Christmas Miracle

Dec. 3 was the date of my last post...the date that we would rush our daughter to the ER with a 104 temperature.  It is now Christmas Eve, and she remains in MICU fighting for her beautiful life, from pneumonia gone bad.  ARDS, Renal Failure...the works.

I've learned so much from these past 3 weeks, that remain a blur, from the local hospital to the big one who would perform a life saving procedure known as ECMO.  Yeah, look that one up!

As today is the first day that she has opened her eyes with her family by her side, I am weary, I am grateful and I want to universally acknowledge, that we are truly blessed.

Merry Merry, Happy Happy, Joy Joy...to one and all!  And many thanks to everyone who participated in our Christmas Miracle that is the life of our beautiful child through prayer and good intentions.

Mahalo from the bottom of my heart!

Art Journal Swap/Hop

Well the neverending Art Journal Swap/Hop is coming to an end.  Here's a sneak peak at a few pages of Judie's book.  Don't want to divulge too much in case Judie is looking.  We want each book to be a surprise upon return to its rightful owner.

What I love about this book is that Judie embedded a real tea spoon to signify the name of our group,
ARTY TEA PARTY... And Lucy, went right on into the next page using original story text to complete her page, complete with a photo of what she thinks the character looks like.  Great idea!

Every picture tells a story...

A natural wreath from Nina's gardens of Happy Herbs Soap at Two Crow Cottage

And of course, the incredible detail needlework of Andrea.

So, for more of the Neverending Art Journal Swap/Hop, check back for the completion and the return of all the books to their owners.  I can't wait to see the talented additions to my own book which started out like this...

 


 Until then, Aloha!!!





 

BOO

MY BROOM IS PARKED...LET STORYTIME BEGIN!!!

Hawaii Hiatus

Sunset at Waikiki

It's been quite awhile since I have been here to blog about altered books and other projects.  However I have a good excuse.  OK, not really, but planning a 2 week getaway 5000 miles away from home all by my big bad girl self, was a really BIG DEAL for me.

The purpose of the long trek to Hawaii was to reunite with my beautiful island Mama's family.  Most of whom I have never met before.  And what a beautiful family they are.  I am truly blessed.  Even have a little 13 year old hula dancer cousin.  And thankfully, I came back just in time to see the gorgeous colors of Autumn in the Northeast.  Culture shock going...and coming back.  But it's soooo true...THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME, as I strum my ukulele...

 

So, I am back in the saddle and have many book projects, mostly journals, lined up and cranking them out for the holiday season.  And I'm gonna try my hand at bookbinding, too.  Yes, I'm rejuvenated and ready to dig my heels in...ALOOOOHA!

Linking up to Skywatch Friday here...and I'm actually early for once!!!  GO ME!!!

Art Journal Book Swap/Hop

Another page done along the NEVERENDING journey of the Art Journals.  This is my page in Kitty's book using one of her prompts.."colors came alive for her".  It was just the right prompt, too, because I was ready to play in color out of doors.

Couldn't resist adding one of my new paper flowers...

hula~la la la la la...I'm just sayin'...

This is Kitty's intro to the book...love that hair!!!

The swap should be winding down soon...at least I hope so, it's been over a year that we have been swapping journals.  Hope you enjoy! 

Pay It Forward...with Art

Yesterday at the lovely gardens of Happy Herbs Soap at Two Crow Cottage, the Arty Tea Party gang dabbled in Water Color Batik on Unryu Paper.  This lovely paper is light weight and translucent with fibers, and is quite strong. 

Under the instruction of our Dear Rosebud Sandy, we took the watercolor to the paper, brushed on spots of melted soy wax, more watercolor layers...and while hanging to dry, we eat, drink and become quite merry...(Sangria helped with the merry part).  

This is my first layer of watercolor.

My next layer after I brushed and blotted abit of wax.

This was such a fun project because I am not a painter.  I also cannot draw.  I am missing the part of the brain that sees with depth and detail.  I am more abstract with my art, and this was perfect because you really can't mess this up.  Just splash some paint around, splash some wax around...more paint...WAX ON...WAX OFF!  The final step after all the paint layers is to iron the wax off between layers of newspaper.  You are left with a very soft see-thru work of art.  I'm going to make a card out of mine.  Easy peasy! 

