Imagine This

Ten Spectacular New Year's Parties!

Happy  New Year's Eve!!

My prayer is for each of you to have a blessed and Happy New Year. Thank you for all your visits and comments that were left for me over the year. I have met so many wonderful people through this blog and have made lots of new friends this year. Your comments always inspire and encourage me. I hoping we can hang together for many more years to come. See ya in 2008!!!

Happenings - Movin's and Shakin's

There's a New Hangout in Town

Mercy! I'm sure you have all figured out by now that there is a brand new place for artists to get together, have fun, and inspire each other over at the Art Pub Studios. The ARTPUB is a network established for the career-minded individual, professional mixed-media artists who want to provide a supportive environment in which to explore new ideas and promote art.

Each member of ART PUB is featured on the site with her own weblog for sharing art information, tips, and ideas.  I have a second blog there - in addition to this blog. Our Art Pub blogs can be accessed by our names in the sidebar on the Art Pub home page. Imagine finding a dozen or so super artists' blogs -- all in one place! 

I am in the company of some fantastic, gifted, and prolific artists and let me tell you, those artists are moving and shaking already. If you haven't been over there and checked out the goings-on, then you are really missing out.

Angela Cartwright, Kathy Wasilewski, Lou McCullough, Pilar Polloch, and I have posted some fun tutorials and tricks of the trade.

Here are a few peeks at some of the tutorials:

 

Deb Trotter, Deryn Mentock, Kristen Robinson, Kathy Wasilewski, Mary Beth Shaw, Sarah Fishburn, Sylvia Luna, and I  have all been giving away some yummy stuff and plan to do more in the new year.

Lelania Llyod has posted some incredible words of enlightenment, wisdom, and encouragement including very helpful information about setting goals, just in time for the new year. We will all be turning our thinking toward setting or furthering our art paths for the coming year. I invite you to have a look at Lelainia's post on goals before you set yours for 2008.

What ever you do, spend some time over at the Art Pub Studio with us. Grab a cup of coffee or tea, a scone or piece of pie, and pull up a chair by the fire. We are telling tales, offering gifts, and showing our wares. . . you stand to be amused, motivated, and delighted by the happenings there. We are looking forward to getting to know you and spending some time with you.

See ya over at the ArtPub!

Brayered Ink Demo

This is a little envelope I've been working on for some mail art. I used the technique I call brayered ink which involves using a rubber roller and a rainbow ink pad. I did a tutorial on the process which can be found in the archives of this blog. but there are no pictures. I fleshed it out with pictures for my Second Day of Christmas gift over on my other blog at the Art Pub. So,  why not mosey on over there and check out the new pictures?

Meanwhile, I hope you're enjoying what holidays you have. I'm sitting around in my pjs today but tomorrow I will be taking stock of what I need to do to finish out the gifts, etc., for Christmas with our children and grand children next weekend. I'm really enjoying prolonging Christmas this year!

Here is another Christmas card I got from a good art friend I haven't heard from in a while. This cute little snow man's head and scarf is applied as a 3D layer. Very cool. It's so nice to be remembered like this. (Some year, I am going to get my act together and remember all the friends, old and new, to whom I really would love to send cards but never seem to have time.) Jen, if you are reading this - Thanks and happy New Year to you!

In fact, thanks and Happy New Year wishes go out to all my friends . . . and family - especially the ones who stop by my blog. You're the best!

Ups and Downs of Christmas Dinner

Lucky me, I had the huge family Christmas dinner last year and that means I don't have to hostess again until year after next! So, I got to *really* enjoy the day yesterday with the family. Of course, the most important consideration for Christmas Day is the meal, right? Well, when my brother #1 & his wife have the dinner, we never know what to expect. This year she catered it and we didn't have to contribute. Is that cool, or what? But we brought stuff anyway (just to be sure our fav traditional dishes would be there.) Here are a couple of award winners from the table this year:

Most Improved Traditional Christmas Dish

For some reason, I got adventuresome and revised my sweet potato recipe after about 20 years. Instead of the usual marshmallow topping, I opted for a recipe from our latest church cookbook. Yummy! I even put the pecans in the topping and love it (I usually hate nuts messing up the smooth texture of my food.) and even the yam haters liked these yams. Truly, this is the best sweet potato dish ever!

Sweet Potato Casserole

2 (1 lb. 7 oz.) cans sweet potatoes,
     drain juice from only 1 can.)    
3/4 c. sugar
1/2 c. melted butter                                          
2 eggs, beaten
1 /tsp. vanilla
1/3 c. milk
(I add a little cinnamon and nutmeg )  

Topping:
1 c. firmly packed brown sugar   
1/2 c. flour    
5 TBSP. melted butter
1 c. chopped pecans

Combine all (except topping ingredients) in a mixing bowl and mix well. Pour into casserole dish. Mix topping ingredients and sprinkle over potato mixture in the casserole dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes.

