Be warned all ye bloggers

 Rayna posted a note on her blog about photos on Google's blogger.  Please do take a read if you want to protect your original artwork and photos.

When you go to your blogger "dashboard" as if to add a new post, in the upper right corner you'll see "My Account". Click on it. As you scan down the page you'll see a section called "My products" and in the second column, third item down "Picasa Web Albums" and click on "settings' next to it. Go to "My photos", click on an album, click on "edit", then on "album properties". At the bottom, next to "share" change to "sign in to view" and no one can see your photos without signing into the account. Done.
Of course, this does not prevent the simple right click to copy.  Watermarking or software that prevents right clicking photos. 

Where does the time go????

Not to let the job suck the life out of me, I am focusing on JOY.  One method: I am listening to Philosopher's Notes while driving around for work.  Said notes are a set of mp3 files summarizing highlights of 100 different books.  Each summary also has an accompanying pdf file. 
  Reading while driving is not advisable. Thus I downloaded the mp3's and loaded 80 of them onto a memory card for my Zen mp3 player.   Music/sounds loaded onto the player's internal memory will start where you left off, should you pause or turn the player off.  The memory card, however, does not play by that rule. Shucks.  Nevertheless, it's been an upbeat way to spend time between sales calls.
  Then I did a small (2" x 3") sketch of J.T. (my cat) while he slept.  Not the best angle to try to find details nevertheless I decided to begin somewhere.  This is somewhere.

Okay... now to finish this post before Blogger has another hissy fit. :)  Never user issues is it???

As I was saying, starting somewhere.  So I've been painting Wonder Under (tm) and decided to add it to a fleece scarf. Sure, I could have used a different color of fleece, but this is an experiment, remember?  

   I ironed the painted wonder under onto the fleece.  Followed by ironing on an overlay of tulle which is embedded with sparkly plastic dots.  (Sure, the sparkly caters to the 3 yrd old child inside of my Spirit.  She adores sparkly things.)  Finally, cutting the tulle to match the edges of the Wonder Under.  

   Ya sure you betcha I'm going to wear this on the outside of my coat.  I may even trim up the edges to be even. 

   Here's to a great week full of miracles, magic and things to make our hearts sing out loud!

River and Lake Erie views update

For the record... these are color photos! :)  

Yup... someone is ice fishing already!  I've never seen such a thing so it is a wonder to me.

Today's view is stunning... to me.

Before the snow starts again.....

A shot of Rocky River toward Lake Erie....

Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!

  This is my open letter of appreciation and thanks to all who encourage, just sit and listen, love, befriend, teach, share, jump for joy with you, hold your hand and, never imply they want anything in return.  YOU are my heros.  Consider yourself hugged tightly.

  YOU may not even know how you touch others' lives.  A post on a website/blog with heartfelt words, an experiment gone wrong/right, photos of your life, a how-to-do-it post which opens doors for those of us reading or watching your video post.

  My friends, thank you for just being you and all you do.  Not just for me but for everyone else and the ripple effects outward into the world. 
 

Just messing around...

priming the pump...  I have to start somewhere and I might as well show it.
A.                                                          B. 

A. torn fabric strips glued to white fabric substrate with tulle on top.  Stitched. 

B. painted wonder under.

Happy Creative New Year everyone!!!!

Well, what do you know... we made it! 

Resolution(s)? Live with Courageous Joy!  Courage, the word for 2010 from Gail of Expression Studio and Pam of Pamoart.  

Joy because this needs to bubble up effervescently out of my Spirit of being.  Can't dance for Joy if I'm sitting in the corner. 

Here are a couple of photos of this morning's view from my balcony.  Frozen Rocky River and a light snow falling on top. 

The first is looking Southward, toward the bridge between Lakewood and Rocky River.

And this would be the view Northward toward Cleveland Yacht Club and further out to Lake Erie.

Happy, healthy and joyous New Year.

Happiest Holidays

May we all truly know how much we are loved

and live from this knowing 

doing no harm to self or others.

A wonderful treat I received in the post

Andrea of Paris Dreamtime had a contest and drawing to receive some wonderful Paris related items.  Well, lucky me, I was one of the winners and here is a photo of her beautiful artwork and the compact mirror with the likeness of the Eiffel Tower on it.  Almost like being there and such a treat.  I just adore Andrea's art!  Please, do visit her blog, you'll be as enamored as I am every time I visit.
THANK YOU SO MUCH ANDREA!!!

