Art House 577

Birds of Poetry

2012-01-16T13:53:00.000-08:00

Come and make mixed media Birds of Poetry. Fun and easy to make, I enjoy the variety of materials and techniques I can use in these pieces, painting, stenciling, sewing, beading, writing, embellishing, whatever you like. I will be teaching this class at A Work of Heart in San Jose, January 20, 2012 from 6:00-10:00 pm. This is a great place to take a class, it has a great studio space and tons of tools and materials that you can use.

Stenciled Journal Journey Class

2011-10-16T14:52:00.000-07:00

If you are taking my stencil class at journalfest, just some ideas for stencil designs.

Photos for stencils- look for bold, simple strong lines and shapes. You can make a stencil design from almost any image. For photos you can start with a black and white or convert a photo over on your computer. This is a photo I took out of a book, it was already black and white, I made it mostly black on my computer, but if you have a simple strong image you don't have to do that. You will be tracing the images over a transparency , so you can draw what parts of the image you want. For other stencils you can look for things that have a strong silhouette. You can find design ideas anywhere, shopping bags, wrapping paper, magazines, anything. I will have stuff in class to play with, so don't worry to much about an image, unless you have something personal you want to bring.

Stenciled Journal Journey

2011-10-09T21:48:00.000-07:00

This is one of my new books for Stenciled Journal Journey at Journalfest. Painted on canvas with stencils, free hand painting and bit o collage.

Artist Coloring Book of Portraits

2011-10-08T19:38:00.000-07:00

I finally got it together to make my coloring book of portraits. This is a self-published book that has instructions for drawing your own faces and 25 faces that you can color, stamp, paint, collage, whatever you would like to do with them. Several months ago, I asked folks to give me an opinion on the cover design. And the lucky winner is Nicole Austin, I will email you to get your address and I will send you a copy. Thanks to everyone who left me a comment!!

If you signed up for my portrait class at Journalfest in October, you will be getting a copy as well.

Painted Pocket Journal Workshop

2011-09-11T14:30:00.000-07:00

I will be teaching some classes at "A Work of Heart" in San Jose, CA. The first class will be painted pocket journals on Sep. 30, 2011 from 6-10 pm. To sign up, go to aworkofheart@gmail.com
You will create painted fabrics to create the journals using several painting techniques,
no experience required!

New Faces

2011-09-03T18:04:00.000-07:00

I had a yard sale today, it was a failure, I made 27 bucks. But while I was sitting there, I was working in one of my journals. This started with crayon scribble with a small amount of orange paint. I drew the face with a thick and fine point sharpie. No pencil or an eraser, I do better if I don't have a pencil.

A detail shot, sometimes I like a limited amount of materials. I think it helps to stretch your technique.

This is just a beginning layer, it started as a random collage page. I have more layers to add.

More Journal Pages

2011-08-18T15:02:00.000-07:00

I am still not tried of the house shape.

Chase the weird, you can just see my Grand Girl's feet.

This is a photo of a house from Fort Worden at Journalfest that I altered.

Took a photo in downtown Oakland of some street art and then I added the little ladies. I love the contrast of content.

New Journal Pages

2011-08-12T14:08:00.000-07:00

I have been on vacation for a couple of weeks, one of my projects was to work in my journal on a daily basis. These are the beginning layers of each page. I have more to do on each spread, I tend to work from the back to the front, big layers first, then text and details later on. I hardly ever feel that a page is finished. I use alot of my painted papers and stencils that I cut. The hardest part is just starting the first page, after that it is all cake.

This one turned out to be one of my favorite pages so far. It was horrible, then I just kept adding more layers to mess. I love the eyeball flower like plants.

That is me in the picture. I was in a photo booth and took a picture of myself.

I kinda love this spread just the way it is. I usually always want to add something, but not on this one.

Summer Painting

2011-08-08T11:41:00.000-07:00

Every summer I like to create an outdoor paint studio. I finally set it this morning and did some spray painting with my 6 year old Grandson Ryder. He is pretty handy with a spray can. We do use lot's of protective gear, gloves, masks and goggles. I get to keep the red, blue and black and he is taking home the one with yellow. We worked on stretched canvas, many of the stencils are found. I cut some and purchases a few of the stencils. I got this cool attachment for the spray can to make it much easier to spray for small hands.

My Color Wheel

2011-07-05T13:49:00.000-07:00

Ruth from Seattle asked what colors of paint I use for my color mixing lessons. I use Blick student grade acrylics, I use chrome yellow, magenta and fluorescent blue. I don't use the traditional primary colors, like red and true blue. I don't like the way those pigments mix together. All of the colors on this color wheel were mixed from those 3 colors. But I still manage to buy all kinds of colors and brands of paint, I LOVE paint and color. But I want to know I can mix all the colors myself, if I want to!

Plexi-glass Portriats

2011-07-02T14:13:00.000-07:00

These are portraits that I painted and collaged on sheets of clear plexi-glass. I used to paint on clear plastic all the time in my kid art classes. Draw on one side with a black sharpies and then flip it over and paint the back side. For these I used poster paint pens, acrylic paints, metallic paints and collaged various paper stuff. In person they have a very cool dimensional effect and light reflects off different areas, hard to tell in photographs.You have to work the piece from front to back, which is totally the opposite of how I normally work, quite a good stretch it was!
I will be teaching this class at the next Artfest 2012.

back to blogging

2011-06-20T17:58:00.000-07:00

I have been checked out for a bit. I got a new lap top and software and I'm not to swift on new technology. Finally I am figuring it all out.I hope to be blogging again!

