Motivation

Motivation

If you've never failed...you've never lived

http://youtu.be/_tjYoKCBYag

Best motivation video - www.KyaniHawaii.com

Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year

“A Christmas Heart”, Digitally altered photo of, Copper enameled,formed metal heart made at Artfest 2011

May you have the spirit of Christmas which is peace,

the gladness of Christmas which is hope

and the heart of Christmas which is love.

Steve Jobs RIP

from http://www.polyvore.com/steve_jobs_in_his_own/thing?id=43623121

Create Something Together

I went to see the Blue Man Group perform recently.

The opening screen before the show starts displays the following quote......

“When you first meet people from a foreign culture, a great way to break the ice is to offer a few gifts as a gesture of friendship. It’s always good to choose items that reflect your personal interests, and it’s even better if it’s something you have created yourself. You also need to show a genuine curiosity in their interests and their culture. But ultimately, the very best way to forge a lasting friendship is to create something together: Whether it’s a meal, an art project or just a spontaneous dance party, when you create something with others, you build a connection that lasts a lifetime.”

~ International Diplomacy for Dummies

The Power of Words

A friend sent me this today.
It is so beautiful...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hzgzim5m7oU&feature=player_embedded

Change your words.
Change your world.

ArtFest 2011

It seems time flies by and it has been one year since I last posted on my blog. The 12th anniversary ArtFest is about to happen April 6 to 10 at Fort Worden in Port Townsend, WA. and I am going!!!

The theme this year is "Nourishing Creative Growth"
I have made my trades...

24 glass bird & egg charms on a ball chain for my dorm mates & special friends,

70 glass egg charms and square business cards for everyone else,

and some bird & egg charms for my trade charm necklace
(where I will display the charm trades I receive)

So now.... my bags are packed ... I'm ready to go ... I'm leaving on a jet plane ... bound for ArtFest!

The heart of creativity is an experience of the mystical union; the heart of the mystical union is an experience of creativity. ~ Julia Cameron

You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have. ~ Maya Angelou

Mah Jongg Jewelry at NMA

I have been making Mah Jongg jewelry since 2005 when friends Jeannie & Jackie asked me to find a Mah Jongg jewelry supplier for their store ClayNichols. I said "I can do this". And thus I created the Hand From Heaven ~ Mah Jongg jewelry line.

Hand From Heaven~ Mah Jongg Jewelry was enthusiastically received, sold well and was sold exclusively at ClayNichols until they closed in 2008. I thought my days of making Mah Jongg jewelry were over.

2005 Heart from Heaven ~ mah jongg jewelry, Trunk show at ClayNichols

Then last year, Jackie, now a gift store manager asked me to supply Hand from Heaven ~ Mah Jongg jewelry to the Nevada Museum of Art, museum gift store. Hand from Heaven ~ Mah Jongg jewelry is sold exclusively at NMA.

Hand from Heaven ~ Mah Jongg jewelry selections, sold exclusively at the Nevada Museum of Art

ArtFest 2010 part 2 ~ the happenings

ArtFest 2010 was GREAT!!!!

ArtFest at Fort Worden in Port Townsend, WA is a very unique event in a very special place.

Fort Worden, Port Townsend, WA - collage

I stayed in an old dorm with a very tiny room. But I would not change the experience for anything.

My tiny dorm room

Everyone arrived on Wednesday, registered and got settled in dorms, then we went to dinner, began reacquainting and frantically trading! see previous post.

Dorm mates ~ Jill, me & Jacque

After dinner on Wednesday, we were welcomed to ArtFest 2010 Opening Ceremonies by a concert from Surrealized, a Seattle based techno, electronic and rock band featuring a multimedia showcase. Their CD is available on iTunes.

