It feels like forever since we've spoken. I hope that the rest of your Summer is treating you well. I for one can hardly believe that it's almost over: school begins again in just a couple of weeks and I feel like it just ended (dramatic sigh.) Soooo, I've been trying to make the most of what we have left.
To that end, I finally, finally walked into the studio yesterday. I brushed away the cobwebs (ok not really. But they did have time) and sat down to just try something. These little vintage photo collages / assemblages are the result. Wanna see?
"Little Goody Two-Shoes"
(16 x 12 on watercolor paper and plywood)
Molding paste and acrylic through map stencils.
This vintage cabinet card is a favorite of mine.
Colorful bits of collage and a little pink wire.
"Pay Roll"
(9 x 5 on vintage pay roll card and plywood)
Vintage photo and playing card box
Together.
(I think I like a little color with my vintage ;)
I loved taking the time to play again; and it never hurts to get a little paint under my fingernails. . . .
Boo. It's over. So sad to bid adieu to The Summer of Color, 2013.
Yet, as the quote above states, with every end, there is also. . . um . . . but I digress. . . . First let me say, You. Are. Awesome. Your artwork, the connections that you made and the support you gave one another throughout our colorful Summer is nothing less than spectacular. As a whole, we had an average of nearly 140 weekly participants, a large and fabulously supportive Facebook group and a drool-worthy stream of photos in our Flickr pool. And the artwork! From handmade books, to journal pages, scrapbook layouts, altered art, tags, photographs, greeting cards and jewelry, oh my! It's amazing to see what a little color prompt can lead to. Thank you for sharing your time, heart and art with us: I so appreciate you.
And More About Sharing:
Please know that if you missed a prompt and would still like to give it a go, you can certainly continue to add your links to the widget below each week's post. I promise they do get viewed throughout the year. On that note, if you haven't uploaded your photos to our Flickr pool yet, it's not too late. I'd love to see your work there as well. Also, many have asked about our Facebook group and wether or not it will remain open. The answer is a big "Yes!" Although our event has come to a close, the Facebook page will not. You can continue your color conversations whenever the mood strikes, we'll be here.
Congratulations Virginia! Please email me your address and I'll get your Sage & Sepia goodies right out.
And My Artist's Badge?
I have it right here. Isn't it pretty? As a thank you for your support and SOC spirit, this is for you. Please feel free to add it to any of the social media sites you wish. (I hope you love it as much as I do).
Okay Now, Spill It!
Alright, you know I wouldn't let you down. As you may have already noticed, there is another SOC on the horizon! I. Am. Thrilled. to announce that the party will kick off again next Summer:
More color prompts, creativity and connections. All less than a year away. Get ready for The SOC 4: Smudge, Splash & Pop. Want to know more? Not to worry. You only have to wait 'til June for all the dirty details (oh come on, that was funny ;) . . . .
"All in all, it was a never-to-be-forgotten Summer - one of those Summers which come seldom into any life, but leave a rich heritage of beautiful memories in their going - one of those Summers which, in a fortunate combination of delightful weather, delightful friends and delightful doing, come as near to perfection as anything can come in this world."
Talk about time flying when you're having fun! I can hardly believe that we're in our last week of play together and can hardly believe that this colorful Summer Camp of ours will soon come to an end. . . . I'd like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for your artful contributions to the SOC 3 and, more importantly, for your sincere and encouraging comments to one another. You're a thoughtful, kind and tremendously supportive community that I'm proud to be a part of. Thank you for your time, efforts and enthusiasm throughout the event. You have inspired me in more ways than you can imagine!
And, as we head into Week Six, please know that it's not too late to join the party! Each week stands on it's own and I'd be thrilled to have you jump in now and give it a go. I promise you'll love it.
Speaking of love, I. AM. OVERJOYED to report that as of this week, we've hit the 1,000 mark on our Flickr pool! How cool is that?! Please keep submitting your photos to have them counted among the others and please keep the conversations going in our Facebook page and all of the other social outlets you're a part of. Remember our hash tag is #SummerofColor3 should you want to include that in your social posts as well.
