vintagepaintworks.com

This morning I discovered an AMAZING website! Please go visit them, and join for free ephemera, and workshops, tutorials....just really really great stuff! They specialize in Vintage and have quite a good set of tutorials from beginners in card making, to advanced in mixed media and altered books.
If you look around, you'll be taken away from the main site and introduced to some really incredible stuff! there are personal challenges, and weekly tutorials...wow, I'll be really busy here!

Ydia-an art doll muse

A what???
In Greek Mythology there are 9 muses responsible for artistic inspiration in:
Calliope (Epic Poetry),Clio (History),Erato (Love Poetry),Euterpe (Music),Melpomene (Tragedy), Polyhymnia (Hymns), Terpsichore (Dance), Thaleia (Comedy), Urania (Astronomy). See Professor Graves, I did pay attention!
I wanted to make a series of inspirational dolls to remind me why I make art, and give me inspiration when the well has gone dry. This is the first in the series. she is named Ydia (pronounced 'idea'). She is my personal reminder of 'worth'.

She was made with materials given to me by several people from around the world, filling her with tons of generosity & creativity. If you click on her picture you can see the shine, irridescence and depth of her feaures. In real life, everything sparkles.

Here's a fun quiz to find out which Greek Muse is most present in you, don't worry you don't have to give out any personal information.
Muse Quiz I'm Euterpe (Music), no shock there!

I have a few more dolls waiting for the right finishings, so please come back and meet them soon!

Mixed-media paper quilt

So, I picked up a copy of Cloth Paper Scissors and found some instructions on making a "Paper quilt". I thought I'd give it a shot, and have to say I loved making this!!! For a first time attempt,I'm really happy with the results.
Of course there were a few tense moments along the learning curve as always, but I let the quilt dictate what it wanted to become. Thanks for looking!

Materials used: Crepe paper, blue jean material, microbeads, fiber wrapped pipe cleaners, Adirondak color mist "Bottle", Club Scrap Stratosphere stencil, CS Refresh paper, ribbons to bind edges (doesn't show up on scan, Pearl-ex powder, Lumiere metallic paints, rubber stamps, various stencils and my sewing machine.

I've been making stuff again

some background paper:

a birthday card

(not my usual style, but it's not MY birthday)

and a funky Giraffe