Calls for entries and submissions

Art Journaling

Deadline: 08/15/11  

Art Quilt Portfolio: People and Portraits (Lark)
Deadline: 08/15/11  
   


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Quote of the week

For every action, there is an equal and opposite malfunction

Image: via Finding the Freeway



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Inchworm

Inchworm, Inchworm,
Measuring the marigolds
You and your arithmetic
Will probably go far

Song originally performed by Danny Kaye in the 1952 film Hans Christian Andersen

Copyright 2011 Cyndi Lavin. Image not to be reprinted, resold, or redistributed for profit. May be printed out for personal use or distributed electronically provided that entire file, including this notice, remains intact.

Technorati Tags:mixed media,collage,assemblage,digital art,photography,altered books,art journals

More artsy links!

 
Estate Sale Chairs
Cherie is still working on finishing up the awesome deal she got on estate sale chairs.

Laura-Taz's Corner
Art Journal Pages and Babysitting...

Beading Arts
Free-form peyote stitch and wire work...what could be more fun than combining the two?!  

Creative Dreamer
June turned another year older, and is sharing "Seven Simple Ideas".  

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
3D Paper Tole work is very popular on The Continent. Watch this video illustrating how you can take your decoupage into the next dimension.  



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Artsy blogging round-up!

 

Lindsay Sews
Have you ever tried the quilt-as-you-go method? Lindsay wraps up a rainbow ticker-tape quilt this week and experiments with a disco-floor layout.

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
Computer key ATC card inspired by the book Inner Excavations.  

About Family Crafts
Learn how you can save money and enjoy quality family time by making your own fun craft supplies.  

Aileen's Musings
Aileen shows you how she made her old faded patio umbrella festive again!  

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi has a new tutorial featuring the sweetest little elephants!  

Craft Buds
Sewing with oilcloth is fresh and fun, and these sandwich bags will help you reduce waste! There's a little debate over whether or not laminated fabrics are safe for food. Do you know a food-safe alternative?  

Craftside- A behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world
This week at Craftside there is Year of the Rabbit knit pattern based on the kanji of the Chinese zodiac, a tutorial on how to make a hollow lampwork glass bead along with a chance to win a copy of the book- The Glass Artist's Studio Handbook it's from, a call for entries and a free cute clip art crab perfect for summer art.  

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy discovers some retro crochet items and has a brief moment of nostalgia.  

Cross Stitch at About.com
You're the Designer! See what Irene did with Connie's Hummingbird Outline chart and try your own hand at designing and stitching too.  

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Here are a couple of ways to make hybrid cards to match a gift. Gift baskets of all sorts make lovely eye-appealing gift packages. Coordinating the elements is easier than you may think.  



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Quote of the week

When making art, whatever happens, behave as though you meant it to happen.

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Recent publications: June 2011

Unfurling, A Mixed-Media Workshop with Misty Mawn: Inspiration and Techniques for Self-Expression through Art by Misty Mawn

Collage Couture: Techniques for Creating Fashionable Art by Julie Nutting

Digital Art Wonderland: Creative Techniques for Inspirational Journaling and Beautiful Blogging by Angi Sullins and Silas Toball

The Creative Photographer (Pixiq) by Catherine Anderson

Steampunk Emporium: Creating Fantastical Jewelry, Devices and Oddments from Assorted Cogs, Gears and Curios by Jema Hewitt

Mixed and Stitched: Fabric Inspiration & How-To's for the Mixed Media Artist by Jen Osborn

The Studio Quilt, no. 2: Jeannette Meyer by Sandra Sider

Thread Painting With Style by Nancy Prince

Machine Embroidered Quilting and Applique: Simple Steps for Revolutionary Results (Create With Nancy) by Eileen Roche

Wonky One-Block Quilts: Simple Techniques, Dramatic Results by Marlous Carter

Fresh Fabric Treats: 16 Yummy Projects to Sew from Jelly Rolls, Layer Cakes & More with Your Favorite Moda Bake Shop Designers by The Moda Bake Shop Designers

Tapestry: A Woven Narrative by Tom Howells, Timothy Wilcox and Caron Penney

Folk Quilt Applique by Clare Kingslake

Bird post cards - part four

I moved all the fabric pieces to the background cloth to make sure that I'd be able to line them up properly.  Starting with the pieces that lie closest to the background fabric, I tacked them down with small pieces of double-stick tape and used a blanket stitch to sew them down permanently. 

Part of the fun is figuring out which stitches you want to blend in and which will need to contrast.  I also added a line of stem stitch up the tail at this point.

In the spirit of abstraction, I decided against outlining each wing feather the way I had done in the drawing.  Instead, I just used a modified blanket stitch with only one strand of floss to simply suggest the feathers.

Adding the eye with floss really made the bird come to life!

What to do with him now?  He needs to be quilted and finished off, but I'm wondering if I should just hold onto him and make some more bird friends for him before I start quilting.  This little square is only about 6x6 inches.  What do you think?  One square in a larger quilt, or one teeny little quilt on its own?

