Friday, September 28, 2007

Vintage CALIF Altered Board Book

I received a CALIFORNIA package from my swap partner Lauren Fraser!(Silverfish Studio)
She's from S. Calif and I grew up there in 60'&70's, so we had a few fun e-mail chats about old favorite spots that brought a flood of old memories, for me, of my youth. When she asked me what theme for the altered board book, I thought "Calif" would be great.....And WOW!!! What a great book it is!!!

After savoring the package itself (ART MAIL at it's finest!), I was totally blown away by the book.... She touched my heart!!! I was and still am all emotional (and I don't get that way...ever) over the memories that it brought back. I worked at Knotts Berry Farm in HS and DisneyLand during the summers while in collage and my prom was on the Queen Mary...and of course the beach - with sand and shells and Pea Soup Andersons! Wonderful ephemera...and original....and the edge she captured with the cowgirl theme was so special for me!!! All of it and all the details are just awesome!!! Love it!! Thank-you so much Lauren!!

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Have a Cup of Coffee on Me!

For any of you that know me....coffee is my favorite thing...24/7! That's right...even up to the wee hours in the evening and even just before my head hits the pillow. Love the stuff! I saw a commercial on tv...found the website...and they even said I could share this with my blogging friends...so go get your sample of the gourmet blend of your choice!
Folgers Gourmet Selections. Get A Free Sample

Latest Trends in Mixed Media Arts

I am very excited to be part of a NEW Yahoo Art Group which will begin taking new members SEPTEMBER 15. It is called TheLatestTrendsinMixedMediaArts. There will be instructions in all kinds of art projects, a great artists' gallery, and much more! So be sure to sign up!

Here is the link for the group. Come on over and play with us and you could win some prizes and make some new friends~ See you there!


"TheLatestTrendsinMixedMediaArts"

Thursday, September 6, 2007

Gel Medium Recipe

OK... I live in the boonies and I have this wonderful brother who calls to let me know when he is making a trip to Hobby Lobby so he might pick me up something I might need and save me the 160 mile-one way trip....which in itself is a wonderful gesture...wheww! That was a mouthful! Anyway, the last time I asked him to pick up some gel medium... to which the salesperson said you might want to check with the hospital equip supplier or local pharmacies. ahhh, so are there people out doing their own lab work or needing a membrane for electrophoresis for determining the base sequence of DNA???? All I want is simple art medium stuff!

Today...he got a different helper. She said they no longer carry any of the golden mediums or liquitex because there is a recipe for it on the internet...and everyone is making it themselves. As she walked off she said..just google it!
....So I Did....
Big Mistake! I spent way too much time looking... I actually could have drove the 160 miles BOTH ways and saved the time. If there is a recipe out there...no one is sharing. But I did see the same info on dozens of sites and blogs telling what the various types are and all the good things you can do with them.
This is the condensed version....

Gel medium is the miracle goo of the art world. It’s a glue or a sealer, it creates a matte or shiny surface, it thins acrylic paints and makes them more transparent and it can slow drying time.
And the vary characteristics that make it so wonderful, cause confusion. To keep it simple: A Gel Medium is an acrylic paint 'without' pigment color...just clear with good adhesion.

Gel medium is the basic name and the common brand names are Liquitex, Golden and Dick Blick’s house brand.

There are three textures: thick, thin and medium. That’s where the first problem starts. Thick is also called “heavy,” and “super heavy gel”.
Medium is often called “fluid,” or “soft fluid, or “medium gel” and liquid is also called fluid, self-leveling, “liquid” or just plain watered down medium-medium.

Confused yet?
I use heavy gel when I need a paste or doing transfers, a medium when a lighter glue or paint additive is needed, and a thin for coating collage work, isolating elements that might bleed or deteriorate or have a high-acid content which interferes with the archival qualities. I really like that this product is less likely to ripple papers when glued and works great for photo transfers when you get the hang of it.

So now I am off to shop the best shipping rates online...don't want to run out....and if there IS a secret recipe out there...pleeze share! lol!!!
(and Steve...I added pictures so you know that there IS such a thing and I wasn't sending you on a goose chase!)

Monday, September 3, 2007

Halloween Doodads

Had some fun time this Labor Day week-end! Everyone had their own plans and went different directions, so I stayed close to home and made some necklace pieces that later will be on Etsy or eBay...not sure yet. I had some sample boards of cool cork linoleum and I popped off the different color chips that are just a little bigger than inches. I thought they would be quick..not...and just the right size for some fun necklaces to be hung by chain, leather or cord. Here's what some of them look like...oh, and I will add a pic of the charms I made for the Halloween charm bracelet swap that I need to get busy on...lol!