Kelli Nina Perkins

The Scale of the Tiny Universe : Sketching Close Up

2012-03-01T07:01:00.000-05:00

It was a small adventure. Really small. It was inspired by the Scale of the UNIVERSE.

Planets and star clusters, meet microbes and quantum foam; your balancing counterparts.

Carving bacteria, inspired by a sketchbook page.

Painting petri dishes and filling them with stamped bacteria.

Snipping and stitching them into postcards. Read all about it here on the Sketchbook Challenge.

I'm going to gift some doses of bacterial love by sending these microbial postcards via snail mail. If you'd like to receive one, please leave your name in the comments below and I'll use a random generator to pick recipients.

Oprah Recommends Art Camp!

2012-02-29T00:25:00.000-05:00

Express Yourself at Art Camp for Women and join me in fall 2012 for a creative week full of ART, FOOD and FRIENDS in the mountains of Colorado. You'll never be the same. You can read about last year's Art Camp here. This camp is featured in the February issue of "O" magazine as a great place to Express Yourself!

STITCHED Workshops are HERE!!

2012-02-28T07:00:00.000-05:00

Click here to view more details & REGISTER

I am beyond myself with excitement to announce the opening registration for

STITCHED 2012 Online Video Workshops!

You can register for this amazing block of fabric art workshops from 20 artists and classes begin on January 1, 2012. STITCHED is a new concept in online workshops. All of the classes are *video tutorials* by established artists in the fabric arena, and you benefit from all 20 for one price. For $89 you may take as many as you like--that adds up to $4.45 per workshop! Workshops run until the end of December 2012, so there's plenty of time to create five, ten...or all twenty. New artists and workshops are added throughout the year! Plus, register for free monthly prizes like thread packs, sewing machines, books and artwork.

You'll find fabulous tutorials by Alma Stoller, Annie Hutchings, Deborah Boschert, Mollie Johanson, Jennifer Ofenstein, Paula Joerling, Sara Lawson, Karen Ruane, Nikki Wheeler, Jackie Bowcutt, Joanna Martinez, Wendi Gratz, Ann Tucker, Cindy Caraway, Dale Ann Potter, Penney Klaproth, Tammy Gilley, Tracie Lampe, Vanessa Wilson, Jill Verbick O'Leary and ME! You have to see the gorgeous projects to get a sense of why I'm so excited to be a part of this (scroll down for a preview!).

My workshop will be Rolling Pin Sampler, a class I recently taught at Art Camp for Women. The student artwork was delicious. For STITCHED 2012 I will be offering a one hour long video workshop on every aspect of creating found poetry, making stitch imagery and putting together a fantastic sampler on a vintage or new rolling pin. I heart rolling pins.

My workshop will be broken into parts, so you can go at your own pace. Each class will include a forum for discussion, access to the instructor and support, as well as a pdf set of instructions you can refer to.

Click here to view more details or the link above, and register for the workshops. Hope to see you there!

I'm looking forward to January and treating myself to a bunch of happy fabric workshops to while away the winter months. I hope you'll join me for a Rolling Pin Sampler workshop and help me rescue those sad and lonely vintage rolling pins from a terrible fate in the land of lost kitchen gadgets. Our Mothers would be proud.

Cupcake Heaven

2012-02-08T08:39:00.001-05:00

A little bit of fun with Envirotex Lite. I bought some terrible lacquer box prints on a clearance rack, then covered them with a paper collage made up of scrapbook paper and old book pages. Then I painted my cupcakes with acrylic, letting a little of the collage show through. Finally I added a nice thick coat of Envirotex Lite. I LOVE the look of the super thick acrylic finish. It's really tough to see in a photo. Maybe a tutorial is in order!

Sketchbook Challenge February Theme: Close Up

2012-02-01T00:50:00.003-05:00

I've posted this month's theme on the Sketchbook Challenge blog, and we'll be drawing up close and personal! Check out the full post on three ways you can sketch CLOSE UP. There are prizes available for sketchers who upload photos to the flickr gallery, including some Gelli plates (awesome), so be sure to read the post for more information. I'll be sending out some MAIL ART to someone this month--they'll be drawn from the same prize pool. Cool!

Heart Felt Soaps Tutorial

2012-01-30T07:00:00.000-05:00

This is your next stop on the h e A R T f e s t tutorial blog hop with Art Spark! Check the bottom of this post for the rest of the artists/sites so you don't miss a thing. We love LOVE. What can we say?

I have a thing for roving, so I combined this with my thing for SOAP and came up with a new THING! Heart felt soaps are felted wool snuggling a bar of heart-shaped soap. These soaps go right in the shower and the felt acts as a scrubby. Eventually, the soap will be gone and only the heart will remain. Be sure to drip dry your soap between showers. You wouldn't leave your sheep in standing water, so don't leave your felties there either! A nice draining rack is in order.

Here's how to make your own heart felt soaps.

Get some soap. May I recommend handmade soap? May I suggest that there is no other soap than handmade soap and that if you have not used it, you find some immediately? I've been a soapmaker in my creative journey, and once you've gone to the handmade side, you never go back. If you're going to make this project, don't skimp on the soap! You can find plenty of excellent handcrafted soap on Etsy. Some of the soap above is toooooo pretty for this project, but I love it anyway. Pretty, pretty, handmade soap. Delish.

Next, get some dyed wool roving or felting fiber. Admittedly, I have a large collection of this. If you have a woolery or yarn shop near you, they are a good bet. My local shop, Friends of Wool, sold me "three feet of sheep" in a variety of colors. Neato.

You may want to pick some heart-y colors for a Valentine, or you might want to let all of your colors shine.

You'll want a felting needle or a multi-felter. My favorite is the three-needle one. It's my go-to felter. Finally, you'll need a piece of tulle, netting or pantyhose to wrap the soap in, a bit of foam for a felting base, a cup or bowl of HOT water and either a length of bubble wrap or a bamboo mat or something nubby that you can rub on.

Oh, and a knife. I'm using my Ikea knife because it makes me happy. I like when my objects have names.

Time to get to work. Carve a heart. Soap carving is an age-old tradition.

After you carve it, your soap should look something like this. Don't throw the soap shavings away. We'll use them later.

Now carve some more because you're going to want to have more than one!

Pull some tufts of roving and lay them down on the felting foam. I am simply using a square of green cushion foam from the craft shop (thick enough that I don't felt through it with my needles).

Lay some strips of colorful roving on top of the first layer. It helps if the layers are going in opposite directions. If the first layer is north/south, make the next layer east/west. Lay your soap atop this to see if your square will just wrap around the soap. You want enough to wrap around and slightly overlap.

Begin lightly felting the square so that it holds together. It's not necessary to felt the fluff out of it...but you'll be better off down the line if you start with a square that's felted together. Gently pull the square up from the foam and flip it over so that you can felt from the back.

When you've got a cohesive square of pretty felted roving, wrap it around the soap and hold it in your hand.

Doesn't look like much, does it? But wait!

Place some hot water in a bowl. Burning your hands will not help anyone, but neither will felting with cold water. Hot I say, or at least really really warm. Dip your fingers into the hot water and dribble some on the felt. Turn it and dribble some more, working the water into the felt to get it wet.

Start rubbing the wet felt with your fingers to get it to hold together around the soap.

Next, wrap the soap up in a piece of tulle (or a nylon or some netting)...like you would wrap up a piece of candy.

Put your wrapped soap on the length of bubblewrap and start rubbing it. Some people use a bamboo mat and some people use a nubby shelf liner. There is no magic here. Just rub the net-wrapped, felted soap on something which will create friction.

Rub rub rub. Turn it every which way and then back again. Rub the top, the bottom and the sides.

Rub inbetween the little heart notch with your fingers. Make sure every part gets rubbed and felted. Add some more hot water as you go. Two things create the magic of felt: hot water and friction. Apply both.

It's starting to look like a heart! You'll see a lot of lather--this is okay. There will be enough soap left when you're done. I promise! At some point your felt will start to hold together but fit the soap like a loose pair of pajamas. Add more hot water and keep felting. Eventually, the pajamas will fit.

When you've rubbed and rubbed all sides, you can remove the netting. Rinse the heart under cold running water and gently squeeze out some of the excess without creating a lather. Your heart should look something like this.

Lay your felted soaps on a towel to air dry. See the sparkly bits in some of them? I added a little angelina fiber mixed in with the roving.

When the felt is dry but the soap is still somewhat soft, you can add more needle felting with a single needle. Don't try to puncture the soap with a multi-felter. A heavier gauge felting needle will work best. Cover any spots you missed with roving, secure any parts of the felt which are not well attached and add more fun felted features.

Felt straight up and down and push your needle right into the soap. You can make any design you'd like or even add a felted initial.

Here are my finished heart felt soaps. Fun!

Do not despair about the leftover soap shavings. We can put those to use too.

Throw the soap bits into a bowl and add some warm water.

Smush them together into a ball and repeat the same process to create a felted cover for your soap ball.

Finish your heart felt soap gifts by making some stitched watercolor tags. Cut some strips of watercolor paper and free-motion stitch a greeting, then cut the strips into tags. Add a splash of watercolor wash and punch a hole. Tie up your soap with twine and add the handmade tags.

Your heart felt soaps are now heartfelt greetings for the ones you love.

h e A R T f e l t~ Art Spark Valentine Tutorial Blog Hop

1/25/2012 Jane LaFazio Sketchbook page to Valentine Card & Envelope

1/26/2012 Traci Bunkers Printed Heart Ice Cube Tray Backgrounds

1/27/2012 Diana Trout Woven Heart Valentines Card

1/28/2012 Lyric Kinard Lovin' my Thermofax Screens

1/29/2012 Judy Coates Perez Chocolate Peppermint Cream Heart Cakes

1/30/2012 Kelli Nina Perkins Heart Felt Soaps

1/31/2012 Melanie Testa Valentines Stamped Card

2/1/2012 Tracie Lynn Huskamp Valentine Message Pillows

Will You Make a Space for Art?

