Interesting Dude Mail Art

I am fortunate to be able to exchange mail art with many friends. Unfortunately I have fallen a bit behind on my Zentangles (sorry Beth and Leslie). I'm pretty sure once I get past my "big" presentation next Tuesday I will get back in the swing of things. I did manage to get my Mail Art for Jo out the door recently and this is what we did.

I happen to have two copies of this picture of an interesting dude (that's what I call him). What do you suppose this picture was for? Well I sent one to Jo and said "lets see what we both come up with"...

Jo did a wonderful, colourful piece - I knew I was in for a treat when the envelope arrived!

How cool is this - Jo does such a wonderful job with layering - go over to her post to read about her creative process : >

I went in a totally different direction. The first thing I thought of was Trains! I think he looks like some kind of  conductor. I kept to all original materials including the pages from dictionaries showing train signals and old train descriptions. The railway map in the background is from an old atlas. I did apply some gesso, inks and acrylic paint and, see on the edge, my experimentation with squiggly lines LOL...

I found this wonderful train picture on Graphic Fairy which I thought was perfect for the envelope front. 

The back uses more maps and the other half of the picture. I also did some stenciling - I got hooked by a FREE class you can find here called Use Your Words (thanks Jo for pointing it out!).  Lenna will be joining us which makes my SECOND team of three for exchanges - and I certainly don't mind 'cause I love art in the mail! Enjoy. Jewels (p.s. for those of you sending mail international from the States - there is now a "Forever" stamp for that....

(Mild) Rant and Preview

Some time last year I agreed to deliver a topic for program at one of our Quilting Guild meetings. March 2013 seemed way far off in the future at the time ....and here it is 1 week away from the big day, yikes! My rant is not about giving a talk on "Surface Treatments" - its about my own personal artistic process. I'm an over achiever and a perfectionist - two characteristics that do me well in my job but are totally horrendous when I am trying to be spontaneous. I fret about how "good" a piece is and am never sure when something is "done". Drives me nuts. Of course if I could just quit my day job and do art all day and night maybe there would be less insanity - but some how I don't think it would make much difference. Of all the things I do in a given week I am amazed I can squeeze my art time in (but I absolutely do!).

So rant over, here is a small preview of one of the techniques I will be explaining. I love making fabric paper - you can read earlier posts here and here. 

For this batch I used pages from an old gardening book and spring colours (because I am absolutely fed up with snow, snow and cold temps LOL). I made two birds (one for a draw I will have the night of my presentation - so be there if you are local : > ) that can be used as a gift tag or an ornament. Mine will hang on one of my vintage framed pictures. I'm hoping everyone will enjoy what I share - lets just say there won't be much about quilting! Enjoy. Jewels. 

Exchange

One of my favorite blogs to visit belongs to Frieda in Scotland. She posts wonderful pictures of the surrounding countryside and estate gardens. I have to say I am extremely jealous, especially now as we are still under snow here in Michigan while snowdrops are starting to making an appearance in other parts of the northern hemisphere. She also is a gifted artist - creating wonderful quilts of all sizes using different techniques and materials.  

Recently Frieda finished a quilt and lamented the need to refresh her stock of old white buttons. I offered to send her some from my stash (I have LOTS of buttons) - the only thing I requested in exchange was a piece of her art work. 

And she very kindly agreed! Bird Inchie Quiltie arrived recently. It is 8 x 8 with 25 inchies on a lovely background of blue and white fabric. There are small beads all along the border. I love it! Thanks so much Frieda...Enjoy Jewels

Calendar Collage March

I'm trying to be ahead of at least ONE thing I've committed to this year LOL. I have actually enjoyed recording daily events in my Art Calendar.

For March I did not want to do the "predictable" - green, shamrocks, kites....I found this great ad in an old Life magazine.

My nephews were really into bowling growing up. Me, not so much though I would never say no to a bowling party (if there is a good glass of Chardony to improve my technique :) )...

I used acrylic paints for the background and just got slap happy.

Some stenciling with "things around the house". My daily entries are supposed to be bowling balls - what do you thing? Enjoy. Jewels

Letter Love - Lesson 1

I am trying a wonderful new online class with Joanne Sharpe. I am sooooooo behind LOL - there are 28 lessons - one for each day of Feb. And here is Lesson 1 that I finished last night.

Oh well, better late than never! Enjoy. Jewels

Where I Live Swap

I am participating in 52 Weeks over at The Creative Underground. We had a recent challenge to get TWO postcards showing "where you live", take one of the post cards and "art" it up and then post to one of the other 52 Weeks members. So here is what I came up with...

 My postcard and my inspiration (1954 ad from Better Home and Garden) - I know, my peeps would not be surprised.

It actually came out pretty cool - paint, stamping, collaging etc. Although I treated the shiny surface of the postcard I am keeping my fingers everything stays stuck.

But I also had to do an envelope to send them in - here is the back!

And the front!! I do apologize for the quality of the photos - my own computer is once again at Best Buy getting "fixed" so I am making do with alternate ways to get things posted...Enjoy. Jewels

The Tragedy

Seriously...

...bumped by a Cat!

At least that means I am a COLLECTable LOL.... (1961 set)...