Life In Slow Motion

The start of Summer always brings with it a lethargy for work; my time is gravitating to the porch, the John Deere and a walk around to the flowers struggling to bloom through this drought.
I am, as well, in a creative drought. Things have gone dormant for the moment. I am in slow motion in the studio, if moving at all.
I wait for some spark to ignite ideas, but the most I manage is the putting together of pages in an old book, to make an art journal. Repetitive work, and mindless, it is good for times like these.
This Summer is more complex, and I wait for real life issues to get resolved. I am still ill with the remnants of a cold that seems to want to last forever and have phone calls to make today, possibly with the result of more waiting.
I feel like the Turks Cap Lily, one petal open and trying to get back to full bloom.
Patience has never been my strong point and complete rest and downtime are foreign to me, but I have become somewhat friendly with them. (through necessity only....)
I wait.
Life is slowed to an endless stream of days, all pretty much the same and tiring. This was, of course, NOT what I had planned.
But in the course of my life, I have learned that what *I* plan and the Divine Plan frequently are quite different.
Slow times are a time to gather strength, even when I haven't enough sense to do it myself.
I wait.
And like that little lily blossom, I know at some point I will be full and glowing again.
In the meantime, I may be blog scarce, and I beg your indulgence.
Sometimes the quiet thrust upon us is exactly what we need.
Even when we think it isn't.


Pax....

Monday Musings....

This is what the day is like......

 It's Monday and rainy...a quiet start to a busy week. 
I'm listening to Jill Tracy, which is perfect music for a gray day. Melancholy and bittersweet, it accompanies this morning in mood and color. I highly recommend her work, if you like a pinch of dark arsenic with your sugar.
I have been in contemplative mode; the e-mail box is quiet (and that's unusual) and thankfully I have not wasted the morning on Face Book. Working to rearrange some parts of life.
My weekend was spent scribbling down ideas for working on a slight re-do of the studio. It has been in need for quite a while, and now I have the oomph to tackle it bit by bit.
I may not be Wonder Woman yet, but I still have my satin tights! LOL!
Knowing that it is *possible* to get this space the way I want it makes the stress lift. I love a good challenge and don't mind saying, this is a humdinger. I am doing it strictly for ME.
In between cleaning, moving and dumping things, I allow myself some collage time~~it sweetens the pot. I don't mind the time spent if I can grab a few minutes to add to the paper and glue.
There is still a large project rolling about in my mind. I am making notes and figuring out the details. I thought I would be into it by now, but responsibility for home and hubs and my own lack of table space have delayed it.
You know what?
I don't mind.
It will happen in the right time, and will be glorious. I am thankful for my home, my dear husband, cooking a good meal, sitting at the dinner table with him...laughing about the inane and insignificant.
Life is good.

.....but this is how I feel!!!!

It's the small things that count above all the grandiose ideas and hyperbole. Easy to get caught up in it, but in the end, like cotton candy, melted and nothing to show.
I'll take my rainy day, comfort from the studio, happiness from my life and love.


Pax....

The Tools Of The Inner Artist

Poor book......I'll have more scribbles than the actual text....*sigh*

I had mentioned in my previous post about working the Artists Way book.
WORKING.
Not just passively reading.
Sometimes, just like our cars, the Inner Artist needs a tune up; a little fresh oil, a part or two replaced and the bugs worked out. Bad stuff flushed out and new clean fluid put in.
Occasionally it takes an almost abrupt creative stoppage for me to see this and do the work. I think that frequently there is so much input from the outside world that we, as creatives, take this all and hold it internally until there is no room for new ideas, dreaming, growth and refilling that well. We are exposed to so much media that it is almost impossible to shut it all out, and I suspect it accumulates within.
Then there are the other obstacles of life; trying to work out the business end of art, dealing with the bumps and stalls unique to that aspect, attempting to do so with grace and not become a floor mat. We are not here to have whatever squeezed out for free, we have a voice and deserve respect.
*sigh*
For the good old days when a persons word was their bond.
I digress. The work at hand requires TIME but is not unpleasant. Before my studio day starts, I do the inner work.

