Up to the moon! All through the sky!

Here's a collage I made this weekend. It is supposedly for my holiday cards, although there's nothing holiday-ish about it. It is, however, optimistic and peaceful and nurturing...and I think that's a grand way to start off a new year. The crown was made from a nifty punch I bought at Michael's with a gift certificate my sister sent me...that makes it doubly fun! I was inspired by the book SCRAPS (that I posted about earlier) to incorporate lots of postage stamps.

Stop It! A trip down memory lane

Recently, after whining somewhat incessantly to a good friend (let's call her "MB"), she playfully asked me to look up and watch this old clip of Bob Newhart in which he satirizes his long-time psychologist character.

I had vaguely remembered this bit, but had forgotten how damn funny it was. And really, after all of the hair-pulling and chest-beating and drama has been exhausted, what is there to do but just finally "stop it"?

I'm pretty sure I owe MB at least $5...

SCRAPS is TOPS!

Oooooh, I just checked out the niftiest library book. It's called SCRAPS - An Inspirational Field Guide to Collage, and boy, is THAT truth in advertising! It is chock full of amazing multi-media collages that evoke fantasies of world travel when it was mysterious and exotic. I am declaring myself an official groupie of Elsebeth Gynther and Christine Clemmensen henceforth. Check out their work (and their blogs)!

From Nasty to Chic!

I think most artgirls would agree with me that there's almost nothing nastier than second-hand office furniture, especially upholstered chairs. Even with a strong stomach, I hesitate to speculate about the source of the stains that are inevitably sprinkled about the fabric. But look what local gal, Tammy did with just such an eyesore using a can of cream colored paint and some vintage fabric...

Yee-haw! You are an absolute inspiration! I will suffer hideous desk chairs no more!

No more fuzzy photos! No more fuzzy photos!

I've had it with fuzzy photos, blurry pictures, wavy images. Had it! Fini! Been there, done that! I finally ordered a new digital camera. My old one was many years old and purchased second-hand at that. While it took great super-close-ups with its nifty 10x lens, it never ever worked well for "normal" pictures...the kind an artgirl wants to take for her blog or her etsy shop.

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So....I finally ordered this little beauty. A friend of mine has one just like it and raved about. Plus, the price was right. I had a gift certificate leftover on amazon.com so it cost me all of $5! Woohoo. I'm going to break it out of its box and test it around my house over the next few days.

Although true to form, I already hear a little voice whining in my head, "Do I really HAVE to read the manual?"

Crazy Crochet Class - December 10th!

With the help of my North End co-conspirators, Nancy & Sherri at the Arthouse Mosaic Studio, I'm offering a Crazy Crochet class on Thursday, Dec. 10th from 6 - 9:00.

Let your creativity explode! Crazy Crochet is fun, fast & fabulously funky. This is NOT your grandmother's crocheting...no worries about reading complicated patterns, counting stitches, or making edges line up...in other words, no stress!

You'll learn how to combine yarns and fibers in colors and textures that blend or contrast. Get wild & wacky with it, mix thick and thin yarns with smooth and textured yarn.

Class fee is $45. A variety of luscious yarns and fibers included in class fee.

Supplies: Bring any yarn you'd like to use, scissors, a few crochet hooks of various sizes (between Size H and N).

To register: Call Arthouse Mosaic Studio at 206.372.7531 or email pestkaca@yahoo.com.

Directions to Arthouse Mosaic Studio, 621 NW Richmond Beach Rd (above 20 minutes north of Seattle)

From I-5 N, take the 175th street exit and go left, make a right onto Aurora, then a left onto 185th Street (which becomes Richmond Beach Road) for 1 mile, then make a left into the mini mall behind the 76 gas station.