Having friends in the studio...

...is a great treat!  Louise Olinger is a long-time friend who was visiting in the Creston Valley this week, so we got to play together a couple of times.

She was working on a couple of bookmarks while in the studio,

and I know her little grandson, Nolan, is going to be delighted with his (on the left).  Wonder who's going to be the recipient of the one on the right - Louise was keeping pretty mum about that!

Meantime, one of my 'red' canvasses was sporting a thick layer of Kroma Crackle - it's going to take another couple of weeks to dry so I can add some more colour (because it's obviously much too quiet right now).

I had a blast taking this screeching collaged piece a step or six further, and can hardly wait to see where it goes from here.

Another piece got some more layers as well, including some alcohol ink pens that bled, and bled and bled. Goodness knows whether it's salvageable.  Lesson learned (perhaps, although I know I've done this before.  Mom always used to say that 'repetition aids comprehension', although in my case, I'm not sure that's the case).

And last week's 'dog's breakfast' is turning into a garden, so that should be interesting as it runs for the finish line.  Goodness knows where or when that may be.

Here's to making the world a more colourful place, bit by bit!

It's been a busy week...

...both in the home studio and at Puffin Design. Christmas is in the air everywhere, and even in Creston we've got the snow to prove it.

I've been working on some miniatures recently, and these altered bottles have been great fun.  The tallest is five inches from the top of the cork right down, and it rather feels like a bit of fairyland when I see them together.  I can imagine them as libation crocks for elves and leprechauns, can't you?

Miniatures

Three of the four incorporate the gorgeous Kroma Crackle of which I'm so fond (those flat sides made it MUCH easier to apply than on the rounded bottles), and this one is finished with hand-crafted beads and a piece of turquoise for a floral bouquet against some complimentary ribbons.

'Bottled Blues' miniature altered bottle ©Win Dinn

That crackle is delicious, no?

'Bottled Blues' detail

The quiet colour in this joy bottle is a good reminder that joy can be strong and serene.

'Bottled Joy' miniature altered bottle ©Win Dinn

'Tis the season, definitely.

Bottled Joy detail

One can never go wrong with pink and purple, and this combination is also graced with hand-rolled flowers made from hand-painted paper.  Only an artist!

'Swag' miniature altered bottle ©Win Dinn

 I'm loving that crushed garnet texture against the bottle - thanks for that score, Meg!

Swag detail

 A lucky penny finishes this bottle, done in coppers and gold.  I'm loving the painted cheesecloth tie.

'Luck in a Bottle' miniature altered bottle ©Win Dinn

The light bounces in so many different directions on this one that it's opulent in the extreme.

Luck in a Bottle detail

What have you been up to this week?  Are you in the Christmas mode as well?  Share your link in the comment section and let everyone know!

It's been a roller-coaster ride...

...like no other these last couple of weeks.  My studio is chock-a-block full of partly finished projects (what else is new, right?), from this bottle awaiting a final coat of varnish

Mermaid's Song

to a journal loosely packed with paper and ephemera additions,

a gooey layer of Kroma Crackle medium on top of a gessoed box,

some tape waiting for a Gelli printing session to be reborn as washi tape,

and a video workshop in the making.

It's no less crazy at my Puffin workbench either, where another bottle is in the works (not sure what ghoul is at play here, but there is certainly some Halloween in the air),

and a book sculpture starts to take form.

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And just in case you think this has been a rather colourless post, I'll leave you with some close-ups of the bottle...

That Kroma crackle certainly looks different when it's dried and painted, right?

I hope you're having as much fun in your playroom!  If not, consider joining me this next while here in Creston - we've got some fun sessions for you here.

Crackle...

...I'm in love with it.  Kroma Crackle is such a wonderful creativity tool, I'm seriously considering buying it by the case.

I was introduced to it by Meg Nicks, co-owner of the Sunny Raven Gallery in Canmore, and she's got me hooked.  This particular piece is partway dry (the dark splotch in the top middle is Kroma Crackle still wet from the bottle over top of black gesso), and it has me mesmerized already.  It's on a lamp base I scored at Gleaners for $ .50 - John has replaced the fittings and I'm playing decorator.

I've used this crackle  in several pieces, and love the width of the crackle lines, which clearly show the colour underneath.

'Confluence' detail 

'Confluence' mixed media on cradled wood panel 10" x 8"  © Win Dinn

The dried crackle, once fixed with liquid medium, readily accepts drybrush, Inka Gold, and other juicy colour.

'Treasure Box' detail  (Full view here)

When heated during the drying process, it provides additional gnarly texture.  In fact, the only drawback to this tool is the comparatively slow drying time (the top piece is in its second day of drying), and for the results garnered, even I'm patient enough to wait!

'Islands in the Sun' mixed media on cradled wood panel  © Win Dinn

I am wondering, however, if it's quite sane to be salivating at the way it looks...is that a 'normal' artist thing?  What's your current favourite toolbox necessity?  Comment below, and let's take a look!