She Loves Shiny

November Art Journal Spread

2011-11-08T13:19:00.000-08:00

Artist Kate Crane shared her journal calendar in the latest issue of Somerset Studio. I love journals and HAVE to keep a calendar handy-the memory thing not being as sharp as it used to be! Keeping a calendar journal appealed to me.

I think it would be fun to keep a calendar journal going in one book.

The Colors of Fall

2011-10-22T11:59:00.000-07:00

We've been invited over to friends' house tonight for dinner. I decided to get some flowers at the grocery store and make a fresh arrangement for the hostess.

Today's journal pages

2011-10-11T11:15:00.001-07:00

Today's journal pages, a photo by theresahalldesigns on Flickr.

I never got one of those little diaries with the gold key when I was a girl. I wish I had as it might have been interesting to see what I wrote at the time. Maybe it would have been lots of "Dear Diary, Nothing happened today."

I wish I had kept a regular journal when we lived in the Netherlands. At least I do have photos and some written captions. I am not into scrapbooking though.

I liked my creative writing classes when I was in high school and the brief time I was in college. One of my poems got published in the Colorado Springs newspaper, the Gazette Telegraph. For awhile I thought I'd be a news reporter or a journalist.

Anyway, I've tried to keep a regular journal for about 5 years now. I write mostly, though sometimes collages or doodles creep onto my pages. I love fat journals and ones with crinkled paper.
Here is a spread I did today.

Beach Time

2011-02-28T10:11:00.000-08:00

Yesterday morning it was very gloomy here in Tucson. It had rained the night before and the clouds were lingering.
I was day dreaming of a trip to some tropical location when I created this collage/vignette. I used real starfish, shells and some sea glass.

A Day at the Beach

2011-02-28T10:08:00.000-08:00

Despite a lingering cold, I was creative yesterday. I made a bracelet and necklace with copper colored components and stones that look like sea glass.

Orchids Forever

2011-02-23T09:59:00.000-08:00

I love orchids but haven't the time nor the patience that makes them flourish. There are many good looking faux orchids available nowadays so I can indulge my love for them without having to worry about watering and fertilizing.
This is a faux orchid plant I assembled today. Adding bamboo and raffia makes it look more realistic.
Now if I could just find more tall pots like that one I'd be thrilled.

Spreading Her Wings

2011-02-22T14:37:00.000-08:00

It's been awhile since I felt even an ounce of creativity. Life was busy, then I got sick with a bad cold. Today I couldn't resist the sunshine, so I went outdoors and read for awhile.
Our backyard is popular with wild birds. We have finches, quail, doves and the occasional hawk and owl. These wild creatures used to inspire my art.
Then I saw a dove feather on the ground. I picked it up and knew immediately I had to create something with it. This is a page in my long neglected art journal.

Chrazy Chameleon Drawings

2010-12-21T14:33:00.000-08:00

I can't sit still and just watch t.v.. So I grabbed a piece of paper the other night and came up with these critters. Done with a Uniball Vision pen on watercolor paper.

The second drawing reminds me of Bart Simpson.

Christmas Chameleon Greeting Cards from Zazzle.com

2010-12-04T15:06:00.000-08:00

Christmas Chameleon Greeting Cards from Zazzle.com

Wow! My Christmas Chameleon is a hit and I'm really gratified by the response. The cards are now available for sale at Zazzle.com

Merry Mischief and Christmas Chameleons!

2010-12-02T13:04:00.000-08:00

Here is my Christmas card for this year. I drew it with a Uniball Vision pen and colored it with some markers and Panpastels. (Terrific stuff, btw.)
Never thought I'd feature a chameleon on my Christmas card, but why not?

Postcard Art

2010-10-18T17:01:00.000-07:00

I haven't made a postcard with a Halloween theme before. Everything on this collage was on my desk by sheer chance. Where I got the 13 cent "stamp" I have no idea.

Mail Art

2010-10-02T16:08:00.000-07:00

Making postcards or mail art is one of my favorite things to do. There's a lot of satisfaction I get by cutting and pasting collage elements together.

It's hard sometimes to part with what I make. So in the future I resolve to change that by sending out random pieces of mail art.

