Oct 31, 2008

A Few More . . .

Okay, I'm really done posting today - 3 in one day, am I obsessed? Busy weekend ahead so I'm getting it out of my system ahead of time. I am training a new substitute muse so that we work better together. We're warming up and ended up with a few more pieces made last night and today. If you like "I Spy", you can find parts of these too before they were transformed in my "mess post" from last night.

Envy Fairy . . .


copyright October 31, 2008 by Marsha Jorgensen
3 x 5 collage using vintage pic reprinted and hand-colored, Dover clipart, ribbon, rubber stamping, watercolor

Bright Fairy . . .

copyright October 31, 2008 by Marsha Jorgensen
3 x5 collage using vintage pic reprinted and hand-colored, Dover clipart, paper ribbon, watercolor

Big Baby Fairy . . .


copyright October 31, 2008 by Marsha Jorgensen
3 x 5 collage using vintage pic reprinted, Dover clipart, paper ribbon, watercolor

Glow Fairy


copyright October 31, 2008 by Marsha Jorgensen
3 x 5 collage using vintage pic, Dover clipart, ribbon, rubberstamping, and watercolor

Happy, Happy Halloween!

My first "commissioned" work . . .

Okay, not commissioned as in I get paid for it, but commissioned as in someone wanted me to try making some pieces (for free of course) using their 3 little girls - my brother's nieces actually (but not my girls, his sister-in-law's if that makes sense - don't want to confuse anyone although that's fun to do sometimes.) Okay, so maybe the word "commissioned" is a little powerful for this experiment. (I can be so self important sometimes) Anyway, I quickly just took one picture each of them while visiting in Las Vegas, kind of praying the pics wouldn't turn out so I wouldn't have to try this. But, the pics were okay, not great, Brooke wouldn't smile - thought I'd try anyway. So, here they are - much harder for me with only one pic to choose from (and muse obviously still in Las Vegas). I can at least check that chore off the list. They just don't have the same mojo as using vintage pictures and having many to choose from to get just the right one for that moment, that creative urge. So, Cha Cha, I'm being not brilliant again! Flop city!


copyright October 31, 2008 by Marsha Jorgensen
3 - 5 x 7 collages using UN-vintage pics reprinted and hand-colored, Dover clipart, paper ribbon, watercolor

A little work done . . .

Well, working without my trusty muse that usually makes things fall together much quicker and without days of arranging and rearranging, I muddled through a few pieces acceptable to post before the weekend.

Shopping for Fairies . . .


copyright October 30, 2008 by Marsha Jorgensen
3 x 5 collage with vintage pics reprinted and hand-colored, vintage receipt, Dover clipart, paper ribbon, watercolor
Don't you wish you could just pop in the market and pick out your own fairy to take home?



Fairy Sisters . . .


copyright October 30, 2008 by Marsha Jorgensen
8 x 6 collage using vintage pics reprinted and hand-colored, ribbon, Dover clipart, watercolor
You can see this one, and the one above, in progress in my "mess" post below.


Pondering Fairy . . .


copyright October 30, 2008 by Marsha Jorgensen
5 x 7 collage using vintage pics reprinted, ribbon, Dover clipart, watercolor
I think she looks like she is pondering something. She seems to like black and white but not everything can be seen so clearly.

Oct 30, 2008

I'm a mess . . .

Still no work to post. I know there are people that will somehow end up here and leave immediately because I have no work up - darn visual people who don't like to read. I am still muse-less - struggling through a wall of "can't do anything right". So, here's some pictures to prove that I am at least making a mess if not making art. This is just one of my art working desks . . .

(maybe you'll see the makings a future piece here, in it's forming, pondering, thinking about stages - how thrilling (with sarcasm))


(pieces I've cut out the last few days)







Now I'm "It" . . .