Words flow, thoughts perk, and of course I love BRIGHT so that is an enticement to keep on with the tune-up! 
Things remove themselves, decisions become clear, old issues still lingering and festering must be faced head on......it's an interesting journey.
Affirmations are read daily, and I pull them from one of the little blue and white Oriental cups.
Today's seems to sum it up for me....

I am.
I really am.
And by whatever name you call this divine spirit, I ask~~~
Are YOU???


Pax....

What Is This Blog.....Continued

Well....that makes a visual bang, yes?
After the previous blog post, and the wonderful and thought provoking comments left (thank you everyone!) I felt that I wanted to make a statement, and at first I wasn't sure what.
It turned out simply to be the above.
This IS where I create.
It's not just the art, or the sewing, or words or tutorials....it is the thought and the photos~~the time to find just exactly what I want to help articulate semi-formed thoughts.
Sometimes it is easy to write a great post and other times it is like wringing water from a stone. Everything is inside ready to burst forward but the door is locked. Nothing happens.
I sit for days thinking.....what do I write of value to my readers? Will they still be there? Am I worth their time? Is it worth *my* time?
Doubt wanders through and makes a mess of things....leaving a muddy trail behind that I have to clean up.
Sometimes I am so busy with the other artistic aspects of life, the blog has to go dormant. But ultimately, this is where I create. The ultimate goal being a product with which I am happy, and something you respond to.
There are no blog police here; between my colorful (and I do mean COLORFUL) background and sidebars, my jazz and *that header* I so love, they know that they are dealing with a rebel! Scream and run away now~~it will save you time later.
And when did it become en vogue to police blogs anyway??? Who are these White-Paper-Bloggers? Pale and colorless, with little to say but to nag about someone else's blog. This is what really stumps me....since it carried over from the previous post! LOL! You knew it was coming.....
I had one person who *LOVED* my blog one week; full of compliments, good following, etc. and in the following week told me it was unprofessional and basically, in not so many words, *not good*. It was *this, that, the other and NOT WORDPRESS*. (and you know what? it never will be because I have tried that beast THREE TIMES and I am leaving it to wallow in it's own pool of blog-folk.....)
WOW.
Be still my gastritis.
Again, I want to say, "THIS IS WHERE *I* CREATE". This is MINE.
That is exactly what YOUR blogs should be too. Where you create what you cherish, what you open your hearts to share, what you love. It's YOURS. It should reflect YOU. It should not be a carbon copy of someone else.
You write it, therefore, it should BE YOU.
Without apologies or question.
The moment it loads onto a computer screen, the person looking should know it is YOU! They have arrived, and they're ready to read, look, laugh, cry, share, love.
At the end of the day, and the post, what more could any of us ask for......
Think about it.



Pax....

What Is This Blog.......

It seems the current question floating about the blog world is *what makes an art blog*?
I respect the different answers, but here is the thing; the consensus is people just want to see art. They don't want to read, or find out the thoughts, or other information. Just put the photos up, take a peek and move on.
My blog will never be that way.
Why?

Because the top photo is as connected to the photo above as can be for me. I cannot have one without the other. What inspires me through photography comes into my custom design sewing.

