Okay, here it is again

This is the best I can do at the moment. I went ahead and submitted it to Collage MAnia.

See ya!

Heidi

Collage Mania

Well, I'm leaving town early in the morning for Focus on Fiber in Florida. A whole week in an artist's studio to work. No planned projects, no other responsibilities. Just time to work. I can't even fathom what it will be like. I'm trying hard to not let the guilt of the time away from home and kids and the money to go get to me. I keep telling myself it will all be fine once I'm there.

So, I've been trying hard to complete something for Virginia Spiegel's most recent fundraising event (she is the American Cancer Society fundraising queen!), Collage Mania II. Today is the deadline. I'm packing and working on another piece. I've done three for this event so far and have been happy with none. The one I"m trying to complete today seems to be headed in the same direction but I'm hoping if I actually finish it that this one will turn out in the end. I always try to push through when I'm unhappy with something. It's hard to find the balance with doing that versus letting something go no matter how much work you have put into it.

Well, here it is, incomplete, but hopefully done sometime today.

The list of techniques and materials is very long (hence, maybe the problem is that I've done too much). Here they are in the order in which they were done: inko-dye on cotton fabric, colored pencil, inkjet transparency transfer of original artwork drawn on paper then scanned, acrylic paint, pigma brush pen, spider writers, inkjet transparency, embroidery floss stitching.

Here is one of the other attempts (same theme) but all done with paper. Again, it was overdone and the main problem I had with this one is that you cannot see the angel's face very well. It is a color printout of artwork on transparency film. Here is the original piece the face came from.

Take care and have a great week!

Heidi

Awesome Etsy Shop

Hi guys,

Okay, so today I'm posting someone else's work (and, yes, I asked permission first). I have been creating but haven't taken any pictures lately, so I thought I'd show you some inspiring work from a couple of sisters in the UK and what they are doing with felt. Take a look. Aren't these just fabulous?! I'm blown away by the creations I find on etsy some days. I'm in love with their bags! To visit their etsy shop, go to www.feltathome.etsy.com. Of course, while in etsy, take the time to visit my shop too (shameless self promotion there)! www.hmiracle.etsy.com. You can find the wildest things on etsy. Do some searches on some really wild things and see what you get! Just be careful, you can spend hours in the shops you find.


Let's see what have I been up to. I've been busy preparing for my Wet Felted Vessels classes this Friday. Hopefully all of my participants will have fabulous bowls to take home and have a great time learning the techniques! I'll let you know how it goes.

Next week I will be away at Focus on Fiber, an fiber artist's retreat. I can't actually believe I'm going and this is happening. Until I actually get in the car and start the drive, I don't think it will seem real. I still feel incredibly guilty about the amount of money I'm spending to make this happen (childcare for my 3 year old for a week and the expense of the retreat itself) and leaving my kids, but I know I'll get over it and it will be fabulous!!!! I have no idea what I'm going to work on yet. Leaving it open for now. I've starting gathering surface design materials and already have two tubs of stuff and that doesn't include any fabric yet! Or sewing machine! Or wool roving or yarn! Or beads! Oh my gosh, I don't know how I will choose what to take and what to leave at home. In the end, I guess it doesn't matter much. I'll create with whatever I have. :)

As far as what I've been working on, I have found a new addiction, colored pencils. Not the watercolor ones I've used in the past, but regular ones, but artist grade of course. They make such beautiful colors on fabric. I get so mesmorized by the colors that I often forget to think of an overall design and just sit and color and shadow and layer and on and on. I'll post pics of something when i'm ready to share them.

Have a great rest of the week!

