The Three Muses - Zlightly Zetti

Well, this truly is only zlightly zetti but hey I'm working towards the style which is one that I really enjoy in other's artwork. I love its playfulness, spontaneity and "off the beaten track" look. Yes, folks, that's my face on a body wearing a tutu....something I've never in my life done before. One can dream though. This is my entry for The Three Muses challenge this week.

Crazy Amigo Challenge - Legs

When you've got them, flaunt them....and Marie Antoinette has them....legs, that is! What a pose! And where did she get that dog? This is my entry for the Crazy Amigo challenge this week.

Created ByHand Challenge - Play

This little guy all dressed up in his red jumper with black polka dots sporting white and black wings never fails to make me smile. He is so playful and just slightly mischievous looking don't you think? This is my entry for the Created ByHand challenge this week.

Mixed Media Monday - Meaningful Music

Whenever I hear Bette Midler sing "The Rose", I think about my high school choir. Our conductor chose this piece for us to sing at an end of the year concert and I remember thinking that it was beautiful right from the beginning. After many weeks of rehearsal, we donned our white blouses and dark blue long skirts in anticipation of the performance. After parading out on stage and standing stock still, the baton was raised and we began. We sang it with meaning and with emotion and the audience responded by remaining perfectly still for just a few seconds after we finished as though allowing the memory of the music to surround them. I found it to be a very powerful experience and one I've never forgotten. This is my entry for Mixed Media Monday this week.

Sunday Stampers - You Got a Friend

I am blessed to have wonderful friends. I find the greatest enjoyment in the quiet times that we spend together having long talks over coffee, tea or wine. Each one enriches my life in so many ways. In fact, I'm meeting one of them in a few minutes to spend a day on an art studio tour....one of my most favourite things to do. It is so fascinating to see where artists work. It's rather like "Where Women Create" in real life. This journal spread is my entry for this week's Sunday Stampers challenge.

Saturday Surprise - In the Kitchen

Can you remember learning to bake or cook? My early recollections are of standing at the kitchen counter beside my mother and watching her hands work making pie. I loved how the flour would get swallowed up in the dough as she gently worked it with her hands, how she'd so precisely prepare the top crust and lay it aside while she mixed the fruit with sugar and a thickener. My favourite part was when the top crust was carefully placed on top and Mom used her fingers to pinch around the edge so precisely. She'd always save a bit of the dough, roll it out, sprinkle it with sugar and bake it with the pie for a special treat. This fabric journal page is my entry for the Saturday Surprise challenge this week.

TGIF Challenge - Wonderful Trees

I do a great deal of thinking about trees it seems including the parts of them above ground and the parts below that can't be seen. Last weekend, I had the pleasure of joining a sweet friend of mine, Laura Haviland (be sure to have a peek at what she created on our weekend!) to take a course in encaustic collage with Andrea Bird. Andrea uses many trees in her artwork that she has photographs herself using the black and white setting on her digital camera. They give a haunting look to many of her pieces that is so evocative and engaging. I think that the tree and the background of this card have a similar feel to them. This is my entry for the TGIF challenge this week.

Crazy Amigo Challenge - Autumn: Created ByHand Challenge - Texture

I just participated in a very challenging swap. We were invited to purchase three commercial greeting cards and to alter them in some way. We could sew or paint on them, cut them up and and reassemble them. I chose to add beeswax to this one. The card itself is an interesting shape as you can see from the first photo. The colours in it were so indicative of autumn and the D.J. Pettit woman just seemed to belong in amongst the beautifully coloured leaves. This is my entry for the Crazy Amigo as well as the Created ByHand challenges this week.

Think Monday, Think ATC - Girls with Dolls

Did you have a favourite doll when you were young? I had two that were particular favourites of mine. One was named Suzie and by the time that I was finished with her, her hair was disheveled and missing in places and part of her face had been rubbed off. The other doll I favoured was Mrs. Beasley from "Family Affair". I remember that she was a "must have" and my parents very lovingly purchased her for me. I'd love to hear your favourite doll stories if you'd care to share! This is my entry for the Think Monday, Think ATC challenge this week.

Mixed Media Monday - Metal

When you mention metal and art in the same sentence, I immediately jump to altered tins. They are one of my current obsessions as you know. In fact, I have been known to purchase product that I don't really want in order to obtain the tin that houses it! I liked the shape of this one and began working on it by layering tissue and scrapbook papers with beeswax then adding bits of torn napkins to create a garden scene. This is my submission for this week's Mixed Media Monday challenge.

Journal Giveaway Winners

I can't thank you enough for being so patient with me and for all of your kind words and constant support of my blog and my artwork. It really does mean more to me than I can possibly express. At long last, I have used a random number generator to choose not one, not two, but THREE winners. Yes, that's right. I've created another journal. So without further adieu, the winners are.....