New journal page

2011-06-20T10:54:00.000-07:00

scraps, scribbles and paint

New Pencil Holder

2011-05-01T13:55:00.000-07:00

I wanted to make a pencil holder for some of the pencils that I carry with me, I don't like to leave these loose in my other bags, cause they get the carbon and lead all over the other pens. I sewed two scrap pieces of my painted canvas together, stitched the sections and added a leather cord and a favorite red button. I love to sew with the painted canvas because it does not fray.

So, I don't turn any of the edges under and it's very study. I will let you know if it actually functions, I keep putting more and more art stuff in my "purse".

Sponge rollers

2011-05-01T13:52:00.000-07:00

Someone asked where I get the sponge rollers that I use for my painting, I get them from
Dick Blick Art Materials, Dickblick.com They have all kinds of great art supplies for very good prices.

Back from Artfest

2011-04-17T09:22:00.000-07:00

Back from Artfest, lot's of ideas floating around in my head. I still have to unpack all my art stuff and start a new journal. But I wanted to say thank you to all the artists who signed up for my classes. I always tell everyone in my classes that we are are all teachers and learners. We all have something to share with one another. I always try to give 110% when I teach a class, but when I stop learning that is also the day I stop teaching. Thanks to all who come to class and try something new and put themselves out there. I ask my students to try something different, a new technique or a new color pallet and they never disappoint!

This is a canvas we did in class, each person added something to the canvas as the day went on. I usually have an extra canvas in my studio as I paint other projects, this canvas is used to clean brushes, try a technique on or use a table cover. Eventually it will become on of my painted pieces. At the end of the day we cut this canvas up for each person to take a piece of. For me the canvas represents how each person in the class, helps to define the class and what we will all get out of it.

If anyone from my classes, wants to send a picture of their project, I would love to post it on my blog or I would love to visit your blog. Thanks, Rox

Iron Chef Artfest Style

2011-04-15T11:18:00.000-07:00

At Artfest, several of the teachers were asked to participate in an art iron chef, we were given a bag of goodies and we had to use a minimum of 5 of the items in the bag to create a piece of art within 45 minutes. There was a barbie doll, some toys, a box, a canvas board, some weird fiber stuff etc, etc. Folks walked around and watched as we worked, it was fun and stressful! About half way through, I thought I wasn't going to make and I was going to embarrass myself, but it worked out in the end. Everyone made some really cool stuff.

WE were allowed to bring some of our own materials, I brought paint, stencils and some of my painted papers and colored tape.

Here I am slapping some paint on my project. Also thank gawd for purple duck tape that I brought with me, that is how I bound the whole book together.

I forgot to take a picture of the finished product, but I made a journal from the canvas broad, I cut up all the dolls and stuff and attached the parts to the spine with the weird fiber stuff that was in the bag. Added painted a face , pages, stenciled, collage and called it a day! The items were auctioned off and the money will go to a scholarship for someone to go Artfest.

Getting ready for Journalfest

2011-04-02T18:02:00.000-07:00

New bag, I wanted to try painting on an actual paint canvas from the hardware store. I cut chunk out of a painters canvas that I got a home depot, you know the kind you use to cover the floor when you paint. It actually is a pretty nice surface to paint on. Then I sewed it into a bag to take to Artfest. Good thing I do most of the house painting, my husband will be surprised when he sees the chunk missing from the canvas. hehe!

New journals, I made one for me and one for my friend Diane, who always hosts me when I am at any of the "fests". I always start a new journal when I go away for teaching and learning! These are mostly all black & white and red (all over) which is a color combo we both love. I made the outside binding with some cool black and white tape I got from Target. The front and back covers are made from the backs of canvas tablets that I recycled. Old buttons and scraps from my painted stash and collage papers for the pages. NO new materials where harmed in the making of these journals! (Just the tape)

New Canvas for Artfest

2011-03-25T19:37:00.001-07:00

I had to make a few new pieces for Artfest, plus I need a new canvas bag! I made this bird stencil, my source of inspiration was a gift bag. The bag had a great bird shape on it. Now I look at all the gift bags, some really have good graphics on them.

You never know how a piece is going to turn out. This one began life a dark brown piece of bottom weight fabric that I used as a table cover for painting on. Many layers later, I really ended up liking it. I think the ones that are less precious, I end up liking the best.

I painted this one on really nice piece of tan linen. The images are really crisp on this type of fabric. I brush painted areas, stenciled, stamped, made crayon rubbings, used water soluble crayons and pencils to create the layers. I have to add a few more layers.

This is so much fun to me!

Styrofoam Printing

2011-03-20T19:04:00.000-07:00

I got some takeout food the other day in a styrofoam container, instead of throwing it away, I decided to make some printing plates from the foam. I just cut the Styrofoam into large flat pieces and carved into the foam with a ball point pen. Then I rolled acrylic paint over the top and then laid the paper over it and rubbed the back of the paper. I then lifted the print off. I should have added a little dish soap to the paint to help it adhere to the foam, it was fun any way.

