Papery Dreams

Happy New Year

2009-12-31T08:49:00.005-02:00

Although I’ve been absent for such a long time now, I just couldn’t let today go without saying a big THANK YOU to all those of you who have followed this blog and who have so generously posted here and/or sent me sweet and motivating messages.

I want to wish every one a bright and artful year and may the Muse be generous in her inspiration!

Enjoy your days!

Apesar de ter estado ausente por tanto tempo, eu simplesmente não podia deixar o dia de hoje passar sem dizer um enorme OBRIGADA a todos aqueles que têm acompanhado este blog e que tão generosamente comentaram aqui e/ou enviaram mensagens tão positivas.

Quero desejar a todos um ano brilhante e repleto de arte, e que a Musa seja generosa com sua inspiração!

Aproveitem os seus dias!

Monica

An ending year

2009-11-30T11:01:00.004-02:00

As the year approaches its end, I tend (as always!) to want to make things for people I don’t know; for the needy, for the lonely, for the forgotten ones…I just wish the world was a more reliable place, where one could approach people in the street and offer a little love or a gift without looking threatening or being in danger of being attacked….Yes, the end of the year also makes me think a lot about relationships and how the world could be a better place….
I will definitely have to find a place where I can help others doing some voluntary work…it’s a good objective for a new year. But I need a small place, a place that hasn’t as yet become the propaganda banner of social climbers, a place that is about seeing to the needs of the unfortunate and not about what can be gained by playing at being charitable …so many of those around, so many people thriving on showing off….urgh!

Meanwhile, I have been “working” quite a lot at papier maché and at putting together little scraps of fabric to make things while watching TV
Margarido Coração Partido, (Broken Hearted Daisy Boy) didn’t stay around for long... he very quickly found a loving heart to mend his…
Then came Rose, who involved sculpting, papier macheing, modeling, painting AND sewing (ooof!)…but I think she looks really cute.
After her Carmen and Bunny Dew were born and they are quite a pair too.
And last but not least, the Twister Sisters – 5 so far : Wendy, Claire, Judy, Jane and Suzy…little dollies made of nothing but sewn and twisted scraps and ready to warm little (and big!) hearts….It’s fun making little things!

À medida que o ano acaba, como sempre sinto a vontade de fazer coisas para pessoas que não conheço, os necessitados, os solitários, os esquecidos...Gostaria tanto que o mundo fosse um lugar mais confiável, onde se pudesse estender a mão na rua e oferecer um pouco de amor ou um presente sem parecer ameaçador ou correr o risco de ser assaltada...Pois é, o fim do ano também me faz pensar muito sobre relacionamentos e sobre como o mundo poderia ser um lugar melhor...
Definitivamente terei que achar um lugar onde eu possa ajudar fazendo trabalho voluntário...este é um bom objetivo para um novo ano. Mas preciso de um lugar pequeno, um lugar que não tenha ainda se tornado o pôster de propaganda para os que procuram ascensão social, um lugar que trate das necessidades dos menos afortunados e não do que pode ser ganho brincando de ser caridoso...há tanta gente assim por aí, tanta gente que prospera exibindo seus atos....irgh!!!!

E enquanto penso, tenho “trabalhado” um bom tanto com papier maché e com trapinhos que vou juntando uns aos outros para transformar em coisinhas, enquanto assisto à televisão.
Margarido Coração Partido não ficou por aqui por muito tempo...ele logo achou um coração carinhoso para remendar o seu.
Depois veio Rose, que implicou em esculpir, empapelar, modelar, pintar E costurar....ufa!!! Mas acho que ela ficou bem interessante.
Depois dela, Carmen e Bunny Dew nasceram e formam um parzinho do barulho.E por último, mas nem por isso menos importantes, as Irmãs Twister – 5 até agora: Wendy, Claire, Judy, Jane e Suzy...bonequinhas feitas de nada mais que trapinhos costurados e retorcidos, prontas para aquecer corações – pequenos e grandes....É divertido fazer coisas pequeninas!

A long, long silence....again!

2009-11-17T10:36:00.010-02:00

It HAS been a loooooong time but, hey….at least I’ve been keeping busy….
As winter changes into summer, the days have grown longer and the sun has shone a bit more giving us respite from the damp rainy days…My bones so enjoy the warmth!!!
And with the good weather comes a better mood too, not only for me but also for the Finicky Muse who has at least been doing an effort to cheer me up. Good for her….she got me to the point of thinking about hiring a new Muse!!!
But all is well between us now…she whispers in my ears and my hands fly over whatever I am led to make and here are the results…

FAZ muuuuuuuito tempo mesmo mas…pelo menos tenho me mantido ocupada!
À medida que o inverno se transforma em verão, os dias ficaram mais longos e o sol tem brilhado um pouco mais, aliviando-nos dos úmidos dias de chuva...Meus ossos apreciam tanto o calor!!!!
E com dias mais bonitos também vem um humor melhor, não só para mim mas também para a Musa fricoteira que, pelo menos tem feito um esforço para me animar. Bom para ela...cheguei ao ponto de pensar em contratar uma nova Musa!!!!
Mas agora estamos em paz...ela murmura no meu ouvido e minhas mãos voam sobre seja qual for o trabalho que sou levada a realizar, e aqui estão os resultados....

In Papier Maché, The Ugly sisters (as irmãs Medonhas), Bobino, Hope (Esperança), Seaweed (Alga do Mar), Tweeties, and a box;

In fibers: Night flight, Gloovy-the glove monster (o monstro de luva) and Miss Library- An experiment

Too busy to write????

2009-10-14T10:48:00.008-03:00

It is SO, SO, SO VERY GOOD to be back in motion, to feel the inspiration and to be creative again…And things seem to happen just because I’m back to playing. There was a big job for a Warner Bross campaign that occupied the best part of a week, then I made a leather photo album for a friend, a new figurine, “Pinky the Raggedy Princess” was born and I finished the 6 panels for the Loss of Heart, namely: Loss, The quest, Fear, Doubt, Hope and Bliss. Now I’ll have to figure how to put them all together sharing a common background. I also made a few new blank journals and prepared 12 papier mache pieces to work on as well as 6 fabric dolls to entertain me as I watch TV…Life is good when so much is being done and all your time is taken for creating….

É TÃO, TÃO, TÃO BOM estar novamente em movimento, sentir a inspiração e ser criativa outra vez...e as coisas parecem acontecer simplesmente por eu estar novamente brincando.Apareceu um trabalho grande para uma campanha da Warner Bross que ocupou grande parte da semana, depois fiz um álbum de fotos em couro para uma amiga, uma nova figura, “Pinky a princesa maltrapilho”, nasceu e eu terminei os 6 painéis que compõem a Perda do Coração, a saber: A perda, A busca, O medo, A dúvida, A esperança e A Felicidade. Agora falta descobrir como vou juntá-los num fundo comum. Também fiz alguns cadernos em branco e preparei 12 peças em papier maché para pintar e complementar, bem como 6 bonecas de pano para me divertir enquanto vejo TV.A vida é boa quando há tanto sendo feito e todo o tempo é usado para criar ...

The Finicky Muse is back to work

2009-09-22T10:11:00.003-03:00

Already I can feel things are changing, subtly but definitely changing....The Muse has been less finicky and has even been working at inspiring me, which she should never stop doing!!!! I’ve slowly been coming back to creating and ideas are starting to wake me up again during the night….That’s good, it’s EXCELLENT !!!!
And as I started playing again, “Nightfall” which I began a few weeks ago was finished and I came up with 3 more papier maché figurines(Alice, the Queen fo Hearts and the Cat)…Not a lot but the wheels are cranking again and I’m grateful….

Já posso sentir que as coisas estão mudando, sutilmente, mas certamente estão mudando....A Musa tem estado menos fricoteira e tem até se esforçado para me inspirar, o que ela nunca deveria parar de fazer!!!! Lentamente estou voltando a criar e idéias já começam a me acordar novamente durante a noite.... Isso é bom, é EXCELENTE!!!!E, à medida que volto a brincar, “Anoitecer” que havia sido iniciada há algumas semanas, conseguiu ser terminada e fiz mais três figuras em papier maché(Alice, a Rainha de Copas e o Gato)... Não muito mas as engrenagens começam a girar novamente e sou grata por isso.

A new studio...finally!

2009-09-14T16:28:00.008-03:00

OK, it’s been a long, long, very long time and I’ve been waiting anxiously for the day when I could finally say “I’ve moved in to the new studio”.
Although it’s not 100% ready (when is anything 100%??) I’ve moved and can now get back to work….Even my muse is itching to work again…
The last 3 months were hell while I was cramped in a temporary room, with only a tiny part of my stuff available and a lazy Muse for company…
But it was well worth the waiting and I am proud to say my new studio is my dream come true…I could live here…forever!
Here are a few pics to show the before and after of what was a shack that kept tools and construction leftovers (from when the house was built, 12 years ago!) turned into a dream studio!!!! Enjoy!

Certo, foi um tempo longo, muito longo, longuíssimo de anciosa espera, pelo dia em que eu poderia finalmente dizer "Mudei para o novo ateliê".
Ainda que não esteja 100% pronto (quando é que alguma coisa está 100%???), mudei e posso agora voltar ao trabalho...Até minha musa está doida para trabalhar novamente....
Os últimos 3 meses foram infernais enquanto estava num quarto temporário, com apenas uma parte pequena dos meus materiais e uma Musa preguiçosa como companhia....
Mas valeu a espera e é com orgulho que digo que meu ateliê é meu sonho que virou realidade...Eu poderia facilmente morar aqui....para sempre!
Aqui estão algumas fotos para mostrar o antes e o depois do que era um barraco de obras que guardava ferramentas e restos de construção (de quando fizemos a casa, há 12 anos!!) que se tornou um ateliê dos sohos!!!!

Before and After - Antes e depois
I love this color and the roomy porch!!!!!! - Adoro esta cor e a varanda espaçosa!!!!

Before and After - Antes e depois

Before and After - Antes e depois

The tree pannel where people will leave leaves with messages and hang their bags(on the flowers) , and the Little Shop cabinet behind it
O painel de árvore onde as visitas deixarão recados em folhas e pendurarão as bolsas (nas flores)
e o Armário-Loja atrás dele.

My thinking chair and embroidering corner. The stairs lead upstairs to my private Cloud.
Minha cadeira de pensar e canto de bordar. As escadas levam à minha Nuvem particular.

