Green Paper

Sticking With It....

Do you ever feel this way too? I was talking to my sister Eileen this week and complained that everything I've created lately looks horrible. I joked that maybe my art-ing days are over.

My beautiful sister, Eileen, helping me at Silver Bella a couple years ago.

Then last night, Eileen and I were talking again and she mentioned an Ira Glass / This American Life episode she listened to. I remembered that I had saved an Ira Glass quote a while back because I found it particularly meaningful, but I couldn't remember why.  So, I pulled it out again...

“What nobody tells people who are beginners — and I really wish someone had told this to me . . . is that all of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, and it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. 

But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase. They quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know it’s normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story. 

It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through.”-Ira Glass” 

Do you find that true, too? How easily I forget!

I can't tell you how many gluebook pages I've set aside lately, because I just couldn't finish. I'm so unhappy with them! So, my goal for the weekend is to finish some art every day. To stick with it, even if I think it's really bad.

Wish me luck, I'll let you know how it goes.

Oh, and just a reminder that the Spring 25% off sale ends tomorrow. If you'd like to gluebook along with me, come ahead!

She's posting my work...

I hate writing this post, but I could really use some help. 

A few weeks ago, a friend directed me to a Flickr photstream, which includes about 70 (yep, seventy) pictures of my own gluebook art. None of the individual pictures mention my name or any information about me.

Since it's my art and I want the pictures removed, I have emailed the Flickr user twice, and have contacted her through the Flickr system. I've never received a response.

In my last email, I asked her to have them removed by yesterday, or I would have to contact Flickr/Yahoo. I also told her I would post about this on my blog.  Unfortunately, nothing happened.

So, today, I sent a copyright infringement notification to Yahoo, and now I'm posting on my blog.

I know this person reads my blog, in fact, she enters the monthly challenges. So, how do I get her to remove my art from her Flickr photostream?  Any ideas would be so appreciated!

My Post on Gingersnap Creations

My last Muse post is on the Gingersnap Creations blog - I hope you can stop by and take a look, HERE.

It's a little tutorial about the blended paper technique I use, especially on ATCs. I originally covered the technique in my Collage Coterie online class, which was held last year.

If you've never tried this easy technique, I hope you give it a shot!

Monet at the Nelson

Saw this Monet triptych last month and I'll be going to see it again today.

 
Sunday's the last day for the exhibit, so if you're in the KC area and have been meaning to get to it, now's the time. It is truly breathtaking.

Don't forget!

Please remember that I'm drawing the winner for the December Collage Challenge on Wednesday - just 2 days away. So there's still lots of time to get your entry in.

If you haven't stoppped by to see all of the lovely art so far, it's on this post. It's so fun to see how different artist interpret the same images - there's lots of inspiration!

One of my favorite things about this challenge is visiting the different blogs and Flickr groups of each artist.  It's a wonderful way to find new artists to follow, and to get others to follow you. I love seeing the comments others have left after visiting from the challenge. 

Of course, everyone loves comments, hint hint.

What do YOU want...

It's that time of year... to force yourself to give a true answer when someone says, "what do you want?"

This year, I seem to have loads of ideas.

Right now, you're probably buying for others, making gifts for others, adding more and more activities and responsibilities, taking less and less precious 'me' time. 

   
Mixed Media supplies on Etsy

Be nice to yourself! Make a little list of the things you want (with assorted prices!) and actually pass it on when someone says..."what do you want this year?"

 

online clubs and classes

...And, are you looking for something quick,easy and affordable to make for others? Maybe more than one? How about a calendar for next year? The 1927 Postcard calendar is just $5 and the days and dates match 2011... Print the pages on some cardstock and then use any binding tool you might have, or just pop some rings into them.  Maybe a ribbon and you're all done.

 

By the way....the thankful images sale is going on through this week, so you still have a bit of time left to get some bargains!

Ralph Lauren and Claude Monet

 Don't you love cutting-edge stuff?  

I'm not sure if you've seen this from ralphlauren.com:

The Official Ralph Lauren 4D Experience - New York from Ralph Lauren on Vimeo.

You can read a bit about it on their site,  HERE. Fascinating tech and a great use for it. 

In other news, all 3 sections of the Monet Water Lilies triptyck will be together next year.

Beginning in April they will be in Kansas City at the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, then moving to St Louis  in the fall and Cleveland after. I saw all three of them together more than 20 years ago, and cannot wait to experience them again.

OK, that's all of my news for today...I hope you're having a great weekend!

Are these gorgeous or what?

My friends Beth and Karla are hosting their first online workshop, Romantic Gothic Ghosts. They have created an amazing assortment of 7 Halloween themed projects, each is really lovely and so many of them could be used at any time, not just Halloween.

This is sure to be a wonderful class - they're both very skilled at creating fabulous projects - and explaining them so anybody can do them (trust  me on this one, they've walked me though all kinds of stuff!)

I saw the projects and I'm anxious to make some beautiful things outside my usual comfort zone. If you have a chance, stop by and see the rest of the projects, the price of this class is very affordable and all of the images are provided. Lots of details HERE.

Irene's Art, a Question & a Teaser

Using August's vintage calendar page, Irene at All Occasions Cards, created this gorgeous birthday card. Her work is so perfectly done! 

 

I hope you'll send me a picture when you create something with my images - I love to add them to the "Your Art My Images" album.

Also, I have a list in my sidebar with other sites that offer free vintage images, but it's a little out of date. Can any of you give me suggestions of more blogs to add? That would be swell!

And just between you and me, I've created another online class for you. Watch for an announcement very soon...

Just playing around...

 Last year I started a little book just for myself to have fun with. I got in the mood to play in it this week, but it's been put aside for so long I couldn't find the pages I already cut, and had to cut some more.  

Instead of just paper and glue, I actually have other supplies and tools all over my desk. You wouldn't recognize me. I'm so out of practice using some of my old supplies... I created quite a hodge-podge for myself.

I had to remember how I glued down German scrap when I used it all the time... And why do I always add something more after I've inked the edges of everything? 

How did I manage to get 2 different floral pieces on this without realizing it? They don't go together at all.

Well, at least I'm getting some use out of my old tools and supplies... Now I just need to get in some more practice playing with them!