katilady

monochromatic 4x4 pick-a-theme

2010-07-24T11:06:00.000-07:00

i recently hosted a swap at www.illustratedatcs.com that was a monochromatic 4x4 PAT. what the heck? basically as folks signed up they were put in groups of 6 and asked to pick a color. they then had to make a 4x4 piece of art for everyone in their group in the colors people had chosen. here is the art for my group:

turquoise for eraserqueen

cobalt blue for coffeelatte

red for nicci

red for cindyjob

orange for amerasu

next time i will share the beautiful art i received in return!

summer garden week 3

2010-07-15T06:14:00.000-07:00

my sweet little container garden has grown much since i first posted pics. i had to harvest some lettuce (red sails) after i took these pics cause they were running out of room!

the herbs are growing like crazy and i added a strawberry plant.

the hollyhocks (back row) are starting to take off too!

i've added another strawberry container and the medium pot will hopefully contain poppies when the sprout!

who else is gardening this summer? any container gardeners? how goes it?

art love!

2010-07-07T13:59:00.000-07:00

1. carnival buffet, 2. Art is life, 3. abstract swap iatcs, 4. Untitled, 5. Stop the clock please, 6. THERE IS NO ESCAPE, 7. 20100531, 8. Rost - Big Beautiful Doll, 9. Primary Contrast, 10. crowabout collage week 76, 11. Untitled, cat no 00175, by Damian Michaels, 12. Untitled, 13. Hard to Change, 14. frame, 15. week 5: something in the house (with meaning), 16. Symmetry

thrifting

2010-07-05T09:48:00.000-07:00

i was in old town on saturday because the art supply store had an announcement that they were getting rid of shelving and displays for free by their dumpster. lucky me found some fantastic holders for my markers. originally made for pencils, they'll suit my markers just fine. and they were free!

across the street form the art supply store is st. vinnies. now like all modern women i enjoy thrifting now and again. but truth be told, i really hadn't much luck at thrift stores in the area. they are heavily picked over or way to pricey! i mean st. vinnies was selling 1980's particle board dressers for $30 + which is ridiculous in my book. but! saturday was my lucky day. i found 3 beautiful glass bottles, that look to be vintage, for under $10 for all 3. i quickly snagged them up before some other shopper could.

my last set of finds happened in the book section. i am into books on many levels. 1, i am an avid reader and am always looking for interesting books for cheap or free. saturday i found 4 readable books ofr $.75 a piece, score! the other way i am into books is artistically. i like to use the text of old books for found poetry and i like to alter the books themselves. i found 2 vintage hardback childrens books in stellar condition that i can use for both. i can remove some of the pages to have room for altering and i can use those pages for found poetry, another score!

all in all, i spent less than $20 and got some great finds. what did you score this weekend?

check out southern hospitality and apron thrift girl for more thrifting finds!

antler folk atc's

2010-06-28T10:55:00.000-07:00

one of my greatest pleasures these days is hosting atc swaps on www.illustratedatcs.com and www.atcsforall.com (the 1st site is juried, the 2nd site is not). part of the fun is coming up with interesting themes that i'd like to collect. my recent obsession has been with antlered folks. you know, people with antlers. of course i know they don't really exist, but they look so awesome in art. and the cool thing is, it's easy to make antlered folk whether you are a hand drawn artist or a mixed media collage artist (like me). it's accessible.

just find some antler images online, print them out (and in my case color them), and add them to the person of your choice. antlers make anyone look striking.

what was really fun for me in make these particular cards was i also played with my other 2 obsessions: spray paint, and cool color combos--in this case yellow, aqua, and pink. to me, they mix a look of ancient times, when fairies existed, with a more modern look.

as always, i've added bits of intriguing text to further the sense of story. text is a common denominator with the majority of my art. here it is added in the background--finnish text, and then an english word or phrase. i really love how these turned out. what are some of your fave techniques?

my (not so) secret garden

2010-06-26T16:17:00.000-07:00

a week or so ago i had the itching to go to some yard sales. i hit pay dirt at the 3rd one i went to where someone was selling old gun and ammunition boxes. at $5 a piece i bought the 2 she had and decided i wanted to repurpose them. so now, instead of supporting war and terror, these boxes support the earth and nourishment. they have become my garden! since they didn't have a lot of space i also added a big black tub for some herbs.

here's what i am growing:

2 types of heirloom tomatoes
lettuce
hollyhocks
forget-me-nots
tarragon
thai basil
cilantro
parsley
dill

knitted creations

2010-06-19T15:16:00.000-07:00

a couple of weeks ago i started a knitting class with my friends laurie and natalie at college of the redwoods community education program. i absolutely love it! our teacher paula is kind and patient, and has the best stories. and the class affords me a couple of hours each week with my girlfriends.

our 1st project was to make a seamed hat--more of a winter cap. i used merino wool in some lovely colors for my 1st hat. it's made using a garter stitch and is super easy to do.

so easy in fact, that i made a 2nd hat so i could continue practicing. this hat is done i blues, teals, and purples. i am not sure who i am going to give it to, but the 1st hat will go to my niece thea.

i went to northcoast knittery today, for world knit day and got some help with my 2nd project--a coffee cup sleeve. it's much harder for me as it is knitted in the round and i get confused easily. if anyone has any tips for me i'd love to hear them!

epicurean creation

2010-06-13T19:09:00.000-07:00

so, many of my blog posts have been about the art i create--visual art that is. today i indulged in another favorite hobby of mine--creating edible art. beef stew is a simple rustic dish that wheb done well has layers of flavor--the meatiness of the beef, the rich aroma created from wine and the blend of herbs. below you will find the recipe i use when making beef stew, it's simple, hearty, and delicious.

ingredients:

1 lb of stew meat
1 large red onion, chopped
3 cloves of garlic, crushed
4 med red potatoes chopped
1 small bag of baby carrots
2 tsp thyme
1-2 bay leaves
beef broth
1-2 C red wine
2 tbs tomato paste
oil
flour
1 small bag frozen peas
salt & pepper to taste

directions:

dredge meat in flour and brown in a small amount of oil.
in the same oil, saute onion and garlic over low heat.
when onion becomes translucent stir in tomato paste and coat onions with it.
stir in the mine to this mixture, making sure you scrape up the bits on the pan leftover from browning the meat.
after wine has reduced by 1/4-1/2, add potatoes, carrots and meat. stir in enough broth to almost cover the mixture.
add herbs and salt and paper. raise heat and bring to a simmer. cover and reduce heat. cook until meat is tender, 1-2 hours.
when meat is done, remove from heat and add peas, serve immediately.

nature's inspiration

2010-06-10T07:16:00.000-07:00

the last place i expect to see nature rearing it's gorgeous head is at work. work is about paperwork, and deadlines, and driving, and courthouses, and tears--many things, but never nature. yesterday when i went to leave for my lunch break out the back door i happened to glance down. and what did my squinty eyes behold? a tiny, gorgeous, perfect tree frog. this little guy was so perfectly still, except for the blinking of his eyes. i am calling it a he, but of course it may as well have been a she. either way, a bit a beauty that made me pause during a busy day. lucky for both of us i carry my camera everywhere i go!

lazy days

2010-05-31T11:23:00.000-07:00

it's memorial day and i am at home with the kitties preparing to head into the studio. i have many projects afoot from swaps on iATC's to a moleskine journal on AFA. i am hosting 3 swaps on iATC's: monochromatic 4x4 PAT (pick-a-theme), altered photo ATC's, and antler people ATC's. all of them need work done but they aren't due until july at the earliest. the moleskine for AFA is what needs immediate attention but i must admit to being stuck. the theme is ' the enchanted garden of oddities and delights'. basically a scene of oddness. previous entries include a zombie carnival and flowers with eyeballs. needless to say i am intimidated. but it's time to get this show on the road because i have been holding on to this book for far too long!

in other news, i have finished my swap cards for the blind drawing swap on AFA. the rules: with your eyes closed draw a face, then with your eyes open take that face, whatever it looks like, and create a character. i had fun doing these, even more fun was thinki9ng up the story behind each character. my fave is the sister mary catherine. which one is your favorite. leave a comment and let me know!

kitty love!