Artfest 2010 Opening Surrealized

Photo from Surrealized site

All day art classes were Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
On Thursday, I had Nina Bagley - vintage necklace keeper class. While it was not a dynamic or new techniques filled class, it was perfect for my jet-lagged mind.
Nina Bagley is a lovely giving person, whom I so admire. Nana and her Vintage Jewelry Keeper.
My vintage jewelry keeper is for the Mah Jongg jewelry that I make for Nevada Museum of Art (future post to follow).
On Friday and Saturday, I had Susan Lenart Kazmer. Susan is dynamic, full of energy, enthusiasm and talent. I was so glad these classes were Friday and Saturday!
Friday's class was Transparent Text Jewelry. In the morning we worked with Ice Resin to make resin papers and fill bezels. later that afternoon, we made a copper hinged booklet for resin papers.
Saturday's class with Susan Lenart Kazmer was Altered Surface Charms. We learned all about patinas, cutting and metal working copper and cold connection joining....to make charms for a necklace. I made 6 charms and now want a disc cuter and dapper set!
I am happy to say I finished all three projects on evenings, lunchtime and after classes.

The other nights evening activities included:
Thursday, an Iron (Chef) Artist Challenge between all of the teachers. Each teacher was given a kit (either 2D or 3D depending on type of artist) and had to create something in 30 minutes using all of the pieces..some used all..some did their own thing. It was great to see each artist's style emerge in their creation.

Friday Vendor Marketplace where over 20 teachers sold their art works. It was crowded with so many people and beautiful creations.

Saturday evening culminated in the Students Show-n-Tell Gallery Show.
I finished my class projects and was able to show them on Saturday evening at the Students Show-n-Tell Gallery Show, below are my creations.

L to R ~ altered surface charm necklace (Susan Lenart Kazmer, Teacher), resin paper in copper locket booklet necklace (Susan Lenart Kazmer, Teacher), and vintage jewelry keeper (Nina Bagley teacher)

Sunday morning, a few of us awoke early to get the shuttle back to SEATAC airport and fly home. It was with sadness that we said good bye to our dorm mates (new friends) and each other. But each attendee vowed to return next year...It was like saying farewell to classmates at the end of the school year and heading off for summer. We all shared email addresses and blog sites and will reunite on the world wide web. We are all off for another year to try our wings and hone our skills till ArtFest 2011.

I know I have been blessed with a gift for art. At ArtFest 2010 that gift was further developed and expressed thru hard work.

ArtFest 2010 was all truly a magical fairie tale ....
a Once Upon a Time adventure.

Art Quote
The artist is nothing without the gift, but the gift is nothing without work. ~ Emile Zola

Artfest 2010 trades

WOW again.

It has been a week since I returned home last Sunday (3/28) from ArtFest 2010.
I had a fabulous time. ArtFest is a time to rest, reconnect with friends from last year and make new friends this year, learn, be inspired and CREATE!

So as I promised to show you my trades ... here they are.
The theme this year was "Once Upon a Time". My trade was a mini story book. I made 72 booklets...28 short of my goal of 100. So as I said I'd do ... I made 30+ business cards embellished with the heart & key charms.

The booklet covers are made of Tyvek paper that was painted with acrylic paint. To print the text on the cover & back I coated the painted paper with Golden Digital Ground Medium, let dry then print text and logo on ink jet printer. Inside text was printed on linen paper, cut and folded accordion style, glued to cover and embellished with jump ring, floss and heart and key bronze charms. The mini story book contained a tiny bedtime fairy tale guaranteed to put you to sleep!
The story...

Once Upon a Time ~A Nouveau Fairie Tale of Damsels in Distress

I also made Artfest 2010 mini Banners (16) for my dorm mates. These were made of Tyvek paper, same process as covers above. Dorm mates hung the banners around their window or between bunk-bed posts to brighten up the dull dorm space!


I gave out all the booklets, some of the cards and all of the mini banners. Although I must admit I did not get as many trades as I gave away. It seemed I came across a lot of people who were either new and did not have a trade or just were not trading. Oh well, I was happy to give my booklets to them and I love the trades I did receive.

Unlike last year's trades that are still sitting in a zip lock baggie, I put the cards and tags in card protector sheets and was I able to use some of the trade material, paper and stuff in creating my class project.

On Friday evening of ArtFest, I was able to make a trade charm necklace.

All the trades I received...thank you everyone!

Trades are FUNN!!!!!

Love the art in yourself and not yourself in the art.
~ Konstantin Stanislavsky

ArtFest 2010

WHOA! I just logged into my blog and realized I have not posted for a year.
How time flies!

It is time for Artfest 2010 in Port Townsned, WA.
A time when 550+ artists descend upon the tiny town to learn, create, mingle & have FUN.

