Inspiration

Collision

I know you were here.

So I'll save my words.

Maybe.

Look at my new greens. I love green.

Napkin, of course.

Making postcards and ATCs.

Armed with plain paper copies of my ART.

And a goof print on really really good paper.

First thing I did was cut out the double printed area.

Actually, I really really like what happened and it made me think of this deVinci quote.

three and three

I don't think so.

Oh look, a card.

More

First postcard.

Second postcard.

Hey, a canvas. I see something here.

No.

Third Postcard.

And that is a little bit of what I did.

Now if you missed some of that and have a question, just ask me in comments and I will answer you in comments.

Enough for now,

Sharon

Swap

Look at this FUN!

so far there are 24 swappers!

more are on the way!

My real job is getting in the way of my art-at-the-desk job.

so

I moved over to the art-at-the-counter area.

You guys through me for a loop!

I had to change the envelope plan.

It works.

Back at the desk I have some almost ready to go.

Just thought I'd give you a little peek. If you are swapping, watch for something similar to this.
I say similar because I will need to make more and you know how sometimes, I switch gears and don't even know it.
Enough,
Sharon

Sisters' Tea Party

and a Huge Fight!

Did you try the Klimt Challenge? I really wasn't going to share this with you but heck, you know me, if I take pictures then I gotta show. The truth is, I was going to offer this up for the "tea party" theme at Cloth Paper Scissors.

That's why I only showed this little snippet in Friday's post. So now you can watch her transition. Watch her come to life.

Before I give you the blow-by-blow, I should report that all my weekend chores from the to-do list have been completed.

When I feel a struggle while painting, I have come to know that it is Norah'S presence. Sometimes she quietly leads me and sometimes we resist each other. Today, we had a knock-down-drag-out!

This "Klimt Challenge" was all her idea in the first place. I had already planned to go about this Sister painting differently.

.

.

Usually, I cut out the head from the plain paper print to transfer to the canvas. Here you see I have used the whole square. I thought it would be fun to see what might happened and how I might incorporate them. So, in the above, the images have been transferred using Golden Soft Gel (matte).
Next, I start putting color on the canvas. This is therapeutic and this is when I start to daydream. Que Norah'S entrance.

As I recall, earlier Thursday, I had been exposed to something "Klimt". And what I was thinking about was all the little flowers he uses every where. Norah's great idea was to print sheets of flowers from my on garden pictures and to cut them into little circles and just glue them down......we did.

Sometimes you just know something is going to be a challenge (struggle). (conflict). (fight).

So, I went to bed. But not before changing the "snippet's" neck position and convincing or being convinced to change the frock color. We concurred on this change...no struggle.

Friday morning, I got up and laid some more of the collage elements down on the canvas and snapped a picture. I'm having difficulty. I'm thinking there may be no hope. Norah'S thinking, there is hope. NO. YES. NO.

No art Friday night, too many weekend chores. We're not talking to each other anyway. Silent game.

This is after a fresh start Saturday morning with coffee. Everything has been glued down. Finding their frock in the blank white area was a challenge. And we are still at each other about certain little areas. But I agree, there is hope. The couch was calling so we watched a movie and went to bed.

Fresh start Sunday morning with coffee. I decided to add more "Klimt" doodles. I'm convinced that's what a lot of his background and detail is. Klimt doodles. And here is where we had the biggest fight. I knew, thiswasnotgoingtowork! It was Norah'S idea to just keep going. NO. YES. No. I swear sometimes, I don't know who is pushing or who is pulling. But I'm the one with the brush in hand and so I've got the power to paint it out. I did!

It's not that I didn't like it. It just wasn't doing what I wanted it to do in this painting. Then.....

We moved on to the area that was still bugging me. Understand, I know better that to try to remove collage elements. So why in the world would I even try? Why would I need to? I don't know, one of us is c-r-a-z-y....and it's not me. She nearly made me mess up that beautiful little tea cup.

Now, tell me what you did? What Klimt elements were you inspired by? There are at least three more in mine that I haven't mentioned. Can you name them?

Enough for this week,

Sharon

Check In

Here is my Friday checking in post.

First thing, the napkins y'all are sending are out of this world. I know there is more on the way. Plus, if you haven't sent yours, it's not too late.

It's never too late. Even if out of the blue, you sent me a napkin, I would send you one back. That's the deal.

Second, this pic is just for blog post prettiness today. Not ready to show and tell....it is just a last night's head start for the weekend.

