Mary's Words

Ice Resin projects

2011-11-08T09:45:00.000-08:00

I did a little Ice Resin project yesterday. I had a Monarch butterfly. Such beautiful wings. Pictured above is a monarch wing atop a slice of mica, with a vintage brass clock gear. the toggle with all the little gears is fron Objects and Elements. And the pocket watch casing is from Tim Holz. Fun.

2011-05-31T11:17:00.000-07:00

Spooky Halloween Jewelry

2010-10-21T11:04:00.000-07:00

Here is my spookiest piece: made using a vintage procelain bisque Charlotte doll torso, along with some of my favorite crystal roundelle beads and my favorite sparkly chain from Objects and Elements.....I should call this necklace "all of my favorite things"!

Notice the amazing glass pumpkin bead! I strung it on the necklace sideways to show the top and bottom of the bead. The name of the orange-colored glass is actually "pumpkin" - and the tan effects make it look so authentic! I even included little hammered wire vine spirals!

Notice the creepy porcelain bisque Charlotte doll arms!

These earrings are made from antique bakelite beads I got from one of my grandmother's old necklaces she used to wear. Love the orangey lustre!

Happy Halloween!!!!!!!!!

2010-10-21T11:00:00.001-07:00

I LOVE HALLOWEEN!!! Every year I am so inspired! This is a collage I am using as the focal piece in my Halloween display. The witch is from one of my favorite rubber stamps of a glamorous lady...I think the witch's hat is very befitting!

R.I.P. Maximus

2010-10-21T10:55:00.001-07:00

Rest In Peace, wonderful Maximus!!!!! Max is my dog of 12 years, who I got in Maui a long time ago. Max came from Maui to Oregon, and then travelled to NY when we moved here 5 years ago. Max was the most wonderful, smart, amazing dog that ever lived. He was very special to my whole family. Maximus left this world last Sunday, 10-10-10. Farewell to you, my beloved friend and companion! We will miss you so much!!!

New Jewelry

2010-10-21T10:38:00.001-07:00

Heres some of my latest jewelry. Pictured above is a keychain I made using a smoky colored vintage chandelier crystal, and some nice little crystal beads. Above that you see a beautiful custom made glass heart in dark red with blue ribbons of color throughout. I completed the necklace with garnet chip beads highlighted with tiny blue glass seed beads. Atop the heart shaped pendant are a collection of black beaded necklaces for the Halloween season, and a group of earrings. My favorite are the black square Swarovski Crystal earrings!

Industrial Chic

2010-06-21T10:17:00.001-07:00

I love the new Industrial Chic line by Susan Lenart Kazmer. The little gears are so fun!

Steampunk Card

2010-06-20T11:32:00.000-07:00

I did this steampunk card using some Tim Holz paper I've had laying around for like 3 years, and some new Tim Holz metal gears. And ArtChix Studio transparencies. -two of my favorite art supply sources!

New Collage

2010-06-20T11:25:00.000-07:00

My new collection of collage cards for sale at Gallery 41.

Topaz Amulet Pendant

2010-05-21T09:52:00.000-07:00

I used a broken Topaz ring for the focal piece on this pendant, and wrapped the outer area with tiny Topaz beads. This is one of my favorites.

It's really hard to take good jewelry photos...

2010-05-04T10:32:00.000-07:00

I wanted to show off my newest piece. I used some new effects. I wrapped soem vintage typewriter keys that spell "dream", and then wrapped some bitty sparkly topaz beads around this neat little gear charm (Tim Holz), and the rest is glass beads and polished steel wire. Those curlies that hold on the gear were hard...another Deryn Mentock inspiration from an old issue of Belle Armoir Jewelry.

Deryn Mentock copy...

2010-05-03T15:01:00.000-07:00

This is my version of Deryn Mentock's amazing little dragonfly pendant. I am going to attatch it to a necklace for sale at Gallery 41. Thank you Deryn for the inspiration!!! I am crazy about your work!!!!!!

Spring Collage #2

2010-04-19T14:06:00.000-07:00

Spring Collage: mixed media...vintage linen and snippets of silk, vintage little bitty pearls, transparency, paper, acrylic paint, gesso, vintage music paper.

Birds Nest Necklace

2010-04-19T14:03:00.000-07:00

A little bird's nest...hanging from a wire wrapped branch, using crackly bone beads. Polished steel wire. Lovely...

Jewelry

2010-04-19T13:53:00.001-07:00

I just started to sell my jewelry at Gallery 41. I am the feature artist there this month, and I have a nice show in the back gallery - both my jewelry and my collage as well. Up on top is my focal piece for my 2D stuff... I used an old chess board, all aged and crackled already for me, and I used an old lithograph print that was falling apart as the background imaging, plus a lot of little thingamajiggies from about my studio...this piece reminds me of my father, who was an attorney.

Pictured in the bottom photo are my hand pounded hoops wired with little sapphire beads - sparkly!

Merry Christmas

2009-12-23T13:44:00.001-08:00

Some of this year's ornaments........................available at Gallery 41, Owego, NY!!!

Christmas Cards '09

2009-11-14T13:19:00.000-08:00

Wish me luck in selling this collection of '09 Xmas cards! Gallery 41 will be featuring these one of a kind creations!

Art Mix Playing Cards

2009-11-12T13:49:00.001-08:00

Art Chix Studio has put together this very clever deck of cards, using a selection of their favorite ATCs that have been used in past swaps and contests! I was so flattered to see they used 3 of my ATCs for this amazing deck!!!! I got a complimentary deck in the mail today - HOW COOL!!!!!!

an old ATC - one of my faves

2009-08-09T09:09:00.000-07:00

100 wedding invitations!!

2009-06-30T09:52:00.001-07:00

I made 100 of these cards for my cousin, Cally - for her wedding invitations. I made them as my wedding gift to her. What a big project! On Sunday, I got together with my mother, 3 of my aunts, my daughter, and my cousin - we drank wine and set up an assembly line for the card production. It was an awesome family day!!

I used antique vintage music paper, and all handmade embellishments. I corrugated the hearts myself.

Tattooed Ladies

2009-04-08T16:53:00.000-07:00

These are some ATCs I put together a while back. I'm posting them in tribute to my tattoo shop, which is about to open. i used Marah Johnson papers and Art Chix images.

The Tattoo Queen by Gill Del-Mace

2009-03-28T20:29:00.001-07:00

Isn't she wicked cool?!!! I had a poster of this painting in my first tattoo shop...it's long since gone. I'd love to find another $20 copy of it, but I've looked everywhere, and to no avail. The art prints of this piece start at about $350, and that's for a little one. To have one that does it justice is unthinkably priced at around $800. I want it for my tattoo shop so bad. Maybe Santa claus will bring it to me... if I'm a good girl...

Paper Whimsy collage canvases

2009-03-28T20:12:00.000-07:00

I just finished these two for Gallery 41. Both are using Paper Whimsy collage images. and take alook at the rusty ribbon, also from PW - it's sooo cool!!! The button frame uses mostly buttons from my grandmother's extensive button collection - now mine, and a great source of materials! Thanks Oma.

