She Is Prayer Book

She Is Prayer Book

She is

clothed

with strength and dignity

and laughs

without

fear

of the future
Proverbs 31:25

She is

beautiful
sensitive
loving
fun
caring
joyful
strong
motherly
and kind
She is Lorraine

I first met my friend Lorraine Lewis, her dear husband and beautiful daughter in Italy about a year and a half ago. 

All I can say, she is a beautiful person with a loving family and they made my trip more special than they even know. 

Lorraine is now faced with the return of cancer. 

What can one do but pray when you live so far away.

While in prayer, I was inspired to stitch this little prayer book to send to Lorraine. 

Just to let her know that every stitch held a special prayer for her stitched with love from me.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

There will be a special Art Auction to share support and love for Lorraine Lewis as she battles Colorectal Cancer this week on Instagram.

heart_and_hand

I invite you to click on the above link to preview the Art to be auctioned.

The bidding on Instagram opens 9am on 14th June and ends at 9am on 15th June.

A New Art Apron from an Old Blouse

New Apron Back

The blouse before destruction

Destruction

Art aprons make me so hot and yet, I must wear one; otherwise, all of my clothes would carry the evidence.

So this weeks creative venture is to make a new art apron with very lightweight 100% cotton.
Of course the making has to be fun.
And I think you can decipher what I have done so far.
My plan is to bind the raw edges by hand stitching and embellishing with cloth fragments.
Inspiration is from Jude Hill. I am enjoying an online class with her called What If Diaries I.
♥

Feeling Changed

Vinca

The vinca is blooming at my house. 

I'm seeing signs of spring emerging.

I'm emerging too. 

But things are different. 

Things have changed.

Some bad stuff.

Some good things.

 

Tim's Cloth

Hope you will stay with me as I find my way back. 

You won't be sorry. 

I was looking through my 2008 archives last week for something.

I don't remember what.

But what I found was my word for that year.

"Enough"

It was the best word!!!

I'm choosing it again. 

So, for now, enough.

Sharon

The Hope Flag Project

The Hope Flag Project Maybe you haven't heard about this project being coordinated by Leighanna Light via Facebook. Here are my flags that I'm mailing tomorrow. I just went with simple, bright, colorful and quick. Leighanna needs them in her hands by January 2nd.  Read on for more information if you are interested. 

The following is a "copy and paste" from The Hope Flag Project on Facebook 

The “rules” and frequently asked questions
-This is about hope & good wishes, not about any specific religion, or even praying if that is not a part of your life. It is about showing that we care. If you want to include a prayer, wonderful, but it is not required. This was an issue with en of the schools participating, so we are now calling them hope flags. Sheesh. 
-Your flag can be made out of any cloth material... An old piece of clothing, an old sheet, canvas,- you don’t need to go out & buy anything.

-When you finish, the size of each flag should be about 5” wide by 8” long- so that the chain remains uniform in size. Please sew or glue the top of the flag over, leaving a one inch gap so that I can run a string through it- SO THE TOATAL MEASUREMENT OF YOUR FABRIC BEFORE YOU BEGIN SHOULD BE 5 INCHES WIDE BY 9 INCHES LONG. Sorry for the initial confusion about this. This project is about love, not about exact measurements! Some people are sending triangular flags b/c they don't have time to make new ones, I will be including everything that I get, no matter what size. It will be beautiful!

-You can make them as simple or elaborate as you’d like. You can paint on it, write on it, sew on it, make a little heart in the center- anything goes EXCEPT please refrain from addressing the person who caused this or the names of the victims. This is about hope & I think it’s a good idea to keep it as positive as possible.

-Please make sure these get to me by January 2nd. If they do not arrive by then, they will not make it to the school, & probably won’t be mailed back to you.

You can make flags until the cows come home, please make as many as you’d like.

-I would love to photograph each one, but I’m not sure how much time I will have for that. Please take a picture of your flag before you mail it off. Feel free to post it on this page.

-Please don't send me any money! Many of the families have facebook pages where you can donate directly to them. I'm going to cover the postage to Newtown, & I've already bought art supplies for the kids who are making flags here. I'm fine with that & would love for the parents or town to get the money instead.

-I would prefer that you post any questions that you still have here on this page, instead of sending a private message or email.

