Vintage Moon Studio

A Learning Curve... or Purses 101

1. Measure twice - cut once.

2. Sometimes it is not such a good idea to "wing it". Patterns were made for a reason.

3. Measure twice - cut once.

4. On any given day your grandmother's sewing machine will probably be more reliable than any machine with all of the bells and whistles.

5. Measure twice - cut once.

6. Avoid sewing over your cell phone adapter cord. It makes for a very unpleasant zing.

7. Measure twice - cut once.

8. Clogs are not made to be worn when operating tiny sewing machine foot pedals.

9. Measure twice - cut once.

10. Any object can look glorified when surrounded by beautiful props, sitting in a sunny window.

I will be keeping my day job.

patiently waiting....

Moosie ~ studio pooch extraordinare takes a little snooze and sun bath while waiting for Mom to finish her work...

Joie de Vie

8x10 3-D  collage on canvas board for art exchange

Birds of Sorrow

8x10 collage  ~ paper, text, paint and mica-covered words

Art and Science

This month's book involved in the on-going altered book round robin belongs to Marie, one of the Aussie participants. Her lovely book's theme is Art and Science and the work already created in it is so wonderful. Just a sneek peek allowed!

A little piece of history and beauty

"The origins of cranberry glass making are murky. Some historians feel a form of this glass was first made in the late Roman Empire. The craft was then lost and rediscovered in the 17th century by either Johann Knuckel in Bohemia. or by the Florentine glassmaker Antonio Neri in Italy. But neither of them knew the mechanism which yielded the colour. The colloid chemist and later Nobel prize winner of 1925 Richard Adolf Zsigmondy was able to understand and explain that small colloid gold particles lead to the red colour.

The most famous period of cranberry glass production was in 19th century Britain during the Victorian Era.

Legend holds that cranberry glass was first discovered when a noble tossed a gold coin into a mixture of molten glass. This legend is almost certainly not true, as the gold must be dissolved in aqua regia (a mixture of hydrochloric and nitric acids) before being added to the molten glass.

Cranberry glass creations were most popular as a table display, often holding sweetmeats or flowers. Cranberry glass was also frequently used for wine glasses, decanters, and fingerbowls."

End of today's lesson!

New Books!

 

I recently received my copies of 2 new books published by Jill Haglund of Tweety Jill Publishing and was excited to see 3 more pieces of my artwork in print.

The first book, "Altered! Art Projects" is chock full of beautiful projects created by  some wonderful artists and friends like Kristen Robinson, Deb Trotter, Susan Tuttle, Audrey Hernandez and many others. Two of my shadowbox pieces are included...

 

The second book, "Creating with Fabric" is also full of enticing and inspiring fabric pieces from some of the leading fabric artists like Leslie Riley, KC Willis and Lisa Engelbrecht. The piece of mine that is included is one that was created during a wonderful workshop led by Leslie Riley... a fabric journal page (measures 18 x 20) that contains fragments of an original short story of mine written on hanging tags... "She was Told to be Good".

Check out both of these inspiring books full of beautiful artwork and technique instruction - they do not disappoint!

Generations

Among my mother's many boxes of saved albums, letters and photographs was this photo of my grandfather, Edward. This was taken in 1913 when he was about 15 years old... one of the youngest pictures I have ever seen of him. What amazes me is how much my youngest son, whose middle name is Edward, looks like him.

Skeletons in the closet

         

Artist extraordianaire Jen, over at A Mark in Time, has tagged me to name 7 weird things about myself. Here you go... warts and all!

1. I love clam chowder, but can only eat it if I have a peanut butter sandwich to go with it.

2. I am a pretty good cook but can not make a pie crust to save myself. Seriously - the only one I ever made ended up on the kitchen floor.

3. When I sit in a restaurant or any other public place I have to sit against the wall, facing the door or I get very anxious. Afraid of someone creeping up on me I guess - lol!

4. My pets have always lived unusually long lives... cats to 21 years, dogs to 15, bunnies to 7 and a cute little hamster to 4 (long for a hamster apparantly). They do get a whole lot of TLC.

