Mmmmm Texture...

Ahhh, I just love all of the texture on this mixed media piece. I started this piece with a 6 inch X 6 inch canvas. I covered the canvas with paper from a variety of books in different languages as well as music sheets. I also cut apart a bingo card and decoupaged that onto the canvas.

The next layers were built up over time. I would pick up the piece every day and either smear some texture paste, crackle medium or spray inks onto the canvas. The arrows at the top and the circles at the bottom were made by pushing Liquidtex texture paste through a brass stencil and sequin waste. I used my favorite spray inks by Dylusions as well as Tim Holtz's Distress Stains to add the color.

The clock image at the bottom as well as the Chinese (I think it's Chinese) characters at the top were added last. I stamped these images onto white tissue paper using Black Staz-On ink. I then decoupaged the tissue paper on top of all the texture. I love how the tissue paper melts into the canvas and you still see the texture underneath.




Here is a shot of one side of the canvas. This really shows the crackle medium an the texture paste. Once everything was dry I ran a bronze ink pad over the top to highlight the peaks.

It was so much fun creating this art piece. I loved being able to pick it up everyday and add a little something new.

Art Abandonment

For the last few months I have been somewhat obsessed with the idea of Art Abandonment, the idea of creating little pieces of art to leave for others to find. I just love the idea of leaving art in some unexpected place and having some one discover it. It was the desire to participate in such a fun idea, that let me to start creating mixed media art pieces- and it was a swap on Craftster that gave me the kick in the butt to actually start abandoning my art.

In the Art Abandonment swap, we created 6 pieces of art for a partner- they would then abandon five of the art pieces and keep one for themselves.  So the art pieces below are currently in California- waiting to be discovered by random strangers!

I created 6 mini-mixed media canvases- each one is 3 inches X 3 inches and covered with a variety of textures, paints, inks, papers etc.












I packaged each of the art pieces in a plastic baggie and then attached a fun note- asking anyone who finds the art to email me and let me know what they think. I hope I get a response!

Creating a 'Verse

For my latest hoopla artwork I knew I wanted to create something based on one of my favorite television shows- Firefly. I decided to embroider a part of the opening theme song, but I needed the perfect fabric to stitch it on. After searching the local fabric stores, I decided to create my own galaxy fabric!

Starting with a piece of plain black cotton fabric.

Add a little diluted bleach and scrunch the fabric


Dry the fabric


And then proceed to completely cover the bleached parts with paint, so you can't tell you bleached it. When I started painting I wanted to just add highlights and dimension, and I ended up covering everything.


Now the stitching can begin! I was worried about how I would transfer my design to my newly created galaxy print- but luckily I found a pack of colored carbon paper at JoAnn's. You can also see the finished fabric.

Forty hours of satin stitching later and the piece is complete! I used glow in the dark thread for this piece to give it a little punch.


A final close up of the satin stitching. I am not sure I would ever do this much satin stitching with glow in the dark thread again. I had to un-do knots every other stitch.

 I think the end result was totally worth the hassle though!

Mini Mixed Media Art

For the last three months I have been organizing a swap on Craftster called The 4x6 Art Swap. In this swap, participants make a 4x6 piece of art to send to a mystery partner. Not being tied to any theme or specific material is really freeing. The variety of different mediums used is astounding. Here are the four pieces of art that I have created. Being new to mixed media, I was worried about starting a huge project, so these mini mixed media art pieces have been a great way to play around and test out new techniques.

When creating this piece I used my new Dylusions spray inks. The colors of these inks are so vibrant, but I wasn't too careful when I sprayed them on, so I looked like I choked a rainbow for about two days after I was done. The text is stamped on to vellum and distressed and the butterfly is chipboard that I colored with Distress stain and embossed.


This piece started out as a collage of packing material, candy foil wrappers and tissue paper. On top I applied alcohol inks and texture medium.


I used rub-ons for the birdcage and a mix of alcohol inks for the blue on the bottom of this piece.


Besides having my favorite Mythbuster's quote, this piece has felt, hand dyed fiber, texture medium and embroidery. I absolutely love this piece of art.

Spinning Yarn Should Be An Olympic Event

If the Olympics can have rhythmic gymnastics or what ever that sport with the dancing horses is called, I think that spinning could definitely qualify as an Olympic event. In fact, they used to award Olympic medals for works of art inspiried by sports. That is a tradition they should bring back.

Like most of the world, I've spent the last two weeks glued to the television, enthralled with the Olympics. But I didn't just sit there idly- I took the opportunity to spin up some fun new yarns.

Off The Deep End

346 yards- 100% Merino

Mmmmm... squishy

R-O-W-D-Y

70 yards- Merino,Bamboo,  Mohair, Firestar

Definitely looks Rowdy

Look at all that texture!

Shifting Focus

Well, hello there.

It's been a while, hasn't it?

Eric and I are back in Wisconsin, trying to re-acclimate ouresevles to living in the United States. It's been an interesting process to say the least. For me, I think the reverse culture shock was amplified by a multitude of  factors; being jobless, missing my friends in Thailand like crazy, and generally feeling lost and purposeless. Plus the food here is so bland! I felt like The Observer pouring pepper and hot sauce all over my food ( Bonus points for those that understand that reference)

After six months though, things have definitely gotten better. I found part time work, we reconnected with friends we have here, and we are about to move into our new home. Pro tip- if you don't have awesome in-laws that will let you crash at their house for six months, I would advise that you don't try to buy a short sale home. Thank you Tim and Becky!!

The last six months have been a time of reflection and adjustment. This applies to this little corner of the interwebs. I thought about just abandoning the blog because I am pretty sure the only people that read it before were family members who wanted to keep tabs on what we were doing. But, I really enjoyed writing the blog-  I was torn...

So, the blog will continue- although with a shifted focus. I am not exactly sure what that will be yet, but I envision it being a place for me to showcase our creative endeavors, things that amuse me, and the trips we take.

I have already made a few design changes and I am currently working with the awesomely talented Emma at QuirkieCraft to redesign the header, which I am I am stupidly excited about.

I hope you continue reading and if you have any suggestions or words of encouragement- I am always happy to hear them!