Inspired by Four Letter Words Fourth Friday

   

Did April go by in a blink of an eye or what?  Here we are at the fourth Friday and it's the first link and show your Inspired by Four Letter Words work.  The only four letter words we are using are ones that you can say on tv and not get bleeped.  Cool, calm, done, many, moon, able, book, vase, and so on...  There is more info in this post.

Link your blog post to the list below.  Pin your work to the Group Board on Pinterest, please leave a comment on the Group Board HERE  for an invitation to the Board.  Pinterest will send you the email/invite, accept it and you are added to the board.

Closeups

My work was inspired by decluttering and coming across an old "Clue" game. That was the start of an idea for a collage using items from the Clue game. The word that inspired me, was "mask."  I had a 100 plus years old book that is too fragile to use in most ways, and one of the stories in the book is called, "The Mask."  From there, I incorporated a made up fairy tale, wing(s), tree, lady, road (map), moon, flag, and you get the idea.  I used several four letter words.

The Mask

The photos are a little blurry and the scanner was not cooperating either.  In a week or so I should have a new camera and hopefully the photos will be improving. You can click on the images to enlarge them.

Magazine clippings, acrylic paint, watercolors, pens, wrapping paper, transfers, book pages, maps, cardstock, game pages, and acetate were mounted on cardboard.   Size is 8 x 11 inches.

Mark your calendars for next month's link, May 24, the fourth Friday.  Choose your own Four Letter Word and start making, writing, sewing, photographing, beading, etc.  Any way you choose to express the inspiration...  Hope to see you then.

Now let's see what you made and Thank You for joining this slightly different challenge.

Sneak Peek for Celebrate Oz, Who IS Behind the Mirror?

Take an ordinary wall cupboard, paint it, sand it, repeat two more times.  At the last moment before you stencil and paint some more, have a brainstorm while laying in bed late at night, so that you can't get up and make noise while working on said brainstorm.

This cupboard has been travelling with me since at least two house moves before where I now live.  I think it used to be in a powder room, but I can not say for sure, it may have been elsewhere. I decided to do something with it.

Altered Oz is the theme of Celebrate Oz, the blog hop where we will be revealing our projects on March 15.  See the button on the right side bar? It's not too late to join us.

Last year for Celebrate Oz I had nine projects including earrings, necklace with pendant, an aceo (pocket art), two paintings, and three painted clip arts on paper. Check out that post HERE.

By the way, that brainstorm?  I didn't use it, I'm on a totally different tangent.  Must follow the Yellow Brick Road wherever it leads me.  At least until the scary apple trees start throwing their fruit.  That part of the original Wizard of Oz used to scare me (along with the flying monkeys), but I could see that the trees were rooted and they couldn't follow Dorothy and friends plus Toto, so they were not SO scary after all.

Did anything scare you in the Wizard of Oz?

Polka Dots and Pearls My Mad Men Character

A quickie for "Mad Men" fans.  Have you seen my Mad Men character avatar?

If you want to make your own 1960's inspired version of yourself, visit Mad Men Yourself at amctv to make your own, free avatar.  It's easy, quick, and you hear a little swinging 60's beat while you are selecting the options to make your own digital paper doll.  This is for the "suits" or the "skirts" with lots of features.














I'm the bombshell in the yellow dress with white polka dots,  wearing pearls, and carrying a red pocketbook!  Okay, maybe not a bombshell.

I love my big hair and eyeshadow.  I've never made an avatar before and it was fun.  Some of the accessories wouldn't load properly, such as the gloves wouldn't fit over the arms.  I would've liked to change the shoes, but that wasn't an option.  Gotta have lots of shoes if you're going to be a Madison Avenue Woman!

Sorry, Don, can't stop and chat- I've got the pitch for the next preview meeting!

Are you a bombshell, the girl next door, or career girl?  Combination? This is only make believe.  

I searched through the ads at Found in Mom's Basement to put together these collages of vintage ads from the late 1950's -mid 1960's.  She posted some gorgeous fashion and cosmetic ads,  as well as numerous other categories of vintage ads, but I chose the ones that makes you go, "hmmm" or laugh.

