I'm so excited to finally get to show everyone these super fun rubber stamps by Roben-Marie Smith and even more honored to be considered part of a design team that includes some super talented artist!
So there's a little blog hop going on right now ... come along and check out the art that everyone created using Roben-Marie's rubber stamps. You'll soon see that the art is among the best I've seen in a long time ... and the variety is vast and great!
These are the samples I made using the rubber stamps ... One thing you'll notice is that the stamps are really big and so much fun to use in mixed media, shrink plastic and for embroidering on clothing or napkins, or ... well just about anything!
I was channeling my inner Roben-Marie when I creating this tag.
Here's the GIVEAWAY >>> This 6 arrow shrink plastic necklace ... leave a comment, or even just say "Hi" and I'll toss your name into the pot and on May 8th I'll pick a winner!
The shrink plastic necklaces were just too much fun to make ... I couldn't stop ... It's one of those addicting kind of crafts!
And then at some point late one night, I grabed bits of odds and ends and created this little collage masking off one of the rubber stamp to show just one little cross.
And then this happened ... a little bit of embroidery on a panel that was stamped using three of the rubber stamp images and black StazOn ink and then stitched to a onesie!
Ok, I have to admit ... my pieces are a bit out there, but as I was telling Roben-Marie, I am so in love with these stamps that my mind kept jumping from project to project and I my hands couldn't keep up with my ideas!
Here's what I did to make the above shrink plastic arrow necklace:
It was a crafty kind of day at our house a few days ago. My son Corry, home from college, is loving the quiet of the house with just a few friends near by and the warmth pups! He was looking for something to make ... hummm.
I reminded him of all the hides of leather we recently acquired ... Ok, truth be told ... we went dumpster diving ... So worth it ... we scored 6 huge hides of leather ... and if you can belive it, we didn't take it all. There were several hides I left behind simply because I didn't care for the color. What was I thinking?
Anyways ... Corry loves to draw and paint and doodle, being the art major that he is and so he set out to learn how to make leather journals.
He was out in the man cave for hours ... reading and watching videos, trying to figure out what he wanted to make ... then, these happened!
After several hours, he mastered it! Of course I wanted a journal too and so for this tutorial, Corry made me a journal while I shot the photos and typed away ... Hope we didn't miss any steps!
Here's what you do:
Just playing around here.
Moving kind of fast and not thinking, just creating.
Being inspired by old botanical prints.
And finding the back side of some of these pieces to be even more interesting than the front.
Happy Stitching, Sketching and Doodling with your sewing machine!
Here's a funny thing you might like to know about me ... when I have lots of projects on my plate and it seems like I don't have any time to really work on them, I tell myself to just start, just start even if I only have 10 minutes before I need to run out the door ... just start.
Usually that piece that I really quick "just start" creating, will become something at some point.
This piece above was one of of those quick start projects. Seriously ... the kids were all hanging out at our house, which is almost always the case, and they were hungry, of course, so we all decided to go out for dinner. While everyone was putting on their shoes and deciding what's for dinner, I quick created the background for this little panel.
Then, when I returned from dinner and did have a bit more time, my creative juices were flowing and next thing you know ... this little free motion stitched panel has been stitched, painted and embroidered on!
The same thing happened with this stitched and painted panel. While at first it was just a stitched and painted panel, I thought how fun it would be to make a little free motion stitched sampler book.
To make the pages for the book, I used vinyl that I bought at my local fabric store, and stitched pockets on several pages ... slightly wider than the tags I wanted to use.
Next I free motion stitched on a big panel of layered muslin and batting, then cut up different motifs and patterns that I liked. Then, stitched the samples onto the tag and there you have it ... a little book of free motion samples.
NOTE: Before I free motion stitch any project, I do warm up drills on a sandwich of muslin and batting and more often than not, I'll use these stitched warm ups in project or cut them up and make them into a banner or bunting.
It was weekend of work, work and even more work ... and I couldn't stop the ideas from flowing.
In fact I got up early Saturday morning and then went to bed late that night with my mind still spinning over new ideas to stitch/sketch/doodle/paint on fabric and paper.
I couldn't stop thinking about all the possibilities for this type of organic, free motion stitching, doodling, sketching, painting ... or whatever you want to call it.
Here's what I did:
I first adhered a panel of muslin to a panel of white batting, using spray adhesive. Next I cut out a few circles in a variety of colors and glued them down using a fabric glue stick. And then the fun began ... I free motion stitched around the circles creating flowers and just random shapes.
Next I painted the panel using these acrylic paints. I added color to the insides of the petals and to the outer edges of some flowers. At some point I even went in and added some white paint just to pop a few areas.
And then ... of course ... a little embroidery with white perl cotton adds the little perfect details that I love so much.
So fun don't you think? More samples to come ... Lord knows I made a ton!
It's a funny thing ... I have never thought much about art journaling, except to think that that's just not for me. I'm not an art journaler type. And then again, maybe I am, but not in the way most people think of art journaling ... Who knew?
I have a few books, old book, that I carry around with me and when my mind needs a rest from life, baseball, photography, I'll whip that book out and just start doodling.
