Fabric Squares

These are fabric, one inch squares that I just completed for a swap with my Altered Art Obscession group. I will be sending these to a lady in Canada, who will then redistribute them to other members. They were rather tedious to make but I have had plenty of sitting around time to work on them because I have had to sit at the hospital with my aunt (see previous post about her birthday.) She has been in the hospital twice in the past two weeks and in and out of the nursing home. Last Thursday, she fell and broke her hip at the nursing home. Two months ago, I visited her at her home and she made me peach pie and we visited and looked at old family photos all afternoon. Now she is almost totally helpless and very confused from all the medication. I have had lots of time watching her in the hospital, to think about death, helplessness, family, and loss of dignity. It makes you wonder how you would want to spend your last few weeks or months alive; aware but in pain, or drugged and confortable but totally confused. Most people say that to break your hip and be in a nursing home is almost a death sentence. She knows this too, and when she is aware it has to be going through her mind. All we can do is be there for her and try to comfort her. It makes you feel a bit helpless.
Cherish those around you and let them know that you care.

Altered Art Obsession Activity and Artella Muse

I have been participating in some art swaps lately. It's kind of a side art hobby to connect with other artists around the country. One of the swaps was through Artella Zine and I received a package from a lady named Kelly Parker from Michigan. I am posting a photo of the dangly and card that I received from her and also she sent a small treasure chest of goodies to collage with. When I showed my husband and son, my son said with surprise, "So, there are other people out there like you!" I guess that's what these swaps are about; to know there are other creative (maybe slightly odd) people out there like yourself. Another swap that I am doing is with Altered Art Obsession. For this one we have to make 12 tags and laminate them. We send them to the hostess who will collate them so that we will receive 12 different ones and she will attach them to a chain. I had fun making these little collages. Pictured are the fronts. The backs are collaged also.

Rocky Mountain High

I just got back from a ski vacation in Breckenridge, CO. I think I've had my fill of snow for the next couple of years. Here is a photo of our motley crew ready to brave the blizzard and one of dear hubby and myself on the mainstreet of Breckenridge. Last is a photo of the winner of the snow sculpture contest there. The title is Old Man Winter. Saturday I walked through town and visited several galleries. My favorite was the Huneck Gallery of Breckenridge. The gallery is full of pet art. It features the art of Steven Huneck and D D Larue along with various other artists. They are both so prolific and their art is humorous and inspiring. I also visited Arts Alive the local artists' co-op gallery. There was a nice variety of different media and I had an interesting conversation with the lady working there about precious metal clay techniques, my next new medium to try. Then I went into the Fox Ridge Gallery that specializes in art glass. I bought a beautiful pair of earrings made of dicroic glass. A trip like that gets my creative juices flowing again. Now if I just had time to create uninterupted.

Old Doors

My mom just got through remodeling her house and removed some old doors. The contractor wanted to burn them, but I rescued them. I wasn't sure quite what I would do with them, but I knew I would think of something. If they were original to the house then they are almost a hundred years old. The paint is all crackled. I decided to paint a French lavender field scene on them and hinge them like a folding screen. I love the old distressed look but it doesn't quite go with my house so these need to find a new place to live. They will stay in my basement along with my stockpile of other artwork until I find a place to sell them. Maybe ebay.

My Art Muse

If there is such a thing as an art muse, for me it would probably be my Aunt Marguerite. When I was a child, my favorite place was my aunt's attic bedroom. She had it stocked with everything a child would need to be creative; colored paper, scissors, glue, fabric, a doll house. Any art materials that my sister and brother and I got at home that Mom probably considered too messy, wound up there also. I have saved some of the things that I created and scanned them all, along with some other items from her room. I think that she is probably the reason I chose to be an artist. She was never married or had any children, but lived with my grandparents to take care of them. I think all of us nieces and nephews were like her children. She would always take time to take us on walks to the creek or the barn and teach us things.
Tomorrow she will turn 84. I made her a card using a picture of her taken when she was around 20 that she gave me a couple of weeks ago when I went to visit. I hope she likes her wings. Happy Birthday Marguerite!

Sunrise

I just checked my camera to see the photos that I took over the weekend and I thought that this one turned out pretty interesting. When I woke up Friday morning the sky was a beautiful pink and it made my whole kitchen glow pink also. I knew that my flash would reflect so I tried to cover it with my finger. Not only were the sky and kitchen a beautiful pink but so were my cats' eyes as they were waiting for me to serve them breakfast. Kind of spooky.

ATC's

Here are 4 ATC's that I made for an exchange in my Altered Art Obsession Yahoo group. We make 4 of them and send them to the person hosting, who keeps one and sends back 3 different ones to the sender. This is my first exchange, so I am a little nervous. Is my work up to par for this group? The theme is "Femme Fatale" and hopefully my cards keep to the idea. Can't wait to see what I get in return. The deadline is Jan. 15, so I will have to wait a while.