ACEO/ATC holders

Illustration Friday - Communication

I was working on my journal pages and thinking about words that would best describe things that are bothering me without spelling them out loud and clear. As it happened, I found just the right thing on this wonderful blog. Coincidence? Or a way of communication that we don't understand?

For more Illustration Friday entries click HERE.

My big beeswax collage

This is my new favorite piece! I didn't plan it at all... As I wrote yesterday, I used beeswax on my little ACEO and didn't want to stop. Most of the time I am aware how lucky I am, but yesterday, while creating this piece, I was actually saying aloud how happy I am to be able to do what I love. The feeling when you get lost in the process and materials, textures and colors is just wonderful.
Please click on the photo if you want to see the beeswax drippings, the translucent quality of paper, metal mesh and other things... - on eBay -

Be amazed by small things...

Sometimes we just need to be amazed by the small things.

- on eBay -

Just what I needed to hear today. Art is therapy. Not only did it feel good to make this little collage, but I had also some 'aromatherapy' because I used beeswax to finish it. I love the smell of beeswax. I also love to touch it, to watch it drip on a piece, to see how different papers become translucent in different ways, to see the slightly muted colors... I guess I love everything about it. That's why I couldn't stop. I found a canvas that I didn't like and just started beeswaxing different things to it. I'll try to take pictures tomorrow.

Journal pages

Too colorful? Maybe. It is grey and cold outside. I need color :-)
I used Nancy's and my own collage sheets. It is fun - even I tiny, tiny piece can be used somewhere.

Nameliens

I saw these little creatures on Janet's blog and knew immediately that I'll have to try them. My friend Connie agreed to be childish with me, so we played with markers, crayons and pencils and created our personal Nameliens. First one is Connie's scared sweet girl... she's afraid of her alter-ego (the AKA you see floating beside her).Mine is sad and tired. Probably of all the colors I slapped on her.

WOW... as I'm finishing this post there was a noisy earthquake.
That's never fun.
I had to add another Namelien. My daughter Hana wanted to play with her short name. She turned a part of H into hills and the other to skis. This is the result:

Bird ACEOs

I was very surprised to see all the new names in the comments section. Thank you for visiting my blog! Dotee has the power of spreading love around the globe and getting people to meet. She is very special!
Yesterday I made the biggest mess while I was creating the little canvas. I just had to. It goes with the process. You need paint and paper, stamps, inks, transparencies, stencils, crayons... everything. And it is fun! Sometimes I like to have a little less things around, so watercolors and paper make me happy. That's when I make the bird ACEOs. For me they don't seem finished if they don't say something, so I grab one of the old books and look for the words that call me.

These birds turned out so funny and I wasn't sure what to do with them and then the words just jumped out - funny looking or not, they do look happy together. I listed them on eBay.

A Dotee doll!!!!! :-)

I really don't like seeing myself on photos but I had to post this one. Why? Because it looks like I'm gazing at my newborn baby... Do you feel the love and amazement?
Well, it is a baby and I am in love. I received a Dottee original!!! A little doll made just for me!!! I couldn't be happier!
Look how sweet she is! I love her beautiful hair and the adorable face and tiny bird and - the color - completely in tone with the green top I am wearing today!

My little pink girl now has a sister.

I love the ATC too! It is a combination of fabric, paper, beads.... with a message I need to hear. Thank you Dotee for my new treasures.

This was a wonderful day. Not only did I receive beautiful art, I received some 'dream come true' news and lovely emails and comments. It just made me feel grateful... so I had to create something with that in mind.4" x 4" canvas

One day of pure joy

I remember several days of pure joy. Somehow they always happened when I was with someone. Bliss.

Listed here and here

Wish on every star

I had an opportunity to look through a mighty telescope last night. I saw Saturn and it was unreal... and different from all the other bright things in the night sky. What would happen if we would wish on every star and our wishes could be granted?

Look for good...

Yesterday I spent a magical day with my dear friend Connie. It was a fun, relaxing day filled with laughter and joy. I forgot to bring my camera so I don't have pictures to share :-( but I'll definitely remember how important it is to have fun and how lucky I am to have such a wonderful friend.- on eBay -

This is what I was doing today. Sitting on the beach and writing.Then this little scene happened:

And this one:

And I wished that I were one of the impressionists and that I could whip up these scenes in oil paints 'un plein air'. Maybe I'll try.
What a wonderful day!

Feeling the love...

I am trying hard not to be the Valentine's Grinch... I wrote several posts and deleted them... Decided to focus on what I like, not dislike.

I like... no, I LOVE the internet and the way it connects people. Some may say that the new technology is cold and inhuman... for me it is completely the opposite. I am so happy to have new friends and grateful for the way blogs connect us and enable us to share our lives and art. It was so great to get mail today!
Thank you Norah. Thank you Anna.

You made my day bright and happy. I hope to meet you both one day.

Collage fragments

I had fun looking through scans of my collages and playing with Photoshop. I plan on using these fragments in my art journal. I also listed them on etsy and eBay. They are printed on high quality thin paper. I'm not sure if I made a mistake by printing them like that... I guess I followed what I like. I wonder - do you find that thin (light-weight) paper is easier to use in collages than heavy photo paper or is it just me?

