Imagine This

Ornaments Zero Hour!!

    



The Twelve Days of Christmas Swap

Alrighty! Technically it's only 30 minutes until I can open gift #1!!!!! 'Cuz gift #1 is to be revealed on December 1 and that is only 30 minutes away from now as I create this post!! Gift #1 is from the awesome artist, Ruth Rae. I feel like a little child on Christmas Eve. I can hardly keep my hands off the gifts.

This swap hostessed by my buddy, Deryn Mentock, who is herself a fantastic artist and author. The swap was featured in the November/December 2007 issue of Somerset Studios. Although all of the ornaments we shown in that article, most of us changed dwhat we made for the actual swap so that it would be a surprise. Whether or not gift #1 is the same as in the article -- makes absolutely no difference to me. Ruth is an incredible artist and I'm thrilled to be getting an ornament form my tree from her.

I will open the gift in the morning and post a photo of it for you. Stay turned!!

Evoke-Designs

I'm in love with these necklaces. This incredibly beautiful and UNIQUE design was the brain child of my friend, Lorraine George, of Evoke - Designs (web site coming soon - meanwhile see two blog links below), who is one of the grandest jewelry makers I know. Just look at this metal work!

(Click on any inage to see larger scan.)

I got this yummy piece in the mail after her show in San Antonio where she and 8 other jewelry artists had a great show and sale. Lucky for me, Lorraine came home with a scant few pieces left over. These scans do not come close to showing the perfect workmanship, the polished details, and overall wonder of these pieces. Here are a couple of closeups of my pendant and of some of the others:

   

And then as if the pendant was not enough, Lorraine sent along a fantastic collaged piece, too. Here is the front:

And even the back is a super little collage, too:

Lorraine's jewelry is always creative and chic. You can keep up with her creations through her blog, Just Me, and on her jewelry blog, Evoke-Designs.  Check out her blogs often because you never know whether she will be currently showing incredible pieces of jewelry or fantastic mixed media art work. Either way, you are in for a treat, for sure.

 

 

Believing God, Page 3

God Can Do What He Says He Can Do

"Somebody Hears and Answers Prayers"

Do you think God does miracles today? What about all the suffering? Check out the third summary page from my Bible study, Believing God. Click on the third entry in the right sidebar. May God add a blessing to your day.

A Few Things for the Mail

I finally got into my studio and at least did a little piece of mail art. I've been a bit on the busy-with-life side and when that happens, I find it hard to get back to art. Sometimes a piece of mail art will be just the ticket back to creating. A long while back, I got rather burned out on Egyptian themed art. Remember when we were all doing Egypt and Oriental themed work? Whew! We really know how to run a thing into the ground, don't we? However, as happens a lot in my studio -- there were untidy stacks of stuff 'n such hanging around everywhere and one of the pieces on top of one of the stacks was a flyer from National Geographic advertising a book about Egypt. Thus, my envelope theme!

Here is the back:

Among other things inside was an ATC I created. This is a tag and some transparency pieces mounted on turp paper which is affixed to card stock. It is embellished with embossed star stickers, colored string, jewel brads, and a metal tag.

(See picture right. Click for larger image)

While we are on the subject of mail art . . . There was a piece of mail art that I posted about  in July which was out on loan for publication in Angela Cartwright and Sarah Fishburn's new magazine, Pasticcio. Since that first issue has been published, I can show my piece that is in it:

(Click on images to see larger scans.)

According to their publisher, Lulu, "Pasticcio is more  than a zine, it's a veritable treasure trove in an 8.5 x 8.5 package that we call a QUARTZ, a Quality Art Zine. . .. "   I quite agree. The glossy, full color pages show off the work of many artists. And the articles are chock full of interesting and helpful info on topics from surface techniques to movie reviews to technical tips, book reviews, and more. If you haven't seen this zine powerhouse, I suggest you run right over and order one. The second issue is due out for the holidays and the cover can be seen on Sarah's blog, Ragtags.

Changing the subject back to mail art. I thought I'd show you a few of pieces I did long before I had a blog on which to share them.

This one has a dark or Halloween flare.  I love dark art .<grin> Oh, and Yes, there are 3D objects on it. No, they did not fall off in the mail! I used Bond 527 cement.

Contrary to popular belief, (and before you ask) the image of the girl is not Teesha Moore's rubber stamp   image 8819-D.  I found this image and cut it out of a back issue of Communication Arts magazine.

Now that clown might be a Teesha image. I think it was on a print she used to sell.

The focal box on the left of this envelope is picture of an assemblage I did about my childhood.

Hey, that clown image is one I drew! Not too bad -- well, not great, but not too bad either.

This was created on the top of a box. That thing behind the girl's head is actually a seashell.

Well . . . 'nuff for now. this is becoming a bit like looking at old home videos!  Tah tah 'till next time.