Stick around

Stick challenge: Our Great American Quilt Factory embellishment group has a current challenge of “sticks”. Originally I began painting canvases for a book format, then the Big Art Adventure had the matchbook challenge, which sent me in a match-stick direction. Voila, my art quilt with matchsticks.

matches close-up

matches close-up

Terry’s finished sticks are cleverly displayed on a store bought lampshade. First she spray painted the shade which gave it more texture and interest, then she applied painted dowels sewn up in graphic fabrics.

An update: for those kind people that expressed a desire to see the Moon Mosaic Shrine lighted I have finally taken a picture. Thank you for your interest. michele

Moon Lights

Moon Lights

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  • Posted on: September 25th, 2008
  • By: myc
  • Under: art projects

Great Grandmother shrine

This is a big cheat. I made this shrine of my Great Grandmother for my mother’s Christmas present; obviously made months ago, but Parental Unit insisted I be a big greedy showoff.

There are no ceramic embellishments involved, but every detail included represents my favorite memories of her. She was a trail blazer without apologies. She lived hard and gentle and did as she pleased. An excellent role model.

Thank you for indulging Terry and me: letting the www and the Awfully Big Art Adventure know Velma exsisted, was respected, feared, admired and loved. michele

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  • Posted on: September 24th, 2008
  • By: myc
  • Under: art projects

Mosaic Moon Shrine

I love mosaics, shrines and Moon imagery. Ta da! I’ve combined all three. Thanks to the fabulous contributors on Mixed Media Monday, Chris across the pond led me to Awfully Big Art Adventure - more art challenges, yea! This is their very first challenge, and it is a delicious one for me.

I’ve taken a plaster caste of a Crescent Moon man from a Swiss chocolate mold and painted him with acrylics and set him inside a shadow box. I then glued on handmade ceramic and polymer clay tiles, decorated with different paints, rubber stamps, jewelry findings and sparkley stars and store bought glass tiles. Inside the box I glued tiny lights from floral supplies, so when they are turned on they appear to be wee little stars.

Thank you for letting me share another project that brings me joy, michele

October 10, 2008: I have added a picture of this shrine lighted at the bottom of the October 8, 2008 post.

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  • Posted on: September 4th, 2008
  • By: myc
  • Under: art projects

Bee creative

Mixed Media Monday - nature

Mixed Media Monday - nature

Mixed Media Monday’s challenge for this week is nature. Since finding out I have honey bees in my walls, I’ve wanted to honor them before they are relocated in March. The elements fell together while I was straightening up my house this week. I hope to use it as a focal point on a large piece, perhaps a house shrine of sorts.

I had the ceramic house and roof for another uncompleted mosaic project. Parental unit brought me glorious papers from her birthday trip and the honeycombed nests (from paper wasps) are from my deck tear down project. I just liked the look of the baby doll arms holding up the nest; I didn’t recognize them as trees till I had it all together. It was very difficult to photograph, it’s not this dark and dingy in person. Thanks Mixed Media Monday! loved this challenge.

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Sam Adams Mini quilt

Sam Adams

Sam Adams cap quilt by myc

After five wonderful courses of food, accompanied by 5 varieties of Samuel Adams beer, I made my self an adorable little rememberance. Sam Adams bottle caps on hand painted fabrics, tied up with ribbon.

Those of us in attendance at the Samuel Adams dinner, (see post on August 13, 2008) were lucky enough to taste and vote on two new Sam’s brews: a coffee stout and a blackberry witbier. The blackberry was delicious, but I have had the opportunity to enjoy fruity beers already. The coffee flavor was strong and unusual, so I voted for the coffee. If you have an similar event in your area, I recommend you sign up, although accompanying dinners are atypical. Take along good people that don’t mind if you burp a little.

Thank you to the lovely servers at the Summit and the Sam Adams’ rep for collecting the bottle caps for me. Though they kept laughing and shaking their heads - “you won’t sleep under a bottle cap quilt, will you?” this asked in horror and disdain. I would if I were a wee 7 inches tall. michele

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Fiber thread stitch paper textiles

The ease in which connections can be made zinein this golden age of the internet is mind boggling. Serendipity and coincidences have made me aware of the generous nature of Sue Bleiweiss. She is a tireless creator: one of those fairies or gnomes that makes hand made creations appear overnight. Really, she’s amazing, I don’t think she sleeps.

