You wouldnt believe my week and weekend....

Hello lovelies. So tired but want to keep my word in posting some things...so ..at 2am here I am keeping my word. The week was very stressful and I could not wait for the weekend to get here..Friday I taught two classes and that evening had tons of fun with one of my besty art friends..making nice things...and today I woke up to yet another message that my privacy had been invaded...seems for over 72 hours as of this morning...someone had been trying to hack into my personal accounts. Had to delete my Facebook page and start a new one, my yahoo account is locked down its been a mess...and a real pain in the ass very honestly.  I'm very upset about it I ha 1177 photos on my facebook page all of groups and friends and family and art networking...YIKES...it sucks. I was not a happy camper but its starting to take shape back to some sort of normal but with a GREAT deal of security. I made a formal complaint to the cyber defense team and they claim they can find the IP addresses of anyone trying to access my accounts so I completely encourage the moron who has nothing better to do with their time to continue to try to hack me...keep it coming.
And so...here we are...its been a long day and tomorrow will be as well...so I wanted to come by and share a few things...
This was a take-out bag from Olive Garden lol I love paper bag paper for some reason...I made this Friday night and wrapped some artful goodies in it for a pal...you can kinda see the steps I took in making it in this photo I hope...

Really love the way that came out and cant wait to try it for the holidays...I think I may just make most all of my own gift wrap this year! Another one of those great recycling methods for creating cool things!

The next photos are some of the ATC's I've been working on here and there as time has permitted in the last week. I wanted to make a few to give you guys some feedback for the swap and while I have not gotten around to that how to video it is still in the forefront of my mind as something I would like to figure out how to do so that I can bring you guys some inspiration and feedback...especially for those of you who are new to the ATC swapping world and have had so many great questions about creating ATC's and the various techniques...I am still growing with it and been doing it for years..think I had burned mysel out on them for a bit and hasn't joined a swap or created any in a very long time so this bout with creating a few has been a real blast! Here are a few of those with some pointers on how I did a few of them!

Heard the song When Doves Cry on the radio before making this one...reminds me of childhood somehow...cut the birds from a small template I had..used newspaper script rubber stamps..swirl rubber stamps..music note rubber stamps and most of what you see for color was done with distressed ink or Gesso.. I layer the backgrounds prior to starting any ATC by collaging different papers.

This one has sort of a double meaning..while it reminds me of the story and move I've always loved "The Secret Garden" there is a loneliness and sadness for me felt in this card and reminds me of some childhood memories and me as a young girl...kinda lost in the wilderness of life... She was made very simple with black acrylic paint..a few stamps and papers...words from an old Once Upon a Time book a dear friend gave to me.

 I love this one possibly one of my favorites....reminds me a show Don, Kori & I use to be completely addicted to called Paranormal State...about of course...paranormal and ghosts..those souls that loved so deeply or had something left to say or do here...or someone left here they were unable to let go of and as you see even beyond the grave she loves..and waits for his love letters...still. Background is collaged and stamped..lots of distressed ink and vintage postal stamps..one of my favorites from the week!

 Another favorite and while this one looks quite simple it kinda was not and I spent a great deal of time on it...I love lately working with silhouettes and shadows to represent people...and this is a template I made myself I ended up using it for quite a few ATC's this go around but they all came out very different. the background layer is newspaper print...some stamping and ink stamp pads for the coloring..some acrylic paints...and I really love how this one came out too!

 My sister will probably disown me if she does not get this one she is in our swap and her work is fantastic...she is the one who got me into making ATC's years ago and she is incredibly talented with collage and ATC's...cant wait to see her's but I promised her if she joined us and met our deadline she would get this one so it may not be up for grabs folks...Her name is Vickie Pleins ( love you sissy)
This one took some time too...collaged background very selective with colors and paper for this one...stamps of course..staples...ink acrylic paints and Gesso...very pleased with this one and may have to get a print made for myself of it before it flies away!

 Not my favorite but love it none the less...reminds me of when I use to fear sharing my work cause I would always compare it to other peoples work...so its really the message I like more than the design..this one may not be done...to me it is missing something but that's just me it could be something entirely different if I get around to working more on it we will see! :)

 The photo of this one is not that great but this one looks pretty cool in person..i thought...I have had these silly eyes forever and a day and thought I would never use them for anything...they worked out great on Skully here..and he is a representation of my love for Candy / sugar skulls and my appreciation for the celebration known as Day of The Dead!

