Bits and Pieces

Well I'm still sorting through bits and pieces of *stuph* as I move it into my studio....this part of the process is proving to take much longer then I anticipated.

Here's some bits and pieces about me (questions I borrowed from another artist):

FOUR JOBS YOU HAVE HAD IN YOUR LIFE:
1. Daycare Worker
2. Cosmetologist/Cosmetology Instructor
3. Legal Secretary
4. Artist & Instructor

FOUR MOVIE'S YOU WOULD WATCH OVER AND OVER:
1. Legend of the Falls
2. Braveheart
3. Rear Window
4. Moonlight and Valentino

FOUR TV SHOW'S YOU LOVE TO WATCH:
1. Grey's Anatomy
2. House
3. ER
4. HGTV

FOUR WEBSITE'S I VISIT DAILY:
1. www.outsidethemargins.com
2. Google
3. My yahoo groups
4. ??

FOUR OF MY FAVORITE FOOD'S:
1. Mexican Food
2. Salad
3. Cinnamon Dolche Latte
4. Prime Rib

FOUR PLACES I WOULD RATHER BE RIGHT NOW:
1. My studio
2. Ocean
3. Art Retreat
4. Scotland

FOUR PLACE'S THAT I HAVE LIVED:
1. Springfield, Missouri (born there)
2. San Jose, California (grew up there)
3. Tehachapi, California
4. Modesto, California

Order out of Chaos!

No art on the horizon for me right now because I've been busy since Sunday trying to organize the chaos I had for my art area and moving it into my new studio! I'm so excited to have an actual place for everything and to get moved out of the dining room! I'm thankful to my friend Jean for showing me how she organized her studio using pegboard and I have borrowed her idea (thank you Jean!!).

Hubby hung the pegboard up on Sunday and I have begun the slow transformation of organizing my stuff....I am convinced that art supplies are like tribbles (you know those cute furry creatures from Star Trek that muliplied everytime they ate!) and just keep multiplying on their own!

I have to say it sure is nice to have things out of carts and to be able to see what and where everything is and I cannot sing high enough praises to whoever invented pegboard they are a genius in my book!

See the beginnings of my Studio
Studio Transformation!

March in like a Lion!

Wow where has the time gone once again! How can it be March already! I'm feeling a bit old here my oldest Nick turned 24! Yikes how can that be!

The weather has been crazy around here lots of storms and low snow....you know the weather is crazy when it snows in Santa Cruz, California on the beach. Anyone who's ever been to Santa Cruz will know how bizarre this is!

I'm in the process of organizing a new studio and shuffling my office to another location, what a job, but in the end it will be so worth it! Stay tuned for pictures when I'm finished.

I have new pictures for my tiny Smidge Fairies in a bottle necklaces:


I have a paypal button set up now click HERE to order one.


I did create a series of retro ATCs using my new Retro collage sheet

Spring has Sprung!

At least for today it has! Spring is definitely in the air here, warm and sunny with the almond blossoms and daffodils blooming and the smell of cut grass in the air ahhh! Gotta enjoy it while we can since it's suppose to rain tomorrow.

I'm happy to report that my Queen Box (see previous post) made it to Georgia safe and sound with only one jewel missing and the post office was good enough to tape it to the box! I really do believe that the PO takes better care of things when mailed as is.

Finished up some more art projects one is for a chunky book my local art click is doing with winter as its theme:









And an ATC for a friend's son:

Confessions of a Shoeaholic!

Yes, you read right...I am a confessed shoeaholic but trying to reform!

We are in the middle of a major shuffle around at my house! hubby moved his big book case out of my office....the plan is to move my office to another part of the house and move my studio where my office is...of course this requires lots of shuffling, moving piles of crrrrap etc....well in the course of trying to get the bookcase up the stairs (it didn't fit and had to come up the roof through the door that opens onto the roof for no apparent reason other then to move furniture through) hubby found my stash of shoes ack!! I had a round table in this little alcove that had a table cloth over it...well under it I would store my shoes because it was easier then going up and down the steep stairs we have....yikes I didn' t realize how many shoes I had! When he found them I heard him tell our son that I must be related to Imelda Marcos from the Philippines Ack!!! (it didn't help that the kids started hiding their shoes under there too!) Yes, I just got rid of two bags of shoes and still have more that I'm weeding through too since I injured my back and knee I can't wear most of them anymore and now that I started wearing my Crocs that's all I wear...yes they are ugly but man are they the most comfortablist shoes I have ever owned and they have helped my back and knee greatly!

