2013 Artful Gathering Online retreat

If you have not had an opportunity to take an online class from some of the most amazing instructors ever...Now is your chance.  You can still sign up for the second session of Artful Gathering that just started this week.  The videos are great, the classes, are awesome and the teachers are amazing!  I took a class from Colleen Moody, the doll Atelier.  She taught a class on making one her amazing Birdie clay dolls.  Briley the Birdie.  I have to say it was one of the easiest classes to follow.  Colleen is a wonderful and talented teacher and artist.  I have taken classes from her in person and it was just like being there.

This is my version of Briley the Birdie, her name is Isabelle and she was a swap gift for my Swap partner Theresa, Dulaney Woods Treasures.  Theresa has received  her swap so I can now share Isabelle with you.  I have been so excited for her reveal.

I have several more in the works that are not finished yet.  I love working with this medium.

  

I also sent other goodies to Theresa along with Isabelle, but I did not take any photos.  Hopefully Theresa will share some pics when she gets her stash. 

I will aslo be showing my altered playing cards art work when I am finished with them.  That class, The Spoken Soul, was taught by Mary Jane Chadbourne, Desert Dream Studios.  Mary Jane is teaching another class this session too. 

Thanks for stopping by.  Blessings....Becs

Kindred Souls "With One Image" Swap cards

Hi all, As some of you might have seen, I posted some cards I made for a swap with Kindred Souls Art Group.  The swap was for cards using the same image but used however we wanted.  To see the cards I made click here. 

These are the cards I got in return.  They are all so different and amazing.

made by Gloria Alexander, Leader of Kindred Souls Art Group

 

 

made by Stephen Jew, bearcrazyman blog

made by Carol Sweeney, Creative Expressions

 

 

made by Victoria Sturdevant, art by vic blog

 

 

made by Mary Beth Janisse, My Journey Into Art

 

I have some more swap returns to post in a day or two.  Thanks for stopping by and please check out the other artists' blogs for more amazing art work.             Becs

 

Farmhouse Summer Swap reveal

 

A few weeks ago I joined Amy, Bumble Bee Lane's, Farmhouse Summer Swap. I have always admired the swaps she hosts and was lucky enough to get to join in. I had a fantastic partner, Theresa, DulaneyWoods Treasures. Theresa sent me the most amazing Prim Crow doll with baby and she smells yummy too.A few weeks ago I joined Amy, Bumble Bee Lane's, Farmhouse Summer Swap. I have always admired the swaps she hosts and was lucky enough to get to join in. I had a fantastic partner, Theresa, DulaneyWoods. Theresa sent me the most amazing Prim Crow doll with baby and she smells yummy too.

 

She also made me a vintage wall hanging with an old photo and vintage lace, Love It!!!

 

She made this fabric book and red and green tomatoes.  They are adorable. 

 

 

Theresa found out about my love for vintage china and she got me the cutest little set with tiny pink roses....so cool!

And she tucked in some old wooden spools and a vintage rhinestone brooch that is just beautiful!

Thanks Theresa and thanks Amy for hosting this great swap!  I will post what I sent to Theresa in a few days when I know she has received her package.  I was a little late in getting it in the mail to her.  Please come back... Becs

Happy 4th of July!!!

Another year of our independence.  Please take sometime today to thank those that have served to keep us free.  Remember what this day represents to us.  And, m ist of all be safe!

God Bless you you all !! Happy Independence Day!  Becs

My Home is My Castle ATC Swap

I recently joined in a blog swap hosted by Marion Bockelmann.  The theme was My Home is my Castle and there had to be a home or castle as partof the body or attire.  There are some amazing ATC's for this swap o please hop on over to Marion's blog to check them out.  These are mine, sorry about the photo quality.   I will post my returns when I get them.

 

I used chipboard cards for my base and stamps from Character Constructions.

 

These are my favorites of Caatherine's stamps.  They are from The BeeKeeper's garden" collection.