Hope you guys enjoyed this ...way more to come this was just a drop in the bucket but please be patient...life has been a bit demanding lately and stressful for me.

In the words of my fantastic big brother Bill...

"My patience bucket...

Ya well..

its got a hole in the bottom of it"

William Fightmaster

(I love you bro)

ATC Swap Participant List & Update!

Hey everyone! Really quick before I get in the bed for the night seeing as how I have to be up at 5:45 am to teach two courses tomorrow..I wanted to come by and add a list of all of the ATC swap participants. If you wanted to join and you do not see your name on this list...please dont throw things at me and accept this humble apology..life has been rather busy...ALSO..one person left a comment listed as only anonymous and I need a name for you mystery person! Please send me an e-mail and give me a name and valid email address and I would be happy to add your name to the list..lastly...the deadline for mailing is October 22nd! Please keep this in mind if you are an international swapper please make sure yours get sent out slightly before that. I would like to get the cards mailed back out in a timely fashion I have two new swaps that I cannot wait to share with you guys and their big time WAY cool..

Without further delay here are the participants!

JM Monroe (Julie :)

 Joanne Lister

Sue Cottle

Debbie Bankston

 Lisette Baker

Elizabeth 

(sorry Elizabeth..please send me your last name!) 

Andrea Fields

Kelly Verstraete

Shelly Mendenhall

Vickie Pleins

Chris Steinberg

Karenann Young

Trish

 (From Close Friends FB Group..please send last name!)

AND

Yours Truly!

What a wonderful group of creatives we have here!

Anyone who knows someone who would like to join please let them know that while registration is closed if they feel they can make 3 cards and still meet the October 22 mail out deadline, you may still join, send me an email to dcombs01@baker.edu or find me on Facebook and send me an inbox letting me know you would like to join.

*Everyone please note*

I need valid first and last names and valid email addresses for you all if you have not yet sent those to me as indicated in the message above or if you did and I missed it forgot it and lost it I am so sorry...hanging head in shame...please do so again! Keep an eye out here this weekend much to come for participants! :) TGIF @ 5:00 PM tomorrow!!! 

Night wonderfuls thank you all for joining this is going to be a GREAT swap!

:)

Photos...Inspirational Quotes and Sleep

I have been so busy with work..

I am dieing to get out with my camera and take some Fall photos..

enjoy some fresh air and commune with nature.

Things have been pretty stressful lately..

Pushing through it all and embracing the weekends when I am about

to embrace that which calls to my soul constantly..

my craft..my art..my photos and my creations..

the things that keep me the most sane when things seen so insane..

I use to believe it was me that was insane

now I know it is the world around me.

Inspirational quotes I have found comfort in this week:

Preseverance, secret of all triumphs

Victor Hugo

Buy the ticket, take the ride

Hunter S. Thompson

Try to be like the turtle--at ease in your own shell

Bill Copeland

A #2 pencil and a dream can take you anywhere

Joyce A. Myers

Be faithful to that which exist in yourself

Andre Gide

(love that one)

Art without emotion irs like chocolate cake without sugar. It makes you gag.

Laura Halse Anderson--Speak

Itelligence without ambition is a bird without wings

Salvador Dali

Art is a jealous mistress...

Ralph Waldo Emerson, Conduct of Life

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

Thomas Merton

There is no failure except in no longer trying

Elbert Hubbard

You cannot plow a field by turning it over in your mind

Author Unknown

Happiness resides not in posessions and not in gold; the feeling of happiness dwells in the soul

Democritus

The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts; therefore guard accordingly

Marcus Aurelius

An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind

Mahatma Gandhi

Good night lovlies..i look so forward to the weekend when I can dedicate some time to this dusty room here at peculiarme71.blogspot.com

See ya then!

zzz...

Tuesday Gratitude

While I've been so incredibly busy and stressed out I've still been making time in the later evening hours to sit with a good cup of coffee and work on my ATC's for our swap..Registration is closed however, we have about 16 people that joined. I am waiting on one individual who signed up as anonymous to add the list of swappers here and through the weeks to come as I stated before, I will also be adding some cool links, some examples and hopefully a video or two of me making an ATC from start to finish.  Providing I can figure out how to edit the video and make it do what I want it to lol This should be fun and a learning process.

So..a short blog of sorts today just wanted to touch quickly during my busy day and give thanks to the things in my life that make it wonderful.

