ma vie trouvée

Happy Valentine's Day!

My cards at the Chick's Pick show ......

 

 

 

This quote is so true and something that has become a reality for me in the last few months.

I am selling my cards at Chick's Picks this weekend! 

It is a new design I have been working on using batik fabrics from "my collection".

 

 

 

The image below is the advertisement for the show (not my art). 

If you are in the local area - please stop in for a visit!

 

 

  

Hillary (the owner of Chick's Picks) does an amazing job with the display and set up.  Really with EVERYTHING!

This time the show is in a barn with a big brewery right next door to drop off your husband!  See... I told you she does an amazing job with everything!

 

 

 

 

postcard swap

 

I am participating in the 2017 Liberate your Art postcard swap hosted by Kat over at kat eye studio.

The image above is the one I selected for my postcard.  You are not supposed to use original art, but a copy in the form of a postcard.  This piece was created using a gelli plate, stencils, antique Asian paper and a piece of vintage Hill Tribe fabric from Vietnam.

Who doesn't love getting real mail?

 

 

I'm teaching collage classes!

 

 

I am so excited - I am going to start teaching collage and altered art classes at Angela's Happy Stamper in Herndon, Virginia.  When we lived overseas, and people asked me what was I was going to do when we returned to the United States, I always replied - "I want to teach art classes at the Happy Stamper"!  So I am over the moon!  AND very grateful to Angela for giving me this opportunity. 

The first class is called collage for scaredy cats.  I will simplify the collage process and share what I have learned over the years.  And that collages are fun and easy to create. 

The pink one above, and the one below, are samples for the class.  They are jammed packed with many techniques. 

 

 

The next class I will teach is called Gelli Plate and Tape Transfer Tags.   In this one, we will focus on gelli plates, along with several other techniques.  It is hard to tell from the photos but these are oversized tags (#12).

 

 

We have come up with several other classes, but I still need to create the samples for them.

If you live in the Northern Virginia area - I would love to see you in one of the classes!

little metal collages with magnets

 

I have had these metal plates for over five years.  I finally created little collages using vintage images.  I made magnets using old buttons, charms, etc. 

Sweet for Mother's Day or a gift for a bride... 

I will try and sell them, along with my cards at the Great Falls Farmer's Market on March 4th.  I am trying to get out there  :  )  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Easter!

 

Joyeuses Pâques

Happy Easter!

 

 

Twas Easter-Sunday. The full-blossomed trees

Filled all the air with fragrance and with joy.

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

 

 

Thank you Spin*Off Magazine for publishing my photo!

 

 

Spin*Off Magazine

by Interweave

Spring 2016

 

 

 

 

It is always flattering when a magazine contacts you for permission to use a photo from your blog.  I am not a "spinner" so I was not familiar with the magazine, but I am very familiar with their sister publication Cloth, Paper, Sissors. 

My photo is the one in the middle, of a Romanian woman spinning.

 

 

 

 

Here is my copy of the photo...

 

 

The image below was not used in the magazine, but is one of my very favorite photos from our trip, so I thought I would share it.  No, they did not pose for me; they were just sitting by the side of the road!  The woman in brown is also spinning.  You can see the entire Romania trip here.

 

 

 

Pink for cousin Maria

 

 

 

My cousin had to have a double mastectomy two weeks ago.  The GREAT news is she is doing really well and was back to work on Monday.  This is pretty remarkable, to be back to work so soon.  I think it is attributed to her extremely positive attitude throughout this entire ordeal.

I felt bad that I was not there with her when she was going through all her appointments, tests, and the surgery.  This is when living abroad is hard.

I wanted to do something special for her so she knew I was thinking about her... I made her a bracelet and earrings.

 

 

I also made her thank you cards to send to everyone who was so supportive and helpful to her during this very stressful time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had so much fun making these.  It reminded me of paper dolls, which I loved playing with when I was young.

 

 

 

Don't forget to have your annual mammogram! 

Cousin Maria's was ONLY detected thanks to the mammogram.  It was too small and too deep for her to have found during a monthly self-exam or for a doctor to have found from a physical exam.  I have mine scheduled this Friday!!!  

 

tt: the maldives

 

on an island

in the maldives

at night

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

kim's textures: rest magic, warm grunge,

beach, edit, & my own old text.

 

 

tt: spring

 

Spring

 

 

 

 

Flowers

and

butterflies

drift in color,

illuminating spring.

 

author unknown

 

 Sharing with Texture Tuesday....