Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from September, 2011

Artsy blogging round-up!

  Eileen - The Artful Crafter Eileen had fun learning how to create fine art with Photoshop. Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery How to make a recycled #6 plastic shrunk skull necklace .   About Family Crafts Do you have a fun and fabulous collage idea? Share it!   Carmi's Art/Life World Carmi had new 3D rose cards to showcase this week.   Craftside- A behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world This week at Craftside there is a chance to win a copy of Modern Calligraphy and Hand Lettering by Lisa Engelbrecht, two ways to position a patch pocket, a cool finger print poster, an eye dropper drawing tutorial and how to nalbind from the book Knitting Around the World. Crafty Princess Diaries Don't be a wash out! Learn to make a simple crochet wash cloth with this free pattern you can download as a pdf file.     Technorati Tags: mixed media , collage , assemblage , digital art , photography , altered books , art journals

Recent publications: September

The Art of Vintage Journaling and Collage: Techniques and Inspiration for Working with Antique Ephemera by Maryjo Koch and Sunny Koch Cut & Paste: 21st-Century Collage by Richard Brereton and Caroline Roberts Stitch, Cloth, Paper & Paint: Mixed Media Ideas & Inspiration by Angie Hughes The Complete Fabric Artist's Workshop: Exploring Techniques and Materials for Creating Fashion and Decor Items from Artfully Altered Fabric by Susan Stein Experimental Painting: Inspirational Approaches for Mixed Media Art by Lisa Cyr Destination Creativity: The Life-Altering Journey of the Art Retreat by Rice Freeman-Zachery Sew Wild: Creating With Stitch and Mixed Media by Alisa Burke Simply Mosaics: Over 30 easy projects for your home and garden by Tracy Boomer and Deborah Morbin Photoshop Brushes & Creative Tools: Winter Motifs by Alan Weller Photoshop Brushes & Creative Tools: Day of the Dead Motifs by Alan Weller Inspirations in Design for th

Quote of the week

There cannot be a crisis next week. My schedule is already full. Image: MorgueFile

Painting fabrics for a new quilt

It almost never happens that I know exactly what I'm going to make before I start making it!  But this time, it's different.  When I finished beading the sunprinted fabric piece last week, I knew that my next project was going to be to paint some more fabrics and use them in a quilt.  And that it was going to be silk.  And that it was going to be 100% hand stitched. So the first step was obviously to tear up some silk fabrics that I had and paint them.  I mostly used the method that I refer to as painting fabrics in a plastic bag .  But I also used kosher salt on some fabrics that were laid out in the sun, and I did some sunprinting with ferns on one of the green pieces.  There are a lot of other fabric painting tutorials available at the link.  Take your pick, mix and match!     Here's a look at my drying rack full of fabric "samples".  The large piece of fabric underneath the upper layer is just a ratty old towel to help catch the drips.  And you'

More artsy links!

  Paper Covered Pumpkins With Poetry Cherie takes Dollar Store pumpkins and gives them an artsy makeover. Pumpkin Cheesecake A wonderful fall dessert idea. Yum!   Beading Arts What do you do with copper tube beads? Make a fabulous necklace, of course!   CreativeDreamer June's finished up a "Skinny Santa" and shows you how it's done!   Eileen - The Artful Crafter Eileen had fun learning how to create fine art with Photoshop.   Technorati Tags: mixed media , collage , assemblage , digital art , photography , altered books , art journals

Artsy blogging round-up!

  Crafty Princess Diaries Thanks to loom knitting, Tammy has already started making some holiday gifts.   Eileen - The Artful Crafter Save this fall's flower and vegetable seeds to make handmade paper cards that will bloom in the garden next spring! About Family Crafts This week's craft challenge is all about crafting with shoe boxes... Do you have a project to share?   Aileen's Musings Aileen shows you how she created her ceramic mermaid tile.   Technorati Tags: mixed media , collage , assemblage , digital art , photography , altered books , art journals

Your Essential Magnificence

A lovely public work by James Talbot .  Visit the link to see a slideshow and read about this magnificent work! Technorati Tags: mixed media , collage , assemblage , digital art , photography , altered books , art journals

Quote of the week

I never learn anything by doing it right the first time Image: Wikimedia Commons, Bianca Bueno

Sunprint fabric and beads

Looking through some of my piles of unfinished fabrics (unfinished in the sense that I haven't used them for a project yet), I came across this sunprinted piece that I think I painted back in 2005.  I couldn't believe that I hadn't used it for something...time to fix that! Although I considered a meandering path of thread and bead embroidery, in the end I decided that I didn't want any more of the sunprinting obscured than absolutely necessary.  So I decided to create a lacy raised flower design in white, crystal, and gold tones.  The inspiration for this design came from Nancy Eha's Bead Creative Art Quilts .  I was fortunate enough to take a class with Nancy a number of years ago, and this design is a much-simplified version with my own twist.  I don't use all the exact methods that Nancy does, so any failings in this piece are completely my own fault! 1. Start with a painted or printed piece of fabric that you want to embellish. 2. Cut a piece

More artsy links!