2012-01-27T12:41:00.002-05:00

I'm guest blogging over on the Art Camp for Women blog and talking about the importance of making a space for art. Making space is more than just creating a physical environment; it includes creating place space, time space and mind space.

You'll also need to give yourself permission to create! It doesn't come naturally for many of us. Check out the full post for tips and tricks you can use to make sure you're making space for art and connecting with your inner creative voice. You're worth it.

Off the Print Table Fabric Blog Hop

2012-01-25T07:00:00.000-05:00

I'd like to introduce you to Lynn Krawcyzk, Fibra Artysta and empress of fabric design. She's launched a luscious Spoonflower shop with a passel of warm and wonderful designs created from her one-of-a-kind prints. Lynn has an amazing eye for color and all of her fabrics work beautifully together. I am drooling over them.

Here's what Lynn has to say about her process for creating fabric and her giveaway:

"I never feel more connected to my art then when I print my own fabric. The only down
side to it is that I often find myself wishing I had the space to print yardage and to
duplicate the ones that I fall madly in love with. Now with Spoonflower I can!

And not only that, I can make it available for anyone else who finds it interesting and
inspiring! There’s no better way to celebrate the opening of a new shop than to do a
giveaway and not only ONE giveaway but FIVE!

Go visit my Spoonflower shop and pick out which print you like best. Leave a comment on this blog post and you’ll be in the running to win a free fat quarter of the one you chose. Easy! And make sure you visit all the blogs on the blog hop for a better chance to win!"

So take a peek at Lynn's shop and leave a comment here, letting me know either which of her fabric's you'd choose for your free quarter or what you'd make with her rich and delightful prints. I'll take comments through Saturday night and pick a random winner on Sunday. Be sure to login when you post so I can track back and contact you, or leave your email address. Comment to win at all of the blogs below for five chances to win!

Mon Jan 23 - Lynn Krawczyk

Tues Jan 24 - Jo James

Wed Jan 25 - Kelli Nina Perkins

Thurs Jan 26 - Judy Coates Perez

Fri Jan 27 - Judi Hurwitt

Special Posts: a Giveaway and a Tutorial

2012-01-23T21:30:00.000-05:00

Coming up this month, I've got FOUR special blog posts!

On January 25 head over here for a Spoonflower fabric giveaway brought to you by Lynn Krawczyk, the Fibra Artysta. She'll be giving away fat quarters like they're going out of style. I can't wait to show you her gorgeous stuff!

On January 27 I'll be guest blogging at Art Camp For Women and talking a little bit about Making Space for Art--something I know a little about. There are lots of exciting things going on at camp this year besides the Oprah magazine mention!

On January 30 I'll be posting my Valentine's Get Your Heart On tutorial from Art Spark. These tutorial blog hops are always fantastic and I can't wait to be a part of it.

On February 1 I'll be offering the February surprise THEME on Sketchbook Challenge! It's a super secret, so you'll have to wait until then to see what the sweet month ahead will bring, so sharpen your pencils and get ready.
The hop will start here: 1/25/2012 Jane LaFazio Sketchbook page to Valentine Card (& envelope too)

Since I'll be highlighting Lynn's shop tomorrow, I thought I'd just give you a taste of my own Spoonflower goodies. Here's a peek at the fabrics I've designed--all are adaptations of my own stitchpaper and drawings. I am a huge fan of Spoonflower and have used them for a long time. I can't speak highly enough of the quality and care they put into each of their prints.

Happy January everyone! Full of surprises.

Ten Little Things....or as many as you can

2012-01-20T15:43:00.001-05:00

I am a long time follower of Michael Nobbs--a delightful artist trying to support himself through sustainable creativity. He is a fountain of terrific ideas. I loved his Ten Things post, so wanted to try it for myself.

Here are his rules (modified):

1. Set your timer for 10 or 15 or 20 minutes. I think ten is sufficient.
2. Quickly gather ten things from any room in your house. Ransack cupboards and drawers. Don't think too hard about what you are picking out. Although if you pick out the cat, don't expect it to stay in one place. Inanimate objects are better.
3. Draw them.
4. Sit back and admire your handiwork and smart thinking!

It doesn't matter if you draw them well, just draw them. This is the practice of sketching and it's good for you. So eat your drawing vegetables and hush.

You can find my step-out drawings, more info and my original photo on the Sketchbook Challenge.

Virtual Art in the Hand

2012-01-14T11:32:00.000-05:00

I'm still marveling at the digital watercolors and how they are so realistic. I printed out my digital painting and glued it to a watercolor sketchbook. Then I added real watercolors to create some text and a border. All it needs is stitching! You really can't tell the difference between the Painter 12 brushes and the flesh and bone/bricks and mortar brushes. There seems to be some need to make the virtual physical. Art to hold in the hand is very important to me. This seems like a good way to bridge worlds; by creating a sketchbook of virtual paintings.

Digital Dreaming

2012-01-10T10:40:00.000-05:00

All sorts of things are evolving around here. I've shared a little bit about the evolution of a particular sketch over on the Sketchbook Challenge today. Just a nonsense sketchbook page--created the same way I create everything: one step at a time. I have never been a highly intentional artist. Sitting down and sketching out a whole concept seems exhausting to me. By the time I'd get around to the finished piece, I'd be bored silly. Who can't *appreciate* those brave souls who actually know what they're doing before they start? I'm just not among them.

Recently I was fortunate enough to acquire a Wacom Cintiq digital tablet. I've enjoyed my Wacom Intuous tablet tremendously and this seemed like the next step. I can now draw directly onto the screen with a digital pen/paintbrush! With Corel Painter 12, it feels as real as painting on paper. I continue to be amazed at how the physical world principles of art supplies translate into this brave new world. The paint stays "wet" until I dry it and different media will smear or interact, based on the previous media used. A pen drawing remains intact when painted over with watercolors; but switching to acrylics will cover that layer. This real world reaction makes it much easier to paint and draw intuitively. Less software, more art.

So that brings me to my current work space--the digital studio. It looks much like the old studio. A cup of coffee at the ready, and even a paper sketchbook. My canvas is a tablet, my pen has no ink, and my trusty pc serves as the palette; offering up limitless colors and textures. Just think! No running to the craft store for a color I don't have. I can change paper surfaces with the flick of my mouse. Lest you think its toooooo easy now, the ideas still have to be dragged, kicking and screaming, from my restless mind. Ouch.

For now, as I ponder the meaning of a virtual sketchbook, I will bring these pixels into the physical realm by printing them and incorporating them into a hands-on book. Perhaps I can combine the best of both worlds...painting with a digital pen, then stitching with a sewing machine. That is, until I hear of a digital sewing machine (you're my eyes and ears on this one). But this year is about understanding the meaning of art when it touches technology. I want to explore the universal truths about creating. I suspect that the medium is irrelevant and that we will still have much to share together. At least I hope so. The work of our hands is the work of our hands. It's all good.

I am not alone. Bill is transforming his music studio into a kicked up high-tech mobile space. Instead of a music stand with sheet music, he's scrolling his notes on a pc. Ain't it cool?

Oh, and some things will always remain constant. Fish break!

Stitched Workshops are Open for Craft!

2012-01-01T13:46:00.000-05:00

STITCHED is HERE! Workshops are officially open today. Hooray for 2012! Here's a photo from one of the extra Mini Workshops from Alma Stoller. It's called Mixed Media Sticks. Alma is amazing. If you'd like to join us on this art adventure, sign up is here.

Unhinged Sketchbook

2011-12-19T23:19:00.005-05:00

For the Sketchbook Challenge December theme, I reveled in my rusty bits and did a couple of pages. Go HERE if you'd like to see a little more of the step-by-step creation of these pages.

I was reading A Red Herring Without Mustard by Alan Bradley (delightful!), and came upon some really lovely description of rust:

"Everything seemed to be coated with rust. Even the child's red hair added to the impression that we had strayed into a strange, decaying land where oxidation was king.

Oxidation, I never tire of reminding myself, is what happens when oxygen attacks. It was nibbling away at my own skin at this very moment...

But when oxidation nibbles more slowly--more delicately, like a tortoise--at the world around us, without a flame, we call it rust and we sometimes scarcely notice as it goes about its business consuming everything from hairpins to whole civilizations."

Here are some of my rusted hinges. An endlessly fascinating subject.

Recycled Holiday Greetings

2011-12-12T08:57:00.001-05:00

Want to create a holiday greeting out of recycled magazines? Find out how this image was created for December's Sketchbook Challenge theme of "trash." Check it out here. Happy Holidays all!

Sketchbook Challenge : RUIN DECAY HOORAY!

2011-12-07T07:48:00.001-05:00

Exciting news if you like rusty and ruined things as much as I do! The Sketchbook Challenge theme for December is Trash, Ruined and Decay. Two things are gonna happen: 1. I'm going to be sorting through my photos for FUN old creepy stuff to draw and alter and 2. I'm going to be on the prowl for some great trash to work with. Here are some pictures in my files that I think I'd enjoy working with for this challenge. Some of them have already shown up in my work, as reconsidered alterations of the subject.

Be sure to create a sketchbook page on this theme, to enter for December's prize pack. Winners are randomly chosen from the Sketchbook Challenge Flickr site, so anyone who uploads an image on the theme will be entered. There are LOTS of great goodies in the free giveaway, including this:

So check it out on the link above and happy ruination in December!

ArtSpark Winter Tutorial - Whimsical Spool Garland & Giveaway!!

2011-11-16T07:00:00.001-05:00

Happy Holiday Season from ArtSpark, with another nifty tutorial. Read to the end where you can find out about a superb GIVEAWAY to enhance your winter merriment.

More and more uses for wooden thread spools - that's my motto. I've been playing around with turning them into a kind of bead and using them as pendants, card holders, ornaments and tumbled together in a bowl. This holiday version adds a whimsical homespun sparkle touch to your seasonal tree or window treatment.