 

Hope you all have a wonderful 4th of July weekend and be safe!  God Bless, Becs

Karen Valentine, My Desert Cottage is hosting her yearly "Where Bloggers Create" Blog Party.  This year it starts on July 12, 2013 .  If you would like to join in and post your space, just click on the button on my side bar to the left for all the details and to sign up.  I am going to join the party this year!  I have wanted to each year, so I am diving in. 

God bless, Becs

Kindred Souls Art Group Card Swap

I recently joined a cool group called Kindred Souls Art Group.  The leader, Gloria, is hosting a 6 for 6 card swap using a particular image.  I thought I would give it a go.  Everyone has to use the same image, but can do what they want with it.  I chose to print out the original image that was black and white, and painted them with water color Aquarelles.

 As you can see, each of my cards is different. 

 

 

I used scrap paper pages for the base. 

 

I embellished with lace, paper, millenary, and ribbon.

 

 

I love how they are all different.

 

I think this one is my favorite.  Probably because it is pink!

 

 

and I love the floral paper on this one, and HOPE is one of my favorite words.

 

 

This one is sooo French!  And I used fabric paper for the base.

 

 

I was so thrilled to be accepted into this group.  I made this for the hostess of the swap.  It's a wall hanging with the same image on it.  I really like how it turned out.

 

 

 I'll post later with pics of the ones I receive from the swap.  I am excited to see them all.  Thanks for letting me share and have a blessed day...Becs

"Fabric of Nature" swap display

As most of you know, I recently participated in an all fabric (no paper allowed) ATC swap hosted by Kim Laws at Art Joy Stuff.  See earlier post here for the artwork and the participants.  I had some amazing swap partners!!!

Kim asked us to create a display for the cards and post about it.  You can go to her blog to check out all the other displays that are just awesome! Kim will be posting each day about them for the next week.

 I wanted to do a temporary display for mine beacuse I want to eventually make a wall art piece with them, but have not had the time to do it yet.  So I came up with a burlap flag banner.  I cut out flags from burlap then tacked the ATC's on then strung them on cord. I have three of them and have them hanging in my studio for inspiration. They are all so beautiful. 

Thanks for stopping by, and be sure to check out the other blogs to see their displays.
Have a blessed day.....Becs

Fabric ATC's! who new they'd be so much fun.

Recently I participated in a fabric A T C swap with Kim Laws at Art Joy Stuff. Blog.http://www.artjoystuff.blogspot.com/  We each made 12 ATC'S out fabric that had to be nature inspired. we were not allowed to use any paper. I fell in love with making these little works of art.  The photo above is of the 12 I made and sent off.

                                               

I used burlap and canvas for the bases, then sewed lace, fabric and trims. I added a fabric printed image, millimetre, saying, ribbon and metal charms and some vintage buttons.


                                            


I chose the theme of Nature's wings and did birds, nests, bees and butterflies.  I also used some quotes that I love on some of them.

   

I received some beautiful cards back and will share them with you in a few days.  We are supposed to do some kind of creative display with them and I am still figuring that out.  Below is a group photo of the ones I received back.

@

From top left to right:  

Marsha Mees, Tattered Chick blog  http://www.tatteredchick.net/

Jewels Welsh, justtickety-boo blog justtickity-boo.blogspot.com

Maggie Raguse, the mag rag blog www.themagrag.com

From bottom left to right:  

Karla Jackson

Carolyn Huber

Liz Waring, lululizinlalaland blog lululizinlalaland.blogspot.com

From top right to lefth

Marlene, uniquely Ella blog uniquelyella.blogspot.com

Kimberly Laws, art joy stuff blog http://www.artjoystuff.blogspot.com/

From bottom right to left

Amy Bauer flickr.com/photos/7866304@N08

Terri Heinz, artful affirmations blog artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com

Thanks Kim and the ladies listed, for an awesome swap.  Come back in a few days to see how display these beauties.  Kim will be hosting a reveal as well. 

