New Card, fun socks

I've found myself posting (even creative stuff!) over at the Vale more than here - sorry!!

It took me awhile to get started making soul collage cards, & I still do it sporadically - but it's so fun!!
(In the beginning, I visited several frame shops & had them cut 8x10 card stock in half, so I had a stack of 'blanks' - I left some big, too.)
Last weekend at my grown neice's BD party, there was a participatory art project - a canvas on easel with acrylic paint 'background' - & lots of mags to cut images from, more paints, stamps, etc.

I brought along a little board for me, & a couple of the bigger ones for my granddaughters (who needed to come with us at the last minute) - so they could do their own art, with all those supplies! I did another card myself, (like the idea of painting on it first!! & acrylics dry fast) & they were SO engaged. Kayleen painted a small (~ 4x4") square on a piece of card she found, & on a magazine cover!! They glued some images, but loved all the colours!

Mine has to do with creativity - the crochet lace in a hand, the oriental painting & supplies, the bit of basket & on the other side a lovely rich brocate.

My daughter said I could put grommets & ribbon on the one I made, & sell them at the Sat Market!! (one wouldn't call it soul-collage!!) I thought of finishing them with beeswax, & perhaps getting a few of the encaustic colours sold at our great little art shop, & playing with those. A booth is only $15, & I believe you can sign up sporadically - which is much more my weekend style!

The other projects have been knitting lots of fingerless gloves. I finished a pair for my neice at her party, & while there, I thought of using some of the small 'left overs' for orphan socks, & of a way to incorp the heavier yarn with some fine (& harder to knit with) 'sock' yarn! I've finished the first pair (& a few heel & toeless anklets) & am having fun with that project!

The blue sock is one of the 'anklet's - which my dau suggested using for ballet!!
Here's a close-up of the heel on the blue, purple & red 0ne - I bound off the heel & foot, then picked up stitches around the openings, using a long crochet hook (that way I can replace the toe or heel in the future, if need be). The heavier yarn is wool with a bit of silk, the panda silk: bamboo, wool & silk. They are quite comfy in either style! I used a pair of my mom's bamboo needles - they are a bit long for socks; I intend to pick up some of the shorter ones on my next trip to the knitting basket! (there's my 'anklet' yarn in the 'triangle' box on the Rt!)
Since it's just around the corner from my office, I'm 'tempted' to go in often . . . .

Soul Collage treats

This weekend my 9 yr old granddaughter Alyssa was decorating her 'writing notebook' for her class, & needed some images from my store of old magazines - & when I was helping her look, I found some that inspired me . . . . & then some more . . .

So after a hiatus of several months, a group of SC cards came forward.

It seems that's my tendency in art/craft - something will engage my imagination for awhile, & I'll find myself involved in that media or with that subject, then interst will shift.
The first card: Tower & Labyrinth 

I bring you peace, a 'breather.' Time to step aside, let go, let down your hair - move into the tower of tranquility & repose.


Firekeeper, Protector
We remind you of the Heart of the Fire, of our protective warmth & secret depths. I am the tender of the Sacred Flame, guardian of the hidden treasure.


Heritage 

I carry the traditions in my eyes & on my shoulders. The dream catcher snatches away aught that threatens to disenpower. I dance to the ancient drum, & call you to remember your roots, in the depths of time!

Dragonflower 

I am the transformation! Open to the possibilities & catch the sun.





N W Passage
The NW adventure is yours for the asking - move through the Northwest Passage & come home! 

Open your crown & remember the mer-people (mermaid with child on the Left above the Orcas) Hear the sounds of the Northern winds & whale song calling.

There's a lovely enrty on the Threads of Spiderwoman blog about the symbol of hands with an eye in the palm - such a fascinating symbol! 

I have a hamsa (eye of Fatima) pendant I picked up in Los Vegas (!) after admiring my girlfriend's piece.

Harp Dance

I finished the Beeswax collage valentines, ready to ship off to Mother Henna!! My 'trial run' cards I'll be giving to 'friends n family.'
I'll outline the process later :) As a kid, my mom would help me make construction paper valentines with doiles; when I saw these, I finally had the inspiration for the cards. Each has a heart or Harp stamp (hand carved on a white heart shaped eraser) for the heART in the center.

Inspired by a lovely SoulCollage card 'she dances the world into being' created by Ilah; (& here's a card by Rainepresence - both posted on KaleidoSoul) I did this little Harp Dance piece with the rest of the wax using a small pressed board 'picture' I'd picked up at St. Vincent's a few days ago for 25 c :)
"We dance on the gold strings of the universe, singing the llano, soaring & spinning amongst the stars!"

The gold on red in the corners is from large paper party napkins I'd picked up at Goodwill; I've had the lino cutters since High School, & used them occasionally over the years.
My 8 year old grand daughter carved the other side of a heart shaped eraser I used to make the valentine stamps.

