Alchemy Studio

Art Journal Page, "Ideas"

2012-01-27T14:30:00.000-08:00

What You Can Learn From What I Learned From the Sketchbook Project

2012-01-26T15:10:00.000-08:00

What I learned about drawing from doing The Sketchbook Project is this.

1. When you draw something, you really see it.

2. Drawing takes a long time. Every drawing in the book took about an hour.

3. I am nuts for Prismacolor pencils.

4. I can draw more than stick people and rainbows.

5. If I look at the lines of a thing and how they work together, it comes out better than if I look at the thing as a whole.

6. Drawing is fun.

7. I still like to cut things up and glue them down.

2012-01-04T15:17:00.000-08:00

I love that it's 2012. I think it's exciting. I do not think that the whole world is going to come to a fiery end, but I do think that we're in a time of accelerating change and growth. Call me stubbornly optimistic, but I think we--that is, humankind--will change, have even changed already. Take a look at the Occupy movement, for example. Ordinary people are standing up for ordinary rights and asking for change in a non-violent and creative way. I hope to see lots more of that kind of thing this year.

As for me, I plan to serve as many folks as I can with my massage and healing work, and to enjoy my friends and my family, and to make lots and lots of art. If we do go up in a ball of fire, I'd like to have a paintbrush in my hand.

Resolutions and other comedies

2011-12-30T21:43:00.000-08:00

Let me be clear: I don't believe in making resolutions. I think it's a farce. You charge into the new year, all aflame with the good intentions, armed only with the turn of a calendar page. Before you know it, you have not lost 10 pounds, finished your novel or earned an extra $80,000. Surprise!

However, I am a huge fan of writing down my goals. There's a difference. Resolutions rely on the battery power of will and the construct of man-made time. Resolutions are sexy. They involve round numbers (10 pounds), far-flung hopes (New York Times best-seller list) and thrilling fantasies (eighty large). Oh, I do love a resolution, but I refuse to take one seriously.

Then there are goals. When I write down a goal, I've noticed it tends to happen. Goals aren't as sexy as resolutions, because like white cotton underwear, they hold up to hard use. But I'll forgive them their pedestrian usefulness, because goals happen. And hey, there's really no better time to review goals than with the new calendar. If nothing else, you have to move all those phone numbers between day planners, anyway.

So with the advent of the new year (a particularly celebrated year, at that), I'm taking the time to write down the stuff I'd like to see happen. Then I'm writing down how I plan to make it happen. Then I'm writing down when I'm going to get these different pieces of my goals taken care of. And that, my friends, is the secret to my magnificent success.

But just in case, I'll throw in one little resolution: to have a spectacular year. Because that's sexy.

Thanksgiving Art Journal Page, "Grateful"

2011-11-24T10:53:00.001-08:00

The encaustic learning curve

2011-11-13T09:26:00.001-08:00

#4, the one I dared to like

About five years ago I started playing around with mixed media by making rubber-stamped Christmas cards. My first efforts were boring, single-layered things glued with a glue stick so that the pieces fell off within a few weeks. But I didn't know. I loved it anyway. I kept making and making stuff and now I feel a lot more comfortable with my mixed media artwork and other people seem to dig it too.

Now I'm back at the start of that awkward learning curve with my newest favorite thing to do with my free time: encaustics. I have admired encaustic work for quite a while, especially the work of one of my absolute favorite encaustic artists, Bridgette Guerzon Mills, but I was frankly quite lost as to how to even begin.

Then my partner in artistic crime Christine came to town and set me up with absolutely everything I needed to make encaustics. I was still nervous. I made a few waxy blocky pieces and hated them. She told me I wasn't allowed to judge myself until I made fifty pieces, which was excellent advice. Then she told me I needed to have a place to work with ventilation and no brand-new carpet which was a bit more problematic.

My sewing room encaustic studio

It was the people in my current Artist's Way study group who suggested I make space in my sewing room for my encaustic stuff. (I had been trying to turn a corner of my husband's uber gnarly wood shop into a nice cozy girly wax-painting area. Not happening.) This worked surprisingly well, although I can either sew or make encaustics, not both.

Then I called Christine. I made a piece I like! I said.

Did you make fifty pieces? she asked.

I had not.

I won't be impressed until you make fifty pieces, she said. Then you can say if you like it.

She's a tough taskmaster, that one. So fine. I'm on piece six. And maybe by the time I get to fifty I may even know what I'm doing.

Life List: an Update

2011-09-28T13:36:00.000-07:00

I am a mad fan of lists. I make shopping lists, to-do lists, and lists of quotes, intentions and ideas.

Naturally I have spent a little time making a life list. Some people call this a bucket list, but I think that's a morbid term, and besides, my brain goes immediately to the cheesy Morgan Freeman movie. I first wrote this particular life list almost exactly a year ago, and I thought the time was right to revisit it. I'll write done next to the stuff I finished and put a line through the stuff I no longer care about. You with me?

1. Go to Alaska
2. Go to Hawaii
3. Go to the Jaguar reserve in Belize
4. Go on an art museum tour in Berlin
5. Finish Jordan's quilt done
6. ~~Have a solo fiber art show at the EDG building~~
7. Finish my first novel
8. Publish a short story
9. Publish my first novel
10. Get my LMP in progress
11. Teach BodyTalk modules 1&2
12. Make my living through my healing practice and my creative work in progress
13. Learn Spanish
14. Do a half triathlon in progress
15. Hike from Snoqualmie to Stevens on the PCT
16. Take the family to Yellowstone
17. Learn to make some of my own clothes
18. Learn encaustic in progress
19. ~~Do the second Collage Camp: West Coast version~~
20. Have a Massachusetts family reunion
21. Go to New Zealand
22. Fly first class
23. Go to the next BodyTalk conference
24. Buy a house
25. Walk the John Wayne trail from Ellensburg to Thorp
26. Get my MFA in creative writing (maybe)
27. Learn how to make a decent website in progress
28. Learn how to make Vietnamese noodle soup
29. Go on a one-month road trip
30. Go on one round-the-world plane trip
31. See Bali
32. See Tokyo
33. Take the Trans-Siberian railroad
34. Write a book about conscious prosperity
35. Write an e-book about personal transformation
36. Get new carpet in our apartment done
37. Build a chicken coop and install three laying hens
38. Learn to ride a horse by having my own horse
39. Meet Teesha Moore done

Here's what's totally cool about this list. I don't remember wanting to put in new carpet, but just three weeks ago we did. I thought it was a revolutionary idea at the time, fresh out of the ether. Likewise, I can't mark the half-triathlon as done, because I didn't actually run it, but I did train for it half the summer--again, with no conscious memory that I had set this as an intention. I'd like to say I've accomplished becoming an LMP but I'm still waiting for the State of Washington to give me the thumbs-up. I finished Jordan's quilt at Christmas and now I'm working on Maya's.

Meanwhile, I forgot that I want to learn to make Pho and I had to cross out the Collage Camp because I tried and failed and I don't want to try again. I learned I'd rather go to an art retreat than host one. I no longer want to have a solo fiber art show at the EDG building here in town, because that building was sold, and instead I've been entering juried shows.

It's encouraging to see the life list isn't static. It isn't a contract, either. However, it does seem to be like shooting an arrow of intention into the future. Then some months later you come around the bend and find it sticking out of a tree with a big flag saying, "You're right where you wanted to be!" And that is one fine feeling.

Art Journal Page, "What is Authentic?"

2011-09-07T08:49:00.000-07:00

As part of my 30-day Get Your Art On experience, I broke out this cool book of handmade paper I picked up a long time ago, but have never really used because you can't soak it with watercolor. It was unexpectedly fun to work on white pages. I'm usually piling on eight tons of layers, so it was refreshing to work on a dry, simple surface. I do believe I'll do this again.

Gettin my art on

2011-08-31T21:36:00.000-07:00

First of all, I'm going to Disney. In case you were wondering.

This is because I have children. When you have children you don't get to do many, many things. I guess this is the kind of thing people talk about when they say parenting requires "sacrifice," but really, if the sacrifice in question is going to Disneyland, I probably can't get into too much of a twist.

It's not that I don't totally want to go to ArtFest, because I totally do. But in the meantime I'll just have to make my own little artfest by doing something like a 30-day challenge.

This is where my hero, Traci Bunkers, comes in. Again. Lately I've been rolling around in her book The Art Journal Workshop like it's a vat of chocolate fondue. Or something else delicious and messy. She just set up another 30 day Get Your Art On challenge and by golly, I'm gonna play.

Stay tuned.

Disney or ArtFest?

2011-08-18T22:54:00.000-07:00

Disney? Or ArtFest?

Brutal choice here.