My Cloud...a space to rest, to study, to dream, to hide....
Minha Nuvem...um espaço para descansar, estudar, sonhar, me esconder...

shifting

2009-08-02T14:37:00.004-03:00

the last few days have been frantic in the sense that my moods swing and my muse peeks from under layers of nervous expectation, refusing to create under less than perfect conditions....
the closest it comes to D-day - this being the day when my new studio will be ready and I will be able to be home again – the further that day seems to be….every time I count the days necessary for the work to be done, it seems another two weeks will be needed….and it’s been over 4 months….no wonder the finicky muse is upset….
thus, no work has been done…I have switched to playing around with my needle since this can be done anywhere in the house or out…and apparently the needle muse is a different one…
I have been drawing with fabric and thread, playing around with ideas and have finally come up with a project of sorts…something to do meanwhile….
So apart from this ladybug door stop made out of a round rock I found outside, I have needled.
One fist experiment in brown, then a piece made of hearts and then the beginning of a story in 6 small panels: the first called The Loss… I can’t explain how so many hearts came to rest under the needle, but they are there and The Loss is of heart…

os últimos dias têm sido agitados nas minhas mudanças de humores e nas olhadelas da minha musa que repousa sob camadas nervosas de expectativas, recusando-se a criar a não ser em condições perfeitas....
quanto mais o dia-D se aproxima – este sendo o dia em que meu novo ateliê estará pronto e eu poderei novamente estar em casa – tanto mais distante esse dia parece estar...sempre que conto quantos dias serão necessários para os trabalhos terminarem, parece sempre faltar mais duas semanas...e já são 4 meses...não é a toa que a musa fricoteira está aborrecida...
assim, não tenho trabalhado...mudei meu foco para brincadeiras de agulha, uma vez que isso pode ser feito em qualquer lugar da casa ou fora....e aparentemente a musa da agulha é outra...
Tenho desenhado com tecido e linha, brincando com idéias e finalmente delineei um projeto ...alguma coisa para fazer por enquanto....
Então, além de uma joaninha peso de porta feita com uma pedra redonda que encontrei lá fora, tenho agulhado...
Um primeiro experimento em marrom, depois uma peça de corações e então o começo de uma história em 6 pequenos painéis: o primeiro chamado A Perda...não posso explicar como é que tantos corações vieram descansar sob a agulha, mas estão aqui e A Perda é do coração,..

No news...........

2009-07-18T13:14:00.003-03:00

Still waiting, still anxious, still unable to create....
And while I haven’t managed to get anywhere close to my table I at least have found the courage to make a crochet cover for my thinking chair….It’s been about 2 weeks on the make but I am quite satisfied with the result…
Apart from that, not even a single journal page and it's unbelievable…..I feel like a dry well without any hope of rain!
Maybe in another two weeks my new studio will be ready and who knows my finicky Muse will then give us the honor of showing up once more.
And off to dreaming some more, and waiting………………………………..

Ainda esperando, ainda ansiosa e incapaz de criar....
E apesar de não ter conseguido sequer chegar perto da minha mesa, pelo menos encontrei coragem para fazer uma capa de crochê para minha cadeira de pensar... Levou umas duas semanas mas estou bem satisfeita com o resultado...
Afora isso, nem ao menos uma página de diário visual e é incrível...sinto-me como um poço seco sem esperanças de chuva!
Quem sabe mais umas duas semanas e meu novo ateliê esteja pronto e quem sabe minha musa fricoteira nos dará então a honra de aparecer outra vez.E lá vou eu sonhar um pouco mais e esperar....................................

Almost there

2009-07-11T14:23:00.006-03:00

The new studio is coming along well…I never thought so many details had to be considered in remodeling a hut but it is starting to look like a proper studio…Today, despite the heavy rain, the walls are being put up…After that, it’s installing the windows, the doors, painting inside and out, installing the toilet and sink as well as electricity and water pipes…I would say there’s some 2 weeks more before I can move in….Two long and dry weeks…
Dry, because I have been dragging my creative feet around, unable of doing anything much apart from daydreaming and making countless plans as to how it is going to be or not… I have boxes piled high all over with things I’ve been buying and collecting to be sure they won’t be forgotten when moving actually happens.
And this is how I have almost nothing to show for these past few days….I have managed to finish Journal #16 and make the cover. I have also made two pillows for the new studio and am now working on covering my thinking chair with crochet squares…
Hopefully, inspiration will come again when I’m finally standing inside my new space and getting organized again.

O novo ateliê está começando a aparecer...Nunca pensei que fossem tantos os detalhes a serem considerados na reforma de um “barraco” mas pelo menos já está começando a parecer um atelier...Hoje, apesar da chuva pesada, as paredes estão sendo instaladas...Depois disso, são janelas, portas, pintura interna e externa, instalação das peças do banheiro e dutos de eletricidade e de água...Eu diria que são mais duas semanas até que eu possa me mudar...Duas longas e secas semanas...
Secas porque tenho arrastado os pés da criatividade, incapaz de pouco além de sonhar acordada e de fazer incontáveis planos sobre o que vai ser como ou não...Tenho caixas empilhadas por todo canto, com coisinhas que tenho comprado e recolhido e que quero ter certeza de não esquecer quando finalmente mudar..
E é assim que tenho muito pouco para mostrar...Consegui terminar o Diário Visual #16 e fiz a capa. Também fiz duas almofadas para o atelier novo e agora estou fazendo uma capa de quadradinhos de crochet para minha cadeira de pensar...Espero que a inspiração volte quando eu finalmente estiver no meu novo espaço, novamente organizando minha vida...

Waiting, waiting, waiting.....

2009-06-22T14:25:00.007-03:00

Another week or so and very little progress has been made in the building of the new studio, which translates in mounting anxiety….yep, that’s me….still have a lot to learn, patience being the main subject!
And while I can hardly contain my anxiety, while I plan and organize trying to make time go faster, I have the hardest time creating anything….Nevertheless, as keeping my hands busy is also part of me, I managed a papier mache clown which I called “Georgy the Music Clown”, a plaque for the door of the new studio, and a journal page…not a lot, heh?
But I'm making an effort to concentrate on being creative instead of craving my new space...who said the best of a party is waiting for it?????

Mais uma semana ou mais e muito pouco progresso na construção do novo atelier, o que significa ansiedade crescente...pois é, essa sou eu...ainda com muito a aprender, sendo a paciência o assunto principal!
E, enquanto mal consigo conter a ansiedade, enquanto planejo e organizo, tentando acelerar o tempo, tenho uma imensa dificuldade para criar qualquer coisa...Ainda assim, como também é parte da minha natureza estar sempre com as mãos ocupadas, consegui fazer um palhaço de papier mache ao qual dei o nome de “Georgy, o Palhaço musical”, uma placa para por sobre a porta de entrada do novo atelier e uma página de diário...bem pouco, não é mesmo?
Mas estou fazendo um esforço para me concentrar em ser criativa ao inves de ficar sofrendo pelo novo espaço....quem disse que o melhor da festa é esperar por ela???????

Anxiety x Creativity

2009-06-08T10:27:00.005-03:00

I guess anxiety keeps me from being creative…
As I wait and wait for my new studio to be ready (and there’s still at least a month or so until I can move in!!!!), I haven’t been able to do much…not even a journal page came up this week….it’s unbelievable!!!
All I managed were this rag rug that I would have made bigger was it not for the fact that I simply have no more rags around the house and the little garden which was made as an emergency gift for a very dear friend….Today I made two more for my “for sale” cabinet…Let’s hope I am more creative this week….

Acho que a ansiedade não me deixa ser criativa...
Enquanto espero e espero que meu novo ateliê fique pronto (e ainda falta um mês ou mais para que eu possa começar a mudança!!!!) não tenho conseguido fazer muita coisa....nem mesmo uma página de diário saiu esta semana...é inacreditável!!!
Tudo o que consegui fazer foram este tapete de trapos que eu queria que fosse maior mas acabaram-se os trapos aqui em casa e esse jardinzinho que foi feito às pressas como presente para uma amiga muito querida....Hoje fiz mais dois destes para meu armário de "objetos a venda"...Vamos esperar que eu consiga ser mais criativa esta semana...

A week of endings

2009-05-28T09:34:00.008-03:00

Although there is a new project going on on my table, there's not much to show for the week past.
I managed to finish the center piece for the English paper piecing bed spread I was working on and it is now bagged and waiting for the backing.

Then, there’s the 5-minute wreath I made for my new studio door, using up all the tiny pieces of flimsy multicolored fabric a dear friend provided me with. I love the colors!

I also found my way to finishing the little rug I started way back in January. For this one I used all the leftover pieces of wool I had lying around. This too is going to my new studio. It sure will be lively and colorful!

And, evidently, there are a few journal pages too.

Hope my latest papier maché piece will be ready by the end of the week…I’ll post the pics then.

Ainda que haja um novo projeto acontecendo na minha mesa, não tenho muito para mostrar esta semana.
Consegui acabar a parte central da colha feita em “English paper piecing” na qual eu vinha trabalhando e agora está ensacada e à espera do forro.
Aí, fiz uma guirlanda de 5 minutos para meu novo ateliê, usando todos os pedacinhos de tecido fininho e multicolorido fornecidos por uma amiga querida. Adoro as cores!
Também consegui terminar o tapetinho que havia começado em janeiro. Para este utilizei todas as sobras de lã que eu tinha. Ele também vai para o novo atelier que certamente vai ser bem colorido!
E, é claro, há algumas páginas de diário também.
Espero terminar minha mais recente peça de papier maché até o final da semana...Faço upload das fotos assim que estiver pronta.

Just a quick Hello!

2009-05-15T15:47:00.003-03:00

Not much going on around here. I just wanted to say hi!
Too much time spent visiting the wrong people leaves little time and inspiration to do creative things and keeps my muse distracted….But I have been taking advantage of this blank to organize my thoughts, to dream about my new creative space, to come up with ideas and solutions for it, and to start a journal on the remodeling of “the shack” into studio…I will eventually upload some before and after pics…but only when I have the “after” ones or everyone will think me crazy!This said, all I managed were a few journal pages…but I’m still working on my paper piecing bed spread every evening and it is already getting huge…Pics will come soon too, I hope.

