Christmas countdowns and Sunday's blog pick

I admit, I'm procrastinating. I even decided to change the name of the 12 Days of Christmas swap to the Christmas countdown swap, since Group 2 will open their gifts on the "traditional" 12 Days of Christmas from Dec. 26 through January 6.


Let's check out a jewelry box. This is the outside of box 19. It looks like I need to stick the "9" down a bit better. I combined it, a vinyl sticker, with a strip from a Hershey's kiss tag to complete today's number.


Inside is a slide mount with the slide inside that I painted and drew small dots on using a gold leafing pen. The tiny clothes pins look huge when photographed up close.


It just goes to show how deceiving a photograph can be. These clothes pins are barely an inch long.


I got up early while it was still quite dark out to photograph this box, but simply could not continue. Instead, I went back to bed, not willing or able to face what was inside.


However, as the clock ticked away and I knew I had to face the inevitable, since, as the host, I was responsible for adding this to our Yahoo group folder, I finally removed the ribbon from the box that my dear departed friend Gina Wise had lovingly made barely a month ago. Gina told me in an e-mail that she spent an insane amount of time making the little boxes to house the gifts.


When I opened the box, I found a tissue wrapped gift that I wept over. Look at this beauty. Seven swans could never be more perfectly represented than Gina's lovely art square. A hand cut, collaged, and crowned swan sat in a pool of water made from HVAC tape colored with alcohol inks.


The background was one Gina often used, and although she always made it look easy, there were many steps to the technique she learned in a Somerset article a year or so ago. For even more interest, Gina added fibers and seven lovely colored rings to the fibers.


And although I said I wouldn't show the backs of these squares because they contained personal information, there is nothing here to divulge anything personal, other than Gina's name. The back discloses information about the origins of the original verse that we based this swap on. This was pure Gina, a lovely piece full of color and detail. Once again, I celebrate her art and will treasure this forever.

To lighten the mood (my mood), I have chosen an artist who was even able to put a smile on my face today. Alison Foshee makes gorgeous art out of disposable items such as push pins and staples. Although I found Alison's site by typing in "recycled," I don't call her art recycled or found object art. She uses ordinary, everyday items to make extraordinary art. I was blown away by the cypress branch and maple leaf she made from staples. So, if you like repetition in art, use of common place objects, and a bit of recyclables thrown in, be sure to check out Alison Foshee today.

And a few words about my Silent Sunday post: be sure to click on the photos, because I saved them very large so you could see all the lovely details of this place. They will come up large in your window, so to see the full picture, you will need to click once for a screen sized view and twice to see lots of detail.

Advent Calendar Day Eighteen and 12 Days of Christmas, Day 6

It's Saturday and I know many of you are busy planning for next Saturday's festivities. I'm going to try to be brief, an oxymoron if I ever wrote one!


When opened, today's box revealed a piece of tape measure, some snaps, and a heart shaped button. I think it looks like a well stocked sewing box! Here it is surrounded by a few of its neighbors, since it was the only decent photo I could get. It seems like the older box contents show better this way, too.


Day Six is the second set of art squares I made when one of the players failed to fulfill her part. This one I wrapped using the paper instructions found in dressmaker pattern envelopes. I was able to get two packages from each set of instructions. I used some Disney tape to hold the package together and the hand painted file folder in place.


This one is mine. I used both green and red painted papers for the file folders I cut using my friend Kathy's Sizzex die, then


hand wrote the day inside.


You should click on this photo to get the complete picture of the one goose made to represent "Six Geese a Laying." This art square took a long time to make, since there was a lot of drying time at every stage of the process. I made a template for the geese while the background of watered down fluid acrylic paint, to which I added mica chips, was drying. I also cut a "wing" template, since I am a horrible drawer/sketcher. I was so looking forward to Gina Wise, my friend who died recently (and Day 7 player), to see this one, because the geese were made using some anaglyptus (textured wallpaper) she sent me in a swap last year. I was going to try to make a big six to layer behind the goose, because I thought the goose image looked a bit like a six, but that was more than my drawing skills could handle, so I used a vinyl number I painted gold using my Krylon gold leafing pen.