Collect the following elements to create this project:

--old wooden spools
--enough fiber to wrap around the spool a number of times
--craft glue
--assorted beads
--beading thread/filament and beading needle
--scissors
--2 yds silver or white glitter tulle
--skewer

The first step is to create the spool ornaments.

Gather ye some old wooden spools. These can often be found at antiques malls, from stray grandmothers or on Ebay. If they have incised or stamped writing on the top, they're super. If they have missing or ripped paper tops, you may want to spiff them up with a little text or scrapbook paper collage before you begin.

Select a festive fiber or a seasonal ribbon. Hold it against the spool and wrap it around and around until the body of your spool is no longer visible. Don't make it too fat, but make sure the spool is nicely covered. If you'd like, you might use more than one fiber or ribbon, depending on how much color and variety you like.

When you reach the end, add a dab of craft glue or fabric glue to keep the end of the fiber or ribbon from wandering about. Press it down and hold it until it's adhered.

Rustle up a selection of beads. I keep a container of mixed WILD beads of every shape, color and size. Whenever I have a beading project, I put any leftovers I've spilled out into this container. Certainly you may use just one or two colors to match--it's up to you. Your spool beads can be as crazy or tame as you'd like.

While you're at it, throw in some sequins...buttons and etc.

Begin beading your spool by threading beading filament or silamide into a beading needle. A beading needle is super fine so it can go through the little seed beads. You'll be happier if you use filament meant for beading, instead of regular thread. It's stronger and more invisible. Knot the filament, draw it through the fibers and loop it back through to knot it to them.

Bead randomly around the spool, adding beads of various sizes as you go. Every few beads, knot your filament again. Try stacking some sequins with beads.

As you bead, you may find that the fibers shrink and don't cover well enough. It's okay to go ahead and wrap some additional fun fibers around the spool and continue beading over them.

Once you've encrusted your spool with beads, you're done! Now, let's move on to garlanding.

Make enough spools to create a garland to your specifications. You'll be able to space them out however it pleases you. Figure about 8 spools for a six foot garland, or more if you want to get crazy.

Cut a strip of tulle about 8" wide and the full length of the 2 yards. I cut off the selvedge first because I wanted a more ethereal look. Love the glitter tulle--but any tulle will do.

Use a skewer to push the end of the tulle strip through the first spool, then pull it through. Continue this, sliding each spool down as you go and adjusting them as close as you'd like and spacing them evenly along the length of tulle.

If you'd like to create a longer garland, wrap the end of one length of tulle around the end of another 6 foot strip and pull one of the spools over the joined strips and that will hold it nicely in place. Continue adding

spools from the other end.

Hang your garland over the window, on the mantle or dress your tree. When the holidays are over, simply pull the spool beads off and find another way to display them!

Now, on to the giveaway! My lovely friends over at Art Camp for Women have decided this is a great time to offer up some enticing goodies. To be eligible for a prize package of goodies which includes 2 scrumptious paper packs, a Somerset magazine, a leather bound journal and a copy of my Quilting Arts Workshop dvd "Stitch Imagery: from Photo to Fabric Fun", simply pop over to the ACFW site and sign up for the newsletter. Never any spam, just inspiration like journal prompts, news from camp and encouragement. One lucky winner will take this goodie pack at the end of November. I'm excited to announce that I'll be teaching at camp next fall--so save your pennies if you think you might enjoy CREATING together in the beautiful mountains!

ArtSpark Tutorial with Judy

2011-11-15T13:55:00.001-05:00

Learn to make this cute folk-inspired metal ornament with my friend Judy Coates Perez during today's ArtSpark Winter Tutorial blog hop!

ArtSpark Winter Tutorial with Melanie

2011-11-14T10:19:00.000-05:00

Melanie Testa shows us how to create a clear zippered pouch for getting organized.

ArtSpark Winter Tutorial - Foam Stamps with Traci

2011-11-13T13:54:00.000-05:00

Check out Traci's FANTASTIC VIDEO on making foam stamps out of el cheapo flip flops and kids toys. She shows you everything you need to know and what to do with it. Bring me some foam marshmallows.

Cheater Kitties for Sketchbook Challenge

2011-11-12T09:54:00.000-05:00

SILLY Kitty!

I posted these cheater kitties over on the Sketchbook Challenge page. Having some fun making whimsical animals this month for Carla Sonheim's challenge.

ArtSpark Winter Tutorial with Tracie Lyn

2011-11-11T09:41:00.002-05:00

Make this gorgeous cardinal ornament--Tracie Lyn Huskamp shows you how!

ArtSpark Winter Tutorial with Lyric

2011-11-10T11:38:00.000-05:00

Glimmer and Glisten with Lyric Kinard!

ArtSpark Winter Tutorial with Jane

2011-11-09T15:06:00.000-05:00

ArtSpark Winter Tutorial with Jane LaFazio: Sketch and Stitch Gift Bags.

Artspark Winter Tutorial Bloghop

2011-11-08T16:13:00.001-05:00

Get your crafting engines ready...beginning this week we'll have plenty to keep you busy for the holidaze. Here's what's in store from your friends at ArtSpark. Tune in on November 9 for this fantastic project from Jane LaFazio!

November 9:^: Jane LaFazio Sketch & Stitch Gift Bags

November 10: Lyric Kinard Glitter, Glisten, Glimmer: Beaded Snowflake Ornament

November 11: Tracie Lyn Huskamp

November 12: Melanie Testa

November 13: Traci Bunkers Moldable Foam Stamps

November 14: Diana Trout Japanese-Style Fabric Wrap(Furoshiko)

November 15: Judy Coates Perez Folk Art Inspired Ornament

November 16: Kelli Nina Perkins Whimsical Spool Garland

November. 17: Lisa Engelbrecht Experimental Lettering

November 18: Jill Berry Geo Papers and Projects

November 19: Gloria Hansen Resizing an Image the Easy Way

Art Camp for Women was a BLAST!

2011-11-02T11:33:00.000-04:00

I had the pleasure of spending a glorious four days at Art Camp for Women this October. The lovely ladies had already been journaling and bonding before I arrived and the place looked like an art fairyland! The setting was beyond idyllic...we were nestled in a cozy lodge with a fireplace and TALL windows facing snow capped mountains. The drive up Snow Mountain was breathtaking as we topped at over 11,000 feet, with lodgepole pines all around us. Many of us saw or heard a variety of wildlife during our stay, including the ever present deer, elk, moose, some off-the-hook huge brilliant bluejays and even coyotes. There was an opportunity (TAKEN) to relax in warm, soothing sulphur springs under the stars, plus, a side-trip to a stunning pioneer homestead full of mystery. I wanted to gather up some aspens and bring them home in my suitcase. One of my favorite memories was waking in the early morning to the smell of fresh coffee, and heading downstairs to find the fireplace burning and several campers enjoying the sunrise and quiet conversation. Truly heaven.

The food was unspeakably delicious, with TWO culinary students at our disposal, whipping up glorious meals, appetizers and desserts fresh from scratch. If homemade raspberry marshmallows are not to your taste, surely the artichoke pizza or daily baked bread would have warmed the cockles of your heart. No fancy spa could have rustled up more elegant and cheering food, and our chefs were an absolute delight. No one was ever shoo'd out of the kitchen. Read more about Chef Ellen and Emily.

What was better; the ART or the COMPANIONSHIP of like-minded women? They went together like toast and jam. We had Kristina and Debbie (our New Orleans grand dames) to keep us laughing, Pat and Karen to keep us encouraged; Crystal to amaze us with her embroidery skills; Lou to amuse us with her rapier wit, Kathy to make us smile with her constant good humor, Lola to keep us singing (who knew there were so many songs with Lola's in them?) and help us slow down to appreciate the moment, Connie to regale us with her stories, Mindy to keep us guessing and Lori & Lorri to bring us all together into an art-making posse. I so enjoyed getting to know everyone without the interference of the daily grind. We had no agenda other than to eat, converse, breathe and make art at our own pace. You can see the ACFW photos here.

The art we made was colorful, wild, intimate, scary, freeing, warm and highly original! I'm so proud of what everyone accomplished! On top of that, I got to spend some time making cool tape and foam stamps--bonus! I'm sorry to inundate you with so many photos, but this is just a sampling of the goings-on we shared. Can you fit any more juiciness into one week? I think not!

If you are considering an art workshop in 2012, I urge you to put Art Camp for Women on your top pick list. You will NOT be disappointed. The only down side is having to leave on the last day :( I tried to move in, but other guests were coming and so I had to return to Michigan.

I hope you'll consider Art Camp. In the spring they will be hosting bookmaker Carol Sloan, who joins me on the Sketchbook Challenge. She will be teaching some awesome bookmaking techniques that should not be missed. Next year ACFW will be changing their format a bit and opportunities will abound for your creative enjoyment. Someone we know may be making a return for another round of crafty goodness (wink, wink, nod, nod), so be sure to check their website for updates! Cheerful good November to all!

Pumpkin Patch

2011-10-26T23:33:00.000-04:00

Wishing you a marvelous Halloween (my wedding anniversary with Dr. Havoc)! I will soon post my pix of Art Camp for Women and you can see what a fabulous time we had. Plus, stay tuned for an Art Spark tutorial torrent coming at you for the holidays. More to come. Kelli P.S. Boo!

Handcrafted Jewelry Magazine

2011-10-11T22:41:00.001-04:00

I'm off to ART CAMP....hooray! Hope you all have a great week. The new issue of Handcrafted Jewelry Magazine is out and you can see my mica pendants with instructions. A fun magazine with lots of creative ideas. Love the little house pendants on the cover.

Downloadables Take Over

2011-10-07T11:07:00.000-04:00

It's Official. Stitch Alchemy is available as a digital download. I've got my copy conveniently located on my Android tablet so it's with me always and ready for reference. Stitch Imagery, my Quilting Arts workshop is also handily ready for download to your pc and viewing any time! Since I am a big consumer of digital media, it's so lovely to have my own stuff in that space!

