uh...so much for coming right back...

Evidently, the come back soon comment wasnt a good idea...because I havent gotten into my studio since MAY! So I am on a summer break, and I hope to be back in september...sorry guys! Off for family stuff and summer. MISS YOU and hope to chat soon!
                                                   xoxo TAM

Sneak Peek....

Hmmm...what is it??

 Ooooo! It has shinies!!

A flower too? Flowers are good.

What will I be? Check back soon to see!

xoxo Tam

Some Little Found Art Journalings...

Here's some pages from the new journal my mom helped me make. Just 5 big sheets of watercolor paper from Michael's, some Coptic stitching and Voila! An art journal. I decided that I would fill this one with "found art" images, ATC's and business cards I have collected over the last while from artists I love but had no idea what to do with my growing stash. I truly hope this is OK to put online. I am not sure of the protocol for putting my work combined and inspired by someone elses on my blog, so if anyone knows if I am doing something I shouldn't PLEASE let me know.

"The Secret of a Happy Life" 

 The left half of this page was an art journal page by Sharon Borsavage. (the white rectangle with the bird and grid paper).I was so moved and inspired by it, I loved the colors and the collage. I have been collecting images of things I find wonderful since I was a teenager. I remember cutting apart tonnes of old national geographic magazines and sorting them into sparkly paper folders. I still have them!Here's a detail shot of the page. The secret to a happy life is hope....

                                             " Me, Myself and I"

 DJ Pettitt is another artist I really love. Her work is so serene and peaceful. She makes the most incredible fabric journals. When I ordered off her etsy shop a while ago, she sent these 3 girls as a little bonus in my order. I have had them on my inspiration board for a long time, and they just seemed to want to have a home on this page.

Hope to make more pages this week. Hope you all have a splendid day! xoxo Tam

Some arty things...

I really can't believe how fast the last few weeks went. I meant to post alot sooner. Eeek! I did some last minute travelling with my sweetest friend Michelle, celebrated my birthday, had company for the week and had a Mothers day in there as well...here's a few pictures of some of the last of the Paint your Story class I have been doing.

 My sad girl. One of the beautiful things I love about art is that you can pour in what you are feeling, and be as vague or descriptive as you need to be...and after that spilling out, your heart feels a little brighter.

 Then you can paint whimsical bunnies smelling flowers that look like happy party balloons! LOL!

 It has been really great to stretch and grow in a completely different direction. That's the beauty of learning from other artists. Now I'm not sure how this will play into my regular work...but I don't want to give up the wonderful sense of freedom and play that Mindy's class taught me.

 I decided to make a painted art doll using some of that fun! Anyone who knows me personally knows I LOVE fabric. LOVE IT!! I collect it, and pet it...and maybe hoard it just a teeny bit. (sheepish grin). I also work at a fabric store, and I have been getting a bunch of scraps ad treasures from there. Sigh...so my little art doll titled "All Is Well" is using some of my stash. Little fabric Mary Jane's, and a ruffled skirt.

 A painted face on canvas and free motion stitched details....

And her crowning glory....a whole head of super thin strips of tonnes of different fabric for her hair!
     My mom was up this week, and we had so much fun making art and playing in our art journals. I am so blessed to have a mom that shares so many of my interests. She helped me make a really cool stitched journal last night, so hopefully I will have time to make some art in there over the next week  to show. Hope you all have a marvelous week friends! A little thought for the day...
"People rarely succeed unless they have fun at what they are doing." Dale Carnegie
 Go have some fun people!!    xoxo Tam

More Mindy!

So bunny Bekka is still pouting!

 I wanted to go to the carnival! I got dressed up and everything! Why do I have to stay home and do homework and clean my room? It's just not fair!

 Oh that sad face...ALMOST makes me change my mind.  Today we learned how Mindy paints her faces, so these were my first attempts. I really loved the process, who knew finger painting would be so incredibly fun and addictive! Well my 5 year old self, but I forgot I guess...

My face that turned into a moon.

 I am luna
floating, sighing through
the starry sky
inky and silent
except for...
my sisters
the aurora's
singing
always singing
with voices
throaty
windy
wild

And of course, no foray back into childhood would be complete for me unless I included a unicorn. Every day from grade one and two, I would hop on my unicorn and ride her home after school. Sometimes she had wings, sometimes we just galloped with the wind rushing through our hair. Wouldn't that be the way to come home in style from the grocery store? Yeah, on second thought, I don't think she'd enjoy the undignified way the bags of lettuce and potatoes would bounce off her flanks...
Anyhooo, after laughing my head off about that visual, I'm off to make some more art. Hope you have a day filled with sparkling ideas and magical adventures into your imagination! xo Tam

Mindy Lacefields Class

 I am taking an online class from the super talented Mindy . Its been such a wonderful, inspiring class. 

 She is asking us to just let go of our preconceptions about "good enough"and get back to the joy of creating from our seven year old selves. Oh my goodness, the fun that this has been!!

Here are my faces she asked us to sketch... some with our non-dominant hand, loose and silly and scribbly. Someone from class said she thought the girls on the bottom of this one were keeping a secret from poor little bunny. After she said that, I could totally see it.