I really, really want to go to ArtFest this coming spring, pretty much like I've wanted to go to ArtFest since I heard about it five or six years ago. Once I even signed up, but cancelled my registration so that I could go to Las Vegas with husband for his 40th, a decision I have oft regretted. (Let it be known that I despise Las Vegas. A tackier place has surely not been seen upon this earth.)

Well. I've been socking away my nickels trying to get the kids down to DisneyLand, because they're 8 and 9 and Disney is Mecca. Husband is cool with Disney because he went to Disney when he was a kid and thought it was the shiz-nit. I'm cool with Disney because in March I want to be, oh, a thousand miles from ice-socked Washington State. I'm no friend of Mickey Mouse, but even the overly giddy staff and hemorraging wallet I anticipate should be balanced by California sun. Or so I tell myself.

Then I got the email with all the delicious ArtFest classes. I slobbered all over the keyboard. Color, techniques, creativity, artists! I could have climbed through the screen.

I can't do both.

What would you do?

Playing with Watercolor

2011-08-15T20:54:00.000-07:00

As a long-time collage aficianado, I have used many, many images that are not my own. Lately I've been thinking I need to spend some more time making my own pictures to cut and paste and sand and sew. This is one of the watercolor paintings I turned out today. Eventually, I plan to make it a central image in a fiber art quilt...but who knows? Art has a way of going its own direction.

GYAO: Days 2, 3, 4

2011-07-05T20:06:00.000-07:00

I make stuff almost every day. It's just how I play. What I don't do every day is take pictures of the stuff and post it. So thanks again, Traci, for pointing the way.

Day two: Awakening, Fiber ACEO

Day three: Added text and finished journal page

Day Four: Added beads to my next tiny fiber house

Get Your Art On: Day 1

2011-07-01T22:23:00.000-07:00

Okay, so Traci Bunkers is one of my art heroes. I'm nuts about her art journaling, her hand-dyed fibers are so awesome I wish I knitted (which I don't, because the last freaking thing I need is another art form), and when she creates a 30 day challenge for herself, I know there will be a full month of eye candy ahead.

She just got rolling with the Get Your Art On 30 day challenge. The timing for me could not be better, as I just finished massage school yesterday and am desperate to make things. So sistah, bring it on.

Day one: stamp carving. Then stamped in a journal page. Righteous.

Art Journal Page, "What is Underneath"

2011-06-30T21:50:00.000-07:00

Art Journal Page, "Be The Kid in You"

2011-06-28T21:47:00.000-07:00

This afternoon I thought I was completely beat. I drove home from massage school thinking about nothing but a nap. I dreamed of pj's and slippers.

Then I went with Scott to the Tuesday open art night at Alley Cat Artists and brought my art journaling bag. We sat around for the next three hours shooting the breeze and playing art, and it was sheer bliss just to devote myself completely to my pages. At home, the phone is always ringing or a TV show is on or the kids need a fresh batch of mac n cheese. At the gallery, I just spread my stuff out across the table and went to town.

I am now the exact opposite of exhausted. I feel exhilarated. And that, my friends, is the power of art.

Stop and Smell the Flowers

2011-06-13T20:32:00.000-07:00

Cloth Paper Scissors put out a challenge call for tiny houses using a pattern in the latest issue, and something about it appealed to me. Since I seem to be heavily leaning toward fiber art lately, I started digging through my fabric stash before I ever really thought about making my house out of paper. It so happens that I have a bunch of painted canvas from a paint-and-dye free-for-all, and it was heavy enough to hold its shape.

I should admit that lately, I have been very drawn to simple artwork with clean lines and lots of white. Why is this? Is it because no matter how much I admire the Zen ethic, my own expression (in art and life) is crowded, busy and colorful?

Well, there you have it. This house is called Stop and Smell the Flowers. I should probably take my own advice.

Creativity = Happiness

2011-05-27T08:15:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had a very long day. I drove an hour in one direction to go to massage school, drove back, and drove an hour in the other direction (with hubby) to do a giant-sized cleaning job. Said cleaning job concluded unpleasantly: someone had left a kitty litter box behind, which we had to throw away, and when I put the bag in the car to transport it to the dumpster it unleashed in the back seat. I lost my temper and threw a few F-bombs, which were intercepted by a few innocent neighbors.

So.

You wouldn't think that the day would end with me feeling inexplicably joyful. Even I couldn't figure out, as I finally collapsed into bed, why I felt so uplifted. Then the rest of the day came into focus.

I cooked some super yummy nachos topped with homemade guacamole (recipe courtesy of my friend Christine). I made a mix tape and finished an ATC for a swap I'm in. Then I fooled around with this little number, a piece I'm making for a Cloth Paper Scissors challenge.

See? A good day. All F-bombs aside.

Soul Journaling 2011!

2011-05-21T17:19:00.000-07:00

If you missed it, don't cry. You can come next year.


Mary

Sarah Woolley

Laurie Hansen

Cecilia Power

Maria Sanders

Mary Duke

The happy Soul Journalers

The Joy of Simple Things: A Paper Bag Journal

2011-05-16T08:40:00.000-07:00

Recently there was a Swap-Bot swap that featured paper bag journals, and I guess I was looking for some fresh inspiration, because before you could say Mom-what-am-I-supposed-to-put-my-sandwich in I was busy making up a new journal.

I'm teaching a class in Soul Journaling next week and then I'll be making a nice fresh watercolor journal. For now I'm having lots of fun with my paper bags. I just folded five bags in half, sewed the binding on the sewing machine, gessoed the pages for extra stability and then started painting.

This-here's the cover. I took the picture with my other new toy, the Hipstamatic app for my iPod touch. Life is complete.

A Christmas Miracle: My First Quilt

2010-12-24T17:13:00.000-08:00

For about six or seven years now, just about every long-term Things To Do list has included: Make a Quilt. This year I got more specific: make a quilt for Jordan. One day I actually sorted through a bunch of fabric, dyed some to be different shades of teal, and cut three hundred and sixty squares. I was off.

That was around Mother's Day. The fact that this sweet little honey is finished in a mere six months is actually a real accomplishment. Kudos must be given to Christine for the last minute assembly instructions. Just in time to give to my nine-year-old for Christmas morning. It's cozy, too.

Now it's almost time for my next Things To Do list, inevitably drawn up around the first of the year. Next time? Make a quilt for Maya.

Regina the Beaded Charm Doll

2010-11-29T21:15:00.000-08:00

When Su Mwamba dropped me a line asking if I might be interested in contributing to her latest zine, there was no way I could resist. Turns out she's putting together a zine that was a perfect fit for one of my many art-y interests: beaded dolls. (About her zine, I'll say no more, except go buy one, because her zines are amazing.)

I decided to make a beaded doll just for the occasion, mostly because my other beaded dolls are out in the world, hopefully being loved. This one is Regina, I think because she's so queenly. I am particularly partial to her hair. Regina's going to be staying with me for a while, but I'm looking forward to her appearance in Su's upcoming zine. So is she. You can see she's a star.

A Big, Big Thank You to My Followers

2010-11-28T08:58:00.000-08:00

In my life, I have many things to be grateful for. One of those things would be the fabulous people who invest their time and attention to my blog! I love checking out what other people are doing, and I love sharing the stuff that I'm doing, but without you guys paying attention I might feel kind of ridiculous. I truly appreciate your interest. It keeps me going.

That said, I'd love to know if there's something you'd like to hear more about, or see. Or hear less about, or see. Because, you know, you're following along!

Oh, and one more thing. I've gotten a couple of trade requests lately and that reminds me to tell all you lovelies that if you're interested, I love love love trading zines. A Handmade Life Ish 5 is up and ready and I've got some copies hot for trading. It's 32 pages, half-sized, full color, and awesome. But then, you knew that. If you'd like to trade, drop me an email or leave a comment and we'll swap addresses!

Happy early holidays to all your artsy folks. Now go make something!

Mixed Media Magnet Bonanza

2010-11-15T14:50:00.000-08:00

On Veterans Day, I was happy to welcome my friend Sarah over for an art day, which meant that I wouldn't go and do something dumb like try to use my time "'productively." Anyway, I think that making a dozen will-be magnets is fairly productive, but in a good way.

If you're on my Christmas list, don't peek. Even though I totally know you will.

Working on a quilt... A real quilt.

2010-10-27T11:01:00.000-07:00

Yes, I have played around with lots of cloth and even made a couple of interesting things, but nothing that could potentially resemble a blanket. This nine-patch represents one of forty that are on the way to giving my darling son something to snuggle into. I'm planning on finishing it in time for him to bring it to college.

How awesome is Alma Stoller?

2010-10-12T19:43:00.000-07:00

By now you know I'm a huge zine lover, especially zines on the topics of mixed media, fiber art and creativity. Needless to say, Alma Stoller regularly rocks my world. I can't get enough of her funky zines. Every single issue I've ever gotten (and I've gotten lots) smacks of personal attention and creative zing. Plus, they always come with the coolest inclusions ever, of all time.

