I just can't get enough of these little things!!

I am just loving making these little Scratch Board pieces!!! I just am so pleased with the result---here are a few more!

Check out my friend Harriet's Blog....

Please take a few moments to check out my friend Harriet's Blog. She is one of the most multi-talented woman I know (besides one of the sweetest, kindest, generous---I could go on and on!). Her new work is based on techniques we learned in Anne Grgich's class last week and the Scratchboard Art we learned the day before yesterday at Carolina Moons. Enjoy!

A Sneak Preview...

Yesterday the FABULOUS Susie LaFond posted pix of the bound Chunky House Fat Book. I asked her permission to post the pictures on my blog and she kindly said yes. This is just a little tease---more pix to come when I receive my completed book in the mail!

Something new....

I had lunch yesterday with two of my "aRt siSteRs", Harriet and Sandy (and my grandson Joey). We dined on our favorite guacamole at our favorite Mexican restaurant. We ate a few other things, but the centerpiece of the meal was the guacomole!! We talked about artzy things and decided to take a trip to a local (about 35 minutes away) stamp store called Carolina Moon. While we were there the owner, Caroline showed us a technique using scratch board, dye inks, permanant black ink and rubber stamps. There were other options like heat embossing, Diamond Glaze, and Gilding Pens---but I have used just the basics on my samples. Hope you like my work!!! During my initial play, I didn't think I liked this technique much---but I have decided that it is easy and fun. I'm going to make more. hugs, shari xxx

About last weekend---

I had the most incredible weekend last week and I can't believe that a whole week has already passed! It was a special "girlz" weekend that was highlighted by an all day workshop taught by the fabulous Anne Grgich (check her out). How lucky am I???? I keep pinching myself to make sure it wasn't just a dream. It was a time to make new friends, renew old friendships and be creative---I couldn't have asked for anything more. Anne flew in from Seattle, her sister Carole and friend Della Wells drove in from Milwaukee, my friend Linda Koch and her friend Sally Casper drove in from Ohio and Michigan, and my friend Lori Wolfram drove in from Indiana. My local friends Harriet Reese and Sandy Mayfield offered their hospitality and opened their homes to our out of town guests for the weekend long, non-stop party. We were joined for the class on Saturday by local friends Rebecca Mobbs and Debbie Mcellenborough. It was the best!!! Thank you to all who participated---you made this an unforgettable weekend!

Is it Spring yet?????

I took this photo yesterday afternoon (looking out of my kitchen door). I know that the calendar says it is Spring---but I wonder when it will really arrive. I am so tired of winter, gray weather.

Getting back to ART!!!

This is a page I just completed for a Chunky House Book swap that I am participating in with 40 other artists!! I can't wait to get the completed book back---there is the most incredible list of artista's contributing and the book will be FABULOUS!!

My best friend (for another 6 weeks)---and in case you were wondering, I really haven't fallen off the face of the earth!!!

As some of you know, I had surgery on my left foot February 9th (where has the time gone???). I am doing great and hobbling around on my heel (kind of like a duck) and ready to get back into LIFE!!! I am feeling re-energized and creative and ready for anything!
hugs, shari xxx

Cleaning (sort of)---not creating today

Been going through a few things in my art room and tidying up a bit. I've decided to post some of my older art. These are spreads that I've done in several Altered Book Round Robins (in other people's books/journals). I've decided this year to do more art for myself than for other people.

I HAVE A NEW CAR!!! HOORAY!!

For those of you who don't know (or haven't heard me whine and complain), I have been without a car for the last 2 months (my Sunfire Convertible died a sad death). Not having a car to drive took away my freedom and independence. I have been a mix of angry, depressed and mean and ugly---to my husband (who is really a nice guy). I live in a suburb of Chicago with NO public transportation. I do not live in walking distance to ANY SHOPPING (no shopping, ugh!) or entertainment and I have been stuck in the house with my 3 year old grandson since before Christmas. I have had to depend on other people to pick me up, take me, blah, blah, blah---and I HATED every moment of it! But, my husband came through today (he got tired of seeing me still in my ugly nightgown when he returned home from work in the evening) and bought me a car. So, spring is on it's way and I have a new car---a convertible again (I am definitely a top-down girl!). Things are looking up. hugs, shari xxx

Still Struggling With The Creative Process...

It seems like my muse has gone into hiding for the winter---occasionally she peeks out and I create a thing or two, but I am finding it a struggle. Art shouldn't be so hard. I have a zillion ideas floating in my head UNTIL I sit down at my art desk---and then I freeze. I managed to do the above (it is a 4X6 postcard) yesterday. I have joined the Postcard Crossing Project and I created this postcard to be the first one that I will send. It is going to a woman in Munich, Germany. Check it out (Postcard Crossing Project) and join me . Here is a brief explanation (as stated on the website)--- "The goal of this project is to allow people to receive postcards from all over the world, for free. Well, almost. The main line is: if you send a postcard, you'll receive at least one back, from a random postcrosser somewhere in the world." Sounded like a fun idea to me. I'll keep you posted as to how it works out!!

I have decided to make a really big effort to post to my blog daily---even if it is to just say hello. I am also going to try to create at least one piece of art each day.

Till later---hugs, shari xxx

The newest "artist" in the family

This is Joey---he is my grandson and he will be 3 years old next Monday. He lives with me and I am his "stay-at-home" grammy. As you can see, he is a budding artist---I guess you can tell what we like to do together! He seems to favor water colors, I'm more of an acrylic kind of girl. When he is not creating, he is totally obsessed with Thomas the Train stuff. He is fun and I love spending time with him!

I'm back!! Some more of my art (AKA creating again!)

