Eat Cake:)

Ok, so it was late night, nothing sweet to eat...

so I decided to try my hand at making a 

paper cake....I think I got a little

carried away:)

Enjoy!

Canvas Book

This is one of my largest, and most complex assemblage pieces to date. (With full intentions to do more:)

It's an 8" x 8" Canvas Book. I started off with 2 - blank 8x8" canvases, and covered them with handmade paper, (sorry to say I didn't make the paper, but plan on learning how to this year:)

Then I hinged them together on the wood 'spine', and off I went!

Two pieces that really motivated me to make this were the wonderful 'Tim Holtz' feet, that can be inked and altered, but I chose to leave them blank, as I thought the details were interesting enough. And the other piece that gave me this idea, were the salvaged door knobs and plates. I love digging through salvage stores, and looking for interesting unusual items that can be incorporated as elements in my projects.

The front cover is papered chipboard with metal embellishments, all inked and glued. I loved how the handmade paper has large flecks of gold paper and threads in it's layers, helped add to the piece.

The back cover, I again played with an embellishment from the 'Tim Holtz' alterations product line, and as I usually do, incorporated an element of something from nature.

I used a cut piece of packaging plastic to make a dust cover for the feather in the embellishment frame, and was pleased that it makes the beauty of the feather pop. (The picture doesn't do it justice:).

But it was the inside that was the most fun to create:) When you free form pile 'like' objects, it is so much fun and relaxing! It took days of 'try this here' and 'see what this looks like' to come up with the finished piece. I found it hard to stop, as I kept finding more items to glue in, stamp, and layer.

This project also helped 'justify' my hoarding of all bits and pieces, with the intention of their possible 'use' in the future:)

I had a great deal of fun with this piece. And after stopping, and proclaiming it finished, all extras, new ideas, and things I learned while making it from my mistakes, will be the motivation to start another one:) :) :)

Hope this motivates you to give it a try too!

Enjoy!

Rebel Assemblage Collage

This assemblage/collage,  I did a while back, using all 'found' pieces and vintage pieces. It's a reclaimed 8 x 10 frame, painted copper, that I made a box insert for the back to give have a deep space to work in. As you can see from the subject matter, I was feeling rebellious that day:) I love the dodo bird:)

As you can see, I found a different way of hanging the finished piece, using reclaimed vintage brass knobs, and chain, but what I enjoyed most was playing with 'Tim Holtz' Tissue Tape, which is what I used to wrap the outside and inside of the frame.

The fuses are filled with pearls and tiny sea shells. Sorry for the quality of the pictures, I'm still trying to master taking pictures of framed projects, as no matter what background you use, they reflect like a mirror. But you get the idea at least.

Enjoy! 

Something a little different...books:)

I'm new at the idea of making books.

I've just recently invested in all sorts of machines, and gadgets in binding and such, so I'm looking forward to many attempts at this medium since I love working with paper and graphics so much.

This is one of my early examples of my book making.

'Ornithological Studies 1889'

it's a 5" x 6", chipboard paged, embellished book, 

which I really enjoyed making.

( Of course, the subject matter is 'birds', and yes

that is a shoulder feather from my 'Connie the Kitchen Conure'

I used a metal embellishment and Glossy Accents to

imbed the feather, great fun:)

I love the 3D effect of this page.

Might seem strange to have a 'gear' at the top of the page....but the next page will make sense:)

  

I attempted to create some 'movement' or interaction with the page..I'm pleased how it turned out:)

I like the contrast between the metal corners and the 'feminine pinks' of the page. And how the butterfly 'pops' out:)

I do love birds:) :) :)

I'm looking forward to some more 'book making time' in the art room, once I figure out how to use all the binding gadgets I've just received:) Art is learning!!!

Enjoy

In Memorial....

In Honour of two people who were very Special in my husband's and my life, I was inspired to make these two canvas's in their honour of their lives, and to mark the moment.

First is my canvas honouring 

'Stan' a.k.a. 'Sandy' my Husband's Dad

Who leaves behind a Wonderful Family and an incredible vast Group of Friends. We all miss him very much.

And my other Memorial Canvas

is to my Mum

'Renay'

Who we dearly miss everyday, and with her support, is why I am able to call myself an 'artist'. She enjoyed clowns, collected clowns, 

and the joke in the family is that she married one:)

She still inspires me.

And still makes me laugh:)

Who can guess what this was????

My crown:)

'Story Boards'

I coined the phrase 'Story Boards' after a couple of reviews of my work seemed to have a common thread. Seems that I tend to tell 'Stories' with my pieces. I also have great fun with using French Laundry Hangers for my Story Boards, it's a great way to be able to 'hang' them on the wall for display, and adds a little something to the piece. Also, I have a collection of Vintage 'Adopted' Family Photos, that I mix with my own family photos, and Vintage French Postcards, ( many thanks to French Kissed, be sure to check out Trishia's shop!)

These are two of my favourites.

'They were the Best of Friends'

and 

'He and Fred loved to Dream'

Both are made from my Vintage book and photo collections, with added embellishments from Kristin at Retro Cafe Art 

and graphic from Piddix on Etsy.

Who can tell me which one is Fred????? (grin).

Another Story Board using a larger image of my new Vintage Family Member:) I love the original photo, she looked like a wonderful happy kid from about 1890+.

This one is called 'The Darling of the Exposition'

(Mixture of graphics used, but special thanks to Piddix)

This one still remains unnamed as she isn't my Vintage Child. She's one of the wonderful Children from Gale Blair at Paper Whimsy, and I just can't bring myself to name her, ( isn't it funny), but she spoke to me of a sweet child full of love and pink colours. I'm not so inclined to be flowery in my work, but she obviously 'spoke to me' (grin).

'She never saw herself as a farmwife'

I was mad at my husband that day.

Just kidding, (grin).

So there's a few examples of my Story Boards.

Enjoy:)