Collages

Although Advent is over, I am still working in the Advent Journal. I took the wire binding off and have three loose leaf rings on there--for now. I made prayer beads and strung some of them on the rings. Here are the newest collages. I can't seem to get enough of the images of National Geo and Arch Digest. These are essentially glue book type collages. I will however re-size them and they will go out as post cards. I send a lot of postcards. Post cards are like tweets for me. I just write a short message about myself and send it out, like people are really interested in what I am doing!. Tweet-tweet!

Farmhouse Evolution

I have not been making art for sometime. I have been knitting dishcloths and they continue to de-stress me. But finally I was able to work on an advent journal. The picture is significant because I did grow up for some years in a farmhouse. And the farmhouse and the people in it and around it made a lasting and significant impression on me--and not in a positive way. So the farmhouse impression is evolving into something positive, as evidenced by this piece.

New scans

One of the many things I wanted to do this summer was to upload scans of a vintage nursery rhyme book with the sweetest pictures! I uploaded them to Picasa and they are in the slide show on the left. They were scanned at 100 dpi resolution. if you are interested in them please feel free to download and use in your art.
Good luck!

And in other news...

AZUSA

Motorists stop to grab cash

Cash thrown onto a freeway by a 56-year-old man whom authorities described as emotionally disturbed caused a small traffic jam Sunday as drivers stopped their vehicles to pick up the bills.

California Highway Patrol officers discovered about 10 people outside their cars attempting to collect the loose cash on the westbound 210 Freeway near Grand Avenue just after noon, Officer Anthony Martin said.

About the same time, the man who tossed the money walked into the nearby Azusa Police Department and told officers he wanted to commit suicide, according to Lt. Steve Hunt.

Los Angeles County fire officials took the man to a hospital for further evaluation, Hunt said.

Motorists who picked up money were asked to return it to Azusa police or the CHP's Baldwin Park office

But seriously folks! I found another one! A board book with all the backgrounds and some pictures it! I think I get much more enjoyment out of making the books than filling them! Eeek!On the left is a scan of the inside of the book. On the right the front and back covers. It is six spreads. Good Grief!

Blue bound Book

I am cleaning up the art room and I found a book I covered and did backgrounds for pages. But now I can't remember why I made such a blue book! So I am hoping someone from the altered books group sees it and wants it. The left is the cover. The right is a spread that I popped on the scanner.The spread is tissue paper over clear gesso over several pages glued together. It is an old children's reading book.

Thrift Store Day!

Yesterday was Thrift Store Day. I am trying to go to the Thrift Store every month around the first. When I realized the first was on Saturday and I didn't want to go on Saturday, I decided the 31st was an all right date! So I invited my friend the adorable Ms. S, who wishes to be anonymous because she does not want her daughters to know that she went shopping at thrift stores. (I told her they will sooooo grow out of that--but I understand). First we went to BC Cafe for Eggs Benedict. I thought that Corky's had better Eggs Benedict, but I think BC won out! Fabulous! Then we went to the relatively new thrift store on Central: What I call the Three Way Thrift Store North. We found tons of cute clothes! And I found some Christmas fabric to make fabric flowers and a door knob. I am not paying retail for stuff like that! Then we went to the Three Way South, which is still on Central but way south. We found more cute clothes! Then we went to the Bargain Box in Covina and I found this fabulous purple silk, never worn, Asian style, Chaus blouse! It was $4.00! But the deal of the day was for Ms. S. We found a beautiful suede jacket in red that fit perfectly and was originally from Nordstrom for----wait for it---five bucks! She definitely got the deal of the day! We finished at the Assistance League where the nice lady was helping us. And Ms S. found more clothes! I found two books and some eyelet lace. From there we made a stop at Fresh and Easy. And then to Walmart to buy a curtain rod, since there weren't any at the thrift stores.By this time, Ms. S. was hungry so we went to Legends in Glendora and had dinner. Of course, I had onion rings and of course, later on I was sick. I need an intervention from fast food!
It was a successful thrift store day, and now on to the laundering of all the clothes!
I will post pictures later.