Here are several different takes on one of my favorite things---coffee!! I did these pages as part of a collaborative journal project that I am participating in. For those of you who don't know me very well, my very favorite beverage is a Starbuck's venti, non-fat, 3 shot, 3 equal, NO FOAM, Latte. When I'm not drinking Starbucks, I just drink plain old coffee with cream (real cream) and I usually have a cup of coffee in my hand most of the time. I have been trying to complete these pages for a while---but as you all know, my muse was having a hard time finding her way out of her creative block. Hopefully the block is broken and my creativity will be back on track for 2006!!!

My FIVE children....I now have proof

I have not been online very much this month and I have been pretty uninspired (creatively and blogwise). BUT, today I have something to share and I am feeling a bit inspired! These are my FIVE children (Dan, Elliot, Mike, Jenni and Laura). This is the first time in many years that they have all been together. I took advantage of the event and we took a trip to the mall photographer to have a portrait taken (something I have desired for years!). This is a wonderful way to end the old year and an even better way to begin the new one! I hope all of you have a happy and safe New Year. One of my resolutions for the new year is to break out of this creative block---it's been going on way too long. I am also planning on being more regular with updating my blog. So again, Happy New Year!!! Talk to you soon in 2006!

It is snowing (really hard) and it is very, very cold!!

I just took this photo---it is the view out the sliding glass door in my kitchen (right next to my desk) into the park behind my house. The snow is falling really hard and I feel like hybernating tonight!! Actually, I can't hybernate tonight because I am co-teaching an art class at a group I belong to called Women's Wisdom. I began teaching at the beginning of the summer. I am having fun and enjoying bringing collage, altered art and mixed media to the group.

Here is a picture of my Christmas tree ---a much warmer feel!!!

Meet my newest Grandaughter...

This is Selena Rae. She will be two weeks old on Wednesday and I got to meet her for the first time today. I am in love again (she is my sixth grandchild---crazy, huh???)---she is a tiny, wonderful, beautiful miracle. Welcome Selena, your Grammy Shari loves you!

Thought for today...

"Every artist was first an amateur".

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hmmm...I'm having a dry spell

I am in a creative funk. I have all of these ideas swirling around my head, but when it comes to sitting down and creating---NOTHING. I am currently involved in several collaborative art projects that I need to complete and mail on to the next person, but NOTHING! Maybe I am just sidetracked by the upcoming holidays.

I had a really fun Thanksgiving weekend. We went downtown (Chicago) to see the Thanksgiving Parade---it was FREEZING, but fun! Since I was out all day and had no time to cook (which I usually do on Thanksgiving), we went out to dinner! It was different, but I loved it! We may have created a new Thanksgiving tradition at our house! I went to the Circus on Sunday---and when the ringmaster said, "for children of all ages", I think he must have been speaking just to me!!!

I'm going to try to be creative later today---maybe I will have some new art pieces to post later. I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving weekend and that you are having a great day today!

I'd like to introduce you to my son Dan's artwork---it is awesome!

I am just awed by my son Dan's artwork. He is so talented---his art just takes my breath away. He is a mostly self taught pencil artist who has taken a few illustration courses in college.

Just checking in....

I can't believe that it is November and just a few weeks away from Thanksgiving. Where has the time gone??? Remember when we (us oldies anyway) were young, and "OLD" people would tell us how fast time passes when you get old---well,I believe them now! I am adding a spread from a Zetti Altered Book that I worke in recently. Hope you like it!

4x4 Zetti Fat Book Page...

This is a 4x4 Fat Book page that I created for a Zetti Fat Book Swap that I am participating in with 12 other artists from the http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thealteredartplace/. These are a talented group of artists and I am anxious to see the completed project. Thanks to Julie Harrington for hosting this swap and for taking on the job of putting these books together,

A picture of me....

This blog thing is so much fun!!

I am so excited about and enjoying working on this blog. It is so much fun to share some of my thoughts and some of my art with others. Here are two journal pages that I recently finsihed and posted. It is part of an international collaborative journal project that I am currently participating in with several other women. The theme of the project is "My Favorite Things". I was re-introduced to the art of Frida Kahlo (and she immediately became one of my new favorite things) recently by a wonderful artist and teacher named Randi Fueuerhelm-Watts http://www.randifeuerhelm.com/ in Phoenix, AZ (at Art Unreavelled 2005). Both women---Randi as a teacher and friend and Frida as an artist have inspired me to create and helped me through a creative block. I took two classes with Randi and just fell in love with her as a person, her art and her journaling processes. I have been researching Frida Kahlo since coming home from Phoenix. I have also fallen in love with her. The story of her life and and her unbelievable art have impacted me as an artist and as a person. Thanks Randi for opening my eyes to Frida Kahlo and to your world of journaling.

Adding some more of my art

Here is something else that I recently made. It is a small journal I made using glue/fused paper that I created. I bound it with a simple chain stitch and added some beads including two fabric beads that I made. I love making fabric beads---it is kind of a mindless kind of project. When I don't feel like doing anything else, I can sit down and make beads. The original idea for the beads came from Belle Armoir magazine. The article was called something like, "Make 100 Beads in a Weekend". I've made way more than 100 beads---but not in just a weekend!!

Something new I found....

I found this website earlier today while I was poking around the internet. It is a challenge to artists to create 10,000 (yes---10,000!!) square inches of art in a month. Of course, I had to sign right up!!! The website explains (I am directly quoting), "that the goal is not to create 10,000 square inches of frame-worthy art, but to jump in and break a block or push yourself creatively"---"Again, the focus is JUST TO CREATE, don't think about quality"---"Any art is good art". I thought that this sounded like the perfect project for me! I will keep my blog updated with all the inches (hmmm, all 10,000, you think???).