16--> 3 X 3's for The Artists' Path Exhibit

Today I worked on mini-ART for The Artists' Path July exhibit. 

Started with  12 x 12 Mixed-Media Background Sheet I had prepared at a crop back in February... slice and dice gave me 16 --> 3 X 3 backgrounds to play with today. Nice!

Just some quick sketching and then playing with paint. 

No plans just seeing what *popped* out of each square.

Pure ART THERAPY at it's best-est!!!

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16--> 3 X 3 pieces of Art to send!

 

16--> 3 X 3 backgrounds

12 X 12 sheet before slicing...

 

1-4

5-8

9-12

13-16

Fairy Breezz

Blue Eye

Her Power

Read

Fleur

She-roe

Heart

New Day

Raise Up

'Hi!'

Watching

Flora

Hat

Look Up

Green Eye

Red Eye

Portal #2: Welcome to Wonderland...

Today being the last day Portal #1 is up at *Steampunk 'The Penny Dreadful' Art Show* it seemed a fitting time to reveal Portal #2.

Portal to Steampunk Teaopia, and 1 of the other projects, will be on it's way home after tonight's show closer.
Nothing will be getting unpacked because they're all going to the Canadian National Steampunk Exhibition (CNSE), when we go up at the end of April, to be displayed there.
I will be posting Portal #2 for Sale on Etsy as soon as I get shipping costs figured out. Portal #1 will go up for sale after CNSE is over. (May 2nd-3rd-ish)

Plus I wanted to get this project in for both the
*Welcome to Wonderland* Challenge on Scrapbook.com and
The Altered Alice Chapter #2: (#2 how fitting!): Hall of Doors Challenge
Time, in typical Alice Fashion... is running out for both and I don't want to be late! ;O)

For those who haven't seen the 1st Portal Project here is the Portal Description (again) with the measurements for this one:

Portal: Base: 20 inch X 5 1/2 inch
Height: 17 1/2 inch
Pictured on a Table but can also be hung on a Wall. (wire)

Q: What is a Portal? A: A Portal is a Door.

Q: Door to where?
A: Open the door and find out.
Second in a series of fantastical Doors (ie. Portals) that when opened give you a glimpse at another time...
another place...
another space... You don't know what's on the other side til you open the Door.
You want to know, don't you.
Go ahead... Open the Portal

Portal #2:
Welcome to WonderlandI have only shared a few picture here (10, there are 43 in total) the rest can be seen HERE:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/keepsakescrafts/sets/72157626344494162/
There are LOTS of pictures up close, of the finer details.
I don't want to post too many on the Blog just in case Blogger can blow-up from Digi-Overload! ;O)

I tried very hard to include as many characters as I could:
The Walrus and Carpenter, Birds, Lizard, Dinah, Talking Flowers, White Rabbit, Alice, Griffin, Mock Turtle, Lobster, King, Knave and Red Queen, Pig Baby, Alice, The Cheshire Cat, White Queen, Lion and the Unicorn, Forest Knights, The Tweedles, The Blue Caterpillar, Dormouse, March Hare and of course... The Mad Hatter.
I missed a few (Cook, Duchess, Card Soldiers...) it was already a pretty crowded place here in Wonderland.

It's like an iSpy...
*Who can you find?
*What Scenes are represented?
*Are you SURE you've seen it all?
Look again! lol

As with all my larger projects most of it is made from Throw-Away sh-tuff:
Garbage, 2nd Hand Store Finds, FreeCycle, Donations etc...
All Paper Elements are mounted on Cereal Box Board
Door is Re-purposed, as are the Antique Door Fixtures.
Backing is Press-board from broken shelves and the Wood for the frame was Scrap.

But enough of my babble...
Have a Look...
and
Enjoy!

BONUS PICTURE:
This is the Portal juuuust as I started it.
The back is papered in Old Book Pages.
The 'grass' is Electronic Boards.

Gallery Show Road Trip...