Hi my name is Aileen and I'm a shoeaholic!

Okay aside from shoe cleansing I did create an art box assemblage that I mailed with a piece of Plexiglas over it as is through the mail to a fellow Altered Art Diva....I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it makes it in one piece! This piece measures about 6"x 9".

Gosh I completely forgot about my interesting visit to the Post Office yesterday! In I walk thinking my art box will be the highlight of the PO's mail day something fun and different being mailed! Boy was I wrong! how can you out do 8 boxes of live roosters and chickens all crowing and squawking at each other as they were being weighed to be shipped to Texas! LOL what a sight to behold! what was even more funny was the looks on people's faces as they walked through the PO's door and took in the entire scene and sound effects LOL priceless!

Happy Days after Valentine's Day!

Hey better late then never, eh *grin* I am happy to report that I was pleasantly spoiled on Valentine's day by hubby and the boys with nice gifties and wonderful homemade cards and letters...that helps make up for my birthday which I won't go into but suffice it to say it was almost all but forgotten, though I doubt they will do that again ;-)

My Mr Morgan thought he was made of rubber again and broke yet another bone! this will make number 5....no his bones are not brittle he just is a full charge ahead kind of kid! Though this particular incident wasn't his fault but a results of playing football during PE and since he's still a little guy the big guy won out when he couldn't stop in time. Neither Morgan nor I were thrilled about spending the day going between drs offices and x-ray labs but at least we were given the x-rays to keep which made it all worth it to Morgan since he's studying bones in Science and of course being an Altered Artist I'm think ohh what can I make with one of them *grin* We sure have been enjoying the Olympics especially the curling GO USA! rling GO USA!

What art have I been doing? more custom fairy boxes and now tiny smidgen fairies in bottles:






I also finished up a few pages in a Traveling Art Doll Round Robin I'm in:

I survived Friday!

I was really looking forward to this past Friday but not long after waking up I realized it was going to be one of those kind of days. Two kids both with issues before school....one has a melt down...mom had a melt down....not good! but then hubby surprised me by sending me a beautiful iris bouquet and that helped make up for the morning from hell :-)

The afternoon didn't prove to be much better but at least the evening wasn't so bad. Watched the opening ceremonies for the Olympics which were awesome! I am glad that it's TGFIA! (Thank God Friday Is Over!).

I finished up on a chunky book page with the theme wings

Other then that I've been working on my Displaced Fairies, I'm pleased to say that I've received many custom orders *big smile* so that's what I've spent my weekend working on :-)

I added some new images to the freebie background and image page.

Over the hump day!

I always consider Thursdays to be over the hump day. The day that brings you that much closer to my favorite day of the week, Fridays! I love Fridays because its the beginning of the weekend. Friday evenings are typically family time movies, pizza and time to unwind :-)

I'm very excited to have found that one of my favorite authors had released another book in a series she's been writing since I think 92 or 93. I believe this is book number 7 titled A Breath of Snow and Ashes. They are one of my all time favorite series. Diane Gabaldon is the author and her first book is titled Outlander. Each book is at least 600 pages she's a great story teller! No its not heavy reading but boy do I love the story which is centered around time travel and a Scottish Highlander. Its part Sci-Fi/Fantasy part Historical. The publishers for years have had a hard time putting it into a specific category. I was fortunate enough to meet Ms Gabaldon and have her sign a few books several years ago.

Here's description from Amazon for OUTLANDER:
In Outlander, a 600-page time-travel romance, strong-willed and sensual Claire Randall leads a double life with a husband in one century, and a lover in another. Torn between fidelity and desire, she struggles to understand the pure intent of her heart. But don't let the number of pages and the Scottish dialect scare you. It's one of the fastest reads you'll have in your library.
While on her second honeymoon in the British Isles, Claire touches a boulder that hurls her back in time to the forbidden Castle Leoch with the MacKenzie clan. Not understanding the forces that brought her there, she becomes ensnared in life-threatening situations with a Scots warrior named James Fraser. But it isn't all spies and drudgery that she must endure. For amid her new surroundings and the terrors she faces, she is lured into love and passion like she's never known before.

