Well, I've completed my first week of the Collage a Day challenge that Magic Jelly set up and I am quite proud of myself. As is typical of me I have done more than one a day, and only missed once when all I did was cut a ton of paper. I get carried away by things and can only pull myself away when I absolutely have to. If it wasn't for blee I would probably have twenty or thirty by now! I think the day I ended up skipping was Thursday when I was feeling light headed and super sick. I'm feeling better now but I do need to go to the doctor to get checked out for anemia. But I more than made up for the lost day.
It was hard at first even though I have been using elements of collage in my ACEOs for a couple of months now. I wanted to push myself father and do even more with it and incorporate as many mediums as possible without cluttering the pieces.
Unlike some people I didn't put any time, medium or size constraints on myself. I figure that I am new enough to collage that just doing it is a challenge enough for me. Plus it is really hard for me to keep track of time. Not only do I get lost in projects but I do most things not in one sitting. Like right now I have a box filled with cut paper elements similar to what are in this piece. Because one night I got to cutting shapes and couldn't stop for hours. I have various book pages including a dictionary that is over thirty years old and belonged to my mother, washi and old block prints of mine.
If you are interested in seeing my set and the group set they are on Flickr. I highly recommend the group as there is some awesome and inspiring stuff to be found there. I feel like I can do almost anything at this point! *roar*
I'm far from done. Not only am I going to keep up with collage but I am going to keep up with the one a day challenge hopefully for the rest of the month.
I also have a personal goal of doing art, anything really from sketching, carving, cutting paper to printing, daily for the entire year. I'm pretty much doing it already so it shouldn't be a problem. I mean I can always find time to fill a sketchbook page with random doodles at the very least. I have much to do in 2008.
Showing posts with label 2008. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2008. Show all posts
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Challenges - New Beginnings
Sure, I have been able to post new work. But it was work created at the end of 2007 that is still being scanned in. Hoping your year is off to a bang as well. I know it is for at least some of you. The world might be scary but this isn't part of that world is it?
This work is so new that it is very unfamiliar territory for me. The challenge is to do a quick collage a day for two weeks. Or at least that is the original challenge as I have really run with it and am currently doing a couple a day. Ever since December or late November I have been pushing myself artistically. Of this I am proud. I am proud of every failed piece because it truly is a learning experience and overjoyed by each little success. It started out small with me getting out the washi paper I had been given many months prior and cutting little leaf shapes into it. Then I glued those papers onto black cards and made some ACEOs. They were different, they were fresh and not only did people buy them but I had a new energy and desire to explore. And a taste for new paper starting with washi.
Now here I am cutting up an out of date dictionary I dug out of my closet and uses pieces of super old prints of mine that I destroyed for scraps long ago.
More! My tiny exacto blades are my new favorite tool. I even maticulously set up a portable washi paper cutting station so unlike my woodblocks I can do these everywhere.
And I have been sketching more than I have in a long time. In fact I only have a couple pages left of my current moleskine. Great timing since I have a 25% off one item coupon at Dick Blick burning a hole in my pocket.
Now I need to get back to work. My energy level is near frantic as I can't do everything I want to do and have such a hard time focusing on one task. Too many ideas with limited time. I'm thinking that I may be a wee bit manic but what am I to do other than ride it out and enjoy it while I can. Put it to use and try not to overwhelm myself.
I'm not feeling negative lately and that is something. Far from it. Using art to keep my mind from thinking about what is going on out there is my escape. If I didn't have it I would be a mess of anger and worries all the time.
Eeek! It is way past the witching hour for me, I need to get to bed pronto!
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Seven Things
Starting with the first new work of the year. Well, kinda. The prints aren't knew, but what I did with them is. This is something that I have been thinking about trying for some time now and I finally got to it. Printed on Japanese mulberry and then carefully glued to lightweight single ply shina blocks. They are ready to hang with a wire in back. Well?
Day:
1) bleetastic day, play with Moby Wrap
2) blog
3) pack and send orders
4) doctor sans stroller
5) Flickr/ list/ email catchup
6) photograph studio (it's a secret)
7) art experimentation
Week:
1) wear blee as much as possible
2) experiment with monotypes
3) walk / exercise 3-4 times
4) list on etsy every day
5) spend more quality time with Jon
6) get the ball rolling JP babywearers meetup
7) finish The Omnivore's Dilemma
Year:
1) lose twenty pounds
2) twenty pieces (ACEOs included) every month
3) challenge myself as an artist and as a mom
4) read (and finish) six books* (sigh, this is such a low number for me I have really gotten out of the habit)
5) be aware of and work to manage my moods
6) participate in an exhibit
7) take a class/ workshop
* Oprah's bookclub isn't really my style and baby books read to blee don't count
Here's some blee and some art for you. And I was on the homepage on Etsy Saturday night for about twenty minutes before my item sold. woot!
So, I did not print this weekend but that is alright. I ended up doing two spur of the moment carvings. Well, one was a sketch that I had been playing around with for months that I finally got out on wood. So no monotypes for me as planned. Jon is most likely going out on Tuesday night after we put blee down so that sounds like the perfect time for me to print. If I have the energy. If I don't it is okay for me to wait until Friday or the weekend.
Today was great in that we were able to visit a woman and try the two baby carriers that I am most interested. I loved them both, though I couldn't use the Ergo with her at all yet as she is too young. But I have a good feeling about that one in a couple of months. The Mei Tai was awesome! Plus she had the brand that I was leaning towards and that sealed it for me as soon as I got home I ordered it. With a yummy Klimpt inspired fabric in the center. It is custom made so I will have to wait about three weeks for it. I hate waiting but it is not like I am carrierless. The pouch is still awesome and will continue to be for awhile now. Really until spring most likely.