I'm tired so, so, so very tired, but it was worth it!
Yesterday we got up bright and early, took the van to get a shiny new unbroken windshield...
Had a hearty breakfast of Green (french vanilla) yogurt, berries and chocolate granola and tea (of course!): to celebrate St.Patty's with the kids...
Dropped the younger 2 kids at Granny and Grandpa's...
And finally hit the road!
Full 'Steam' ahead to the 187 Gallery in North Bay to see Steampunk 'The Penny Dreadful' Art Show 1st hand.
Pretty uneventful drive up: a few stops at Timmy's to um... 'mark territory', Wendy's enroute for lunch and the pre-requisite Starbucks to keep us awake. Beautiful sunny weather turned kind dull by the time we got to North Bay.
Just under 4 1/2 hours drive on the way up.
No problems finding the Tattoo Parlor that also houses the Art Gallery. Awesome idea combining the 2!
We chatted and ogled for about an hour before heading to Dinner at East Side Mario's to celebrate and then head home.
By the time we left North Bay it was raining and there was wicked, wicked beautiful lightning.
The biggest problem was mist...
Makes me wonder of it was a St. Patty's Day Special Show put on by Mother Nature! It was THICK. Couldn't see the red tail lights on any cars in front of us until about 20ft away. We were lucky enough to get behind a truck who was tall enough we could see the top lights above the mist, followed his 'lighted lead' to see where the turns and dips were. Plus he was putting his 4 ways on blinking when it was really bad, those showed through the mist and helped a bunch.
Seeing Eye-Truck!
Only made 1 pit stop.
Just over a 6 hour Drive back.
SO happy to see Ottawa and never been happier to see our front door!

Though we took pictures they are not fantastic, again I lament the loss of the NIKON. :O( But here's what we did get:

Required shot (according to Greg) of me in front of the Gallery Sign.
I have a different view: I'm proud of my ART, each piece on it's own as opposed to me as an Artist. I'm an instrument no more important than a paint brush or the glue gun. Not made by me, but through me.
I know that's controversial but that's how I feel about *My Art*.

In front of the 'Warning to Time Travelers' Piece:

In front of 'Portal to... Steampunk Teaopia':

Warning to Time Travelers:

Portal to... Steampunk Teaopia

Brass Explosion Box... under glass:

Tee... Heee....
Robert and his Fancy-Schmancy Shirley Temple in North Bay.
East Side Mario's does NOT go this fancy in Ottawa.
lol... Holy Sugar Batman.
Robert was deeeeelighted when his drink arrived.

Taking Care of Business

I dragged my Muse kicking & screaming out of the closet today.
I tire easily but am up and about, hoping the Labyrinthitis dizzies will go away so.
*knocking on wood*
That I will feel car-travel worthy by Thursday...
I'm so excited!!! We're going to brave the 4+ hour drive to North Bay to see my Art in the Gallery Show. Yes, I will bring a camera! The plan is to take the 2 oldest boys with us and my parents have graciously offered to 'entertain' the younger 2 for the day.
We'll be IronMan-ing, no hotel stay: Up & Back same day.

I dug out some of my older supplies and set to work on some CD Pins. Yes indeed, these are made from used Cd's (sometimes DVD's too).
It's been almost 2 years since I made any of these. ooo... back when I was still doing craft sales.
I got 6 finished and they're up on Etsy already.
A little high from the Enamel so 6 was my limit. lol

I also managed to get a 'Blinkie' done, though I do not know how to attach a link so it's more of an 'Icon' for the Blog. I always add the link manually with the 'Picture' option in design. I'm sooooo un-techie! I'm still stunned I managed to get this made.
Thank-You Banner Fan!
I started piling scrap-sh-tuff on my desk and got a picture for the background then added all the elements etc... per their easy directions.
Even got the Orange the exact same shade that my Studio is painted! :O)
If anyone is interested in posting it on your sidebar... please, feel free!

Last Chance to Enter...

Alas, I've finally fallen prey to the plague that has been drifting around this bbbbr-y season. Avoided it this long, that is a blessing I don't take lightly. :O)
But...
I don't think there will be much creative coming out of the Studio in the next few days.
I pushed myself yesterday, and that... was a bad idea.
Today I have several of da boyz home too, so even if I start feeling better I'll be popping the Mommy-Nurse Hat on right away.
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I have however put together a HUGE post for tomorrow.

I will be announcing the winner of the 400th Post Blog Candy.
You still have time to enter!!!
HERE
Pop on over and leave a comment so you don't miss out!
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Also we are now at 74 followers.
1 More and I'll be putting together yet another Goodie Pack!
Every 25 followers I draw a name.
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The main meat of the post will be jam-packed with pictures.
I have set up a 'personal viewing' of the 3 projects that will be on display at:
'The Penny Dreadful' Steampunk Art Show
187 Gallery in North Bay, Ontario
Starting Saturday February 26th and running right through til March 26th.
This will be my 1st share of the "Portal to..." Project.
I'm excited and nervous all at once.
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I'm heading off to have some nice warm Tea & try to repair myself.
See you in the morning!

~Sarah Cooper~