Today I am thankful for:

My kids and their boyfriends...because their boyfriends make them happy and they both picked pretty darn good ones that treat them with respect and love.

Coffee..as always..

my family

my job

the work study tutors that I supervise..they rock

sweaters and headbands

my art supplies

my parents 

Don

Don's children who I love

the possibility of someone anyone everyone boycotting the NFL?

music

raw unsalted almonds :)

Things that smell like Fall...pumpkin spice..ginger..cinnamon..pure unfiltered honey

fruit

cold meds...I'm getting sick :( not so thankful for that but thankful its not worse than it is lol

all of you

my art friends who are so important to me...

my favorite Starbucks coffee mug that Kori got for me for Christmas last year..

apples that are really hard and crispy and not mushy :)

slippers

I could go on forever...

I'm just very thankful for everything in my life.

:)

Last Chance!

Hello everyone. Happy Sunday afternoon (morning to me, slept in WAY later than I would have liked to. Today is the last day for registration for the ATC swap! Registration closes at midnight tonight so I hope I can grab a few of you to join our lovely groups of swappers! Just because there were a couple of different post about the swap and in case of any confusion here is a run down of the swap and the guidelines!

Leave a comment here on this post today indicating you would like to join the swap and give me a valid email address or add me as friend on Facebook and inbox me your email address. This is for the purpose of being able to send you all updates and my mailing address so that you know where to send the cards.
Each person makes three cards one of which I've asked to include in the card design a quote about "ART" that you love. This is optional not a rule! Deadline for mailing your cards to me is October 22nd that is almost one month from now..I must receive your cards no later than Halloween, October 31st. If you are an international swapper your postage will be covered by yours truly to send back your swapped cards. US friends please help me out with some postage by included 2-3 US postage stamps in your envelope it is greatly appreciate and I would love to cover everyone's postage but this hobby can get expensive as you all know if you have ever done a swap! Everyone participating will receive one EXTRA aftful goody from ME..for joining the swap sound like fun? Hurry up and register! If you have never created ATC's and do not know much about them here is a run down.

ATC stands for Artists Trading Cards..I wont get into the history of them but they date back many centuries regardless of what you read on the internet about some Swiss guy who founded ATC's in 1966 that is funny to me..he may have started a movement of many swappers and traders however these cards can go back as early as the 14th century...onward>
These cards are the size of a deck of playing cards and can be made from an actual playing card or cut out of illustration board ( my favorite) Bristol board, watercolor paper or any other thicker type paper. You want to make sure the paper you use for them is thick so that it can withstand paint, Gesso, glues, watercolor paint, embellishments or anything else you might want to include in them.

The standard size for ATC's is about 2.5 x 3.5. If you want to get really creative you can make small pockets from envelopes or paper and decorate them...more to come on that in a moment. Here is a link will 11 basic steps about making an ATC but just know this...their a way for artist to get their names and work out into the art community and think of your craft whether you paint or collage...mixed media, typography anything...its like having a blank canvas in front of you...just on a very small scale. Think of them as well as a business card of sort...their just all different.
NOTE: ALL PARTICIPANTS
Please make sure that on the back of your ATC cards you include the following
your first and last name
date the card was created
some way of contacting you be it your facebook address or website / blog address
title of the card

Here is that link now: http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Artist-Trading-Cards

Local craft stores are now selling precut and packaged ATC size cards on different types of stocks check this link out!
http://www.michaels.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-Michaels-Site/default/Link-Category?cgid=products-artsupplies-paper%26boards-artisttradingcards

And another:
http://www.skybluepink.com/atc.html

A few newbies to ATC cards have asked what supplies they will need to create ATC's. That is really a loaded question and I will tell you why. It is very simple.

The possibilities are very literally endless.

Here are a few starting points.

Whatever you will use for the card itself be it you cut them or you bought pre-cut cards

Scrapbooking paper, old news papers, magazines, anything paper 

Markers, paints, fine pint pens, watercolor, acrylic paint, ink pads for rubber stamping, embellishments, glitter ( though not my favorite) seriously..ANYTHING. Their what you make them. 