Pouca coisa acontecendo por aqui… Eu só queria dar um oi!
Como temos gasto muito tempo visitando as pessoas erradas, a atenção da musa tem sido desviada e pouco tempo e inspiração tem sobrado para fazer coisas criativas.Mas tenho tirado vantagem desse branco para organizar os pensamentos, para sonhar com meu novo espaço criativo, para ter idéias e achar soluções para ele e para começar um diário sobre a transformação do “barraco” em estúdio.Eventualmente teremos fotos de antes e depois...mas só quando eu tiver alguma de “depois” para mostrar ou todos vão achar que enlouqueci!Assim, tudo o que consegui fazer foram algumas páginas de diário visual...mas continuo trabalhando na minha colcha de retalhos todas as noites...Fotos logo serão postadas...espero!

Journal Pages

2009-04-29T10:50:00.002-03:00

It’s been a long time since I posted pages from my journal so I thought today would be a good day for that.I haven’t worked on my pages as much as I’d like but being in a temporary studio, not having my things about me is not exactly motivating not inspiring…I am really in need of change and newness in my life …a little adventure, something to plan for and to dream of, mingled with some laughter and carelessness would be just great…guess that’s why my pages come out with theses titles….

Há muito tempo que não publico páginas do meu diário então achei que hoje seria um bom dia para isso.Não tenho trabalhado nas minhas páginas tanto quanto gostaria, mas o fato de estar num atelier temporário, não ter as minhas coisas por perto não exatamente motiva ou inspira...Estou realmente precisando de mudanças e novidades...um pouquinho de aventura, algo para planejar e com que sonhar, misturado com um pouco de risos e despreocupação seria ótimo...acho que é por isso que minhas páginas têm esses títulos....

Mademoiselle de Paris

2009-04-21T08:30:00.005-03:00

This one has a story and it goes like this....
I was making the Easter Bunny (see previous post) and I figured he would look better with a large carrot in his arms. So I ripped, crunched and twisted a piece of newspaper and came up with a carrot shape. Added two wires for the leafy part and when I placed it near the bunny, it looked far too stiff. I put it aside and went for another piece of newspaper.
The stiff carrot kept rolling around on my table and popping up under my journal, among my glue tubes, in the pencil holder, on top of my paint box and literally driving me mad, until…I saw that it looked like a body with no head and two legs…
At first I called it the Carrot Girl because of its origins but as I added the coat, the scarf, the features and all the little details she progressively became Mademoiselle de Paris and what started without a real plan became, by accident or by fate one of my favorite pieces…I could hug her and her little dog! Hope you like her too.

Esta tem história e é assim...
Quando estava fazendo o Coelho de Páscoa (veja postagem anterior) achei que ele ficaria melhor abraçando uma cenoura bem grande . Então rasguei, amassei e torci um pedaço de jornal e formei uma cenoura. Acrescentei dois arames para a parte folhosa mas, quando a coloquei perto do coelho, achei que parecia rígida demais. Coloquei a peça de lado e fui atrás de outro pedaço de jornal.
E a cenoura descartada ficou rolando sobre a minha mesa, aparecendo sob meu diário, entre os tubos de cola, no pote de lápis, em cima da minha caixa de tintas e, literalmente, me levando à loucura até que....percebi que parecia um corpo com duas pernas e sem cabeça...No começo eu a chamava de Carrot Girl (Garota Cenoura) por causa de suas origens mas à medida que acrescentava todos os pequenos detalhes, o casaco, o cachecol, a fisionomia, ela progressivamente passou a se chamar Madmoiselle de Paris e, o que começou sem planejamento tornou-se, por acidente ou por destino, uma das minhas peças favoritas...Eu poderia abraçá-la e ao seu cãozinho! Espero que gostem dela também.

Another week...a few more pieces

2009-04-09T17:34:00.003-03:00

This week really flew by but I managed a few pieces of work: a bunny for Thiff (one more!) and another Humpty Dumpty for my great friend Ana Rita, both as Easter presents…
Made another Paintbrush Recycling effort (hah!) and came up with a dragonfly this time.
Also, the carousel horse DH and I were working on was completed and I think it looks really great.
And that was it….
It hasn’t been easy working in the temporary studio. Most of my stuff is upstairs and I have to ask around for people to go and get things for me every time I need something … this involves asking (which I really am not very keen on), then waiting (which I definitely hate) AND knowing exactly where things are kept! That’s when I am really glad for being organized (at least) with my art stuff…. Hopefully, I’ll soon transfer back to my favorite place or a new one will be prepared for me.

Esta semana realmente voou mas consegui fazer algumas peças: um coelhinho para a Thiffany (mais um!) e outro Humpty Dumpty para mina grande amiga Ana Rita, ambos como presentes de Páscoa.
Fiz outro esforço (hah!) de Reciclagem de Pincéis e acabei com uma libélula desta vez. O cavalinho de carrossel no qual o marido e eu estávamos trabalhando juntos ficou pronto e acho que ficou lindo!
Não tem sido fácil trabalhar no atelier temporário. A maioria ds minhas coisas estão no andar de cima e tenho que ficar pedindo que as pessoas vão buscar aquilo de que preciso..isto quer dizer: pedir (o que não é realmente do meu feitio), esperar ( o que realmente detesto) E saber exatamente onde está cada coisa! É aí que fico feliz por ser organizada (pelo menos) com minhas coisas de arte...Espero que logo eu possa voltar para meu lugar favorito ou que um novo espaço seja preparado para mim..

Recycling

2009-04-01T14:12:00.006-03:00

I know that if I go on keeping and transforming things I’ll need a new house only to stash the things I just can’t get rid of…I’ve heard it time and time again….
But my paint brushes, each and every one of them, are such good friends; they’ve been in such wonderful adventures with me, we’ve shared so many fantasies, traveled so many colorful roads hand in hand and accomplished so much beauty together that I can’t face throwing them away like old and useless things….
So I’ve decided they deserved everlasting color and a tribute for all the things they made possible for me. I transformed the ones that were too old to work in beauty things to decorate my studio…. Eventually I’ll have a huge bouquet of flowers and a host of little friends to keep me company. Meet them and enjoy!
Enjoy the journal pages too!

Eu sei que se continuar guardando e transformando objetos logo vou precisar de uma nova casa só para acomodar as coisas das quais não consigo me livrar...Já ouvi isso muuuuitas vezes.
Mas meus pincéis, cada um deles, são tão bons amigos; estiveram comigo em aventuras tão maravilhosas, partilhamos tantas fantasias, viajamos por tantos caminhos coloridos mão na mão e realizamos tanta beleza juntos que não consigo pensar em jogá-los fora como coisas inúteis...
Então decidi que eles mereciam cor eterna e um tributo por tudo o que tornaram possível para mim. Transformei aqueles que estavam velhos demais para trabalhar em coisas bonitas para decorar meu estúdio...Eventualmente terei um enorme buquê de flores e uma multidão de amiguinhos para me fazer companhia. Conheça-os e aproveite!
Aproveite as páginas de diário também!

On daughters and bunnies

2009-03-30T08:07:00.005-03:00

See, my daughter has been going through this bunny phase…she seems to see bunnies everywhere. They seem to have followed her from Europe to America! So, to make sure this doesn’t get out of hand, I decided she should be able to see herself riding the bunnies and know she is not hallucinating….
That’s how Thiff and the Bunny were born….The whole structure (Thiff’s as well as the Bunny’s – which by the way are independent pieces that can sit separately) is made of crumpled and twisted newspaper – NO WIRES…Very thin wire was used only for the details. The whole piece is approx 18x18 cm (7x7”) and very, very light, which will be good when paying for postage.

É assim: minha filha está passando por uma fase “coelhística”...ela parece estar vendo coelhos por toda parte Parecem tê-la seguido da Europa até a América! Então, para me certificar de que não vamos perder o controle da situação, decidi que seria bom se ela pudesse se ver montando os coelhos e saber que não está alucinando...
E assim nasceu “Thiff and the Bunny”. Toda a estrutura ( da Thiff e do Bunny que, aliás, são peças independentes)foi feita de jornal amassado e torcido – SEM ARAME...Um arame de cobre muito fininho foi utilizado somente nos detalhes. A peça toda mede uns 18x18 cm e é muito, muito levinha o que vai ser bom na hora de colocar no correio.

Finished!!!!!

2009-03-20T18:48:00.005-03:00

Wow! Never thought it would take so long but I am sooooooooo pleased it really was worth the time spent on her...
So here I am, introducing Miss Darling to the world!

Nunca pensei que levaria tanto tempo mas estou tão satisfeita que realmente valeu todo o tempo que passei com ela....

Aqui estou, apresentando Miss Darling ao mundo!

Studio space

2009-03-19T17:02:00.015-03:00

I thought I would post some pics of my studio, since I haven’t got anything much to show for this week….I’ve been working on Miss Darling and the amount of details kept me veeeeery busy. But the result is going far beyond what I thought I could go….I’m pleased and will post as soon as she’s ready.
Pensei em postar fotos do meu atelier hoje, uma vez que não tenho muito a mostrar esta semana...Estou trabalhando em Miss Darling e os detalhes são tantos que me mantiveram muuuuito ocupada! Mas os resultados estão muito além do que eu imaginava...Estou bem satisfeita e faço upload das fotos assim que ficar pronta.
Here's a pic of the studio as seen from the entrance. The guest working table (the horse is a papier mache colaboration with d.h.). Under the window the image trays. To the left my working table

Aqui foto tirada da entrada. A mesa de trabalho dos visitantes (o cavalo é trabalho em papier maché em conjunto com meu marido). Sob a janela as bandeijas de imagens. À esquerda minha mesa de trabalho

Here the outside window and the sink corner. The ladder goes upstairs to my attic where odds and ends are kept.

Aqui a janela externa e o canto da pia. A escada leva ao sótão onde guardo as tranqueiras.

This is my working table and the internal windows (they look into the inside garden). The shelves house all my art books and magazines. On the left, my fabric cupboard.

Esta é minha mesa de trabalho e as janelas internas (dão para o jardim interno). As prateleiras acomodam meus livros e revistas de arte. À esquerda, meu armário de tecidos.

Again the sink corner and the computer desk. You can see the book press d.h. made for me (under the window) and my sewing cupboard to the left.

Outra vez o canto da pia e a escrivaninha que acomoda o computador. Pode-se ver a prensa de livro feita pelo maridão (sob a janela) e o meu armário de costura à esquerda.

