A few new collages

Little Blue

Maybe

Purple Coneflower

Gather your eggs-
this will be cropped in a circle and made into pocket mirrors

Look-
and also this one

My sweet Christmas Gift

Why am I talking about a Christmas gift now? I was just too lazy before, but I really wanted to share this one. My Hubby often makes me gifts. Two of my past favorites include a little carved charm and a hammer cozy. In college Ibought a nice planishing hammer. I was afraid the surface would be marred, so he made a cozy with a leather cup on either end and elastic in the middle. It was perfect! This year he and the kids made me a game. I love board games!

It is so nice, especially since they worked on it together. It is a maze or labyrinth type. Each turn you decide to move your pawn or set up a blocking wall. The wood was milled over 50 years ago when my Grandparents were remodeling their house. The kids helped drill the holes and they picked out the pawns (marbles). Emma had sewn the bag for the pieces. This is a keeper!

baby it's cold outside!

I'm feeling soooo much better. It must have been the flu. It came on so fast and now I'm just tired. I'm getting everything ready for this weekend.
I know it will be very cold, but please come to the Dells for the
Flake Out Festival

Yes it will be cold, but there is arts and crafts inside...activities for kids.
Then brave the cold for a while and enjoy the ice carving and snow sculptures!

This is January in Wisconsin so it will be cooooold!

4x10inch collage on a split open recycled bubble envelope

5x7inch collage on recycled manila envelope

5x7inch collage on recycled bubble envelope

I'm sick, I feel horrible! Hopefully it doesn't last too long because on Sat and Sun I'll be in Wisconsin Dells for the Flake out Festival. Arts and crafts, sledding, food, ice sculptures, the works. If you stop by my booth, I promise not to cough on you *grins*

I'm so out of it I just realized I put 2007 for the watermark on the top two collages! Back to sleep. I think...the kids are also home sick.

GPP Crusade #15 Where in the World?

I was working on this post here and there this evening only to find out
some how I published a very rough draft. Ugh! Embarrassing I hope no one saw it!
This is my real post *grins, with a red face*

Where in the world am I?
My small portion of the world is central Wisconsin USA and I love it!
I was born in Madison, the state capital.
My family moved away when I was in high school.
I have lived in a few other places (Iowa, Illinois, Maryland and Virginia).
But I was so happy to return to Wisconsin, settle down and start a family. Wisconsin is very agricultural, so most of the state is covered with farms,
and woods, but we have a bit of everything. You name it...Wisconsin has it.
At the bottom, I included links to a bunch
of interesting things about Wisconsin.

While growing up, the tourism motto was "Escape to Wisconsin", I thought it described the area perfect. I don't think there is anyplace else I'd rather live. Of course I want to travel, but with the knowledge that I can always come home to Wisconsin. Sappy huh!

Some of my family's favorite places or things to do....
Madison-all around great town for everything! We love walking around in our state capital building, Henry Vilas Zoo, Thrift stores (Goodwill on the east side and St Vinnies on Williamson) and the Learning Shop toy store on the west side. And art fairs!

The geology of Wisconsin is beautiful. As a child I was fascinated on how our state was scoured by the last series of ice age glaciers.

The Milwaukee Public Museum- The kids especially liked the butterfly pavilion and the old world area.

Jurrustic Park in Marshfield

Wisconsin Cheese! I recommend the cheese Factory in Rudolph

Spreckers brand pop----(I never call it soda!) I recommend Rav'n Red or Ginger Ale

Rocky Rococo's Sausage and Mushroom Pizza

Funset Boulevard in Appleton---Games, movies, pizza, laser tag, carousel, tons of fun kids stuff

Fishing on the Wisconsin River

Deer Park in the Dells

Wisconsin Dells Jet Boat Ride--total blast!!!!

I love the heat of the summer and the snow in the winter. My favorite is autumn, there are festivals, pumpkin patches, hot apple cider
and beautiful vistas.
I'm excited as my kids when we get our first snowfall!

This isn't a photo of our first snowfall but pretty either way

Whatever the season...On Wisconsin!!!!!

Links:
History Of Wisconsin
Glaciers
State Symbols
Historical Society
Native American Indian Tribes of WI

Misc Fun Stuff
Milwaukee Public Museum
Experimental Aircraft Assoc. AirVenture
International Crane Foundation
Jet Boat Rides
Cave of the Mounds
Valley Ridge Art Studio

A bit of Kitschy Fun
Jurustic Park
F.A.S.T. (a fiberglass statue company...has a "graveyard" )
House on the Rock
Sputnikfest 2008 will be the first of hopefully many!
Freshwater Fishing Museum (climb inside a giant Muskee!)
Dickeyville Grotto
Mt Horeb Mustard Museum

Photo experiments

I haven't had much time to experiment with photography lately,
but I did take a few pics.Snowy Branch-
shot Through The Viewfinder(TTV)
~~~~~

Cardinal
~~~

