The Hills are Alive with the Sound of..... Mixed Media!

I am a huge fan of The Sound of Music!

And since I live in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains,

you might be able to hear me making a huge mess as I dabble in mixed media!

Now just in case you were worried...

after recently returning from the dead

followed by my temporary freezing to death, 

I am happy to report that I am very much alive!!!

Last year, starting about a month late, 

I joined the Documented Life Project (DLP)

in which I used a Moleskine weekly planner

to attempt as best as I could to furnish evidence or documents

(or just play with mixed media)

that I was indeed living!

(all year long!)

So.... 

in order to once again verify/substantiate/confirm

that I am indeed living (still!),

I am participating in the DLP 2015!

Most of the participants are using 

Dyan Reaveley's Dylusion Journal

and so am I!

This is the cover of my journal...

Inside the cover, 

I taped down two photos...

one of the display of pastels at an art store

and

one of my studio...

Our first challenge was to use book paper 

and our journal prompt was to be our own goal keeper...

  

I listed my goals under the tags.

My 2015 word is Breathe (that should help to sustain my life, right?)

 essentially.... to let go.

Our second challenge was gesso 

Who can live without it?!.... not I!
(Though not really essential to life!)

and our journal prompt was the quote below...

These pages used a variety of mixed media supplies 

including (but not limited to)

gesso, book pages, tissue paper, stencils, spray ink, markers galore, rubber stamps, stamp pad, watercolors, acrylic paints, pencils and washi tape.

The essentials of mixed media that seem to sustain my artful life these days!

Have a great weekend!

a quick how-to

I started off my journal spread by applying gesso to both pages with a paintbrush.

In order to avoid getting the gesso all over, 

I typically place waxed paper under both pages that I am applying the gesso (or paint for that matter) to

so I don't get too much on the other pages 

(life is messy!)

For this spread,

I used my Caran D'Ache Neocolor II Watersoluble crayons

I colored the circles of varying size

and then added water with a water brush (you can find a brush at Joann etc) 

The background is also crayon with water.

I felt that the spread was a little too bright for my liking,

so I splatted on some paint (Golden Titan Buff) and 

rubbed it around with a brayer. 

I had the perfect collection of stamps ...

so I stamped a variety of circles and stars

but found some of the stamps didn't turn out too well 

(maybe my paint wasn't dry enough)

I added just a wee bit of texture on the side

(actually I also added a sticker but it wouldn't stay on 

so maybe the painted surface was not ink/sticker friendly?)

and of course,

I added my favorite.... text!

Ahhh......

Yes....

when living with three kids (ages 19, 16, and 13)..

there is bound to be drama!

I like to make my text bold and highlighted.

I also added some spray ink with a stencil

and a few shapes by dabbing ink over a stencil.

There you have a simple art journal spread.

veni vidi vici

That is...
I came,
I saw,
I conquered!!!
 
Yes, I did!!!

It's true!!!!

I have finished one month (30 days!!!)

of NaNoJouMo

and I never missed a day!

Today, after completing the last page,

I bound my canvas pages with string...

and tied the string with a variety of fibers...

What fun!
What a challenge!
I tried to vary the kinds of techniques I used

as well as the materials...

And now....

it's time...

to pick up the pieces...

and move on...

Gotta run!

Redefining...

nour·ish  (nûrsh, nr-)

tr.v. nour·ished, nour·ish·ing, nour·ish·es

1. To provide with food or other substances necessary for life and growth; feed.

2. To foster the development of; promote: "Athens was an imperial city, nourished by the tribute of subjects" (V. Gordon Childe).

3. To keep alive; maintain: nourish a hope.

(from Free Dictionary)

4. To indulge in a full day of mixed media with new friends

Through the wonderful world of blogging, 

I met Marilyn online

and discovered that she lived nearby

(okay, about an hour from here but that is nearby around here!).

I then discovered that she holds workshops at a scrapbooking store

and you will never guess where I was today?!!!!

Yes!!!!

Marilyn and friend, Kerri, held a workshop,

"Altered Egos"

and 

so I spent today nourishing my soul
with 

handmade journals...

(oh so much fun to make!)

stamps, paper, gesso...


(messy!)

paint, rub-ons, and so much more!

What could be better????!!!!

How about homework?!!!

and another play date next Sunday!!!!

Life is Good!!!

P.S. Did you see my sun prints? Well, I am giving away one of my prints to one lucky reader,

so leave a comment here!

YIKES! I seem to be going every which way!!!!

This week,

I tried a whole bunch of different ways to.....

Monday, I stamped and painted...

Tuesday, I got downright messy with gelatin printing ....

Wednesday, I tried sketching and painting...

Thursday, I revealed this...

read more here and see the rest of the group reveals are here

and Friday, I tried a hodge podge of techniques...

Now...

where do I go from here?!

For recreation purposes only...

hob·by

¹    [hob-ee]

noun, plural -bies.

an activity or interest pursued for pleasure or relaxation and not as a main occupation: Her hobbies include stamp-collecting and woodcarving.

As if I didn't have enough hobbies...

I have been following Rayna's blog for a couple of years
and have taken her book out of the library a number of times

but this time when I brought it home...

I got the goods 
(that is...the tin pans, fabric paint, unflavored gelatin, and time)
and I decided to try out gelatin printing..

and I am hooked!!!

I started with a 12x8 inch (approximately) tin pan
and dumped in 6 packs of unflavored gelatin,
stirred in 1 1/2 cups of cold water to dissolve,
added 1 1/2 cups of hot water
and left it in the fridge overnight...


This is what the gelatin plate looks like when you pop it out
and put it on the bottom of a well used (nasty looking) cookie sheet!

I used my Pebeo Setacolor transparent fabric paints
and later, I tried my Jacquard Lumiere fabric paints
(oh... I know! I sound so official, like I know what I'm doing!)...

plopped a  blob on the gelatin,

and rolled it around with a brayer 

(sorry I forgot to take a photo of that part of the process... I just got so excited!)

I used a variety of objects to texturize the painted gelatin
such as this stamp...

and I stamped the entire gelatin plate...

placed a piece of muslin over top 

and pressed it into the paint..

et voila!!!

painted fabric love!!!!

Here, I used a newfangled potato masher that I bought at Walmart...

and got this....

I even tried layering...

first just plain pink,

and then some silver with a stamp...

purple on a small mesh,

then pink stamped...

red on a mesh onion bag,

then black on the mesh onion bag...

(love this one!)

and this is just one layer of green

stamped with one of my homemade stamps.

Yes, I am
feeling pretty pleased and relaxed now...

so....it must be a hobby!!!

P.S. In two days, we will be revealing our second challenge on Tangled Textiles...

(one last sneak peek) ....stay tuned!!!