2010-05-25T17:28:00.000-07:00

i last mentioned my 2 loves over a year ago when atticus (black kitty) was sick. he is still going strong, but as older cats do, he is becoming scrawny. he is 13 this year. elke (grey love muffin) is HUGE! she must way over 10 pounds! they are the loves of my life and are co-workers extraordinaire in the studio. elke loves to climb on the table and perch there like a queen. atticus has a special spot on top of my paper bin--it allows him to survey the world out the front window.

i wanted to take the time to introduce the 2 to ya'll again. i haven't spoken of then often, but the are my comrades and the world would be dull indeed without their mischief.

win peacock art!

2010-05-22T11:56:00.000-07:00

here's a chance to win awesome peacock art from eraserqueenstudios!

some of my fave art!

2010-05-21T08:59:00.000-07:00

1. 3, 2. My Goals Journal Page - Work In Progress, 3. How's Yourself, 4. traveling, 5. the kiss, 6. Floral Abstract, 7. Cute_Cat, 8. say cheese!, 9. granny smith, 10. A Monday, 11. Pretty Paris Blues, 12. broken f**kdoll, 13. Jack's Orange Whip - Crowabout Week 68 - Post Card 4"x6", 14. la belle Nuit de Noël, 15. Jellyfish, 16. transformation

2 new paintings

2010-05-16T10:01:00.000-07:00

i have found the may/june clothpaperscissors to be extraordinarily inspiring. i've made 2 new paintings based on 2 different tutorials in the mag.

the 1st one is entitled 'flowers'. it is 6x6 and is up for trade for something of a similar size. leave a comment if interested.

the 2nd painting is a birthday gift for my taurus friend ryan. it's done partially with shiva paintstiks, my new toy! it's called 'persona and shadow' and is also 6x6. i love square canvas's!

collab journal

2010-05-09T15:51:00.000-07:00

i am doing a collaboration with joanna crawshaw aka rubypaleface at iATC's. she is working in an altered book of mine and i am adding work to a journal of hers. i was silly and didn't scan her backgrounds 1st, but here are 2 finished (unless she wants to add to them) spreads in her journal.

burnout

2010-05-05T14:11:00.000-07:00

it happens to the best of us. months of feverishly making art turn into listless weeks of inaction (at least where art is concerned). my friend annie (eraserqueen) posted some a burnout exercise. below are my responses. i encourage anyone else who is feeling the burn to give it a try. post it on your blog and let me know about it!

What kind of block are you experiencing?

i am definitely having an idea block and a collage block. i've been focusing a lot of energy on drawing lately (faces and more faces) and i can't seem to come up with any collage ideas for other projects. i am in a rut. i feel like everything i do is old and boring. i am sick of it, of the art i make.

How is this making you feel?

FRUSTRATED! i want to create! and i can't. i want to get messy and jucy with layers and instead i feel stuck in the mud.

What artist do you currently admire?

currently i am enamored with anyone that can watercolor decently. the first person that comes to mind here is reneenault.

with her art i love the simplicity of her lines and the juicyness of her colors. i love the intricate detail work she does as well. and her themes are always thought provoking.

Pretend you can right now travel to where ever you want and create art isspiried by your surroundings. Where would this be? What would you see there? and What would you make?

i would love to travel to berlin. it's art scene there is alive and well and i really dig urban settings. i lovelovelove german accents too, lol, and german food. i am german by heritage and i would love to explore the history there as well. but mostly i want to go for the humming, vibrating, colorful city.

What colors currently excite you, and why?

i love complimentary colors. all different kinds of them. i love the push-pull they create and their ability to make eachother seem more alive.

i also dig layers of pink with layers of orange. again, it's juicy.

How can you immerse you self in the color you love? Is there anything you can paint your favorite color?

i could paint anything those colors, but i can't think of anything i want to paint. i need some impetus to paint something those colors. like a swap theme or a trade.

What forms currently excite you and why?

faces. i love faces and the human figure.

How would you like to surround yourself with this form? What room do you want this form to be in?

faces are everywhere, lol!
__________________

diary project 2011

2010-03-27T20:06:00.000-07:00

this looks super fun!
http://www.fantazya.ca/diary2011.html

these crazy days

2010-01-30T20:03:00.000-08:00

just when you think you can put your feet up and smoke a fat one (kidding folks!) life throws a pie in your face and you have a big mess to clean up. so. i got evicted. and no, it wasn't cause i forgot to pay my rent. my landlord decided he wanted to move a friend into MY apartment. except it isn't mine, not anymore.

i feel a bit bereft, and even though i have until mid march to find a new place, i feel...homeless. as if this is no longer my home. so i am on a search for better and brighter digs. and i think i have found a place. maybe. they still need to check my references. it's a 1 bedroom in an old victorian. the living room is more of a parlor that opens up into to the bedroom with a sliding pocket door. it has a wood floored hallway that you walk into when opening the front door, it is wide enough to put a desk and chair in it. to the left is an eat in kitchen with a bay window and a dishwasher (glee!), to the right is the living room with another bay window. past the kitchen on the left there is the bathroom with washer and dryer hookups (anyone in humboldt getting rid of a washer and dryer?). straight ahead is the door to the bedroom.

so it won't be until early next week that i hear if it's officially mine. until then keep your fingers crossed, light a candle, pray to angels--whatever it is you do. many thanks!

ATC Progression

2010-01-10T12:37:00.000-08:00

wow, over a month without a post. i am a baaaaaaaaad blogger. the holidays got away with me what with all those gift swaps to complete. i did end up scoring some rather wonderful art!

on www.illustratedatcs.com a thread was started about how ones art can and will progress through years of making atc's. folks were posting cards from the beginning of their atc career until now. i thought i'd do the same.

i've only been making atc's since early in 2008, but this is a good 2 years worth of progress. i've definitely started playing more with layers, therefore more depth in later pieces!

what were your 1st atc's like? did you have any idea what you were doing? do they make you cringe now?

and what are they like now? how do you feel about the progress you have made?

i dare ya'll to post in your blogs your atc progressions. please comment with a link if you do!

