The Weather Outside is Frightful so Let's Make ART!

Winter... you either love it or hate it. Since I didn't have to go anywhere today I used this opportunity to work in some of my journals and talk about this and that. (Chris you get a story told about you)

Making Something Cool from Something Decidedly UNCOOL

It's my super power. I make stuff. I make cool stuff. I can't help, it I just do. Here's something cool I filmed today.

Art Journal Junk Journal Just Plain Cool Journal Flip Through

I hope you enjoy my little show off moments lol

Current and Future Journal Projects

Channel Trailer for DancesWithPitBulls

Back on YouTube with a Junk Journal Flip Through

Listen to me talk about one of my junk journals. 

Changing of the Tide

Life is a constant ebb and flow of mundane matters. Sometimes the tide comes in bringing either good times or bad times. Sometimes the tide goes out taking your peace of mind and sanity with it.. The only thing you can count on thing is change.

I'm all for change. It keeps things fresh. But the changes that have been forced upon me these past few months are not friendly, not warm and fuzzy, not desirable. I have felt betrayed by the justice system as well as family members. I have no sympathy for other's troubles because I'm too wrapped up in my own troubles. Every time I get my feet back under me I wait for the rip tide to knock me back down. One of these days when I get back up I'll probably be swinging a tire iron. I pity anyone within striking distance when it happens.

I don't want your sympathy. I want my peace of mind back.

Library Nazis or How I Found my Library Card

So remember how yesterday I was whining about losing my library card? You see the reason that I knew my card was missing was because I decided I should check my library books to make sure none of them needed renewing. I usually do this on my phone so I pulled up the SHARE website and immediately discovered that when I uninstalled updates on my Chrome  it wiped all my saved user names and passwords Yikes.

 "Oh well, I'll just get my library card and type in the numbers again" she said, not knowing what heartache was soon to come.

After I gave up the search and discovered it was too hot to walk to library, I worked on the big quilt for awhile (it's coming along smashingly) and played in my art journal. Later in the day I still needed to check my books for past dues. I remembered that I could get the numbers from the laptop browser, so I did and logged in. And there were the words I have seen way too many times since I moved to this fair city.

Patron has library assigned blocks.

Again.

What did I do now? Every time I turn around I'm getting blocked. Seriously? WHAT DID I DO NOW?!? I CAN'T EVEN FIND MY LIBRARY CARD!

I have had nothing but grief from a core band of Library Nazis since last year. When I told them I moved and my Ameren Online Acct wasn't good enough for them for proof of residency. Even though I held a valid library card from them. Even though I was there everyday almost since I didn't have internet yet. One day I was borrowing books, placing holds and using their computers and the next day I was blocked from every bit of it. I was pissed miffed but it got worked out eventually. All was until the next week when I tried to download an audiobook from MyMediaMall and found out I was blocked again. Same reason- no proof of residency even though I settled the matter with the Director...

They reversed the block right away but I was still pissed miffed. (I am leaving out bits and bobs to save myself some high blood pressure.)

Soon after this I damaged a book and wanted to pay for it but I didn't want everybody and their brother to hear me tell the story so I made this gesture towards the Director.

 gify.com


Evidently she's from a foreign country where that is an obscene gesture instead of the innocent gesture of "Come here please and don't draw attention to the fact I need to talk to you" like I have used it my whole life. She was furious and told me never to disrespect her or her staff ever again. Then she said it again. I stood there with my mouth open and finally sputtered "I spilled water on a book and want to pay for it" She calmed down but I was still in shock three days later. I thought this woman was on my side. She had called and apologized for her staff and then helped me get the residency thing straightened out. I was beginning to question my sanity.

Not all the librarians were hateful. Some were very nice and helpful. But those few who wielded their powers like Hitler and his henchmen...Ever since those early days of September last year they have been The Library Nazis. That's how I think of them and that's how I speak of them. They ban people right and left. They make sure less and less people come to the library by their actions. (Some people go anyway, like me, just for the sport of it now lol)


I guess one reason it hit me so hard was that I have been a heavy library user since about 1992. H.E.A.V.Y. I home schooled my sons and relied on the Lincoln Trail Library System for loads and loads of books and videos. I had a card In Glen Elyn up by Chicago after that then one in Colorado Springs for 6 years before I came back and had one in Rantoul and Danville before moving to Rossville and getting my present card.  But these people act like I had never had a library card in my life, like I am siding with AL-Queda and like I am simply not to be trusted. Did they even look up my record? Did they bother to find out I always return my books and pay my fines if  happen to get one? I watched a man who just got out of prison get a library card at the Champaign Public Library who got more respect and trust than I have with these people.