True Heart

2009-03-23T07:27:00.001-07:00

Another new one for Gallery 41. The substrate is plain old cardboard with crackle medium to reinforce. Thank you again Art chix Studio for yet another great image to build upon!

My Girls

2009-03-08T13:59:00.000-07:00

I got my new neon sign for the tattoo shop. It won't be long now till we're open for business.

Look at my beautiful daughters!

Anabel

2009-02-12T12:56:00.000-08:00

Here are a couple of scrapped and Photoshopped pics of Anabel. I'm loving this Photoshop now that I'm finally getting to know it.

2009-02-09T20:21:00.000-08:00

Anew piece. It's to hang from the rear view window. I made it for my sister, using s keychain that was our grandparent's - it has my grandfather's name on it - so cool!

Valentine Banners

2009-01-29T09:49:00.000-08:00

I made these for a swap with the Yahoo In This House group - Mini Valentine Banners. Looking forward to it - the last swap I did with this group was the best swap I've ever been involved with - it really brought out the best work from me. "In This House" is such a wonderful book, so full of inspiration and beautiful art - I look to it often...

Naughty or Nice

2008-12-08T21:01:00.000-08:00

Naughty or Nice. I just love the concept, especially for xmas cards. This one is my favorite card from this year's batch. The pinup girl is actually a Camel cigarettes coaster. Under the word naughty is the Camel logo. I thought it came out so cool I couldn't bring myself to send it to anybody! So I'll put it up here - my holiday card to all you fine people who happen along to my humble blog.

Wire Jewelry

2008-11-29T17:59:00.001-08:00

I've been playing with wire wrapping for about 6 months or more - here are a few of my creations. I have been influenced in a big way by Deryn Mentock. Thank you Deryn for such great inspiration!!! Her work with steel wire is amazing! I've got the book, "A Charming Exchange", as well as a few of Stampington's jewelry magazines - I've been having a lot of fun with it, and hope to have some for sale soon. As soon as I started to play around with wire wrapping, I knew I'd stick with it - it just feels right to me. I love to work with metal - I've always wanted to - like to forge steel or something like that. Build gothic gates and torture devices and stuff like that... I have also long been enamored by glass. That's so cool, the wire jewelry - I like to use glass beads. I go pick the irregular glass beads from a bin at the bead store. It's a treasure trove of every color, hue, size, and shape of glass. Cheap too! And the irregular shapes add to the organic feel to my wire pieces.

The piece in the top picture is a "window charm" - I designed this with a rear view mirror in mind, but it looks cool just hanging in a window anywhere.

Holiday Bling

2008-11-23T11:06:00.000-08:00

Fun with german scrap pieces-

Art Chix Studio Xmas Cards

2008-11-23T08:59:00.000-08:00

2008 cards for sale with Colleen at The Sea Hag, in Brackney, PA.

Happy Halloween

2008-10-14T19:32:00.001-07:00

Yipes! It's been like 8 months since I've posted anything on here! I've barely spent any time on my computer for a while, til recently, when Kear bought me a new desktop - luxury!! It's great but I'm still ironing out the kinks and figuring out my new programs, namely Photoshop, which I never had room for on the PC til now. So that's great...

This is my winning entry to ArtChix Studio's Halloween Collage Contest - back in May or June I think. I won $50 in Art Chix goodies! So cool!

I wish it was Halloween all year round. Hopefully I'll figure out how to get my photos on to my new computer soon, and I can post my Halloween decorations...

Crackle Study with German Glas Glitter

2008-02-17T14:09:00.001-08:00

this is a canvas I did...inspired from Angela Cartwright's "Mixed Emulsions" - a jewel of a book, full of all kinds of ideas. it's a picture of my oldest daughter Ashley. I used Golden Crackle Paste, colored with acrylic paint and distredd ink. Also I used tim Holtz Distress Paint - a fun little product, yet a bit limiting. oh yeah, and also a few rub ons, I think all are Bohemia.

Sally Jean Alexander is right when she says German Glas Glitter has magical properties. It turned out to be just the right thing to finish the piece.

One World One Heart Winner

2008-02-14T18:55:00.000-08:00

I was amazed and overwhelmed at the response to my art giveaway! I can't believe over 80 people have visited my little corner of cyberspace!

The winner of my collage is Susan Burgess!! Congratulations Sanna!!

Happy Valentine's Day

2008-02-13T23:29:00.000-08:00

I put together this Valentine using a few things I am in love with - namely the Lynn Perella papers. I got her whole set from Stampington about a year or two ago, and I save every last scrap of the stuff - it has been such a great element in so many of my pieces. Also I used some mica - which I have been having a love affair for some time now. Also a piece of my favorite Basic Grey (well, one of my favorites) paper - to me it looks like old west stripes. Like on a pillow case.

Anyways, the card came out so nice I couldn't part with it, so I decided to give a valentine to all the wonderful bloggers who happen across my humble blog.

I am blown away that 80 people have visited this blog through the One World One Heart event!! That's 80 little pieces of paper I get to make today so I can do my drawing. What a great project though!! I have added a few blogs to my favorites list, and have left comments on countless other blogs as well. I realize how huge the art blogging community really is - HUGE!! So amazing, that all these artists throughout the world can connect with one another. I've always been a "low-tech" person, but I must say, hooray for the internet.

Tune in later today for my OWOH winner...

Wednesday Stamper: Valentine

2008-02-13T23:06:00.000-08:00

I decided to use unconventional Valentine colors this year for my cards. i chose blue and brown - a recent favorite of mine. The stamping is very simple - just some flourishes atop the collaged elements - I used Tim Holtz Distredd Embossing Powder - very cool - it leaves a nice texture and lends a rustic feel to the card.

Wednesday Stamper: Asia

2008-02-13T23:02:00.001-08:00

It took me a while to find something Asian in my art supplies. That is not a style that really does much for me - but then I found this collection of papers in my stuff that I've been hoarding for like 3 years now! I think there are 4 pieces in this beautiful gold embossed set of patterned paper. I collaged this Valentine postcard and used some flourish stamps and a newspaper text stamp to accent. TFL!

Gothic Arches: Valentines

2008-02-13T22:55:00.000-08:00

I made two Valentine themed arches this week. The first one, "Lovers", I had a lot of fun with my embossing powders. Thank you to Angela Cartwright and her books, Mixed Emulsions and In This House...I've totally revisited my embossing stuff, which has been sitting idle upon my shelf for a year or more! Her techniques are amazing! The second one, "Together" is using a collage sheet image which I have been wanting to use for a long time. I think they are supposed to be sisters, but in my opinion they make better lovers. I saw once the heart paper clips used as a border like this, but my don't they fit well in the gothic arch!!

