Wanderlust & Pixie Dust

Thanks to Mapplethorpe

Ever get suddenly inspired to get up off your hot cross buns and just make something?    That's what happened here.  I had once again lost my mojo  (losing my Abby and other recent events didn't help matters) and just didn't feel compelled to set foot in my craft room.

While down in Torrance, CA and during one of my fathers recent 4 hospital stays, I cruised over to a favorite used book store.   I picked up a biography on ROBERT MAPPLETHORPE and was utterly mesmerized for a snippet each day.   Something about this intense, immensely talented (and oh yes, incredibly controversial) creature unearthed my missing mojo.   I whipped out my paints and got cracking.  It all came together effortlessly for about 45 minutes and then I came to a complete and sudden halt.  Thar she blows, oops, I mean, sits.  I'm not sure where she is going at the moment or what I will be doing with her next.  I only know that she is not finished.

 

Of course I have no way of truly knowing, but something tells me that Mapplethorpe was never truly happy.   A talented, tormented soul with the ability to soar way out of the box.   Sometimes I find myself wanting to fling brightly colored paint on the walls after setting this book down.   To just do something, to flood the room with sunshine.

I'm taking my time with Mapplethorpe having reached the section in the book where he is slowly growing ill with HIV.  Although I am already full well aware of where this story is headed, I am not quite ready to do there.  

I feel as if I'm watching a bad horror movie.  Y'know that type that makes you want to holler "Stop!  Don't open that door!"   If only I could somehow shout loud enough and warn him not to catch AIDS.   As if.
 

Lumiere Paints

I just love Lumiere paints.  

What I don't love are these little sample size bottles of Lumiere paint.   If you have ever thought about trying these out, you will not be disappointed.  With the colors that is.  The tiny plastic bottles might drive you nuts however. If you are on a tight budget you might consider using one of those 40% off coupons from your favorite craft store, and just treat yourself to one of the regular sized jars every now and then.  

 

Why do I hate those itty bitty sample sized bottles so much?   Because the pigment and sparkly stuff settles to the bottom.  Sooner or later you're going to have to pop off the "tip" like so.

Sorry about the blurry pix.  

Next, you'll discover that it helps to stir things up with the first reasonable thing within grabbing distance.  A headpin works great.   Or the end of a paintbrush.    Lastly, plug the open top with a paint covered finger and shake. 

The bigger jars are soooo much easier to get into and are easily mixed.   If you're like me however, your fingers will still wind up looking like this when you're finished playing:

Even More Itty Bitty Robin's Egg Blue

Ok, finally. The rest of my pictures from the Itty bitty Robin's Egg Blue Book. I tried to post at least one picture from each submission. At the bottom I'll list the names and/or blog address for everyone who contributed.

Here is a LINK to any earlier post I did about my the little page that I created for this book.

When viewing these photo's, please remember that the 2 main rules we had to stick two when creating our pages were first and foremost, that we had to use the color robin's egg blue. And second, that the pages had to be...oops. I've already forgotten what the exact measurements were. Small. I think the pages had to be like 2 1/2 inches x 3 1/2 inches. Something like that.

Contributors to this wonderful, beautiful little book:
gypsymermaidlife
Mahala Elliott
Jane Gherardi
Michel Murphy
firstbornwordpress
gracefilledmoments
Valarie Whicker
Jessie Ruiz
Bridget Wright Schneider
Lisa Kettell
natashaburns
thevintagedragonfly
rhondamum
Samantha Miranda
susiescottstudios
elizabethholcombe
raeshadrz
everyday-holiday
quiltingtiesthatbind
frommycherryheart
creativemuse
sweetremembrance
Jo Moran
explorationofcolor
Whimsy and Stars Studio
Hagit Rozanes
Funky Luke
Yvonne Stehle/Moline
Jana Myers

A whole bunch of thanks again to Mary ann Mckeating at Firstborn for putting this all together!

More Itty Bitty Robin's Egg Blue Book

I am sooo sorry. In my last post I had meant to come back the next day and post the rest of my pictures from this wonderful swap. I should have known better than to say that before the weekend. Below you will find more pictures but this is actually only about half of them. My hubby is going to leave work later than usual tomorrow. After he leaves I will be able to get back on this computer and play. I hope that you enjoy what I have been able to post so far!

Itty Bitty Robin's Egg Blue Book

I'm about to run out the door but wanted to share a few quick photo's from a swap that I participated in recently. I received a small priority mail box the other day and as usual immediately panicked (again). Oh-oh. Like I always do. What did I win now on Ebay? I don't remember bidding on anything last week. No need to panic. It turned out to be my copy of the Itty Bitty Robin's Egg Blue Book.

I will not have time till later today to post all of my photo's. There were a total of 30 ladies who participated in this and it came out incredible!

So I will be back later to tell you more about the book, to give credit to the wonderful pages above and to share a huge bunch more of pix!

Tale of My Itty Bitty Robin's Egg Blue Book Page

About a month or so I go I joined 30 other ladies in creating a page from scratch and submitting it to be added to a book to be created from all of our pages. The only limitations were that the pages had to ultimately be a certain size, and one had to use the color robin's egg blue. Well late as usual and unorganized me created her page in a hurry and at the last minute. Actually the page I submitted was the 3rd one that I conjured up and liked the best.

We needed to make 31 copies of the front and backside of our page. Simple enough. Except that big dummy me went brain dead and only copied the front page. I realized this after I had also realized that somewhere along the way my page had "grown" to be the wrong size and had to be hand trimmed. Each and every one. Look at my messy mess.

So back to the copy center I went. I made 31 more copies, trimmed each one as best I could (chopping off quite a bit I might add) and then hand glued the two pieces together, 31 times.