Download HERE

You can also find me in the new Sketchbook Challenge eZine for immediate reading on your pc or device.

Download HERE

And let's not forget all the great back issues of CLoth Paper Scissors you can catch up on in the Interweave Store, some of which are now in the new CLOTH PAPER SCISSORS BOOK.

Download HERE

This is only the beginning of the digital age. I hope you're enjoying the benefits of all this wonderful immediately accessible content, as I am. Happy Creating! Kelli

The Cloth Paper Scissors BOOK is here!

2011-09-29T14:36:00.000-04:00

Exciting News! Several of my articles for Cloth Paper Scissors have been retrieved from the VAULT and reprinted in this BIG BOLD AND AUDACIOUS volume:

The Cloth Paper Scissors Book: Techniques and Inspiration for Creating Mixed-Media Art

by Barbara Delaney, Interweave editor extraordinaire. Plus, um, you-know-who's sunflower stitchpaper quilt with paper beads is conveniently located on the *cover.* Gasp! I'm reliving my heyday with these awesome articles from the humble beginnings of Cloth Paper Scissors. You will love them. I guarantee that. If you don't have access to earlier issues of the magazine, this is a great way to catch up and light a creative fire! If you pop on over to the above link you can peek inside and start drooling (that's like some free inspiration my friend!).

We All Love a Good Stack

2011-09-27T13:50:00.001-04:00

Check out the stack attacks at the Paper Stack Project on the Altered Page by Seth Apter. I see it as a "grass is always greener" kind of phenom. Everyone else's stack looks so delicious and mine just looks like a bunch of uncompleted projects. We should trade stacks, don't you think? But I'm not afraid to show you my stack. Here are some of my journals in progress. So many pages, so little time. Do hop on over and look at some of the 100+ links and GET INSPIRED! Start stacking something today.

Announcing The Sketchbook Challenge e-Zine!

2011-09-25T20:49:00.003-04:00

If you've been enjoying the Sketchbook Challenge (and how could you not?) with it's free tutorials and rampant inspiration, you may enjoy the eZine we've put together. It's got indepth projects and techniques on a variety of topics. The Sketchbook Challenge E-zine is 83 full color pages of creativity, inspiration and projects. Click here for a sneak peek of the inside or here to purchase. Pop on over to the sneak peek page to see a sampling of the juicy photos and step-by-step wonder included!

Inside you'll be treated to lots of color, so don't be fooled by the low-key cover. We are not skimping on the lusciousness here. The beauty of an epub is that we can include many more illustrations than you find in a traditional magazine. Plus, you can load it on your portable reader and take it with you.

I'm reading Jane Davies' article on my Iconia Android tablet

Artists include: Jane LaFazio, Jamie Fingal, Jane Davies, Lyric Kinard, Sue Bleiweiss, Carol Sloan, Carla Sonheim, Leslie Tucker-Jenison, Susan Sorrell, Judi Hurwitt, Violette, Diana Trout and myself! That is a lot of art power harnessed for your creative enlightenment!

I am so thrilled with this effort and I know that you will be too. Let me know what you think! Hugs and Sketches. Kelli

Bead It Like You Mean It WINNER

2011-09-20T09:23:00.000-04:00

Cindylee is our random winner of this spectacular dvd Bead It Like You Mean It. You all outdid yourselves this time. Let's recap: if it were possible, you would bead the following:

portrait of my Mum, my front door, material from Bali, fabric beads, Van Gogh painting, my entire desk, my credit card, a rose of Sharon quilt, computer keyboard and mouse, the CEMETERY (****bing...best idea award), everything!, my sewing machine, Starry Starry Night, a SUNSET (Awwwwwww), a Mary Cassatt painting, an adirondack chair, my GARDEN (ooooooooooh!), my sister's car, my studio door, my sports car, my mini Cooper, my kid's heads (??????) or maybe hats (perhaps a better choice), my art quilt, my car, a wearable pin, my iPhone, the tree branches in front of my house so that when people were getting out and about in the morning they would see beads dancing over the street!, telephone pole, my basement, a BOWLING BALL (tee hee), art journal, a graffiti wall, antique drawer fronts, lamp shades, my kitchen table (sweet limes check your comment for a possible Freudian slip...we are not dead bombing but maybe you are really sick of that table!), a PIZZA QUILT, prayer chair, beater van, recycled heart, a FRIEND'S BRA, seashell quilt, my letter box, pillows and pillows and pillows, another stuffed animal or six, a cup and saucer, a rock (love it!), my bicycle helmet, my long-arm quilting machine, state capitol dome, statue of liberty, Eiffel Tower, a large vase, my CAT (gasp!), a motorcycle helmet, laptop case, JIM MORRISON's GRAVE, a super hero cape for my cat (giggle), my little JOHN DEERE TRACTOR, a cover for my teapot and my jean's jacket.

Free stacked loop tutorial from Lyric Kinard

The only question remaining....what are you waiting for? Whilst you figure that out, pop on over to Lyric's blog for some FREE TUTORIALS to expand you beyond the boundaries of her dvd.

Bead It Like You Mean It DVD Review & Giveaway

2011-09-19T07:00:00.002-04:00

Today I'll be giving away a copy of Lyric Kinard's new dvd titled "Bead It Like You Mean It." All you have to do is answer this question in the comments below and I'll draw a random name from entries Tuesday morning 9/20/11 at 7am est.

Question: If you could bead anything, what would it be? The Mona Lisa? Grant's tomb? Your sister's car? Tell me what you'd bead-bomb if no one was looking.

Let me tell you a little about Lyric's video. I learned a TON. It is likely that I thought beading was simply a matter of poking a needle through the eye and heading for the fabric. I was wrong and I am here to admit it. Let's say that I was not beading effectively...let's say that my beading was "shaky" at best...let's say that I was not "bead-enlightened" until now. Say it! I have turned the corner, thanks to Lyric's fundamentals.

She covers the very basics of how to bead individual beads, how to string them together and how to make them stand up and dance. They can command curves, stand around in stacks and cage in other elements. Beads are very, very cool. The little tips and tricks she offers are worth the price of the dvd right there. And trust a busy Mom to know how to bead on the go and efficiently to boot. If you don't know Lyric, you'll love her style. She's a born teacher (and in fact was voted "Teacher of the Year" by the International Association of Professional Quilters) and you'll fall in love with her gentle guidance. She makes you feel as if you could do anything. I can promise that there is something for everyone here. The dvd is well-crafted and the visuals are bright and easy to follow. You can see every little stitch as you follow along.

I know you want one of these and I will be giving one away, but if you simply MUST have one of your own, you can get it direct from the artist here.

I decided to put Bead It Like You Mean It to the test on a project. I had an unfinished quilt top that I'd created with a monoprinted dye method. I'd done a little stitching, but was at a loss as to where to go. It cried out for beads, so I used a variety of Lyric's techniques to begin to develop this small art quilt.

Here we have some single beads.

Ooo la la, larger beads topped with smaller beads. And here are some lines and super stacks.

Finally, a bit of SCRUMBLING. Isn't that a delicious word?

I'm well on my way and this little quilt has turned the corner, thanks to learning a snazzy technique or six.

Now it's your turn, remember to answer the question above in the comments BELOW and I'll draw one lucky winner on Tuesday morning. Good luck!

Bead it and MEAN IT! Giveway on Monday September 19

2011-09-15T10:47:00.001-04:00

I'm excited to announce that on Monday September 19 I'll be giving away Lyric Kinard's new DVD "Bead It Like You Mean It." Learn to foil the quilt police (shhhhhhhh). Right now I'm working on a project, using her excellent techniques. I'd hate to say that I was beading "wrong"...but let's just say that I was not as effective as I could have been. Check back Monday for a chance to win and to see what I've accomplished on a monoprinted quilt that's been sitting in my bin for more than a year!

Meanwhile...there are other opportunities to snag a copy here:

Sep 15 Larkin Van Horn http://blog.larkinart.com/

Sept 16 Susan Sorell http://www.creativechick.com/blog/

Sept 19 Kelli Nina Perkins http://ephemeralalchemy.blogspot.com/

Sept 21 Sharon Chapman http://wildflowerhouse.blogspot.com/

Sept 23 Leslie Jennison http://leslietuckerjenison.blogspot.com/

Sept 26 Carla Sonheim http://carlasonheim.wordpress.com/

Sept 28 Gloria Hansen http://www.gloriahansen.com/weblog/

Sept 30 Laura Wasilowski http://artfabrik.blogspot.com/

Oct 3 Carol Sloan http://carolbsloan.blogspot.com/

Oct 5 Sue Bleiweiss http://www.suebleiweiss.com/blog/

Oct 7 Jill Berry http://jillberrydesign.com/blog/

Oct 10 Jane LaFazio http://janeville.blogspot.com/

Oct 12 Tracie Lynn Huskamp http://thereddoor-studio.blogspot.com/

And if you simply can't wait - you can buy it here.

Still Time...Art Camp for Women...LET's GO!

2011-09-11T17:14:00.003-04:00

I'm getting ready to take a little art pilgrimage to Colorado for Art Camp For Women and hope you'll consider coming with me. We're going to have an amazing week creating, bonding, playing and making artful messes in the beautiful mountains. This is my one chance to get together with like-minded women and MAKE to our heart's content! There is still room, so grab a friend and book a room together. I've made a short video (above) so we can get acquainted and I can share a sneak peek!

If you've always wanted to play with these art supplies, you'll have plenty of opportunities. Art Camp is different. Don't bring yours, play with ours! We'll be using: silver plated spoons, old book text, waxed linen cord, dyed ribbons, painted fusible web, fabric foil, angelina, dryer sheets, alcohol ink, acrylics, watercolors, inkjet printed fabric, assorted ephemera, beads, fabric paints, fabric dyes, ultra thick embossing enamel, foam stamps, handmade stamps, paper beads, Shiva paintsticks, delicious glitter, oil pastels, sponges, brayers, bubble wrap, rubbing plates, stencils, freezer paper stencils, gold leaf pens, embroidery floss, deColourant, bleach pens, color wash sprays, gel medium and MORE! What a fabulous mess we'll make, and at the end we'll have piles of handmade artwork to admire.