Not "it" as in the new "It Girl", but "It" in a fun little game of tag. Oooohhh, my first cyber tag game. Miss Linda is keeping me busy today and has generously been chaperoning me into art blog land for some weeks now. Not only did she tag me today but she took my breath away with an undeserved feature of me in her lovely blog today - ME, little ol' ME! Yippee! I do feel a little "It-ish" this afternoon thanks to Linda. Like I commented on her blog, now I want to send her a really big thank you gift - like a car or something. I'm really doin' the cabbage patch dance, maybe even a little lawn sprinkler action. If you haven't seen Linda's blog, it is the one place I stop everyday. She has such interesting things to share - to see and to read and she is so very positive and kind. Her beautiful home has been featured in many publications (which you can tour through when you visit her blog) and her art work is delicious and unique and clever. I would normally be so intimidated by her apparent perfection and perfect life and perfect house and perfect family and perfect art, but she is too nice to let you feel that way. Now, I've got dibs on the spare room in her house if one should ever become available so don't be thinkin' you can butter her up and take my place. I'll be happy to just eat all the candy she enchantingly displays on her counter and take in all of her marvelous collections of the coolest things on earth.


(SOME of Linda's candy - aren't you so jealous?)

Okay, sorry, I digress . . . the tag game. The rules are these, when you get tagged you must:

~ Link to the person who tagged you.
~ Mention the rules.
~ Tell six quirky yet boring, unspectacular details about yourself. (This shouldn't take long in my case. I'm all about quirky and boring and unspectacular)

1. I am afraid of buttons. Yes, I have some kind of phobia about them. I've had it as long as I can remember and it is well known (and taken advantage of) by my friends and family. Buttons that are loose, dangling or have already fallen off are the worst - I cannot even touch them. I kind of react like most would to pulling hair out of the drain only with heart palpatations and shortness of breath - can't even look at a lost button.

2. Hmmmmm . . . .(Okay this is harder than I thought - maybe I'm trying too hard to be spectacular though I know you're not supposed to be) Uh . . . Okay! I have one . . . I've only been making collages for about 2 months and have no idea what I am doing. I graduated with a BFA in graphic design 20 years ago and have only used my degree to teach elementary art and work as a scenic artist on the movie Love Field (I painted most of the sets and the interiors of all the vintage buses they used but I didn't get listed in the credits because I quit before the movie was over). I never worked as a graphic designer since leaving college and I have only made 5-6 pieces of my own art in 20 years until this summer. Here's the last piece of art I made before this summer - the only one I made in about a 15 year span . . .


(this is a little picture - the piece is about 18" x 15" - It was muslin that I dyed and painted and cut apart and put back together - only made one of these pieces)

Maybe that is why I have no artistic confidence. I just need to make more, ALOT more.

3. I used to play pool in a leauge. In fact, just over a year ago my team won the South Coast Championship and got to play in the National Championship in Las Vegas (where they were immediately defeated). I played both 8 ball and 9 ball (my husband played on my 9 ball team with me too - that was our date night every week) but had to quit when we moved here to Eagle Rock. I miss it but it took up a lot of potential art making time.

4. If you google me you will see lots of hits but only two are really me. If you google my husband, you will get two big ones even an imdb and msn.com result and a few others. (Kent Jorgensen) I wonder what the other Marsha Jorgensen's are like - they seem much more important and successful than I. I don't care about the other Kent Jorgensen's - I like the one I got, famous or not. Here's a picture of us . . .



It may be the only one you ever see because I hate looking at myself. We knew each other about 10 months when we got married in a chapel in Las Vegas - July, 1988.

5. If I ever decided to have surgery to fix something I didn't like, I would get new toes. I could use a smaller nose and bigger boobs, but better, prettier, straighter toes with perfect little symmetrical nails that I would show off with extravagant pedicures is what I day dream about. I have a crooked toe. My mom broke my foot tying my shoes too tight when I was a baby and it was not treated properly, so my right foot has a crooked toe. My left big toe has gotten the dreaded old lady toenail fungus and is looking pretty gross - it's hard to explain, but the next time you see old lady toes think of me. It's a tough thing to fix because most insurance doesn't cover it and medications (that are only 70% successful) can cost as much as $400 a month. Toe replacement surgery seems a better option to me.

6. I don't like to eat. If there was a pill you could take to feel full and satisfied all day, I would take it. I hate preparing food, wasting the time to eat it, and above all, hate cleaning up after cooking. Big gulps (of coke) and slim jims would be my regular diet if I didn't have kids to raise properly and without neglect. I do like putting all the healthy food I buy in the fridge though - it makes me feel good to know if the children police ever came to the house to check on my ability to take care of my kids, they would see a very clean fridge full of healthy food (that no one eats and we throw out and replace every week).

