2009 April | Artistic Artifacts

Archive for April, 2009

Judy’s Altered Minds (JAMS) Altered Art Group

Monday, April 27th, 2009

Our most recent meeting was held Sunday, April 19th 1-4:00. This meeting is open to all interested altered art artists both paper and fiber. We spent most of the time catching up, show and tell and listening to Karen Scudders adventure to Artfest on the West Coast. We all want to go back with her next year….

I acutally had show and tell this time, my progress on my beach journal and 2 mini art quilts using Lutradur. I will post photos in another blog entry.

We had 2 guests, Meghan’s mother from NY.

And Kelly’s daughter hiding under the table. She came prepaired with crayons and paper.

Here is Karen with a sunny smile for all at the meeting! Kelly told us a cool tip, when making paper mache use wood glue for a wood feeling to the finished product. aha!

Meghan worked on the journal prompt!! And in fabric no less! the only one who did!

April’s journal prompt is : Self Portrait

Then we had Karen tell us about ArtFest and I was so engrossed that I did not take photo’s of her wonderful journals or Elizabeth’s show and tell.

The next meeting is May 17th. 1-4:00 hope to see you there!

Posted in Judy's Altered Minds, The Annex | No Comments »

Digital Essentials by Gloria Hansen and Blending Photos with Fabric 2 by Mary Ellen Kranz

Tuesday, April 21st, 2009

At the time that Digital Essentials came out, another photo book arrived on the market called Blending Photos with Fabric 2 by Mary Ellen Kranz. Both books are published by the Electric Quilt Company. Both books are a must have for anyone working with digial cameras, computer photos, and social networks.

Digital Essentials by Gloria Hansen is a technical handbook, a step by step instructions for Photoshop, Photoshop elements and Paint shop Pro. Gloria speaks in English! and for anyone who has asked a computer question on many on lists Gloria is generous with her knowledge and information- that comes through in the book as well. Personally, I have to do everything for my website (the computer is my friend….not!…. working on it). And I have had to learn how to adjust photos to post on the web, creating and importing spreadsheets for my store data as I go- somedays my head feels like it will explode! And I have to run to my stash and pet fabric!! Gloria walks you through the different types of photo files advantages and disadvantages of each- information that is useful for anyone posting photos on power points, websites, blogs, or facebook. I have not gotten to the section on layers, I want to do it when I can play with my computer- I think this will be interesting to create mixed media collage and improving photos.

Do you already have the book? Please add your review to the comments section. Thank you.

Digial Essentials is on sale in Artistic Artifacts website at 10% off cover price:

http://www.artisticartifacts.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=A&Product_Code=640&Category_Code=

guess I need to get to the “sharpen your image section” also!!

The other book, Blending Photos with Fabric 2 by Mary Ellen Kranz presents easy to follow instructions also. Right away I learned several useful tips about my digital camera. Ellen talks about taking photos to use as artwork, recommending several angles to take of the same viewpoints. Also included are several quilt projects to walk you through using photos- projects both traditional in technique and basic art quilt ideas.

Do you have this book? Please add your book review to the comments section! Thank you.

This book is on sale 10% on Artistic Artifacts website:

http://www.artisticartifacts.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=A&Product_Code=632&Category_Code=

Also available from Artistic Artifacts are EQ pretreated cotton lawn fabrics to print photos on: http://www.artisticartifacts.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=A&Product_Code=7955E&Category_Code=im

Check out the quilts and photos on this blog: http://www.miamithreads.blogspot.com/

artist Judy Momenzadeh does fantastic work!! Elizabeth forwarded her blog to me, thank you Elizabeth!

Posted in Book/DVD reviews, Photos, Quilts | 1 Comment »

Journal Bliss by Violette

Wednesday, April 15th, 2009

My comfort zone is with fiber, but I love the idea of collaging with paint, paper and fiber. The creation of an altered book, journal, or painting using ever popular drawing and painting techniques just sucks me in and when I see a book that might help me further my knowledge or loosen up my editing button, with these techniques I BUY IT! I have gotten to the point that I enjoy putting color on paper, the Stewart Gill Paints have done that for me, but adding drawings, words, photos, etc and I just don’t think I have what it takes.

