Studio Update- Telling it like it is...

Overwhelmed!

That is okay to state... right?

***

Life is not perfect

and

sometimes it can be

down-right unbearable!!

***

If I am going to be honest with my posts, my readers, and myself...

then I am going to be truthful.

I am well up to my knees in

 paint, paper, craft materials, swaps, 

party planning, remolding our bathroom, and packing for a trip...

YES ALL IN ONE WEEK!

***

I love my art, thank goodness I have something to escape to.

Art therapy indeed!!

but, not this week

***

My daughter is having her baby shower this Saturday

and you guessed it...

I am making all the decorations!

Easy task, no.

Seeming that no one else has any artistic abilities, 

this creates a full plate for me.

I bring this up, because I do not like to be rushed into being creative, 

or to feel overwhelmed at making art.

I feel as if I am being suffocated!!

Takes the whole concept of playtime of being creative, 

and

making art... away from me.

***

I know this shall pass...

and 

I will get through this...

Yet, I felt this needed to be stated.

This is what is going on right now.

Real life.

Dust everywhere in my house...

bathroom remodeling is taking longer than planned!

My art studio, what a mess...

The dinning room table, not for eating purposes at this time...

clothes being pulled out of the closet to pack for road trip.

Don't want to forget art supplies, for the trip, that is a must!!

Party supplies, candy dishes, gift bags, and more, covering my 

kitchen counter spaces.

Sorry...

no pretty pictures, just the real deal...

a messy house!!

***

I have managed to create a few artful pieces

on a smaller scale...

to keep me sane!!

***

ATC'S

These are the backs of the ATC's I posted last week.

These ATC's all having loving homes to be mailed off to today!

Altered Rolodex Cards

Front

Back

*Please accept my apologies, 

posts are later in the day, due to life's little challenges.

I am hopping to get back on track

asap.

Till then...

come back and visit my blog later in the day.

Have a wonderful Monday!

Altered Rolodex Cards- Project

Imagine...

a wheel of art in your creative space ready to inspire you.

Rolodexes

 may have become rather a 

"thing of the past"

for their original purpose...

they can offer an excellent way to display tiny pieces of art!

***

I believe...

these tiny rolodex cards

are the next best thing to ATC's.

***

Altered Rolodex Card Project

The process begins...

 During this project I will alter a rolodex card.

Each card will be "artfully" created.

(front and back)

Mixed-media will be applied to these cards.

(no rules, just exploring, experimenting, and having a tons of fun!)

Including

The Rolodex Swap

***

join in anytime / leave a comment or email 

***

Enjoy the journey...

as I unfold this artful creation step by step.

***

Have a wonderful Saturday!

Friday's Lovely Links

Read all about it!

Today's lovely links... lets get started.

***

Debra Cooper

***

of

A Little Imagination and a pile of Junk

http://www.debracooperart.com

What a delightful website!
You are in for a treat.
Debra has everything from:
art jewelry
art journaling
ATC'S
fabric art
mailart / swaps
and
tutorials
***
Be sure to check out her
Dyed Paper Towel Tutorial

CLICK HERE

***

Do you like thrifty things?
Meet
Selena Cate
***

of

Apron Thrift Girl
http://apronthriftgirl.typepad.com

She covers everything from:
antique shows and flea markets
book reviews
thrifty finds
reselling
How to create online garage sales!
The list goes on and on!!
***
Selena, also hosts...
Thrift Share Monday

Click Here
***
Make Share

Click Here

***
Enjoy yourself, there is a lot of goodies to explore on this site!
***

You're in for a real treat...
sweet treat
***
Meet
Jenny Holiday
of

Click Here

***

30 Day Photo Challenge Journal

Jenny

has some pretty awesome journal pages!

***

Have you heard of... Rolodex Swapping?!

Karenann Young

collage artist

http://karenannyoung.blogspot.com

She creates some incredible

rolodex cards

Fantastic collages

FYI

Rolodex swapping is similar to

ATC swaps.

Measurements are different (of coarse)

Yet, you are still creating on a smaller scale.

