books aside

My free, gently-used art books didn't fly off the shelves like I thought they might but that's ok. I'm sure I'll find loving homes for them at some point. For now, I'm putting them aside to begin a creative collaboration with my online pal Phyll. She's worked with countless mediums and is always experimenting with new things. I'm anxious to see what she does. Heck, I'm anxious to see what I do, since it's been quite awhile since I've played on that side of the studio! LOL! I'll share the photos/scans of the pieces when they're done. For now, I'll leave you with a quote:

"The root meaning of the word art is "to fit together" and we all do this every day. Not all of us are painters, but we are all artists. Each time we fit things together we are creating -- whether it is to make a loaf of bread, a child, a day." ~ Corita Kent

recipients & a few more books to give away

I'm tickled to be able to pass along these books/publications to three lovely ladies:

• The Princess ~ The Art of Cartooning by Walter Foster
• Tami ~ Art Escapes ~ Daily Exercises & Inspirations for Discovering Greater Creativity & Artistic Confidence, by Dory Kanter
• Jodi ~ Artful Blogging, Aug/Sep/Oct '09 & Somerset Studio Sep/Oct '07, Nov/Dec '07, Mar/Apr '08 & Jul/Aug '09

Tami, would you please send an email to me with your mailing address? My email is shown on my profile ("about me") page.

Since I still have a few books/publications available, and have now added three more, I'll make another offer.

• Cloth Paper Scissors, July/August 2009
• Cloth Paper Scissors, September/October 2009
• Creative Cardmaking a Complete Guide, published by North Light Books
• Herbal Pleasures Cooking & Crafts by Katherine Richmond
• Old Age Is Always 15 Years Older Than I Am ~ a book of quotes that are great for making birthday cards
• Paper Crafting with Carol Duval
• Sew Crafty ~ Craft Projects That Are Sew Much Fun They'll Have You In Stitches by Heather Lancaster & Desiree Tanner
• The Stamper's Sampler June/July 2007
• The Ultimate Crafts Compendium, published by Hermes House

If you're interested, email me or leave a comment by 8/30/10 and let me know which one(s) you'd like. If more than one person asks for a particular item, I'll ask my dh to draw names from a hat. The items & shipping are free. I just ask that you only request what you'll actually read/use.

I'll announce winners 8/31/10 or shortly thereafter, and ask that mailing addresses be privately emailed to me at that time (if not already provided).

Enjoy every moment

Di

gently used art book give-away

Today is National Relaxation Day, and what better way to relax than with a good book? I've been doing a wee bit of downsizing and have some art books & publications to pass along (seems appropriate since August is National Artist Appreciation Month). I have the following items available:

• The Art of Cartooning by Walter Foster
• Art Escapes ~ Daily Exercises & Inspirations for Discovering Greater Creativity & Artistic Confidence, by Dory Kanter
• Artful Blogging, Aug/Sep/Oct 2009
• Cloth Paper Scissors, July/August 2009
• Cloth Paper Scissors, September/October 2009
• Creative Cardmaking a Complete Guide, published by North Light Books
• Paper Crafting with Carol Duval
• Somerset Studio, September/October 2007
• Somerset Studio, November/December 2007
• Somerset Studio, March/April 2008
• Somerset Studio, July/August 2009
• The Stamper's Sampler June/July 2007
• The Ultimate Crafts Compendium, published by Hermes House

If you're interested, email me or leave a comment by 8/22/10 and let me know which one(s) you'd like. If more than one person asks for a particular item, I'll ask my dh to draw names from a hat. The items & shipping (gulp, I may regret the shipping part) are free. I just ask that you only request what you'll actually read/use.

I'll announce winners 8/23/10 or shortly thereafter, and ask that mailing addresses be privately emailed to me at that time (if not already provided).

Choose Love,
Di

my 1st solo shop project since jr high

Well, it's not art, but I did create something this weekend...

I've used essential & carrier oils to blend my own body oils the past few years. It was a logical choice when the producer of my favorite body oil discontinued the product. I did a little research, purchased the supplies at a local store & just started experimenting. I found that while I loved the results, the oils were pricey locally & the choices somewhat limited. My supplies were dwindling. What to do?