While visiting Sue Bleiweiss’s blog http://suebleiweiss.typepad.com/sueb/ she had posted a review on this book: Journal Bliss by Violette.

So I ordered it. And it just arrived, A copy of for me and several for you to purchase on the Artistic Artifacts website:

http://www.artisticartifacts.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=A&Product_Code=2784&Category_Code=

The book is pretty cool. Lots of great photos, diagrams and examples of journal techniques, including background paint techniques using the most wonderful tool there is ……. a plastic credit card!!! She includes borders, faces, writing styles, doodling, words and even how to construct and embellishing a mailing envelope!! It is light and easy inspiration.

There is a quote that I especially like and is appropriate for me at this time:

“When my daughter was about seven years old, she asked me one day what I did at work. I told her I worked at the college- that my job was to teach people how to draw. She stared back at me, incredulous, and said, “you mean they forget?”

Yup, I have forgotten how to draw and paint and I want it back!! I think Violette is going to help me! and you! Hurry while inventory is in stock!

I have a little addition to this post. Yesterday, I picked up my niece, Celia from School (she is 5) and she came to my house until her parents arrived home from work. Her favorite place is my studio, usually to play with fabric scraps, but yesterday she was in a drawing mood. She grabed paper and colored pencils and started drawing. When I asked her what she was working on, I was told: “random things, just drawing”. Random?! Where did that come from? (did I say she is smart? LOL!). She asked me to join her in drawing “random” things, so I did. I tried for a little while to keep up with her without great success, so I ran to get Violette’s book….. Celia couldn’t believe that there was a book like this!! she looked at every page 2 and 3 times and we used it to get ideas for our random drawings and I introduced her to a new word: doodling!!

Posted in Book/DVD reviews | 1 Comment »

Spring Break in Hilton Head SC

Sunday, April 12th, 2009

We have just returned from a week in Hilton Head SC. It was cold! but we determined northerners braved the cold, windy days on the beach. My brother, sister and their families came with us as well. We were missing a few -

The cold must have freaked out the sand dollars because we found tons on the beach. Celia, Layla and I had bleaching duty to clean the sand dollars. (okay I dealt with the bleach, not for little kids) When the sand dollars are alive they are brown and blend into the sand. Normally it is a treasure hunt to find any sand dollars, but this year the high tide left many!!

Great face huh? I truely dislike having my photo taken!! But my 2 helpers are cute as a button.

Always on a trip I need an art project. My husband and son roll their eyes as I try to crame my studio into one LL Bean bag, needless to say a couple of smaller plastic bags sneak their way into the car. This year I had a project in mind to work on – a journal about the beach. (talk about out of my comfort zone!) I had begun painting backgrounds for the pages in my book several weeks ago, the first layer of paint so to speak. I paint and sell Stewart Gill Acrylic paints through my website. Stewart Gill paints are wonderful!! I love these paints!! Have you tried them? They are so creamy I paint with my fingers or a credit card, rarely with a brush. The product line just begs to be layered, thus improving and adding depth to your artwork.

On Wednesday, it was so cold we did some thrift store shopping and I found several great illustrated books to add photos to my journal. I will post samples of my journal pages later, still working on finding words.

And here is the family photo of all who attended the week in Hilton Head. Thank you everyone for a great time. Reid hope you enjoyed your birthday at the beach!! I love you all!!

Posted in Family, Travel | 2 Comments »

Kreativ Blogger

Wednesday, April 8th, 2009

Bonnie has given me an award- how wonderful Thank you!! I am thinking that Hazel told you about me?? maybe?? Bonnie your woven artwork is wonderful!! I too was a weaver. I learned so very much and have friends who I will keep through out my lifetime. My loom stands in a corner, waiting for a worthy home with a new owner, my sewing machine has replaced it.

Bonnie’s blog: http://weavingspirit.blogspot.com/

But I side track…. The award is gratfully accepted and according to the rules I will nominate 8 other blogs.