Western WA Scrapbook Retreat

My Group
Left: Lisa, Katherine (not shown)
Right: Ginger, and my table (front)

The WWS retreat took place at Fort Worden near Port Townsend, WA. A beautiful setting for three days of creative time. If one didn't find the place inspiring, then surely the car pool adventure or the ferry ride would do. It was a fabulous getaway coming, being, and going. Finally, some time for myself to just be, just create, or just engage with like minded souls. I will definitely return as there was something special about being with friends, meeting new people, and just plain having time!

Our Room
One of Many!

Last I heard there were 112 participants spread throughout the two story building taking up multiple working rooms. Accommodations were in old barracks with single or double bedrooms. These rooms were very basic and "institutional" looking...adding to the rustic allure. Shared bathrooms and having my friends just down the hall...well, it reminded me of college dorm living. Good times.

"Let it snow!"
Christmas Cards 2009

When I first arrived, I decided to work on my Christmas cards to get me in the groove. Something pre-planned where I could plug away and enjoy the surroundings. They were time intensive with little pieces to glue for 32 cards. But this time, I truly felt like it was more about the process and less about the final product. It was meditative.

Ginger's Memories...

Ginger's Memories

Not just an empty box, "Ginger's Memories" is quite full! I created this collage box to capture memories for Ginger's 40th birthday party, themed Back in Black. Guests brought items to include, such as matchbooks and coasters, a banana comb straight from the 80s, the Back in Black album by AC/DC, pictures, postcards from Ginger's many travels, and pertinent aging quotes.

A Collage Box

I tore a map of Rome and newspaper pages into strips and adhered with medium gel gloss. After it was dry, I sponge painted over the strips with brown and black acrylic paints, then decorated with stickers and die cut shapes. I sealed everything in place with another coat of medium gel gloss, giving it a smooth finish. I lined the box with maps from Prague and Budapest. I'm sure Travel Girl has a lot of memories to store so this box should get lots of use.

Happy Birthday, Ginger!

Card Swap

Just a note!
Made with music, Espial Design

I'm attending the Western Washington Scrapbook Retreat next weekend for 3 days of dedicated creative time. I'm not a scrapbooker intrinsically, although I do enjoy making my own greeting cards.

To get into the groove, I signed up for the event's card swap. My inspiration was my piano. I've never been very good and don't have an ear for music, but I enjoy plunking on the keys once in the while. I have TONS of sheet music from my Grandma, my Aunt Judy, and my mom. I went through it yesterday to see what could be deemed collage worthy and found some goodies to cut up for my project.

I made 14 cards in total.

Illustration Friday: Tango

First Tango

I'm listening to The Tango Lesson right now.

Illustration Friday: UnfoldInspire Me Thursday: Child Art

Monkey and Map

"You got to know when to hold em, know when to fold em, know when to walk away and know when to run." ~ Kenny Rogers, The Gambler

I'm using this illustration for Inspire Me Thursday's theme this week, Child Art. Nothing in the piece was done by a child...but it is intended for a monkey toy box. Some how, my toddlers have acquired quite a few monkey plush toys. I've put them all into a shoebox and I call it the Monkey Box. It's in their closet and when they need a distraction, I tell them to go find their monkeys, which they are more than happy to dig out. Decorating the Monkey Box is on my list of "to dos" and this illustration is a start.

Illustration Friday: Fleeting

April's Picnic

"Fleeting: passing swiftly; vanishing quickly; transient; transitory"

Bird takes a fleeting glance at the picnic below him. He espies two of his friends dining on watermelon seeds and wonders if he has room for one more.

This image was inspired by my friend, April, who wrote, "I love animals and hope to have a garden in heaven were animals talk to me".

Happy Birthday, Razzle Dazzle!

Illustration Friday: SubtractInspire Me Thursday: I am...

Free Bee
I just gotta be me!

I was inspired by the bowling pins I recently crafted and thought I would exercise my brain with a quick image. I illustrated the bee and the ladybug and then let them take over as they started telling their own story. I like letting go to see where things end up. An enjoyable journey today with the Free Bee.

Idle Hands

Bowling Pins
Monkey, Bumble Bee, Cat

Bowling Pins
Bird, Ladybug, Bunny Rabbit

I needed a project to do while spending time at my parent's house. I have so many fabric remnants and odd buttons that I thought of making bowling pins for my girls. I brought with me the easy pattern I created, some notions for antennas, eyes, and noses and sewed like the wind! I used navy beans for the base and stuffed the critters with recycled pillow stuffing and fleece. I made a bumble bee, ladybug, monkey, cat, bird and a bunny rabbit.