I’ve been slow in adding her web-site to my favorites due to being overwhelmed by the maze of information she imparts. Sue is generous with techniques and resources, has free tutorials and projects, offers on-line classes and is the publisher of the mixed media zine Fiber & Stitch. Whew, I’m exhausted just talking about her. Looking to expand your arena of mixed media? love books? Check this energizer bunny out.

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Art Doll with button

Beth Moran

Beth Moran is sharing her art doll creation with us. This lovely is all hand sewn. The most amazing thing to me, is that she is giving this away (shh, it’s a gift for her mom). Take a look at her web page to see more of her great art dolls.

This was completed from Beth’s trip around the IQF vendors at Long Beach. Isn’t that amazing? It was only one week ago. I haven’t finished projects started 25 years ago.

How thoughtful she sent along the photo to show the Imagine flower embellishment she got from us. Thank you Beth, aren’t art dolls the best?

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Be Fearless

In life, in art, in taking risks, Be Fearless. Deb BensonDeb Benson is comfortable in beading and chain making, but is taking on new mediums. She joined in the fun at Make It University in Long Beach to dabble in creative goodness. Luckily, she ended up in my workshop for mixed media mosaics and made this beautiful plaque.

I hope it serves her well as she tackles designing patterns. Thank you, Deb, if I don’t see you at the 2009 Long Beach International Quilt Festival, I look forward to seeing you in Houston 2010. Best of Luck in all of your endeavors.

love (and taking risks) michele

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White On White

white card for mmm

Terry’s contributions to love and MMM. A lovely textured white on white, including lace, pearls, opalescent glazed ceramic heart, decorative papers, and fabric. A nice day for a white wedding.

It’s been a little while since I’ve contributed to Mixed Media Monday, but I loved this idea. I am waiting for the kiln to open tomorrow for my red collage to come together.

Click on the photo to see a larger picture.

Hopefully, pretty red apples for Friday. michele

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Book Challenge second project

Claudine Hellmuth project 2 A quick interruption from ceramic embellishments: Over on Jen Wordens site, we are progressing thru art challenges. This is my 2nd-3rd project (I repeated the first project to properly implement what I learned).

My pears are a repetitive collage exercise, with Claudine Hellmuth. I’m having much fun and using materials and techniques I’ve never explored before. If any artist feels a little stuck out there, I recommend challenges that take you out of your comfort zone.

Go explore.

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Successful Peeling paint project

Peeling paint

Listen to Claudine Hellmuth’s advice in her books. I did two things smarter in my first project re-do:

1. The first project should be smaller than the 8 x 10 I began with - see June 12th post.

2. Use petroleum jelly liberally.

This project is 5.5” x 4”, and I’m really happy with how it turned out. We are half way into the month, and I’ve just completed one project. What a slacker! But I love this peeling paint effect, so it was definitely worth it.

Now to begin my second project from Jen Worden’s month long challenge and Claudine’s Instructions.

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collage blob project

blob collageOver on Jen Worden’s blog, a month long challenge is going on. Jen has encouraged us to pick one book to work the projects contained therein.

I picked Claudine Hellmuth’s Collage Discovery Workshop. The first project used these techniques:

Torn paper background with acrylic paint wash: very nice effect, loving it.

Image transfer: the sign language chart. I did not have success with a heat transfer, but used the gel medium, then remove paper method. Still loving it.

I deviated here and drew an outline of my deaf cat. Still loving it.

Peeling paint technique: now I’ve made a mess of things. Not Claudine’s fault. She states to use a lot of petroleum jelly. Clearly I did not; it seemed like enough. Still, all-in-all a great learning experience. I tried techniques quite foreign to me and I know what I did wrong.

So what should have been Deaf Cat, is Blob Collage.

I’m hoping I do better in the next round.

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