Brrr!!!

To jump start the arrival of warmer weather, Nancy decided to do an "Easter Basket" give away!
I have always enjoyed her Papier Mache artwork and her wonderful way with vintage decorations...be sure to see all the wonderful creations for Spring!

I can only hope for warmer weather. Yesterday, right in the middle of a cattle drive, it dropped from 42 degrees to 7 degrees within a half hour...made for a long 7 miles. With windchill, it was 23 below...BRRR!
Notes and News From Nancy

Good Friday Altered Book

This a 8 page collage book I did Sunday. I was in a gloomy mood and
somehow this is what seemed to emerge. It's titled 'Good Friday' and
along the way I also enjoyed a bit of Art History of Leonardo and
Michelangelo.

I used recycled chipboard covered in black gesso for a base. I layered red, golds and white for my trinity of colors. Bible text and select segments of photos of portraits by the Masters were added. I stamped in black, embossed flourishes in gold and bound the pages in light leather and beads.

ArT FrOM the HeaRt!!

Just in time for Valentines! This book is a gift that Auther, Catherine Matthews-Scanlon is giving away!
She is offering two of her new books, so check it out and make sure you tell her I sent ya :)

Romantic 'Gift Giving Cones'

I have a new favorite blog to visit!
A wonderful and fabulously creative person, Ruth Rae, had a fantastic article in the special publication Quilting Arts Gifts. (Holiday issue Winter 2008)
She described how to create these wonderful fabric and paper Cones.



This is my attempt....Perfect for Valentine's Day or May Day surprises of a gift where the container or vessel holding the gift could serve as the gift itself.

In the article, Ruth presented the directions and example in her own glorious style and I knew immediately that this was a process that I was going to enjoy!



I used pink felt as the interior core and then layered on tea dyed batting, cheesecloth, organza, tulle and silk, vintage girl photos, sheet music and text from vintage books. I stitched pockets to tuck vintage pearls into. The center focal point is a vintage rhinestone flower button and then silk Oliver Twist One-Offs complete the closure down the front.
After pinning all of the layers together, I machine stitched hearts and practiced my free motion embroidery stitching to add even more texture! Fun!!

http://ruthrae.blogspot.com/

You Make My Day!

Let's just say...you made MY day. I was just nominated by
Inka
for the "You Make My Day"award and I am so honored and pleased to be noticed.
I am suppose to nominate 10 bloggers that I have enjoyed reading their blogs and have inspired me. I will attempt to pick out 10 from the long list of blogs I read. Here goes....

1.Teresa
who inspires me to sharpen up my blog skills.

2.Lana
Talented...just love her 'simple joys of bygone days'.

3.Vanessa
...it's always a pleasure to visit this fun blog!

4.Heidi
shows us all how to mix family, bizness and art.

5.Jane
A sketcher/journaler that truely inspires.

6.Suzanne
a homey farmgirl that has a great way with words...and great recipes.

7.Roni
always sharing great techniques and tutorials.

8.Sandra
who has a great way with the Shabby and Prim!

9.Megan
a sweet young talent who loves color...wish she was my DIL.

10.Melissa
a great friend who always makes my day!

Thinking of a Valentine gift?

I've been busy putting some new things on Etsy. Funny how the time flies when you are over there. There's alot of talented people and it's fun to see all the Handmade things.

If you get a chance, head on over there for some great ideas for Valentine's Day!



"My Etsy"

4 x 6 Heart Quilt Journal

by Connie Hippen Altered Route

Belinda Spiwak, also known as Crazyartgirl made a call-out to fellow artist for a collabortory project of a fabric Art Journal for submission to Cloth Paper Scissors magazine. We were to incorporate silk Oliver Twists One-offs and have hearts. Above is my 4 x 6(both sides)page. Belinda will make covers and bind all the 8 other girls pages to make the journal...the 9th to go to CPS.

The lady stamp I used on this was one of the prizes from Inka at
Inkastamps
for my shrine challenge entry...Thanks Inka!

Quilt Journal page...
2 layers of 4 x 6 muslin, one painted and stamped with swirls, the other left plain. Back is a print fabric used in reverse.
2 layers of 3.5x 5.5" heavy pellon sandwiched between layers for stiffness. Front has text and Bird stamp on muslin pieces that are chalked, machine stitched on, then One-Off threads are used for heart that is french knotted. Back has the Lady stamp on muslin piece and a heart couch stiched with metalics and One-offs. All fabric edges are unraveled and machine stitched random quilt style.

Women in Art

"So much has been said and sung of beautiful young girls, why don't (sp) somebody wake up to the beauty of old women?" Harriet Beecher Stowe, 1811-1896, abolitionist author.

This quote was added by Sherry Hulbert at Arttechniques and I thought it went with this YouTube, although many of these women are old in a different way.

The morphing of the portraits of Women through the last 500 years...is Hypnotising!!
The talent it takes to create this is an art in itself.