Another gorgeous Saturday. Glen and I went to the Farmer's Market this morning. I decided to walk up to it and have Glen meet me there. That worked out pretty good except I fell down on my way! Dangit! I was even still on our street. I just stepped on a rock, lost my footing and down I went. I twisted my ankle a bit, scrapped my shin and my knee. I felt like a little kid when I fell because as I was sitting there, I picked up the rock that brought me down, threw it, and sat there for a moment and just pouted! Thankfully, once I got to the Farmer's Market, Glen was there to offer me some much needed sympathy (and lemonade!) :-)
So I got one of my projects I've been working on done!!! I joined in on a Fatbook project through the Art and Soul Yahoo group. The theme is "Heart." The kind and talented Elise is not only hosting this swap but she has also been sending the participants cards, info, and birthday fortunes. VERY fun!!! Thank you Elise!
I've been taking pictures here and there of my progress with the Heart Fatbook and I'd like to share them with you. This is the first fatbook I've ever participated in. I'm actually pretty happy with how it turned out. I did catch myself a few times considering the questions - Am I doing this right? Will it fit in? Thankfully, I didn't go too far down that road. OF COURSE it would be "right" and it will "fit in" by virtue of it being unique! Having just gone through this whole mental exercise, I was really drawn to the opening quote in the Introduction section of the book Foolsgold.
Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and then go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive. Harold Thurman Whitman
I love this! It's this kind of stuff that keeps me taking risks and experimenting and exploring...and finding what makes me happy.
So here are a few pictures of doing what makes me happy! :-)
For the base of the pages, I used watercolor paper. I cut the pages down to 4" x 4" and punched holes in it. For the color I used Making Memories acrylic paints mixed with Golden Glazing Medium.
On the front, I stamped with a linoleum block I carved. I also stamped "Michelle's Small Scroll" from justjohanna stamps. I was trying to use original items on these pages and since this is a stamp that, a-hem, yours truly designed (smile), I wanted to include it. On the back, I made imprints with lace. That took awhile to get the hang of that but I was happy with how it turned out.
Here's a close up of the lino-block. I'm a fan of the rugged look and so I'm not overly careful about making sure I get real clean white space.
Lots of ingredients and lots of sewing with these pages. I know it's goofy showing these kinds of pictures but I just love seeing all the pages and bits in quantity!
These are the pages after I got the words all stamped.
Completely finished! The "heart" is stamped on to ribbon and then secured with grommets.
And here's the back completely finished. Since I was saying that "dreams come true when you wish them with your heart," I decided to share my wish coupons. :-)
Boy that sure feels good to get this one accomplished! Out of the three Art and Soul swap projects I'm participating in (with the exception of charm swap) this was the one with the latest due date but I really felt like I wanted to do this one first. I am having such a wonderful art-filled summer and so many artsy dreams are coming true that I was really drawn to this one first. My heart so happy and content right now. Creating these pages was a very positive experience for me.
Okay, on to the next project! :-)
Take care and hope you have a fabulous weekend!!! I'm planning on spending some time doing a bit of housework (ugh!) and spending some time in my studio. Glen's off working on his plane and Miranda's on her way over to have a scheduled "lay low" day. She's coming over specifically to hang out in our cool house, drink POM Peach Passion tea, eat kettle corn from the Farmer's Market, and read Animorphs. That's the plan for the entire day!
See ya!
Poor Michelle fall down and go Boom and got a owwie! (pout) Adults get really rattled by falling down, don't we. Kids don't stress nearly as much as we do, probably 'cause they fall a lot more than us.
Ms.Geller, I'm so impressed with how wonderfully innovative your cards are! I love all those textures on there. So creative :)
Posted by: Lilli | July 07, 2007 at 04:34 PM
Love your pages so much but I can't for the life of me put those eyelets in where they look decent on both sides so I am double...no triple impressed.
Sorry about the fall down. Rocks throw me for a loop too.
Posted by: Sharon @ Norah's | July 07, 2007 at 05:45 PM
Oh, my poor dear Shelster, falling down. Darn those rocks! We are obviously related, because I had a similar experience yesterday coming out of Target, but it was a soda cap, and I didn't quite fall all the way down, but caught myself, then looked around as if to tell anyone who saw "yeah, I meant to do that". I wish I was there to help you throw rocks. I'm glad Glen was there with tea and sympathy (ok, lemonade and sympathy, but I had to use the tea thing, it was stuck in my head).
I love your heart fatbook project. Of course, you know I love hearts in general, but when you do art, you do it "real good". I love your heart art!! (say that three times fast and you have an instant seal impression). :-)
Posted by: simone | July 07, 2007 at 07:45 PM
I love that quote! I'm working a piece around it. It is very fitting for my life right now!
Posted by: Karin (creativechaos) | July 08, 2007 at 12:30 AM
michelle, those are so beautiful! i love the photos--the muffin tin full of goodies! and that quote is wonderful. i hadn't heard it before. i'll definately be writing it down in my quote book!
i have this one pair of shoes that i'm constantly falling in. you'd think i'd stop wearing them, but for the most part they're quite comfy. then i get all relaxed and i'll be walking up a hill and i fall on my face, and some kind woman is coming up to me going, "Oh my, are you okay?" and probably thinking i'm drunk. anyway, i can relate, is what i'm saying here.
love your beautiful work!
Posted by: tricia | July 09, 2007 at 09:23 AM
Gosh, even your assembly lines look divine! Sorry about your fall, glad you are OK...I'll throw a rock for you today!
Posted by: Wendy Updegraff | July 09, 2007 at 02:06 PM
Fabulous project! Love all the step-by-step progress pics! Sorry you fell down---that just is no fun at all! After my crash in the laundry room in Feb. where I actually heard my ankle snap, I have so much sympathy for any falls!! So glad you weren't hurt worse!
Posted by: Jana | July 09, 2007 at 02:41 PM
I'm sorry about your little fall but I know that lemonade helped w/the boo-boo. I love lemonade esp. strawberry lemonade. How cool is this fat book you are doing so far!!! Heart! MMM, cool!
Posted by: Malou | July 09, 2007 at 07:48 PM
I love the heart block, the way you used your wish coupons, and the WW quote. I'm sorry you got a boo boo, but I couldn't help giggling at your cute account of the incident although it wouldn't have been very cute at the time!
Posted by: renee | July 10, 2007 at 11:58 AM
Michelle-Your pages for the Heart book are so great! I can not wait to see one up close(I am in the swap too!). I have to comment on how organized you are when you do your pages. I seem to have all my items strung all over the place...You have inspired me to maybe rethink the way I organize my stuff.
Christy
Posted by: Christy | July 11, 2007 at 05:00 PM