Heidi

Inko-Dye Workshop

This past weekend I took a two day course through our local SDA (Surface Design Association) group by Ray Pierotti (www.absolutearts.com/portfolios/r/raypierotti/). He is an amazing artist and an excellent teacher. The class was held in the fabulous home of another amazing artist, Leisa Rich (www.monaleisa.com). She works at the High and also teaches classes at Chastain Art Center and Callanwolde. It is such a treat to be in Leisa's space. Not only is it filled with her fabulous artwork, it is also organized, clean and clutter free! Complete with a studio space downstairs with two tables to hold about 6 students. It was so nice to have space to work in. It is a constant struggle in my own home to find a space that I can use for my art supplies much less a clear piece of table top. Anyway, it was fabulous fun and I met some other great artists. My friend and artist Hellene Vermillion was also there. Check out her fabulous work on her blog: www.vermillionart.blogspot.com. Sorry I'm in a rush, so I can't make those clickable links right now. But you should still take the time to visit all of them!!! Here's a photo of the group working on their pieces.

Inko-Dye is definitely a medium I will be adding to my materials. It's fantastic!!

Queen for the day

A recent drawing. I'm drawing lots of black and white again. My faces have changed (for now) to being more realistic. I'm working on paper collages for Virginia Spiegel's auction. I'm having fun but struggling with completing them or liking what I have completed it. Must be a growing point somehow that I need to push through. I'll get there.

I'm still missing deadlines on entering most exhibition shows and on getting applications in for art shows. I guess it just means it's not my priority right now. I do seem to be focusing more on my personal life in other ways. I'm enjoying having more time for my kids. I'm just a bit worried about stopping the momentum on a great start in my art journey. Don't get me wrong. Creativity and art are my spiritual base. I just cant' seem to get the business end going right now. On the other hand,I do feel like the 4 month mark (yesterday) after my Dad's death is a new beginning for me. That life feels like life again.


Today I taught my son's 1st grade class an art lesson and it was so much fun. The stories they have to tell in their art fascinate me (as the story is often the hardest part for me) and their creativity was inspiring. I hope I inspired them as well. I am very passionate about sharing my story with them. Letting them no that art is about breaking rules and that you aren't necessarily born with some inate talent but that it takes practice like anything else. And, that mistakes are part of the process and not to give up. Let go and just have fun. I hope I got that across to at least one of them.

New Drawings

I've been sick this week so I haven't had the energy to go back to some of the paintings I started while my kids were in Minnesota with their Dad last week. But, I've been drawing small ink pictures again. Still on angels and creatures with the snake like bodies. However, I wanted to try some new faces and I'm really pleased with how these turned out. Let me know what you think. Two have more realistic faces and one is a baby face. The other is more like the ones I've been drawing for quite some time now.

















What are you going to do today to be creative? I drew robots with my kids (older one home sick today but not too sick to draw). Lots of fun to try drawing something new. Now I want to try on my own sometime and put some serious work into seeing if I can create a robot painting or piece of fiber art. As usual my son has been my inspiration. He started me on aliens and I still draw them and am working on a fiber piece with an alien I hope to finish soon. On to robots!! Be watching for them!

Just a reminder to check out Fiber on a Whim here in Atlanta, GA. There are some cool upcoming classes included two by little 'ole me. :)

Some more recent work

Hello! My creative juices are flowing so fast that I can't seem to stop them long enough to really work on one piece. I want to try so many new things and practice to get better at others while also creating completed art pieces. My mind is all abuzz. I've got bits and pieces of things laying around. I've been painting, collaging, drawing, stitching. Most are too big to fit on my scanner. Here are at least partial pics of some recent watercolor pastel drawings.

Focus. Something I wish I had it, knew how to get it. It is what I struggle with more than anything. That and completing a piece once I start it. I create a lot of art and work as much as I can on improving my skills, listening to my muses, etc. But, sticking one piece, one technique, even one medium is almost impossible for me. I get bored really quickly. Focus is something I hope to find more of in 2008. Everytime I start to set some new goals for this year, like doing more outdoor art shows, entering certain exhibits, taking certain classes, etc. I just can't figure out which way to go. I want to continue my great start in my art journey. But, how to do it?

