SODAlicious- no19 art journal challenge

IMG_2766, a photo by alteredstatesstudio on Flickr.

if you scrapbook or work in an art journal at all- you NEED to checkout a blog named SODAlicious. i always find inspiring posts there. they are doing a art journal challenge called "brainstorm." this post is my try at the challenge. i purchased my art journal that i made this post from Kasia- she makes the most amazing art journals and very detailed, amazing pages. 

i used acrylic paint, washi tapes, stamping, stencil, pencil, scrapbooking letters, a little sewing, and glimmer mist. the colors are some of my favorite.

IMG_2766

IMG_2766, a photo by alteredstatesstudio on Flickr.

bridesmaid flower- day 2 mixed media

IMG_2771, a photo by alteredstatesstudio on Flickr.

here is another flower..... i made like 9 flowers, but, will be using 7 for the wedding party......(i must be subconsciously thinking about spring....tired of the cold).

bridesmaid flower- mixed media

IMG_2774, a photo by alteredstatesstudio on Flickr.

so here is one of the mixed media flowers for the bridesmaids. i chose flowers because you can pick what you want- and the bride chooses who she would want for her bridesmaids. the petal paper is from a prayer book and the leaves are some of the same sheet music i used in the invitations. i used yupo paper and inks, washi tape and sewing. i will show a few more this week for anyone who would like to see a few more....

feeling fearless....

IMG_2762, a photo by alteredstatesstudio on Flickr.

 yesterday my daughter and i had hair appointments. i needed to cover the "sparkle" in my hair- i am not willing to just let those grey sparkles show just yet; and she was getting some high lights....so, while i was cooking and she was in the chair, i was looking at gossip and hair mags, and decided, i needed bangs. spur of the moment....they just looked so darn cute. probably on everyone else; but, what the heck? if i really don't like them, hair will grow and that is why bobby pins were invented.

the other fearless thing i worked on yesterday, were the bridemaid's gifts i was asked to make.....remember those? i decided that although i was liking them....the flowers were too plain and needed something. i hate that temporary moment of fear, that frozen state for just a moment before you touch the next move to the paper- and so, i began. with more ink, and more glimmer mists; and i found myself liking them even more that before (thank goodness!) and asking myself, what else should i do? and so, yesterday....i was feeling fearless. i will post some of these new flowers for you this week; as the freezing rain is falling down- darn winter.....

friday fill-ins

IMG_2749, a photo by alteredstatesstudio on Flickr.

1. wow, this last week has been sooooo cold here!
2.  artistic trivia- what could you not live without in your studio?
3. finally, i'm feeling better! this last week was terrible!!
4. using rubber stamps is all right with me. i want to try making my own....
5. sweet or savory: sweet....
6. washi tapes are new. and i want them all.....
7. and as for the weekend, tonight i'm looking forward to seeing family, tomorrow my plans include some basketball games, and sunday, i want to spend some time in my studio!

ink on yupo

IMG_2747, a photo by alteredstatesstudio on Flickr.

here was an experimental playing...i was playing with different inks on yupo paper. i couldn't quite decide at the time whether i liked the clean look of my flowers or if i like this messy one that i sewed on to help create the flower. i do like the washi tape by the flower stem....this one is not finished,  but, coming along...."cooking" if you will.

woman or man?....

IMG_2760, a photo by alteredstatesstudio on Flickr.

i apparently have been really sick this past week and finally went to the doctor on sunday to find out the good news was that i did not have pneumonia- only bronchitis with a pleural rub (which means when i breathe, and my lung moves, it sounds like sandpaper rubbing together....).

physically, of course, i am the woman; however, after 22 years of marriage, it is clear that i am the man in the relationship. my husband reminded me that he started insisting that i go to the doctor on thursday or friday for sure (this basically started on monday.....), and when he is sick, he lets it go only about 2 days, and then, he is into acute care to see what is going on and get checked on- not almost a week of being sick and just now thinking the only reason i am going to the doctor is because my chest is killing me and i can't breathe. oh, and not to mention the fact that my mom had also called sunday morning to see what was up, and when i said that i had not been feeling good and my chest hurt....my mom said, "get off the phone, and get to the doctor! i will call you later to see what you have!" so, with a husband and a mom telling this woMAN to get to the doctor.....off i went.

now on the couch today for a second day, not feeling too horrible, except my chest still hurts, and heaven help me if i have a coughing fit (oh, my aching back- my chest explodes with pain with that), but, hopefully getting better (i don't have time to just sit on the couch). 

are you the woman or the man in your relationship? i am the woMAN, and i am too busy to be sick, if i just keep plugging away and am still upright, then, i must still be ok; i am more the overall picture- but not really wanting the fine details and to get caught up in those; i don't like talking about feeling (cuz i am sure, i don't really have too many feelings anyway, so what is the big deal?!- and who wants to talk about them anyway!); and i like pretties, but, not too damn many....woman, man?

my bird

IMG_2759, a photo by alteredstatesstudio on Flickr.

here is a pic of the second bird that i made when working with the high school student. i have more squares ready to go....hoping for some studio time this weekend. this project makes me want to go out and buy more cool calendars! happy friday to you- thanks for stopping by my blog!

student's bird

IMG_2751, a photo by alteredstatesstudio on Flickr.

i had posted on monday a project reusing calendars....i liked mine so well that i called a high school student that had been wanting to  work with me on something. i liked the fact that i would show and explain the step and she was not afraid to make it her own. i thought she did a fabulous job! and when we were done, she still wanted to come and do something else with me- so that is cool!

peak- there shall be no other love....