Underloved ATC of the DAY

2009-11-26T12:58:00.001-08:00

i made this card as part of the november monthly match up at iATC's. the idea is you sign up each month to be randomly paired up with one other person for whom you make an ATC based on themes they prefer. this card is a nick bantock inspired collaged with a bird for my partner fyrelyter. she has animals, with birds as a preference, as one of the themes she collects.

drawing like a fiend

2009-11-15T15:20:00.000-08:00

as some of you know my mom is an amazing illustrator, and my brother is also not half bad. i, unfortunately, didn't inherit that particular gene though. BUT, i want to draw and i want to be good at it. i want to be able to have an image in my head and the ability to reproduce without having to search all over for an approximate image to collage. i want to create my vision, entirely myself, without adding other images.

here's the thing: drawing is fucking HARD! i look at some illustrations and i can't even fathom how the person did it--it confounds me. and when i try to do it, it doesn't look quite the same, lol. but, when i am in the process of drawing, i lose myself and that's a nice thing too. so. this weekend i challenged myself by drawing a hole heck of a lot. here are some of the results:

Quality Art

2009-11-08T13:09:00.000-08:00

the issue of quality as it pertains to art has reared it's ugly head on one of my trading sites, www.atcsforall.com. the issue is a tricky one as people's feelings get hurt. and i seem to be always getting myself in trouble for opening my big mouth. i have firm ideas about the kind of art i like and whether i choose to keep art that doesn't fit into my collections.

let me say this 1st: i am not the goddess's gift to art and i know this. i struggle constantly with low self esteem, especially in terms of my hand drawn work. but i even doubt my collage work as well. i compare myself all the time to other artist's work, wanting to be able to do what so and so does. and i get a complex if folks don't comment on my art that's posted in online gallery's, thinking it must really suck and everyone hates it. sick isn't it?

that being said, i have definite ideas about the kind of art i want in my home. and i do have to make limits on what comes in as my space is rather small and overflowing. i have to climb over things, it's rather sad. so, with the encouragement of an artist friend, i have started throwing away ATC's (artist trading cards) i receive and just can't stand. anyone who trades gets them from time to time, that card that know matter how you hold it just makes you cringe. admit it, you've got them in your collection. and yes, i also admit that i am sure to have made some of these myself. so here's the deal: i want my collection to be full of beauty. i want to feel joy when i look at it, not disgust. and there is nothing wrong with that! but admitting that to sensitive artists types was probably a bad idea. you live and learn. for the most part if i hate a card but can still find some value in it i hold on to it and pass it on to someone else. my niece has received a couple of cards from me this way. but if i, in all my imperfections, can't find something likable about it, it goes in the trash. and you have my full permission to that to cards of mine you don't like. all's fair in love and art.

i'll leave you with a piece that i like, but in one of my gallery's has received no comments. so sad.

collage-a-thon

2009-10-24T10:02:00.000-07:00

iATC's is having it's first collage-a-thon this weekend! what's that you ask? an entire weekend spent collaging and trading ATC's. it starts at 5PM (in your time zone) on friday and ends at 11:59PM (again, your time zone) on sunday. collage and trade to your hearts content. i made these 2 cards friday evening. 'kick' has bee traded to verterok., but 'in vain' is still available!

artTrader Online Magazine

2009-10-10T10:13:00.000-07:00

You might've noticed the new little icon on my blog. it's for a cool little online magazine called artTrader. the magazine is about art and trading 9of course!) and is full of great articles from interviews with artists to a critique corner. the mag comes out quarterly and is absolutely free. click on the icon to find out more about it or if you want to go directly to the latest issue click here!

i am proud to point out that 2 of my pieces grace the pages of this current issue--one of my moleskine spreads and a butterfly atc. the issue also contains a tutorial on making paper beads from my friend amy sargent and an intro to art markers by amerasu (sal scheibe). there are tons of delicious eye candy to behold and it's a great way to stay current with the new trends in mail art. anyway, i highly recommend perusing it's pages!

Crafting Days

2009-09-10T17:34:00.000-07:00

the stress and inconvenient details of my accident are almost behind me. i have a new car (2000 toyota camry le) and have signed the settlement with the insurance company and now await the check. thankfully their 1st offer was a reasonable one. thanks to all for their well wishes.

i haven't been doing as much art as i'd like to. i have been tired when i get home from work and seem to space the hours away. can anyone relate? but i'd best get my ass in gear as i have several looming projects. over at illustratedATC's i am involved in a secret santa swap. i have signed up for a large package and for a small one. their definitions are:

Example of LARGE package contents (all items on list):

1. 1 large homemade gift (like an 8 x 10 canvas, tote bag, journal pages, a necklace, hat & mitts)
2. 2 smaller homemade gifts (like an altered book, bracelet, chunky page or ornament)
3. A couple of ATCs or a bookmark
4. Ephemera and candies or small store bought items (like art supplies, or notecards)

Example of SMALL package contents (all items on list):

1. You have a choice between 1 large homemade gift (like an 8 x 10 canvas, tote bag, 2 8x8 journal pages, a necklace, hat & mitts) OR 2 smaller homemade gifts (like an altered book, bracelet, chunky page or ornament)
2. A couple of ATCs or a bookmark
3. Ephemera and candies or small store bought items.

yikes, right? well if that's not enough i am also involved in another swap where i have to give (and get) a grand total of 21 gifts. 7 large, 7 small, and 7 store bought goody types. yes, i am flipping out. i have figured out my large gift over at iATC's and have some ideas for my small. but i must admit to being completely flummoxed about the 21 gifts. if anyone has any brilliant ideas for me please pass them on! i want to make things that are beautiful and special, but that don't break the bank and don't sap all of my free time. some ideas so far:
large:
canvas's of art
journal's made of watercolor paper
altered board books
small:
bracelets
smaller canvas
altered cabinet cards
can you see i am at a loss? help!

to close out i leave you with a pic of my new car:

apologies my friends!

2009-08-18T16:05:00.000-07:00

i am so sorry i have been absent for a bit but i do have several good excuses:
1) i suffer from bipolar disorder and have had to deal with some mood swings
2) then i went out of town to play with artsy friends for my bday
3) and a few days after that my mom and niece came to town
4) and to top it all off i got into a car accident with my niece--never fear, we are alright--although my car isn't drivable at the moment.

i hope you all can understand my absence. i forced myself to keep creating during even the bleakest times and made lots of art with my niece thea which was delightful!

thea at the beach in trinidad, ca:

inchies thea made, which are for trade BTW:

butterfly chunky for swap i am hosting at amusing muses:

my mom, dotdots, at a birthday party friends held for me:

collaboration canvas made during artsy trip to redding, ca. background was by me, sun by joyflower, pretty girl by nuttynanner, and collage with mean words by amyfaerie:

support gay marriage and get a free sticker!

2009-07-10T20:05:00.000-07:00

the title says it all. go here.

CHIRP! it's a birdie mobile!

2009-07-09T14:51:00.000-07:00

awhile back i was involved in a swap over at amusing muses for bird shaped chunkies. chunky books, also known as fat books, are typically 4x4 pieces of art with lots of fiber and doodads added to them that are bound together with books rings (or a binding machine if you are lucky enough to have one). i have about 15 books on various themes. what was cool about this project was the shape lent itself to be something other than a book. sure, you could bind them with one ring at the top, but wouldn't something like a mobile be more fun? i thought so!

using an embroidery hoop, vintage seam binding and a hot glue gun i fashioned myself a mobile! the thing is so darn cute. right now it is hanging over my bed, we'll see how long it lasts there!

here is a look at the birds i received in the swap:

and here they are in their new mobile:

roc nicholas was the woman behind this brilliant idea and i asked her if she would mind if i hosted the same kind of swap over at atcsforall.com. the sweet lady said no problem! so come join me in making yummy birds! it's free to join the site and the swap, all i ask is you do your best work. there is a link to the template provided.

carnivals and brothers and fireworks oh my!

