Art is NOT Optional!

Strong Women - Collage

Have you ever thought about what Art means to you? What place does it hold in your life?

Art...the visual and the performing...is so much a part of who I am. It's hard for me to be dispassionate. Where does my "Art Life" begin and end? Where does "Real Life" start?

But one thing I know for sure, Art is not optional. It elevates us as a society. It fills us with wonder, allows us to dream. And from those dreams spring the majesty of creation. And shared creations enhance who we are and how we communicate and understand each other.

If you visit the Artistcellar website, the first message to greet you is: ART IS NOT OPTIONAL. It sets the tone of the company and resonated with me. This is why I am delighted to be included in the 2016 Artistcellar Design Team. It is wonderful to have my work presented with art from the other talented women.

I hope you will peruse the Artistcellar website and see all of the materials they have on offer. I also hope you will visit their Blog to see how I and the other members glean inspiration not only from the quality stencils and supplies, but from each other.

If you agree Art is NOT Optional please join us!

What Inspires Your Heart?

Dreaming of the Moon - Digital Collage

What inspires your heart? The question posed by Unruly PaperArts was a delicious one. And one I could not resist.

January 31st is the day designated as "Inspire Your Heart With Art Day". The day encourages looking at Art of any discipline, making it a vital part of your life, and using today as a way of celebrating. Unruly PaperArts is doing just that by having an online Party!

For me, the Arts and my life are so intertwined I can't begin to see where one starts and the other ends. It is a seamless, comforting, coverlet triggered by my dreams.

I've enjoyed working digitally. Again, my Muse led me to my collection of Lunagirl Moonbeam image CDs. With dreaming on my mind I chose Sir Frederic Leighton's painting "Flaming June". The beauty of the woman deep in sleep inspired me. What were her dreams and hopes as she blissfully reclined in repose? Who did she see in her dreams?

The composition fell into place...first Leighton's woman, and the Moon and clouds. I added images from a conventional collage I put together a few years ago: the type, the rice paper, printed tissue paper.

My dreams inspire me. Following those dreams have taken me to places I have never thought possible. The Arts are the means...a soaring soul is my destination.

What inspires your heart...not only today, but every day?

When Did You Last Receive A Handwritten Letter?

OPEN AT ONCE - Collage

There is something about a handwritten letter that warms the heart. Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike emails and texts. They have their place as an efficient, and quick, means to communicate. But letters...sigh...they speak in an enchanted language all their own. The choice of paper, the envelope, the stamp and any other embellishment the writer wishes to affix says just as much about them as the words they choose to add to paper.

Today is "National Send A Handwritten Letter Day". Celebrated on January 17th it is the birthday our first Postmaster General of the United States, Benjamin Franklin.

Again...synchronicity at play...I am a Lunagirl Moonbeams Design Team member. Our current challenge is Postcards and Letters. What could be a more perfect way to celebrate Handwritten Letter Day!

I recently entered into a paper swap and received a huge envelope full of beautiful postcards, paper and ephemera of all sorts from Germany. In the package was a brochure from the Sir Hubert von Herkomer's, Herkomer Museum in Landsberg am Lech in Bavaria. The tower of the Mutterturm was incredible and very romantic. I knew I wanted to add this image to the tag I was working on.

But which Lunagirl image to choose? I loved them all, but finally settled on a woman pensively holding a letter in her hand. What could she be contemplating? Was there a story unfolding as I gathered up my art supplies? I let my Muse guide me.

The old saying, "No news is good news" kept coming back to me. Inspired by Handwritten Letter Day, I thought..isn't a letter the best news of all...a little bit of magic in your hand?

The substrate for the tag is illustration board. I covered the background with Distress Ink, fluid and metallic acrylics. In addition to the lovely Lunagirl image, I added the Muttertrum, fabric, Junk Mail, wax infused and art paper, telephone book paper and other ephemera from my collection. I rubber stamped the saying on to a vintage envelope from the 1920's. Stenciling completed the tag. In honour of today...off went the tag for a "magical" tag swap.

I hope you are all enjoying "National Send A Handwritten Letter Day" as much as I am. You still have a few hours left. Why not touch someones heart in your magical way by saying "hello" with a letter?

What Brings Spice To Your Life?

SPICE OF LIFE. Collage. PAY IT FORWARD

Some time ago I signed up to participate in the "Pay It Forward" exchange. The idea is to produce a small work of art and exchange it with another participant.