Internet research indicated Young Living is a leader in essential oils so when my friend/massage therapist invited me to a YL seminar last month, I went to learn more. While their essential oils might indeed be some of the purest on the market, they are simply out of my price range. With more research, I found others that will meet my needs as well as my pocketbook

My reference guide & "ultimate aromatherapy set" arrived late last week. I was like a kid on their birthday! Where to start? What do to first? That was simple for someone who can't resist organizing things. Storage was the first order of business! The oils needed to be someplace they could be easily & quickly retrieved. The solution? Ask hubby to donate scrap wood and allow me to use his shop tools (being stubbornly independent, I'm tickled to say the only help I asked for & received from him was attaching the pneumatic staple gun to the air compressor).

Next step? Learn more about the oils themselves. Having found no classes locally, and not willing to pay the prices for what I've found for online classes (is it obvious I'm, shall we say, budget conscious? :), I'll set aside a little time here & there to read through the 300+ page book I ordered.

So what have you all been up to lately? I intend to blog hop later today/tonight to find out. First I'm driving about an hour north to mow my mother's yard & visit her & my aunt. I'm looking forward to the road time as I have a new audio CD that I'm thoroughly enjoying ~ "I Can Do It" by Louise L. Hay. Anyhoo... c'ya soon in blogland!

Love your life,

Di

what was I thinking?

A friend asked me to share what I was thinking when I created the emotion cards I posted last week. It felt good to be asked. I, for one, like it when the person who created something provides some insight into what they did, be it the technique, the reason for certain images, etc. Ask me questions any time....

Courageous ~ the photo is of a small, cracked glass garden globe. To me, it looks like a planet (I like sci-fi, Star Trek, etc.). It symbolizes the courage to explore and do things one has never done before. The bird in the trees is for the baby birds I've been watching this year as they learn to fly ~ again, courageous in my mind.

Fear ~ of being trapped (the web), of deception/betrayal (the poison), of no freedom/privacy (the eye) and of the unknown (the card).

Gratitude ~ gratitude it very important to me and a part of my daily life. When I was taking various photographs of the garden that day, I was studying this statue and trying to discern what emotion she portrays. Gratitude came to mind, and as it did, it felt right as I was simultaneously grateful for my life and just the blessing of being there in that moment. The attached flower & butterfly are appropriate for the garden scene and add dimension & texture.

Guilt ~ The scan didn't pick this up well. The word is cut from paper that I spray painted with a hammered metal finish so it looks like heavy steel to symbolize how guilt weighs a person down. The golden bottom layer is a polished stone technique using alcohol inks on glossy photo paper. It has a bit of a fiery/flame look I think and could represent a personal hell. Between the top & bottom layer is a mesh that I darkened to represent bars to reflect how guilt can cage a person.

It's looking to be another beautiful day in central Iowa today. I hope it will be the same wherever you are. Enjoy your day!

emotion cards

I'm participating in a 4" x 6" Emotion Cards swap in one of the Yahoo Groups I'm in. These are the four cards I created. It was such a fun process ~ coming up with which words I wanted to use & how I wanted to express each of them. While I have nothing against using non-copyrighted images in art and occasionally do, I prefer to use images I've photographed when I can. This allows me to incorporate my interest in photography with my art.

On a personal note & follow-up, the gray hair color I got in May lasted less than a week but thankfully, my hair grows relatively fast. In June I had another 2-3 inches cut so there's only about an inch or so of blond left on the top, which I'll have cut off in August. YAY! My transition will have taken just under a year. And while I love the look of long hair, I'm thoroughly enjoying the ease of short, wash-n-go hair. I just may keep it short for awhile...

the dragonfly --oops

6/14 AM update: oops! My friend Trace politely informed me off-blog that I had photographed a mayfly, rather than dragonfly. If you google 'mayfly' you'll learn, as I did, these are cool creatures too... not as cool as a dragonfly, IMO, but still amazing. Thanks, Trace!