2009-07-06T17:03:00.000-07:00

my older brother mac headed south from the heat of portland, or to visit me this 4th of july holiday. mac is a psytrance dj and graphic designer--dudes, he was the first person to ever get me high! not that i do that anymore, and neither does he, but it does create a bond, lol. my goal, since mac introduced me to lots of cool shit, was to introduce him to some cool shit. and what's cooler than art, right? actually, mac was even into art before me but he doesnt't do it for pleasure any more--just money. when he got here and after we'd had some eats and taken fun carnie pics i asked him to carve me a stamp. it was love at first sight. our mom was a printmaking major in college and he'd always wanted to try it. i ended the weekend with 4 kickass stamps, one of my online name katilady, and none of which i have taken a pic of. oops. but look for them in my art!

carnie pic:

after a bit mac suggested making a collaborative piece together. he wanted more decorations for some of the parties he throws in portland. we decided on a piece that would incorporate my collage skills with his zany skills, add sparkles and day-glo paint! basically i collaged a big particle board, and then he went jackson pollack over my collage with glow in the dark paint. when that dried we added a layer of gel medium and went impasto with it--carving in designs and imprinting stuff. while wet we added mica flakes. because this project was so involved he had to take it home to be finished. he was going to add charcoal and acrylic washes to it. here is a look at it in progress:

one of the best things about eureka, ca is their 4th of july celebration. a big festival takes over old town with lots of crafty goodness, yummy food and live music. this year i could def see some signs of our economic depression as the number of booths had gone way down. neverthless, it was a fun filled day full of people watching and yummy wares to ogle. here our a couple of my fave finds:

derby girl!

goddess!

and lastly the mug of mac!

i hope everyone has a beautiful week! share with me how you celebrated the 4th!

mother mary/blessed virgin mary swap

2009-06-30T18:18:00.000-07:00

about 3 months ago i had the brilliant idea to host this swap and to host it as hand drawn. i am so glad i did. watching the most beautiful cards ever roll into my house has been such a treat. some people have the wildest notions of what mother mary looks like and i love it! although i was raised catholic i am no longer practicing, nor do i even consider myself to be a christian. my spirituality runs more along the lines of earth/goddess based crossed with hinduism, taoism, and buddhism . BUT i still have a thing for the blessed virgin. she was a prominent figure of my childhood and she represents an earthly aspect of jesus. beyond all this, mary art is simply stunning. growing up in arizona there are images of her as the virgen de guadalupe everywhere. so i challenged 30 0ther artists to join me in making art of her and in her honor. what's more, i got my mom, dotsdots on atcsforall.com, to join in. mom is a fabulous artist and she, along with others did not let me down. below you'll find a piece i did for the swap along with one of mom's. the one mom did is based on a photo of her mother, my grandmother. enjoy!

mine:

mom's:

new art

2009-06-24T19:16:00.000-07:00

i belong to willowing's world of whimsy (silly name, i know--but she's fun!). i took her online course and added new techniques to my repertoire which is always a plus. there are several other things one can participate in on her website and art trading is one of those things. every month you can be paired up with another person and make them 2 atc's, one is based on a theme (this month was abstracts) and the other is whatever you want to do. my partner this month is a woman named evangeline from canada. i think her art is a lot of fun, so i look forward to seeing what she makes for me. below you'll find what i've made for her. the abstract, entitled 'blue bliss' was initially intended to be just a background, but when it was dry i thought it looked incredibly lovely and didn't want to cover it up. it was made with a collage of ephemera and acrylic pain, with a gold border.

the other card is entitled 'beg' and it is made with my new favorite technique: stamping funny heads and attaching them to bodies that obviously don't match. i always have fun doing this! i then add a word that sometimes makes sense and sometimes doesn't, i'll let you decide on this one!

Japanese Accordian Moleskin Round Robin

2009-06-23T12:30:00.001-07:00

Moleskin makes these awesome journals called Japanese Accordion. They are approximately 3.5 x 5.5 and the pages are folded in such a way to look like an accordion. You can pull all the pages out into one long page. Which of course, makes them ideal for mail art.

I am involved in 2 round robins, one over at www.atcsforall.com and one at their sister site www.illustratedatcs.com. The theme of my moley on the AFA swap is 'art as a spiritual journey'. So each person in the swap will get a chance to do a 4 page spread on that theme. In return I will do a 4 page spread on each of their themes, which are: mermaids, home is where the heart is, houses cats or quotes, found poetry, and what makes your heart soar. This book is almost done--just 2 people to go!

On iATC's we are just getting started on our journey. Journals are to be mailed to their 1st destination on August 1. My theme for this book is 'dark goddess'. The other themes are: naughty burlesque, the space between you and me, open theme but with loud bright colors, mondo bizarro, fantasy steampunk airships in the sky, big beautiful rubenesque women & forbidden fruit, and empowered women writers. The challenge for this round robin is I can only create art in the division I was accepted onto iATC's for. Which means I have to keep hand drawn work to a minimum (no more than 30%) and rely solely on collage and mixed media techniques. As you can probably guess this may represent quite a challenge!

The 1st challenge was to get my own 3.5 page spread done to offer inspiration to the next artist. I present it here:

I have a few lasts tasks to make my moley ready to hit the world. I need to create an introduction spread which contains directions regarding my theme as well as a travelogue. The back of the moley contains a pocket in which i am going to enclose handmade envelopes for each artist. Each envie will contain a thank you gift and in return i as that each artist stick a little something back in there for me. Not art necessarily, but possibly a leaf or a pebble from a walk, or a bus ticket or a snippet from the newspaper. I'd also like each person to sign and date their envelope.

I'll keep you posted on how and where my little moley travels to!

Rolo's!

2009-06-22T15:16:00.000-07:00

In the mail art world keeping addresses of your trading partners can be quite the hassle. I don't know how many times I have asked the same person for their address. Not too long ago I gave into the rolo fad. What's a rolo you ask? It's a rolodex card (the 3x5 variety) that has been decorated front and back and has your trading partners address on them. A clever and arty way to keep track of addresses. Since I am new to rolo's I only have a handful--but they are gorgeous! Some people have several rolodex's worth! People have even gone so far as decorationg their rolordexes. My rolodex is of the vintage variety, so I am not going to decorate it. The creativity people have shown with both the cards and the holders is flipping amazing! Here are a few cards I have made for other folks:

Here are some awesome rolodexes by folks at www.atcsforall.com:

By BlueEclipse:

By LisaB:

By Adriayna:

By BigKay:

I'm Back and Full of Longing

2009-06-21T13:10:00.000-07:00

It's been a long 6 months or so that I have neglected this place. My apologies, life and art and kitties got in the way. And well, frankly, I've also been damn lazy.

To start Atticus is much better and no new hospitalizations have been needed. he is on urinary tract health kitty food and doing well, as is his sister Elke.