A close view of my working table as it was today after I stopped working. This table is something...my most precious possession. D.H. made it for me and it is like a dream come true...I simply couldn't live without it!

Um close da minha mesa como estava hoje quando parei de trabalhar. Esta mesa é algo....meu bem mais precioso. O marido a fez para mim e é como um sonho que se tornou realidade....eu não poderia viver sem ela!

My desk (the cat is regularly sitting there, preferably ON the keyboard!) and the door as seen from the side of my working table.

A escrivaninha ( o gato está sempre lá, de preferência sobre o teclado!) e a porta vistos do lado daminha mesa de trabalho.

The sink corner, the desk and all the little drawers filled with knick knacks (at one point I had over 200 drawers in the studio!!!!)

O canto da pia, a escrivaninha e todas as gavetinhas cheias de coisinhas (cheguei a contar mais de 200 gavetas no atelier!!!!)

The temporary stairs to the attic. D.H. is making new ones soon.

As escadas provisórias para o sótão. O marido vai providenciar novas em breve.

This and that

2009-03-14T07:53:00.007-03:00

In between rainy days and the lack of energy (no one will ever make me understand how a few drops of rain can knock out the energy supply for 18 hours!) the days have passed quietly and the evenings darkly….

I have manage to do my things though and am currently working on another 2 papier maché pieces… Flori, the flower girl I finished yesterday and whom you will see below came out very much to my taste….I think I will never stop being amazed at the notion that these pieces come out not as I plan them or as I would like them to. It’s as if they developed a soul of their own and no matter how much I try, they will end up looking as they chose to look… as if I am here only to start the process of their being and then they take over and decide who they want to be….
From this post on I’ll try going back to bilingual so the local friends too can read the blog
And, as always, here are some journal pages too on which I’ve worked this week.

Entre a chuva e a falta de luz os dias têm passado tranqüilamente e as noites no escuro (nunca vão me fazer entender como algumas gotas de chuva podem cortar o fornecimento de energia por 18 horas!)...
Apesar de tudo consegui fazer minhas coisas e no momento estou trabalhando em mais duas peças em papier maché. Flori, a garota florida que terminei ontem e que pode ser vista logo abaixo, saiu muito ao meu gosto. Acho que nunca vou deixar de me surpreender diante da percepção de que estas peças não saem como eu planejo ou como eu gostaria que saíssem. É como se elas desenvolvessem uma alma própria e, apesar de todos os meus esforços, elas acabam com a aparência que ELAS querem ter...como se eu estivesse aqui apenas para iniciar o seu processo de ser e, a partir daí,elas tomassem as rédeas e decidissem QUEM elas querem ser...
A partir de hoje vou tentar voltar às postagens bilíngües para que as amigas locais também possam ler este blog.E, como sempre, algumas páginas de diário que fiz esta semana.

Caught by the play bug

2009-03-03T07:21:00.003-03:00

Saturday we had friends to play at papier maché and it was great fun… They were both so enthusiastic that they were working on 2 or 3 pieces each, at the same time!!!!
And as I watched, the bug caught me and I made Miss Gigi below… Quick and fun, a gift to myself…I might add a bunch of flowers or something to her hands…still thinking and accepting suggestions.

Have a creative day!

Monica

Enjoying my new journal

2009-02-28T11:55:00.004-03:00

The big size (approx. two A4 pages side by side when open) of this journal is really great...I tend to make journals that are thicker and smaller in size but when I do venture into bigger sizes I am always so thrilled with the possibilities...it's almost like playing on a canvas...

Plus, as this time I made the pages all in different sizes and with odd edges, the fun is doubled...I have pockets and folds to fill in and/or transform into something, which is very pleasing too. Guess I can say I'm totally enjoying my pages.

Despite the silence...

2009-02-26T06:51:00.010-03:00

…I'm still around.
I suppose writing has not been high on my list…. there’s too much to say and putting it all down on paper makes it much too real for me. SO, at least for now, I’m not very much into writing which makes me resistant to blogging too…
This said, I’ve joined an amazing group of women in the internet and have been posting some journal pages there which made me miss this blog and want to be back to posting…do I sound confused???? Well….I am.

Fact is the group is highly inspiring and made me want to stir again…guess my Muse was nudged in the ribs and has finally decided´to show up.
So it is I’ve been working on a large size journal – about A4 size when closed - made of odd shaped and sized pages taken from an old photo album. The large size gives me freedom to draw big, which seems much easier but require more time to finish a page, time which is not always available. But all in all I guess I prefer the large size, despite the coziness of the smaller journal.

And I've painted a few more small mirrors and have also been playing around with papier maché and made a few more pieces, my favorite being the two Humpty Dumptys below, although Ninette the Cat really inspires me.
OK, enough writing and more picture posting. After all, a picture is worth 1000 words!
Wishing a peaceful day to whoever is out there!
Monica

Me again!

2009-01-09T11:24:00.006-02:00

Yah...no post for a whole week and then suddenly I want to write twice the same day!!!! Well, I guess that's me!
Just wanted to post a papier maché boy I’m working on (title: First mistake) and a journal page from this week so that no one goes around saying I’ve done no more than sitting (which, as I said earlier hasn’t been easy!) and being idle…

By the way, the litle guy is holding an injured little bird in his hand...

Friday tutorial: Useful vest

2009-01-09T11:00:00.005-02:00

Can't say I wrote a lot this week BUT I do have an excuse (I know you're thinking I always do...how nasty of you!)

Oh well…I fell down the stairs and am not feeling my most sparkling self...mainly when sitting still on a hard chair is not exactly comfy at the moment….Nice way to begin a new year, huh?

But I did find something among my clippings, that although very simple looks quite practical…It could be used for kids going to school on bicycle (or even on foot), to use in the garden or around the house while doing handy work or even when grocery shopping…. I guess it could be seen as a substitute to a backpack.. and it IS quite easy to make too…

Have fun!

Decorative Bottle Tutorial

2009-01-01T12:38:00.007-02:00

In the spirit of giving something every week to fulfill my 2009 resolution, here is a tutorial I found among the many, many craft clippings I have been keeping these last 45 years....Sadly, I don't even know which magazine it came from..

Decorative Bottles

Material needed:
Bottles, glue or gel medium, pieces of wire to help position images, scraps of felt, white sand or salt, corks and images.

How to:
Cut images. Check if bottles are clean inside.
Prepare your pieces of wire by making a loop at one end and gluing a piece of felt so you won’t tear the image when positioning it.
Spread glue on the front of image and smear the felt tip so the image will stay attached while being inserted into the bottle.
Insert the wire with the image hanging from the felted end and position image, pushing it against the glass.
Press with felt tip, making sure the whole area of the image is well attached to the bottle.
Do the same for all the images.
Let glue dry completely.
Fill bottle with salt or very fine white sand and cork it to prevent spilling.

Optional finish:
After you have finished gluing the images, pour liquid varnish inside the bottle and make sure to coat all the inside of the bottle with it.
Empty the remaining varnish back into original container and let the bottle dry completely.
You can then keep it transparent or coat the inside with acrylic wall paint, the same way you did with the varnish.

Hope you all enjoy it!

Getting ready for 2009

2008-12-28T18:00:00.013-02:00

I know, I know....I always begin the year full of good intentions and end up almost silent…. But hey!….I have to try, right?

So for 2009 I am planning on having something like a weekly tutorial on my blog and almost daily posts….we’ll see….I’ll do my best….again….promise….

Anyway, I’ve checked the things I’ve done along 2008 and, although I haven’t exactly worked a lot, I think I can’t be accused of being lazy…have a look:

4 purse leather post-it books
3 leather notebooks
8 desktop post-it books
13 bookarts
50 + book marks
9 papier mache baskets
4 papier mache figurines
8 papier mache POTTS
11 assemblage shadow boxes
20 assemblage dolls
22 inchies
4 SoulCollage cards
1 special tarot deck ( 40 cards)
2 mini wreaths
86 quilt squares
1 paper piecing double bed quilt
15 fabric trays
1 crochet rug
7 painted mirrors
3 paintings
12 drawings
155 journal pages

Looking at this list I see how I’ve played with different materials and made so many different things ….This year I am thinking of concentrating on papier mache…I have been in love with it since I was 17 and every time I tried my hand at it I have had good results. So, why not have fun?

To illustrate this post a little, here are two of my 2008 pieces that I like best:
My papier maché Sexy Angel

And one of my colorful "Potts"

Now let's see what 2009 brings...

Long time no blog!

2008-09-07T06:14:00.005-03:00

Not that I have been very busy. Nor have I given up on my art....It just happened....Between one thing and another I'm still itching and hurting but as I said: surviving...

Artwise I've been all over the place...from my regular journal pages to papier maché, from quilts and painting to designing mirror frames....

I've been trying to keep things simples, not to expect too much and to do whatever I'm inspired to do...

That's why I'm now Blogging Without Obligation...The stress and the expectation of HAVING TO not only make things as well as post them was getting to me and I figured it would be much more pleasurable to simply play and post whenever...

SO! Just for the fun of it, here are some journal pages and....I'll be back! Promise!

Just a word

2008-05-21T08:33:00.001-03:00

Ok! For those who follow my postings and have noticed that I’ve been away for a while, a little explanation.
The pain and the allergy have taken hold of me and I’ve been spending my time between doctors, scratching and moaning...Not much time left for blogging when you have your hands busy carving your own flesh! Just kidding...it’s bad enough but I’ll survive.
The worse part still is that I am now forbidden to use any kind of paint and worse of all...GLUE!!!!! Can you imagine that???How on earth am I supposed to live without glue???? I’ve considered making the good old flour glue but I don’t think I can cope with the insects that it will attract...so....how can I work????? Guess I’ll have to get creative at finding alternative ways to put things in my journal!
Meanwhile, I’m still doing something everyday, despite the low energy and the depression that is trying to get hold of me....Posting will come whenever I’m ready ...

Life’s conspiracy

2008-04-27T15:41:00.005-03:00

I am sure there is a conspiracy going on...life must be trying to make me give up on keeping my promises or....it is testing me to see how much I’m ready to fight for my goals..
Either way, when it isn’t one thing it’s another that makes it impossible for me to come up with my daily piece or to post it....My scanner totally broke down, my internet connection is fooling around and so it goes....
But despite it all I am managing to keep my resolution...
I decided that if I am not drawing or painting or using color pencils as I had decided I’d be doing every week, I would at least make a much bigger journal so that each page would correspond to a complete work...So, Journal #14 is 171/2”x 12 ½” when open which means big spreads to work on...and I love working the big size...
So here are covers of Journals #12 and 13, two pages of the new journal (#14) and one of fthe last pages of #13 that I forgot to post.
Tomorrow, my internet connection allowing, I'll post more of the stuff done while I was away...eventually I'll manage to keep this updated.