The nest took forever to dry, because I gathered many of my leftover threads and tiny fabric bits I had saved to make this (have I mentioned I save EVERYTHING?). It warped the paper a bit, but sometimes that can't be helped and it's just an artifact of altered art. I used white PVA Elmer's glue to hold the nest together as I shaped the bits and bobs into something recognizable. Before I forget, I used 90 lb cold pressed watercolor paper for the substrate. I used cold pressed because I like the subtle texture it created.

Today's blog is Connie, who was the feature 12 Days of Christmas artist yesterday. Her picture trail site, Connie's Creations is full of altered art, including collage, ATCs, altered books, art journals, jewelry, and fabric art. She is multi-talented and you'll spend a lot of time exploring her site and reading about her art. If that doesn't pique your interest, visit long enough to see her incredible studio and all the tips she has for a studio found in a tiny space. Connie's Creations should be on your list of places to visit today.

12 Days of Christmas (group 1), Day 5

It was still dark-thirty when I took these photos. So the lighting wasn't good, and neither were my photos. I hope you can tell what attention to detail Connie put into this art square packaging. When I first felt it, I thought it was cloth. When I opened it, I realized it was a thick napkin. The package was tied with a gossamer ribbon and a tag with the number 5 and background stamped on it.


Isn't she a beauty? Five golden rings are tied to the square with more gossamer ribbon. The decorated square includes an arch, butterfly, and little girl, along with lots of stamping on the really sparkly canvas paper background. Connie explained to our group that the glitter glue and gesso were added after all the stamping was completed because it's hard to stamp on glitter. I love the colors in this one, as well as her tips for keeping the page flat by painting both sides at the same time. Connie doesn't have a blog, but has a picture trail site.


And as an update, remember this one from Day 3? It's a lovely package, right? I keep saying I have willpower when it comes to leaving packages wrapped,


so imagine my surprise when I saw the package opened on our Yahoo group yesterday. Yep, the package has a gift inside. Isn't this clever? Thank you again, Jeanene. Have a lovely Friday and great weekend, everyone.

Advent Calendar Day Seventeen

This is one of those days I couldn't get a decent shot of anything. The number 17 is represented by a bottle cap that I decorated/filled with a piece of silver solder and a piece of copper wire.


Today's box opened to a piece of golfer related ribbon and a golf tee.


They were the perfect fit for Day 17's box.

It's no secret that I will use just about anything in my art. Found objects and trash are my friends. So, it's only appropriate that today I would feature a New Jersey (in the US) artist who works with discarded objects and turns them into gorgeous pieces of art. Michelle Renee Bernard is that artist. Her art speaks to me, as does her philosophy of turning Yesterday's Trash, the name of her site, into beautiful objects of art. Whether you enjoy doll art, jewelry, collage, mixed media, or assemblage, you will fall in love with Michelle's art and her philosophy. Yesterday's Trash is one site that should not be missed.

Advent Calendar Day Sixteen

It seems nearly impossible that today is the 16th of December. But here we are, ready to open the box marked 16.


Sixteen is represented by a lite brite stick and one of those glow in the dark numbers that I added red ink to. The ink is pretty subtle, but you can see it in the close-up.


Inside the box are a photo of a cigar box lid, a miniature cigar box label made for scrapbooks, and two actual cigar bands.


This photo shows some of the texture,


and although it's not the best photo in the world, here is the entire box.

My blog artist of the day is that of Raymond Papka. Now I've made altered books, but these are nothing like I've ever made. These are stunning works of gallery quality art incorporating books he alters into mixed media pieces along with other found objects. I like everything about these assemblages from composition to color choices. He often exhibits with his wife, Gretchen. They live in Kentucky in the US. So drop by and be amazed at the altered book and painted assemblages of Raymond Papka today.

