Son, Zach, will be participating in One Spark here in Jacksonville in April. His business on the side is

 Original Fuzz guitar accessories. He wanted me to paint a sign from their logo for their booth.

Here is the progression. It really was fun to paint. It is 40x60.

All done. 

  Hopefully they will big the big money prize if lots of people vote for them.

And
KATHIE,
 you are the winner of the giveaway so be sure to contact me with your mailing address.

Canvas Collages

I have been working on some backgrounds on non gessoed canvas. I love how it frays and love the texture although it makes it more difficult to use a nib for calligraphy but I figured out if you just press real hard it works better. You only get about 1/2 a letter with the acrylic on the nib but you just keep dipping--alot. I used No Flow by Jacquard so I could have a better surface for the FW white acrylic ink. Neither one of the pieces are finished. The top one is closer than the bottom one but I am not sure which direction to go in. I know that I want to do some sewing on them. I have it sitting out and when I walk by I try different things but haven't found just the right thing yet. If I do I will blog them. This is a bit out of my comfort zone but my motto is---

"Make it work!" Famous quote by Tim Gunn---I get such a kick out of him on "Project Runway"--my new favorite show. Where have I been for the last few years? I need to order all the back shows.

Rags and Random Moments Book

Front cover

I actually held my breath and stitched the bird on later. It was very heavy card stock and the thread came out so I guess I pushed it to it's limit. Actually I am sure I could have rethreaded and gone on--I got brave after I took the pic.

FAITH- HOPE- LOVE is done with a Zig calligraphy marker. I love the look of calligraphy markers on canvas. Then you can outline--or whatever.  Maybe that will be my next online class.
There was no planning for any of the pages, I basically "randomly" put stuff on, whatever was close by because basically I was testing all the stitches to see what would happen.  I didn't use the free stitch foot because I was so in the Bernina zone that I forgot I even had it. It took me one whole afternoon and into the night to complete it but as you know--you look up and several hours have passed.


That's a little pocket of Poppies that accidently got sewn shut.



This book was inspired by the cover of the current issue of Somerset Sew. Goodness, what would I do if I was not so inspired ay all the artists on the blogs, mags and websites?? Hummm (that's a hummm for sure!)---I wonder if I would be dead in the water---artistically speaking of course--or would I be off on some different art adventure with just me and my muse? I often wonder that--but no need to go there because I am here--- now--- and loving being inspired by so many wonderful artists who are so willing to share how they make their art. Thank you to all---and most of you know who you are!

Ok back to the book----I was so excited that the needle went through this many layers painted canvas that I almost fell off my chair in excitement. Now if I can just learn to sew on a button!

Little Sleeping Village

I enjoyed making the little collage village in my journal so much that I had to make another one on a 12x12 canvas that was already painted black just waiting for something.  This is inspired by Sharon Tomlinson---she put faces among hers which makes them even more fabulous. Anyway, this one will not go into the Etsy Shop since it is too much of a resemblance of hers but they are so fun to make and maybe I will make more because they make me happy. Thanks, Sharon, for making me happy! Maybe I will try stitching all these on to paper. Might be really cute!

New Knobby Poppy Art

My Etsy shop had been on vacation for several days but I have just listed these three new Knobbies.  I went to our local bead shop around the corner and bought some cool knobby feet. These are really fun to make when it comes together. If I plan to make a bunch of Knobbies it just doesn't come together but yesterday the knobby muse helped me. The are all original watercolors of Poppies.

 And---guess what???   My Bernina came in and I am going to get it today. I am so excited I am about to bust!!  WEEEee!!

Knobby Art--New Etsy Stuff

Well, I have been thinking for quite some time that I needed to put some new things into my ETSY shop before I have to declare a complete need for a bail-out so I created a few new pieces today and took all the old stuff to inactive. It is called "Knobby Art" because the art sits on little knobby feet and is on 5x5 or 4x4 canvas or artist panels. It's fun to create and hopefully people will like it. Here are the Knobbies I created today.

I think the most fun was the "Create" one. I was inspired by the "Griddy Art" article in the Cloth, Paper Scissors magazine. I have so many scraps so maybe the Griddy Art idea will translate onto my Knobby Art.

 

PS. "Create" sold!  

SING!

Here is another ditty with the FX edges applied. This is on a little 5 x 7 canvas board. Have you ever received those freebie note cards in the mail and usually you glance through them and then file them away and revolving file 13? I usually do that whenever things like that come in but these little birdies were a keeper. So I collaged them into a little piece.

I am working hard at filming an online brush lettering class that will be offered at Creative Workshops. I filmed the first one today and I got so frustrated--I did the whole first lesson thinking it was recording when it wasn't! ARGGG---but maybe I did better the second time. iMovie is what I am using to edit and there is a learning curve there. And--goodness gracious--my hands in the video look like I am 90 years old! Well, nothing I can do about that---but as the saying goes..."the face will deceive but the hands (and neck) never lie!" Hopefully no one will notice... But really, who cares anyhoo?? Age is just a number... and mine is unlisted. :) I also sound like backwoods Betty. I never really realized what a twang I have until I started filming myself. Ok so--byyyye y'all. See ya tomarra.

Froggies All finished!

So here are the frogs all finished up. I thought the white stripes were way to busy on the sides so I just left them black.  It was all fun to do. I probably will fiddle some more. I am thinking that the circles around the background might need to be outlined in black but I don't know. Right now it's a darker green. Maybe I will take a good photo and fiddle with it in Photoshop. Then I can see if that works. 

Look who helped---Grampa! He did a great job putting on some dots.