Patti G.
Craftola (Kathy Roberson)
Juliwan

If you read this before I contact you, please be sure to send along your mailing address. Congratulations and thanks again to everyone who entered.

Delayed Announcement of Blog Giveaway Winner

I am going to beg your forgiveness and hope that you won't mind waiting until Monday to find out who won my blog giveaway. To reward your patience, I'm going to draw two names, one to win the journal in the initial post and the other to win this one. I am just flying out the door on my way to an artful weekend. A friend and I are taking a course from Andrea Bird on encaustic collage and we are jittery with excitement. I'll be back on Sunday and will announce giveaway winners on Monday. Feel free to add a comment on this post to have your name tossed into the "hat" for the second journal.

Saturday Surprise Challenge - Time

We are a bit obsessed by it aren't we? Time, that is! Today I feel as though time is snapping at my heels just about to bite me! Do you ever feel that way? This is my entry for the Saturday Surprise challenge this week.

Theme Thursday - ATC with Flourishes

It is one of those mornings when I just need a little sparkle to get me ignited and ready for the day. Allison Strine's images never fail to give me a giggle and sometimes a good laugh. They are full of vitality and life and just beg to sit on bright yellow backgrounds with flourishes of orange in my world. This is my entry for the Theme Thursday Challenge this week.

Just a reminder that this is the last day to enter my blog art giveaway. All you need to do is to leave me a comment on this post showing the journal that I will be drawing for tomorrow morning.

The Three Muses - Pockets

As someone who has worked in libraries since I was 15 years old, I have witnessed many changes in the way that books are checked out and in. When I first started, we had a machine that took pictures of book cards and date due cards together. The book cards were located in library pockets at the back of the book. These are now almost obsolete with the advent of computers and barcodes so when I found these blank library pocket books, I snatched them up and added my own creativity to them. This is my entry for this week's The Three Muses challenge.

To thank you for visiting my blog and leaving such wonderful comments for me, I'm having a giveaway. Check out my posting here and leave me a comment to be entered into my draw.

Wednesday Stamper - Dress

Do you ever leaf through your vintage photos and actually study the dresses that the women are wearning in them? Many are so fancy with lace and full skirts. The bodices are cinched in giving the women such a form fitting look. I often wonder how uncomfortable they must have been. Was it difficult to breathe? How did they survive the heat? "Juliet" (my name for her) is one of my adopted relatives from my vintage photo collection and she has a particularly distinct dress. I thought she looked like a woman who loved to decorate her home so I created a story for her in this round robin journal page. This is my entry for the Wednesday Stamper challenge this week.

Created ByHand Challenge - "Q"

French was always woven into our studies at school here in Canada as it's our offical second language. That's not to say that I excelled in learning it. My issue was and still is pronunciation when speaking. I do remember times in class when I would just focus on the beautiful sounds of the language being spoken by the teacher. I remember thinking it sounded so musical and beautiful. I drew from the French language (and the music world) when I created this round robin page. This is my entry for the Created ByHand challenge this week.

I invite you to leave a comment and enter my blog art giveaway listed in the posting below.

Art Journal Giveaway

I've been doing it again....altering journals using the Sarah Whitmire technique that I learned while taking an online course on Joggles. I find the whole process so relaxing even though the steps take a certain amount of patience. I'm not very keen on allowing time for drying. I always schedule other projects while I'm working on them to divert my attention!! Well, it just seems as though it's time for another blog giveaway so I'm inviting you to leave a comment and I will draw a winner this Friday.

Mixed Media Monday - Make Something Round

Have you ever completed a test that requires you to choose your favourite shape? This is a "no brainer" for me. I always choose a circle. I'm not quite sure why. It is just a comforting shape to me in its inclusivity and softness. I always seem to have a stock of compact discs that I've discarded in some way. It just seems so wasteful to throw them away so every once in a while I decide to make art with them. This three CD piece is a tribute to the Fall, just around the corner and always welcome to me, and my entry for this week's Mixed Media Monday challenge.

Saturday Surprise - Parts of the Body

I could quite honestly create a whole story around this young leaf fairy. In my mind, he would get into a great deal of mischief as he roamed the forest. Can't you see his devilish smile and his "I didn't do it" attitude? Here I go playing with paper dolls again!! This is my entry for the Saturday Surprise challenge this week.

Theme Thursday - Vintage Women ATCs

Sometimes you put together a piece and it doesn't turn out at all how you'd expected. This is one of those pieces. I look at it and see a story and a sense of movement. Is she running away from something and is she going to pick that daisy as she goes? Perhaps it inspires a story in you. This is my entry for this week's Theme Thursday challenge.

