ART BOOK- Page 1 STITCHING

ART BOOK. This is what I am calling my little book of art experiments that I talked about here.
This is the first page where I just played around with stitching on various papers and fabrics. I used embroidery floss and yarn. I incorporated paint. I have to say I REALLY enjoyed working on this. I really loved playing. Not thinking too much about it just going with the flow. I think sometimes I get in my own way by thinking too much about something and I just need to stay in the flow. On the last pic I used a coffee filter on top of Aida cloth and embroidered it. I glued it on but it was a bit hard to pierce since it was glued. There was a spot you can see in the second photo that wasn't glued and that was easy to pierce. I like the look of the paper and fabric. I think it could be interesting in a collage.

I hope your weekend was wonderful and creative!

Fall Photos

Some more nature photos. Gatherings from our yard while playing with the kids. I hope everyone is having a great weekend.

Who Does She Think She Is?

I cried while watching this trailer.

The Experiment

I took my kids for a walk...

and this is what we found. Happy FALL!

Please bear with me while I try things out. I am playing. Playing with fabrics, paint, paper, stitching. I have playing with the blog. Trying to learn. I haven't had much time devoted to this playing. Sometimes I get frustrated because I feel like I want/need more time and I don't have it. Sometimes I feel lonely. Not lonely for other people. I am surrounded by someone all the time. What I am missing some days is me. So I won't dwell on it. I will take it day by day. I stopped by my local library yesterday, they have a gallery space. I picked up an application. Am I ready for an exhibit? Not even close. But I will be someday.
I made the above box frame per instructions on Maya's blog. Here is the post. Mine isn't as large. I only had a cereal box to use. I want to try and make more out of larger boxes. The art from school has been piling up. I love the way the pumpkin looks with the brown of the box. Thanks Maya for this great project.

I hope this week has been a great one for you.

My art

This is a page from my sketch book session last night.

Ever since I have started swimming in the fish bowl I haven't been making any work to completion. It has been just a week I know. I think just being on this current journey of discovery has led me to just trying things out. Playing with different subjects, colors, textures. To tell you the truth I wasn't heading on any particuarly clear path before the e-course but right now I am o.k. with not being on one. I don't feel I am going to completely stray and try pottery ( although I have always been interested in it). I do feel I am going give myself permission to discover just who I really am as an artist. Develop my style, what do I want to say to the world with my art, who do I want to reach with it. These questions have been lingering for awhile but I feel they are coming to the forefront even more so since the e-course. I DO know I want to paint, I want to try mixing media and I do want to develop a clear path. So maybe right now I am in the discovery phase a bit and right now I am o.k. with it.

Thursdays class was about your prescence on the web (this class was so great, will listen again) and so I will be trying different things out on the blog to. I am learning alot about blogs now. Today I tried Windows Live Writer with no success. It kept giving me an error about uploading pics. It seems great though so hopefully I can figure that one out. So this is all a huge learning phase for me and I couldn't be happier!

P.S. And to all you fishies who are reading... I couldn't be happier to meet you and swim along with you.

Inspiration Board

I started this board awhile ago. It isn't intended for a specific something just things I like. Colors, patterns, textures. Seeds of ideas for future projects. I feel as if I want to make more. With a more definite theme perhaps.

I just finished listening to my 2nd class in the fishbowl. It was great and had a big emphasis on blogs and online presence. Very informative and gave me alot to think about again.

Blackwork Embroidery

The small pin cushion I made last yr. after taking a class at the local library. I found it so calming to work on and I loved the little pattern it made. It is blackwork embroidery. I haven't been able to find alot of info for beginners. There is a book called Blackwork for Beginners but it didn't help me so much. So I started the same pattern again. I am not sure who will receive the new pin cushion. This one belongs to my mom. I am thinking to try and make it into a sachet filled with lavender. Maybe I will do more and give as small gifts for the holidays.

Full

Today I am Full...

Full of POSSIBILITY
Full of HOPE
Full of DREAMS
Full of LOVE
Full of INSPIRATION
Full of GRATITUDE

Things are feeling so great right now. I have to say that the e-course In the Fish Bowl has been so great so far. There are so many talented artists out there and they are all so wonderfully kind and supportive. I couldn't ask for a better group of classmates. And it is so nice to see so many artists who are moms in the group.

