WOYWW!

What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday???

What's on My desk? Well, since I finally completed a Christmas page project, that is mostly what my desk this week is all about.  And I've come to a decision... for the New Year too.... and that is to "JUST ENJOY IT!"  I've been too preoccupied with having too much paint, and too many papers, and too much art stuff, that I am simply not enjoying the process itself.  Then I run into swap deadlines, which I have been slowly eliminating through 2012.  And it has been working, I feel less demanding of myself artwise... to get it all done.  Being retired does give me relaxation time, doesn't it???  I feel I do much more now than when I worked.

So here is my desk this week... or again the kitchen table since my desk is not large enough to follow through with my Christmas page project.  Which is making about 15 6x6 inch squares celebrating the holidays with a great group on Yahoo which is All About Tim.  I seemed to be hesitant to begin the project, originally making my squares a bit too flashy.  So after making 10 I decided I hated them and began again.  These are much more up to the groups standards (I hope) and more Tim-like (I hope).  I loved the idea of the first ones.... but they just wouldn't come together.  Here is my second result:  Basically everyone is different, but they all follow the same layout.  All are diecuts with my Vagabond using Tim Holtz's tree die, using a paint mixture of my own concoction... a little sparkle in that green.  (I admit it I love the cheap paint to spice up my colors which I bought many moons ago at the dollar store. It adds a little zing when I mix it with whatever I have. It's made by Prang and it's a metalic activity paint... or so the label says.)

Uh,Oh, have to fix that one.  LOL.  The flowers, houses and tree are diecut.  The background is part of the blueprint stamps, also by Tim Holtz.  I love those tree brads!  I bought those at a local Amish run store, believe it or not.  I'm sure that can be found online too and in the bigger craft stores.

That's it, The END for this week! 

May your holidays be bright and cheery and filled with HUGS!

The Pulse Charity Auction for NYC

The Pulse

The Pulse: Charity Auction

Mixed media artist Seth Apter, who lives in New York, is having an incredible auction to help raise money for the relief funds for the battered city. Please click on the picture above or this link, The Pulse to be taken to his site where you can see the wonderful contents of this auction. It includes a copy of his book The Pulse of Mixed Media that has been autographed by 30 of the contributing artists.  There is also amazing art up for auction for this important cause. 

Seth has been my friend for many years and this is a wonderful thing for him and his fellow artists to involve themselves in. Go and check out his blog too, always very inspirational!

WOYWW

WOYWW  November 7, 2012  What's on your workdesk Wednesday???

Been a little while, but I'm back.  Here's my messy desk area.... actually the kitchen table, this week posing as my work desk.  I'm painting 52+ playing cards and getting them ready for an ATC style swap.  These are what I have so far.... yes, used two packages of playing cards, a few stuck together using my Vagabond embossing folders before I put parchment paper between them. 

                                                               Here's the ink I used:

                                             and here's my snowman from another project:

 

 

September 19th! Yeah! Now that the summer is over, it's time to get back to blogging and to creating art. These are my current projects going on... well, a few of them.  This is my contribution to WOYWW What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday #172

 

These snowmen are part of a Christmas Patchwork swap over at All Things Tim.  I used Tim Holtz's Snowman rubberstamp, lots of Distressed ink and those great pens.  A wooden tree I fashioned from triangles, buttons, some candy paper pops (can't think of the name this early in the AM), and my special

Christmas bottle ornaments filled with sparkles, beads and of course capturing snow!

You can really see one of my snowmen here.  Below is my catastrophe pile-up of papers, books, tapes and houses I really need to get to.

 

This is a glass bubble frame I put together with washie tapes.  All on a disgarded cardboard and put together in a matter of maybe an hour.  Just a fun way I passed away one of my few free hours this summer.  It's not done, needs a photo and some edging. 

And now onto my desk of the moment.

 

A few cards, some sticky stuff... glue, etc. pens and flowers.  Oh my bottles in their

creative processes.... jumble jumble beads beads, thread!

 

About my summer!  I'm a new grandma! I am "Nana" now to two gorgeous children! Here is their photo! Taken by my daughter's good friend Jesse.  If you are on Facebook, go to her page and Like her.... She's a new photographer and I think she's fantastic.  These were taken at Valley Forge outside Philadelphia.

