Good Mail
I've gotten very behind in posting pictures of all the good stuff I've gotten in the mail lately . . . I am one lucky girl. Sometimes I've traded things, sometimes I've purchased, and on top of that I just have some very generous and talented friends.
From my friend and amazing artist, Stephanie Rubiano . . . some really awesome swag! The picture below is linked to Stephanie's website. I received a tote bag, zippered cosmetic bag, mouse pad, and beautiful cards. These items were printed by Stephanie from some of her original structural art pieces for which she is widely known. As her website says, "where history and whimsy collide" . . . I've been a long time fan of Stephanie's work and use of actual antique objects in her work. She was the pioneer into this type of work and is still the Queen!
From my friends Denise Phillips and Joyuslion I received some lovely ATC's (on the left, from Joyuslion) and tags and antique postcards (on the right, from Denise). The tall divine lady (from Denise) in the middle is on a stick that sits in a tin bucket on my desk from where she watches me work all day. She's always looking right at me. LOL Denise just recently hosted a wonderful tag swap on her blog, Birdnuts Mixed Media, that featured my Tumble Fish Studio and my friend Nancy Baumiller's Crowabout StudioB shoppes at DeviantScrap.com. Joyuslion used to be on my Creative Team and remains a special Tumble Fish friend.
Awhile back, my friend Constance Taylor sent me the most beautiful hanging doll - my 'Patron Saint of Artists'. She also hangs next to my work desk so I can look at her often . . . sometimes say a little prayer with when things aren't going well. LOL She's a real beauty! The picture below is linked to her Etsy shoppe.
Last Summer, my Tumble Fish Creative Team worked on a project directed by Trudi Sissons (Two Dresses Studio) that combined TFS images with Craft Attitude art film. The project, 'Sisters with Attitude', was featured on Craft Attitude's website and Facebook. It was lots of fun and got a great response. Not long ago, Trudi sent me a truly lovely and touching gift: a book made from the original artworks from each Creative Team member for that Craft Attitude project. Though I had seen the work online, the originals just took my breath away and the book Trudi designed to showcase them is just absolutely gorgeous. The pictures below are linked to Trudi's Facebook page. While the whole Creative Team contributed their amazing talent and works to the book, I linked to Trudi since she directed the project. Renee Stien created the paneled canvas piece in the back.
I'm always afraid when I do a post like this, I'm going to leave something or someone out. I have gotten so many lovely things in the mail and sometimes get so excited about them I hang them up right away or arrange them in their new home and forget all about blog posts. But sooner or later, they tend to show up one way or another in the long run. Like I said, I'm so lucky to have so many generous and talented friends!
New Project
I've been sharing a bit on Facebook lately . . . I've decided to build a dollhouse. I had a tin metal dollhouse when I was a child, which I loved, but as adult, I remain fascinated by miniatures and decided to finally see if I could build my own house, mainly to quench my thirst for tiny things. One of my most favorite tourist sites I've visited in traveling the U.S. was the "Worlds' Largest Collection of the World's Smallest Versions of the World's Largest Things". (we saw it in the middle of Kansas a few years ago) Well, it's taken a month to research and gather the beginnings of this endeavor. We decided to buy an inexpensive kit to just learn from. Here it is "built" (we just put it together temporarily) . . .
We are not really going to use this kit. We're going to use parts of it as a template for the house we are working on. The final house will actually be 3 stories high + the attic. So far we've gathered the wood to cut, the siding, working windows (that really open and close), doors (including a screen door), a dormer window addition for the attic, roof shingles, crown molding, flooring, porch posts, "gingerbread" trims, baseboards, battery powered lighting (we didn't want to mess with wiring the whole house), paint, glue, and some tools. As soon as my husband has a free weekend, we're going to cut the house out of 3/8" birch and start building.
I couldn't resist making a little something for the inside. We'll wait to collect furniture and interior decor until there's a little more money saved up, but I had to have something so I found a tutorial online and made this little chair this weekend out of foam board, mat board, cardstock, wooden dowels, Thermolam Plus, fabric, thread, glue, and about 9 hours of time. It is full of flaws and imperfections, but I'm pleased with this first ever attempt.
copyright Marsha Jorgensen 3/27/2014. All rights reserved.
copyright Marsha Jorgensen 3/27/2014. All rights reserved.
copyright Marsha Jorgensen 3/27/2014. All rights reserved.
copyright Marsha Jorgensen 3/27/2014. All rights reserved.
For Spring
I had a chance to play with my friend Tracey Parker's Hidden Vintage Studio's "Animal Crossing" kit at DeviantScrap.com. You can find the kit HERE. Tracey likes slightly "dark" imagery so I made this for her especially . . . (full image credits below picture)
Happy Spring
copyright Marsha Jorgensen 3/27/2014. All rights reserved.
Digital. Images from Hidden Vintage Studios' Animal Crossing kit at DeviantScrap.com. Also used Tumble Fish Studio's Dozens, Dreams - Yonder, and My Little Queendom kits at DeviantScrap.com.
Digital. Images from Hidden Vintage Studios' Animal Crossing kit at DeviantScrap.com. Also used Tumble Fish Studio's Dozens, Dreams - Yonder, and My Little Queendom kits at DeviantScrap.com.
Well, that's the scoop from my little fishbowl! A few more odds and ends to to do today and then I'm back to making image kits for a few days.