I bet you are wondering where this story is going.

Back to the problem at hand. I thought maybe I had a fine or something to cause the dreaded block this time so I checked.

Nope no fines or fees.  Hmmmmmm I better call them...

Well guess why I am blocked even as we speak.

I left my library card at the library when I picked up some holds. They didn't call me, they didn't text me, they BLOCKED ME! They didn't leave me a message online when they did the blocking either.

I'm really curious about why this happened. Can't wait to get some time to go to main desk.

E.T.A. Friday Aug 5 -I got my card back- It is indeed their policy to block people if they leave their card there. It was one of the nice librarians who told me this. I told her it was very unsettling to get blocked for such a reason. I think she agreed but she has no power in the Nazi Regime so she just smiled a sad smile and nodded.
 

Stupid*Cali*Fragile*Lipstick*XP*Alley*DopeUs

I thought by now, two whole days since I last posted, I would feel better. Marginally better at best, but a girl can hope, right?

Not to happen. I am now blaming the weather. I meant to go to the library first thing to beat the heat but of all things... I CAN'T FIND MY LIBRARY CARD!!! I NEVER lose my library card. NEVER. EVER. I have library cards from 15 years ago for Pete's sake. I looked everywhere but the right place. It ate up so much time that it got too hot to walk. I hate summer I really do.

I did have a flash of inspiration early this morning. What about art journal lessons here at my house? I will be thinking about the best way to go about it. Keep the classes small and maybe even do a luncheon type setting.

If you need me I'll be here in the AC working on the quilt, my art journal and whatever else comes to mind.

Nothing But Shoddy Excuses

That's all I have. Piles and piles of shoddy excuses for not blogging. My main semi-legit excuse is that my card reader isn't working and the pictures I post from my phone go to Twitter, Instagram, Tumbler and Facebook but not Blogger and it's not much fun for me without visuals.

Also having motivation problems, I've been very upset these past few months due to my children having issues. Everyone I know is having issues of their own. It's hard to blog with so many issues flying around everywhere. I hate to be gloomy Gus so let's just not talk about any of it, ok?

I did complete the ICAD challenge. Yay n stuff. It was fun and I'll prolly join again next year. The junk journals are still progressing. I found one I started a couple of years ago. It's huge and boy have I come a long way in art journaling. I am adding to it with collage so it's looking better. Gee wish I could show you some pictures. *sigh*

I'm working on a large quilt from baby clothes for a client in Milford. I need to buckle down and get that done so I can do two more for her. NOT TAKING ORDERS AT THIS TIME. Maybe after September.

Chris did you get my text? If you did not get it please email me.

Doing the ICAD 2016 Challenge

Last year I kept  hearing the word ICAD on my fav Youtube channels. This year I found out that ICAD stands for Index Card A Day. The challenge is put on by Daisy Yellow over at her website http://daisyyellowart.com/. You can jump in and start at anytime and you can follow her prompts or do your own thing as long as you MAKE SOME ART! Get some 3 x5 or 4 x 6 index cards and paint, draw, collage, sew... whatever you want. She has a Facebook Group too. The eye candy is mind boggling.

I jumped in feet first ad immediately found I wanted to do more and more and more. They have taken a very personal twist dredging up painful memories but I am soldiering on. Here are the first several:

 Cover Page

 

Mix Tape/text,writing 

 

 Pyramid/Text,writing

 Prompt was Snoopy which made me think of his friend, Woodstock, which made me think of the music fest, which made me think of hippies, which made me think of peace love and happiness.

 Bird inspired by Cat Hand.

 

Typewriter...I used song lyrics I typed on a typewriter over 20 years ago.

 Cloud/Text, writing Poem from an old book on Nature Study Sharie gave me

Top Ten List. True story. All gifts from this list accepted gratefully.

ATCs with Jay (Artist Trading Cards from Playing Cards)

Taught my mini me granddaughter to make ATCs this weekend. We used playing cards, paint, stamps, Mod Podge, and a baby Godfather meme.

Behold the results:

Too much fun I say.

Check out her blog at

jaelynncela.blogspot.com

Where the Mysterious Drawing Went to Live

 I finally bit the bullet and ripped the mysterious drawing from the Hemingway Book. It went to live in my junk journal on the Mermaid Page.

I love it.

Monkey See Monkey Do or How I Trained my Grandkids to Art

I apologize ahead of time for the quality of these pictures. I need a new camera (hint hint).

The past couple of weeks I have had the pleasure to teach my Granddaughters the fine art of mixed media journaling. They picked it up really quickly although they all had different learning styles. The youngest watched me and copied my movements like a pro. Gramma is so proud. I even convinced them it is okay to be a little weird.

