Giveaway, Spring Flowers, and The Attic Shop

You still have time to enter

my appreciation giveaway,

here at Inkspillers Attic.

I announced it in a post

a few days ago.

I will be taking comments

until midnight March 1st!

Leave a comment,

if you haven't already,

on any post

here or at

The Attic Shop,

and just state that you wish to be

entered in the giveaway.

Remember if you become a follower

or are already a follower,

let me know and

you will have another chance to win!

The winner will be chosen on my birthday,

March 2nd and will be announced

that same day!

WhooHoo, Isn't this FUN!!!

The rains we have had mean there will be lots of wildflowers this spring!

Don't forget to visit The Attic Shop.

I have listed handcrafted soap,

an art quilt, a traditional quilt,

and many fun art dolls.

I will be listing items

regularly, so I hope you become

a follower there too!

Smile! 

Spring is almost here!

Peace,

Yvonne

Quilts for Kids

I learned about another wonderful organization

yesterday at my quilt guild meeting. 

We had a visitor come over

from the Uvalde Quilt Guild

and talk to us about Quilts For Kids. 

This is their mission statement.

MISSION STATEMENT:

Transforming discontinued,

unwanted and other fabrics

into patchwork quilts

that comfort children

with life-threatening illnesses

and children of abuse.

Upon your request

they will send you a kit to make a small quilt. 

All you have to furnish is the batting,

as all the other fabric is sent to you. 

You put it together and then send it back. 

It's that easy! 

Our guild is doing this for a project 

and I am doing it on my own as well,

as I would like to continue with it. 

 Please spread the word.

Another wonderful organization is the Linus Project,

which I have mentioned here before.

There are many local, national and international

organizations where you can help someone,

and make things better.

Make that your pledge today!

Because that's why we are here on this Earth,

to love and help one other!

I hope you have a wonderful day!

Yvonne

Off the Beaten Path

My DH and I took a little trip last week.

It pays to get off the main roads sometimes.

 We came across this house

that had the most beautiful greenhouse and gardens.

The greenhouse looked very old and was full of plants.

I could only peek at it through the fence.

It has always been my dream to have something like this.

But I guess I'll keep on dreaming!

This greenhouse is probably almost as big as my house!

These photos just show a very small part of it.

Can you imagine what kind of plants are in there!

This is a close up of a tree that was beside the fence.

This is the bark!  What is it????

This was one of the many statues in the garden.

Lovely isn't it!

So, you never know what you will find off the beaten path!

Blog Shop Now Open

Well, my blog shop is finally open.

WhooHoo!!

I am so thrilled about it and hope you

head on over and browse a little bit.

As my creations become available,

they will be listed on

The Attic Shop.

As you know I create a variety of things.

You will be able to purchase my art dolls, art quilts,

traditional quilts, soap, mixed media,

and more at

the attic shop.

Just go over and check it out and

leave a comment telling me what you think.

My handcrafted soap can be seen at 

the attic shop but can

 only be purchased though an email,

as I make it one batch at a time.

If you would like to receive a list of

what kinds of soap I make,

along with a price list,

please leave a comment stating that.

Now don't forget...

my appreciation giveaway is still going on,

and I am taking comments through March 1st.

I will announce one winner on March 2nd.

So, check out my previous post and

enter to win a bundle of prizes.

You must leave a comment on that post

to be eligible.

Good luck to all of you!

And thanks again!

Yvonne

Appreciation Giveaway

Hello friends,
I wanted to thank all of you for your wonderful comments since I started blogging.  I appreciate your encouragement and also your words of wisdom.  It has been so much fun meeting everyone.
In celebration of my upcoming 250th post I put together a giveaway to share with one of you. 

right click on the picture to see the prizes better

I am giving away the following to one winner:

--Large Fabric Bag--

 This bag is large enough to hold a quilt. 

I made this using a floral fabric with a black background.

It has a red dot fabric lining with pockets and fabric ties. 

The handles are soft and large enough to put on your shoulder.

--Small Art Doll--

Made with a sage smudge stick,

polymer clay, fabric,

sari yarn and recycled sari ribbon

plus trim. 

She is about 4-5 inches and she and her baby are

bundled up for winter.

--Wood Slices--

These are 12 different size (about 1in. or so) mesquite wood slices,

that you can use for stands for small art dolls,

drill holes and use them for button embellishments,

and more.

--Graffiti Page--

One 12in. by 18in. graffiti page

that is made using turp paper on watercolor paper,

to use how you wish.

You can also make copies of this graffiti paper

and use it in many different projects.

--Small Art Quilt--

9in. by 12in.

