A Little Night Collage

Every evening I try to spend at least a few minutes in my studio, just playing around with paints, collage elements, color sprays, stencils, and stamps.  Sometimes I just gesso something--some art journal pages, an upcycled canvas or board.  (One of my favorite things to do is to hit up the thrift stores for "art" on canvases or boards, gesso over them, and use them for painting and collage!)

Tonight I did a little collage with some music pages and played a little bit in my art journals with color sprays and stencils.

This is a page spread that I started weeks ago, and am just continuing to play with.  Right now I think it's kinda ugly, but that's OK.  I will keep coming back to it!

The stencilled elements in this spread didn't turn out nearly as crisp as I had wanted, but I kinda like what's going on here, nevertheless.

Just a little play time before settling in to watch some TV and knit!

Blocking a Lace Shawl

I've been working on a project for Jenny at Red Barn Yarn Farm--a little shawl called the Danielle Shawl, by Jen Lucas.  This is made out of Done Roving Yarn's Frolicking Feet DK Gradients yarn, in the colorway Lavender and Thyme.  I am making this as shop sample for the yarn shop, and I had it almost all finished on size 5 needles before realizing that it was turning out just way too small.  So I ripped the whole thing out and started again on size 8's.  (And yes, the size 5's were what the pattern recommended!)

I blocked the shawl today, which is both my favorite and least favorite part of the whole lace knitting process.  Favorite in that you finally get to see the true beauty of the lace revealed, and least favorite in that I find it to be somewhat of a tedious process, and a process during which I inevitably end up sweating like a horse!  I'm not exactly sure why this should be so, since it's not like I'm running a race or anything, but there it is.  Maybe it's because I block on the floor, so I end up wallowing (wallerin', as my dear husband says) around on the floor.

In any case, I tackled the job this afternoon, and spent quite a time pinning out each of those points!  I block very aggressively, and I really like the way this piece has opened up.  It really is a beautiful yarn with a lovely gradient, and if you're in my neck of the woods you can get this yarn (in many colorways) from Jenny at Red Barn Yarn Farm.  You'll also be able to see this shawl in person there from tomorrow.  And if you drop in, tell her Sarah sent you!

Art Journal Friday

I've been trying to work in my art journal regularly, even if it's only to gesso a page or two or work on a background for a few minutes a day.

This evening I finished a spread that I started several months ago, just playing around with sprays and stencils.  Then I added some tissue paper layers, a little gesso wash, and a bit of white acrylic spray.

Then tonight I added the face and crown and the lettering on the other side.  I think it's done, although you just never know--I may be moved to add more at some future date!

Before I added the lettering:

After the lettering:

Christmas Body Stockings

Today is the seventh day of Smeared Ink's December-long blog hop, the 12 Days of Creepmas 2015!  I'm excited to be here, along with all the other great artists you can find in the blog roll in the right-hand sidebar.  My apologies for being AWOL this week; the holiday season is kinda taking its toll this year.   Start at the top with Fiona or just jump right in anywhere; if you've arrived here from Val's blog, welcome!  Do hop on over to Kat once you're finished here.

Welcome to the holiday season, everyone!  We guarantee to give you an alternative view of the holidays!

My card today features a really odd vintage image--I just knew I had to use it this year somehow!  Don't you wonder what sort of club these two are visiting?!

The details:

1.  People in stockings digi stamp from Old-Fashioned Christmas Illustrations CD-ROM and book, by Dover Publications, printed on Neenah  and colored with Tsukineko Memento markers

2.  Background collaged with papers from my stash and tissue paper

3.  Sentiment computer-generated, printed on Neenah, and sprayed with Color Bloom Spray Mist in Tea Stain

4.  IndigoBlu "Vintage Flourish" rubber stamp

5.  ColorBox Chalk Ink Edger in Chestnut Roan

Thanks for stopping by my blog today, and I'll see you back on Tuesday, everyone!

Santa's Toy Horse

Today is the fourth day of Smeared Ink's December-long blog hop, the 12 Days of Creepmas 2015!  I'm excited to be here, along with all the other great artists you can find in the blog roll in the right-hand sidebar.   Start at the top with Fiona or just jump right in anywhere; if you've arrived here from Val's blog, welcome!  Do hop on over to Kat once you're finished here.

Welcome to the holiday season, everyone!  We guarantee to give you an alternative view of the holidays!

My card today features another untraditional Santa.  Hey, even Santa needs a little something for himself now and then!

The details:
1.  Santa digi stamp from Create with TLC, printed on Neenah, and colored with Stabilo CarbOthello pastel pencils
2.  Background collaged from papers from my stash and tissue paper
3.  Sentiment computer-generated, printed on Neenah, and sprayed with Color Bloom Spray Mist in Gold Foil
4.  Prima Marketing Chalk Ink Edger in Dark Bark

Hope everyone is having a delightful holiday season so far!  See you on Wednesday!

Santa, Years Later

Today is the third day of Smeared Ink's December-long blog hop, the 12 Days of Creepmas 2015!  I'm excited to be here, along with all the other great artists you can find in the blog roll in the right-hand sidebar.   Start at the top with Fiona or just jump right in anywhere; if you've arrived here from Val's blog, welcome!  Do hop on over to Kat once you're finished here.

Welcome to the holiday season, everyone!  We guarantee to give you an alternative view of the holidays!

I've entitled my card today "Santa, Years Later."  Even Santa can become embittered--it's all those years of dealing with those damn elves.

The details:

1.  Santa digi stamp from Create with TLC, printed on Neenah and colored with Tsukineko Memento markers

2.  Papers from my stash

3.  Corner stamps by JustRite clear stamps from the "Ornate Corners" set

4.  ColorBox Chalk Ink Edger in Dark Brown

5.   Sentiment computer-generated, printed on Neenah

Have a great weekend, everyone!  See you again on Monday!

Madge and Frank

Today is the second day of Smeared Ink's December-long blog hop, the 12 Days of Creepmas 2015!  I'm excited to be here, along with all the other great artists you can find in the blog roll in the right-hand sidebar.   Start at the top with Fiona or just jump right in anywhere; if you've arrived here from Val's blog, welcome!  Do hop on over to Kat once you're finished here.

Welcome to the holiday season, everyone!  We guarantee to give you an alternative view of the holidays!

My card today is entitled "Madge and Frank."  Madge is going to give her adored hubby a big, fragrant surprise for the holidays!

The details:
1.  Woman decorating Christmas tree digi stamp from Create with TLC, printed on Neenah and colored with Tsukineko Memento markers
2.  Background papers from DCWV "The Floral Fair" stack and K & Company "Best of K & Company" paper pad
3.  Retro shapes rubber stamps (in background) by Inkadinkado, stamped with ColorBox pigment ink in Cranberry and VersaFine Black pigment ink
4.  Distress Ink in Black Soot
5.  Sentiment computer-generated, printed on Neenah, sprayed with Color Bloom Spray Mist in Tea Stain and cut out
6.  ColorBox Chalk Ink Edger in Charcoal

That's it for me today!  See you back on Saturday!