Flow

Do you know how I like things to flow from one to the next?

And when it's all done, I think back and remember...nothing ever happens before it is time.

I know. I know. I keep telling you that but do you think about it? Really think about it?

Nothing ever happens before it is time. It gives understanding to your daily life.
So here is what I am working on this weekend. I thought you would like to see. I am participating in a Skinny Book Swap and it was time to create my page.

A lot of things just flowed into this page. The obvious, of course, is the cropped print from my painting last week. Another is the stenciled lace in the background as well as the green tulle that is stitched down.

Susan and I split a huge roll of the tulle and lace that we found last weekend at Antique Alley. I was so anxious to try it as a stencil but at the time, did not have a clue on what.

I also very recently ordered some Adirondack Color Wash in Butterscotch color and that is what I used to stencil with.

The actual first layers of the background were done in August when I first signed up for the swap. And then it sat waiting because...

Nothing ever happens before it is time.

More later,

Sharon

Looking

Over my shoulder.....

Because of the many layers that I planned,

I thought I would snap a few photos along the way.

...as if you were looking over my shoulder.

In this first picture, I have already transferred my sketch.

Using carbon and only going over the main lines of the sketch.

Then, I used Payne's gray to outline and add some darks to it before adding the napkin.

Cropped close up of the first photo.

I tried to sand at this step but did not get the effect I wanted.
I painted a layer of Zinc White over the whole canvas.
????? I just do that.
I ripped a page out of one of my new books to transfer text.
I considered the text layer under the napkin and will do that next time.
This paper did not transfer real well but this is the effect I wanted.
Here I have sanded the canvas again.

Here I started layering Payne's gray which is one of my favorite Golden liquid acrylic paints.

It is a translucent glaze the I keep building and building.

Here, I have added more to the composition and started painting the face.

Almost.....

Right side view.....

Left side view.....

SECRETS ...
....is a 6 X 8 gallery wrapped canvas.

I hope you enjoyed watching.

More later,

Sharon

Bloglandia Ball

Have your heard?
Everyone is going.
It's the Bloglandia Ball.
Celebrating the the full moon known as the Chrysanthemum Moon or the Harvest Moon.
*
E B is the host of the cyber event. Everyone is caught up in the net of the world wide making paper dresses
to celebrate the moons.

I mailed my RSVP card last week before a dress could be made.
*
And I've run out of time to make a dress.
What shall I do?

I must go.
But what to wear?
Think. Think.
I've got it.
The perfect Ball gown
Of course, The Wingkeeper's gown.
Everyone will know it's the Wingkeeper.
swirling and twirling.........
*
*
Now, I must go and get dressed.
*
*
It's all about
"Simultaneous Multiplicity".

Do go to the party and do check all the links. I've already peeped and the fantasy is delightful.
The Wingkeeper

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Permission granted for "copy/paste/print" for "the Book"

Party Day

Celebrating............

With Party in a Can
for
Miss Ashley
18
Today is the day.

and she is away.
So I sent her can.

With all but the band.

I packed this little peanut can full of Cookies, candles as you see, and other surprises.

Of course, I used one of my favorite homemade stamps. It's Ashley and she just loves seeing herself.
Next time I take a can to the post office, I'm going to take a picture after my mail lady cancels the stamps. You know that is part of the mail art.

Well, stay tuned today because I'm going to the Bloglandia Ball and will tell you all about it.....

Later

Sharon

Inspiration Journal

DREAM

I'm not sure if I have ever shared my Inspiration Journal. Mostly, I write things that come to mind or things that inspire me while visiting blogs. Like the notation this morning while reading Stephanie Lee's blog.

Sometimes, I sketch in it. Sometimes, I glue stuff in it. Sometimes I find little scraps of my stuff and I glue or staple it down. I keep addresses in it. And sometimes, I write down a memory that pops forward and sometimes, like today, I write dreams in it.

More later,

Sharon

Antique Alley

You know if I told you I was going to the Texas size 25 mile Antique Alley event, well then I would have to show you.

Did you ever unroll one of those fireplace logs? Really cool newspaper rolled up.

Don't you think I can use this someway, somehow? It is waxy but what about those wax collages where you use wax as the glue. I've never done that but heck maybe I will.

Birds anyone?

It was the Wingkeeper in me that had to have these.

Really, do you want some?


I think I shall, at a later date, write a whole post on Ila Fern's Eighth Grade Autograph book.......or maybe Oh dear me, Norah's playing in my brain. It's coming too fast to tell......



What's this?......My mission for the day was No More Books!

I had a good reason for needing every one of them. You know I did.

I passed right by this, but my evil eye friend Susan, who doesn't miss a thing spotted it.

The rubber has lost it bounce but I think I can make it work. I think it will work especially well with acrylic paint. I plan on trying that later today.

Bet you thought I was kidding about the frame.

My mission for the day was to look for frames. But I didn't manage to measure the sizes that I needed.

Therefore, this was the only frame I came home with. And I really didn't know what it would fit.

Lo and behold! This is what it fit near 'bout perfect. Makes me happy.

You can be sure that I found a whole bunch more treasures. Some little this and thats for my Garden Palace. Someday, we will have a party over there and I will show and tell that.

Today, I plan to rest.
My friend Susan wore me out.
The house is quite.
Nobody here except me.
Will make chocolate cookies to send to Ashley.
She turns 18 this week.
All of her dorm friends what Pringle Cans.
Might tune in a Lifetime Movie.
Might just listen to music.
Might do a little art journaling.
Might sleep.
Feeling lazy.
More later,
Sharon

Swapped ART

Check this out........
......
Art on Mail Art with Art inside.

.....
Oh yes yes yes, I am the lucky one.

I'm thinking I will frame this mail art envelope. Wouldn't you?

My blogging friend, Zorana is the artist.

art by Zorana

We did an ART swap and this is the piece that she painted especially for me. It is just so beautiful and soulful. As a matter of fact, the title of the piece is "Window(s) to My Soul". It's mine. Thank you so much Zorana, you know I love it.


My beautiful mail art brought several gifties. I just want to show you this magnificent skeleton leaf that Zorana tucked in the card.

Do thing like this excite you as much as me?



**************
Saturday plans:
My friend Susan and I are going to Antique Alley. Hey, look for us. It will be so much fun.
More later,
Sharon

Great Weekend

We are having a great ARTful weekend. I used one of the napkins that Suze sent me. Actually, this is the second one. The top of the box in yesterday's post was a gold napkin with texture. I really love how this turned out.

Now, I think I will take a little nap. No tellin what we can do after that.

More later,

Sharon

Shinny Black Knobs

"Shinny black wooden knobs with red s........"

I heard myself say that.

And I followed with obsession.

I was in that place where inspiration flows.

Do you know that place?

Fun Friday

Check this out. Now I have a friend named Suze who gives me beautiful napkins to make art with. You remember. I have a friend named Susie who gives me....and a friend named Susan who gives me.... I am so lucky and blessed and thank you Suze.

And look at here Zazzle stamps. I need to do that. Oh, and one of the napkins is missing because you know me. I have to use something immediately so as to break the hoarding spell. It works because I have all sort of things in my head that I want to do with these beautiful napkins.

Sometimes,

when you hear your self,

just flow with it.

I'm doing that,

It's a what-cha-ma-call-it.

More later,

Sharon

New Stamp

For my Friend

By special request, a stamp for my friend. The above is the final image stamped with a not very juicy ink pad. Below is the digitized image I was working with and the progression.

Clockwise from top left:

Positive image

Negative image

Hand carved rubber stamp

First print from stamp.

More later,

Sharon