This is completely connected to this:

 And in some way, they all connect to THIS:

For me, art is the ability to connect diverse things into something wonderful. It is a combination of spirituality-creativity-faith, and not necessarily in that order; they change places....one wanes and the other is lifted to fill the void. I tried explaining this to someone who obviously had never felt it and discovered I was speaking a foreign and dead language. I am sure inspiration is not the same for all, but that is what lives and burns in my heart of hearts.
Art has always been a melange of life and everything I do. In one way or another, it connects the dots. And I think it is important to add text with the work, or otherwise important thoughts, processes and components of the whole are stripped and the parts are much less than the sum.
Yes, critics will say that art (GOOD art) should speak for itself, but if that is the case, why are artist's statements still relevant? Why do people ask how we do what we do? What inspired us? What does it all mean?
I don't have the answers~~I just know that my blog is, at any moment, what is going on in my life and head.
And THAT, my friends, always leads~~filtered through the spirituality-creativity-faith corridor~~to art.
And I think it is important to share it because too many people do not see what is around them in life. The hustle of this current age is seek the minimum while you pass the maximum that will fill your soul.
I am, perhaps then, a Luddite in respect to an art blog, but I remain such happily.
And I hope you have the time to read and ask and smile and enjoy.
Because the texture of life is so much richer with the combination of words and photos......




Pax....

Remnants Of The Week......

The week has flown here, and I feel I have only captured tidbits through my camera lens, to save and savor later.

Sharing a few.....it was a week of beauty.

All exquisite proof of why I need to get out of the studio more often and enjoy some of the lushness of the garden before it fades.
My habit of evening photo shooting has returned; this morning I shared coffee with the cool breezes and birds visiting the yard. Robins, brown thrashers, a red-winged blackbird, sparrows of many variations.
Life pushes forward......I think perhaps our ultimate purpose is not to miss it.
Here's to all there is to see~~and hoping you make time to see it!





Pax....

It's All In The Work......

I have been diligently hand sewing a liturgical stole. It is beautiful. The fibers are from one of the most revered companies for these specialty fabrics.
I am not being smug nor conceited; it all just came together in a most spectacular way, and I discovered with every stitch put into it, I was enjoying the process more than I had any other in a long time.

There was something about the rhythm of the needle moving through the gorgeous brocade that kept me in a zen-like state. I did not think about aching fingers or a sore back~~the fact that I could barely move when I finally would stand or that I had started work at 8 in the morning and not finished until midnight.
And as I did this, I wondered:

What if the *job* you are meant to do is nothing that will make you famous, nor make you rich, nor takes you to ritzy places? What if it's something you really never considered? Or, what if you have fought and fought to NOT do it, pursuing everything else possible? What if it is a form of a life unlived from when you were young?
What if your calling is something that serves a higher power~~undefinable in this current money-driven world. What if it has been under your nose, and you did not realize it?
I guess my mind wandered abundantly.
The whole creating process was pure delight.
Beautiful things to work with, fine threads, meditation in each and every stitch and a holy purpose for it.
Tell me.....do you think it gets any better?
The joy of our gifts; it's all in the work.




Pax....

Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend! (no, not THAT kind!!!!)

Now that's more like it. 
THOSE are the type of *diamonds* I am talking about! The type you can WORK WITH. heeheehee!
I am a tool girl. I just love them, and recently made a quick trip into a local supply store, only to come out with a small, heavy bag and a lighter wallet. That seems to be the way things work. But, in my defense, it was full of things I had been waiting for a long while to buy.

I still am in search of the perfect pair of very tapered pinch nose pliers since I broke one of the sides off my good pair, but I did acquire some delightfully useful tools.  ;-) 
Not to be confused with people we call a *tool* for various reasons that have nothing to do with usefulness.....
A nice set of steel stamps, nippers, some electrical fuses strictly for altering into who knows what (glass tubes with metal--how can you resist???), cutting discs for the Dremel, along with ALL...THOSE...BITS...   *swoon*
And then the prize of the day, the baby pliers. Yes, a couple of pair of adult pliers had some quality time alone in the factory at night and thus was brought forth:

These little darlings! In three different tips shapes too....
I am always needing something small to retrieve things, and large pliers occasionally just can't do the job. I think my heart skipped a beat when I found these.
And the timing on all this was perfect as MDM put up the link to sing up for Art Lab #2 about two days later, so I am fully equipped! Well, except fot the leather tool apron, and that is still on my want list.
They didn't have any in black with shiny studs....just the boring split cowhide.
But I can dream.
An artist has to look good as they are deconstructing and reconstructing *things*.
Maybe just goggles and some opera length black leather gloves with heavy metal snaps.  ;-D
(it takes little to amuse me.....)
Ahem....sorry for the short digression. At any rate, I am ready to try out everything and start some serious destruction around El Milagro.
Hopefully nothing structural. I need my studio.




