I have read a lot about the wonderful trades that happen on art retreats, but thought just to sit it out and see what people trade on my first Art & Soul retreat. Then I thought again and decided to make collage packets and trade if anyone wants them. So for the last two days I have been creating paste paper and having just the best time with it. There is no pressure or creative block... just fun with colors, textures and patterns. After they were dry I stamped, stenciled, splattered and even tried the fancy stitches I have on my new sewing machine. I will pack them with some dyed paper towels and tags and hope that someone will approach me (because I could never do that). If I come back with trades I'll be sure to take a picture and show it.
After working on the 1" squares ACEOs seemed so big! I used my new lumiers on them and was frustrated when I tried to take a good picture. I couldn't.... The lovely, discreet sheen just doesn't show.
I saw these tiny collages for the first time on Tejae's blog.... after that on Chrysti's... and then I got bitten by the little square bug and had to try creating them. They are so sweet! But soooo tiny... I thought I knew how big 1" x 1" is, but you should have seen my face when I cut up my first piece of paper to that size! It was almost lost in my hand (as you can see on the photo).
A whole bunch of them can fit in the palm of my hand. They are like little jewels. I love them!
I didn't notice Chrysti's tutorial, so I made mine differently. First I cut two-ply cardboard into 1" pieces. Then I found out that the paste papers that I didn't like in their original 12" x 12" size looked perfect when cut to pieces. I attached them to the cardboard so I had a sturdy piece to work with.
I cut out a little viewfinder to help me locate the photos. It is a fresh way of looking at things... many things I thought would be good were extra big, and some big photos had nice details when I looked through my viewfinder.
Then it was a matter of cutting tiny pictures from books, magazines and my own artwork; finding interesting words in old books (that was fun!), gluing it all together and adding hand painted details. I used a toothpick and acrylics, gel-pens, Sharpies, dimensional paint, watercolor pencils and even gold leaf on some cards.
You can see baby me in one of the squares (sweet heart) and baby Hana (your reason?) on another square.
This is how I see dogs. I need to be properly "introduced" to them and then it's a different story. Then I create entries like this one here.
Now click here and go admire the real thing.
We visited the ZOO today and I managed to steal a few moments to scribble in my moleskin. I am too embarrassed to draw in public (because people like to look and I draw like a kindergartener) so I hide and scribble in a matter of seconds. It is extra bad but the point is - it doesn't matter how bad it is... whenever I sketch something I remember more details than a perfect photo shows. I don't know why but everything about the scene remains engraved in my mind. It is fun and rewarding and please try it sometimes and let me know how it felt.
I wanted to thank you for the emails and comments. I almost deleted the last part of my previous post because it was a little bit too private and painful at the moment... but I'm glad I didn't. It is so encouraging to read positive thoughts from cyber friends. It makes the world seem much friendlier.
Hana said that 'everyone' in school says that she's ugly... I'm sure that it's not true, but it bothers me that I can't protect her from the world. I don't understand children. It was much easier when they were babies and I controlled almost everything. I 'binged' on books in the library. One of the six books I chose is "Cliques - 8 steps to help your child survive the social jungle". I hope to learn something from it. The other books are "Creativity & Madness", "Sewing for Dummies", "The Fitness Kitchen", "Drawing - you can do it" & "Drawing people".
My first bag ever!!! It has transparencies and my ACEOs printed on muslin, crazy stitching with the coolest multi-colored thread, a flower-like decoration and it even has a lining (like a real bag)!!! I can't believe I made it! Not that it's that great, but because it's my first.
When I was a little girl I used to spend many happy hours at our neighbors house. I was thinking about her all day... She was a seamstress and had an old machine with a wheel on the side. There was also a big box of fabric scraps and I was allowed to take whatever I wanted. Unfortunately, I was too little to learn anything... and I never wanted to sew - until NOW! What possessed me - I don't know, but I just had to try this.
15" x 9" (straps are 15").
Secret. Removable spine. A hidden part is revealed.
"What we see depends mainly on what we look for."
I was browsing through Neiman Marcus catalog and admiring the photography... and I swear - I couldn't find the prices of items until I really looked. They are soooo high that I thought they were some kind of codes... It is ridicules... I had fun adding prices to build just one outfit (from underwear to a coat). You could buy several cars for the same price.... Anyway, as I mentioned - the photography is great and I decided to try the Inspire me Thursday challenge. It was too late at night to paint, so I sketched it. Then I sketched it again and finished the painting today (in my journal).
My English can pass fairly well when I write little everyday things. But when I want to go a bit deeper into some unusual subject I feel like a 10-year old. Suddenly I don't know any correct words that would help me to express what I feel. Oh well... believe me - I write much better in my language :-)
She has big feet.... but other than that is quite lovely...
Other than that - I am happy to say that I managed to clean my closet today AND make the boys and girl do it too! Not very creative but much needed.
