miPad

Okay, I'm a geek.  I admit it.  Two hours in line at the Apple store to get the new iPad.  I wasn't going to get one.  No.  I just bought an iPhone.  I have a Pod, I have a laptop, why do I need a new gadget?  I succumbed to that little demon in me saying   "you deserve this" "you should have some fun" "it's only $500".  So, yes, I bought it.  I love it.  I think I'm going to sleep with it.  This thing just feels so right.  Turn it this way and that, touch, stroke, pat, pinch and it responds.  Keypad is decent, not like the phones' itty bitty letters.  It is lightening fast, so colorful and bright and so thin.  It is not as light as I thought it would be.  Yes, it is lightweight compared to a laptop, or my purse, but it does have some weight to it and holding it seems to have tired my wrists and hands a bit,  I'm sure I will get used to that just like I got used to mouse-wrist and keyboard-thumbs.

Have I sold you?  If not, one more feature is awesome.  iBooks.  This is a book reader too.  Books are averaging around $9.99 but there is a whole library of free books.  I mean CLASSICS.  You get Winnie the Pooh with the iPad just to start you out.  I just downloaded the entire works of Shakespeare in 5000+ pages plus Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and there's more waiting; Sherlock Holmes, and a slew of them I can't recall now.  So, save your money on the Nook or Kindle and put that into the iPad:  books, wifi internet, photos, games, Music, Movies, Apps.  Don't forget to eat and sleep!

I'm back in the saddle again

Okay, I'm back.  Have not blogged for a while.  It is amazing how being sick can throw you off.  I'm forcing myself to get back into normalcy, get back on treadmill, create some art, stop sleeping, stop dragging around.  My sinuses hurt as I sit here, trying to ignore that.  Oh, the eyes are watering too.  Okay, I need a diversion.  I dyed some tags with pomegranate juice.  Oh how pretty in pink.  Do they say Valentine?  I have made a card for my club's exchange and 10 ATCs.  Next, I should try something with the tags.  Stay tuned!

In memorium

We lost a great friend and wonderful artist this past week.  My friend Cyndi was a very intuitive artist, self taught, prolific.  She loved altering books, making artist trading cards, inchies, and making 3 dimensional pieces with vintage papers, inks, paper punches and such.  Cyndi very bravely fought her cancer for 3 years.  She will be remembered always.

Serviettes

Fancy name for fancy napkins. I recently was involved in a trade of napkins from people in swap group around the world. I sent a number of my own nappies from my collection and received these back. They are so beautiful. I use them in my art by ironing them onto cardstock with some plastic food wrap which melts with the iron and adheres the napkin to the card. The colors and textures are wonderful.

Linda Lee

One of the most talented, lovely, personable individuals I've enjoyed lately is Linda Lee of the Sewing Workshop. Went to her lecture/trunk show tonight. So inspiring to see all the garments she showed to show off her patterns. Loved the Ikina Jacket and the bags in laminated linen! I'll put a link to her website. Patterns are so unique and it is great to see them made up in just the right fabrics!

Shutter card

I'm back! Don't know where the time goes. Been TRYING to study for work related course, ...blech! Why do I do this to myself? No reason to take this course; no degree; no work advancement (probably not anyway). Glutton for punishment? Maybe...

I did some things for fun. I made this shutter card. It is an acordian style card but sliced in the center panels and folded alternate ways. The photos show this is kind of orange but the paper was more a dark beige. I think it was lack of flash in the room which has alot of brown and yellow in it. Anyway, the paper is the fun Graphic 45 double sided scrapbook paper with coordinating tags and pieces. I made this as a card for my "secret stamper" in LATS. That is Ladies and the Stamps club! Who is the "lucky" recipient? I'm not saying!!

ATCs ready to trade!

Spent Sunday working on my ATCs. Some are for club swaps locally and some are going to be swapped with internet swap groups. There's no rhyme or reason for these. I just let myself freely play with pencils, crayons and dye ink pads. Interested in swapping? Just add a comment, your email and I will contact you.

Made a card

Made this fun card for a friend. I used some distressing techniques such as roughing up the edges with a distress razor tool. The ticket and other little snippets are just found items I saved for collaging.

SWAPS!

I'm eager to get some more "followers" on my blog. When I get 5 more followers who are stampers or artists I will issue a challenge for an ATC swap. What is an ATC- Artist Trading Cards! It is a small piece of art, usually rubber stamped or using some form of pictorial artwork, that is 2.5" x 3.5" inches. It usually but not always has some sort of dimensional embellishment. The artist signs and dates it on the back and if the piece is one of a sequence, it is numbered. I've uploaded photos of some recent trades-- Asian theme. When I do the swap it will require that I be mailed at least 5 ATCs. I will then send 5 back to you from the other participants. More to follow...