Can I eat Bricolage? Hmmm musing in the Honeysuckles...

Bricolage: (from Merriam-Webster)

Pronunciation: \ˌbrē-kō-ˈläzh, ˌbri-\
Function: noun
Etymology: French, from bricoler to putter about
Date: 1964
: construction (as of a sculpture or a structure of ideas) achieved by using whatever comes to hand; also : something constructed in this way

I have never seen nor heard of this word - but now thanks to Elizabeth over at Altered Book Lover she introduced me to it and you need to see the work of art she created. BAM - I was off and running Monday night. Elizabeth sent me a stash of stuff (SOS) when she sent me the wonderful OWOH (One World One Heart 2010) art work I won on her blog. (Have not hung it yet but the quilt is so wonderful and colors so vibrant....

I want you to notice the leaves in the Elizabeth & Bleubeard SOS she sent..... you will see them later... This photo does not do justice to what she sent me....

I literally sat on my butt watching the lineup of comedies on CBS and grabbed the Elizabeth stuff and started in creating in my Gratitude Journal. Please not for dinner I was cooking these beautiful little potatoes - I swear I bought them because of the bag....

I know you can just see the red netting.... remember that..... it all began with that. I hand-sewed it onto a journaled page and was off and running....

Grabbed some catalogues with images...... so we worked away - my muse and me..... watching the tv......

Bits and Pieces:

I loved the lace Elizabeth sent so sewed it to ramp up the red netting....

So there the page is right next to my dear Poirot.... Enjoy your evening!

Go frolick in the Clover among the honeysuckles

This ATC is for my PaperWhimsy group in our "Lottery" each month. I chose the theme since I won the drawing the first of March. AND, I had trouble with this one.... especially with the clover. My guidelines was that each artist had to use a three or four-leaf clover in their creation of the ATC card. I couldn't find a clover that I liked.

Finally last night when I went over to Oliver's parents and had chili, his mum is the one who asked me if I had a heart punch? A sheet of music? and she said you have everything you need, go for it. THANK you Larcy, you got me going once I got home. Found the punch and music and there she is, my little wee one. I have to admit that the clover out of the music sheet is my fav. Enjoy your evening and tomorrow night I will show you goodies that showed up in the mail!

In the Breeze - J = Java Jolt

Yes, beginning with a blank canvas we got one more ATC down and eight to go. Slowly, slowly.... ever so slowly. Finished the "J" in the alphabet this morning before heading out for grocery shopping. I used several of my favorite stamps in this adventure.

This stamp is from "The Queen's Dresser Drawers" -- M 113 Q Man of Distinction. I always enjoy printing him on "coffee paper" - literally.

After emptying the bag of coffee into the canister, I clean it and get it ready to be used either as its own background or for stamping. I love this next stamp and it has special meaning for me. It is from American Art Stamp EM7070G and is called "Too Old."

I stamped her on a lighter paper since she was to be placed on the coffee paper. Now, she is special to me because she was used on the very first card I submitted to Take Ten and was published..... do tell. Never thought that would happen those many years ago. I digress. Back to the alpha card....

While cleaning the other day, I found two of these packets and thought -- hmmm, java and Paris. Yes they go together and I swear some of the best coffee I have ever had was when sitting in a cafe in Paris looking at the Eiffel Tower....... ahhhhhhh.

Got her positioned so her cup was right under his "eye" - and then decided she needed one more thing. Bling under her "java jolt" - every girl needs a little bling in her life.... One hint, I did stamp her using a delicious black ink pad and then used clear embossing powder to make sure she was dark enough to stand out on the card. I was worried she would disappear into it. But we managed..... yea.

Y = Yeti Lives in the Honeysuckles

Did you guess -- yes, finally got back to an alphabet ATC today and selected the "Y" -- Why, you ask, don't know, just that the Yeti came to mind when I spied an "informational" tag from an art work purchased several years ago. I so love the image so much that I have just ordered the plaque from Carruth Studios. Go, on, go over there to visit and check out the plaque I bought titled "Garden Smile." George Carruth is a fantastic sculptor and I have had one of his pieces since 1996. That Cat and Mouse piece is the one at the top of this post. I admire his creations and so -- I designed the Yeti to remember Mr. Garden Smiles.....I first started off with a playing card and covered in a dictionary page - the Ys of course.


