Jewelry Tool Chest

On Fridays I have been going over to my very talented artist friend Jill Shulse's house to work in her studio. I have admired Jill's jewelry for some time now and she has graciously been teaching me some metalsmithing techniques. Above is my progress so far.


I have been enjoying making jewelry so much that I decided I needed to gather some supplies of my own. Here is a mechanics chest that I had bought at the annual Newburg village wide rummage sale several years ago. I hadn't found a use for it until now. It just didn't seem to fit my paints or stamping supplies. Plus I needed to repair the drawers. Speaking of rummages, I am looking forward to the season starting.



Hmmm, now to get organized. I made a list of must have items the last time I was at Jill's house. Many I already have. I took jewelry in High School and I even knew where my box was from then :) Actually I have used the supplies here and there since then. Jill recommended Volcano Arts for the supplies I still needed. I even looked around but they seemed to have everything that I needed with reasonable prices.



I love organizing (if I'm in the mood). Here is my tool box all packed with supplies that I already have. I just need my order to arrive. Then I'm all ready for my next visit with Jill.

I'm Teaching Two Workshops!

Today is a catch up day. I need to make some class samples for the workshops that I will be teaching this year. Both are Interactive Art Book workshops, but they each have different techniques and interactive mechanisms. I will be teaching at Peninsula Art School in Fish Creek, Wisconsin August 17 - 19 and Whispering Woodlands September 26 - 27 in Verona, Wisconsin. I have never been to Peninsula Art School but have heard many great things about it. I taught previously this year at Whispering Woodlands and we all had such a wonderful time that I agreed to teach there again.

Thoughts Take Flight

Another monoprint series named "Thoughts Take Flight". Sometimes I feel that if I don't bring an idea to fruition right away it will leave. I have too many ideas for the energy and time that I have. Ahhh to be bored. It doesn't happen very often.

Whispering Woodlands

This past weekend I taught a class at Whispering Woodlands, near Madison, Wisconsin. I arrived on Friday Evening to find a funky retro dome house with attached studio. Jackie the owner gave me a tour and I unloaded and set up for class. I was treated to a delicious dinner and good company. Saturday the weather was spring-like but that changed with a snow storm on Saturday night. Above is the view outside the studio window.

Sunday morning it was cloudy and snow covered outside, but warm and colorful inside the studio.


In two days we were able to paint and assemble an Interactive Book. We worked with a limited palette of only three colors, plus black and white and I was amazed at how each of us had further developed our own unique palette of colors.


Jackie Hefty, the owner of Whispering Woodlands owns a funky retro 70's dome house. It has been updated to the 21st century while retaining some of the unique characteristics such as the triangular windows seen in the background of this picture. Jackie is standing to the right explaining some pictures from previous workshops to class attendee Rachel.


This is Rachel's interactive picture that she painted of her daughter Ruby. I love this painting for it's illustration of sheer joy! When you pull a tab Ruby's eyes move back and forth. Rachael did a wonderful job of mixing a flesh tone using only the colors Quinacridone Red, Phthalo Blue, and Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold. Actually all of the colors made in this class came from these three colors. We also used black in one of the techniques to illustrate the painting technique of making different shades of a color.


Mary Ann and Maurine are busy at work. As usual, in retrospect, I did not take as many pictures as I wished that I had.


Mary Ann had to leave early on Sunday, so unfortunately I didn't get to take many pictures of her work.

For Maurine's shifting eyes interactive page she chose a lion for the subject. I find the contrast of the geometric squares on the background to the organic shapes of the lion very interesting. I also like the lion and butterfly combination!


You can see all the snow in the background of this picture. It was a beautiful Sunny day on Saturday, snow storm on Saturday night and by Sunday afternoon the Sun was back out again. March went out like a Lion for Maurine weather wise and subject wise! ;)


Aren't these colors gorgeous? Attendees left with a book ready to be decorated with journaling, poems, or collage.

Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold was the only color used on this sunny page. Look at the variety of tints that was achieved.

Everyone's sun was even unique, with it's own personality!

I love teaching and hope to do much more of it in the future!

You Gotta Have Art!