Oh! That's six. Now that I got the hang of this, I could go on and on. I'll save some quirks for another time. So, thanks, Linda for tagging me - that was fun and enlightening! I've probably lost any readers I had, but that's the way it goes. They see the real you and it ain't always pretty.

Now, who to tag? I'm thinkin' Tace or Jill. Tace is my new friend in blog land - she kept me rollin' and laughin' and typin' til very late last night. You can meet her before she becomes a rich and famous author. (maybe she already is and I don't know it, incognito) But, she might see this as a kind of chain letter deal and I don't want to scare her away (yet). I met Jill in a yahoo group for beginning altered art artists and her work spoke to me and inspired me to give this all a whirl and really, changed my life as it turned out. But Jill has returned to real job world and may feel stressed about another thing to do when she didn't expect it. Ah, heck, I'll risk it and tag 'em both.

Is this the longest post ever blogged?

Oct 29, 2008

This one's a winner . . .

I simply must insist (as if I had that power over people - "insist" . . . who do I think I am? okay, highly encourage) that you take a few minutes and visit this blog http://t2net.com/blogtace/ (also in my links list as "All Kinds of Stuff") Go to the post titled "An Understanding Marriage" for instance - I am still giggling . . . sea water - these are my kind of people, my husband and I would sit and hang with these folks, they are right up our preverbial alley. Anyway, for those getting ready to scold, I have not hovered here all day, but in fact have used the reward system for myself: if I go to the market, get to read a bit, if I actually put the groceries away, another reading reward, a shower counts for double time, etc. Has this helped me find my misplaced mojo muse? No, in fact, it has made me think I should trash the art supplies and just read her blog all day everyday - at least I'd be amused and save money at the same time (no more wasted art supplies!) I don't know, but she just hits a chord with me. I hope you enjoy her as much. If I knew how to send those blog award thingys I would send her one (you probably have to get one before you can send one, so that'll never happen), but maybe one of you can do it for me. She gets a gold star in my grade book. And, she needs to be writin' a book or column somewhere.

Okay have to add a picture of something for those visual people that don't read and only look at the pictures (kind of opposite of what my husband tells me about certain publications, isn't it?) Here is my only sad accomplishment of the last two days . . . I call her Fairy Plain Jane because (accept for the crazy big hair . . . okay, and big head) she is pretty plain and boring. So am I, baby, so am I. I'm feelin' ya . . . (though I don't have big hair, maybe slightly larger than average head, but I'm not really sure)


10/29/08 copyright Marsha Jorgensen
5 x 7 collage using vintage pics reprinted, Dover clipart, ribbon, watercolor, and ink

I did lay out a couple of other pieces but have to do more than I did with this one. I feel so incredibly lazy and dull this week. Maybe I can't visit Tace's blog til I really put in some effort . . . nah.

Oh, before I go, have to tell you. I went to Trader Joe's today (are they everywhere or just CA?) - cool market. Anyway, an older lady dropped her free sample of something and a very nice younger lady picked it up and tried to hand it to her and the old lady hit her repeatedly with her purse and told the younger lady to leave her alone. It was surreal. I have never seen an actual old lady hit someone with her purse until today. Wow. I felt so bad for the younger lady - bet she thinks twice the next time she's tempted to be helpful.

I haven't bought a pumpkin and other stuff . . .

I've lost it. I've lost my mojo. I go out of town a few days and I can't find my funk, or I'm in a funk. Don't know which.

I cut out a million collage pieces on my trip, so many that my right index finger has been numb since Saturday night from holding those darn little scissors. I expected to come home and whip out art like Edward Scissorhands flies through topiary and ice sculptures. No such luck. I have no brain cells, not one creative impulse. I have worked on the same piece for 2 and a half days and it is as plain as can be.

So, I go surfing blogs and artist sites for inspiration, some spark to flame the creative fires. Instead, I find myself leaving comments on complete strangers blogs about the gay marriage initiative on our CA ballot (comments were invited in a sort of round table discussion but I still can't believe I did that - not like me to enter such a discussion with strangers, I'm such a whatever floats your boat kinda gal, who am I to say anything about something so controversial?) and this morning I wrote quite a bit about dish drainers commenting on another blog (a really cool one I found today - such a witty writer! I was snortin' and gigglin' quite awhile: http://t2net.com/blogtace Anyway, nothing comes to me in the way of working through my creative wall. And now, I feel even worse because not only am I not creative, but I realize after reading other blogs I'm not witty either and my blog looks like crapolla compared to most that I visit and I feel I have nothing to offer the world in any redeeming or at least entertaining way.