As I was looking through my box of ephemera, I found a line of type I had cut out of a book. It listed spices..cinnamon, pepper, sesame, anise... In the same envelope was a reproduction of  a painting of a woman. Languorously reclining amid a bed of roses, she wistfully smiled. As the year drew to a close, I could imagine being her presence surrounded by the heady scent of roses and the piquant quality of spices in the air from her Holiday cooking.

And it made me think...what is the Spice of Life? Is it variety as the popular saying suggests? Or is it something deeper, more personal and divine? Is it what makes each one of us unique and brings passion to everything we do? Is "spice" just another name for the magical quality we strive for in our work as artists?

The substrate for the postcard is illustration board. I covered both sides of the card with gesso. I sponged the background with a selection of metallic acrylic paint. The woman, the line of type, a wax infused doily, tea bag paper, painted gauze, art and vintage papers complete the card. And off it went to its destination in Washington State.

As the New Year begins we all have a chance to build a new recipe for ourselves. What will spice up your life in 2015?

The Gift Of A Creative Journey...

CREATE - Mail Art

I have always loved receiving mail. Real mail. Snail mail. Having bits of paper in my mail box delivered by an honest to goodness person kind of mail. Before the age of emails, texting and social media, paper-in-your-hand mail was the best way to communicate and share your life events with those you cared about.

And even though it isn't as immediate, I still love the anticipation and feeling of surprise when I open my mailbox and find a treasure waiting for me.

When I found out about a Mail Art Swap on the Bliss Angels Blog I decided to jump in! The theme is CREATE. The challenge was to assemble four envelopes.

I sat down with my box of ephemera and I allowed my Muse to guide me. I had a few lovely craft envelopes to use as a substrate. I found a copy  of a painting of First Lady Louisa Adams. I loved her pose and the wistful look in her eye. I decided to build the art around her.

I have a bag of fortunes from Chinese fortune cookies. I dug deep and pulled one out. It read:

Your flair for the creative takes an important place in your life.

It was a perfect start...again...Synchronicity? The substrate is a craft envelope. In addition to the reproduction of the painting I added art and handmade paper, a wax infused paper doily, a postage stamp, newsprint, and joss paper. I finished the envelope by adding rubber stamped and stencilled acrylic metallic paint. All that was left to do was address, stamp, and send.

As I eagerly await the Art that will grace my mailbox I can't help but think about creativity and our lives. The power to create is a gift. Creativity can take us to the places of our dreams. Inspiration comes disguised and in many forms. Even on a lowly envelope.

A Simple Wish...

For You, The Sun, Moon, and Stars - ATC

For quite a few of us on the East Coast of the United States, this has been a glorious Holiday weekend...three days away from the routine of work, wonderful local events to share with friends and family, and best of all, weather sent to us from the Gods.

The ambiance was just the thing I needed to unlock the way to my Muse. Spurred on by my collection of quotes and saying I've collected over the years, I kept coming back to one:

"May the Sun warm you, and the Moon restore you, and Stars light your path"

Sitting under the pergola, listening to the birds sing, caressed by the warm Summer breeze, my Artist Trading Cards took shape. The substrate is illustration board. The background is a mixture of sponged Distress Inks of various hues. I stencilled and rubber stamped the patterns in metallic acrylic paint, dusted with Perfect Pearls to add a bit of shimmer. The inspirational quote cut from vintage paper finished the cards.

How often, we as Artists, look to Nature for inspiration. From the simple elegance of a sprouting seedling to the infinite wonder we experience when gazing at the night sky, it is all there for us. We just need to take the time to stop, look, and listen.

My wish is a simple one. May your Summer be filled with Sunshine, Moonbeams, and Starlight...and those you love to share them.

Art In A Magnificent Setting...

The Mystery of Violet Oakley - Collage

I have always loved visiting the Pennsylvania State Capitol Building in Harrisburg. It has it all: sweeping exterior staircases, incredible marble sculptures, murals beyond compare, and Commonwealth, resting atop the dome, a gilded fourteen foot six-inch statue I had the pleasure of seeing at ground level after restoration.

This is why I am so excited, and honoured, to be included in the Fifth Annual Daily Painters of Pennsylvania Group Exhibition taking place in the East Wing Rotunda for the month of July 2014.

