Thankful

As the end of the year approaches I tend to reflect on my life.  The things that I have enjoyed, the people who have enriched my life. Growing another year older, the love of family. My aging parents and the troubles they are having almost daily it seems.  I think a lot about the loneliness's they each have, having lost their partners in the last few years, living alone. The unwillingness to change and downsize their homes.  The forgetfulness that comes with age and the memories of their childhood that become so strong. Stories that I have never heard are coming out.  The bike that they shared with their brothers.  One bike and three kids.  This week my mother-in-law locked herself out of her car with the groceries on the front seat. Today the locksmith comes to open the car..luckily she didn't by ice cream.  My mother got out of the hospital only to find that she couldn't get in her house.  The neighbor that so lovingly took her to the hospital, carefully locked my mothers purse and keys inside the house. Luckily my niece found a front door key.

Yes, it is the little things in life that we can be thankful for.  Family, friends and the creative moments.  Mostly our health I guess.  We don't always think about it until someone we know is going through ill health.  So I give thanks for all I have and I pray for the ill, the lonely, the out of work, the down and out and the hungry............DIANE

Art Gives Me Wings

Ahh yes.....Crowns and Wings and Artsy Things. A very big influence in the world of altered art. It seems as though everything has sprouted wings these days. You will find them on puppy's and kittens and kids. And crowns aren't just for royalty anymore, vintage women are my favorite to crown. And don't forget the crowing glory of the pointed hat and you can Zetti just about anything. I am loving the Journal pages that I am seeing out and about. They are fun and colorful and just full of imagination.

I have four more necklaces to share and then on with something else. I know it may seem early for some of you but I am already thinking about what to make and give for Christmas. I have an idea for two small scrapbooks and one altered book. I guess that's a start, just to think about it.

Art On..........Diane

LIVE LAUGH LOVE

Take giant steps. Get your art out there to the neighborhood. Share your JOY. Tonight I am sharing my work with a few friends. We are having a wine tasting/Art Show at the Tea Room here in town. I invited a few close friends. Most of them have not seen my art before. Or seen it on line only. My BFF is coming up. I am nervous. It took almost three hours last night to set up, but we had fun. Tomorrow is the B I G day. I invited all my family and a few close friends to a open house. We are serving cookies and punch, and for four hours I will be out of my element. Showing my art. Its funny how you get talked into something. And here I am trying to talk you into sharing your art with others too. We have a large Quilting group here in our little town. They all know me but didn't know I do art...They do now, and after tomorrow the will have seen it all...I am taking pictures for my Mom and family down south so maybe I will share some with my blog friends too. This is a big step for me, but I figured it was time. Wish me luck!!! Diane

Dream Big

I have done a series of 6" x 6" canvases. I enjoyed this little guy. Last night I started a bigger canvas. I love working on canvas and I love the larger size...I can't believe I haven't used my Epson printer to its fullest capacity. It will print 13 x19 paper and I have a brand new pack sitting here. I have only used it once to print one of my photographs. After struggling to print some legs for my new project I went....duh... make a copy with the big paper....I have not used it because the paper is expensive and of course the ink cost go up too...but I finally have just the right project for it...stay tuned. Diane

Gypsie's, Tramps and Thieves

Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves is the theme for the latest swap that I am in.. The work that everyone it putting into this swap is fantastic. A group of very talented artist that I am proud to be associated with. A fun group full of banter and laughter. Lots of ideas to keep the creative juices flowing.

Well I have lost a few things in the mail lately. After two years of swapping art through the mail it has finally happened to me. I just sent a postcard inside an envelope for protection and it didn't make it to the person. She thinks maybe someone is taking it out of her mailbox so it is no fault of the U.S.P.O.

ART ON PEOPLE.....Diane

FAIRIES IN THE WOODS

Fairies in the Woods is a 4" x 4" page for a swap I am in. There are 6 players and each person picks a picture that they like and every player makes them a page using that picture. It can be altered in any way and you can use all or part of the picture anyway you want...This is the girl I picked and it will be fun to see how the other artist use her in their art. I will show you the other pages I do and when it is done I will show you the pages the others have made for me...Happy Art day to you...Diane

ZETTI postcard

This was fun, I made it for a Thursday Postcard Challenge the theme of course being Zetti. I love Zetti's they can be just about anything. This one just sorta evolved while I was looking for images to use. The snail is from clip art I bought from Tim Holtz. I have had the legs along time, they are from Teesha Moore. The tickets I just received in a "swap of stuff" every month we swap misc. art papers and do dads and bits of this and that..I am very happy with her and will find it hard to part with.

Circus Circus Circus

These are three of the six Chunky Book pages I made for a swap. Of course the theme was

Circus. I love the vintage images I found in a book I bought at Barns and Noble. "The Victorian Scrap Gallery" It is a beautiful book by Dee Davis and Gail B. Cooper. All the images are printed on one side of the page only do you can cut them out I guess, or maybe because they print better that way. I could never cut them out it is such a lovely book.

Art Trader Magazine

PUBLISHED ART
How exciting....I entered a contest in October over at Mail Art World http://www.mailartworld.com/ and even thought I didn't win the contest my Postcard was published in the ART TRADER MAGAZINE http://www.arttradermag.com/ issue number 5 on page 31. Now most of you know I am not a big fan of Halloween and you know about my lovely friend Carol who was a big fan of the holiday and so you know why I entered this Halloween Postcard contest.