Mo(o)re Gourd Whimsies Fork and Talk in Little Rock, AR Beading Arts Cyndi explains how to add a wonderful blue-green patina to copper beads.   Book Necklace for a Friend Cherie makes another book necklace for a friend's birthday.   CreativeDreamer June re-creates an art doll and shares how it's done in "An Ode to Kate". Eileen - The Artful Crafter Save this fall's flower and vegetable seeds to make handmade paper cards that will bloom in the garden next spring!   Technorati Tags: mixed media , collage , assemblage , digital art , photography , altered books , art journals

Artsy blogging round-up!

  Cindy Gimbrone Beads Bead Vegan is an occasional post where Cindy the beadmaker posts some of her vegan recipes. This one is inspired by the flavors of India.  Craft Buds It's all about sewing for little guys this week on Craft Buds, where we've interviewed the authors of the new book "Sewing for Boys" and gave one of their projects a test drive. Also check out the roundup of sewing apps for iPhone and Android users.   Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world This week at Craftside there is a chance to win a copy of the new book Unstuck by Noah Scalin with a fun eyeball photography idea, stylin' earplug earrings, and how to freeze eggs. Crafty Princess Diaries Tammy shows how she made a cat tube using a knitting loom. Eileen - The Artful Crafter How to make an easy candle decoration in a jiffy.   Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery How to make a recycled book page pumpkin Halloween card.   About Family Cra

Quote of the week

The real trouble with reality is that there’s no background music.

Watercolor paper geometric collage

My Soul Follows Hard After Thee   Psalm 63:8 Oh my, what a terrible picture!  The main problem was the shininess of most of the elements.  I usually use a matte or satin gloss layer of acrylic medium, but this time I went for more shine..oh well.  I can still tell you how it was done :-) 1. I used a selection of previously painted watercolor paper, some cut and some torn as you can see.  The torn piece near the bottom is mounted on black card stock, which is "framed" by some shiny textured silver-colored corners. 2. The text was added next, using shiny automotive tape.  I used a ballpoint pen to incise each word, and then wiped each with thinned black acrylic paint, wiping it off the surface before it dried.  That way the paint stayed in the words, making them stand out, although that's hard to tell because of my sub-par picture! 3. I mounted the watercolor paper background onto matte black mat-board and added antique bobbin spindles at the top and bottom.  I u

More artsy links!

  Fall Table Centerpiece Made of gourds and votive candles, with a few other items from nature thrown in.  Soup and Football Scrapbooking Cherie documents her favorite team's road to the "Soup-er Bowl".   Beading Arts Cyndi figures out how to showcase a wonderful lampwork glass pendant and shares the steps with you! CreativeDreamer The first Christmas ornament of the season is finished... June share the instructions to create your own "winter matchbox shrine" ornament, come see!   Eileen - The Artful Crafter How to make an easy candle decoration in a jiffy.   Technorati Tags: mixed media , collage , assemblage , digital art , photography , altered books , art journals

Artsy blogging round-up!

  Carmi's Art/Life World Carmi shares new Humphrey the Elephant 3D cards. Cindy Gimbrone Beads Feeling like your craft business isn't taking off like you hoped? You might just be a scrub pine. What's a scrub pine? Come find out on Cindy's blog!   Connie Gee's Designs Connie's making plans for 2012 - find out what projects she is planning to stitch in the coming year. It's always nice to plan ahead.   Craftside- A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world This week at Craftside there is a chance to win a copy of the new book by Misty Mawn - Unfurling along with doodling tips, a Plaid Craft TV episode that features me and Steve making a Mod Podge bird house wind chime with a recycled sweater flower, some paint mixing tips and a recipe for watermelon granita.  Crafty Princess Diaries Tammy attempts to teach loom knitting to her college craft club. Eileen - The Artful Crafter Look at Eileen's crafty solution to an ac

Mixed Media Artist now has a contact form

How could I not have thought about this before?  I love hearing from all of you, but sometimes you just don't want to leave a public comment.  So I've attempted to make it easier for you with a big bold CONTACT button right up at the top of the page and in the sidebar too! Here's an incomplete list of the various reasons that you might choose to contact me through this page: Visitor questions Site problems - anything from spelling mistakes to html glitches Topics you'd like me to cover in the future.  No, I won't promise, but I will consider it! Services you'd like to offer in exchange for publicity - a tutorial, artist profile, or items for giveaway, perhaps? Product review requests Advertising inquiries Affiliate program invitations Publishers and editors - do you need some projects to fill your book?  Media inquiries - anyone need an "expert"?  :-) Designer endorsement - do you need someone to create a project using your product

