I love receiving castoffs...

...and one of my recent scores was a host of coloured file folder ends that had been chopped to about 13" x 2 3/4".  They're perfect to turn into accordion style booklets (or like this one, tied with ribbons), so a new project was born.  Never mind that I have fully a score of unfinished projects waiting in the wings...

It's so much fun to play with miniature ArtFoamies geometric shapes that I found myself stamping up a storm.  By the time I'd finished with pens and cancelled postage stamps, there was hardly room for a word or two.  That's MY kind of book.  :D

And because I was looking for specific cancelled postage stamps for this little book, I now have several piles of separated stamps - flowers, animals, sports, people and the ever-present miscellaneous, so you know there will be more of these coming.  I'd count myself brilliant if I actually managed to create a technique video rather than a look-and-see one!  Maybe one of them will actually be an accordion style like my first Homage to Snail Mail.

Tell me, what do you do with the stamps that come to your mail box?  I'd love to hear about it, so comment below, and include a link if you like!  

Throwing paint...

...everywhere is a special kind of joy, and with some time now to play in the studio, I've been doing just that.

My stack of painted dryer sheets has been sadly depleted somehow, and while I normally just mop up paints as I finish a project, this time I had a paint party!

My stack is looking plumper and with regular additions should soon be strong enough to get at those dryer sheet curtains I've had in the back of my mind for the second bathroom.  While there are more blues needed, that's an oft-used shade in this studio.

I've been playing in my art journal as well, and it's pretty colourful there too.

I'm especially loving the textural bits here...very touchable, don't you think?

Another art journal page shows off a favourite print by Klimt (not the original, unfortunately, but a reasonable serviette copy)...

 More lickable texture - I can just about taste it!

And somewhere on another worktable, there's a dryer sheet painting (or maybe stitching) brewing.  I love how the white background makes that lovely web pop.

So there you have it - back in the studio and playing like a three-year-old.  What could be a better life?  And while you're here, why not catch me up on yours...I'd love to hear what you're up to!

Is it Christmas?

Perhaps not, but Catherine Moes got to use her Christmas gift this past week when she came for a three-hour private lesson, and we had more fun than I suspect is strictly legal.

The beauty of one-on-one is that sessions can be tailor-made to fit the student, and after a short studio tour and a discussion of Catherine's current explorations, it was decided that a morning with the knife would be a great playtime.  Accordingly we got some palette knives in action.

In order to create a feeling of looseness, we utilised only the palette knife, molding paste and heavy gel to bump up the texture, heavy-bodied acrylic paints and a spray bottle of water.  Creating a landscape from our imaginations, we tore right into an abstract painting.

We accomplished a great deal in our short time together, even managing a quick demo session with the gel plate as we waited for the mediums to dry a bit on the paintings.

Catherine was so pleased with her husband's stocking stuffer that I could literally hear the wheels turning in her head as she planned for a return visit.  

I love doing these private lessons - they give me such joy when I can sponteaneously create a coaching session that is exactly what the artist wants and needs.  Being able to encourage mixed media exploration in the arts is why I've been teaching for so long.

If you're looking for your own stocking stuffer, why not email me for details?   I'd love to see you come and play!

Of course, that's not all that went on in the studio this week - I got into more dryer sheets and baby wipes.  Are you surprised?  Maybe you would be when you find out that I made flowers from them.  Using Golden GAC400, I got myself gunked right up, and John caught me in the act.

If  you've been following this blog for the past few weeks, you can likely guess where these might be going!  The deadline is fast approaching to get this Lunacy Gown completed.

Hope your week has been just as much fun - see you on the flip side, and please let me know what you've been up to in the last while.  I love reading your comments.

Stitch, stitch, stitch...

...and paint, paint, paint.  It's a colourful space in the house these days.

There are partially finished projects everywhere.

And when I'm supposed to be nose to the grindstone to finish them, I get distracted by leaf patterns and spend waaaaaay too much time taking photos of them.

Truly, I do want to get this dress finished so I can go play outside since the weather is warming up appreciably...so back to the stitch, stitch, stitch!

How about you - what's happening in your corner of the world?