These are the two I made.  I like them!

For more of the Water Color Batik, visit the ARTY TEA PARTY blog!

And now, because I am in such a happy state, I wanted to share a new project I have signed onto!

PAY IT FORWARD ART MAKING PROJECT 2014.

I promise to make a small work of art for the first five people who comment on this post and say “YES, I want in”. A ‘like’ alone is not enough of a commitment, nor is a comment about thinking Pay It Forward is a great idea. You must in turn post this as your status update and make something for the first five who comment on your status. The rules are simple: – It has to be your work, made by you, and the recipient must receive it before 2014 ends. – It can be anything art-based: a drawing/illustration or a conceptual work of art, a photograph, a knitted item, cross-stitch, paper maché – or anything in between. I’m paying this forward thanks to Deborah Weber.  

Perhaps a Water Color Batik card is in your future...ALOHA!!!

Scrap Paper Flowers

These are my new fave paper projects.  All from scrap papers that I had lying around.  Found this tutorial on Jennibellie, and I just couldn't stop. 

This one is now in Rosebud Sandy's possession. My fave!

And really, the paper possibilities are endless!!!

I plan to use them on some of my altered book projects.  I think they would be great on cards and give a special touch to gift wrapping.  

Enjoy!

 

Neverending Book Swap

Finally, a page in Kay's book for the book swap that never ends, even though it was supposed to be completed by last Christmas.  Oh well.  Whose bright idea was this anyway????  Oh wait, it was mine!  And I am the one holding everyone up!!!

It's a 2 page spread in a book that has mirrors and chains and talismans.  (You can see more of Kay's book on the Arty Tea Party blog.)  This book, the largest in the swap, is a real treat because of all the calligraphy, which I just had to use.

Hope you enjoy!  

Time Flies...wait, what???

Well, sometime last year I encouraged my gal pals to join me in an Altered Book Art Journal Swap.  It should have been completed by now, except that some of my very talented friends can crank out pages in their sleep, leaving me with way too many books at once.  NO EXCUSE, I KNOW!
I don't even know what day it is half the damn time, I'm so busy, busy, busy with the day job!

I KNOW, NO EXCUSE...

Andrea made a paper bag book with pockets for lots of tags and goodies!

Some stained glass treasures from Judie!

Some lovely smelling petals from Nina!

 Nonetheless, the project is coming to a close and Andrea is the lucky one to have had hers completed and returned first.  Here are just some of the pages from some of the books.  When all is done and everyone has their own books returned to them, I will post them on the Arty Tea Party blog for all to enjoy.

Until then, here's a sneak peak...ENJOY!

A bit of Kitty's charm with her matchbook style messages.

   

 

OK, so when I get some sense of order and manage to get some ME time in, I will continue the posting of the many books and pages. It's a great project, and so much fun to see the individual styles and talents.   Aloha for now!

 

Snail Mail

Nothing is more fun than receiving mail art the old fashioned way...the good old USPS! 
And to help with that, I have included some of my photo postcards in my ETSY shop.

And because I am so excited to put these out there, to help brighten someone's day, 

I will include a postcard stamp that you can use to mail it out!

    

Inspirational messages on my own photographs will give your recipient and the postal workers a smile:)

Aloha and thanks for stopping by!

Spring...Glorious Spring

1.  I wish I had finished all of the indoor projects, because the great outdoors is screaming my name!!!  And I live in the sticks, man!  So much to see, hear, smell, do in the great outdoors.  No signs of massive humanity (unless I turn on the news, which I rarely do anymore) to distract me from enjoying the simple abundance that surrounds me in the big woods.

2.  So, I will take this day to forget all about the unfinished projects.  I'm heading out and about!

3.  I had a nice surprise on my desk this Saturday morning when I forgot I ordered Gertrude Hawk Almond Butter Crunch from a young friend for their church fundraiser. 

4.  My dog is goofy.  Yellow lab.  Beautiful.  And just plain goofy.  What a gem!

5.   I mixed a new batch of incense at Two Crow Cottage last week.  Should be dry enough to burn today.  I can hardly wait to try it!

Been awhile since I partied with Nancy for Random Five Friday...even though it's Saturday...here you go!  I missed the link up, but you can still visit the others here.

HAPPY SPRING WEEKEND!