Don't let this fool you this is not a cheesy romance novel! and Ms. Gabaldon is very thorough in her historical accurateness. The beginning of Outlander is a bit slow but once you get past that first section it will captivate you. Not only are woman captivated by this series of books I know many men that are also my husband included.
Check out the rest of Diane Gabaldon Books!

Long Time no Bloggin'

Yes, its true I took an extra long hiatus from bloggin' due to so much going on during the holiday season and real life having a way of intervening.

I've been busy redesigning my Displaced Fairies™ page. Check out the new design here and adopt a fairy:
http://www.outsidethemargins.com/dfairies.html

Last weekend son number 2 went on his first official date to the winter formal and had a great time. He sure looked good all cleaned up :-) You can check out the pictures here:
http://www.outsidethemargins.com/spenc.html

I just altered a pair of old naturalizer shoes I had that were need of livening up!:



I've also been working on one of my blank mini calendars I sell. The size is 6"x6" perfect size for a desk. I've done two months so far. I figure by the time the end of the year rolls around I'll have the entire calendar done for 2007 at least I hope! ;-)





Currently I'm working on two other little fat book pages one theme is winter for my local art group and the other is wing themed.

Now that I've updated things here, my pal Gail will be dancing a jig (right Gail!) and will have to share all candies with me! I'm into Conversation Hearts right now but then it will be back to fighting over the jelly beans ;-)

Time Flies

I'm sitting here thinking how fast time just keeps flying by! It was 12 years ago this month that I first got online and my whole world was changed for the better. I can't imagine what life would be like or where I'd be at without having a computer, without being online, without making and meeting so many wonderful friends that I've made throughout my years online! Yes, those friends are real and my life has been enriched by having met people I would not have otherwise had the chance to meet. There is a very special group of friends that I first met on AOL 12 years ago (back in the day when AOL charged by the min) we all found a way to converse through message boards in the free "Members Area" in a folder named Unique. I have fond memories of those times that I cherish. I think about what a loss it would be for me if I hadn't met my SClub Buddies in there, most charter members of the El Cheapo Club! We have seen each other through many trials and tribulations through the years and I can't imagine where I would have been during those times without their support and friendship!When we first met our kids were young and now they've grown up and some are already adults living on their own and/or have kids of their own! WOW time files!

Thank you my SClub friends!

Motown Monday

I'm finally starting to feel human again after being sick all last week and finally going to the dr to find out I had the beginnings of bronchitis so hopefully now things are on the upswing :-)

I finally had some energy to create this weekend and worked on my September calendar page for a calendar swap I'm hosting. Each person submits 12 color copies of the calendar month with a collage for that month and then I bind them together and mail a completed 12 month desk calendar back to each artist. I look forward to my collaborative desk calendar every year and use it like crazy, frankly I 'd be lost without it since I use it on a daily bases.

Here's my September page:


Calendar Page
8.5" x 11"

I received my copy of the Nov/Dec issue of the Altered Arts Magazine this weekend and my Textured Stone Technique is in it with a great photo.

A case of the cruds!

Yep I was cursed with a case of the cruds by Halloween night I was sounding like a seal coughing, I'm actually thinking its a good old fashion case of Laryngitis either that or I've swallowed a frog and a seal unbeknownst to me LOL

Of course I don't have time to be sick and it has put me behind. Since today I'm feeling a bit better, I'm trying to play catch up until I run out of steam (full bore ahead body...steer clear of the Nyquil haze up ahead!)

What art have I done....? still working on boutique items and packaging and labeling said items. Need to push on and get more done since we're setting up on Saturday and I need to be ready.

DH and I went to a costume party last Saturday night. I dressed up as a starving artist and since DH was meeting me after work he came as himself more or less....it was a fun party but I sure found out that I just don't party like I use to I was ready for bed by 10 pm sheesh! talk about a party pooper! LOL

This is the first year in 23 years I haven't had to come up with a costume for kids! both boys stayed home on Halloween. I know I griped about pulling together costumes but I found I actually missed it..one of those bittersweet lasts we all experience with kids. So to honor those past Halloweens here's some pictures:
http://www.outsidethemargins.com/family.html

Happy Fall everyone!

It's raining, it's pouring...