Calls for entries and submissions

Belle Armoire Jewelry Deadline: 10/15/11   Somerset Digital Studio Deadline: 10/15/11    Outside/Inside the Box Deadline: 10/31/11       Technorati Tags: mixed media , collage , assemblage , digital art , photography , altered books , art journals

Store Supply Warehouse

We've got a brand new sponsor here on Mixed Media Artist that I would urge you to visit if you are involved in selling your work: Store Supply Warehouse has everything you need for store display, tagging, packaging, and organizing.  You'll find their ad in the sidebar.  Even if you don't own a store, you will need many of the items they carry for doing consignment or shows.   Technorati Tags: mixed media , collage , assemblage , digital art , photography , altered books , art journals

Quote of the week

If you don't stay out of my way today, I just might just spray paint you. Fuchsia. Image: Public domain, Paxton's Magazine of Botany

There is a storm on the horizon

There is a storm on the horizon , 4 1/2" x 11 1/2" excluding wings, 2003 This is a piece that I made quite a long time ago, but I thought I'd share it with you, because it uses a couple of techniques that might help you out some day.  I really need to get a new picture of it sometime, because about 1/2 inch has been clipped off on the left by my too-short scanner. At the time I made it, there was a lot of upheaval going on in my life (much like now!) so maybe that's another reason that I was drawn back to this piece.  I can see some things that I would do differently if I were making it now, but that's ok.  I digitally changed this shot of the Grand Canyon (a view from Plateau Point) by stretching it out width-wise and by enhancing the colors.  What I wanted was a much more "atmospheric" look, so I tried to make the foreground brighter and the mountains in the background dark and ominous.  Looking at it now, I really think I should have made the

More artsy links!

  Eileen - The Artful Crafter Look at Eileen’s crafty solution to an accident waiting to happen. Kim-Flowers and Art Kim gets a sink in her craft room! Come see how she does it with no running water.   Teal Garden Sculpture Finished Cherie shows the finished glass totem she started last week.   Basket Weave Birthday Cake It's not as difficult to make as you might think.  Beading Arts Cyndi shares the work of some amazing bead embroidery artists!     Creative Dreamer Final call... don't forget to get your name in the drawing for the little bluebird of happiness! September 4th is the deadline!   Technorati Tags: mixed media , collage , assemblage , digital art , photography , altered books , art journals

Artsy blogging round-up!

  Aileen's Musings Aileen's gearing up for Christmas already with an altered wooden domino tutorial. Cindy Gimbrone Beads Cindy is one step ahead when she uses a wire wrapping technique to create a poinsetta ring for the holidays.   Craft Buds Stop by Craft Buds this September, where they will host craft book giveaways, projects and more. It's a party! Craftside- A behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world This week at Craftside there is a chance to win a copy of the book Sewing Vintage Aprons along with a fun recycled shirt/apron tutorial, a bunch of portfolio info and how to help a dog when it's overheating, dehydrated and sunburned and a new free Rockport App.     Crafty Princess Diaries Tammy altered a star pattern afghan and shows you the results plus how she changed it up a little.   Eileen - The Artful Crafter Eileen tries her hand at 3D paper tole. It’s not as difficult as it looks, but does require a bit of patience.  

Recent publications: August 2011

Journaling Cancer in Words and Images: Caught in the Clutch of the Crab by Harriet Wadeson Doodle Sketchbook: Art Journaling for Boys by Dawn DeVries Sokol Collages (Heinemann Read and Learn) by Isabel Thomas Tales of Adornment by Kristen Robinson Scrapbook Workshop: The Best Techniques From Your Favorite Scrapbook Bloggers by May Flaum Encaustic Mixed Media by Patricia Baldwin Seggebruch Masters: Art Quilts, Vol. 2: Major Works by Leading Artists by Ray Hemachandra and Martha Sielman Give & Take Fabric Applique by Daphne Greig and Susan Purney Mark Early 20th Century Embroidery Techniques by Gail Marsh Point, Click, Quilt! Turn Your Photos into Fabulous Fabric Art: 16 Projects, Fusible Applique, Thread Sketching & More by Susan Brubaker Knapp Some Assembly Required: Mixed Technique Quilts by Margie Engel Crazy-Quilted Memories: Beautiful Embroidery Brings Your Family Portraits to Life by Brian Haggard Enhance Your Quilts - Embellish! by