Is this kid ready to pick yet?

My sister just found an old Polaroid picture of her son that our Dad had altered, years ago.  I knew he was artistic, but he was doing mixed-media collage before I ever heard of it.  He had taken a cut-out photo of the kid, glued it onto a picture of his garden, and tied him on a bean pole with a piece of twine!  Just had to share this ...

What do you think?  Is he ripe for pickin'?

Photoshoppin'

I've been taking another on-line class with Cynthia (Cindy) Powell, and learned so much from it.  Here are a couple of images that I played with, to create some Photoshopped collages:

"I Remember Mama"
This was for playing with Layers and drop-shadows.

"Musical Baby"
This was a quickie, done just for learning a different method of creating a shadow.

"Mystery Girl"
This was my most complex collage in the class, made up of
two different faces, changing colors, adding layers and brushes, and
creating a complex background.  It's my favorite, of course!

If you think you might be interested, check it out.  (No affiliation, just a happy student.)  Called "Collaged Illusions", it is supposed to be for beginners, but even having been self-taught in Photoshop Elements and used it for years, I couldn't believe how much I learned from it.

Now I can't wait to find time to play with what I've learned so far!

All 5 fiber/mixed-media collages

I thought it might be helpful to show, in one place, all 5 of my fiber / mixed-media collages that will be included in Virginia Spiegel's ONE fundraiser for the American Cancer Society (ONE Cause, ONE Wednesday, ONE Hundred Collages).

Traveling Companions

Heat Source

In Search Of

The Reach

The Wanderer

Please go to Virginia's blog posting for "Tips and Techniques" on bidding for your favorite artwork.  And remember that the opening bid amounts are only minimums ... since this is a 100% tax-deductible fundraiser, higher amounts are certainly accepted and encouraged.  Here's a brief summary of how it will work:

On Wednesday, February 16, ONE Hundred Collages will be offered with a minimum donation for each collage of:

$160 for two hours (10 a.m. – Noon CST)
$80 for two hours (Noon – 2:00 p.m. CST)
$40 for two hours (2:00 – 4:00 p.m. CST)

Have fun!

Heat Source

We're getting close!  Virginia Spiegel's ONE fundraiser for the American Cancer Society (ONE Cause, ONE Wednesday, ONE Hundred Collages) is happening next week!

Here is my fifth piece going up for grabs on Wednesday, February 16 ...

Heat Source

Heat Source, and the other four pieces (seen in earlier posts) are a part of my Journey Series, exploring new ideas, techniques, and personal philosophies.  Although these 5 pieces were created in a concentrated frenzy of creativity, I am also continuing the series in different formats.  There is much left to explore!

All 5 pieces are mounted on 8"x10" 140-lb. watercolor paper, titled and signed, and ready for framing if desired.

I think we have all been touched by cancer in our selves, our families, or our friends, and Virginia has done a tremendous job in raising so much for research and treatment through the ACS.  I don't donate money to many causes, and can't afford to donate my artwork at all ... except through Virginia and her efforts.  In recent years, Karen Stiehl Osborn has also been working tirelessly with her for the Cause.

I want to thank both Virginia and Karen, from the bottom of my heart.  Through them, I've not only been able to make a meaningful contribution to a cause near and dear to my heart, but have also been able to start and nourish a small collection of artwork by my favorite fiber artists.

To quote from Virginia's own website for the ONE Fundraiser:

One Hundred Collages – Created for this event by an all-star team of artists: Natalya Aikens, Pamela Allen, Laura Ann Beehler, Liz Berg, Pokey Bolton, Laura Cater-Woods, Jette Clover, Jane Davila, Jane Dunnewold, Jamie Fingal, Gloria Hansen, Leslie Tucker Jenison, Lyric Kinard, Jeanelle McCall, Linda Teddlie Minton, Karen Stiehl Osborn, BJ Parady, Judy Perez, Wen Redmond, Cynthia St. Charles, Virginia A. Spiegel.


Please join us for an exciting event of art viewing and collecting, on Wednesday, February 16.  Don't miss it!

In Search Of

Here's the 4th from my "Journey" series, which will be available during the one-day ONE (One Cause, One Wednesday, One Hundred Collages) fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, created and sponsored by Virginia Spiegel.  I wish you could see the textural quality of these five mixed-media collages, I'm afraid my photos don't do them justice.  Each one comes to you signed and mounted on 8x10" heavy-quality watercolor paper, ready for framing if desired.

In Search Of

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, February 16 ... 

the ONE day you can grab collect your favorite collages 

by your favorite fiber artists!

(I think you will be able to take a preview peek

on Tuesday the 15th.)

The Wanderer

Another in my series of five mixed media fiber-art collages for Virginia Spiegel's ONE (One Cause, One Wednesday, One Hundred Collages) fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.  All 5 of these fiber-art collages are very textural, consisting of stitched canvas, rusted silk, paints and inks.

The Wanderer

Don't forget to mark your calendars for Wednesday, February 16 ... 

the ONE day to collect your favorite collages by your favorite fiber artists,

and contribute to a most worthy cause at the same time!

The Reach

Here's the second in my series of five mixed media fiber-art collages I'm donating to Virginia Spiegel's ONE (One Cause, One Wednesday, One Hundred Collages) fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.  I will be posting an image of another one each week leading up to the event..

The Reach

This event takes place ONE day only:  Wednesday, February 16th!

Please mark your calendars and join us for the excitement.

100% of the funds raised will be donated to the ACS.

Traveling Companions

From my "Journey" series, here is the first of 5 collages I'm donating to Virginia Spiegel's ONE (One Cause, One Wednesday, One Hundred Collages) fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.  I'm very honored to have been invited to participate in this Fiberart for a Cause event.