I then pulled out a packet of paper I call my "white on white stash" and added a bit to the card.

As all of you know, the secret is to layer, layer, layer......

Then cut out the potted plant and "garden smile" gnome. Yes, he did become my darlin' Yeti! And now all we need to do is add the punch....

A little green, a little black, a rusty paper clip and we have "Y = Yeti Lives"

I was happy to use my NEW ATC stamp from Catslife Press which I picked up last Saturday and stamped on an old envelope, glued on the back of the card and we are done......

This Saturday morning I went to see the movie Shutter Island. I loved it and, if you have a chance and like that kind of movie, go for it. Don't let anyone tell you the ending - that is part of the fun of this one! The movie rocked! I will say this, however, they could have cut about 15 minutes out and it still would have rocked. This will be a fantastic cult movie that will be so much fun to see again and again and while you watch you put all the pieces together and then see again and again. Will I get the DVD when it comes out - you betcha ya - and, I have been trying NOT to buy DVD movies..... a special note, I have always loved Ben Kingsley, but oh, Max von Sydow - for a man of 81 you are so cool, really cool! And you, Leonardo, I like your looks when you go unshaven!

Some Days It Pays to go to Work..... Oh yes!

The day in the Honeysuckle Breeze started as any other. Woke up, brushed teeth, made coffee, watched news, got dressed, ate breakfast, left for work. Just like any other day? OH no...... not just any other day.

Look what I found waiting for me at the office. A boy toy! or is it a toy boy? Not sure, but I'm gonna keep him. He may become my new assistant and move whats-her-name, Gertrude, out of the way. OK, I know Gertrude does not look amused but she never looks amused.....

Yes, I am fickle. But he is mine. I spotted him first. I put my hands on him first. OK, none of the others would even walk near him. Excuse me. Like you can't make this stuff up, can you?

OK, I was hummin' "My Guy" "My Guy" "thinkin' bout my guy" all day long trying to figure out how to put little wheels on his feet so he can roll around the office. Life is good, don't you think?

And, when I got home tonight I had two fun envelopes. I showed you what I won over at Elizabeth's blog yesterday. WELL, over at PaperWhimsy I won the February ATC Lottery so little ATCs with the theme Fairies in the Garden are headed my way. I made this ATC for the February ATC Lottery:

Today, I received Linda's ATC from Pennsylvania. Pretty little fairy:

And from Jan in Colorado, this beauty:

Can't wait for the mail tomorrow.... OK, back to reality.... I need to unpack my supplies from last weekend's workshop and start to work on my March PaperWhimsy ATC - I chose the theme since I was the winner. We will be celebrating shamrocks and St. Paddy's day. See ya later! Have a good evening while I keep hummin' "my guy, my guy...."

Time to Remind my Muse who is the Boss

If you remember, you met Missy Karma Muse on February 10. Yes, Karma is my muse and hangs on the the wall by my computer just looking at me. I've read a few blogs this week, where artists are discussing the "blahs" -- yes, the "blahs" - I can only imagine that this could be happening in the universe for several reasons: 1) February is such a grey month; 2) the Olympics are over; 3) the Vernal Equinox (March 20) is near? Who knows, just seems some of you are having a little bit of trouble with your Missy Muses.

I was engrossed in the Olympics and did some catch up by cutting articles out of creative magazines and gluing in a book and tossing the magazines. That helped with some of the clutter but I didn't create any art.

I have not created an Alphabet ATC since February 21, but not too worried about that and don't blame it on my missing Karma. She just sits there with her cigarette hanging loose and probably has a beer bottle close by. Just my luck she picked me and is NOT missing. OK, back to creations. Soon, very soon, I will get to back to them. I did create this past weekend at my Claudine's waxing workshop. (See the weekend post) That felt good. I have to now unload my waxing items and get things back into their place - - kind of. If you saw the chaos I'm sitting in, you would be surprised there was a "place" for stuff. But there is...