ONE world ONE heart

2008-02-08T18:16:00.000-08:00

There's a place called ONE world ONE heart, and I'm joining in on this amazing art giveaway...the way it works is if anyone is interested in winning this little collage of mine, just post a comment here, and on FEB. 14, Valentine's Day, I'll draw from all (if any) the names and pick a lucky recipient to own an original Mary Franzenburg piece of art. This ought to be interesting...

The piece is a little 4"x4" canvas, with a bird and egg theme, and I used gel medium, gesso, transparency images, crackle paste, rusty chicken wire, and some aging technique. Actually it's a cute little thing...nothing eart-shatteringly profound or anything...just pleasant to look at.

Charmed, I'm Sure

2008-02-03T06:38:00.000-08:00

Here are me pieces for this week's Wednesday Stamper: Charms. i had fun - did them in mica, and ended up with a nice verdigris effect by using aqua, butterscotch, latte, and copper alcohol inks. Then I edged it with copper Brilliance Ink.

Dawg

2008-02-02T15:42:00.001-08:00

Here is mine for this week's Gothic Arches challenge: dogs. I got this stamp in the dollar bin at Michael's. He looks just like my dog, Maximus. The alcohol inks do the design justice I think!

Wednesday Stamper

2008-01-26T13:07:00.001-08:00

My contribution to this week's Wednesday Stamper challenge: Button Fairies". i'm not usually one to copy other people's ideas, but this one was hard to resist. Plus, I discovered a way to use all those Maya Road chipboard corner scrolls I've got. I've found they don't work well as "corners" -at least on my artwork...But don't they make nice fairy wings? I made her into an Irish button fairy, in anticipation of St. Patrick's Day. I love St. Patrick's Day.
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Wednesday Stamper

2008-01-08T18:06:00.000-08:00

Well, it's about time I contributed to Wednesday Stamper - lordy knows I've been lurking there for like, ever now...the Gothic Arch theme is easily worked in to my itinerary - I made o ne for the Gothic Arch blog this week for the first time as well...

Gothic Arches

2008-01-08T16:07:00.000-08:00

After much lurking, i have finally decided to play at the Gothic Arches challenge blog. The theme is Guardian Angels. I just love working with this shape! i had fun using some of my new mica pieces from Art Chix Studio. i fastened it with eyelets - I've got like a zillion eyelets from back in my scrapbook supply frenzy period, which I eventually set aside because of what a pain in the ass it is to set the damn things. That is, until I got a crop-a-dile tool - makes setting eyelets rediculously easy. So here I am, setting eyelets everywhere...

Skinny Book Pages

2008-01-02T07:57:00.000-08:00

i had a lot of fun doing these skinny book pages for the Altered Abbey's project. Chrysti Haydek is amazing. She must be so busy. And I've always been impressed with the multitude of work she produces!
I used a lot of gesso in these pages. That, and Greeen Pepper Press rubber. the ladies in the hammocks are from a picture frame I bought - they were the photo that came with it. I've been saving them for at least 2 or 3 years! (a testament to how much stuff you can imagine I have) I've joined another skinny project there - imbellished copies - which I'm halfway done with right now.

2008-01-02T07:47:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to all the bloggers. You, who represent so much of my social life these days. this whole global community, so cool...I've evolved so much as an artist through seing all of everyone's art, and the connections I've made, and the interractions...putting my own work out there has allowed me to challenge myself more than ever before, in a whole different way. I definitely would not be the person I am today without all the influences I've gotten from blogging. I've had a great time during the past year. And I've produced far more artwork as well. The positivity that permeates the blogging community has seeped into my real time life in such a great way. I hope '08 will continue this awesome momentum I am enjoying!

Where am I From?

2007-12-31T19:46:00.000-08:00

After looking through all of my photos in my computer, I realized I really don't have any landscapes of where I live. Weird, considering there are thousands of pics in there. But then, to answer Michelle's crusade: Where in The World?" - I'd have to have many, many pictures to represent all the places I have lived in my life. All in all, I am a Yankee. I was born and raised in upstate, NY - Buffalo, Owego, Binghamton, Endicott, Ithaca, Cortland...I went to college in Providence, RI. I lived in Ann Arbor, Mi for a while - a very nice place. I was married and divorced there, changed careers there, and more or less found myself there. After that I went to Maui, where I was for a whole decade. It was there that I sowed mt wild oats. Met the love of my life, started my family, developed myself artistically and spiritually. I miss it there. From Hawaii I went to Oregon City, OR. And then, 2 years ago, I found myself back in my home town of Owego, NY. Here we all are, all seven of us, making it work and basically happy. That's it in a nutshell. i am so happy to be home, here in New York. I love this place. I love the winter, and how beautiful the bare trees look against the sunset. The rolling hills and autumn leaves. The spring flowers and the family of deer in the back forty. That's what I missed most while i was in Hawaii - the change of seasons. I think Autumn in NY is spectacular. I love this place and I'm so proud to be from here.

VIP Christmas Cards

2007-12-16T19:04:00.001-08:00

These are my best cards this year, gone to my VIP's. I think almost all of my cards had my little glittered Prima flowers on them. I just love how they came out. I think it'll be next christmas before all the glitter is gone from throughout my house. I mean, it's everywhere!

LOST??!!

2007-12-04T02:19:00.000-08:00

These are some of the tags I made for an Art-E-Zine swap:"What's Your Tag?" I sent them out a while back - thye were late, but they did get put in the mail...I've been waiting for my stuff to come in the mail...finally I go to the Art-E-Zine site, click to the page with the What's Your Tags, and mine aren't represented there. So I wrote the hostess, and she told me she never got them. NEVER GOT THEM??!! I am very distressed to say the least. I worked so hard on them. And they came out soooo good. And now, to think they have fallen into the wrong hands - well - I'm speechless. I think I may have some kind of jinx when it comes to Art-E-Zine. Of the 4 swaps I've entered, only one has come to fruition. One pkg, that went to Ireland, got there too late because I unknowingly insured it, thus making it so the reciever would have had to pay all this money just to pick it up. So it got sent back. Another, I signed up for and then forgot, so I backed out of it as graciously as I could. And then this! I love art-E-Zine, and I think Gillian Allen is amazing. The fabric tag swap I did there was spectacular. Now I'm almost afraid to join another swap there. But then again I want to just so I can save face. They must think I'm a total flake over there!

My New Art Journal

2007-12-02T10:12:00.000-08:00

Here's some pages from my new art journal. I'm doing a little spread using the scraps and leftovers from whatever project I'm working on. I started it after my Halloween art was all done - I had a ton of stuff left, but couldn't bring myself to throw any of it away, even though I knew I'd most likely never use it. I love the freedom of an art journal - there isn't the pressure to make it come out perfectly - I find that the collages come out with a totally different feeling as any of my other artwork.