Okay, On With The Show:
For this, our last week together, we'll be working with the color prompt that 15% of us (in our closest race yet) choose. We're going a bit more neutral this time with the selection of . . .
To see examples of the combination of the two, click here
Here We Go!
Please feel free to create anything you'd like, as long as it's based upon the colors of the week. You have until this Sunday, July 21st (10:00 am, Pacific Daylight Time) to link to the widget below and qualify for the random Sage & Sepia drawing. Only one link per person, please.
And What Lovelies Are We Playing For This Week?
Well, since Sage & Sepia really scream for vintage treasures, I've included some favorites from my personal collection for your efforts. One randomly drawn person will win this mix of both old and new materials:
{1 Strathmore Drawing tablet, over a dozen sheets of vintage music (including some darling titles), several vintage time sheets, an incredible ledger page dated 1927, a set of 3 washi tapes, a set of (and I love these ;) burlap stickers, 1 bottle of Stickles glitter, 2 Tim Holtz Distress Paint dabbers in both Vintage Photo and Peeled Paint, 1 Smash Idea Pop Up, 1 vintage milk cap, 1 set of Industrial Chic charms, 1 adorable cabinet card dated 1885, 1 vintage postcard featuring two little girls, 2 beautifully rusted hardware pieces and, of course, several clear and iridescent Swarovski crystals}
Right?! Remember, you have until this Sunday morning (10:00 am PDT) to link your work and be considered for the drawing.
Congratulations Patricia! Please email me your address and I'll get your goods right out.
And Then What?
Well, you know I've got something up my sleeve! Come back next Monday, July 22nd for our Closing Week where we'll discuss ways to share the body of our SOC 3 work, where we'll find out who won the last Sage & Sepia giveaway and to pick up your well deserved Artist's Badge. Oh, and then there's the other matter of, um, well, you know. . . .
Once again I come to you with excitement and gratitude for your part in making this colorful journey together as wonderful as it is. I love-ity, love love (we'll pretend that's a word ;) all of the connections being made, the friendships being built and of course, seeing and being inspired by all of your gorgeous artwork. It makes me a proud SOC Mama for sure . . . .
Speaking of proud, our Flickr pool is nearing the 1,000 photo mark and our Facebook page continues to be the place to see and be seen. If you haven't done so already, please feel free to add your work to either area. I promise you'll love the camaraderie there. And, if you're just now finding us, it's certainly not too late to join in! We'd be honored to have you.
Now On With the Show:
For this, our 5th week together, we'll be working with the two-color combination that 16% of us choose. I must say, this was a close race, with the winner just edging out the others. I'm thrilled to say that we're going bold this week as the newest prompt is . . .
Candy Apple Red & Yellow
To see examples of the color Candy Apple Red, click here
To see examples of the combination of the two, click here
Ready, Set, Go!
Feel free to create anything your little heart desires, as long as it's based upon the colors of the week. You have until this Sunday, July 14th (10:00 am, Pacific Daylight Time) to link to the widget below and qualify for the random Candy Apple Red & Yellow drawing. Only one link per person, please.
And What About the Goods?
Pretty fabulous right? One randomly drawn person will win this selection of both vintage and new materials:
{One 9 x 12 pad of Strathmore Tracing sheets, 1 Fabriano red A4 Saddle Stitch art journal, 1 package of Felt Fusion yellow trim, 2 fabulous pieces of handmade decorative paper, 2 rolls of yellow washi tape, 1 butterfly stamp set, 2 Liquitex bottles of acrylic paints, 2 Sharpie pens, 1 vintage postcard; stamped and dated 1929 and, naturally, several new and vintage beads including red and clear Swarovski crystals}
I love this one! Remember, you have until this Sunday morning (10:00 am, PST) to link your work and be considered for the drawing.
Who Was Last Week's Lucky Winner?
I happen to know that this lovely lady works in these colors often. I hope she'll enjoy the goods as much as I'll enjoy sending them. Without further adieu, the winner of the Charcoal Grey & Pink drawing is . . . .
Congratulations Jan! Please send me your address and I will get your prize right out.
And Now, On to our Last Poll:
It's hard to believe I know, but this is our last poll of the Summer (boo). For Week Six's color selections, I combined the top 12 favorites yet to be used. If you had a favorite that didn't quite make the cut, now's the chance to have your voice heard. You have until this Friday to get your vote on.
