IT'S A BLING DISINTEGRATION THING

Better late than never.

I've been itching to be a part of Seth's disintegration project (The Altered Page) and just managed to get it together in the past few days.

I decided that I would make use of some of the techniques I've been playing with lately. Heavy water color paper, heavy acrylic medium, copper, metal findings, stitching..........and just to see what will happen......some BLING. What do I hope will happen? It would be great if I end up with "vintage" bling. Perhaps some of the stones will fall out, rust will form, the finish will crack......a girl can only hope.

FLOWER SHOW-SHOW FLOWER

This piece began with the vintage ceramic flower in the center that I wired to a copper sheet and grew from there. I once again etched, drew, painted and stitched on the copper.



I went to the Philadelphia Flower Show on Monday during a snow storm. What a refreshing change from the winter weather, to step inside the convention center and see fresh flowers......everywhere.

A collage made entirely of flower and plant petals.

The theme this year was Bella Italia.

Fashion.

Another collage of real flower petals.

More incredible fashion statements with live plants.

A table I would LOVE to have in my house.

FRIENDLY FRENZY IN N.Y.C.

It's been awhile. I've been here, there and everywhere.

I just spent 4 days in New York with dear friends that share my love for the creative process. We all came with a variety of supplies and some ideas and went wild. No shows. No museums. No fancy restaurants......we did manage to get to a flea market and a closeout jewelry finding shop.

I've included detail shots and then the full piece. If you look closely, you will see broken jewelry pieces (LOVE EM), wire, stitching and my beloved copper that I have drawn and painted to compliment the metal pieces. I used wire and a variety of other means to attach everything to the copper and then stitched the piece to layered book pages and other papers.

I am attempting to come up with a name for this technique.......jeweled collage, jeweled assemblage, sculptural jewelry.......haven't quite "got it" yet.

I also used some vintage buttons.

We also tried our hands at handbags. I brought a copy of Cloth, Paper, Scissors Magazine after seeing an article in the latest issue. Alisa Burke created some AMAZING bags using recycled materials. Check out her work. We simply collaged on sandwich paper and sewed the edges together, adding found metal objects and buttons for a clasp.

I also printed out some of my work on canvas and lined it with fabric.


Another project had us making found object and recycled jewelry parts........jewelry.





Thank you , Joy.

In case any of you read the last post, I had a great time being WARM in Cozumel, Mexico for a few days and visiting friends in Florida

FALLING FOR YOU

"You have to walk carefully in the beginning of love;



the running across fields into your lover's arms can only come later


when you are sure they won't laugh if you trip." -Jonathan Carroll

Happy almost Valentines Day everyone!!! This quote seemed particularly appropriate as I was out walking my dog last Saturday, I slipped on the ice and had to take a little side trip to get my shoulder examined............my GOOD shoulder. I can't lift it, so I will need an MRI in a week when I return from a trip to a nice warm location, where I plan to sit and contemplate whatever comes to mind. Enjoy!!! and hasta la vista, mi amigos.

"G" -ARTFULLY BLOGGED IN THE YEAR OF THE OX

I have been continuing the process of  "illuminated manuscripts"  and asemic writing with my copper work and acrylic mediums, found objects and paint and  have really been enjoying the process.  I have lots of ideas that will take me in many different directions. Hopefully, spare time will show up soon and visit for awhile.

In the meantime, this is the letter "G".

Loud ......Chinese drum roll please.......................................................................................................

I am thrilled to say that there are two articles in the beautiful new issue of Artful Blogging magazine that have my name in them. One, is about my work in particular and the other is about the "Blogstock" gathering that I hosted last summer with a fabulous group of talented artists and writers.  Somerset Studio does a wonderful job putting their publications together.  

Yesterday, I had the good fortune to head up to New York and celebrate the Chinese New Year with some great women. My friend Jerri was celebrating a birthday, blogger friends, Elizabeth(About New York) (birthday last week) , Isabel (A Room of One's Own) , Susanna (Susanna's Sketchbook) , Leslie (Snips and Snails and Puppy dog tails) and Marie (Lost Aussie On the Loose) (birthday today!!), who I just met for the first time yesterday. We had a grand time watching dragons dance, firecrackers go off, art supply shopping and a wonderful lunch.......and taking photos, of course!

Happy Year of the OX!!!!!

ILLUMINATE , INAUGURATE

"So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth. " Iranian quote

Tomorrow is inauguration day. Let us all please send positive and peaceful karma to our new leaders in Washington.

I have drifted into an illuminated manuscript like realm with these pieces I have been working on. Watercolor paper, acrylics, gel medium  and copper.

........oooooppps. I snuck a photo in of my newly adopted puppy, Harley. I couldn't help myself.