Oh So Glitter-y

2007-12-02T09:40:00.000-08:00

I've discovered the fun of glittering everything in sight in the name of Christmas. In previous years I've thought of glitter as being a bit tacky...but no it sure isn't!!I've been covered in glitter everywhere. My face, the baby's face, hands, feet, etc. My whole house is all sparkly. i've experimented with a zillion kinds of adhesive and a whole bunch of different glitters. One of the best things I've come up with are glittered prima flowers. I've got there cream colored flowers that look so great with fine glod glitter on them. I used a glue pad (like a stamp pad) - pressed the paper flowers into it, and then dusted with Marths Stweart Smoky Quartz glitter. They look all winter-whitey antique-ish. I glittered little fake ivy leaves, which are cute too. The Provo Craft glue pen works great for fine line glittering. (see the swirls and outlines) I'm making these ornaments for Xmas gifts this year - thanx to Art Chix Studio for such a nice selection of vintage children and angel imagery!

What is My Muse?

2007-11-30T20:48:00.001-08:00

Michelle's Crusade #14 kept my wheels turning all month long. Till right now, with only 9 minutes left of November. Who is my muse? I could go a million different directions with that. I am influenced by so much - everything around me - but what moves me, from the inside, is my awareness of self. Where I come from, especially the amazing and strong women in my family. I know so many stories of my great grandmothers. My grandmonthers were both very strong forces in my life, and they were both so amazing. The sense of style, and what's what comes from these women. I draw so much power from them. And so much of my identity. So much pride. I look at thier pictures and imagine times past, such cool style. My European background has a huge influence upon my creative spirit too.

2007-11-15T14:27:00.000-08:00

Crusade #13

2007-10-28T22:23:00.001-07:00

Gotta love Michelle Ward's Crusades!!! This month, "get gothic" was a cinch for me...no problem here finding gothic Halloween imagery around my house!! Unfortunately, I seem to have lost my camera, thus making it impossible for me to share some of the spooky cool Halloween corners around my house. I just love this time of year. I wish it was always Halloween!
I put together these Halloween tags the other night...actually they were the first thing I really made this month...I totally overcomitted myself in September, and ended up with like a zillion deadlines for sept 30th. I was in the weeds to say the least. It took the joy out of creating my art, being under so much pressure like that. And then I went ona bit of a hiatus during October. So thank you once again, Michelle, for the much needed inspiration. I could not resist joining this particular crusade.
I was looking through my collection of free artist papers that come with Somerset Studio and Legacy (memories) - which by the way is the most awesome collection of papers!! I came upon These two sheets that Michelle designed a while back - they are done in nice rich Autumn orange hues - they were PERFECT to use as a base for my little Halloweenies here. How Cool Is That? Gawd, Michelle, what would I ever do without you?

GPP Street Team Crusade #12: Crushes

2007-09-20T01:40:00.001-07:00

After a long and laborious thought process, I came to realize that I've got a crush on Michelle Ward! Yes, Michelle, I have a crush on you. (In a respectible way) I love her style. I feel as though I can relate to her. Her rubber stamp imagery really reaches me! Like, every sheet of rubber is something I surely cannot live without!! I admire her achievements as an artist, and she is so inspirational to me. Her influences are similar to mine. She's my idol I suppose! A little while ago I bought 3 sheets of her unmounted rubber stamps - and they are too cool for school!! I have been exploring all the different images, and using the hell out of them. I have shown you above a selection of my stuff using the Green Pepper Press stamps. All of them are from the last couple of weeks.

And oh yeah - I thought of another obsession of mine: ADHESIVES. My grandmother would be proud of my prowess in the ways of sticking one thing to another thing. I've got an adhesive for any occasion. You name it. If I had to name a favorite, I'd have to say Diamond Glaze - that stuff is amazing! Crafter's Pick "The Ultimate" is in close second.

GPP Crusade #12: OBSESSIONS

2007-09-20T01:07:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about the Crusade - the subject is obsession / infatuation / crushes. This one is very thought provoking, to say the least. I've been obsessing about my obsessions all month long. I realized that what DON'T I obsess on? I suppose I am an obsessive person. I am definitley that way with my food. I'll have a few things I love at the moment, and that's pretty much all I want to eat. Like for a while it was Lucky Charms...Instant Oatmeal...then there was those disgustingly fattening frosted sugar cookies (20 pounds later I got over them)...Creme Brulee Haagen Dazs...Tiramisu Haagen Dazs...and lately it's been the Krusteaz cinnamon crumb coffee cake mix. I can't get enough of them. Sometimes I will only be hungry for that. Thank goodness I cook for the fam, or else I'm sure I'd be so malnourished!

One thing for sure, I have always had an ifatuation with Jagermeister. It's the only alcoholic beverage I actually like the taste of. And I have definitely had a few love affairs with it over the years!

I would have to say that my current obsession, artistically, is TRANSPARENCIES. I can barely do a project without using something you can see through. I love the depth and layers. For a while it was chipboard - you should see my collection of chipboard thisses and thats! I think before that it must have been ribbon. I remmeber the ladies at Michael's would say to me, "see you tomorrow!" - when I'd stop in to look at the dollar ribbon rack to find that perefectly matching colored ribbon for the scrapbook layout I'd be working on. I've got so many spools of ribbon that storage is a serious issue for me. Let's see, what else....Ranger Distress Inks...buttons...the list goes on and on...oh yeah - ALPHABETS!! I've got like a zillion alphabets of one kind or another. Rubber stamps, chipboard, stickers - you name it.

One obsession that deserves it's own paragraph is my love for paper. I could just browse and browse through any selection of patterned paper! I love it so much that they are each in themselves a work of art - for under a dollar (usually) - all the styles and textures - I'm like a kid in a candy store. When I buy paper I really like, I'll always get an extra piece so I'll never run out of it! Needless to say, I've got piles of paper all over the place.

Another obsession of mine is magazines. I'm such a sucker for them. I have a zillion of them, in piles all over the place: upstairs, downstairs, by my bed, in the car...I have art mags, tattoo mags, scrapbooking mags, Stampington mags (my fave), gardening mags, food mags, Martha Stewart mags, and several miscellaneous ones as well.

Yes, I am very obsessive. But I embrace it. It makes me who I am. I have been known to obsess on things that may or may not be the best thing to get hung up on...but as I get older and know myself better, I am able to recognize these things before they get the best of me. Most of the time anyways...

Haunted House ATCs

2007-09-11T05:03:00.001-07:00

A set of atcs for the In This House group - Haunted House Tryptych cards. They had to be attatched - a new thing for me. Nice little challenge. The group seems like it could be very enriching. I'm involved with so many other things right now, I don't have the time I'd like to devote to getting to know everyone there. All in good time. I've got another project going there as well - a haunted house collage, like the ones in the book except smaller. I've goten out all my creepy Halloween goodies to use - very fun indeed. I want to make something exceptional, but I'm trying not to be too influenced by the artists in the book. Although, that too is okay - being influenced by artists you admire - I think there is a fine line between that and losing your own personal style though. So I'm going to have fun with it.