The Latest Art

2010-08-24T11:28:00.000-07:00

The Process:
Paint. Be glad I painted on paper and not on canvas since I can tear up paper when I don't like the result.
Rearrange torn pieces. Again and again. Glue down and add collage elements.
Draw some personal things on art work.

"Dreams Get the Best of Me"

More Scenes from my Studio

2010-07-15T16:02:00.000-07:00

This corner niche is my favorite feature of my studio. On display here are creations from other artists, along with some of my work.

Scenes from my Studio

2010-07-15T16:00:00.000-07:00

Part of my work area. This is the way it usually is: chaos.

My Latest Art Work

2010-05-24T11:16:00.000-07:00

"Desert Dweller"

  This assemblage is composed of two tiny hummingbird nests I found in our back yard. One of them was half started, so I put them one on top of the other. The "eggs" are beads-the approximate size of real hummingbird eggs. The red bits are real coral. The dried rose buds are from a bush in our back yard.   I used twigs from a palm as "antlers". Placing them near the nest made me think of Georgia O'Keeffe's cow skulls.
  The background is acrylic with pastels. (I LOVE Panpastels.)
  I'm really pleased with this.

Gentleman Canine

2010-05-08T16:13:00.000-07:00

Today's bit of art comes from a piece of cardboard I got in the mail. I can't even remember what came in it-I just loved the paper and tape itself.
  I'm not sure this piece is finished, so I'm letting it rest tonight. I like the splotches of paint and the hand writing peeking through.
  The "orb" below the dog's eye is not on the image itself. I don't know what to think of that.

   "Gentleman Canine"

Risky Pickups

2010-04-20T10:24:00.000-07:00

I had a plastic shoe box set aside just for my aquatic turtles, Speedo and Phelps. I put them in it when I do a big water change for their tank. Anyway, I set the box out to dry one day and it disappeared.
  While picking lemons this morning I found the box stuck under a yucca plant. When I picked the box up I got such a surprise I almost flung it over the wall. Something in it was moving. Here in the Arizona desert it could be anything from a rattlesnake to a tarantula, neither of which I want to be that close to.
  Instead I found this pretty lizard-about 6 inches from head to tail. I guess the plastic walls of the box prevented it from getting out. For a minute I thought of keeping the lizard and buying a reptile habitat for it. Then I realized that all of the outdoors here is this lizard's natural habitat. I knew I had to set it free.
  But not until I took its picture.
  I got three pictures taken before Lizard decided it had enough of the papparazzi. It got all its strength together and leaped out of the container. It ran across my foot, which resulted in me doing a few fancy dance steps I didn't know I had in me. Then it dashed for the open slider door, with three chihuahuas in full pursuit. I managed to slam the screen door shut before Lizard took over the house. It headed off for some safe crevice in the patio wall. My three chihuahuas (regal Lola would never be a part of something as undignified as this) were very dismayed that they'd lost the Amazing Race. I was just glad the lizard didn't get into the house because Marko's always warning me to keep the screen door shut, just so things like this don't happen.
  Spring in Arizona promises to present me with more close encounters of the wiggly type. I could do without that.
  I'm going to email my husband this picture.
  And I'm going to tell him it was a MONSTER, at LEAST three feet long, and I was very lucky to survive the encounter.

The Stuff that Dreams are Made of

2010-04-15T15:03:00.000-07:00

My latest painting

4 x12 inches, Mixed media on canvas. Acrylic paints, cheesecloth, paper, tiny marbles, turquoise and coral.
When I pulled out this canvas I'd had for years, I had another color scheme in mind. One with pale green, gray, cream and maybe some black. But my brain had other ideas.

The turquoise and coral are genuine.

"Wish I Knew What You Were Looking For"

2010-04-06T10:38:00.000-07:00

4x4 inch acrylics on canvas.

20 Minute Challenge

2010-04-01T16:50:00.001-07:00

Pigma Micron 05 in my moleskine

20 Minute Challenge

2010-03-31T17:58:00.000-07:00

Today I committed to artist Michael Nobb's 20 Minute Challenge www.michaelnobbs.com
I set my timer and drew for 20 minutes. Once I was able to block out the ominous "tick tick tick" of the timer I got into my project, and drew and colored quickly. I used my Pigma pen (no pencil, no eraser).