The Daily Painters is Blog devoted to artists living in Pennsylvania. The diversity and standard of work is magnificent. I love visiting the Blog because it takes me back to my Art School days where we were able to view work in progress, and careers in transition, in an encouraging environment.

For the exhibition we each submitted three works. I chose The Mystery of Violet Oakley as one of my pieces. The Pre-Raphaelite influenced work of Violet Oakley is no stranger to us living in the Harrisburg area.  Forty-three murals grace the walls of the Capitol. Violet was the first woman artist to receive a commission of such magnitude in the United States. Her extraordinary talent and life inspired my collage.

As one of the Red Rose Girls, Violet shared her life with Jessie Willcox Smith and Elizabeth Shippen Green. Living together encouraged a climate of extreme creativity and speculation on the true nature of the arrangement, a mystery that would never be fully solved.

The substrate for my collage is canvas. In addition to the photo of Violet, I used handmade and art paper, ribbon, joss paper, a letter written by Violet, and a pressed rose petal.

Although we Daily Painters don't physically live together, we do share a home base on the Blog. And like the Red Rose Girls, it is an enlightening and nurturing place to be.

What Lurks Between The Covers?

Pulp - Collage

Books. I love them. All of them. From the tiny mini books sold at the registers in stores to the lavish coffee table publications, each have a place in my heart and my life.  The printed word. I can't live without it.

I can chart the years by my books, and I can usually remember where I purchased them and why. I note cities I've visited not only by name but by the bookstores they possess. And Heaven on earth to me is a Public Library.

While trying to reorganise my bookshelves, I came across my small collection of pulp or pocket-book fiction. Although normally associated with the mid twentieth century, Argosy Magazine started the genre in 1896. Portable, accessible, and cheap to produce and purchase, the books were available at bus and train stations, drugstores, and newsstands. Westerns, War, Detective, Science Fiction, Horror, Romance...no topic was taboo. Who could resist titles like I Am A Woman, Murder In Paradise, Nude In Mink, or Halfway To Hell with suggestively illustrated covers guaranteed to bring in sales?

Tereska Torres' Women's Barracks, "the frank autobiography of a French girl soldier", was just what I had in mind for my collage.  The substrate for the collage is illustration board.  I cut the cover into strips and wove it together with art paper, handmade paper, and text from within the book.

Pulp is now part of the National Collage Society's 17th annual Postcard Exhibit, and is one of the award-winning collages. I am delighted...and honoured...to be in such fine company.

For me, pulp fiction will forever conjure romantic images of steamy train stations and glimpses of forbidden lives with each turn of the page.  So, what does lurk between the covers?

Are You Ready For A Great Adventure?

Remains of the Afternoon

Do you ever design a piece with nothing in mind but the thrill of colour and texture? Does a certain shape appeal to you in a way you can't explain...but you, and your Muse, just knows it's "right"?

One of my favourite shapes is the Triangle.  I love the balance of it..the feeling of unity and calm I get whenever it becomes part of my work.

There are many meanings surrounding this symbol. In Christianity it represents the Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We Americans encounter the pyramids a symbol of future prosperity and strength every time we handle a dollar bill featuring the Great Seal of the United States.

The Greek notion of the triangle as the symbol of a doorway giving balance to emotions and higher wisdom is intriguing to me.

In the Egyptian tradition the symbol represents the trinity of Isis, Osiris, and Horus. And can anyone think of Egypt without dreaming of the Great Pyramids of Giza?

I approached this collage with a clear mind ready to follow the direction of my Muse. The substrate for the collage is illustration board. I cut up a vintage letter, art and handmade paper, joss and sewing pattern paper into triangular shapes. I added the crystalline paper made from newspaper and flower petals enwrapped in tissue. The final touch was copper acrylics stencilled over the layers.

What symbols and shapes are dear to you? If you heed their call, they will help you open the  door to your creative possibilities.  I don't know about you, but I can never resist going a great adventure!

Where Do Your Possibilities Dwell?

I Dwell In Possibility - Collage

In my studio, above one of my favourite camel bags, is a wall quote: "Dwell In Possibilities" paraphrased from the poem written by Emily Dickinson.

When inspiration is sometimes lost, I like to sit and let Emily's poem envelop me, like a quilt of ideas and images. And before I know it, I too am dreaming in a house of my choosing where the roof is as limitless as the night sky.

For Emily, poetry as opposed to prose allowed her the power and freedom of self-expression she was seeking.  And without the magic of poetry, her Muse, would her visitors be able to open the doors and windows of their soul?