This years them is "Once Upon a Time"

I am taking classes from the wonderful Nina Bagley and the amazing Susan Lenart Kazmer.

Artists at Artfest make trades...mini artworks, charms, cards, ephemera, fabric, and/or embellishments that they then trade with each other. I am frantically making my trades.
72 down 28 to go! Yes, some of us overachievers strive for 100. but if you didn't or are a FV, don't fret when I get tired and am done...I stop and just use my business cards ... embellished of course!

You are asking ..."So what is your trade?"
You will just have to wait till ArtFest to see them and get one. Or check back after, if you are not attending :(
But as a teaser I will show you the 3 images I used in my creation.
I am so excited to join in the fun.

CREATE
FUN ... FUN ... FUN

I'm going to Artfest 2009

March 31, 2009I'm going to Artfest 2009!!!
This will be my 1st ArtFest and I am so excited to be going. They call 1st timers Festal Virgins.
ArtFest is April 1-5 2009 and is held yearly at Fort Worden in Port Townsend, WA. ArtFest is organized by Teesha Mooreblog) and her husband Tracy Moore . The theme this year is "Playing with Sea Monsters".

Artfest, billed as "A Creativity Retreat among Friends" is a gathering of almost 40 teachers and 500+ artist attendees who take 3 days of full day classes. I am taking 3 classes Thursday Richard Salley's Turning Leaves, Nina Bagley's (blog) Destination: Journey - Touch and Ty & Marcia Schultz's Heavy Metal

Most attendees make a item to "trade" with other artists, as a way to get to know and remember each other. I have made a octopus charm on a bracelet designed to allow attendees to collect other charms.
The bracelet is made up of copper, goldtone and silvertone thin bangles. the charm is a wooden bead painted with Metal Effects copper paint, patina-d with blue and then black aging solutions and coated with matte varnish. Artfest 2009 is written on back. Dangling from the middle of the bead are silvertone chains that make up the octopus tentacles. Finally a funny face was drawn on the bead to make it a comic octopus.

I added a heart shaped business card charm to each.
I had originally planned to make 100 of these but time would not allow it and I only made 50.
So on 50 of my business cards I printed a digital ATC on the back. The photos is a digitally manipulated image of a composite of many photos I took at the Monterrey Aquarium jelly fish exhibit.

I'm always thinking about creating. My future starts when I wake up every morning... Every day I find something creative to do with my life.~ Miles Davis

Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life. ~ Pablo Picasso

True art is characterized by an irresistible urge in the creative artist. ~ Albert Einstein

Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time. ~ Thomas Merton

Art

"Rose Flower Fairie" ATC for swap

Decopaged book text pages under procien dyed paper towel , stitched on vintage Fairie image,and silk mini rose ribbon

Thursday, March 27, 2008...WOW I have been away from this blog far too long.
So much has happened in the last few months and then again... time has flown and it seems like yesterday was March 27. Life... it gets in the way of having fun.

This year I made the resolution to change and that change involved doing more art.
I have been doing more art but I have not shared that art with you. I will attempt to post more again. Starting today!

"Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time" ~ unknown

"Art comes to you proposing frankly to give nothing but the highest quality to your moments as they pass, and simply for those moments' sake" ~ unknown

Hearts ~ I LOVE Heartz!

The second February journal prompt is "Hearts"!
How lucky for me.... I love hearts.

This was so easy to do. I simply looked over by Valentine's (Heartz) Day post for inspiration.
On one side I reprinted all the quotes form the Valentine's post.
Then for the actual journal page I gathered up a bunch of heart images I had been collecting and collaged away. finishing it off with a mylar overlay "Heartz"..
Fun ... fun ... fun!

Fear of failure ~ Fear of success

The February/March journal prompt is FEAR. I can think of lots of things to fear. Right now, doing this page is the BIGGEST one of them. Instead of focusing on day-to-day life fears, I am going to focus on fear as it relates to doing art. Or more precisely ... why my fear of making art prevents me from making art.

