Love Letters

Wordplay

After being inspired by some of the other entries in Michelle Ward's latest Street Team Challenge, 

I realized I had some other examples of word play, journaling, & lettering practice all rolled into one, that I could share... you can click on the image to see the words a bit larger.  The interesting thing to me, was when I photographed these pages of letters, letters I'd written in metallic pearlescent gouache popped out... but in person, they really aren't too noticeable.  Pretty cool effect, if I may say so myself, and totally unintended!  Don't you just love those unintended surprises?  I know I do!  

So, it's off to work for me, but if you can, GO MAKE SOMETHING!!!

 

Street Team Challenge #30

Because my scanner is in another house, I had to photograph my entry for Michelle's latest Crusade, so the perspective is a little skewed, but the message is still the same.  You might have to cock your head a little, sideways, to read it! :D

Oh my...

Don't you just love it when you have a visceral response to another artist's work?!?  I know I sure do...

Well, just in case you haven't heard of her, let me introduce you to a lovely lady named Jen Osborn, who has a blog and a company called Identity Seven.  Jen makes some of the most creative and unusual artwork I've seen in awhile... Jen's artwork is varied and scrumptious and made me smile out loud!

Here's Jen's studio... 

 

Seeing Jen's studio makes me crazy with envy, and I can't wait to get my new studio finished!!!

Here's just one little example of something Jen whipped up, posted on her Flickr site:

                                     

Coraline Inspired Squid, by Jen Osborn

Jen posts to this site Glitter and Grunge  every Tuesday...

Please make a point of stopping by Jen's site and saying hi... I really think you'll be glad you did! 

Now, go make something!!!

Weekend in New Orleans...

I had the privilege of spending last weekend in New Orleans, with my nephew Rusty and his lovely wife Shellie, to celebrate their little girl, Brynn's first birthday... I now understand what people say about being a grandparent.  I'm much too young to be a grandma yet, but this experience might have been the closest to heaven I can remember in a long time.  

 

This little girl has stolen my heart... my children are very special to me, and I loved them as babies, no question... but being a young, new mom, is no picnic; and it is definitely not for the faint of heart.  I don't think I could handle the anxiety now, that I experienced then.  But being a faux grandma... WOWIE!!! 

I can't wait to see Brynn again, and I promise to never, ever roll my eyes or become impatient when a grandparent wants to show me photos or brag about their little darling, again.  I GET IT!!!

PHOTO CREDIT: RUSTY LAUGHLIN, PROUD FATHER

Brush work...

I've been playing with Photoshop brushes after reading a post by Michelle Ward.  Michelle never ceases to inspire and amaze me... every time I stop by her blogs, I leave energized and revved up to try something new.  I've made lots of brushes in Photoshop, but I've never used them to the great effects Michelle has.  The image below is really just play... I used a background brush to make some texture, and then made a brush from type, and played with the color.  If you have Photoshop or another photo editing program, go play, and see what you can come up with... I promise you'll have fun.  But be sure to stop by Michelle's site, either  Michelle Ward, or her other site, GPP Street Team.

Salads are really very healthy...

Greetings...

Thank you to all of you who have requested Paper Salad, I really appreciate the interest!  But I've decided it's silly to think anyone would want to pay for paper scraps, especially in this economy... so... if you'd like to do a swap of some sort, just let me know.  I'm happy to divest myself of some of my scraps, you see, I'm moving soon, and I'm realizing I cannot keep every paper scrap I make or acquire.  It's just plain silly.  So I need to share my paper salad!  

I really don't even need to swap, obviously, but it's just so much more fun to see what other's have to share... so please let me know if you'd like to order a paper salad, and if you have color preferences, please let me know that, too.  Just send me a comment, and I'll contact you via email for your address. Please keep in mind I'm moving, and am sort of living between two houses, so it may take me a few days to get your "order" processed and in the mail... but I will get it to you!  

Paper Salad everywhere!!!

Today's newest and brightest idea of mine is to present you with my very own, unique "Paper Salad"... I'm offering a smattering of my paper scraps and pieces of calligraphy practice, all things I'd use myself, and do use, all the time! Lots of the paper is painted tyvek and it's beautiful... too beautiful to ever throw out!  When I teach classes I always bring my tyvek leftovers for my students to go through, to take as a sort of "give away" gift.  It makes me feel good that they appreciate how pretty these papers really are...

   There used to be an awesome paper store in Royal Oak, named Sheets... they carried incredible handmade paper, imported precious papers, and unusual cardstock, etc.  They did the same thing with their leftovers, and called it something like "Scrap Salad".  I LOVED it, because that way I could have small pieces of very expensive papers to use in my collage.  I couldn't have begun to afford an entire sheet of those specialty papers, nor would I have wanted to rip it up to use in collage!  

It's kind of difficult to really appreciate some of the papers... the metallic paints don't necessarily photograph all that well. But there is a nice variety of painted tyvek, calligraphy snippets, beautiful german written in an 1893 journal (see in photo below, on the left side of center), punched leaves and hearts from my painted papers, a few old tickets or cards or old book pages... and yes, scraps of some of beautiful handmade papers I've purchased over the years.

So here's my question... would anyone be interested in a side of "Paper Salad"?  I'd like to charge $10.00 per container, and will ship for free for the entire month of April (continental US only!).  I will happily put together custom orders, by color or colors... or you can just order a random "Paper Salad", and be surprised!  I didn't take the time to count how many pieces of paper is in the container, but I promise you'll love it.  If you don't, you know how to reach me.  

I don't have a Paypal account, and don't want one (long story, but I didn't do anything wrong... really!). If you'd like to order a salad, email me for my address, send me a check or money order, and I'll get your salad out asap, so that it arrives just as fresh as possible! 

And if you think this is a nutty idea, I'd like to hear from you, too... I know how much I like things like this, but I'm only one person.  I'd love to hear your thoughts! I will be giving away one Paper Salad to a random commenter, so talk to me!

So, please order something healthy for your studio, & now, go make something!

New Banner

This is my new banner, made using images of Moo cards I had made. Have you ever seen a Moo card?  It's the same width of a typical business card, but half as tall (that depends on how you're looking at it... in other words, just as long on the long side, half as wide on the short side). The texture is really lovely - nice, thick cardstock with a wonderful, smooth coating. 

100 cards cost roughly $20, plus shipping, and you can have all 100 cards printed with the same image, or you can upload multiple images to use, for the same price.  Once you upload the images from your files, you can move the image around under their template, & enlarge the image somewhat, until you get it just like you want it. 

I love my Moo cards!  And it's fun to present a few of the cards to people, so they can pick their favorite... some people have even asked me for multiples.  I'm always flattered. I'd like to think if nothing else, they make a nice little bookmark!  (If you'd like one of my Moo cards, I'd be delighted to send you one... just leave a comment requesting one, and I'll email you back to ask for your snail mail address).  

And if you decide to order your own Moo cards, let me know if you post an image... I'd love to see your version of a Moo card!  

Now, go make something!

xoxo,

K.