I ordered a copy of Handmade Zine and today, after much anticipation, it arrived. Oh, it was glory in my mailbox! Scrumbles and beaded thingamagigs! Dyed fabric and neat buttons! Zines with tabs, inserts, projects and all kinds of creative madness!

So naturally, I devoured her delicious package and then went right to my sewing room. Instant inspiration. Alma, thank you for shining your delectable light!

A Handmade Life Issue 5....Here at Last!

2010-10-10T19:44:00.000-07:00

Okay, I'll be the first to admit that this project went WAY past schedule...but I didn't give up, mainly because I had the work of four other excellent artists in my hands.

This issue is 32 pages, full color, and absolutely stuffed with eye candy, nifty essays, and even a totally awesome poem.

I would like to state where I can that two pieces contributed by Jim DuBois--namely, "Deeply Relax" and the poem "Lost Places" were accidentally not credited. All I can do is credit him everywhere else I can!

To pick up your very own copy, hop on over to my Etsy shop.

And to all you faithful readers of my zine out there...none of this could happen without you! Thank you for all your support!

Fabric Collage, "Pax Residentia", 8x6 inches

2010-09-06T23:00:00.000-07:00

Art Lesson: Less is More

2010-09-03T13:59:00.000-07:00

I have a tendency to go overboard. It's kind of the reason I'm such a fan of mixed media collage: instead of selecting a single image, you can just go to town. I am rarely satisfied with an art piece until it's got eight hundred layers and could be used to hold back rising flood waters.

But then I have a single-minded moment and out comes a fun little piece like this. There's only the one layer on white cotton. It's outside my usual realm, and yet I find this guy so refreshing. You can't tell from this picture, but my robot friend is the sole image adorning a nice big cotton kitchen towel. He's for sale in my Etsy shop, but I hate to see him go, unless it's to a home that adores him completely.

The point is, sometimes it's nice to keep it simple. Please remind me of this the next time I haul out a storage container's worth of collage supplies.

Art Lesson: Don't Quit

2010-09-03T00:00:00.000-07:00

I'm not going to say this potholder redefines the art of needlework, but I am sharing it here because it is a classic example of a project I really wanted to throw in the trash. I did the embroidery for this daddy-o on my recent trip to Massachusetts, a wonderful experience that included lots of stitching time. Since stitching time is my definition of paradise, things were good, except I could not abide by the way my birds were turning out.

I will refrain from pointing out every flaw, but above all I was just not getting past the impression that I had slid back sixty years in time. This pattern was supposed to be funky, all retro and everything, but instead it was really just coming off as something my grandmother actually would have made. And that is just not funky.

But, I stuck with it. I can't entirely take credit for sticking with it since the fact was that I was on the other side of the country and was therefore committed, in the absence of an available Craft Warehouse, to the needlework project I had packed along. (This one.) I held it up and smoothed it out and squinted my eyes and tried to imagine what it would look like in its eventual incarnation as a potholder.

Well, here you go. And it's not half bad, if I dare say. It's for sale because I have too many potholders and have already made potholders for many of my friends (if you're a friend without a potholder, notify me immediately).

The moral of the story is that even if you think your project sucks, go ahead and finish it. You may be pleasantly surprised. Or you may be the proud owner of an extra potholder. Either way, you can't go wrong.

Beaded Amulet Bag

2010-08-25T11:48:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been going through my overwhelming collection of zines and magazines to see which ones still light my fire. (Covert reason: to create room to take home more zines and magazines. Shhhh.)

In the course of this adventure I re-discovered a few of my copies of Ronda Kivett's Bead-E Art Zine. I love her zines; they're full to the brim with cool ideas, projects I can easily follow and art photos that make me want to try. This time I took another look at her directions for a tiny amulet bag, and I went for it.

This little honey went to my lovely friend Maria, but I think there are more in my future. Making this bag was completely charming...and I haven't even tried all Ronda's tricks yet! I'm keeping my beading needle handy.

Collage Camp Bliss

2010-08-18T08:27:00.000-07:00

This is one of the pages I finished during Collage Camp...or is it finished? Maybe not yet. I was going to write "free" but I got distracted and wrote "fro". I changed it to frozen and I kind of liked it, although I don't really know what it means, or anything. Ah, the power of art. I do like the contrast between "frozen" and the hot colors and the lemon. But I don't feel frozen.

In fact, after the Collage Camp getaway, I feel decidedly un-frozen. I feel liberated, relaxed, unwound, and open. I showed up twisted in a knot and left so relaxed and empty I could have just about fluttered in the wind.

Now it's back to work, but I have to leave some time open for creative play. It fills me up in a way nothing else does and makes me feel complete.

Finally, Play Time Again

2010-07-05T18:36:00.000-07:00

After a crazy month of way too much proper work, I finally got an art day. Here's the start of what I hope will be a series of nine quilt squares, which will all come together into one biggish piece. That's the idea anyway. Note the crazy mess of fabrics that comprise the beginnings of an art piece. Fabric is so much fun with all the textures, weights prints and colors--but even so a piece of artist's paper made it into the leaf in this piece. I guess that makes it officially mixed media.

Cross-stitchin Fun

2010-06-01T22:28:00.000-07:00

Not long ago I was in a zine swap and was lucky enough to get a righteous package from Adaiha. One of the zines she included was all about cross-stitching, which is of course my oldest and best-est crafting friend. The zine included a vintage pattern and I got to playing. This village is stitched on natural-shaded burlap in whatever colors I had in my floss box that came closest to the chart listing. It was a ball. I have vague ideas of including it in a quilt...but meanwhile I'm just enjoying it. Aren't you?

Collage Camp Is Coming!

2010-05-18T11:20:00.000-07:00

Yes, everyone, the first-ever Collage Camp will be taking place this August in western Massachusetts and it is not to be missed!

I've been watching the art retreat scene for quite a while and have attended a few myself, and this one is really something original. When we say camp, we mean camp. This art experience will take place on 78 acres of pristine woods, in a big beautiful cabin filled with fabulous people. Meals are included and we're not talking boiled hot dogs, either--Christine is a gourmet and a locovore who specializes in the joy of eating well. Participants will spend the weekend creating Soul Journals--transformational art journals--and to keep the creative fires burning we will be doing morning yoga, nature walks, plant gathering and general rousting about! The entire aim of this weekend is to allow every student to dive deep into the restorative qualities of art, nature and joyful community. You will come away shining!

For more information and to register, please click on the Collage Camp link. Space is limited so register early!

Submissions time for A Handmade Life!

2010-04-07T07:52:00.000-07:00

Yes, my lovely friends, the time has come again for me to sit down and assemble the wit, wisdom and creativity it takes to create the fifth annual issue of A Handmade Life. Every issue has sold out thus far (except issue two, because my husband found a pile of them in the attic I had forgotten about), so you are welcome to join in and share your voice with the world! And when I say the world, I mean the world. Issues of HL have gone out to Brazil, Australia, Spain, Canada and the UK. Were you interested in sharing your work with Brazil? You were? Then come join the fun!

Ish 5 is going to be the Simplicity Issue. That is a broad term that encompasses:

Purposeful down-sizing
Upcycled art
Non-toxic art supplies
Alternative work-styles (quit your job and become a hansom cab driver, for instance)
Art in your community
Whatever simplicity means to you

A Handmade Life is an art and lifestyle zine that usually runs about 32 pages and has twice been printed in color. I am a huge fan of color so it's probably going to be in color again. Contributors receive three issues to admire and share plus a nifty gift from the editor just for playing.

Send me your art, your essays, your poems, scans of your art journal pages, pictures of the quilt you made last winter, or whatever else you love and want to share. Due date is April 30, so that gives you three weeks to think about it. All contributors will have at least one piece of art or writing in the zine, so don't be shy! To submit send a 300 dpi scan of your artwork and/or writing saved as .doc to:

robinomayberry [!at!] yahoo [-dot-] com.

Love notes also accepted.

Grab a Tissue-- Michelle Ward is at it Again

2010-03-31T08:41:00.000-07:00

That Michelle. She is just chock-full of good ideas. This month her challenge is all about using tissue paper in your work. This is something I had tried a while back, but it had been a while and I remembered that I liked it.

I started off by following Michelle's suggestion to lay down gesso on the paper first. I painted a few pages and hung them up to dry. But I was not satisfied and so I grabbed a few more pages, put them right on top of this art journal in the picture, and started throwing down paint. And here's where the magic happened. I liked the tissue paper better without the gesso, because I could easily crumple it up and adhere it to the journal page for a cool background element. Check it out. For some reason in the photo it looks pink (new camera is on its way!) but I painted the paper with orange and teal and yellow. Anyway it worked really well, especially considering that the book I'm working in has super-thin paper that was made for dry media. (It's a round robin. I know that I am the queen of wet media.) By using this technique I could add a big splash of color without mangling the whole book with puddles of paint.