The above apple garland was created by my children. I cut the apples out of newspaper and they painted away with the tempera paints. We all sewed them together. It was a fun way to mark the season. They are working on pumpkins next. I was inspired by this post
from Maya Made. The kids had so much fun doing. Thanks Maya for the inspiration.

Best,
Dana

Illustration Friday-Pattern

I created this painting in my kraft paper sketch book with gouache. This is my first IF submission. Pattern- It resonated with me because I designed patterns for many years as a surface designer. It was quick and fun. I hope to feel inspired with next weeks word.

Painting and a Sketch book page

The top pic is a page from my sketch book. The bottom one is a painting I did based on another page from my sketch book. I am not so happy with it. Not sure if it is too flat and lacking something that the original sketch did. And maybe I just feel that today and will like it tomorrow. :)

Hello

I hope everyone had a great weekend. The weather here in NY has been splendid. Yesterday I took the kids to Truck Day. They had a blast. They got to sit in the big trucks and blow the horns. Today we went to the farmers market and ate cookies and explored the community garden.

My husband and some very generous family and friends are replacing our roof, the roof with 3 layers!! So I have been super busy with the kids. My little guy is sick and I am hoping he feels better tomorrow so he can go to school.

We are all adjusting to him going to school. It has gotten easier now. Still weird that there is this whole other part of his life that we are not a part of. His sis misses him and wants to go to school as well. Soon enough baby girl.

So between school, play dates and runny noses I haven't been creating so much. I started working on my blackwork embroidery and I felt it wasn't coming out right so I stopped. I am doing a pattern that I did last yr. as a pin cushion that I gave to my mom. She is going to bring it over this week so I can take a look at it and see what I am doing wrong with it.

I also printed out these by Alicia Paulson. I have no idea if I will be able to do these or not but I am feeling so excited to try.

I do have ideas for more paintings and the sketch above is just a quick sketch with some ideas to explore further.

This week begins the e-course Life in Fish Bowl with Marisa from Creative Thursday. I can't wait for this to start. I can't wait to see what she covers. I feel so ripe with possibility lately. There are so many truly inspiring women artists and designers out there and I feel so thankful that I am able to read about and learn from so many of these wonderful artists on a daily basis via the web. In my "real" life I don't have the creative network that the web offers so to read along on their journey is incredible. ( If they are a mom as well, even better. ) I have a post coming soon about being a mom and an artist.

I hope your week is a great one filled with many creative possibilities. MAKE ART.

Sketchbook painting and artist

I painted this with gouache right in my sketchbook. The paper gets kinda wrinkly and it was a quick one but I am happy with it. I think I am going to do a similar one on watercolor paper. I have been so inspired by many artists lately for different reasons and I keep wanting to mention them so here is one (will get to more soon):

Kelly Rae Roberts- She has a blog right here. She is also the author of Taking Flight. I haven't read the book yet but it is on my wish list! I have been reading her blog regularly for awhile. I enjoy her art and her wonderful words of inspiration along with beautiful photos. She shares her journey as creative woman who has had success but also still has slumps and doubts just like the rest of us.

P.S. Just noticed that if you have a pic that runs horizontally and you want to enlarge it, it gets cut off. Guess there isn't enough space in the layout.

Giving them wings

I haven't posted in awhile I know. My son started pre-kindergarten on Thursday. He did so great! No problems with leaving me and he even takes the bus home. I let him because it is all 4 yr. olds and we are the first stop. So he was great and I had a little bit of a hard time. It is his first time to go to school and it really feels like I was just holding a newborn and now he is off and running. Where did the last 4 yrs. go?

It is really so great to see him doing so well and I really couldn't be happier for him. It is just strange.... feels like there is just something missing when he isn't with us. I have been told that it will get easier and at some point I will look forward to him leaving the house. So we will see.

I am working on a new banner for the blog. One with apples... tis the season. Also, I am going to post a painting I did in my sketchbook tomorrow. Have you read Somerset Studios new magazine Green Craft? I went to Borders yesterday to read some of the new magazines and this one is just great. Check it out if you are interested in green crafting.