Look at the wonderful little miracle the pizza delivery guy pointed out to my husband this evening, just outside our front door. I am fascinated by dragonflies, and have never before witnessed this event. My inner child was ecstatic! Dragonflies represent change in many cultures, as well as hope. It's a sign, I just know it. Most everything is, if we're only open to it.

koan

koan (kō′än)
n: a Zen Buddhist riddle used to focus the mind during meditation and to develop intuitive thinking

Q: How long should you stay at something?
A: However long it takes to get what you came for.
Q: How do you decide what you came for?
A: You don't, you discover it.
Q: How do you discover it?
A: You notice what isn't there anymore when you feel like leaving.

From "Refuse to Choose" by Barbara Sher.

change is in the air

I debated writing this post ~ it's a bit personal for my blog. But, I am a firm believer that we are all more alike than we sometimes feel. We all go through trying times. Life ebbs & flows. It's when we connect with each other & share ourselves that we truly live.

I've been wandering these past few months, allowing unprecedented work stress & family issues/responsibilities to consume me. What little free time I've had I've spent reading and just sitting... a little lost... searching... looking for my authentic self... the me I was created to be, not the person everyone else expects me to be. It's been an uncomfortable time, sensing a change is needed but not knowing what or how. Knowing something is coming.

In the last year, I've had my long brunette hair cut above my shoulders and dyed blond to allow the true salt & pepper color to grow in a little less noticeably (i.e. less skunk-like). This week I had much of that blond hair cut off and what was left, dyed to match my real silver/gray/pewter hair. It was liberating. And it's pushing me to move past this immobile stage I've been in and emerge anew. I don't know where this is going, and I know there will be challenges and trying times ahead, but I'm taking action & gaining momentum. As I learn things that others may find worthwhile, I'll share them.

As I write this, a Barry Manilow song from my youth comes to mind...

"Did you ever feel somethin' in the air

And you block it out, but you know it's there

Did you ever find, things about to change

I can see the signs all along my way

And I can feel that

Something's comin' up

And I don't know what it is

Something's comin' up

And I don't know where it's gonna take me

But there's something dyin'

Something bein' born "

And since you know I love quotes & I haven't shared any for awhile:

"A little stress and adventure is good for you, if nothing else, just to prove you are alive." ~ Lady Bird Johnson

"Never be limited by other people's limited imaginations. If you adopt their attitudes, then the possibility won't exist because you'll have already shut it out ... You can hear other people's wisdom, but you've got to re-evaluate the world for yourself." ~ Mae Jemison

"My father said there were two kinds of people in the world: givers and takers. The takers may eat better, but the givers sleep better." ~ Marlo Thomas

"Feeling insecure is good for you. It forces you to do something better, drives you to use all your talents." ~ Helen Gurley Brown

"We are each gifted in a unique and important way. It is our privilege and our adventure to discover our own special light." ~ Mary Dunbar

"In each of us there are places we have never gone. Only by pressing the limits do you ever find them." ~ Dr. Joyce Brothers

"Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand - and melting like a snowflake." ~ Marie Beynon Ray

"Human beings have an inalienable right to invent themselves." ~ Germaine Greer

"Some people think it's holding on that makes one strong; sometimes it's letting go." ~ Sylvia Robinson

"Remember always that you have not only the right to be an individual; you have an obligation to be one. You cannot make any useful contribution in life unless you do this." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

part three ~ getting arboreal: a nature collection

It's the third & final check on our trees for the photo excursion Julie & JeriAnn hosted. I'm amazed at how much taller my tree has grown since my first photographs August 28. Now, rather than the golden leaves of November 8, we have tiny green buds.

This last photo shows the height growth (ok, you might have to squint to see the branches reaching up to the top of the photo), as well as reminds me how luscious green this tree will be in a month or two.

Thanks for coming by to visit. I'm off now to visit the other trees/sites of participants in the photo excursion. If you'd like to come along, click here, scroll down a little and you'll find a list in red on the left side. Enjoy!

sunshade

"A sequoia can live two thousand years. A squid has a four-year life span. A mayfly, born with the dawn, is gone by dusk. Each life is a whole life, complete in itself. The quality of that life has nothing to do with its longevity, but everything to do with how it is lived." ~ Barry Neil Kaufman

I celebrated my birthday this month & thought the above quote was appropriate. I don't know about you, but I'm wondering... where the heck did March go? I mean, I'm excited that spring has arrived, but this month sure seemed to slip right on by. Besides work & family time, I spent a lot of time reading & just resting. I think my mind/body knew it needed to prepare for the warmer months, when I'll get active outdoors again. Studio time will decrease, but hopefully not disappear like it did this month. Balance is a good thing...

