Look to the Middle

A little sketch about what's in the middle. To see the full post and how I got to this final result, hop on over to the Sketchbook Challenge site to see what people did with the theme "opposites." A NEW challenge topic goes up tomorrow and today's post lists the winners of February's prize packages. Is anyone else ready for March?

What to do on a Snowy DAY

Here's what I'm doing today...how about you? Another snowstorm coming in. I've got tickets to The Aluminum Show tonight, but they are calling for impassable driving conditions, so I think I'll have to throw them out. It's kinda hard to swallow, but I'll have to consider it my donation to the arts. Embroidery won't let me down though.

Mixbook for Geriatrics

Not that I have anything against people with poor eyesight. As an aging librarian, I  worry every day about the state of my eyesight. But I don't want to stop reading. Audiobooks are great and I take advantage of them with multiple accounts--the library, Audible and Barnes and Noble, but reading with my eyes is my favorite way to enjoy information or a good story. This preamble is about the Mixbook I created and just got in the mail. I did not realize just how large a 12x12 book was! It looks like a large print book for toddlers! I think I'll go much smaller next time. But the quality of the book is truly excellent. It's got an actual SEWN binding. That pleases me. I would recommend Mixbook. Even though their prices are not inexpensive, the quality is excellent. Here's art stitch life. works 2010 in print!

Asking Questions and Taking Names Voodoo Style

Over on the Sketchbook Challenge site I've shared a little bit about one kind of sketchbook I keep for working through important questions, such as "what if we mummy-wrapped a doll...what would the wrapping say?" and "what if kittens were cupcakes." We won't even discuss some of the other crazy questions I ask myself. Be sure to upload a photo to our Flickr site on this month's theme of OPPOSITES and get on board the prize train! What we won't do to get you creatives sketching!

Studio Winter Cleaning and Magazines for Sale

I've been spending more time in the new studio, cleaning and organizing. I have a LOT of stuff that must go, including tubs and tubs of artwork that should find a home. I've put a number of magazine lots up on Ebay this week--all dupes and extras, including Cloth Paper Scissors, Studios, Stitch, Quilting Arts Gifts and more! If you're interested, here's the link! I'm slowly relisting things on Etsy as well, in preparation for new creative ventures. Small art quilts for sale!

Oh, and here's what I'm NOT selling. I photographed my zine collection in several lots and then realized that I cannot part with them. At all. Period. In fact, I am likely to buy more and support more local indie artists. So there stuff squad. My stuff. Hands off. I adore zines, have published a few and am working on some new ideas, including a fabric zine! 

You Too Can Do

I've posted a little ditty over on Sketchbook Challenge. Check it out. You too can have fun with image manipulation, despite how cumbersome it sounds!

A Little Bit of Stitchin'

Been making some stitch imagery style quilt blocks. What fun! Birds are the theme. My basic technique remains the same. I draw the image on watercolor paper and add text collage. Then I paint with watercolors and stitch around the paper image with black thread. The final painting is scanned into the computer. At that point I've been using Paint.net (free) to add layers of color. This graphic element has been very rewarding and I'm always learning something new! Finally, I print the image onto fabric that's been pretreated. Wash, iron, add some more fabric paint, then make a quilt sandwich and stitch! Since these are going to be part of a larger quilt, I didn't add any embroidery. It was tempting though. I printed off a few more copies so I can make them into small art quilts. That's the beauty of stitch imagery. You can create endless print variety with the same original.

OPPOSITES - A New Sketchbook Challenge

Artwork by Susan Sorrell

I've been so busy preparing for the blizzard of 2011 that I missed the posting of the new Sketchbook Challenge February theme! Laura Cater-Woods has chosen OPPOSITES as the theme to work on, so get out your sketchbooks and start playing! I am thinking that I will start with black line vs. color and hard vs. soft media to start, but there are so many opportunities with this idea. Be sure to head over to the Challenge site to get great tutorials and ideas. You can also hear radio interviews, sign up for this month's great prizes (classes from Joggles, Citrasolv baskets and Micron pens!) and get inspired! This CREATE collage is what Susan Sorrell is working on as she discusses her approach to opposites. A great antidote to winter!

Hello Blizzard!

Just hanging out in Holland. Haven't even left the house yet! Probably not possible. Happy Wednesday.