If this is what it's like to be retired...

So since I have been off work, I have been working harder than at work--okay maybe not, when I think about the Kinders and the Firsts and their energy. I wanted to work on some projects that would stretch me as an artist, and I have been doing that. Here's a painting I did:
Besides the paintings, I made fabric flowers (pictures to follow tomorrow). And...I cleaned behind the refrigerator and found lots of disposable plastic ware that I had washed anyway and they had fallen behind when they were drying. And I washed the curtains in the kitchen and in the laundry room. On the swear-o-meter, I was at a full 10 because the bracket was loose. I found another bracket, put it in, but did you know that curtain rods (those metal kind) don't fit the the brackets sometimes??? So now I need a new curtain rod.
But, on the Handyman meter, where I am usually a minus 7, I am at least a 5 because i put in a door knob! The door knob on the laundry room door has been off forever and I found one at the thrift store for $1.99. So I finally put that on. I am such a Handywoman Goddess!
So although I was going to wash all the curtains, I am exhausted and I need to clean up from the fabric flowers. So I am going to quit handywomaning for today and wash curtains on Saturday.
Obviously the only reason to work is to afford a housecleaning service, so that when you ARE home, you have this nice clean place to be. So I am not going to retire any time soon.

Soul Journal

This summer I wanted to start Sarah Whitmire's Soul Journal prompts. (You can find her prompts here: http://www.souljournaling.com/prompts.php). I thought it would help jump start my creativity after a long dry spell. what I found was that the prompts set me in a new direction. I did all the prompts and then wanted to start again. She has an advanced workshop, but I didn't think I was ready for that. I wanted to explore the first set of prompts again. So I had to alter two books to contain the new Soul Journal. I have always wanted to cover a book in canvas and then paint on it. So I did! I used regular canvas from the fabric store and I didn't wash it (although I am going to do that with the next project). I had some tissue paper with a design i just loved, so I used that for the inspiration.
Then, because I can't seem to do just one thing, I covered another book with a Nick and Nora pajama top that I found at the thrift store. I loved the print and I arranged the top so the buttons are on the front. I tried to duplicate the print on the inside cover and I added a pocket. I had a lot of fun making the books and now I am looking forward to actually working in them!

The Book of the Tabernacles

I just finished and uploaded pictures of an altered notebook that I used for a Lenten Art Journal. I will show it at the St. Martha's Art Show next week. I was inspired by an artist on the altered books yahoo group who made a loose leaf notebook into an art journal. I started these pages in a bound book, but I didn't like the look. I found a hair dressing training notebook at the thrift store (for $1!), and realized I could tear out the pages and insert them in the notebook. The pages are melted crayons with beeswax to seal. The images are from 2 religious supply catalogs. I inserted some text and images on coasters from a restaurant and they hang at the edge of the cover of the book. The book cover is gessoed and painted. I love seeing the potential beauty in things that are ordinary!

The Mojo is back!

Yes, folks the dishcloth mojo is back! I have done two just recently and will upload pics later. I am ready for another one. And Stanley the wonder dog is groomed finally. And Little League will be off for two weeks. And my report cards are finished and turned in. So life is good!
I have been following the thread of a group that is into Zentangles. I have started these little obsessively addicting doodles and am having difficulty stopping! They are so fun to do and meditative. I finished one with watercolors but didn't like it. Then did one in colored pencils--much better!

I succumbed!

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2009

I succumbed!
My dishcloth mojo is not working right now! I have started and torn out four dishcloths. I am now starting another one that is so far working! Good Grief! If I don't make dishcloths will the world go on??? And I succumbed to taking the Austen test and found out (big surprise) that I am Emma. Of course, I am the knitting dishcloths Emma, though.
In other news, Stanley, the Wonder Dog, has been with me one year officially. To celebrate I had him re-vaccinated with the three year rabies shot! Yes, I spared no expense! And in case I ever can take him to Doggy Day Care, I got the Bordatella vaccine as well.
What can I say? I am a paragon of virtue and a dishcloth mama!