12 Days of Christmas, Day 4

I didn't have to wait for the sun to come up today to get a photo of this one. This is the first of the art squares I made for Group 1's 12 Days of Christmas swap when two people failed to fulfill their obligations. Looks like you are going to have to click on these to get the whole picture. I thought I had sized them properly, but apparently not. It also looks like I really need to clean my scanner after I took a scan of a piece that had holographic glitter that wasn't completely glued down. I'll just say the background is Christmas festive and leave it at that.

I made my packaging at the same time I made the backgrounds to the cards. I diluted the Staz-on re-inkers with more 91% alcohol and actually made these with "watered down" alcohol after I made the squares backgrounds. I punched a circle from a MS punch and wrote the number 4, then sewed the computer generated text and number to the page. After that, I folded the paper in half and sewed the three edges. I left strings so the page could be opened by pulling easily.

I used every Staz-on re-inker color I own, except black, to make the colorful background. Luckily I had the bird stamp, so I used it to represent the four birds. I punched a bunch of music notes and attached them to the card, then added a reflective number to the bottom of the card. I kept the stamp, notes, and number in black and white to contrast the colorful background. I hope my fellow artists/swappers know this was a replacement and are not too disappointed.

I'll be back later today to open my advent calendar box (Day 16) and choose a blog artist of the day. And I hope to visit a few of my dear friends, too.

Advent Calendar Day Fifteen and Day 3 of Christmas Swap

I almost forgot what day it was and started to upload Day 14 again. Then I remembered I'd already shown it. For Day 15, I once again used vinyl letters, but this time I painted them purple and added yellow dots. I need a good lesson from my friend Terri at Pringle Hill Studio because she know how to make dots!


I had a devil of a time trying to get a good photo of the money. Money seems to be elusive.


I used play coins for this, because at the time I made it, I didn't have any international coins. I have since received some and may replace the fake one in the small envelope with a real one.


This may be a better overall view of the jewelry box.


Today is also Day 3 of the 12 Days of Christmas swap. Group 1's day 3 is from Jeanene. Her lovely package is all wrapped with a glittery, sparkling bow. In fact, it was so glittery, it even showed in the photo. And I bet Jeanene picked out every stamp set she had, because it seems she used a myriad of stamps to write the sentiment.

Although I normally focus on someone from the WOYWW blog hop on Wednesday, I'm featuring Jeanene today. Although she doesn't post terribly often, she does have some wonderful photos on her blog from her trip to Italy this summer, and some very cold images of last year's ice storm. Jeanene also has photos of past swaps, many of which I've hosted, and art she has entered in local and state fairs. I was impressed by all the ribbons, too. Jeanene lives in Arkansas in the US. Therefore, Jeanene's blog, Life2Nene is my blog pick of the day.

I'm now headed back to the studio to work on my Christmas cards and gifts. I'm so far behind, I must force myself to do this before I visit anyone. Have a lovely Wednesday, WOYWW, and Day 15, midway through December.

What's on your workdesk Wednesday # 80

Before I begin my rant, I want to remind everyone why we're here today. It's WOYWW, the brainchild of Julia at Stamping Ground. She has the links and the info, so please join us, if you like to snoop at people's work spaces and desks.

Now for my rant. Blogger hates me. For several days, I was unable to leave comments on any Blogger blog that displayed comments like this. It appeared even my blog was affected. I could leave them when the little box next to "comments:" had my name (Bleubeard and Elizabeth) showing, but not on the ones with an empty box. So I am now off my soapbox, but still mad at Blogger.



On my desk this week are my completed tip-ins, most of which have been mailed. My cards, which have NOT been signed or addressed, are slow going. I finished stamping them about an hour ago.


The gold and copper rocking horse is ceramic and was a gift from my friend Kathy. She hand painted it, then remarked how similar it was to one I owned (on the right), but had purchased.


Several of you wanted to know where Bleubeard was last week. Well, this week it's pretty obvious. He's in front of the heater in my craft room!


On my sewing machine is the backing for one of my art quilts. It's made of several layers of dress makers paper. I'm super impressed by the technique. And on my cutter is my first quiltlet I'm in the process of making for Christmas, along with some images I printed on fabric. You can see I've already used one.