These are the mixed media monoprints that I made for the Cedarburg Cultural Center's "You Gotta Have Art Event" currently on display. They are 4" x 6" plus the size of the frame.

Searching


Unraveled Nest

Lotus

This one is titled "Lost".

Pine Valley Fundraiser

I made this barn owl for the Pine Valley Wildlife Hospital and Educational Center. They are having a fundraiser on April 4 at the Roadhouse Bar & Grill in Cedarburg, Wisconsin. A "Night on the Wild Side" features a silent auction, live auction and raffle 5:00pm - 8:00pm and Pine Valley Wildlife Presentation at 6:00pm. The Alex Wilson Band plays at 9:00 (one of my favorite local bands).

I painted the owl with acrylics on an old wooden casting pattern. I have a large number of these wooden casting patterns from Gilson Bros in Fredonia - auction treasures. The metal tag for the pattern number was where the owl's face is so I moved it to the side. I also added a feather from my chicken named Victoria. She is 11 years old now and is the queen of our animal shed.

I also donated one of my soulful bird collages and a signed copy of my book "Interactive Art Workshop". It is for a wonderful cause and should be a great time...come join us!

ONE WORLD-ONE HEART giveaway WINNER

Wendy Pettifer from New Zealand is the winner of my OWOH giveaway. Thank you to everyone who participated and visited my blog.

ONE WORLD-ONE HEART giveaway

I couldn't resist joining the Gypsy Caravan OWOH giveaway. Above is my prize, a wooden collage bird pin with matchbook package.

My giveaway is open to anyone having an active blog around the world. Please leave a comment for a chance to win the prize below. The winners name will be announced on February 12th and I will also contact each winner to let you know you've won.....so be sure I have a way to link back/contact you. Even if you are a blogger not hosting a OWOH giveaway you are more than welcome to enter your name to win.

For more information on OWOH click on the badge below:

Art Quilts at Play

Today I received my copy of Art Quilts at Play by Jane Davila and Elin Waterston. I am honored to be a contributing artist to this book with a collaborative found object project and a fiber art postcard. Art Quilts at Play is wonderful! Loaded with many ideas, techniques and inspiring quilts.

Baby It's Cold Outside!

Here is Rose wearing her Winter finest. When I asked my son if her ensemble went together he said "Why are you worrying about it now. It never seems to bother you when you wear it." It is part of my going to feed the goats chore outfit :) Come to think of it I feel a bit jowly wearing the hat too! It has been so cold here the past couple of days. 11 degrees below zero when I woke up this morning and it is supposed to get colder yet tonight.

Christmas Present

For Christmas my art friend Jill Shulse made a family portrait of me with my dogs Rufus, Valentine and Ziggy. She added our heads to a vintage picture and enhanced it ala' Jill. I am so lucky to have such a talented and good friend. (That gives presents :) This will be the first piece of art to add to our bedroom. Check out Jill's link to see more family portraits.

Hardwood Flooring Project

Wednesday night Mark & I tore out the carpeting in our bedroom. When we built our house we bought the cheapest grade carpeting. Kids were young, plus we always have always had dogs. Our 5 year carpeting was now 14 years old. Time for a change. Thursday my sons Aren, Casey and I started on the flooring. My job was to lay out the boards and cut the end ones to length. I love construction work. I even worked for a construction company for a couple of years doing clean up of the sites. Our whole upstairs has hardwood maple flooring that we removed from a school that was about to be demolished. I paid $50 for the lot at the auction. The boys are experts at hardwood flooring as they were only 8 & 9 when they helped to pull nails out. That year in 4th grade Casey won the lumberjack contest at school for pounding nails into a board. All the joints had to be cleaned before it could be laid down. They were filled with varnish and lots of glitter! The original finish is still on the floor, not pristine, but full of character. I wasn't as ambitious this time and bought flooring that was already prefinished. A pneumatic floor nailer was another luxury this time.

Thursday night Mark and Casey had 1/3 of the flooring done and on Friday we finished it.


Sunday we finished putting the trim around the room. How exciting, I like the new room look without furniture and stuff. Sunday night we put in the main furniture. I plan on taking my time decorating to enjoy the process.