IMG_2750, a photo by alteredstatesstudio on Flickr.

here is a project that i worked on yesterday...it was super fun and easy. i was so excited when i was finished, i  have had a high school art student who has been wanting to do a project with me and i gave her a call....we worked last night. i made another one and had her make one. so stay tuned this week for pics of our work. i borrowed this idea from here. check it out!!

mixed media flower on yupo

IMG_2746, a photo by alteredstatesstudio on Flickr.

this is the beginning of some mixed media flowers on yupo paper. this project is a continuation of the wedding....the bride and her mom asked if i would make bridemaid gifts for them. i agreed and asked if they had any ideas of what they wanted, and i got-"whatever you make will be cool!" so, although this is nice to hear.....i wanted a little direction on ideas. i had been inspired by Robin-Marie Smith. i loved her botanical series and wanted to try my own twist on that...so, this is the beginning of the gifts....we will see what direction they take. so far, i have 7 different colors "flowers" as the bases. i used a variety of alcohol inks and my roll of tape to try and keep in a circle and when i was happy with the circle, I let the extra ink run to make the stem. i also used glimmer mist to provide a little more color and some shine.

wedding invitations

IMG_2744, a photo by alteredstatesstudio on Flickr.

this is the wedding invitation that i made for a friend. the count is now at 200 invites. i have learned a few things from doing this project.....

1. have a price already in mind when you deliver the sample
2. do not allow the bride and her mother and family to assist with any portion of the card making

i tell you.....i normally sweat shop it with my mom or a select few others when doing big projects and somehow i believed that all women either scrapbook or make cards or do something artistic= basically, that anyone can make what i make.....with this particular group that was not the case.

 i showed up to basically get them going and knew when a sister asked me which way to put the paper into the cutter to get it to work- i was in trouble.....omg.....i didn't panic then- not yet, i showed her how it worked and kept moving forward....onto the inking. i tried to show the soft touch of rubbing the ink pad with the cottonball and then onto the card.....marginal....ok; but when we were working on the tags, i couldn't take it any longer. i just wanted to scoop up all of the supplies and not let anyone of them touch these! i was so thankful when the mom declared that we had worked enough for one night. so when we went to look at the dress-  i had to tell the mom (who thankfully is a good friend....."i can't allow you to make ANY more cards. none.")

thankfully the next morning when i saw the mom at work, we laughed so hard we both had tears. we thought it would make a fabulous piece for a movie and thought if anyone would have really been watching, they would have been in stitches!
 

the courage to be who you are

IMG_2628, a photo by alteredstatesstudio on Flickr.

i was reading one of my favorite blogs....a very thoughtful, artistic being: introverted art. 

she had posted yesterday a story of having the courage to be average. i loved the last line:  
"It takes courage to quit, to be imperfect, to be average." it takes true courage to just be who you are sometimes....
i was moved by her post, and even more moved by the story behind her post.
bless that older brother, for his courage, wisdom, and love of his little brother....i was so moved.

homemade blueberry, pear muffins

IMG_2739, a photo by alteredstatesstudio on Flickr.

from my vintage betty crocker book: (i added the pear for a modern twist....)
1 egg
1/2 cup of milk
1/4 cup salad dressing
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup washed fresh blueberries
1 pear, peeled and chopped

heat oven to 400 degrees F. grease bottoms of muffin tin. beat egg; stir in milk and oil. mix in remaining ingredients just until flour is moistened. fold in blueberries and pear. batter should be lumpy. fill muffin cups 2/3 full. bake 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.sprinkle with sugar before immediately removing from pan.
 

friday fill-ins

IMG_2600, a photo by alteredstatesstudio on Flickr.

and....here we go!

1. let me be me- as i have gotten older, i have become far more comfortable with me and my skin.
2. it is sometimes daunting going through a large project. i just finished making 175 wedding invitations for a friend.
3. listen here: do you hear the whispers of your heart? if not, stand still and listen harder....everyone has dreams; what are yours?
4. my kids think i do not know what i am talking about! they are crazy..... ;)
5. when i was younger, i thought the tooth fairy was real. but who doesn't?
6. i need a good ol' fashion laugh until you are crying laugh! one where your cheeks hurt and stomach aches from laughing so hard!
7. and as for the weekend, tonight i'm looking forward to some girls basketball in redwood, tomorrow my plans include some studio time, and sunday, i want to get ready for the next week.

happy new year

IMG_2742, a photo by alteredstatesstudio on Flickr.

on new year's day i got to go and play with my mom at her studio....so above is my work in progress. it is an acrylic yupo paper, so i of course started with acrylic paint, but, then moved to ink and alcohol to wipe paint back off. the ugly stage started almost right off the bat, but, it is coming around....i'll see what i end up with.

i have been contemplating this new year..... i don't want to call them resolutions, but, things i want to try to be better at.

1. move more, and eat less (or better? more fruits and veggies.....)
2. drink more water (i would almost rather drink anything else- sad.... i know; need to be better with this!)
3. write more- journaling- thoughts on paper or on this blog?
4. read more (actual books- typed words on paper)
5. actually try with my etsy account (i think i am afraid to sell anything online); i have not tried hardly at all on this topic....i have an account and have posted very minimally, but, etsy seems to be strong and people are still looking and shopping there 

i am excited about this new year and what it may bring and what my hopes are....that is a better word for the list above- hope. 

thank you to all of my followers- i appreciate each of you! and i love the comments! if you are just stopping by and taking a look around- hope you see something that may inspire you and maybe you will stop back!

happy new year!