Something About Nothing

 The Copic markers bled through the peony page and created another lighter peony. I spent months contemplating what to do with this lovely.  I finally painted a little bit of background color, and drew some mandalas using Pitt Pens. Another little rose and mandala completed the page. Mandalas showed up on several pages in my sketchbook. Looking at this page now, I think I should have put another mandala or two on it, but instead I filled the open space with lines. I could paint over the lines and draw more, but who has time for that. Not to mention the lines are made with a grease pencil so they would still be there in the background. I even got brave and tried out some writing. "I don't think there's an Artist of any value who doesn't doubt what they're doing." - Francis Ford Coppola "Every Artist was first an amateur."

Last March I joined The Sketchbook Challenge with Laura Kemshall. It has taken me 9 months to complete one of my journals (I started two) and now I'm going to post about it in several parts. The first journal was created using MX Dyes on the edges. I had a lot of fun creating the color on the edges, soaking the pages in an attempt to get a lot more dye to drip on the inside. I didn't use any soda ash for fear it would eventually disintegrate the paper.  The dye stained the pages and was very migrant when rewetted. This was often a problem when I went back in to a page after the pages were completely dry. sometimes I could use it to my advantage and sometimes not so much. Some of the design created by the dye flowing from the edges on the page. The second sketchbook's edges were colored with a lot of very wet watercolor. Once the edges and insides dried, Laura guided us through making marks on some of the pages.  I often went all out. But some of the pages I left alone unti

 I took Jane Dunnewold 's Paper and Metal Leaf Lamination online course. I enjoyed it very much. Jane is an excellent teacher. I've only made time to make a couple sample pieces, but I look forward to using the technique in more of my work. The awesome part of this is that you can add paper to your fabric and it can be easily stitched and washed. Last night I had a dream about a piece using this technique. Now I just need to put it all together in real life.  Jane is also publishing a book about the same technique that will be out next year.  Here are the two sample pieces I made using some of my  Thermofax stamp designs anyone can buy on Jane's website: Turntable thermofax screen with dictionary page and an atlas. It's fun to see the atlas, and antique ads I used for this one. I have the metal foil and will experiment with it soon.

While I was in California, I took Sara Trail from the Social Justice Sewing Academy , some of the blocks she had sent me to hand embroider. She sent me back home with 20 more blocks. Hahaha There was a quilt that needed the blocks hand embroidered ASAP because the exhibit where the quilt was going to hang was already in progress. I spent every day stitching on these wonderful blocks the children had put together. They are always so clever. Often they come with a note, such as this one, that helps me to know what direction the block is to go. I do my best to fulfill their vision. Once in a great while a little more needs to be added to fulfill their vision. . . . . . because the kids don't always have time to finish. A few other blocks. I forgot to get photos of them all. I love creating hairstyles on all the figures. The kids always inspire me to do my best. They asked for the rectangle to look like a land acknowledgment, and I really enjoyed making marks that looked like words. I