I really enjoyed doing this and have caught the drawing obsession again. I used to draw all the time as a child but got away from it when I was in my twenties. Now I can see myself clearing the deck of everything else and just drawing.

Today's Journal Page

2010-03-22T16:18:00.000-07:00

Stuff from my desk

Not in Wonderland

2010-03-19T12:33:00.000-07:00

I haven't drawn anything in awhile, so I decided to grab an envelope and make some mail art. I was listening to Blondie's "Rapture" at the time. My drawing morphed into this Alice theme somehow.

Things in my Studio

2010-03-13T10:33:00.000-08:00

When people come over to our house, eventually they congregate in my studio. I surround myself there with things I love and inspire me.

I got this 3 foot tall, richly dressed Hare at Home Goods 5 years ago. He spends his time consulting his pocket watch, chiding me if I am on the computer too long.

My Latest Painting

2010-03-05T15:22:00.000-08:00

I started this painting so long ago I forgot. I don't think I've ever painted something and liked it right away or considered it finished right then. I seem to let them sit and percolate because they are missing "something" to me.
  After being scolded by the very big raven that considers my back yard HIS territory, it was time to finish this painting. It's a little one, just 4 inches by 4 inches, done in acrylics.
  Maybe I'll try a larger canvas some day.

  " A Murder of Crows"

What Makes it Last?

2010-03-01T16:49:00.000-08:00

  It was such a beautiful day here in Tucson. The sun returned and it felt so good to be outdoors. I just love my back yard-it makes me happy.
  I started looking around me, wondering what I could find to use in a piece of art? We have several yuccas and I admit I don't care for them. Today I REALLY looked at them and found interesting twigs, an almost burlap-like bark and fibers that resembled twine. All from two yucca plants! So I gathered a bit of each, plus some eucalyptus leaves from an old floral arrangement.
  Inside my studio I rummaged around and took out two real quail eggs that I saved from last year. Attached to the dried out eggs were a few quail feathers.
  The paper background is something I painted awhile ago and the white frame came from my stash. On the one hand I cringe thinking just how much stuff I have. But I'm using my other hand to pat myself on my back because I used up stuff and some of it was absolutely free.
  The idea to make this piece was inspired by Vancouver artist, Kirsten Chursinoff. She makes awesome art quilts and pieces inspired by nature.

  While making this I was listening to Stephen Bishop's "It Might be You". It's "our song". There's a line in it that says
  "Looking back as lovers go walking past...
  All of my life
Wondering how they met and what makes it last...."

76 Postcards for Dad Project

2010-03-01T10:55:00.000-08:00

  Almost three years ago I started a project called "76 Postcards for Dad". I wanted to make a postcard for every year of my dad's life.
  Sometimes the creating was easy. Other times I'd go for weeks without inspiration. Last night the elements came together.
  I call this postcard "On a Happier Note".

Dragonfly Fantasy Necklace

2010-02-25T16:17:00.000-08:00

This necklace was a kit from www.beadinspirations.com It's called "Dragonfly Fantasy". There's a small photo of the finished necklace but I ended up putting my own spin to it.
I love antique brass. The kit includes brass findings, beads, crystals, glass beads and a large brass butterfly.

Finally Finishing a U.F.O.!

2010-02-24T14:54:00.000-08:00

I was going through my fabric stash when I came across an unfinished quilt top. I never knew what to do with it either. Sadly it languished in my fabric stash for at least 5 years!
I also had a Dayrunner organizer/folder that had seen better days. But I didn't have the heart to throw it away.
Then a *Lightbulb moment* came. I glued some batting onto the folder to give it some padding. Then I used a strong fabric glue to attach the quilted piece on top of that. Then I glued some a fabric border around it. Voila-a new journal I like and feels good to carry around. Plus the scraps will make nice bookmarks too.
It feels fantastic to finish a former "UFO"--an Unfinished Object".

Even if the project had its beginning in another decade.

