Happy Valentine's Day

February Giveaway By Stephanie Brockway

It's a fun coincidence that I have the pleasure of offering this months giveaway for PAC! I hand carved some flaming hearts for Guardino Galleries, Heart Show. The above one is about 4 inches and is wired, ready to hang on a wall. The "XO" is burned into the wood heart, a sweet message, for someone special or Yourself!

Here is the Gallery showcard, you can see one of my bigger hearts in the lower left hand corner. Or visit the Gallery website here

Part of the process involves shaping the hearts with my carving tools, after cutting out the heart shapes .

Here is a grouping of the different colors and messages. All you have to do is leave a message, and a random drawing is done at the end of the month. I'll mail it right to you!

Here is a wood figurine I just finished carving for an upcoming show, I'll be doing a whole puppet theatre...if you like you can take a peek or keep tabs on my progress. The opening details will be at the end of April, HERE

Thanks for Visiting.

Valentine's Day cards and teeny accordion booklets

I am always inspired by the creativity of the women in our group. For example, Robin creates amazing stuffed hearts which she decorates with little dabs of multicolored fabric and accents with beads, stitching and fibers. I told her that I was planning on creating some hearts of my own to send to my (single) girlfriends for Valentine's Day. Robin was excited for me and asked me to include photos of my work on this blog.

Well, the hearts never materialized but I did make cards inspired by Robin's hearts. I scrounged up some fabric and ribbons and sewed directly onto card stock. The free form collage and loose threads dangling hither and thither make me smile. For those who know me, this higgledy-piggledy style is way outside my box!

I made eight different cards but I could only post 4 of them because I have no idea how to rotate photos in here. Yikes, that learning curve is parabolic.

Lorraine

Tips to Try

I had a project that needed to look aged and didn’t want to take a lot time or materials to accomplish it. These methods can be used on almost anything from fabric to your favorite journal. I hope you find one you can apply to your art.

I cut the tags from an old book and stamped the words on it.

Next using wax from a red tea light I coated the paper. A bit of a mess.

I then burnt the edges to age it. They are now ready to punch a hole in.

The crowns are very inexpensive and were way to shinny. Easy fix was to use pliers to hold it over a flame. I like this look much better.

 The burlap was almost new I wanted it a little darker so  I soaked it in coffee and tea. The longer it sat in the coffee the darker it got.

I was impatient and pulled it to soon so I used some diluted paint as a light wash.

I would love to print on old paper but my printer just rips it up. So the next best thing to do is ruff it up with sand paper. I even sanded a hole to add authenticity. I also used Distress Ink and brushed it with a little water. Now I'm happy with it.

 I love building all the elements to a project but when you get to put it all together that's when the fun starts.

The label says "Our Lady of Abundant Inspiration" I hope this can inspire you to try to age a project of yours.

Valentines by Lenall Siebenaler

I felt the need to spend some time meditating while doing art.  Valentines were a natural place to go.  I like the way they turned out and especially the backs.  I made hearts using my fingerprints.  Cute?  Happy Valentines Day!

Lenall

Tips to Try- a valentine paper cut

Learn to make a one of a kind Valentine paper-cut.
This project takes few supplies and can be completed in a very short time. You will need; a self healing mat, exacto knife,text weight paper, pencil, light to medium weight black paper and your back ground paper.

Finding and deciding on your image might be the hardest part of this project. Once I have an idea I do a rough sketch to see if it has balance and will translate well into the paper-cut. I then draw it again with all the details like where the breaks in the cuts will be. Paperclip or tape it to your black paper.

Now the fun begins, take your time and make your cuts with a new blade.

When you are finished cutting remove the top white paper to reveal your finished piece.

Mount your finished piece on contrasting paper. You can make it into a card or a wall hanging.

 I have had some paper cut posts on my personal blog if you would like to see them follow this link. #1link - #2 link - #3 link .

Have a Happy Valentines-

Artist Profile--Z'anne Bakke

Our featured artist this month is Z'anne Bakke. Z'anne is one of those artists who loves to do meticulous, intricate work. We always marvel at her patience for pieces that would frustrate most of us.

1. What are the main mediums you use? What do you find satisfying about them?

Beads. Lots and Lots of Beads! My first class in beadwork was January 1993 and I haven't stopped playing with them since. When I've had a particularly stressful day/week/ month, sitting down and going through the motions of picking up a bead, pulling the thread through and starting over can be a very calming and meditative practice. I've kept my sanity these past years by beading. (Bede is Middle English and means prayer.) A word of warning: beads are as addictive as drugs and just as expensive. The nice part about this addiction, you end up with some great jewelry that you can brag about and maybe even sell.

