Karen's Muse and Musings

Gothic Arches

I have been wanting to do a piece for the Gothic Arches challenge for some time. This week's theme, Halloween/Spooky, is right up my alley. This little piece is definitely mixed media, combining painting, collage and digital art.

It isn't my best artwork, but it definitely was fun to do. I think I'll use it as a card for next Halloween.

Speaking of Halloween, I recently read another blog that said something about Halloween being a recent holiday. That is definitely not true. Here is a quote from Word of the Day:

Today's word is a shortening of Allhallowmas Even (evening), the vigil of All Saints Day (November 1), the day on which all the saints are honored. However, the celebration originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain [so-win] held on the last day of the Celtic calendar to celebrate the end of summer and beginning of winter, the season of death. The Celts believed that on that night, the line between the living and the dead evaporated and the spirits of the dead returned to mingle with those of the living.

Happy Allhallowmas Even or Happy Samhain, everyone!

Wednesday Stamper

This week's theme for Wednesday Stamper is "growing old." The theme was a great challenge for me, and I believe for others as well. As collage artists we tend to focus on the young and what is perceived as beautiful, but honestly there is real beauty in a face lined with experience and wisdom.

I found the image of the old man on a CD of stock photos I've had for some time. I love his smile and the twinkle in his eyes. It made me think that inside there was a soul of a little boy, and that kind of attitude keeps us young, at least at heart.

To represent his "inner child" I used Andrew, one of the images that I'm selling on my collage sheets. The ledger sheet is a stamp by Stampington & Co., and the flourish stamp and text stamp on the background are by B Line Designs.

Ciao!

Of Mail and Art

Today was one of those days I wish I could clone and repeat and repeat and repeat again. The sky was clear and blue, and there was a definite autumn chill in the air. My day was filled with making art and receiving amazing mail — a perfect day.

I'm participating in a house-themed fat book for the PaperWhimsy Yahoo group. The assignment is to make the front of the page represent the outside of our house and the back of the page represent the inside of our house. My muse leads me; that is I generally don't have a specific theme in mind, and if I do start with a theme, the muse generally takes over and leads in a different direction. I ended up with the outside of my house (the front of the page) depicting summer, and the inside of my house (the back side) depicting winter. You will probably notice I couldn't forgo having birds on the pages. [I wanted to spell forgo with an "e" — forego, but the dictionary says that forego means to go before in place, time, or degree; precede, but my meaning to do without; abstain from; give up is spelled forgo. I have to say it looks weird!] 

Now on to my phenomenal mail day ... My studio is upstairs and faces the front of the house. I usually see the mail truck drive up and go down to greet the nice woman who delivers our mail. I wasn't expecting any packages today, so I was quite surprised when she parked her truck and came to the house. I can't recall receiving so many wonderful surprises in one day.

Here they are in all their glory. My English friend, Sue, sent me a package of goodies from the Bronte Museum. I love the novels of the Bronte sisters. In fact, my favorite novel is "Wuthering Heights." I'm thrilled Sue thought of me and sent these beautiful postcards and keychain. Joanne sent me a package of her beautiful new collage sheets. She definitely has a way with Photoshop. I also received Barbara McGuire's new book, Creative Canes, and the first issue of the newly revived Victoria magazine. (I think I need to lock myself in the bathroom so I won't be disturbed!) Vicki sent me her original art using Molly, one of my images I'm selling on my collage sheets. Here's a closer view.

And last but definitely not least, I received my copy of the Cherished Circle fat book from the PaperWhimsy group. Laura was the hostess, and she put together a beautiful book. Here's her cover.

Isn't it beautiful? Ciao! (I'm on my way to lock myself in the bathroom. That way I can have all the privacy I need to cuddle and peruse all my precious mail!)

Just for Fun

Since I came back from Chattanooga, I've had all these creative ideas whirling around in my brain, and I've been playing in my studio. I needed to finish the spreads in my friend Karen's calendar journal, so first I did a digital collage for one of the spreads.

Then I made some copper earrings that I'm absolutely in love with.

Then back to Karen's calendar for some more Halloween fun.

Finally, I finished another collage sheet. This one is Henry — what a precious little boy! You may recognize him from my last post.

Ciao!

It's a boy!