Have a blessed week, Becs 

Fun Projects Finally Completed! YAY!!!

 So many fun projects! Have you ever found yourself almost done with about 20 projects?  Seriously!  I am always working on several things at one time.  I kinda like it that way, until I get behind.  And I am awful about taking photos. I am determined, though, to get all my unfinished projects done! 

I did finally finish several projects that have been on my work table for some time.  This cute little Pin cushion I made in a class with Lisa Super (Vintage Handmade).  Lisa has workshops a few times a year and a creative campout every summer.  I got to go last year for the first time and am excited to go again this year!  I adore this pin keep, (I think Lisa has the kit for sale on her site) I have it perched on an old spool for display.

We also made this cute little shadow box with a stamp from Catherine Moore, Character Construction.  It's about 3 x 3".  I made mine steampunk and added gears inside the box that roll around.  I added silver metal wings and perched her ontop of an old spool that I covered in washi tape and pigment dye.  I love her!  Lisa always has such fun projects for us to do. 

I became addicted to Character Constructions stamps last summer at Lisa's Creative Campout.  So I have bought a few.  This steampunk girl is one of the new ones from the Time Keeper's Garden set and yes it is the same one that I used in my shadow box. 

I made a heart pillow for my friend Marsha (Tattered Chick) after Valentine's day.  Marsha likes neutral colors and is an awesome "junker".  I repurposed a couple of kitchen towels, crocheted doily, vintage lace, buttons and some charms that spell out "junk".  I stamped the image on some old ducking cloth and added a charm to the bottom.  I am really pleased with the way it turned out.  I think Marsha liked it too! 

 

Kim at Kim's Whims on Facebook, hosted a prim easter/spring themed swap.  I was partnered with Kim Robinson.  We decided to do a bird themed swap.  I made this little Prim paper clay bird on some vintage spools that I covered with washi tape, vintage lace and an old rusty pin.  I attached the spools to a vintage tart tin and added nest moss and flowers.  This little birdy has a paper hat and ruffled collar.

Here are some jewelry pieces I made for a local shop.  I am using old hardware, watch parts, frozen charlottes, and vintage jewelry and buttons creating unique and one of a kind necklaces.  Here are a few.

 

 I made this little primitive paper clay birdie doll. Her name is Hazel. She has a bird nest in her pocket on her apron.  Her fancy bonnet is made with vintage lace.   I learned how to make these birds from Colleen Moody.  Colleen is teaching the birdie class online this summer through Artful Gathering 2013 online retreat.  It's not too late to sign up.  There will be two sessions and lots of great classes being offered. 

 

  

I found this lamp base awhile ago and then found this old vintage colander that is a faded grey and a little rusty.  So, I recruited my brother-in-law and we made a lamp shade ou of the colander.  I painted the lamp base a satin pewter color to match with the shade and stuck a vintage edison type bulb in it!  It is so cute! 

 

 These are fun photo or card holders that I repurposed from old door knobs and funnels.  I blinged them up a little with vintager rhinestones, beads and wire. 

 

You can find some of my jewelry, aprons, pillows, photo holders, lamp, soy candles, and many other awesome finds from other vendors, at Embellish and Restore in Visalia, Ca.

 

Kim at Art Joy Stuff is doing an ATC swap called "52 Weeks, 52 Artists, 52 Trades"  I was lucky enough to get one of her ATC's and I made this one to send her in return.  If you haven't already participated, check out her blog and contact her when she posts the ATC for the week.  Awesome Idea!

 

 

 

 

 Finally, another project from a kit I purchased from Lisa Super. Hese are little metal file tags and they are embellished, with paper, lace, tibbon, buttons, and a frozen charlotte. They are great to hang as small ornaments or tags for that special gift. Lisa has kits in her store often, so check it out!

I sure hope I didn't overload you on pictures.  Thanks for the visit, have a great week and God Bless You!     Becs