Well, the first couple of days of summer break have been a blast. I have made up a schedule for me and the kids and it is really working out well. They know exactly what we are doing for the day and around what time we will do it. I don't know why I did not do this years ago. I don't know how much creative time I will get for the next couple of months but, I know that lasting memories are on there way!

Just finished this canvas last week. I have been working on it for a while. The cross is made of clay and is similar to the technique that I did on HGTV. I am really pleased with the way it turned out. I am most definitely going to have to play around more with paper clay. I usually use the clay that you bake but, it is nice to use airdry clay since it is summer and my studio can get pretty warm. This is a 15" by 30" canvas.

My little stars

It is getting hot in Texas already and school has one more week to go before summer break is official. The kiddos and I are so excited to get a break from homework. And after the teacher's meeting yesterday where she told me that homework is going to be heavier next year, we are ready for a break. I am setting up a weekly schedule this summer for my own sanity. I think if I make a plan for every day, they won't feel like they have to "pester" me with the "can we do....... today?" questions. It will also be fun to get them to participate in the planning and rewards system.

This is my little stars canvas. Lots of layers and I used a photo that I actually developed in the darkroom from my own film. I am loving the beginning to end process. The three stars represent my babies. One for the pregnancy that I lost many years ago but never forgotten.

Things have been busy the last few months. I have not found much time to do anything but play around in the darkroom some. I have a lot to learn but it is going to be a fun process of learning. I am finding myself needing a journal to write in while out and about. This is my answer. Fun to make and quick and fits in a little purse.

It's the Unknowing

I finished this piece this week after having the idea for a while. The photo was taken in Italy on the trip we took a couple of years ago. I already want to go back. It was awesome. My hubby made fun of me for taking pics of doors and buildings but, now I am glad that I did.

My inspiration, I am feeling like it is difficult for me to open the new doors in my life because I am never certain what lies on the other side. It is always the unknowing that makes me linger outside.

Playing with paints

Well, I have been in the darkroom a lot lately trying to learn my way around. It has truly been some of the most fun that I have had in a long while. I have been experimenting with fabric and some other fun things. I still have not perfected anything that I can show but hopefully I can work out the kinks and share before too long.

So in the meantime, I have been playing around with paints. This is a 12" by 12" hard board canvas that I finished this week. Looks great on my studio wall.

My goal now is to finish a clay boardered mirror before it gets too hot to turn the clay oven on. Living in Texas, sometimes, I have to chose the project according to he weather. It gets stinkin hot around here and the oven is not something that you want adding heat to an already hot upstairs studio room.

Embroidering onto Fabric Paper

It is always fun to take supplies that I already have and use them together in a new way. Several years ago I scrimped and saved to purchase an embroidery machine. One of the best purchases that I have made ever!

I have these very skinny walls in between the windows in my "room". I found some canvases that fit perfectly just had to decided what to put on them.
So, I made some paper fabric, embroidered the letters onto it and mounted it onto the canvases. Turned out really nice. And I was really surprised how easy the embroidery machine worked on the paper fabric. I "babysat" the machine the whole time it ran worrying that it might get mad about stitching on such a foreign thing, but it worked out fine. I am going to have to explore this a little more.

Fun with Aluminum Foil

So this is something that I have been working on for a little while. I know that we are all encouraging everyone to be more green and reuse things that we have for repurposing. Well, I love jewelry of all kinds especially the pieces that I make myself. So, I was in the kitchen one day cleaning up after dinner and noticed the aluminum foil sitting on the counter. I took it to my "room" and out came this really great necklace. I am crazy about it. Just had to add a washer to the back for some weight. I will probably be making this in every possible color, maybe a ring, or earrings.