Third, about the weekend. One of the office morning coffee drinkers ask about my weekend as he left this morning. I thought I would share with you what I shared with him.

My to-do list:

1. That dead wasp that has been on the floor right in the doorway between the kitchen and bedroom for quite a while will be picked up this weekend. I will dispose in the trash or maybe just chunk it out side. Not sure yet.

2. The folded pink fitted sheet that has been laying on the dresser for quite a while will get moved to the other bedroom but I can put it on the bed yet because the mate to it needs a little repair and that is not on the weekend to-do list.

4. Each pair of shoes that can be found at each entrance to the house and the pair by my chair and the pair just outside my closet door will be gathered up and redistributed or maybe put in the closet.

That's it. That's my list. You know me, if I put it on a list, I will do it.

How about a Friday/Weekend challenge. (It is kinda what started to above painting). Google Gustav Klimt and study some of his paintings. Then, choose some element that he uses and be inspired to incorporate it into your weekend bit of art. You can do this. It doesn't matter if you are doing a painting, an assemblage, a scrapbook page, an ATC, a tag, something big or little. Try it and let us know.

Enough for now. I have to go. The mail person has just brought more napkins.

Sharon

Great Weekend

I'm still talking about napkins.

How about you?

Kate, "I received your package of napkins."

Oh how I love them.

Calla Lilly

See, I have already glued one down.

This is just a little peak of my weekend painting.

Had to show you at least a peak.

But no more.

It is relevant to today's "napkin talk".

Get in on the napkin swap if you love napkins.

Just scroll down to earlier post this week for the how to.

First, I want to answer a few questions.

Jacky, said,

"......are you going to let us in on the secret about Tuesday mornings?"
Jacky lives down under and I'm thinking they don't have the store, Tuesday Morning. It is just store with all kinds of stuff and they have a great selection of napkins.

From jerseytjej,

"...the one stamp won't work for us out of the country. You can only post from America using us stamps..."

I know and I'm busted.

I just thought it would be a cool way for me to get stamps from other countries.

"Already been used" stamps works for me.

My friend's call me Rella said, ".....Sometimes I notice the gorgeous napkins in the store have annoying hole things at the most wonderful part of the design.....I would describe it as brail!!! .... Do you know what I mean??"

I'm not sure Rella, but if you mean the little design that shows up in the above napkin, they are harmless. They are there to hold the three layers together.

Here is the corner of a canvas where I have applied the napkin with gel medium. As you can see, the "braille" goes away.

A comment from jblack design reminded me of something I forgot to tell you. That is about layering napkins. Because they are so translucent, you can layer them and use several different designs and she also gives a great tip on where to find, "... Estate sales and Goodwills are good places to find napkins, too. I found vintage ones from Japan last summer."

The above corner is the same corner that I showed in the sneak peak in the first photo at the top. Then the mail arrived with the beautiful Calla Lilly napkin.

Shopgirl said, "I went to lunch with my group of ladies...we went to one of the ladies house... I saw the napkins and thought of you...so I gently put mine in my purse..." I'm laughing again as I post this but that reminded me of my funny story.

One of my friends here occasionally drops off a napkin or two. One day while I was out, she left four or five. I took them home and not until I started to use one that I noticed the circle impression in the middle (see above napkin). I just died laughing when I realized that she had swiped from a table somewhere all the napkins that were sitting under the water glasses.

So, if you are out of the country and want to swap, send me already been used stamp and it's OK with me if you want to send an already been used napkin.

I think I went over my time today, sorry.
Enough for today,

Sharon

Lunchtime

....not really
Just deezert.

Look, it says, "Tear'n Share Size". That's what made me want to share with you.

I'm getting excited about the napkins that I hear are on the way. This is going to be fun. I'm visualizing a big stack. So, don't forget. Click here for the scoop on the napkin swap.

Two more sisters with violets ready to go out into the world. Aren't they irresistible? There is still one sister at my all Norah'S art Shop and I will be adding these two and yesterday's one shortly. Well shortly like this evening. What do you think about the little prints? They are only 3 1/2 X 4 inches. I'll wait to hear from you.

Napkin Play

If you haven't discovered the fun with napkins, give this a try.

First decide what part of the napkin you will use. You may use all of it or little parts of it.

In this case I just need a few flowers. So, I used scissors to cut around them.