Well actually it only rained a little bit but it feels like rain, and I sure wish it would rain! I'm in the mood for a fire in the fireplace but with the summer heat so fresh in my mind (read nightmare in my mind LOL OK so I'm not big on 100+ degree weather) it's really hard for me to think of anything hot just yet!

Have I mentioned I will be glad to have DH go back to normal hours...then maybe I'd get more accomplished before it's time to pick up kids....well hey it sounds good in theory right? ;-)

I've been working on an assemblage piece recently that a friend and I collaborated on as a gift for another friend. My friend started the piece using an oyster can and then torched it and added the fork leg and the brackets for the arms. I patinaed it using Modern Options and then added the rest. As an altered artist I'm lucky to have a DH that brings home goodies on a daily bases for me, from his work :-) Some of the items he's brought me in the past I used in this piece such as the gauge, chain, broken tape measure and my personal favorite the metal piece that reads "Manual Operation"

(Click the images to view larger versions)

I also just finished up is several sets of earrings using my Vintage Bottle Caps. Here's a scan of a Christmas themed pair using virgin bottle caps and crystal lacquer and images from my Christmas II Collage sheet:


(Click the images to view larger versions)

Back to work I go :-)

Yesterday was one of those wacky kind of days where you accomplish things but at the time it only seems like you went in circles. Looking back I see that I did get more accomplished then I thought I had but at the time it wasnt' feeling like it.

I finished up more Christmas themed optical Illusion necklaces:



These can be made from my new Christmas Collage Sheet I just finished:

Glorious Fall!

This weekend definitely felt like fall is here and today really feels like glorious fall has graced us with her presence! Our fall here is so fleeting that I always hate to see it leave it's my favorite time of year!

Spent the morning with DH running errands and enjoying each other's company at the bookstore for an hour that's always nice. I finally found the latest issue of Expressions magazine http://expressionartmagazine.com/ .

Back to work I go I have more projects to complete for the boutique!

Time flies...

Don't faint I took a little, well okay, a rather long break from blogging Life got crazy with kids out of school and trying to run a business. Due to the encouragement from a crazy friend, I like to call Herbie, who incidentally just wrote a book for artists that I highly recommend, I'm back to blogging (Thanks Herbie!) :-)

You can check out Di "Herbie" Barton's books at the following website: http://artist-how-to.com/shop.html she also has a new one due out soon!

The Kid's are back in school and we're into October already and I'm trying to maintain some resemblance of sanity during our busiest time of year. Why so busy? well hubby starts working *crush season* at the winery he works at 7 days a week from July through November (yes you read right no days off during this time). What does that mean for us the support group at home....it means Mom attempts to play dual roles as both Mom and Dad (i.e. chief bottle washer and taxi driver extraordinary!). In other words no tag teamin' to get kids places or go to meetings etc. (Anyone have a copy of How to Clone for Dummies?) It also means that hubby works long and hard and comes home very tired and only gets to see the kids in the mornings before they're off to school.

Now that Mr. Morgan is in Junior High (yikes how can that be!) he is as busy as his brother. Jazz band and music lessons after school. Spencer has marching band and that in itself is time consuming and then throw in there Scouts for both of them and its a wonder I have any sanity left...wait maybe I don't LOL

I have snuck some art time in mostly getting ready for a boutique my local art group is putting on: http://www.alteredasylum.com/gildedofferings.htm

Ohh exciting news Flat Aileen has returned home and is washing clothes and packin' her bag to continue on her adventures: http://www.outsidethemargins.com/flataileen.html

She had the best time at Christys in Virginia going to Art & Soul with her getting to rub elbows with celebrty artists! Yes, I'm jealous but someone has to stay home and mind the store LOL! A big thank you goes out to Christy for putting up with Flat Aileen and being such a generous hostess. You can check out Christy's art here: http://www.picturetrail.com/christygrantva/


I've been having fun etching copper recently here's my first piece a Copper square with a leaf etched in it:
I used following directions: http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/lessons/middle/Linda-jewelry.htm


Here's an Altered Journal I created using the copper piece:

Another time lapse from getting myself in here to post! I blame real life getting in the way yet again *wry grin*

Life has been busy with the end of the school year and kid activities, then summer beginning at home and getting the boys into some sembalance of a routine. First thing I had them start was to purge and clean their rooms. I drew sketch of their room and sectioned it off into several sections and each day they cleaned only one section. This has worked out well they didn't get overwhelmed by the entire room and they did a really good job in each section. I highly recommend this method and have adopted it for myself even! They have officially finished their rooms today and it took them about 5 days total off and on, so not too shabby and they're ready to go to Scout camp with a clean room.

