eenie, meenie, miney, MORE! (a.k.a. Digging Deeper)

(click the above image for the Treasure Map - that's the post with all the participants)

This week I decided to share some of the events that I have happily participated in since starting my blog. It's these events that challenge me on so many levels. Sometimes they allow me to contribute to worthy causes; they also act as a catalyst to a whole new world of artists.

This first flashback is the reason that I am here at all:

Pink Artists Community Doll Project - 4 Squares

I don't even know where I came across the call to artists, but I sure am glad that I did. Did you happen to notice that the post was basically a laundry list and had no mention (other than in the title) of what I made the squares for ... or how I had all of six comments (two from me & one from uber-spouse ... mhmm ... still a keeper) ... funny how a little time can change so much. Many of you reading this know all about the Pink Artist Doll Project, but for those of you hearing about it for the first time, be sure to go HERE ... this is especially timely as there is a really cool Block Party in progress - details can be found on my sidebar.

Next up ...

Two Shrines



Slightly humorous sidenote ... there was a little bit of a bidding war on both shrines (which of course was a HUGE boost to the ego) ... come to find out they were between my mom & my mom-in-law.

(giggles are quite appropriate here)

In case you are wondering, each of them ended up with one.


And because this one actually goes sort of hand in hand with the one above ... AND is going to be the launching pad for this year's Cigar Box Auction, I have to include:

Dia de Bloglandia



I love, love, LOVED everything about this whole event & am really looking forward to this years celebration ... I hope that those of you that were not involved last year consider joining in this time around.

Thanks again for stopping in! ... and don't forget to visit Seth's post HERE ... be prepared to stay a while ... I only had time for a sneak peak, but can tell you there's some real goodness going on over there.

Results ... Update ... Reminder

That's right, it's official! The Pink Artists Project has come to an end ...

$3,028.34

was raised to benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure

.

.

.

How about that update on the Red Art Project?

After my last post I ended up painting over all the sponging in solid red ... I am happy to see the umbrella's pop again:

The piece is still in progress, so stay tuned ...

... BUT ...

... I am forced (I admit it, willingly forced) to take a pause on

The Red Art Project

What?!?

What could possibly pull me away from it?!?

Did you forget?

.

.

.

This Saturday is:

And I have a few suprises in store for the PARTY!!

Come back on Saturday

... you just might win a PRIZE ...

Only One Week Left!!!

There's still time ...

... to THINK PINK!

Click on the above picture to entry the drawing for

*** LOVE SQUARED ***

or one of the many other beautiful offerings.

100% of the monies raised will be donated to:

Susan G Koman for the Cure

Moonlight Squash Blossom & Pink Pretties

Not too long ago I was visiting Cat's blog and she posted a few items that she had just finished. All of the new pieces were stunning, but one just sang to me. For days I would go visit her Etsy shop just to drool (ok ... also hoping that nobody had purchased it, either) and finally last week I was in a position to treat myself to a prezzie ... drumroll, please ....

Tada!

My new necklace, Moonlight Squash Blossom, arrived in the mail on Monday:

here's a detail of the piece:

Pictures really don't do this stunning little work of wearable art the justice it deserves.

* sighs *

AND

This past weekend I also recieved my package of little pink pretties from

Amber Dawn's

Think Pink Charms Exchange:

Above is a group shot and the next four are close-ups.

(Feel free to click on any photo to see larger versions)

I can't begin to tell you how impressed I am with each of these amazing little pink creations and feel so lucky to have them. I will definitely wear them with PINK ARTIST PRIDE!

... and think about this ...

all of this came about thanks to a community of people answering

Monica's

call to artists for a very special project ... speaking of which, the drawing for

Love Squared

& other fabulous artful prizes is still happening ...
the drawing is open until October 15th, so go check it out.

Cranes Revisited

Sometimes I get an idea in my head and reason doesn't seem to fit in ... the sky is a strange gray (remnants of Fay and her continuous rainy bands - she pretty much passed us by with only a day of high winds and rain; we've actually had more rain in the days since she traveled north and expect even more throughout the weekend, but we've been really lucky) and it's a bit gusty outside, but I just HAD to try to take photo's of the cranes earrings that are done. I didn't get a single decent shot of the first set that I took, so uber-spouse tried to convince me to wait until morning when the light would be ideal ... stubborn is as stubborn does ... and sometimes it pays off.