And another thing

Related to performing arts... I adore the movie "Across the Universe".  Sure, it has been out for a while.  It is a musical (all older Beatles songs) love story set in the 1960's.  Joe Cocker singing "Come Together" is phenomenal.  Then again, you would have to enjoy Joe Cocker.  The turmoil of the time lives on in today's wars.  As do hip huggers, bell bottoms, crop tops and platform shoes. Okay, okay.. "they" warned us about flash backs they just weren't specific. 
Maybe we can rap about this some time.  Solid. 

Introducing.... Mr. J.T.

Way cool and this is his first real home.  He is 5 years old and was raised in a cat sanctuary.  Way way adorable, smart and sweet.  What a talker!  Neutered, of course, he is quite the gentleman.  Funny and I am Blessed he adopted me! 

When I first met him he leaned in and gently touched his teeth to the end of my nose.  As I left I said "Good bye JT" and he tilted his head to the side.  Oh he had me there. 

Purr-fect companions Sanctuary in Cleveland delivered him to me 11/1/09.  They truly do have the friendliest cats I have ever met.  Well taken care of, socialized, sweet and a haven.  I was also impressed at how clean the sanctuary is and it smells like fresh air.  Beautiful.  If you in this area and want to adopt a cat (please don't buy one!!!) call them at
216-671-MEOW (6369)

Progress not perfection

So I updated the format for my blog yesterday and forgot to add information. Doh!
Here is a photo from the aforementioned class.

There is something endearing about this still life. 
Go figure.













And then there is my fabulous first experiment with dying.  I've learned I am far too frugal with the dye.  Thus I got a washed out 60's style tie dye look. 
The original fabric was 104" x 4 yards.  Crazy big.  Anxious to dye.. I dove in and folded and pleated and trimmed it with tea.. er.. dye.  I've learned the value (pun intended) of more dye and planning.  But it was fun and very messy.  Fortunately there is a deep laundry sink in the apartment basement laundry room.  Halleluyah! 

 There are two more "batches (note the yard stick on the right side) but I won't bore you with variations on the same color scheme.  Suffice to say it was a great learning experiment.  LOTS of background material for other experiments.

Class and photos

So my photography instructor, Jessica, agreed with me that the window reflection photo is the best. The table top shows too much in the one and the corner shot is interesting only along the sides. True and true. (Check the photos in a previous post)

Now, some OFF the class photos of a young red tailed hawk. This bird flew in and stayed on the ground for about fifteen minutes. It (male? female? I don't know) cried about every minute or less. For a while I was worried. Then it flew to a perch across the river for another half an hour or so. Later in the day I saw two adult red tailed hawks. Fabulous raptors. Fabulous.

Learning digital photography

My friend Gail from Expression Studio http://expressionstudio.blogspot.com/ told me about a digital photography class given by Jessica Wesolek http://www.dotcalmvillage.net/onlineworkshops/adp.html

I'm on Lesson 1 and here are my first photos for critique.... yet to come.

Get Creative with the BEST: You and Two Creative Studios!!

Hola!
Newsflash! Two Creative Studios, the infamous Terri Stegmiller and Sue Bleiweiss, are having a giveaway for their newsletter subscribers. Yup.. I'm one of them. I also have taken their classes which are, no doubt, awesome with very reasonable prices too.

Sign up for their newsletter:
http://twocreativestudios.com/newsletter.htm

AND while you're at it, check out their website. Their free projects are fab too.
C'monnnnnn... you KNOW you wanna check it out!!!
http://twocreativestudios.com/

Peace,
Christina
Where the weather is amazing in Cleveland

A painting

While has been a while since I painted this, I still love it.

About 24" x 36"

I want to thank Gail and the Academy.....

I's been nominated! :) Thank you Gail!! http://expressionstudio.blogspot.com/
Rock on!!! Please visit her blog, it's blogolicious!!!!
I'm a slow but steady blogger for sure..... I am humbled and delighted!

Here's how this award works:
1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award
ROCK ON GAIL!!! http://expressionstudio.blogspot.com/

2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog (and it's okay to brag).

3. Link to the person who nominated you for this award. http://expressionstudio.blogspot.com/

4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting.