This piece is displayed in our living/reading room (tied with the studio for my favorite room in the house). I completed it three weeks ago and enjoyed the process & the results so much I immediately started another (before going into r&r mode). I may do a series combining acrylic work with metal ~ there's a voice inside me telling me to go this direction, at least for now. Hey, I'm game!

"Sunshade" 8" x 10" mixed media, copyright 2010, di-did-it

"What you love is a sign from your higher self of what you are to do." ~ Sanaya Roman

Enjoy your journey.
Di

a gift from a gift

"A friend accepts us as we are yet helps us to be what we should."

~ Author Unknown

Sometimes we creative types can be misunderstood souls. We don't always follow the crowd or the rules, be they social or other. We dance to our own music and learn over time to be our true selves & not compromise our spirit. It is no wonder so many of us flock to the blogging community, Yahoo groups and other networking mediums to discover & connect with like-minded souls that respect different opinions & applaud individuality. Online I've met some of the most wonderful people in my life. People I care about very much. They are gifts in my life. One such gem is Tracey, who surprised me this week with a generous gift.

This beautiful mixed media piece is proudly displayed on a stand next to my monitor. I photographed the piece first where it's displayed (second photo below). Since this is a little dark (I like the ambiance it creates), I also photographed it in natural light. Gorgeous, isn't it? I love how the whole mood of the piece changes with the different lighting. To me, the flowers mark the entrance to the woods just behind, and I want to go explore....

"Spring on Over - Anytime" #004

8" x 10" mixed media

copyright 2010, Tracey Jean Kraft

Tracey is a talented, multifaceted artist with wonderfully unique works. Please do yourself a favor & take a moment to visit her...

ArtFire - Angel Wings and Whisperings

Blog - Whisperings 13

Etsy (art) - Whisperings 13

Etsy (vintage) - The Giggling Goblin

Zazzle - Wadsworth-Noll Studio

books - 2010 to be record year

I realized the other day I've read four books this year. That's amazing for me. I love to read, but am a slow reader and not one to sit still for long (without falling asleep...lol). Thank the stars for audio books! Three of the four I've 'read' this year were audio books. What a convenient way to learn & grow.

I've decided to make 2010 a record year for reading, and have updated the right side bar of my blog with book information. If you have a book you'd like to recommend, I'd love to hear from you. I enjoy books about creativity, arts/crafts, spirituality of all kinds, time management, understanding human behaviors, the power of being positive, motivation & self awareness, inspiration & ways to make a difference.

Happy reading!

1st photos in the light box & fp/glass pendant

I set up the light box last night and experimented a bit, then changed some things around this afternoon and experimented some more. I'm sure I'll be tweaking things a bit as it gets more use, but it will definitely get more use. Thank you, Chris, for sharing your inexpensive option.

Here are a couple photos of the altered Friendly Plastic pendant. I used a Dremel to grind down a mirrored glass piece (by Diamond Tech) and a craft iron to remove enough fp from the original fp piece to accommodate the glass. The back of the pendant is embossed pewter. Everything but the top of the glass and the bail is sealed with glaze. I like the results and am anxious to create more fp pieces. Have you tried this fun medium yet?

making a light box

Tonight I'm making a light box. I've admired the way Chris at Crafts by Chris photographs her gorgeous beads, jewelry & clay works, and in her last few blog posts, she's been sharing her photography process with her readers. If you're interested in how to photograph your small art/craft, or just want to check out some cool jewelry & other miscellany, click here.

I'll be back this weekend with a photo of the altered blue fp pendant and maybe more (I have a feeling it's gonna be a great weekend!).

Cheers!

wip ~ altering blue fp pendant

I decided the blue Friendly Plastic pendant shared in my last post needed something more (in addition to a bale).... something to make it truly unique. The idea came to me this past weekend. The process began Sunday and I've done a smidgen each evening. Tonight the back went on. Once I get it all sealed I'll share the results. For now, here's a peak at the back...