Catching up

2008-04-24T18:37:00.003-03:00

Although I´m not yet working on my usual things (boxes, dolls and the lot) I am journaling and it will have to do for the time being, at least until I straighten up my health issues....So here are another few pieces made during the last days...They are made with black permanent ink pen.

21 days away!

2008-04-23T15:59:00.011-03:00

After 11 days in hospital and a brief stay at home before we had to go back due to complications, my little life is slowly getting back to normal and my artistic self is finding time again to play...

All this time I was away I managed to work from my portable studio and come up with a few pages in my journal, some drawings and a few quilt squares....not much but at least I did something e-v-e-r-y-d-a-y and it was enough to keep me breathing! It’s amazing what can be done with so very little...I even think the muse likes it best when I have to make do with whatever is available....

And I will never be grateful enough for being able to play, to draw and paint...those were moments when I could turn off my worries and despite being present and ready for whatever was needed, I could unwind and replenish my soul...
Anyway....I’ve missed posting and sure am glad to be back!

So here are a few of the journal pages I made (the last two are from the new journal I started yestserday!) and I'll be posting the rest in the next days along with whatever I do from now on.

Trying to be flexible

2008-04-02T12:10:00.001-03:00

Things are not always what we want them to be and it’s sometimes best to just follow the flow instead of fighting against it.
This is a moment in my life where I’m needed otherwise and I undoubtedly place my D.H’s health and well being above my art.
So I will probably be out of touch until next week (Monday or Tuesday) although I will have my portable studio with me and will most certainly being artsy one way or another since this is my nature. Anything done will be posted here afterwards.Meanwhile, I managed a journal page yesterday between waiting rooms, three 2” squares and I quilt square.

Clueless

2008-03-31T16:17:00.002-03:00

Again a new week... Monday is nearly over and I didn’t manage a box...I feel empty and clueless as to what to do...
I guess certain decisions in our lives should be taken quickly and the problems solved immediately instead of being left to linger thus obstructing the natural flow of things...As long as this pending issue is not seen to I feel I am not being myself...and the darn thing is it does not depend on me.... All I can do is wait and pray things will soon be resolved.
Until then, I’ll keep doing my best.
Yesterday I had a friend over and we played at making a rubber stamp each... The result is in my journal page for today (the two black birds). I also managed to finish the cover of Journal #12 (just in time too... #13 is almost filled already!) and to make a quilt square. And that’s all folks.... Hopefully I’ll have more to show tomorrow.

Love story with a bug...

2008-03-29T17:59:00.007-03:00

Yes.... that’s how I would name my week...I would say that a nasty bug fell madly in love with my insides, gave me a burning fever and left me with very low energy levels...I don’t know its name, I don’t know where it came from but it certainly got attached to me and wouldn’t let go... not even after 12 hours in the ER, a great big load of injections and exams, a drastic fall in my blood pressure, a serious allergy spell , etc. etc. etc...
After such an adventure, I decided to take it easy and NOT expect too much from my poor little sick self (can you here the violins in the background????)Jokes aside, I really didn’t manage to do much, feeling as tired as the whole adventure left me. So all I have to show for a whole week that flew by unnoticed are three journal pages, seven 2” square art pieces and one quilt square....

Bookart day

2008-03-22T16:23:00.006-03:00

Today I made an easy little book(4 ½ x 4”) just to illustrate a story I found on the internet…It goes:

Yesterday a butterfly
Came floating gently through the sky.
He soared up through the atmosphere
Then drifted close enough to hear.
I said, ”I’d love to fly with you
And sail around the way you do.
It looks like it would be such fun
To fly up toward the summer sun.
But I have not your graceful charm
I haven’t wings, just these two arms.
I’ve been designed to walk around.
My human feet must touch the ground.
Then magically he spoke to me
And told me what his wish would be.
He said, “ What I’d like most to do
Is walk upon God’s Earth with you.
To squish it’s mud between my toes
Or touch my finger to my nose.
I’d love just once to walk around
With human feet to touch the ground.
But I have not two legs that swing.
I haven’t arms, just these two wings.”
And so we went our separate ways
In wonder and surprise,
As a spirit would have touched us.
For we’d both seen God’s precious gifts
Through someone else’s eyes.

And I’m also posting my journal page and 2 quilt squares I made yesterday.

Holiday laziness

2008-03-21T17:39:00.005-03:00

Today being a holiday made me lazier than usual....I tried to come up with a painting but couldn’t be bothered...I guess it isn’t so bad saving my energy since we are having an Easter Party on Sunday for about 15 people…that should be fun!
I did manage making a journal page though…and last night I dutifully made my quilt square…I’m also posting the 2” art for the last 12 days….One could say I haven´t been completely lazy…just a bit…

Where's time going????

2008-03-20T16:35:00.006-03:00

I can’t believe how time flies and is difficult to keep pace with... Between going to town, doctors’ appointments, meetings and the lot, 2 days are gone…and I hate it when they go like that with so little to prove they really existed…
Anyway…I’ve made my Tuesday doll and 2 journal pages as well as 2 quilt squares. #s 73 and 74…
The doll is Buzz. She's 5" tall and is made out of an old solenoid, pieces from old sunglasses, parts of 2 key rings and other bits and pieces…she even has wings!

A completely wet day.

2008-03-17T18:23:00.003-03:00

It rained all day long today so there’s that sticky feeling in the air…I just hate it!
And I am so in need of a little sunshine, a little warmth to soothe my bones…hopefully we’ll have a break tomorrow.
Meanwhile, I’ve made my box. It’s 10 ½ x 6” and I started off wanting to do something with an image I have of 2 children playing together…then my mind roamed to a window, from the window I went to the tree and the rest is history…. I’ve got something completely different from what I first thought and I like it very much….I called it The Midnight Stroll.
And I even managed to make a journal page too…sometimes I surprise myself!
I’m also posting quilt square # 72….I’m being a good girl, huh?

Quieting down...

2008-03-16T17:00:00.006-03:00

Slowly things seem to be getting back to their quiet peaceful way...
Yesterday and today were two very silent days, with almost no outside interference….only the birds, the dogs and the monkeys could be heard…Despite the grayness that persists, it was a good weekend.
I made a leg book (6 ½ x 3”) and managed a journal page in between the book drying times…And it was good going back to my quilt squares too…

A gray day today

2008-03-15T18:26:00.003-03:00

I hate damp, gray, cold, rainy days…they seem so sad and make me feel sad too….
I’m glad I could put my head inside my journal and forget what was happening outside…
And that’s all I did for the day: a journal page…I felt extremely tired and f * has me in its grip so I tried to relax and take it easy. I’m posting two journal pages – yesterday’s and today’s (today’s image is a found image) - and my six 02” squares corresponding to this week up to now.

* = fibromyalgia (best not mentioned so it thinks I’m ignoring it!)

Just a little word...

2008-03-14T14:25:00.005-03:00

I wanted to post before leaving for another meeting of the WYSE program.
Although my journal page is mostly done…it still needs some work so I’ll be doing that throughout the day and posting it tomorrow. For the time being just yesterday’s page.

Finally!

2008-03-13T11:57:00.007-03:00

I have finally managed to finish Monday’s box! It´s all made in cardboard and is 9 1/2”x10”.

Yesterday I worked 7 hours translating and there’s more today and tomorrow so my studio time is being reduced by half, which made me see how important my creative time is to me…

I’m ok as long as I can get a break and a few minutes to be alone with my pens and paper…too much time without them makes me anxious.

So there’s one more thing that is now very clear in my mind: I CANNOT give up on art. I can associate it with other things but never just not do it…it’s the same as not breathing.

But for everything there is a compensation, and on top of finding out about my feelings about artistic deprivation, I found there ARE people who take the world seriously and who DO think like me…WYSE is a wonderful project and I’m very lucky to have a chance to collaborate so it happens in Brazil. I wish everyone could have a chance of participating in projects like this…the world would most definitely be a better place…
Needless to say, no quilt square nor journal page were made yesterday...I was simply too tired!

Rush, rush!

2008-03-12T12:14:00.005-03:00

Just a very quick post to upload today’s pieces.
I’m going out in a minute to do some serious work at the Center for Psicosynthesis translating for the WYSE - World Youth Service and Enterprise…an interesting experience as I will probably be learning a lot and meeting interesting people!
So what I did this morning was work on this week's box which is still not ready and I managed to do my weekly doll. It was made after an incursion into DH’s shop where I found pieces of wood under the electric saw. These pieces became Kitty, the angel cat and she’s about 6x6”, has a painted body and nails for eyes and nose.
Also my 2” art for yesterday and today and a quilt square…
I bet Sue won’t believe I am keeping the 2x2” promise!
Hopefully, tomorrow will be a quiet day....

Rushing out the door!

2008-03-11T15:49:00.003-03:00

We’re leaving in a little while so I'm posting in a hurry!

Spent the day working on that box... the gluing and the letting the paint dry are driving me nuts... not even the hair dryer is helping much…. guess it’s all a matter of learning to be patient which I am definitely NOT!

I just wanted to post what else I did today, which is only a journal page…Anyway…the tiny square will be done while waiting for the class to start…have to rush now!
And, as always, last night’s quilt square…

Looking at what I'm posting today I noticed how pink and pale I went which is not very much my style...Every piece of work is a surprise.

A busy week...

2008-03-10T18:30:00.009-03:00

This is not a very promising week art wise...We were out today most of the day, will be out tomorrow evening and Wednesday all afternoon...his obviously means a lot of time caught in traffic and very little art done....Guess not every week is perfect!

Today, while sitting around in a waiting room I managed my journal page and while sitting in the car in a traffic jam I made the 2x2” I promised my friend…This made me realize I urgently need better materials for my portable studio…working with poor quality pencils and pens just makes me want to throw it all out the window!

As to my Monday box, it is being done but I seem to have miscalculated the amount of work needed to do what I planned so it will take a bit longer to be ready...

So here are a journal page, 2 quilt squares and a 2x2” art piece.

A good girl!