I got a call this AM that the beekeeper had dropped off 2 # of wax at his mom's sewing shop for me, at ~ price of one pound if I'd gotten some at Michael's craft shop! I picked up a small 'butter warmer' (over a candle) at Bi-mart last week, & it works well to heat the wax! Just have to prop the brush against something, as it's not deep.

Waxing Poetic!

The 'Waxing Poetic' Class was great fun! The teacher Diana is the Children's Librarians at our local Public Library - & does the blog :)
She's also done SoulCollage, & said she'd been thinking of doing more, so that was fun! There were 5 other students, & a great flow to the class.

Basic tools are: fairly lightweight paper (tissue paper is great!), a small crock pot or electric frying pan to melt the wax (a combo of white & 'normal tan' beeswax - NO PARAFFIN!), inexpensive brushes (~ 1" wide), & either a blower that's used to strip paint (Darn, I forget what she called it! - that one gets very hot, looks like a hairdryer) or an embossing blower; & a quilting iron (I have one of these mini irons already :)

We made 3 collages, using several materials for backing - a medium weight card stock, artist's canvas on cardboard, canvas on wood, & a pressed board. The lighter weight boards buckle a bit, so you need to take that into account when you choose what to 'play' on!

We began with the card, & basic technique of painting some wax on the background, heating it with the blower (not long, & keeping it moving), then applying a piece of tissue. You could put a bit of wax on top, & then either 'blow' or iron. Ditto, ditto, ditto!!

Darker colours first, in most cases, tho you can also do some 'framing' with dark colours at the end. Old patterns are a lovely option (the curved lines on the upper L of the 'Egyptian' piece are from a pattern!). This was done on the canvas, & black & white Egyptian figures are from the 'goodies' I received in Ophelia's Give Away. the black circles on white (& in the lower L of 'Egypt') are painted in black ink on white tissue. We also did some transfers, using acetone & RECENT xerox pictures, transferring the image to white tissue paper.

My 4 year old Grand daughter 'claimed' the picture with the Girl on the Moon - my Full Moon in Cancer Dream board! It's her birthday Sunday, so I'm letting her have it :) The moon image is also from Ophelia.
The blue wavy circles were a print I did in class (from a stamp Diana brought). Stamping was done with acrylic paint on tissue paper from an art store. She had some lovely bits of paper to choose from! Old printed paper napkins are fun - the word in the lower L of 'Full Moon' are the top layer from a napkin! The gold is on white tissue; the white disappears into the wax!

I brought along some 8x5" matt board to use for a SoulCollage piece; so after doing my 3 'class pieces,' made a card. The statue was from a magazine, the black circle from that sheet of white with painted circles, the coins from blue tissue printed with coins, on a background of painted tissue & handmade paper, with another piece of gold on white tissue.

Gatekeeper: I am the one who stands watch at the gate, who monitors the flow, who welcomes abundance & grace. I am the one who watches, who listens, who waits.

Other techniques we played with - incising a design or line into several layers of wax, & colouring in the groove with oil pastels (you can wipe off the excess), using the iron to melt a BIT of crayon (she had the 64 colour box!) One gal embedded a feather she'd brought, & that turned out well. Diana often mounts the wax pieces on white board in a frame - no need for glass! The wax will scratch, but is a fairly permanent, & old, way to preserve images! I plan to do more :)

Two cards on the New Moon

 My grand daughters spent the afternoon & stayed overnight Sat. After a day full of sorting & clearing, we did some collage.
I made my cards for New Moon in Capricorn.
They LOVE cutting & pasting with Grammie - it was a nice way to end the day. We used a calendar I brought back from Hawaii a few years ago as the 'base' photos - Alyssa chose an orchid, Kakay some Red hot pokers.

The first is Soul Dance. The essence definition for Plumaria is "Brings awareness of family roots. Restores spiritual integrity for native peoples."
When I visited the Big Island of Hawaii, Plumaria was an essence I was drawn to make, & did so early the last morning. I felt blessed that a native man (one of the grounds workers) helped pick a sprig of flowers, & brought me another - Pikake - which he was very excited to show me! 

I looked up the definition on the hotel computer before going outside, & felt that 'spiritual integrity' was 'tapped' with his assistance.
The little girl REALLY reminds us of my Kakay 'rocking out!' . . . there's a sense of fairies, & the dignity of the woman on the left.
"I'm the one who is excited to BE HERE, who hears the music of the spheres & dances my own dance! 

I am the one who sees the essence behind the symbols, the turn of the seasons. 

I am the one who transcends the wheel of life, & finds the beauty wherever I AM!

The second card, Petroglyph, draws on images from Peru , with a shaman in the center, & a blue butterfly on the Right. 

"I am the one who has been present from the dawn of time. 

I am the one who provides light to draw on the stones of your soul! 

I am the one who shares the secrets, & tells the stories. 

I am the one who remembers. Drugma Cho Dron Wong Mo - the dragon depository of the Dharma! 

I bring forth the heart of all that is."

I was given the name Drugma Cho Dron Wong Mo when I studied Buddhist Reiki teachings; the week before, a psychic had tagged me 'Wisdom Keeper!' 

