Sunday, December 27, 2009

MMM: Least Favorite Color

"Happy New Year"
5 x 7 Card
This week's Mixed Media Monday challenge was to create something using your least favorite color. I choose to make a New Year's card with a simple message: this new year (or new decade) is an opportunity to wipe the slate clean and start anew.
I started with water color paper which was painted with a combination of mustard yellow and brunt umber (that's the least favorite part) acrylic before being coated with a ton of crackle medium. The sentiment, begin, was placed on top of a piece of decorative white card stock (also on the interior) using alpha stickers. The "i" was doted with an iridescent Swarovski crystal.
I wish you a New Year full of possibilities and joy. To see more pieces using least favorite colors, please check out www.MixedMediaMonday.Wordpress.com.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

MMM: Frosty

"Her Babies"
16 X 20 Oval Canvas

Detail of sides
I decided to take this week's Mixed Media Monday prompt, "Frosty," less literally than I usually do, and instead use the soft, icy colors associated with frost as inspiration for my color pallet. This 16 X 20 oval canvas was a gift for my friend's birthday and incorporated a picture I took a year ago of her babies.
There were so many layers to this one: I used acrylic paint, vintage ledgers, music sheets and wallpaper, decorative paper, a ton of matte gel medium, gesso, ink, stamps, colored pencils, fabric and Swarovski crystals. The sides of the canvas are finished with ripped pieces of fabric "tiles" sandwiched between iridescent crystals.
Thank you to Diana Evans for such wonderful inspiration. To see more "Frosty" pieces, please log on to http://www.mixedmediamonday.wordpress.com/

Sunday, December 13, 2009

MMM: Hang in There


"Capturing Paris"
Mason Jar: 3 1/2' diameter



This week's Mixed Media Monday theme, "Hang in There," challenged us to create something that hangs. When my husband brought home a few mason jars the other day (even he is starting to collect junk - or, collectibles - for me), I decided to do a variation of some glass urns that I have done in the past.

I used an image of the Eiffel Tower backed with vintage french text and placed (with E600) on the bottom of a mason jar. I then filled the bottom with glass beads and glass glitter and addressed the inside back with several Swarovski crystals. The top was assembled using more of the vintage text, acrylic around the sides, a feather and a charcoal Swarovski button in the center. The jar hangs with wire which was wrapped around the top and then again around itself to create the handle. The details on the side are more Swarovski, this time in the form of beads. I imagine it hanging outside somewhere, sparkling it's little heart out . . .

The original urns (featuring our wedding and Kendra's first day at the beach) are below:

Thank you for your time! To see more artwork that hangs, please check out: www.MixedMediaMonday.wordpress.com.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Poor Ol' Dog!

I sent Kendra to her room this morning to get dressed (yes, those PJ's and hat were of her choosing) into something warm (she has the sniffles) and brush her teeth. I was waiting (and waiting and waiting) for her to call for help with her toothbrush when I heard the door slam, (never a good sign): "baby girl, what are you doing?" I asked. "Nothin'. Just, I don wanna let Bro (our dog) outta my room." "Why's that?" "He wants to play with me." "You can't keep him in there," I reason. "You have to give him the choice." And THIS is what I saw as I tried to release the captive. . .

Poor Old (deaf and half blind 17 year old) Dog! He lets her get away with anything. . .




Monday, December 7, 2009

Lucky Me!

Artwork by Peggy Gatto

I am the lucky recipient of one of three Art Tags that Peggo Gatto recently gave away on her blog. If you haven't seen her work before (not likely, as she just past her 1000 post!), you can do so by going to http://www.peggysamusement.blogspot.com./

I'm a big fan of her work and spirit, which I think comes through in everything she does. I am honored that this tag has found its way to my home! BTW, part of having received this, is to also pay it forward. With that in mind, expect to see three tags up for grabs on this blog soon. . . .

Thank you Peggy!

Sunday, December 6, 2009

MMM: On the Wings of Love


"Special Delivery"
11 x 14 Canvas Panel

I was inspired by a decorative pillow that our daughter has in her room for this week's Mixed Media Monday prompt, "On The Wings of Love." With the hope of another adoption (constantly) on my mind, I was reminded of a letter that my Mother In-Law, a Minister, wrote to Kendra on the eve of her official adoption; almost one year to the date that she was born. Her sentiments seemed to fit perfectly with "Wings" and "Love" and the image of the Stork on Kendra's pillow:

"Today is a day to celebrate. It isn't your birthday. It is your Staying Home Party. After today, you get to stay for as long as you want with the Mommy and Daddy that you and God chose.
You see, even before you were born, more than anything, your soul wanted to be with this Mommy and Daddy. In order to do that you needed a body, so your Birth Mommy and Daddy loved you so much, they brought you into the world just so you could live your life with your Mommy and Daddy.
Now that you have a body, you are somebody special, not only to your Mommy and Daddy, but to your family and your friends, and before long, lots and lots of people will know you are somebody special because special some bodies always bless the world.
Have a happy Staying Home Party."
- Grams
(I know, right?) This piece was done with a scanned copy of the needlepoint pillow which was then collaged onto a painted background. I also added vintage pieces of music sheets, wallpaper and images from an ATC collection of art papers by memories in the making (from Somerset's online shoppe). It was finished with touches of colored pencil, glitter and Swarovski crystals. The feather trim was taken straight from from my (just decorated) holiday mantle. Guess I have to find another boa . . . To see more pieces on "Wings of Love", please check out http://www.mixedmediamonday.wordpress.com/.