The substrate for the collage is a canvas panel. A photo of Emily, floral art paper, magazine paper, vintage advertisements, and handmade paper form the grid. Washi tape and acrylic paint pushed through  hand cut stencils finish the collage.

Each of us in the Arts has a unique vision and purpose. Whether we build our house of paper and ink, or of paint and canvas, or movement, or melody, or words...aren't we extending an invitation to share in our endless passionate journey?

Where do your possibilities dwell?

Mixed Media Artists-Celebrate Earth Day Every Day!

Chasing Rainbows - ATC

Happy Earth Day! Over a billion people will share in celebration today, the forty-fourth anniversary of the annual day of awareness and action. And yes, this unabashed Tree-Hugger will be celebrating!

There is no question that we all have a role to play in taking care of the Earth. If we even make a small change, each one of us together can bring great transformations.

"Chasing Rainbows" is an Artist Trading Card. The substrate for the card is illustration board. Layered on the card is a combination of different coloured paint samples, handmade paper, joss paper, and a wrapper from a Hershey's Kiss. The quote is cut from an old dictionary. I finished the card by adding a decorative leaf.

But aren't we collage and mixed-media artists living the spirit of Earth Day every time we produce our work? Aren't we staying true to our Muse when we follow the path of nature and inspiration?

Who could not be inspired by all the magical wonders the Earth has to offer? Just think of what life would be like without the vastness of space, the infinite variety of colour presented to us with each sunrise and sunset, the boundless texture and form of soil, the nurturing sensation of rain...giving way to rainbows, when we are fortunate enough to see them.

We mixed media artists do chase our own rainbows in our own way....our mantra "reuse and recycle". And haven't the resulting finished art been incredible!

May you have a wonderful, inspiring Earth Day...each and every day!

Do You Dream?

Life Is A Dream - ATC

I like to dream. I like the word.

Dream.

It rolls, it meanders, it drips off the tongue with power and eloquence and the promise of mystery, moonlight, adventure. It's the name on the door we open to liberate us. It allows us to feel, to imagine what can be, if only we become fully aware.

"Life is a Dream...Realize it.", is a passage attributed to Mother Teresa I read in the Grand Circle Corporation book of quotes. It inspired this Artist Trading Card.

The substrate is illustration board. The background a mixture of Distress Ink and acrylic paint. I stencilled a Nouveau pattern in gold metallic paint. A strip of art paper, the vintage photo, and rubber stamping of various designs finished the card.

Do you dream? Do you close your eyes and allow your Muse to take you to a place your heart knows is flawless? Realize your dreams. Live the life you desire.

Life is a Game...Break The Rules!!!!

Life Is A Game - ATC

Is life a game?

Inspired by the Grand Circle Corporation book of quotes, I chose to illustrate seven of the twenty lines from a passage attributed to Mother Teresa. Artist Trading Card three is "Life Is A Game...Play It".

Bill Bernbach, one of advertising's most influential people, said: "Rules are what the artist breaks; the memorable never emerged from a formula."  And break the rules he did with a lifetime of  ingenious ad campaigns, including Volkswagen's "Think small" and "You don't have to be Jewish to love Levy's"  for Levy's rye bread. I can still see myself as a young girl standing on the corner of 43 Street and 13 Avenue in Brooklyn thinking "Wow" as I stared up at the Levy's poster. Bill Bernbach's work, to this day, inspires my creative journey.

The substrate for the card is illustration board. I covered the background with Distress Inks and acrylic paint. I also rubber stamped and stencilled the card with metallic acrylic paint. I added printed text, handmade paper and the wrapper from a Hershey's Kiss.  The vintage Pierrot, which is as close as I will ever get to a clown, completed the card.

In life, as in Art, inspiration comes to us in many forms...if we are open to see it. We play the game of life uniquely, bringing our own interpretations to each and every situation. Success is allowing our Muse to guide us to new dream-filled possibilities.

So, is life a game? Are we all players taking part and playing by the rules...or are we rule breakers?

Will You Dare To Be Adventurous?

Life is an Adventure - ATC

As we are now a few days into 2014 I can't help but think of what the year will bring. For me, the new year is like a clean work table. I can keep what I liked from last year to build on, but I can do away with the things that were less than successful. There is an optimistic, glorious, hopefulness in my heart for life to move on, dreams to be fulfilled, and adventure to be my by-word.