Sexist.  Outrageous.  Stupid.  Funny.  Look at the details on the Durkee French Fried Onions coupon- I never wanted to think of onions and paint/chemicals coming from the same company.  I've only had these onions once or twice, what about  you?  Click the collages to enlarge.

Do you have a favorite of these ads?  

Rosy Outlook for Winter

I was on a kick using these bright acrylic paints and some paper napkins in this aceo.  The smaller strips remind me of candy wrappers and the rose is a rose, well- it's a rose.

Once I scanned the aceo I could see the texture in the napkin much clearer, so I may add something to it to embellish the rose; something lightweight as the coldpress paper will need backing if too much is laid upon it.  Maybe add a little aging to it overall?

It's a little cheery to look at with the dark and dreary winter out here in the midwest.  Last year we were fortunate to not have the usual omnipresent snow and ice for months on end.  We had some weeks with less snow and for that, I am very thankful.  Hope we get an encore this winter, no guarantees, of course..

I started this aceo last winter, and put it aside, maybe I'll finish it
before Spring, lol.

Are you looking forward to the winter or would you like a long autumn?

Remembrances and Intentions

This is such an inspiring and comforting prayer I decided to put it onto an aceo.  I resurrected this aceo just before the recent murders of our embassy workers and the widespread riots and attacks throughout the Middle East and around the globe.  It seems very timely, unfortunately.

Not wanting to distract from the intention of the words, I used clippings for the background which I want to convey a mood of struggle, support and hope.

When I see this prayer, the melody of the song for these words pops up in my thoughts.  It's an easy song to sing, a kind of mantra- soothing and spirit building at the same time.  An adult lullaby of sorts.

I don't know how many versions of this song there are or if Francis  actually wrote any version.  The prayer first appeared in 1912 in France, and the saint died around 1182 aged 44.

To be associated with this powerful message and to be remembered throughout the centuries is a powerful achievement, even if  the composition was intentional and not authentic to the saint.

Francis is the patron saint of ecology and pets.  His feast day is celebrated on October 4.

Do you want to be remembered and for what?




   

Double the Fun Moose Humor

aceo with watercolor, inks, clippings, and copy of original moose photo

If you can look at this moose and get a little grin going, maybe a chuckle, or a great big guffaw- then you understand the thought behind the card.

I like that in you.  That is all.






There's a happy little "In the Mail" post at Paula's blog for people who like getting surprises in the mail; that is-  surprises not involving bills, subscriptions, and other mundane things that fit into a mailbox.  Sign up to send one thing to another blogger that weighs less than 13 ounces and can be mailed unwrapped/without an envelope.  In return you get to wait and find out what is coming to your mailbox.  The possibilities are endless and it sounds like fun.  Are you signing up?

A Future September 11th

Sometime in the future there will be an ordinary day in the first half of September.  That day will find me enjoying the last remnants of summer and the anticipation of autumn.  I'll be thinking that another birthday is almost here and remembering a loved one's passing.

On that ordinary day I won't feel the intensity of a nation in mourning.  The anniversary of the tragedy will be noted, but not overpowering.  That day isn't here yet.  Eleven years on, it's still on the minds and hearts of those it intimately touched and the security of people here and abroad is an ongoing struggle.

I made this aceo from clippings and copies of my original photos of the World Trade Centers and surrounding area.  Previous posts about the day and the area are here and here.

Another generation is a third of the way grown up hearing about September 11th in history books and documentaries.  Thank you to all the heroes of the day and since then.  You are valued and remembered.

As time puts distance between the immediate tragedy and the here and now, how has that distance affected you?
      

Inspired by The Wizard of Oz

In parts of blog land the mood is excitement and anticipation to the max.  The big reveal for Celebrate Oz has arrived!   Let's get right to it.  Make sure to hang around to the end for a surprise.  Read on...

Once upon a time, actually about a year ago, I made this  Wizard of Oz inspired collage aceo.

Fast forward, tornado style as the story goes, over the past couple of weeks I got busy making some new Oz inspired pieces.