5. I do not like "drop in" company. I really wish I did... but I am always sure the house isn't clean enough (leftovers from Mom - her house was always perfect!). I keep telling myself they are there to see me and not my dust bunnies - but there you are.

6. My Mom used to call me Petunia when I was small, but when I was about 6 years old I told her that petunias stink... so she changed it to Daisy and called me that until she passed away.

7. When we have a snow storm I wake up early to turn the news on to see if school is canceled in town. Of course my boys are 24 and 28 years old... old habits die hard.

Gee - that was a just a little too easy - and I could keep going on with no problem!

Instead of challenging 7 others to bare their souls, I would love to have every visitor to my blog leave a comment here with just one little weird thing about themselves. Inquiring minds want to know! xox Deb

shhhh....

I am so fortunate to be among an amazing group of 15 artists - 7 from the US and 8 from Australia - that is collaborating on an altered book round robin. The project began last year when each artist chose their own theme and designed their book; it will conclude this November when all books will return to their originating artists.  To preserve the element of surprise and anticipation, each artist may post only a tiny sneak peek of the work they create for each book. I just had the privilege of working in an incredible book made by Ro Bruhn, "Colors". Amist a flurry of fantastic, colorful artwork, I chose to play with black and white... creating a sort of island of its own. More to come on a new book next month.... stay tuned!

               

baby steps

5 x 7 paper collage

Those who know me well, know that I have a shelf full of gorgeous journals of all kinds... watercolor, lined, leather bound, journals lovingly made by others. And they all have one thing in common. They are all blank.

I am a  huge admirer of those who create fanciful, thoughful, art-filled and reflective journals. The problems lies within myself... how to begin? Why am I creating a journal? Who will see this and (gasp!) what will they think of it? I am usually one who just plunges head-first into new projects, ideas - but this has been one artistic endeavor I haven't been able to grasp.

Well - today is the day. Inspired by the wonderful journal pages of artists like eb and Sandy , I have jumped off the deep end. For myself... but also to share this first entry ...at least for today.

For those of you out there like me (and I know you are there!) - go ahead. Take the plunge and journal!!

Favorite Places - Boston's North End

Snowstorm has ended... time to enjoy an afternoon's stroll through one of my favorite areas of Boston. Enjoy the photos!

Artisan's bread at Salumeria Groceria

Spices at Polcari's Coffee and Spice Shop

Quiet corner at Antico Forno

Zakim Bridge ~ Modeled after the Bunker Hill Monument

Famous "Mike's" ~  Miss "K" this one is for you!

Spring Roses

Well... not quite Spring here... we are, in fact expecting a major snow storm tomorrow. But the pink roses are hopeful! This felted bag (measures about 12" x 12") has long been in the works and I finally finished it today. If anyone knits/felts and is interested in the pattern for the roses and leaves, let me know. A close up of the roses are pictured in my blog header. They are relatively simple and work up quickly.

Have a wonderful day! xox Deb

You All Make My Day!

Linda, who resides at Crafty Gal Linda, made *my* day by honoring me with a "You Make My Day" award... what a nice sentiment of appreciation!

The rules for the “You Make My Day” award are to re-present it to 10 people whose blogs bring you happiness and inspiration and make you feel happy about blog land. Let them know through email or by posting a comment on their blog so they can pass it on. Beware you may get the award several times, and if you do, consider yourself really, really loved.

So to pass it on and keep the love going ~ here are 10 of the 100's of blogs that keep me inspired and bring a smile to my face. Check them out when you have a few minutes... perhaps there are some new friends to be made!

eb @ be...dream...play                     Shari @ The Glass Doorknob

Anne @ Anne's Corner                    Keron @ The Color Guru

Heather @ Audrey Eclectic              Heather @ From the Nest

Jen @ A Mark in Time                     Kristy @ Kristy's Musings

Karen @ Art in the Garage               Jill @ Follow Your Bliss

Thanks, Linda, for allowing me to share this with others!

xo Deb

                                                     Quote by Rumi