Mehndi ATCs

These three cards are from a tattoo ATC swap. I don't have tattoos, but I wish I did. I started to do the cards to draw the tattoos I wish I could get, but since most of them would be all black and small they didn't make much of a statement on a card. But I *do* do mehndi, so I stuck with what I know. The first card is my fave, but I've done designs similar to each of these on my own hands several times. I think they turned out pretty cool! They are just orange and black ink on peach colored papers btw.

Egyptian Altered Puzzle Piece

Leaving my blog with pictures of cards I didn't like at the top left me feeling slightly depressed, so I decided to add another post with something I *do* like. I have been trying to hold off on posting all of these altered puzzle pieces because they haven't been swapped out yet, but I was so pleased with this one. It's made with layers of hand made paper, parchment with burnt edges, the mummy photo and goldrite (one of my favorite "embellishments").

One of the reasons I like this piece so much is that it is more "me" than a lot of the things I do. I'm generally a very positive, optimistic, "white lighter" kind of person; but I also have a life long fascination with many things that some people would consider "dark". Some people who only know one side of me are shocked when they discover the other, but I personally don't see those two sides of me as being incompatible. As a matter of fact, I think they are quite complimentary and create balance. When you think about it, life and death are merely two sides of the same coin. There is death and darkness in life, just as there is life and light in the midst of death and darkness. Many of the swaps I do are on lists that, for the most part, would not appreciate my darker side so I don't often get to show it, but the group I created this for is much more open to "darker" themes. Though we don't do nearly as many swaps on that list I really throw myself into the ones we do do because it creates that sense of balance in my art that is otherwise lacking.

Moveable Parts

Three cards for a Moveable Parts swap - each card has to have at least one part that moves in some way. I could have had a lot more fun with this, but I've been really pressed for time lately. What I did end up doing *looks* like I've been really pressed for time lately too! I occasionally post things that I don't like on here as well as ones that I do simply because that's the way art (and life) is.

Life Goes On Without You

This card makes me cry. I woke up earlier this week from a dream about a friend of mine who passed away when we were young. I decided to go downstairs and do some art work instead of lying in bed feeling sad. My face still wet with tears, I started working...and this card was the result. I can't look at it without feeling the tears well up inside my eyes, my throat, my heart. They are tears of sadness but they are also tears of joy. They are tears that remind me of how special the people in my life are and how quickly we can be separated. They are the kind of tears that remind me that this person and I are still connected even though we are temporarily separated.

The red background represents my heart and the larger gold piece represents the part of my life that is no longer whole because he is gone. The smaller gold piece represents my friend and the spiral is this thing we call "life" that keeps us apart.

With something so personal you would think that I would want to keep this card, but that isn't the case. As a matter of fact I feel that this card *wants* to be let go. And besides, this particular swap is a special one. It's with a group of people I know would appreciate a card made with so much feeling. To my Imagination Tribe buddy who receives this card...I hope you enjoy it. I truly put my heart into it. And to Bruce, wherever you are, it's been more years than I care to count but I still love you and miss you every day. I'm still waiting for that phone call you promised me!

Black & Lime Green

These ATCs were for a black and lime green color challenge swap. The Yin Yang is a black textured base card with layers of lime green and black paper, sparkly lime green yarn, beads and small mirrors. The whimsical cat is cut paper with a few permanent marker strokes for the whiskers.

New Ponchos

I made these ponchos over the weekend a couple of weeks ago and I absolutely ADORE mine! I've been wearing it everywhere. It's just the Lion Brand "Coming Home" poncho so don't get all excited thinking I came up with this one on my own. lol The poncho is super easy, super quick and VERY comfy. If anyone has been thinking about making one, I *highly* recommend it!

I adapted the "Coming Home" pattern to make the yellow poncho for my daughter. I shortened the number of rows to the body and only did two rows of a different scallop design for the trim. I made it out of "Pitter Patter" eyelash yarn (a very soft, almost chenille like yarn) and used a multi colored eyelash yarn for the trim. SO cute!