"Under the Sea" A new tunnel book

Just a few photos right now of a new journal I am working on.

It's far from done, but I just couldn't wait to share a little.

This is "Under the Sea", part tunnel book with a strong SteamPunk influence. I am just beginning to add adapted illustrations from the original "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea".

I had far too much fun adding the bottles of "Specimens" from Captain Nemo's vast collection he has on board his underwater vessel.

This past year I have had such a busy teaching schedule that I have had so very little time to indulge in the making of many new journals. Next year I have decided to really cut back on the workshops so that I have more time to play.

In the meantime, I have only 3 more teaching engagements scheduled for the rest of this year. There is still time to sign up. Hope to see you there!

September 17th and 18th, 2011 - Small but Mighty Arts Studio - "Through the Rabbit Hole" and "The Wall" - Haslett, Michigan

Sept 27 - Oct 3, 2011 - Art and Soul - "Over the Edge", "Through the Rabbit Hole" and "An Octopus's Garden" - Portland, Oregon

October 26-30, 2011 - JournalFest - "Into the Crypt" and "The Ambrosia Journals" - Port Townsend, Washington

Art Unraveled 2011 - Phoenix, Arizona

It's official! I'll be teaching at "Art Unraveled" in Phoenix, Arizona August 2011. The classes will be "Through the Rabbit Hole" on Friday August 5th and "An Octopus's Garden" Sunday August 7th. Yep .... I'm pretty excited!

SteamPunk Gazelle?

Nah .... but, if you have ever taken one of my workshops, I bet you know what this is ... and if so you are probably jumping up and down in your computer chair overwhelmed with excitement. Yes, as I have promised, a better way to punch over sized holes for pages! Most often in my classes we use the very popular binders or binder rings as a method of binding our journal pages. While this is such an ideal way of working, the regular size hole that the standard hole punch makes is just too small to keep the pages turning freely, so a larger size hole is in order. Seems simple enough ... just use a larger hole punch. However, there is no such thing. And the craft punches just aren't strong enough to punch through the Boxboard/Bristol that we use for our pages. THE ONLY method I have been able to come up in the past (to make larger holes) was by using "Hollow Punches" hit with a hammer on a hardwood surface. Works well, but not ideal for a classroom situation. This gizmo (mounted and modified for our needs by my wonderful husband) punches a perfect 3/8" hole through a stack of boxboard as if it were butter. Yes.... life is good.

"An Octopus's Garden"

These are a few pages from my "An Octopus's Garden" Journal. This is really a fun journal with a very strong Steam Punk influence.

I still had all my photography "stuff" in place from another project and decided to take a few more photos of this journal before putting everything away. I really struggle with taking photographs as my photography skills are somewhat lacking. When I have everything in place and it seems to be working well, I photograph a lot of different things.

This journal is in the Binder format which has become so popular. Working within these binders eliminates so many problems associated with working in other traditional journals. Pages can be taken out to be worked on and can be arranged differently at will. The pages are also very thick and strong. I like a stout journal that allows me to do many techniques that I couldn't normally do on standard paper.

This is one of the classes I will be teaching at "Ginny's Small Studio Productions" in Avon Ohio in a few short weeks. I am looking forward to it !

By the way ... that wonderful wooden page with the meters? It's is one that we'll be doing in the workshop ... SOOOO much fun!

A Few Journal Pages

These are a few journal pages I did after a workshop in Grand Rapids, Michigan this past weekend. They are done in "An Octopus's Garden" Journal, which is almost full.

"Jewelry Affaire" Premier issue!

A brand new magazine "Jewelry Affaire" just arrived in my mail box today. I am honored to have a few of my SteamPunk influenced pieces in this issue. I am also very pleased with the photos of my work in this magazine. There is so much unique jewelry in this issue, not to mention all the beautiful photography. I like that most of the photos are rather large so that you can clearly see a lot of the detail in the pieces. I look forward to sitting down and savouring each and every page of this publication!

An Octopus's Garden

I finally found one of the finishing touches for the armature on top of this book. A little metal Octopus to go behind the magnifying glass.

I have to admit I am really pleased with this variation of the Zentangle, I like the idea of combining it with journaling. A few more pages to finish up and this journal will be filled to capacity. I still have far too many ideas that just aren't going to fit in here. I suppose I will have to come up with a second volume.