Any of you Project Runway fans? I'm totally addicted. I've been thinking about the difference between the art and the fashion world. Whenever I hear Nina say to the designer who does the draping (Rami?) that she wants to see what else he can do and he keeps responding about staying true to his passion, etc. I think, wow, I'm just the opposite of him and what is expected of me is the opposite too. For instance, you need a consistent body of work in the art world. Galleries want to see that you can reproduce similar pieces for their clients. In the fashion world, I guess a designer is expected to keep making something new and different. And, I can't seem to stick with one medium and master it but have to keep moving around. One day I might be making felted bowls. The next day making big stitches on a painted fabric piece. the next day painting on canvas with acrylics, the next day, making plexiglas etchings or carving stamps, painting papers to collage, etc. The choices seem limitless. Anyway, starting to ramble. But I remember that I was envious of Rami and his passion and mastery of his technique and vision, but then realized that it didn't fare well for him, at least not on Project Runway with the judges.

Yesterday I visited the Alcove Gallery and Foundation One Gallery in Decatur (some of my creative juices are coming from inspiring work I saw there). I almost didn't go and thought it would be a waste of time, but it was so worth it!!! I want to go again next week!!! I've been visiting the Alcove Gallery online for about a year now so it was great to see the work of all of the artists in person. It is a contemporary somewhat outsiderish, somewhat folky kind of a place. Foundation One had artwork from one of my favorite artists, Jesse Reno, but I also discovered a new favorite, John Tindel.

Okay, here are my pics. I need to either go to bed or go back to my projects that are drying and see if I can see my way to the next steps.

Happy creating!

heidi

Yesterday

A friend of mine came over and we played around with paints and layering. I had a ton of fun. Not sure if this is complete yet, but I was so excited with how it turned out I wanted to post the photo. As usual, I'm being lazy and just using my scanner. So, it only shows a portion of the piece and there is some shadowing from not laying flat on the scanner bed. It is on watercolor paper and we used acrylic paints, stamps, some phonebook pages. She used some magazine pages (can't wait to see her final result) for her "angel" and I used paints and my watercolor pastels. I think she is adorable. We worked with an article from Cloth, Paper, Scissors as a starting point. If you want to know the author/artist/article I can get it for you. I should post it anyway to give her credit. Anyway, on to more creating! I'm hoping to finish some projects this week!

Heidi

More Etching

I'm getting more comfortable with drypoint etching on plexiglass and here is one from a couple of weeks ago. The shadows on the paper are just from my scanner, so it's not a great representation. But, I like the image and that I was able to achieve some changes in value more successfully.

I'm also learning to enjoy the inking and printing process. I didn't have the patience for it at first but there is a rhythm to it. Sort of like when I am drawing or stitching. It's the part I don't have to think about as much and just be. You know what I mean? I think being the only one in class this week helped with that. I couldn't just talk my way through it. I paid attention.

Okay, on to a day with my family. Driving up to Dalton to let my kids play with their cousins today and to finally visit my Dad's grave in Chattanooga. I haven't been there since the funeral so I think this will be good for me.

Have a great weekend! Oh, and did I mention I'm teaching two classes at Fiber on a Whim in the next couple of months-Wet Felted Bowls and Watercolor Crayons on Fabric? I think I did, heehee, but never hurts to mention it again! It will be lots of fun. I'm really excited!!

I still hate my hair. I can't think of any way to fix such a short haircut except maybe to get braid extensions or something like that. Then I would probably feel even less like myself. Maybe die it hot pink? I don't know. I'll give it a couple of days to grow on me.
Heidi

And, another class

in April at Fiber on a Whim on using watersoluble wax pastels on fabric. April 18th, Friday, 10-1. Can't wait!!!!

Check out the list of classes at www.fiberonawhi.com for more information.

Have a great weekend. I got a new haircut today and I'm trying to make the best of it although my husband is calling me "bro" and my daughter says I have "circle hair like my Miller" (her brother). My hair hasn't been this short since I was 3 years old. It will take some getting used to. No laughing when you see me!!

