WIWO Wednesday - It's What I'm Working On.

Today I'm working on my tan. In Las Vegas. I promise to have a more interesting WIWO next week :)

Here is where I am this week.

WIWO Wednesday - It's What I'm Working On

I received some incredible cards in the mail this week. They are made completely out of fabric, felt, threads and yarns.

Today I'm trying to figure out the best way to show them in my home. I had to photograph them though, to show you.

I am so in love with them both.

"Enchantment" by Kathy McElroy 

A close-up of "Enchantment." I love fiber arts.

This one appears to be hand-stitched (aside from the edges) by Joan Flynn in Australia. 

The details here are amazing! It must have taken her hours to make this. I feel so fortunate to have received this.

Revisiting My Mandala

On WIWO Wednesday this week I showed you a mandala that I've been working on in my mini journal.

I got a lot of feedback from you Lovelies about whether or not to outline each section in black. Some of you were on the fence just like I was, and most of you said to give it a try.

I did it! And I'm REALLY happy with the result.

What do you think?

I think it's much crisper now, and I'm a lot happier with it. Thanks so much for your suggestions!

WIWO Wednesday - It's What I'm Working On.

So if you've been reading my recent posts, I've been working hard on a 16-page book inspired by Teesha Moore.

It's been fun and challenging coming up with that many different way of expressing myself. As always, I'm in a major rush to get it done. I'm more of a "finished product" person than a "process" person. Sometimes this can be good if you're working on a deadline, but most of the time I feel like I miss out on some things as I whip by them in my process...

Anyway, I decided to do a big mandala for the front cover. I am still working on it, so this really is an in-progress post. I've designed it so that it is not centered and so that it flows over to the inside flap and back cover of the book as well.

Here is a sneak peek:

I'm trying to decide if I should outline each different element in black to really define it. I think that the colours look a bit yucky like this and that a black outline would crisp them up and make the entire design pop.

What do you think?

WIWO Wednesday - It's What I'm Working On.

Zombie Girl

Materials: Magazine clippings, acrylic paint background, felt pen, alphabet stamps + Stayson black inkpad

WIWO Wednesday - Postcard Swap Prep - MY Postcards

I'm getting my groove on to make 10 postcards!

This is my inspiration - blue, green, white and purple fabric. 

I love watching watercolours move and bleed as they dry... Isn't this pretty?

Even though I used watercolour paper, the cards still curled up when I applied the paint to them.

I've decided to make 12 cards so that I can send the two extras to some special international friends :)

How's your process going?? Post links to your postcards in the comments section so that we can all see!

WIWO Wednesday (on Thursday) - preparing my cards for the postcard swap

Have you registered for the International Mixed Media Postcard Swap yet? So far there are 6 countries participating. Is your country represented? Send me an email to enquire!

Here is a sneak peek of some experimenting that I'm doing in preparation for my cards. By using watercolor paints, black pen and my sewing machine, I'm pushing the term mixed media over the edge!

Celebrating International Monkey Day (A Break From WIWO Wednesday)

It's true. Today is Monkey Day. And in order to celebrate Monkey Day, I'd like to share the following from the Monkey Day Official Website.

How do I celebrate Monkey Day?

 

In whatever monkey themed manner you deem appropriate. Dress in your favorite simian attire, talk like a monkey all day long, throw a monkey themed party, send some monkey greeting cards, draw a monkey comic, or perhaps give a monkey themed gift, or maybe even give to your favorite simian charity. (Do)whatever you find most appropriate without being arrested.

In honour of Monkey Day, I'd like to recognize monkeys around the world for their cuteness, their thumbs and for their unfortunate involuntary contributions to science.

Did you know that many monkey species are endangered? Have a look at this website to find out more about how man's closest living relative is on its way to extinction.

Did you know...

- a group of monkeys is referred to as a mission or a tribe?

- monkeys are sometimes used as service animals for the disabled (similar to seeing eye dogs)?

- the first monkey in space was Albert II who flew in the US-launched V-2 rocket on June 14, 1949?

- monkey brains are eaten as a delicacy in South East Asia, China, and Africa?

- the three monkeys in the proverbial "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil" are named Mizaru, covering his eyes, Kikazaru, covering his ears, and Iwazaru, covering his mouth?

WIWO Wednesday - It's What I'm Working On.

These past few days I've been working a lot in my art journal.

Here is what I've been working on: just something fun inspired by a magazine ad that I saw for some brand of brassiere.

Materials: watercolour paints, coloured markers, envelope (background w/elephant motifs), black crayon, magazine cut-out.

WIWO Wednesday - It's What I'm Working On.

Today I want to show you what I've been doing with my new Crayola Twistable Crayons.

I love using crayons in my journalling, and these ones are great since they have plastic covers. My hands never get that sticky,waxy feeling and I don't have to worry about peeling the paper off when I want to expose new wax.

Here are a couple of pages from my art journal.

A collage to embrace Winter.
I coloured around a lot of my magazine clippings with different crayon colours.



A Crayon mandala - I love how you can vary the brightness with crayons by pressing hard or lightly.

 Remember, crayons are CHEAP and they can be found pretty much everywhere from dollar stores to gas stations. They're a great tool to have in your art journalling toolbox. I bought mine at Toys R Us when we were in Oregon.