1- I adore quantum physics books as well as art books.
2- I follow the concepts of Seth (Jane Roberts and Robert Butts authors)
3- I believe in the perseverance of the goodness in all of life.
4- I believe all time is concurrent - yup, still trying to wrap my brain around that one too.
5- I am quite sure that every single itsy bitsy bit of every single thing in this (and any other) universe is alive and sentient.
6- What I focus on I get.. kind of like the saying "if you go looking for trouble you're going to find it" but it works for good things even better!
7- I hope my creations/artwork reflect my personal growth.
8- (Bonus answer) I love all animals and hope to have a fur family again soon.

5. Nominate 7 Kreativ Bloggers

6. Post links to the 7 blogs your nominate
[Oh and you MUST visit them. BEEE-eautiful!]

Darlene: http://artticulation.blogspot.com/
Alice: http://www.whatanexpression.blogspot.com/
Penny: http://backvalleyseasons.blogspot.com/
Val: http://valsalteredheartjourney.blogspot.com/
Rayna: http://studio78notes.blogspot.com/
Linda: http://texturedturtle.blogspot.com/
Tricia: http://lets-create.blogspot.com/

7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs, letting them know they have been nominated.

Current project

Well, here's my current project and progress:
Pebeo Setacolor Transparent paint on white cotton (or mostly cotton) fabric and laid in the sun with the assorted items on top. The result of the sun print.
The screen created with painters tape and the result.
I used more tape to create "rays" across.

The View

Noooo, not the television show. MY view.

Most notably, the first is tonight's sunset.

Equine related

Some equine drawings of mine...

Rusting fabric

I wrapped some 100% cotton muslin (white) around a non-stick pizza pan bottom. I fan folded the fabric a bit in the wrapping. I had soaked the fabric in 1/2 water, 1/2 white vinegar and wrung it out. After it sat outside (and froze inside a plastic wrap, I uncovered it and sprinkled salt on top. I sprayed with water. A day later I sprinkled green tea leaves (from a tea bag). These produced the black specks.

I may use this as the backing for the eye quiltie.

I'm baaaaccckkk

Okay it's about time to let you know what I've been up to. My last post being August of last year.
I've become addicted to bright purple and orange. Okay, more addicted. I made a small quiltie for my sister for Christmas and only sent it last week. Ouch. No excuses, just slow.


I also started a quiltie with an eye on it. Last night I thought of another idea to embellish the eye further. Here's some progress:





And then





I've learned:
~ the dark blue thread looked black when thread painted.
~ my Jacquard textile traditions paint bleed - lolol
~ water soluble stabiliser is not wise when painting fabric
~ water disolving marker pen should not be ironed.
and much more I would never have even considered unless I had started this little project. My enthusiasm overwhelmed my common sense... obviously.

Sticky issues

I have issues when glues don't work. I tried Glass bond to glue a glass teacup to its saucer. I was ticked off when the saucer fell off after a month. Thankfully, the saucer did not break. You can see the ring of dry glue which peeled beautifully off the glass. The glass bond says it works well for connecting two smooth surfaces. Um.. not so much.

Now my favorite glue is actually a putty - JB Stik weld. You cut a thin slice, mix by kneading the two colors together, join your two parts and it is dry after 5 minutes. Seriously, it does dry quickly and you need very little. I glued the teacup and saucer back together and after a month and a half... it's all good. I've also glued plant hangers to my ceiling and they are holding beautifully.

Silk roving dyed/stained

Okay this is the silk roving dyed/stained with 4 teaspoons of instant coffee in 1/3 cup of hot water.

Kool-Aid (tm) dying

So I've been playing with Kool-Aid (tm) to dye both the cultivated silk roving I purchased from www.lazypj.com (GREAT people and site) as well as some cheesecloth. The cheesecloth, being a cellulose fiber, took on a more pastel shade, where as the silk roving, a protein fiber, really soaked up the colors. You can figure out which is which.

Fullllllllll moon

Just beautiful and the first time I have managed to get a clear shot of the moon. I used a tripod and the timer function. The moon was so orange... Dang I like this shot! lolol

And a credit card case

Just a small piece. Painted and needle felted cotton duck sewn with a lining and a magnetic closure. I just love the colors!