 

https://www.facebook.com/#!/jessiekphotography

 

our photos here:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.469197436446112.109145.291823720850152&type=1

 

 

oh and Happy Birthday to me!

Today it's all about showing the Row Houses I made and some teapots for a deco round robin. There are about 8 of us doing the Teapots, and I was sent about 6 to do last week. Wanting to get them moving, I opt'd for some saved rubberstamped images I did quite awhile ago and had printed into a smaller version to use specificially for this trade. Not the best, not the worst, but a little idea about what goes into a deco page.

What is a deco?  Well specifically an artistic deco?  They are smallish books containing about 4-10 pages and sent to fellow artists, usually paperartists and those who love collage work.  Paint, rubberstamps and photos are used depending on a predetermined theme.... like Teapots.  It's a very cool way to get and give samples of your work which is traveling around the globe and enjoyed by many.  That's it in a nutshell.  Any questions? ask!!

WOYWW

Good Morning!  It's What the heck is that on your desk???? I mean What's on your Workdesk Wednesday, which means I get to show my messy side of the room.  If you'd like to learn more, go to Julia's webpage here http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/ to find out what all the talk is about.  And the chance to visit more desks and ongoing projects of the week!

Here is mine, taken early this morning when I couldn't sleep. Hey it happens, especially when I have art baubles going off in my head. Forgive my blurriness.... it was early.

And of of 12 row houses I have been making.  Some were tall, some where small... I now should

take a photo of them sitting in a row, as in real life.  This one wasn't the best, just a sample and happened to be the best photographed in the middle of the night.

ZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzZzzz

Thanks so much for visiting.  Please leave a comment and if you are participating in WOYWW, let me know your number of the week!  I enjoy visiting all over the world, snooping around.... it'll probably take me through the weekend! Cheers!!!

WOYWW - Whats On Your Workdesk Wednesday

WOYWW - Check out http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/

What a mess is on my desk, I'll tell ya!  Yesterday was a major try and clean up the real craft room so I can return my daughter's.... now out and on her own... but the room is still technically hers.  I did manage to throw out two large boxes for recycle.  It's getting there, albiet very slowly.  So my desk is a variation of a few projects, not all including art.  One was where I did my nails before a birthday party on Sunday and one where I was stacking some paperback books.  But hidden on there is a rowhouse project and a steampunk deco I did. Along with some custom forms, and various other papers. Oh and beads and jewelry bits!!!

More and more messiness....

And so it continues.....

 This is a window shelf.... since my desk is so small I oten use my window to help dry the glue, painted items and stickles.  Been using a lots of stickles lately.  There's another rowhouse... and some winter trees still there from the holidays.  I didn't use them and I like them... if I move them I won't be able to find them.  So until I find a good place to store them until next year, they'll be here for a little longer.  Oh, that page is a part of a deco that will be mailed out today.

 Here;s the top of a bookcase my daughter left for me to fill.  I did put all her research books away in a safe place.... honest I did.  That's her and her new husband, and a MOM she made me a long while ago..... turn it upside down and it says WOW!  Those are some of my houses I love making.  They are waiting for me to finish adding beads and charms to.

Another window shelf view.  The page is part of a Lazy themed deco.... I love adding my own photos, and from time to time my animals make their way into them.  That's Jake, taking it easy and dreaming about pizza.

The hard facts about that bookcase.... another mess to resolve.  Lots of beads, charms and buttons in those cases.  Lookout Junk Below.

 And lastly here's Jake again..... helping me pick out photos and paper samples for my next project, whatever it may be.  Noticed coupons to the right.... lol.

The end for today..... thanks for visiting I love your comments!

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday???

Well it's not good morning here anymore, it's good afternoon!  Been a busy day so far.... checked on the horses this morning being the most important thing.  I haven't had a lot of time at my desk, actually finished up another project, more at the kitchen table as I needed more room.  My desk is so small and my work area seems to shrink everytime I use it.  I try cleaning it off before any project begins.  I thought I'd share though parts of my project, entitled Black Flowers.  Eleven of us made 6x4 pages and we may even publish it.  Because of that I can't show you the actual pages I made, but will show some of what I used.  At a later date I have step by step details of what I did. For it I used black chipboard (love the stuff), black and grey buttons, a photo I took at my daughter's wedding.... of course changed to black and white. I digitized it quite a bit on my ipad2, using several programs available.  Lets see black ribbon and washi tape, .... anything black I could get my hands on.  Even stickles... the black soot.  Oh and most important, I diecut flowers from some fabric books given to me by an upscale furniture place in my area. 