Here's a shot of the black and white pair:

and a close-up of one:

and a close-up of one from the light blue pair:

I have about 18 fishhooks left, so can make 9 more pair before I'll need more materials. I also have it in my head to start a canvas covered in cranes ... one of these days.

Dont forget about the Pink Artist Drawing :

As of August 23rd, $1,557.85 has already been raised! Woohooooo!!

AND there's still time for you to participate, too!

Click the picture above for more information.

Welcome to SW Florida ... or a Study in Clouds

I can't believe that it's been a week since I have written. It isn't for a lack of things to report, but for having too much going on ... I simply haven't been able to slow my mind down. Part of it is being preoccupied with these two incredible magazines:

(You can click on the covers to purchase them on-line)

Of course I had to run out and buy Art Doll Quarterly as there is an article by magnificent Monica Magness of Girl Gone Thread Wild on our beloved Love Squared (have you bought your raffle tickets, yet???). The article was really lovely and the photographs beautiful.

Not only that, but the cover article is on one of my favorite artists - Vanessa Valencia from A Fanciful Twist. Once I had read it cover to cover (and back and forth again and again and again) I raced out to the bookstore to pick up one of the last two copies of Artful Blogging - Vanessa is featured in Artful Blogging, too ... along with a number of brilliant other artists (that I am chomping at the bit to visit) ... if you haven't had the chance to check them out, I do think it's worth your while. :)

Last Monday Don and I ran away from home for a couple of hours (critter had a date with rockin-awesome Grandma). We went to Stump Pass. It was HOT and muggy, so we weren't there for our usual 4 hours, but definitely long enough for Don to catch (and release) a few fish and for me to find some cool rocks, sharks teeth and some pretty cool cloud shots. Believe it or not, the next three photo's were taken from the same spot.

This first one is facing the gulf - look how lovely the water was:

I turned around and took these next two:

Can you believe those clouds rolling in?

This one was taken just up the beach (on the way back to the auto) within just a few minutes of the first three:

and then this one was just simply a lucky capture:

I wish I had captured the prehistoric looking crane with just the sandy background so you could see how amazing these crazy birds are, but I have to admit that I love that I captured it just as it was taking flight. You can click on any of the images to see a larger version of the photo.

I have also been working on some artsy stuff, too. I don't have photo's to share, but might be able to get some before I go back to work on Tuesday. OK, I have taken a long enough break - I'm working on a brochure for my friend Deirdre ... she's been way more than patient, so I need to work the kinks out and send over a proof to her.

Know What Tomorrow Is?!?

August 1st!

if you are completely clueless about what I am referring to then either

A) You are brand new to my blog & should click on a Think Pink image

B) You've been living under a rock & should click on a Think Pink image

OR

C) You are an alien visiting from another planet & should click on a Think Pink image

Every donation counts ... every penny makes a difference ... YOU can be part of that difference

... AND ...

there are some spectacular prizes being offered in the drawing

(please click the image below to be dircted to the "prizes" page)



Be part of the cure!

Please help us spread the word!!

Crane Charms

It's time to share a little mixed up progress on the crane charms (first mentioned HERE) ... this first image is the first batch of cranes post dipping into the Petal Porcelain Setting Agent. I had used decorative papers (rather than thin origami sheets), so the paper was a tad too thick for the size crane (1 1/4" square) I folded:

I was really happy to learn that the setting agent really fortified the cranes - they have hardened really nicely. With this first batch I followed the directions on the bottle and dipped the cranes in the goo and brushed the excess off. I set them on wax paper overnight to dry. Due to the amount of product on them, the bottoms "puddled" slightly which took away the crisp points ... since then, I have thought about how to improve on this and think that simply brushing the setting agent on (in stages) might work better ... that and using thinner origami papers ... so I have folded a bunch of little cranes (there are about 10 more than pictured ... if I'm going to fold one, it's just as likely I'll fold 10 or 20 or 100 ...) ... these are folded from 1" squares and 1 1/8" squares:

The papers are still very pretty and the cranes came out much more precise.

The picture below is a condensed version of the process. The papers in the background are (or were) 6" squares of origami papers - in pinksl, of course. The diamond shapes are cranes in progress, the two completed cranes on the left have not been dipped or brushed and two cranes on the right are two from the original test batch (dipped):

Below is another dipped crane from the first batch. I still like the decorative papers that I originally used, so will be trying to slavage some if possible. Here's one that I am hoping to save (it has also had a coat or two of diamond top coat polish applied):

Even though I have a feeling that this second batch is going to be better than the first (fingers crossed) I did want to do a prototype of the charm that I was picturing - the next two pictures are the first completed prototypes:

Amber Dawn let me know that she can only accept one set of 12 charms from the participants for the Very Special Think Pink Charm Exchange. Considering the whole idea is to provide Monica with additional raffle items, this totally makes sense. I already completed a set of twelve sparkly pink ones (see the previous post), so I'll be sending those out to Amber Dawn for the exchange ... BUT ... she has given me the go ahead to send two of the completed crane charms, too - if they are high enough quality, she will be use them on the raffle bracelet(s). Wouldn't that be cool?