Pax....

Small Pleasures

The sum of my Spring blossoms, brought in to be saved from rain and wind.

Yesterday had me working harder than I have in a long time; moving dirt, shoveling, etc. My power line was buried, the lot is large, and there was an amazing amount of soil that needed flattening, distributing and otherwise getting from point *A* to point *B*.
Thankfully I had not taken the snowblade off the John Deere before I put it away last. I'm sure in a previous life I was  skilled in the large earth moving equipment!  ;-)  Truly, it worked better than I could have hoped, and of course, this all had to be done in a race with rain that had been predicted all day. I had time~~we didn't get any weather until late in the evening, when I was comatose in the chair.
I have a body extremely unhappy with me this morning and I know (yes, KNOW) this is a no-studio-on-the-couch day.
This all got me thinking, as I so often do when I'm out on the tractor, that I love the small pleasures of life. I may not be enjoying the tractor work, but the mind wanders and has a marvelous time! The little things that make life so rich:

-That first cup of coffee in the morning.
-Seeing the sun rise.
-A leisurely welcome to the day.
-Quiet time with nature.
-The first Spring flowers.
-Talking with my birds.
-Sitting snug in the comfort of my studio.
-Knowing enough is indeed *ENOUGH*~~as in, not feeling want.
-Savoring small quiet moments where DH and I may not speak, but all is said.
-A bubble bath.
-Soft slippers and a cozy chair.
-The smell of a freshly starched pillowcase and the comfort of fluffy covers in bed.


And somehow this brought me to thinking about how the current world is so bent on doing huge things---from weddings to vacations to ridiculous homes, and everyone wonders why they are unhappy.
Because their life is ruled by the constant one-upmanship of someone else. And the only person who loses in that is the one trying to outdo everyone else.
No joy in daily activities, no pleasure in quiet conversations, missing everything that is around us that makes life good. It is the constant and gnawing NEED for something MORE. And that MORE cannot be bought; it is filling the SOUL.
My something more is here; in my blog, in my life, in the quiet and soft light of morning, in meditations for friends, in the little moments.
Here's to small pleasures. May you see yours. May you know you have many. May you be thankful every day.




Pax....

A Bit Rusty Around The Edges.....

I will admit it right here---I am a RUST FREAK. I love all things rusty.

I am the odd duck that stops in the middle of a busy street to pick up a rusted bottle cap. I love the patina rust gives to metal, and the instant feel of story and age.
Therefore, I am always on the look-out for easy ways to rust things without getting extremely toxic. I know there are compounds, but I go for the simple things I have at home. Or *close* to home.
Like this:

I have lived on this property almost 20 years and it just hit me the other day that on our southern-most acre there was old, torn up fencing. And that old fence RUSTS. I hot footed it down there with work gloves and tin snips and got myself this lovely lasso! Yes, I have a plan for it. We'll discuss that at a later date....
And then there was a recipe for rust that seemed too good to be true; cheap paper clips, a glass jar, bleach to cover and a piece of rusted metal.

 
This is after almost 24 hours. Two types of clips--one better quality than the other so one is crusty-rusty and the other is rust stained! COOL!

I am ready to dump them all out and sort. I also threw in some metal staples I had been cooking for a while~~their stewing juice was vinegar and salt. Boy, did it kick-start the bleach and metal! Whooo-hooo!!!
I can't wait to try some of these items in an art application.....
One word of caution if you decide to try either recipe; do NOT have where small children or pets can get near, into, or spill the solutions. (or husbands...ya know, just sayin'.....) And take great care in handling. Even though rusted from household products, these liquids can do a number on eyes or skin or even breathing in the fumes.
Is it any wonder I come up with paint combos like Crypt Corrosion???

