This guy decided to fly into our kitchen this weekend. It took 3 of us to get him out the kitchen window. I swear at one point (the first shot in the collage) the bird was catatonic - we thought that he was paralyzed with fear. But really, he was just waiting to go for my dh...it reminded me of a scene in THE BIRDS...and thus we got the broom out. It was quite an experience!
This is him afterwards - I think that he enjoyed driving us crazy!
I am having a lot of fun making and swapping atcs. It is satisfying to have a way to use of all the odds and ends of recycled things that I have been saving too! I have it bad - I just don't like to throw things away that could serve some crafty purpose. Today I ran across a great use for recycled envelopes...bookmarks at Go Make Something.
So now I can post this little guy, because I know he got to his destination in Iowa safe and sound. He was really fun to make and extra special because his new owner is Iowa Sunshine who I know will take great care of him!
Picture by Orange you Lucky
which is out this month. It looks pretty sweet!
I bought these at a local flea market today. The lady who sold them said that the colors are all natural. The chickens that they came from have blue feet and blue beaks! I am in love with these colors. They are too pretty to eat!
I joined the "Easy Mono Print" Atc swap on swapbot. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but I found that making a mono print that was acceptable for swapping was harder than it looked!
What is a Mono Print? Well, it is the most basic form of making a print. You apply color (paint) to the surface of something, then place another surface on top (paper or fabric), press down, remove your paper, and you have a unique painted print! It has been described here as:
The monoprint or monotype is often thought of as a halfway stage between painting and printmaking. The process is simple: the artist paints, rubs, or wipes the design directly onto a plate, using a fairly slow drying paint or ink. The fleeting image must be printed before the ink dries. Printing may be by press or by hand, and as the name monoprint implies, one can usually get only one strong impression. The effect must be guessed right from the start; there will be no trial proofs or different states unless the design is redrawn for a second impression. This term is used to refer to any print made in one version and incapable of being repeated. A monoprint cannot be editioned.Mono prints are supposed to allow for artistic spontaneity which I found out pretty quickly. In my usual "fly by the seat of my pants" way of doing things, I decided to give this a try using the directions on swapbot:
Use a roller or a paint brush to spread the paint over an area big enough for your work. You will have to work rather quickly before the paint gets too dry. Using a stick or end of your brush or a pencil, draw a pattern or a quick sketch into the paint. It will be printed in reverse so remember this if adding text. Now place your paper onto your glass and give a quick, even rub with your hand and peel off immediately.
First, I tried flowers.