Small Treasures, Small Pleasures

2010-02-18T10:25:00.000-08:00

I got this little 2 inch brass thingamabob years ago-I can't remember when or where. I had it sitting in my little curio cabinet. where it never thought of it. Today I decided it would make a neat pendant. It's made of brass and has a wonderful scrollwork design aroound it.
I was surprised to hear something rattling around inside it. When I unscrewed it I found a wooden needle holder with a bit of thread still wrapped around it. There was also a rusty thimble inside. What a treasure, especially since I love to sew.
I'm having fun thinking of what I could do with this.

Here it is, opened with its contents:

One Trueself

2010-02-17T13:23:00.000-08:00

  Painting is difficult to me. But I keep at it, getting into the process and letting it take me wherever....
  I paint horses because they are my totem animal and I am a Wood Horse in Chinese astrology. I've always been attracted to them. And I love mythology too.
  I call this painting "One Trueself" because I am always trying to discover what my "style" is. I create in a sunny studio, surrounded by things created by artists I admire. I remembered a quote Judy Garland said-"Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else."

"Comes to Water"

2010-02-15T09:54:00.000-08:00

Comes to Water was inspired by my love of prehistoric cave art and ancient petroglyphs.
It was painted with acrylics on a piece of plywood.

D'arte Frog

2010-01-20T14:31:00.000-08:00

  Today is just a gorgeous day here in Tucson. 60 degrees and sunshine. The rain yesterday washed the sky clean and even the air smells fresh.
  I was thinking how Winter in Tucson is so different from other (read "colder") parts of the world. Now is the time we plant snapdragons, pansies and other annuals and enjoy their beauty until the summer comes.
  Today I wanted to be outside and start sprucing up things. The first thing that needed attention was a metal frog I'd bought a few years ago. He was a brown, rusty color that to me, just didn't suit its whimsy. So out came the metallic red and purple paints, some flat marbles and some industrial glue.
  Froggy can go courtin' now.

My Home is My Canvas

2010-01-12T12:33:00.000-08:00

I was feeling guilty about not creating as much as other artists seem to do. What do I have to show for all my time?
   Then a thought came to me, almost like a voice shouting out, "My house IS my canvas."
   It really is. What better place to experiment on? To do things to that say "This is ME. This is what I LOVE."
   An on-going project. A large, ever changing gallery and living exhibition.
  The biggest mixed media expression I can make.
   My home is my canvas.

Class is in Session

2009-12-24T11:18:00.000-08:00

It's Christmas Eve and I just got a wonderful present. An on-line class that I am excited about and could possibly be the way I will journal from now on. That's saying a lot. I am addicted to journals of all kinds and I may never buy another one again.

  What's so wonderful about this class is that it combines my loves of journaling, papers AND fabric and I use my beloved but lately neglected, sewing machine. Even first time sewers are enjoying themselves because there's plenty of freedom and room for self expression. Mistakes, in other words. Techniques.

  (Think you can't sew? If you can drive a car, you can learn to sew with a basic sewing machine-no Janome or Bernina necessary. I'm using my heavier than a refrigerator, 20 year old Singer).

  The class is called "Remains of the Day-A Shabby Journal of Scraps" and is taught by Mary Ann Moss. The information is here on her website. www.dispatchfromla.typepad.com/

  Mary Ann has set up a website for her students, a yahoo group and a flickr group, all private and open to students only. You get tons of videos, pdfs and other goodies-all for $60.00. And the website for the class is going to be up until December of 2010.

  I found out about "Remains of the Day-a Shappy Journal of Scraps" from Teesha Moore's blog. Teesha wrote that she's been trying to get Mary Ann to teach at Artfest and Journalfest. If Teesha, someone who arguably invented "art journals" is so jazzed about Mary Ann's journals that Teesha's taking the class, well, I had to check it out.

Well, I'm IN and in a big way. In love. But I'm just a bit bothered that I'm out of town-several hours and lots of miles from my fabric and paper stashes. And I don't have a sewing machine here. Then there's this festivity called "Christmas" happening and my participation is needed and my interest in it would be nice.

  That hasn't stopped me from prowling around this house, looking for paper scraps and thinking of cutting up that bed sheet just so I can get started. Yes, this class is THAT good.