I will tell you this. My favortie cards are ones that have some meaning behind them, be that meaning hidden and no one could ever figure it out or very obvious the meaning..a quote...a line in a song...the deeper meaning cards are just always the ones I personally gravitate too. You can collage, draw, paint, do abstract...anything anything anything! That sort of artistic freedom is wonderful isn't it? So..I've been working on some cards these past couple of days...I have way more than enough for the trade but remember each person will get an extra in their return swapped out package from me so I am making extras and as well I had forgotten how much I really enjoy creating ATC's so I just been getting myself back on the swing of them. So many new products and techniques out since I was last making them in 2009. Here are a couple of my favorite past ATC cards. Some have been already traded and some have just been way to hard to part with. 

And so..looking at these brings back all sorts of memories...i'd like to believe that my talent has improved since then. Here are a few I've done this weekend!

I'm really loving with with this shadow figure..obviously.

 

love the word "capered" lol

caperedpast participle, past tense of ca·per

Verb:

Skip or dance about in a lively or playful way: "children capering about the room".

This one is a peak to the backs of a couple..i dont go overboard with decorating the backs but like to add some color and uniqueness..? Get the idea?

And so there you have. I surely hope by midnight tonight we get a few more participants and we will be well on our way! If you have any questions, suggestions, tips or techniques you would like to share or ask please feel free to contact me here or on Facebook and I would more than happy to help!

I am hoping that sometime later this week to be able to post a stp by step how to video of me making an ATC..and through the weeks leading up to the swap I will be sharing links and ideas with you all to keep you motivated and inspired!

Thank you to all who have joined the swap thus far and to any who join today! 

Happy creating! Now off to housework, the grocery store / veggie and fruit market and back to my small studio space for more creative outlet! :)

ATC SWAP!! Registration closes at midnight Sunday! Hurry!!

Come one come all...refistration closes at midnight this Sunday, September 23rd, 2012!
Here is how you join!
Send me a comment, email to dcombs01@baker.edu or a Facebook inbox with your first and last name and a valid email! I will add you to the list of participants.
What you need to do?
Here is a link to to the guidelines...only...rules are changed for international participants..I got the postage for you guys just happy to you have you! :)

http://peculiarme71.blogspot.com/2012/09/new-swap-come-one-come-all.html

That link will take you to the original post about the swap with all of the rules and guidelines!

3 ATC's..that all...and you get an artful goody from yours truly for joining the swap! You have almost five weeks to make three cards so get over the that link and post your registration! Hope you will join us and thanks!

More to come Sunday on the swap! 

xo

Update! ATC swap and Friday goodness!

Hello friends..

Hope this finds you doing wonderful on this glorious Friday.

Can't tell you all how happy I am that it is finally here. Very stressful week at work. Much preparation for the Fall quarter that begins on Monday, my departments first annual Open House and as well courses that I am teaching. Sorry it took me a couple of days to get back here to post anything. Getting some house work done today..then a few errands, soem birthday cake and ice cream later with my 2 daughters. My youngest Kori turned 18 on the 19th and my oldest Sam turned 23 yesterday on the 20th. Hard to believe their at these ages...seems like just weeks ago they were these girls...

And now they are these girls..

Where does the time go? I honestly couldn't be more lucky of a mom than I am...

My girls are and have been..exceptional students..they have hearts of gold..they have never been arrested, hooked on drugs or even caught with or doing them...they care about the world at large and the people around them...they are loyal, funny, kind, and I just really am so proud of the adults their becoming and reflecting today in how lucky all through the years I have been. This is not to say that they never fight as sisters...lol...they would be a lie lol That is not to say that they have never talked back, been grounded or that I never had to get on them about things...but for the VERY most part...

they have been the most wonderful kids I've ever known. :) And so...the evening will be spent with them, their boyfriends, their dad, myself and Don...having cake and ice cream...nice! :)

Many people find it strange that Don & I hang out and have a good relationship with my ex Martin (my girls father) it is glorious. Sometimes a bit funny even we hang out have coffee together, Don & Martin get along wonderful as friends and have much in common..in fact ther are times I have to say while their socializing hey guys...like I'm ready to go...or can you tell him you will call him back later so we can finish watching this movie? LOL It works out really well we all are in it for the same reason and it works out great for the girls too. They dont have to feel awkward or strange to give their dad or step dad a hug and say I love you...I think the pressure we put on our kids sometimes is too much to bare for them when our bitterness and animosity makes them feel awkward in non-traditional families...or kids who come from divorces and such. Just my opinion...