The margaritas are chilling and the hot springs are calling. You deserve a retreat for the soul--a chance to make art without fear, in the company of other women. This is a much more intimate adventure than the big retreats, with a cozy, limited class size that ensures plenty of time to get to know each other.

Check Out Paste Paper Flag Books

2011-09-08T10:32:00.000-04:00

Diana Trout is going to be teaching a class on her paste paper flag books and she's offering a mini tutorial on her new blog!

Sketching Away

2011-09-02T12:17:00.000-04:00

See what Jane LaFazio can do with book text, a pen and a marker! This reminds me of my birthday gifts from dear little Agent Pink. She wrapped gifts for me and for Bill in magazine pages--it looked awesome. The only trouble was that the article she used was all about cancer, so we kept unwrapping and finding messages about different kinds of cancers. We laughed right through it!

Self Portrait Challenge Day 15

2011-08-31T14:04:00.000-04:00

In case you're keeping track, my "days" are loose, lol. I want to get to 30, since it's a 30 day challenge, but.....stuff gets in the way. My challenge, my rules! Here is day 15, playing with a snapshot and overpainting with a digital brush.

Everyday and Necessary...Scissors and Art

2011-08-30T10:46:00.000-04:00

I posted my scissors prints to the Sketchbook Challenge Blog for Jane LaFazio's EVERYDAY OBJECT theme. New theme coming Thursday, so get sketchin'!!

SugarPops to Google By

2011-08-29T15:34:00.000-04:00

I made my first iGoogle Theme based on artwork. It's available if you want to use it for your iGoogle page! There are 5 rotating slices of this image that swap out at different times of day. It's called SugarPops. There are two versions of the header--one is Sugar Pops and one is SugarPops. The second one is optimized so that the header goes all the way out to the edges and the first one has a background behind it. I haven't figured out any way to "take back" the first version, so just look for the one with no spaces in the name. Cheers!

How to Tell if You're Having a GREAT Time!

2011-08-28T13:08:00.000-04:00

I think the photos from CREATE in Lisle IL tell the story. My hands, after Pokey's Printapalooza class, are a work of art in themselves! There is nothing like getting together with your PEEPS--the ones who "get" your mixed media obsession. I'm exhausted yet recharged. It was soooooooo lovely to meet and connect with many of you as well!

Free Watercolor Mini Class from Diana Trout!

2011-08-23T11:02:00.000-04:00

Check out this FREE mini workshop series on watercolors from Diana Trout. Start HERE.

Self Portrait Challenge Day 13, 14

2011-08-22T08:00:00.000-04:00

Quebec City last year, digitally enhanced watercolor.

Now I'm really reaching...about five years ago. Digitally enhanced watercolor sketch.

Hot! Hot! Giveaway STITCH ALCHEMY, STITCH IMAGERY & GIFT! - Winner Announced!

2011-08-17T07:00:00.006-04:00

The giveaway winner is Autumn Hathaway of http://autumnhathaway.blogspot.com/. She'll be getting Stitch Alchemy, Stitch Imagery and a packet of handmade stitch paper to play with. Thank everyone for your delightful comments!!! Kelli

Today's my day....Hooray! Here's a little tutorial on making a stitchpaper self portrait, since I'm in the midst of my 30 day Self Portrait Challenge. This project is made with stitchpaper from the book Stitch Alchemy. All of the instructions as well as oodles and oodles of ways to embellish your own stitchpaper, plus plenty of projects are included. Interweave Press will also be giving away my DVD Stitch Imagery, which will show you how I create lovely stitched fabric art from a simple photo. You will LOVE this process! I'll be teaching it at ART CAMP FOR WOMEN in October. Finally, I'll personally send one winner a delicious packet of handmade stitchpaper so you can create your own self-portrait, gifts or greeting cards!

In order to be eligible for this giveaway, please pop over to the Art Camp for Women site and take a peek to see what's going on. Feel free to "like" ACFW--I do! Then leave a comment below letting me know what you love about Art Camp. On August 20 I'll draw one lucky winner who will get the book, dvd and pack of wild and luscious stitchpaper! Now, on to the tutorial for today.

Begin with a photo self-portrait that you like. Print it out on paper, sized to your finished project. You'll need a pencil, scissors and a glue stick. Find a piece of background paper that appeals to you. I'm using scrapbook paper and I've glued it to a piece of watercolor paper to make it stiffer.

Outline the major elements of the portrait with a pencil so that you can cut them out. Focus on the places that are different areas of color, including shadows, plus obvious elements like facial features.

Begin the dismemberment! Without cutting any of yourself in half, snip around the parts to cut them into shapes. You'll use these shapes to cut pieces of stitchpaper or decorated paper and reassemble yourself.

Use the parts as templates to recreate yourself in living color. If one piece will be covered by another, leave a little bit of a margin so that the background is not showing. In this example I'm using my head and shoulders as the base layer and topping it with my blouse and hair, so I've added a little to the main head piece.

Cut out the rest of yourself and lay the pieces down to test placement. Use a glue stick to tack them down. If you don't have a piece of stitchpaper or decorated paper that matches the color you want, consider making one or using a neutral piece, then painting it after it's attached!

When you've got yourself reassembled, hop on over to the sewing machine for a little outline free-motion stitching with black thread. go around the pieces and parts, then add extra lines as if you were sketching. Use stitching to add a border to your piece and even text if you dare!

Now, there are no rules, so grab some more art supplies and let's get busy. Use watercolor or acrylic paints to bump up the color or make changes to your self portrait collage. You can adjust skin tone, emphasize shadows or add color. Use a marker to fix any stitch lines that meandered a little too far from the mark.

Here's my finished self portrait. I enjoyed the process, but you'll note that there is something distinctly "off" about my glasses. The truth is that my eyes blew away when I was working and I couldn't find them! I suspect the cat may have run away with them. So I just cut my glasses out freehand and I ended up with a different shape than my actual glasses. There is nothing wrong with altering any part of your self-portrait. That's the creative process!

Simply visit each blog on the appointed day and leave a comment for chances to win in this hottest of summer giveaways! ARTSPARKS' HOT! HOT! HOT! Summer Giveaway!!! This drawing is concluded...THANKS everyone! K

Self Portrait Challenge Day 8,9,10

2011-08-15T21:04:00.000-04:00

Thread sketched

Continuous line.

Oil pastel, with my sweetie.

Another Glimpse Inside Art Camp For Women

2011-08-14T15:59:00.000-04:00

Here's another sneak peek into Art Camp for Women this October. Won't you join me?

Self Portrait Challenge Day 6 and 7

2011-08-12T08:38:00.000-04:00

Digital sketch and acrylic quick painting.

Hot Hot HOP! ArtSparks Summer Giveaway Blog Hop!

2011-08-10T07:00:00.002-04:00

Do you recognize and long to own some of these mixed media books, dvd's and downloads? Get ready for a Hot! Summer Giveaway. My fabulously fiery friends are simply too hot to handle this summer and they're ready to giveway all of their secrets! Be inspired and feed the fire of your creativity with some of the most creative publications and DVD workshops out there, including the above PLUS neat stuff from Carla Sonheim, Jill Berry, Gloria Hanson and Tracie Lyn Huskamp. For you or for a friend. Here's how it works.

Simply visit each blog on the appointed day and leave a comment for chances to win in this hottest of summer giveaways! ARTSPARKS' HOT! HOT! HOT! Summer Giveaway!!!

I'll tweet each day's blog hop participant, so hop on for the ride by clicking on the Twitter link in the upper right hand corner.

Wed August 10 Carla Sonhiem
Thurs August 11 Diana Trout
Fri August 12 Gloria Hansen
Sat August 13 Tracie Lyn Huskamp
Sun August 14 Jane LaFazio
Mon August 15 Jill Berry
Tues August 16 Judy Coates Perez
Wed August 17 Kelli Nina Perkins
Thurs August 18 Lyric Kinard
Fri August 19 Melanie Testa

Watch for my post on August 17 for a chance to win a copy of Stitch Alchemy and also Stitch Imagery. Many thanks to Interweave Press and everyone else who makes this possible.

Self Portrait Challenge Day 3 & 4

2011-08-07T18:31:00.001-04:00

Both of these are digital. The sketch with purple hair was done in Autodesk Sketchbook Mobile on my Android tablet, using my new specialty stylus by Stylus R Us. I'm also trying out this Nomad paintbrush style stylus designed by an architect. So far I like the Stylus R Us better. Ultimately I want my table to be running a Wacom pad and I miss the fine tuning I can do with the regular notebook. The second self portrait was done in Paint.net, still my favorite go-to program for drawing. I'm well on my way to 30 days of self portraits!

Beware the Hypnotist

2011-08-05T07:19:00.002-04:00

I'm up early, having been kept awake by THIS book .... yikes~ found out who the killer is only a couple of hours into a 16 hour audiobook, so I'm thinking "what's next?" Jumping Jimminy Cricket. I was glad to have a trusty bed partner, even if he is more likely to send me out on strange-noise-in-the-house discoveries while he directs from the safety of the bedroom. Now I'm wide awake.

I've joined in with fellow Sketchbook Challenge artist Violette in her 30 Day Self Portrait Challenge. She's up for thirty, count'em, thirty DAYS of self portraits, any medium, and has created a Flickr pool for those playing along.

My local SketchBook'd group worked on portraits last night, even though we didn't have any mirrors (because someone did not think ahead). One creative soul pulled out his drivers' license and worked from that. I used some old photos of myself, but I intend to snap some shots to work with going forward.