But the part I always like best is the surprises, and in this case the surprise was the lovely way the paint went through the tissue paper to add a soft, random paint layer to the pages I was had underneath the tissue. (Remember, I am lazy and I just threw the tissue paper down on top of the journal pages.) See here:

The right side has tissue adhered to it with gel medium, but the left side is all bleed-through. I loved it. I did it more. I covered everything with paint. It was a tissue paper art extravaganza!

Art Journal Page, "Wonders"

2010-03-26T09:18:00.000-07:00

Play Time

2010-03-20T16:16:00.000-07:00

I ran away to my office yesterday evening and brought along my art bag. The place was quiet; everyone was long gone. I cranked up the iTunes and out came the paint, the glue, and the rubber stamps. Time and space shimmered once and vanished. I love this: the free-form playing with color and images, allowing something in me to speak that doesn't use words. I feel a rush of connection that is nothing short of bliss.

I must thank Traci Bunkers for this wild burst of creative energy. I just finished reading a couple of issues of her fantastic art zine Tub Legs and by the time I was done I had to comb around for a piece of paper to draw on (I was at work) just to release the old art valves a little. I couldn't stand it. She reminded me of something I was starting to forget: art is not about making pretty stuff. Art is about being myself, on paper. And it so happens that I am colorful and loud and complicated. My art can say all of that, and never better than during a quiet evening alone, just me and my house music podcasts and a big cup of joe. I'm still flying.

Art Journal Page, "Faithful"

2010-03-02T21:33:00.000-08:00

Cheshire Cat

2010-02-26T08:33:00.000-08:00

So Scott is working his butt off at the new gallery in town, Alley Cat Artists, and there's an upcoming cat-themed show for which submissions are being accepted today. Do you think I had a choice here? No I did not. I was going to be making an art piece with a cat in it. Since I am kind of addicted to my sewing room lately, I knew it would be fiber art. Besides, I had this big ol pile of scraps left over from making heart charms. So I fused the snot out of these scraps, cut out a cat and sewed like crazy. Fun! Will I get into the show? Let's just say I've got friends (and a husband) in high places.

Back in the (sewing machine) saddle

2010-01-21T08:17:00.000-08:00

After a few weeks away from my sewing machine, I finally managed to get my happy ass into my sewing room and play around. I wasn't sure what I was going to make and for thrills I started constructing little fabric hearts, which I then thought would make a nice little garland-type thing. I went to work. Our nifty heart garland now hangs proudly in the living room, and even my husband, Mr. MFA, likes it. Success!

Art Journal Page, "Ornamental"

2009-12-29T23:07:00.001-08:00

It's resolution time again

2009-12-29T22:41:00.000-08:00

I am a total sucker for resolutions. I have high hopes, I guess; or maybe it's just that I find the clean slate of a new year an irresistible opportunity to achieve great things--or to think about achieving great things, anyway.

So I'm sorting through my long mental list of ideas and projects that play the harp strings of my soul, in hopes of pinpointing the reasonable few I may accomplish this year. Thus far I have the following:

1. Learn the process for encaustic painting.

2. Submit the fabric art journal I just completed to Somerset Studios.

3. Build up the flimsy stock in my Etsy shop.

4. Post to my blog at least once a week.

5. (This one has not crystallized.) Create a year-long project by doing one fabric collage square a week all year long. Assemble as installation art when finished. Perhaps 6x6" per square?

6. Try some of the techniques in my giant collection of mixed-media art magazines.

7. Go to ArtFiberFest this summer.

If I were actually more of a planner I might take these goals apart one by one, map out my micro-movements in days and weeks, and applaud myself for my ingenuity and verve. However, I am much too haphazard for all of that. Instead I will tack these ideas into my subconscious in the form of a blog post. Next year I'll check back, and I bet that I will have done at least four of these seven goals. Maybe more. Maybe all.

Yeah, I guess that's where I stand with resolutions. I don't really resolve to do any of these things. Instead, I just kind of aim myself in the right direction.

We all know the old saw about aiming for the stars, and landing on the moon. I've landed on a couple of moons that way. I recommend it.

Fabric Art Journal Page, "December"

2009-12-23T09:39:00.001-08:00

Art Journal Page, "Look Deep"

2009-11-19T21:40:00.000-08:00

Art Journal Page, "Intuition"

2009-11-08T15:43:00.001-08:00

Art Journal Page, "39"

2009-11-01T07:56:00.001-08:00

Swap-Bot Art Journal Round Robin Page, "Moment"

2009-10-24T11:12:00.001-07:00

Creativity status: recovered. Thank God. Hate feeling lost in limbo. Finished the pages for this round of the art swap; working on my I Heart Zines swap; gearing up for NaNoWriMo; feeling like I'm back in full gear. Aren't you glad?

Uh oh, creativity lurch.

2009-10-15T12:31:00.000-07:00

So I was humming along, making stuff, writing stuff, working on this new blog I have in the works...doing my eight pages for a Swap-Bot Art Journal Round Robin and getting slightly frantic about the upcoming I Heart Zines swap for Alma Stoller, which is not as far along as I might like.

Then today I sent the kids off to school and planned to do a bunch of work and there is nothing in my head. Nothing. I've stalled on the art journal, can't think of anything to post about, and want to turn the fabric art journal I have in front of the sewing machine into a big ol potholder and be done with it. Do not even discuss the zines I'm supposed to be making.

Is it because it's October and grey and all the leaves have fallen off the gum tree by the side window? Or because I have fished out my little trout pond of creativity? Or is it just natural to stall out? The terrible thing is that it feels like I'll never make a damned thing again, ever. I know this is crap but it still feels like that.

Gah. And that's all I have to say about that.

Accepted

2009-10-10T20:33:00.000-07:00

This is the piece that got me accepted into my first-ever juried art show, the Central Washington Artists' Exhibition at the Larsen Gallery in Yakima. I'm still kind of stunned! In a good way.

Fun with fabric scraps...fabric keychain!

2009-10-07T12:21:00.000-07:00

Art Journal Page, "In Her Hands"

2009-09-06T10:17:00.000-07:00

2009-09-02T20:38:00.000-07:00

Michelle Ward is at it again with her "Knock Yourself Off" challenge. The idea is to look at the way you once made a piece of art, and re-work it with your evolved artistic style.

This challenge invited me to look at my early collages, my favorites of which are in a small notebook--an early art journal, I guess. I saw that my artistic progress has been all about layers and blending images. At first, I just laid the images on top of each other; now, I try to blend and work them into a more cohesive whole. Also, when I started out I used a glue stick and a blank white page; now I sometimes put more work into the background than the focal image, and I never part ways with my gel medium.

In the end, this challenge was satisfying if for no other reason than to see a glimmer of artistic growth. I guess all that fooling around is paying off!

Sewing on Paper ROX

2009-08-22T10:21:00.000-07:00

I love making new internet friends, especially when they send me really cool craft projects like this one. Su included this super-cool bookmark with her zine in a recent swap and I knew on sight that I was going to have fun with it. See for yourself!

Progress on the Use It Up Challenge

2009-08-22T10:15:00.000-07:00

Here's how things are going with that plastic cup full of beads.

Feeling Just a Little Bit Famous

2009-08-17T07:13:00.001-07:00

Somerset Studios just released their second issue of Art Journaling and lo and behold, on pages 132 and 133 are four pieces of my work! How awesome is that! I actually laid awake a few nights concocting inner dialogues that featured them sending back my journal with scolding notes never, ever to bother them again. Or maybe they'd just have a good laugh over a few margaritas. Not that I have a complex, or anything. Anyhoo, there's me, out there in the world. Feels pretty nifty.

Be Yourself

2009-08-17T07:13:00.000-07:00

In my life, I've made a lot of mistakes. I've done just about everything the way you're not supposed to do it, and have made learning the hard way a personal art form. Growing up in a clean suburb surrounded by brick-face office buildings, my path was made clear: finish college; find a job in a cubicle; farm children out to daycare providers; take two weeks of vacation in the summer. I screwed it up completely.

If I had done things the way I was supposed to, I'd be well on my way right about now to a well-funded 401(k) and I'd probably have great dental. Instead, I have chosen repeatedly, and often at some personal cost, to be myself.

It's not that I didn't try. I spent a goodly share of my early life in a series of office jobs, stuffed into pantyhose and suffocating in the dead central air. I went to college only to be thrown out for concentrating my efforts on partying instead of studying (I finished much later). I still suffer from occasional spasms of guilt for failing to discover and pursue a "career", and I have the thinnest wisp of a retirement plan, mostly aimed at convincing myself I'm getting somewhere.

