more atc's

ATC's for Art Therapy Alliance's Swap - "Collage Unleashed"

Here are my ATC's for the 2nd swap being organized on a Linked In subgroup of the Art Therapy Alliance. The theme was "Collage Unleashed." Since that is how many of my ATC's are made it was a lot of fun for me. I'm enjoying this way of connecting with other art therapists around the country. I sent them in and am looking forward to seeing what art I get back! Here's the four cards I made close-up...

"Live out Loud" - mixed media collage

"Recharge your Batteries"

"Artistic License" - mixed media collage

"She Flew"

art therapy atc swap

"Someone to tell it to is one of the fundamental needs of human beings." - Miles Franklin

I am participating in an Artist Trading Card Swap with approximately 50 art therapists across the country. These are my contributions! It has been organzied by a Linked In subgroup for The Art Therapy Alliance. I can't wait to see the three cards I get back. The topic was "how art therapy helps others, our community, world."

atc's

Took a class this week while on vacation to do some collage-y ATC's. So fun! We might start an ATC "Club" of sorts out of it too. That will be fun. I hope to make some more today to send off for an art therapy swap I'm participating in this month. Here are a few more photos...

We made a little card holder out of a die...sorry not sure what die it was since I have actually never used one

 before! It was all new to me...

The theme of this one in the class was orginally supposed to have the "How do I love thee..." words and a little collage photo of this old photobooth photo of a couple...but we were encouraged to go off in our own directions if we wanted. I found this Statue of Liberty image on the table and thought it would be perfect! For some reason I have never really loved using "photos" or images of people. I don't know why? I get hung up on wondering who the people are and feeling no attachment to them. If I don't feel a connection to what images I'm working with I am not as into the art. So...I skipped the people on this one. I did challenge myself to use the people image on another ATC to try it out....fun but it wasn't my favorite card.

This was the first ATC made in the class and it was one of my favorites...but it makes me laugh that I arranged the two birds plotting thier escape from the nest with the words..."Fly away with me!"

Hope to make some more today and post them later....

Happy Sunday!

my weekend

I did this for 52Q on Wednesday. The day Cary and I met with our landlord. It was such a stressful day and it was helpful to focus on this for a few minutes during lunch. It is something that I'm trying to focus on today. I cleaned the apartment -around all the bags- and tried to organize as best as I can. I took lots of pictures of my current knitting projects and recent 52Q ATC's. Missing my scrapbooking so much. I got my new issue of CK in the mail and I haven't been reading the last few issues because it makes me sad that I can't really get at my supplies.

Yesterday was so packed full of stuff. I didn't really have time to do anything for me except spend an hour in Barnes & Noble...got a few books, etc. I had to make two presentations at the college yesterday for Revisit Day and grocery shopping, laundry, etc. I was going from 6am - 10pm. So much for a day off! Oh well. I got a lot done that had to be done.

But...I will be positive today. And more relaxed. Just taking my time after cleaning this am. I have my knitting circle at my LYS later today and hopefully a visit with my family.

So...let me share a bit of two projects I'm working on.

Here's the beginnings of my sweater...


As you can see...it is really just the beginnings! I LOVE LOVE LOVE this yarn and the color. It is so soft and easy to work with.

Here's the dishcloth I started last week with the same yarn in a different color...

This is the most complicated lace I have tried to do so far. Having some trouble with it so it's slow going. The green you can see is a "lifeline"...a contrasting peice of yarn holding the stitches in a row so if I screw up I can rip it out to that point. What a wonderful inventions! I have used my lifelines many times so far!

Well...I'm off to read a few blogs, shower and go out into the nice Spring day I hear we are having. And so looking forward to Cary coming home from Guard tonight! I haven't really talked to him since Friday since he's staying in a barrack this time and the man refuses to own a cell phone. I miss him...

Happy Sunday

monday gratitudes

Monday Gratitudes...

1. getting to sleep in today even though it's a later night at the college later


2. the Irish Freckle Bread I made...hmmm...


3. the sun is out


4. a new knitting magazine to look at..and a few scrapbooking ones I haven't looked at yet.


5. it is almost Spring


6. a beautiful weekend


7. my mom's St. Patrick's Day corned beef and cabbage to look forward to tomorrow.


