...a place to illuminate one's creative potential.

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Vintage score for my studio!

I had that feeling today!  The one that whispers to me that if I go treasure hunting, I am going to find something way cool.  I have learned to pay attention to the feeling ... went to an antique mall today... SCORE!  I have been wanting a chippy paint, rusty metal organizer for my studio.  The ones I usually find are out of my price range but this one was big, 18 drawers, and only $36. I have been cleaning it drawer by drawer, organizing my art supplies, and falling in love with its blue and orange chippy paint!  I also collect and store art supplies in vintage Varsity metal lunch boxes.  Bring something new into the studio and the whole thing is probably going to get cleaned and reorganized.  The next best thing to using art stuff is organizing art stuff...or maybe thats the other way around!  Do any of you use something cool in your studios?  I would love to hear about it!



Bad lighting on that hutch...pictures are grainy...sorry!

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Journal your favorite recipe

Jamee, my cohort in all things creative,  gifted me with some journal prompts that she found.  This one about journaling your favorite recipe caught my attention!  Pound cake, in general, is a southern staple in any southern household, but this cream cheese version is the best!  Never did I go over to my Granny Platt's house that there was not a pound cake under a tupperware cake saver.  I think she made one at least once a week!



Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Keep calm and roll on!

I am working on a new little project.  I love quotes and mantras and need to be reminded of them often. I thought I could use a little rolodex file to write quotes on and do some little illustrations for each one.  This is a mini rolodex.  Each card is a little smaller than a business card.  I painted and collaged the frame first.  I glued two cards together to make them a little thicker.  I decorated one side and then flipped it over to write. The little sayings I've collected keep me calm and focused when I see then. I can roll the rolodex each day and have a new perspective with each turn.






Sunday, January 26, 2014

January Art Journal and Fish Sticks

January is rushing out and February is heading in! I thought I would share the first few weeks of my art journal.  I have enjoyed the challenges each week from The Documented Life project.  I look forward each day to doing a little something in my journal.  When I am finished I am energized to do all sorts of creative things!
DLP: Front Door

DLP: Selfie

Planner Page:1/6-1/12
Planner page: 1/13-1/19
DLP: (right) Secret Message
Planner page: Week 1/20-1/26
DLP: Doodle on the edge

This page is ready for tomorrow!


I was cleaning out the scrap drawer and had all the strip pieces that I cut from the edges of Gelli printed papers.  I glued them side by side to make a sheet of paper.  I then cut the fish parts out and glued those down to another full sheet of Gelli printed paper .  The rest of the details were done with charcoal, and acrylic paints.

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Chunky heart necklaces

I started playing around with some scraps of gelli printed papers, and some heart punches, hoping to piece together a "mini" mixed media piece on some chunky wooden hearts.  I turned the two pictured into necklaces by drilling a small hole and using leather cording.  I can't decide if I like the bead or just a knot to hold the heart in the right position for wearing.  Which do you like?  Would you wear one if you found one in your Valentine box?! :)




Monday, January 20, 2014

Play day!

We are out of school today! 
 I am home alone playing with art stuff! 
 There is no better better Monday!

I am falling in love with Gelli prints on black paper. 
Other things I used: Library pocket, rubber stamp of quote, wood stamp of elephant, gelatos, sharpie, and sharpie paint marker, washi tape, and a printed tag.
This one was later in the day while having friends over to play art!

Saturday, January 18, 2014

DLP: Secret Message

This weeks Documented Life Project challenge was to write a secret message and then cover it up except for one word.  I couldn't leave just one word!  
 This was a fun page because I already had this piece of Gelli printed paper done to start with.  I experimented the other night doing Gelli prints on black card stock.  I love the richness and depth I got from the bright paints on black!  I cut part of the lace design so that I could slip the edge of the notecard underneath.  I wrote my secret message and covered it up with the bird stamp, paint smeared with my finger, and Gellatos to fill in the bird.  I added some dots of turquoise with my finger and then highlighted things with white and black pens.


Friday, January 17, 2014

Sunday, January 12, 2014

Documented Life Project: Envelope

Today's Documented Life Project challenge was to use an envelope from the mail.  I had just gotten back from the movie seeing "Saving Mr. Banks" and had Mary Poppins on my mind!  I decided to use an envelope that had two plastic windows.  I made a copy of the Mary Poppins book cover to go inside the envelope and show through the windows.  Then I used Gelli printed papers, washi tape, watercolors, and a few stamped images to finish off the envelope.  I am calling this " A Look Behind Mrs. Traver's Window".


Saturday, January 11, 2014

My wish for you

Quick piece inspired by Leigh Stanley,Curly Girl Cards, and the song..."My Wish For You".

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

3 ways to follow me!


Thanks to everyone who currently follows me on Google Friends Connect!  I have been asked many times lately if I would consider adding some other ways in which to follow the art work that I am doing.

So....I finally did it...joined the FB community!  The first weekend of FB was completely overwhelming because I also joined the Documented Life Project FB page that has about 2000 members.  I had friend requests on top of friend requests for 24 hours after I posted the first time.  The computer sounded like it was playing Christmas carols the bells were chiming in so often.  My 20 year old daughter was completely jealous!  I was flattered, consumed, and addicted.  Now I know why I have such a hard time getting my high school students to keep there hands off their phones during school!  What did I do next? DEACTIVATED my account!  I had to figure out how I was going to manage this new found excitement before it totally swallowed my time.   After several days of not connected, I researched and asked around about what I should do for a better fit.  Tonight, I have changed my FB to a Face Book Page called Lucy's Lampshade in keeping with the brand name for my blog site and art.  The button for following me on FB is on the left.

I also added a button so that you could follow me through email notifications.

I love that you like what I do! I love reading and responding to your comments!  I have made some wonderful friends and have been inspired by so many other's blogs (those list down the left side of my blog are ones that I read daily!) I think it is important to introduce my followers to the people I follow, for they may also be inspired to create from the women that inspire me!



Sunday, January 5, 2014

Selfie


January 5th 
Documented Life Project Challenge: Selfie and Word for the year. 

Taking a selfie is not that easy!

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Documented Life Challenge


January 1 Challenge - photograph, sketch, paint or incorporate your front door.