Yet in lieu of doing life properly, I have opted to do life vitally. I have repeatedly chosen what truly interests me instead of what I "should" do, and as a result, my life is pretty freakin awesome. I'm self-employed, with all the attendant risks and rewards. My kids have never gone to daycare; they stay right here at home and annoy the crap out of us. I have the time and the energy to pursue the whims of my spirit--playing with art, with writing, and with travel usually tops the list. I have been to all 48 continental states, as of this past week, when I knocked off Nebraska. As an adult, I have taken piano lessons, horseback riding lessons and learned some HTML, all simply because they caught my whim. I also learned how to run a cleaning business, how to do BodyTalk (a form of energy medicine) and how to do gel medium transfers in my artwork.

Some may say (and do say) that I'm irresponsible. But it seems to me that being "responsible", at least as it seems to apply to the rigid masses, is a life of postponement. Who has the time?

So I say to you: be yourself. There's no good reason to stay in a job you hate, a marriage that's dead or a study program that makes you want to hang yourself. Honest. When you're down there in the trenches, there's a thousand hands hanging on to your ankles, keeping you there. Shake them off. Do your thing, man. The world needs you.

If you had six months without commitments of any kind, how would you spend them? Traveling? In a silent retreat? Baking cookies with the kids? Learning Finnish? Answer this question, and then take one step today. Today. Because I'll tell you a little secret: tomorrow never comes.

And I, for one, can't wait to meet the real you.

Art Zine Swap Magic

2009-08-08T13:24:00.000-07:00

This post's a shout out to the fabulous zinesters who have made my week: namely, the brazen souls who participated in the Swap-Bot Art Zine Swap. These fiesty chicas hail from all over the States and the UK, making our swap a truly global experience.

And here, a brief zine review. Tuppence Coloured by Lynne McFarlane is color-printed on heavy paper, bound with ribbon, and jam-packed with tutorials for working with paper, journals, ATCs and felt. I love her rich colors and clear instructions. Her zine came with a dimensional ATC and a handmade card featuring her locale. Fun, fun, fun.

Karis West sent in Fairies of Disorder: The Art Issue. This one's 34 collaged, black-and-white pages. It's got handwritten text (which I always love...can't get much more personal than that), lots of artwork and more tutorials than I can shake a stick at. I've been savoring this one slowly. Karis, it's okay if you couldn't print in color. Your zine still rox.

Vicki Hobb contributed her super-colorful zine, Art in Small Doses. It's loaded with high-resolution copies of her own (small, thus the title) artwork. It's absolutely gorgeous...and she included an art piece and a bag of nifty goodies!

Yet I save the best for last. (Being hopelessly American, I can't help but label the best and the brightest.) Su Mwamba's zine Contours snapped up my heart and won't give it back. Contours features the little-celebrated art of doodling, but beyond that it's an exploration into the creative process as a whole, and into how our unconscious artistic drives reflect our true natures. It's printed on recycled paper, comes loaded with extras, and is an absolutely charming juxtaposition of clean, black-boxed text and hand-added touches. Plus, it came packaged in a small paper bag, which had me charmed from the start. It was Su's idea to expand the Art Zine Swap to international waters, and I'm sure glad she did. To see what Su has to offer, I heartfully encourage to you visit her Etsy shop.

Thank you to all of you bold, creative, fiery zinesters. You have added grace and depth to my creative world.

Creative Challenge: Use It Up

2009-08-04T08:03:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, while rooting through my stash collection for zine inclusions, I came across this plastic tub of random beads, mostly seed beads in a hundred different colors. I've been toting this particular tub around for, oh, fifteen years or so. Really. While I do like the silky way the beads feel when I swirl my fingers through them, that's not much of a reason to keep hanging on to them, especially not when I'm in the throes of deep de-stash.

I decided then and there that I would institute a project for the sole purpose of using up these beads. Currently I'm thinking of beading some kind of wall hanging type thing, but we'll just have to see.

Won't you join me? I know you have a bin of beads, stash of fabric, basket of yarn, or envelope full of collage clippings. They're just waiting for that special day to use them.

Today's the day! Here's the challenge. Take a picture of your stash, then make something out of it and take a picture of that. Post both to your blog or other linkable account (like Flickr), and then comment on this post with your URL. I'll list all players on the sidebar so you can feel special!

At the end of the challenge, the most creative use-it-up player will get a pack of art zines from me, your humble host, which of course you will love so much you will want to have them bronzed.

More importantly though, you'll have the chance to actually enjoy those art supplies, instead of wait to enjoy them. And that makes all the difference.

New Zine!

2009-08-03T21:07:00.000-07:00

Thanks to a super cool Swap-Bot swap, I got crackin and made a brandy new zine. As previously mentioned, the deadline made me get my butt in gear, and I worked hard to make sure it has lots of layers, color and good information. Also, every zine comes with inclusions! Click on the Etsy link in the sidebar to see more pix and to pick up your very own copy!

I love a deadline

2009-08-02T09:19:00.000-07:00

I remember reading once in a book on writing that the "dead" in "deadline" is the active part of the word. Not so for me. This week I have been going like gangbusters, working on not one but two deadlines--a zine swap and a real, true art show--and it has made me feel deliciously alive.

I have discovered that if you set me against a ticking clock, I throw caution to the wind and create until my fingers bleed. Not only that, but I manage to turn out some interesting stuff. Of course I turn out some crap, too--but instead of agonizing over the crap, I just keep moving. Creating.

My friend Christine, knowing this, used to invent deadlines for me. I think I may have to re-institute this tradition. Cause all this art-making just feels mighty fine.

5x6 inch fabric art, "Understanding"

2009-07-27T08:49:00.000-07:00

Art Journal Page, "I Want To"

2009-06-17T16:30:00.000-07:00

What happens when I play

2009-05-31T10:21:00.000-07:00

As promised, I got out my art journal just to play. I ended up working--I mean, playing on a page I really couldn't stand. I like it better with the circles. I like circles just about anywhere.

Living the Handmade Life

2009-05-30T13:29:00.000-07:00

There's two ways to live the handmade life.

You can spend your days making things by hand. This is a pretty awesome way to live a handmade life, especially if your greatest source of pleasure and inspiration is making stuff.

The other way to live handmade is to actually create your life itself--day by day, choice by deliberate choice. This is my favorite way to live. Since I quit my Serious Job almost two years ago, living a handmade life has been my modus operandi--and I have never been happier.

Today it was a gorgeous Saturday morning. Eighty degrees, light blue-sky breeze, smell of cut grass. The kids and I took a walk down to the library but the hours had changed and it was closed. Instead we went to the Farmer's Market, where Maya got her face painted, Jordan got a balloon animal shaped like a dog on a leash, and I got two pounds of local asparagus. As we wandered back home, ducking under the low-hanging leaves hanging over the sidewalks, it occurred to me that when I was still living the Serious Life--a well-paid, well-insured life with funded retirement plans--then Saturdays like this were pressured and intense. Back then, I had better by-God enjoy this sliver of life, because who knew when I'd get another chance?

But in my handmade life, a life that is supported with a cleaning business and energetic healing and artwork--a life that strikes an easy balance between parenting and self-care, between earning money and serving the world, between growing and playing--I don't have to panic about a Saturday morning. I can just wander in it. And I've found it's the very freedom to stop and smell the roses that allows them to bloom.

Artwork Vs ArtPLAY

2009-05-28T23:42:00.001-07:00

I am a very lucky person. Not only does my life usually kick some serious ass in the fun department, but I am surrounded by great people. Evidence: the new Artist's Way group I'm glad to be part of. For the next 12 weeks, we're going to go through the chapters of Julia Cameron's book The Artist's Way. And we're going to do it together.

Tonight we ended up talking about the idea of play. Now, I just told you my life is seriously fun (and it is), yet I discovered in the course of conversation that I'm not always much for playing. Even when I mess around in my art journals, I call it working. I work in the garden. I work on my writing projects. I work at my sewing machine, trying to finish an art quilt before a submission deadline.

Where's the play, here? Is it just my Puritan roots? Must I kid myself that everything I'm doing is industrious? No wonder I get stressed out over things like ATC swaps.

I think I will give play just a little tiny try. Maybe for an hour or so. I think I'll get out my art journals and just goof off with some paint. See what happens. If I don't upload a picture, it's cause it was particularly serious crap. Is that okay? I hope so.

My best zine review ever

2009-05-17T19:24:00.001-07:00

What's this? You haven't picked up your copy of A Handmade Life Issue 4 yet? Well, just ask Pattie why you'll love it!

Read Pattie's review here. Need I say she made my day?

