Ringing out the old with accountability

As this year winds down to its last few hours, I now must be accountable for the goals I set last year on this day. Last year I had high hopes that I had set only doable goals. In looking back over these, I was shocked to see how many I had not fulfilled. Here is the list I shared on January 1 last year, and here are the results of my efforts. My resolutions are in black, and their outcome in green.

1. Finish my Hands AB and create a blog specifically for it.

I realize I've gotten a bit further than this, but I still haven't put this book to bed, so to speak. Every so often, I pull it out and work on it, and plan to until I have used all the pages. I must declare this one an unfulfilled project, some might call an unfinished project (object) or UFO.

2. Finish my altered recipe mini-AB and possibly create a blog for it. I say possibly because it all depends on how many pages end up in the book and if it deserves its own blog.

This was a blank book gift from Christmas, 2008. I have stopped and started this one so many times, it isn't funny. I'm trying to learn more about how to integrate art with recipes, something I find very difficult to achieve. This may be my favorite layout, and it was the second one I created in the book. This also goes into my UFO pile.

3. Make at least one assemblage or collage a week, with a show in mind.

I started the year on a roll. In fact, by mid to late January, I had made 10 collages and 2 art quilts (quiltlets) for the One World One Heart (OWOH) massive world-wide blog hop I participated in again this year. Things seem to have gone downhill after that, even though lately I've been participating in a weekly challenge at Inspiration Avenue and I have been sewing journal pages nearly every day.

4. Sell my first art piece.
Again this year, it didn't happen. But at least I'm closer this year than before. I actually have something to sell, if I ever put it out there. I know buyers don't come to my doorstep, so I'm in the process of researching the best way to market my art. And I still don't have enough art to have a local show, which requires at least 20 pieces.

5. Post to my blog every day, even though some posts may seem trivial. Use the blog as a document of my art, the materials I used, etc.
For the second year in a row, I have posted every day. I hope to show better art next year, though.

6. Be more involved in the "Create Every Day" prompts.
I can't seem to follow prompts. I have trouble when I have to stick to someone else's theme. I know that makes it difficult to create good art when I'm in swaps, but I learned that about me this year. However, if I fit the prompt to the post, I'm sure there are posts each month that would fit perfectly within the theme. Like everything else, though, I don't seem to add my link when I should. For that I apologize to all of you I met during Art Every Day Month.


I have signed up again to participate next year, too. I thought I was late signing into WOYWW at times, but I'm 160 on Leah's blog linky. To sign up, grab a 2011 badge, and join too. There's no stress and no commitments.

7. Continue visiting the Xerox site (link on my sidebar under "Eye candy and Freebies") and sending postcard support to our troops. See this post for the specifics.
I missed a few days of this project during August and October, but have tried to click every day. I even considered writing a "reminder" post around Thanksgiving. However, I got distracted and not only forgot to remind people about the link, I also forgot to click on it after being stretched so thin between Halloween and Christmas. However, I am now clicking again. I hope you will, too.

8. Contemplate (because I'm not sure if it's possible since I have much to research) teaching another on-line class, but this time get paid for it.
I started looking into doing this early in the year, and decided I needed a good camera that takes video before I can even consider teaching anything online.

9. Use more fabric in my art, including that which I have dyed or painted.
YEA!! One goal I don't mind being accountable for and saying I achieved.

Yes, I'm doing more and more fabric oriented art, and finishing more fabric oriented projects.

10. Get/make a new blog banner that portrays my artistic sensibilities.
My blog got a makeover earlier this year, but my blog banner or header as some call it,

has nothing to do with altered books or altered art, only my cat, who everyone seems to love when he joins a post.

11. Play with a different technique (maybe even more than one) each month, then document it on my blog. Some techniques I hope to either learn or expand on are:

a. Gelatin monoprinting
b. Papermaking
c. Stamp making (and not the potato stamps like I've made in the past)
d. Become friendly with my Dremel
e. Nature printing
f. Use rubber stamps in my art
g. Mat my art using my mat cutter
h. Make my own frames using my miter saw
i. Make my first mosaic
j. Work with resin
k. Solder
l. Make useful art in Photoshop
m. Take better photos with this new camera

If you notice, I have played with several new techniques this year, played with some new materials thanks to "Totally Tutorials," and written a few tutorials. I will continue to write at least one new tutorial each month, even if it's a mini-tutorial. And, you'll be able to access my full tutorials on the Tutorials page located at the top of this blog. Once again, I believe in the adage "learn it, do it, teach it."

