New bleached photos & complex collage class

Good morning! I am posting a couple more bleached photos this morning. As I've said in the past, this is a process I just love doing I have quite the collection.
I also signed up for my 2nd online class called Complex Collage with Julie Prichard & Chris Cozen. The website is: http://julieprichard.squarespace.com/complex-collage/
Class starts April 1st & I am excited. This looks a bit different than any collage I have ever done. Go by & check it out. Have a great day everyone!

And The Two Winners Are...............

Happy Monday morning everyone! My son pulled two winners from my bowl of entries last night. As you can see he selected the 3rd & 19th posts. The two winners are
Elsina of http://emsarts.blogspot.com/
& Tweedles of http://tweedles-georgie.blogspot.com/
Congratulations to you both. I will have your winning in the mail tomorrow.Thank you to all that joined in.

New Fabric Collage

Good morning bloggers! I have completed another fabric collage that I am posting this morning. I finally did a family one. This is my son & I back around 1969 or so.
He was around 4-5 years old which made me about 20-21 years old. It measures 21x22 inches. The photo was taken by my husband. This is actually one of three collages I am working on right now. Hope you enjoy it & hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
I will be drawing two winners tomorrow for my giveaway.

GIVEAWAY GIVEAWAY GIVEAWAY!!!!

Good Monday morning everyone! I am starting this new week with some giveaways.
I have continued making picture after picture with my image transfers. I have an unbelievable collection right now. Selling on Etsy just does not appeal too me as it sounds too much like "work". My sister suggested I just start doing monthly or weekly giveaways. I think that was a great idea. Sometimes it's so hard to find time to do art but I love blogging & I am not letting go of that for ANYTHING!
Soooooo.....giveaways it is! I am offering 2 image transfers this week. The top one is a Mucha image & the bottom is from a vintage postcard, if I recall correctly. They are both 6x8 inches. I will draw two winners on Sunday, March 21st.
GOOD LUCK!!

Check out this gorgeous boy!

I am posting a picture of Cooper this morning that I had done by Rebecca at artdogblog.blogspot.com. This is their "painterly" style & I love it! Cooper is so gorgeous, you'd never know he was born in the back of an old rusty car. He is just as sweet as he is beautiful. Thank you so much Rebecca! Stop by & chec k out her work.

Bleached Photos with Instructions

I am posting some bleached photos this morning with instructions. I've had a few requests since OWOH to post these again. Here it goes..............
This method was covered in Karen Michel's book, Complete Guide to Altered Imagery (pictured.)Get this book! It's one of my favorites out of probably 100 art books. The process is really quite easy with the only draw back being you need to use 35mm photographs. You can't bleach an ink jet print (to my knowledge.)
You can add some additional things to the photo prior to the bleach dip. You can place texture plates or rubber stamps under the photo & press down firmly for a textured look in the background. You can also sand the photo a bit (kind of a grunge look) with fine sandpaper. That adds a nice look also. You place gel medium (I use Golden) over any area of the photograph that you want to resist the bleach. Sometimes I just dip the entire photo without using any gel medium.
I mix 2 bowls (not too deep) with water in one & a 50% bleach/water solution in the other. Dip your photo in the water 1st & then into the bleach solution for 6-10 seconds or so. You can experiment a bit with the time. When you remove it from the bleach, dip again in clear water & wash off the excess. Let dry.
I add water colors & use the Caran d'Ache Neocolor II Artists' Crayons to add additional color. Give it a try...it's so much fun! These photographs are all from my husband's collection. I do love the wall of clogs photo taken in Holland.

New Collage

Good Friday morning! I've had company this week & I've had a blast. My sister came back to California for a visit & we took some play time. We each made a collage & it was so much fun. The collage measures 15x17 inches. This one contains my first quote. Boy, was that shaky! All in all, they turned out very nice. I will post a pic of Gail's collage in a couple of days. Yesterday, we stopped to do some of the last painting in my kitchen. Got the ceiling done & wall behind the stove. It looks quite nice. Only thing left is the back splash & handles on the cupboard doors. FINALLY..I am reaching the end but not without Gail's help!
Have a very nice weekend everyone!