           

Tin Man Pierced Earrings

Dorothy's Ruby Slippers Pierced Earrings

Yellow Brick Road Pierced Earrings
Ruby Slippers and Tin Man

To set the theme, I found some Wizard of Oz clip art online, printed it onto songbook pages, and painted in some of the illustration details.

The green border below, was added on PicMonkey.

Some of the song titles fit the character to a "t."
Here is The Cowardly Lion,  "You're a Big Boy Now."   

This is a 5x7 canvas which previously looked like this.  That post was about my first inkjet transfer, a tutorial.

The image was a lovely bride in black and white, alas she's now disappeared under the paint and glaze.

You might say, she's now Over the Rainbow; and
comfortable in her new location!   .  




I'm going to save one more Wizard of Oz inspired piece for another post.  Please come back to see what it is. Hint, the inspiration was something that flies.


In the meantime, the Surprise!  
Are you interested in a giveaway?  You may win my, "Over the Rainbow Good and Evil Necklace."  

The dangles feature a Dream/Cloud charm and a Question/Question Mark charm plus a rainbow, and metallic cord circle hanging from a combination organza ribbon/cord with a lobster claw clasp.  

I leave it up to you to decide which intentions the red and the black indicate in your life.

You do not have to have a Celebrate Oz post to get a chance in the draw.  The giveaway is open to all current followers, and new ones, too.  If you decide to follow, that's terrific, but not required!      

Leave a comment for this post and you are entered.  Giveaway will close on Monday, July 23 and the winner will be announced on July 24.  Come back to see who won.       

I hope you enjoyed my Wizard of Oz inspirations.  Please visit the other blogs on the Celebrate Oz link from the top of the post; there are stories, art, and other creative things. 

While you are here, please click the poll at the top left sidebar.  There are only a few days left and I'd appreciate knowing your favorite color combo.  Thanks for stopping by!

Summer Skies and Skipping Rope

This aceo is saying blue summer skies, kites, chasing butterflies, swimming pools, beaches, and all kinds of other memory making childhood fun!

I'm currently pulled in a few directions with a clouded focus.  You can add clouds to the description, too.  Maybe that's where the tug of war rope comes into play.  Or, this could be the beginning of a tangled web...

I've used watercolors, acrylics, tissue papers, words, and string.  Skipping rope, walking the dog, playing rodeo,  laundry drying out in the sunshine, and more...that's what I see in this aceo.

"Blue skies, smiling at me, nothing but blue skies do I see..."

Father and Child Reunion

Father's Day is around the corner.  My Dad swam in a sea of estrogen.  By that I mean, he had daughters and no sons.  But I don't feel sorry for him not to have had a son; sure to carry on the family name, I think that's one of those goals, but it's not a guarantee in life.  It would have been great to have a brother, though.

Daddy showed me how to hold and use tools, do some lightweight maintenance on my cars, explained some important things he wanted me to know, too.   He had a lot of responsibility when he was a child, and that burden was omnipresent.  I learned from observing the unspoken.


This aceo captures a little bit of the fire of the relationship, it's not tight, clear, and focused, and there is a gap, a threshold of sorts. There's some shine and hardness and a darkness to overcome.  Fire and light.

It's not finished, perhaps it's the text, "Father and Son" that's prolonging the completion.   My Dad died before he had a chance to see the big changes in his children's lives.  I'm writing this on the 19th anniversary of his passing, but scheduled for a later posting.  You might say he died young, and many people do, our  reunions will come someday.

Do you have that special connection in retrospect of your Dad, whether he's alive or passed on?

Collages on PicMonkey 29Faces Roundup

All of the 29 plus faces for the challenge are in these collages.  Now that PicMonkey added the collage option, I decided to try it out.  The feature works well if your photos are of a uniform size.  A little tweaking is necessary, but keep trying and you will probably get something you like.  For free editing, it's great.  I do miss all of the fonts that Picnik had, the new site doesn't have the font I used on my labels and buttons, a small nuisance.  Go there  and have some fun.





If you want to read any post associated with the face, use the label for "art" or type, "29Faces" in the word search.  You could also go to February 2012 posts, that's when all of these were done.  I did add the couple of doodles on a piece of junk mail, but trying to manipulate the collages to fit the various sizes in, I forgot to add it back.  So here are 28 plus one that was not part of the challenge.  