I thought it would be handy to make a list of *kinds* of self portraits I could consider, in order to keep the juice flowing and not get hung up on what to do next. Here's my idea list:

high contrast * big head small body * small head big body * caricature * collaged * ripped magazine bits * expressions: happy, sad, shocked, pensive etc. * photo booth style * mosaic (paint or draw then cut into squares) * upside down * shrine style * scribbled * tracing a photo * day of the dead * digital * photocopy repeat pattern * pointillist * abstract * heavy eyebrows (kahlo) * negative space portrait * watercolor/paint first then add lines * shaded pencil * outline * paper doll * color by quadrants (divide paper and each quarter uses a different color scheme) * drawing with non-dominant hand * focus on a single feature * close-up * skewed perspective * psychedelic * monotone color * self portrait as an animal, alien, creature * with wings * with hats * geometric shapes * self portrait from behind * featuring my favorite objects * in a crowd.

Here are my first two of August. Would you care to join us in the Flickr group and challenge yourself? I know that the lazy summer days are inviting you to a mojito-induced, cricket lulling stupor of pure joy (or is that just me?), but 15 minutes a day is all it takes and at the end of the month think of all that ART!

Sketchbook Retreat Survey

2011-08-03T18:02:00.000-04:00

Team Sketchbook Challenge wants to know if you'd be interested in an art retreat on the east coast next summer. You'll find the survey here. I'm all in, so hope you'll say YES! There would be more than a dozen creative teachers and all new classes never before seen. Weigh in if you have a chance.

In STITCHES Vol 4-Make a Flowerpot Cuff!

2011-07-27T10:01:00.000-04:00

I was HAPPY to see the release of Quilting Arts eMag In Stitches Volume 4! I've got an article in it on making a nifty Felted Flowerpot Cuff that's handy for seasonal pots of flowers and makes a great gift. In Stitches is just a fabulous concept and I own all four issues. You'll get to see VIDEO TUTORIALS, including mine, plus close-up photos and all sorts of neat interactive goodies. It's better than a magazine and you can download it to your pc or netbook. I am hoping to see it available for Android so that I can carry the latest issue around on my tablet....that's a bug in Pokey's ear (android, android, android).

Don't miss the other great articles like stitching sticks and stones to your quilt projects, a video on turning colored pencil drawings into thread sketched images with your sewing machine and drawing with your bobbin. There are 19 articles with lots of photos. Something fore everyone who loves to STITCH! Enjoy!

Weaving Wonderment at ART CAMP FOR WOMEN and Giveaway Winners

2011-07-25T13:50:00.000-04:00

First--thanks for the nice comments on the jewelry tutorial and here are the winners: KittyKwilter, Cheryl Razmus and Luckydog. Please send me your address (kellininaperkins at gmail) by the end of the week and I'll mail your goodies.

Second--Here's the first video teaser for Art Camp for Women this fall in beautiful Colorado. I hope that you can join me and in the next few weeks I'll show you some of the things we'll be doing at camp! Honestly, is there anything better than women, wine and art, followed by dessert? Your doctor called and told me this is your prescription for stress. Take one Art Camp and call me in the morning!

Let Me Eat Cake

2011-07-22T11:04:00.002-04:00

Just some fun with digital manipulation of collage paintings. Expect to see plenty of sugary sweetness as I preserve my very low carb diet. These beautiful things are now only in my dreams. Sigh.

Fun Fabric Rings from your Sketchbook Tutorial and Giveaway!

2011-07-18T07:00:00.002-04:00

This week I've been exploring another way to use my sketchbook drawings and doodles in order to expose them to the light of day. Here's a quickie tutorial on making some FUN FABRIC RINGS and PENDANTS out of your own art. We'll be turning some of our sketches into fabric art this October during Art Camp For Women, if you'd like a hands-on demonstration (with dessert and wine!).

I'm going to give these examples away to three lucky winners that I'll draw randomly. Please make a comment below by the end of the day July 23rd if you'd like to win a ring and necklace, and I'll draw names from that pool and post here on the 24th and via Facebook and Twitter. Commenters should answer this question: what is your secret or not-so-secret drawing passion? Birds, cats, cupcakes, mermaids or your left foot? Do tell us what you like to draw over and over. Winners will have a couple of days to notify me of their address before I move on to someone else. On to the ART!

What you'll need:
--drawings or paintings (simple ones work best), black and white or color
--a scanner or digital camera
--computer with basic editing software
--inkjet printer
--inkjet ready fabric sheets like these.
--cover buttons and mold like these (I am using size 60 for rings and size 45 for pendants).
--scissors
--jewelry findings (blank rings and pendants)
--E-6000 glue

Begin with a drawing from scratch or choose something you've already finished.

Measure the button cover you are using and also the template that came with the button kit. Here I've cut out a circle according to the template on the button cover box. Use the button width to size your final image for printing and the template measurement to know how far apart to space your images to that you can cut out around them.

Scan your drawing to your computer, OR photograph it with a digital camera. You can scan an image that is black and white and then add color with software, or simply scan a finished painting or drawing and go with the original color.

Here I'm using a free program called paint.net (www.getpaint.net) to add color and text to my image. These are some of my finished images. You can create jewelry from a single image or have fun making a bunch of drawings for your bling.

Next, ready your inkjet fabric. You can purchase fabric that's ready to go through the printer, or make your own and iron it to freezer paper. Using the measurements of your button template, create a document for printing. Publisher is a great program, but if you don't have that, use Word or Open Office or whatever you use to create a printable page. Lay out squares so you know how much space you need around your image for cutting the fabric circle. My button template is 2.5", so I made 2.5" squares on the page and I'll center my images in those. Cut and paste your images into the squares and resize them according to the size of your button face. My button covers are 1.5", so I want to make sure that each image is about 1.5". Print them out on inkjet ready fabric and heat set according to the package directions. Then cut them out, using the template you've created for the button covers.

Since I was using the paint program, I was able to fill in my squares completely so that the buttons will have a solid color background, but you can stick with a white background or overlap your artwork so that it covers the entire button face.

I am not using the shank part on the back of my buttons, so I'm using pliers to remove it. Now, follow the instructions with the button cover kit and use the mold to pop the back onto the button. Voila!

From this point, grab your E-6000 or other jewelry type craft glue and some findings and make your custom rings, pins, pendants and earrings! Glue and go. Your buttons should be damp cloth washable, but add a layer of gloss medium if you want to make them impervious to the elements. Just another way to find value in your daily sketchbook.

Jane's Coffee Journal

2011-07-15T10:01:00.001-04:00

I love Jane LaFazio's coffee shop journal. It's always a great idea to have a drawing pen (or two) with you at all times, plus something to sketch on. This is a quick and tidy little item to have tucked in a purse.

I've neglected to let you know that you can win these amazing artful goodies just by making a sketchbook entry on this month's theme: ELEMENTS. Check HERE for details!

Dear friends, I have fallen down a rabbit hole, but will be posting a new tutorial soon, plus news about Colorado and Art Camp for Women AND a nifty gifty blog hop giveaway series in August! I would share my vacation photos but I lost them. Well, I have some small images, but not the big juicy ones I'd taken. Suffice it to say that the west is still gorgeous and I have a hard time leaving it. Art has been made. Stay tuned!

Sew Nice! A Lisa Engelbrecht Design

2011-05-22T07:30:00.003-04:00

I have been wanting to get inked for a long time, but finding the right design was the kicker. Who wants to get the same old tattoo as everyone else? A spool of thread is my signature and I knew that this MUST be incorporated into anything I'd want to wear on my skin. Enter the talented and fabulous Lisa Engelbrecht!

Lisa has long been an artist friend. She is a calligrapher extraordinaire and author of Modern Calligraphy and Hand Lettering: A Mark-Making Workbook for Crafters, Cardmakers, and Journal Artists . Recently Lisa has turned her talents to tattoo design and she has a line of tattoo-themed rubber stamps coming out as well.

Lisa took my general idea and whipped up the PERFECT tattoo design for me! Scarcely have I been so excited about anything as the I was when she revealed the final artwork.

The next step was to find a SPECTACULAR tattoo artist to render Lisa's artwork on my personal canvas. I popped by Pincushns Custom Tattoo & Body Piercing in Holland, Michigan and looked at portfolios. All the guys are amazing there, but I was impressed with Matt Maldonado's work. He's new to tattooing, but comes with a fantastic background as an artist.

I was a tattoo virgin, but got to watch Matt tattoo my daughter the week before, so I knew what to expect. He traced Lisa's design to make a transfer, and applied it to my forearm.

The colors were applied one at a time, with gorgeous shading inside the design. I loved the way Matt added his own flair to the interior work--giving it a classic tattoo feel.

I'm so grateful to both artists who made my first tattoo experience outstanding. I LOVE what my tattoo says about my life and my art. Now go forth and SEW NICE!

The Artist Within Winner Is.....

2011-05-21T20:42:00.000-04:00

Shelley Malone from beautiful Canada! Thanks for all of your thoughtful comments. Kelli

Keep Up the Resistance

2011-05-20T09:10:00.000-04:00

All I can say is Viva La Resistance! Jane Davies created this gorgeous page, based on the Sketchbook Challenge May theme. She tells you exactly how to do it, so pop on over and check out her enlightening post!

Finding the Common Thread and Free Goodies

2011-05-16T11:33:00.002-04:00

I was recently introduced to Whitney Ferre and her book The Artist Within. Whitney is a creativity coach and art teacher with boundless energy. I'm going to give away a copy of her book and some artwork, but first, let me tell you a little about it.

The Artist Within extolls the virtues of creativity for everyone and references the brain science to back the claim that taking time for artistic experience can push you into new territory in every area of your life.

Robert Henri wrote in The Art Spirit; “When the artist is alive in any person, whatevers his kind of work may be, he becomes an inventive, searching, daring, self-expressing creature...”

But how can you locate your artistic voice? Ninety percent of us spend our days in the left brain voice, which deals with practicalities, deadlines and the stuff of everyday life. Sound familiar? With creative exercises, Whitney introduces 8 principles of design that most artists intuitively know how to exploit when creating art. But they can also be used as a tool to help you see a new way of looking at your life and the world around you. The way we see things with our eyes and the way we think about and experience things are intertwined. The more thoughtful we are when creating, the more we are able to apply that same mode of thinking to our everyday lives.