Several years ago, I picked up the book “Art and Fear” [Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking] by David Bayles and Ted Orland. This is a book about making art. Ordinary art. Not art not made by Monet, Picasso, or Rembrandt. Most art is made by ordinary people, ordinary artists. Our ordinary art can still be quite extraordinary, yet, we artists, sometimes fear our ordinary art will not be extraordinary. The book looks at the way art is made, the reasons art isn’t made and the difficulties that cause artists to give up along the way. Making art can be a lonely, daunting tedious task. If the book gets you to your art sooner and bolder, great. There is a mention that the book is a safety net. That reading the book can become a substitute for the process of making art. It makes you feel better but does not get you "working”. So instead of painting today? You reply, “No. I read parts of Art & Fear”

Hence, I find myself.
I have so many books on art and art processes that I’ve run out of room on my bookshelVES. I read about art. I do “do art”. However, mostly to the assignments and swaps I commit myself to do. But I rarely just do ART. Why?

Because ... I fear, I will fail.
I say... Humm ... I don’t know what to do.
Humm ... I need to learn how.
Oh now...I need a better technique.
Oops now ... I need a specific material.
Oh shoots ... I have no time.
Oh no ... Not now ... after this assignment.

They are all excuses not to do it.

"Everything I've ever done was out of fear of being mediocre." ~ Chet Atkins

“The greatest barrier to success is the fear of failure.” ~ Sven Goran Eriksson

Last year I resolved to “Create one thing each day” ... and I did. Only I let that creativity extend to all creative aspects of life and then any aspect of life from cooking to cleaning ... baby steps.

This year my word is CHANGE, so to change.....

“The key to change... is to let go of fear.” ~ Rosanne Cash

Nevertheless, saying I will change and let go of fear and actually doing it are 2 big and different things. Again baby steps.

It is easier if you just realize ... FEAR is just another four-letter word ~ Anon

AND

“FEAR is an acronym in the English language for "False Evidence Appearing Real" ~ Neale Donald Walsch

In his song, F.E.A.R. Ian Brown he gives several meanings to the acronym FEAR in the lyrics

Fantastic expectations Amazing revelations

Final execution and resurrection
Free expression as revolution
Finding everything and realizing

For everything a reason

Once we overcome a fear, we are courageous, successful, aware, and free.

Only when we are no longer afraid do we begin to live. ~ Dorothy Thompson

You don't face your fears, you stand up to them. ~ Anon

So, just do art.
Any kind of art ... Ordinary art ... Experiment ... Work in a new medium.
And keep in mind ....not every “work” will be a masterpiece. Some will be disasters, but learn from the “process”.
If you create one thing today ... It just might be extraordinary.

“Inaction breeds doubt and fear.
Action breeds confidence and courage.
If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it.
Go out and get busy.” ~ Dale Carnegie

You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience
in which you really stop to look fear in the face.
You must do the thing which you think you cannot do. ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Words are powerful tools

My blog postings are so far behind, but sometimes life gets in the way of blogging!!!

The second January prompt is “Words”.
When given the prompt “Words” the first thing that came to mind was the song:

Words by the Bee Gees
Smile an everlasting smile,
A smile can bring you near to me.
Don’t ever let me find you down,
Cause that would bring a tear to me.
This world has lost its glory,
Let’s start a brand New story now, my love.
Right now, there’ll be no other time
And I can show you how, my love.

Talk in everlasting words,
And dedicate them all to me.
And I will give you all my life,
I’m here if you should call to me.
You think that I don’t even mean a single word I say.
Its only words, and words are all I have,
To take your heart away

How appropriate the prompt “Words” is for me, since words are usually the basis for my inspirations. When given most assignments I have to look up everything about the topic. So given a prompt I Google “(the prompt word) quotes”.

I also look thru my database of favorite "Word" quotes.

“Tears are words the heart can't express” ` Unknown

“Love is just a word until someone comes along and gives it meaning.” ~ Unknown

“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.” ~ Unknown

Words are powerful tools.
They convey emotions, thoughts, ideas. Words can comfort, sooth and entertain.
But words can also be deadly weapons. Words used maliciously to hurt someone. Words used unknowingly and carelessly can also be weapons that hurt someone. Like all of us, I have too much experience with the last experience.
Often we do not hear or see how the word or tone we use for word said to a child can devastate him/her. Or how words to or from a friend can wound. Often the comments, stories, or phrases we make are never meant to hurt but they do. There are also times our words lie.