2008-03-08T17:42:00.009-03:00

Today I’ve been good, very good indeed.... I’ve answered all my e-mails, made a journal page early in the morning, chatted with another friend through Yahoo and then made a book...What else can one expect from me? I even cooked!

And I’ve committed to make a 2” square piece of art every day, starting Monday, just so that my friend promised to be artsy at least once a week…let’s see if she keeps her part of the bargain! I’m glad I don’t have that many friends with a creative block!!!!
Anyway, here’s my journal page, and my quilt square. The book is called “Boo” and is completely out of season, but I had these 2 wooden pumpkin shapes gathering dust in a drawer, so I thought I’d make a book for next Halloween…why not?

Promises, promises...

2008-03-07T15:46:00.003-03:00

I have to admit I have been a little lazy lately… Apart from the days when I make dolls, books and boxes, nothing much is happening. I thought I would use the other days of the week to learn new techniques, or to work on different projects, but I am just taking it easy and not doing much more than a journal page. If I’m not careful I’ll soon be doing the same as last year and considering journal pages as art, which I DO NOT want to do.

So, here goes a promise to myself: as soon as all the doctor appointments are over (end of March, hopefully!) I’m going to get back to firm assignments every day…

Meanwhile, today’s journal page and last night's quilt squares numbers 64 and 65

Internet glitches!

2008-03-06T13:52:00.009-03:00

Two days without posting and I feel awful...
I guess the phone company wanted me to have an extended birthday! They held back on my internet signal so that I could only read my e-mails this morning, and there were very many of them too!
I suppose lots of people thought me rude and ungrateful for not answering their b-day greetings right away, but it really wasn’t my fault. Fortunately everything is now back to normal and I already wrote back to everyone.

I had a most wonderful birthday….lots of people called and I got more than my fair share of hugs and good wishes.We also went out for dinner with some friends and I really did enjoy it all…Not so bad getting older when there’s so much support! Ü

And today I’m posting everything I made since the 3rd, hoping it’s not too much at once!
So here’s a journal page, a doll made with a twig, beads, gauze and a piece of old jewelry, 4 quilt squares and a box on friendship, made with a matchbox. Hope you all enjoy it!

More presents

2008-03-03T18:22:00.004-03:00

Another busy day yesterday, despite it being Sunday….We had the computer people fixing the glitches in my computer, installing D.H.´s own AND installing a brand new wide screen I got as another b-day present…this birthday is really getting interesting!!!!! Makes me want to get older! (just kidding!!!)

But even though I had people around me all day long, I managed to make a Gallery book entitled “Care” and my quilt square, as always!

And I couldn’t resist posting a pic of Gramarye´s drivewaycarpeted in yellow petals as well as one of the ground orchids from our garden.

Hurdles...

2008-03-01T15:37:00.004-03:00

OK…things are getting a bit difficult around here and I’m having trouble posting….
First it was the scanner that went dead… now it’s the DH who is having health issues and keeping me worried enough to be away from my studio…Making art every day is becoming quite a challenge when my head is spinning and my heart is terrified …
Yesterday I managed a journal page and I have 2 quilt squares corresponding to last night and the night before, but nothing else….This morning I made de structure for a Gallery book and then had to run off to the ER…and right now I don’t really feel very inspired to do anything… Hope tomorrow will be easier.

Being a bit lazy...

2008-02-28T17:20:00.001-03:00

I think I needed quiet time today after all the going around…can hardly believe I’m the same person who faced 90 minutes traffic jams e-v-e-r-y morning and e-v-e-r-y evening a few years ago…I certainly got used to being away from the city and all its madness!

A friend came today an brought back a pudding dish full of ribbons and colorful fibers as well as a box made by another friend with all sorts of trinkets inside…. it’s so nice to imagine all the things that can be done with these bits and pieces! I couldn’t resist and took a pic to post.
And all I did today was a mixed media drawing on board…tsc, tsc, tsc!

More traffic....

2008-02-27T18:48:00.001-03:00

Another day sitting in the car and facing traffic jams….at least now we are not supposed to go out until next week which gives me a little respite…
And I really had to sweat to get this doll out in the little time that was left after we came back.….I used some parts of old sunglasses, a feather, a magnet and an old silver necklace for hair…not exactly a very conventional doll but I think it’s an interesting style.And as always, the quilt square. This one is # 56.

Caught in traffic!

2008-02-26T18:21:00.004-03:00

We spent the day in Sao Paulo, mostly caught in traffic jams and I can’t say how tired I am. It took us about 6 hours to cover 60 km and one doctor appointment! I think there are too many cars, too many people, and too much traffic....and the doctors are slow! *Ü*

I really wish we never had to go there anymore…

The good thing today was a call from my older brother...it's always so nice to know he remembered me and took the time (in his OH so very busy life) to call...it brightens my day!

And all I managed to do today was a journal page and even then, not a very elaborate one…but still, something…and, of course, my quilt square # 55.

Another day, another piece.

2008-02-25T16:33:00.002-03:00

Of all the things I play with, boxes are certainly the ones I like best. The ideas come easily, the making flows, images and objects seam to just fall in place.
It’s so pleasurable to work like this…
This box is 10 x 6” and to me it represents life and its challenges, our expectations and the ones other people have for us, and the way we sometimes feel incapable of controlling it. The quote at the bottom says: “Life has no rehearsals, only performances” author unknown.

And the quilt square was made last night and is #54.

Rain, rain, go away...

2008-02-24T17:43:00.002-03:00

Rainy days always put me down….only wish I knew what is so sad about rain! Go figure!

As yesterday I was invited to a workshop (and I great one at that! Had lots of insights too!), I spent most of the day away from home so my book was made today. It’s just a tiny one (4.5x2.5”) with paper doll dresses (found at karenswhimsy.com – thanks!) and faces I drew on and a poem from William Henry Davies called The Happy Child plus a thought about why enchantment is lost when we grow up….can anyone answer this one?

And I’m posting 3 quilt squares too, #51, 52 and 53…which means I’m only one behind!

A day of blessings

2008-02-22T18:41:00.002-03:00

The day started differently today…a black cocker spaniel was dumped somewhere in the neighborhood and came following our gardener…this means we ended up having a stray dog on our lap…again… Thankfully enough, the gardener offered to keep it and took it home with him…the poor thing is thin like a stick and obviously was very badly looked after. We took him to the vet, had him bathed and clipped and only then could we see all his bones sticking out…I wonder where has humanity gone? Sometimes I feel ashamed of being a human being…

On a brighter note, I had a visit from a kindred spirit, someone I barely know but whom I feel very connected to as if I had known her forever…and she brought her mom too (a double treat!!!), a lovely lady whose demeanor reminded me so much of my own mom…some days bring us lots of blessings!

Artwise, I’m posting last night’s quilt square and a found image I painted with WC pencils and acrylics…

Little Monkeys!!!!

2008-02-21T16:58:00.003-03:00

Another very quiet day…makes one wonder…
The great news was the little monkeys in the garden came for bananas today with 2 tiny little babies, the cutest little creatures ever, hanging from their backs…I love it when they have the tiny ones with them but still trust us enough to pick banana slices straight from our hands!

Anyway I managed to play around with the exercises in “The Artist’s Muse” and made a doodle page. Doodling is so much fun and it completely shuts off the world….nice!
And as my scanner is gone, I’m posting pics of the acrylic doodles, the quilt and my journal page….

Scanner-less!

2008-02-20T17:23:00.004-03:00

Sometimes I wonder if things are meant not to be perfect….
Got that new computer, am happy to have more space and more memory to work with my images and then….the scanner goes bunkers! So now I can’t scan daily as I had been doing. AND the second scanner we had in the house is gone too! So that makes two scans in one week! I know they were old and all but did they both have to break at the same time? Now who knows when I’m getting a new one….
Meanwhile, I’ll have to make do with the camera alone. So here are 2 dolls one for yesterday (since we were out all day) and one for today, 2 quilt squares and today’s journal page (in small format because I managed to copy the pre-scan image!).

Trust, trust, trust!

2008-02-18T18:57:00.003-03:00

I never cease to be amazed at how things work when one trusts the process… When I let go of planning and being afraid and simply get down to gluing and painting without too much hesitation, things simply happen and the results are always way above my expectations.
Today was box making day and my muse wasn’t very interested so no help was found there...then came the fear and finally, after giving in to my instincts and shutting the internal critic outside the studio, I made it and I’m pleased with the results. The box is 12x5 inches and the words say: “The moon watches over the fools”…So, here it is as well as my quilt square from last night

Time to smell the flowers

2008-02-17T17:31:00.003-03:00

What a peaceful day…lots of sun, the monkeys and the squirrels came to eat and I had plenty of time to chat with an old friend on Yahoo…how could it get any better?
And now I’m posting a journal page and 3 quilt sqares…It’s good to have free time.

No rush...

2008-02-16T19:28:00.003-02:00

Things were a bit slow today….I was slow in deciding what book to make, slow in making it, slow in scanning things, slow in taking pics…maybe because it’s Saturday? Or is it the heat? Whatever it is I managed...

The book is called “For my Garden”. You see, the day was sunny and everything looked so green that I took some time off and went outside, something I very seldom do. I know I should enjoy the garden and the trees more often but I’m an inside person…what can I say?

Anyway…I went outside and it occurred to me that my garden deserved a book…so here it is, along with my quilt square and a water color I made trying a technique the pros call floating the paint…Quite an experience!

A very good day...

2008-02-15T15:45:00.003-02:00

I managed sending my “Heart” art to Artella(see my acrylic below), in time to enter this week’s contest, which I really wanted to do, and I found time to start working with Betsy Dillard Stroud’s book “The Artist’s Muse”.
I also found a way to store my dolls and my boxes before things got out of control around here….Now the dolls are all hanging each from her own hook and the boxes are neatly arranged inside a cupboard…each piece easily found and easily seen.
And here’s my acrylic for this week, and my journal page, as well as my quilt square from last night. The journal page is a mandala and for every swirl I said the “peace on earth” mantra, as suggested by B.D.Stroud…words being powerful tools, I feel I’ve contributed a tiny little bit for a better world.

Pre B-day present!

2008-02-14T11:24:00.005-02:00

Yesterday I got a new computer as a b-day present…how cool is that????
But with the computer came the installation of all the programs and so on and so forth….
which translates to little time to be creative.
But I managed to make a doll-on-a-stick (just for fun) and my journal page, which I’m posting here together with 2 quilt squares, made the night before and last night….
I’ll try to post again tonight IF I manage to do anything creative today….