Sadly, my photography skills are no better than they were. If anything, they have degraded. When I handed my friend Scott the camera he gave me for my birthday, so he could take some photos at Christmas, he said, "This camera takes lousy photos. Why do you think I gave it to you?" So even though I have always considered myself to be a decent photographer, I truly believe I need a better camera before I will ever get any quality indoor shots.

And finally:
12. Visit one new blog each day and leave a comment. Who knows? I might make a long term friend that way and I'm sure I'll become exposed to new and unique art!!
This is one thing I have done, and possibly the reason I have made so little art in 2010. Although I am simply thrilled by all the wonderful artists I have met and whose lives I still interact with, I find I spend more time on the computer than anything else. Therefore, my January 1 post will include my final blog pick of the day. And in case you want a hint as to who it will be, all I have to say is, it is a friend who has influenced my art, my blog, and my participation in challenges more than anyone I have met in blogland. Guesses are always welcome today only.

So how did I do in 2010? Better in some areas, not so well in others. However, I hope that tomorrow's post, where I become accountable for 2011 resolutions will be realistic and show that I truly intend to keep my goals/resolutions realistic so I can truly be accountable to each and every one on December 31, 2011.

My word for the year was Inspire. I hope in some way, I was able to inspire you, because I've actually inspired myself at times. And I know you have certainly inspired me. Inspired me to keep going, even when I wanted to quit. Inspired me to meet challenges and deadlines because someone was counting on me. Inspired me to expand and grow. Inspired me to be a better person and artist. And for that, I thank all of you beyond what words can express.

And now it's time to wish you, my loyal readers, followers, and inspirations, a safe and happy New Year.

How I spent the warmest day of December and Day 6 of the 12 Days of Christmas swap

Yesterday was the warmest day of December. It was 65 degrees F (~19 degrees C) and I put on shorts and a sleeveless top and cleaned my house and got rid of the Christmas decorations. The only "Christmas" left are the 12 Days packages I still haven't opened, which you can see in the basket below.


Now tidy is one thing, clean is another.


I first got rid of all the Christmas goodies. You should have seen my kitchen table while I was packing things away. I used it as a staging area where all things Christmas went to be packed up.


I dusted,

I polished the wood furniture (boy do I have a lot of wood furniture),


I vacuumed (or Hoovered, if you live in the UK),


I even cleaned the ceiling fan and sanitized the garbage disposal! Then I checked my mail.


What an awesome surprise gift I got from Kayla, my dear teen friend.


This is Kayla's page,
and here it is up close. However, she has much better photos of it on her blog post here. What an absolutely PERFECT way to be rewarded after spending the day cleaning.

Fast forward twenty-four hours or so, and today is the final day of 2010. I am actually looking forward to 2011. But before we get there, it's time to open our Day 6 art square.

Day 6's package came wrapped in shimmery hand painted paper and was tied with ribbon and a tag. The tag proudly proclaimed this gift was from Amy McDonald. I love her stylized writing on both the tag and the back of the art square.


Amy's swan, depicting six swans a swimming, is full of detail and texture. I wish you could run your hands over this one, because the texture is simply wonderful. Amy added sheet music to the handmade background, too.

Today's blog goes to Amy on the Flipside. Amy has a fun sense of humor, and many of her posts will have you laughing at her mishaps, which she documents for you. Her blog banner begins the fun, and it doesn't stop there. If you want a bit of humor along with unique art, please visit Amy on the Flipside whose package I opened today.

I'll be back this evening to document how well I did on my New Year's resolutions I made on January 1. Until then, how are you spending this last day of 2010?

12 Days of Christmas swap, Day 5 and two giveaways

Before I open today's package, I want to let everyone of my readers and followers know about two wonderful giveaways being offered in blogland. Just like every other giveaway I tell you about, neither of these come with any strings attached.