Go Figure Class at Artfest

2011-02-27T11:20:00.001-08:00

I have been getting ready for Artfest, these are some figures I made for the "Go Figure" class. They are mixed media, created from magazine pictures, painted paper, paper doll parts, random collage materials and some of my photos. All the feet are pictures I took of my Granddaughter's feet. I like things to be out of proportion, like big head-small feet etc.

New Cover Chosen

2011-02-27T11:17:00.000-08:00

Thanks for all your feed-back, the first choice is the new cover. I will put all your names in hat and draw a winner to get a copy of one of the artist coloring book, when I get them done!
Thanks!

New cover for a coloring book????

2011-02-19T17:34:00.000-08:00

I am self publishing a coloring book of some of my portraits , which will have about 30 black and white faces that you can color, paint or alter in some way. I decided that I needed a colorful cover, neither one of these are done yet, they both still need some more layers and the words etc. Which one do you you like better (or neither one)? I am planning on having a raffle to send one of the books to a responder to this blog, but it will be 5-6 weeks before the book is completed. I will blog who wins!
Thanks, Roxi

New Journal

2011-01-30T15:28:00.000-08:00

I think the original piece of fabric was a tan polka dot before I started painting on it. The face is a little stencil I made from a photo from a book. You may see this journal in a new publication with full instructions sometime this year.

Inside of the journal, used a bunch of my painted paper stash.

Hand painted eye with stencil sewed to the back of the cover.

Front and back of the book.

Painting Time

2011-01-16T10:36:00.000-08:00

I decided it was time to replenish my painted paper stash. Today I will work on more yellows, greens and some black and white. This is a great thing to do when I want to be creative but don't want to think to hard. I still get excited every time I make a sheet of cool paper.

For paste paper, I paint a bunch of solid colors sheets of paper first and then apply the second layer and run the combs through. I use acyclic paint thinned with matte medium for the first layer, second layer I add glazing liquid to slow the drying time down, so I have time to drag the combs through. I don't really like the cooked paste people unusually use for paste paper. I like the intense color I get with acyclic.

I usually work with one color family at a time making several sheets of a color before moving on to the next color family. This one I did with one stencil that I cut out, I use a roller brush and I use the stencil as a negative and then flip the stencil over and print with it as the reverse.

One of my favorite colors combo's magenta and chartreuse.

Stenciling

2011-01-09T19:01:00.001-08:00

Made a stencil from a photo of me, added to a journal page with some photos I took of clouds. I will have to journal on it or something. And I realized how may times am I actually going to use a stencil of myself? Another person's face would be much more interesting to me. I have made some stencils from mug shots from the 1920-30's or so, from a book (forgot the name). Now those are interesting! I will post those, as well.

Going Postal- in a good way!

2011-01-09T18:56:00.001-08:00

I could not resist the backside of this box. I love to decorate boxes and envelopes. Do you think the postmen pay attention to them, or is it just a blur?

A few doodles....

2010-12-24T15:37:00.001-08:00

With all the holiday stuff and just life in general, I have not done as much art as I usually like. I do love to doodle, I did this these little drawings at a meeting at work the other day. I have to find any time, 10 minutes whenever, or I will go crazy. I actually see the potential in these small pictures. I can enlarge them to alter, paint, collage, make stamps and print designs, it goes on and on. Sometimes the small bits of time and space can really matter.

A few shots from Journalfest

2010-11-13T19:29:00.001-08:00

Tons of fun with stencils!

The paint and tool table before the art carnage!

Some of my layered paper, first use a b & w copy of something, then do a crayon rubbing, last add a watercolor wash.

Back from Journalfest

2010-11-06T17:41:00.001-07:00

I had a great time at Journalfest, this is the car on the way back to Seattle with my sister, Adele. We were packed to the brim, it was my friend Diane's car, we were dragging all the way to and from Port Townsend, literally!
I am so thankful for all the wonderful and CREATIVE ladies who signed up for my classes, I hope you all will stay in touch and will send me photo's of your finished projects. I would love to post them on this blog. I'm already thinking about Artfest in April.

I am also thankful for Adele and Diane being my "people", if I was cool, I would say "my peeps".

This is one of the many ways we entertained our selves, we are so easily entertained! I still have to un-pack and finish my journalfest journal. More to come!

New Bag

2010-10-24T19:34:00.001-07:00

I needed a new bag, used my painted canvas to make one. It's fully lined on the inside with the black and white squiggle line fabric I got at Joane fabric store. It's super durable because of the canvas.

I used mostly my hand cut stencils and acrylic paint to make this piece of canvas.

New Journal

2010-10-24T19:15:00.001-07:00

I had to make a new journal quick for Journalfest, so I covered a .99 cent composition book. This is the cover, red letter paper and polka dot tape. The black part is an old stencil.

The back of the journal.

New "Business" Cards

2010-10-22T11:08:00.000-07:00

I needed some new "business" cards, I decided to make them myself. I used one of my heavy sheets of painted paper and then added lots of layers of paint and some collage. I cut the big sheet up into 60 2 1/2 by 3 1/2 inch cards, added a little stencil and stamp and glued my information to the back. Viola! how professional!
These will probably end up being my trades for journalfest.

Pencil-Art bags

2010-10-17T14:29:00.000-07:00

I decided to use some of my painted canvas to make some pencil or art bags. They have zippers and they are super durable because of the canvas. I'm getting ready to make myself a new purse to sport at Journalfest.