Art wise I have been a busy beaver! In April I applied to a juried art trading site, www.illustratedatcs.com, and was accepted. It was scary to apply as I had been turned down from their sister site, Mail Art World (which is now defunct), 2 times. I thought for sure I wouldn't get in. But with the help of my friend EraserQueen, I was accepted. The site used to just be for hand drawn and painted mail art, but has since opened up to collage and mixed media artists. It's been a pleasure trading there. My art snob self is happy to be trading for work that is at my skill level. I encourage anyone that has some level of skill to apply. The folks there are super friendly and the swaps are fun. The gallery is filled with the most amazing eye candy! Here's are a couple of pieces I did for a skinny book swap there:

I was also invited to participate in an invite only trading forum with some amazing artists called Amusing Muses. I can't tell you who plays there but it's a great group! Here are a couple of pieces from swaps there:

As for the rest of my life things are...OK. I received my evaluation at work and it went well. My boss created a new category for me called 'Creativity and Communication' and gave me an outstanding in it. That felt really good. In March I participated in The Hoffman Process. I will use another post to talk about that, but it had a beautiful impact on my life. Despite these good things I feel as though something is missing. Some part of me is not fulfilled and longs for so much. And I can't quite put my finger on what it is. Keep me in your thoughts.

The Kitty Returns & Day 11

2008-12-24T20:30:00.000-08:00

Whew! Atticus is home and has survived the 1st day of Mommy giving fluids and meds. Last night I had to force feed home baby food as he refused to eat but this morning I awoke to his purrs in my ear urging me to the kitchen and his bag of food. By the time I was ready to give him his morning meds he had gone back for 3rds. Hungry kitty! He is on a painkiller derived from morphine, I call it 'kitty heroin'. I have a few pics of him stoned out, he looks kinda cute.

He seems to be feeling better, and even came for cuddles on the bed. And he is a purr machine! Even between doses of kitty heroin, lol. Elke (his 1 1/2 year old sister) isn't quite sure what to make of him. She is particularly offened by his smell and I don't blame her. He is a bit of 'dribbler' these days and though he does his best to clean himself he doesn't always get everything. The vet says that this should most likely go away, but there is a small chance he will remain a 'dribbler'. I am happy as long as he remains unblocked! We go to the vet on Monday for another look at his kidneys and to see how or if they have recovered. And to to talk about options if they I haven't. I am scared.

as for it being Day 11, I got a lovely surprise form paperscraps (Mary) with a beautifully altered composition book. I love the sparkly gold 'K'!

12 Days of Christmas DAY 10 & Sad Kitty News

2008-12-23T11:34:00.000-08:00

I will start with the sad kitty news so I can close with something happier. I took Atticus to the vet yesterday to discover that his bladder was completely blocked. This often happens with male kitties (and occasionally female ones too), and the risk is that their bladders can back up and cause kidney damage. That, unfortunately, is what happened to my beloved boy. They say I caught it early but that he still had remarkable kidney damage and they are unsure if he will recover. They would like to keep him hospitalized a few more days but I simply can't afford it. So today I pick him up and learn how to give him subcutaneous fluids (meaning under his skin). He also has a raging infection, is in a fair amount of pain, and is refusing to eat. Cats when they don't eat often start using their stored body fat which can lead to a fatty liver which is deadly for kitties. So it looks like I will have to force feed him as well. I am hoping once he is in his home environment he will want to eat. I have quite a job ahead of me and I do it gladly for my sweet boy, but he and I could sure use your prayers if you are the praying type. Many thanks.

In happier news, I opened a fantastic gift from KatieV today! Using her binding machine she made each of us our own ATC holder! Here's mine:

12 Days of Christmas DAY 9 & Kitty News

2008-12-22T09:37:00.000-08:00

Day nine brought pure yumminess from art4mysanity (Mireya) in Miami. Not only was the gift fabulous so was the packaging! She made a sweet pendant with beads and charms dangling off of it and the box it came in was altered by collaging stamping and painting! A couple of pics:

In other news, my beloved Atticus is not doing well. Starting yesterday he has been making sounds as if he were vomiting, but nothing is coming up. He also doesn't want to be pet (and he is normally a slut!), he's hiding, and most worrisome is he is growling randomly. Those that believe in prayer please pray for my sweet boy.

Solstice Prayer

2008-12-21T19:52:00.000-08:00

I have this idea that every breath we take can be a sacred act, can be a prayer. So today, the Winter Solstice of 2008, I made a painting as a prayer. A prayer of thanks for the lessons and gifts of the past year, and a prayer of hope for the coming year. I had wanted to do a ritual, to celebrate the Solstice, where I would marry my higher self, but the day seemed destined for something different.

It was kind of spur of the moment. I wanted to know if I could make a paper collage, gesso over it lightly and then paint over that in a way where all the layers are present and meaningful. It's def hard to see some of the layers from the scan alone, but when you are in front of the painting, holding it, all of the layers come alive. I am not sure what I will do with the painting, but I have a feeling it will be in my etsy shop at the beginning of the year.

12 Days of Christmas DAY 6, DAY 7, DAY 8

2008-12-21T09:24:00.000-08:00

I took a brief pause from posting my 12 Days gifties so I have a little catching up to do! I actually can't show ya'll day 7, because that was my day and so it was the day I opened the gift form the 13th player. I don't want to ruin the surprise for the other members of the swap.

Day 6 was a fabulous set of chunky book covers painted by Corrie! They are really gorgeous. I generally don't put covers on my chunky books so I am going to hang them as pieces of art in their own right.

As I said Day 7 I can't share with you yet, but I can tell you that the gifts I gave were altered cabinet cards. They were so much fun to make, I really enjoyed picking which card to give each person and how to alter it!

Day 8 was a delightful surprise! I received a hand painted canvas of a skull in one of my fave color combos--blue and orange from Original Youth! I also received one of her famous Tip Top Doll ornaments, woot!

Pause

2008-12-19T20:21:00.000-08:00

It's funny how decisions we made oh so long ago can come back to haunt us. Recently my ex lover Ryan landed a job work for the county's IT department. Also working there is a man I will call P. P and I were lovers for about a year a few years back. I fell hard for him and his little boy good looks. Unfortunately, he was and still is married--with children. I never thought I would have an affair with a married man but one can never the predict the choices you will make when lust hits you square between the eyes. I last saw P over a year ago though I continue to have sporadic email contact with him. A week or so ago Ryan asked me to go with him to his departments Christmas party. His current girlfriend couldn't go due to her work schedule and he didn't want to go alone. (Sidenote--girlfriend knows and didn't care that Ryan invited me.) After I agreed to go I realized there was a chance P would be there, and if he was there his wife and kids could also be there (this was a family affair type of party). I cracked a few jokes about tormenting him with my presence but I think the joke was on me. I dressed to the 9's and I did take perverse pleasure in the look of sheer terror on P's face when he saw me walk in the door. But then standing a few people behind him in the buffet line he turned and winked at me and I swear I felt my heart breaking like it did when he decided to end our affair. His little boy looks like a miniature version of him and his daughter obviously takes after his wife, who, while no beauty queen, did remind me of Dar Williams. I watched his kids play with the toys Santa gave them and I watched their mother, who came and sat by Ryan and I, watch them with her greedy mother eyes. I think this was all too much for P because I saw him insistently urge his family to leave after a short time. And I am so glad he did leave because I am left feeling melancholy and sad at what once was and what was never a possibility of being. Afterall, during our entire affair I never had delusions of P leaving his wife for me. He was adamant that no matter what he felt for me it wouldn't happen. I thank him for that, for saving me from that delusion. But tonight I am remembering his laugh and the sound of his voice in my ear and the smell left on my skin after being with him and my heart aches.