8. coffee


9. funny television


10. a place to live


11. money to pay bills


12. only a little over 1 month of classes left for the year


13. my health


14. internet....
    

Here's what I've been up to...

Another Premie Hat for charity...casted on last night.

The first glove of another pair of Fetching. This time I will make them the size I intended with the yarn I just used to make a "mini" pair accidentally :)

I MISS SCRAPBOOKING! I love knitting and doing the ATC's....but I want to take out all my scrapbooking papers...have all my embellishments organized on my desk...look through my photos. I miss it. I really wish we can get past this apt extermination crap because I NEED TO SCRAPBOOK! This isn't very full of gratitude I know. But a few of my gratitudes were in an attempt to feel better about this situation...it works most of the time. But sometimes I get fed up with it.

Well...back to doing whatever I can do to distract and get ready to head out to work. I hope to catch up with blogs tonight and tomorrow!

the weekend

So I was in the mood to get a few treats on the way home from work friday after a verrrry long week. I found myself some Converse in my color. Aqua. Love them! My sister will be proud - she's always been into Chucks. I also got a pair of jeans and a bright white t-shirt at Target. I wear white t's all the time. And a cute blue-green fun scarf. And some cute earrings. All for not too much money. I love Target.

Yesterday made some of Cary's mom's special recipe Chocolate Chip Cookies. Some for him and some to take over my friend's house. Mmmm. Guess who else will be eating these while she is snowed in today?!

Last night was my monthly Girl's Night. We had dinner cooked by one of the girls and lots of talking and catching up. I was tired and not feeling so well but managed to stay awake through Sex & The City: The Movie...which I saw in the theatre and loved.

I got a pile of blank Strathmore ATC's in the mail that I ordered from Dick Blick. I was running out of the one little assorted pack I had and my LSS didn't have any left. Now I will be set for the rest of the year and the 52Q group. Here are a few others I have worked on in the past few weeks. Some are complete and some I haven't done the journaling on yet. I am not quite up-to-date but getting there...I really do like this project. It's a nice chance to do a little artwork eac week and really think about an important topic. It is very similar to things I incorporate into my work as an Art Therapist only this time it's for me.

Week #4: When I look into my eyes I see....

Front: StampIt square stamp. Denami Design circle of dots stamp. SEI swirl stamp. Various letter stamps. Black pen. Watercolor pencils. Water brush.

Back: Denami Design circle of dots stamp. Autumn Leaves journaling circle stamp. Black pen.

Week # 5: Today I Feel....

front: Date stamp. Close to my Heart date journaling stamp. River City letter stamp. Black pen. Watercolor pencils. Water brush.

back: Watercolor pencils. Water brush. Black pen.

Week #6: If I could do it all again...

front: various letter stamps. Denami Design circle of dots stamp. Hand-drawn flower with black pen, Watercolor pencils and water brush.

I haven't journaled on the back of this one yet.

Later today I might work on #7 and #8 and be right on track...as I sit here and wait for a SNOWSTORM! Cross your fingers that tomorrow will be a snowday for the college...day and evening classes since I teach tomorrow evening...

Also hoping to finish my2nd glove to finish out the pair...

Happy Sunday!

today

Prima clear stamps. Stamped in black ink and clear heat embossed. Colored with watercolor pencil and cut out. Mounted on Making Memories paper and some scraps. Distressed edges with my new Close to My Heart distressing tool which I love! Finished with some blue Stickles.

I feel like I have been out of touch for most of the day. Our phone/internet/cable stopped working this a.m. We now have phone and internet (thank goodness) but no TV. Which means...no Grey's Anatomy! Boo! It is sad how connected I am to being connected.

I just got back from Barnes & Noble trying to find a birthday gift for my dad. No luck. Brought Wendy's food to Cary at work. We had the dinner of champions...dollar menu!

Today was a nice day overall. I was less worried. Kept myself distracted. I had a mug-up (coffee break) with my dad this morning. I loved it. He is one of my favorite people and not just because he's my dad. He's just a good person. Funny and good. I don't feel like I see him much since moving so it was really nice to spend an hour with him talking.