And lest I forget, a warm welcome to the new "followers" that have joined since my last post. Thank you for your interest!

fp tutorial

First & foremost, I want to welcome a couple new "followers" to my blog. Thank you for your interest! Please let me know if you have questions, comments or suggestions. I love hearing from people.

I'm trying something new today and posting a tutorial. I don't know that this is my forte, but I indicated in a November post I would share the process I used to make the purple Friendly Plastic pendant, and today's the day. Today we're making a blue FP pendant.

Start with a bargain piece of costume jewelry. I'm using a silver clip earring. Cut a piece of FP slightly bigger than the earring and choose a stamp (I'm using one from Fancy Pants). Unmounted stamps work best if your piece isn't totally flat. You can use a stamp that's smaller than your piece, but I'm not good at placing them in the center so I just use oversize stamps to eliminate that problem.

Lay the FP over the piece & melt it with a heat gun.

When it's nicely melted, prepare your stamp by pressing it into a watermark stamp pad (I use VersaMark) and then pressing it into the FP. Use your fingers to press everywhere to ensure full contact. Experiment with the pressure for different looks. Firm pressure will reveal the metal underneath, which may or may not be your intent. That's what I did for the purple piece, but for this blue piece I chose to use less pressure.

When you're confident the stamp isn't going to lift from the FP, place the piece in a cold water bath to solidify the FP.

After a few moments remove the piece and carefully lift the stamp from the FP. The edges might be a little jagged, as you can see here.

Place a nonstick craft sheet (I use Ranger's) on a griddle and heat the griddle to 275. Lightly touch/drag the edges to melt/smooth them. Once cool, add your preferred glaze/sealer (I like Triple Thick by DecoArt) and a bail. Thread on a cord or chain and you're set!

dusk

It's been well over two months since I created anything in the studio. Admittedly, it's a bit intimidating to get back into it... but I will. I cleaned the work area today in hopes inspiration or my muse would show up this evening. No luck yet, but I did come across a poem I wrote 06/20/09:


dusk is falling
and you've changed.
you're not the person you were
in the midday sunshine.
I don't know you anymore.
did I ever know you
or did I just see
what you wanted me to see?
maybe I never looked hard enough.
did I not care enough to know
or did I somewhere
deep inside
know I wouldn't like what I found
if I squinted & looked into the sun.
is this your dark side
come out to play in the twilight?
it's playing with you
as much as the rest of us.
you're just too close to see it.
caught up in the exciting rush
the evening breeze
is taking you away.
a storm is here.
we're trying to pull you to cover
while you insist on being swept away.
at some point
we must save ourselves.

reclamation

I apologize for my absence. It's poor blog etiquette to go offline for more than your usual amount of time without indicating when you'll return. My last post, from 11/26 was vague in this regard. At the time, I expected to post again in a couple weeks. Let me rephrase that ~ I hoped to post again in a couple weeks. Turns out, December was an extremely challenging month (closing out a challenging year in many ways), with many wonderful blessings and several unpleasant events. Tough times can wear on you and push you down. Thankfully, I remembered a couple of days ago I'm in control of my life ~ no one else is. I'm going to take a little time to put my life back in order (read, journal, meditate, etc.) but will be creating again & sharing very soon. I intend to be back posting at least once a week by the end of the month. I'll also be catching up on your blogs as soon as I can. I'm anxious to see what you've all been up to!

I want to sincerely thank those of you who have emailed to check in on me. Your caring friendship helps keep my candle burning. You are angels & I appreciate you very much.

Here's to a healthy, joyful, creative 2010 for all of us!

And... because I love quotes, love sharing quotes and couldn't choose just one today...

"There are no hopeless situations; there are only men who have grown hopeless about them." ~ Clare Boothe Luce

"One of the quickest ways to become exhausted is by suppressing your feelings." ~ Sue Patton Thoele

"Don't ever confuse the two, your life and your work. That's what I have to say. The second is only a part of the first." ~ Anna Quindlen

"Above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim." ~ Nora Ephron

Thanksgiving, and every day

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity… Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” ~Melody Beattie

"Gratitude connects us to others and feeling gratitude allows us to be our best selves. When we are truly grateful, we can count on living the life we want." ~MJ Ryan

I am grateful for the countless blessings in my life, including you, my blog readers and online friends. May you have a fun-filled, healthy holiday!