What do you want to try that you haven't ever done or want to get back to doing?  Will summertime   give you the time and opportunity to go for it?

Watch Out for the Upturned Apple Cart

This aceo has changed over time, a few different layers and color changes, too.  I've put different bits of papers, ribbons, and string on, only to change it out time and again.  Do you get like that- revising until your work no longer looks recognizable?

I think the issue is I lost sight of what the original intention/feeling was that I was hoping to convey.  It must be the chaos, it really does upset my apple cart.

Now it looks as if the dream is peeled away in layers, rumpled and aging, bedding, bandages and pieces of time attempting to stall the revelations.  Even with this chaos the colors are light with flecks of sparkle and someone's life's blood peeking through.  

Do you work better in messy and chaotic places?  Can it be too quiet to concentrate?

Shaking Hands and Shaking Paws Celebrating the Queen

Wishing everyone celebrating Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee a very happy and safe weekend.  

Hope your weather is outstanding for the long bank holiday.  

This collage celebrates Her Majesty's love for dogs. 

What do you think, would she rather shake hands or shake paws?

Love Always Aceo Hands Theme

Thank you Shelly and Loretta for this week's challenge, "Hands" for the Inspiration Avenue blog.

This is a digitally altered image of the original collage which is listed in my Storenvy shop. NOTE: Shop is on hiatus.  Check this blog for news and links to new shop.

The paper and collage aceo is at the bottom of this post.

Thanks for stopping by; click on the above link to visit the other bloggers participating in this week's challenge.

If you want to be a part of the challenges, just visit the IA blog on Mondays to find out what the new art challenge will be for that week. Don't forget to post your work and add yourself to the linky.

To everyone celebrating Mother's Day, be happy and enjoy your circle of love, family, and friendships.  My Mom is in a wonderful place, where the choirs of angels are entertaining and delighting the throngs; until we meet again, love always. ♥♥♥







This is the paper and collage aceo.  All of the colors have more impact than the muted digital version above.

There's a bit of religion, class cultures, and realism throughout.  The woman is Wallis Simpson.

If you enjoyed this post, please take a look at more art and aceos by clicking on the label in the sidebar or typing into the search bar.

Making Buttons

Let me show you some of the various buttons I've made:

 To see them in full size go to the blogs.   Some of these feature the artist's own art, some of the art is my own.  I can use free backgrounds and clipart also.  Do you want to use your photo or a child's drawing?  Make your choice of using your current logo or having a new logo.  Then add colors and fonts to the creative mix.  Simple or layered, the looks are almost limitless.


For a very reasonable price I can make you a button, too.

Send me an email: newendstudio@gmail.com to start the process.  Thanks.



To look at some of my banners, click HERE or go to the bottom of the blog page and click on the image for Banners.


This website can generate the code for a button: Grab My Code Generator at My Cool Realm.

Butterfly Dreaming of Spring, it's Only 61 Days Away

Pretty butterfly art is the theme at Inspiration Avenue this week.  Hettienne lives where it's gorgeous and warm right now, so for pity's sake us suffering with winter get to think about butterflies to take our minds off our snow covered walkways and windshields.  Thanks, Hettienne for picking this theme.

I didn't have a chance to make new art, but I'm showing you three aceos and two brooches I already made.  One of those brooches was made while the windchill was 40 below and the snow was coming down horizontally and furiously, so I know about butterfly dreams being a great diversion.

The middle aceo with the USA stamp has the overhead light washing out the color, sorry about that.  These are three collages and one is also mixed media.  Only 61 days until Spring...

If you want to see the art or add your butterfly creation, it doesn't have to be art it could be jewelery, clothing, anything with a butterfly go to the link and add your creation before noon EST on Sunday, January 22.  Check back and see what the new theme is on the following Monday afternoon.  This repeats like that each Sunday and Monday.

Opinions Wanted, Did I Overdo This Art Tag?