-Please send the flags here...
Leighanna Light
PO Box 2861
Ranchos De Taos, NM 87557

Thanks again so very much for participating in this, especially right now, in the middle of the holidays. Really, I am blown away by the response to this.
-When you finish, the size of each flag should be about 5” wide by 8” long- so that the chain remains uniform in size. Please sew or glue the top of the flag over, leaving a one inch gap so that I can run a string through it- SO THE TOATAL MEASUREMENT OF YOUR FABRIC BEFORE YOU BEGIN SHOULD BE 5 INCHES WIDE BY 9 INCHES LONG. Sorry for the initial confusion about this. This project is about love, not about exact measurements! Some people are sending triangular flags b/c they don't have time to make new ones, I will be including everything that I get, no matter what size. It will be beautiful!
-You can make them as simple or elaborate as you’d like. You can paint on it, write on it, sew on it, make a little heart in the center- anything goes EXCEPT please refrain from addressing the person who caused this or the names of the victims. This is about hope & I think it’s a good idea to keep it as positive as possible.
-Please make sure these get to me by January 2nd. If they do not arrive by then, they will not make it to the school, & probably won’t be mailed back to you.
You can make flags until the cows come home, please make as many as you’d like. 
-I would love to photograph each one, but I’m not sure how much time I will have for that. Please take a picture of your flag before you mail it off. Feel free to post it on this page.
-Please don't send me any money! Many of the families have facebook pages where you can donate directly to them. I'm going to cover the postage to Newtown, & I've already bought art supplies for the kids who are making flags here. I'm fine with that & would love for the parents or town to get the money instead.
-I would prefer that you post any questions that you still have here on this page, instead of sending a private message or email.
-Please send the flags here...Leighanna Light PO Box 2861Ranchos De Taos, NM 87557
Thanks again so very much for participating in this, especially right now, in the middle of the holidays. Really, I am blown away by the response to this.

Back burner break butt kicker

Here is evidence I'm getting ready for a weekend adventure.
A little ways down the road.  And it might feel like a vacation!


I moved the postcard challenge to the back burner for a break. Iceland, the next prompt is a butt kicker.  Can't find an artist that makes me swoon. 

When I need to clear out all the chit-chatter, I stitch. I needed to stitch.
♥ 

Face painting and stitching

I'm taking a breath to recharge.
I needed to put my postcards on hold long enough to paint these Inktense Faces on Fabric samples.  Actually, I wanted to make dolls with them but ran out of time for that.
I thought seeing what I did with them instead of making dolls might inspire you. My DVD, Inktense Faces on Fabric is still available.  If you are interested, just click here on the DVD Shop tab.

 

Faces in Truth

Monday Morning Art found me back at my desk. Back in my routine with a little determination; as well as, your words swirling in my head. First, I just glued down some papers and then I thought to myself how boring that was.  


It is crazy what I did next because the reason I glue down papers is I don't like to paint on canvas. Well, I heard one of you say "challenge" or "do something different" and so without thinking I turned and picked up a piece of fabric. I moved fast and found a few more pieces. I didn't cut them or change their shapes. I just glued them down with a tiny bit of confidence that I would know what was next.


Of course "next" was a face and the first one I saw Tuesday morning was on a faces collage. So, I started.

 Today, again during Morning Art I was anxious to paint. But the excitement really churned when I saw the birds (those little demons!). For me, there is a certain level of excitement when you think it is going to be good. 

And then there is a whole new feeling that surges through your soul when the story begins to reveal itself and you know it is going to be good. I have to say, I was surprised that the story was revealed little by little much like in my Faces in Collage class technique.

You know I will be back tomorrow to share the whole finished story.

I'm just wondering if any of you know that feeling that I'm talking about.

I hope so.

♥

Photoshop Fun and more

 I've been playing if Photoshop Elements this week and learned something new and very very fun. Here is what I did:

So, that's what I did.  I pulled two images into Photoshop Elements. Next, I dragged and dropped the pencils on top of the face.  Next, I used the layer menu and chose various layers and you see what happened.  

FUN!!!

All this fun was had during my "morning art" period and don't you know I had a reason for the fun.  


I was designing a DVD cover for my latest offering.  This is not a new lesson.  It is the DVD of my on line class Inktense Faces on Fabric.  After receiving a few request for the DVD, I decided to do it. 

Here is what you get with this DVD:

2 hours of viewing

A printed supply list

and

A small print of one of the faces demonstrated

all as shown above. 