Slow

2008-02-12T18:30:00.001-02:00

Really not very inspired today….the doll took for ever to be done and the journal page almost didn’t make it…guess some days I’m feeling less creatively energetic than others and things get a bit slow…Anyway, I’m glad it’s done…

The doll is made of 3 corks, 2 capacitors for feet and 2 more electronic parts for arms and bits nd pieces...she's about 18 cm. tall.

Things happen in strange ways.

2008-02-11T18:23:00.002-02:00

Today the creative process happened differently. I either wake up with the whole project ready in my head or at least an idea to work on and go from there.
This morning I had the full idea of the box I was going to make…ever detail of it BUT when I started working it simply turned out c-o-m-p-l-e-t-e-l-y different from what I had imagined….I’m quite happy with the result but I’d like to know how it is I started in one direction and ended up in the opposite side….weird!

So here’s today box, my journal page and my quilt square…hope you like it!

The day after

2008-02-10T17:06:00.000-02:00

Yesterday we had so much fun dyeing fabric! And the results were quite satisfying too...We ended up having a piece of fabric in each of the colors we made as can be seen in the
pics I am adding.

It’s so nice to spend a day among friends doing something new and sharing…
And today I made this week’s book that I called Wisdom. It’s a book with everyday proverbs and the images are cut paper (or should I say cut cardstock?)…simple but elegant, I think.

Skipped two days!

2008-02-08T17:20:00.001-02:00

I can’t believe I didn’t post since the 5th!!!!
We had to go out on Wednesday, Thursday and today and that made it difficult for me to do anything. But still, I have at least the 3 quilt squares to show as well as 2 journal entries…
And tomorrow is another day out. We’re going to play at dyeing fabric at a friend’s house so I doubt I’ll have a book ready. Still, there’s a full Sunday after that and I intend to catch up as best I can. We’ll see how I fit it all in one day!

No journaling....again!

2008-02-05T18:29:00.000-02:00

Another day without a journal entry….too bad but I had all those tomatoes needing to be cooked so I made 8 jars of tomato jam and my afternoon went into it…
But I did manage to make my doll and I think she looks fabulous! It’s my Artistic Phoenix and she has feathers for wings, a ceramic face, paper mouth and eyes, a copper crown, capacitor arms and the body is made of a fabric covered coil that used to sit on top of a hair clip…and as the Phoenix, she will be reborn time and time again bringing artistic inspiration….I hope!Here also my quilt square.

A very good day!

2008-02-04T19:42:00.002-02:00

I just love it when I wake up in the morning and all my project is sorted out in my mind!
This morning I knew exactly what I wanted to do and how I was going to do it. By lunch time, my box was ready…no sweat! I made a self portrait box (30 x 7 cm), in which the pencils, the brushes and the paint stand for my artistic self, the book for my love of reading and making books, the rabbit on the book for my fantasies, the moon for my moodiness, the pic of me as a little girl with wings for my great dreams and imagination, the Eiffel Tower for French being my first language and for the memories connected to Paris, the Maple leaf for my childhood spent in Canada, the cat for my love of these animals, the witch behind the book for my home which has one of those as a weather vane and the uneven legs for my search for my own voice…I’m very glad with the results….very glad!
And today I had a friend over and despite always bragging about not being artistic, she made a lovely shrine to Dr.Bach (of the Bach remedies) and went home full of plans for other artistic projects…it’s nice to be able to inspire and show people how everyone is artistic…All in all it was a very good day.So here are my box, my journal page and last night’s quilt square….

Better late than never!

2008-02-03T20:14:00.000-02:00

Yesterday was great fun... 6 Women in the kitchen making mango and apple chutney was some sight! But we ended up having 4 jars of chutney each and a whole lot of conversation and exchange along the way.
My bookart for the day was delayed until today and the book is called “Meow”. It’s a triangular pyramid book in the shape of a cat. Inside, a simple quote:
“People that hate cats, will come back as mice in their next life”- Faith Resnick…I really hope that’s what happens, and I want to come back a cat!
Needless to say, no journal pages yesterday nor today, but I did make 2 quilt squares…And we’re off to a new week….hope I have the time to make my box tomorrow…have friends over for lunch and even though they are cooking, I’m not sure I’ll be able to do much work. We’ll see.

Sneeked off to read my new books! (shhhhhhh)

2008-02-01T16:37:00.000-02:00

Here’s today's deck card. The story is about not sleeping despite the warm blanket…And my journal page is done too although I didn’t work on my quilt square last night….I know….I’m being lazy…but I had that pain in my neck and….I confess…the 3 wonderful books I got for my soon to come b-day were much too strong a temptation not to just sit and read!So I guess I’ll have to do all the missing squares some other time. And it won’t be tomorrow since I’m having a group of friends here to make chutney! It will be cooking day!

An inspiring day

2008-01-31T19:44:00.000-02:00

Nothing more inspiring than seeing people inspired...

My artsy friend Ana Rita came to play today and she got so ver inspired she ended up producing 4 paintings in one afternoon!!!!

And while she played, I made my own painting although that was due only tomorrow....Oh well...too bad....tomorrow I'll make my deck card and write my story....

But now I'm off to read my new books and rest my back....

SO it's only the acrylic painting and the quilt piece for today.

An easy day

2008-01-30T18:43:00.001-02:00

Today was a very easy day…things worked as planned, I did what I wanted to do, no rush, no stress…
I’m posting 2 quilt squares I made last night, my journal page and the drawing I was supposed to come up with today. For the first time I’ve tried using watercolor cubes instead of watercolor pencils or tubes and I think it came out quite ok despite the fact that these are very cheap watercolors I bought my daughter some 20 years ago! They still seem to work!

The only thing out of ordinary today was two monkey gangs fighting in my garden…. there’s so much violence when they fight for territory like that… and their screams are so aggressive, so scary… they really can act and sound like people sometimes… very disappointing! But they all survived and came back later for more bananas…life goes on! And tomorrow I’m playing with my favorite artsy friend…

Chronic Laziness

2008-01-29T16:48:00.000-02:00

Laziness is becoming chronic here…last night I didn’t make my quilt square because I was too tired and only wanted to go to bed and today, although it’s still early, I really can’t manage enough energy to make a journal page…
But my doll is done and I am SO pleased with her! Her name is Easybell ( Beware! Do not call her Isabelle…she would be offended!) And she was called so because for one she was made in a blink of the eye, as if she was eager to be born! And then her skirt being metal, whenever her hand knocks on it it makes a clear bell sound that is lovely to hear…She is made of the mouthpiece of a narghile (hookah), part of an old necklace, 2 resistors for legs, and odd jewelry bits and pieces (including 2 different earings for eyes).
Now I think I might consider soldering for the next dolls although the assemblage is lots of fun when you have to come up with solutions to put the parts together without gluing or soldering…

Box day

2008-01-28T19:28:00.001-02:00

Last night I managed two quilt squares…nothing astonishing but I guess they will look ok when stitched all together…

And today being box making day, I made a box with 4 match boxes my daughter kept for over 14 years and that were hanging around, asking to be used somehow…Now they are immortalized!!!! The name of the box is The Stuff of Dreams…and I'like it.

Bookart day!

2008-01-26T19:30:00.000-02:00

Although a bit late, I managed to finish today’s book. It’s a circle accordion book and the theme is Women’s Circles…The images inside are of women of different cultures and the book speaks of having no religion, no country, no color….of simply being women with the power to heal the world.

And then there’s my journal page too. The quilt square is missing because I didn’t finish it last night…I have a stiff neck and it was impossible for me to sit and sew…Hopefully, I’ll finish it tonight….

Following the Muse

2008-01-25T17:57:00.000-02:00

I was inspired by a site my niece sent me (http://www.thetemples.org/) that took me all the way back to my teen years, when I dreamt of going to San Francisco with flowers in my hair, of sharing love and peace and of making a better world…. Such great and impossible dreams…

Today’s acrylic (which is not exactly an acrylic painting since there are rubber stamps and watercolor pencils thrown in), is not exactly my favorite….a bit too “cute” for my taste…but that’s where my muse took me, so it is what it is! Sometimes I simply can’t fight her and I tag along...

And having slept most of the afternoon to make up for the night I spent awake, there’s no journal page today just the quilt square.

Art rocks!

2008-01-24T18:39:00.001-02:00

Oh well…just when I thought I would have company to play today, she had to look after her dad in hospital….So I couldn’t get away with being lazy and NOT doing my things today… Just kidding! *Ü*
To be honest, I had fun making this deck card and writing the story to go with it.
So, here are the card, the journal page and the quilt square…I have to say I’m impressed at how pleasurable it has been doing one different thing every day of the week….I keep waiting for the days I like best – Saturday (bookart), Monday (box) and Tuesday (doll) and try to come up with something that will inspire me to work on the days I like less…all in all I’m learning and quite content…Art rocks!

Drawing & Coloring day

2008-01-23T18:21:00.000-02:00

Despite the terrible headache I woke up with today, I managed to go about my tasks…
The drawing is based on one by Gustave Morreau I saw in his museum in Paris.
I am especially pleased with my journal page today…I liked the winged creature!
And the quilt square is ribbons weaved together…Tomorrow I’ll have company to play with so I might not make my deck card but at least I’ll have fun! The card will probably be left for Sunday. Guess I’m entitled to some play time….I’ve been good!

Doll day = fun day!

2008-01-22T16:39:00.001-02:00

Doll making day is the best! It’s fun, it’s relaxing, it’s rewarding….it’s nice!
Today’s doll is called “Big Mouth Santana”… Santana because that’s what’s written on the china piece that makes her body (the handle of some chinaware?) and Big Mouth…well…for obvious reasons… The arms are a binding coil, the head is an old brooch, the mouth a magnet, the hat one of those things to put on shirt collars and the legs two golf pins (I don’t play golf but I suppose they are meant to rest the ball on) and I think he’s cute!
And today I received Alisa Golden’s “Expressive Handmade Books” so I’m off to look it up!As always here are the pics of the doll, the quilt square and the journal page.

Learning as I go

2008-01-21T17:26:00.001-02:00

Smoothly, easily done….my box, a tin box, 8,5x9 cm , was ready after a morning’s work.
It’s the first time I work with a tin box and I’m not sure I liked the experience….I much prefer paper, cardstock, wood…warmer and nicer to the touch too….But I guess one needs to try it all….
Last night’s quilt square is my favorite so far….
And my journal page was almost ripped off my journal….then I found that crayons run smoothly over any surface if you have your hair dryer on it as you draw (duhhh!)…
I’m learning a lot this year….