With this in mind, I created the Artist Trading Card for an ATC swap. From the Grand Circle Corporation book of quotes, I chose to illustrate seven of the twenty lines from a passage attributed to Mother Teresa.

The substrate is illustration board. I covered the board will a map, Italian hotel receipts, crystalline paper made from sewing pattern paper with coloured mum petals folded in, handmade art paper, the quote, and photo of the two lovely ladies looking for adventure. I finished the ATC with a stencil of metallic acrylic paint.

The women in the photo intrigue me. They are obviously ready to go on an adventure, handbags at the ready. But where were they going? Were they following their Muse to parts unknown...or was it a simple trip to the shops?

In 2014 will you dare adventure to take you wherever your Muse guides you? Will you travel many miles and across many cultures...or explore areas close to you with awe and wonder? Or will the adventure be looking within?

Adventure is waiting. Will you dare it?

Don't Be Tamed!

Born To Be Wild - Collage

Colour surrounds us. It defines our world in so many ways. It enhances the environment in which we surround ourselves...from the way we decorate our homes to the clothes we wear...and even the colour of our hair! How often do we, without even thinking about it, use colour in our speech? We could be a true blue friend, or get the green light on a project, or still be caught in a grey area. We react instantaneously. We love or hate certain colours. I like the quote by Murasaki Shikibu: "Beauty without colour seems somehow to belong to another world."  How fortunate we are to live in a world that embraces colour!

The remains of Autumn in Pennsylvania today are quietly covered in snow. It is on days like today that I appreciate colour even more. The deep browns and blacks of the limbs of the trees and the odd yellow or orange leaf peeking out from the snow, the vibrant reds and blues of the cardinals and blue jays as they search for the bird seed I have out for them all remind me of the romance we have with colour.

Which leads me to my collage. I came across a quote by the celebrated dancer Isadora Duncan: "You were wild once, don't let them tame you." Considered a Muse, she inspired those around her to step outside the conventional social mores of the day. You could say she led a colourful life on and off the stage.

The photo of the high kicking women from my vintage photo collection intrigued me. Where were they? I wonder what brought them to such wild abandon! What a perfect way to compliment the quote. Exploring the symbolism of colour the reds, pinks, and golds...the high energy pallet complimented with colour on the wing...called to me.

The substrate is a canvas panel. I stencilled and rubber stamped the background with various shades of acrylic paint and Distress Inks. The high kicking women, type from an old dictionary, and butterflies completed the work.

Colour is a Muse, always there to guide us. We can follow her and live a life filled with all spectrum of colour if we never tame our authentic Dreams.

"Greet the New Year and Encounter Happiness"

Happy New Year - ATC

As this year draws to a close, I can't help but wonder...where did 2013 go? It flew by for me, with numerous changes: some major, some minor, and with the eternal promise of new opportunities for the coming year.

With these thoughts in mind, I sat down to work on a list of fifteen Artist Trading Card challenges.

"An Asian Inspired" ATC is Challenge Number Two. I started by looking through my box of Asian papers and ephemera. Right on top was a New Year postage stamp. Muse..or Synchronicity?

The substrate is mat board. I sponged on several colours of gold acrylic paint. When it was dry, I rubber stamped part of an Asian image stamp to the card. As plum blossom signify being lucky, I tried to keep them within the live area.  I then added the postage stamp, mulberry paper with gold foil, and pearlescent liquid acrylic paint. I coloured the edges of the card with red Distress Ink.

Although normally filled with an even amount of money, keeping with Chinese tradition, I will give the card away in a red envelope. I love the idea of sleeping on the envelope for seven nights to bring good luck to the recipient.

January 31, 2014 ushers in the lunar Year of the Wood Horse. According to Chinese lore, the year will be one unexpected adventures, surprising romance, sudden and swift victories. Decisions should be made decisively and quickly. Distant travel is encouraged and will be auspicious.

Although the New Year is a few months away, I think it is never too soon to wish you all happiness by following your Muse...your bliss...and greeting the New Year with enthusiasm.

Another Real Life Adventure!

Jodie & Millie's Real Life Adventure. Collage.

Life can take us places we never dreamed of…or only visited in our dreams.

