12 Days of Christmas

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!

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.

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

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!

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!

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!

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!

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

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!

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!