Looking back on 2013

As I do every year, I'm looking back at the best moments of 2013.  I usually do this review on the 31st, but I want to post my calendar that day.  And since tomorrow is T day, now is the only time I can look back.  And this year I've included links to each post or artwork I mention.  That way you can look back and see anything you might have missed.  Be aware each link opens in a new window.

January
I began the year on a sour note.  It seems I had managed to approve an "add-on" to Firefox that didn't allow me to see any links.  I also couldn't comment on any blogs with embedded text.  I spent most of my time trying everything I knew (and didn't know) to get what I thought was a virus off my computer.  As a result, I had a very unproductive month, both with art and blogging.

One of the few collaborations I was able to join was Darcy's ARC (or Artful Readers Club).  Had it not been for her adding my link for several months, I wouldn't have been able to join.  This is what I made for the first ARC meeting.  The totally useless book I reviewed is shown in the background.  And although I sewed and completed many, many, many scrappy journal pages over the rest of the year, this is the first of only two scrappy books I completed in 2013.

February
I didn't accomplish much in February, either.  But I managed to celebrate Chinese New Year with

this Year of the Snake wall hanging that actually started as a quiltlet, then grew too large to be anything other than a whole cloth wall hanging.  I provided one step out photo, too.

Because my camera took such lousy photos, I'm also including one close up.

For Valentine's Day, I created a wall hanging or flag for a male friend who had  just gotten out of the hospital.  I documented how I made it, too.  BTW, 2013's word was DOCUMENT.

March
At the beginning of March, I returned to my 7 Continents altered book, which I believe possibly holds a world record for procrastination and AB UFOs.

This page is called "The Americans."  I document how I made the page here, and I explain all the symbolism.

I'm sure some of you remember the 22 inches of snow Bleubeard and I shoveled out from under last March, and when I did, I created snow dyed fabric.

Some of this fabric should look familiar, since I recently used it on the back of two quiltlets I made for Christmas gifts.  As I explain with ALL my projects, I don't always have an immediate use for things I make, but there comes a time when they'll be the perfect addition to whatever I'm making.

I love celebrating holidays and

St. Patrick's Day was no different.

This is the only other scrappy journal I made in 2013.  It was made for my ARC entry for March.  Here you see the spine area and the front of the journal.

April
April was filled with projects that focused on recycling, reusing, rethinking, repurposing, and respecting the planet.  From the first day of the month until my bEARTHday on the 22nd, I focused on projects that would help keep items some consider trash out of the landfill.

I started the month by recycling some mica powders I've never used and turned them into my own shimmering mists.

Because it was a month for recycling, I interviewed my dear friend Halle of Halle's Hobbies.  This was a great project and I'm glad Halle watermarks her photos, because I've had several people tell me they had seen it on Pinterest pinned from MY blog.

Although I made this during Earth Month for monoprinting on fabric, I can see using it when I begin playing with my new Gelli plate.

This was the first of two journals I made from recycled greeting cards.  I found tutorials on YouTube, but ended up making them different putting my own spin on them.
 I made this recycled book from paper bags silverware was served in from a restaurant.  I tucked it inside the second journal I made from greeting cards.

Another favorite that many appreciated was this post showing how to save seeds from year to year, or get them ready to plant in the spring garden.

One of my favorite projects in April was this piece I made from a cracker box using joint compound and paint I got at the county's Household Hazardous Waste Swap and Shop.  I documented all the details, too.

I created this fabric collage for my bEARTHday, 2013.  You can read all about it here, and see some of the pieces I've made with recylced materials I kept out of the landfill.

And of course, I can't leave Bleubeard (my "better half") out this month, even though he's barely awake in this photo.

May

Early in the month, my friend Sally and I attended an art and craft show.  I fell in love with these paintings, with a special nod to The Wizard of Oz, since I live in Kansas.

Late in May, I interviewed my friend Dianne at Art Beneath the Cottonwoods.

This may not look like art to some, but my garden is always a big part of my blog each year.  Thankfully, my friend Scott came by to help get the pots ready.

I honored Memorial Day with this piece I called In Flanders Fields.

June
I joined two collaborations in June, that consumed most of my time.

One was ICAD, or Index Card A Day, and the other was

Summer of Color, or SOC.  These were spread over many days, so I didn't bother leaving links.

July
July was all about ICADs.

August
August had me scrounging for flowers to use in my mandalas.

It was also at that time I started a new altered book that had no theme.  The first entry was my interpretation of the statistical anomaly known as Black Swans.

September
September brought Museum Day, and my friend

Sally and I traveled to another city and took in two museums.

October
October wouldn't be complete without Halloween.

In that spirit, I created a few Halloween cards.

November
November was Art Every Day Month or AEDM.  I tried to make a wide variety of things,

including my latest colographic plate,

a spread honoring Thanksgiving in my Collage altered book,

and a fabric piece I originally planned to turn into a quiltlet.

December I wrapped Christmas gifts I made

and created a page in my Collage AB welcoming winter. 

I also gave my friends a tour of my home after I decorated for Christmas. 

I hope you enjoyed this look back at 2013 on my blog.  I'll be back after the new year with a look back at my predictions for 2013.  It's my way of showing accountability.  And if you made it this far, I applaud you!