A Tutorial SPRING! - Day 3

My friends and I are having some seasonal
fun by hosting a Tutorial SPRING!

Spring from one blog to another and learn
something new! It is Day 3 of our blog hop.


Today, be sure to visit -
Alisa Burke - Spring Wreath
Jill Berry - Journal Mapping
Lyric Kinard - Sketchbook Slipcover

*This image courtesy of Jill Berry


COMING UP!...

On Friday, April 1st - Judy Coates Perez


Stop by each site to find a plethora of
inspired projects and tutorial joy

A Tutorial SPRING! - Day 2

My friends and I are having some seasonal
fun by hosting a Tutorial SPRING!

Spring from one blog to another and learn
something new! It is Day 2 of our blog hop.

Today, be sure to visit -
Carla Sonheim - Bunny Power: Quick Tombow Rabbits
Jane LaFazio - Freezer paper stencils from sketchbook images
and I am sharing a tutorial below on Painting A Bird's Egg...



1. Cut a piece of 200-thread count bleach muslin
fabric and draw the outline of a bird's egg


2. Take your favorite brand of acrylic paints,
and apply a base color of cream or warm white


3. Once the base coat is dry, paint a top coat
to match the color of the bird's egg.


4. Once the top coat is dry, use white paint for highlighted
areas and raw umber or indigo blue paint for shadowy areas.
Build up each area with thin layers of paint and water, called
a wash, to achieve a sense of depth.


5. Most bird eggs have spotted or streaked markings.
One way to add subtle spotting to the egg is with a technique
call spattering. Using a warm brown color, thin the paint down
with water, dip a small stencil brush into the paint/water mixture
then use a finger to bend the brush bristles toward the body and
release.

*Be careful to cover and protect areas not to be spattered.


6. Add additional marks by using the side of the paint brush,
a skewer, toothpick, and small dowels.


Coming Up!...

On Thursday, March 31st - Alisa Burke, Jill Berry, and Lyric Kinard

On Friday, April 1st - Judy Coates Perez


Stop by each site to find a plethora of
inspired projects and tutorial joy!

A Tutorial SPRING! - Day 1

My friends and I are having some seasonal
fun by hosting a Tutorial SPRING!

Spring from one blog to another and learn
something new.

Today, be sure to visit -
Gwen Diehn - Recycled Small Book Slipcover
Kelli Nina Perkins - Small Media Case
Melanie Testa - Incised Fun Foam Stamping

*This image courtesy of Kelli Nina Perkins

COMING UP!...

On Wednesday, March 30th - Carla Sonheim, Jane LaFazio, and Me

On Thursday, March 31st - Alisa Burke, Jill Berry, and Lyric Kinard

On Friday, April 1st - Judy Coates Perez


Stop by each site to find a plethora of
inspired projects and tutorial joy!

12x12

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the artist community! It is a
wonderful group of individuals, who are kind, warm,
funny, extremely giving, and MEGA talented!

On occasion, I like to share activities or events of some
of these talented artistic friends . Today, I would like to tell
you about a book I received from friend, Deborah Boschert,
called 12x12 - The International Art Quilt Challenge.

Not only is this book filled with the most wonderful eye-candy,
144 gorgeous art quilts created over a two year period, but it is
a truly unique glimpse at the behind-the-scenes, exploring both
the challenges and joys, of participating in a virtual art group
project.

The book explores twelve artists, twelve different themes,
one theme proposed by each artist. And each member's
interpretation of a particular theme. The results are captivatingly
interesting and varied. Readers are also treated to up-close and
personal view into each artist's world, their inspiration, creative
process and work space.

Be sure to check it out, it is definitely a must have!

In The Shadows

Everyday I watch... standing in the background,
quietly gazing at the shadowy figures fluttering
against the glass of the front door.

Two small finches work so diligently, flying back
and forth, building a tiny abode that sits nestled
between the branches of a winter worn wreath.

Gathering dried grasses, stems, leaves and
sundry remnants from a long ago landscape,
they are nearly finished spinning a simple heap
of unwanted materials into fine silk and splendor.
Soon... very soon this nest of wonders will be full
of beautiful dreams.

Oh how I wish these pictures were clearer,
closer, more revealing. Although not perfect
the images are still heartwarming.
My little friends seem to be placing the
finishing touches on their artwork, just
as I have placed the finishing touches
on mine... a bird's egg sampler.

In The Studio - TOO CUTE!

March has already been such a busy month, preparing
for my Artfest vending and workshops, along with working
on various other opportunities.

These many to-do's have had me painting up a storm.
Yet in the whirlwind of this creating, I just had to stop
and share with you these adorable, too cute for words,
little creatures.

Familiar Friends

Remembering this post from last Spring, I am waiting, watching with great anticipation and joy at the possibilities of welcoming the return of familiar friends.

There are beginnings of a new nest starting to take shape in the wreath on my front door.
Papa and Mama bird have both been very busy carrying small bits of nesting materials to their selected spot.
All this activity has me so excited, as I watch their progress and dream of the little miracles that will arrive in the days to come.

Just A Little Bit...

Mother Nature is having a very difficult time
deciding between the seasons. Winter has
returned to the Plains, and these bleak gray
skies have me longing for color.

So to help chase the doldrums away, I
thought I would share a little vibrant
inspiration!







Every day needs an infusion of yummy colors...don't you think?

NOURISHING CREATIVE GROWTH...

With Spring just around the corner, I begin thinking about
attending one of my most favorite events, Artfest!

I lose count, but this will actually be my 12th or 13th year
of participating. Artfest was my first ever art retreat, and I
love reminiscing about the many years of being completely
wrapped up in the magic of it all, participating in fabulous
classes, rubbing shoulders with top notch instructors, meeting
new friends, drinking-in the absolutely breath-taking beauty
of place, reveling in each lovely experience. I don't think I
feel quite so alive and able to live wholly in the moment like
I do during Artfest.

Once again, I am so honored to be teaching, sharing my
knowledge and skills, passing along the love of nature to
those wonderful individuals that choose to spend their time
in one of my classes.

I am extremely excited about this year's workshops and want
to extend a personal invitation to be part of one or both, which
are Artfest exclusives. This is definitely the one and only
opportunity to learn these very unique techniques for creating
nature inspired, stunning works of art in 2011.


The Egg-ology Workshop is BRAND NEW! And, I can hardly
contain myself, as I simply giddy to share my techniques for
stenciling, stippling, and painting to create artworks inspired
by bird eggs and nests, along with secrets to forging perfect
representations of such delicate and intricate natural subjects,
imbued with both color and depth.


The Of Nested Visions Workshop, I am proud to say, is the
third time this sold-out class has been offered. An ode to
Nature's songbirds and their beautiful abodes, students will
build an enchanting assemblage first by weaving their own
nests using the same natural materials as birds. These delicate
nests will be the focal point of the entire piece.

And I am thrilled to be bringing some really REALLY
GORGEOUS natural ephemera straight from my garden for
students to use... take a peek!





Each workshop is limited to a small number of participants to
keep the classroom experience both personal and intimate.

There are very few spaces left in each workshop,
so don't wait... Sign-up today!

In The Studio - A Reprise Of...

I couldn't resist... just had to share
a reprise of my Spring Dreamin'!