Sock-a-versary!

My Sock-a-versary is March - so I started a new pair! Pomatomus by CookieA. Photos are kind of hard today - it's very dark outside. No rain yet but it's supposed to. Anyway, had to use the flash so you could see the patterning.
Toe up
Magic loop on #0 Addi Turbo circular
Shibui Knits Sock - colorway 323




Fun pattern! Oh - the lifeline is the white string across the toe. It just makes frogging easier (should I need to - who me? LOL!) The little dangle is my marker when I was doing toe increases. I'll be doing a PGR short-row heel (my fav).

Handspun!

This is a small skein of yarn. Yes, but an important small skein of yarn.
This is my first supported spindle handspun, fine, Navajo plied yarn in years! And if it's partner spindle-full is at least this ok, I might knit socks out of it! Short socks, but socks!

CCC #35

I decided to make an ATC for the last challenge! It just sort of happened. I started getting out "stuff" and - voila! I was in the zone.

Mostly Tim Holtz supplies - spinner and sticker, grunge board rectangles, Adirondack spray inks (eggplant and cranberry), phrase stamp, background paper (layer in the back). First layer of background is some paper I made and photocopied (it's kind of lumpy). The metal pieces with words I've had for a while.
 

This was fun! I hadn't made an ATC in a while and now I think I'm on a roll....

Art Journals Ready to Travel!

Just finished painting/spraying the backgrounds on these 2 art journals. I made both - the one on the right is ala Teesha Moore - from 1 sheet of watercolor paper. The link is to her video tutorials.

The journal on the left I made a bunch of a while back (after a class) and haven't used them all yet. This one has a polymer clay medallion on the cover and a leather sewn binding. Also with watercolor paper pages.

I used Adirondack Color Wash (Ranger) sprays. I finally got the nozzles to work - these are the old bottles. I have six colors. I plan to get more after this! The sprays and stencil technique is great! I didn't want to stop once I got started but - had to let pages dry every once in a while!

This page is from the alaTeesha journal. Oh, that's a Tim Holtz clock mask. I also used some stencils (templates) from Crafter's Workshop.

These three pics above are also from the alaTeesha journal. If you watch her videos, you'll see her design has flaps. Not sure I will do this one again. Not crazy about the flaps. But it was quick and in an emergency (yes, artists' have emergencies!) it would be great knowledge to have. So, it goes in my art box of ideas.

This page is from the leather journal. I've already started some stamping.

Two of the above pages have a little problem I'll have to work out - blobbing in the center. It's from too much ink/paint and not waiting for things to dry....uhm..hmmm. Patience is virtue.... And the center one's pages stuck together (again - patience is...). I'll fix it when I'm journaling.

Well, I can't show you ALL the pages but you get the idea. I'm being influenced by Teesha Moore's style, Dyan Reaveley's style of working and also by Dina Wakley.
Feels great to be ready to stamp and keep going. They can travel with me now! Can't wait to pack them into my Tim Holtz messenger bag (see a previous post!) and take a road trip!

CCC #34 and The Martins Return

We've had a Martin House for several years now and this morning, I heard a familiar song as I went out to check the mail. In the backyard, there was Mr. B (for Beardsley) sitting in front of his usual opening - that wasn't open. You see, in the winter we close the house to keep out the sparrows.

He asked (singing sweetly) for me to open up! After saying hello, I said "I can fix that if you..." and he flew off. 3 martins circled overhead while I took down the house, opened all the holes and put the house back up. Then they flew low over my head - singing what I hope was "thank you" and proceeded to fly away toward the creek where I hope they had a nice lunch.

So, in honor of the Martin clan returning from Brazil for the year, I made this tag.

This covers the Compendium of Curiosities Challenge #34 - the Dimensional Collage Fragment technique from page 63 of the book. I used Tim Holtz paper and cut a tag using TH tag die and my Vagabond (love this thing!) Used TH stickers, flying bird (Ideology) and some older pieces from TH - "distressables and doo-dads" that was put out by Design Originals. Yes, I've been hoarding TH stuff!

The paper in back of the fragment was from an old dictionary, rubber stamped with a small bird in silhouette. I was stuck on this challenge until this morning when I heard my Martin friends! Now, I hope the rest of the clan arrives here safely, too.

My Tim Holtz Twitter Prize and CCC #33

I was awarded one of 4 Tim Holtz Limited Edition CHA 2011 Messenger bags in a Twitter giveaway by Mario just before they left for the UK! I'm reading along on Twitter when I had to back up - wait - that's - - ME!!! Pretty Cool!          
                                      (to enlarge photos, right-click and open in a new window)

The shoulder strap was so long, the bag hung down past my knees! Well, me being me, I had to do something.

