I am thinking about starting a flickr group with a "What's in your art bag theme."

I saw a group named "What's in your bag". It was mostly students showing off their expensive purses or backpacks, electronics, notebooks, and color coordinated gear. I immediately thought of the large purse with journal and art supplies that I sometimes carry. But it makes my shoulder hurt and I eventually go back to a smaller purse. That may work for a month or two, but it gets over-loaded eventually and I upgrade to one of my larger bags. It is a continuous cycle!

I have an art bag I keep packed with journaling and drawing supplies. I can grab it and go but I usually customize for the specific trip. I would take out the knives and scissors, before flying, and maybe add more collage supplies or a tiny needlework kit, something I am currently working on.

As you can see I also use this bag for storage. I work out of it sometimes in different places at my home.

I do love good art supplies.

I made two more ATC sized quilts last night.

These are too small to keep you warm but they answer my need to create start to finish in a short time. Sometimes I finish in a single sitting at the worktable and other times in short 10 to 15 minute bursts of creativity over a several day period. I sometimes, usually, have several pieces started so if and when I get stuck on one I can switch to another.

Yesterday, my last student did not show for tutoring and that gave me a bit of time to create this last night. I came home and took a short nap on the couch, inspite of my three teenaged boys in and out of the room! I was that sleepy. Even hearing them and knowing they were there didn't bother me! We had find-yourself-something for supper and then I took Whit to the library. He is writing a short paper on W. Churchhill and a longer one on D-day! I was able to squeeze in the sewing time, watch one episode of Monk from a rented DVD with my 14 and 13-year olds, and get to bed by 10:30, much earlier than usual.

This is a very small, artist trading card sized art quilt. It is embellished using needle felting of wool and silk fibers.

This page is from an old journal that is very meaningful to me because of the struggles I was going through at the time. Facing new trials I sometimes go back to see where I've been!

"Always after a defeat and a respite, the Shadow takes another shape and grows again."
I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.
"So so I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."
From THE LORD OF THE RINGS by JRR Tolkien















These pages are ready for journaling. I used dyes, gesso, and hand made stamps for my background because I don't always want to face a blank page; there is less stress about messing up.

Journaling with words and doodles:
Random thoughts, prayers, reminders...
Problem solving tool!
Fresh and almost risk free!
Dream, propose, plan,
list, laugh, cry, love, live.

For the love of Journaling!
I have been making my own notebooks and journals, artist illustrated one of a kind books and altered books. It has been quite an adventure. Today, one of my books is being feature on a Flickr Group Blog, notebookism.
Here are some other views of the featured book and others that I have created.

ART QUILTS WITH NEEDLE FELTING
Here are some new examples of needle felting used to embellish my small quilts.

See Stick Figures in Peril!
For a departure from my usual blogfare, how about some humor? Maybe this is "sick" humor. The real humor is that there are so many such and people photograph them and there is a place to pool them!

1. my rose and verbenia, 2. Moon Garden, 3. Untitled, 4. Untitled, 5. Untitled, 6. Moon Flowers, 7. Untitled, 8. Detail of Family Portrait, 9. Family Portrait - Nature Journal quilt, 10. Moon Garden, 11. Untitled, 12. aceo quilt, 13. shadow garden aceo, 14. Hot garden, 15. wild flower, 16. spring flowers, 17. ACEO, 18. small art quilts 006 copy, 19. Untitled, 20. Untitled, 21. art journal 002, 22. my rose and verbenia, 23. Untitled, 24. poppy port copy, 25. 05_25_1.JPEG copy

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

I have a new technic, a few new toys, and a new friend!

This week I was inspired to get out a little tool I purchased from a sale table months ago but hadn't the courage to try yet. Not just courage, but time to dig out wool roving was needed. The little tool is the Clover Needle Felting tool. I first saw needle felting at the Taos Wool Festival, six years ago.
My "new friend" is flickr. We have been acquaintances for a while but last week one person left a comment, put me on her friends list, and suddenly I was discovered! Then I realized the wealth of inspiration and visual stimuli out there for an artist. It is better than a magazine!
Look at my flickr for pictures to see what I mean.