Three Muses Challenge - Moonstruck; Wednesday Stamper - Open Theme

I am rejoicing that Hallowe'en is just around the corner because I realized how much I adore creating art around it. I love its delicious spookiness and sense of mystery and find myself inspired when I think about it. I can see why people create Hallowe'en art year round. I was messing around with black as a background and found when I was finished that I had inadvertently created moons so I worked around them. Here are two of the resultant atcs. They are my entry for the Three Muses Challenge as well as the Wednesday Stamper challenge this week.

Created ByHand Challenge - Stitching

Every once in a while someone in a round robin journal exchange requests pages to be finished in fabric. Secretly, I'm always quite excited because unless forced to work in fabric, I don't usually choose to do so. I dust off my sewing machine and dig out a big basket I have filled with rick rack and ribbon, velvet flowers and beautiful fat quarters. This is my entry for the Created ByHand challenge this week.

Crazy Amigo Challenge - Hats

A young gentleman perched atop such a push looking chair definitely needs a fine hat, don't you think? This house is my submission for the Crazy Amigo Challenge this week.

Mixed Media Monday - Time of Day

I have always been an early riser, preferring to enjoy a few precious moments before the rest of my world is fully awake. There is a serenity about this time of day. The sun is just beginning its ascent, the dew is still on grass and flowers and the birds, rabbits and other wildlife still feel comfortable being out in the open. This piece just seems to capture the essence of the early morning for me and is my entry for this week's Mixed Media Monday challenge.

Think Monday, Think ATC - Architecture

There is elegance and a sense of reverance associated with the gothic arch shape. Perhaps it's because we see it so often in churches and it seems to be pointed heavenward. I thought this contemplative angel deserved her own arch. This is my entry for this week's Think Monday, Think ATC challenge.

Dans ma maison il y a....un ecolier

As someone who works with children most intensely when they are out of school I have observed that there comes a point in the summer when children are ready to go back to school, to settle into the routine that comes with being in class all day and to regain ties with fellow students. It usually occurs about three weeks before they actually return though!LOL I know that school has resumed in quite a few places but here Tuesday is the big day....and not a minute too soom for many children. This is my entry for the Dans ma maison il y a....challenge this week.

Saturday Surprise - Metal

There is just something about the look of rusted metal that excites and inspires me. I'm not quite sure why I'm attracted to it. Perhaps because it gives an aura of age and exposure to weather. Maybe I just like the texture and colour. Whatever the reason, I seek out pieces such as this vine and small fence that I purchased from Retro Cafe Art Gallery. This is my entry for this week's Saturday Surprise challenge.

TGIF Challenge - Funny Animals

I have always found this rabbit image particularly striking and regal....perfect for those Christmas cards that I really should be starting on soon!! This is my entry for the TGIF challenge this week.

Theme Thursday - Hallowe'en ATCs

It just goes without saying almost that once the first day of school rolls around in a year, thoughts turn to the Fall....coloured leaves, Thanksgiving, cold and crisp days, less daylight and, of course, Hallowe'en. I've never been much for dressing up for the occasion but I've always enjoyed carving pumpkins, decorating and generally soaking in the spookiness and strangeness of the celebration. This is my entry for this week's Theme Thursday challenge.

Wednesday Stamper - Turquoise and Red

It's usually around this time of year that I begin to contemplate creating my Christmas cards....and I do mean contemplate not actually dig in and begin them! I always have high hopes that I'll have a lovely handmade card for each and every person on my list but alas, the last two years have found me bereft around the end of June. Hmmm....perhaps this year will be different...perhaps. This is my entry for the Wednesday Stamper challenge.

Dans ma maison il y a "une porte"

I purchased a digital collage sheet filled with doors and I have honestly had to reprint it several times already. I really enjoy using them in my artwork to convey a sense of mystery and magic. This is my entry for this week's "Dans ma maison il y a...." challenge.

Created ByHand - Back to School Days

It's that time of year isn't it? Even if you aren't returning to school, I would bet that you likely have at least those vague feelings of apprehension and excitement. They really never seem to leave us. Don't you remember traipsing off on your first day wondering who your new teacher was going to be. You had on your carefully chosen outfit purchased just for the occasion and all of your pencils and notebooks were new and full of the promise of another year of learning. This is my entry for the Created ByHand challenge this week.

Crazy Amigo Challenge - Punches

I have amassed a few punches over the years and used to use them more often in my rubber stamped cards. I've dusted them off lately to add to backgrounds. In this round robin journal page, I decided to play with the flower punched pieces a bit by outlining them in a deeper purple. This is my entry for the Crazy Amigo challenge this week.