12 Days of Christmas DAY 5

2008-12-18T07:21:00.000-08:00

Oh yum! Today's gift comes from curbsidetreasure (Annie), who is the host of this swap. She is a talented collage artist and used her fab skills to collage a board book for me! It's WONDERFUL!

12 Days of Christmas DAY 4

2008-12-17T07:18:00.000-08:00

WOOT! This has been a wonderful present opening day! Egrobeck (Elaine) totally outdid herself with 3 gifts for each participant and all were suited to each persons likes and dislikes. I guess Eileen did some profile reading before starting up! There are several pics today as most gifts are double sided! The 1st gift is an amazing glass slide pendant. Knowing that I love skulls and all thing anatomy related I received a gorgeous pendant on that theme, here's side 1:

And side 2:

Keeping with the skull theme Elaine made me a gorgeous altered CD filled with skulls. I had know idea that those pesky AOL CD's could actual become a thing of beauty. Side 1:

Side 2:

Last but not least is a wonderful altered bamboo tile doll. It is also 2 sided but I was getting lazy with picture taking so only one side is showing:

I am so thrilled with these gifts! How lucky can one girl get? (Don't answer that!)

Presents!

2008-12-16T20:01:00.000-08:00

I love presents. LOVELOVELOVELOVELOVE! I love getting them (see the last few posts), I love giving them, and I adore making them! A few posts down I showed a WIP of a painting that I made for the wonderful Laurie, here is the finished piece:

I gave it to her last Sunday and I loved hearing her swoon. She was especially enamored with the little kitty and agreed that it looked like Minou.

For my friends Natalie and Cheeka I went a simpler route. I took store bought, plain wooden hearts and altered them. When I was done gussying them up I drilled holes in then and added a wire hanger. Here is Cheeka's (she is a self-identified jesus freak) sans drilling and hanger:

I love how the crackle paint turned out (an experiment really) and I love how the gold paint seems to be emanating from jesus's head.

For Natalie I went a little darker in both color and theme. Natalie is in to earthy colors and has dark sensibilities about her. Imagine hippy goth only way cool. Here is what I did for her:

The words say: Let the fire of my body propel and warm me and let each darkness reveal it's plentitude. I wish I had said that, but a poets whose name I forget said it.

As this season draws to an end I am thankful for the opportunity I took to make those I love something special. They aren't magnificent gifts, but they are a little piece of me. /cheesiness.

12 Days of Christmas DAY 3

2008-12-16T07:14:00.000-08:00

WOOT! Amyfaerie you are a goddess! Amy's gift for us today is a wonderful funky, chunky bracelet. Made with game pieces, buttons, old jewelry and ribbons it is stunning! See for yourselves!

12 Days of Christmas DAY 2

2008-12-15T07:06:00.000-08:00

OMG! Debra, AKA goatgoddess, really out did herself with gift #2. I am in love with it! It is a fabric wall hanging. She even downloaded pictures I have of my kitties in my gallery on AFA and used them on it! A picture will explain it much better than I can. Thank you so much Debra!

12 Days of Christmas DAY1

2008-12-14T09:04:00.000-08:00

WOOT! Today I opened the 1st gift for the 12 Days of Christmas Swap. It came from Adriayna (Dana) in Indiana. Dana made a wonderful painting of an egg in a birds nest, with her gift she included extra fibers, a bookmark, and handmade papers. Thank you so much, I LOVE all the goodies!

Death

2008-12-13T11:52:00.000-08:00

Awhile ago on Suzi Blu's site she held a contest for people to reinterpret a tarot card or make their own oracle card. I decided to go with the Death card. I have always been drawn to this card and to the idea of death and rebirth, to change. I think each and every second we die a little bit and are reborn with new ideas, new thoughts, new experiences. Death to me isn't so scary when I think of it in terms of growth and change. Even our literal death is merely a transformation. After all, we humans are quite simply energy and energy never dies but is transformed continually. I guess this is why I am also drawn to the idea of reincarnation, but that's a whole 'nother topic.

Anyway, I did a little research on the traditional symbols used in the Death card and decided to incorporate them into my card. Aeclectic Tarot is a great site to research tarot meanings and to look at the many different kinds of decks available (I am currently in love with this deck which retails for $75, yikes!). Through this site I found that the death card often has a skeleton type figure representing death walking on a desolate road. Also commonly featured is a sunrise and a child. To me this symbolizes the rebirth and change aspect of this card. I decided to incorporate these 3 symbols but with a Kati twist: Death would be dancing and happy and the child would appear to be happy too. This is what I came up with:

To me this card almost appears joyful, which I think death can be. And apparently it resonated with Suzi Blu as well since she chose my card to be the winner of her contest. Quite frankly I was shocked to win. I know this card is good, i won't hide behind false humility, but so many of the cards sent in were excellent! I was truly astounded at the quality of work that came out of this contest. Watch the video below to see all the cards entered in the contest and you'll see what i mean. Although the contest was over a month ago now the themes that my card represents seem to be weighing on my mind which is i guess why I am sharing this with you now.

Discombobulated

2008-12-11T18:37:00.000-08:00

That's how I feel. My head is swirling a little too much and I feel close to drowning yet never so more alive. Sigh. I need out of my head. I need into my body. I need into my spirit. I need into my heart. I feel so many things yet can't tell the truth from the lies.

I have a crush. That sucks cause I know she ain't into me. Yet i knew that nothing would happen between us the moment I laid my eyes on her in The Accident Gallery over 2 years ago. I just can't help thinking she is delicious. I don't think that's my problem anyway. Or at least not entirely my problem. There's something else going on here. It's a mystery. Well, not really. But kinda. I know that my spiritual self is troubled. I want to believe so many things but can't. I know there is a truth bigger than you or I or anything breathing out there but I forgot how to touch it, how to speak to it, how to breathe it.

Anyway, in my search, in my longing, I have been reading books and creating art like a mad fiend. I'll share the art someday, but I'll tell you the books now: 'Something More' by Sarah Ban Breathnach. I don't know where I got this book, it just appeared in my collection not too long ago. I though it would suck, but it didn't. Not entirely anyway. the book is obviously aimed for women in their forties and fifties as if the search for more only becomes apparent then. That assumption annoys me. The other 2 assumptions that annoyed me are: all women are mothers and all women are straight. She talks way too much about getting a man. Not that I don't like men, I do. They are luscious and fab. But so are women. I like to keep my options open in that arena. And the whole kid thing, ugh. To be perfectly honest the only kid I truly like is my niece Thea. But she is pretty exceptional. She is 6 and has a mohawk. Truly. She does. And she is an artist. Takes after Aunt Kati! But other kids I am not so much into. I am good at pretending I like kids, even the kids are fooled. But I don't really like them. They zap my energy. OK, back to the book. Ban Breathnach relies quite heavily on quotes to make her point, but I don't mind that. I now have a sourcebook of kick ass quotes. And the truth is, what she does say about this 'something more' we all search for resonates with me. The other book I just bought. So I can't go dissecting it for you just yet. Titled 'The Red Book' by Sera Beak, it is described as a "deliciously unorthodox approach to igniting your Divine Spark'. Sounds pretty rad to me. I will update you later on whether or not this radness is fact or fiction.