To top it all off, I haven't bought a pumpkin yet. My house is a mess, I'm still in my pajamas at nearly 11 in the morn, my big gulp is almost gone (and getting kinda watery - don't you hate that? yes, I went and got it in my pajamas and flip flops - I'm pathetic). I haven't unpacked and I've been home since Sunday and I need to pay bills. So, what am I to do? I sit and ponder shower, clean, go buy pumpkin, work on art tomorrow? Or clean, shower, work on art and buy pumpkin tomorrow? Am I gonna actually carve the darn thing anyway? That is the saddest realization of them all - my kids are at the age they could care less if we have a pumpkin let alone even dream of helping carve one. You know what that means? I'm old too!

Okay, I'm going to go look for my mojo, maybe it's still in the suitcase. Hope I didn't leave it in Vegas in one of those evil slot machines that sucked every thing else out of me (brain cells, confidence, optimism, money)

Since I like blogs with pictures I'll find one to leave for you, another freebie . . .


. . . another from the Library of Congress, no restrictions. Wonder if she liked being called the Bimbo of Bombay? Kind of fun to say I guess. I'm the Bimbo with no Mojo.

Oct 28, 2008

Deleted post . . .

I had shared a little private grieving earlier today - I needed to do it, purge, worry, be sad, think out loud. It is good to do that now and then but it has its place and its time and should not overtake us. Whether sharing in public or thinking in private, our losses are always with us and help eventually reveal the path we choose to take, influenced by experiences, memories, and the people we have met along the way and what they have left us with to carry on. I'm carrying on . . .

Off to soccer game tonight (for 1st and 2nd place!) No art but prep work, research, and errands today. More of that this week but hopefully will finally get some new stuff completed and posted in the next day or two.

Here's a freebie for you . . .

. . . from the Library of Congress, no restrictions known. Enjoy!

Oct 27, 2008

Wouldn't everything be better . . .



. . . if we all drove around in cars like this? And it was always sunny and warm . . . And there were no bugs to swallow or get in your eye.

Ah, well, even that would get old and monotonous sometime. Sunny and warm gets old here in southern CA when you grew up with all four seasons. You need some salt and sour now and then to make the sweet taste good.

Anyway, saw this while crossing the street in Las Vegas (and putting my life in danger - Nevada drivers are worse than California drivers I would argue). Had a lovely time but losing money gets old after about 24 hours and you realize you are probably just not one of those other people you hear hootin' and a hollerin' after they struck it rich on the machine where you just left 2 hours of your life you'll never get back and $20 (or more). Pennies can take a long time to lose but can add up fast for the optimist that keeps foolishly believing things have to turn around some time for you - of course, the true optimist would never play a slot machine. They would believe the money would fall into their lap without such a ridiculous waste of time.

So, I'm back and even poorer, but happy to be home. Laid in bed with a severe migraine most of today and now feel as if my head was squashed like the pumpkin I saw on the street. But tomorrow will be better and I will get back to work. I've missed everybody - have lots of email and blogs to catch up on!

Oct 19, 2008

I'll be away for a few days . . .


copyright Roadsidepictures at Flickr

Yes, lucky me! I get to go with my husband to Las Vegas this week. He has to work and I get to play. I can't wait! Hope to take lots of fabulous pictures and win millions of dollars (though that is more of a challenge playing penny slots as I do)! If I do win millions of dollars, I'll buy lots and lots of other people's art - something from all of you! Maybe I'll buy everything in the whole etsy site! It's good to have a dream . . .

Please keep enjoying the Halloween party below, organized by lovely Vanessa from A Fanciful Twist. I'll keep the party music going through the 31st. I won't have much access to a computer while on my trip, so please know that I will follow up with comments and emails when I return! Can I live without blogging or posting new work for a whole week? I'm not sure I can do that! I am taking lots of yummy pictures with me to trim and fairy lore books to read when I'm not doing anything else - that will help the withdrawal symptoms. I'll be back soon - please visit again!
New work will be posted next week. Have a good week everybody!