 The bottom girl on the left loves pie!! I was surprised by how relaxing and enjoyable this exercise was. Next she showed us how to make collage papers by painting on magazine pages with our hands. I asked my 9 year old daughter if she wanted to watch an art video with me. She was interested so we both watched Mindy paint, then we excitedly went and got out all the supplies to make our own "masterpieces". Here are four of the many I made.

 We had so much fun painting together till way past bedtime. She was so amazing to watch how she had no inhibitions, just started going for it, with all sorts of color combos and marks. I made a bunch, and I am so excited to make more.

I miss my seven year old self. She didn't worry about if it was good enough, or if anyone else would like it. She just created from her heart for the pure joy of making something. Do you still listen to your seven year old self when you create?? Go find her if you haven't seen her for a while. I guarantee you will have so much fun when you paint, you won't be able to keep out of the studio! Have a wonderful creative day friends! I'm off to make backgrounds, and maybe find a unicorn or some fairies! LOL!!  xoxo Tam

Spring is coming!

Lets make our nests! Just a few pictures of some birdies making nests in their old homes.

Make due with what you have...

And spread your wings and fly when you can. Have a wonderful thursday everyone!

Pears are yummy...and fun to paint!

Do any of you just get something in your head that won't come out?? Pears are like that for me...no matter how often I paint and paint them, they just keep coming back. The above painting (a BIG brute at 3 feet by 5 feet!) also combines my love of chairs!

A fancy pear :o) She's all dressed up for an evening out perhaps? Hahaha!

Wish you could see this one in real life...the texture and fabric on the background are so yummy. This week has been wonderful. Taking the inspiring online class "Paint your story" from the one and only Mindy at www.timssally.com. Trying hard to get back to the joy of creating from my seven year old self. Its been stretching and great fun so far. Mindy also said we should use pinterest as part of our tools for class...twist my rubber arm, OK! Hahaha! So I hope to have stuff to post from that next week. May your day be filled with the things that inspire you my friends! {hugs} Tammy

Some Art!

I love doors...their worn beauty, their history and stories. Who has come and left through them? Who came running back into the arms of love...who never returned?

I also love their deep symbolism...of change, of opening yourself up to a new mystery.

Or maybe of shutting something out for good. Something that no longer serves you on your journey...or is actually doing you harm.

A gentle soft click of the latch, or a resonating slam! I get to choose who and what I will let in, and what I will keep out. I choose to let in the light and good. I choose to think that hope lies waiting behind that door...I just have to have the courage to reach out and turn the knob.

These are my cone flower fairies...ready to work their magic and step into their little paper boat off to the realm of beauty.

This was originally a painting of cone flower blossoms from my garden, but like many things here it got a makeover into something new.

May your day be filled with light and gratitude my friends! And doors opened with the sunlight pouring in... xoxo Tam

Early to Port Townsend!

This is my bestest super talented auntie Deb. Every year I have come to Artfest it has been with her, my mom and Doreen. Shes extremely proud of her adorable crown she purchased that day!

Cookie was urging us to come and shop...so we did!

UH! The amazing bead store in Port Townsend...this place was Kryptonite to my wallet!!! But the kindly husband who co-owns the store let us go upstairs for a sneak peek (and shop) of their newest beads they hadn't even gotten out in the store! Heaven! That's my mom Linda next to me (see the resemblance in the smile and the nose)?

AKAMI, another place that loved to empty my wallet. I wish I could have spent longer in there.

Oooh! Some of the wonderful ladies that came up early and hung us with us! WOW! the dinner was delicious (and ladies, you know looking at the Jeremiah eye candy didn't hurt either! LOL!!) You know who you are! Miss you guys already. {{hugs}}.

OOOH! And an exciting sidenote MY COMMENTS are working!! Yeah!! Thank you to my most wonderful friend Regina at http://blog.creativekismet.com oh thank you thank you!!

Luv Tam

Of Journals and Journeys

So I have been absent...for a good long time. My blog was making me mad, and because I am severely challenged in the tech department I just stared helplessly at the help emails and then gave up and ate some chocolate cake. So the problem isn't fixed(no one seems to be able to leave comments, and I can't leave comments on your blogs that I love either) but my dearest friend from Norway said she had one word for me... "GETBLOGGINGALREADY!!!" Well who can argue with that.LOL!
So here is a little journal I made today...I only got to keep it for about an hour, then it was promptly snatched up and away to a new owner who is going to take her to Turkey, and Ephesus etc! So it will have a much better life travelling and being loved. I did 7 signatures inside using a coptic stitch on watercolor paper.

I put the definition of journal in a book plate on the cover. I used antique lace and mother of pearl buttons I had on a 1930's baby dress.

A little J from a type writer key, and blue cotton velvet stitched to the cover fabric.

A little free motion stitched message on the back with a fabric heart.

And to make sure everything stays inside a gathered ribbon elastic band to snap around the whole book with a crochet flower, button and feather. There Janne! I did it!! I blogged already! hahaha! And if I knew how to do a link, her name would be highlighted, but instead I'll just say go check out her AMAZING blog at www.spindlemaker.com You will love her. So talented and fun, and man does she sure get stuff done. I will be back tomorrow with some artfest photos, and some pics of paintings I did before Artfest...promise. :op

May your day be FULL of Joy!

Tam