My own hand dyed leaf print,

free motion stitching, and

with hanger on back.

This can even be added to,

to make it your own.

--Rust Fabric--

Three approximately 11 in. by 14 in. pieces

of my own rusted muslin fabric,

to use in any of your projects.

How to Enter

 Simply leave a comment

stating you wish to be in the giveaway.

This gives you one chance to win.

To get a second chance, become a follower.

If you are a follower already please state that in your comment.

If you post this giveaway on your blog,

you will have a 3rd chance to win.

Just leave me a comment stating

it has been posted on your blog.

The winner will be announced on March 2nd,

which is my birthday!

Nothing makes me happier than to

give something away!

I look forward to visiting with each of you as much as I can. 

All of you have been such an inspiration to me

and I am grateful to have met

so many amazing and creative people

through blogging.

Thank you again everyone!

Yvonne

More Graffiti Pages

I have been having more fun creating more graffiti pages.

I like the little hand stencil I'm using on some of them.

These were sent to Bea and to Kris.

I'm still using my turp paper for this project,

but I may try some other ideas I have.

I tried to find Citra Solv too,

which would be a great substitute for the turpentine,

but just can't find it.

My hardware store did tell me they could order it for me.

So, I may take them up on it.

I still don't know what I'm going to do with  the finished papers.

I'm still thinking on that.

I have an idea.

You really need to go see the graffiti pages that

Bea and Kris have made.

They are really cool!

You should try this sometime!

Click on the following to get to Bea's site.

Dog In The Hole Studio

and to Kris's site,

Brain Bubbles.

Full Snow Moon Art Doll--February

Here is my February Full Snow Moon art doll for the challenge given by Bea at Dog in the Hole Studio.
Every month we are making our interpretation of a full moon creation, mine are dolls so far.  We use the names that the Native American gave the full moons.  My first one for January was the Full Wolf Moon. 
If you want to see her, go to my labels and click on the January Full Wolf Moon doll link.

This doll is about 9 inches tall with the feather headdress.

I used polymer clay to make the doll and moon. 

Next I painted her with acrylic paints.

I used white first, then I added burnt umber.

I wiped each off as I added it to the body of the doll.

The moon remained white throughout the process.

The burnt umber remained in the creases

and makes her look almost wooden.

Her headdress is ostrich and emu feathers from a friend of mine.

Around her neck is a polymer clay feather muff that I painted white.

Her head/hair adornment (3 faux diamonds)

 is part of an old necklace I had.

It's hard to see in the photo,

but she is standing on a slice of wood

for balance.

Background Paper Tutorial

From Turp Paper to Graffiti Paper

I'm adding this comment from Bea,

because it says it all. 

Thanks Bea!

Excellent! If people knew how much FUN it is to make these background sheets. There are so many uses for them besides graffiti walls, too.

I take all my finished background sheets to the printers and make color copies of them. I rip them up and use them in other project, journals, make envelopes, etc. out of them. SO MUCH FUN! :)Bea

Remember the turp (turpentine) paper I made awhile back?

Click here to see all my examples

and the process I used.

Also there is an article in the Jan/Feb issue

of Cloth, Paper, Scissors

about this kind of paper making,

except they use Citra Solv.

I could not find this product so

that is why I used the turpentine

to get the same results.

The turp paper does not have a smell any longer.

Some said it would have the turpentine smell forever,

but I have had these papers in a ziplock bag all this time

and when I opened it, the smell was gone.

NOTE:

One thing the article did not specify was,

you have to use the older National Geo mags

because their pages are clay based. 
I have read that others use newer mag pages

and it is not working the same.

I have made quite a few graffiti background papers for myself

and also for the Graffiti Project I'm in with

Bea at Dog in the Hole Studio.

 Today, I will be showing three of the papers I am keeping,

and telling you how I made them.

Later I will show you the papers I receive from Bea

and from Kris (erosion bundle project) Henderson.

I will also show you the papers I will send out to them.

PROCESS:

I started with 140 lb. weight cold press watercolor paper,

size 12 in by 18 in.

I took my turp paper

and glued them to the watercolor paper with

a glue stick and pressed it down well.

I didn't worry if there were bubbles or wrinkles,

as this just adds to the look.

Next, I added a thin coat of gesso

all the way out to the edges,

but not covering every square inch.

I wiped some of this off with a paper towel.

Next, I began to add watered down acrylic paints

covering mainly the edges. 

I let this dry and then picked up some of the paint

with a paper towel.

I also used some masking tape

 (which I may save and add to the final piece)

to pick up some areas,

to make it look like it had peeled off.

I kept wiping with a paper towel.

