a message just for me!

a message just for me!, a photo by cookievf on Flickr.

Last week I took a short drive with my mother while visiting her in Vermont (following some garage sale signs, actually), came around the bend to a very special "spot" that I shared with my dad in the late 1990's and was greeted by this beautiful tree!

It's located at the base of a long, dirt driveway and at the top is a VERY old, stately home, usually vacant, with a wrap-around porch, orchards, fields of wildflowers, a 180 degree view... and sunsets that would take your BREATH AWAY.

...thanks, dad. xo

Art Journal page 10Jun11

From an earlier blog post about counting my blessings with 3 of my flower photos, I was inspired to write a little "poem" in my written journal. Next, a prompt from Tee Thompson of green isles crafts inspired me to re-create this on a page in my ART journal and it felt like a FULL CIRCLE moment to me! Maybe YOU'LL be inspired by a word or an image here so that I can "pay it forward."

Homemade Background Papers, 2nd Round

Lots of ideas are percolating... such as "end papers" in bookmaking and wrapping bookboards for journal covers, using them in my MM collage, backgrounds for journal pages & ATCs, trading and so much more! Can't wait to play.

little girl lost, sharing my story

I have always been an open book, never quite understanding what it really means. I realize now that being vulnerable is a gift... just like each and every part of us is a gift!

We are all unique right down to our freckles and, please believe me when I tell you, it is our JOB TO SHARE OUR GIFTS WITH THE WORLD. This is something I am so passionate about (note the caps) because it is my sincere belief that your gifts are what the universe is holding it's breath for; waiting for; praying for!

So please don't waste another moment to speak what's on your mind today or in your heart or on your easel and please put it out there. Let's all TOUCH another person's life today with our truth and with the essence of who we are because what's more precious than sharing a piece of ourself with another? The world will be richer for it.

As an artist and truly a teacher at heart, I LOVE showing a piece in progress as it unfolds and finds itself.

Like carving a sculpture from a piece of rock, this was one of those pages that gave me a feeling of relief, once completed.

Using acrylic paint, oil pastels, gel pens, handcarved stamps, masking tape and "ransom" style magazine letters on this one, each page becomes a purging of sorts. My goal for these journal pages is to make it PERSONAL so that by doing so, I can no longer take for granted what I'm discovering on this inner journey!

On the subject of my page, over the last few months I was finally able to get rid of an ache I've had in my heart for five decades and forgive my step-grandfather for molesting me at a very young age. Not excuse, not condone in ANY WAY, just accept that he was a victim of a victim just like I was. Closure. "I can forgive. I choose love."

refreshed & renewed

Sitting here today I had a growing feeling that I needed to take a moment to reflect on what's behind me and what's ahead of me.

Currently in the US our flowers are in bloom and the change of seasons seem to make me want to quietly count my blessings one-by-one and, almost like a stopwatch, hit the RESET button. If I don't stop for a few precious minutes to focus on all of the positives in my life, then I find it's all too easy to get caught up in all of the million little tasks at hand and ultimately, I begin to feel frustrated... believing there's ever ENOUGH!!

Time
Money
Projects Completed
Trips Taken
Goals Met
People Seen
Emails Sent
Phone calls Made

~ you fill in the blank.

And I was inspired to jot this down on a piece of paper..

"There is healing found in the cycles of the natural world and I'm certain it was here that God intended we discover the lesson of renewal. Ebb and Flow. Sunrise and Sunset. Wax and Wane. Summer's Warmth and Winter's Cold. Give and Take. Birth and Death. Tides, Sun, Moon, Seasons, Life. When we take the time to contemplate the mysteries that surround us… questions are answered. And we emerge refreshed... renewed."

Happy Spring into Summer!

Technique: Painted Paper Backgrounds

Why did I wait so long to try this!!? A few months ago, I purchased a pack of delicious paste paper scraps from Albie Smith and my interest was officially piqued. Some benefits of creating your own designs are:

Choose your own colors,

Patterns,

Paper Weight

Save money

Relaxing/Zen/Freeing

Experiment with new painting techniques for your "artist's toolbox"

Fun

I would have to say, the best part of creating my own papers for use in mixed media collage, is how free it feels to simply CHECK OUT and let your right brain take over... something we can all do more of. It can be the perfect exercise in LETTING GO and although I try to work intuitively in all mediums, it's so easy to just "give in to the process" while painting backgrounds!

Take the RIGHT BRAIN vs LEFT BRAIN creativity test.

Any type of paper will do. You can either make paste paper with Elmer’s Art Paste at Dick Blick's or whip up a home recipe of 6 cups boiling water, 1 cup of flour, strainer, as many covered (yogurt-etc) containers as paint colors desired. Begin by bringing 5 cups of water to a boil, mix flour with 1 remaining cup of water and add to (dedicated) saucepan. Turn off and stir to thicken. Add to containers along with acrylic paint. Stencil, layer, sgraffito, drip, spray, use mark-making tools (a fave).. the sky's the limit! Be sure to check out YouTube for more detailed information or my new friend Barb Owen's paste paper Vid on USTREAM!

My first 3 pages were made on blank newsprint sheets with cheap acrylic paint, a straw, a lid and a plastic gift card:

“If you hear a voice within you saying, ''You are not a painter,'' then by all means paint… and that voice will be silenced.” - Vincent van Gogh

Art Journal Page: 29Apr11

Recently having been bitten by the art journaling "bug," I took my book on our first trip to boston this year for a Red Sox game in april. The first pic shows this page in its RAW FORM having doodled in bed for two hours around 1 AM!! Later at home, I carefully taped over the writing with painter's (no-stick) tape and went crazy with my acrylic craft paints, using a homemade stamp around the border. The most fun? removing the tape!!