New ATCs for Art Chix

2007-09-10T07:11:00.000-07:00

Here are some new lovelies for Art Chix swaps: Mysterious Women and Sepia themes. I used the ladies from the Peek-A-Boo collage sheet. Very fun indeed. I especially like the effect of the Mysterious Women set. I used the new Marah Johnson (she is SO COOL) Intention papers for backgrounds. They are fabuluos to say the least!

Gillian's Fab Tag

2007-08-28T20:28:00.000-07:00

This is a fabric tag I made for Gillian Allen. Back to that infamous swap...apparently not everyone in the swap got a tag from everyone else. For some reason we all ended up with 2 of our own back. Oh, I already got all in to that...sorry...anyways I felt compelled to make Gillian a whole new tag, because as i mentioned before, the ones I got back were my least favorite tags I did in that batch. Who knows, she might fall in love with it. So I sent her one from the 2 I got back, and then a new custom made one. I hope she likes it.

Artist

2007-08-27T09:48:00.001-07:00

This is a favorite scrapbook page I've done. I did it as a submission to Skin and Ink magazine for an article about tattooed scrapbookers. I think. Anam Stubbington contacted me and asked if I wanted to send her something. She's got this way cool blog: Inked Scrapbookers. As soon as I figure out how to get her link here in my blog, I will put it in. I guess I have some homework to do. I'm no good with the technicalities...but I've got some stuff I want to do here so I suppose I have to get busy...

Adventures With Mica

2007-08-27T09:40:00.001-07:00

I've been having a good time working with mica. For the longest time I had ni idea what was so great about it. Till i discovered the joys of transparent layering. I especially like the effect you can get by coloring it. The top ATC has the first layer of mica dyes with alcohol inks, and then the top one was tinted with walnut ink. So great how you can punch hoiles in it so easily. I'm sure stitching would be just as easy...These are among 9 or 10 that I made over the weekend, some of which are for a couple of trades I've got going. The wonderful and talented Belinda Schneider said yes when I asked her to swap atcs - how cool! I really admire her work so much! Also I am working on something for another artist I love: Gillian Allen. She is amazing. She did not end up with oneof my fabric tags from that infamous swap...so she sent me hers already - a masterpiece - and I am making one up special for her because I'm not all that thrilled with the 2 I have that I did. Actually they are my least 2 favorites from that whole batch. Funny how they both ended up back with me. I'm glad because that means the other swappers got my better ones.

I am looking forward to the first day of school next week.

Mermaid Collage

2007-08-16T18:57:00.000-07:00

I made this for my mom.

Here's another good one...(Crusade #11)

2007-08-16T05:36:00.000-07:00

Here is another of my favorite tunes.

Tattoos Are...

2007-08-14T07:36:00.001-07:00

This is the journaling I wrote for a scrapbook layout I did - it was a contest entry - I wrote it about 2 yrs ago. I came across it the other day, and I figured I should post it - it's one of the coolest things I've written (in my opinion).

2007-08-13T01:06:00.000-07:00

Crusade #11

2007-08-13T00:55:00.000-07:00

Okay, I think I got it down...Here is my thing for Green Pepper Press' Street Team - Crusade #11: MUSIC. This was new and different for me. I chose Jimi Hendrix, because I'll always pick him. He is my all time favorite musician. His music moves me so much, I can't hardly put it into words! He is amazing and brilliant. This video, The Wind Cries Mary - was shot in 1967, the year I was born. Enjoy!!p.s. Thank you Michelle for getting me to learn this! It wasn't as hard as I thought!!

Fab Tags

2007-08-10T16:52:00.000-07:00

Okay so maybe I overreacted a bit. Got a little extreme. The swap I was complaining about earlier finally came to fruition. These are 4 out of the 10 fabric tags I made for it. Secret Garden is the theme...this was a good challenge...I never did anything like these before. The tag book I got back is amazing. Really superior work on all of them. Well worth the wait. Now I feel bad about being such a bitch about the hostess being so late getting everything swapped out. She wrote a heartfelt appology to everyone, and I understood - these things happen sometimes. Actually I hosted a swap once and ended up being dreadfully late in returning too. It was right after my Dad died, and I was practically paralyzed for like, months. Not that it's a good excuse. I'm sure those women were really mad at me too. So I am sorry, and I wrote her an email and told her so.

I got some unmounted rubber from Green Pepper Press today in the mail. It was better than christmas! Three whole pages of amazingly inspiring imagery. Michelle Ward is the coolest ever! I'm going to experiment with a few different ways of mouinting these things. Should keep me busy for a while.

ATCs: some new kinda stuff

2007-08-05T23:06:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of atcs I've finished this weekend. The one, "Gothic", is a bit different than I usually do. I love the outcome though. The other I used mica - which I also love. I stamped on a piece of the mica, then laid the collage image, then used another piece of mica dyed with walnut ink over the top. I am having a lot of fun with layering and transparencies. Don't know how I ever got along without using these clear elements.

Tattooed Bettie Page

2007-08-03T22:49:00.000-07:00

Here is a fun altered card I made last night. I tattooed the beloved Bettie Page with rub ons and then masked her off to stamp the background on. My little stilletto high heel shoe rubber stamp matched perfectly! I used the mask for the envelope too - a cool set - I sent it to someone whom I think is wicked cool. There's nothing that says, "I think you're wicked cool" better than a tattooed Bettie Page!

ART SAVES LIVES

2007-07-31T20:12:00.000-07:00

This is a rolodex card I did for an Art chix Studio swap. I made 33 of them. It actually didn't take too long to finish them. I love that slogan. I saw it in a CK or MM magazine - someone had a photo of it graffitti'd on a rock with spraypaint as part of a scrapbook layout. It's always stuck in my head. It really applies to me. Art definitely saved my life in a big way. I know I wouldn't have much success in my recovery had I not started doing art again a few years ago. I especially dig the swap thing too. Its so addictive. my atc collection is so rad! Artists from all over the world. I've ended up with collections from a few people. So full of inspiration! One thing though, I could do without some of the problems that happen like sending out a bunch of my creations that I put my heart and soul into... entrusted a complete stranger with my priceless items, only to have them end up M.I.A. Like this fabric tag swap I joined - the deadline was over 2 months ago - the extended dealdline - and nobody's heard from this lady since. A few people have inquired, only to recieve a lofty, bitchy, and sanctimonious reply talking about how bogged down with responsibilitied she is and we're all going to have to wait for her to fit us in somehow. I was on the alternate list for that swap - got in at the last minute - I had exactly 2 weeks to get 10 fabric tags done, and I did, I was able to fit it in among all my responsibilities. I mean, how long does it take to lay out all the tags, divvy up all the piles, and get them in the fricken mail? Come On Now! And then, what am I supposed to do? There's no art swap police to report them to. I even feel weird posting a complaint at the group because I don't want to come off as too uptight...well, I guess I'll give it another week or so...

Ashley's birthday card

2007-07-27T11:58:00.000-07:00

this is my daughter Ashley's birthday card. She just turned 19. I'm very proud of her - swhe's becoming a really respectable young woman. She always gets a good card from me.