As I was going down for the count, or the vertigo, I was making this art tag, and it was my first attempt at making one.  You see, I made this as a double sided art tag.  By not wanting to do things half way, maybe I was just over thinking (?).

When you make your own art tags, or when you have seen them, is a two sided art tag unusual, unexpected, preferred, or something else?

Maybe I'll just call it a bookmark.

Fresh Art Thanksgiving Card Mixed Media

You might say this is a month early, but Cheerful Stamppad for Mixed Media artists is having a theme linkup for Thanksgiving and here's what I made.  The base is part of a Thanksgiving card, then the rest is made up of calendar clippings, ribbons, doily, a golden leaf from a barrette someone gave me and was not my style,  stamp pad ink, and acrylic paint.  It's about 4.5 x 7 inches.  I put a magnet on the back to hang it on the fridge.  The lamp washed out the colors in the top left of the piece, it's a little darker irl.  To view it larger, click on the image.

If you have something for Thanksgiving and want to add it to the blog, the linkup closes in about ten days.

Another blog I'd like to mention is,  "the aceo challenge".  This blog names a challenge theme to make an aceo for and then you add yours to the linkup.  Aceo is 2.5 inches x 3.5 inches in any medium and is welcome. Votes for this blog challenge are made monthly by viewers.  Come and see what the theme is and make an aceo if you like.

What do you do with the things you make that are made for these different themes?  I read about swaps and atc trades, but if you're not listing to sell what  you make, do you keep and display, store, throw away, donate, or something else?  Just wondering.

Before It's Too Late Chocolate Medication Mixed Media and Barber Shop Dog Aceo

What are  you afraid of, what do you fear the most?  This hellish theme was the gift this week of  Inspiration Avenue.  I put off making anything since I'd rather not think  about things like that.  Then, the molecules were percolating and I thought about the way I don't let things scare me.  I'm anxious, and worried sometimes, but not afraid.  Well,  nightmares aside, not afraid.  Although as little girls my sisters and I would turn off the lights to watch a scary movie just so that the screaming would be more dramatic.  My poor parents' ears.

If I give a voice to my worries and fears that might make them come to life.  So, I won't list them.  However,  I thought about the piece I made, it's a fear that I won't get it together and take control of my health.  Some people are perfectly healthy and padded, I'm not one of them.  As my circle of family and friends got smaller and I moved from a place I wanted to be to somewhere else, I medicated with chocolate.  That's not good.

So here is my chocolate coffin.  It's stopping me from doing what I want and being where I need to be.  The coffin is lined with candy wrappers, it's 3 dimensional and I wasn't able to get the underside of the lid in the photo.  Be sure to visit IA (link above) to see other interpretations of personal fear.

The words under "Now" are, "You Want Reasons."

On a much happier theme,  the aceo challenge theme is, "at the salon."  Well, since I've been cutting my own hair for the past several years I decided to tell you about the shop in town where my husband goes to get his hair cut.  It's one of those small town neighborly places where men and women can go.  The thing that makes this shop special is the resident dog.  She's a rescue stray the shop owner took in.  The dog is always there and loves a good scratch on the head or chest.  Visit the aceo challenge blog, link above.

The End of Summer Aceo Collage

Summer's ending is not set in stone, despite the calendar, the solstice, or back to school sales.  It means so many different things to each of us, depending which side of the equator you are on will also confuse us here.

When I was young, we always tried to get one more beach trip in before school started.  We couldn't wait to get that first glimpse of the soil changing colors from dark brown to reddish, and finally to sand.  The tree species would change, the land became flatter, we could drive for miles without seeing any buildings/shops/houses- it was a full out production to get to the shore.

Once there, the smell of the salt water ocean was intoxicating.  The ocean was deep green and brown, with little whitecaps on the waves.  It was safe to walk barefoot on the beach, unlike now with the heaps of garbage of all types depositing.  Walking barefoot and feeling the sand erode with each wave was fun and dizzying.

The Aceo Challenge theme for September is what the end of summer means to me.  Since I can't incorporate so many ideas into one little aceo, I made this one, with little bits and pieces of summer excursions, wrapped up and put away, loved forever, if only in memory.   If you click on the image, the view is larger.