Hmm...what have I created lately....ohh I did a piece for hubby for father's day. He's a big Charles Schultz/Peanut's fan so I used images from a discarded book jacket to create this piece for him:



(Okay I know its been too long since I've been in here when it takes me 10 mins to figure out why my image wasn't showing up sheesh talk about CRS! LOL).

Prior to the Peanuts piece I created a postcard for a friend (The piece was created on a Giant 4x7 playing card using matte gel medium and tissue from a pattern and some vintage music):


That's about all the creating I've had time for. I have several deadlines looming again so I'm working on that. I also have started reading again which I haven't had time for but I'm making myself take the time in the early mornings to read. I've started The Mermaid's Chair by Sue Monk Kidd. Its an easy read that I'm really enjoying. The main character is Jessie an Altered Artist which I'm loving! The books main story takes place in South Carolina.

Blue Monday

Blue as in the sky is blue and we're back to coolish weather which is such a rarity this time of year and I'm not complaining especially after the 90 degree days we've already had!

As usual I had good intentions of getting back in here but something always seemed to keep me away. Yesterday hubby and son were in a car accident, thankfully they're okay but hubby has hurt his shoulder hopefully it's nothing major and will heal. I'm thankful that it wasn't worse. It did total his truck and we still are unsure whether the person had insurance or not since the person fled the scene and left his injured wife and family (what a nice guy eh). So I'm sure we'll be dealing with all that for while, but seems minor compared to what COULD have happened!

Last week I experimented some more with Tim Holtz's alcohol inks and Krylon products and came up with a cool (even if I do say so myself LOL) Textured Tag Technique

More later...

TGIF

Yes once again its been ages since I've made it back in here...now remember I did warn ya it may take me awhile to get back in here! *smile*

Where to begin! My kid's ATC class was a major success more so then I anticipated and I was able to get just a few pictures from the teacher that I've posted, so click the link to view: http://www.outsidethemargins.com/kidatc.html

After the Kid's ATC class I had a weekend workshop, I was getting ready for my cloth shrine workshop at the Altered Asylum. It was an awesome workshop and Keely Barham did not disappoint she is a generous highly talented soul.

I didn't have the hand work on my shrine quite finished after the workshop, but I did finally get it done see more pictures by clicking on the picture below:
To see the rest of the class shrines click the following link: http://www.alteredasylum.com/classgallery.htm

I have also spent time finishing up partial projects such as my puzzle piece for Debi's SallyJean inspired Puzzle theme where I used a picture of myself when I was about a year and a half old:


I also finished up 3 ATCs from my Boy Series, I had started them as demos for my Kid's ATC workshop:


Its back to work for me don't forget to check out my special still going on:

Squeegee Tool- multipurpose "Squeegee" from Tsukineko its really a useful little tool to use. Use the squeegee to create awesome background effects with re-inkers! Simply squeeze out ink onto your paper and then squeegee it out across the area you wish to create a background. Works great to create textures in paints and gel mediums also as a paper folder. I keep finding more and more uses for it!
RECEIVE FREE WITH ALL ORDERS $25.00 AND OVER

For more info click the link below:
http://www.outsidethemargins.com/new.html

Panic Mode Off

I am finally able to turn the panic mode off now that I have most everything ready for my children's ATC workshop tomorrow. I still think I must have been delusional when the gal called me to ask me to do the workshop because I, for some crazy reason, agreed to 20 kids in the class....what the heck was I thinking, Yikes!!!

I recently was sent an invitation from Krylon to enter their designer contest this also included a brochure of all their new and some not so products for me to shop away and then they would send me whatever I wanted to use. I received my huge box the other day and I've been having fun creating with some of the new products. I really like the Make it Pearl and Make it Iridescence spray paint. I also am loving all their new paint pens besides their awesome leafing pens which I would be lost without. I'm not so sure about their Antiquing spray its pretty darn dark for my liking. I'm still trying to figure out the best way to use the Whitewash spray. The paint pens are called Short Cuts and they come in either pen, small spray can or paint jar with a nice selection of colors as well.