I puzzled over the Tibetan name - then made the connection - 'dharma,' wisdom teachings, 'depository' - something to keep them in - ah ha! 

Dragon Mother, Wisdom keeper!!

2nd Card - Rainmaker

Here's the card that was 'hiding' (in the basket of magazines for gleaning images) for awhile - the second card I made. Now the 'good guys' card has gone missing!! Guess I need to get serious about a 'home' for the cards. I have so few I enjoy proping them up around the house - but where, . . . .

Rainmaker - I am the one with an umbrella on a dry day!
I am the one who does the rain dance, the Ghost Dance, the dance for deer & buffalo. I am the one who goes before.
What do you have to tell me? To keep hoping, to wish for what you desire, to be prepared for the rain to fall, the sun to shine, the day to dawn full of hope & promise! To carry on, without doubt, to perceive your success.

These are the papers I made for the altered paper exchange (my first!) I'm excited to see what the others have done. I played with dilute acrylics, metallic powders, & Celtic rubber stamps. I got the metallics a few weeks ago, to use on some of my SoulCollage cards - they have been fun to use - copper & silver.
Last year I got my dau-in law Angie a small kit of these for her fimo pieces - they are so rich, & change the look of the medium entirely!

Two New Cards!

Last night I created two new cards. There's one I made 'between' these & the last - but it's hiding somewhere :) There are so few that I tend to prop them in different places.

"The Good Guys" - We are the ones who see the sparkle in your eyes & joy in your heart!
- I am the one who makes healthy choices for body, mind, spirit & emotions
- We are the ones who encourage you to dance, to free your spirit to soar. We are the ones who see your wings, as you see our halos! . . .

"Make a Wish" We believe in magic! We wished for you, & you appeared!
We are the young in spirit, the old in soul. We believe in fairies & angels, in magic lamps & wishing pools.

Make a wish! We bring your heart's desire!

For the first card, I chose images of men looking straight at you, with smiles & a sparkle; & the 2 images with women - looking at the first woman, & swimming with the second. I have taken a workshop with one of the men - Jon Schreiber (center, with his hand under his chin) . . . lets just say, I've been attracted to enough 'bad boys' for this lifetime!

The little girls are blowing bubbles, with the help of their dad, while the little boys scan the water, & the genie is just emerging from the lamp! The girls have mulberry paper wings, as does the gal in 'Hope of the Future.'

These cards make me smile when I see them!

Birthday

Today's my son's 35th Birthday!! (gasp - how on earth did that happen?)

I took the day off 'in case' he came to town or we went somewhere to celebrate - he still works on his BD (aren't Birthdays National Holidays? I loved having my Birthday as a PAID holiday at Breitenbush!)
Anyway - it's sunny, I'm in shorts (inside, lol) & I have a whole day ahead of me to do some serious shaking & moving! & maybe make a card in honor of my Number One (& only) Son!

Cheers :)

December Days

Sunny out, & delightfully temperate weather! I did some much needed yard yoga this weekend, & dedicate this as a 'sparkle week.' inspired by Erraid, a branch of Findhorn!! I've added a couple of blog rolls - one of folks engaged in SoulCollage (see not that these cards are not to be sold, traded, or bartered and are to be reproduced only for the personal use of the maker of the card.) & one of other Artists whose blogs I've stumbled across! If you know (or have) a SoulCollage blog - let me know!

I hope to post new cards soon! But for now - off to FlyLady for a few suggestions on the Sparkling! Have a lovely day :)

Door to Knowledge

Here's the latest polyvore creation - these are too fun! I don't have a photoshop type program, so it's intriguing to work with this site!
(I tried to post a photo, but couldn't figure out how, . . . so here's the link) http://www.polyvore.com/door_to_knowledge/set?id=4724474

I took the SoulCollage card I made Tue, & one that's in progress to 'Sister circle' tonight, & it was fun to see the reactions. Several of the gals are counselors or psychologists, so they 'got' it right away; others are more pragmatic, & seemed intrigued but less familiar with such.

We're working our way thru "New Earth," & I realize I am so much more kinisthetic & process oriented - find it easier going (the reading) than I expected, but I want to DO more!

1st Soul Collage Card

"Hope of the Future"

With Seena Frost's 'SoulCollage' finally in hand, I pulled out the files of images I'd been gathering & created my first 'on paper' Soul Collage card! I had done some on Polyvore (there's an easy way to, ahem, 'use up' a couple of hours!) but only larger collage on paper! I'd stopped by the art store 'one more time' & picked up a sweet little pair of Danish embroidery scissors, that the shop assistant (who does decopage) hadn't noticed :) & a UHU glue stick, recommended by SoulCollage facilitator Suzie Wolfer.
The wings are from a scrap of tissue paper, & there is a small Buddha head on the mama's arm.

I AM the one who rises above expectation
I AM the one who carries dreams on my back & hope in my heart
I soar beyond the hills & canyons, into the sunset of the soul
I am the one who reaches into the field of dreams
I am the one with wings.

May she wing into my dreams!