There have been some strange things...

... going on in the studio this past week, and I've twice emptied the recycle bin.  It's a very big one too.

Boxes and boxes of old photos have been disassembled, sorted and earmarked for family, dating back to my grandparents' time (and they were born in the late 1800's).  What a job!

In the process, I found some really pretty folios like this one, among other things.  Now I've got a file of background jpegs that are out of this world (and from a previous one).

If you've got any suggestions as to what to do with some 500+ old and/or vintage photos, I'd love to hear about them.  Ideas that will eliminate, and make useful, all of them at once would be golden!

To counteract all that grey, brown, black and white, I made a little book to house some of my favourite tags.  It was such fun to make and I learned so much that I can see some more appearing faintly on the horizon.

Between the frou-frou hat and the fancy belt, I think she looks pretty swank, don't you?

Here's to a beutifully creative week for you, and if you have an outstanding idea for those photos, I'd love to hear it in the comments.  

Another week...

...and more colour.  Isn't life just grand?!  I've been working sporadically since November on a 20 x 16"  experimentally textured gallery wrap canvas and it's just about as much colour as the eyes can manage.  You can see the start of it here if you'd like to check the beginning; the first photo below is the entirety -  so far.  

There are parts of it that I really love, 

and parts of it that show possibilities.  

Some areas need additional colour variation,

and others have not yet started to sing their song at all.

As always, I'm intrigued by the colour and texture, 

and so much enjoy the transitions from one area to another.

It's going to be a blast (or a fiasco) to finish, regardless. 😉

I hope your studio is filled with as much enjoyment as this one is, and you're playing with all your favourite things.   Happy, happy days ahead!  

Twice is nice....

,,,so we did it again!  Another bookmark making party this past weekend had more fun-lovers in the studio.  Eileen, Laura, Brenda and Maureen joined me for a fast-moving morning, with more fabulous bookmarks made.

The group was so intent on their 'job' (aka play) that the room was surprisingly quiet and these bookmarks came off the line at a great rate!

With nearly 100 bookmarks made in the two separate sessions, the library will have some brisk business in bookmarks in the coming weeks.  Thanks to all the women who made this happen - Carol, Jacqueline, Gwen, Jean, Eileen, Laura, Brenda and Maureen.  You are all creative rockstars!!  And thanks for shrinking my paper stash...I'm so excited to make more!  💗

The studio is...

... a happy place, always.  This week I've been playing with collage as a prep for making more bookmarks on Saturday.

I have a special fondness for the feathery look of that triangular Unryu paper...itsn't it lovely?  There's another shot of it three photos down.

The white on white wallpaper, when skimmed with a black stamp pad is just delightful, too.

Of course, it wasn't all black and white this week.  I did a colourful collage from very small bits of paper as well...not sure whether this will be cut up for bookmarks or not.

And I finally finished this painting that was started well before Christmas - Fire Storm Near Arcturus.

All in all it's been a fun week as we celebrated John's 80th birthday, hosted family and generally got into major fun and games!  I hope your week was at least as good!  I look forward to hearing about it in the comments.

The Muse is dragging me...

... (kicking and screaming) somewhere I never expected to go.  You all know, of course, that I am wild and crazy colour-oriented, yet this past while I find myself experimenting with shades of dull brown, beige and neutrals.  

Occasionally, I've gone this route before with mixed results.  I really like this painting from several years ago, mostly due to the gorgeous antique nails that John scrounged from an ancient board on our previous property .

We Stand Together 2015

There's a paper bag book from the Covid years that pulls me (more for the oh-my-goodness-true and silly title, I think, than the colour 🤣).

Meals I have Murdered 2020

My recent gel printing session gave me some richly coloured prints in organic colour

and I can visualize some additional embellishment coming on these.

Everywhere I look, I can see variations of brown, beige and neutral contrast, 

and I shake my head in bemusement, wondering where in heaven's name this Muse is going next.

What about you?  Where's your journey taking you these days?  I'd love to hear your creative stories in the comments!