Fun and Wierd Hobby

2010-10-17T14:19:00.000-07:00

I love to take pictures off the T.V set with my camera of black and white movies. This is from the movie " The Brain that wouldn't Die", 1959, don't you love it. My favorites are from the old science fiction movies from the 50's and 60's. I have a collection of these photo's and I'm sure they will show up in some artwork or a journal. Every now and then I cruise the telly for old

sci-fi movies to photograph. Then I have a perfectly good excuse to watch T.V., because it's for my ART!

The road to Journalfest

2010-10-08T13:26:00.001-07:00

These are the folders I made for the collection or obsession class for Journalfest. I made a stencil of the heart, added some paint and crayon. All my free time right now is going to getting ready for Journalfest, almost there!

Newest Project

2010-09-27T18:35:00.000-07:00

I usually reserve this blog for my art, but this is one I have to share. My newest Grandson, Jax Gunner Padgett, 9lb.11oz and just about ready for pre-school! His brother Ryder is pretty happy about it, (until all the crying starts, I'm sure!) I get to make a baby ninja costume to match his brother for Halloween.

Birds of Poetry Class

2010-09-24T14:57:00.000-07:00

I'm getting ready for my classes at Journalfest. I try to make something different to give to each student. This is a large white envelop that I stenciled, inside are all the instructions and patterns for the class. With my painted paper scraps I made a bird for each envelop and clipped it on with a binder clip. I can't wait to go!

Birds of Poetry

2010-09-11T17:46:00.001-07:00

Working on some Birds of Poetry for my Journalfest class. I had to make a Halloween one. I want to make another one that is not so cute. Maybe a little more dark and funky, minus the cute hat.

This is the back of the piece. I think the hat may have to go! The legs are white colored penciled that I painted stripes on.

Detail of the back, the quote is from a lyric from a Talking Heads song.

A painted and stitched heart, I like that part the best.

This is the front of this bird, which I think is less interesting than the back, all the fabric is hand-painted or dyed. And the tree is stenciled on.

This is the back, which is a stenciled piece of fabric, with a pocket that holds a small book.

Fun Tags

2010-09-06T19:35:00.001-07:00

I have to use every bit of my painted papers, so I got one of those large tag punches and used scraps to make a bunch of tags. I will probably use some of these for Journalfest trades, etc.

more paintings

2010-09-05T16:39:00.000-07:00

These are a combination of spray painting with acrylic paints. I used roller brushes and sponges to apply the acrylics. I started with black paint and added the colors on top. Which I like alot. I tried to be a bit messy in the layers. I think some of my other paintings get to precise, I like it when a I leave room for happy accidents. One of these I want to frame (I have a new green wall in my studio) and the others will get cut up and made into something.

Painted Pocket Journal Class

2010-09-05T12:16:00.001-07:00

Getting ready for my classes at Journalfest. I like to make something special for each class. So for Painted pocket Journals I spray painted folders and added a painted pocket of course! Any excuse to use spray paint or use stencils. Each folder has written and illustrated instructions, for those of us (me) who need pictures to figure something out.

A collage pack for every student that is full of hand painted papers and fabrics, yum! Plus students will create their own painted stash of paper and fabrics.

New Painted Pocket Journals

2010-08-15T09:48:00.001-07:00

These new journals are for my class at Journalfest. I always make more of the thing I am teaching as I write the instructions for the project. These each have some painted stenciled fabric on them. I love the process of creating the fabric to the end product, so much fun!

Some of the painted fabrics used in the books. These books have not been embellished yet. They will receive more paint, stamps, beads, charms, mini-books for the pockets etc.

I like to variegate the top color of paint, this will get another layer of painted lines etc. on top.

This is one of my new stencils, I used a roller brush instead of the spray paint. I like the ease of spray paint but I hate the smell. If I use spray paint I have to let the pieces out-gas for days before I can use them.

First I gessoed a piece of linen, made some scribble marks and then painted a layer of red.

Stencil Mania

2010-08-08T20:42:00.001-07:00

I was stenciling with my Grandson Ryder, I got this handle gadget at the hardware store, which makes it much easier for little hands to use a spray can. He loves it, I hope he doesn't get arrested for graffiti when he is a teenager. I guess Grandma will have to bail him out if he does.

One of his canvases, he wouldn't give to me!

Running with Scissors blog interview

2010-08-06T22:25:00.000-07:00

Running with Scissors was kind enough to do a blog interview with me, plus they are a great web site and on-line store. Check it out,
http://runningwithscissorsstudio.blogspot.com

The stencil Party Continues.....

2010-08-01T10:24:00.000-07:00

I made a bunch of stencils from old folders, I did them while watching T.V. I tried stenciling on fabric and I noticed I had to iron the fabric really flat to get the affect I wanted. The edges are not as crisp on fabric as on paper, so I had to use spray adhesive on the stencils when placing on the fabric.

Hand-made stencils

Layer 1. The first layer I usually make pretty sloppy, with random painting, stamping
and stenciling.

2. Last Layer. This is the same piece but with several layers of stenciling, I used spray paint and acyclic paints. I want some of all the different layers to show through somewhere on the piece.

I call these squished stones.

Stencil Party

2010-07-31T10:34:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was my birthday and for the past few year I always try and have a paint party for part of the day. I decided this year to get out my big stencils and spray paints and go at it in the backyard. I do hate the smell and I always let the paper outgas for days outside and in the garage. But I do love the results.