Few weeks ago Kori and I were at her dad's house making cupcakes for her boyfriend who is now up at Michigan State, while Don and Martin were in Matins room watching a football game...its a fresh breath of air..and its the way it should be. Everyone working together for the best possible outcome...not teaching kids hate and resentment and I'm really thankful for the way this all has worked out...I think many others could learn from the model behavior we three have had. 

And so...ATC swappers!! Here is a list of the wonderful artist who have joined the swap thus far! So extremely excited and would like to ask everyone to spread the word..the more the merrier..post a link to this blog the one in particular asking people to sign up...if possible or just direct them to my Facebook page that is fine too...if you are joined and have not yet sent me a valid email please make sure to do so you can send it to dcombs01@baker.edu or just inbox it to me on Facebook I've been telling people not to post it here on my blog for your own protection in privacy...if you feel uncomfortable putting you email address out there for the entire world to see I understand that and you can just email it or inbox me! have started working on my ATC's for the swap and as with the last swap I did ...every participant will get one extra artful goody made by the hands of yours truly for joining the swap...

INTERNATIONAL FRIENDS!

I have asked in the initial post for everyone to include a few stamps in their envelopes for postage and have gotten some feedback with this being only the second swap I have done including international friends...I was not real sure how that would work but Don and I have talked about this and we are footing the postage for the international swappers! It is a gift to you of sorts for joining and I will not take no for an answer...I'm just happy to have you all here...so without further ado...here are the lovely friends we have in the swap thus far! Hopefully you recognize some friends in this list!:) It is always nice to see a name you recognize!

JM Monroe (Julie)

Joanne Lister

Sue Cottle

Debbie Bankston
Lisette Baker

Elizabeth (So sorry I do not know your last name...please send that with email kk? TY :)

Andrea Fields

Kelly Verstraete

Myself

and I have three or four others who are getting to me this weekend about joining...surely to be a great swap! Someone mentioned maybe just setting you guys up and having you all swap with one person but my experience with past swaps I have joined is that it is nice to get back ATC's from several different people so their not all done by one artist ...that may be an option for future swaps but this time I think we will stick with a good mixture of styles and artists!

If you have any questions, suggestions or concerns, please feel free to contact me I would love to help any of you our and will posting more this weekend about some techniques and links for doing some research if by chance you are new at this! I'm very excited to have you all here and in this swap...thank you so much!

More to come later lovely friends...

Be kind to everyone and have a fantastic Friday!

xo

More on the new ATC swap!

OK wonderful friends o' mine..

This is where I turn to you for a resolution! Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

I have just began swapping internationally. While I understand ignorance of the law does not eliminate your responsibility to uphold it.. lol 

Forgive my ignorance..I absolutely love swapping with international friends, but with all of the swaps I join, art packages I send to people and swapping I do..it can get rather costly so..I posted this below in my inital post about the ATC swap:

"International swappers are very welcome, just note that international postage can get costly so all members are expected to include postage stamps for what the cost of mailing three cards will be. If your cards are flat and standard without much weight added by fabric/ embellishments and things that weigh them down in the US this should only require 2-3 stamps. To be on the safe side have your envelopes weighted at the post office prior to sealing and be sure to include enough stamps for the ones you will get in return! I would love to pay for all of the postage but with all of the swaps and mail art I create, the post office is putting me in the poor house!"

Silly me...adding a couple of stamps to envelopes will work for USA participants but it will not work for international participants because of the difference in currency. Shy if creating a paypal account does anyone have a clever idea for how international swappers can help with their postage? As of right now there are 3..one from the UK, one from England and one from New Zealand..this excites me more than you know..I'd love to suit with all three of you and have tea and just...enjoy your accents and learn from you..:)  I may just op to take care of the postage myself if we can't think of a better way because I'd like these folks to remain in the swap ..just wondering how any of you who have swapped internationally before handled postage? Looking forward to hearing from you!

For any of you who have never made an ATC or may be new to swapping I am including a few links and will share some great finds over the next five weeks leading up to our swap deadline! Spread the word that we are having one I'd love to get many to join this time around! The more the better!

http://www.altered-art.net/make-artist-trading-cards-2.html

This is a great start~

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Artist-Trading-Cards

That one is great too!

NEW SWAP! Come one come all!!

You're Invited!

Absolutely you! 

VERY excited about this..and hope to get many people on board with me for this swap!

Spread the word if you care to on your facebook pages and blogs...please do give a link here for people to see the guidelines and rules for this swap and come on!!! Let's revisit ATC making.