Part one
Part two
Part three
Part four

Copyright 2011 Cyndi Lavin. Not to be reprinted, resold, or redistributed for profit. May be printed out for personal use or distributed electronically provided that entire file, including this notice, remains intact.

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More artsy links

 

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Here's a cute idea for personalized ceramic wedding favors. If you don't want to buy the dye sublimation equipment yourself, find someone who already has it.

Laura-Taz's Corner
Fresh Strawberries and Journal Pages!  

Beading Arts
Cyndi's favorite wire guru, Paul Bishop, shares a wonderful tutorial with Cyndi's readers!  

Technorati Tags:mixed media,collage,assemblage,digital art,photography,altered books,art journals

Artsy blogging round-up!

 

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Most silk scarf painting/dying is done with a stretcher frame. But if you don't want to spend the money on a stretcher and are not planning a detailed design, this easy dye method can yield beautiful results as well.

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
See how to make a tiny scrap fabric dress decoration inspired by the book DIY Art at Home.  

About Family Crafts
Check out several Summer themed beaded safety pin patterns can be use to make fun jewelry to wear to celebrate summer and they also make great gifts!  

Aileen's Musings
Aileen tells you how she created a inexpensive fabulously fun outdoor chandelier for her porch from a hanging wire candle holder.  

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi debuts her project for the a special Canadian workshop at CHA.  

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
This week at Craftside there is a tutorial on how to use spray starch to make a hand applique, a recipe for white chocolate cranberry blondies, tips on carving your own rubber stamps from the book Unfurling.  

Cross Stitch at About.com
Great gifts for Dad for Father's Day or any other day. Do you stitch for Father's Day? Vote in the poll and let us know.  


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Book artists

 Her Blue Body by Cari Ferraro

I love looking at artist books, handmade books, mixed media books, altered books, and the like.  Here are two book artists that I found recently whom I think you'll enjoy visiting:

Cari Ferraro


Joanne Kluba

Quote of the week

 Don't start with me...you won't win!

Image: Wikimedia Commons, Paulo rsmenezes

Bird post cards - part three

Time to start assembling a bird!

I traced each piece of the pattern onto the sticky side of some lightweight fusible interfacing.  The arrows indicate the sides of the pieces that need a fabric allowance left in order to slide them under other pieces.  If I had it to do over again, I would make the two black parts of the head into a single piece and just lay the white part over top of them.  I moved a little too fast and just didn't think of it in time.

Once the pieces were all ironed in place, I cut them out and tried assembling them over top of the pattern.  Stitching down comes next, which is definitely my favorite part!

Part one
Part two
Part three
Part four

Copyright 2011 Cyndi Lavin. Not to be reprinted, resold, or redistributed for profit. May be printed out for personal use or distributed electronically provided that entire file, including this notice, remains intact.

Technorati Tags:mixed media,collage,assemblage,digital art,photography,altered books,art journals

More artsy links

 

Flowers and Art
Kim is trying once again to finish up unfinished projects. Come see the first one :)

Laura-Taz's Corner
Mail Art, and Postcards, Plus a Big Thank You!  

Beading Arts
Copper tubing makes wonderful copper beads!  

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Follow this tutorial to make a pretty and practical seed kit featuring seed planting strips.  

Estate Sale Chairs - Part 2
Cherie attaches the seat covers and starts on the backs.  

Artsy blogging round-up!

 

Cross Stitch at About.com
Fans of variegated flosses and newbies will both find helpful information in these tips for using it. Also, be sure to vote in the poll!

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Here's a cute idea for personalized ceramic wedding favors. If you don't want to buy the dye sublimation equipment yourself, find someone who already has it.

Lindsay Sews
A creative way to wrap up a tie for the man in your life on Father's Day, with no wrapping paper involved!  

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
An interview with Jema "Emilly Ladybird" Hewitt, author of Steampunk Emporium along with a fun gear and Swarovski crystal earring project.  

Aileen's Musings
Aileen offers you a printable Dad banner for you to download and make for the dad in your life!  

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi has a tutorial for the Crafter's Companion this week.  

Craft Buds
Need to whip up a Father's Day gift? Craft Buds has a roundup of free sewing patterns for Father's Day, including a tie, an ebook reader cover and an interesting hat.  

Craftside- A behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world
This week at Craftside there are two chances to score yourself copies of cooking and crafting books just by leaving a comment, a free eyeglass box template, along with a "ransom type" quote embellished mirror, step-by-step comic drawing and inside peeks into Astounding Knits! in honor of World Wide Knitting Day (this Saturday).  

Crafty Princess Diaries
And the knitting goes on as Tammy graduates to smaller knitting needles.  

Bird post cards - part two

On Monday I showed you a few of the little vintage trading cards I bought that feature birds.  I settled on using a card of the chickadee, one of my favorite birds.  Well, honestly, they are all my favorites depending upon who's hanging out at the feeder at any given time.  Still, I decided to start with the chickadee and see if I could get a decent drawing to use as a pattern.