TEXT: "I trust my own perceptions. I receive your good willingly. This is my prayer. Believing in myslef and my abilities, finding strength internally, not depending on others for validation. I am worth taking the time and making the effort."

Camera Woes & Art To Share

I've been productive with LOTS of art to share but having some camera issues. Over the weekend I was unable to offload (351) photos from my finepix & will give it another try tonight... crossing my fingers. Worse-case I guess I can always take my photo card to Walmart!

Truthfully, I've known it was time and have done some shopping around. Looks like I may need need to start doing some serious research ~ as anyone that knows me, will agree ~ it's an appendage that I can't live without!

I'm looking in the $200-$300 range and haven't really landed on anything yet but would like an increase to my current 6.3 megapixel, 3x zoom with performance and reliability at the top of the list.

Journal Making Class GIVEAWAY

I'm excited to share the news. My talented friend, Teressa Thompson, is having a drawing on Monday for a FREE SCHOLARSHIP to her online Rustic Journal workshop! Just leave a comment on her post... here!

A Return to Cardmaking

January 2011 was catharctic for me. I made a plan to put my jewelry making on the backburner for a few months and take the winter off to focus on making ART AGAIN! The real change began in November when I reorganized my neglected studio space and that's when I couldn't ignore the "call to return" growing louder and louder, inside of me... (actually it was SCREAMING) so I listened.

A mother's day card that started with a new ATC, a quotation from a book on Roses and a pretty pink rose "popped" on top of a piece of foam tape and sprinkled with some german glass glitter. The final touch was a length of vintage handmade lace from one of my ancestors.. believed to be made by my great-grandmother, Laura Adella Murphy Farquhar (1859-1911) pictured below.

Experimenting with Small Format Again

Journal Page Technique: Citra Solv

Citra-solv! I love the "painterly" effects when you spritz this household cleaner onto photos in National Geographic. I don't know what makes it work, but someone/somewhere discovered that it reacts to the special inks that are used (thank you, someone). The New York Times Magazine was also mentioned in a post, which i have yet to try..

Lots and lots of resources all over the place for learning more. There's a facebook page, website with gallery and tutorial, tons of youtube fodder and be sure to check out another great resource at stampington for this video, as well as a gallery plus you can buy it from their online shop as well!

I follow the basic process of spraying the solvent onto the photograph, waiting a hot minute and wiping with a paper napkin or babywipe. As you can see, the solvent was applied right to the already assembled page.

Simple doodling with 3 Sharpie "Poster Paint" pens, journaled with same.. which turned out to give a really fab contrast to the black gesso.

...Now it's your turn TO GET DIRTY (my term for creating art!) and MAKE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL!

artist date photos

artist date

no pics from tue/wed yet (just a web grab), but wanted to share how refreshing it was to hop in the car this week and drive 150 miles to visit my mom. It had been 8 weeks and a much overdue trip - so, good stuff all around!

the route i drive goes through miles and miles of wide open farmland, rolling hills, passing clouds, barns, silos, cows... so many of things that I love! Old cemeteries, vine covered buildings, dirt roads, I could go on!

i stopped frequently as the mood arose, camera ready-at-the-draw! one road definitely freaked me out a bit, though. All of the houses appeared to be crumbling and pretty desolate.. I watch too many movies like that...! so I drove about 2 miles and made a u-turn after crossing a creepy open-grate bridge with swirling rapids down below! lol

enjoyong the solitude and allowing nature to excite and inspire, was what my trip home was all about! I saw two separate flocks of wild turkeys and lots of males puffing or spreading out their tail feathers (just like peacocks) to attract females for mating.



I also listened to my Artist's Way cds and I appreciated the part about artists being VISUAL and how important the weekly artist date is ~ for the purpose of "filling the well." Which is exactly what i did. Pure bliss!

Full Circle Friendship

As I am usually the one seeking to re-connect with misplaced friendships along the way, I had a pleasant surprise waiting for me last month when I logged in to my flickr account! I had a new message, titled "Greetings From Philadelphia." And here's the kick... I moved two states away, 37 years ago! I'm smiling as I head off to bed tonight, after a long phone conversation filled with memories and laughter and thinking to myself, "What a treasure to be able to close a loop left open so many decades ago!" XO

19th century sisters: augusta, alice and edna

a photo bycookievf on Flickr.

...also known as "GUS, PETE and TED!" The nicknames were affectionately given to these three sisters by their father ~ who was hoping for boys! Happily, after Alice came Bruce, then Scott and finally Helen.. and my great grandfather was pleased and to some degree, relieved. He now had two sons to continue the family's business of manufacturing wood lacquers and stains, which they did. So successfully in fact, that the reins were eventually passed on to the 3rd and 4th generations, becoming world-renowned particulary in the music business (guitar lacquers, stains & finishes) at the very same Philadelphia location, where it continued until 2009, for 135 years!

Alice, my maternal grandmother, lived 99 years and 10 months and has been my SPECIAL guardian angel watching closely over me since 1995.

A new chapter has been added to this wonderful McFadden family tree. In my quest to research family genealogy, I have just located one of Edna's granddaughters and we're sharing photos, stories. documents and are now linked with another 2nd cousin on Facebook!

Approx 1915 ~ my great uncle, Scott McFadden, with a company truck