This page is the backside of the artists' signature page. I didn't realize my sewing machine was going crazy back here, making all sorts of kinky loops. I left it as part of the page design.

Art Journal ...

Artists' signature page

First page of the journal - Kundalini, the origin of the Spark

Art Journal ...

Back end sheet:

“I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.” ~ Jack London

Paper Traders

A digital ATC I created for the Paper Traders' homepage challenge.

This is the original Fillmore poster I based my design on.

Folie A Deux ...

Another set of ATC's which form a pair ... this one of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo

Art Stamp

I finally had a rubber stamp made. It's 2.5 x 2.5", just right for ATC's. I had it made through Staples. I submitted the artwork on a CD and it only took one week. They sent it out to be done. The only drawback: I didn't know it was a self-inking stamp.
That means I'm stuck with the black ink it came with - oh well.

Another page from the traveling art journal.
Those are Georgia O'Keefe's hands.

“And so our mothers and grandmothers have, more often than not anonymously, handed on the creative spark, the seed of the flower they themselves never hoped to see -- or like a sealed letter they could not plainly read.” Alice Walker

Traveling Art Journal

Front End Sheet

Traveling Art Journal

This is the cover for my art journal for the "Traveling Art Journal" project, brainchild of Sharon at the Aussie Art Garage. The theme is "spark" and refers to the creative spark, that little jolt of pure electricity where all matter and ideas are conceived.

Altered Books and Such ...

Last August, I started an altered book, my first. I was new to ATC's, new to collage, but enthralled by the altered book concept. I chose a record album to alter because it had a cool, worn, red cover, and it came apart with screws. The book is themed "inspiration" and will be filled with all the places I get my inspiration: travel, dreams, art ... this is the cover. I put it aside and now I've taken it back out to assess. I think I need to remove the "unbelievable feats" tag, and perhaps work on the lettering in the title. I do like the painted extension of the image, though.

Altered Books and such ...

This is a two page spread from the album. I wanted to express how inspired I get while traveleing. The small painting at the left is a copy of a landscape I painted while on Martha's Vineyard last summer. The hand at the right projects out from the book's pages.

I haven't done much work with rubber stamps. I usually just add them at the end if I feel a piece needs more. But I bought a sheet of stamps from the Zettiology people and I thought this one was great. It was fun to color it in with various paints and colored pencils. I felt like I did when I was a kid and I got a new coloring book, LOL.
I always have a dilemna when I try to add text to a piece .... print it out? transparency? handwritten? alphabet stamps? I tried something different this time. I typed out the alphabet over and over with different fonts and printed out a couple of sheets. Then I used hole punches to clip the letters out. Time consuming, but fun.

Digital Collage

A member of our group, Paper Traders, created a rich, evocative collage using Photoshop. She so inspired me (thanks, Cynthia!) that I decided to try my hand. This is my first effort to create a traditional "collage" digitally. I tried to create the look of pasted paper and photos. It's really quite wonderful, having an infinite amount of images, patterns, photos, and "stamps" to use. I could get spoiled!

I created a new banner for my picture trail. I wish my collage work was as vibrant as my digital work. What do I need to do to accomplish that? Brighter papers, more intense paints, and sharper rubber stamping, perhaps?
Looks like I'll be going to the crafts store soon ;-)

The All American Pin Up
I cut up old "Modern Mechanics" magazines, circa 1934 and layered a sheet over the pin up girls. Then I cut an opening and folded back the corners. A bit of stamping and a kiss with lipstick completed the card.