Another ATC swap done

There have been a rash of ATC swaps recently and it's got me into the mood again. This swap is for textured ATCs and I have used some paper fabric as the background with fabric images stitched on. I'm not sure if my new scanner need some fine tuning as the fabric looks grainy and it's smooth cotton in reality. Anyway, let's see what comes up here:

More fabric ATCs

Here are three fabric vintage women ATCs for a swap I'm in - I'll have to cut back on swaps soon because I have to concentrate on Etsy for a bit and I'll be posting some 'burdies' soon. I have a new scanner and these scans look a bit washed out... have to play around with it but wanted to post something today.

More Spring Cleaning!

I had an odd job man in today to hang my chiming wall clock and a few other things and after he'd gone, I had a fit of cleaning and managed to fill 5 bags for charity. I am feeling very satisfied with myself LOL and also trying very hard to do the 'minimalist' thing and put away lots of old family photographs and cleared the decks a bit. I can see this will have a knock-on effect but that's good and the house is looking more spacious.   I'm dog-tired tonight but have finished a few more ATCs using gesso and magazines.

New Things

I've added a few items to my Etsy shop - some are newly made and some I already had. Hope you'll like them!!

Fed up with Epson

I have 2 Epson printers and have had nothing but trouble. I got hooked because of the Durabrite inks they use. The latest development was that the print heads were clogged on BOTH printers, one could print out only black ink but the other was useless. The last straw today I found out that the Epson repair shop had closed down - couldn't take the pressure perhaps?? So I bit the bullet and put them both in the bin and bought an HP 3-in-1 as DD1 told me it was great and it actually prints out the same colours as the monitor shows - that in itself is a huge bonus. So, now that I've installed it, I'm going to do some colour prints, yippeeeee!!!!

ATC chain

I'm taking part in the first ever international artist trading card chain where you make 6 (any theme) and add your name and address to the bottom and then wait for the ATCs to come rolling in!! If anyone would like to join in just let me know and I'll send you the letter. Here's my contribution - with the obligatory bits of lace LOL.

New artwork

I've been experimenting with a new technique for Plastic Fantastic. The end product is a credit card wallet but I still have to stitch in a clear plastic pocket to hold the cards. These scans show the wallets opened out. It's been a trial because, although I used a teflon pressing sheet, the images stuck to it and pulled them off. That wavy pattern on the second left used to be a lady!! But I quite like how it turned out. What do you think??

Critique + ATC

Well, the artist who did the critique was very gentle with everyone and kept saying 'oh I really like that' when the paintings weren't good and said things like 'I'd deepen the shadows there and don't make the leaves all one colour of green' -- and they were mostly landscapes and flowers and a couple of portraits so when my abstracts were put up, she didn't say much and didn't say 'oh I really like that' LOL- so not sure just how constructive it all was for ME. But I ate lots of chocolate regardless - and I might add this box of chocolates was given to me at Xmas so I have been good!!!!

Here's another ATC- the important thing about the swap is not a finished ATC but to show the technique used which is 'gesso and magazine images'.

Art Group and ATCs

Tonight I'm off to my art group and this is where I bare my soul!! I'm taking 2 paintings for expert critique - I may need chocolate when I get home!!!! I'll tell all tomorrow.

I've finished another couple of ATCs for the swap.

ATC trial run

I have to make 60 ATCs for a swap using techniques in Bernie Berlin's book, so I'm making 30 gessoed and magazine images, and 30 fused fibres. I have loads of time before they're due but I wanted to try one out - so here is no.1 (not really sure if this is finished, might do something else to it):

Flattered

I joined the prestigious Embroiderers' Guild about a year ago and one of the benefits of the monthly meetings is the 'for sale' table - last time I came home with loads of lacy bits, threads, books, pieces of silk, gold-painted trims etc. etc. and all for the princely sum of £2.50. Well, imagine my surprise, a few days ago when I was asked to join the Committee -- flattering to say the least --  I said no as I don't want such a commitment. but so good for the morale!!!

Grungy Credit Card Wallet

I've been experimenting with the 'Plastic Fantastic Fabric' technique see here for a swap I'm hosting for Art-e-Zine - one or two little things to change but I've learned a lot with this - it's great - come and join us, sign up by 12 May and due to me (UK) 31 May. More details are in the database at Artezinecafe.

Fabric ATCs

Just finished another 3 non-paper ATCs which are meant for the swap I'm in so now I have to choose between all 6 which 3 to keep -- decisions, decisions LOL . 

Oops, forgot the image!

I'm about to be picked up by DD2 and in my haste forgot topost the scan -- here it is:

Remember

I've finished a fabric wallhanging intended for Etsy (haven't yet heard back from them and cannot get my shop open *sigh*) and you can see from the picture that it looks a bit squint - have to re-position the metal finding. I used felt for the backing which won't fray but the spotted fabric is meant to be 'free'! These are really nice to sew -- more in the pipeline!!!

Yesterday's 'Discover'

I'd hung this piece on the wall for the time being and my mother likes it so much, she asked me not to sell it!! So I'll be sewing more wallhangings for Etsy.

'Discover'

I've had withdrawal symptoms for making something in fabric and I have Inkjet Print Cotton sheets which make it so easy - instead of faffing about with various methods (not always a success) of printing onto fabric, so here's 'Discover' -- vintage little girl, a few bits of fabric (it used to be called 'material' in the old days LOL), beading, buttons applique and a gorgeous vintage drawer handle. Everything is stitched on the machine and a little hand sewing - no glue!

I'm re-opening my Etsy shop, just a few teething problems that they're working on, and so this is my first piece for the GRAND OPENING.

A good clean out

I don't know why the urge to get rid of stuff is so strong, but I've been thinking for a while that I have to pass on a lot of my books and also to relieve the bookcase of its burden  - so I did a massive clean out and sent a few hundred books to Shelter charity. I was feeling that my possessions were possessing me!

All the books which were on my art room floor have been shifted to their new home and I can actually find what I need!! It's like a breath of freshn air. My work table is next. There's still a bit of weeding out to be taken care of but the worst part is over hooray!¬!!

Fabric ATCs

I dug out some cotton that I dyed last year and used it for the background. These ATCs were to be non-paper but that suits me fine - I love using fabric. The images I printed onto fabric too and the little captions were sent to me when I hosted a swap, and seemed ideal. Finally, I sewed on a few beads. I like these so much that I'm going to make some to keep!! I padded 'Memories' but it was a nuisance to stitch as it kept shifting on the batting, so I left the other two without.

Shoe Burdie

Well, here she is - it really makes me smile!!!

Removal and burdie

I'm just checking in - did my mother's removal on Wednesday and feeling a bit jaded. We had packers but I had to unpack numerous boxes of china (including my mother's wedding china which is 73 years old) and crystal and then find space in my small house. But I managed LOL.

I have a 'burdie' almost finished and although I say it myself - it's hilarious :-) I'll post it later on.

Altered Bandaid Tin

The scanner did a lousy job with the tin so I used my digital camera. I gessoed first so as to have some tooth for the inks and the embellisment is pa rt of an Indian ankle bracelet - not mine I hasten to add LOL.

Off to meet my dear friend, Annie, and we're going to see 'The Queen' - the film that won the Oscar for Helen Mirren.

And now for no.20

Today I altered my bandaid tin for the art-e-zine swap that I am hosting. I started without knowing quite what to do but a bit of this and a splash of that and it came together quite well. I was ready to scan it but I forgot to paint the handle so will post it later.

In the meantime, I did my self-imposed challenge of a 4x4" and here it is - not sure what this represents but I feel like it's saying 'use your eyes to look but also to see!!'