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Judy's Altered Minds
JAMs — Join Us for Inspiration!
Judy’s Altered Minds, affectionately known as JAMs for short, is a free altered art group open to all who are interested. Meetings take place in-person on the 3rd Sunday of each month beginning at 1:30 pm. (During the pandemic, members met via Zoom instead). Join our Artistic Artifacts Creative Minds Facebook group to show off your work virtually!
An optional exchange of artist trading cards (ATCs) is followed by a show and tell session. As we get back to ‘normal’ from the pandemic, we will work towards member-driven lectures or demonstration. A nominal cash donation is requested to contribute for utilities and the building cost. JAMs members are welcome to shop while here and receive a 10% discount on purchases.
The video here gives you a sampling from the Creative Minds who are part of the Artistic Artifacts Artifacts community and meet monthly at JAMs — members are artists who make art quilters, fiber and mixed media collages, jewelry, art dolls, assemblage... those who keep art journals, surface design enthusiasts, paper crafters, felters, and more. All ages and levels of expertise are represented, and all are welcome!
During JAMs meetings, attendees gather support and encouragement for their art, participate in demonstrations of techniques and group challenges, experiment with products, and enjoy the camaraderie of like-minded friends.
Our group is open to anyone interested — please use MeetUp.com to contact us about your interest, or to RSVP for each monthly meeting. Or, feel free to just “drop by” Artistic Artifacts on the 3rd Sunday of each month and introduce yourself!
*We ask all to visit our calendar for the most up-to-date information; the scheduled Sunday date for JAMs may shift, depending on holidays or classes taking place at Artistic Artifacts.
- Fiber and Mixed Media Book Recommendations (PDF, 145K) by JAMs members (updated October 2015)
Visit Us!
Even if you don’t live close enough to Artistic Artifacts to join JAMs, keep us in mind if you are ever in the area on vacation, business trips, etc. Anyone is welcome to attend, so if your travel brings you to Northern Virginia, DC or the close-in Maryland suburbs during the third Sunday of the month, plan to drop by!
Art Paper Dolls
In 2014 JAMs member Bette Rudgers presented a lecture and “trunk show” of artistic paper dolls that was met with great enthusiasm. Easy ways to begin are taking advantage of free downloadable templates: visit The Enchanted Gallery (artist Kimberly Crick, with a jointed doll, optional mermaid tails and goddess form) or Minkwood Designs for several options, simple instructions for assembly and examples for inspiration. We have had periodic exchanges of these artful creations!
Bette Rudgers’ Paper Doll Structure Ideas and Inspirations
- Jointed body parts — wrist, elbow, shoulder, knee, neck, waist, ankle, hip — can be united by eyelets, paper fasteners, string, or wire.
- Stable body parts — head, arms, legs, upper body, lower body — can be united by glue or tape (movement is sometimes created by hinge or fold).
- Head or Face: sun, star, mask, camera photo, clock, painting from art history book, cartoon drawing, rubber stamps
- Body: playing card, ATC card, rubber stamp, cage, balloon, fabric piece, fused Angelina fibers, Gelli plate print, map, sheet music, scrapbook paper, leaves, flower petals, Dover paper dolls, anatomy drawings, coloring book bodies.
- Arms and Legs: in addition to the regular parts you expect, try brushes, pencils, scissors, rulers, utensils.
- Accessories: Halloween items, animals, shoes, gloves, purses, hats, wigs.
- Combination of items with dolls:
- Doll with a book inside
- Book with a doll inside
- Doll in a box
- Doll in a shrine