Stencils were added here and there,

but not much because these are

background papers,

not the finished piece where

most of the graffiti words etc. will be added.

On some of the sheets I dripped paint from the top,

 so it would run down the paper.

Then let it all dry.

For some of the papers I tore up old paper

 and put on the watercolor paper

 before adding the turp sheets in the beginning.

This way there are multiple layers of paper on the page.

I mainly wanted the look of a wall

that had been papered and painted on

for quite a few years.

Things look like they had faded in the sun,

been ripped off and

some old graffiti was still showing through.

That's it!

If you create some turp paper or

graffiti background papers

let me know and I will put your link up.

Go see graffiti background papers here:

Dog in the Hole Studio

 Brain Bubbles

Graffiti Background Papers

I am currently in a Graffiti Project with Kris Henderson and Bea Neal. 

Bea got the idea from a previous project she knew about. 

We are to do a set of 3 graffiti background papers once a month. 

We keep one for ourselves and the others are to swap out with each other. 

I am so excited about this project. 

Bea is with Dog In The Hole Studio,

so if you want to read more about the details of our project

please go on over to her site and check it out. 

Kris can be found at the Erosion Bundle Project,

which is another unique project I am involved with.

This is my graffiti background paper I will be keeping. 

 I will be sending out 2 more sheets,

 one to Bea and one to Kris. 

I am not showing those

because I want them to be surprised.

Then April 1st will be the next mail date

for another set.

Then with all the graffiti background pieces from Bea and from Kris

plus the ones I keep of my own,

I will create a larger graffiti wall art piece.

I can add to it in any way I choose,

to make it a completed art piece.

I am nowhere near the graffiti artist

of those I have seen,

but I wanted to do this fun project

as a way to learn more about something

that has been around for many centuries.

Yes, graffiti can be art! 

It is a very controversial subject

and there is a line that can be crossed.

I don't believe you should do anything to others property

without their permission,

no matter what you may call it.

But I think that there are graffiti artists

and then there are those who claim to be artists 

when all they are doing is just defacing property.

There is a lot to read about graffiti online

 but I found a great article by Daniel Oliver Tucker

called Graffiti : Art  &  Crime

Daniel states the following,

"Now obscenity was and is present in graffiti, but most people writing obscene things are "sitting-on-the-toilet-writers" and not people who claim to be artists. You just have to be able to see the difference between men's room graffiti and "subway graffiti" or graffiti written by people with a point and who have skills. People have to take the time to see that some graffiti is a skillfully written name or even a work of art, and not a piece of junk or "chicken scratch." "

Please go and read this interesting piece.

I will be explaining how I made my graffiti background papers in future posts.

Tiny Queen

During the month of January we had a Queen of Hearts doll swap

at the Decidedly Different Dolls Yahoo group.

This beautiful little queen is the doll I received

from Brenda Moss.

Isn't she lovely!  I just love her.

She is only 3 inches tall,

plus her hair makes her a total of 5 inches,

which stays within the required limits set for this swap.

Brenda used the following to create her...

polymer clay, fabric trims, feathers, mohair,

fibers, ribbons, mulberry paper, brass crown, and acrylic paints.

Thank you Brenda for another wonderful little doll.

This is the second doll I have received from Brenda.

The first was the Frieda Kahlo (momiji) doll.

I love them both.

This 3D Yahoo group is quite fun and challenging.

We have swaps pretty often and the group is really growing.

If you are interested please join us!

We'd love to have you.

Yvonne

OWOH Winner Announced !

  It has been a wonderful magic carpet ride on this

2010 One World One Heart Project.

I have met so many nice people

and have come across some amazing blogs.

Thanks Lisa for this opportunity.

I have just drawn the name of the winner of my OWOH giveaway! 

The winner is........

Jenni (Mommy Bee) from Alaska, USA.

Congratulations Jenni!

I sent you an email

and when you contact me with your address

 I can get your package in the mail.

You have won 2 bars of my handcrafted

lemon poppyseed soap. 

These bars also have oatmeal in them.

I use 100% natural ingredients in my soap

plus 100% pure essential oils.

They are very gentle and mosturizing to your skin.

This was her comment!

Mommy Bee said...

                                                  count me in! we love handmade soap--

we actually don't use anything else anymore. :)

jenni

#988

                                                                                 

That's great Jenni,
 I was thrilled to read that
when I drew your name. 
I hope you enjoy my soap!
I also threw in a little surprise for you!

 Jenni has several wonderful blogs,

http://brightonwoman.blogspot.com/

being just one of them.

So, stop over and visit her.

It was so nice meeting all of you!