And, Paula, if you see this photo, don't worry, that's the original photo of the fish. There are beads added and it will be completed next week! It just makes a good example of the watercolor crayons on fabric. :)

I'm teaching a class...

on wet felted bowls/vessels at Fiber on a Whim (my favorite place in the Atlanta area) in Sandy Springs, Friday, March 28, 10am-1pm. For more information, go to their website www.fiberonawhim.com. Hope to see some familiar faces! We will have a ton of fun! Here are some photos of some of the kinds of bowls we will be making.

Angels on the brain

I guess I've still have more angels to get out of my system. Here is one of my latest drawings.

I'm excited to have more time (at least I hope so) to start being creative again. The PTA project that I chair is now over for this year with only a few minor things to wrap up. It was again a great success and I feel proud knowing I helped to bring so many artists to the school for one day. Hopefully I'll have some photos to post soon. And, I'll write more about the day and the artists then as well.

I also plan to start listing some of my finds on Etsy. Just today I found this shop and fell in love with this person's free form crocheting.

Etchings

So here is the photo of my first two etching prints. What do you think? I can't decide if printmaking is going to be for me or not. I LOVE the etching process. The same as I love drawing and carving. It is mark making. But, I really don't enjoy the inking process and printing, except to see the final result. I want to make the etchings and have someone else print for me. Hhmm. I'll give it some more time. It's still way cool to be in an art class and around other artists. And, a different set of artists with a different set of interests and skills.

And, I had the most wonderful weekend. I went out to eat at a great place in Midtown last night, Mitra, with my 2 sisters. And, we saw The Drowsy Chaperone at The Fox. Then, they spent the night with me and we had brunch today at J. Christopher's. That's the most time I've spent with them in a very long time. And, ususally it's on vacations with the kids or birthday parties. Not much time to talk. This was the first time since our Dad died in November that we could really be focused just on us. Very nice. We didn't talk much about his passing but I was definitely feeling the presence of it on all our minds. I wish maybe we had taken the opportunity to release and do some grieving together. But there will be other times. I think we were afraid to all go back to that place right now. But, I could be wrong. Anyway, the point is, it was great to see them and be together!!!! I love you guys!!!!!! More than words could ever express. :)

Etching Class

Last week I started my first real art class, Printmaking, with my friend Sharon Ahmed. Well, actually, it started the week before but I couldn't make it. Anyway, I really like it. We started with etchings in plexiglass. It is very much like drawing. Well, it is drawing, just on plexiglass rather than paper. I seem to be approaching it similarly to my other art projects in that I love the drawing/etching part, but find it hard to stay focused on the rest of the process (the inking of the plates, running it through the press). I'm just itching to go to the next one. I suppose it's my ADD, or just my nature. It's like magic when you finally see your first print of the plate you have made. I wish I had one to post but I had to leave the two I did last week in the class room to dry. I've made about 6 more plates at home this past weekend and can't wait to see how they turn out! I'll post pics as soon as I can.

January 12, 2008

Today was supposed to be spent in a Laura Cater-Woods class. Unfortunately, the class was cancelled. I was really, really bummed. So instead, I went to a teacher/volunteer training day at my church. Then, drove my good friend Toniann home. I haven't had a chance to spend time with her in awhile so it was great to hang out for that little bit. If you know Toniann or have heard me speak about here you know that she is my angel on earth. After that I was going to head home but decided that because I didn't get to take the Laura Cater-Woods class (which was supposed to be my Christmas present), and I missed the first night of the printmaking class I signed up for (as my replacement present) this week (husband had to work late and I was exhausted from PTA meetings and work)... yes, this is an incredibly long run-on sentence, that I would instead head to Barnes and NOble. I got a coffee and sat with a stack of art books for about an hour. It was great! Then, I stopped at the grocery store and since it was next to a salon, I decided to get my eyebrows waxed and a pedicure (in the middle of winter with my really hairy legs!).

I feel great now. I needed some time out of the house. Time away from the responsibilities and to do lists. I wanted to originally spend it doing something creative but this was just as good.