The stencils are a mish-mash of found, created, and a few purchased. I mostly like to make stencils from old manila folders or transparencies.

This has three layers and needs more, I may hand-paint on top of some of these. I did these on some really large sheets of watercolor paper.

This was the last one of the day and I finally started to get the affect I wanted. I'm always willing to work through stuff I don't really like to get to what I want. Besides I can always add layers until something happens. This big loopy stencil was actually a piece of plastic I found in the street walking to work, SCORE!

These are bound to be cut up and used in journals to make books etc.etc. My new favorite color of spray paint is the lavender, especially paired with the orange.

Kinda like paper dolls, kinda not!

2010-07-24T08:59:00.001-07:00

I have been playing around with mixed media figures for awhile now. This is one of the classes I will be teaching at Artfest.The face is made from a photograph of one of my mixed media portraits and then I shrunk it down. The dress is a painted stencil design with collage layered on top of it. The legs are from another project that didn't work out. Then it is all layered onto a postcard. It's fun to collect and create the pieces and parts and see what figures emerge.

The feet are from a magazine, the dress is made from a painted paper plate. I sometimes use cheap white paper plates as my paint palette, after they dry, I end up cutting them up for collage projects. I know, I know, it's a sickness! I can't throw stuff away! This figure was mounted on a file folder, one of my favorite substrates.

A trio of figures, the one on the end I used a picture of my grandson's face.

Yeah, I'm going to Artfest 2011

2010-07-21T08:45:00.001-07:00

Yeah, I'm going to be teaching at Artfest next year, although I don't look really happy in this picture, I'm trying to look like a serious artist, haha! This is one of my classes, lush layered canvas, these are a few of the canvas laid out on the floor that I am sitting on. More pictures to come!

Sew Somerset Article "Fear No Color"

2010-06-06T19:29:00.001-07:00

The June issue of Sew Somerset has my artwork with a "how to article" I wrote. This a fabric journal with tons of paint and collage and stitching. The inside is a collection of colors, to which I will probably continue to add to. I hardly ever feel like a journal is complete, I can always add one more thing! This journal is really big, like 12 by 14, the big size is nice to play in, but I did limit the pages, otherwise I would never get close to that almost done stage.
The front cover, I love to paint color wheels. I started with heavy weight canvas and then just build up the layers of color with paint, collage and sewing.

Back cover, my Granddaughter's feet.I love the red page, I think a whole book of red would not be too much.

Topsy Turvy Class

2010-04-18T16:29:00.000-07:00

I took some pictures at my Topsy Turvy class. I should have taken more, but that's hard to do when you are teaching. They are a great group, The Flying Phoebe Cloth Doll club, creative and fun. Thanks, Ladies for the great day!

Lois made this super cute small version, from some great silk fabrics.

Suzanne's small version, the ears are paper clips that she bent and sewed on, cute!
Love that hip!

Zoe's girl

Before sewing, great color!

Jerry's fantastic textured piece.

Topsy Turvy

2010-04-11T17:36:00.001-07:00

Made a new topsy turvy for class this week. I used mostly recycled materials. A striped beanie hat, striped t-shirts from the thrift store and a table napkin and some of my painted canvas. I still have some detail work to do.

A bit disturbing when you see both sides at once.

Cool Painting

2010-04-11T17:29:00.001-07:00

I wish I could paint as good as my Grand-kids, one of them painted this a while ago. I found it when I was doing a little cleaning. They sprayed some concoction of various paints with a plant sprayer and then finger painted and sponged on top. I love the energy and color.

Art Carnage

2010-03-28T16:45:00.001-07:00

This is my art studio, you would think that I would be embarrassed by the mess, but I'm not.

I guess it's time to clean up! (a little bit)

Roxie and Re-bound, book no.2

2010-03-27T14:20:00.000-07:00

This is a recycled chip bag journal. You glue all the bags to a Tyvek envelope to make the book cover. I added lots more stitching. I don't eat alot of chips, I love the dog treat bag and the Japanese munchie snack bag. Now a new problem, when I go to the grocery store, I look at the bags for their graphic quality, instead of the product.

The inside of the cover is a old Tyvek envelope, you cover this up with another layer of bags. After you get all the layers together, it seems really strong. But you can't really tell how something is going to hold up until you actually use it to journal in.

My finished book.

I made this one from a black coffee bean bag and a piece of red plastic I found on the ground walking to work. I like this one better. I added alot of stitching.

Here is the book project from rebound, it's made from chip bags.

Topsy Turvy Class in San Leandro

2010-03-15T19:03:00.000-07:00

I will be teaching this class in San Leandro, April 15, 9:30 to all day for the Flying Phoebes cloth doll club. There are still spots available, class is about 40.00, 10.00 kit fee. These topsy turvy dolls/creatures are pieced with hand painted fabrics, some have clothes, some don't. Flip one over to discover another. They are just fun and silly with lots of possibilities to embellish.

You can make them in lots of sizes and some have bikini's!

She has got a small journal in her pocket, of course.

"Roxie and Re-bound"

2010-03-14T17:17:00.001-07:00

I am always buying books, but I am becoming more discerning in my choices. This basically a book about creating books and journals from recycled and re-purposed materials, by Jeannine Stein, Quary Press. I had this idea after seeing the movie "Julie and Julia" that I would get this book and make on one book a week, something like "Roxie and Re-bound". Then real life set in, I have so many other projects that I have to balance. I will try and do maybe 5-7 of the books, there are 17 books in all. I want to try and make some books that I wouldn't automatically gravitate to. I figure I will learn some new tips and techniques that way. And I want to try and use what I have already, but I will allow myself a trip or two to the second-hand store for materials, if I have to!