GPP Street Team Crusade #3 - Tattoo

2007-07-25T15:55:00.001-07:00

I was getting together my version of the #3 Crusade about tattoos. I printed up pics of my 2 favorite tats, and I put them down on my desk...next thing I know, I look over, and this is how they looked where I set them down on top of eachother. To quote a very wise person, "How Cool Is That?" What a wicked cool image, if I do say so myself! The sun, on my upper thigh, is one that I did myself back when I first started getting good at tattooing. The wings - inside my biceps - I got those from the artist I replaced at Skin Deep Tattoo in Maui, circa 1992. That's what brought me out to Maui to live - an enticing job offer at the oldest tattoo shop in Maui. I worked for this awesome woman, Taunee Beekman. She is a very down to Earth lesbian tattoo artist and shop owner. She was really great. Actually, Maui overall was really great. I was there for a whole decade, and I do miss the island lifestyle...although, it does get pretty isolated out there in the middle of the ocean. Hawaii is a DOT in the middle of the ocean.
For me, being a tattoo artist has been such a life enhancing experience. Before that, I was a fine dining pastry chef. I excelled in my career. I was published. Worked at a world class restaurant, under an ingenious executive chef who gave me a lot of creative freedom. But still, every day as I punched in at the timeclock, I found myself wondering, "is this all there is??" When tattooing came in to my life, I gained so much more self esteem and confidence. Also, the nature of the job - ever changing challenges - is just what I needed to find fufillment. Tattooing has brought me to many a place, far and near. It had given me incredible discipline as an artist. My clients will request a certain design, and it is my obligation to come up with the best design possible - for it will be on someone's body forever. I consider this an honor and a priveledge, and a great responsibility. I have a very spiritual approach to my tattooing. I connect with my clients. I probably don't charge enough for my tattoos - that's why I leave the pricing up to my husband - that way I walk away much happier (in the pocket).
Tattoos are definitely not for everyone. But me, they make me who I am.

Mail Art

2007-07-21T13:19:00.000-07:00

I have been wanting to participate in Michelle Ward's Green Pepper Press Street Team for a while now. She is so cool! I find myself identifying so much with her imagery - she inspires me in a wicked way! So here is my interpretation of Crusade #10 - Mail Art.

Great Week for Me at Art Chix Studio

2007-07-19T03:54:00.001-07:00

Not only did Art Chix Studio use two of my mermaid atcs in their 'Chixies Mermaid Mail Faux Post", but also I was so honored to see my Paper Wings atc featured as the homepage art on the Yahoo site when I logged on Monday morning. And if that wasn't enough glory, yesterday's Dream Box Contest win definitely inflated my ego!!! I was so excited to win the contest, and lord knows I could use the $50 worth of free art supplies from Art Chix!!! So awesome!!

My First Art Journal

2007-07-15T09:57:00.000-07:00

This is my first art journal. I love this! There is a lot of freedom in doing this because there isn't really any pressure to make the piece come out perfect. Funny, it's ended up being some good compositions, and I got to try out some new techniques I never tried before. I did a lot of stamping with acrylics, played with gel medium, and fooled around with collage elements. Also, i Used some vintage wall paper that was in my house before we remodeled last year.

Fun with my Rubber Stamps

2007-07-11T20:10:00.000-07:00

I finally finished this collage today. I used a miriad of stamps, inclusing the Rhonna Farrer clear stamp flourishes from Autumn Leaves. And rub-ons from Imaginisce. I've always loved the face stamp -it appears ina lot of my favorite pieces. I made it all shiny with gold Pearl-Ex mixed with water. I thought Flora was the perfect name for her. I highlighted her face with those B&W photo tinting pens. Finally a good use for them!

Somerset Memories

2007-07-11T20:00:00.001-07:00

My published scrapbook layout in Somerset Memories - the current issue. That's mine there, "Pure Love". I really need to submit more of my stuff. Theres some calls from Somerset Studio I'm going to submit for. Wouldn't that be a hoot - getting in there!

Oh Happy Day

2007-07-11T19:43:00.000-07:00

I finished 2 sets of atcs today - both for swaps at the artist trading card Yahoo group. I love that place! I'm always innvolved in several swaps there. The one on the left was for the "Feeling Blue" swap. The right one is for "Vintage Style Best Friends". I used mica chips in those. I've had that mica for ages. The background was hand done by me with Anita's Fragile Crackle. And now I can't find any more of it - Michael's used to have it but they just stopped carrying it. Does anyone know where to get it? In my opinion, it's the only really good crackling medium. I recently got some of Golden's crackling medium, but for some reason I can't get it to crackle at all. I tried it by itself and also mixed with acrylic paint. Tried all different thicknesses. But no crackles. I hate it when that happens...

Today is a wonderful day: there is now a LINK to this BLOG on Art Chix Studio!!! I'm beside myself with elation. They picked 2 out of my 3 entries for the Mermaid Faux Post! My link is under "artist information" where the faux post sheet is listed. This is so cool. I should take this chance to plug my picture trail -

http://www.picturetrail.com/kearymary. And my Yahoo group - http://groups.yahoo.com/outlawscrappers . Yeah - Outlaw Scrappers - my baby. We've got a small, little group...I've tried to keep things evolving, but I have mainly lurkers I think. There's a lot of members, but there are only the key handful of us who stay active. We've done some atc swaps, some challenges, some card swaps, and also now we are getting ready to do a round robin book! (my first). I wish more was going on there, but then again, I barely have time to give it the attentuion it needs as it is.

I've been reading a lot of artists' blogs, and being very inspired to keep up with mine better, and also I'd like to be more profiscient with Picture Trail.

I hope some of the amazing artists involved with Art Chix will look at this blog - I'd be honored to have the visitors. Especially from there. Ever since I discovered Somerset Studio, Art Chix Studio, and the like, I feel as though I've come home. This is a community I want to be a part of. I feel happiest being in my studio, rummaging through stuff looking for just the right thing to glue on to my latest project. This paper arts and mixed media thing has really gotten a hold of me IN THE BEST WAY!! It's been a few years now and I can't believe how much my art has grown, changed, matured, and fine tuned itelf. Only a mere five years ago I was without creativity in my life and it was very empty. ( I mean, I've always had my tattooing, but this art is just for ME)I started out scrapbooking and j ust went from there. My art has brought me back to life, given me recovery, brought me peace of mind. Amd also I've been published too - in Scrapbook Answers and Somerset Memories. YAY for me!

2007-07-07T10:34:00.000-07:00

Today's Daughters are Tomorrow's Mothers. Thats the title of my new collage. I used the crumpled tissue paper and gel medium for the texture, and painted with acrylic and aged with Distress Inks...I love the effect of the dollhouse window! I thought a lot about how little time we have at home with our mothers before we're out there on our own trying to be a good mom ourselves...