Time to realax finally so I can be ready for the herd of kids tomorrow LOL

Deadlines

I figure I better get in here and write before I forget again besides its easier to procrastinate on the projects I need to get done for some deadlines. Hey my high schooler always tells me procrastination is his muse LOL Yep that's what I'm doing I'm procrastinating so my muse will show up! Not really er well sort of LOL I do have projects in various stages of completion just waiting on them to dry and yes I am avoiding putting together kits for a ATC Workshop for kids I'm teaching on Friday. Okay the guilt has gotten the better of me so I'm off to put those kits together and then I'll be back and reward myself with writing more...wait a sec is that a reward or not? LOL

Okay so I've put together 21 booklets for the workshop on Friday...right now I'm think "What was I thinking! agreeing to 20 kids in my class am I nuts!"

I had a deadline date wrong for the magazine so I'm working on my projects for that. The May/June issue just came out and my Patriotic Art Doll is in this issue.

Here's what didn't make it in: This was a book inspired by a workshop I took from Keely Barham who I happen to be taking another workshop from this weekend. We'll be creating Cloth shrines check out the Altered Asylum to see Keely's cool samples!

Well break times over back to packaging orders and working on deadlines!

Happy Mother's Day!

I know its been way to long since I've found myself in here once again, my apologies.

I had a rant I was going to talk about but since it's Mother's Day I thought perhaps I'd leave that rant alone for now since I find myself thinking more about the inspiration in my life. The person that truly shaped who and what I am and who is no longer here physically, my mother Pat.

It has been a long winding road since she passed away in 97. A road for a long time that only seemed to be filled with pain. I know every one thinks their mother is special and she is. There are some people though that truly have an effect on most every person they meet and that person was my mother. I had always known she wasn't like other kids mom's on the block and I noticed, but I don't think I truly appreciated it until I had kids of my own and then really understood the extent of it until after she was gone. She was not only a mother she was a teacher in all aspects of her life, a sharer of knowledge or experiences and a ball of energy ready to light you on fire with her ideas.

Its because of her that I can see the world through creative colored glasses. I of course wish she were here physically to share my creative metamorphous I've experienced through these past 8 years, yet I do know she is here spiritually. I can feel her smiling while I create and it makes me smile and inspires me on.

For years she was a teacher. She taught high school art unlike any art class I've ever come across since and later in her years she was a resident substitute teacher, teaching almost every day. She was still effecting lives, kids marveled at the fact that she always remembered or knew their names. Even now I meet past students or friends that remember her and talk about the effect that she had on their life. When I was younger I use to feel like I had a mother that wasn't truly all mine or my siblings that we had to share her with everyone else. I didn't understand that as a child but I did come to understand and appreciate it as an adult.

Some days I feel like I learned the most from my mother through these past 8 years of her being gone. That saying we hear so often "Gone but not forgotten" is definitely true! Mom you are definitely not forgotten and I miss your presence each and every day and I am sure that where ever you are you are still effecting people's lives by having met you, I love you mom!

A few years ago I started a altered book in dedication of my mother it was a painful but theraputic step starting it, I've yet to finish it though here it is:
http://www.outsidethemargins.com/abmom.html

Give your mother a hug and tell her you love her not just today but every day! :-)

Lists...Lists and more Lists

Hey, I'm getting better its only been a few days, and I remembered to post, Yay for me! *grin*

Its a pretty day today still a little windy but not like the last few days have been. This has been one of those days where I feel like I'm going in circles and not getting as much accomplished as I would like. I did better yesterday getting packages shipped as well as painted some pages for a collabrative project and updated the website. I also emailed my Altered Art kit project in so that's one more thing checked off my list.

Ahh and there in lies the topic of my rant....Lists...my life seems to be a series of lists-cross one off add another to it. I'd like for once to not have ANY things on my lists of To-Dos...I'm feeling a little overwhelmed going in so many different directions, but without a list whether it's written down or in my head mentally I'd not get anything accomplished I know. Ack and now that I'm talking about lists I just remembered I needed to call in Spencer's medication BRB! Now to add that to my To-Do List LOL see it never ends!

Here it is almost time to pick up kids already and back to the post office. I had to go there this morning also to ship off some International packages. I really hate having to go inside and if I wait until I pick up kids then the line is out the door ugh!

