Alphabet Charms

I just listed these cute little alphabet charms on my etsy shop. They are made the same way I made the last batch. I took left over shards form vintage plates and cut into little squares, soldered, added alphabet stickers and then sealed with diamond glaze. They are only $5.00 each because they do not come with a chain.

Altered Art Journal Letter J

I'm a junker, have been for a long time. I can't throw anything away. It is a constant struggle between me and my husband who is a neat freak. But, I also have to admit that it does feel good to go through the junk and get rid of it sometimes. I don't know where it comes from. It multiplies like rabbits. I clean things out, have garage sales and it's still there. I know one day I will need that extra little do- hickey for something, like this journal. I knew I would need that little egg dipper one day.

Painting In Progress

Pass It On

Retro cafe art is having a giveaway on October 31st. Go there and enter so you too can have a chance to win this wonderful prize. All you have to do is link them back to your blog.
How fun! I hope I win...I never win anything.
Just a quick update. I started a new painting....yea. I love the process.
I'm in the middle of doing the background. I have an idea of the girl I will be painting for the focal point. So far so good. I am soooo loving this feeling.
And on the flip side it is also exciting to share my art with people and see their reaction. So I have to tell this little story. I went to visit my mom yesterday. She is in an assisted living home in Yoakum. It's a wonderful place. It has a nice family atmosphere. One of the young girls who works there commented on the painting I gave my mom for her birthday. She really liked it and started asking me how I did it. She is a budding artist as well. She was working on a painting and could not finish because she felt she could not do faces. So I told her about Paulette's class and gave her all the information. She ran upstairs to get the painting she was working on, to show me. By the way, she lives upstairs. But anyway she was so excited to show me her work too. Long story short ...it was so much fun to meet someone who actually noticed my art. I was thrilled to share what I know, hopefully to point her in the right direction. I think that we all want to be recognized and appreciated for what we do. We like to share and help each other grow. It was a wonderful feeling to know that my art touched someone else and that I was able to help someone else as a result.

Pumpkin Patch

Here is my little pumpkin patch ready for Halloween. I did not get to participate in Amusing Muses Halloween party this weekend because I was busy with my garage sale. The idea was to post something related to Halloween and post your blog on their page then everyone was to visit each others blogs for the party. I would have liked to participate but I had my garage sale scheduled for a while. It was the neighborhood garage sale. It brings loads of people into the neighborhood and I don't have to pay for an ad in the newspaper. I love having garage sales. I get to make a little money and get rid of a lot of junk at the same time. I bought a new microwave oven with my earnings. Whoo hoo...my old one was about 20 years old. It was time for a new one even though the old one still worked.
I'm ready for fall. The temperature has finally gotten into the 80's. That's cool for us. The leaves are starting to fall. The sky is clearer. It feels great. All I want to do is putz around outside. I'm itching to start a new piece of art. I think I'll move my studio outside today.

How To Make An Altered Art Journal

Someone asked me how I did this journal, so I thought I would share my way with all of you. It is a very simple process. I thought it was a good idea to use an old vintage book for my journal instead of a new one because it is supposed to be an altered book. I found this one at a thrift store. As you can see I have not decorated the cover yet. That will come later. My journal is an ABC journal about me, but pick any theme you would like.

Divide the book into your desired number of pages and glue the pages together.
Use a glue stick to glue the pages together. This gives substance to each pages so you can add paint and elements. I like this blue colored glue stick best because I can see where the glue is. I've tried gel medium and it is too messy and makes the pages warp too much. Make sure you really cover every inch of the page with the glue. I've gone through about 3 sticks and I'm not finished gluing yet.
Take a plastic credit card or plastic piece like this one here and use it to press the pages together as you glue each page. This helps to eliminate air bubbles. If the pages are wrinkled don't worry, to me that adds to the distressed look. You are going to cover it with paint or scrap pages anyway. Decorate it how ever you want. There are no rules here. Just get creative and have fun.
Here is the next letter in my journal....Letter I for I am Indigo. I do not know where this idea came from. I just like the word indigo. I'm using techniques from Paulette's backgrounds class.

Friends

This one is for my best friend. Her birthday is coming up in November. I did it with friendship in mind and really love the result. I love the quote I found "Friends are the Angels that help you fly." It is for all of my friends, even everyone here on the net who have helped me learn to fly.
I have to admit I have learned so much from this experience and have made some wonderful new friends as well. So happy blogging everyone. It has been nice to talk to and get to know each of you. I look forward to more interaction and growth. And a big thank you to all of you who visit my blog and give me support and encouragement. It is a wonderful feeling.

Texas Size Flea Market

Just a few of the photos I took at Warrenton. It is huge. Since I'm not in the business any more I just enjoyed being a host and looking. Of course I had to buy a few things but not like when I bought to resale. My friend had never been to the flea market part. She went to Marburger Farms last year, which is the high end antiques show. You cant see everything in a day. Lots of people go for a week. I unfortunately do not have that luxury.
I have more pictures of the flea market on my other blog Picture This.

Our Deepest Fear

No pictures today. I am so behind. I had a busy weekend I went to Warrenton. The biggest flea market in Texas. It happens twice a year. In spring and fall. I had a wonderful time and took some great photos. I'll post some tomorrow. We are down to one car this week. I wont get into it. I'm having to drive my hubby downtown to work and then pick him up. Traffic from my side of town to downtown S.A. is terrible. No wonder my hubby has high blood pressure. But anyway I was reading Paulette Insall's blog and she posted this poem. I absolutely love it and had to copy it for my own blog. I know that to fail is so much easier than to succeed. I am guilty of that more times than I want to admit. I'm trying to break through my own creative blocks and free myself of the inner crititic so when I read this I felt so moved. I really needed this today.

Our Deepest Fear
by
Marianne Williamson

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness
That most frightens us.

We ask ourselves
Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.

Your playing small
Does not serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking
So that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine,
As children do.
We were born to make manifest
The glory of God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us;
It's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine,
We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we're liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.

Altered Art Journal Letter H

H is for heart....
The heart has reasons that reasons do not understand. Jacques Benigne Bossuel
Give expression to the noble desires that lie in your heart. Gordon B. Hinckly
Let your heart guide you. It whispers so listen closely. Unknown
Beauty is light in the heart. Kahil Gilbran