2 Discoveries in 1 Day!

in day!

Okay, I learned how to embed links, but try as I might, I couldn't seem to understand directions I found about how to open those links in a new window. (So I can keep you, dear reader, from going away and leaving me while you find all sorts of interesting stuff to read on other sites.)
Which brings me to my 2 discoveries today. As I was exploring interesting blogs, I came to Art Pub Studios. I had seen this logo on various blogs, such as Sally Turlington's Imagine This, but had never gone to the site before. It's a wonderful site with creative and generous artists sharing all sorts of information. I felt like I discovered a treasure chest of inspiration. As I went from one artist to another, I came to
Sally Turlington's Art Pub Studio Blog where she shared some information about widgets and opening links in a new window. Just what I wanted to do! I followed Sally's suggestions and discovered Moms Who Blog. Not only did I understand how to do it, it actually worked! Yay!!!
Hmmm... Don't things come in 3's? I wonder what else I'll discover today?!

"Art from the Heart" Book Giveaway

Check it out! Catherine Matthews-Scanlon is giving away two copies of her mixed media collage book, Art from the Heart. What a wonderful valentine this would be to win!

Icicle Doll Swap

Here are the beauties I sent off to Belinda Schneider in Luxembourg for her Icicle Swap. (I've never sent anything overseas before, let along swapped internationally!) Belinda designed a simple Icicle Doll and I fell in love with it. She has lots of photos on her blog Bel's Nook. Each person's interpretation of her simple pattern is so creative. I made mine into ornaments for Christmas. But Icicles are addicting, so I know I'm making more throughout this year. I made Santa Icicles too.

(I have only just now uploaded all my photos taken in November and December. Yes, yes, yes--add that to my goals for 2008: upload photos to computer regularly. That goes along with another goal: learn to take decent photos with my digital camera. Rumor has it, there more to it than"auto"! )

Slightly New Direction

I have just changed the name of my blog and spent this morning transferring all the posts from my Featherstitches blog to Beautiful Moon Studio. My faux finish business is Bella Luna Studio. Hmmm... Beautiful Moon Studio seems perfect for a new name.
Yes, yes, it looks pretty much the same as the old one. But "Shoot for the Moon!" is more in tune with my direction for 2008. I've done my craft work under the name Featherstitches for the past 14 years. My work has evolved to craft & art over the last 2 years and it's time for the name to evolve too. It will always be a Creative Journey.

Organize & Experiment

Calendar Mask for Tickler File
Originally uploaded by rossMania

It's January. I am giving myself until the end of the month to organize my files--26 days. Well, not exactly files yet. More like papers that I have collected with the intention to read and/or save waiting to be filed. Important papers, not-so-important papers, papers to toss or to keep--decisions must be made!

I'm also experimenting with this photo from flickr. I didn't know I could do this until I read that Tim Holtz uses flickr photos on his blog. Let's see if it works.

And now I'm experimenting with embedding a link to Tim's blog. Yes, yes, yes--I did it thanks to HTML Code Tutorial. Easy to do, but I'm still patting myself on the back 'cause it all worked!

The Eight Irresistible Principles of Fun

Wow--it's 2008! If you want to be inspired, click on this post title and enjoy. When I first found The Eight Irresistible Principles of Fun on Michael Bungay Stanier's Blog, I emailed it to all my friends. I just watched it again tonight and invite you to watch it too. Great advice for 2008! It will make you smile.

Take it Further Challenge

I signed up. This challenge sounds really interesting. I'm so glad I happened upon Sharon b's Take it Further Challenge on her blog "In a Minute Ago." It "aims to apply textile technique skills to design." Sharon will post an idea each month and our challenge will be to "take it further." We can work in fiber or paper. Great! Sharon is also giving us 2 options each month. So, if we don't want to develop the idea she posts, we can spend the month exploring a color scheme or a design element like a shape. For the last two years I've declared a theme to my year. 2006 was the Year of Action. 2007 was the Year of Possibilities. I am borrowing Sharon's Challenge title and making 2008 my Year to Take it Further. (Hope that's OK with you, Sharon.)

Innovative Charm Swap/Challenge

Wow! The charms I made for the Latests Trends in Mixed Media Yahoo Group won 2nd runner up prize. Yay!

I made the charms from cancelled stamps decoupaged onto a playing card. After removing the stamps from the envelope paper (let them sit in between 2 damp washcloths and the paper peels right off), I mod-podged the stamps to a playing card. When dry, I cut the stamp out and mod-podged tissue paper and snippets of text to the back. I punched 2 holes and put little grommets in--one in the top for 2 jump rings and one in the side for beads. I added 3 little beads to the jump ring connected to the stamp charm. And for the side grommet/hole, I threaded several little beads and a pearl or bead from a broken necklace onto heavy cotton thread and looped it through the hole.

I can't wait to get my swap charms in the mail and put together a wonderful bracelet. Oh--and I can't wait to spend my winnings--a $10 gift certificate to Altered Arts Magazine!

Cloth Paper Studio Swap

Originally Posted 3/14/07
I signed up for a Small Fun Figures Swap on the Cloth Paper Studio Yahoo Group. I, of course, left putting my creations together until the weekend before the due date. Then--I went and broke my right wrist on Sat! In an energetic attempt to clean and purge my attic, I fell halfway down the attic pull-down stairs oto the garage concrete floor. (I have climbed up and down these same stairs many, many, many times for over 20 years!) It was a clean break but the ER Doc said the bruised egg on my head would drift down my face, giving me a black eye. Well, I now have 2 black eyes--or more accurately, purple eyes! I was determined to make these figures for the swap. I made my 3 ladies (who are also magnets) yesterday and finished them last night. It actually kept me out of trouble and helped me resist the urge to "do stuff." I sat in bed and played. It was slow-going, but fortunately, I have a lightweight fiberglass cast and can move my fingers and I have a strong left hand. As it turns out, I really like the way my ladies turned out better than how I had planned them. Necessity is the mother of invention--and creativity!
3 comments: Vivian said... So sorry to hear about your accident! Get well soon! These ladies are fantastic! Also, love your fabric pages! Awesome work! March 14, 2007 3:41 PM Alma Stoller said... Get better soon.I really like your work.Alma March 14, 2007 5:39 PM DivaDoll said... Thank goodness you are ok! Your art is wonderful!Jodi March 14, 2007 7:14 PM

Fabric Collages

Originally Posted: 1/13/07
New goal: learn how to use my scanner better and learn photoshop! But until I start working on that goal--here are 2 of my fabric collages. I love mixing and matching fabrics. I love vintage trims (or making new trims appear vintage).
And I love quotes that inspire.

"To keep the heart unwrinkled, to be hopeful, kindly, cheerful, reverent, that is to triumph over old age." ~ Amos Bronson Alcott

"Hope is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul And sings the tunes without the words And never stops - at all" ~ Emily Dickinson