Good Wednesday Morning to All

My son & I just got back from a short trip up north to our 2ND property in Paso Robles. I told you about how green all that rain was going to make our hills. It was a wonderful drive up & back. The hills are absolutely GORGEOUS! The first pic is shot from the top of our property & looking to the left. This area is called Independence Ranch & there's 10 acre parcels in there. Yes, a lot of weed wacking & rototilling! Nonetheless.....it is a beautiful spot. The 2nd shot was taken on the road, through the central coast. The top photo I was so excited about. I could barely see that little bird in my lens but the pic came out great!
Now, I am off to prepare my OWOH giveaways for mailing. Have a FABULOUS day! We are looking at another 80 degree day here...don't hate me! Next week, it's suppose to dump on us again. That's okay though because the hills are going to be even more beautiful!

212 COMMENTS & 22 NEW FOLLOWERS LATER....WE HAVE 3 WINNERS!!

Good morning everyone! We have picked three winners for my OWOH giveaway but before I announce that I want to extend my gratitude to all that participated. I ended up with 212 comments & 22 new followers through this fabulous event. I am AMAZED! Thank you Soooooooooooo much to all of you that dropped by & left comments. I hope you all enjoy your winnings!

The third place winner for the 3x5 in canvas of mother & child is......
Susan at http://piecesoffatesusan.blogspot.com/

The 2ND place winner for the 9x12 inch pink canvas is.................
Debby from http://thegatheringnest.blogspot.com/

The 1ST place winner for the top 9x12 inch canvas is.....................
Wrightstuff at http://all-the-wright-stuff.blogspot.com/

A big congratulations to all of you! THe winnings will be mailed out on Wednesday or Thursday of this week.

Saucer Magnolia tree & OWOH winding down

Good morning! I had to take a shot of my Saucer Magnolia tree in bloom now. This tree is so beautiful (until the petals fall all over the front porch)that I had to get a shot of it. It's probably the only thing in my yard that looks nice this time of year. The tree is probably 15-20 years old.
I'm also posting another bleached picture as I can't seem to keep my hands out of that stuff. This time I sanded the pic a bit as well as pressing it on a rubber stamp for some background texture.
OWOH is now winding down. Looks like Lisa had a total of 1105 participants which breaks the previous record. This is the most AMAZING event. I can't wait to do it all over next year. A BIG thank you to Lisa Swifka at http://awhimsicalbohemian.typepad.com/a_whimsical_bohemian/one-world-one-heart.html

Kitten (CAT) Update

Good morning everyone! It's pouring here in Southern California this morning! Our hills are going to be so green....I can't wait to take some pictures.
I guess you all remember our kitten rescue last year. Mama cat had 5 babies at our 2ND property. These three pictured today are the three of the five that we kept. We still have the Mama too. I will get a picture of her next time. I had a little fun with Cooper. He's a very good little model! They are all wonderful cats & we love them dearly. I just wish my husband could see how beautiful they all turned out.
Her is:

COOPER
CHLOE
COSMO

Bird Collage Inspired by KC WIllis Class

Good morning everyone!Here we are, mid week already...where does the time go??
I have completed another collage using a bird as my main image this time. This is another one inspired by KC Willis & her collage camp class. This one I did a little smaller at 11x9 inches. Hope you enjoy!
Remember:::::::::You have until February 15th to get in on the OWOH giveaway. It's now up to 961 participants. Don't miss out on this great event!
Have a GREAT Wednesday!

New bleached photos

Since I can't seem to grab enough time to start an art project, I am posting more bleaching pics. They are always fun to look at. My son just had his gallbladder out & it's been a bit busy. He is doing fine now, thank goodness but still a bit sore.
I am going to bring out a bag of fabric today & start moving on my next collage.
Make sure you all enter the OWOH giveaway. It's going on for the next two weeks & winners will be drawn February 15TH. In checking Lisa's blog this morning I see 859 participants...WOW! Join in for the fun!

