Zentangle

BLUE MOOKA

So, about the last 2-1/2 - 3 weeks, I have been on a cleaning frenzy.  I am cleaning out, throwing out, giving away, putting away and organizing "stuff". 

Yesterday, as I was cleaning out one of my plastic folders, I came across this.  A piece I started way back when.  circa 2011-2012.  I'd forgotten all about this.

This is a gelli print I did and started to tangle on.  A sort of a ZIA (Zentangle Inspired Art).  I used the patterns of the paint to inspire what I would draw.  As you can see, I drew a Mooka in the blue area of this piece in the upper right hand corner.

Hence the title "Blue Mooka"  

The Zentangle Pattern Mooka, was created by Maria Thomas, co-founder of Zentangle.

Now that I have found it, I guess I either need to do something with it, or put it in the give-away pile, don't I.

Franken Pages

Making the Pages

We all have a scrap drawer or box full of left over paper cuts from previous projects.  At least I do, anyway.

Too big to throw away, yet too small to do much with them.  But, what are you to do with them?  The bigger pieces I use to make Junk Journals and the smaller ones I make mini-journals.  However, there are only so many journals you can make.  Right?

Well, I came across this YouTube channel the other day that showed how to make bigger pages from scraps of left over cut-offs.  They called them "Franken Pages"  I do not know how they came up with that name, but that is what they called them.

So, here is my hand at making "Franken Pages".  I must say I did really enjoy making these pages.  They were lots of fun.  It was a little intimidating at first.  I was not quite sure what I was doing.  Once I got the hang of it, however, the pages came together quickly.  I loved doing the stitching on them once they were done.  I think it brought a cohesiveness to them.

Back Side

Front Side

I hope you will give it a try and use up some of those left over pieces you have sitting around waiting to be use.  

See what you can create with those left over pieces.

Craft Napa 2018

Crafting A Life

Spent a week at Craft Napa 2018,  held at the Embassy Suites in Napa, California.  The staff there were very accommodating and I always came back to a clean room after my classes.

I arrived a day early so I could settle in my room before classes started the next day, which was a good thing, since I had an 8-hour drive.

I had two classes the next day.  One in the morning and one in the evening.

My morning class was "Captivating Composition for Art Quilt"s with Deborah Boschert. 

We learn eight different design guides for designing a quilt. First row, top left: One Amazing Line, Third Plus, Landscape.  Middle row, left: Magic Threes, Symmetrical, Grid.

Bottom, left: Dancing Grid, Modular.

This class opens up your eyes to all the possibilities of creating, just by starting with one simple design.  

You can use just one design guide, or a combination.

Here you can see with these two (Dancing Grid and Modular) I started to add stitching.  

As you can see, these are still works in progress.

My evening class was "Tag Art Sketch Book" with Jamie Fingal.

Jamie gave us objects and things to draw on shipping tags.  Here you can see some of my work.  I even tried to draw Jamie, but she did not hold still long enough for me to draw her.  Not that it would have made a difference.  Another work in progress.  I still have more to do on these and then tie them into a Tag Book. 

So, much fun!

Next day, "Tea, Thermofax & Ephemera" with Judy Coates Perez.

I was amaze at how well I did.  Judy took us through the process step by step.  It really wasn't that hard.  I have always admired Judy's work, so  when I saw she was giving a class at Craft Napa, I just had to sign-up.  I did not, however, think I would be able to create something like this.

Here, you can see I've started to add paint and colored pencils to this piece.  I've also stencil and stamped some images.  Looking forward to completing this.

So, that was Friday.  On Saturday, "Tiny Tea Bag Tales" with Libby Williamson.

Now I know what to do with all those tea bags I've been saving.

This class was so awesome.  Stitching, painting and collaging on tiny tea bags.  I was a little unsure about doing this.  How could anyone stitch on these tiny little surfaces?  And tea bags no less.  But, to my surprise, it really was not that hard and it was so much fun.  

Next

On the last day, I took "Gelli Plate Printing and Collage" with Lisa Thorpe.

A mindless process, but oh, so much fun.

The first half of the class was making prints using plants, stencils, string, masks, et cetera.  

The second half of the class was putting them into a collage.

I've seen people on YouTube showing you how to make print after print, but they never tell you what to do with them after you are done making prints.  Well, this is one way.

All the instructors were so forthcoming with information.  Helping in any way.  The kits we were given had "all" the materials needed for each class, plus they had extra materials to use in our projects.  All the instructors were great.  All had so much to offer.  All were so much fun!

A great way to start off 2018!