SerendipityArt

Yes, sheet metal. I bought them pre-cut at Home Depot -- the are shingle flashing.

I have lots of journals floating around and often have to send reminders to artists to send them back. I like to send something a little creative.

Skylines have invaded by head. I can't get rid of them so I'm putting them on paper, cardboard and canvas. I have NO idea how long this one will last, but they are cropping up everywhere.

About 2 years ago a sticker place I loved went out of business. They made small stickers out of copies of vintage advertising posters...like French hot chocolate and wine ads. I love these posters (which have been made popular by the home decor shows from HGTV). I bought about $60 worth of stickers...and since they cost 10 - 65 cents on sale, you can guess that I got a a lot of them. I recently used them for a series of cards to send to my BrainCell friends. and to decorate the cover of one of the journals (Number Four) in the !0 Day Journal Project. Quick and easy was what I needed and exactly what I got! WOOO HOOO!!

I love to dye paper and recently was doing the covers for Issue #3 of my zine and noticed how much I loved the paper towels that I was dabbing my brushes on. I left them to dry overnight and then used them to make some cards. Here's what I came up with...

I love to listen to music. I sing and dance and make up my own words so I can sing along to tunes I don't know. I love classical and rap, R&B and alternative. I own gospel CDs I've worn out and pop CDs that I enjoy but only listen to once or twice a year. Not matter what it is, if it music I want to hear it at least once...so I usually have music playing in the studio when I'm working...and I've noticed that my art often takes on elements of whatever I'm playing.,,or the music inspires me to seek specific images or convey how the music is making me feel...either way, music impacts my artwork...and I'm going to be showcasing some of the artwork here.

Since the #1 reason people give or receive a diamond is a wedding proposal, I look at a lot of wedding magazines! In general, they are so “sweet” that I rarely find things I like for my mail art in them…but recently I have seen a shift in the female images that I think is interesting.

With Spring on the horizon, I've been graving bring colors and flowers...so I made a series of cards that highlight exactly that! SPRING HAS SPRUNG

I have been working with fun images of women in mainstream advertising. I give these girls something positive to say and pass them along. Hope you like!

THese are pictures of the journals I worked on for a paper company here in the Midwest. I was supposed to "spruce up" the covers of the books...make them look more finished and polished...I held up my end of the deal, but they didn't.

These are post cards I'm making that show some of my favorite dwellings. I've been clipping pictures of houses and personal dwellings for years...figured its time for me to use a few of them. Hope you enjoy!

I have been playing with accordian books off and on for several months. Here are some pictures of the "free standing" books I've done.

I took this class and wanted to post my progress...still have work to do on it, but you can watch it evolve. The size of this book is much smaller than I'm used to. Its a weird day planner calendar with a plastic cover...stay tuned!

Soft, subtle color.

I've been playing around with alcohol ink and have found that I love it! I don't know how well these will come out online, but here goes!

I have been playing with paper dying for several months now...and have stumbled on to a way to get incredible vibrant color...and of course, its now being featured in every magazine I subscribe to....where were you guys when I need you!!!

Some of these will go into my zine, but most of them are just envies that I will use to send interesting stuff to my friends and family...wait 'til you see some of the 3D stuff I'm going to be sending out...I think you'll love it!

The past couple of issues of Somerset Studio have had altered composition books or art journals in them and I wanted to give them a try. I journal everyday and have a catch-all book for that...but I also carry small art books...places to play with color, save swatches of paper, hold miscellaneous stuff receipts and stuff until I can make time to put them in their proper place. For this type of journal I tend to use drawing notebooks I pick up at Dick Blick in Edina, MN. But I thought for my September book I would try my hand with a composition book. Since these books have to be strudy enough to handle being dropped into the bottomless pit I call a purse...plus able to stand up to bouts where I simply leave them to wallow in the squallor that is the front seat of my truck....I think a composition book with its heavy chipboard cover and sewn pages will work out just fine.

Here's a swing at another altered composition book. I would have put these all in one gallery, but I can't seem to alter the order the photos appear so I had to find another route.

I journal everyday...writing is a part of me...like my hair or my eyes...and I love my journals. As a matter of fact, I have been journalling since I was 6 and my brother gave me my first one. I have every journal I have ever written in...over 60 of them in all and I keep them in a safety deposit box in my home town. I never show people my journals, but I think I should show you some of the art...so here's just a glimpse...

I have made all sort of invitations...and must say that invites are my favorite form of personal correspondence. You can see some of my stuff here. I promise to continually update these...I only have so much room so when I have new stuff to add something has to go...sorry!

I like small things...especially small books so I have been playing around with altering small books...this is a sisters book for Cat...my little sister. So far, so good.

I joined a Round Robin last year and did work in about 10 books. I took pictures when I could. I can't seem to figure out how to change the order these photos are shown here, so I will do my best to explain what book each layout is in.

Really like this new line of stamps and cardstock. The stamps have a clean line look and the cardstock/envelope combinations are awesome. I would use the slip-ins, which are envelope liners, but I have the templates so I don't usually buy them...but a great concept!

This is actually a paint product that creates a "paper" that looks handmade. It comes in colors or you can color it yourself by mixing in acrylic paint. Take a look at some of the fun things I created with it.

This little book catalogs techniques I've tried. This is probably book # 198 or something close to it...just a place to tuck samples of things I've experimented with...check it out.

Have been working on a line of abstract art cards. I really like the concept because I so enjoy color and texture and these little cards are a a great way to share that with friends and family. I am thinking that these may be my xmas gifts to close friends and family this year. So far I have only completed the artwork, still need to mount and possibly embellish.

As you may know, I am addicted to alcohol...alcohol ink that is!!! I was playing with it on glass slides and want to show you my cards. I am really into the art card idea and am very pleased with these elegant little abstracts. I hope you are too!

These are the samples from my alcohol ink class at Smudges. I really love this stuff. I use both the ranger/Tim Holtz colors and the Pinata colors and love them!

These are the cards on the class sample board. The classes will be offered May 10, 2005 at Smudges Stamps in Chanhassen, Minnesota.

I have a "thing" about thank you cards and have designed a helluva lot of them. Come see some of my favorites.

I get a lot of requests for these...

I am not your typical scrapbooker...probably because I'm not really excited about taking pictures...but you can see what I'm in to here. I'm more into the ephemera of memories and the journaling, of course.