PS ~ I've received a couple inquiries about how I made the purple FP pendant, so I'll be sharing details in an upcoming post ~ just not sure how soon due to the holiday, family in town, catching another bug, working most every weekend, etc. But ... creating & sharing via this blog make me happy, so it will definitely be ASAP!

purple fp pendant

It was a stellar day last week when I found a forgotten gift card in my wallet. Without missing a beat, I trotted off to that store & found a beautiful purple shirt, crying out for a custom-made pendant. It was so much fun creating this pendant last night, I'm making matching earrings tonight! This Friendly Plastic is a tad addictive {smile}.

Thanks for coming by! Don't be shy if you have a question or comment. I'd love to hear from you.

fp & metal pendants

Here are my latest Friendly Plastic & metal pendants. Boy, are these fun to make.

Here's a shot of the backs, along with a penny to show their size. I like embossing the back so it looks nice, just in case the pendant flips on my neck.

And in case you're wondering what the heck I could wear the blue, aqua & orange one with, well, I wasn't thinking of it at the time I made it, but it goes great with one of my favorite shirts....

Thanks for coming by! Drop me a line if you have a question or comment. I'd love to hear from you.

to start your day...

In case you missed the sunrise this morning, I'm sharing the beautiful sight from central Iowa just a few minutes ago. It took my breath away. Now I'm sipping my favorite coffee as I type this. I have a hair appointment this afternoon (wonderful scalp massage), RENT tickets tonight (my favorite musical) and plans to go to a art/craft show tomorrow with my mom & sister. Life is good! Have a fantastic Friday, everyone! Oh, and I have been creating some here & there.... I just don't have anything done yet. I'll share when I do.

part two ~ getting arboreal: a nature collection

It's time to check in on our trees, for the photo excursion Julie & JeriAnn are hosting. These updated photos are a stark contrast to the green leaves I photographed on the tree August 28. Just a few leaves remain, shimmering a golden yellow. I didn't realize it until I downloaded the photos to my pc, that our pooch is in the background of one of them. The little sweetie is with me everywhere....

It over 70 degrees here in Iowa today ~ a rare treat for November. I hope you're enjoying rare treats today too!

diffusing flash

I don't have any recently completed items & am not big on sharing works in progress so today I want to share a photography tip. The other day in one of the Yahoo groups I belong to, the subject of photographing our creations came up: specifically, to flash or not to flash. Sometimes you need the light a flash provides but that light is just too darn harsh. What can you do?

• Weather and all other things permitting, take your photo outdoors.
• Add other lighting at various angles to offset the shadows cast by other lighting.
• Bounce light off white walls and/or ceilings. This spreads out the light and reduces the shadows.
• Increase the ISO setting, attach your camera to a tripod and take the photo without the flash.
• If your camera has an internal flash, try covering it with a piece of white paper, tissue, coffee filter, opaque plastic lid, etc. I've found various layers of bubble wrap work nicely. This lessens the amount of light reaching your subject, thus reducing harshness & shadows.
• If your camera has a pop-up flash, cut a white or opaque plastic bottle so it will fit over the flash, thus dispersing the light a bit.

Beware that diffusing your flash can change the light from a bluish cast to a more golden tone. You may or may not like this. It's easy to adjust with your photo software if you want to change it....easier than trying to remove shadows.

If you're interested in more information, there are a good number of photography books & websites out there. Just google "diffusing flash" and you'll get all kinds of hits. Most important... experiment to see what works best for you, your camera and your situation(s).

Here are some photos from my experimentation last night. The first three photos were taken with my subcompact Canon with internal flash. Photo one is with no flash (it's blurry because I didn't use my tripod). Photo two is with flash and photo three is with flash that I diffused with bubble wrap. What do you think?

These next four photos were taken with my better quality Canon. Photo one is with no flash (using a tripod). Photo two is with added lighting. Photo three is with flash and photo four is with pop-up flash diffused by a plastic bottle. The differences are subtle, but there. If I wanted the best photo possible, I'd start with photo four and enhance it with photo software. What do you think?