Modern Shrine for Rin

Rin is my bookkeeper for my business and has become a very dear and precious friend! She asked me to make an art piece for her that would incorporate a quote that was meaningful to her. I decided on making her a shadowbox which I am calling a "shrine". Rin loves most things vintage and recycles everything. The cigar box which came from my friends from St. Louis seemed like a good start. The paper dolls were from Rin's childhood, the two dominoes became the perfect "feet" which I got from a scavenging trip in Cincinnati, the paper flowers from my friend, Minori who lives in Japan. The list continues with the resin yellow roses from Pat in England along with the ledger paper cir. 1940's. The quote was written on paste paper that I had made when I lived in Tulsa. The top knob was harvested from an old furniture piece being discarded. It was great incorporating so many of my favorite things from friends from around the globe along with items from my studio. I super enjoyed making this piece for Rin!

I added paper to each side to complete the box.

Old Made New

This was a journal that I had made for a seminar series that I had made for note taking. I thought it was the perfect base for a smash journal. I love using those bits of scraps that all paper artist collect. When I am finished stuffing my book, I'll share some photos of what will certainly be my favorite pages.

Art Journal Returns Home

After experiencing making journals where my art sisters participated gave me an addiction I can live with - it's totally contributes to good living and lots of joy! I mailed blank pages to each participating artist and then rebound the book after all the pages were returned to me. I added lots of ribbons to the spiral spine and tabs to the individual pages. The two-page spreads shown are two different contributing artists and it is as if they collaborated in advanced with how well their pages complimented each other!

Dress Banner

 The dress banner made by the other artists in my art group hang in my studio window.  I get lots of light from this window but not the sun so I am not concerned so much about fading.

This is the dress banner I had made that shows a wedding photo of my parents.  It became the inspiration of the other artists as they all included a photo on their banner. 

 Back

"Sister Act" published in RSM!

Paper dolls was one of our exchanges this year in our art group.  For myself, I made a banner for all seven art dolls appropriately named "Seven Sisters".  Then I submitted the banner to RubberStampMadness, which is one of my favorite rubber stamping magazines.  They did an awesome presentation and feature story on my banner.  Thank you RSM!

A little bit about my process, I spent a day making all the dolls so it was an easy exchange for me as I really love making paper dolls!  I marked on the back of the doll the name of recipient and appropriate date. 

I should have done a better job of recording what I named each doll! However, knowing the recipient and making the doll specific for her was very easy!

I am naming this doll "For the Birds".

Mrs. O'Brien goes to the Parade.

Miss Oklahoma Tea Tax

Miss World Peace

Sara relocates to Minneapolis

Sara goes to Paris

Project Pronounced Complete #8

One of our exchanges this year in our art group was "mail art". I received from Susan a great piece that folded out into a mini-book that she named "stream of consciousness".  I absolutely loved her idea and how she put it together.  I decided to make something similar with a few changes.  I used a medical year book that I had picked up in one of my many dumpster dives and cut the cover to the size I wanted.  I used my own dyed canvas fabric for the spine.  I played the game of using only what I had in my shoebox of miscellaneous images.  I used rubber stamps to add quotes or images but only those that were presently on my work table.  And the last thing was using the verbiage I had previously cut out from books/magazines that I use for ATC's.  Instead I added them and in my own way, it was my stream of consciousness.