Attention Deficit "Disorder"

2007-07-04T12:12:00.000-07:00

A collage style scrapbook page for an assignment for the Finding You worksho-p

Happy Fourth

2007-07-04T12:00:00.000-07:00

It's Fourth of July. Unfortunately it's raining today. Too bad, since it's the Tioga County Fair, too. We're going to Highland Park for fireworks. Maybe a ride on the carousel. It's a nice park - with a pool - the kidz love it there and bug me to go all summer. Living in this small town of Owego, I think it's made me more family oriented. Like, I have a lot of pride for being an upstate New York girl, and that my kids are here living, just as I did when I was their age. We even live in the same neighborhood. Small town America, it makes life a more simple venture.

Here I have posted my first attempt at a canvas collage. I used acrylic paint, and put on collage items with gel medium, then crackling medium with tea dye distress ink rubbed in the cracks. Then of course a chipboard accent, along with a few other ditties...

My Art Chix Faux Post Entries

2007-07-04T11:50:00.000-07:00

I'm so happy! I entered the Art Chix Studio Mermaid Faux Post Contest a while ago, and today I got an email saying they chose my work! I don't know if it's one, or two, or all three of them, but I do know that I will now be a part of Art Chix Studio!! I'd have to say I'm pretty damn proud of myself today!! they asked me for my website, so I gave them this blog address. As a result of that, I have decided to dedicate myself more to keeping up with this blog. Yes, I know I've said it before, but this time I mean business. So get ready for more art, more musings, and more of me...

Week 4 Finding You

2007-05-02T21:31:00.000-07:00

So I'm not totally thrilled with this layout. I'm having a hard time giving myself permission to put itout there even though I'm unhappy with the results. But this particular assignment was important for me to get done. I'm using these assignments as a tool to accomplish a goal for myself. I'm using the magic that can be created by visualization, and by putting so much of my pure, unadulterated energy into the project. I'm trying to conjure up that building!
The papers I used were these wonderful, mideval style set from Die Cuts With a View - the "Once Upon A Time" series. I got the mat stack, and it's full of these lush, classical patterns, with just a hint of glitter in there. Also, I used the good old stand by: Making Memories rub-on letters. I don't know what I'd ever do without them.
So hopefully I can meneuver myself around all those things that stand in my way of acquiring my father's building. I want it so bad it keeps me up at night, with dreams of what it would be like if it were mine...

I Love ATCs

2007-04-28T10:14:00.000-07:00

Week 3 fINDING yOU

2007-04-22T23:44:00.000-07:00

This is my week 3's assignment for Finding You. This one was intense for me because I'm putting it all there in black and white - what I want and what I need to do to get it. But I actually have several factors working against me. Which raises the question:

what if I fail??

There's so much riding on this particular "want" of mine - the well being of my kids for one, and my future financial stability (or lack thereof) for two...I decided to use the "Follow Your Muse" title, because as I look back on my life, I see that all the major decisions I have made from MY GUT - you know those choices that come from within somewhere - they have been the most successful ones. When I decide to do something "because" - like a whim but not really - like my inner voice is speaking to me. Those are the good ones. Maybe it's my MUSE telling me to do these things. If that's the case, then my muse is a very smart person. I think I'll trust her.

Week 2 Finding YOU

2007-04-20T00:14:00.000-07:00

This is my week 2's assignment for the Finding You workshop. A very thought provoking question ; about where and what do I want in the near future. As I pondered it, I kept going back to the needs of my family - even the things that seemed personal in nature were actually related to the future and security of my family.

It's funny, when we become parents - we cease to be the center of the universe - because our children take that place! The most important thing for me - is that I long for independence and financial security. I want to open my own business - to teach my kids that they can do anything they want, that they can do what they love for a living. To be one's own boss is the most liberating thing - so empowering. That is my dream - to have my business, to support us with it. That's all I want...

Fun with alcohol inks and transparency!

2007-04-10T19:30:00.000-07:00

Isn't this one a dandy? I surprised myself with the wonderful results. And as usual with my nicest stuff, I gave it away...

Today would have been my father's 64th birthday. I cried every time I thought of it, a whole bunch of times throughout the day. Just how long is this mourning process supposed to last? It's been well over a year and still I feel so raw. I miss him so much - maybe even more than I did a year ago. And what's up with the thing how we tend to cloud reality by only remembering the greatest stuff about a loved one after they die, and forget all the painful parts? Me and my Dad had far from a perfect father-daughter relationship. But now that he's dead, all I can think of is how great he was. Well, he was great - an amazing man under anyone's standards. But he wasn't the best dad in the world, and actually he did a lot of crappy things to me over the years. I guess maybe reality will set in eventually...

Week One, Finding You

2007-04-10T19:20:00.000-07:00

This is my first assignment for the Finding You workshop.

Finding You

2007-04-07T18:47:00.000-07:00

I'm taking this online workshop, called Finding You. So I'll use my blog here to post my assignments. Hopefully that will get me back in the swing of things and doing some regular blogging. Lord knows I've been such a slacker with the whole thing!

Kindred Spirits

2007-01-07T14:48:00.000-08:00

This layout is for a challenge I offered for the Outlaw Scrappers Dec-Jan challenge. We're to do something about whom or what inspires us...and once again I arrived at my Grandma Cerretani, my Mom's Mom. She's influenced my life so very much. I've always been so proud to have ingherited her looks, to an extent, as well as a lot of her presence and attitude - which were very intense and commanding. Very alpha, anyways. Grandma was amazing, and I can only hope to accomplish a fraction of what she did in her lifetime. She garnered so much respect from everyone in the family...she was definitely the matriarch, and someone who I've modled myse;f after. Almost not a day goes by that I don't think of her, or what she taught me, or how she's effected the person I have become - or at least hope to...

The V.I.P.

2007-01-07T14:44:00.000-08:00

So I have returned from my hiatus. I've been overwhelmed by everything...holidays...c-section...still moving in to the new place. I think I'll be "moving in" for quite a while, at least for the rest of the Winter. Utter chaos in parts of the house, so much that I have to ignore these places, or I might lose it all together. But I've got this new entity in the family to focus on...she is wonderfully sweet and reminds me of my younger sister Annie.

How do I prioritize???

2006-11-11T06:55:00.000-08:00

Every day or two I click on my blog here and just look at it, somehow expecting that a new post has made it up there...I've been amidst a move, my studio is all in boxes, and my desk consists of this laptop sitting on a couple of boxes with another box as a chair. There are so many projects around this new house that require my attention - like getting the kitchen functional, and the kids' rooms unpacked so they have a place to go out of our way. But all I want to do is play with my stuff. There's a ton of boxes of art supplies I haven't seen since I packed them a year ago, and I'm dying to dive into them. There are some scrapbook challenges I want to participate in. Outlaw Scrappers has been suffering my neglect lately. And I'm in the middle of how many projects...Everything is so chaotic right now, it feels as though nothing will be working smoothly any time soon. And every time a deadline passes, I feel remorse for not getting it done, even though there isn't anything compelling me to do it except me, myself, and I. The world will go on just fine without me finishing this or that layout on time. There will be plenty of other contests, challenges, DT calls - I'll still be able to put myself out there after my work here at gome is finished - but still I feel compelled...

