So, I tried to reformat that blog and totally stuffed up the video feeds. I'm trying to figure out what went wrong & to see if I can reinstate them - but as nothing seems to working I'm giving it a break till tomorrow.
Maybe it's just my computer, but can you still see the videos?????
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This is the video I was editing when I discovered the footage, a couple of quick flower techniques that I used on my quote project. I've wanted a system to store my quotes for some time and decided to use on of those 7g trading card thingies - love how it looks & that I can keep it easily accessible on my desk. I can add new ones when I want & a good format for practicing techniques - I'll take a photo of the project when I think of it :).
I don't know what I did to the music in this video, but it's not as smooth as usual - also runs over the end of the clip, so you need to just stop it after the credits otherwise you'll be looking at a black screen for 2 minutes. I wondered why the file size wasn't reducing when I was clipping!!
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I forgot I had filmed this when I was making the Art Journal Page from the previous post, it's a video of the background process.
p>And, yeah, I know the patterned paper doesn't show up in the finished result, but it gives a bit of texture. I really didn't know what I was going to end up with when I started, I think the idea of the text "walls" came to me about 1/2 way through.hx
I've had a real thing for drawing faces lately, just sketching and painting in my art journal. They're something that I've not really ever drawn well, and I want to be able to do it, so I've been playing with them over the last week or so, trying to improve.
I've been working from photos (bottom right, and eyes), as well as some artwork (the pixie and top face are my interpretation of some of the fairies from The Faeryland Companion - love the little guy :) - the one in the book looked evil, but I couldn't do it to him!) The face in the middle is just an amalgamation of features. I think I'm getting the better - but still needing way more practice.
An art journal page that I finished before SIA:
The hand (which I love drawing) is out of proportion to the head, and kinda creepy, but I like it like that! The background is pretty layered with paint, collage, more paint and collage and glaze with the image drawn and painted on top using acrylics, crayons, pencils - basically whatever worked.
Finally found a use for the printers tray I picked up a few years ago:
My original plan was to hang this on the wall to display stamps, but I was never happy with the way they sat in it - too precarious. This now sits on the back wall of my desk - the perfect place to be able to see some of the inks, paints, etc that I like playing with :)
We have 2 new calves - so, so adorable
- here's a pic of the first one, born about 3 weeks ago, the other one was born last week. Love seeing them run around together.
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Back from SIA! I was there teaching & demoing for Stamp It.
Here's a video tutorial of one of the workshops - my "Be Artistic" canvas:
My other class was more tool based - an envelope book & box made with the new shimmer papers from Stamp It & the crafter's companion tools.
I'm still tired - so it's back to my hammock, my pillow & my book - maybe I've even got enough time for a nap before picking up the kids!
Thank god it's pizza night and I don't have to cook!!!
Have a great weekend, y'all!
hx
despite John's argument to the contrary - I find it exhausting to talk for 9 hours straight! Yesterday, I spent the day doing just that at Paperiffic in Melbourne - so today, I'm feeling pretty exhausted & have gone into recovery mode (a couch, a good book and an old quilt!!) Still, I DO like talking, and had a great time demo-ing the new product ranges for Stamp It - we were in the wholesalers section of the event - but I did manage to sneak out for a quick lunch and to zip around and look at the retail section of the show - which looked great. So much better to have this event at Caulfield this time around - much more room. loved it!
This week I've spent some time working on some pages for my current art journal project. I saw a youtube video of claudine hellmuth using acrylic paint to do an image transfer and wanted to try this brilliant idea out for myself.
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I edited this image in photoshop first by converting it to B&W, then using the Photocopy Filter to bring it down to detail lines.
Completed journal page:
A bit of line detail added in with a black marker. Coloured areas are done with alcohol inks. Texture paste in the white areas of the design.
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I couldn't stay away from the transfers and used this as a beginning for this "metamorphoses" page.
The butterfly in the LH corner is done using the paint transfer technique as above, the butterfly wing in the RH corner, and the book text have been done using gel transfers.
Flower is coated (thickly) with JS texture paste, then left to dry, then given a wash of color. The paste is flexible, so once dry, it can be shaped.
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The big ole head is was handsketched then detailed with paint, crayons, pencils, black marker.
Easter Sunday John & I did the walk up Donna Buang - well, I went in good faith - took a look at the marker at the beginning of the walk that said it was a 24km, 6 hour return hike and said "whatyoutalkinaboutJohnny?", from that point I only promised to go as far as I could and then turn back. LOL. I made it almost 1/2 way, turned back and got the car then drove to meet John up the top. I think I could've made it all the way up the top, but no way was I going to be able to cope with the 12km return trip all down hill. As it was, the 5km's I did downhill killed my ankles and knees. I'd like to attempt it again, but next time we'll have to put one of the cars up the top of the mountain first so that we know it's a one-way trip! John, of course, made it to the top before me - he decided to run part of the way after I left to return. Crazy man. Here's some pics before we took of in opposite directions.