All Together Now

Sewing ConfectionsInspire Me Thursday: Lace

Sewn Confections, Batch 2

Fresh from the oven, my last batch of sweets sewn for the Deux Pois Bakery. When my girls are old enough to play in their make believe bakery (and stop putting things in their mouths) I will share my box of treats. Right now the buttons are a choking hazard even though they look delicious!

My Petit Four Sec Chocolate Cake with Confectioners Sugar has a sprinkling of lace, which lends itself nicely to this week's theme for Inspire Me Thursday.

Sewing ConfectionsInspire Me Thursday: Fold

Deux Pois Bakery Logo
Translated: Two Peas Bakery

I saw some crafted cupcakes and confections online made from felt or felted wool and topped with ribbons, buttons, and beads. They were really cute so I thought I'd try my hand at creating my own plush desserts. I have loads of fabric pieces, jars of old buttons, and ribbon remnants of all sorts. To use up these collections of scraps, I machine sewed all my confections using mostly cotton quilting fabric. I created my own patterns and looks to stock my new "bakery", Deux Pois Bakery.

The first batch of sewn confections is for a friend's daughter. She'll be turning two and getting a tea and kitchen set as gifts. The second batch, not shown here, is one I'm currently working on for my two girls. I have two more cakes to sew to complete the second set. Fun was had by moi!

Sewn Confections, Batch 1

Don't they look scrumptious? If only they'd taste like they look...yummy!

Textures in the Slough

Moss and Lichen Spore Capsules

I went for a nature walk today in the Mercer Slough. I took lots of great shots, these three being my favorite. Maybe I could use the "Swamp Gunk" image in my last monster image for the Seven Deadly Sins, Greed. I'll have to think on that one.

Lichen

Swamp Gunk

Inspire Me Thursday's theme this week is Breakfast. I'm not sure that "Swamp Gunk" is giving me the proper inspiration! Yuck!

Production Mode

The Production Line

Up Close and Personal

I was in need of some 'thank you' cards and went into production mode. I have a play pen set up in my studio with toys and pillows to keep the little ones occupied while I try to be creative. They both like to get into everything BUT their toys and pillows. Big sigh. I like having them with me but I don't get much accomplished.

I kept the cards simple so that I could work on them quickly and have a finished product under my belt. I used scrapbook paper, stamps and ink, a flower punch, acrylic paint and Yes paste. Done and done!

First 'Thank You' Batch

Bumble Bee and Lady Bug
Thank You cards

I forgot to share my earlier 'thank you' cards made in September. The cards were created for a bumble bee and ladybug themed party.

Illustration Friday: Memories

Kookaburra

I used to have this song on a 45 LP when I was a kid...it was one of my favorites.

It's hard to see, but the first two verses of the song (font in the image is Dandelion) are repeated in the background of the image adding to the texture.

Here are the lyrics:

Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree.
Merry, merry king of the bush is he.
Laugh, Kookaburra! Laugh, Kookaburra!
Gay your life must be.

Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree.
Eating all the gum drops he can see.
Stop, Kookaburra! Stop, Kookaburra!
Leave some there for me.

Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree.
Chasing all the monkeys he can see.
Stop, Kookaburra! Stop, Kookaburra!
That's no monkey, that's me!

Kookaburra sits on a rusty nail.
Puts a boo-boo on his tail.
Cry, Kookaburra! Cry, Kookaburra!
Oh how life can be.

Bumble Bee and Ladybug Party Invitations

Bumble Bee

Ladybug

I created two spot illos, a bumble bee and ladybug, for a double themed birthday party invitation. The font I chose is called "Fontdinerdotcom."

Seven Deadly Sins (Lust)

Lust

I started the Seven Deadly Sins awhile ago and was stumped on what to do for greed...so I allowed myself to be distracted by other things and kind of forgot about finishing this project! After I read Inspire Me Thursdays theme last week of Polka Dots, I took what I started for Greed and changed it into a lusty, freckled monster octopus instead. It turned into Lust and is the 6th monster I've created to date. The elusive Greed is the only one left! Want to see the others? They're here:

See all of them here.
Envy
Gluttony
Sloth
Pride

NPR's 2009 Calendar IllustrationIllustration Friday: Enough

Listener from Outer Space

Hello! I'm surfacing briefly from house hunting to share my latest work assignment, an illustration for NPR's 2009 calendar, due tomorrow.