Because Patty's giveaway ends first, I'll list it first. Her New Year's Giveaway includes so many goodies I'd be here all day. So please stop by Patty's Magpie's Nest and enter for a chance to win all these goodies by January 6. And just to be clear, here is what Patty wrote:

all are welcome to join in…near or far…even if you’ve won something here before…no need to have a blog to play along…just be sure I have a way of contacting you…

The other giveaway is given by Marilyn Rock who is offering one of the most beautiful mixed media pieces I've seen. Everything about this piece screams "lovely." Per Marilyn's instructions, "all you have to do is comment here . . ." so hop on over and enter for your chance to win.

Good luck to all who enter these awesome giveaways. Now let's open some packages!

My UK friends would call this day 6, but we started opening our gifts on December 26, so we will complete the swap on January 6, which is Epiphany.


Day 5 is wrapped in tissue and there's a matching gift for me (as the host). This one is from Marilyn, who lives in Australia. Again, I don't believe Marilyn has a blog.


This is one lovely piece that my camera simply cannot pick up the detail on. The five golden rings and hearts rest on some lovely raised paper that has been swiped with gold ink or possibly paint. I swear this is a beautiful and detailed piece and I was unable to capture the depth, detail, and design. This is Marilyn's first time swapping with me, and I am totally impressed with her art. Additionally, hers was the package that had the furthest to travel.


Marilyn sent everyone a gift, too. Isn't that a cute little clothes pin? She explained to me that she got these in Australia and they don't make them anymore. Along with that, are three bunches of hand dyed ribbons. I probably should have untied them so you could see how lovely they are, but hindsight is always 20/20.

I stand corrected about a statement I made regarding yesterday's post. Michelle, who made the awesome hybrid art square I had so much trouble photographing, has a blog called Ponderings of a Mind. PLEASE, please visit Michelle's blog because her photographs are stunning and so detailed. Not only that, she writes lovely reviews of each of the art squares after she unwraps them. But that is not the only reason to visit Michelle's blog. She has some lovely pieces made for challenges like the Three Muses, Mixed Media Monday, Wednesday Stamper, Sunday Postcard Art, and Art on the Darkside. She draws, sketches, paints, collages, and makes digital art. I am only sorry I just now learned of Michelle's blog, because I will be visiting often. I hope you will stop by Michelle's Ponderings of a Mind if for no other reason to check out the lovely 12 Days gifts that are photographed so stunningly.

12 Days of Christmas swap, Days Three and Four

Today I'm playing catch up, something I've been doing for over a month, it seems.

This lovely package was made by Penny, who was also in the first 12 Days of Christmas group. This was her first ever swap and I think she did an excellent job. The little foam tree is raised on the tag, with the number on the tag back.


Inside was this lovely art square depicting Three French Hens. Penny made a hidden pocket which held a tag.


When it was removed, the tag represented the three beliefs that the hens symbolize. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get a decent photo of the writing on the back that explained this symbolism.


Day Four was wrapped in a brown paper bag by Michelle, another first time swapper with me. As cliche as that sounds, this bag was stamped and decorated to perfection


on both sides, even!


This beautiful art square was difficult to photograph, since it was a hybrid collage (mostly digital, some traditional elements). I only wish you could see this stunning beauty in real life.

EDITED: After finding Michelle's blog, I read that she used one of her own photos as the base of this piece. Also, according to Michelle:

I then digitally altered it by using filters along with a sepia tone. It was printed on white card stock paper and then to create an aged look around the left-hand edge, I used brown water color paint and let it run.
For the hanging 4, I used a 1" circular paper punch and punched out several pieces from decorative scrapbook paper. I then used the same 1" paper punch on white card stock paper, stamped the 4, cut around it, then used the Chocolate Brown colored stamping ink on the edges and then lightly pressed over the 4 to give it more of an aged look. The 4 was then glued onto the 1" circle and a needle was used to puncture a hole and run the metallic copper thread through and tied. I then punched two holes into the actual art piece and pulled the metallic thread through, taping it to the back. It was then finished off with bronze mini-brads. For the final touch, I ran the fuzzy black yarn down the side and taped it to the back. The back was then covered with 5"x5" white card stock and black stamping ink was used on the edges and around the writing which explained my interpretation of the Four Calling Birds.
This is what I wrote:
During the holiday season, many people stay busy visiting with family and friends. I am from the southern United States and grew up hearing my elder ancestors say they were "going calling" or "going to call on someone." This phrase meant they were going to visit someone. Hence, my interpretation of the Four Calling (Visiting) Birds.