ATC's were possibly my first exposure to what is know as Mixed- Media Art. My sister introduced ATC's to me back when she was doing a great deal of ATC creating and swapping and from 2006-2009 I going nuts with creating ATC's..I loved how personal they could be..how they offered me the ability to create and share, something a big smaller scale than huge works of art that my schedule did not allow for as an undergrad and eventually graduate student. 

A dear new friend and wonderful published artist KarenAnn Young, shared some ATC's with me recently and sent me one in the mail! Made my heart literally flutter and I thought to myself...man I really loved making them...they date back so long in hisotry that we can't let the tradition die right?!

So here it is. If you are new to ATC's have no idea what they are but would like to learn and possibly join the next paragraph is for you.

ATC is short for Artist Trading Cards. The history of ATC's as stated on some websites I've found is  originated in 1996 by a  Swiss artist.  See http://www.artist-trading-cards.ch/ for further information on this. However, having an education in art history one can determine that trading art cards dates back to as early as the 15th and 16th century and possibly even earlier than that. The idea is simple and blissful. Artists create playing card size works of art and swap them among other artist. They are not created for the purpose of selling and should not be sold, only traded. Some people do this in person and today with the internet many people have ATC swaps through snail mail. There is a wealth of information on the internet regarding these swaps and cards..if you Google search ATC's or Art Trading Cards...have a cup of coffee ready because these works of art are created, collected and loved by many. It is a good way to circulate your name and your work among the art community and network in a very fun way with like minded artist. The talent of the artist who swap varies. Some ATC crators and swappers range from famous, very incredibly talented artist, to beginners so do not fear not meeting a standard ANYONE IS WELCOME TO JOIN! New to the concept or been doing it for years its a blast!

Here are the rules and guidelines for the swap I am hosting. Please, abide by the rules so that the swap goes smoothly and is fair!

• First notify me either in a comment here, or on facebook making sure I have a valid means of contacting you via email to let me know you are interested in the swap. I will so happy to add your name to the list!
• Create 3 ATC's (Artist Trading Cards) in any medium. Paint, draw, stamp, add embellishments, fabric, stitching, colored pencils, wax...you name it. Whatever you desire and keep in mind you have to cover postage...we will get to that shortly. 
• The ATC's must be 2.5x3.5 in size. This can be a hair off just make sure they are very close to the size of playing cards. These can be cut out of any type of paper or stock but they work best when done on a thick card-stock, watercolor paper or illustration board (my personal favorite). Many art supply and craft stores including Micheal's, Joann's and Hobby Lobby sell these cards in different types of stock/ paper already pre-cut. This makes it much easier if you are pressed for time and can afford to buy them pre-cut. Even so they are relatively inexpressive. 
• International swappers are very welcome, just note that international postage can get costly so all members are expected to include postage stamps for what the cost of mailing three cards will be. If your cards are flat and standard without much weight added by fabric/ embellishments and things that weigh them down in the US this should only require 2-3 stamps. To be on the safe side have your envelopes weighted at the post office prior to sealing and be sure to include enough stamps for the ones you will get in return! I would love to pay for all of the postage but with all of the swaps and mail art I create, the post office is putting me in the poor house! :)
• I ask for this swap that all art is your own original work and not photocopies of your cards. I will be later on in the year hosting a digital ATC swap at which time prints will be welcomed but not for this one please. Any photo copies of ATC's I receive will be returned to you.

• PLEASE NOTE: Be sure to include the following on the back of your cards: Artist name, Title of Card, # within series if it is from a series, the date you created the card and a valid form of contact meaning valid email address, blog url or website url. This is very important. The person receiving your card may want to tell you how much they love and appreciate your work or may want to offer you the chance to trade in the future. Some people forget this step in the process but its very important in my opinion! 
• I considered doing a theme for this swap but decided against it. All I ask is if you are interested, try to do one of the three with a quote about art or creating. Just one of the three...if you like that theme run with it and do all three that way...its up to you. This is not a rule just a request. If everyone complies with it then everyone will get one of that same type back with their swap! Could be fun!
• DEADLINE FOR THIS SWAP! Five weeks from today which is October 22nd 2012. Please, I ask that if you commit to this swap that you meet the deadline. I know that life changes and emergencies happen. I only ask that you try very hard to stick to this deadline so that all cards can be received and swapped out.  This is the mailing deadline and I will not be extending it. If you are an international swapper outside of the US, please mail your cards to me no later than October 18th because they take a bit longer to get here!