I've found out that before I can paint, like on a canvas, I have to get paint on some sort of surface, just to get the juices flowing again and to be reminded of the feel of the paint ... and ... to quiet my mind.
So what do I paint on, you might ask. Well sometimes it is a panel of wood, canvas or, as of late ... the doodles in my books.
Without thinking too much and often late at night, like tonight, the paint comes out and happens to land on these doodles.
And of course being the stitcher type that I am ... next thing you know ... I'm hand sewing on the pages with big running stitches and French knots. Oh how I love to hand sew!
I'm not sure if these pages are "done" ...
I'm not worried about finishing anything right now, just happy to have my doodles and these old books to embellish, paint and sew!
Hey, that's me!
Thanks to Cindy Lantier for gathering 3o days worth of interviews and creative energy in one great blog!
You can read the interview HERE! Click on the 2012 and read all the interviews for May 2012!
I've been carving rubber stamps lately, something that I thought I would NEVER do ... but I have to tell you, it is SOOOO much fun.
Yesterday I woke up to a text message from Jen Osborn, we are friends on facebook and from time to time we chat back and forth ... I love her art. There weren't any words in the message, just a photo of her 2 latest paintings.
So fun don't you think?
I got inspired ... and I loved her barn, tree and of course her signature skeleton head ... I decided to carve some rubber using her images as inspiration.
I know, I know ... the barn is falling over ... oh well, it happens.
So simple and yet soooo Jen!
Of course I couldn't well enoguh alone ... out came the Glimmer Mists.
So sweet don't you think? Love this one ... I couldn't stop stamping ........!
Here's what you do:
Find a simple image that you like and simply sketch it out onto an eraser or this pink rubber. Next, using the smallest carving blade, outline the image and then cut out the details.
For larger shapes just use a scissor or a craft knife and cut out around the image, then carve out the interior details.
Thanks Jen for the inspiration!
Happy carving.
Crescendoh is featuring my tags this week ...
You can find the entire tutorial here in the Gallery section!
Enjoy and Happy Crafting!
My Husband just called to inform that he will be traveling in the upcoming months ... It's Japan again ... my favorite place!
He travels there often and always returns home with some very interesting candy for my kids. We never know what it will be and I have to tell you, I have only actually tried a few of the 'sweets' he has brought back.
Why you might ask ... well here's why ... I learned early on in his traveling days that a lot of the Japanese candies are made from bean paste ... and I love beans, but here's where I have an issue ... I can not wrap my brain around the idea that beans are a sweet treat. To me the are salty, savory and are often slathered with onions and cilantro. So ... do you understand my problem?
Here's a funny story ... so my mother had a Japanese foreign exchange student named Yoshiko come to live her for a year. We introduced her to all of our favorite foods, including refried beans ... she tried them and nearly spit them out on her plate ... she could not wrap her brain around the idea that they were not sweet!
Japanese Candy Collage and Doodles
The wrapping and presentation is a feast for my eyes ... I love all the color and love the attention to details.
Japanese Candy Wrapper Collage:
Unwrap and flatten colorful candy wrappers ... feed the candy to your children!
Cut out random shapes and swirls from the wrappers.
Using a glue stick, randomly adhere the pieces to a panel of watercolor paper.
Free motion stitch the wrappers in place and then onto the card in swirls and loop patterns.
Add some color with watercolor pencils and doodle shapes with a black marker.
Here's to Japanese candy, happy and safe travels for my husband and crafting and doodling!
Just playing and exploring here.
Trying some new techniques here.
Remembering just how much I love to sew.
Machine stitching, hand sewing and couching ... I love it all.
I love the small little details ...
I love to move fast while I'm creating, not thinking much, just doing ...
Just doing and remembering ... remembering just how much I love to craft and create!
Want to know more about these inky paper towels? Check out this earlier post HERE!
OMG ... Check out my calendar for the New Year; a duet with Danita!
I bought this adorable calendar a few weeks ago on Danita's etsy shop, and I love the calendar just the way it is, stacked and resting on the mini baby block ...
But the truth is, I kept flipping through all the months to see all the different paintings and it was constantly getting out of order. At one point, I even thought I lost September and turned my studio upside down looking for it!
Since taking Danita's on-line class, I can not stop making fabric paper. For this duet I think I made just the perfect background for her calendar. With the months now stitched to this art quilt, I can see all of Danita's little paintings every day of every month and I couldn't be happier.
Here are some close up shots of what I did.
After making the fabric paper, I painted some small circles in a few different colors, then added some free motion stitching, oh, and a free motion flower.
Next, came the layers of backing. First there's a layer of cream felt that I painted with gesso and then a panel of burlap. As you probably know, burlap unravels way too easily, and so I brushed the edges with a little white glue. And then I stitched on a few little strips of painted felt.
To hang the quilt I added a few burlap loops and an old painted yardstick.
Want to learn more about making fabric paper and Danita's art quilts? There's still time to take her on-line class. Trust me, you will not go away from that class wanting. Danita put so much of herself in this class - it's so full of new info and ideas that I'm sure you will want to incorporate it all into your own collages, journals and art quilts.
