Fat Book Embellishments

For Art and Soul this year the theme is "In the Garden" and I volunteered to make pages for one of the Fatbooks that will be distributed at Hampton this year. Since this is my first one to participate in, I was feeling a little overwhelmed and wanted to get a head start on my design. I decided on 3 different page layouts (these are only 4x4 pages) and wanted to make most of the embellishments on the pages. The theme is so broad that I didn't have trouble there but did when it came down to actually putting a sample together.

Here is all the stuff, pages cut and front covered, pile of embellishments and the 2 samples I have completed so far.

This pages features one of my wire trees with a couple of purchased felt pieces.

I like this page. It has vintage flower packet images sized down, one of my tissue paper flowers and a couple of felt flowers.

Here is a better look at the trees. Not sure whether I will use the wire flowers....maybe on the third sample.

These are the vintage flower packet images. You can find them HERE if you want to download them yourself.

This are the tissue paper flowers with buttons and either a pearl or crystal center.

I had so much fun I decided to make some real flower packets as I had some flower seeds. These I will  add one to each page on the back as a gift to the receiver. I used the same image and fabric to create a small pocket, left the top open to insert the seeds and then sewed it up.

Now to do a little flower painting on the 3rd sample...maybe I'll use the wire flowers on this one.

I hope everyone is enjoying the One World One Heart blog event and giveaways. If you want to find out more about this great International event see my post from Feb. 1st. Oh, if you are a blogger, be sure to enter your comment on that page to get in on the drawing.

Path of Discovery

Have you ever gone on a journey and not known where it would take you? Well, I am classifying my life these past several months as my path of discovery. We all know that I make and sell jewelry and gem trees but did you know that I also paint. I started painting some 13 years ago when I was laid off work with nothing to do. I did several things during that time but painting stayed with me if not in my active life then always in my mind and on my walls so there was no hiding it, not that family would ever let me forget it.

My path the past few months has been on how can I get back to that place where art is important and I make an effort to create art if not daily then more often than not at all. My first thought was to take up acrylic painting vs. the watercolor I was used to and try a new medium and that was fun but just didn't spark anything in me. Then I found I really like mixed media works which combine painting, collage, wire work, beading, sewing and everything else you can think of. So I started buying magazines like Cloth Paper Scissors and some of the Somerset Studio and Memories. At this point my husband is amused and wondering what in the world I am doing but as long as I'm entertained he doesn't care.

I'm really loving some of the activities and things they do in the magazines and want to try them all but I need more stuff...now hubby starts to get nervous. Obviously, I need more paper and things like different tools but not only that I have to have a second set of stuff for the motor home in my art box. Wow, this could get expensive. So, I start with essentials like good paper and pens, some fun chipboard images, old magazines from the antique stores, and other bits and pieces from around the house which I call found objects. Even my husband looks for them now instead of throwing them away.

So I have all this stuff the tools and supplies ready but what to make. I decided to make an art journal but after I start I realized that was probably a much larger project than what I could do for my first time. Then I found Artist Trading Cards. These are little (2.5 x 3.5) works of art that you make and trade with other people. Perfect size that I could paint, collage, stamp, sew and experiment my way through all those new techniques in the magazines. I've mentioned them before here on my blog but you also might know them as ACEO's (Art Cards, Editions and Originals) which are the ones sold vs. traded.

I made a few cards and then didn't know what to do with them, so I joined a group. For those of you new to any art medium or hobby, groups are a good way to get started and the members help you answer some of those questions that arise such as how do I use a Crop-a-dile. The Yahoo group I belong to also does swaps so I've started participating in about 2 swaps a month. Here are my latest ones mailed off just yesterday. The first one is called best friends and the other is brown, orange and yellow.

The dilemma now is what to do with all these cards that I make and get back. I want to be able to look at them and enjoy them. Now I know this post is getting long but here is where more discovery starts. I'm in a paper store getting some card stock and they have all these cool kits and one of them was book making. I never really considered making my own book but was intrigued. No, I did not buy the kit but it did get me thinking that I could put my cards together in some sort of book that I could add to. Here is my first attempt.

I didn't want to glue the cards down on the pages so instead used eyelet to secure them and yes I did get to use my new Crop-a-dile to set the eyelets.

There is so much more to do and explore in this new found world of art. Gel medium, encaustic, metal embossing, I want to try them all. Have I gone a little crazy in this world of discovery or is this passion for art? Will I find myself in here eventually? I certainly hope so but I'm going to enjoy getting there.

Creating Art

Have you ever felt in just one of those moods? I haven't been in the mood to make jewelry lately..I know it will come again and I made so many gem trees in the last month that I don't want to see them for a little while. So, now I go to my studio (you notice that when I create art I now call it my studio) and paint, collage, cut and ultimately just make a mess but sometimes I do end up with Art.

