New wedding card

I used a border punch to make paper lace, added a Sizzix sprig, and a satin flower from the fabric department at JoAnn's. I had fun playing with texture, and I was able to use the flower from my collection of things I had no idea how I was going to use!

Simplicity

I had just begun to see myself as an artist with my own style and creative leanings, when bam! along comes Pinterest and I am overwhelmed with the beauty and creativity displayed there. I am in awe of some of the original designs, and can't help but be not just inspired but creatively changed in some way: opened up, vision restored and improved. As if I've had cataract surgery and I see better than ever. Or have gotten new bifocals.  Or glasses for the first time.

Today's images were created yesterday, and posted for what they're worth. More once I've become more familiar with the ins and outs of the 4S (my first smart phone in the hands of an old dummy). I did manage to take pictures of some of the Valentine's Day cards. Let's see what clicking or touching or whatever adds to my photo collection!

The sun is peeking out from time to time today. Spirits are lifting at our house.

Rock, Paper, Scissors

My first public showing! Thought I'd post a few pictures, mainly to display my beautiful daughters. Mara,  (who looks like Zooey Deschanel, I swear) was there to handle every transaction since I was so nervous I could hardly tie a bow. Hannah Stephenson, my older daughter, had organized the event held in downtown Columbus at the Ohio State University Urban Art Space (oh, excuse me, I meant The Ohio State University Art Space!), located in what used to be the Lazarus department store. It sits  across from a new urban park called Columbus Commons which used to house the Columbus City Center Mall (the only mall I ever liked).

Our display was just a simple table provided by the venue, adorned by tablecloths over boxes to achieve different levels, glittery snowflakes, and of course a glass bowl of chocolate kisses.  Some traffic, some purchases, and some of Mara's retail skills, made it really enjoyable and broke the ice for me. Although I wouldn't let her leave my side.

Our packaging was simple silver ribbon tagged with a business card.

A happy holiday season to all!

New venture

My goals for 2011 regarding cardcrafting were to open an etsy store, host my own blog, get a vendor's license, and a domain name. I did get a domain name, but there it sits, idle, useless, and untended.  The etsy store is empty, and my blog is going nowhere.

I have my first event at which I will be selling my cards, at the Ohio State University Urban Arts Space, located in what used to be the downtown Lazarus department store. My daughter has organized an event on Friday, Dec. 2, from 2-8 p.m., where different artists have a free venue to display and sell their art.

You are invited to come, and if you do, stop by my table to chat and take a look at what I've come up with so far.  I'd really appreciate some feedback. Also, if you blog, I'd like to learn from you--just a smidgen of what you've found helpful, and not so much.

Blessings to you all.

Summer ends, fall begins

Falling . . .

It happens to a lot of us: the onset of sadness at the end of summer. Not that I didn't complain about the heat, or the humidity, or the rain (and lack thereof).  As I pulled up to my house last evening, I noticed our flower garden against the new colors of our house and was surprised by a pang of sorrow, knowing that death was imminent for the alyssum which continue to seed themselves every hear and spill over onto the sidewalk up to our door, giving it the appearance of a country path. And the perennials, so obviously  transformed from youth to maturity to senescence, are so poignant.

This autumn I will not try to talk myself out of the sadness. I will not remind myself that spring comes again, and the sweet movie-set of my front yard will return for another show.

This autumn I will accept the sadness as grief, experience it, and let it pass, as I know it will. 

Meanwhile, I'll share some early-fall creations. Hope you enjoy them.

new discovery

About five years ago, a patient of mine gifted me with a collection of her beautiful, stamped cards. I never used them, preferring to hoard them, looking through them from time to time in admiration and gratitude. Came across them while tidying up my studio (I use the expression "tidying up" loosely, as anyone who knows me would understand, much to their chagrin at times!) a couple of weeks ago and one particularly caught my attention.  She had used what I thought was a mesh ribbon as an embellishment and I frantically went online searching for such a product.  I found some, called Magic Mesh, but my order wouldn't go through. Then I saw a posting about using drywall mesh tape, which I had never heard of. Lo and behold we had a big fat roll of it and I started experimenting. It is sticky and repositionable until it dries, it doesn't fray, easy to cut. I suppose it can be dyed with stamping ink, and I'm going to play around with silver and gold spray paint for the holidays.

So here are my first two experimental offerings.

I also found a product online called FlowerSoft. I hope I'll be showing some cards on here soon with some good results.

This hot weather has been oppressive, hasn't it? I find myself looking forward to fall. Of course I'll be singing a different tune come February. I think that's how it's supposed to be.