Colors

Worked on some colors last night.

test

This is a test! Only a test! I just found this blog post about enlarging your pics and for me it is pretty easy. You can do it right as your are uploading from your computer and it was just two steps. Give it a try. I am not a person that knows anything about html and I could follow it.
I also found this blog that has lots of great info for designing your blog.

Finished!

Gouache, 8"x10" on hot press watercolor paper.

I finished my painting. The mint isn't as bright as it is here. I enjoyed this one and I love working with gouache again. I made it so it could be a painting for the wall but also I can turn it into a repeated pattern.

Also, I learned how to make these LARGE blogger photo posts here. There is also this post that teaches you to enable the large photos for good but I haven't had a chance to try it. I read about in on Gennine's blog. The first way is pretty simple but it isn't set forever.
ETA-Just realized the large photos didn't work!! I guess it was just too easy. Will try again later. I have to give the kiddies a bath. ***Did it! Still think it can go bigger. Try again next time. AND it takes maybe to much time.

Flickr ARTISTS

1. Doodling (A3), 2. New plate design, 3. progress, 4. Watercolor Stripes, 5. VESTIDO XADREZ E PAREDE DE MOSAICO, 6. First week of September journal page., 7. YIP 365.112 : Studio Closeup, 8. blessed, 9. A Collection

First of all this took so long to make!! Ahhh! I used the Mosaic Maker for the first time and I don't know what I am doing wrong but it seemed to take too long to make. Does anyone else use Mosaic Maker with ease?

Well, so I decided to do a mosaic because if you are like me you love browsing Flickr and coming across a great artists work. So I thought I would share with you just some of the artists that I have discovered on Flickr ( a couple of them I may have read about on a blog). There are so many wonderfully talented people out there that daily I am blown away by the beauty that is created. Some of the artists I have read a bit more about on there blog and some are recent discoveries. So I hope you enjoy their work just as much as I do. And if you have favorite artist you discovered on Flickr leave a comment and let me know. I would love to discover some more great art.

Hello September

Welcome September! We didn't have much of summer here in NY. Lots of rain and cool air so it pretty much flew by. Now the weather is beautiful! Sunny and cool. I hope it lasts a bit longer.

My son starts pre-k next week. It is going to be a big change for all of us with the driving back and forth and not having him home with me all the time. I think he will love it and do fine and it will probably be harder for me then him.

I had entered the CRANE & CO. STUDIO LINE call for artists a month ago. I didn't have any of my designs picked. But I am curious to see how this line turns out. Should be exciting to see it.

Also, the Etsy shopped is now empty.

I did the above painting in my Moleskin watercolor journal using this color story and gouache paint. I am liking the direction of the color but I still don't feel like it is right. I am not sure if the grey needs to go darker or lighter and the mint, less bright. What do you think? Anyone, Anyone?

Floral Painting

I finished my painting and I just learned how to add a copyright mark in Photoshop. You can really learn anything from the internet. I am hoping to come back later with an ARTIST profile.
I hope your weekend is going well so far.

New Painting

I worked on this painting last night in the colors from the last color story( see below). It is fun. Not sure about the grey or green. May adjust them. But I do like the cocoa background. It is gouache on watercolor paper.

Color Stories: Linen+ Cocoa +Lime+ Pink+ Stone+ Lemon

A new color story today. I hope your weekend was great!

Ours was great. I just got the new Cloth, Paper, Scissors magazine. Love it! I am really enjoying the articles by Melanie Testa. Could be because we both attended the same school and studied with the same professors. But her journals are lovely and I now I am thinking of starting one in the new year. So many plans!

With fall just around the corner I keep thinking about yarn. I don't knit but I think I may start an embroidery. I know it isn't yarn but it is needle work. I did one last year and it is a bit meditative. I am also trying to decide on a way to make an advent calendar for my kids. It may take me until November to decide. There are many options out there and some are a bit time consuming. I do want it to be something we will use again but I also don't have tons of time to work on it. Will decide soon.

ARTIST: Maxine Sutton

So I just read about Maxine Sutton today on the Ink Lore blog and I was SO head over heels with her artwork that I had to post right away. Her color, texture, patterns!! Swoon. They are all wonderful. So happy to find her and her work. So inspiring. Go check out more of her work right here. I am heading back myself.