To take a look-see at HL Ish 4, please click on my Etsy shop window in the sidebar. You would extra super duper make my day if you did.

A Handmade Life Ish 4 is HERE!

2009-05-12T21:38:00.000-07:00

Yes, my friends, after many long months of hard work and anticipation, A Handmade Life Issue 4 is here! And what with the amazing artwork and essays by Pattie Mosca, Amanda Jolley, and Dawn Rice and poetry by Jim Dubois, I gotta say, Ish 4 ROX.

If you are looking for just the thing to catapult your creativity, look no further! Click on my Etsy shop in the sidebar and take home your very own copy! The Handmade Life awaits you!

Time to Show Off Your Stitching Chops!

2009-04-26T08:51:00.000-07:00

Okay, now I've done it.

After months of innocently swapping on Swap-Bot, I decided the time has come to actually create my very own swap!

I'm kicking off my hosting career with the Embroidered ATC Swap. That's right, one ATC per partner...embroidered. Or, more accurately, done in any kind of needlework. You can use one of those little cross-stitch patterns you have...do some free-form embroidering...break out the punch needle kit...draw a picture and satin stitch it...or do what I plan to do, which is finally break out one of those Sublime Stitching patterns I have and stitch away.

ATCs must be mounted on heavy interfacing or light cardstock so that they're not, you know, all floppy.

This is going to be the coolest swap EVER. Ever!! Believe it. Click on it. Join it.

Sew Saturday

2009-04-26T08:00:00.002-07:00

Fable, 9x12 inches

Yesterday was a cold, nasty, blowy day. I put in my required outdoor time by spending an hour clearing one of the last flower gardens in the back yard, and escorting my kids in a bike ride around the block. Then it was sewing time!

I have been tinkering with this mini art quilt for a while now...and finally, yesterday, the last components came together and I called it a victory. My husband said it would really look cool if it was a full-sized quilt. I gave him a dirty look.

House, 1x3 inches

Meanwhile, my 7-year-old son Jordan decided it was time to learn how to sew. I thought he meant sew like sew on a button, but actually he wanted to take on embroidery. This house is his very first project. He conceived the idea, designed the house, picked the colors and spent two almost-quiet hours with me in my sewing room working on it. Several times he said, "You know, I'm actually pretty good at this!" He actually is. I would never have considered trying to turn him on to embroidery, but it was the most peaceful Saturday afternoon in recent memory.Moms, give this one a try.

Crusade No 30: Lettering

2009-04-12T08:20:00.000-07:00

I guess we all know by now I'm bonkers for Michelle Ward's Street Team and the righteous challenges she comes up with. This month: adding words to journal pages. Come on! How in was I! With rare exceptions, I don't consider a page finished until it has words. This challenge was the perfect excuse to experiment with different ways to do lettering.

White Posca pen outlined with blue fine-tip pen.

Letters stamped on 1 inch squares courtesy of a Swap-Bot swap.

Straight-up letter stamping.

A layer of handwritten text under paint; large letters stamped with Gesso.

Art Journal Page, "Less is More"

2009-04-06T09:13:00.000-07:00

Crusade No 29: Brush Effects

2009-03-17T16:27:00.000-07:00

Oh, Michelle . You always get me playing. This time she challenged her faithful Street Team followers to get out there and play with paintbrushes! This just happens to be a technique I love to do anyhow, but for the occasion, I thought I'd really get in there and make a mess.

These two images are art journal pages. The first used a resist technique at the end to make those circles, of which I am very fond. The second page uses gesso resist, hand-carved stamps, and collage before I went wild with dry brushing. I can thank Michelle for introducing me to the gesso and the hand carving.

I used a Sharpie pen to draw the flowers and a Posca paint marker for the white lettering. I had good luck with both of these drawing over acrylic paint. Voila!

Things to Do with a Cone of Yellow Cotton Yarn

2009-03-07T16:33:00.000-08:00

Way back when, I picked up this mad huge cone of cotton yarn, ostensibly for crocheting dish towels. I quickly learned that this cone would yield about eight hundred dish towels, a project that quickly fades in interest. So, on the marathon ride home from MA to WA, I started playing around with my yarn. After two more dishcloths, I made a soap envelope (thanks Christine for the idea), and then I decided to whip me a up a funky crocheted bag. This is my fave. It is currently stuffed with some dolls I picked up from Monica Magness for beading...but I think this bag will have a long history. And it was way more fun than making another towel.

Art Journal Page, "Path to Joy"

2009-03-03T11:13:00.000-08:00

Most of this page was created in bliss while visiting my wonderful friend Christine, but while half-asleep on the plane I realized it needed another layer of acrylic paint and lettering. And voila!

Communal Art Time

2009-02-28T13:12:00.000-08:00

I don't know why, but it is exponentially more fun--and productive--to make art with a friend. In this case, my friend Christine and I spent a happy afternoon making art books with sheets of watercolor paper she was able to pick up super cheap. With such a tempting pile of paper, all it took was some waxed linen thread and a box of painting supplies to get wild and crazy.

This picture shows the front cover of Christine's book, top row on the left. She spent her afternoon making one layered, rich cover. I, on the other hand, plowed through making five books, but without anywhere near as much detail. We are both very pleased.

Zig Zag the Zine

2009-02-13T13:32:00.000-08:00

Just the other day I finished a brand-new, just-for-kicks zine I call Zig Zag. It's got funky collage art, some nifty articles, and it's just right for stuffing in a bag or purse for reading in waiting rooms (really, do you need to catch up with last September's Newsweek?), on the bus or, if you're really clever, at work (prop between pages of tech manual and you are all set).

After much deliberation, I printed it in black and white to keep it ultra cheap. So go ahead! Spoil yourself! Throw a little Zig Zag into your day!

See my Etsy shop in the sidebar if you'd like to take a closer look. Thanks!

Portion Control

2009-02-11T11:03:00.000-08:00

Only Michelle Ward and her righteous Street Team Challenges could get me to try portion control. Ha!

Inspired by her gorgeous tutorial on portion control--that is, partially covering and layering over shapes to bring out interest--I applied her visual ideas to my favorite Valentine's Day card of the season.

Now the problem is I don't want to give this Valentine away!

A Handmade Life Issue 4 Is Coming Together

2009-02-11T10:58:00.001-08:00

I am really getting excited about Issue 4. Thus far we have a passel of fantastic artists and writers chipping in to create a fabulous new Handmade Life... and it is gonna be a great one!

Just a friendly reminder to all you procrastinators out there that if you want to get in on this incredible, vibrant, inspiring publication, it's time to send me whatcha got!

If you'd like to take a closer look at Ish 2 and 3, click on the Etsy icon on the right sidebar and you can see pictures and excerpts. Issue 3 has traveled to the UK and Australia, as well as all over the US. Be a part of it!

To send submissions or for more info, please email me at robinomayberry (at) yahoo (dot) com.

Because you're worth it!

V-Day Card Party

2009-02-08T20:16:00.001-08:00

This is the ultimate in collaboration: 6 friends, a table full of art materials, and more than a dozen cards to show for it. We had a total blast playing with rubber stamps, paint and funky papers. The best part was the fabulous support we gave each other, loving every card as it was finished and held up for the ooohing and aahing.

This made for a practically perfect pre-Valentine's. Now all I need is a box of chocolates.

Crazy for Swap-Bot!

2009-02-01T10:31:00.000-08:00

Some of you observant readers may notice the new icon on the sidebar for the Swap-Bot blog. Why is Swap-Bot getting such prime real estate? Because Swap-Bot Rox!

See, I am wild for snail mail. I check the mail every day thinking there might be something fun in there. It's like Christmas six days a week. Because I love little packages so much, I have the bad habit of ordering little this-and-thats from Etsy or eBay or Amazon, just to keep the fun going. This is how my space has become overrun and my finances have become challenged.

But ah! to swap! I get something, I give something away. All it costs is postage. I get to meet cool folks, share my stuff, AND look forward to thrills in the mailbox!

Swap-Bot! Rox!

Crazy Fabric Art, "Spiral Dance"

2009-01-29T17:53:00.001-08:00

I made this piece for Michelle Ward's Street Team Challenge, Shape Up, which requires playing with a favorite shape for a while to see where things go. I thought I'd mess around with circles, because I love circles, but before I knew it my circle had become a spiral, and I was having a ball with it.

Spiral Dance was constructed from snips of fabric and lots of wacky beads on painted canvas. I had to give in to a fabric art compulsion after spending lots of time with Alma Stoller's zines. So in a way, this lil honey is a tribute to two of my fave artistes!

Now Accepting Submissions for A Handmade Life Ish 4

2009-01-08T08:33:00.000-08:00

Hello my friends!