When not beading, I use a new form of doodling called Zentangle, www.zentangle.com For someone who cannot draw, (really, I can't), it gives me the self-assurance and confidence to continue with my art. I can doodle myself a cool picture using one line at a time. This, too, is very addictive. You do get some cool art out of it so....things even out.

One of Z'anne's zentangles called "Purple Garden":

2. If someone were going to get started in those mediums, what suggestions would you give? (classes, materials, book recommendations, general tips?)

Classes are the best way to learn beadwork. You can get hands on instruction and meet some very nice people. Check out your local bead store to see if they have a class schedule or if not, who they might know that can teach you. Books are the next best thing. I've been collecting beading books since I started and there is no one book that can teach you everything. Check out your library for the beading books you like before purchasing them. And you will be buying books.

3. A perfect art day would look like_________

Partly cloudy, mid-70's, no wind, out on the deck with my beads and bead magazines, no interruptions, no cares and no responsibilities. I can dream......Wha? What? The cat box needs cleaning? *sigh*

4. Do you have dedicated studio space? Give a brief description of where you work.

I have the back bedroom as my studio with all the beads, collage, stamping, painting and whatever, for all my art activities, if I can get to them. (The studio is an art storage room at the moment.) However, I spend most of the time in the living room at the Bead Desk. It's a beautiful oak roll top with big drawers and lots of cubbies. It's positioned by the living room windows so I get lots of natural light, whenever the sun comes out. I can also watch the birds and the squirrels on the deck when I need to rest my eyes.

5. Favorite place you've visited or lived?

I'm now living in my most favorite spot. Five acres, in the woods, off the road and away from most of civilization. My grandparents had a cabin in the woods outside of Camptonville, CA when I was growing up and I've always loved the mountains. Mt. St. Helens is a clear shot down my driveway and Mt. Hood stands tall over the road as I drive out. It's the closest thing to paradise I can think of.

6. What inspires you (or are there recurring themes in your work)?

Well....the aforementioned five acres in the woods is a good start to my inspirations. There are so many textures and designs in nature that keep my creative juices flowing. Also, sometimes it's just the beads themselves that can spark an idea. I enjoy looking at other artists work, and might take part of their idea and turn it into something beady.

"Sand to Pearls" necklace:

7. I still struggle with_______________

Deadlines. I think I give myself plenty of time to get pieces done for a show or competition and before I know it, time has slipped by and I missed it. Sticky notes are my friends, but if I keep losing more of my mind the house will plastered with them.

8. I'd be lost without__________

The great friends at PAC. They are fun and funny, creative and clever, inspirational and insane. Time with my Arty Girls is special time for me. Oh...I'd also be lost without my Fire Mountain Gem and Beads Catalog.

Gold dyed coral necklace:

9. Favorite dessert?

Anything chocolate. Except chocolate covered bugs or anything chocolate covered from Monty Python.

10. What's on the horizon?

Continue with my Earrings 365 challenge of making a pair of earrings a day for a year. Work on some new bead and paper collages that my Muse recently suggested and enter some art shows later in the year.

One of many sets of earrings that Z'anne is auctioning off:

I am auctioning off all those pairs of earrings, one weeks worth at a time, to help two charities. http://www.aplacetobark.com and http://www.catadoptionteam.org are two no kill shelters for unwanted cats and dogs. You can see all my earrings at http://www.zannesbazaar.blogspot.com and click on the Earrings 365 page. Then if you see something you like, go on over to http://www.onlineauction.com/store/zannesbazaar to bid on them. Thank you for helping out our furry little friends.

Red Felted Flower Pins by Lenall Siebenaler

I made these pins for a friend to choose from.  I like them!  When I was young and until I started painting in 1991, I always did needlework.  It is great to be doing it again.  I like being productive in front of the TV.

Lenall

January's Giveaway Winner!

Someone is a very lucky winner of Cynthia Mooney's lovely springy quilty journal and watercolor paint set made by Cynthia herself! So who is the fortunate one picked by the random number generator? (Yes, there IS such a thing--online!) Drum roll please...Bobbie Bryan, this is your lucky day--congratulations! Cynthia is on vacation but Paula McNamee will be contacting you and mailing your goodie package to you. Enjoy!

Please go here to go to Cynthia's blog and see more of her lovely creations...

Stay tuned to here about February's blog giveaway!