Altered Books

I love altered book round robins! This is the latest spread for one of my round robins. I wonder if I will ever get over the apprehension that comes with working in someone else's book?? I haven't had much time for art lately after my husband's surgery, but I did make this one of my priorities.

A few things I've created

Sorry I've taken so long to post. My hubby had surgery at 0 dark 30 on wednesday morning and I'm finally getting into a rhythm of the 6 times a day therapy sessions. Everything takes an hour and a half every two and a half hours. I got behind the first day because I just hated to wake him so we didn't finish until 11:30 that night. I'm finally getting into the swing of it so I thought I would post a few more pictures.

For awhile I was making a lot of dolls. Here are three that I kept. The Tin Man, Scarecrow and Beast. Then I got into sculpting.

This santa looks suspiciously like my husband. His body isn't finished yet and my hubby is very anxious to see him completed.

And this is Belle. Doesn't she look like she's lived a great life?

Inside the Studio, continued

So apparently I still have a lot to learn about posting. I couldn't get it to accept any other photos. I must have run out of room. So while I investigate that, have a look at some more of my photos.

A set of upper kitchen cabinets that were turned into fabric storage. Jerry built a custom top for them.

Lower kitchen cabinets turned into great big drawers. Genius!

Some of my fabric.
Jerry built the button boxes to store my massive button collection.

One of my passions has been ribbon work.

An odd unit from a flea market, painted white makes a great display unit on the mantle.

The big comfy chair!

My inspiration wall!

Let me know what you think. I'll post more pictures tomorrow.

Inside the Studio

As promised today we're taking a little tour of my studio. I would like to get some feedback as to whether or not I should send pictures into Cloth, Paper, Scissors Studio magazine. I would love to send it into Where Women Create, but they use really established, well-known artists. And that is definitely not me! The first picture is the first thing you see when you enter the studio. This is an old dental cabinet that some guy was using to hold automotive parts. It was sort of white with lots of grease. My husband painted it pink for me and I now use it to hold rubber stamps.

Hanging above the dental cabinet is a cute frame that Jerry turned into a shadow box.

The Studio

I ran into my friend DeAnna today and she gently encouraged me to post more often on my blog. So DeAnna, this is for you. Since this blog is supposed to be all about artful endeavors, I've decided to start with my artful space. The first pictures are of the studio door that my husband just built. It's a dutch door using reclaimed wood and a vintage window. (Notice the cat door at the bottom.) The reason for the new door (I had a screen door there before) is that my husband will be having shoulder surgery on Wednesday and is looking at weeks of recovery so he will be watching a LOT of tv and since the tv is at the top of the stairs in the living room, I needed a way to block out the sound since I work primarily with music playing. Here's another view with the top open:

I LOVE my door and the finish feels like silk. My husband is amazing! He will build anything I can dream up and he has so much creativity of his own. Tomorrow we'll venture inside "The Studio."

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!

The art of k.c. willis

I fell in love with k.c. willis' art several years ago. She has such a wonderful, expressive, getting-to-the-heart-of-it way of designing that I just love. I joined one of her online tutorials and discovered she also has a wonderful teaching style. She is now offering 'in person' retreats. What a great opportunity to learn one-on-one from her. You can find the link to her retreat on the left side of my blog. Do check it out.

Mama's Hip Henna

I belong to this wonderful circle of very artistic and creative friends. We meet once a month for friendship, encouragement, discovery, enlightenment, laughter, sometimes tears, hugs, food...whatever we can think of! My life has profoundly changed over the last few years as a result of these friendships. We are, with one exception, over the age of 40. I am rapidly approaching being over 60 and I am the oldest member of the group, but hardly the wisest.

This month we decided we needed henna tattoos. Don't know why, we just did. This is my beautiful tattoo drawn by my friend Sue and it is so me! I think I will be sad when it's gone.

Kathleen

The Gift...

Saturday is my youngest sister's 50th birthday.  This textile collage is based on our grandmother's jazz band days in the late 20s and early 30s.   Grandma played the Souzaphone and three of the other ladies are her sisters.  Even in their 90s we fondly referred to them as "The Girls."  I used hand-dyed canvas to represent their strength and silk to represent their gentle spirits. 

My sister, Linn, received the gift of a wonderful singing voice.   Her musicality, no doubt having been handed down from "The Girls."  She has the gentlest spirit of anyone I know and a heart as big as all outdoors.  When Linn loves you, she really loves you!  And this is my gift to her for loving me.  Happy Birthday, Sweetie!

First Days

My first blog.  I have a lot to learn and I have no idea what to expect.  Baby steps.  My husband and I created a business 19 years ago called 'Traditions.'  It's all about our creative endeavors.  His is woodworking and mine have changed faces many times over the years.  Right now it's mixed media art, altered books, textile arts and just about anything that catches my fancy, with the emphasis being anything vintage.  This is my way of connecting with all the wonderful and creative people out in blog land.  It's a place where I will post whatever is in my heart at the moment.  Please bear with me as I make this journey into the unknown, it may be quite a ride.