Because after all this I was beyond being out of time, I sent them off as is. I feel that my poor little page is rather plain after seeing all the other beautiful contributions. I didn't have time to add the scalloped paper trim on each page that I had to chop off. Ah well. I'm hardly ever satisfied with my own creations but I'm very happy to be included with all the other spectacularly talented ladies. And very glad to have joined. I seem to learn more about myself with every new project. Can't wait to see the finished project. I promise to share plenty of photo's with everyone as soon as I can.

A very special thanks and a huge mega round or applause to Mary Ann over at Follow Your Bliss Designs for putting this all together!!!!!

Round Robin Pix

Photo's from the Round Robin that I am a part of with Priscilla, Rhondamum
and The Junkk Drawer

The poem that I used in this piece is one of my all time faves. It's just so melodramatic that I swoon everytime that I read it. Here is a sample:

Bedouin Song

From the Desert I come to thee,
On a stallion shod with fire,
And the winds are left behind
In the speed of my desire.

Under they window I stand
And the midnight hears my cry
I love thee. I love but thee,
With a love that shall not die!

Look from thy window and see
My passion and my pain;
I lie on the sands below
And I faint in thy disdain.

Let the night-winds touch thy brow
With the heat of my burning sigh
And melt thee to hear the vow
Of a love that shall not die!

Bayard Taylor

Can't help but wonder if the fellow who wrote this had someone specific and special in mind when he created this poem. So many years ago...

I propped up Priscilla's pretty work up in a safe corner for imspiration. Initially I was terrified to even bring them into my craft room. I was scared that I would mess them up somehow. Y'know trip on a stray bead and fling acrylic paint across theme or something. I was just being silly as usual. No harm came to them!

Page on the left is by Priscilla.

Additional photo's soon!

A Peak at My Round Robin Book*Vintage Heart Swap

Took me 19 cds yesterday just to back up my iTunes. Whew. I also backed up some of my photo's. At least I think I did. My stepson who also has a Mac, is coming out this weekend to help me do damage control before I take my computer to the computer doc. And hopefully before it shuts down on me completely.

Joined my very first round robin book swap recently. Hosted by the lovely Maria at The Junk Drawer.. If you scroll down a teeny bit, you will see Priscilla's lovely creation.

I freaked myself out by joining this round robin. Who am I trying to kid? I can't create anything as beautiful as these ladies. I am way out of my league. Enough self doubt to keep a therapist happy for eons. Well after starting over and over and over again, y'know what? It finally started to click. I'm way behind everyone else but it's finally happening. I had to go into my craft room and literally shut out the whole world. Put on my music and just let myself go. Kinda like a mad scientist. A grouchy mad scientist, as my poor husband and baby dog Abby will attest. (Sorry about that dear.)

Somebody please tell me that I'm not the only one who got herself so worked up about her first major artistic challenge! Was is just me? I'll be better next time. Promise.

I've posted just a few close up's for now. Haven't had much time to take pictures. I will post more later.

Time to brag about my Vintage Heart Swap basket from Viviane.

This basket was so sweet that I tortured myself by setting it out in the middle of the living room without unwrapping it. When I finally couldn't stand it any longer I dismantled it.

Filled with precious little heart shaped pillows placed roundabout:

And chocolaty confections that magically disappeared in the blink of an eye:

Speaking of chocolate, there were plenty of chocolate kisses to be discovered tucked in below. See em peeking out at ya? Notice I said "were". All gone!

Love this little gal. She's going under the scanner shortly. A scanner that is starting to emit strange noises I might add. Oh oh. What does that mean, pray tell.

I actually have a rubber stamp that looks very similar.

Everything has been carefully place back where it belongs and I've placed the basket back on my coffee table. This way I can admire it reminisce about devouring those Reese's chocolates every time I walk by.

Priscilla's Beautiful Valentine's Day Swap Book!

Recently I decided to participate in my very first book swap with 3 other gals. Yesterday I received my first book in the mail (mind racing, oh-oh, I don't remember buying anything...) and was completely blown away.

It was just so beautiful! Priscilla from SWEET REMEMBRANCE, I felt like I was unwrapping a precious treasure. I'm so afraid that I will mess it up is some way. I will try to be so very careful as I add my own pages.

Of course being me, I think that I am the only one who has not finished her book ahead of our Feb 1st deadline. This is the very first book swap for Rhonda at RHONDAMUM too. Be sure to peek at her blog to see how lovely hers turned. Makes me want to go back and start all over. But I won't, I am so behind everyone else already.

A gabillion thanks to Maria of The Junk Drawer for organizing all of this. Can't wait to see hers. This has really been fun...

Anyone else considering doing their very first swap? A little scared? Terrified? Do it!

*****************************************************************************************

Another big package just arrived. Oh goody!

My Latest Creation and Angels

Here is a little necklace that I made last night. I used vintage chain, vintage pieces and odds and ends, a few Swarovski crystals, copper findings and chocolate brown ribbon. The green heart shaped pendant of course isn't vintage but I still love it. I was planning to put this in MY ETSY SHOP tomorrow but I like it so much, just like everything else, I want to keep it. How do you experienced Etsy sellers & Etsy artists do it? Does it get easier with time to part with things that you've created? Oh well.

Oh yeah. I had planned to put that lovely circular all handmade lace doily in my Etsy shop too. Back when I first opened it. You see how well that idea went. It's still in my materialistic little clutches.

The last few months have been very difficult for my husband and I. Last weekend, in the midst of our dealing with the loss of our beloved Casper, an angel walked into our lives. One of our neighbors did something for us so unexpectedly and from the heart that I'm getting all choked up again just typing about it. Between him and our dogs who have passed away, we have learned so much. We are so touched and could never repay him or explain in words how much what he did meant to us. But I am working hard to find a way...