I feel like I've just given birth! I have been in labor all week trying to create a piece of art, and this baby did not want to be born. On my work table, there are at least 3 false starts — backgrounds, a pile of birds I've cut out, and other assorted images and words. Finally, at 1:55 p.m. today, he arrived. He weighs 1 ounce and is 8 and a half inches long.

All kidding aside, I'm calling this piece, "A Good Boy," for the poem by Robert Louis Stevenson where I found the words. It is my entry for this week's Wednesday Stamper. I used a stamp from Stampington & Company with gold acrylics on the background. The image of the little boy will be on a collage sheet fairly soon. His name is Henry, and I must thank my sister for finding this adorable little guy and giving him to me.

I'm off to Chattanooga this weekend with my friend Shirley for the StampScrapArtTour convention. We'll be staying at the famous Chattanooga Choo-Choo. Weather-wise, I think it will be a perfect fall weekend. I'll give you a report on Monday. Ciao! (or maybe I should say choo-choo!)

It's beginning to look a lot like...

Halloween at our house. I think I love Halloween more now than when I was a kid, and these days there are so many wonderful decorations out there to set the mood. It's so much fun to go to the Michael's store to see all the scary stuff. My favorite is a skeleton that automatically comes out of a pirate chest or perhaps the life-size moaning mummy. Here at home, my decorations are much more conservative. Here's our front door.

A couple of years ago, I made paper jack-o-lanterns that are covers for each little light on a string of Christmas lights. That's why I put the electric cord up around the top of the door, but in true Karen fashion I can't remember where I put them. Hopefully, I'll find them soon.

Beside the front door, I have a banner hanging.

Here is a quilt I made to celebrate fall.

I also have a quilted table runner with 3 jack-o-lanterns that I made. I think it's in the same safe place with the jack-o-lantern lights. Maybe I'll discover this place by October 31.

Finally, here's a little arrangement in the kitchen.

My husband found that jack-o-lantern can several years ago. Don't you just love it? The amazing haunted house was made by Mary Franzenburg, and I was extremely lucky to receive it in a swap this fall.

I hope you're enjoying Halloween at your home. Ciao!

New Website

I have totally revamped my website, The Art of Karen O!. I have a page featuring my new collage sheets for sale. Check out the new look!

Serendipity

My friend Aileen at Outside the Margins is now selling mini shadowboxes. She asked me to do a nature-themed one, and this is what I came up with. I'm calling it Birdstory. The box is less than 8" tall, and the little square cubbies are only a little over an inch in size, so it was a little challenging, but I like to work small. Aileen has 4 different styles, and they are all cute.

Here's the reason for the title of this post. The  white curly paper strips are strips of text that I randomly cut from a book. When I was completely finished, I was looking at the strip that falls across the egg in the nest. On it are these words "safe and happy." Amazing, huh?

I've also been working on this vintage photo to add to my line of collage sheets. It is not finished yet, but I had to share the transformation. Here's the before photo that I call "Unhappy Bride."

Now here is my work in progress that I call "Happier Bride." I love Photoshop!

 

Golden Evening

After yesterday morning's golden beginning, the whole day sparkled. I love autumn  — the light, the shadows, the colors and the cooler air.

The gold of the sun remained within me all day inspiring me to use gold in my art. Last night I worked in Christy's pock-et-FULL book. The pocket itself is in shades of gold with gold stamping.

Here's the art that fits into the pocket. I started by building up layers of torn papers; then I sanded away some areas and glazed over it with acrylics, using gold paint applied with a rubber stamp and gold paint along with the edges.

The words are excerpted from a poem by Alfred Tennyson.

I hope you have a golden day. Ciao!

Golden Morning

I wish I had a photo that captured my first glimpse of the outside world this morning. It rained here last night (much needed rain!), and this morning when the sun was still low in the sky, golden fingers reached through the leaves caressing winking water droplets and sparkling spider webs. The entire world seemed bathed in gold.

I've recently discovered a blogger who does manage to capture fleeting moments like this with her camera. I go to her blog again and again to be inspired. You can check out this amazing blog at Q's Corner.

I completed a page for the pock-et-FULL round robin last night. This page will go in Leslie's book. I used Theodore, one of the images from my new line of collage sheets.

Here's the tag in Theo's pocket. The quote is from Robert Louis Stevenson.

Finally, here's the reverse side. I have to pay homage to my sister, Lauren, here because this was totally inspired by a recent work of hers. I just wish I had her way with watercolors!