Anyway, so this is where I am at today. Crushed out on someone not interested and spiritually searching. You may think the 2 are unrelated but do not be fooled. I'm not.

They're Here!

2008-12-09T17:26:00.000-08:00

The 12 Days of Christmas Swap gifties have arrived! I am drooling over all of the delicious packaging. Our host Annie (also known as curbsidetreasure) was smart enough to include an extra gift that we could all open immediately--that way we are less tempted to open gifts early! She gave us tons of paper ephemera and little bobbles, perfect for this motley crew of altered artists! We don't get to open our 1st gift until Sunday and I have to practically sit on my hands to keep away from the little basket of treasures!

WIP

2008-12-07T11:28:00.000-08:00

Taking the mixed media class with Suzi Blu has been a real eye opener for me about my abilities to draw and make art in general. In order to continue practicing and developing my own unique way of making these 'pretty girls' have decided to make paintings for some family and friends.

Currently I am working on a painting for my dear friend Laurie. She is someone that has stuck by me through a lot of BS and I know I can count on her to be steadfast and true. We don't see each other often these days even though she only lives 2 blocks away due to conflicting schedules. She and her husband are planning to move away in a few months to the Bay area and I am dreading it! I wanted to make her something she could take with her that would always remind her of me. The girl in the painting looks nothing like Laurie (although with her ever changing hair color someday it might resemble her a bit more!), but I did make sure to add a silver kitty to represent Minou, Laurie's beloved familiar. The painting is not quite done, I would like to add a few more layers and I need to finish painting her face and clean the piece up a bit. I am also looking for a quote I can stamp on it that would somehow be meaningful to Laurie and our friendship (suggestions welcome!). So here is a look at what I have done so far:

Coming of Age

2008-12-05T21:16:00.000-08:00

I was recently commissioned through etsy to create an altered cigar box for a 14 year old girl. I sent out my standard questionnaire but fount that the response didn't help me much. What I learned: she loves soccer, vintage, her dog, her brother and jesus. She also likes green and purple. She did add that she has big blue eyes and brown hair. I decided that rather than take all this info and try to squeeze it onto a box I would instead use her her colors and start with the theme of of coming of age. If I could get some of her other likes in there all the better. I figured that her parents chose to purchase this box from me for a reason so I went with my instinct. Here is the result.

Marianne Williamson is a genius.

2008-12-03T16:00:00.001-08:00

Our Deepest Fear
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness
That most frightens us.

We ask ourselves
Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.

Your playing small
Does not serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking
So that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine,
As children do.
We were born to make manifest
The glory of God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us;
It's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine,
We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we're liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.

12 Days of Christmas

2008-11-30T17:41:00.000-08:00

Yep, it's that time again! I have to admit to loving Christmas for the sheer joy gift giving gives me. It thrills me to know I have given the perfect gift to someone. This year i was invited to join a 12 Days of Christmas Swap hosted by curbsidetreasure at AFA. The pressure was on as this swap was invite only and filled with amazing artists. The goal of the swap? To give and get a gift a day from Dec. 14 to Dec. 26. How does it work you ask? Each participant (13 of us so you can open a gift on your day) were asked to pick a day, mine is day 7, 12/20/08 we were also asked to create 12 handmade gifts for the other participants and wrap them beautifully. The gifts are then sent to curbsidetreasure who distributes them to each artist. From 12/14-12/26 we open 1 gift each day. On the 7thday the other artists in the group will open my gift which is an ________ ___________ ___________ (I'll spill the beans after the gifts have been opened!). We were each given clues as to each artists preference so we could make gifts specifically for them, or we could make the gifts all the same. What I did, as well as most of the other artists, was to make the same type of item but personalize it with the artists favorite color. My gifts have officially landed at our hosts home and any day now she will be mailing a huge package to me! Woot! Here is a sneak peack at my wrapped gifties:

Strength!

2008-11-03T09:26:00.001-08:00

You are Strength

Courage, strength, fortitude. Power not arrested in the act of judgement, but passing on to further action, sometimes obstinacy.

This is a card of courage and energy. It represents both the Lion's hot, roaring energy, and the Maiden's steadfast will. The innocent Maiden is unafraid, undaunted, and indomitable. In some cards she opens the lion's mouth, in others she shuts it. Either way, she proves that inner strength is more powerful than raw physical strength. That forces can be controlled and used to score a victory is very close to the message of the Chariot, which might be why, in some decks, it is Justice that is card 8 instead of Strength. With strength you can control not only the situation, but yourself. It is a card about anger and impulse management, about creative answers, leadership and maintaining one's personal honor. It can also stand for a steadfast friend.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

2008-11-01T10:39:00.000-07:00

I have this weird hangup, one that doesnt really make sense--although I am in love with the work of some incredible collage artists I feel, on some level (for MYSELF) that to be a true artist I must be able to draw. First off, what the fuck is a true artist? How did I get that nonsense into my head? Secondly, why drawing? Why is that the TRUE for of art and collage or photography or mixed media not? See? I am kinda nuts.

BUT, going along with this strange supposition I have enrolled myself in Suzi Blu's Mixed Media Les Petite Dolls class (yes, she's the zany but adorable woman who makes out with her dog on youtube--also a GREAT artist!). I will be the first to admit the idea of learning to draw online is kinda silly, but the class works for me. Suzi makes videos of her lessons, I download them and watch at my leisure. She gives homework and there is a support network on her site to get help from.

I am posting a couple of pics of stuff I have drawn after a couple of lessons. Believe me, this class has not made me into a genius drawer, but my fear of drawing has lessened dramatically. I have even signed up for a drawing swap on atcsforall.com. This is HUGE for me! Anyway, here's to doing the hard and challenging thing...

Art for Me: Altered Book

2008-10-16T17:30:00.000-07:00

I am one of those that rarely makes art for herself. Yes, I make art daily, but it always lands in the hands of others. While I enjoy mail art, trading and collecting etc, I have recently begun to feel a burnout heading my way. I think this is due, in part at least, to always giving away art that I have poured my love into, that I have bled for, that I have denied sleep for to other people. So to rectify this I have begun altering a book. It will be part art exhibit for me and part journal. The book is hardbound and entitled "The Middle Sister", which is quite appropriate as I am the middle sister (one of two) in my family. So here are a couple of spreads to feast your eyes on. Feedback--of the courteous kind--is welcome.

Gimme Your Stuff!

2008-10-07T12:38:00.000-07:00

Heard of the Gimme Your stuff blog yet? I hadn't either until I stumbled upon it today! What a great idea and I am so down to play!

What I want:
Art supplies (fun paper, cool trinkets, etc)
Collage Materials (magazines, photos, whatever)
paperback books in foreign languages
fibers
candy
rusty bits and bobs
ATC's

What I got:
English paperback books
US candy
Mixed CD's
Art Materials
ATC's
almost anything from the west coast of the US, just ask!

I am excited to see where this goes!

Affirmation ATC's!

2008-09-24T14:24:00.000-07:00

It's time to host another swap at ATC's For All! This time, instead of focusing on the dark, I am focusing on the light with a swap about affirmations. Called And Gosh Darn It, People Like Me! An Affirmation Swap, the purpose of the swap is to bring positive and uplifting thoughts into our lives.