Painted paper bag on canvas

This is a bag I made (no handles yet) after painting a paper bag and then stitching on top. Might have been a good idea to cover all the painting and stitching with vinyl BEFORE I made the bag but what the hay.

doings and stuff

This is a mixed media piece. Modeling paste, hot glue, spray paint, rub on paint, copper wire and feathers. I don't know why I like this, I just do.

Some historical data of mine

Pencil drawings of Frederick Douglas.


Created fabric... needle felting and free motion stitching

My creative space

~~ This is my place to "space out" and create.

Sludge applied

I put wavy stripes on a strip of canvas using Joann's tacky glue. My idea was to use it as a resist. Once the glue dried, I covered all with the sludge, sealed it in Glad press-n-seal and painter's taped it to the balconey railing to "bake" in the sun.

You can see the color looks olive-drab. Once I took the fabric in to wash, the glue and sludge came off easily under cool water. I washed with salt to stop the rusting and then synthrapol. The green color "stuck" yet I am not sure if this color is a result of creating the sludge in the plastic tub or if it is a result of the processing of the steel wool when it was made. In any case, the color remains and I rather like it.

Rusting?

I made rust sludge by unrolling a steel wool pad, cutting it up, stuffing it in a plastic container and spraying it with vinegar. The challenge is it turned a brown/green color. The idea was to make a stash of rush sludge I could paint onto my substrate of choice.

Editorial

As tax day approaches I realize I still have to "do" mine. What? I have a problem here. Tax on what you earn from the country, state and two (2)cities (one I work in and one I live in). Then taxes on what I buy with money I have paid tax on. :: Blink blink :: If I have the unmitigated gall to have savings I pay taxes on the money I have already paid taxes on and some institution has been using and paying me a little bit to be able to use while they charge interest to someone to be able to use my money.
Does anything in this sound painfully wrong to anyone but me?

Snow, snow go away

The missing wind and snow inspired me to alter an inexpensive (read: "cheap") dollar store clock. I had the clock for many years. A yellowing plastic with maroon background and white numbers. I took it all apart, removing the clockworks, and started at it. Covering the background with thin copper, layered on some angelina fiber, "forest blaze" color, fused on some hot fix crystals (notice the pattern? Big Dipper-ish) and som snips of copper I had to take out to bend the copper around the background. (How's that for a run on sentence?) I covered the hands of the clock with copper foil tape which glass crafters use (got it from http://www.glasscrafters.com/). I heated the hands with a lighter to color the copper. Almost lost the second hand doing this. It is too thin/narrow to coat with foil so I decided to just heat it. Um... it is VERY think aluminum. Lots of heat turns it to dust. Ooopsy. So, guess what? I stopped heating it! There ya go. I decided to paint it with red finger nail polish. Why? I wanted easy color.

When I looked at the white plastic I thought I would cover it in angelina but it was just too much of a hassle. The copper tape seemed more user friendly (read: "easier"). Well, round after round after round... it was done. And really bright. I decided to speed up the patina process by adding acrylic patina. By ripping the fat end of a cosmetic sponge I created an irregular surface. The faces were already made in polymer clay so sponged those and touched them up with a paint pen.

(Does anyone really care about the details? Ack.. it really doesn't matter. I'm enjoying this anywho.)

~~~~

Meanwhile..... The snow.. lots of wind... can you say BLIZZARD? Oh, the weather service said there were "blizzard-like" conditions. Um... what? Why isn't that the same as a real blizzard? We are not talking Dairy Queen here. Oh well. Today, the morning came with a brilliant blue sky. Glorious! I watched people digging out. The apartment complex actually hired a man with a small back hoe to clear out the parking lot. Kudos to them. The man did a great job but it took about 2 hours.

Here's a short video (done with my digital camera in movie mode) of what it looked like yesterday. Weeee.....

Sunday 2/17/08

Playing and creating is simple for me when I take any one else's opinions of what I do out of the equation. I also need to let go of the pressure to do something "wonderful". It is self-expression from my soul. The first photo posted is of "Anna", a needle felted profile of a woman who touched my heart soon after I was born. For a year she WAS my mother while my birth mother was treated for tuberculosis. While I am quite sure Anna has long since passed away (or maybe not) my gratitude to her lasts to this day.
The fibers used in felting are green chenille yarn, black tencel, light brown yak down and dark brown yak down. (Not easy to type because I hear it in my head as something akin to The Cat in the Hat books.