More Painted Canvas

Here are a few more pieces of painted canvas that I have been working on. I am hoping to cut into them tonight to get going on my book covers, purses, and maybe some collaged mini books that I need to make for an upcoming swap.

Painted Canvas

Inspired by the work of Alisa Burke, I have been playing around with painting on canvas. This appeals to me for several reasons:




--It is something that I can do while watching the baby. I can put a quick layer of paint on the canvas, and then I wait for it to dry for a couple of hours. Each layer takes maybe 5-15 minutes, so if he wakes up from his nap, I can stop what I'm doing and go get him right away--not like when I am immersed in dye!

--I can use up some of my old acrylic paint, some with a label on it from 1991--yikes! I have some old "dusty colors" that don't appeal to me anymore, but I am finding that if I mix it with another color, or use it in a layer in conjunction with other colors, it works just fine. I am trying to use up this old stuff to make way for some newer, vibrant colors.

--I can get my "art fix" without a big commitment of time or materials--both of which are running short.

--I enjoy working with the fabric after it has been painted. I am in the process of making some little art journals and notebook covers with this stash of canvas.

--It gives me an opportunity to play around with different color combinations, tools, and some of the stamps that I have made myself.

What do you think?

So Many Pendants!

I thought I would post a collection of some of the pendants I have made recently.

I have been noticing lately, all the stuff I have made that I can't use myself--I just have too much. But somehow, I can't stop making it. How many pendants does one woman need? How many earrings, bracelets, journals, bookmarks, scarves, fabric, etc? I have more than I could wear/use in a lifetime, and yet, I still make more. It is more about the artistic process, getting into the zone when I am creating, than about the end product, I think, although I usually like what I make too. Am I rambling???

I have also had to make some changes to my artistic habits since the arrival of the new baby. Namely, I don't have as much free time, and second, I have to be able to drop what I am doing at a moment's notice if he wakes up and needs me. He isn't in enough of a napping routine that I can count on when or how long he will nap. He also likes to be held, and notices when you put him down in his crib and wakes up.

So, I am listing more of my creations on my Etsy site. Killing two birds with one stone. First, I can let go of some of my creations and pass them on to good homes with people who will use and enjoy them, and second, I can take photos and list items on Etsy while I have Fletcher in the front "Snugli" carrier. He's happy, I'm happy. So, that's what I've been up to lately.

Mixed Media Necklace

I made this necklace during TV night a couple of weeks ago. The central pendant is one that I made awhile back with polymer clay, and there are two matching polymer clay beads too--I love the copper/ patina look. I added copper wire squiggles with an assortment of beads, and linked them all together. It was fun to make, and I was happy to be able to use some of my polymer clay beads in a finished piece.

Spring is in the Air!

Catching up on some posts here. Fletcher is 5 weeks old now--where has the time gone? He is doing great--loves to eat--and is growing nicely. My 7 year old dd loves loves loves him, and my 4 year old son is pretty enchanted with him, though he won't admit it!--and will tell you that he is allergic to babies! But he is a pretty proud big bro.

I am anxious to get back into some art making. Harder to do these days, but I am trying to fit small bits in here and there. I just get cranky when I don't have time to be creative, so it is an important part of my life that I need to make time for.

Anyway, here are a couple of swaps that I did in April, right before I had the baby, but didn't have time to post yet. The charms were for a Springtime Charm swap on Oh So Charming, and the papers were for a Springtime paper swap on Collage UnLeashed. The papers were painted and stamped, and the charms were made with shrink plasic, and the other set with polymer clay.

Welcome Baby Fletcher!

He's finally here!!! Fletcher Quinn was born April 14, 2010 at 1:46 am. He was 7 lbs 15 oz and 21 inches long--the smallest of my three children believe it or not--but he was almost 2 weeks early--so he'd probably have been a 9 pounder at full term!

Labor and delivery went very well. Funny story--I was actually teaching a quilting class Tuesday night, having contractions the whole time, but I was determined to do the class--yes, I am that stubborn! Came home about 9 pm to find that the contractions were 3-5 minutes apart, so I was at the hospital by 10 pm, and had little Fletcher less than 4 hours later. It went so fast, such a blur.

We are recovering well. Fletcher is a snuggle baby, loves to eat and be held. Not sleeping for very long periods of time yet--he tends to get a tummy ache 30-45 minutes after eating, and fusses for awhile, then I get him settled and its time to eat again! But I know that will pass, so I am just enjoying having him as such a tiny baby for this short time.

Knitting

Something about being pregant makes me want to knit--this happened with my son 4 years ago, and the result was many, many knitted scarves! This time, I am breaking free of my rectangle, and I have learned to knit a simple hat. This is the second one that I made, this one for my daughter. I am starting Baby's next!