How often are you mired down in negative thoughts about your self, your art, your family life? These negative thoughts can become ingrained into who we are and what we believe about ourselves and the world if we are not careful. The purpose of this swap is to make cards that affirm the positives in our lives and give us something to focus on when everything is in a tailspin.

The above is quoted from the actual swap post. If interested in joining click the above link and it will take you directly to the swap. Swap is only for 20 folks so sign up now! (You must be a member of ATC's for All to join, but registration is free, easy, and painless!)

Halloween Banners!

2008-09-21T17:33:00.000-07:00

ATCsforall.com isn't just for ATC's. (Find out more about Artist Trading Cards/ATC's!) All sorts of mail art abounds within their cyber walls. A current swap that I am participating in is Halloween Banners! This was the fun idea of goatgoddess, a member of atcsforall.com. I couldn't resist signing up when I saw the samples she had displayed.

After much procrastinating I have finally finished my banners. Creating them was a lot of fun, and I am thrilled with how the textures came out with the tissue paper and embossing powder. One of the joys of mail art is finding your mailbox stuffed with art on any given day! I am impatiently wondering what my beauties will bring home!

Message In A Bottle!

2008-09-20T16:53:00.000-07:00

WOOT! At gomakesomething.com there is a fabulous challenge going on. Called Message in a Bottle, the idea is that you sign up to take part and you will receive a plastic water bottle in the mail (yep, that's right!) filled with all sorts of goodies! Well, I signed up awhile ago and have been constantly checking to see if my name was among the ones of folks who were being sent bottles. I never saw my name on the list, but somehow, as if by magic, a bottle appeared this afternoon! Loaded with goodies all for me! In the bottle was scrapbooking paper, vintage ephemera, a hand carved stamp, a hand made book mark, beads and other fun things! Check out the photos! If you are interested in this challenge click on the gomakesomething link above!

Art and Dead Babies

2008-09-06T11:41:00.000-07:00

So anyone who knows me knows I am into 'dark' art. So silly sounding when I type it out, but the truth is I like to delve into the macabre on occasion. One such occasion arose when a chunky book swap was held on my fave site atcsforall.com. The theme: Trick or Treat! What a better time to get a little creepy than a Halloween theme? So I went ALL out! This meant using mourning photos, which are real photos of dead people. That's right, they are dead and someone took a photo of them! The photos are from the victorian era and many of them are of babies. Creepy, right? Perfect for Halloween? So i thought. Until I posted pics of the chunky pages and received some strong reactions! Seems some folks don't like pics of dead babies. I can't imagine why not! I attempted to be respectful with my art, but at the same time I was def going for creepy. So, I'll let you be the judge. Did I cross the line?

Far Too Long!

2008-07-29T11:34:00.000-07:00

That I have been away! But I am back! and the good news is I was gone making art! I have discovered a website called atcsforall.com that allows me to create and trade art with like minded folks. Unfortunately, it sucked me in and I forgot about this lil blog! I'll be better, I promise! to make it up to you here are some pics of my art! Most of them are ATC's with one chunky book page thrown in. The themes are varied but quite fun! Currently I am hosting a swap with Anne Sexton as the inspiration! This has led to some wonderful discussion amongst the players! I will make another post devoted solely to that swap as it nears completion in Sept!

Treasury!

2008-03-17T10:00:00.000-07:00

Etsy has this wonderful tool called Treasury. Basically, if you happen to be able to snag a treasury (which is fuckin hard!), you get to 'curate' your own display of wonderful etsy items. Most people have a theme as did I for my very 1st treasury! My theme is Orange sun and blue sky. I love orange and blue together. They are an unbeatable combination. The picture shows a screen shot of my treasury. I think it is gorgeous! Feel free to check it out and check out all the other wonderful treasuries. There are some talented folks on etsy!

Crafty Friends!

2008-03-16T10:46:00.001-07:00

I recently joined the The California Crafters Club of Etsy and posted on their yahoo group about wanting to meet Humboldt County crafters. And lo and behold someone actually responded! Today I am going to meet Velma of Color Bomb Creations for coffee. I am stoked to 1)meet another crafty person & 2)meet someone I've only spoken with online. She makes the most beautiful yarn. I think I need to come up with a project to use it cause it is so damn pretty! My hope is that, if we like each other lol, I can talk her into sharing a booth with me at The North Country fair this year and the craft fair held in Eureka in Nov. I wanna get the word out about my art and do it with other fun people. So if you live in Humboldt County (HC, hahahahaha) and make stuff write me!

So much to do!

2008-03-14T13:28:00.000-07:00

I am a bit overwhelmed these days with how much my art has grown. I am working on 3 custom cigar boxes (see photo), a bigger piece for an art show at The Ink People in April, as well as adding pieces to my shop on a, hopefully, daily basis. Don't get me wrong, I am excited! To know that my work is appreciated thrills me and makes me blush. It also keeps me going on those days when I don't want to work. But I am also struggling to keep up with all that needs to be done. I should also mention that I work full-time as mental health case manager and I go to school part-time. I don't know how artists that are also parents do it! I am struggling just to keep my head above water as it is. Oh! But I love it! Isn't this what we, as artists, live for? To have our lives consumed by our passion? So I struggle, yet I am thrilled and inspired by it. Such a contradiction!

Art Hurts!

2008-03-12T16:31:00.000-07:00

I am killing my back for my art! I live in a small one bedroom apartment (your typical starving artist dive) and have no place for a studio other than my living room floor (I can hear the violins now...). This means that a)my living room is a pigsty and b)that I make my art hunched over like an old man. Doing this for days on end has made my back hurt like a motherf****r! Luckily for me, my friend Laurie is on her way over to work on me for awhile and she's a certified massage student, by golly! It doesn't help that when I am not making art I am sitting in an old school 70's style office chair in front of the computer. That's right, I am an addict...to Etsy. I bet you were thinking I was gonna say WOW, weren't you? I am NOT a gamer, merely an artist. Anyway, I digress. In the photo you can see my messy livingroom/art studio with a project in process. Also, Atticus (the black kitty) and Elke (the gray kitty) decided to pop in the picture. They love art too! And they know the only way to get fed is to crawl over one of my projects...while I am working on it, *grin*. So can anyone relate?

Love Givin'

2008-03-11T12:39:00.000-07:00

I decided that as part of my new blog I would give some love to other artisans. You'll notice on the right hand side of my blog some linky-poos. Those all go to artists and crafters and I am going to pick one a week or maybe more to give a review of! So this week I have chosen: an'a'mano. This girl's work is quirky, zany and a little creepy...right up my alley. But let's not forget it is also well done creepy! She sews, she draws, she paints. Lot's of talent with this one ya'll! Check out her little doll's! I am particularly smitten with Alaric the Alien. She includes brief bits of his family history which I find fascinating! I mean, who knew an alien doll would even have a family history? Check an'a'mano out and give her some of your love!

It's Official!

2008-03-11T09:03:00.000-07:00

I have a blog! Welcome all. I hope you enjoy my subversive, art, ideas and humor. I can be kinda wild sometimes, *grin*. I will be showcasing art that I love here, mine as well as others. And I may throw out a political thought a time or two, but no worries, you won't be drowning in politics here! So far starters you can go here to see my art that is currently for sale: http://www.katilady.etsy.com
I'll see you soon!