I know you are all wildly talented and for that reason, I would like to invite you to contribute to the excellent zine (if I dare say so myself!) A Handmade Life.

This issue will be focusing on the theme of Collaboration and Community.

A Handmade Life is a zine dedicated to living creatively--both by actually engaging in creative activities, and by living life in a way that feels authentic and worthwhile. I would love to see written material about:

Experiences with swaps
Co-ops and other community projects
Freecycling
Creativity groups
Collaborative art projects
Guerrila art
Or whatever collaboration and community means to you.

Also! HL would not be the righteous zine that it is without the awesome eye candy that previous contributors have tossed in the pot. Truly there has been some great work featured in the past, and I expect Issue 4 to be better than ever!

A Handmade Life is laser-printed, saddle-stitched and gorgeous. It runs around 44 pages. Issue 3 has traveled the globe, finding homes as far away as the UK and Australia! To see more of previous issues, please click on the Etsy link in the sidebar.

All contributors will receive three contributor copies, plus a small gift from me for joining the fun.

Please email contributions to me at robinomayberry (at) yahoo (dot) com. If you prefer snail mail then please contact me for a mailing address.

Date due: February 14th, 2009.

Come collaborate with me!

Art Journal Page, "Courage"

2009-01-06T08:13:00.001-08:00

More Soldering Fun (plus tutorial!)

2008-12-07T19:38:00.000-08:00

After all the fun I was having with the ornaments, I just couldn't stop. My next trick was to make little 2x2 collages and solder me up some keychains.

I don't usually do the tutorial thing, but in the interest of the upcoming holiday I will. I have to say these little ditties are quick, easy and--if I dare say--adorable.

The biggest expense involved is the soldering iron. You can use the soldering irons found in hardware stores (or the closest manly woodshop), but if you can spare it, spring for one in the craft store with a flat tip, like a screwdriver. Mine is Simply Swank brand and yes, I just got the whole dang kit.

Other than the soldering iron, you need:

metallic tape
solder
flux
clamps
two 2x2 pieces of glass (I used Memory Keepers)
collage images
cardstock cut in 2x2 squares

1. Collage images on cardstock. Don't worry too much about using heavy-duty adhesive as the glass will hold the collage in place.

2. Sandwich collage between the glass pieces. If necessary, trim the collage so that no paper goes outside the glass.

3. Use the metallic tape to completely tape around all four sides of your glass sandwich, trying to keep it even between the front and the back.

4. Fold down and burnish the tape on the front and back of the glass. At the corners, tuck the tape in like you would wrapping paper and fold under. Smooth the tape and trim with a craft knife if necessary.

5. Heat up the soldering iron.

6. Use your clamp to set the piece up perpendicular to your work surface. You want the edge to be level when you work.

7. Paint the area you are about to solder with flux. (If you forget to use the flux, your solder will not flow smoothly. Even after soldering, you can repaint the area with flux and run the iron over the surface again.)

8. Starting at one corner, touch the solder to the metallic tape and melt off a drop with the soldering iron. Run the soldering iron along the edge of the tape to create a smooth line of solder. It dries within a second or two.

9. Small amounts of solder should drip along the sides. Using the clamp, turn your piece on its side (again, keep it level while working) and run the soldering iron along each side to cover the metallic tape with solder.

10. Carefully remove the clamp (glass may be hot), turn the piece so the next side is up, and repeat.

11. Be generous with the flux! When you've finished, if anything looks lumpy or thin, just repaint with flux and run over it again.

12. Now the tricky part: the jump ring. Clamp the piece so that it's upright. Paint top edge with flux. Drop one drop of solder along the edge. Paint with flux again. Using pliers or hemostats grasp the jump ring with one hand and touch the soldering iron to the solder. As it melts, press the jump ring into the melted solder. It's quick and might take one or two tries. If your jump ring ends up crooked or in the wrong place, just melt it back off. The soldering iron will not melt the metal in the jump ring.

13. For a chain, I used Tim Holtz's swivel chains which were pretty darn perfect, but you could use ball chains or whatever else strikes your fancy.

These keychains were really really fun. I hope someone else wants to give it a try! If you do, I hope you'll leave a comment or even better a picture on your blog. Give it a whirl!

Gesso Sprout

2008-11-29T21:29:00.000-08:00

This is an experiment with using gesso both under and over paint. First I painted a page with watercolor, then stamped with gesso, dried the gesso and painted over it all with a contrasting watercolor color.

When the whole thing was dry I painted the sprout.

I do find myself moving away from cut-and-paste collage and into the scary world of painting or drawing my own images. There's something raw and vital about making up my own pictures, even when they aren't as cool or detailed or colorful as something I could cut from a collage sheet. I'm not ready to completely lay down the scissors just yet, but "Sprout" is a member of this new generation of Robin-originals.

This piece courtesy of Michelle Ward and her latest challenge : playing with gesso in new ways.

My newest obession

2008-11-23T19:48:00.000-08:00

Last week my friend Stacy invited me over to solder ornaments with her. Being an altered art fiend, I happily accepted--and now look. A new craze. I had to go right down to the craft store and get my soldering iron, flux, collage sheets and pre-cut glass. I got a glass cutter, too, but that's currently over my head.

This soldering thing is truly cool, I must say. Perfect for those small-yet-thoughtful Christmas gifts that are always in short supply. It's totally addictive to be running the solder around trying to get it just so. I told myself I would only do it after the kids were in bed (can I trust them anywhere near a soldering iron?) but this morning I heated up the soldering iron while the coffee pot was running. I couldn't help myself.

These ornaments have not been beaded yet. I'll hang beads from the bottom and string ribbon on the top, and viola! a righteous ornament.

Thanks, Stacy. I love a fresh new craft for Christmas.

These

Art Journal Page, "Serve the World"

2008-11-10T08:52:00.000-08:00

BWO Gone Wild

2008-11-03T08:08:00.000-08:00

Okay, I have the Blogging Without Obligation icon on the sidebar, but this is ridiculous.

Just want you guys to know that there were some technical difficulties here. Our scanner of ten years finally went on the blink...at last we got a new scanner...had to hook it up which I put off because it looked complicated and stupid...finally did it but then started playing around with the other features and still didn't scan anything.

But I do have some stuff to share and it will be forthcoming. Thanks for loving me anyway.

Plus, you can always come over to my everyday-life blog, Wordsandwich.

Cleaning My Plate

2008-09-22T07:19:00.000-07:00

This month's challenge at Michelle Ward's Street Team is to Clean Your Plate. In other words, finish a project, clean a drawer, tie up loose ends so you can move forward unencumbered.

I decided to use this opportunity to go Where No Woman Has Gone Before...or at least not for a year or so. My sewing machine table. I love my sewing table with its four handy drawers, except all four drawers were stuffed with junk, and every time I needed so much as a spool of thread I had to root around like a marmot until fabric and threads and buttons were falling all over the floor. It was irritating.

So I suited up and went in. I found all kinds of stuff: wooden thread spools, fabric scraps, a bag of lavender, embellishments, even a repair chart for a 1950's model sewing machine. I sorted and arranged, until my drawers were transformed from a place of dangerous mystery to a place of order.

Tucked into all that chaos was a mini art quilt I had started earlier this year. I had abandoned it after I did the embroidery because I didn't know how to proceed, but there it was, waiting for me in a crumpled pile. With all that cleared space, I miraculously saw how to finish the thing.

Also, my five year old daughter called dibs on it so that made it easier, too.

And lo! in an atmosphere of calm order, I finished Maya's mini art quilt. And started another one. Because it's really fun to work when you don't have to spend three hours looking for every needle and scrap of ribbon.

Thank you, Michelle!

The Heartbreak of Failure

2008-09-21T11:13:00.000-07:00

This one's about my incredibly talented husband, Scott Mayberry.

You haven't heard about Scott, even though I humbly believe that he should be a household name. And the reason you haven't heard about Scott is because the art world can be a blistering place. Like this.

Yesterday he participated in an event hosted by a local gallery, in which artists all over town spend the day publicly creating a piece of art and then donate their work at the end of the day for an auction. All proceeds benefit this gallery, which is indeed an excellent organization. This event is a great chance to get some exposure and support a worthy cause.

Scott has never participated. But this year with the encouragement of some new art friends he decided to go for it. He spent the day painting this:

Which is a pretty awesome piece.

He was feeling pretty fine when he finished this painting. He knew it was a good painting and he was happy with it. And off it went to auction.

Maybe Scott shouldn't have gone to the auction. Maybe he should have just dropped the painting off, walked away and gone home to watch bad television. Because the sad fact was his painting was not stampeded over; it did sell, but there was no bidding war, no crazed fluster of potential buyers flailing for their chance to own his work.