Then, notice that I tore part of the napkin. When the napkin is applied with Golden Matte Medium, the torn edge feathers out and disappears....almost.


Cutting or tearing just depends on what effect you want.

The cut edge was where I wanted more control.

Mostly, napkins have three layers. Gently separate the layers because you only want to use the top layer.

Clue: the cut edge is sometime hard to separate. Hold the edge between your fingers close to your mouth and blow. It will separate enough so you can pull it apart.

You cannot apply the medium to the napkin because it is too fragile.

Apply an even smooth amount of medium to your art.

This picture shows too much and was only for photographic purposes.

Gently lay the napkin in place. You will not be able to move it once it makes total contact. You can hold it up and gage where you want it.

When you are happy with the placement, use the brush that still has medium on it to gently smooth the napkin.

Be happy with a few wrinkles.

Then with your finger very very very very gently rub it a little more.

You will discover after only a few moments, the napkin is biodegradable.

It just kinda wants to melt away. That is the good and the bad and sometimes the ugly.

I have to relearn this with each napkin that if play with.


Since placement is sometimes critical, just let the edge hang over. You can decide if you want to remove it or leave some.
When there is an area like the little violet on her chin that you are not happy with, you can just rub it off.

This point is made because I sometime collage napkins into my altered books. The hang over part will tear right away along the paper edge and leave a beautiful edge.

Now let it dry. After it is dry, you can use other mediums over it. You can paint over it which I usually do. It want get wet and be fragile after it has dried.

So here she is. Notice that I added more napkin at the bottom and in her hair. It is the transparent quality that is so appealing. Don't you think?

One Thing

Leads to Another
Yes, one thing always leads to another for me. You asked what I used to collage the napkins with and here is it, Golden Matte Medium. Later this week, when I get ready to collage some of these little tiny violets from Sandy onto this new sister, I will do a quick tutorial. Maybe you'll come back for that......but that's not what I was going to tell you about today.

I know I've said this before, "one thing always leads to another". Monday when I did that quick little sketch with FolkArt on the scrapbook card stock, I liked how it looked and felt while painting. So this morning, I got up and used the above colors to start this new sister. If you want to know exactly what the colors are, go ahead and click on the photo. More on that later....that's not what I was going to tell you about today.

Speaking of napkins, yesterday we were and I was thinking about how one thing always leads to another. Well here is my desk drawer of napkins. You ask where to find wonderful napkins and I can tell you that my blogging friend Suze told me about Tuesday Morning. But that's not really what I was going to tell you about today. But it is a hint.

Besides finding beautiful napkins at Tuesday Morning's I have received napkins from beautiful blogging friend like Sandy(violets yesterday) and Janet and Suze and Ro and Rosemary and Susan and Carolynn and Misty and Zorana and Darla and Fiona and Chantal and Cindy and Pilar and Kate and Terri and I know I have missed someone but don't be mad at me, ok. And receiveing the violets yesterday is the one thing that leads me to this:

Would you want to do a napkin swap?
If so,

Send at least 3 napkins to:

Sharon Tomlinson

126 Bridge Street

Marlin TX 76661

also enclose

one postage stamp

and

your return address on a little piece of paper

Here is how it will work, how ever many napkins you send me, I will send you that many by return mail. They can be all the same or all different or big or little.

I will use the little piece of paper with your return address to 'collage' onto the envelope. I will use your one stamp and add another if needed.

I will plan to mail the swap on Wednesday, June 25th. That is two weeks, but do it today. No sign up, just do it. Easy peasy. Enough

Sharon

ps: yes this means one stamp from England, Australia, France, Sweden, Norway, wherever.....you get it? Enough

Violets

Yesterday, while having a Monday, I drifted off with a pencil in my hand and a scrap of paper....to the place where I escape to.

Then the nice letter carrier lady brought me two packages. One was an ATC swap that I was in. That's when I remembered that I didn't even take a picture of the ones I sent. Hard to believe I know.

The second package was from Sandy with beautiful vintage cloth napkins that I won on a draw. Sandy also sent me a lovely little package of paper napkins with violets on them.

You know me, glue it down quick so as not to hoard. So I got up on the lovely Tuesday morning and glued the sketch along with a bit of napkin into my inspiration journal.

You know how one thing always leads to another.........

for me

It has and I'm gonna tell you about it tomorrow because for today.....enough

Sharon

Journal Page

I'm having a Monday.

Enough,

Sharon