Through hands-on lessons, you'll see how to be conscious of where you place the emphasis in your paintings, quilts or drawing, but also your life. You can learn to be in balance and proportion, to ensure that you're apportioning your time to benefit your priorities. Many other small projects underline the need for harmony, rhythm, repetition and contrast. When you create art and life with unity, you'll find the common thread in your life. I love this metaphor. It's important, yet most of us never do the work necessary to refine our life's theme.

If you think you don't have a central thread running through your life, ask a friend who knows you. Sometimes it's easier for someone else to put things in perspective and isolate the central message that comes through in your art and how you spend your time.

According to William Butler Yeats: “People who lean on logic and philosophy and rational exposition end by starving the best part of the mind.” Strengthening the right brain is as simple as building small creative exercises into the small spaces in your life.

I decided to put The Artist Within to the test and chose the Creativity Workout on page 191. There are many fun and thought-provoking workouts throughout the book and it was difficult to decide on one. I took a large piece of watercolor paper and began creating a mandala by tracing a circle with a plate and then placing a dot in the center. From there I pulled out many kinds of art supplies, starting with acrylic paints, then moving on to oil pastels, marker and ink. I worked completely blissfully--not thinking about an outcome, but moving through the colors I love and not knowing what would be next until the path appeared. It was pure and unadulterated joy. The beauty of the mandala is that whatever you draw in the circle is what you are supposed to draw. It's as simple as that.

I have long been a proponent of play, but sometimes I need to be reminded too. Playing with all of my supplies without need to create something useful or even "good" was wonderful. When the mandala felt finished, I grabbed a small brush and some Tsukineko black ink and began writing across it with words that made me happy. I don't think too hard about these things....I just write as it occurs to me. That is the best way.

The next morning, when everything was dry, I cut the mandala into four postcards and then cut up the remainder into squares, strips and circles. I decided to stitch them onto the postcards to add layer and contrast--two of Whitney's principles. Out of a day of art play I emerged at peace, feeling super energized and with four lovely postcards on my art table.

You'll be encouraged to scribble and draw directly into The Artist Within, as you find your own symbols, map personal geographies, explore the language of color and realize that the opportunity to create is everywhere.

Creativity=Hope and Hope is where you want to live.

Leave a comment below and I'll do a random draw on Saturday, May 21 to mail a copy of The Artist Within and also one of my postcards to a lucky winner. Please check back or follow me on Twitter to get the winner's name.

Can't Resist Being Awesome

2011-05-15T10:00:00.000-04:00

The Sketchbook Challenge May theme is about resisting.
My daughter is always trying to resist becoming who she is. She is so filled with passion and power that it scares her. She’d like to be less instead of more. She’d like to be a tidy rose instead of a brilliant sunflower. I’m hoping she can learn to cherish the fire inside and stop resisting.

I was overcome with emotion as I worked on this portrait of her in all of her fiery glory. According to many, however, I cheated. I skipped the agony of trying to recreate the exact shape of her face and moved on to expression. But if I had begun this portrait from scratch, I would have been mired at some earlier point in the process.
Rather than get hung up on details, I traced her sweet face directly over the photo, using layers in paint.net. Then I removed the photo and went directly to CREATING. The joy for me is in adding color, line and fun elements to tease out how the subject makes me feel. With the hard part “in the bag,” I was able to spend a lot of time shading and adding features with a digital pen and paintbrush.

I can’t resist cheating by purposely eluding the rules. Welcome to the new easy. It’s your art adventure: choose your own path. Kelli

Can't Resist This! Challenge

2011-05-06T07:05:00.000-04:00

For some reason, April's "branching out" theme for Sketchbook Challenge was more of a challenge than I could handle. Branching out seems so messy, so chaotic that I couldn't seem to come up with a good illustration. Some of you had no trouble at all--kudos! This month's theme is CAN'T RESIST THIS and I'm bubbling with ideas. Someone is going to win this delightful set of pens....yum. Who can resist that? Happy May...now get sketching before I come over there. Sue Bleiweiss has posted a fab tutorial on soy wax resist. Now you have no excuse.

Secrets

2011-05-06T06:50:00.000-04:00

I'm working on a project for Interweave....here's a teaser. You want to make one of these. Promise.

Good Fortune in the World

2011-05-03T16:45:00.000-04:00

I was very moved when LuAnn sent me a link to her blog post about a Good Fortune Birds class she held for patients diagnosed with cancer. This group had a ball and made oodles of lovely stitchpaper. Watch the fun slideshow she created and check out her snazzy take on using recycled packaging for birdie wings! As a cancer survivor, I appreciate the role of creativity in making every day matter.

Stones into Shelves, Grafitti Pillows and the Industrial Revolution!

2011-04-28T11:21:00.001-04:00

Here's an update on our spring projects around the house. We won't go back into high gear until the fall, but it's still fun to get some things accomplished. My FAVorite project is this natural stone/pebble shelf above the kitchen sink. Bill took the old shelf out because it was leaky and drafty. He insulated and reinforced it with metal brackets. When the house is demolished, the shelf shall remain! The guts inside this shelf are spectacular. I got these cool Stratastones which come in a mesh grid. They may look great for our bathroom or foyer floor, so this is a test. I adhered them with acrylic adhesive and then grouted them with pretty gray. Finished with a few coats of glossy sealer. I am love with this and I get to look at it every day! Later this year I'll get a stainless sink and new countertops. Can't wait!

And here's the BEFORE picture:

A couple of other projects in the works...our hallway got a new light. The doors were brown and we painted them white and added a custom ordered stainless steel strip to give it that atomic ranch feel. Brushed steel handles too. Note that the trim around the door is still missing until after the floor is installed:

And then the old couches got new pillows, courtesy of my class with Alisa Burke. We made some fab canvas and I cut it up and stitched it into pillows. Looking forward to a new couch also later this year, but this helps for now:

And let's not forget the bathroom. What a transformation! And we're only part way there. This just brings it into harmony with the new colors in the house, until we gut it and replace everything...except these awesome industrial lights Bill installed. They were his design and look amazing!

Would you believe it looked like this a couple of weeks ago? I thought it was kind of charming, but orange is out and gray/lavender/seafoam is in. Out with the cottage and in with the industrial loft. Cool.

Thanks for following our house high jinks. Now time to make art!!!

Sketchbook Challenge April Theme: Branching Out!

2011-04-01T22:03:00.001-04:00

This is an exciting new theme for the Sketchbook Challenge--brought forth by Jane Davies. I am a huge fan of hers. Can you help but love this piece? Circles--yum.

(collage by Jane Davies)

Last month we were spilling over and this month we're branching out! Just in time for spring! So get your sketchbook out and play along, then upload your drawing/collage or what have you to flickr and register for prizes like a $50 gift certificate to Pro Chemical and Dye! I love their wonderful fabric dyes---nothing else compares. I can't wait to see what you'll create!

Tutorial Spring Day Three!

2011-03-31T11:43:00.002-04:00

Here is the final round of ArtSpark awesomeness, with tutorials ready to go:

wreath by Alisa Burke

Thursday, March 31

Sketchbook Slipcover: Lyric Kinard

Spring wreath: Alisa Burke

Making a Faced Binding: Judy Coates Perez

Journal mapping: Jill Berry

Today's Tutorials--LaFazio, Huskamp and Sonheim

2011-03-30T07:35:00.002-04:00

Wednesday, March 30
Freezer paper stencils from your sketchbook images and Paintstiks: Jane LaFazio
Bunny Power: Quick Tombo Rabbits: Carla Sonheim
Painting Bird Eggs: Tracie Huskamp

All of these will be up sometime today....be patient as we're on different time zones! A very eggsciting day for the ArtSpark Tutorial Spring!

Small Media Case Tutorial

2011-03-29T07:00:00.004-04:00

I'm chiming in for the Art Spark Tutorial Spring! Spring from one blog to another and learn something new!

Here's a process for creating a small case for an mp3 player or any other media device. I made this because I really needed one, so I thought that by documenting my process, I could share it with all of you. Please let me know if you have any questions!

To make a small media case, you'll need your sketchbook, a pencil, a pen, collage papers, glue stick, watercolors, a scanner/inkjet printer, inkjet ready fabric, felt, sewing machine and small velcro dots.

Please note that I mentioned using craft glue to adhere the velcro dots. You're gonna wanna sew them in! Those puppies are very strong. I'm loving my case and plan to make more for other devices I carry with me.

ART SPARK Tutorial Spring!

2011-03-28T14:51:00.000-04:00

Artspark Tutorial Spring Event
GET READY! HERE IT COMES!

ArtSpark is having a spring tutorial event.
For three days this week we'll be bringing you fabulously fun free tutorials.

Tuesday, March 29
Incised Fun Foam Stamping: Melanie Testa
Recycled Slip cover for a small book : Gwen Diehn
MP3 case: Kelli Nina Perkins

Wednesday, March 30
Freezer paper stencils from your sketchbook images and Paintstiks: Jane LaFazio
Bunny Power: Quick Tombo Rabbits: Carla Sonheim
Painting Bird Eggs: Tracie Huskamp

Thursday, March 31
Sketchbook Slipcover: Lyric Kinard
Spring wreath: Alisa Burke
Making a Faced Binding: Judy Coates Perez
Journal mapping: Jill Berry

Little Folk Art

2011-03-27T16:10:00.000-04:00

I have always been attracted to folk art in its many forms. The simplicity of expression feels so sincere. Here is one of the very small quilts I've finished after taking Susan Sorrell's online class. I really enjoyed working with such intense embroidery and beading!

Grab Bag Winners--Names Posted

2011-03-25T10:17:00.000-04:00

WINNERS of the grab bags are: sewinggeek, maria d, sarah (of love, love, love), kim mailhot, hjs, eilieen hallock, moira and ihanna. Congrats and thanks so much for being willing to take whatever I send you!

