Using gesso with stencils is a really fun technique with neat results for journal pages. For my first page I painted it with with water soluble oil pastels. Yes, you read me right – water soluble oil pastels! First thing you need to do is to place your stencil over your page and apply gesso.…
Read MoreAll articles filed in June 2011
Taping up journal pages
Between gardening and interviewing local artists and crafters, I have been able to squeeze in a little crafting. I’ve been playing around with some pages in my art journals. Today is about using masking tape to make backgrounds. It’s easy peasy and fun! I first put tape randomly on the page. Then I paint over…
Read MoreHarvesting Lovely Lavender
Well, yesterday I harvested two of my Grosso plants and Dave’s Dilly. Now I’m singing the “Dilly, dilly” song again! Even though it was overcast, the bumble bees were a buzzing, but they let me harvest the Grosso. Then on to bundle and hang in the garage. Then to harvest the Dilly and hang it.…
Read MoreLove that lavender
I started my journey with lavender several years ago. I had purchased and planted seven different types including Provence and Munstead. Several of them were not hardy and are long gone. Figuring I needed a little help with lavender I enrolled in an online lavender course – From Soil to Sachet – taught by Susan…
Read MoreLayering on photos
After taking several online classes this year, I’ve really learned a lot. I am finding that I love layers. Before these classes I knew I loved a piece, whether paper or material, but didn’t realize that the artist had spent so much time layering and layering. My artist friend, Kathy, has been an big inspiration…
Read MorePurslane from our yard
Although it’s been growing in my yard for years, I first heard about purslane while watching Dr. Oz on Oprah a couple years back. According to Dr. Oz, purslane is high in Omega 3 which we all need. Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) is also high in beta-carotene, as well as magnesium and potassium. It was used…
Read MoreSummer Sketching
Last night, after a busy day here at Happy Acres, I sat and played a little bit with my sketchbook. I used some of the new Gelly Roll Metallics I won recently. I also used some of my favorite markers. They don’t seem to be “in” markers, but I really love them. It seems like…
Read MoreCool Summer Drinks
With the hot weather here, we are always looking for a cold drink to cool us down. Whether I’ve been working in the garden or just playing in the woman cave/studio, it’s nice to have a cold, refreshing drink. While teaching this spring, I stopped by a local coffee shop to pick up a non-coffee…
Read MoreSun Printing 2
Last summer I had so much fun with sun printing. If you’ve not read my project from last summer, check it out here. I liked those pieces, but wanted more vibrant color so I headed off to Blick’s to buy some Seta Color Transparent paints. There, I sat on the floor trying to decide on…
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