This the first book I thought I would try. It looked pretty easy and I had a hot water bottle.

Hot Water Bottle Journal, My Version

2010-03-14T16:48:00.000-07:00

After cutting the hot water bottle in half, you will have enough to make two smallish books. I didn't think I would like this book. But the cover feels really cool and I think it's going to be really durable. I'm going to carry it around as my purse journal and see how it holds up.

The original had metal grommets for the closure. I went to the store to get some and they were like 8 bucks with the setting tool. I decided that the idea of the book was not to go out an buy new stuff, so I should find something that I had. So, I went home and used an orange binder clip for the closure. I like it! And super easy.

I added some colored end pages for each signature and hand stitching around the edges.

I love the binding on this book, very simple with an x-stitch. It was easy to sew through the rubber. But it was not east to mark the placement of the holes. I didn't want to use a sharpie and a pencil doesn't work. So, I poked the holes first with an awl. That made it a little bit easier.

My artwork in Greencraft magazine

2010-03-07T17:45:00.000-08:00

I some of my coffee cup books got published in Greencraft, a new Somerset magazine. For these small books I used paper coffee cups I got from my local coffee shop. I cut the bottoms off and flattened the cups. I decided that I would not use anything new materials for the books, all the pages and covers were made from used cups or recycled packing materials. The only materials that was not recycled was the paint and glue.

Time for Painting!

2010-03-01T19:35:00.000-08:00

Instead of using a paper plate or a palette for laying my paints out, I use recycled paper, old calendars, text pages for a palette then when I am done painting I have another sheet of cool paper.

I'm running a little low on painted fabrics and paper, time to do some painting. Even when I'm not low, it's one of my favorite things to do. I'm going to be expanding my studio area, I'm moving just the painting area to the garage. My evil plan to take over more space in the house for art is working out. Maahahaha! (I"m also rubbing my hands together while I'm saying this) Actually my husband is a great guy who is going to set me up an air brush station, we decided the inside of the house wasn't good for this kind of art activity. So. I might as well put all the painting in studio no.2

New Book and Class "Collection or Obsession"

2010-02-19T11:31:00.000-08:00

This is a new series of books I have been working on for a few months now.

I call them "Collection or Obsession" I created the charms and do-dads with Fimo clay, paper and found junk. This particular book was inspired by some vintage anatomical drawings that I have collected over the years. Lately, I have been thinking about what and why people collect things and when does a collection become an obsession? So, I wanted these books to be a bit over the top. I am very happy to say that I will be teaching this class at Journalfest 2010.

More information to come

Back on Line!

2010-02-19T11:27:00.000-08:00

After many problems with my computer, I had a bad virus, I am now back on line and ready to blog! I thought that I had lost over 3500 pictures that I had not backed up, (duh!) luckily they were recovered and I learned my lesson about not backing up my photos. Happy blogging days ahead.

Newest Published Artwork in Somerset

2009-11-27T17:30:00.000-08:00

Just got my copy of the new Sew Somerset with an article I wrote about some of my journals that I made. I love these colorful little books. Of Course, Somerset always does a great job of photographing the work. I made the books with leftover scraps of my hand painted fabrics. I also used old black and white photos and button cards.

Exquisite Corspe Book

2009-11-20T09:58:00.000-08:00

I took to take one class at Journalfest, Yes! It was a book class by Dan Essig. I learned a new binding technique and we used sheets of mica for the cover. We placed art work and pictures under the mica. Both the front and the back cover flipped around to show different images. I used black and white copies of some of my own art work to cover each of the signatures in the book. And somewhere in there you will see my Granddaughters stripped legs. I will try using some of these new techniques in some of my other journals.

This one goes out to Jen!

Exquisite Corspe Book

2009-11-20T09:37:00.001-08:00

Exquiste Corspe Book

2009-11-20T09:26:00.000-08:00

This my work station.

Jounalfest

2009-10-27T19:19:00.000-07:00

Home from Journalfest, had a great time. Teesha and Tracy had this cut out for us to photo in. This is my friend Diane and me, being silly and having fun. Teesha, Tracy and crew did an amazing job putting this event on, it rocked! I took over 200 photos and I intend to journal my week in Seattle with the photos I took. I taught two classes and took one class I have tons of new ideas floating around in my head, lot's more to come.

Over Printing on Painted Papers

2009-10-11T18:24:00.000-07:00

after

before

I'm always looking for new ways to use my painted pieces of paper. I saw this idea in a new book I got the other day "Book + Art" by Dorothy Simpson Krause. Take a photograph, scan into computer and change it into a black and white photo. These are some trees I took a picture of that we have on our property. I love naked trees. When you print the picture out use a piece of painted paper instead of copy paper. I used acrylic paints to make my paper. I choose colors that remind me of the sunset at our place in the fall and winter. Lot's of possibilities! I will want to cut this up for collage in one of my journals.

Painted fabric for a Journalfest Journal

2009-10-05T18:04:00.000-07:00

Time to make a new journal for journalfest. So, I began by painting a piece of fabric. I love to see the process of layering paint and I take a bunch of photos. First I made a stamp out of fun foam, I cut out a flower shape and used tacky glue to adhere it to another piece of foam. I trimmed around that and then glued it to a scrap piece of card board.