If you have any questions, suggestions or concerns about the swap please feel free to contact me through my blog or on Facebook! I would be more than happy to help you out and answer any questions you may have! Hope to hear from you soon and happy creating!! :)

New.

With how busy things have been for me this weekend flew by like the speed of light. I feel I hardly got to see it at all. Getting ready for a long work day..I hope you all have a wonderful Monday. 

Been playing the past day or so with a book called Digital Expressions by Susan Turtle..some of it I knew some of it has been very helpful..love her book great illustrations.  Here is the book and then following is a funny work of art I made while just goofing around learning a few different things in the book. Hope you enjoy..slightly odd....or peculiar if you will :)

 

Titled:

Finding it Difficult To Love Thy Neighbor

Huge big big announcement later this evening or tomorrow please check back!

A new swap? You bet! Hope you all join me...

 

Gratitude List for the day and lil bits of my world...

So thankful every day for everything but think its good to reflect in a day on the things in particular that make the day a great one...

Today..

the shower...nothing like a hot shower in the morning!

Good coffee!

Phone calls from people you love and who are calling...

to say they love you :)

Having Kori with me all day and night

My sister, Mark, Chris, Kori, Don and myself 

all meeting at the bookstore to visit, read, browse and have a Starbucks skinny mocha latte!

The Post Office

Books...they truly...deeply make me happy...

Long mom daughter talks and laughter with Kori

Kori loving my bed and napping peacefully on it right now :)

my dog Buster...and how much he loves everyone!

Sunny skies and cool air

art supplies for self exploring and self expression

IMAGINATION!

Don being happy cause his football team won the game!

(not having to watch the football game lol)

I'm thankful that Sammy is having a fun day today...she really deserves one!

All of my art friends..

all of my family..

happy mail

my job

my co workers

laughter

&

love

music

&

a calm relaxing night off!!!

oh...and wine...cant forget wine!

:)

My reads today..

message on the back of the book that makes me smile :)

My Kori <3 br="br" napping="napping" peaceful...="peaceful...">

New.

Life update...busy bussy bee..

Ello.

Hope this Wednesday upon us finds you doing well. I am...doing well just a bit drained and have a very busy couple of days ahead of me. I work today at my day job until 6 pm then tomorrow work until 6pm again, have faculty professional development mandatory dinner and meeting for instructors until near 10pm..then Friday morning up at 530am and teaching two four hour courses. Asking friends and networking pals to be patient with me until Saturday..busy busy bee I am. 

Managed to work on another mail art piece last night...The US postal service is going to be loving me this weekend...I have MANY items to go out all over the world! So exciting but gets rather expensive...for you mail art participants here is where we are. At least three people who originally joined the art swap have not sent their art at all or had to back out due to unforeseen circumstances. We still have 6 wonderful artists who have participated and this weekend all of those works are in the snail mail plus an kind artful goody from myself for joining the swap and your patience. The next swap will be far more well organized...this was the first one I have hosted myself and I feel like a teacher hounding people to get their work done lol  Life gets busy for everyone specially those with children who just started school and all of that good stuff thank you to all of you who joined and thank you so much making sure your work got to me in a timely fashion...I'm o.c.d slightly and really like punctuality! I HATE being late for anything.

And so...here is an image of the mail art envelope I made last night this one was a much more simple design and easy to make out of one sheet of scrap-booking paper...for those of you who can check out 

http://www.michaels.com/

they have a ton of mixed media art supplies and scrap-booking supplies on sale right now CRAZY kinda on sale...alot of 50% off and a ton of new stuff...browsed through there to check out what they had I knew they were adding some new things and feel in love with at on of great stuff they have added fro the Fall season...

7 gypsies is my favorite line right now...I am IN LOVE with some of their new stamps and embelishments/ paper and such...check out their stuff here!

http://www.shopatron.com/home/index/533.0.1.1

that link shows many of their products and here is a link to their blog:

http://www.sevengypsies.blogspot.com/

Seriously in love with their line right now...

I usually have an issue with purchasing packages of various stamps...because I will love two or three of them and know with certainty that I wont use the others...I wanted every single stamp set I seen of theirs lol that good! Check them out if you haven't already.

 Not the greatest images but wanted to share with you this morning! More photos to come!

Hope you enjoy!