What a party!


from The Graphics Fairy

Well, I've visited many of Vanessa's party guests, but not all. It may take me awhile. And, so many places I have to drop back by to look a lot more. So many talented and creative people in the world.

My party continues through Halloween - stop by any time! Visit the party post below to enjoy some treats and music! And be sure to see my "scrapbook pictures" in the post and in the slideshow at the bottom of the page if you have time. Thanks to all that have visited, emailed, and commented - it's been so fun to meet you! And, I have enjoyed visiting your parties so much. Unfortunately, (well fortunately too - I love my kid!) I am off to soccer games today!

Oct 17, 2008

Velcome . . . I mean, Welcome . . . to the party!

Be sure to turn the volume up if you'd like to listen to some special party music!



I'm so glad you stopped by for my party. I thought I would share a few pictures from my scrapbook with you while you visit. Let me introduce you to some of my old and more eccentric friends.

You simply must see the Pumpkin Pixies perform . . . I've seen them dozens of times. It is so amazing how they can juggle all of those pumpkins and carve them at the same time, dancing to music no less . . .

10/17/08 copyright Marsha Jorgensen
3 x 5 collage, vintage pic reprinted and hand-colored, Dover clipart, watercolor, ribbon, ink


This is The Great Swami, Sanji VonTwinklehundi . . .


10/17/08 copyright Marsha Jorgensen
6 x 8 collage, vintage pics reprinted and hand-colored, watercolor, ribbon, ink

He has taught me, yes, little ol' me, to channel the spirits and reveal the secrets of the unknown to those that dare to inquire. After many, many hours of practice and focusing exercises, he has bestowed his blessing on my whimsical abilities to read your future. He has lent me his pet bird, Shadow and I (while harshly rubbing my temple with one hand and taming Shadow with the other) will tune into the spiritual world to tell you the answers you find your soul thirsting for.

If you are an artist, visiting this blog, and wondering if you shall receive fame and fortune for your artwork . . . the answer is becoming clearer . . . it's getting closer . . . it's . . . I see a y and an e . . . YES! You WILL receive fame and fortune for your artwork.

If you are an artist, visiting this blog, and wondering if you are wasting your time and may wander into a quagmire of misfortune and failure . . . I am seeing something . . . it's very foggy . . . but something . . . I see it . . . there it is . . . the answer is NO! You will never fail at any creative undertaking you assign yourself and have good luck forever!

I have many more pictures to show you, but I know you have other parties to visit. And, I'm feeling a bit weak now . . . fortune telling takes so much from me. Before I fade away, let me also introduce you to Sparkula, The Pumpkin Lighter . . .


10/17/08 copyright Marsha Jorgensen
6 x 8 collage, vintage pics reprinted and hand-colored, watercolor, ribbon, ink

This is the fairy that makes sure your pumpkins stay
lit on Halloween. Leave your jack-o-lanterns out on your porch to welcome your guests and she will flit by now and then to make sure they stay aglow with the warmth of your home. By the way, she loves pickle sandwiches if you'd like to leave her a thank you treat.

Speaking of treats, I have some for you . . .

Some Beetlejuice perhaps?







Maybe some candy . . .



Don't forget to take your party favors before you go . . .



A candy apple and a bag full of a billion gazillion dollars and some good wishes, just for you. Thanks for coming! Please come back - you're welcome anytime!

Oh, I almost forgot about Hilda Sneaksnatcher . . .


10/17/2008 copyright Marsha Jorgensen
5 x 7 collage, vintage pics reprinted, watercolor, Nostalgiques sticker, Dover clipart, ribbon, ink

. . . be warned! She takes your treats and pumpkins when you're not looking!

Thanks to my husband, mom-in-law, and daughter for decorating for the party and taking some pics for me! It's been an exciting day around here and I couldn't have gotten it all done without their help. Love you guys!

If you'd like to visit other parties, be sure to stop by our host's, Vanessa's, to see the list!

Ooooooo . . . can't wait for the party!




Some of us even have our party hats on . . .



We'll get the party going here at Tumble Fish Studio just after midnight with some new pictures of my more curious friends made just for this occasion!

Oct 14, 2008

A little more today . . .

Blue Whimsy . . .