Learning so much just by doing. These blog and photo tools are getting so easy to use that even a novice, like me can bumble along and do incredible things! But can I remember how to do it again?







1. aceo quilt, 2. Really Hot Garden, 3. shadow garden aceo, 4. Hot garden, 5. wild flower, 6. ACEO, 7. Wild Prairie Sunrise, 8. ACEO art quilt, 9. ACEO

fd's Flickr toys

Garden Inspired ART QUILTS
ACEO's
ACT
EMBELISHED QUILTS
With ribbon, beads, embroidery, yarn and lace
2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches

About 6 years ago my daughter and I learned how to make these little dolls that I called "wild prairie people." I imagined that they lived out here in the West Texas grass lands, mesquite brush, and in the sandy oak shinnery. My spell check does not recognize the word “shinnery” but that is what my daddy always called them. So I looked up this "tree" in my book: TEXAS TREES by Cox and Leslie. The official name is Harvard Shin Oak, Quercus havardii, and it forms “one of the shortest but most extensive oak forests in North America.” These trees live in areas of deep sand in the panhandle and High Plains of Texas extending into several neighboring states. They seldom grow over 3 feet tall but this is huge to people only 2 to 3 inches tall!

I just found an artist's blog which I fell in love with! It is JMKOriginals by Judy Keefe.
She is creative and able to express herself, her faith, and bless friends and strangers with her art. I have such hopes and aspirations in my art. I will be checking her blog frequently for more inspiration! Especially look at this atc/aceo intitled Ultimate Love with this caption:

"For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16

ALTERED ART, Joy, Thankfulness, and... Snoring!

"A joyful heart is good medicine"

"A joyful heart makes a cheerful face"

"He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me"
Prov. 17:22, Prov.15:13, Ps. 50: 23

The altered art:

Don't be alarmed; Sir Whitefield, also called Bob, is a valiant and virtuous knight!

Is this wonderful? See what a 13 year old boy can do with cardboard and duct tape! (The sword is pvc pipe, foam and duct tape made by older friends. Thanks Aaron and Catie!) It is good to see my boys outside whacking each other with sticks.

I can't beleive I said that! I am just glad to see "play and imagination" that doesn't include the computer.

I am thankful for:

My children

One son grown, graduated, responsible, working, serving God

Midnight visit with my 20 year old son home from college for a few days

Time to spend with my sweet daughter discussing classes, literature, and everything else that comes to mind

Hugs from the 14-year old who said this week that he no longer thinks he is too old for hugs!

Spring rain this morning at 4:30

Trees beginning to bud and bloom all over town

I have a house full for a few days, with two college kids home for spring break. But not all are pleased with the sleeping arrangements! Isaac is very sensitive to sounds at night, and with all the spring allergies and left over sniffles from colds he says he can’t sleep in a room with people who snore.

Altered Books
"Ex libris” I found this nifty site where you can catalog your books, post book reviews, and find others with the same books in their library. It is LibraryThing. A random selection of my books are featured in the right column.


Here are two spreads from my altered book Florilegium . Notice the book plate with the woman spinning. It is just right for me!

Wee Redheaded Irish Fairy in her woodland habitat.

The wee house is 5 ½ inches tall

Roof of velvet leaves (to shed the dew.)

Decorated with flowers to keep her home hidden.

The fairy princess is 2 ½ inches small.

She is wearing a lace tam-o’- shanter.

Her skirt is a Wild Irish Rose.

Her gossamer wings are ready for flight.

"May our heart's garden bloom with hundreds of flowers." Hanh

These are flowers from my Heart's Garden!

ART QUILTS and ART QUILT ACEO's


I have been having loads of fun making small quilts and covering them with various kinds of flowers: lace, floral prints, Czech glass beads, embroideried silk ribbon, and hand-painted "silk" flowers.

Art journals, Altered Art, Mixed media, ART QUILTS, ACEOs, Beads, Lace, Embroidery!


Here are two new art quilts I have just finished.
The first is an Art Card, 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches.
It's title is, "The Sun to Rule the Day."









The second is about 7x9 inches and intitled, "Mille Fleur."