I did receive several snail mailed packages this past week and these made my heart sing.....First of all, I bought some vintage paper off of an etsy shop who wanted to clear out some of her stock...... I call this white on white.... so beautiful, this color we call white.

And then over at PaperWhimsy we did a Tag Triptych Exchange.... I sent mine off the Canada and received this from Karen in Wisconsin. Love the purples!

I am pleased to announce that I won the OWOH (One World One Heart 2010) giveaway on Elizabeth's blog, Altered Book Lover. Here is the link to her post announcing and describing the decorative quiltlet that I won. I then won another giveaway on her blog a few days earlier. And the package arrived. I hit pay dirt...


Look at this scrumptious paper... she painted that paper... she created it..... and off to the left is some wonderful Asian paper I will be able to use when waxing.... I'm excited....

And check out this wonderful "number" - I made it into a "9" and added it to one of my purchased journals (look right under the word "questions" to see the "9," yup, 90 it became):

I just keep adding to the cover of this journal. And more stuff - dress maker tissue, some sheet music (my fav) and on and on. Such a treasure trove. Thank you, Elizabeth, from the bottom of my heart!

Am I a lucky girl or what????? Need to fix dinner..... Yes, Missy Karma Muse is still looking over my shoulder and is not lost nor has she run away. If you would like to borrow her, let me know. We knock heads off and on but over all she has a kind and creative little heart. Cackle, cackle. Have fun no matter what you might be doing this eve! My Ghost Hunters are BACK for their sixth season opener at Alcatraz. I love my guys the best!!! On at 9:00 PM EST on SyFy.

Who is the Gal and Why is She Here?

I want to introduce you to one of my inspirations, Julie Prichard. I showed you a photo last week of my new camera purchase and said it was recommended to me by none other than one of the artists I admire, Julie. However, I did not mention her name in that post.

How did I meet Julie? One of the reasons I started this blog in September 2008 was to participate in Michelle Ward's Street Team Crusades. The very first "crusade" I participated in -- ta da -- I had two comments: one from Michelle and the other from someone called "Lost Luggage." Huh? How can you be called "Lost Luggage" -- well I went to her blog and fell in love with her art work and her blog. I did not (and do not) journal like Julie. I did not paint like Julie. I did not create art like Julie. BUT, I so admired her for her encouragement of other artists out there that I kept following her on her blog. I don't think she has a clue what her comments left on my Crusade posts meant to me. Did I tell her? No. One time I posted a Crusade and thought I had sent Michelle Ward the link (I didn't) and the first comment I had a day later was from --- JULIE. How she found it, I don't have a clue unless she was cruisn' the web and reading my blog. I was so encouraged I kept posting.

Julie has now been published in a number of Stampington publications including Art Journaling and Artful Blogging. Did I tell you before, I love her work. You can read information about Julie on Lost Luggage here. Watching Julie grow over these past two years has been exciting for me. I know we all go through changes, some so subtle that we don't realize it. Julie has talked about her doubts along the way. She has persevered and has now come to this point in her life. She has ventured out doing professional photography, conducting online workshops, and selling her art work. She is a natural teacher and so easy to follow. I would recommend any of her workshops to anyone reading this right now.

I bought this art journal from her the minute it went online. I really like it and am saving it for something... not sure what but it is scrumptious! The bound paper inside to-die-for. She has thanked me in several emails over the year for "believing in her."

I think we all say things on other artist's blogs commenting on their post, their art work, their ventures and we don't know how much weight our words might carry. One word, one gesture, one hug (online or in person) -- we never know what these gestures might mean to another soul out there. This is my thank you note for Julie. I have watched you grow in two years and it has been amazing. Thank you for guiding me in selecting my camera and I hope to make you proud of my endeavors in that venture when it happens. I am going to take a photo 101 workshop at some point.

And, Julie, always remember, I do believe in you!