I joined an Artists Trading Card group to get me back into art and painting and so far love, love, love it. When I join a swap, it forces me to create. I know a lot of people can't create that way but sometimes I need the little push. The first swap was called "Tiki Party", how appropriate for the end of Summer and I just finished today my "Native American Design" cards. All of these cards are original paintings, watercolor pencil or pen/ink. Now to get them all in the mail to the swap host. I'll share the cards I get in return from the swap when they arrive in October.

6/6 "Tiki Party" swap cards

3/3 "Native American Design" swap cards (the large circle one is not part of the swap)

I did make a couple other cards just for fun today.

Since my studio is such a mess, maybe I'll make more art later this week. No reason to clean it up if I'm just going to get it messy again.

Tomorrow we are off to the Western Washington State Fair to volunteer for a few hours in the Hobby Hall for the gem and mineral club we belong to. If you live in Washington and you haven't been to the fair yet, you really need to go soon as Sunday is the last day.

Is It The End of Summer?

We spent a few days at the beach this week and you would have thought it was Fall. It was cold and rainy. I don't think it ever got above 63. When it really started to rain on Wednesday we decided that we had had enough and came back home. Yes, at home it was a balmy 80 and today somewhere in the 70's. So, note to those living in Washington and wanting to go to the beach, don't bother unless you want to get out of the heat as you won't find any sun there. I think Summer has definitely ended at the beach. This is my spoiled dog Leo, he thinks he is a baby most of the time.

I did get a nice surprise today in the mail. I had won a necklace from Laurel at Rue's Daftique. What a cool necklace and surprisingly it looks heavy but it very lightweight. It is the perfect mixed media piece and will look really funky with my odd assortment of clothing. Since I'm not working my attire is somewhat different as I usually just put on whatever is clean and sometimes I don't really match. I guess if just my hubby is seeing me it doesn't really matter does it? Here are the cool pics. First one is on the packaging...so cute isn't it.

Isn't this just the coolest necklace. I may have to make me some key earrings to go with it.

I think I told you last week that I had ordered the book Making Mixed Media Art Charms & Jewelry by Peggy Krzyzewski and Christine Hansen, well I took some inspiration from that book and created this pendant. It is kind of hard to see as the photo isn't that great but the base is a facet mesh strainer with a button mounted in the center and then a crystal on top. The dangle is brass wire with various sizes of glass beads. I highly recommend the book as it does give you lots of ideas and techniques from soldering around glass to resin making, using paper to create charms and other found objects. I'm now looking for a group to do some charm swapping. I think creating charms and swapping them with other people would be a fun activity. If you hear of a group, let me know.

Tonight I was searching though my beads for a new bead swap that I'm participating in and found some doozies. Lots of pearls, some pewter, seed beads and mis matched gems. I have so many that I need to thin out of my stash that I may have to have a giveaway....Ah something to look forward to.

A Couple of Book Reviews

Last Summer I was in a funk after being laid off from my job of 12+ years and wondering what I was going to do with the rest of my life and needed some inspiration so I bought 4 crafty books. Once I got the books, I thought I would do reviews on them, but never got around to it….until now. A couple are jewelry related and the other two are craft. The craft book reviews will be published on my Crafty News site and the jewelry books on my Dana’s Jewelry Design blog.

I was so excited to get this book. It looked fun and was written by Jennifer Perkins, host of Craft Lab on the DIY Network. Jennifer also has her own with site by the same name www.naughtysecretaryclub.com.

The Naughty Secretary Club

The Working Girl’s Guide to Handmade Jewelry

By Jennifer Perkins

This is a kitchy craft book, so if you are into that you will love this book. Easy project made with everyday materials or materials that are very inexpensive. Lots of color photos and easy instructions would provide the beginning crafter with all they need to know. I do not recommend this book to those who are older, like myself (late 40’s) or have experience with jewelry making. If you like bold colorful jewelry bordering on the gaudy then this book has some great ideas. Did I make anything out of the book? No, but I did enjoy looking through all the projects. There are about 29 projects in the book and if you are a teen or 20 something crafter and want to make some fun funky jewelry cheap, then this is the book for you.

Would I keep this book in my library of craft reference books? No, sorry Jennifer

Would I have bought this book if I had been able to thumb through it first? No

Would I recommend you buy this book? Maybe

Review for Graphics and Photos is 5 stars

Review for Content is 3 stars

When I purchased this group of craft books I was really into altered art and soldering with a soldering iron which is why this book appealed to me.