To my knowledge, Michelle doesn't have a blog, and Penny is the one who I'm going to help put a blog together once my life settles a bit (like 2024 or so). However, I hope you enjoy their art. This is one awesome swap and these are two stunning examples of the quality of art that has come out of it.

What's On Your Workdesk this last Wednesday in 2010?

Bleubeard waited all day for me to take a photo of my desk because he knew Ms. Dunnit (aka Julia to her friends), was going to be throwing another huge blog party on Wednesday. And it would be the final one for 2010, so he didn't want to miss out on the party or the links kept at Stamping Ground. After all, he didn't get to tell most people hi last week because I was gone from Wednesday through Sunday, although I actually got back to Wichita on Saturday.

He knows it won't be long until I remove the Christmas decorations and return them to their proper home in the basement.

Even though it wasn't time to photograph my desk, Bleubeard continued to prod me into showing it. After all, most of his European, Australian, and Asian friends are asleep right now.


So here I am with a really boring desk this week. Actually I'm getting ready to start a new project. I've finished putting my gifts and Boxing Day purchases away, and the only tools on my desk are those punches I borrowed from my friend Kathy several weeks ago. And no, I haven't punched a single circle yet! But it looks like I need to clean that black turntable on my desk since it seems to have become a junk magnet rather than a tool holder.

However, I am really excited to show one of my Christmas gifts. It came from my friend Scott's parents (whose home I visited most of last week, and who I later learned didn't have internet, except through a cell phone).


I had to take a closer photo because I'm so proud of this rocking deer. It is truly unique and will be a welcome addition to my rocking horse/animal collection. It stands about 9" tall and I didn't measure the width. It is gorgeous silver and weighs a ton. OK, maybe not a ton, but it's heavy.

I hope each of you has a marvelous New Year, filled with love, warmth, and happiness. Be safe, don't drink in excess, and ring in 2011 surrounded by friends and family you love. And whatever you do, don't forget to kiss your children and pets. It will start the new year out right and confuse the heck out of them.

Today's blog belongs to Angela at Toucan Scraps. Angela is a long time WOYWWer who lives in England. Angela is a digital artist and scrapbooker. She also creates lovely hybrid scrapbook pages, and owns a digital design company, also called Toucan Scraps. Angela even gets her children involved in crafting, and the fun never ceases when the kids get busy making art. Angela has the perfect blog to end the year on. So, I hope you visit Angela at Toucan Scraps today.

This will be my final blog I feature on Wednesday. No, I'm not leaving WOYWW, I'm just not going to feature a blog every day after January 1, 2011. So Angela gets the final honors.

Another gift from far away

If you are here looking for my Tea Tuesday post, just scroll down. If you are here looking for today's 12 Days of Christmas Swap photos, I apologize. I have not had time to open, photograph, and download the gift. I will show two tomorrow, though, so everyone is caught up.


This package came all the way from Canada, but I think it was brought here by Mounties. This is the second time I've gotten mail from Canada that took much longer than it should have. However, the good news is, I had it waiting for me when I returned home at Christmas.


What I found inside was a lovely package wrapped in feminine lace and tied to a rocking horse tree ornament. I know my photos aren't the best, but this shiny ornament is in 3 layers. I have two others, and I now have a third that I can add to it and make a real collection piece. Thank you dear Annette. Yes, this is from my dear friend Annette, who I met on WOYWW and became instant friends with, especially after her move to Canada from Saudi Arabia. It all started when I began teasing her about coming to play in her new scrap room. It is to die for, so I hope you'll check it out. OK, enough blabbering. What's in the package and that HUGE envelope?


First, the most awesome card made in the form of a tree, and second, a book for storing ATCs, in which several of the pockets were already filled.

Although Annette sent me several photos of the ATC book, I snagged this photo from her blog. Her camera is much nicer than mine, and it shows more of these lovely trees she made. The size is big, and

this one is all mine (and Bleubeard's).



I know my picture doesn't do it justice, but how much more personal can it get? Annette signed it from herself, Pandy (Pandora) and Tom-Tom, both cats she rescued in Saudi Arabia and brought with her when she and her husband moved to his latest assignment in Canada.