10/14/08 copyright Marsha Jorgensen
5 x 7 collage, vintage pics reprinted and hand-colored, watercolor, ribbon, Dover clipart

Mocha Fairy . . .


10/14/08 copyright Marsha Jorgensen
3 x 5 collage, vintage pic reprinted, magazine pic, watercolor, ribbon, Dover clipart

Bird Fairy . . .


10/14/08 copyright Marsha Jorgensen
3 x 5 collage, vintage pic reprinted, watercolor, ribbon, Dover clipart

Flower Fairy . . .



10/14/08 copyright Marsha Jorgensen
Artist Trading Card, vintage pic reprinted and hand-colored, watercolor, Dover clipart

Bedtime Fairy . . .


10/14/08 copyright Marsha Jorgensen
Artist Trading Card, vintage pic reprinted, dresden butterfly, watercolor, bleach, and ink

One last note of the day . . . if you haven't visited Vanessa's "A Fanciful Twist" blog (it's over there in my list), you need to. She is just amazing and creates such a little piece of neverland for fairy wannnabe's and even muggles. What an incredible talent and creative person. I want my fairies to live in her world. Anyway, she is having a halloween party that you need to check out. I'll be crashing it, maybe in costume!

From the last couple of days . . .

Autumn Fire Fairy . . .


10/13/08 copyright Marsha Jorgensen
3 x 5 collage, vintage pic reprint, watercolor, ribbon, Dover clipart, Fantasy Film stamped strip

Simple Fairy . . .


10/13/08 copyright Marsha Jorgensen
3 x 5 collage, vintage pic reprint, watercolor, Dover clipart

Shell Girl . . .


10/13/08 copyright Marsha Jorgensen
Artist Trading Card, vintage pic reprint, watercolor and bleach, Fantasy Film stamped strip, Dover clipart

Rose of the Junk . . .


10/13/08 copyright Marsha Jorgensen
3 x 5 collage, vintage pic reprint, watercolor and bleach, Dover clipart, ribbon

Turtle Girl . . .


10/13/08 copyright Marsha Jorgensen
3 x 5 collage, vintage pic reprints, watercolor, Dover clipart

Quality Boy . . .


10/13/08 copyright Marsha Jorgensen
3 x 5 collage, vintage pic reprint, watercolor, Dover Clipart

Oct 10, 2008

Double Drat, drat, drat . . . and aaarrrggggghhhh!

So, I posted this piece earlier this week, it was my favorite to date. It took so long to coordinate colors and pieces and cut out and arrange and glue layers that overlapped and tangled together. Earlier this evening I went outside to my paint booth to seal it - I've been using a spray matte sealer with no problem until now. I'll let you see what happened . . . (before sealing on the top, after on the bottom)



So, another piece ruined in the sealing process. I have no idea what happened on this one. Maybe I didn't shake it up enough though I thought I did. I put this question out to the universe that might be reading . . . How do you seal/protect your pieces? I tried using gel medium on one piece posted earlier and it blurred the pictures and made things wrinkle and I did the "do over". I don't know how to use bee's wax. Is a class involved to learn how to use the bees wax? I am so frustrated.

I will make this piece over though it's not near as fun the second time using the same idea, I just really liked this one because it had the nuance of my "fish world" I live in. In a more perfect world, I would use all vintage one-of-a-kind original pieces in my work, but I cannot afford such a vast library of pictures and ephemera yet and it is nice to have the back-up of the scanned or digital pieces just in this situation since I seem to screw up as much as not. Aaarrgghhh . . .

Friday Afternoons . . .

. . . I volunteer to teach an Artist Trading Card class for K-5th grade students for a couple of hours at a nearby elementary school where my mom-in-law works. Last week we made sun prints. Today we used geometric and organic shapes to make our own printing plates and mixed primary colors to get secondary colors as we combined multiple plates on one surface. I hurried to take the pictures as kids were running out the door so I didn't take good ones (I really need to work on my photography skills) but here is some of their work. They are so much prettier in person. I love how these kids work with such joy and freedom and little self doubt - willing to try anything and so content with their results, as they should be.

(a few of today's prints using handmade foam printing plates and magic foam stamp impressions, red and blue ink on yellow paper - most of these are Kindergarten and first grade)






(last week's sun prints using found objects, light sensitive paper, and the sun of course)