$39.00

includes shipping and handling

---------------♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥---------------
I can't help but share with you some of my students Inktense Faces on Fabric projects.

 Student Showcase

for

Inktense Faces on Fabric

by Suze Rose of New Zeland
and Sam Johnson aka Gollywobbles

What's in your water heater closet?

What's in your water heater closet?  Maybe you should check.   You might find one of these.

"One of these" is defined as a work of art from long ago.  I'm sure you have them stuffed somewhere.  Don't you?

We recently had to replace our water heater which is housed in a little closet that opens from the master bathroom. There is room for the vacuum and all its attachments.  But there is also room for one (or more) of these.

Imagine my surprise when I emptied the closet to discover that she matches this master bathroom color scheme and now hangs proudly in there.

I created this batik many many years ago. I would say at least 30+ years.  Long enough that I cannot remember what my reference was but I would guess a picture in National Geographic.

I haven't any new art to share so I just thought she might interest you; as well as, remind you to go and see what is in your water heater closet.
Sharon

PS:  Thank you so much for your sweet, thoughtful and encouraging words after my last post.

 I believe I haven't done a good job of telling you about my

  Inktense Faces on Fabric Mini Class

Did you buy a set of Inktense when they first became the rage? 

And then did you set them aside not knowing just how to use them? 

Or why they were so great?

I'm guilty too. 

I think I had them two years before I realized the one thing that set them aside from all other water soluble pencils. 

The secret the hold is they become permanent when dry!!!

 Of course Inktense was not put out there to use primarily on fabric. 

But, what fun I discovered when playing with them. 

This is a "mini" class because all the face painting videos are from the 

Tree Castle Apron Class

which is still available. 

There is no sewing in this "mini" class.  

And even though my technique is for fabric, I can think of several fun ways to use your fabric art.

I'm hoping to have time to make a textile wall hanging and incorporate a piece.

I'm going to incorporate some faces in quilts I'm working on.

And what about the Tree Flags?

Do you remember the Tree Flags? 

I'm going to make some of those too. 

Why is this a "MINI" class?

♦ It only cost $40.00

♦  The supply list (shown below) is minimal

♦  It will travel with you on summer vacation very easily.

and

♦ The big class, Tree Castle Apron included a whole lot more sewing and pattern instruction video and fun PDF patterns.

I look forward to you joining the class. 

♥ Sharon

p.s.     I have DVDs ready to go.  Order now and they will ship today.

p.s.s.  thank you to all who have ordered already.  

p.s.s.s.  thank you to all who encourage me with your words. xoxo

Dear Friend

Good Morning sleeping person,
I sure hope you are still sleeping because I can't. So I'm up at 5am (3am for you). I really really planned to stay in bed today but my brain just started up anyway weather my body wanted to or not and so I at least waited until 5:00 to sneak out.

I was thrilled to have a "good morning" from you waiting. I usually try to be real quiet ...no finger talking....this early because it even seems too loud for me so early but I wanted to write and not do what I sometimes do....think I will come back in just a short bit and answer back and then 5 days go by.

The paella tradition sounds great, mouth watering and amazing. Wish I could sample. I don't think I have ever had it (the real thing) here but I had the real thing when we went to Spain so many years. Oh my, what a memory that is. Our group went up into a little village that was near the coast. I remember the winding gravel road up the hills to get to it. We could see it from a distance because it shined like a jewel. They surely had white-washed every building just the day before our arrival and we arrived early in the morning when they were still mopping the streets. I swear they were. You know how the houses/buildings are right up next to the narrow streets and every balcony has beautiful flora cascading from it. We did various activities (very touristy) and then lunch was this wonderful, aromatic, amazing dish they called paella. This Texas girl had never had such a dish where chicken, fish, pork, shrimp, mussels, bones, shells and all were served up. Oh my!

I am so glad you told me about your new outfit and evening out. I have been wondering ever since the day before and thought I was going to have to ask. Sounds like it was perfect. I'm glad you know how to go out and take care of yourself with a new outfit and even jewelry for an outing rather than like me, making do with something from my closet only to get to the event and feel so utterly out of place, embarrassed, wanting to crawl into a hole or just melt away. I recently did something like that where there were all women and I will not talk about it except to say, all I could think about was that I truly am or could be a recluse and be OK with never having to go into a group like that again. Which is really how my DH feels and I sat there thinking that after nearly 50 years, I had turned into him.