The beautiful picture of the sweet potatoes you see above, was taken by Kathy Flake and used by permission. Naturally, I was way too busy eating to take pictures! But I promise the sweet potato casserole in the picture looks exactly like what I made -- except, of course, I chopped my pecans up so tiny they couldn't mess up the texture of the topping. LOL.

Most Disappointing Happening Regarding Christmas Dinner

Oh, no, can you believe it? Why would a person cater a Christmas Dinner except to keep from cooking a turkey, right? Well, not according to the outfit that did our dinner! As my SIL was super calm this year because she had the house decorated a week ahead and the meal arranged months ahead, there was nothing left to do but pick it up on Christmas morn. WRONG! First of all, the order was only partially filled. Brother did the husband thing and went back to get the rest. When SIL opened the packages, she discovered that the turkey was only partially cooked and needed to be baked THREE MORE HOURS!!! Yikes, now it is 10:00 A.M. and the family will be arriving for a 1:00 dinner.

I won't mention the name of this "FOWLed" up catering service but a picture is worth a thousand . . . swear words.

Maybe because we all went into the day rather calmly, this blemish in the day was primarily overlooked. The meal was fine... the sweet potatoes were a hit and this time my whole desert salad was eaten and I didn't have to take a bunch home to eat myself. DL doesn't eat sweats, remember? It's always up to me to clean the desert plates. Drat! Someone has to do it. Which reminds me, I better go "clean out" that pumpkin pie pan!

By the way, this recipe is only a drop in the bucket of gifts I plan to share during these 12 days of Christmas. But to get in on the goodies, you'll have to jump over to my blog at Art Pub Studios to see what's up. And while you are there, check out the other fantastic artists' blogs there. Many freebies, ideas, give-aways, etc. are going on over there... Be there or be . . . a bear ! (That's the way one preschooler instructed me to say it!)

Happy Birthday, Jesus

Unto You is Born This Day a Savior

Merry Christmas to all my family and good friends everywhere!

The image above is one I made for Christmas this year. It was first made as a collage. The image of the angel I drew and cut out of a glossy sheet I had colored with inks. I attached the angel to a collaged  and painted background sheet  After  all was assembled, I printed it on glossy card stock.

I was blessed with lots of good wishes and cards from my friends. I wanted to show you the last one I got from my good friend and sister in Christ, Deryn Mentock.:

Christmas card by Deryn Mentock
(pictured here on a red wrapping paper background)

I put her card on a red background hoping you could see the overlay of white net. Deryn used her image of Rudolph and sewed some little snowflakes under a topping of net. The card is beautifully and creatively made as is usually the case with Deryn's art. If you haven't seen her other mixed media work or her incredible art jewelry, you must go to her blog, Something Sublime, and be dazzled!

I'm leaving now to celebrate Christ's birth with my family in Houston. I leave you all with the blessing of this day and wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happiest of New Years.

More Christmas Cards

This sweet card is from my good friend, Sue Berry, from England. Sue is a charming and funny gal who does super mixed media art. Check out her blog, Art-e-cats. You can get a piece of Sue's creative works as well as some yummy collage supplies at her Etsy shop.

Now this card is from my new friend, Sylvia Luna of Silver Moon Studios.

Sylvia was beating herself up for not sending out handmade cards, but I happen to love this one. It is a detail of The Virgin with Angels by William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1825-1905) - one of my all time favorite paintings.  The scan on the left here shows what the whole painting looks like. Sylvia's card is cropped from the right side of the card. It is the four angles just beside the baby Jesus' left hand - only the angels in the card are flipped horizontally and enlarged. Makes a wonderful card, doesn't it? You can just tell by the Angels' expressions that they are adoring the Christ child. Sylvia, you might not have done handmade cards but you picked the next best thing -- a gorgeous card!

Sylvia Luna is an insightful, creative artist and writer. Be sure to check out her website, Silver Moon Studios where she explains that the meaning of her name, Sylvia Luna, means Silver Moon - thus the name of her websight. Also on that sight, you will find her blog, LUNAcy Blog.

One more place to experience Sylvia's novel approach to life is on her new blog at the Art Pub Studios site. You'll want to catch this blog right a way because Sylvia is giving away a huge package of 24 things to use in your art! Theses are items Sylvia collected for her business,  Junk Yard Queens, which she enjoys with a partner. Check it out and follow her instructions for putting your name in the hat to possibly win this grand package of found objects. While you are there, be sure to look at the other artful blogs listed on the Art Pub Studios home page.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas -- or Not

The houses in the neighborhood are lighting up one by one with bright jewels, flashing lights, greenery and wreaths, snowmen, manger scenes, giant plastic snow-globes, and such. And we are beginning to receive Christmas Cards - some of which are wonderful art cards from my online friends. I knew you like to see those so here are a couple:

Light by Pilar Pollock

This is a large print of one of my favorite of my friend, Pilar Pollock's mixed media collages. With the title of Light, and with it's dynamic colors and joyful movement, it is a perfect choice for a holiday card. Pilar is a masterfully creative aritst and her work is always mesmerizing. Thanks Pilar for this little ray of sunshine during my holiday. Pilar's blog is a must see and you will also want to check out her tutorial for making metallic foil wrapping paper over at her blog on the Art Pub Studios site.