Saturday turned into Sunday!

2008-01-20T18:30:00.000-02:00

When things are not supposed to happen, there’s no way they will happen, right?
Yesterday I wanted to make my book, and had a whole morning to do it but couldn’t come up with a single idea, not even for the structure! How absurd can that be?????
Then in the afternoon we had our SoulCollage group meeting and when it was over, there was no more time and I still didn’t have any inspiration…
This morning, on the other hand, I woke up and TADAH!!!!! In a few hours it was done!!!! I’m glad I don’t go that stumped for creativity every day! It would be a total disaster!

Anyway…as I didn’t post yesterday, here are 2 quilt squares, today’s journal page and the book…It’s called Esprit (the name was a tag from a shop in the UK!)

Feeling lazy!

2008-01-18T20:05:00.000-02:00

Maybe it’s my low blood pressure, or maybe I’m just being lazy but today I took it easy and did what I could do without much effort…
The day didn’t start very well since we had an energy shortage last night that lasted until about lunchtime today…so I just decided to spend the morning reorganizing my studio…Then, after lunch I made this 7,5 x 10” acrylic painting and that was it….no journal page today….only the quilt square from last night and the painting….that’s all …

Sometimes it’s good to have a break…

Drawings and tomatoes

2008-01-17T18:59:00.000-02:00

More and more I find it difficult to use magazine images …there’s that need to draw my own pages which is good, I guess…the question is: what will I do with all the images (an awful lot of them too!) I have been storing over the years??????
Meanwhile, It takes much longer to make my journal pages but I also like the process much, much more …

And for today: my deck card with a story (about paying attention to other people’s lives and forgetting about our own), my journal page and last night’s quilt. AND last but not least, one of the 11 tomatoes that grew on their own right by my front door…how inspiring is that?

Art on the move

2008-01-16T20:53:00.000-02:00

Another day running around, going down town, sitting in the car and trying to achieve all my goals.
Last night’s quilt square was a bit harder to do than I had planned so I finished it today, in the car, going from one place to another…useless to say I have a few more holes in my fingers!
Then the drawing was begun while waiting for DH in the car and was finished during a meeting and the journal page was done on our return home…. that’s what I call working on the move…The sad news was to find that one of our dogs caught one of the baby monkeys that play around our garden…such a shame to lose the little creature…just hope the others didn’t get too scared and never return here again…. we’ll see tomorrow.

Having fun

2008-01-15T19:22:00.001-02:00

As always, making dolls is loads of fun!
I have these boxes I call “Etc. boxes” into which I throw bits and pieces, odds and ends I can’t figure where to keep and don’t want to get rid of… I remember having a box like that ever since I was 12 thinking I could probably make something out of all the piece.
So today, I sat on the floor and had the most relaxing and entertaining time making my doll. Obviously, the choices and possibilities were many and I will have lots of dolls coming out of that box….FUN!
So here’s my doll made out of a piece of an old necklace (one of my mom’s - probably 30 years old!), pieces of old jewelry and copper wire. Her name: “The Flower Girl”.
Then there’s my quilt piece (with my pic) and my journal page….

Figuring myself out

2008-01-14T19:36:00.001-02:00

Another week, some more work done.
I managed to catch up on almost everything this weekend. I’m only behind with one quilt square which is not too bad…I think.
Journal #12 is filled and I started a brand new one today….then, while journaling I found out that I STILL care far too much about what people expect from me…that’s what I’m going to work on now…I have to find a way of being myself and doing my stuff and not paying attention to the voices that don’t have anything nice to say. And I especially must not pay attention to my internal critic, the one in my head who keeps whispering bad things about me and my art …he will have to be sent to the dark room and stay there until he learns to be nice!
Anyway….here are 2 quilt pieces (#11 and 12), my Monday box “Stairway to heaven” and my journal page….

Two post in a day

2008-01-13T11:06:00.000-02:00

This second post is to upload my Saturday work:

- my “Little Jewels” book : a 16x9 cm book, with insect stamps and collage

- and my usual journal page.

After almost two complete weeks of posting I have found that although painting and drawing are nice exercises, they are not my favorite. Of the activities I have set for myself this year, there’s no doubt that bookart and assemblage (the boxes and the dolls) are what I really love doing…But I’ll keep up drawing and painting because it is good to develop other skills, and there’s certainly a lot I have to learn there.

Almost losing my footing!

2008-01-13T10:07:00.000-02:00

This was ONE busy week for my standards….As I am used to staying quietly at home every day all day long, going out on Thursday, having friends visit on Friday and going to a birthday party on Saturday, was beyond all my expectations for a full agenda!
And despite all of it, I did manage to work and do what I was supposed to do on Friday.
So I’m posting here my Thursday night quilt square, my Friday journal page and the 7.5x10” acrylic piece…

A day out

2008-01-10T20:33:00.000-02:00

This WAS a busy day…first time this year that I go out all day and come back home to make my daily pieces…AND I MADE IT!!!!!! YEY for me!!!!
Although I don’t like going out (Sao Paulo is such a busy and noisy place to go!) I was glad to buy drawing paper, colorful fabrics for my future quilt pieces AND a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful pack of mixed buttons!!!!! I love buttons! Always have… I can remember being very little (3 or 4 years old!) and sitting on the floor playing with all my mom’s buttons…So my deck card with a story is here (the story is about being silly enough to follow fashion losing perspective of what’s right and what’s wrong), my journal page and yesterday’s quilt….

2008-01-09T18:39:00.000-02:00

For today I had to draw and color with coloring pencils….But it’s frustrating….the colors are not the ones I want…I am hungry for strong, vibrant colors and apparently only acrylic colors can give me that…and gel pens…
Anyway, I managed my journal page and my drawing (which by the way is called "Struggling for a spot of sunshine") today AND made a blank journal full of pockets, folds and hidden places for a little girl who will be visiting on Friday….hope this makes her want to journal!
Here my pieces for today as well as last night’s quilt square.

The second doll.

2008-01-08T18:40:00.000-02:00

Here’s my Tuesday doll: The Queen of Clowns. This one has a DAS head I made, the bodice of black and red ribbons weaved together, the skirt is the wire of New Year’s champagne cork with tulle tied to it and the crown is a broken piece of jewelry. .
I find that if I don’t plan too much, if I just go with the flow, the ideas come…the hard part is remembering that... I tend to panic and want to have everything organized and that’s when I get a huge creativity bloc…

Here too, as every day, my journal page and my last night quilt square.

Box Monday

2008-01-07T16:51:00.001-02:00

Today is the day for an assemblage box….the good thing is I woke up and the idea was ready in my head…No rush, no fidgeting, no doubts….it’s wonderful when the ideas come like that ….let’s see if the rest of the week goes the same!
Here are my journal pages for yesterday and today, my Box and yesterday’s quilt square…I’m not doing so bad, I must say!!!!

A Sunday to relax

2008-01-06T11:31:00.001-02:00

Whoever said we should rest on Sundays was absolutely right by me.
I am glad I decided not to HAVE to do anything on Sundays…At least I can quietly reorganize my stuff around the studio, play around with ideas for the week to come, and update whatever needs updating ( isn’t there always something that was left behind????).
As yesterday I couldn’t print the text or take the pictures of the book, I’m posting today, along with last night's quilt.
The text is a tentative poem (how dare I make poems in a foreign language????), and it goes:

The Old Woman and the Sea

Year after year
She had sat at that window
Her heart filled with hope,
Her head bent in sorrow,

As boats in the harbour
Came from every last direction
She had sat there alone
Lost in her need for affection

She had seen the women
Welcoming back their men;
And she had silently suffered
As she envied each one of them.

She had watched from there
The dusk turn into day
And the day into dawn ,
Into dusk, into day

And she had seen the seasons
Each one, go and return
She had felt her heart beat,
Her body seek for him... and burn

Alone behind the curtain
She had waited and waited
While the wind outside
Slyly rose and abated

Day after day she had prayed
He would have a safe regress
Suspended by each sail which
With land the heavens would bless

And very early just this morning
She had known it was ended
Her lover, his ship and his crew
The sea had finally befriended

He would never come back now
From whence he had gone
His ship was said to have floundered
In the west… just before dawn

Silently she closed the window,
She drew the curtains and swore,
Despite the darkness and the tears
She would see the sea never more.

That kind of day

2008-01-05T20:32:00.000-02:00

Yah…today was one of those days when nothing seems to work….
We had energy shortage, then my camera’s batteries went down…then the spare batteries were down too….you know how it is…the more you rush around to have things done the less you achieve.
I still managed to make my book BUT the text couldn’t be printed in time. I’ll do that tomorrow. The book will be posted tomorrow too since I can’t take pics ! I hate it when things don’t work!
Meanwhile, it’s late and I still have my quilt to make. So here are yesterday’s quilt and today’s journal page….at least that!

Tough Friday

2008-01-04T16:53:00.000-02:00

Not such a good day this one….I tried hard to come up with my daily piece and had the toughest time ever…I guess I didn’t determine exactly what it was I expected of my Fridays so it became difficult to focus.
On the other hand, I loved my journal page (the visual and the journaling), which started out like something I didn’t know what to do about and ended up as a deep analysis of dualities…
Anyway here are the not so good Friday pieces.

Acrylic Thursday

2008-01-03T18:07:00.000-02:00

Today being Thursday, it was Acrylic on Paper day. And the theme was to be The best of 2007, which for me was my trip to Paris last September.
I experimented with a background layering technique, which seems to have worked. It is not at all what I imagined I would be doing today, but I like it all the same. I still have to learn how to layer paper and paint though… And I'm glad I'm not going anywhere tomorrow....my hands are painted solid blue!
Here are my last night quilt square, my daily challenge and my journal page….

Another day, another task

2008-01-02T18:19:00.000-02:00

Today was Coloring Pencil Wednesday and I couldn’t resist using my watercolor pencils…The objective here is to learn to use coloring pencils and as practice makes perfect, I will eventually get there... I hope!
The good part of having to work this fast is I barely have time to think about anything else which can be very good when your mind is always dwelling on what should have beens…
And last night I managed nicely to make my mini quilt too. So here are today’s 3 pieces.