This is what the original piece of fabric looked like before I began painting it. It was just a random cotton scrap.

I painted on some thinned gesso. After that was dry, I used my stamp with magenta paint. I use cosmetic sponges to apply the paint to the stamp.

I used a thick paint brush and added some more magenta with white paint in a random way. I blow dry between each layer so I don't have to wait to paint.

Next I stenciled circles with orange and white paint.

More stenciling with blue then black paint.

I added some white lines with a sharpie paint pen. Hopefully I will get the journal done in the next week or so.

Making Faces

2009-09-12T15:33:00.000-07:00

I like to draw faces in pencil and black sharpie and then I make copies of the faces. I then think of these like my own coloring book pages. I will then fill them in with painting, stenciling. stamping and collage. And somewhere I need to do a little stitching with a sewing machine. I made this face for Journalfest. This will go on the cover folder for my making faces class, each person in the class will receive a folder with instructions and one of these faces. I left some blank lines for journaling.

After
Before

Painted folders for Journalfest

2009-09-04T18:15:00.000-07:00

I am making these folders for my classes at Journalfest. I

am painting sheets of heavy paper that I will fold into folders to to handout the instructions for the class.

First, I randomly paint colors on a sheet of paper with acrylic paints, I use

large cheap paint brushes or cosmetic sponges

Some sheets drying in the sun. I also like to sribble with crayons.

Then I start to layer more paint with stencils. This sheet of paper started life as my table cover, then I stenciled on top of that.

More layers with rubber stamps.

Instead of using a bone folder to fold the paper in half I used a large chunky crayon.

This make a nice colored edge.

More folders.

Frida Journal

2009-08-25T12:49:00.000-07:00

I never get tired of Frida imagery. This is one of my fabric Frida journals. The Frida image on the front was an image transfer on cotton fabric and my home printer. And I used my favorite polka dots prints and lots of green buttons.

Some pages.

This is an altered enlarged photograph with stickers, paint and collage.

Frida rubber stamp on painted paper.

Birthday Present fro Lisa

2009-08-24T19:42:00.000-07:00

Lisa Gurein sent me a wonderful box full of art goodness for my birthday. I really love the little spool wrapped in text fabric with the little eye on top. The folder is also a wonderful journal or notebook. Thanks for everything, Artsister!

Back from Boston

2009-08-03T09:54:00.000-07:00

I took classes at Harvard, I went to three amazing art galleries, I saw street performers, I saw great architecture. But the best thing I experienced was the cemetery! Some of the graves dated back to the late 1600's. The place had an amazing look and vibe. I went back three times while I was there. I actually took a class in the cemetery. It was about finding the hidden stories, we got to draw and write. I took many pictures. I' m inspired!

I'm sure I will be playing with these images for a while

Boston Journal

2009-07-25T16:51:00.000-07:00

I'm off to Boston tomorrow. I'm actually going to Harvard to participate in Project Zero, a week long session for arts educators. I will have 5 classes, 5 study groups and two night events. I was really worried about it being so academic and not hands-on enough for me. So, I decided to create a journal that I will use in all my classes. Watch out Harvard academics, I have sharpies, crayons and a glue stick in my bag and I'm not afraid to use them!

I created this journal by tearing out the pages of a hard cover book I got at the second hand store. Then I covered it with some of my painted canvas. I sewed 4 signatures in the spine. I then prepared the pages for journaling by collaging and painting. Now, I can't wait to journal in it. Score one for Art Sisters everywhere!

2009-07-25T16:35:00.000-07:00

I love this quote! Especially where I'm going.

2009-07-25T16:22:00.000-07:00

Prepared journal pages

The Evidence of Thinking

2009-07-24T19:09:00.000-07:00

I love to paint and do art with my Grandkids. Every summer we pull the easels out onto the back patio and have at it with paint. I always let the kids use the "good" materials. So, they each got a stretched canvas, first they did a layer of collage with tissue and table napkins and matt medium. Then they started adding color with acyclic paint and large paint brushes. I usually ask them to think about their color palette before they begin. That way we don't always end up with mud. (sometimes we like mud!) Once they have filled in some of the space, then they usually like to splatter paint or use smaller tools to add some more color. The tricky part is knowing when to stop! I usually act as the assistant and keep my hands off the project, just handing out materials or giving suggestions as needed. My favorite part of the process is the conversations we have as they are painting, "oh, I like that black line that you made across the bottom" or "Let's make big and little dots" and "I want to add some water to the paint so it can run down the canvas etc, etc. The painting becomes the evidence of their thinking!

The painters are 4 and 8 years old.

Latest Published Work

2009-07-15T15:27:00.000-07:00

Oh yeah, I forgot about this one. My 13 dresses was published in "The Best of Stampington & Co.

Which is in the stores right now. This is one of my favorite journals. It's an accordion style book on the inside, with lots of mixed media dresses. I love love the polka dot belt on the front of the book. It was from my mother in-laws stash. Which I got after she passed, so it means alot to me. I will be teaching this class at journalfest, well more of a non-sewing version. But there will be some kind of stiching in it.

Hello!

