For decades, red has been...

 ...a smash hit with me, so when it came to making a new book for the cyanotype cover, you can perhaps understand why the cover had to be red, and the insides, and the additions, and, and, and.  And I just could not stop.

'When I See Red' © Win Dinn
Hand-crafted book  5 1/2" H x 31/4" W x 1/4" D

I stencilled, 

pillaged collage fodder, 

chopped papers to size, 

drew, 

coloured, 

threw dryer sheets and more paper,

glued my fingers together, 

punched holes,

raided the paper towel stash, 

collaged some more,

and generally had a whale of a time.  Check out the lovely ATC above that I snuck from my traded stash.  It's by  Tracy Woodsford and has long been a favourite.  I love how it fits so perfectly on this page.

As artists, we all know that there are hundreds of tints, shades, tones and iterations of every colour, and it thrills me to think that I could do dozens of these books about seeing red, and never run out of material.  Really, who could be more fun?!  

Are you an ATC fan?

I most certainly am, and I trade with other artists as often as possible.  When I had the opportunity to trade with one of my all-time favourite artists, Deann Williams of The Whimsey Asylum, I was practically over the moon.

Not only did she send me 10 ATCs, she also sent this gorgeous hand-crafted card and a lovely note as well.  Since Deann no longer creates anything but digital work, I feel very fortunate to have received such a cornucopia of physical pieces.

This ATC, 'A Kiss to Build a Dream On' is truly the image that I most equate with Deann.  It always makes me laugh.

'Highway in the Sky' has my mind wandering over the heavens as I accompany the butterfly on that delightful zebra.

I can't stop laughing at  'Mona and the Fly', and given that this is not the only 'Mona' she's done, I think you should check the rest of them out too.

The soulful 'Angel Eyes' has a little bit of Win Dinn in the background...I love seeing my photos appear in Deann's work.

'Snow Papa' is particularly apt given the package's arrival so close to Father's Day.  This was the last hand-painted ATC that Deann had from her pre-digital days, so I feel fortunate to be the recipient!

'Sky Music' thrills me with the thought of celestial delights...can you imagine what music would come from that instrument?!

'Puffin Magic makes me think of my friends over at Puffin Design - they'd LOVE this one!

'Breaking Out' reminds me of my son Barry as a child...always trying to get out of the box and into something different!

'Uncle Steven's Fantastic Flying Machine' is like nothing I could imagine - which is exactly why The Whimsey Asylum gives me such pleasure!

My favourite, 'Contemplating Bubbles' has my dryer sheet curtains in the background, and the ethereal quality of the girl child is pure delight.

For sheer visual pleasure, I recommend you stop to visit The Whimsey Asylum.  I never know whether I'll be roaring with laughter or be blown away by exquisite beauty, but it's always amazing.

On another note, I managed to attend a fabulously fun workshop with Lynne Mizera at Fly in the Fibre this past week, and had a lovely afternoon creating a couple of small paintings, both of which were started on canvas boards covered with mop-up paper towels.  Lynne's a whiz at using unconventional materials of all sorts, and much fun.

Because we were such hard workers, we had time to create some spray backgrounds as well...I'll let you know what happens with these!

I also managed to start the free online Women Unleashed  Retreat.  It's not too late to start, so do pop over and have a go.  You can do as much or as little of it (and there's a huge variety covered in the 10 days), and if all I manage is the journal start, I'll be happy.

Front Cover of 'Palimpsest' journal for Women Unleashed Retreat

Back cover of Palimpsest journal for Women Unleashed Retreat

The ten days of doodling over the last couple of weeks came in handy for this cover, and now I'm totally obsessed with patterns again.

And just in case you've not had enough visuals in today's post, do stop in to see the Material Change show in Kimberley, BC.  It features Darcy Wanuk, Alison & Bart Bjorkman of Puffin Design, and yours truly in an amazing collection of repurposing, recycling and reinvention of the art concept.  

Here's hoping you've had a terrifically creative week too.  Let me know what you've been up to in the comments below please, and do provide a link to your own doings.  We all know how to copy and paste.

ATCs...

...are so much fun.  I love having these little masterpieces from around the world so close at hand.

This last while, I received a fabulous package of them from an Auzzie friend and trading partner, Roz Willoughby, as a result of a recent trade request in a blog post.

These are so richly textured they're drool-worthy - take a look!

Not only did she send the half dozen gorgeous cards, but she also sent a piece of tin she'd embossed - you know it's going to show up somewhere in one of my journals.

There is nothing like an envelope of happy mail to get the creative juices flowing, so I'm back in the studio finding more ways to texture my own work.  Many thanks for the inspiration, Roz!

They flit, they float...

...and they fly all around me.  Dryer sheets, that is, and I'm determined to make a dint in my stash of them.

I've been painting them for years, since they make perfect mop-ups for left-over paint.  This last while I've been experimenting with using them to make three-dimensional vases, and having fun honing my beading/buttoning skills.

I've spray glued them to Gelli-printed papers, which gives them yet another dimension,

and apparently I couldn't get myself to stop.

It's just that they are so lovely, and will make great background texture in hand-crafted greeting cards.

One needs to get up close to see the texture over top of the print underneath...I'm endlessly fascinated.

This one was so colourful that I placed it on a plain white paper instead of over a print - still lovely.

And the best part of my week?  I got a fabulous package from a favourite on-line artist friend.  Over on the Google+ site Creating and Sharing Mixed Media Art, we've been doing an Artist Trading Card exchange, and these fabulous cards came from Shelby Pizarro.  You can find her blog here for more deliciousness.  This first ATC is just so ethereal - beautiful.

I'm crazy about Venice, so this one just pleases me no end.

And look at the pile of fun that came with them.  Coincidentally, I'm working on a journal right now that incorporates fortune cookie slips - however did you know, Shelby?

Added to that is the fabulous group of papers - more playtime ahead, I can see!

I hope your week has been just as fun and at least as colourful.  Do tell in the comments below - I'd love to hear what you're up to.

It's been three weeks...

...since I last did a post, and I can't figure out where the time went.  I definitely got lost in the studio as I was prepping for an upcoming show.

I do want you to see some Artist Trading Cards that have been dancing into my snail mail box, though.  They are so unique, so delightful, and such a pleasure to receive that I must share them.

This first one is from Lynne Pfeffer, an artist from Albuquerque, New Mexico.  Don't you love the colour combination and stitchery?

Shirley Deatcher from Ontario, Canada sent this next one.  You might check her blog for some gorgeous cards, tags and all things paper - so fabulous!

Tracy Woodsford sent these next three, all the way from Australia.  I so much enjoy her thoughtful posts and fabulous artwork.  Her blog is always a delight.

The next five cards are from Zsuzsa Karoly-Smith in the UK. Her blog is a fascinating read always, and I know she did a post about creating those cards so do take a peak into her archives to find it.

All of these stunning ATCs were accompanied by cards, found and created papers and other wonderful ephemera.  I so much enjoy sending and receiving these miniature works of art; they are a fabulous visual record of art friends from around the world, and a constant source of inspiration.

Many thanks to those of you who responded to my request for a trade.  I am so grateful that you did.