I Love Color

2009-12-18T15:18:00.000-08:00

I'm in a strange mood today, quiet and contemplative. That can morph into moodiness, so I decided I needed a change of attitude.
Working with fabric, bright colors and trims, influenced by the Hispanic history of Tucson, I created this page.

It's always good to go to my sewing machine, fabric and buttons. I've been gone too long.

A Christmas Centerpiece

2009-12-17T13:55:00.000-08:00

70 degrees here in Tucson today while I was making this centerpiece.
The glass topper is vintage and an inexpensive find at a local antique mall. In the absence of pine trees, I used seed pods from a yucca plant.

I'm glad my supermarket sells packs of mixed Christmas greens. The house will smell wonderful now and the centerpiece can last for weeks.

December 16th Journal Pages

2009-12-16T16:19:00.000-08:00

Micron pens, water colors

Christmas 2009

2009-12-14T13:33:00.001-08:00

  Every year my mother, my sisters and I exchange ornaments. We started including my eldest niece in our tradition now.
  I made the ornaments I'm exchanging this year. But I can't post a picture of them yet as they are a surprise. I'll have to wait until after Christmas to share a picture of them here.
  I can't wait.

Waiting for Santa

2009-12-03T17:12:00.000-08:00

  Here's a photo of the pencil drawing I did of our four chis. I didn't use photos so it was occasionally a challenge to get my models to cooperate. Mark had to hold them sometimes and bribe them with treats. There's a bit of "cleaning up"that I still have to do but I'm happy with it.
  All these years I've never did a drawing for our Christmas card. Until now I didn't have the confidence that it was "good enough".
  The Inner Critic is getting a lump of drawing charcoal for Christmas this year.

Dec. 2nd-Glass Lovebirds Ornament

2009-12-02T09:54:00.000-08:00

My sister, Barb, gave me this glass ornament three years ago for our ornament exchange. She got it because I love birds, wild or domestic. I used to raise cockatiels, lovebirds and small conures for pet stores and individual buyers when we lived in Albuquerque. One part of our garage was lined with cages and was heated or cooled as necessary. I was known for the raising the sweetest lovebirds who never bit you and liked to be carried around, even in your pocket. They were a lot of work though. I'd take the chicks from the parents before their eyes were open so they'd imprint on me as their mother. I'd make a daily formula just for handraising baby birds and it didn't smell very pleasant. It had to be just the right temperature so as to not burn the babies' gullets. Then I'd put it in plastic syringes and insert it carefully into their beaks. As they got older they'd have to have fresh vegetables and fruit every day, so I was chopping those up constantly. The birds ate healthier than we did.
You never knew when the babies decided they'd like to fly so I had to be careful not to have the overhead fan going. Raising birds was much more work than having my four chihuahuas. The dogs have never made as much a mess as 16 pairs of small birds did.
I don't miss raising birds. But if we ever settle down anywhere longer than a few years I wouldn't mind having a cacatele.

I Get By With a Lot of Help from my Friends

2009-12-02T08:42:00.000-08:00

I have a dear friend I met on-line through a yahoo group. Over the years we've been partners in swaps. I finally had the chance to meet her in person at Art Unraveled in Phoenix in 2005. Becky is multi-talented-she does wonderful art journaling, makes journals, paints on cloth, etc. What she had done for me especially is design my website and help me with my blogs. She seems to be able to read my mind as to what I want and need and goes to it right away. I highly recommend hiring Becky should you want help with your websites or blogs. She won't make you cry. :)

Check out Becky's blog here and tell her Theresa sent you. http://windows-wide-open.blogspot.com

Woodland Santa

2009-12-01T20:52:00.000-08:00

This framed cross stitch project is always the first thing I decorate with when the holiday season rolls around. I stitched it about ten years ago when we were living in Albuquerque full time. It is about 15 x16 inches, not including the frame. It took me a long time to complete and I doubt I'll ever tackle anything as ornate as this is ever again. The eyes and my patience aren't what they used to be!
I love how the gold frame and the green velvet compliment this.
I entered it into the New Mexico State fair competition. It won First Place Blue ribbon and Best of Show that year.
It has to be one of my favorites and always occupies a prominent place in my home.