Right now I'm really busy with planning an art event at my son's school and that is using up a lot of my creative energy as well. I was overwhelmed by the planning but a team of volunteers have stepped up to help out so I'm excited again instead of feeling burdened. I'm also starting to feel better (since my father's death) and wanting to play with my fiber, fabric and yarn again. I don't have anything completed to show just yet. I'm still also trying to organize and take photos. For now, I'm still also drawing and creating art digitally. Here is a digital painting I made yesterday. Wanted it to be playful and childlike.

Valetine's is coming and starting a Round Robin Challenge

Whew, okay, done with Christmas and 2 birthday parties. Always fun but of course always a bit stressful. My kids are now 3 and 7. Wow, where does the time go. My son had a a blast at his party yesterday.






I decided to add a few items for Valentine's day to my etsy shop. Here they are (to see pricing information, go to www.hmiracle.etsy.com)


Also, my monthly meeting of my Fiber Art Fusion group is tonight and I'm sooo excited. I missed a few at the end of the year last month and the last one I made it to I was not to into it since my Dad had just passed.

But, tonight, i'm feeling like it will be energizing to get some creative inspiration from my artist friends. We will be meeting at a fabulous shop (that I haven't been to yet but heard wonderful things about), Rubber Stamp Fantasy in Marietta, GA. And, we are beginning a round robin that will last an entire year. 12 of us have signed up to create a 9 x 12 piece of fiber art that we circulate through all of us. Anything goes. Buttons, beads, stitching, quilting, painting, foiling. No rules! Can't wait to see how this turns out.

What are you doing today to tap into your creative spirit?

Happy New Year!

I haven't had a chance to really think about what I want from the year 2008. I just got home from Minnesota last night and my sons' birthday is this weekend. I'm hoping to get some time to really focus on what my artistic goals are (and life goals in general). 2007 was not a great year. At least the end of it. i'm hoping 2008 will be on the upswing again.

I'm sure my next posts will have pictures of a SpongeBob Cake, as that is what my 6 year old has requested.

I have been drawing goddesses lately. They always include spirals. I didn't even know the significance of spirals until my MIL told me they represent the grouse in Native American culture. And, also birth and rebirth. Isn't that strangely coincidental? I think the goddesses are to give me a sense of myself. Still working on why they are in my drawings at this time. Here are a few:

Happy Holidays everyone!

I just got through the first wave of holiday craziness this past weekend. I had my daughter's 3rd birthday party combination Christmas gift exchange with my family. We leave for Minnesota for Christmas with my in-laws this coming weekend. I love it but I'll also be glad when it's all over.

I'm still spending my creative time drawing and digitally coloring images. And, huge amounts of time on etsy promoting my artwork and my shop. so if you wonder where I am or what I have made recently, visit the shop and you will see it there.

Here is my daughter's Dora cake. Not to bad for a quick cake. She looks a little crazy in the eyes but my daughter was thrilled so that's all that matters right?

And, I bet you didn't know I'm also a chipmunk! Look at that face! I couldn't get the match to light!

And, here are a few of my latest little drawings.

I hope everyone is finishing up their holiday shopping and are able to enjoy the warmth and love of their friends and family this year. I miss my Dad but I'm happy to be surrounded by all the people I love.

What have I been up to?

Well, I wish it was being more creative. But mostly I have been working on the business part of my art career. I've put tons of hours into my etsy shop with over 100 items to choose from. Come and take a look if you haven't lately! Lots of inexpensive magnets and notecards of my original images as well as prints and originals available. Really, check it out and if nothing else give me some feedback. I love critique! Etsy shop link is on the right side of this blog or go to www.hmiracle.etsy.com

Art/Craft show this Saturday 10am-2pm at UUCA in Atlanta

I'll have a booth with my artwork including lots of items for gifts like magnets and notecards of my original images. I'll also have notecards with UU (unitarian universalist) inspired themes.