To my mind I think--well, it sold, didn't it? But not to his. To his mind, this is just evidence that he is a terrible painter, will never be successful, and might as well just give up and accept his destiny as the owner of a small cleaning business, the end.

It is heartbreaking. It takes huge guts to make anything and then put it up in front of a crowd of subjective people with fickle opinions and see who wants to pony up the dough. It's so easy then to measure your worth against other people's wallets. And it hurts so damn bad when people say they love your work but aren't quite interested in having it on their wall.

Because it's not my work in question, it's easy for me to remind him that every artist must endure this crushing grief at one time or another. Van Gogh sold a hundred dollars' worth of paintings in his lifetime--can you imagine? To keep on painting in the face of that much rejection? (It did seem to pickle his mind a little.)

And it's easy for me to see that the money a crowd of people puts forth at a certain point in time is not a reflection of the value of the painting--or more importantly, the value of the painter.

But I share here his grief as a reminder to myself and all of us that to be an artist takes courage. It might be more important than talent. It just takes guts to keep on going.

And as I write, he's setting up his paints. Because he just can't help himself. Because he's an artist.

I signed up for Artfest!!!

2008-09-16T08:38:00.001-07:00

From the first day Artfest came into my awareness, which was several years ago now, I knew I had to go. Had to.

Last night I officially chose my workshops (from what was left--more than half are full only 13 days after registration opened!). I picked some really killer stuff. Even my third choices are so super cool I can't believe it.

Does this mean I'm an artist, now? I think it does.

Creativity vs Productivity

2008-09-15T13:52:00.000-07:00

Let me tell you a little story about my brain's relationship with creativity. The other night I was lucky enough to have a few hours to myself, and in that time I played my piano keyboard, worked on my needlework, and colored the picture you see above out of my new coloring book The Color of Woman.*

The next day was a busier day, and I didn't have much time to create anything. Towards the end of the night I was tired and all I wanted to do was put on my pajamas and work on the cross-stitch sampler I have underway--but a nasty little voice piped up: you never do anything creative. It meant it, too.

This voice was distressing. I easily found all kinds of reasons to agree with it. For all my creative drive, I found myself thinking I didn't have much to show for it. And this, my friends, is one of the most insidious accusations of that nasty little voice. (Julia Cameron calls it the Censor.)

Follow me here. There's a place in my brain (the Censor) that says that creativity is worthless without productivity. It says there's no value in coloring in a coloring book because it will never end up in a gallery. No sense fooling around with writing bad poems no one likes anyhow. Definitely it's pointless to undertake the likes of playing the keyboard when my skills are so rudimentary I still get a thrill from playing "When the Saints Go Marching In"; or to learn something new that I'll probably never master, like knitting or pottery or clog dancing. If I'm not producing, this creep argues, I'm not creating.

Conversely (because the Censor is never satisfied) actually producing something like the huge needlework sampler I'm working on also does not count as creativity, because I didn't make up the pattern. That's just fabricating, says the Censor.

So what, then, is creating? According to this voice, I mean. I think this voice really wants to argue that writing is worthless unless it's for guaranteed publication, art is worthless unless it's going to secure my place in history, music is worthless unless it's going to radiate outward and change the world. Okay, then! Not too much to ask there!

No wonder I can get blocked at the sight of a pen or a paintbrush. The Censor is already squatting in the corner, rubbing its nasty little hands together and getting ready to shred any attempt at self-expression.

Well, sorry, little fella. Because after some consideration, I have decided that coloring in a coloring book is creating; and so is playing beginner piano and repairing the tear in my skirt and pencil-sketching the scenery when I'm camping. I declare myself creative even if there's never a thing to show for it! I answer the Censor in this way: creativity is the movement of energy. It's an allowing. It's letting my inner impulses dance outward, and loving the thrill of that connection, even when the subject of expression is painful or dark. Creativity is motion.

Sometimes the creative impulse results in a finished product. Sometimes it results in something quite beautiful, meaningful or transformative. But often, I'm discovering, it doesn't. And it doesn't matter. All that matters is the dance.

* Many thanks to my wonderful friend Rob for the coloring book. It was one of my favorite birthday gifts.

I love these Blogs!

2008-09-07T09:29:00.000-07:00

Carol Stocker of Spirit's Journey Designs loves my blog! I even get a funky sidebar badge to prove it!

Here's whose blogs I love:

Sarah at Budding Gardener
Christine at PocketCT
Judy at Knotty Needle
Kathy at The Crafty Chica
Audrey at Small Creations
Julie at Lost Luggage
Monica at Girl Gone Thread Wild

Blog nominees, here's da rules:

1.The winner can put the logo on their blog
2. Link the person from whom you received your award
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs
4. Link those blogs to yours
5. Leave a message on the blogs of the people you nominated

Or, you know, you can just feel like you're cool.

Trade, Anyone?

2008-09-06T20:23:00.001-07:00

In celebration of my return to the computer after a month and a half of working myself to the bone, I have listed some ATCs on the sidebar that I would love to trade.

You know, the Artist Trading Card. They're fun. I'll bet you've got some in pile that you made on a rainy Sunday because they are so quick and clever to make. Would you like one of mine? I would like one of yours.

Also, I have re-listed my zines, A Handmade Life Issues 2 and 3, in my Etsy shop. Issue 3, in particular, is super cool, being in full color and stuffed with contributions from a whole mess of incredible artists--not to say Issue 2 is less cool; it just has less color and more Robin. Anyhoo, if you're not partial to shelling out cash for amazing zines like this, I am happy to make trades in this department too. Zine for zine or for anything worth a zine. You know, like a Porsche.

Shall we play?

Art Journal Page, "Natural Abundance"

2008-09-06T20:12:00.001-07:00

Derek John Jackson, 1957-2008

2008-08-18T22:22:00.000-07:00

About a thousand years back, when I was fresh on the bar scene and still wore red suede boots on Saturday nights, I met a beautiful, black-eyed man with whom I fell in love so hard I never have fallen back out. The first time I looked in his eyes, I felt a leap of recognition, as if we had known each other again and again. He was magic to me, the elixir that transformed everything ordinary.

The first night we connected, a meteoric shooting star raged across the November sky in an endless glowing arc. We knew then that we were marked for one another. And marked we were: as rough-and-tumble as we were together, as much damage as we did, the love just would not quit.

Eventually we gave up trying to live our lives together and went our separate ways. But over the years I have taken comfort in knowing where he was, that I still had his phone number, that I we could swap cards at Christmas. Our communicados were sparse but always potent, always shivering little flashes of what had once burned and burned. I last saw him several years ago, for an hour or so, and the simple delight at being in his presence lit me up like the first blush of whiskey. God, I loved him.

But today I learned that he very recently died. He "passed", people say and have said to me today, as if he were someone on a bus while I stood on the sidewalk. He passed. I was hoping to see him again but sorry, he passed. While I wasn't looking.

I'm a married woman now, a mother, and maybe it isn't seemly to be so broken-hearted about a long lost man with whom I seemingly had lost touch. But the truth is we were still in touch; I could reach into my heart and feel for him, and he was there.

Here's the thing about death: whatever you have of the deceased, that's all you get. Whatever memories, conversations, old letters, guitar picks--that's all you get. If you are at all removed, these things will probably fit in a small box. The memories get all tattered. You can't remember why you kept that beer bottle cap, but everything takes on a sort of shining importance. It's all you'll get.

I loved him. Now in all this vast swimming universe I'll have to look for him again.

Art Journal Page, "Abundance"

2008-08-16T20:45:00.001-07:00

The Artist's Way

2008-08-06T08:30:00.000-07:00

For the past few weeks, I have been meeting with a group of friends and working through Julia Cameron's classic book The Artist's Way. I have to admit that when we began, I considered myself a bit of a veteran; I had gone through the book before and thought myself wiser, perhaps; more experienced.

What an eye-opener to be working with this book in the company of others. For one thing, there really is that accountability factor, which for potentially lazy self-sabotaging folks like myself is a huge benefit. I want to make sure that when I show up for our meetings I have done my morning pages, my artist date and my tasks, by golly. So, as a result of actually doing the items in the book and not just reading about them, I have begun to experience something really pretty intense.

Creativity has been coming out my pores. I can hardly help myself. In the past few weeks I have beaded a necklace and two anklets, created art journal pages, finished my needlepoint pillow (I tend to do huge needlework projects and then never put them together), written a poem, and weeded my garden with an open heart. All this in the midst of a crazy summer with way too much going on.

I have to admit it feels amazing. I can't speak for anyone else, but when I am in the creative flow I feel like I know why I'm on the earth. Even if all I'm doing is stuffing my needlepoint pillow, I feel directed and inspired. I feel alive.

Art Journal Page, "Chaos"

2008-08-05T20:37:00.000-07:00

Or, why I haven't posted in a month.