Woodpecker
~~~~

I tried shooting thru my binoculars. It's a bit tougher to get it just right. I used a sliced of toilet paper tube to space my digital camera the correct distance from the eyepiece.

Merry Christmas

taken on Dec 21

Xmas Ornaments

This is what I made for my swapmate for the WIST ornament swap. It started as a vintage candle clip. I made a nest from shredded money and added a little red painted bird. The bird originally held a birthday candle, now it holds a sign.

I made for our tree a couple of these little elves. The head/hat is an old red xmas bulb. The body is bumpy chenille. The candy cane is from strand of old plastic candy garland. Kitschy fun!

Goodies in the mail

I bought this penguin ACEO from etsy.
It was sent in this great printed card and stickers.
Check out With Remote on Etsy.

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I got an ornament, pendant, magnet,
and collage goodies from Andrea aka Zenith Jade.

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I received these houses from Megan at That's Swell
as part of the WIST Ornament Swap--very cool!!!

Aren't they cute?

GPP Crusade #14

This month's theme was Imaginary Friends: Who or What is Your Muse?

I don't think I have a specific "muse". My inspiration comes from all around me. But here are a few: My kids, Vincent Van Gogh, the stars in the sky, birds in my yard, my garden, splashes of color on my paint palette, Somerset Studio magazine, but mostly that little voice inside that tells me I'm heading in the right direction.

In thinking about this theme I realized that unfortunately that other voice can be just as strong. So I have an imaginary friend and an imaginary fiend! One side says, "Wow! What a great idea...you are so creative!" the other says "Boy you suck, why bother?....give up"

Am I crazy....I hope not. Sometime one side wins, sometimes the other. I think it's all part of my personal equilibrium. I challenge myself to ignore, put aside, or defeat the negative. I try to nurture the positive. In my studio space, I surround myself with photos, sketches, my kids drawings, magazine clippings, etc...anything that fuels my creativity.

Friend or Fiend?

10x10 inch on canvas

This tree represents both the positive and the negative. The growth and development of my creativity and the fire that is ready to destroy. Both are mostly in balance, but I think creativity is winning, though I may answer different tomorrow *grins*
Underneath the layers of paint, pen, and pencil is a copy of a cabinet card. I was going to use the image to give my friend/fiend a face. It looked wrong......so I painted over it completely, but it still is there, underneath it all.
After looking at this collage for the last few days, I started thinking of one of my daughters favorite mythical creatures... the Phoenix. What a great concept! Rebirth from the ashes. I guess it happens in my artwork. I put aside projects that aren't working, only to take them out much later and rework them. I realize that I may not have gotten to the final result without the past failure.

Boy I'm rambling!
:-)

and onward

The scan is a bit dark, but this is a set of 1inch magnets that will
soon be listed in my shop...... only 4$.
Each is backed with a very strong rare-earth (neodymium) magnet.

I finally thought I was feeling better...finally over this "bug". Guess not! I still feel yucky.

Yesterday wore me out. We had our first and hopefully not the last WIST Trunk Show at Lazy Jane's Cafe in Madison, WI. It was only 5 til 9pm, almost like a gallery show. We had snacks and drinks, very fun. The whole day ended up being an adventure and I just got tuckered out. When we got home the kids just kicked off their shoes and climbed into bed. They held up pretty good though. I've spent today just reading a bit and photographing fun stuff to list on Etsy. Soon, I promise. I have tons of pictures and scans to adjust, crop , and organize!

To everyone who stopped by Lazy Jane's last night.....thanx it was great to meet you!
To my fellow WISTers who set up....I loved seeing everyone and we need to do it again!


good eve,
X

I forgot to take any photos at the show! duh!
*****someone else posted my booth picture on flicker. Thanx Jen!*****

Grief

My chest aches....Early this morning a local boy died in a house fire. Gage was 7 yrs old. We aren't close to the family, I've only talked to his mother a few times (on the sidelines or on the bus during a field trip). Emma is friends with one of Gage's older brothers and my son loved wrestling around with Gage during soccer practices. We weren't close but nevertheless... I hurt. Gage was a nice boy, I liked him. And now he's gone.

His parents and the 4th grade twins got out of the house safely. I can't begin to imagine how Gage's family feels. I just gave my kids extra hugs and thought...you've got to appreciate those you love every minute you have them.

Holiday Fair in IA

I wanted to post a couple of my booth shots....even though they are bad. My booth was near the back of one of the rooms, but I liked my spot because it overlooked the kids area. I like being near the fun stuff!


I started getting sick Sunday (the day of the show) and I'm still trying to get over it! Ugh!

off to Iowa

I'm leaving to spend the weekend in Iowa. I'll be set up at the Holiday Fair at the Waterloo Center for the Arts. I've never been there, but sounds like a lot of fun!
Have a good weekend!

A few new collages

Grow Strong

Grow Strong close up

Grow Strong close up

Four and Music

Good Samaritan

Bright Winter