I've had no time to find a blog today, so I'll have one later today when I show Day 15 of my tree shaped Advent Calendar made from jewelry boxes. Have a lovely WOYWW everyone, and keep your fingers crossed that blogger is on its best behavior today.

Advent Calendar Day Fourteen

Did you think I had forgotten the advent calendar for today? I almost did, because I've been in the studio making Christmas cards and the beginnings of a few gifts.


Today is Day 14 in the advent calendar countdown that I made using jewelry boxes. These letters are vinyl.


Inside is a bottle cap, a bit of rick rack, and a piece of blue wire that holds the pieces to the foam in the box. I hope you are having a great day 14 of the 25 days of December.

It's looking like Christmas tea

This has not been a very good day. I just hope the rest of the day is better. Early this morning, I made some hot chocolate to drink with Kimmie and the gals who are listed on her sidebar,
then went to open my Day 2 package and it is NO WHERE to be found. It was from Jan at
Dandelion and Daisy, and if the art square (5 X 5) was as lovely as the sneak peek I got of the packaging, I am kicking myself all over the place for not counting and making sure I had all of mine. And my cocoa is getting cold and the tree mug is looking grungy from cold chocolate, but thankfully, Jan sent me photos of her art.


See what I mean about the packaging? If the art square is as great as the packaging, I'm in for a real treat. (Above photo courtesy of Jan at Dandelion and Daisy. Please do not copy.)


And Jan did NOT disappoint. Her lovely art square is even more beautiful (if that is possible) than the packaging. This is Jan's first swap ever, and I would say she hit a home run, a touchdown, scored extra points, and any other metaphor I can think of. This is STUNNING, and I'm so missing out on it. (Above photo courtesy of Jan at Dandelion and Daisy. Please do not copy.)



I got all my Christmas dishes out this morning and, since several people wanted to see all the designs, I started to photograph them. I swear, I had the hardest time, because I thought I would use my camera with the flash. Well, the flash washed everything out, and I had a dark mess otherwise. I lightened in PS, then decided, after taking over 200 photos, I would get out my Zi6, the one I normally use that has no flash, and


look at the difference. No touch-up, no nothing. Just straight off the camera. And I even noticed the eye glasses in this photo. This is a large bowl, but because it has a crack, I can't use it. I usually wrap rolls in a towel and place them in this one.


This even larger bowl I broke a couple of years ago, but repaired it, knowing I wouldn't use it, but still enjoyed the image.

Here is a far better shot.


Ye olde Curiosity Shoppe is the picture on the dinner plates.


A snow covered theme is on the meat platter.


Don't you love that bay window and the carriage in the background?


This is the salad bowl. It's quite small, and I'm not sure you could get much salad in it.


Believe it or not, this is the saucer. Not sure you can tell, but there is a slight dip in the center circle to hold the cup in place.


After standing on my head, doing a jig, and holding my mouth just right, I still never got a good photo of these (creamer and sugar bowl) until I switched cameras. And this was from the overhead and natural light.


Of course, by this time, dawn had broken, my hot cocoa was cold, and I noticed I hadn't taken a photo of the dessert/bread/all purpose plate with the grandfather clock on it. It's on the right middle end and I have 36 of these. My grandmother must have decided they were good for just about anything, because she collected so many of them. Now I am ready to see what everyone else is drinking today and get a hot cup of cocoa.

My blog pick of the day belongs to the very talented Jan, who recently joined our Altered Book Club. She has some terrific AB pages, has a keen sense of color and design, and is an all around sweet person. I've only "known" her for a few weeks, but love her blog, love her design style, and totally enjoy reading about her art journey, as well as her decorating skills. I had a laugh at her telling about her lovely china cabinet she finally finished after 12 years and calling herself the Queen of Procrastination. In my books, there is no procrastination, just time spend making a decision. And Bleubeard wants to meet Al, one of her fur babies. In her post today, Jan describes how she made her art square and package, so please stop by and tell Jan hi. I would consider it a personal favor, since she's an excellent altered and collage artist. And have an awesome Tea Tuesday, too.