But it sounds like one of those kismet things where you were just meant to be and meet these SF artists! It is amusing, not funny amusing and not a surprise that someone would pay you that compliment. It is true. Wasn't that a great time to get to actually talk about art with a new person. What a visual, you sitting there perched on a bar stool chatting away the night with art talk. I hope you will be able to meet up with them again. Do they have a web site? I'm curious about what kind of art. Are they both French? Did I just assume that?

I guess a belly full of paella and beer will put you to sleep no matter how bloody the movie is. Sounds like it was all good and also good that you had control of the off button. Will there be cooking again today? It is cold there now and did you have any snow? I think our weekend is suppose to be nice...maybe rain on Sunday. I have so much to do out in the yard but I'm afraid I won't get to it this weekend.

Yes I finished recording the class last night. I have been keeping up with the initial editing of the clips. So I plan to sit this weekend and do the final editing which means I will sit and watch it all from start to finish and make notes about supplies, as well as write the instructions for the sewing part. etc. Do you mind if I just make my to-do list here instead of on another piece of paper? OK, I knew you wouldn't.

1. Make final decision on the name of the class: I'm thinking just "Tree Castle Apron" with a sub-title of "a face painting, mixed media, fabric collage project" .....that's just all I can come up with and sometimes I think naming the class is the hardest part.
2. Final edit of all (or at least three-quarters) of the videos.
3. Final supply List
4. Class description
5. Record short promo and photograph close-ups to go with that...edit and post on blog, Viemo, Youtube and Ning.
6. Write the sewing directions to go with pattern PDFs
7. Take breaks while the videos are converting and get the studios back into order because I am ready for a burst of inspiration.
8. Set up Paypal button for class.
9. Get "lecture hall" ready for the class at Ning.
10. Start uploading the videos to Viemo. There are over 20! (This is a monster class)
11. Finish a bit of the stamping on the class apron sampling.
12. Photograph the apron. I was thinking it would be so cool to have a little runway show with the apron. It is so cool! I want to ask a couple or three of my friends to let me record them (or take still shots) modeling the apron. I could use that in my videos somewhere. OK this just added another 6 or 10 hours to my weekend. Will have to think about that.
13. Get the class listed on my Ning "main" page and ready for registration Tuesday.

Well, I think I will stop with that. I'm sure more things to-do will come to mind when I get started. And if I can possible manage, I will bless the floors here and put away the Christmas stockings and Christmas tree. I think I should get that done before March. Or not.

Going now to START.
Hey did you ever notice that "art" is in the word start? And also did you ever notice this.....SharonTomlinsonART = START.
Gonna be one of those days when my brain will not stop talking to me.
Have a great weekend.
xoxo ♥ sharon

Tree Castle E-Course

I'm wanting to share even though I might not be really ready to do that.  The fact is when I'm working my ever spare moment on a project, I miss the time blogging and sharing and showing and telling.

So, I'm going to show (as it is) and tell anyway because you see, I get to make up my own rules.  I can share with you here what I'm up to even though I haven't written the "official" class description.

You've no doubt figured out that I'm working on a new online E-course.  My delay has been the fact that I have new camera. Well it was new last August and I am just now becoming friends with it.  I mean really good friends.  In the above picture, can you imagine me straddling the tripod and painting?  Yep, you are going to be amazed at this view of my demonstration.

Don't you know it will be about face painting!   If you love painting faces, you will love discovering one more medium to paint with and one more substrate to paint on.

But this is more than a technique class.  It is all about function and beauty inspired by this apron and this apron .  I will guide you in making a beautiful functional apron that will inspire you ever time you put it on to do your arting and crafting.

Until I get an "official" class description written, i can tell you my Tree Castle Apron class is a mixed media class including painting faces, fabric collage, sewing, and even journaling.

I think you are going to love it!
♥ Sharon

Ice Day

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

I took an ice day yesterday.  Soooo fun to be at home on Wednesdays.  Unfortunately, the ice is over with and here I am back at the desk-in-town.  That's OK because I started my Valentines while at home yesterday and today I will add the finishing touches to them here at the desk.

♥♥♥♥♥♥

and pop them in the mail

some will make it on time and some want

(love all these eyes)

And then I played with painting on muslin.

More about that soon.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Sharon