I think he turned out looking a bit more like a sparrow than a chickadee, but hopefully my simplification and fabric choices will help!   

I used a black Pitt pen to outline the major pieces on the drawing, and then I picked out fabrics:

Part one
Part two
Part three
Part four

Copyright 2011 Cyndi Lavin. Not to be reprinted, resold, or redistributed for profit. May be printed out for personal use or distributed electronically provided that entire file, including this notice, remains intact.

Technorati Tags:mixed media,collage,assemblage,digital art,photography,altered books,art journals

Book review: Collage Couture

 

Julie Nutting's new book, Collage Couture, takes you through the fun process of sketching your own fashion figures and dressing them in collaged clothing.

Wait, did I just hear you say that you can't draw people or faces?  Not to worry!  Julie takes you through the simple steps and proportions to create your very own croquis (undressed outline of a figure) in different poses.  Tracing paper will become your new best friend as you create the figures and the fashions that are possible with Julie's simple techniques.

Julie also gives you lots of tips for creating backgrounds that are appropriate for these fashionable residents.  Most of her pieces are done on canvas boards, but some are framed, some are designed as paper dolls (both jointed and not), and some are shown on journal covers and other small gifts.  I think you'll find this volume delightful, and if you were the kind of child who loved paper dolls, it will take you right back to an earlier time!

This book is published by North Light Books, an imprint of F&W Media.

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Quote of the week

 Be it about to crumble, there’s no place like home!

Image: Why Not Art

Bird post cards - part one

 

Quite a few years ago, I bought a whole bunch of little trading cards with birds on eBay that were originally distributed in boxes of Arm & Hammer baking soda.  I didn't have any specific idea what I was going to do with them, other than just look at them!  Like many people, I've had a long-term fascination with birds, and I have lots and lots of "favorite" species depending upon the time of year and who happens to be visiting my feeder.  Nuthatches, chickadees, and gold finches are all favorites that continue to be favorites year round for various reasons.

Now I think I might know what these cards will be used for, not physically, but inspirationally.  I've been wanting to make another series of fabric post cards but haven't been sure exactly what the topic would be.  I think what I'm going to do is use these cards to inspire some drawings (oh, ouch!) of birds that I will use to create some small layered fabric post cards in a manner similar to these fruit quilts that I was obsessed with before:  Tomato Quilt and Pear Quilt.  Jane Sassaman, from whom I learned this basic technique, calls it "abstracting from nature".

So it's time to start drawing, not something that I'm particularly comfortable with!

Part one
Part two
Part three
Part four

Copyright 2011 Cyndi Lavin. Not to be reprinted, resold, or redistributed for profit. May be printed out for personal use or distributed electronically provided that entire file, including this notice, remains intact.

Technorati Tags:mixed media,collage,assemblage,digital art,photography,altered books,art journals

More artsy links!

 

Recovering Estate Sale Chairs
Cherie gets a find at an estate sale and shows how to recover old chairs.

Beading Arts
Wire tutorials and resources galore on Beading Arts this week!  

Campfire Pies
A fun summer campout treat idea.  

Creative Dreamer
June is having problems with watercolors, come see what's going on.  

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
See how to make zero-calorie fortune cookies for your next party. Hint: they're made in the craft room - not the kitchen.  

Flowers and Art
Kim shares a needle felting tutorial she did last year- give it a try!  

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Artsy blogging round-up!

 

Crafty Princess Diaries
Listen up to Tammy's recent interview on FaveCrafts Radio.

Cross Stitch at About.com
Connie's free Musical Notes Collection will be the perfect patterns to use for a project to give to a musically inclined person. 


Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Come along for a virtual visit to Caracas, Venezuela, where Artist Patty Sucre decoupages and sells beautifully-crafted trays, boxes and other wooden items. Que maravillosos! 

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
Stefanie shares her experimentations with fabric circle pom poms and paint stick stamping, two of the techniques in the book Sharing Stitches.  

About Family Crafts
Drop by and participate in the current make-it-over craft challenge. What can you create using duct tape?  

Aileen's Musings
Heads up all you Steampunk Art lovers out there Aileen is celebrating her husband's art being published in 1000 Steampunk Creations book that was just released! Stop by and find all the ways you can enter.  

Carmi's Art/Life World
I have a great tip for adding embellishments to summer t-shirts.  

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
This week at Craftside there are tips on fixing pressing errors, how to write a book proposal interview with Jennifer Worick, 2 free heart clip art images, a fun recycled rebus affirmation project and info on two events with author of Painted Pages, Sarah Ahearn.  




 

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Calls for entries and submissions

Home Sweet Home challenge
Deadline: 07/01/11  
   
PACE 2011: Postcard Art
Deadline: 07/11/11  
   
Belle Armoire Jewelry
Deadline: 07/15/11  

Interpretations 2011
Deadline: 07/16/11  
   


Technorati Tags:mixed media,collage,assemblage,digital art,photography,altered books,art journals