Later this a.m. I did some art. Heather linked over to Emily Falconbridge's blog the other day. She is doing a project this year called 52 Q. I decided to join in. I'm also working on uploading my pictures to the Flickr group. Each week the task is to respond to the week's question in a piece of art. Today I worked on Week #1. I have opted to do ATC-size (2 1/2x 3 1/2) artworks each week. Using up what supplies I already have and it is small scale so I won't feel overwhelmed. I have the question written on one side and my journaling/answer on the back.

Here's what I have for week #1:

Supplies: Memory Makers paper, Autumn Leaves journaling stamp, Memory Box stamps (bird and tree), Creative Cafe sticker ("Wish"), Studio G alphabet stamp and clear border stamp, inks and watercolor pencils, water brush.

Speaking of Heather I received the calendar I won in her blog give-a-way. It is awesome! Beautiful. It is sitting on my scrap desk. Which by the way, I realized I didn't post an important part of last night. The set of drawers my dad made years ago that I repainted. It holds my stamps, inks and punches. This was a big part of my reorganization to make room for my stamps. On top of these drawers sits my new calendar! And some family photos.

Well. I am off to catch up on the world of blogs I missed today. And continue my quest to not worry. But it seems when the apartment is quiet and I'm alone I worry. I'm also feeling overly emotional today in general. It is ending my week's vacation, I'm feeling post-holiday let down and Cary's leaving for guard tomorrow. Again...no real reason to be sad or down or worried. That is what is so annoying. What is my problem?! Most people would kill for an entire weekend with an empty apartment. I usually love it! I need to change my outlook.

atc

I ATC - magazine collage & sharpie

I need to take some more photos of other pages in the mini album I posted about yesterday...but the lighting isn't great outside to take them in the grass. Maybe tomorrow. Speaking of tomorrow...Cary and I sign the lease tomorrow. Move in is officially Aug 1st except he will be in Maine for guard weekend...so I'll move what I can and we'll finish the following weekend. I wish we could've afforded a 2BR (we were going to aim for that originally) because we would have been able to use the other room for my art stuff and his gaming stuff. But...we'll work with what we have. I'll try to set up a corner of the bedroom for my desk. The closet should be able to accommodate my clothes and boxes of art stuff. That's really what my current set up is anyway. I'm excited and nervous. Trying not to wish away the days since it's summer and there are only so many more days of summer and mini-vacation left!

Well..I've been bad about reading blogs this week so I hope to catch up with more tonight and tomorrow! Happy "almost" Friday!

wierd day

changes*evolve*let go

ATC - Magazine collage

Today was a wierd day all around. Work was wierd. I did get to do a little art though. I brought my set of ATC's and used whatever supplies were available to do one. It was very relaxing to focus on for 15 minutes. The remainder of the day was odd. Hard to explain but made me wonder if it was a full moon. It isn't. But the day ended well. After work and having a quick dinner with cary, I picked up my new glasses. Next friday I am taking the plunge and getting fitted for contacts. We'll see what happens. Eyes creep me out. I can't even do eye drops -when I need them I have a tricky system of dripping the solution on my cheek and letting it roll into my eye- I'm sorry, it's just not normal to look into the sky and let something drop into your eye.

It's just plain wrong.

But I hate wearing my glasses and the Dr. and asst's all said how easy it is. They said, "As long as you can get your thumb and finger close to your eye, you can do it. " Sounds easy enough I guess. My fear is getting one contact in and then not being able to get up the nerve to get it out. They have assured me getting them out is easier.

We'll just see about that!

Anyway, after picking up the glasses I brought Cary a McDonald's ice cream sundae while he was at work. And we chatted for a bit and then I went to do some errands at Target. Nothing exciting - shampoo, conditioner, citronella candles, etc. The candles were hard to find by the way. Apparantly summer is officially over and we have to think school supplies. I hate how stores rush the seasons. But anyhow, I did get a little K&Co. book of ancestry question & answer journaling cards. Hoping to eventually do a mini book about my mom and dad using those questions and some of the old photos I posted about few weeks ago.

Well...that's enough rambling for now. Looking forward to a beach day tomorrow a.m.! Yeah! Hope everyone has a wonderful night and morning...