Time to go knock the rust off the edges of my creativity now that I have corroded goodies to play with!
Have fun.....go make art! (or rust, whichever makes you happy!)


Pax....

ART--vs--ARTIST--vs--ART........Blah, Blah, Blah........

The endless battle....in which no one wins....

One of the things I have always wondered about is why there are sooooo many fights in the arts community. Generally, they revolve around what *is* or *isn't* art, who *is* or *isn't* an artist, on and on, ad infinitum, ad nauseaum. Sometimes, there seems to be so much energy expended on the fighting about art that I wonder what gets it started in the first place. Is it insecurity? Is it the fact that there is a certain amount of dollars to be spent on art and everyone is fighting for the limelight? Is it from people who feel unrecognized? Is it from gallery owners who felt they need the fuss to sell?
Over all, I find it a self-strangling circle. This has to have been going on since art began; somehow I get these visions of cavemen whacking the daylights out of each other with rocks for *prime-cave-wall-space* and others critiquing their drawings there-on. I mean, you know something like this happened, unless cavemen were more civil than the current art community...  ;-)
(maybe so....oooooo.....ouch!)
While this was all going through my head on and off a few weeks ago, I was reading an article about a University that had expanded their gallery and truly, they had a broad representation of art (in all forms) in their collection. I ripped the pages from the magazine and quickly retreated to the studio.
I kept seeing the printed word *art* over and over through the article and began cutting out the tiny words, until I had enough for what I wanted to do.
And then the phrase popped out at me from the text: various forms of artwork.
That was a saver.
I wasn't in the humor for big art, so I grabbed some ATC stock, inks, etc and began tinkering. Just something small to play with this perpetual idea that any one person or style holds the TRUE meaning of ART or ARTIST.

That we might have wings to fly from repetitive controversy on art, which is a HEALER above all else....

During the work, when I was waiting for elements to dry, I grabbed an old dictionary and looked up *artist* just for the heck of it.
See below.

This covers a LOT of territory.......it is not confined to something shoved safely in a little box....

The second definition brought even more meaning, depending on how one takes it.
"Thou art" means "You are."
YOU ARE. (did the archaic definition have much more meaning and substance than the modern?)
And that says more than all the bickering and yapping and sideways remarks.
That this WORD that causes vocal wars has two meanings that are the same for an artist; WE ARE.
I AM.
YOU ARE.
THOU ART.
ARTIST.
And one other thought; art is not the chattel of the rich, nor highly educated, nor the social snob~~art is the voice of ALL.
Don't be intimidated.
Go make art!!!



Pax....

A *Feet-Up* Moment.......

Yep, those are some big hams....and another big ham on the table....

Ah, I live for those few quiet moments, when I have on hand knit socks, my Doc's and the feet are up.
Resting.
Doing nothing.
Those days are few and far between.
But I'm popping out until the 17th and try and get some work finished up around here; some is class work and some is sort through, pick up and put away or throw away. It seems I have managed to get the studio in a state that is, well, beyond being able to work in.
I managed to find a small corner yesterday to put an ATC together, and that was all the free table space available.
Something's gotta give.

Yeah, I'm gonna need these....bouncing soles!

I was e-mailing a friend and we both were saying how we felt as if neither of us had accomplished much this winter (don't suppose my AGE has anything to do with it? Nope, thought not....) and soon Spring would be here with it's own work demands.
I find late Winter odd....I want everything ready for Spring yet I would rather hole up in the studio and not leave. No cooking, no cleaning; grab it and run---you're on your own. 
It is that last chance to have more dark hours for work and the quiet of the outdoors sans mowers, tractors, loud cretin-mobiles and the other things that come with warmer weather.
Now matter how I have despised the hard physical labor of this past Winter, I am not yet ready for it to go. I want to squeeze a few more dark mornings at the computer out, have a few extra pieces of art made, knit another pair of socks....just enjoy the remaining chill before the balmy breezes start again. (a.k.a. tornadic storms!)
So I'm hiding out. Just for a day or so.
You should too!  ;-)

Pax....