Here's the assignment:

"NPR has always represented audio excellence and great in-depth news reporting. Our reports not only foster intelligent discourse, they also often elicit imagery in the minds of our audience. We want you to put that on paper. Here is a choice of questions your art may answer:

* What does your personal NPR experience look like?

* How does NPR affect your life or your community?

* Six key verbs help characterize the NPR experience across today’s media platforms: Share, Connect, Think, Question, Explore, and Dream. How would you visualize these words?

* The work should include the NPR logo."

I thought it was also fitting for Illustration Friday's theme this week, enough. Even this alien can't get enough of the Earthlings' radio. Especially the NPR programming!

Calendar Project for NPR

NPR recently contacted me with an invitation to participate in their 2009 calendar. The production manager wrote, "Your illustrations in the Directory of Illustration were delightful, with their whimsy and textures." Nice to know that my page in the Directory is getting noticed and advertising is paying off...well, sort of...

NPR invited me to contribute an illustration. It's not a paying job, but it will promote my artwork to the 10-18,000 listeners that will receive the calendar. They will also send me 200 calendars of my own to distribute. My name, bio and contact information will be next to my artwork in the calendar. Advertising begets advertising!

Cookie Tin Project Completed

Cookie Tin Lid

Cookie Tin Side Detail
Dotted line is the crease where the lid will sit.

I finished the cookie tin project for Tormont Publishers back in March. A lot of back and forth, and in the end, we were all happy with the final outcome.

For now, no more projects. I need to focus on my impending move. I've already packed up my studio space...a difficult endeavor! I had a hard time saying goodbye to my stuff. Paper, scissors, Yes paste, Wacom tablet...I won't see it for several months! Oh well, I'll be back soon enough!

Ciao for now!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Photograph of Original Paper Image

Mom's birthday was last Monday and the polka dot wrapping paper she tore off her gift inspired this week's "primitive" paper collage. I cut the pieces, glued some together, layed them in position on black poster board, and snapped the picture. I uploaded the picture to Mom's computer, and using her mouse and Photoshop 6.0, I clumsily cleaned up the image and added the shadow and highlights.

Digitized Final Image

I added the cups and saucers in honor of Creative Cup's anniversary on May 3...the C-cuppers will be celebrating 1 year on Saturday!

Illustration Friday: Multiple

Cookie Sampler

I baked cookies, I ate cookies, and I illustrated cookies for my cookie tin project with Tormont Publishers. Now, while I'm waiting to wrap things up with them, I've put all my illustrated cookies on a plate to finish tapping that well.

More Research Illustration Friday: Theory

Chocolate Chip Cookie
"In theory, these should taste great!"

I'm still working on the cookie tin illustration for Tormont Publishers. More textures are needed and the easiest way to get them, is to make them. So I made a batch of chocolate chip cookies last week...yum, they were delicious. Tonight, I made peanut butter cookies...fresh for photography.

I left one chocolate chip cookie "chip barren" for my photo shoot. I'm adding collage bits later for the chips in my illustration. All the other cookies were satisfyingly delicious! This better be the last of my research or I'm going to have to blow the dust off my South Beach Diet book!

Peanut Butter Goodness
Only a half batch for my girlish figure.

The Last Studio Friday: Highlight(s)

The challenge: "If you had to pick one highlight of your work what would it be? You might also think about the highlight of your day when you have time to be in your studio, your creative space...? Over the past years has there been a very specific highlight for you?"

A Chocolate Solution

My current highlight is my illustration from March 2006 called, A Chocolate Solution as it is the reason Tormont Publishers recently contacted me. I'm working on illustrations for a cookie tin using A Chocolate Solution as the starting point. I'll be changing the chocolates to cookies for their project.

I think my favorite career highlight as an illustrator has to be my 60+ image exhibit at Sequoia Hospital's art corridor. I sold many pieces, donated a few to different charities, and received many compliments about my work.

Some Tasty Research Studio Friday: The Heart of Your Studio

Cookies in the Making

Happy Valentines Day! Today I made heart shaped sugar cookies drizzled with a glaze for our St. Valentine's Day dessert. First and foremost though, this project was a tasty way to research my next graphic project, a cookie tin illustration for Tormont Publishers based in Montreal. I took close up snapshots of the cookies after they were baked to use as textures in my collage.

The Finished Product

The Studio Friday challenge: "Where or what is the heart of your studio/creative space?"

The heart of my studio is finding, creating, and photographing textures. Since I am a collage artist, textures are what put the lift in my shoes. I find a lot of inspiration in visually tactile materials.