Friendly Companions

I am tempted to give them names.... They look like a family - serious, funny, big, little, proud, funny... There is even one ugly duckling. It doesn't feel bad because he is special - he has a golden heart.

I have a new blog - only for the little creatures. Please click HERE if you are interested in purchasing on of the birds.
I have to mention my personal superhero and favorite bird photographer. While my darling was taking numerous photos of my little birds, I had fun taking pictures of him.

Coming soon...

I have been working for days on this little bird family. Although I'm not the type to do repetitive things - I am enjoying this very much. Probably because they are all so different. I love to see how their little personalities start to emerge with every layer of paint that I apply to them. There are several more steps to do before I let them fly away...

Dotee's dolls

A little sweetness for a rainy day.
I was excited when I saw that Dotee generously posted a tutorial for her sweet healing dolls. She says:
"I figure if you are having fun when you are making them and put love into them you will create something beautiful. It is very hard to be depressed when you hold one of these in your hand!"
And I think that it is very true.
I couldn't think of anything else (like feeding the children) before I made a little healing doll. I know nothing about embroidery and hand-sewing, but I still managed to make her and even though she's not perfect - I am smiling and feeling happy and calm. I hope you visit Dotee's blog and try making a doll.

Journal with a secret

I spent the day packing papers, cards, tiny squares... and standing in the line in the Post office. Lately it seems that Christmas is every day, the lines are that long. I love the automated machine, but unfortunately it won't accept packages that travel out of the country so I get to wait long lines... Not complaining. Everything I sent was something art related, so it is a happy thing. Other events of the day - Hana was almost barefoot so we searched (and found) shoes. And we had to go to hunt for food... Now if I just had a magic wand everything would be put to place, food cooked and laundry washed and I could create something.
I did manage to take photos and list a journal I made recently. You can see the secret here.

ZNE theme week "Love"

I guess I have some kind of disorder (the type that most mixed media artists have) - I can't do one thing more than a day or two... Paper, fabric, clay.... what's next? Jewelry, of course! I signed up for a basic wire wrapping class today and made these earrings and necklace! The necklace is for Hana, it turned out too delicate for me (but I'm modeling it here anyway) and the earrings are just my size!

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Thank you for the wonderful comments and emails about my little bird friends (and the new banner). I will start selling the birds soon, probably on etsy. Right now - I can't say good bye to them just yet... Maybe it will be easier if I make more.
After a long while, I entered two cards for ZNE theme week. The theme this month is "Love". I just couldn't skip that, because I don't take love for granted and give thanks every day that I am surrounded by so much love and have the opportunity to love. So, my little cards are here and if you want to see more mixed media art with the same theme, please click here.

My new friends

My heART goes to:

!!!ANNA!!!

I wanted to do a fancy process of finding a winner, but the day passed too quickly and I feel guilty for not posting earlier today. I followed Chrysti's example and visited random.org. I entered 38 as a number of entries (I didn't count the last one (mintkittytea) - because I did include her as the anonymus). You can see the way numbers turned out. Anna is the lucky number 13 and will receive my journal!

Also - if Dale and Linda K (second and third place on the random list) contact me I will send them a little collage bundle.
MintKittyTea - you asked me a question, but don't have your email or blog address.... so I can't answer it (and I would like to). My email is on my profile page.
Thank you all for participating! This was a fun exchange of good energy and creativity. We should do it again!

Semi-transparent ACEO, mail, links...

Listen to your heART. I did. I layered several transparencies, added inks and stamps, a bit of heat and as a result I have this interesting semi-transparent card. This is probably the thinnest ACEO I ever made, but also one of the most unusual. It is a happy mail day! I received a fun envelope from Crystal, with a lovely, tiny square. I am looking at the yin-yang symbol and thinking about balance and how I need to find it. And I'm ashamed to say that I didn't yet send my square to Crystal... but I will. Today :-) I promise.
I also received an envelope from Canada. As much as I tried to get a good picture - I couldn't. These are the first squares Lissa ever made and they are incredible. I'm not even sure what the base is.... it could be a piece of wood. They are dimensional, glittery and beautiful.
And I was so surprised to see the back. It has a decorative metal 'something'. They look like cuff buttons that my father used to wear. Thank you Lise! I love them!
If anyone wants to swap 1" squares with me please click *here* and you will see what is left from my first batch.
I would like to share two links... Many people know and use them, but I am a bit slow and just recently found about them and got hooked. First is Pandora.com. My son turned me to them - it is like your personalized web radio station. It is very easy (and free) to sign up, and then you get to choose what kind of music you like, dislike... and soon you discover a song that you never heard before but really like.
I don't know how I would live without the second website. Do you use Bloglines? Or do you go through your blog-links 5 times a day to see who has a new post? That's what I used to do. Now - I can follow many more blogs and actually have a life too! Imagine having a list of your favorite blogs all organized in one place and a little red star blinking whenever there is a new post. Try it! You'll be hooked!