Early Morning Quiet

I am here in the dark of morning pecking away at the keyboard,  a cup of coffee at hand and thoroughly enjoying the complete quiet of this time of day. Rare moments with no noise, no pressure, no hurry to do something.
The birds are still sleeping, both inside and out.
Perfect calm.
Time to think....or not, as you wish.
I don't believe any of us have enough moments like this anymore.
We are stuck in fast-forward; go, go, go. Noise always. No escaping to a place for meditation, thought, and the peace to empty the soul of all stressors and refill with the inspiration to feel comfortable in our skins. To withdraw and relax, then re-emerge and go about our daily tasks.
I have been reading about religious contemplatives; those who turn from the world and look IN. And those who have done this and found that in doing so, the voice told them to re-engage in the world.
I wonder, when the day is still slumbering, and I am void of worry or thought, if it is close to what they experience.
Does it ready an artist for their work.
Can anything purchased compete with these moments available for free if we take the time.
So simple....so restful.....so necessary to recharge.
May you find a moment.

Pax....

Fiendish Fiber Art~~Posted Before, Worth Repeating

I know people who have followed my work for a while have seen this piece (okay, more than once), but with new followers, being totally wound up in the commission and--well--just because I want to and can, I am reposting the photos of one of my favorite pieces.

These are pretty large files and I recommend checking out the larger size to see the details.

I used to do a lot of smaller fiber work until I started the liturgical hangings. In fact, this piece was only 14" x 15" if I recall correctly. I liked seeing what I could do with a small area--how to make it work, how to fit the most in for what I wanted without having so much that everything was a blur. Working with positive and negative space, pushing things forward and backward visually~~playing with the viewers eye. Make it interesting. Make it real.

I think, truthfully, this piece was started because I used to save all my used bass strings and then I came across this great bag of skeleton hands around Halloween. Hmmmmmm......how can I put those both together?

Only one answer....portrait piece, Jerry Only--bassist for the Misfits.

However.

What do I do next? How do I get the feel and the look and oh-my-gosh it's absolutely got to have leather and spikes and studs! (if that needs explanation, Google photos of the band)

The portrait section, shown below, is dimensional.

Yes, that was a real little jacket that I cut of leather and sewed, real zippers, real studs, real spikes, synthetic hair stitched over the portrait to get a good Devil-lock going......

So much handwork; couching bass strings around the leather studded border, fancy threads laid in carefully for dimension in the background, a stencil made to get the ghostly Fiend Face painted in just so, layers of tulle to build up sheer images of the bass (and repeating it as strictly a design element)......beads, beads, beads.......

This small thing was HEAVY. When I would hold it, I had to be careful to support the whole so that it would not flop over and have a bass string pop off. (they're pretty wicked if you get slapped or cut by one....)

This was when my art quilting started to take on a mixed media feel. I may post a few more pieces I have that I feel were leading to what I choose to do with my spare time now, providing I can find photos.

Some are gone as presents, some were purchased, some began slowly disintegrating after being out on tour in shows. It happens; you can't control how they're handled on the road compared to hanging in the studio or in storage.

Maybe at the end of the day we just need to enjoy our art in the Here-And-Now.

Every day, whatever you do.

Make it, love it, "One last caress...."

Breaking Rules

I have found, with both photography and creativity in general, it is not in following the rules, but knowing what they are and breaking them.