Studio Friday: Pet Peeves

The challenge: "Dictionary.com defines a pet peeve as, "a particular and often continual annoyance; personal bugbear, something about which one frequently complains; a particular personal vexation." Could be fun to research pet peeves while in the studio! What's your pet peeve and why?"

Feed Dog, Presser Foot, and a Threaded Needle

Upon first view one might think my pet peeve is the dirt and grime on my presser foot and needle bar! But, alas, I didn't even notice THAT until after I uploaded the picture. Guess I need to clean and oil my machine...I can't even remember when I did that last. Sewing machine abuse!

Since I've been focusing on textiles these past few months, I thought I'd give the low down on my pet peeves while sewing. I have many, but will mention only a few.

1.) Threads and scraps HAVE to go in the garbage right away. I can't stand trash piles. It distracts me (see #7 here).

2.) Having to use my seam ripper. Sometimes I even amaze myself at the stupid mistakes I make since I've been sewing most of my life.

3.) For some reason I NEVER pull enough thread back after making a seam and cutting the thread. When I go back to make another seam, the thread take-up lever pulls the thread out of the needle. Just thinking about that annoys me!

Studio Friday: The View

The challenge: "Let's take a look at the view out of your studio, be it through your window, door or imagined window maybe?"

A View Inside

I decided to take the opposite approach and instead of looking to the outside from my studio, I chose to look into my studio from my bedroom! My bedroom has French doors to the porch where my studio is located. With the blinds open it offers a mysterious back lit ambience. Rather like an "I spy" scenario.

With that in mind, I decided a photo of the old fashioned glass door knob and key/key hole were in order to complete the noir feeling.

Door Knob and Key

Ceramic Plate with Lichtenstein Image

My studio images reminded me of this plate I painted for personal use back in 1999, a copy of Roy Lichtenstein's image called I Can See the Whole Room.

Directory of Illustration, No. 24 is Here!

Directory of Illustration, No. 24

Check Out Page 426!

Last week I received my copy of the Directory of Illustration, publication number 24. I bought a half spread advertisement spot; check out page 426. Included in DOI's advertisement package was 1500 copies of my page and space for 30 images on their website.

Studio Friday: Dots or Stripes?

The challenge: "The question of the hour...polka dots or stripes? Or both? Or neither?"

Little Houses on Islands

Little Houses on Islands - detail

I repeated the "little house" theme, but this time, instead of rolling hills, I decided to create rolling water. No stripes in this piece, but there is a polka dot house!

I used the small orange paper pieces that I mentioned in an earlier post as materials for this image.

Little Paper into Little Houses Illustration Friday: Grow

Little Houses

As I was creating this piece, I channeled the artist Charles Wysocki. We had a calendar of his art...I like his style with the miniature village life.

Inspire Me Thursday: ControlStudio Friday: Orange

IMT Challenge: "This week at Inspire Me Thursday, our theme is Control. Take this topic in whatever direction you wish, perhaps thinking about your creative process and what you control and what you don’t control..."

SF Challenge:"Since Halloween is fast approaching, and it's fall, let's focus on the color orange."

Small Orange Paper

Since my suggestion was used for Studio Friday's challenge this week, I thought I'd better KISS (Keep It Small, Stacia)...literally!

For my "orange" entry I found these small orange patterned papers. Each piece above is about 1 x 2". Small papers for a small image!

I decided that IMTs theme of "control" would relate to my tight time schedule with future creative projects. To participate in challenges will mean keeping projects small and easy.

Penguin Book Cover

Penguin Book Cover (Berkley Publishing)

Last November I was hired by Berkley Publishing to illustrate a book cover for their Prime Crime Mysteries series. It was published this month, October 2007. If you'd like to read about the story authored by Jeffrey Cohen...it's for sale on Amazon.

Final Version

This was my final version sent to them in January 2007. They made some modifications for their book cover (see above) with my approval. They also asked me to create a logo for their series. The two ticket stubs was their final choice.

Overall, it was a good experience working with Berkley Publishing!

Art at Atherton Library

Today, George and I installed my artwork at the Atherton Library in Atherton, CA. This is my sixth "show" with 16 images installed above the bookshelves. It will be showing for the next two months, until the end of October 2007.

Atherton Library

George Hanging Artwork

Art in the Library

Other places my art has been installed:
Sunnyvale Library with SCBWI art critique group in 2003
Saratoga Library March and April 2006
Main Street Coffee Roasting Company October 2006
Woodside Library March and April 2007
Sequoia Hospital June and July 2007