Bloom Where you are Planted

Many years ago, our family visited a young couple in Tampa Florida.  The husband was (and still is) a minister, and, his first assignment was a tough neighborhood riddled with poverty and crime.  His young wife had a beautiful embroidery on her wall that said 'Bloom Where you are Planted'.  She said she kept this in mind when things were difficult.

I've never forgotten that saying...

There are a lot of collaged elements on this and I have had a tough time pressing it flat.  Here is a close up.

I like that she is bundled up against the cold, but, somehow has tropical flowers all around!

Iris Fold Technique

I never really considered the insides of envelopes until I took a class on 'Iris Folding'.  Now I eagerly open my bills, looking for the elusive green or blue linings that look like Japanese origami paper.  The patterns are for security, but, they can be reused for so much more!

This is a picture of my Dad - about the time when he met my mother in Michigan.  I think the blue papers look nice against a black and white photo.

Then I thought, why not try framing a color picture with Iris folds in blue?   This picture of my granddaughter at the beach really pops in this.  I liked it so much I put it in a shabby white frame for keeps.

The blue papers are hard to find.  Lots of black envelope patterns and I am working on a journal page using those.  Feel free to send me any green paper you find.  It is the Holy Grail!!

What will you tell your older self?

This was my next journal page using gelatos.  I like this one even better although I haven't spent much time thinking about this topic.

The older man pictured is an image transfer from a photo.

What should I tell my older self?

What would you tell your younger self?

Historically, I haven't done a lot of journaling.  At first, I thought journaling was sketching out your art ideas into a book.  Last summer, I took a class on the topic and discovered that art journaling can be very personal and a pouring out of the soul.  Another class by Mou Saha introduced me to using gelatos in your artwork.

The result is this page about what messages you would send your younger self.  When I was a child I imagined I was receiving visions or messages from my future self (yes, I was an introverted oddball).  Now as an adult, I wonder what messages I should have sent to my younger self.  Lot's of encouragement and love.  Also, stay away from 'that' guy.

This page uses a lot of picture stamps, torn pages, and a transfer image of that 1950's girl that I have some photos of.  I had a swing like that in our backyard when I was little.

I am not happy with my hand writing, but, I am trying to wean myself off of using stamps for sentiments and getting more comfortable with writing stuff into journal pages with my own hand.

So, note to younger self - Work on your penmanship - LOL

What would you tell your younger self?

Postal Projects

Do you ever read Green Craft magazine?  It is an inspiring read and I have been trying out some of the projects I earmarked in some old issues.

First are the postage stamp collage journal covers.  I had a small pile of vintage postage stamps just ready and waiting to be used in a collage!  I turned one of the smaller journals into an address book for my Mom.  I just had to stamp the alphabet onto the pages so she could store hand-written addresses.

I also repurposed some vintage postcards, maps, and postage into greeting cards.  I love the masculine feel of these.

Meet Mable!

Sorry to be absent from this blog for so long, but, I just completed a major clean out and reorganization of my craft room.  It feels so good!  I donated a truckload of things that were weighing me down - I literally found some sewing projects that had been neglected since the 1990's!

So now I have narrowed down my project list to newer more enjoyable things.  I am focusing more on art projects of all types, sewing, and less stamping and cardmaking.  Currently, I get sort of stressed out when I pick up rubber stamps.  So, I pared down my collection of stamps to my favorites.  I think I just stamped for too long and got a little burned out.  Not to worry, I will still be incorporating stamping into projects here and there.

I moved my sewing machine closer to my window and installed a lamp.  I have been happily stitching away ever since.  For example, I had some old quilting squares from an antique quilt that was too far gone to rescue and made this (don't laugh) chicken pincushion.  She is just adorable and filled with heavenly lavender scented crushed walnut shells.  My husband was horrified and called it my voodoo chicken.  I named her Mable!

I also made a batch of needle keepers (got the idea from a class on Creativebug).  If you store your needles in 100% wool they stay sharp and rust free!  I was able to use some cool scraps I just could not let go of, including the fun ribbon with gnomes on it.  On the red one, I incorporated a label from my beloved and talented Aunt Lois.  Aunt Lois was an automobile interior designer and executive starting in the 1950's.  She had amazing class and style and I miss her to this very day.

I'll keep you posted on what I create next - under Mable's watchful eye!

Solvent Transfer

Easily my favorite transfer method from Courtney Cerruti's class (Creativebug), was the solvent method.  In the above card, I used a black and white copy of the little girl (see photos below) and then transferred it onto my inked cardstock (Tim Holtz distress in Faded Jeans and Scattered Straw).  I used a pink pencil to color in her bathing suit and then stamped the greeting.  The best thing about this method is I can copy the photo and transfer it as many times as I want - the sky is the limit!

The photos of the little girl were found in a flea market.  They are a set that I purchased of the same girl from the 1950's.  I think one of her parents was a very good photographer because her photos are so lovely.  I am looking forward to incorporating these images into more of my art.

Here are some of the photos that I used for image transfer.