"An Octopus's Garden"

I have spent the day making some additions to my Journal "An Octopus's Garden". It's a SteamPunk influenced Journal that I have been having a lot of fun with. I will be teaching several techniques from this journal at JournalFest which is coming up very quickly. More of this journal can be viewed on my website here.
Both the cover of this journal and this spread are not quite done yet. They still need several details. The Journal is 8" X 11 1/2", not including attachments. Photos enlarge to show detail.

ATCs in "An Octopus's Garden" Journal

This is my SteamPunk influenced journal "An Octopus's Garden". I have learned that cutting a column off a page of Trading card sheets makes for a perfect fit in my converted notebook Journals. What a fun way to incorporate some favorite ATCs into a journal! The more I work with these notebook binders the more I like them. They are so incredibly versatile. The rest of this journal notebook can be viewed here.

"A Foolish Opinion" Journal page

A new page in my "Octopus's Garden" journal. "An Octopus's Garden" (along with "Over the Edge") is one of the classes I will be teaching at JournalFest this October. I'm really looking forward to it. Classes are filling up quickly, so if you haven't registered yet, don't delay! You can sign up at Teesha Moore's website.

ATCs - SteamPunk

Each month a group I belong to exchanges ATCs. This months theme is SteamPunk. The middle card is shown from the back. This is one of my ATC signature images.

Octopus ATCs

The small ATC group that I mentioned in my previous post, exchanges ATCs every month. This months theme is Octopuses. I usually work larger and then reduce my images to ATC size, then further embellish them. I happened to have 8 of these scalloped Octopus circles and decided to try and work with those instead. More of my ATCs can be seen on my web site here.

"On Crystal Wings" Steam Punk inspired

I have made a little time to work on a few Steam Punk inspired necklaces before getting VERY serious about make stock for the quickly approaching Renaissance Festival. The necklace shown above is available on my ETSY site. SOLD

Portable Time Machine

I have been thinking how convenient it would be to have my own personal time machine. Really could help me out with how busy I have been. However, I can't seem to get it to work quite right yet. I'm thinking if I had a bit more background in Quantum Physics it could be very beneficial at this time ... another one of those things in life you think you'll never need to know and then it turns out you really do in the long run. 2 1/2" long X 3/4" at the widest part and of course the arrows really spin.

Zentangle Octopus

Yet another Zentangle. This is in my "Octopus's Garden" Altered Notebook. These Zentangles are proving to be very addictive!

An Octopus's Garden

These images are from the "Octopus's Garden" Notebook Journal. This journal isn't as colorful as the "Over the Edge" journal. It focuses more on textural elements with Steam Punk related objects and imagery.

Skull necklace

I just finished up some new Reliquary necklaces. This is the first skull Vessel I have made available. The quote inside is taken from a 16th century epitaph that reads "What you are now, I once was. And you will be what I am now". Inside are tiny clear and gold glass spheres, metallic stars, a bone and a key metal charm. The skull measures 1 1/8" X 1 3/4" and is approximately 3/4" deep.

Purple Princesses

I just can't seem to make these Steam Punk styled princesses fast enough for the festival. I am not complaining of course, that's wonderful, I just wish I had thought to start them earlier in the season. I have so many ideas for the Elfins in the Steam Punk style. After Festival and some other commitments I believe I will start exploring the possibilities. In the mean time I shall start pulling out the metal wheels, cogs, copper tubing and other various metals to incorporate into the pieces. My head is already spinning with ideas. I'm thinking of some pretty wild contraptions that the Elfins will actually be riding on.

Steampunk Princesses

Fortunately I found the necessary parts to make more of the birdcages as shown in a previous post. So, I have been busy making quite a few of the Elfins with birdcages in different colors. Now I am now on to something a bit different. Still working on the Elfins, but have given several of them dresses which I have never done before and painted the faces differently. I feel they have a real "Steampunk" quality to them, which I am rather pleased with. I realized that I have several large bins full (yes, ridiculous quantities) of antique lace and trims. I really should be using it. I also have hugh amounts of antique buttons and I won't even begin to mention the amount of beads I have. Another one of those things I sort of forgot I had. I want to start using this stuff as this is why I have it. These figures will be available at the Michigan Renaissance Festival this season. All photos enlarge to see more detail.