And then what happens if I happen to go into labor in the middle of all this? I certainly do not have time for any of that at the moment!

Yes, a new entity in the family. All of our roles in the home will be forever shifted when she is born. My focus will change to seeing to this newborn child who will show up amongst all the goings on here at home. What ever shall I do, when there is already not enough time in the day? I dread I'll never really feel rested in the morning when I arise. And that being said, here I sit in the corner, at my computer, clicking away as much as I can before I'm found out and have to get back to work!

Mary's Words

2006-11-06T11:43:00.000-08:00

Mary's Words
Here is my layout for the latest challenge from Beyond Appearances. The challenge is: "I Really Shouldn't..." I thought long and hard about all the things I really shouldn't be doing - and there is a lot to choose from, I tell you that! I didn't want to be negative in this piece, so I came up with the concept that I really should never take anything for granted, namely my family. I of all people know, first hand, that it all could be gone in a moment, just like that. I have experienced the loss of something I cherish, having it slip through my fingers, having to suffer without something that is dear to me in every sense. I have learned that I should never, ever take what I hold dear for granted. The things in life that truly matter must be worked for, and worked to keep. Something like family is a constant responsibility to work at - it just doesn't get there and work smoothly without a lot of commitment and attention, give and take, compromise, and putting others before myself. Having lived with my family scattered about, not all under one roof where they belong - that made me think about all it takes to really make it work. To take for granted that they will always be there, and that we will have a successful home life - that is a very shallow and vain state of mind. I embrace all it takes to make it work, and I wholeheartedly commit myself to having my family be first priority in my life. Everything could so easily be gone in an instant. Therefore I value every moment we have, and am thankful for all of us being together, healthy, and able to experience real unity and love. I thank God every day for the gifts he has given me.

"Here's What I'm Thinking"

2006-10-21T12:11:00.000-07:00

Here is a link to an essay I wrote for the National Scrapbooking Association in the nsa voices section that sums up what scrapbooking has done for my life and how it has effected me. I was flattered to be invited to write this, and I put a lot of thought into it, baring some truths about myself that I have previously kept to myself.
http://nsavoices.typepad.com/hwit/2006/10/they_call_me_ta.html

~Beyond Appearances~

2006-10-18T10:32:00.000-07:00

~Beyond Appearances~
Here is a link to my layout for the RX challenge:
http://kearymaryswords.blogspot.com
Hopefully I will be more successful here this week than the last timeI tried to link you to my version of the last challenge...I think I suffered some technical difficulties in that department last time!

Just What The Doctor Ordered

2006-10-18T10:15:00.000-07:00

Here is a layout I did for a challenge fro Beyond Appearances. The challenge was "RX: what would the doctor prescribe for you?" After much thought, and not wanting to do something that was just a face-value, easy answer to it - I thought about what it was that I might be needing in order to have my life be more of the way I want it to be. Thinking on this took me back to a number of years ago when I was much more carefree and less bogged down with worries and closet skeletons. I remembered back to when I was a brand new mother, completely full of hope for the future, with no fear of anything, I had the world in the palm of my hands. I was in control of my destiny. There was no stopping me. And you could tell this by looking at a photo of myself from back then - I was totally beautiful, seeping self-confidence, oozing with pride, full of creativity and ideas...So much has happened in my life since then. The wind has been knocked out of my sails on more than one occasion, I have been downtrodden at times, suffered judgement, and sacrificed much. -Don't get me wrong - I have also grown leaps and bounds, gained much wisdom and experience, come a million miles, to hell and back, lost and then gained back more that most people ever have in the first place...But I sure would love to have that unstoppable attitude that I once possessed, that sureness, that ultimate confidence...

Art Hurts

2006-10-13T12:38:00.000-07:00

Well, I am so late in my pregnancy that I am totally swollen up, and it's causing me to have severe carpal tunnel syndrome in both of my hands. Basically, it pains me to create anything, from typing this blog to doing any of my artwork...But I don't care. I cannot help but spend the precious time every day in my studio that I do. I wouldn't be anywhere close to "sane" if I didn't. Those few hours a day at my desk is what keeps me going, keps me from getting bogged down by the mundane, makes me whole. I am in the process of moving - my house is pretty much all packed - with the exception of my office, which hasn't been touched yet. I can't imagine a day without being able to go in there and see everything, without being able to do any and every kind of project that strikes my fancy. I envision myself, at the very last minute, putting everything in my studio into boxes and rushing it over to the new place and unpacking it all immediately. Never mind my clothes, or the kids' tuff, or the kitchen...it's the essential lifeblood that's really important. I do have my priorities, you know!

Queen of the Outlaw Scrappers

2006-10-07T14:12:00.000-07:00

Well, this Outlaw Scrappers thing seems to have some real possibilities. I've got a bunch of members, posted a challenge, added a link or two, and am diving into this thing wholeheartedly. I'm having a blast and really getting in to being a "moderator" - oh boy, the authority of it all...Now my challenge is to find new and exciting way to bring out the diversity of the group. Should be fun, to say the least!
I've been wanting to take my scrapping to a higher level - to make it more a part of mylivelyhood. I've just been chosen for one of my layouts to be published in Legacy Magazine. Been taking a workshop in Adobe Photoshop, which has been very enriching. Started this Yahoo group. Selling my cretions at a local art mercantile. Actually writing lists of projects I feel obligated to make...
And funny, my husband who gives me grief at home over how much time I spend in my studio - when we go out in public, like for instance last night when we went out for dinner with 11 other people, the first thing he did was brag that I'm the queen of scrapbooking! Funny, the positive reinforcement from him comes once removed. But at least I know it's there...

If I could have spent all night at my desk last night, I would have. Darn neeccessity for sleep.

Here's a nice light hearted layout I did as part of a challenge fromn the last online crop at Scrap 4 Life. This is the first one I've ever done like this - with the quote being pretty much the whole design.

All kinds of new stuff...

2006-10-05T00:00:00.000-07:00

I've started a Yahoo group: Outlaw Scrappers. I hope I ha ven't gotten in over my head, and I fear I may have. Reading all the fine print akes me realize all that's involved with it. But I was onthis thread at 2Ps, where there were all these women talking about how they didn't fit the "norm" - the conservative craftsy crowd who dominated most scrapbooking sites and communities. There are a lot of us "alternative" types out here. Someone mentioned the idea of "Outlaw Scrappers" and I was immediately intrigued with it, and thought it was just the thing for me. Perfect. So hopefully it will attract some like-minded artists who share common thoughts and viewpoints - hopefully it will bring out some newly inspired art, different, cutting edge...all that. Anyone reading this who might want to check it out - go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/outlawscrappers. Tomorrow I'll think of something cool to put up for the homepage art.
I just know this is going to take a good bit of my attention. DH is going to hate it, I'm sure of that. He already hates how much time I spend in my studio - no matter how much I explain to him how much I need that time, how much my sanity depends on it...