Being involved in both of these projects has been more satisfying than I could possibly ever explain. I am humbled by the experience and grateful to have been exposed to such an inspiring, kind, creative community of generous hearts. My faith in the world & humanity has been restored ... tenfold.

does anyone know how ...

... to make paper more durable/solid?

I have been working on a few ideas for the Think Pink Charm Exchange, but nothing is hitting the mark ... I really, really want to figure out how to make paper cranes that are sturdy ... they'd be perfect for the project (remember the Sadako Sasaki story?) - appropriate, don't you think?

I have these wonderful pink papers that would be perfect to use, some super fine glitter and pink Swarovsky bicone crystals that I could suspend from the center for an extra little sparkle ... I can totally see them and really think they could be terrific ... if anyone has any suggestions, I would be most grateful.

A Little of This and a Little of That

Amber Dawn is hosting another charm exchange, but this one is has an added bonus ... make 12 charms and get 10 back ... the remaining 2 will be part of charm bracelets that are being donated to the Pink Artists Drawing ... how cool is that?!? For more details click the button below:

And just in case you haven't yet heard about the Pink Artists Drawing, go here:

I imagine you just might be delighted.

(if you are interested in seeing the squares that I made, click HERE)

two more things ...

• As I type this, dates are still available for the 2009 Diary Project ... go check it out (artwork isn't due until 7/1/08).

AND

• to the lovlies that won my birthday give-a-way ... I am getting really, really close and am pretty confident that I'll be able to ship them by Monday. :)

Life is Way Better Than Good

I recently visited Amber Dawn's page (to let her know that I had completed my 25 charms) and came across something pretty cool ... the Diary 2009 Project ... when I checked it out (plus examples from the Diary 2008 Project) I decided to give it a shot ... well to be honest, I emailed the host & asked if May 29th was still available - I told myself if it was, I was in ... it was and I am! I'll be sure to post what I come up with ...

... ooooh! even better, maybe I'll try to do a couple of designs and let YOU pick the one you like best.

Click on this image:

You know that you've been curious ... so, GO AHEAD!

In other news ... turning 40 is the BEST! - everyone has been so amazingly wonderful I think I just might burst! You might remember that I have a tradition of celebrating my birthday for the entire month of May (if not, go here for the scoop) and this year has been a May to remember. I hope y'all don't mind humoring me as I run down the highlights:

a set of rechargable batteries

(it should be noted that I take LOTS of photo's and go through batteries like water)
sushi for lunch (delivered by uber-spouse & cool-kid at work)
a birthday card from a co-worker every Tuesday since May began
a FABULOUS facial (by the aesthetician at the salon I work at)
a new (and well overdue) haircut (by one of our Master Stylists):

(it should be noted that prior to this I had nearly no layers, long bangs & it was past my shoulders)

the first season of Battlestar Galactica

(I hadn't seen the show till visiting a girlfriend in Phx & mentioned I wish I had ... she remembered)

a chai latte and chocolate covered espresso beans (delivered to work by uber-fam)

a movie date (with wicked-cool-mom-in-law) to see Sex & the City this weekend!

a shopping spree (for a new outfit - also with wicked-cool-mom-in-law)

a Monica Magness doll form extraordinaire

(purchased from her Etsy store, but packaged with bonus treats)

Across the Universe (the movie - which I like a lot)

Stardust (the illustrated book)

beautiful art postcards by A Fanciful Twist

(purchased from her Etsy store)

and this really fab card from a set of twins that I adore:

AND ... in just over 4 hours I will officially be 40!

Don't forget to post a comment on my "It's My Party" post if you'd like to be included in the give-a-way drawing.

I think I should mention that I am a self proclaimed novice crafter (that still dreams of growing up and being an artist one day). I am making all the "party favors" for the give-a-way myself ... I can't promise any "high art" or perfect little pretties, but I am having fun making the favors & can guarantee that they are made from a happy place & imbued with much love.

Like I said ... life is better than good. :)