"You mustn't always believe what I say.
Questions tempt you to tell lies, particularly when there is no answer." - Pablo Picasso

And then there are those times when you are down and feel no one values your opinion or your words. And you ask “why bother?” (to say anything). These times also hurt.

In the book The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. The first agreement he talks about is “Be Impeccable With Your Word”. Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

Hard to do 24-7, but oh so worthwhile at bedtime, when you sit and reflect on your day.

To do my journal page I used recycled paper towels used to blot procein dye for dying fabric for another project. I “matte media" adhered the paper towels to gesso primed pages. then overlayed one side with my "Words" song and quotes printed on Mylar. On the other side I wrote "Words" then 2 columns for words I Like and Not Like. I wrote the words in white paint pen, outlined by a permanent black marker and highlighted with chalk pens. Glad to say the "Like" words list was much longer!

Looking over these pages I am often reminded that the words that often haunts me most when I spend time in evening reflection are...

“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Art Quote of the Day for Friday March 7, 2008

The Art Quote of the Day for Friday March 7, 2008, on my blog sidebar is:

There are no original ideas.
There are only original people. ~ Barbara Grizzuti Harrison

from Famous Quotes

Balance ...It's like riding a bicycle

I am in an art group for journaling. Each month and we are given an assignment of 2 prompts and 2 pages to put in our journal.

One of the prompts for the month of January is - Balance.
The Balance page on the left is all the quotes I have collected on balance printed on rice paper, adhered with matte medium to background sheet, colored with linen ink and red pattern stamping. Then a mylar sheet overlay with a balance image printed on it. A few of the most inspiring of the balance quotes are:

“A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly.” ~ Robert Heinlein

“In art and dream may you proceed with abandon. In life may you proceed with balance and stealth.” ~ Patti Smith

"Be aware of wonder. Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some." ~ Robert Fulghum

The right hand page is an overlay of the same balance image printed on vellum.
Lift the vellum sheet to reveal the background balance sheet. Ta da ...

Acrylic paint was used to paint the yin yang symbol and clipart images were matte medium adhered in a balancing act!

"Life is like riding a bicycle.
To keep your balance you must keep moving."
~ Albert Einstein

Change page for Change journal

My January 17th post, "Change in the New Year" were some change quotes which provided the inspiration springboard for a Change page in my Change journal.

I put all those quotes on the inside cover of the journal and then did a change page. This just might be the format for future pages.

Printed on the Mylar sheet over the next page are the words:

Change
Cannot change
Can change
Want to change
Be the change
The change
Change of life
Change your life
Life change
Dramatic change
Inter change
Things change
Time change
Change time
Time to change
Change color
Change of plans
Change horses
Change for the better
Change for the worse
Change of heart
Change of fortune
Change of luck
Loose change
Got change?
Change over

Change...don’t ya just hate it!

The background sheet is painted with Metal Effects copper metal paint and green patina. Then decopaged on the words to a song printed on rice paper, and aged with walnut oil.
The background sheet has the words to the song "Changes" by David Bowie, originally released on the album Hunky Dory in December 1971 and as a single in January 1972. (Live, France 1999)

“Changes” by David Bowie
I still don't know what I was waiting for
And my time was running wild
A million dead-end streets
Every time I thought I'd got it made
It seemed the taste was not so sweet
So I turned myself to face me
But I've never caught a glimpse
Of how the others must see the faker
I'm much too fast to take that test

Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes (Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Don't want to be a richer man
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes (Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Just gonna have to be a different man
Time may change me
But I can't trace time

I watch the ripples change their size
But never leave the stream
Of warm impermanence and
So the days float through my eyes
But still the days seem the same
And these children that you spit on
As they try to change their worlds
Are immune to your consultations
They're quite aware of what they're going through

Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes (Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Don't tell t hem to grow up and out of it

Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes (Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Where's your shame
You've left us up to our necks in it
Time may change me
But you can't trace time

Strange fascination, fascinating me
Changes are taking the pace I'm going through

Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes (Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Oh, look out you rock 'n rollers
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes (Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Pretty soon you're gonna get a little older
Time may change me But I can't trace time
I said that time may change me
But I can't trace time

still need a bit more inspiration, view this impessionistic montage of Chachacha Changes.

“Change is the essence of life. Be willing to surrender what you are for what you could become.”
~ Unknown