Happy New Calendar!
Just a few photos of my oldest son Corry and his girlfriend Dylan ... all dressed up and heading out to the homecoming dance. Notice the corsage and boutonniere I talked about in this earlier post.
Sooo cute don't you think?
As it turned out, I was taking Flora's painting class while my husband was snapping away here, hence the slightly silly photos!
I'm not kidding here ...
I don't think he snapped a single photo of them looking somewhat serious.
And apparently they were just killing time here and making each other crack up over absolutely nothing.
Really! Now this is a proud mom moment!
And of course as it would turn out ... Corry has a broken finger, just like last year, same time, same place ... oh wait, of course ... it's football season!
Oh my how I love these kids ... so comfortable in their own skins and having sooo much fun during these last few months of high school!
Another high school dance has come and gone and guess what ... the corsage and boutonniere still look as good as the night they were worn!
You may remember this post last year when I announced to my son Corry and his girlfriend Dylan that I was pretty much done purchasing flowers for the dances when I discovered that they take them off when they get to the dance anyways!
This is what this years handmade "flowers" looked like. Of course they would be soldered ... that seems to be what I'm into these days and if I say so myself ... I think they turned out pretty fab!
Here's what I did:
Photos of the lucky couple ... to come!
Doodling and thinking about my pup Berklee. You see Berklee is our pound pup, scooped up at our local animal shelter, and let me tell you, she is one in a million!
I look at this photo I took of her and I can not imagine that she was left at the shelter and her owners did not come to get her. Really?
Ok, so she is little bit ugly, but trust me, her personality and loving sweet sweet soul melts your heart the first time she tries to slurp on you.
We named her Berklee for a few reasons.
Berklee is scrapper and a survivor ... we often find her sleeping on a pile of dirty laundry, or outside on the hard plastic bbq cover laying on the concrete under the patio cover. Really? Wouldn't the couch that's right there under the patio cover be a bit more comfortable?
Oh well ... Where ever she wants to sleep during the day is fine as long as at night she is snug under the covers with me!
As I continue to play with doodling, I get the biggest urge to add color. While this piece remained just black and white for some time, I could not resist adding just a bit of color with my watercolors. Ok, a lot of color, but that's just how I roll.
This is one of my favorite pieces to date. Notice that some color did sneak in there.
I was on a sort of botanical adventure when I sat down and doodled this piece. I'm not sure if it's finished and I guess that's the fun part of doodling ... you can just keep adding more swirls and dots until you think it's done, or not!
Still more botanical doodles...
And a sweet little doodled tag for my sweet friend Becky ... Thanks Becky!
Had a little impromptu crafting night with a friend and here are my first attempts at soldering. Ok so, don't look too close, I know the tape isn't lined up even and the jump ring is leaning slightly off to the left side, but I Love It!
Thankfully the trend in some soldering circles is this messy kind of chunky look ...
Because without much experience here, chunky and messy is what happens. It is definitely something to experiment and play with and, learning a few tricks of the trade will help.
Still playing here and as you can see, the sky is the limit. Truly there are no limits to the things you can solder together or in-between a couple of pieces of glass.
How fun is this? A little free motion stitched and quilted piece I sandwiched between some chunky glass I bought way back when.
So from the looks of my soldering station you would have thought I'd been dong this for years ... no, no ... You see a few months ago a friend of mine (Laurie Crutchfield) passed away and she was a crafter like none other. There really wasn't a craft that she had not tried and mastered. Her friends had a private sale of all her supplies and so I helped myself to all her soldering supplies. Oh, and bunch of other stuff including bags of yarn that I used here.
Happy Soldering!
I am so in love with the first tin can caddy that I made ... way back when ... that I just had to make another.
When I first started out making this one, I thought I would use papers, old maps, new maps, ledger paper, and subway diagrams, but then reality set in. Paper and Mod Podge don't like wavy, bumping outer can surfaces and I ended up with a puckering mess. So I ditched that idea and went back to the original technique that I know works like a charm.
You gotta try this. And on a Lazy Susann, it dosen't get any better. Oh, and yes, again I tried putting the cans at different heights and while it looks super cute and all, I'm a practical gal and really like that space on the Lazy Susan under the cans.
Here's What I Did:
Here's the original Tin Can Caddy with an even better tutorial ... Enjoy!
I recently enrolled in a super fun on-line class taught by Roben-Marie Smith. Her class is called Mixed Media Mayhem. You may have already heard about her class but in case you have not ... let me tell you ... it is GREAT!
While I was waiting for some of the sprays and paints I ordered to arrive, I decided to dive in and watch the first few videos. Her technique is loose and uncomplicated ... don't think too much and just start. I love that! And the one thing that I found myself totally in awe with ... the movement and motion of her hands ... very inspiring!
Here's a glimpse of what I've been working on since watching Roben-Marie's videos. This is not exactly what she is teaching in the on-line class, but this what I was inspired to make on my own. I'll post my work from her class at a later post.
Here's what I did:
After I have a bunch of these panels collaged and painted I'll be stitching them into an art journal ...
Stay Tuned!
