Double Tap, Mail Art and a Side of Bacon!

Work is always exciting. I love when you can capture a hallmark moment on film. Making a memory last forever. This one is titled "Shaving Cream Double Tap".  ( *Reminder I work in Spec Ed)

 

High Five!!!

 (no harm was sustained to those involved during said shaving cream incident)

I love Swop Bot. I swap art at least 4 times a month. I have really enjoyed mail art. My most recent one you had to fill the entire space with doodles. I found the biggest manila envelope I could find and went to town. It took about a week. The back is just as cool.

Last but not least. I bought my brother in law a awesome game for Christmas. I hope he asks me to play it with him because I LOVE bacon. Check this bad A out!

xoxoxoxoxoxox

Pins and Needles

I am in an awesome Voodoo Doll Pin Cushion Swap. Here is the handmade doll I made. I really loved the way it turned it. I am afraid I am hooked. I plan on making a bunch of these little guys.

My partner for the swap collects Day of the Dead items so I tried to tie it into her collection.

 I hand painted a cute little drawer also. I filled it with small tuck-ins.

I can't wait for her to get!

xoxoxoxo

Cabin Window

Looking out the cabin window from her spot. This is post card size...now I just need to mail it.

I love small art.

xoxoxoxo

Art

I just finished a new painting. The colors in the picture I took of it don't do it justice. It is bright and thick. I am happy with the way it turned out. It is of me and my sisters.

Here is the picture that was my inspiration.

Water Color...

So I have really enjoyed using water colors. I have never tried them before because I was afraid of not getting deep rich colors. I am not afraid anymore. I LOVE them!!

National Lupus Day

Today is National Lupus Day!!! Here is a self-portrait I made this weekend to send to Germany for the Lupus Art Exhibit. About four weeks ago I had a flare, the first one in five years. My postcard will be shown in exhibits and then will find itself into a hand a another person with this disease. After this last flare, one that was not just on my skin but in my vascular system I have changed the way I look at Lupus. I have decided it can be beautiful!

Snow, Seeds and Swaps!

It has been busy at our house. The baby chicks are doing great, running around everywhere. We had a big snow storm last week. It was so beautiful, it felt like I was in a snow globe. I love it when it snows and I am staying home. This particular storm had me and my little car trapped for a good hour about 5 miles away from my nice warm house. My brother in law was going to rescue me when the snow began to lighten up and I tried one last time to get up a nice big hill on sucky tires. I made it home and ate some chocolate...all was well again.

 This week we started our garden seeds. With all the snow on the ground it is nice looking at the bright green seedling emerging from their soil. We have 24 flats of veggies, flowers and herbs.

 ***SPOILER ALERT****

If you are expecting a swap from me don't read any further!!!

 So my friend Val over at Hot Mama Apron Swap is hosting another great swap. Chicken themed swap...how could I not join. I have to say I am so proud of this apron. I hope my partner will like it. I think I chose the kind of print she would like. I also used a vintage apron pattern and even made peekos form 1 inch fabric. I even hand embroidered chickens and found a vintage glass chicken and turned it into a pin cushion for her. She also collects cupcakes so I made her one with the chicken theme.Here is some of her package I will be mailing out today.

 

I joined a Voodoo Doll Art Swap. It was a challenge for me as I have never made a Voodoo doll. We were given a basic pattern and then let loose with our own imagination. I used a vintage potato sack, paint, alcohol inks and seagull bones we found at the Great Salt Lake. When I package it I am going to lay it on a pile of peacock feathers.

I also made a Pagan Whimsy Jar for a swap. It is filled with objects from the earth. I even wood burned a tiny gourd for her.I really enjoyed this swap. It was my first experience making a Whimsy Jar.

 

Last but not least I have been doing alot of art for swaps. I am hooked on inchies even though I tend to work with dark themes.

 Tim Holtz ATC Swap.

 Dark Inchies #1 Swap

 Tim Holtz Swap.

 Dark Inchies #2 Swap.

  

Paint Me A Post Card Swap.

Tim Holtz ATC Swap.

New Art and Cup Cakes...

My hands have been busy... I am in several art swaps on swap-bot. I am having way to much fun. Truth be told it helps me stay balanced while working outside my home.

 Fire Element Artist Trading Card, mixed media.

 Mail me Art Swap, pen, colored pencils and oil pastel on a empty envelope.

 Tentacle Bookmark, wood burning and colored pencil.

My friend Melinda and I are making and selling the cutest Valentine cupcakes. She has a wicked Cricket machine and has been cutting out fondant hearts...fondant that tastes so good. We go a step further and put them in little boxes and gift wrap them. So cute!! I have tried a couple of different recipes and settled on two, red velvet with melt in your mouth cream cheese and butter frosting and a beautiful soft white cake with butter, cream cheese and a hint of cinnamon and cocoa frosting. We have sold around 60 cupcakes so far. Sunday we will get together back and decorate them. We got together and made samples so we know about how long it will take. Can't wait. If you have time check out her blog...way cool!

Keeping My Hands Busy...

I have been doing a lot of art for swaps lately and I thought I would share some.

Altered Vintage Spoon Swap

Bloody Valentine Post Card Swap

Some fabric post cards with my grandparents on them.

 Altered Art Shrine Swap ( this is an Altoids tin)

I love swapbot...if you like to create art and trade check it out. Starting in May I am teaching two art classes at our local community center...YEAH!

Art...

Here is some of my latest art. Most of the items are for SWAPS. I love to swap because it is a challenge for me. I didn't get to pick the theme or the deadline and I like working that way. But the best part of the swap is when a strangers art comes in the mail. This week i have had packages from Australia, Africa, New Zealand, New York and Mississippi. I LOVE looking at what other people create.

 ATC "The Hermit" Wood burned and oil pastels.

 ATC "The Hanged Man"- hand drawn- pencils and pen.

Handmade Post Card- Hand drawn - oil pastels and pen.

 Handmade Post Card- collage- this is a picture of my daughter feets. She took this photo while camping last summer.

 Handmade Postcard- Altered paper and oil pastels.

 Orange Lady ATC- wood burned and oil pastels.

ATC- Migraine- hand drawn, paint, oil pastels and pins.

ATC-  Hand drawn- pencils.

 Hand drawn- oil pastels, pencils and pen.

                                                                           Hand drawn- oil pastels, pencils and pen.

ATC-  Bay Leaf- mixed media collage- oil pastels.

ATC- "The High Priestess" - Collage and 4 small raw garnets in her crown.