It's Time!!!!! ONE WORLD ONE HEART BLOG EVENT

It is that wonderful time again for One World One Heart Giveaway! As you can see this year we are riding the magic carpet & I invite all you bloggers to join in.
This event has been organized by Lisa Swifka in an attempt to bring bloggers together from all over the world. Well, she certainly succeeded at that with this being her 3rd year now. Starting with approximately 85-90 participants in 2007 to 911participants in 2009 representing 28 different countries. WOW!!!
This year I am going to have 3 THREE giveaways! This is how it all works:
1) You must leave a comment to win
2) I must have a link or email to get back to you in the event that you do win
3) The contest ends February 15th 2010 & the winners will be announced that day.

Best of luck to all of you!

1ST giveaway Image transfer 9x12 flat canvas



2ND Giveaway Image transfer 9x12 flat canvas



3RD Giveaway image transfer 3x5 regular canvas w/edge

Get Ready for One World One Heart

Monday is the day that One World One Heart begins. I will be posting all the information on Monday. You can pop over & check out Lisa's blog

http://awhimsicalbohemian.typepad.com/a_whimsical_bohemian/

to see if you would like to join in the fun.
I am also posting a couple more bleached photos. My husband really did take some great pictures along the way & I am so lucky to have a gigantic bag full of 35 mm prints. As you can tell, this has been one of my favoritee things to do.
I hope you all have a great Thursday!

BOOOOOO and it's not even Halloween!!

Online Class Was A Success-New Collage

I finished my project yesterday with my fabric collage through the KC Willis collage camp. The class was just wonderful. I was very nervous about taking an online class but my worries were for nothing! KC was brilliant! I loved the class & now I will be on the hunt for more online classes.
I have posted 3 pics this morning. The collage is 16x18 inches & consists of fabric placed on canvas. I am very pleased with the results. Check out that little zig zag stitch on the image transfer. The sewing machine was a breeze...More worry for nothing! If any of you have contemplated taking a fiber collage class, I highly recommend KC Willis. Hope you all have a great weekend!

Bleach, Bleach & More Bleach

I can't even begin to tell you how much I love bleaching photographs. I am having such fun with this process. It really is like magic!
I've posted a before & after picture, one of my favorites of a motorcycle & some advertising, & the top one....good old graffiti in Holland.It's really amazing how beautiful some of the graffiti is.
Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Two of my favorite boys

Good morning! I have been delayed a bit working on my collage due to a muscle pull in my back. I am hoping to wrap it up by tomorrow or the weekend at the latest.
I am posting 2 pics this morning of two of my very favorite boys in the world, Dexter, my beautiful bengal boy (under the blue robe & Cooper, (one of my gorgeous little stray cats.)
The kittens are around 10 mos old now & doing wonderful. I will post pics of the other two when I get some good shots.
Happy Thursday, everyone!

Update on Fiber Collage

Good morning everyone! My fiber collage is coming right along. I have everything layed out & now the scary part begins. I have to use that white thing I have posted a picture of this morning. Oh my gosh....I hope I don't destroy everything I've done with stitches that run wild! My hubby bought the sewing machine a few years ago so HE could do some sewing. I NEVER thought the day would come that I would be sitting in front of it! Keep your fingers crossed!!!
I am also giving you just a sneak peek at the image transfer I will be using in my collage. I hope to have it all done by the end of the week.
Happy Tuesday!

More Bleaching

I am in the process of gathering supplies for my new collage class & have found just about everything. I am so EXCITED! I can't wait to actually start putting the piece together. But for now....I have quite the supply of bleached photographs. I actually hit the jackpot a couple of days ago & found a HUGE plastic bag full of 35mm photographs. My husband rarely left home without a camera in his hand. I am sooo glad now that he took so many pictures. I am posting a tipi shot he had as well as a log cabin. I thought they both turned out very cool.
Happy Hump Day!

Stepping Into Unknown Territory

Well, I have taken the plunge. I promised myself I would sign up for an on-line class in 2009 & I finally did it. It took me until 12-30-09 to do this but I did it.
I am taking a collage class with KC Willis of http://collagecamp.ning.com/ & it is working with fabrics & apparently some sewing. That's a place I thought I would NEVER go. I really don't like sewing but I've seen so many gorgeous collages come out of KC's classes that I had to give it a shot. After all, I can't keep bleaching photographs forever, even though I love doing them. This will be very cool to try a new process & I am quite pleased with myself that I took the jump. Check out KC's site, you will love it!