The seven things of the day have been a normal thing for me to do for a couple of weeks now. A weekly set sounds good too. And I have been working on one for the year as well. I consider that one to be a rough draft that I might add more specifics to later. I tried to not be too general as those tend to be harder to follow.
Day:
1) bleetastic day, play with Moby Wrap
2)
3) pack and send orders
4) doctor sans stroller
5) Flickr/ list/ email catchup
6) photograph studio (it's a secret)
7) art experimentation
Week:
1) wear blee as much as possible
2) experiment with monotypes
3) walk / exercise 3-4 times
4) list on etsy every day
5) spend more quality time with Jon
6) get the ball rolling JP babywearers meetup
7) finish The Omnivore's Dilemma
Year:
1) lose twenty pounds
2) twenty pieces (ACEOs included) every month
3) challenge myself as an artist and as a mom
4) read (and finish) six books* (sigh, this is such a low number for me I have really gotten out of the habit)
5) be aware of and work to manage my moods
6) participate in an exhibit
7) take a class/ workshop
* Oprah's bookclub isn't really my style and baby books read to blee don't count
Here's some blee and some art for you. And I was on the homepage on Etsy Saturday night for about twenty minutes before my item sold. woot!
So, I did not print this weekend but that is alright. I ended up doing two spur of the moment carvings. Well, one was a sketch that I had been playing around with for months that I finally got out on wood. So no monotypes for me as planned. Jon is most likely going out on Tuesday night after we put blee down so that sounds like the perfect time for me to print. If I have the energy. If I don't it is okay for me to wait until Friday or the weekend.
Today was great in that we were able to visit a woman and try the two baby carriers that I am most interested. I loved them both, though I couldn't use the Ergo with her at all yet as she is too young. But I have a good feeling about that one in a couple of months. The Mei Tai was awesome! Plus she had the brand that I was leaning towards and that sealed it for me as soon as I got home I ordered it. With a yummy Klimpt inspired fabric in the center. It is custom made so I will have to wait about three weeks for it. I hate waiting but it is not like I am carrierless. The pouch is still awesome and will continue to be for awhile now. Really until spring most likely.
The seven things of the day have been a normal thing for me to do for a couple of weeks now. A weekly set sounds good too. And I have been working on one for the year as well. I consider that one to be a rough draft that I might add more specifics to later. I tried to not be too general as those tend to be harder to follow.
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
No cake for you!
Even though she is four months old today.
This is blee in her fancy smancy Baby Bjorn bouncy chair that a friend loaned to us indefinitely. I remember seeing it on Amazon before seeing it at her house and scoffing at the $100 pricetag. For a friggin bouncy chair I said to myself! And it doesn't even vibrate. And with the sleek design I just thought it was designed more for parents than kids.
Boy was I wrong. This thing is so much better than the standard Fisher Price one she had before. That was great but the vibration ate batteries and that got expensive even though it too was a handmedown and they are only $30 new. And she killed that bouncy chair as we watched it bow under her weight. And it honestly didn't bounce all that well. If it didn't vibrate it was pretty useless. So we kept shoving batteries in it.
This one on the other hand sways at every move and she has even learned to control the bounces by kicking her right leg. And she loves the bear. With four inclines including folding flat for storage and travel if I had to buy this I would. Man, I feel like such an uber yuppie for saying that. But I am very glad that I didn't have to buy it!
She did get a gift for her monthday. This activity center that I put together yesterday. Cursing up a storm the whole time. Evil, I tell you evil! It was given to us by one of Jon's co-workers but sent to the downtown office where it sat for months. Since yesterday the city was dead we were able to find parking and cart it home. It looks like she could have tons of fun with it and that it should entertain her for years. That is what his co-worker said about it. An awesome gift even if putting it together was a nightmare.
Anyhow, I hope everybody is having a great start to 2008. I am hoping it is better than 2007 big picture and small picture personally. It was a rather horrifying year in many ways and personally it was pretty terrible for me except for her of course.
Back to work while she naps!
This is blee in her fancy smancy Baby Bjorn bouncy chair that a friend loaned to us indefinitely. I remember seeing it on Amazon before seeing it at her house and scoffing at the $100 pricetag. For a friggin bouncy chair I said to myself! And it doesn't even vibrate. And with the sleek design I just thought it was designed more for parents than kids.
Boy was I wrong. This thing is so much better than the standard Fisher Price one she had before. That was great but the vibration ate batteries and that got expensive even though it too was a handmedown and they are only $30 new. And she killed that bouncy chair as we watched it bow under her weight. And it honestly didn't bounce all that well. If it didn't vibrate it was pretty useless. So we kept shoving batteries in it.
This one on the other hand sways at every move and she has even learned to control the bounces by kicking her right leg. And she loves the bear. With four inclines including folding flat for storage and travel if I had to buy this I would. Man, I feel like such an uber yuppie for saying that. But I am very glad that I didn't have to buy it!
She did get a gift for her monthday. This activity center that I put together yesterday. Cursing up a storm the whole time. Evil, I tell you evil! It was given to us by one of Jon's co-workers but sent to the downtown office where it sat for months. Since yesterday the city was dead we were able to find parking and cart it home. It looks like she could have tons of fun with it and that it should entertain her for years. That is what his co-worker said about it. An awesome gift even if putting it together was a nightmare.
Anyhow, I hope everybody is having a great start to 2008. I am hoping it is better than 2007 big picture and small picture personally. It was a rather horrifying year in many ways and personally it was pretty terrible for me except for her of course.
Back to work while she naps!
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