Pink and white hearts lead to a life lesson

Just in time for Valentines Day...a pink and white heart dishcloth! As I am knitting this one I decided that for me it is an expression of faith. Maybe the only expression of faith I am capable of right now. I start with the cast on and believe and hope and have faith that the directions will lead me to the design in the book. This one is called "Knit and Purl Hearts" and the knits and purls change with every row. So I have to believe that the pattern will emerge and that I am doing it correctly, since until the end, it's not that evident. So in addition to having a perfect (or perfect looking) object, it got there by faith. This is a life lesson I need.

I need faith that what I am doing to help first graders will pay off--if not now--later. But I need to strictly follow directions for the work. Oh yes! 

Saturday is finally here!

I have finished another dishcloth. Pix will be uploaded later. But this one is red, white and blue stripes with a starfish design in it. Patriotic, no?

This week many teachers got a golden handshake letter from Personnel. Unfortunately--or fortunately--I didn't get one. So that means I will be staying in education two more years after this. Wow!

And I went to the doctor to get a mammogram referral and my blood pressure was too high. Big Surprise! This was after rainy day recess and lunch and the principal telling us (in a nice way, really) that we must all do the AR goals and have our kids start taking AR tests. This stressed me out because AR is teacher intensive. So I am going to devote a week to teaching the firsts to do a lot of the prep work and sign in themselves. This will only be possible because of my instructional assistant. I am fortunate to have her. 

I am fortunate anyway. I just get so stressed and defensive! Must stop that! I have a good job. I am good at my job. I like my co-workers. I am able to come home and knit dishcloths! What more could a person want????

Inauguration!

I am exhausted from the excitement of the inauguration! What a treat and a triumph! I let the students watch the actual ceremony and left it on but muted to see the parade. There is so much hope with this president. I can't wait to see what happens! 

Rubber Ducky, You're the One

This is the ceramic Rubber Ducky I found at the thrift store. It was in mint condition and I made two dishcloths to put in the base. I am working on one more. Then  I thought I would wrap it in cellophane. Cute, no? 

I am going thrift store shopping today with the eventual owner of the ducky. We are both in our own ways very stressed about the pressures being put on us as elementary teachers. My job evaluation depends on five and six year olds! The good thing is that I am in a very positive environment with an administrator who is realistic about goals and objectives. Gracias a dios!

But others are not--like my friend. So we will go shopping for crap today and forget our troubles for a few hours.  

Dishcloths, thrift stores, new years, and me!

Although I have tried to think why I need to knit dishcloths, I still haven't come up with a good answer! I have done several since I last posted. I will put up pics later. But there is something soooooo satisfying about sitting down and knitting two or three (or twenty rows) and having this perfect square object in cotton yarn completed in practically no time! 

I decided during Christmas break to go to my favorite thrift stores monthly to see what I could find under $20. Right now I am looking for a chest of drawers--under $20. I want to organize the art room and put the chest in there to put large art supplies away. I went to two of my favorites on January 2nd and scored! I found some never worn (at least it didn't seem like it) tops and sweaters and got 7 items for under $10. I wore one of the sweaters to school and got lots of compliments on it. Then I found a ceramic rubber ducky vase. My friend collects rubber duckies for her downstairs bathroom, so I bought it and Yes! You guessed it! I am going to put some yellow and orange dishcloths in it and give it to her for next Christmas! I don't think she reads this blog, so I hope it will be a surprise!

And the new year always brings this need to resolve to improve. But this year I decided to let that all go. I am working on the issue of grief and if I can just get over the grief that will be enough for 2009. "I will be fine in 2009." To that end I am finishing my own self help book on grief. I think I have read enough self -help books and taken enough classes and courses and I am no longer going to let someone else tell me how to help me. I know what to do! And I also know that grief gets better when you do something! 

The other part of my 2009 "resolution" is to accept what the Course in Miracles says:"God has already given you everything." So I accept what God has given, acknowledge it and appreciate it.