Jodie and Millie’s adventure has taken them to the National Collage Society’s Twenty-Ninth Annual Juried Exhibit. Over five hundred works were submitted. In addition to the United States, Croatia, Italy, Hungary, Canada and France were represented. The jury selected ninety-six pieces for the exhibition.

I am honoured and delighted to say Jodie and Millie are in fine company.

To view the exhibit, please visit the National Collage Society 29th Annual Exhibit website.

When we follow our Muse, anything is possible!

Giving Art Wings...

Remember The Girl With the Two Different Coloured Eyes?

To me, all art is a form of communication. When I dance, I am in that moment. The music guides me and takes me to a place in my history, my life experiences,  I want to share.

So too with the Visual Arts. I can look over my past work and see the influences shaping the choices I made in media, technique, and style.

I heard about Memory: International Mail Art Exhibition and Swap exhibition scheduled to take place at the Richmond Art Gallery in the city of Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. I have always loved getting mail...real, in your hands mail...so I thought I would give it a go.

The theme was "Memory" in all variations. The art could not be larger than a standard postcard. The concept of Mail Art is that it allows artists to share and swap art sent through the Postal system. I often wondered if any of the art catches the eye of the Postal workers here and abroad.

And so I began the project. Looking through vintage magazines I found a story about a girl with two different coloured eyes. My Dad was on a course at the Pentagon one Summer and we made it into a family vacation in Virginia. During the vacation I had met a girl with this, as I saw it, very exotic condition.

I flipped through a box of ephemera and found a map...a map of Richmond, Virginia. Coincidence..or Muse?

The rest seemed to fall into place quite quickly. The image of the woman is one I digitally altered some years ago for a book mark. I added the map, dictionary passages, art paper, art and coloured tissue paper, and a rubber stamped image on tissue.

Who knew I would be thinking of someone met so long ago...just a chance meeting. Memory and Muse now giving art wings.

Harmony Comes in Many Colours...

Harmony--Conventional Collage

STRATA: n., pl. stra•ta (ˈstreɪ tə, ˈstræt ə) stra•tums.
1. a layer of material, naturally or artificially formed, often formed one upon another.

How could I take this concept and turn it into a collage? Would I be able to harmonize the bits and pieces that found their way to me? I needed inspiration...

I went to our local Salvation Army to peruse their used books.  I picked up quite a few, and in the collection was a nearly new copy of "Memoirs of a Geisha". I read the book a long time ago and was enchanted by the movie. The cinematography was breathtaking. I was recently told at work my new position would take time to adjust to because it was like being asked to "learn Japanese".

Again..nudged my my Muse, I put added handmade papers, art papers, and Oriental papers into the design. I found a spot illustration of a Geisha a long time ago and filed it away in the "maybe I will use this someday..." box of art papers. She found a home at last. I also used a Chinese wood block and ink. The character is "Harmony". I stamped it on tissue paper which was sheer enough to paste over the Geisha image.

The Japanese type is from an ad I found in a magazine. I also used a story, the black and white text, from the same issue.

When I finished, I did feel that Harmony was the key to this collage. The colours seemed to blend even better than I hoped they would. 

Harmony...the word is simple...but means so much more. Harmony in Life, in Art, in Work. Isn't that what we are all striving for? I think the Muse would agree.

Home Is Where Your Story Can Begin...

"Where Your Story Can Begin"  ATC

Today is the opening of the Second Annual Artist Trading Card Show and Swap at the Carlisle Arts Learning Center, Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Up to one hundred cards will be on display. The theme is "HOME".

My second entry is "Home is Where Your Story Can Begin". When I think of "Home" more often than not I think of moments and people, rather than buildings and objects. I think of stories I am lucky to have passed down to me from my parents and grandmother...and stories about my grandfather passed on to me from my Mother.

Looking through my collection of photos I came across this wonderful group shot. I thought it would be perfect! I decided to use a page from the telephone book as a background. The Muse was working with me again...I opened the book to a random page. It fell on the page with my Mom's entry!

The substrate is illustration board. The photo is circa 1920. I also incorporated hand made paper. The photo was altered with Golden Interference Fluid Acrylic paint. I love the purple shimmer it gave to the photo. I added Distress Inks to the telephone book paper and then covered it with Golden Interference Gold Acrylics. I wanted a "warm and fuzzy" feel to the card. The final touch was the quote with words cut from an old dictionary.

If you are in the Carlisle area do stop by. The show runs from today until October 12th.

Who says unlucky things happen on Friday the Thirteenth!