I'm sitting at a busy Starbucks as I write this. I'm on vacation for a few more days and using the internet here to get our new week up and going. It occurs to me that this bustling coffee house - with the lines of people waiting for their morning jolt, the friends meeting up to gab over their passions and the somewhat frenzied (albeit caffeinated) energy of everyone meeting up for the same thing - is a bit like our colorful journey together. We laugh, love and create in a way that has come to remind me of a Summer Camp of sorts - where friends old and new come together for a common goal - to get the most that they can out of their time spent together.
I'm proud to see to see our community continue to grow, to see new people join in each week, and to see all of the support that springs from both our Facebook group and Flickr pool. There are #SummerofColor and #SummerofColor3 hash tags being used in various social outlets and I've even seen activity on Pinterest. That's a whole lotta sharing and inspiration and for that I'm incredibly grateful.
Speaking of grateful, if you haven't done so already, I highly encourage you to add your work to our Flickr pool. If you don't have a Flickr account (and want one), you can sign up for free here. As we head into our last 3 weeks together, I'd love to see our artwork bust at the seams of that site as well. I have a feeling we'll reach over a thousand pictures before our Summer play date comes to an end. . . .
Now, on to Week Four:
We'll be working on our 4th two-color combination that a huge 24% of us choose. I'm personally thrilled to see this elegant combination win out and can't wait to see what you come up with. Our next prompt is . . .
Charcoal Grey & Pale Pink
To see examples of the color Charcoal Grey, click here
To see examples of the color Pale Pink, click here
To see examples of the combination of the two, click here
Okay, Let's Do It!
Feel free to create anything you'd like, as long as it's based upon the colors of the week. You have until this Sunday (July 7th, 10:00 am, Pacific Daylight Time) to link to the widget below and qualify for the random Charcoal Grey and Pale Pink drawing. Remember, only one link per person please.
Wait! What Can We Win?
Glad you asked. One person will randomly win this bevy of beauties:
{1 piece of metallic silver cardstock, over a dozen pages of vintage sheet music, 3 chip board tea cups, a silver Mixed Media ink pad, 2 rolls of pink Washi tape, 2 gorgeous vintage (each are written on and one is stamped) postcards featuring lovely ladies with a hint of pink, 1 fabulous Fabriano A4 Saddle Stitch art journal, 1 package of decorative trims, some pale pink pom-pom trim, 2 bottles of Stickles glitter, 2 bottles of Liquitex paint and several new and vintage beads and baubles, including one teardrop chandelier piece and several pink and grey Swarovski crystals.}
Whew, that's a cool one! Remember you have until this Sunday morning (10:00 am, PST) to link your work and be considered for the drawing.
And What About Last's Week's Prize Winner?
It just so happens that this lovely winner specifically stated that she wanted to win this! Talk about wishes come true, out of 141 entries, she was indeed randomly selected. Congratulations to . . .
How crazy-beautiful are we?! The creativity, love and overwhelming support of one another in this colorful journey is as exciting as it is inspiring. Our numbers continue to grow and the energy exuding from our Facebook page and Flickr pool is nothing less than extraordinary. I'm so proud of the community we're fostering and continually impressed by the amount and variety of work we're producing. Thank you for sharing your heart and talents with us all. . . .
Speaking of Sharing:
Wow, we had over 140 links in Week Two alone! I know it can be a challenge to keep up with it all, but please know that we have all the time in the world to visit each other as the event goes on. Although there has to be a deadline to qualify for the random weekly drawing, you can certainly continue to add your work at any time. I promise, it will be seen. In addition, there are those who've asked about a special hash tag for social media. (What a great idea). Should you desire, you can now use #Summerofcolor3 to share your work on Instagram and other such sites. This is not necessary of course, just another way to see and be seen throughout our colorful Summer together.
Wait! What if I've Just Joined?
Well, welcome! We're happy to have you. Each week stands on it's own, so please feel free to pop in at any time. I know you'll be glad that you did.
On to Week Three:
We'll be working with our third two-color combination that over 170 of us voted on in last week's poll. The winner - by an impressive 17% - was . . .
