The Artful Diva: January 2012

January 27, 2012

TP Books...

This sweet little book was made with bits of paper, ribbon, yarn and toilet paper cores - waste not want not!!

I made quite a few of these books as Christmas gifts for family and friends.

I thought it would take a lot of time to gather enough TP cores to make the books - but we use more TP than I thought because it didn't take long before I had enough to start the project. One thing I discovered is not all TP cores are the same size...different brands...different size!

Flatten the cores, cover with decorative paper (glue on); punch holes on one end. My book contains three "pages". Decorate pages with paint, clip art, lacy paper, etc. I made small cards in Photoshop Elements - with poems or sayings - printed on water color paper; hole punched in center on one end, decorative ribbon threaded through hole. These cards were inserted into the "pages". Tie pages together using yarn or ribbon.

This was a relatively quick project. Consider making one (or more) yourself the next time you need a small gift for someone special.

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January 23, 2012

My Story...

Texture Tuesday challenge is the word prompt "story".

This seemed an appropriate photo since I'm sitting on top of my mother's sewing machine cabinet. Now as an adult (a much older child really!) I spend my days sitting at my own sewing machine. I remember my mother saying to me (when I was naughty - moi - never!) "There was a little girl, who had a little curl right in the middle of her forehead. When she was good, she was very very good, but when she was bad, she was horrid".

I used Kim Klassen's texture "Scripted Edges" over top of a photo of myself as a child. "One Fine Day" frame from Digital Scrapper, font "Junko's Typewriter" and plug-in from Topaz Labs.

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January 20, 2012

Birds of a Feather...

A creative photo challenge: mix portions of a photo together, add any Pixie Dust Texture and abstract. I'm not sure if this is what the challenger had in mind, but it's as abstract as I get. I used Pixie Dust's "Soft Swirls" texture, my own bird photo, duplicated the bird, enhanced with a ocean ripple filter.

Linking to:

Pink Saturday

January 16, 2012

Wide Open...

This funicular trolley takes one up a steep incline (approximately three blocks) to an upper level of Lisbon, Portugal. The door of the trolley is wide open - go on get in and let's take a look! Up top there are marvelous gardens and cityscape views.

I used Kim Klassen's texture "confidence", frame from Designer Digitals and postage brush over my original photo.

(Mouse over photo to see original)

View from the point where we departed the trolley. Richard chose to ride the trolley down - me - I walked, of course!

Linking to:

Texture Tuesday

Creative Exchange

Katherine's Corner

January 15, 2012

Shameless Self Promotion...

My friend, Betty, and I attended the opening reception of the 2012 Florida Artists Exhibition held at Santa Fe College in Gainesville, FL on Friday night. The exhibition, the fourth annual statewide competition sponsored by the Gainesville Fine Arts Association, awarded a total of $2,000. Dr. Jack King, Professor of Art at the University of Tampa, juried in 42 pieces of artwork from a total of 212 entries. I was surprised and excited to have my fiber art piece "Widow of Kropa" awarded Best of Show.

The artwork in this exhibit is truly outstanding. The other award winners are:

Award of Excellence : Ann Guilliani's "Nocturnal Journey" - monotype
Award of Merit: Jim Carpenter's "Making Present" - acrylic on paper
Lindamood Award: Karen Rose's "The Sentinel" - oil on linen canvas
Honorable Mention: Rory Brennan's "Guiness is Good for You" - photography
Honorabel Mention: Taylor Robenalt's TO Be Buried in Your White Coat" - ceramic
Honorable Mention: William McMahan's "Figure Study" - etching

The show runs until February 8, 2012 at the Santa Fe College in Gainesville, FL. I hope you have a chance to go see it.

January 9, 2012

The Embrace...

I took this picture somewhere in Spain.

Mouse over photo to see original

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January 6, 2012

My Jewelry Box...

I don't have a lot of expensive jewelry - mostly costume stuff - although I do have some beautiful gems my husband has presented me over time. It was all crammed in a small jewelry box on my dresser. I looked around to find something larger, but didn't have much luck. I thought I'd make my own...

I found a 4 drawer chest I liked. Added some wooden wheels as legs; primed, painted, collaged, stamped, etc. I lined the drawers with black velvet. It turned out nicely, don't you think?

Linking with:

Pink Saturday

Creative Exchange

Katherine's Corner

January 3, 2012

Don't Fence Me In...

I am having a great time playing with textures! This week's Texture Tuesday challenge - use any of Kim Klassen's textures on a photo. (I used Kim's newest texture "Embrace".)

I took this photo a couple of years ago in the deep south - Alabama!

The frame is from the Coffee Shop Blog

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It's a Hodgepodge Friday