Don't you love artists? No Santas, ornaments, or snowmen necessary on their Christmas cards, no sirree! Here is another fabulous holiday greeting I received from my friend, Deb Trotter:

Christmas Card from Deb Trotter

. . . and the sentiment inside the card:

Deb is a western girl through and through! She loves anything western and her art reflects it. She is an imaginative artist with giant talent. Her pieces are always, thoughtful and HEARTfully executed. Deb, thanks for this fun holiday card. It certainly lifts my spirits.

Be sure to visit Deb's blog, Cowboy's Sweetheart, or if you mosey over to her blog on the Art Pub Studios website, you may want to download one of the free vintage images she offers there. Check back often because she updates regularly.

On the TwELF Day of Christmas . . .

My friend and accomplished artist, Melissa David, gave to me . . .

. . . this lovely assemblage ornament. Isn't this the most exquisite little assemblage? Melissa always pays attention to the tiniest details. These pictures do not do it justice. The colors are subtle and warmly blended. Everything from the beaded wire handle, to the dangling clear Christmas tree bulb with the word "Dream" on it, is combined to make one cohesive whole. And look at those chotskies  - wow, nothing left undone. In Melissa's assemblages, there are always interesting rusted pieces. She is the master of faux distressing. I love what looks like a split office clip on either side of the main image. Thanks so much, Melissa, this will adorn my tree with grace every year.

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Merry Christmas to All!!!

And that wraps up one of the most exciting and fun swaps I've ever participated in. Thank you, Deryn Mentock, for this brainchild of yours - The Twelve Days of Christmas Ornament Swap! I've enjoyed old friends, renewed friendships with former art buddies, and formed new friendships with some extraordinary artists. wOOt!!* Thank you all for including me and for your loving and creative gifts. I'm thrilled to have a memento to remind me of you every Christmas Season. that is so totally wOOt! May you each enjoy a peaceful and meaningful celebration of our Lord's birth.

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*Check my new Urban Dictionary Word of the Day in the right sidebar of this blog for the definition of words like this one (wOOt) which I will be adding to my posts. I think it is high time that we artists caught up with the urban slang terms, don't you?  It could help us communicate with our offspring! LOL.

On the 'Leventh Day of Christmas . . .

. . . the totally creative JoAnnA Pierotti of Moss Hill Studio sent to me . . .

. . . this excitingly vintage wrapping on a mysteriously soft gift! Just the wrapping alone was enough to start the hyperventilating. LOL. She used ledger paper with an overlay of what appears to be embroidered pearl organza; embellished with a green glittered snowflake, red fiber, vintage buttons, a safety pin with a patinated bell, and a vintage price tag bearing the number of the day she was assigned (11th day). How cool is this?

AH HA!!! Didn't it take your breath away on first look at this adorable ornament? I'm gasping over here.  The little porcelain doll face, the painted flowers on her head, the felt, fiber, and lace headdress, the vintage button, the darling crazy quilt base.... oh. oh. oh. . . the metal -- little rusty tin stars and bells . . .
the snip of vintage measuring tape -- and is that yet another flattened tart pan?? And -- breathe, breathe -- the mini crazy quilt as the base with all that hand decoration of fiber and thread! Vintage and sassy and kewl, oh my!...vintage and sassy and kewl,oh my! I don't think we are in Kansas anymore! Joanna you outdid yourself here girlie-o. This ornament is over-the-top. Thanks so much for all the work you did with all that love for us! You have liquid genius running through your veins.

Be sure to check out Joanna's etsy and ebay stores to get a little piece of wonderfulness for yourself or a gift certificate for someone you love!

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Oh no, Mr. Bill, tomorrow is the 12th day! Yikes, this fun-ness is about to come to a close. I know Melissa's ornament gift to us tomorrow will close us out with a giant crescendo!

On the Tenth Day of Christmas . . .

My incredibly talented artist friend, Jackie Allison, gave to me --

 

Imagine my surprise to fine that Jackie had generously made each one of us the very ornament that she had published in the article, 12 Days of Christmas Ornament Swap, in the Novemeber/December 2007 issue of Somerset Studio magazine. I couldn't have asked Santa for anything more.

Jackie created an ornament with some very cool found objects. The base is part of a vintage book cover with metal filagree corners and several metal mesh hearts. To this she pinned a smashing Kilt pin decorated with baubles, beads, charms, a key, a watch face, a vintage metal ice cream spoon, and oodles of other things. Isn't she clever?

Above is a detail of the ornament. You can see the sentiment in the bowl of the spoon. I love that. Jackie is quite the ingenious artist, always using unusual found objects and this magnificent metal masterpiece is no exception. It looks fantastic on my little art tree but it just might go missing from there because I think that the kilt pin would make a striking jewelry piece! Thanks Jackie for this brilliant ornament. It will grace my tree for years to come (if I can remember to get it out of my jewelry box each year.)