Closing Out 2010, Welcoming the New Year

One of my goals for the past few months has been to post more consistently on my blog. I'm happy to say that I've reached that goal for this month. So here is my last post for the year. I plan to work on my 100 accomplishments for 2010 and post that in the next few days. In the meantime I hope you have a wonderful New Years celebration wherever you are.

I have so many plans and goals for 2011 that I am very excited about. I'll be sharing them in the months to come. The word I've chosen for the new year is CHANGE and I intend for many changes to take place, big and small. I hope all your dreams and aspirations come true for your new year.

Art Journal Every Day

Julie Balzer  has done it again! On December 31st she'll post the first of many Art Journal Every Day topics. This will continue throughout the new year with many artist's participating including ME! Can't wait to get started. I brought my art journal with me while visiting the family for the holidays so I can get a start on it.

Evolution of a Box Piece

 I found this drawer lying on a table in the room where I teach collage. At first I thought it was wood but when I touched it realized it was plastic. I was disappointed at first but then decided it didn't matter.  Nobody claimed it and it had my name all over it so I took it home. Here is what I did with it:

The inside of the box was covered in red flocked paper. Yuck! I should have taken a picture of it but didn't. I glued this vintage marbled paper inside to carry the antique look I was going for. I found these papers on the street along with covers for an old dictionary. The covers I used to make a journal that I showed in a previous post.

Next I glued this wonderful sheer fabric with roses to the outside on two sides. It used to part part of a blouse. I wanted to cover the plastic and integrate the outside with the inside more.

I have all these vintage sewing notions that I've been wanting to use in a piece and this was the perfect opportunity. The small card on the right holds woman's garters. The  larger card on the left holds hooks and eyes and has beautiful text.  I made the spiral from a bit of cloth covered copper wire that was fraying and hung it from the top of the box with some waxed linen.

A numerical table got glued to the back wall and an old green tape measure is down on the bottom.

 I think I'll call it Sewing Box

Jigsaw Puzzle Pin Guest Post Today!

Well here it is. The link to my guest post on Julie Balzer's blog. Let me know what you think and if you make a pin share a pic with me.

http://balzerdesigns.typepad.com/balzer_designs/2010/12/jigsaw-puzzle-pin.html

My Guest Post on Julie Balzer's blog

http://balzerdesigns.typepad.com/

I am delighted to be a part of Julie Balzer's Holidays Handmade. Every day there will be at least four posts (and maybe more!) with a different crafty focus. My post airs on Sunday, December 12th. I'll be showing you how to make fabulous pins from jigsaw puzzle pieces. Here's a preview of the project.

Sleepless Life

Am I destined to not sleep? Can one be predestined to never get enough sleep. Why me? I ask myself. I'll be on my way and the slightest noise, the heat coming on, a change in temperature, the asshole that lives above me walking back and forth, back and forth right over my head, the floor boards moaning, dropping something just as I'm falling off. Then I'm up and agitated, my mind working overtime, my heart racing, my jaw clenching, my anxiety level sky high.

I wonder how I can live in a small box with people on top, people underneath and sideways, everywhere. I long for open spaces, tranquility, peace and quiet. Blissful peace and quiet. Is that possible in this world and if so where is it? Where can I go to get a good night's sleep?

I feel a big change coming on and wonder how it will take form. I resist it. I long for it. I need it. Desperately. More than you'll ever know. Things that I've done for years I don't want to do any more. Or at least change the context. Or the location. Or the audience. Or me. I want to be something else. Not someone else. I just want a new life, a different life, a more fulfilled life. Perhaps this is all a new beginning and the inner stirrings to make the change happen. I don't know. But I'm going to find out.