Please send your address to kellininaperkins at gmail by March 27. After that they'll go to others. I have responses from some of you--you know who you are :)
Thank you. Kelli

Sketch Boxes

2011-03-24T14:55:00.000-04:00

Diana Trout shares her sketch boxes concept over on Sketchbook Challenge. Yummy!

Finding a HOME--Super Giveaway GRAB BAGS!

2011-03-16T22:24:00.004-04:00

Per the random number generator, winners of the grab bags are: sewinggeek, maria d, sarah (of love, love, love), kim mailhot, hjs, eilieen hallock, moira and ihanna (please send me your physical address to kellininaperkins at gmail.) Congrats and thanks so much for being willing to take whatever I send you!

When I was little, there was nothing better than a grab bag. I don't know if that's because I always had a hard time making up my mind or whether it just prolonged the excitement of the unknown treat. The surprise is back and you can experience it! As I mentioned in a previous post, I have tubs and tubs full of art that needs to find a new home. I'd like to give some pieces away to kind souls who will appreciate them. This is just the tip of the iceberg lettuce and I really like salad! Since you have to read my bad puns, the least I can do is give you some art! If you like the kinds of things pictured above, this is what your goodie envelope will contain. There are lots of dolls, pins, zines, atcs, stitchpaper quilts, books and more. I just have too much! I'm going to stuff FIVE random large envelopes full of fun and I'll draw five names Sunday night from the comments below. There is too much to list individually, so you're stuck with whatever the mailman delivers. Leave a comment on this post and I'll list the five winners here, on my facebook page and on twitter, so be sure to check back so I can get your address if your name is drawn!

Citra Solv Backgrounds YES!

2011-03-16T08:09:00.001-04:00

I was so intrigued by Diana Trout's video on using Citra Solv with old National Geographic magazines that I was sitting on my hands until I could get some. There are tons of these old mags around. If your library has a used bookstore, check there. I tried this with a couple of other magazines and it doesn't work in the same way. The added bonus is that my work table has never looked so clean (and it smells citrusy fresh)! I'm definitely hooked on Citra Solv and soon I'll try some of the other experiments, like image transfer onto fabric. The Citra Solv folks have embraced artists and have a whole section of their site devoted to delightful things you can do with this product. How fun is that? I couldn't wait to share a few of the beautiful pages that came from my first experiment with a single issue of NG. I've photographed them and now can use them for all sorts of digital graphics. I'll probably print them out on fabric! They would also look spectacular worked into an encaustic panel. More to come.

Colorful Poetry Spoons Giveaway

2011-03-14T10:11:00.000-04:00

I've got spoons for sale in my etsy shop, but if you'd like an opportunity to win one of my handcrafted vintage poetry spoons, just listen in to my live interview on Sunday March 20 at 6:30 pm EST. The hosts will pick three lucky winners from call-in and live chat guests and I'll mail you a random spoon from my stash. Be sure to register ahead of time at BlogTalkRadio and follow Artistically Speaking with Rebecca Parsons. Then you'll get a reminder as the show nears and will be able to chat online and ask questions (or just tell me how fabulous I am). The March 20 show still lists Laura Cater-Woods, but I'll be taking her place and you'll have an opportunity to hear her later this year.

LIVE! Art, spoons, talk & fun! Hope to see you there.

Artistically Speaking Interview

2011-03-13T00:17:00.000-05:00

On Sunday March 20 I'll be doing a live blog radio interview with Rebecca Parsons and Lyna Farkas...because every artist has a story! (Apparently, that includes me). Sunday at 6:30PM Eastern … Call-in Number: (347) 996-5698.

C8C RadioTalk Shows--Artistically Speaking Talk Show for Artists is the 3rd most popular art show on Blog Talk Radio (headed for #1). With Blog Talk Radio you can listen live online and call-in or chat with the hosts, or you can stream the archived edition at a later time. How convenient! These ladies are a stitch and always entertaining and opinionated. Can I stand up to their tough questions? We shall see.

My participation is intended to further spread the word about the Sketchbook Challenge. I know you are all diligently working on this month's theme "Spilling Over." I know KNOW you want to win Drawing Lab by Carla Sonheim or Art at the Speed of Life by Pam Carriker or other prizes. All we ask of you is that you get sketchy and creative and let us peek inside your sketchbook! So do it. Now!

Tree by Carol Sloan

Pincushion by Jane LaFazio

Can You Like Art Too Much?

2011-03-10T09:50:00.003-05:00

Always wondering and pondering my own instincts. Why do I love the things I make so much? Why is it so hard to part with them? Can paper beads make me happy? For a little while at least. I know that because my heart soars when I look at these. Is creativity really just the process of soothing our own souls? If so, I approve. We all need a little visual joy to lighten our hearts.

Purging is Good for the Soul

2011-03-09T10:45:00.000-05:00

It's almost Spring and we are continuing a long process of letting go. I've had to take a good hard look at all the art I'm hoarding and sort it out. There are over 200 art objects that must go. It is very hard for me to part with the things I make, but it is also a burden to maintain mounds and mounds of artwork. I can't stop creating. That is out of the question. As I make each new project, I am trying to keep an eye on where it will go in the end, and earmark most of it for sale or giveaway. As I work through this pile, I'll be sorting it and listing some things in my etsy shop. There are a few things there now and many more to come. Some things will actually be discarded, to be determined, and I'd like to give some things away on the blog. Even more objects may go to ebay for quick sale! So much stuff! Check back for notes about disposition of lonely items in need of a home. Right now there are a few more things in the shop, but many many more to come. kelli

Look to the Middle

2011-02-28T12:50:00.000-05:00

A little sketch about what's in the middle. To see the full post and how I got to this final result, hop on over to the Sketchbook Challenge site to see what people did with the theme "opposites." A NEW challenge topic goes up tomorrow and today's post lists the winners of February's prize packages. Is anyone else ready for March?

What to do on a Snowy DAY

2011-02-20T12:54:00.000-05:00

Here's what I'm doing today...how about you? Another snowstorm coming in. I've got tickets to The Aluminum Show tonight, but they are calling for impassable driving conditions, so I think I'll have to throw them out. It's kinda hard to swallow, but I'll have to consider it my donation to the arts. Embroidery won't let me down though.

Mixbook for Geriatrics

2011-02-20T12:41:00.000-05:00

Not that I have anything against people with poor eyesight. As an aging librarian, I worry every day about the state of my eyesight. But I don't want to stop reading. Audiobooks are great and I take advantage of them with multiple accounts--the library, Audible and Barnes and Noble, but reading with my eyes is my favorite way to enjoy information or a good story. This preamble is about the Mixbook I created and just got in the mail. I did not realize just how large a 12x12 book was! It looks like a large print book for toddlers! I think I'll go much smaller next time. But the quality of the book is truly excellent. It's got an actual SEWN binding. That pleases me. I would recommend Mixbook. Even though their prices are not inexpensive, the quality is excellent. Here's art stitch life. works 2010 in print!

Asking Questions and Taking Names Voodoo Style

2011-02-18T09:58:00.000-05:00

Over on the Sketchbook Challenge site I've shared a little bit about one kind of sketchbook I keep for working through important questions, such as "what if we mummy-wrapped a doll...what would the wrapping say?" and "what if kittens were cupcakes." We won't even discuss some of the other crazy questions I ask myself. Be sure to upload a photo to our Flickr site on this month's theme of OPPOSITES and get on board the prize train! What we won't do to get you creatives sketching!

Studio Winter Cleaning and Magazines for Sale

2011-02-13T15:06:00.000-05:00

I've been spending more time in the new studio, cleaning and organizing. I have a LOT of stuff that must go, including tubs and tubs of artwork that should find a home. I've put a number of magazine lots up on Ebay this week--all dupes and extras, including Cloth Paper Scissors, Studios, Stitch, Quilting Arts Gifts and more! If you're interested, here's the link! I'm slowly relisting things on Etsy as well, in preparation for new creative ventures. Small art quilts for sale!

Oh, and here's what I'm NOT selling. I photographed my zine collection in several lots and then realized that I cannot part with them. At all. Period. In fact, I am likely to buy more and support more local indie artists. So there stuff squad. My stuff. Hands off. I adore zines, have published a few and am working on some new ideas, including a fabric zine!

You Too Can Do

2011-02-10T15:51:00.000-05:00

I've posted a little ditty over on Sketchbook Challenge. Check it out. You too can have fun with image manipulation, despite how cumbersome it sounds!

A Little Bit of Stitchin'

2011-02-05T16:00:00.002-05:00

Been making some stitch imagery style quilt blocks. What fun! Birds are the theme. My basic technique remains the same. I draw the image on watercolor paper and add text collage. Then I paint with watercolors and stitch around the paper image with black thread. The final painting is scanned into the computer. At that point I've been using Paint.net (free) to add layers of color. This graphic element has been very rewarding and I'm always learning something new! Finally, I print the image onto fabric that's been pretreated. Wash, iron, add some more fabric paint, then make a quilt sandwich and stitch! Since these are going to be part of a larger quilt, I didn't add any embroidery. It was tempting though. I printed off a few more copies so I can make them into small art quilts. That's the beauty of stitch imagery. You can create endless print variety with the same original.

OPPOSITES - A New Sketchbook Challenge

2011-02-02T16:57:00.000-05:00

Artwork by Susan Sorrell

I've been so busy preparing for the blizzard of 2011 that I missed the posting of the new Sketchbook Challenge February theme! Laura Cater-Woods has chosen OPPOSITES as the theme to work on, so get out your sketchbooks and start playing! I am thinking that I will start with black line vs. color and hard vs. soft media to start, but there are so many opportunities with this idea. Be sure to head over to the Challenge site to get great tutorials and ideas. You can also hear radio interviews, sign up for this month's great prizes (classes from Joggles, Citrasolv baskets and Micron pens!) and get inspired! This CREATE collage is what Susan Sorrell is working on as she discusses her approach to opposites. A great antidote to winter!