATCs!

These are the most recent ATCs I've received from the group. Arent' they fun?! Has anyone ever eaten Kohlrabi? Teri posted a recipe on the ABC blog. It may look a little scary, but she says it's great!

....next time won't you play with me! I'm in a group of very talented ATC-er's and we've been exchanging cards on a regular basis - weekly to be exact! So when one member asked how do we store ours, I thought I'd share it on my blog.

I found this album years ago while I was out thrift store shopping. I used to look for cheesy novels because you just never know when you'll need a silly phrase or word to add onto your art! Next time you're in a thrift store, check out the book section. Then look for one of "those" novels. I'm telling you, the cheesier, the better! LOL!! Anyway, I like that this album has small plastic individual sleeves in a 4" x 5" size. There's also a decorative slip of paper that sits into each sleeve. I centered my ATCs on this slip of paper and I wrote the title and name of the person who made it on the plastic sleeve. A Sharpie marker worked great for this. And to think, this album sat around collecting dust for several years. Who knew it would serve a purpose down the road.

Wednesday Woes

I know this looks like I'm in a dryer, but this is how I envisioned myself in the MRI machine. LOL! The first thing I asked the technician was "Will I fit in there?" As it turns out, yes I did fit in there. LOL! Two rosary recitals later, it was over.

Click on picture to read words more clearly.

Being older definitely makes me not give a hoot what I look like if I'm not feeling 100%. Just get me home!

Thanks to everyone who sent me positive vibes and well wishes on my MRI. I'll know the results next Monday. I apparently have a tear on my rotator cuff but we need to know how large it is and when to repair it. Sigh. There goes the end of my summer. A summer bummer, as I'll call it, began yesterday with my MRI and I decided to journal about it "raw style" since I didn't feel like searching for words, pics, etc. This tells it all. Just click on the pics to read about my experience. Have you ever had a summer bummer?

Tuesday Thoughts

I had a little time to sit and enjoy some coffee before heading out for my MRI this morning. The sun was out and I was in no mood for laying in a noisy tube. Sitting outside helped take this unwanted but much needed procedure off my mind. Thoughts of summers past crept into my mind. I could almost hear Raymond and Gina splashing in the little cheapie pool with the liner that would get patched several times before getting thrown away by summer's end. I saw myself pushing Gina on the swing watching her go higher and higher asking her if she could see her auntie's house a few miles away. LOL! I could hear the basketball bouncing on the patio before someone would take a shot in the hoop. I could see Raymond chasing Gina shooting her with the super soaker. I looked at the corner and thought about the picnic we had in the back yard one summer cause there wasn't enough gas in the car to drive to the park. Then I heard my husband call out that it was time to go and I was brought back to the present. Summers. Kids. Here today, gone tomorrow.

Adventurous Monday

Now I've seen everything!

Tam has created little meandering paths that take you on little stops throughout her garden. I love the bright orange flowers on this vine.

Here's another spot if you like basking in the sun. I was in the shade in the patio area when I got this shot. There are patches of Alyssum popping out between pavers on the ground.

If you touch the center on this flower your finger will go right through it cause it's a hole! I suppose there's lots of nectar stored in there for the birds and bees.

Isn't she cute? She's just as nice as can be too. Tam did washes of paint on all visible walls facing her yard - concrete ground included! The Lavender she's surrounded by has the best scent. So calming.

What an inviting bench. Tam has many plants in pots scattered throughout her yard. Notice the "Mother-in-law Tongues" in the background. She did give their proper name but I don't remember it. My tongue, btw, does not resemble this and I'm sure my daughter-in-law can vouch for that. LOL!!

Will you look at this cactus tangle! It's a wonderful mix and I'm sorry I didn't capture the whole thing. Look at the size of that trunk!

When I saw this door my jaw dropped. I love the color. Here it appears a turquoise color but in person it's more like a pthalo green. This is Rocco's front door btw and I hear that the inside is very artsy. That may be a future field trip and Tam will undoubtedly be our tour guide. LOL!

I got together with a friend to discuss a future art project we're collaborating on. We spent time pouring over details and brainstorming while having lunch outdoors. The weather was beautiful, the food was great and we have a plan which I'll share at a later time.

Did I mention we ran into a strange sign on the way to the diner? Just when you think you've seen it all. Unbelievable. Earthquake Zone, maybe. Tsunami Zone? Are you serious!!

TGIF!

As if I was working! Wait, I have been working. Samples for the workshop are near completion. If I would just let them be! There's always that last minute detail that I want to add. I made the decision to STOP yesterday night but I still have to add a couple more touches to my Asian mini journal before turning it in today. LOL!

Yesterday while I was on the phone talking to Nina from Stampin' From the Heart, she told me that she was glancing at the latest issue of RUBBERSTAMPMADNESS (the original stamping magazine) and she was on page 60 something looking at this picture of a woman that looked like me. Well, after reading the caption we knew it WAS me! Last April I took a break from cleaning my art room and stood (yes, I stood while taking a break!) going through the spring issue. Then I read this - take a picture of yourself reading this magazine and send it to.....! "Quick, get a shot of me reading this," I called out to anyone within earshot! A pic was taken, I sent it out and that was that. Until yesterday afternoon when I found out it was actually published! Thanks for letting me know, Nina! I'll be picking up that issue today. LOL!!

MIA

I'll be teaching a Mini Tag Journal workshop in mid August in the Los Angeles area. There will be three themes to choose from - 1. Frida Kahlo, 2. Asian Beauty and 3. Birds. A theme just means that some of the pages will be embellished with images from those groups.
Featured here is obviously Frida and you can see a little of Asian Beauty in the background which, btw, I still have to bind the pages together.

Here's a peek into my Frida mini journal. The sun was very bright and made one of the pages appear as if it's cut on the diagonal but it's not. I couldn't wait to start writing in this mini journal. I'll be sharing some of my entries with you later.

Here are the pages of the Asian Beauty Mini Tag Journal. I love color. Can you tell? LOL! I also love hunting down interesting images and incorporating them into art projects. I am not stingy and each student will get a kit filled with ephemera based on whichever theme they choose.

I have a huge stash of fibers that I collect and save for moments like this. Don't you just love the way it all hangs out? Each tag has gorgeous strands of fiber hanging off it's side and this will be included in each kit as well.

I have been MIA - Making Interesting Art! I'll be teaching a couple workshops in mid August and I had to work on samples for the shop where I'm teaching. I've been pulling all nighters and staying away from the computer, not to avoid the temptation of "visiting" with my friends, but because I've been tied down at the table.

If you're in the Los Angeles area on Aug. 9th, drop me a line if you're interested in taking this class. We'll be making Mini Art Journals with a theme which includes Frida Kahlo, Asian Beauty or Birds. I'm currently working like mad to get the Birds going. It's taken me one week to work on two journals from start to finish. Family commitments have slowed me down but I'm so determined to get this done and I'm almost there!