I am very impressed with this magazine. It is an on line magazine but I understand it is soon to go hard copy and we will be able to buy it right along with our many Somerset publications.

ATC'S Artist Trading Cards

These are the first ATC's I have made in awhile..I have been working mostly on larger sizes so this was a fun project. They are all made for a swap I am in at another site. These exchanges keep the ideas flowing and the challenge always on. It is a way to exchange ideas and art with others and make new friend. The ATC is 2.5 x 3.5, the same size as the baseball card that have been traded for years. I have done a new size 5 x 5 just for fun and will share them with you later. Meanwhile ART ON PEOPLE.......................................DIANE

Four Pretties and a Valentine

We had a lovely trip to the city. Four nights and five days, ate like little piggies, went to two movies two different nights and had a blast at the thrift stores and of course the art store. I think I gained 4 pounds.........ah but it was fun. Lattes every morning yummmm I will miss them but now I can go back on my black coffee and cold cereal.

I found four lovely little pieces of jewelry...I just had to have the Statue Of Liberty...with my birthstone. I was born in New York City, but left when I was two and somehow I still feel connected to the place. The brass cupid I just had to have for Valentines Day and of course I can't pass up the little rhinestone pins..The little girl Valentine is in great shape and the arms and legs move, it is handwritten on the back from the 1930's. The vintage photo is a beautiful woman with outstanding furniture. Have a Beautiful Day. Diane

Christmas in the Mountains

Christmas in the Mountains. It is snowing now and the trees are white and beautiful. I am trying not to worry about my family that is on the road in the next few days. We will be busy at work today. The snow seems to get everybody out and about and in a festive mood. Three more days til Christmas. I am done with all my shopping and am trying to concentrate on things to do with the boys when they get here. I bought a gingerbread house kit. Had to. Gran wanted to make one and take some pictures. I am going to make the house so it will be good and dry when they get here then they can decorate it. I can't wait. I am still trying to think of some games but it looks like we will have some snow to play in...May all your family travel safe, by plane or train or car..........Hugs, Diane

Vintage Postcards

Aren't they wonderful.....................old postcards. The colors are so soft and the subject matter so sweet and pure. Although they are very collectible you can still buy them for about a dollar. Some subjects go for a little more, but usually a dollar. I keep some of them in a photo album. I love to get them out and think about how much times have changed. I sometimes buy the package of them that folds out, many cards all about a state or place of interest. I recently bought one about Los Angeles.. Must have been 40 or 50 years ago...It makes me wonder if the building is still there, or if this little bit of history is all that is left. Diane

Twenty Days til Christmas

Yes, it is going fast. I hope all your plans are coming together. Hope you are staying STRESS FREE!! And I hope you are finding time to do some ART...........I spent yesterday finishing up all my unfinished art projects. Tying together loose ends...finishing the back of 4x4 pages for a swap. Mailing an altered CD for a swap. Painting the edges of several canvases. Cleaning my work space AGAIN. Oh and I finished decorating the living room, at least I think I am finished. You know how that goes...you find just one more thing to add to the festivities........R & R...Diane

Invitation to ART TRADER MAGAZINE

Well, I found out this morning that even tho I didn't win the Halloween postcard contest over at MAIL ART WORLD my submission has been invited to the Magazine "ART TRADER".........How COOL is that?

Halloween Postcard Contest

This is my postcard for the Halloween Postcard Contest on MAW Mail Art World http://www.mailartworld.com/forum/showthread.php?t=505 I hope I win.....that would be so cool, however there are some pretty awesome cards there...check it out...............Diane

The Flowers of Summer

The theme for this weeks SUNDAY POSTCARD was" Summer flowers" I loved using this old print and adding the new bright border from some summer scrap booking paper that I have had a couple of years now..Every time I am doing a scrapbook I can't help buying some new papers and I always have a bunch left. Have a BRILLIANT day. Diane

RARE FLOWER

This beautiful Orchid just had to find it's way into my art. It was taken from "The Victorian Scrap Gallery" book. The book is by Dee Davis and Gail B. Cooper and was bargain priced at Barn and Nobel for only 6.98............what a bargain. It has many lovely pictures in it. It is made for the collage artist so all the copyrights are clear. It is a beautiful book and I just scan from it as I could never cut up the book itself. Have a creative weekend......Hugs, Diane

Something for Sarah

Well, I am not sure if this is a WIP or finished...This is 7 x 13 inches, I feel like it needs more STUFF but for now this is as done as it is gonna get..Sometimes it is better to move on, maybe come back to it later or maybe not. Still....it was fun and I enjoyed working on it. Isn't that what it is all about?? ART-ON.

Lace and Pearls

This was my first attempt at a lacy, frilly wall hanging. It is 13 inches x 5 inches. I am working on my second one but it still needs more lace or something. It was really fun and I am sure I will be making more of these. I have alot of bits and pieces of vintage jewelry that I need to use. Anyway..............Off to work...spread some JOY today. My wee Irish friend has a new blog and you should stop by and say Hi..http://cheekyurchin.blogspot.com/