Aprons

 Aprons

After ruining most everything I wear, I  have learned it's best to just 

always wear an apron. I seem to be an exceptionally messy worker.

Throughout the years I have modified and repaired dozens of aprons

and never really thought to photograph them.

Fortunately, I was able to dig up a few photos to use as reference as it's time to make/ purchase a few new ones.  I like to have several as a couple are always in the laundry basket awaiting laundry day.

Most of my aprons have ended up being more patchwork than the original apron.  They develop such personality over time and I love them all the more, however, they do get to a point they can no longer be repaired and I need to start over.

I was discussing this with a group during a workshop and we have decide to do this as a workshop together.  We will add embroidered patches, broches and awards to them over time.  So, I have ordered a bunch of plain black (with pockets, of course!) 100% cotton aprons for us to use as the basic background.  I'm really looking forward to this group project.  Should be a lot of fun!

Pocket Altars

I am really enjoying these pocket altars.  So far I have made 3 of them and see many more in the near future.  There is something so satisfying about them and I love the compact size.  Normally I have a hard time working in a small format, but these are very doable.  Opened up they are 12" X 16" and folded up they are a mere 4" X 4" in size,  Perfect pocket size! 

There are so many possibilities with these and of course the themes are just endless.  I have made up a bunch of imagery to include in these which is so much fun.  I also love the idea of being able to use up all those precious bits and pieces I just can't seem to throw away.  Between buttons, lace trims, babbles and fabric bits these are turning out to be great little stash busters!

 

 The Studio Patio

       

The studio and the little porch in the back are a constant work in progress.

I use this area to do my potting, take photos of work projects and do some serious relaxing.

I love this little space.  It also sits along side the west entrance to our little forest path ...

  another favorite space of mine.

"All the Bells and Whistles" 

published in Art Journaling Magazine!

My Journal and article are in the Spring/Summer issue of Art Journaling Magazine!  What an honor!  If you are interested, you can see photos of the entire journal "All the Bells and Whistles" on my website.  IngridDijkers.com

The Studio Loft

 

The studio is a constant work in progress.  We have been working on it for probably 9 years now.  We started with an empty steel framed metal barn, put in a second floor loft and completely revamped the inside.  Someday I'll do a more complete post on that, but in the meantime this is our most current improvement.  We had a smaller none opening window in the loft that we just had changed into a larger opening window and then added shutters.  The loft if just used for studio storage for supplies, but it sure would get hot.  Hopefully, this will keep temperatures more comfortable.

Now that the window project is done, I can go back to the seemingly never ending task of organizing the loft.  I am about 1/3 of the way done, but there is still a long way to go.  I'll post photos when (and if) I ever get it done.

Pocket Altars

Well, It's been a few years, but I thought I would see if I could stir up some interest in continuing with this blog again.  We'll see what happens.  I always loved blogs back in the day, not sure why they faded out.  If only for myself, I plan on doing a few blog posts to see how it all goes. I just can't do FaceBook any more and Instagram has just never really appealed to me.  Blogging always interested me in that there is the option of more detail and the ability to add lots of photos.  It's also a great way to keep all the posts together and an easy way to look back on older posts.

These are photos of a few pocket altars I have just finished up.  The closed size is 4" X 4". We'll be having workshops at Running Rabbit Studio to make these. The religious themed class is full, but we still have a few seats in the Pendulum Pocket Altar workshop on Saturday, September 26, 2026.

 

Would love to hear your thoughts on Blogs.  Are they dead or is there a growing interest in them again? 

New Mandala Pages

So much has happened in the past year (actually, well over a year) since I last updated this blog!  We have moved to Mid-Michigan to our dream house with a barn that we are revamping into a studio (almost complete!).  I plan to post more on that soon.

In the mean time, I have learned of a new technique called "Acrylic Pours" that I have been experimenting with.  My results have been less than stellar, but I have enjoyed experimenting with the process.

The results reminded me of celestial bodies and I decided to make them on Round 8.5" boxboard to incorporate into my Mandala Journal.

The rest of the Mandala Journal can be viewed on my website here.

Folded Books and Paper Art: 14 Projects to Create

I am pleased to announce that "Cloth, Paper, Scissors" has come out with an e-book (available for download) including instructions for my Graffiti style Accordion journals.  Below are a few pictures of those journals -

Folded Books and Paper Art: 
14 Projects to Create From the editors of Cloth Paper Scissors magazine

In the meantime ....

Still, in what seems to be an endless process of getting our house ready to sell, on the market and buying a home, I have managed to complete a few journal pages with very limited supplies, in the past few weeks.

I knew this would be a very difficult process and realize this is why we have put this whole idea of moving off for so long.

However ... slowly ... everything is finally starting to fall into place, but it still looks like it could be up to another 2 months before we get to settle into our new home.

We have had a few let downs, which at the time made it seem like we would never find what we were looking for. Making things more difficult was the fact that my husband and I were at opposite ends of the spectrum as to what we wanted in a house.  Finding a house we could both agree on was a challenge, but we did it. The new place is more than we both could have hoped for ... so all this searching and now waiting, will be worth it.

In the meantime, we press on, but I have to admit, I am having a hard time on focusing on just about anything.

I will begin working on starting up a Facebook page to document and share the progress of my new studio. I hope you will join and share in this new adventure!

Workshops for the remainder of 2016

With selling and buying a house, plus a move underway, life has been hectic to say the least! I have had to cut way back on my schedule for teaching this year, but I am determined to remain active.  After settling down from this crazy time, I will be developing new workshops, picking up on my teaching schedule and will be preparing my new studio for classes and for having other instructors come in as well. This is the plan, but will take time to set into place. In the mean time, upcoming workshops (and links) are listed below -

"Blue Twig Studio" Colorado Springs, Colorado

June 3, 4 and 5, 2016

"Over the Edge"

"Mandala Journal"

"Through the Rabbit Hole"

"Art Unraveled" - Phoenix, Arizona

August 1st - 9th, 2016

"The Bug Book"

"Twirly Swirly Journals"

"The Mandala Journal"

"Charmed I'm Sure" - Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania

September 16,17 and 18, 2016

"Through The Rabbit Hole"

"Under the Sea"