1. One does not shoot photos into the sun.

2. Lens-flare is bad.

3. There are rules to proper composition.

4. Photographing the perfect flower is preferable to photographing one less than perfect.

5. Realistic color is best.

And every one of those would have yielded a lesser picture. In fact, I was shooting in an atmosphere so humid, I had to keep wiping the haze off the lens with my shirt.
I broke every rule I could think of on this shot.
And I love it! Because it captures the true feel of the moment. I think we are in an age of creativity without bounds; only our own, self imposed rules that perhaps should not be there.

Now go find something creative that you have been taught is *always right* and break a few rules.
You have my permission!

Pax....

7/21   P.S. My computer puked on me this morning....I was able to post comments, but Google and Blogger tag-teamed me and I was at a loss for what happened. I apologize for a *group* reply. Everything froze, things in my Windows program changed, I could not exit anything, could not access Blogger.....you name it. Had to go back in and restart from scratch, and luckily my blog is still here!
I had moments of doubt....thanks for bearing with me. Grazie!

ATC Day (which stands for a number of things....)

***First, before I forget, new WELCOMES aboard this crazy blog! Relax....it's fun here!!!***

I would love to say yesterday was a day of many accomplishments and LOTS of ATCs. Somewhere half way through the day, I began thinking about the initials of artist trading cards and decided maybe in my case, it stands for other things......

Wait.....I'm getting ahead of myself.

I have occasionally had people ask how I get inspired to do a piece, simple or complex, of art. Generally they are treated to the *deer-in-the-headlights* stare, followed by the dropped jaw and stammering. Sometimes drooling accompanies the afore mentioned. Not always.

This gives a good idea how my mind works....or doesn't as you may decide.

I had wanted to start searching my piles for images for the two other medical related pieces that will go on the square canvas that have the texture. While I was looking for the box with that ephemera, I noticed I had not answered a letter, so I sat and made stationery for that. (the letter turned into about a three hour project)

I walked it to the mail box and, as we were having extremely strong winds, I noticed a perfectly formed red Japanese Maple leaf on the ground, which I-- of course-- had to pick up. It was supple and fresh, but I wanted to use it NOW.  (you're right; this has nothing to do with the two medical pieces...)

Continuing.......I slapped it between a folded sheet of waxed paper, and covered that with paper toweling and ironed until it was dry, flat and very delicate. Most of the color is retained doing this. Well, then I looked at the size and I thought....hmmmmm....ATC size.

So off to the computer to print some backgrounds from my file of Oriental freebies I have saved FOR EVER. I printed a page out, sprayed both sides of the paper well with workable fixative then set to adhering one piece to a precut ATC card.

I decided that having the leaf hanging over the edge would look better and gently broke off the excess pieces. I also had covered the background print with a glitter paint, which barely shows in the photo. It needed oomph. Then I decided I wanted the Geisha cut out around the print, and I would make a seperate back for the card. (I know....you're supposed to sign them but....well.....it's ME and I want that back covered! And I want it firm so it won't bend easily.)

So there I am, with half the card and cutting the Geisha and the camera decides it has ingested all of it's battery.

Great.

I had this idea of a detailed photo post, but you get two and we were doing good with that.

Now back to the ATC abbreviation. (notice how I never got back to those medical scraps to sort???) I kept thinking the way I work is much like Billy from the Family Circus (for those of us OLD and DECREPIT ENOUGH to remember that delightful cartoon) when his mother would say "Billy, go straight to the store...." and he wandered everywhere humanly possible.

My *ATC* stands for:

Artist: Totally Clueless

When I get batteries, the finished card will be posted, unless I find something else to wander off to do. And that is a good possibility. Or I may forget to buy them when I am in town, and come home with chocolate instead.

But all in all, yesterday was a relaxing sort of day and fun, and I got to stay in the studio so maybe I wasn't supposed to find those medical scraps after all. I mean, I would have had to really concentrate.....and lately, my brain keeps saying it wants a break!

I think I'll just take a short walk with Billy......and be straight back!  LOL!!!

Pax.