Close up of the picture printed onto cheesecloth.
This piece is unfinished.  I will load another photo when I finish it.
Experimenting with cloth.  I coated a piece of fabric that I did not like with two coats of gesso.  then added spray washes (Tim Holtz) and embedded a piece of cheescloth I had ran through the printer.  Next I added crackle paste.

This is one of my favorites.  The names are written on the photo.  "Miss Billie" seems to be unable to make up her mind as to which cowboy she likes best.

I love this old train on the collage paper.

I found these old photo's in a antique store.  The guy on the far right is so handsome.  I'd have given some one a run for her money over this guy.

I started this altered book about a year ago and have made little progress.  I think I just get involved in too many other projects.  None the less, I've got a long way to go before finishing this book.  It is themed on old antique photo's.  I love the verse on the right page.  It is quite true,  I try to remember what the voices of my loved one's sounded like but only vaguely recall.

Altered Pages

After a very busy summer, I finally am back to art.  I will participate in a RR with the theme of Inspiring Women so am almost ready to mail my book.  I had to coax my granddaughter to help me get this stuff photographed but here is my first page and my sign-in pages as well.

Arte y Pico

 

I've been awarded the Arte y Pico award by Ellen.  Thank you Ellen, I am honored.

Arte y Pico is meant to be paid forward to five bloggers who you want to recognize for their creative talents, interesting material, and overall contribution to the blogger community...helping to make the world a better place, one blog post at a time! I've chosen five people I do not personally know but admire their work.

1. Gail Blair at paperwhimsey.typepad.com

2.Linda East  timelesstreasuresofleast.blogspot.com

3.Ro Bruhn  robruhn.blogspot.com

4.Corrine Stubson at glitz-oh!girl.blogspot.com

5.Karen Owen at karenink.typepad.com

If you have been selected for the award, please pay it forward, following the steps below:

1. Choose 5 blogs that you consider deserving of this award based on creativity, design, interesting material, and overall contribution to the blogger community, regardless of language.

2.Post the name of the author and a link to his or her blog so everyone can view it.

3. Each award-winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has giver her or him the award.

4.The award winner and the presenter should post the link of "Arte y Pico" blog so everyone will know the origin of this award.

5.  Please pot these rules!-Be my guest to copy and paste from here.

Art Jewelry

I have taken some of my favorite charms and beads and made a new necklace.  This is my first attempt at making jewelry and I really enjoy this.  I found the chain at a garage sale, needless to say I will be keeping a eye out for more pretty chains.

Gypsy travel sack

This is a new bag I have been working on this week.  It does not have inside pockets but is roomy enough for stuff I need to carry.

I will be working on these to add to my etsy shop this coming week.

New Gypsy Art Bag

I love these art bags.  I've added magnetic closures to the large pocket and to the bag opening.

New Visual Journals

I think there are times when we open a journal that is just a blank white page we mentally go blank as well.  I've added some visual interest and color to these.  Many times people just don't like to write in them so these are for drawing, doodling, etc as well as writing.

New bags

This piece is almost finished.  I will add beads and stuff then a cord strap.  

I set up at Canton, Tx.  , a huge market with all kinds of mixed arts, craft, jewelry, etc. and did awful.  I think the price of gas along with recession has hurt this place along with every place else.  Anyway I have been creating some cute bags with cord attachments and will give this thing one more try.

Carved Stamps

Two stamps I carved.  i stamped them onto fabric that has been rusted.

House of Vision

Inside of house.

Gypsy fortune teller.

House of Vision

This is a paper mache house I started altering in January. While it seemed it would be a fairly easy task, not so. The house lid had to have a lot of revamping to make it sit properly on the house.
Anyway I will upload pic's of the inside of the house later.
Front door.

Back side of house.

Front of house.

I'VE BEEN TAGGED!!! Okay, here goes!!!!

I've been tagged by gypsy frog. Suddenly I'm a total blank and speechless. Seven things about me, hmmmm. Are ya sure it's seven?????
1. I drive a screaming, shocking blue Beetle. It has taken me 30 years to finally get one. Let's face it, they are not exactly a family car so when I finall got my kids raised, and most of my grands out of car seats I finally got my dream car. (gotta remember, I'm from the 60's generation)
2. My first job was at a roller skate rink. I still love the look of the old white leather skates with the round metal stops. Wish I could still skate.
3.I've lived my whole life in Louisiana and have hated it my whole life.
4. I have two large tattoos. A black raven on my left leg and a gypsy with long flowing hair
on my right leg.
5. I made fiber art dolls for fourteen years before moving on to altered arts.
6. I love ballet and if I were 30 years younger, would be dancing it.
7. I love black and white movies and my favorite is "To Kill A Mockingbird".