2009-07-15T15:04:00.000-07:00

Whew, it's been crazy busy since I got home from Artfiberfest. I went back to work at the Museum. I had to get something done and send into Sew Somerset, yeah, I got that stuff done! I love having deadlines and I will never never have enough time. So, now I must begin cleaning my studio and start all my projects I have been thinking about. And I promised myself to stay on track with my blog.

ART-FIBER-FEST 2009

2009-07-03T11:33:00.000-07:00

Artfiberfest 2009! It was amazing! I taught for 3 full days and I loved it. The women in my classes were amazing artists and I really enjoyed them all. I hope that they all keep in touch with me. I didn't know hardly anyone and I drove up by myself. That turned out to be a great idea. Because then I got to know more people that way. The morning I left I felt a twinge of sadness to leave the creative, supportive atmosphere that we had created for each other. I have so many new ideas of things I want to do. In fact, driving home I had to pull over to the side of the road to journal some of the ideas. Lots more to come!

2009-07-03T11:29:00.000-07:00

More art carnage! It's going to take me days to un-pack and get my studio back into shape. But it was all worth it!

Reed Collage

2009-07-03T11:14:00.000-07:00

This is Reed Collage where we stayed for artfiberfest. The campus is beautiful, lot's of green. We all stayed in the re-modeled dorms, which where great. It was fun to stay with everyone and hang out at night. I didn't know anyone in my dorm, but it was great. Lot's of art, conversation, laughs and wine! Everyone is super friendly, I recommend to come, even if you don't know anyone.

Newest Published Work

2009-05-31T08:17:00.000-07:00

The latest addition of Sew Somerset, coming out June first. My birds of poetry and a how-to article were published in it. It's not my usual color palette, I wanted to try a more muted color scheme, but It makes me want to run back to my magenta, chartreuse and tangerine. I can't get enough color, but it's good to try new things. I had fun stenciling the tree designs on the birds and I enjoyed the hand stitching I did on the wings.

Magenta Zinna

2009-05-25T15:53:00.000-07:00

I altered a photo I took of a beautiful magenta zinnia I had growing in my yard. First I painted around the flower, did a little scratching into the surface of the photo with an awl. Then I did a slight alteration on photoshop.

Kid Art

2009-05-23T09:19:00.001-07:00

I was teaching some art classes at an elementary school and I saw these on a wall where they had just let the kids go with paint and drawing materials. Very inspiring, I wanted to go home immediately and make some paintings. "When I grow up I want to be a Kid " Roxanne.

2009-05-16T20:53:00.001-07:00

Oh Yeah, I took the class at great shop in San Jose, A Work of Heart, lots of great supplies, the ladies who run are great. They have lots of cool classes. Check it out at www.aworkofheart.com

Teesha & Tracy Moore's Art Journal Class

2009-05-16T20:21:00.000-07:00

I took a journal class this week-end from Teesha and Tracy. I learned some cool techniques. These pages are not close to being done yet. These are the first two layers, I still need to add more details and text. Teesha was very generous teacher with her materials and ideas. She talked about being able to let go of things. When we hold on to things they become to precious and then we lose the creative energy. One of my favorite quotes is from Henri Matisse, "Creativity takes courage" to me that means letting go what what we know to be able to experience the creative mystery.

2009-05-16T20:17:00.000-07:00

2009-05-16T20:13:00.000-07:00

I gotta work on my text, the look of it.

2009-05-16T20:09:00.000-07:00

2009-05-16T20:06:00.000-07:00

2009-05-16T20:02:00.000-07:00

Altered photo of my Grandson's painted hand.

2009-05-16T19:51:00.000-07:00

This was just a random picture somebody cut the lips out of from a mag, I thought it made a cool picture. I tweaked it a little bit in photo shop.

Happy Mothers Day

2009-05-10T15:10:00.000-07:00

I was sewing buttons on a project this morning and I started thinking about my Mom. When I was about 5 years old my Mom showed me how to sew a buttons on with a needle and thread. At the time, I thought it was the most cleverest thing I ever saw! I still love to sew buttons on things. My Mother has been gone for a long time now but I think of her when I sew buttons,
thanks Mom!

2009-05-03T20:18:00.000-07:00

Started a new journal today, this is the first page (so far). This journal will fit into a large pocket of one of my art studio journals. I know my sister is gonna laugh about this photo,
go ahead Adele!

Topsy Turvy Wanna Be

2009-05-01T15:26:00.001-07:00

I was working on some small versions of my topsy turvy doll. I noticed the little green patch, which actually would be the nose of the second face, looked like a bikini. So, now we have bikini topsy turvy wanna-be girl. Her mouth is bigger than her g-string, my kind of girl! I like any kind of a girl with a big mouth. I guess I could call her, "Hips and Lips" but somebody might take that the wrong way. I won't show you the back side, no need for gratuitous nudity. She is made from stenciled fabric, a striped sock and a table napkin.

Painted Fabrics

2009-05-01T15:20:00.000-07:00

2009-05-01T15:16:00.000-07:00

I never get tried of stamping, stenciling and the layering of paint!

2009-05-01T15:03:00.000-07:00

I have several projects going right now. When I need a break, I have table set up just for painting. I will randomly paint pieces of paper or fabric for my stash. This piece of fabric started out a horrible bright orange and pink fluorescent color, I must have brought it in the 80's! I used my now favorite and famous coffee cup stencil. The heat sleeve of the cup had holes in it, it's the best stencil and they are really had to find now.