I am making an art kit to take with me when I babysit Gabe's girls later this month. We made the girls each a journal when they spent the night this week. FUN FUN!!!

The Mysterious Drawing or How to Freak Yourself Out Without Even Trying

You may or may not know that I love books. I love to read books, hoard books and alter books. To satisfy all of those things I went shopping at my favorite thrift store we commonly refer to as "The FREE Store". Can you say low low prices?

I hadn't been there for awhile so the gal behind the counter gave me a really good deal on five books I picked up- a whopping 45¢ for all five. One was a collected works of Hemingway I selected for the big H on the cover.

When I opened it up I saw this drawing:

I thought "Oh goody a bonus!" I snapped a shot of the sketch and shared it to Instagram and Facebook where my friends proceeded to convince me that Hemingway himself might have drawn this while in Key West!!! Hence I got freaked out without even trying. Had I almost ruined a priceless piece of American ephemera? I had to find out.

Google searches revealed nothing so I felt a little better. However, Dr Donut sent me his findings, which once again had me worried. I asked an artist down the hall at work what she thought and she told me about a used book store near where I work and I set out to get their advice.

I entered the unassuming store and was blown away by the sheer number of books facing me. The lady at the front desk listened to my story and looked at the book. She said since there was no signature, no providence of the book being owned by Hemingway and the fact that these little Viking Books are so common that I could go ahead and alter to my heart's content. Then she told me about a special room up on the third floor for people like me who re-purpose books (WHAT... THERE IS MORE TO THIS WONDERLAND??!!??) I plunged ahead and was again blown away by sky high book shelves and so many books calling my name.

I found a couple of things I could afford (blog about that soon) and declared the Jane Addams Bookstore to now be my favorite place in downtown Champaign.

Here are a few more pics of the Hemingway book. I tried to read it but, uh...how do I say this? I don't care for his writing, sorry old man.

A Glimpse Inside a Private Journal

I have public art journals and private art journals. I force the public ones on anyone who will look at them and I guard the private ones with my life. The thoughts I write down in those are catty and sometimes harsh so I do not share.

However the artwork is share worthy. Weird but share worthy (just like me). I am drawn to the Styles of Teesha Moore, Shannon Green's Journaling by 5s (JB5) and Mike Deakin. I am also following along with Cat Hand as she does Mixed Media Morsels. Look these guys up on Youtube you won't be sorry.

Behold- scenes from my private art journal:

Doing What They Said Couldn't Be Done

I started this particular quilt many moons ago...maybe 2004? I got as far as quilting most of the center checkered part then gave up. Something was off but I didn't know quite how to fix it. I came to Colorado in 2007 or so and there it sat still waiting to be finished. I took the opportunity to take it to Quilt Guild in 2010 for a special program where a committee would look at your problem UFOs and give you some advice. Well guess what? They had no advice for me other than cut off the border fabric and make pillows out of the rest. Not what I wanted to hear. I left the quilt in Colorado when I left in Oct 2011 but it made it's way back to me in April 2012. I didn't have the space to work on quilts until I moved into this apartment. I drug out several quilt tops and UFOs and this one begged me to finish it somehow, some way.

I started by finishing up the quilting in the center then did the ecru inner border. I made some tuck pleats in the hateful outer border then sewed on the binding and hand sewed it down in the back.

FINISHED AT LAST!!!

Is it perfect? No. Does it represent me perfectly? YES! It's made from unconventional materials, it was told it wasn't good enough,  it's been drug halfway across the country and back and it had to wait patiently for its time to come. Just like me.

The Second Memorial Quilt for Lori P Plus a Bonus Gift from Leftovers

Amanda P commissioned two memorial quilts from her mother's clothes, one for her sister and one for herself. I did the first one back in early December so it could be mailed off in time for Christmas. I just finished the second one. It went a lot smoother as I knew what I was doing this time (lol). Amazing how that happens.

Finished size about 34"x34".

I made this rug as a bonus from leftover t-shirt scraps and jeans strips.  I have another one started from the leftovers from the Tennessee memorial quilt also.

Mourning Fictional Characters

 (I originally wrote this back in January but randomly chose a date in the future for it to post because I was afraid someone would figure out at least one of the movies and yell at me for semi-spoiling it)


I have been in a funk after watching a couple of movies recently in which some of my favorite characters died. Bought the Farm. Met their Maker. Bit the Big One. Is it normal to get so attached to people who don't exist except on paper somewhere? All I know is, I have a bad case of the Feels and I imagine the Feels will hang around awhile.

Yeah sorry about that typo there. I was all shook up n stuff when I made this meme.