The Rules:
1. When tagged, place the "tag-er" URL & name on your blog.
2. Post Rules on your blog.
3. Post 7 different things about yourself.
4. Name 7 of your favorite blogs.
5. Email or leave a comment for those 7 people so they know they've been tagged.

Jewels of the east
Ro Bruhn
Pilar
Kearymaryswords
karenink.typepad
Lams blog
Corinne Stubson

Velvet gypsy bag

This bag is made of velvet and has pockets on the front and inside the bag.  This bag is featured at my etsy shop.

Instructions for Crackle Technique

Tear off a piece of foil and crumple it then smooth it back out. Add a layer of gesso and let dry. Add a second layer and let that dry. Apply a base color acrylic and let this dry.
Apply a layer of crackle glaze. I used McCloskey crackle glaze.( If you use this brand, be sure to shake it well before applying.)When this dries, add another layer of acrylic color and the crackles will begin to show through.
I accidentally tore a large hole in mine and added the picture behind it. These directions were from R.J.Taylor.
I love this technique and think I'm becoming addicted LOL.  Toni
P.S. be sure to use heavy weight foil because the lighter weight will tear too easily. I add a few tears to put pictures behind but not too many.

Gypsy Art Bags

These are some of my Gypsy Art Bags. I hand draw the faces and embellish them out, then attach them to a large front pocket on the art bag. I further embellish the other pockets to compliment the gypsy theme.

Attention Deficit Disorder at Work

Well here I am back after a artistic crash along with a pending computer crash.

I did survive the holidays and even began a few projects, none of which are really complete yet.

My Artdoll is almost done as is my ATC book. I bound it with my bind-it-all and love that contraption. I used my graffiti paper to cover the back and front covers.

If I were to make a new year resolution, it would be to finish a project before beginning another one. That's not going to happen.

Letter to the Living

To those warm bodies still living,

Due to a constant gnawing of my conscience, I am prompted to put pen to paper and give fair warning to the living who still have time.
You may think you have all the time in the world
left, but let me assure you it is later than you think,

While I could write volumes on what to expect once on this side, I won't waste your precious time on
that but rather hope you will focus on the now.

Never question the reason for your presence on this great planet. You were given life as a gift from
God. Yes Virginia, HE IS.
You are exactly where you are supposed to be in
this great space in time.
I questioned everything, even His existance and was never satisfied with my place in life or time.

Never take the gifts given you for granted. You
are a unique being. There never has nor never will be another exactly like you. EVER.

Use your gifts wisely to bring forth your own
happiness and to serve others.
Yes, you are your brothers keeper.
I was lazy with my time and talent never using
my gifts to their fullest.

Never think you are owed a perfect life. Everyone
must suffer loss, setbacks, and much disappointment at times. These times bring you closer to God and
make you aware and thankful for the happy, peaceful
times.
I became bitter and never learned that there is a
balance to all things. Worst of all, I never looked
to God until trouble descended upon me.

Seek Love and Happiness each moment. Take
advantage of every opportunity to let others know
you love and care for them. You never know when this precious gift will be finished, complete and done with for either of you.
I left this world in the blink of a eye without time
to tell those I loved and cared for goodbye.



Remember, being happy is a twenty four hour a day
job. It will not be handed to you nor can it be
bought.
So, I end this with the hope that you the living will take heart to my words.
Do not squander time for that is the stuff life is
made of.
And.....Dance while you can, it's later than you
think.

Sincerely, A Voice From The Past

Letter to the Living Tip In

This is my tip in for a exchange on the OddArts yahoo group. The theme is letters from the dead. I had to do a second one because I misunderstood the correct size. Nothing like reading the directions correctly the first time lol.

Open windows. The scroll has a "letter to the living" written on it.

This is the front with the windows closed.

This is stamped images on black paper I embellished with gesso. I love that two ghostly figures show through.

I like the stamped images showing through. If you click on the picture, you can see the stamp of the girl looking through the grid.

Graffite Paper

This began life as a stripped piece of scrapbook paper that I did not like so I altered it into graffite paper. I really like this and now do not want to cut it up.