B+W Leaves

Good Morning! I finished my B+W Leaves last night. Painting is so relaxing. I do love the boldness of the black and white but now I am thinking of color.

Here is a quote from my CREATE sketchbook: " Can you hear it? Your right brain speaks to you- and guides you- in the subtle language of impulses, feelings, hunches and intuitions. " I get my ideas," said Edison, " by listening from within." - Zane Vaughn

I hope your day is a great one!

Color Stories: Citron, Teal, Mint, Grey

I REALLY love t his mix of colors. I LOVE color + painting.

Working on this

Worked a little on my painting. The small scrap on top is just the piece I practiced on before starting.

Color Stories: Pink + Green

This color story just came about by playing with color. Certainly it isn't anything ground breaking but I was testing out colors on one paper for another color story and actually I liked how these colors were working. I started putting my color stories into a sketch book. Either taping ones in or painting them right in the book.

Today I am cutting paper to do some paintings. I started drawing last night and will begin painting.

Tomorrow I am going to a friends baby shower and I can't wait. It is her first baby and I haven't seen her in a long time so I am excited to see her belly.

I have so many other color stories in me. I hope I can get them down in time.

Have a great weekend. And thank you to the few new followers to my blog. It is great to have you!

This afternoon

I worked in my sketch book today and my son worked in his. He drew a sunflower and I am still obsessed with leaves. That cup held my beverage of choice, coffee and the bowl held my son's afternoon snack, applesauce and cinnamon. This sketchbook I was working is so great. Every left side page has an inspiring quote about creativity and on the right side it simply says CREATE every day. And in case you were wondering I signed up for the life in the fishbowl course. YEAH!! I can't wait. I am a bit nervous for some reason but super excited. I hope your week is going great so far. I need to get busy actually making instead of reading about it, writing about it and looking at it!

Some things

Today my husband took my son out, my daughter took a nap for 2 hrs and I did this. Organized my paper. I have been cleaning, storing, rearranging things around here the past couple of days. It feels so good to get rid of things that are no longer right for you. I started an inspiration board as well. Clearing space for new things to arrive.
On another note. If you aren't already familiar with Marisa from Creative Thursday you need to run there right now! ( And then come back here of course :) ) She is a very talented artist who is teaching an e-course that starts this September and I REALLY want to sign up so I hope the money fairy shows up and I can. :) She has wonderful podcasts and a great blog. She is super kind and very supportive. So I may just take the plunge and sign up.
And this little quote I found on a walk through my village a few weeks back when they were having an art exhibit in some store fronts. Love it! I hope you are all having a great weekend!

Color Stories: Indigo Leaf Grey Lemon Pink

No words today... busy with the kids. Just wanted to post a new color story. I think I need to find a new camera. these pics aren't great. will probably edit them.

This course sounds great!

Multiple Streams of Income:
An Online Course

Begins September 7, 2009

Attention Artists and Crafters!

• Are you struggling to make a living doing what you love?
• Do you feel like you are working all the time and getting nowhere?
• Do you feel overwhelmed and confused about all the ways artists and crafters can make money?
• Are you always jumping from one idea to the next without following through on anything?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, this online course is designed for you!

Click the link to read more... Workshop

Funky Fabric Beads!

Last fall I tried really hard to come up with a great way to make fabric beads. I wasn't very successful. I tried stitching them ( time consuming and not easy) and I tried gluing (didn't look the way I intended) but I came across this version today and I thought it was just great and easy to do. I really want to try to make one. I realize it is probably a bit funky for most people but I think it could be super cute.



Funky Fabric Beads!

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Color Stories: Blue Charcoal Spice Sage Apple Raffia

I have a new color story today.. this one I didn't set out to working on.. I started in a different direction ( one I still will go back to) but ended here. Fall inspired for sure. Just a short month left of summer and I don't know if it is because this has been a cool summer here in NY or what but I feel a bit excited for fall to come. So I used old lace, a piece of wool, colors that were already painted, a piece of a security envelope and some embroidery floss. These are so fun to make. I love working with color. I could do it all day. The possibilities are endless and it is so exciting to see what will happen to one color when you put another color next to it. I hope you have a great weekend!