Traveling Companions

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, February 16 ... the ONE day you can grab collect your favorite collages by your favorite fiber artists!

ONE Cause

Deadlines ... what would we do without them?  I just finished sending in images of my 5 fiber art collages for the One Cause, One Wednesday, One Hundred Collages fundraiser, created and organized by Virginia Spiegel and Karen Stiehl Osborn.  This was an Invitational to 20 hand-picked artists, and the deadline is January 1.  I was so relieved to get my collages finished, photographed, and entered, with even a few days to spare!


The goal is to raise $8,000 in one day to add to the $205,000 already donated to the American Cancer Society through Fiberart For A Cause.  Mark your calendars for Wednesday, February 16, 2011 ... in fact, you should probably start checking it out a day early.


There will be a direct link from Virginia's page to all the collages at least one day prior to Wednesday, February 16 for a preview and all the details about how to acquire your favorite collage(s). Collages will be featured periodically on her blog and Facebook Fan Page prior to February 16.


Don't forget ... you can do some fabulous art-collecting, tax-free!  All donations for artwork will be made directly to the American Cancer Society online through FFAC here on Wednesday, February 16 and donors will receive an immediate receipt from the ACS.


Be there, or be square, as we used to say ... most of us have had people in our lives who have been touched by cancer, and this is a tremendous way to honor a either survivor (even yourself!) or someone you love who has died from this disease.  Plus ... ART!

"ONE" FiberArt for a Cause Fundraising Event!

One Cause - The Fight Against Cancer One Wednesday - February 16, 2011 One Hundred Collages - Created by this all-star team of artists: Natalya Aikens  Pamela Allen  Laura Ann Beehler  Liz Berg  Pokey Bolton  Laura Cater-Woods  Jette Clover  Jane Davila  Jamie Fingal  Gloria Hansen Leslie Tucker Jenison  Lyric Kinard  Jeanelle McCall  Linda Teddlie Minton  Karen Stiehl Osborn  BJ Parady  Judy Coates Perez Cynthia St. Charles  Virginia A. Spiegel  Links are to their websites/blogs

Please mark your calendars to participate in this event!  I'm honored to be an ongoing participant in FiberArt For A Cause (FFAC) events.  Since its inception, FFAC artist-participants have raised over $205,000, and 100% of the funds are contributed to the American Cancer Society.

Another Collage Mania Supporter

I just love it when someone supports a great cause out of the goodness of their heart ... and pocketbook. Iris Karp http://www.mistyfuse.com/, besides producing my all-time favorite fusible web, is one of those people who puts her money where her mouth is, and always puts a little public service announcement at the bottom of her ads. Here's one, in the latest Quilting Arts Magazine, for a cause near and dear to my heart ... Fiber Arts for a Cause, currently calling for artists to participate in Collage Mania.

In case my scan isn't clear enough for you to read, her blurb says, "Buy art and find a cure for cancer! Collage Mania is May 5-7, 2009. Submission deadline is April 1. Learn more at www.virginiaspiegel.com."

FFAC's founder, Virginia Spiegel, has all the information you need at http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/CollageManiaCall08.html. Step up ... do something good ... and have lots of fun while you're at it!

Collage Mania Opens Monday

Get your motors runnin' ... Virginia Spiegel's Collage Mania
http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/CollageMania081.html,
to benefit the American Cancer Society, is opening Monday morning at 9:00 a.m. CST, to run for ONLY two days. See her blog for more info. http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/blog/archives/770 and for some answers to some Frequently Asked Questions.

Here's are some more "teasers" for you ...


Asian Fall by Angie Platten


Creation Story by Joy Hellman


Full Circle 2 by Sherrie Tootle

Get your emails ready to send, and your trigger finger ready to hit the "Send" button at 9:00 Monday (and/or Tuesday) morning! I know I'm excited ... Good luck!

IT'S HERE!

Collage Mania Preview Week -- It's here at last!


Sun Please, by Inge Reinholdt

At last, the much-anticipated Preview of all 235 collages created by over 100 artists worldwide, which will be available for purchase on May 5 and 6, 2008! Collage Mania 2008 is organized and managed by fiber artist Virginia Spiegel. Virginia explains:

"Preview Week is a great time to browse through the collages, make your shopping list, prepare an e-mail to send me (note: for which collages you want to acquire!) and ask any questions you may have about Collage Mania and how to acquire the artwork."

FUNDRAISING TO BENEFIT
THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY

Virginia and her team of supporters organized Collage Mania 2008 to benefit The American Cancer Society. Virginia is also the founder of Fiberart For A Cause which has raised more than $150,000 for the American Cancer Society in the last several years.

HOW TO ACQUIRE A COLLAGE

Virginia provides detailed information about how to acquire a collage on the Collage Mania Site. It's fun, it's exciting! Preview all the wonderful artwork, make your choices ... and have your email ready to send off on May 5 and May 6! Then you will have not only some fantastic new artwork for your collection, but also the satisfaction of having helped a most worthy cause.

I've got my choices already made ... keeping my fingers crossed that I get at least one of my "first" choices, but knowing that ALL of my choices are wonderful! Dive in, have fun, and help Virginia raise more money for the American Cancer Society.

Got Jeans?

After catching Allison and Tracy Stillwell (the Artgirlz) on this morning's episode of Quilting Arts TV, I remembered that when I took a class with them at Quilt Festival last November, I had been inspired to decorate a pair of jeans ... but of course had never gotten around to it.


Soooo, since I needed something to wear to a Crawfish Boil being thrown by my friends Mary Ellen and Mike this evening, I thought I'd hurry up and collage a pair that I'd already painted. The painted iris was beginning to fade, so it wouldn't hurt to do a little more decorating. Here is the result ...



"Big City Girl with Her Hair on Fire"