Change the color of the buttons to black..... and have to show the great flowers I just bought.

Then there is my postcard, atc, and artistic decos.... always ongoing.  I just picked up a ton of photos for them.  My printer is broken, so I've gone and printed out many many photos of my work and a bit of other photos to use in them   I'm making a few spring time postcards, all from my own photos and if anyone wishes one, just let me know.  Email me privately your snail mail address and I'll make sure you get one!  I love comments and anyone who wishes to follow me, I'd love that too!

Here's my photo bunch covering my desk this week!

That's it for now, I have to package up my Black Flowers and get moving on my day.

Have a great week everyone!!!!!

What's on Your Workdesk?  #144


I'm getting a late start today, but that doesn't mean I haven't been busy.  Gosh oooh gee, it's beautiful outside. What a lovely spring day.... my mood isn't as rosey, but it will pass.  Just feeling low, started my big diet... that's good news and I'm feeling good about it.  Well on to the desk! 

I have completed and sent out my big project... those charms.  Here's a little of what they looked like before they left.  I had them attached to a business card and then realized the bags for them were too small.... can't enlarge plastic bags, so I cut the cards down.... running so late on these as it was.  All fit, and then couldn't find one.... what I knew I counted 43, now there are only 42??? and already late. ugh.  But there it was hiding under some unassuming paper.

The charms are a combination of beads looking like  colorful stones and a teacup rubberstamped image where I used shrink plastic. I hope everyone likes them... jewelry making is lots of fun, but those darn rings drive me crazy.

Heck???????? where's my desk??????? well it's under it all!  Cya next week, gonna improve my mood and go outside for awhile!  Cheers! Linda

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday #143  !!!

                Howdy!!  Wow, it's Wednesday again!  This is my WOYWW issue number 143, following Julia's lead.... you can find her blog at http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/  
                 These are my contribution to the stacks of things pages for the Artfest 2012 Chunky Book and below will be the beginnings of the Charm Swap, two different ones... One is a stacks charm swap which I used shrink plastic with my stack of cups rubberstamps and I stacked colored stone beads.  The second one is a Words to Live by charm swap..... I used my rubberstamp word "YOUnique" and some more beading.  Pictured are just a plate of the combination of both.

    And at the end of the day we have a visit from the deer traveling through our back yard.  Thought you might enjoy!

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 142

Wow, it's my second What's On Your Workdesk? Wedenesday!!!!!!  I've been working on a few projects, one of them being making about 45 ATC's for ARTFEST.  Here's a summary of how I did them and the theme of the atc's.  It involved circles, spheres, stacks of things... and I had the perfect stamp for it.  It's two owls sitting on top of each other... can't think of who makes it.  I've also used the numbers stamp by Hampton Art and embossed both.  Then colored them with my Copics.  I used Tim Holtz distressed paper and stablized them onto black chipboard.  I hope everyone in the group likes them.  But here's the mess I created...... and a bit of the view.

Oh my goodness, this is a view from the side.... it seems to be where everything ends up and where I find what I need to work in the moment.  But it does help keep my little desk clear for me to work..... yeah right.  Ribbons, charms, beads and buttons.... oh some paints and ink... and don't forget the all important stickles.  Enjoy the ride!

The view across the room.  It's a small storage area, just holding some of my ongoing projects.... I should mention, I am in the process of arranging my real craft room and for now work in my empty nested daughter's room.... she does have the better view.  I'll show that in future WOYWW.  Thus the great maps...

 Forgive my blogginess.... and lack of blog skills.  I am really a beginner learning all this. 

I did cheat a little, these are actually from last week.... boy am I really late.  This is part of a birthday deco I was working on at the time and also part of a RAK.

And lastly my art project, a rather large one involving buttons for a chunky book for Artfest.  This one is a photo from about two weeks ago.  I had good intentions of adding it then, but since I now have figured out how to join it's here now...... and there are those stickles again.