I let Bleubeard read it, and he was delighted. I think he has a crush on Pandora! If you want to know more about these darling fur babies Annette and her husband took on, you should read Pandora's book, a combined journal and scrapbook. You will be laughing one minute, crying the next.


Also part of the gift was this lovely ATC book. Look at all that bling and detail. This photo is Annette's, so please be respectful and don't copy it.

I seem to do better with close-ups and the "BE" stands for Bleubeard and Elizabeth. Everything was absolutely perfect, right down to the copper chain links!


Annette made a series of ATCs, and was willing to trade them. Fortunately, I got one before the others were spoken for. Again, this photo and the two remaining ones belong to Annette. Thanks for allowing me to use them, Annette. They are so much better than the 60 or so I took.


Here is the lovely Time ATC, the one on the far left in the photo above as it looks inside my new ATC book.


The richness of detail in each of these is amazing. The book is so well constructed, even sporting metal corner protectors. And each page is preceded by an ATC legend with stamped or decorated papers on the front, and this stamp on the reverse.

Annette provided a mini tutorial on her blog showing how the above ATC and tags were made. Words cannot describe how delighted I was to have received some of Annette's incredible art. Thank you beyond words, Annette. What a perfect Christmas gift.

I hope you will visit Annette today or tomorrow, tell her hi, and take a peek at her new craft room and her adorable Pandora and Tom-Tom. I promise, these two get into more funny situations than Bleubeard. They will have you rolling on the floor with laughter at their antics.

Now I must get to my friend's house with her gift. I can't believe how long it has taken me to prepare this post!

New Year's Tea

It's nearly time to ring out the old and ring in the new. What better way than to share it with Kimmie and all my Tea Tuesday friends. You can join, too. Since I still had my Holly glasses unpacked, I thought I would use them at least once more.


Today I'm serving eggnog in the same carafe I made sun tea in this summer. One of these days, I'll actually use this carafe for its intended use, using a tea light or sterno container to keep the liquid warm. However, eggnog, which I vowed I wouldn't make ever again, is usually served chilled and my vow has been broken.

I remembered making eggnog years ago and it took half a day to make it. However, I couldn't find the recipe I used in any of my cookbooks. I'm glad too, because I went on the internet and found one much easier and quicker.

There are tons of eggnog recipes on the internet, but the majority use raw eggs. I know! I ate raw eggs as a child when I "licked the batter bowl," but that exposure was minuscule compared to using six or eight eggs in a drink recipe. So here is the rexipe I used when I made this yesterday. I actually doubled it, since I'll be taking some to a friend this afternoon:

Ingredients:

• 8 egg yolks
• 2/3 cup sugar, plus 2 tablespoons
• 1/2 quart whole milk
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 6 ounces bourbon (optional)
  
• 1 tablespoon freshly grated nutmeg
  
• 8 egg whites

Before we begin, I want to say I'm a non-alcohol drinker, so there is no alcohol in this recipe. However, I simply skipped the alcohol and it tastes as wonderful without the bourbon. You are more than welcome to add some when you visit me. I may even have some in my liquor cabinet left here by visiting friends. I don't have anything against it, I just don't care for the taste (and occasionally the smell) of any alcoholic beverage.

Instructions:

Beat egg yolks using a mixer until they lighten in color. This took about 5 minutes using my mixer. Gradually add 2/3 cup sugar and continue to beat until it is completely dissolved. Set aside.

In a medium saucepan, over high heat, combine the milk, heavy cream, and nutmeg. Bring just to a boil, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and gradually temper the hot mixture into the egg and sugar mixture. Then return everything to one pot and cook until the mixture reaches 160 degrees F (71.1 C). Remove from the heat, stir in the bourbon if using it, pour into a medium mixing bowl, and set in the refrigerator to chill.

In a medium mixing bowl, beat the egg whites to soft peaks. With the mixer running gradually add 2 tablespoons of sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. Fold, then whisk the egg whites into the chilled mixture. Serve cold.

Add noisemakers and count down the timer to New Year's Day.