Time to figure out what to make for dinner my least favorite thing to do! Ugh!

More later...

Creative Challenges!

What a beautiful day today! Lynn and the boys have gone off to the Antique Farm Equipment Show in Tulare, California. Too far for me to sit and ride with my back and knee, besides I must admit it didn't sound appealing either, so I'm catching up on projects that I need to get done and enjoying the peace and quiet *smile*

I'm not very good at keeping up on this blog, its a challenge for me I admit it *smile*. I've never been the type to keep journals. I just could never stick to writing in one and I always felt too exposed. So with this blog I'm trying to get myself use to journaling more and for me typing is much easier then writing. Just don't expect daily posts from me LOL but more like what I've been doing :-)

Thursday night was a fun night at Art Click. We had a great project that Kris set up where we each began working on a 4x6 canvas board then every 10 mins we switched places and worked on someone else's. We also were challenged to use only the supplies in front of us. That was the hard part, we all have our comfort supplies we're use to working with and it definitely was hard for me but I enjoyed the process and seeing the end result of every one's boards was great. I hated mine in the beginning and felt so conscious of the timer that I didn't know where to begin but by the end I loved what everyone had added:


As a designer for the Altered Arts Magazine, aside from our normal submissions due we each had to "volunteer" to sign up to create 1 special project during the year. The project is to be created from a small kit we're sent right before kits are to be mailed out. An example sheet of our project will be included in the kits to aid in giving ideas to people for the product they'll be getting in their kits. This is another hard challenge for me because its a very limited amount we're sent to try and create with and its usually things I wouldn't necessarily pick out. Or I would at least have other things I prefer using to add to it but we're asked to try and use only what's in the kit. This project's theme is Patriotic and I was given a 2 1/4" sheets of scrapbook paper and few other miscellaneous things. I started doing a spread in a board book and didn't have enough to really do more for another spread so I altered a puzzle piece....I'm at a loss as to what else to add to the puzzle and will have to think on it. I did however create a tiny art doll to place in the board book spread. I used the head from a collage sheet and the compass from a tag sheet sent and then add the wings, milagro arms and legs (I antiqued the wings, arms and legs with antiquing solution and then highlighted them with blue and red inks):


Its a real challenge to create when your muse doesn't seem to be around and your not feeling inspired for whatever the reason is. If it wasn't for deadlines though I think I would easily get into a rut of not creating and so although stressful as they are to me, deadlines can be a good thing. A question was asked by my friend Anne from LiberTeas whether I've pulled out of a swap because I wasn't feeling inspired anymore by the swap. No, I've never pulled out of a swap once I've committed unless it was at the very beginning of signing up and the swap hadn't begun yet. I have however WANTED to pull out many times and I definitely know the challenge of trying to create for a swap that I no longer was inspired or interested in doing. What I have found is that it challenged me to push beyond those feelings and find the inspiration I needed. Sometimes I have created some of my favorite pieces other times I felt like I could have done better. Swaps can be a good challenge as long as you don't over commit yourself to too many.

I challenge anyone reading this post to try creating something outside of your comfort zone and see what you come up with think of it as a stretching exercise :-)

Finally!

I finally finished my bookwork and our taxes and they are filed Yahooo! why do I put it off every year and do this to myself! Each year I tell myself its going to be different but its not LOL good intentions and all that! Had a dental appt yesterday for a deep cleaning and ugh was it painful afterwards which I wasn't expecting...felt like someone had taken an envelope and ran it between each of my teeth to give me paper cuts! (how's that for descriptive ) Now that I have the taxes out of the way I can concentrate on getting some projects out of the way Yay! Tomorrow night is Art click at the Altered Asylum http://www.alteredasylum.com and I need to get my challenges done! Lora, Carol and I had agreed to finish 10 of our Soul Cards http://www.outsidethemargins.com/soulcards.html and I have 6 done so far. I was emailed by an artist to exchange links the other night and I think I must have found my altered soul sistah! Violette is an illustrator that does very whimsical art but even better she's altered her home which I fell in love with! She's even altered her car! http://violettesfolkart.com/ it definitely goes with my altered funky farmhouse: http://www.outsidethemargins.com/alteredhm.html

Time to wrap this up and get creating!