Artistic Results

Where in the heck did the month go???Seems like just yesterday we were traveling back from Vegas.  All I can say is there was no relaxing going on in my life.  My mother had some very different plans for me.  You see she has early stage Alzheimer's and basically can no longer live alone.  As fate would have it I'm the only daughter so therefore the one she wants caring for her. So I had to move in with her to take care of her.    Unfortunately we have a love hate relationship.  We really do love and care for each other but we are as different as night and day, she's a homebody content to sit and watch tv and I'm more socially involved, so she hates that I'm not there every day, all day long and I hate just sitting there not being able to do anything I enjoy doing, like working on art projects, gardening, cruising the internet and spending time with friends and family.  For almost 2 weeks all I did was take care of her, read and watch tv.  She doesn't even have internet!!  Talk about withdrawals, lol.. But I don't regret any of the time we spend together.  If no one is there she will forget to take her medicine, which adds to the confusion, then she doesn't want to eat, dress or bathe.  All she wants to do is sleep.  Last Wednesday we finally had a sitter service start and I was paroled from prison, lol.  Not that I'm not still involved but can sleep at home and have some time for my hubby.  So what have I been up to since I returned home....  completed swap items that I committed to before all hell broke lose. 


For the Blissfull ATC swaps:  The monthly Theme was Spring in Paris and Darlene was my Partner. She has a wonderful blog which I really enjoyed.  Here is the ATC she sent to me.  I absolutely love the title.  It reminds me of one of my favorite songs.



I took a different approach to the theme, as usual,  I thought of places I would like to visit and after seeing Midnight in Paris thought of the Paris of the past.  What do you think? 

I also participated in the Winner Takes All swap at Blissfull ATC and this month's winner was Melanie.  Melanie wanted Buddha's so here is her Buddha from me.  Its hard to see but the background is very textured and painted with metallic paints and glazes.  I just hope this was an okay Buddha.  I didn't realize that different countries had different Buddhas and I liked this one the best.

Last month I started participating in swaps over on The Altered Paper Blog.  Tee had another wonderful ATC swap this month.  The theme was Queens and I was partnered with Elysia over at Mischievous Crafts.  Elysia was my first international swap.  You really need to drop in on her blog, she has some fantastic art on display.  Here is the Masterpiece I received.

Isn't she beautiful  And Elysia, I was not in the least offended by the reference to religion.  I loved it!!  She is beautiful and very thought provoking.   Below is the ATC that I created that is winging its way to Canada and Elysia.  I enjoyed making this ATC.  Love the dimension that the Dresden foil arch provides.
 



Lastly Wendy and her friend, Kim have started a new yahoo group called Blissfull Art Swaps  The link is actually to the blog which supports the group.  How fortunate that the first swap I participated in was called Where's my Crown.  I thought, Fantastic More Queens!  The queen theme is close to my heart, every since I was lucky enough to reign as Queen Hera the XIII for our Ladies' Mardi Gras Krewe.  I almost scraped a picture of myself but then thought better of it.  There are definitely better images out there of queens then me, lol... Soooo here are my ATCs.  This swap was either a 3 for 3 or 6 for 6.  I elected, because of time constraints, to create 3 cards.

 

 

 

I also decided to send a little something special for our wonderful Hostess, Wendy.  The title of this swap reminded me of the old "Where's Waldo" picture puzzles, so I thought I would make a Waldo inspired card for Wendy.  Can you see all the crowns that I glued to the card then covered with metal.  I then put purple, green and metallic gold alcohol inks to represent my beloved Mardi Gras.  Hope she likes it. 

Thanks to everyone for taking the time to visit my studio.  Hope you found something to take away with you.  

Smooches

Stick Pin; Lace ATC and March Blissfull ATC Swaps Recieved

Took at quick trip to Vegas with the Hubby.  Had a blast, we saw Cirque de Soleil's LOVE.  This show featured the music of the Beatles and I loved it.  I think this show ranks right up there with Cirque's La Nuba.

Before I left town I was fortunate enough to receive several packages from my March swap partners.  I participated in the March Blissfull ATC Swap. The theme was dress forms.  My partner was Melanie Statnick over at The Rabbit Hole.  She is a multimedia artist and her ATC is awesome.  She also send an envie full of goodies.

The other Swaps I participated in over on the Altered Paper site were a Stick Pin swap and a Lace ATC Swap.   My stick pin partner was Donna and she send these gorgeous red stick pins and vintage red seam binding all wrapped up in vintage pattern paper.  I will be able to use these pins and the seam binding on wedding layouts for Matt and Tori.

Finally, I also received my lace ATC from Karla over at Sketchbooks ATC's Mail Art.  She sent this beautiful ATC covered in lace and topped off with a gorgeous resin Cameo.  Its absolutely stunning.  Then to add to the beauty of the card, Karla made a lace envelope for her lacy creation, how creative is that!!! Karla recently informed me that my Lace ATC was obviously lost in the mail, as she has not received it to date.  Such a sad state of affairs.  I will be recreating her ATC today and shipping it out priority with goodies as my way of apologizing for the Post Office's screw up.

I also wanted to share my Altered Stick Pin holder and Stick pin creations with you. I created this little card which housed the 5 multi colored stick pins inside.  I sure hope Donna in Florida gets her package soon, I would hate to think that two of my packages were lost.

Have a wonderful Sunday!!!