Some folds and quick cross stitches took up the strap and left a loop for my large, old split ring (from my Dad's stash) which holds the key from my first car (Ford Pinto!); a piece of old hardware on antique silver ball chain (don't know WHAT this thing is - but it has it's own green patina and threads on one end - also from my Dad's stash - thanks again Dad!); a TH "Journey" Philosophy tag on a large jump ring; a TH gear and timepiece on copper ball chain. All of these things have meaning for me and I will enjoy hearing them jingle.

The 4 and the 7 (lucky and significant numbers for me) are TH metal numbers and I used the CCC #33 challenge of Altered Metal Alcohol Inks on page 56 of the book on them. Colors used: Butterscotch, Caramel and Rust. Kind of sounds like a weird ice cream topping!

I even know how I'm going to use the bag. Yes, I am going to USE it! Why have it sitting in a box or a drawer?? It's a lovely bag and it wants to be used. I fell in love with Dyan Reaveley's Art Journal style when I saw some of the CHA videos of her demos. I have done altered books and I love the feel of the pages after they've been decorated - all thick and substantial and all. It's been a while since I've done any and now I can't wait to start a new book trying some of her techniques!
So - this means that I will carry the art journal-in-progress and the box of tools/materials in my TH Bag.
 
When I layed the bag on my work counter, my Vagabond tried to get in it! I caught it just in time.

Once again, Thank you Tim! Thank you Mario!

Romantique Valentine Box

My "Romantique Valentine Box" is finally done! The glue dried enough to take it outside for last light photos. It was a bit windy, but I managed.

The box wanted to be shades of white. I had some papers from years ago by Hot Off The Press and they were perfect! I edged it with Tim Holtz tissue tape, punched the corner papers from parchment, and hunted for a knob for almost a week before deciding to make my own!

I edged the box with my own tatting and added a tatted butterfly, stamped metal heart, copper-colored veined leaves, metal corner charms (aged with Pitch Black dabber and wiped off), Prima/Petaloo-stacked flower in shades of snow white to ivory and a glittery bling brad center to the top.

The knob has a story. I painted the little wood knob white, aged it, then was stuck. I was standing there thinking and playing with a piece of TH tissue tape when I looked down and a word jumped out at  me! Dream. Then another word and another until I had a 4 word phrase!

Mind - Dream - Idea - a Creation.

All from scraps of tissue tape! I sealed the knob with Diamond Glaze (would have used Glossy Accents - but don't have any right now) and as it dried, I played with it until it looked OLD. Like I remember some knobs in my Grandmother's house used to look. I even remember how they felt!

Hanging from the knob is a butterfly charm on ribbon, satin and organza. The front metal piece has a stone heart. This came off of a hair clip! Knew I saved it for a good reason.

The inside of the box has a bird. There are "Love notes" postcards and a Mini Album that will go inside. More on those later.

I almost put wood feet on the box, but these Tim Holtz feet were perfect after all! I really enjoyed making this and I'm sure will make more.


The design for this box is by Paper Engineer Extraordinaire Laura Denison. She does Ustream classes and sells kits and patterns. Laura is a genius! She has received high praise from the Guru of Grunge himself, Tim Holtz. Go to her blog to see what she made for his Ideology booth at Winter CHA 2011. Awesome artwork!

Compendium of Curiosities Challenge 32

This is my first entry into this Challenge from the Tim Holtz book of the same name. Lots of fun! I used all TH stamps and made a foam stamp from the Heart with Wings die. Prima Flowers and bling. TH "Love" ticket, the crown from the same Heart die - cut from corrugated paper I save out of the tuna boxes on display in the grocery, Distress Inks - 3 reds and Dusty Concord (just got this one - had to use it!) and a TH Muse Token that says "Lifetime".
This tag honors Valentines Day (I made it on the 14th) and the 35 years my hubby and I have been married.
You can join in or just view others' projects by going here to Studio L3.
Great fun! I just wish I had participated in this Challenge sooner!

Tatting comes out of the box!

Ah, tatting - "Hen and Chickens" pattern. My favorite easy pattern! Haven't tatted in a while. Hands have not forgotten! I can even still tat without looking.

I am trying to get all my tatting into one box in my attempt to de-clutter in the studio. Making a bit of progress but am still behind on my to do list.

Darn to do list keeps breeding when I'm not looking!

Mini Version of...

a Snowman! Didn't get much but we did get SNOW! This little guy is about all I could get after the sun has been out all day. Most of the snow has melted away. It was fun watching the birds fight over the feeders this morning. The cardinal pair were top dogs of course.
So - I get to say "yes, I DID make a snowman"!