A special thanks to those who have

become followers of my blog.

Be watching for another giveaway soon,

dedicated to just my followers.

Hope you visit again soon!

Yvonne

Altered Book

The butterfly counts not months but moments,

 and has time enough.

       ----Rabindranath Tagore

This is a little altered board book.

I wanted to share with you

how I altered a childrens board book

very inexpensively.

This book measures about 4 inches square,

but they do come in many sizes.

I bought the childrens board book at the thrift store for 19 cents.

I found quite a few board books for less than 39 cents a piece.

I then gessoed the pages,

added watered down acrylic paint and let it run where it may.

After the paint dried

 I added some butterfly stickers

that I also found thrifting.

To add to it I decided to put in some

butterfly quotes. 

I found a lot of them in my quote collection.

This is one of the inside pages.

I put the largest butterfly sticker I had on the front cover.

Lastly I sprayed matte acrylilc sealer on all the pages and the cover.

I could continue to embellish this little book,

but decided to call it finished.

This little book went to my daughter Amy,

 as part of her birthday present.

She's not a little girl anymore, 

in fact she will be getting married this year.

 but she still loves butterflies,

and so do I.

The Art in Fiber

The Art in Fiber show at the Copper Shade Tree gallery was just wonderful!  I attended the reception on Feb. 5th, 2010 and it continues to run until March 7th, 2010. 

The Copper Shade Tree is a fine craft gallery in Round Top, Texas.  They have wonderful things from many artists.  You can see gourd craft, unique jewelry, wood crafts and much more.  But I was there for the fiber art show.  The reception was wonderful.  This show was a juried fiber show featuring 24 Texas artists, with fresh artwork created exclusively for the Copper Shade Tree. 

I'm standing with Laura Ann Beehler in front of her piece titled Ornis.  This piece uses some very unique handcrafted paper, stabilizer, a tea bag and a pheasant feather.  Her husband made the frame that the piece is sort of floating in front of.

  She is holding a book that the gallery put out featuring most of the artists.  You can find it on their website for sale. Her piece titled Sunset on the River (shown below) is on the cover.  It is a hand dyed silk piece that is burned on the edges and hand stitched in a random chicken scratch pattern. 

I have to say her work was my favorite, but they were all very talented artists.

I'm standing with Bobbe Shapiro Nolan who did some wonderful larger pieces. 

Each had a wonderful story behind it.  She would incorporate fabric that was representative of whatever inspired her. 

On the far wall you can see one of Bobbe Nolans pieces titled Peter and Paul Dyed Naturally.The hand dyed fabrics, hand dyed vintage tablecloths along with the pearl cotton stitching just made it a wonderful piece.

This is my friend Lana standing with Lisa Kerpoe.

This is one of Lisa's pieces titled Chicago Winter.  Each artist was showing 4 pieces. 

Fannie Narte is an artist from Little Elm, Texas. 

Lana and I enjoyed speaking with all of the artists.

This is one of Fannie's pieces titled Through the Trees. 

This one was my husbands favorite pieces.  It is from Linda Teddie Minton and is titled Ashes in the Snow.  It was a wonderful piece I have to agree.

Below are more of my favorites.

There were so many wonderful pieces of art at the gallery.  I could have stayed for hours for the good conversation, the good food, and just the wonderful feeling I get from being around great creativity!

Kyra--the Volcano Goddess

The next doll in the Art Doll Coolaberation 2009 Project is here. Her name is Kyra. She originated in New York with Barbara and boy is she gorgeous!

Kyra has made her way around through Canada, Oregon, California and more. She was so beautiful to begin with. She is about 15-16 inches tall and her legs cross. You can easily pose Kyra with her jointed limbs.

Look at her now! Mary Anne is Canada was the first to get her and she decided to turn her into a Volcano Goddess. Her persona has continued with each participant, each adding so many wonderful things.

This side view shows you her skirt which I just love. She has tattoos, beading even on her toes, boobs that are appropriate for a volcano goddess, a wonderful headdress and much more.

Kyra even has wings as you can see here with the back view. She is just amazing! Now it is my turn to add something to her. She has been here for a few days and I'm listening carefully to what she is wanting. I can't wait to get started on her.

Her journal is a piece of art in itself. Barbara did a wonderful job making it and everyone has added to it with such amazing creativity.

If you want to learn more and see more photos of our dolls, go to Art Doll Coolaberation 2009 to see how Gail (our fearless leader) has shown wonderful photos of the progress of each of the nine dolls in the project.

Go to the right and also see the blogs of each doll round robin participant that I have listed in my Enchanted Places to Visit. I know you will enjoy it.