a real fight {postcard}

i wasn't sure if it was the lack of studio time, or if my muse had just completely left me, but i was recently in a postcard swap and i was thinking- this should be easy..... (not!)

this postcard fought me tooth and nail the whole way. my initial concept seemed easy enough- i was using a used file folder cut down to size. i used both the front and back to provide a little more stability and thickness then simply taped the edges together and gesso'd the front, but, this is where the card took a turn for the worse....

i had started with collage and originally had been working in a girl/ princess into the piece and had sewn on wings and she had a crown with jewels.

the jewels didn't last long and i began to paint over the face. and paint over the face....and paint over the face- yes, by this time the face and the rest of her were a disaster....the the small triangle just above the number strip was part of her "dress." but, you know what....if you add enough paint and layers of paper, tape and fabric- you can paint over anything; and sprinkle enough gold ink on anything....and somehow it becomes magical.

and to be honest.....i stitched this postcard almost to death. but, the best part came when i switched from the grey thread to the magenta thread- that really popped on the postcard and pulled it together.

i was happy with what i ended up with....but, let me tell you.....this a fight.

happy friday!

SHE tags

i had been thinking about SHE and what i could make for a local women's day/ conference. the day is set aside for women to get their mammos and then come and shop and get other information about women's health. and to remind us- to embrace the SHE.

i came up with these tags and left the back open so that if you have a date or a special woman who survived breast cancer or maybe needs to be remembered- i would be happy to individualize your tag with the information.

i posted them in my usual spots to share, and decided to put them into my etsy store so anyone could have one.

documented life- a sewn moleskin cover

i had wanted a sewn cover for my moleskin journal and had started one a few weeks ago; however, i was uninspired at the time. i had cut the white cotton as the background but, had done little else with it.

yesterday, inspiration struck!! and while working in my art journals....fabric was calling my name rather loudly from the corner of my studio. as i sat at my sewing machine, the ideas flowed as the fabric was stitched- each layer of fabric lending itself to the other pieces already down; covering every inch of the white cotton just like painting on a white canvas.

 i used a vintage doily, hand dyed fabric, a sweater, t-shirt, fabric scraps, vintage buttons and a clothing label.