I sat down at lunch time to edit some photos for the blog, of an art journal page that I completed this morning - 2 1/2 hours later................what a drag.........it takes forever! I think next time I'll just video it - much less of a hassle & more fun to play with the finished product! :))
Last week I got some long awaited alcohol inks! Can't tell you how long I've wanted to play around with these!!! Also, I've got a current thing for butterflies & have been inspired by one of the biggest loser promo adds where they have circles/words, these three things have coalesced in my latest couple of projects - a layout & the art journal page.
Here's the layout:
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And, the journal page step-by-step photos below - here's some notes on the techniques used:
all the rest is pretty self-explanatory. I totally love the quote by E. O'Neill that I have used on this page, total inspiration:
"Set yourself free from anything that might hinder you in becoming the person you want to be. Free yourself from uncertainties about your abilities, or the worth of your dreams, from the fears that you may not be able to achieve them, or that they won't be what you wanted." E. O'Neill
I followed a link to this video. Check it out! So funny!!
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The heat has broken. So grateful! In melbourne we had 5 days of 38-40 degree temperatures in a row. Yesterday the change came through, and today it is only going to hit 24. I cannot function in this sort of heat - I spent most of the time on the verandah, in my hammock, reading. Our place is not only a charming, 100 year old weatherboard, it has no airconditioning! So, after 2 consecutive days of these temperatures, it's like an oven!!
Cocoa & the babies went back to school today. I loved them, but so, so glad to have the house & laundry back. The cats are too!
Here's one of the babies - 2 days old. How adorable is it? I just love those tiny little claws & feet.
more pics:
I know the one of the left isn't really clear, but I had to include it to show the one draped over the top of the others - look at it's little butt!!!
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The Proud Mum - this morning before being shuffled back to school:
We were mobbed by all the grade 3/4's when we brought her back with the babies. They're not going to know what hit them with all the noise, etc & cocoa has pretty much had the run of the house whilst she's been here - I've let her out of the cage each morning & she's just hung around doing her thing. She even started hanging on my leg like the cats when I cooked dinner looking for veggie scraps. LOL.
Wish we could have one of our own, but just so not practical with the cats.
o.k., besides swinging in my hammock & reading, I decided I'd have a go at crocheting some flowers. Because, I am a glutton for punishment & why buy something that will only cost me a couple of dollars pre-made, when I can agonise over creating it myself for many hours? Somebody, just whip me now! Seriously, I am an embarassment to both my mum and my uber-crocheting grandma who used to whip up one of those covered coathangers in an afternoon. I only know how to (badly) chain stitch. So, anyway, I looked up on the web for a tutorial on how to make the flowers - came across this. It was described as a great step-by-step tutorial for those that don't crochet. Great! I thought. That's me!! I'm clueless! Show me how!!! I was totally lost by the time it got to round 2. I found a list of stitches here, which was great & got me through round 1, but that was it - my "flowers" definitely didn't look like flowers, more like some kind of impressionistic type blob - sort of how I imagine one would look after a 12 hour bender. So, not to be defeated, with my meager knowledge in hand, I just kind of made it up as I went along & they came out o.k. I stress the o.k. Anyone who has crochet knowledge, yeah, I know, but just squint.
I did a couple in wool first, then switched to some rayon thread that I had. I love, love rayon - I discovered it when mum and I went through a mad, tassle making frenzy back in 1995. Yeah, it's slippery, and a little hard to work with, but does this stuff suck up dye really well, or what!???!!
I kept the end threads attached because a) rayon doesn't knot really well - it tends to come loose & unravel & b) I wanted to use them to attach them to the layout.
When I started, I didn't really have anything I wanted to use these for, but since they were there, I put them with this photo of Erin for a quick layout :)
Well, quick if you don't count the time to make the flowers!
Have a great day!
hx
So, Erin was desperate to have the class bunny home for the weekend and, after much deliberation, we decided she could have it this weekend, which in Melbourne, included a public holiday on Monday - she was so excited she would have the rabbit for 3 days. Me, less so. We have 2 cats that pretty much have the run of the house, so it's an exercise in keeping them out when the rabbit is roaming free.
Anyway, the rabbit was in a nesting frenzy - we assumed it was on heat. Everytime we got it out of the cage, it was munching up paper, pulling out its fur, etc, etc. I was pretty relieved that it would be going back to school this morning and the laundry would yet again become mine and the cats domain (they normally get fed in there), no more changing newspaper, etc, etc. Of course, last night the rabbit gave birth to 6 babies. LOL. No one even knew it was pregnant. We are now stuck with it for at least 10-14 days till they open their eyes, and now have to keep the cats completely out of the house, much to their disapproval, lest they snag a baby bunny. Of course, Erin is in heaven.
I've been tagged by Shirley - I'm so, so bad at keeping these things going, but here's 7 random facts about me:
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