Today I'm visiting a friend whose gift I hope will finally be finished. As you can see, I've just added the embellishments to the quiltlet. I still need to wrap the stick and add either wire or ribbon I'll be using for the hanger. I felt this piece was disjointed and not exactly cohesive, but I tried all kinds of arrangements and this seemed to be the least disorganized (did I mention that composition is my downfall?). This is for a friend's new sewing room. I hope she likes it because altered art isn't exactly her thing. Next time I make something similar using old book pages, I'm going to follow Dianne's lead (see her fabric collage in my previous post) and coat the paper in matte or gloss medium.

Today marks my final Tea Tuesday blog. I was certain I had featured Nathalie when she first joined our little tea group, but a search of my blog shows that was not the case. So today I am pleased to introduce our latest Tea Tuesday player, Nathalie Thompson from An Artist's Legacy. Nathalie introduced me to the concept of orphan and widowed tea cups and saucers, and it opened my eyes to endless possibilities. Her blog is filled with art made from old thrift store and garage sale finds. And it is AWESOME art, too. Of course, she adds a few rubber stamps and some hand stitching to the mix, but most of her art comes from the same places mine comes from: other folks' cast-offs. I love what she makes, and of course, if you love it, she has an etsy store where you can buy some of her art. I hope you'll stop by and visit Nathalie today. An Artist's Legacy is well worth the visit.

Gifts from far and near

I have received so many gifts these past few weeks and if I don't get them on my blog soon, people are going to think I'm ungrateful. The first gift is from Donna. Her gift was mailed to me on November 13, about the time I was working on the replacements for the first 12 Days swap. At the time, I would not have appreciated the lovely things I found on Christmas day when I finally opened the gift.


I had to laugh at the note Donna sent about the canvas tote. She said she sent it to the trash in disgust, but maybe I could do something with it. I looked it over and fell in love with it. I didn't even notice the bit of bleeding on one of the leaves until I had looked it over several times and had finished photographing everything. I have some ideas how to fix it.

Donna also sent me a phone book full of dried ginkgo leaves. I admired them on her blog and she said she would dry some for me. Little did I know I would get so many. I'm totally thrilled.

And to top it all off, I got True Colors wrapped in some wonderful wrapping paper I used in my art the last time she sent some. I can't wait to start reading this one. Along with Donna being a generous friend, she is also a wonderful artist. She draws, she paints, she makes awesome altered art. I hope you'll stop by and say hi to her at Findings Art.


The next gift came from my friend Halle. Halle and I often talk on the phone, and Halle told me she would make a pattern for my art journal covers after I whined to her about all the troubles I was having with them. Not only did she do that, she also made two completed covers all ready to assemble some of my pages into. What a joy! Halle said she didn't really think of this as a Christmas gift, but just sent me things she knew I could use. Included in the bounty is a fabric remnant, three boxes of old fashioned slide mounts, some mailing stickers, book pages, hair ties to be used for book cover ties, and postcards from South America. I will use these postcards in my Seven Continents altered book. Included in the package was a lovely photo of Halle and her family, but I won't show that because she and her hubby don't show the kids' faces or names on their blogs. Many of you probably know Halle because she 's been in the Project Dress Up and is a regular Tea Tuesday participant. I hope you'll stop by and say hi to Halle, too.


Next came a package decorated to the nines. You may have seen the lovely angel gracing the front of this package in an earlier post, and the back is equally beautiful with a hand drawn face by Dianne.


I received one of Dianne's drop dead gorgeous hand sewn, beaded, and decorated fabric collages. She put a few more on her blog, too.


Dianne is both an artist and a seamstress. Her journals are filled with her paintings and sketches. Her hand sewing is gorgeous. The above is a tiny example of her talents. I hope you will stop by Dianne at Art Beneath the Cottonwoods, too.


And finally (although I have two more packages to open and show you), these rubber stamps came from Sue at Scoopy's Stuff. Sue is a fellow WOYWWer and a dear person. She recently had a giveaway and out of 64 entrants, I won. Now I need to learn how to stamp!


And Sue made me this funny card to go with my prize. In case you can't read the sentiment, it reads "All I want for Christmas is Santa's naughty boy list." I got a big laugh out of that one. Sue is a stamper and card maker. If you want to see more of Sue's cards, please stop by Scoopy's Stuff and say hi.

Tomorrow I'll share another gift I received when I got home for Christmas. I can't wait to show you! Have a super evening, too.