Semiprecious Salvage

Creating Found-Art Jewelry

By Stephanie Lee

If you like the unusual or want to learn some new techniques for putting found and created objects together, then you will love this book. I like this book although not as attention grabbing as the previous books I have reviewed this one has techniques and ideas that I found interesting. I like the unusual and asymmetrical qualities of the jewelry pieces that she puts together in the book. Instructions are clear and well marked with steps. Some of the materials and tools may need you to branch out a bit in your comfort zone if you are not familiar with metalsmithing techniques. Lots of photos which I find helpful as some people learn by viewing and not reading. There are 25 different projects in the book and even though I haven’t tried any of them yet, I plan to.

Would I keep this book in my library of craft reference books? Yes

Would I have bought this book if I had been able to thumb through it first? Yes

Would I recommend you buy this book? Yes

Review for Graphics and Photos is 5 stars

Review for Content is 4 stars

Obviously both of these books are available at Amazon.com if you want to purchase them. If you want to read my other two craft book reviews go HERE.

Trying New Techniques

I'm always learning new ways to do things or maybe just easier ways, but this year has been all about trying new things. I've started doing more altered art jewelry (not for sale at this time, but soon). You might call it my hobby vs. business. Sometimes we all just need some type of break.

So I started with the art collages between glass and then soldering around them to create a pendant. These are fun and challenging all at the same time. Working with the solder was a new thing for me and I still don't have that soldering gun mastered, but I'll keep working on it. In the meantime, family and friends can get soldered pendants dirt cheap (my cost or free) while I'm perfecting my skills.

Next I ventured into art on bamboo tiles. Okay, similar to the art between glass, but much different as you use glue and glaze stuff. It's messy, but I'm getting the hang of it. Last week, I found some glass tiles that you glue your image on the back so that it shows through magnified. I have to say this was fun and pretty easy. I'll provide links at the end of this post if you are interested in joining in the fun and want to know where to find all these great items.

Since I'll be watching my nephew for a few weeks before he spends part of the summer with his mother, I'm on the look out for kid friendly activities. Now he is 11 and not really into coloring and fingerpainting, so I'll have to look a little bit harder. What do 11 year olds do during the Summer besides ride their bike and go swimming?

I did order some scrabble tiles and thought for an art project he could glue images to the back of them and then add some magnets. He could take them back when visiting his mom to give as gifts. If some turn out good, I may even add a pendant bail. So we will see and I'm sure you will hear all about our adventures.

Here are some pic's of what I've been playing with. Some of the images are my watercolor paintings.

Just dry bamboo tiles that I haven't added the wire for making into a pendant.
Here are the links:

For Memory Slides and bamboo tiles - http://www.rubbernation.com/servlet/StoreFront

The soldering tape, solder iron and lead free solder I found at - http://www.bigmsg.com/ any stained glass dealer would have this.

The Glass Tile kit came from Annie Howes - http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5262601

The digital images from Piddix - http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=46139

For the bamboo slides I used 3 dimensional glue (scrapbook aisle) and mod podge that I purchased at Michael's.

Remember to always keep learning and keep it fresh. Love what you do or don't do it.

Featured Artist - Jan Finnell

I'm fascinated with the art of altering items and images into something different than what they were originally intended. I’ve made a few pieces of jewelry using the technique of creating a collage of sorts between glass in a pendant, but haven’t tried all the other various ways and objects to alter.

There would be almost an unlimited number of items you could alter. Some of the items that I have found recently besides my little pendants are keys, watches or timepieces, photos, altoids tins or any other candy tin, boxes, cigar boxes, shadow boxes, eggs (usually referred to as egg artistry), bottle caps, photos/paint + images on canvas and books.

One of these art forms is called Steampunk, yes they have their own art name. They use watch parts, brass and anything else metal, Victorian and eclectic, but all items seem to have a common theme of gears or watch parts. I’m fascinated by all the different items that can be found and some of them so simple. Jan Finnell is one such artist that makes it all look somewhat poetic and most wearable…okay, not too sure about the bottlecap necklace, but everything else I would wear. Her items don't seem to be quite as masculine as other steampunk artists...maybe that's why I like her jewelry items. Visit her over at her 1000 Markets site to see her collection of items for sale or check out her blog.

Crafty Monday - Altered Art Keys

You ever had one of those days when you just couldn't get going...well besides being sick, today was one of those days. I have no ideas, no motivation and just want to lie in bed. So, for our crafting Monday, I dug up one of my blogs from another site to share with you today. So, here is an idea to reuse some of those old keys you have that you don't know where they came from or which lock they unlock.

One of the fashion icons this season is keys used as charms or pendants. Some of them were created for that use out of silver or pewter and others have been altered from original keys or old antique keys. Here is a fun tutorial on creating altered art keys. Thanks to Images by Kim (Kim Newberg) for posting this fun idea on re-using discarded items such as keys.

www.squidoo.com/embellishedkeys