Lime Green & Purple
To see examples of the color Lime Green, click here
To see examples of the combination of the two, click here
Okay, Let's Go!
Feel free to create anything you'd like, as long as it's based upon the colors of the week. You have until Sunday of this week (June 30th, 10:00 am, Pacific Daylight Time) to link to the widget below and qualify for the random Lime Green & Purple drawing. Only one link per person please.
What's up for Grabs This Week?
This lovely collection of both vintage and new materials:
{2 pieces of gorgeous decorative paper in the colors of the week, over a dozen pages of vintage sheet music, 2 bottles of (how cool is this!) Martha Stewart glass paint, 2 packages of brightly colored copper wire, 3 chipboard houses, 2 bottles of glitter glue, 2 medium point Sharpie paint pens, one darling vintage postcard stamped and dated 1926, 2 100% cotton fabric quarters, 2 Fimo (soft and effect) pieces of modeling clay and lastly, several beads and, naturally, Swarovski crystals in the colors of the week}
Remember, you have until this Sunday morning (10:00 am, Pacific Daylight Time) to link your work and be considered for the drawing.
Yay Natasha! Please email me your address and I'll get your prize right out to you!
And Now On To Our Next Poll:
Please vote (by Thursday of this week as I'll be going on vacation and will need the extra day to shop before leaving town ;) in the poll below to have your voice heard.
Ready, Set, Go!
I can't wait to see what you do with this one. . . .
"Your paintings are staggeringly beautiful. Did I ever tell you that, or was I just too concerned that you weren't going to earn a living? I know the answer . . . I worried that the paint was so thickly applied that it might snap off and ruin someone's carpet, rather than realizing that you'd made color itself tactile."
I must say, the creativity and connection we've made in our first colorful week together is both exciting and humbling. I'm completely awed by the sheer number of us participating, by the kindness and support flying around our Facebook page and Flickr pool, and by the art that you're all enthusiastically creating. This, for me, is what it's all about: to see artists, hobbyists and children alike come together for one common goal; to play with color and express what's on their minds and in their hearts. Thank you all for sharing your life and loves with us. You inspire me in more ways that you can imagine and for that I am incredibly grateful.
A Bit About Commenting:
Due to our ever-growing numbers, making our way around visiting everyone is a challenge in and of itself. To ensure that your work is being seen, you may want to consider (if you haven't done so already) sharing your art in the Facebook and / or Flickr groups as well as linking to the blog. This way, we can see a lot of work in one place, making it easier to drool over many pieces at once. Also, we all know that word verification is both a blessing and a curse: it's wonderful to be free of spam, but more difficult for others to get to us because of it. Should it work for you, you may want to consider eliminating word verification on your blogs during the course of our event. I think you'll find it easier to see and be seen by more of us because of it. It's totally up to you of course, but I wanted to pass that on.
This Week:
We'll be working with our second two-color combination that you choose in last week's poll. Once again, the response was tremendous, with over 165 of us voting. It was a closer race this time around, but in the end, the prompt you choose - with 21% of the votes - was . . .
To see examples of the combination of the two, click here
Now What?
Now we create! Feel free to make anything you want, as long as it's based upon our colors of the week. Remember, you have until Sunday of this week (June 23rd, 10:00 am, Pacific Daylight Time) to link to the widget below in order to qualify for the random Orange & Hot Pink drawing. Only one link per person, please.
Ready? Okay, Link!
And What Could We Win?
This beautiful collection of both vintage and new materials:
(A piece of gorgeous glittered cardstock in hot pink, several pages of vintage sheet music, two colorful vintage postcards, each stamped on the back and dated 1929, 2 rolls of washi tape in both orange polka dot and hot pink woodgrain, 2 ink pads in both orange and hot pink, 2 (4 oz) bottles of Artist's Loft acrylics, 1 bottle of Stickles glitter in bright orange, 2 Fimo bricks of soft modeling clay, and several vintage and new buttons, beads and Swarovski crystals in orange, pink and clear.)
Remember, you have until this Sunday morning (10:00 Pacific Daylight Time) to link your work to be considered for the drawing.