Artwork must be placed on both sides of card,

making it very "artsy" to flip through

your rolodex holder.

***

Donnalee 

of

be a doer

http://dixieniche.blogspot.com

Take a look at these...

such wonderful talent, love it!

Visit her site.

Donnalee and I will be swapping rolodex cards.

I am super excited!!

I have had my rolodex card holder for some time.

Always playing around with it...

adding little bits of photos or artwork to it.

It really makes a wonderful display on your desktop.

But...

what I really wanted to do was explore

swapping these artful pieces.

***

I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO

 DOING MORE 

ROLODEX SWAPPING!

If your interested...

you know the drill, leave a comment or drop me an email.

***

I will being going on a road trip...

In about a week!

For the trip, I will be bring along

art supplies 

camera

art journal book (smash/trash book)

ATC cards

rolodex cards

tags

I just have a feeling, I will be working on smaller art projects...

over those 2 1/2 weeks.

The good news is...

I will have some ATC and rolodex cards to swap.

Pictures to share.

And

An art journal filled with pages of our road trip...

to share with everyone.

***

Happy Friday!

Journal Prompts...

Coming you're way!

***

There here... 

The mini flip-flap art journal prompts.

I've been working steadily on these pages through out the week.

Thought I'd share... and let you take a peek! 

~

Making the simple complicated is commonplace;

making the complicated simple, awesomely simply, that's creativity.

~ Charles Mingus

***

Happy Thursday!

Wishcasting Wednesday

What door do you wish to open?

click here

Opportunity knocks at the strangest times,

it's not the time that matters...

But how we answer the door.

~ Steve/Gray

***

I wish...

 to see what is right in front of me.

To take what I already have

and 

apply it to my full potential.

Open the door...

To my vision.

***

 Allow me the freedom to grow.

Give me the courage to take on new challenges.

Feed me with inspiration.

Welcome in opportunities

and

to be brave, to live my life out creatively.

***

***

Imagine...

the wonderful things that will happen,

once the door is open!

***

Wish away...

Paint Your Pain

Frida Kahlo

July 6, 1907- July 13, 1954

***

When I think of how important it is 

 to be self expressive through out artwork...

there is only one artist that comes to mind

Frida Kahlo

***

At the age of 18 

Frida Kahlo

 was in a devastating bus accident,

that left her with a lifetime of pain.

While bed-ridden in a body cast she began to paint,

addressing the issues of her fractured body 

and 

the pain that was inflicted upon her.

***

Frida Kahlo 

underwent more that thirty operations in the course of her lifetime.

Her self portraits were her main subject.

Frida's paintings were related to her experiences with both...

physical 

and 

psychological pain.

***

Life holds many issues...

It's not always pretty.

It is through self expression, that we can work it out.

Having the courage to bring it forward...

recognize it and own it.

***

As an artist,

women,

and 

someone who can relate to daily pain...

When I think of, who do I admire, as an artist...

only one name comes to mind!

Frida Kahlo

ATC

This is for a swap I am participating in.

Theme

Lady in a Hat

***

If there was anyone I could bring to a party...

IT WOULD DEFINITELY BE

FRIDA KAHLO

***

Since I am on the subject of Frida

 I want to share with you 

this wonderful find!

Over this weekend...

My husband and I took the family out to lunch.

We strolled around afterwards and came across 

this charming little thrifty/vintage shop.

What a sweet treasure I found!

Made by

Classic Hardware

***

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

It's One of Those Thingamajigs

ATC

thingamajig

***

Over this weekend...

 I was already working on a smaller scale 

with the 

mini flip-flap journal.

This inspired me to create

ATC's

Want to trade?

Wish to participate

post a comment / leave me an email

Already, one of these has a very special place to go...

Sherry Hendrick

***

These were so much fun to create!

I used wax-paper to create a little pocket envelope.

Something sweet and simple...

to tuck them safely away.

To arrive to their destination...

to be shared and loved,

as an offering of inspiration.

***

Have yourself a thingamajig day!