Published in Somerset Studio

I had read in the email newsletter a week or two ago from my LSS (local stamp store) The Queen's Ink that owner Patti Euler had in the latest issue of Somerset Studio. Normally, I would have run over that day. It's only about eight miles, and I used to have to drive 80 miles roundtrip to get any decent magazines back in Indiana.

But, I've had a viscious case of the winter blahs, and so I didn't go. Until today. Imagine my surprise when the magazine fell open on the way home to a page with a piece of art I recognized well!

Seeing my "Alice" piece, above, was even more of a surprise because I had been expecting Somerset and Stampington to come out with their planned Alice in Wonderland issue. Hearing nothing, I had just sent an email the day before asking what had come of it. It also was a complete surprise to see because normally the magazine sends a postcard and/or a free issue to let you know you are going to be published.

But who's complaining? Not me. A surprise is nice, and being published is even better, especially when one has the blueblahs. By the way, the face in my collage above is from a collage image sheet I bought from Traci Bautista at Art and Soul, after taking a class from her. Here is some of the other work I sent. Very excited for the Alice movie to come out March 5. It looks crazy.

You Make My Day, and You and You and You!

I got this sweet award from Chel http://chelise.typepad.com/ and was truly surprised and honored to be among her listings, especially when there were two other Ginas! Spreading the love, one is supposed to send this on to 10 people who make one's day (that would be my day now!)

Well, the first person I thought of is Ms. Chel, because as the Queen of ZNE http://www.zneart.com/ she juggle multiple blogs and keeps hundreds of artists happy and questions answered. I know I account for about seven gazillion email questions myself. But the award came from her, so moving on...

The next person I thought of was Kat of http://alteredkat.blogspot.com/, who just handled a lovely etsy transaction for me today on special alert, but you see, Chel's award came from Kat. What can I say? We ZNErs love each other. So I must spread the love further.

1. Michelle of Hold Dear http://michellegeller.typepad.com/ who not only has become a blog friend and Mermaid Swap organizer extraordinaire, she is now my Somerset Sister/Sista/Seester.

2. Kari of http://artsymama.blogspot.com/ for her beautiful eye candy and wonderful swaps.

3. Gail of http://www.shabbycottagestudio.com/ because she's the boss of me.

4. Kris of http://krishubick.blogspot.com/ because she's just so dang nice and talented. And she was an early supporter.

5. Laurie of http://loudlife-laurieblaumarshall.blogspot.com/ because she's so thoughtful. She sent me the art/name generator thingy pictured here.

6. Miss Vicky of http://www.cut-it-up.com/ because she is cool, she "gets" it and she's a fun and generous swapper and Re-menter mentor.

7. Dale of http://dalemclain.blogspot.com/- sweet and sassy and full of glitter!

8. Jodi of http://wildvines.blogspot.com/, a new poetry friend.

9. Angela of http://geminiangelsart.blogspot.com/, a soul sister.

10. Joyce, a new art/Blythe friend at http://joycevance.typepad.com/.

Consider yourselves duly awarded and take this award and pass it on. Thanks Chel!

Published, Well Sort of...Well, Actually, Yes!

This may be the most egomaniacal post yet, but I just had to say "hooray!" I'm published in one of my favorite national magazines, Somerset Studio, issued bi-monthly by Stampington and Co., in California. This gorgeous magazine is considered the altered artists' definitive manual by many, and it is certainly the most luscious kind of eye candy.

Now, before you start mailing issues for autographs, let me clarify by saying I had a letter to the editor published (Jan-Feb '08, p. 5). I know, it's not art. But, it's about art. And they chose my letter from surely hundreds. So I am excited and flattered. And, I'm hoping this will signal good things to come. Certainly, it spurred me on to pack up some real art, write up the necessary documents and get them ready to mail off to sunny CA. I'll keep you 'posted,' pun intended. And by the way, as I was uploading this, I noticed it is indeed my 200th post! Here's hoping my art can be as prolific as my words. Happy New Year everyone!

Ga Ga for Octopi. Blog Explains it All.

So much is going on; I wish I were an octopus. Or a General. As in "yes, ma'am" and "right now, sir, ma'am." That would mean I would have little helpers, like art elves, to help me get everything done for the shows, swaps and contests going on right now (not to mention holiday gifts!) Gifts? I thought it was still late summer, or at least early fall. And now I have to contend with all my clocks "falling back" tonight, thanks to Daylight Savings Time.
This is nothing new to most of you, but here in Indiana we are only about one year into this new plan which we haven't had since 1972. And back then, all I cared about was boys, or maybe Barbie dolls. But I think it was boys.
So, not only do I have to remember to change all my clocks, I have to figure out what time it really is (okay, so I've already butchered three pop songs in three paragraphs - if anyone can figure out what they are and send a comment, I'll send you an art goodie). The reason I have to figure out the time is that of our 33 clocks, watches, cell phones and computers, we've got a spread variation of 17 minutes and about that many different times going at the moment. But enough about that.
Here's a little sneak peek of a garland I am making for Heather http://www.xanga.com/brezomayo in the Ga Ga for Garlands swap. I think I like it so much, I need to make myself one. I also have a groovy swap with Dale at Sea Dream Studio http://dalemclain.blogspot.com/, and an ATC swap with Debra L. in TN. My ATC shown from my Zettiology group, "Believe in Art," is the one I am sending her.
Not sure if I am supposed to blog about this yet, but no one said it was a no-no, so here goes: some of my artwork was chosen by ARTchix Studio http://www.artchixstudio.com/ to appear on the pet faux postage sheet that will be sold in the studio to art lovers all over the world! This is really my first hard copy publication, so I am very honored and excited. ARTchix truly does reach all over the world as it is based in Canada, and the Yahoo! ARTchix group I am in has members from Great Britain and Spain to name a couple spots. Here's a sneak peek at one of my five submissions. I don't know what was chosen. This is one I doodled.
Another one shows sweet Larry, who is a little sick and is at the vet this weekend. He's only 3 and so loveable and is having a lot of urinary and digestive tract problems. But Dr. Carla Carlton says he should be as good as new soon. I went to visit today. He does not like the barking dogs there and burrows under his blanket. I wanted to steal him away home, but I know he needs fixed up. Lester is missing him. Lester was on a pet faux postage stamp submission also.
I also am finishing submissions for Somerset Studio and the Faerie Zine, so where are those art elves for packing and shipping? Next up are four ornaments for the Pink Ornament Swap, and I am starting with bottle brush trees for my base. Shown here is the most adorable ornament ever, and she is headed straight for my house (along with five hot pink-headed sisters) for my white tree. Sadie Lou Hartmann makes the greatest stuff! You can find her on Etsy here: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=94357 or here http://www.flickr.com/photos/craftilyeverafter/, but you can't have my Betsy!
My other upcoming projects are a cottage swap wherein I will make, paint, decorate a tiny little whimsical holiday house, and a snowman ornament swap. I'd like to get more stuff done and off to ebay to support all my viscious art habits (more on new ones later), but the elves and the octopi haven't shown up yet.
Don't forget to read the post below to help my Chubbyville group save the gorillas. Please.

Let's Get Some ART on this Blog

Okay, enough cupcakes (even though those seem to get a lot of comments). I have been gone a lot and not able to make art or post art like I'd like. So enough of that. At least the mailman brought me some art! I received this gorgeous handmade 4 x 4 book page (front and back shown) from the September page swap in Chubbyville, home of fat books. The creator was none other than published artist, fellow ZNEr and fellow Midwesterner Debbie Metti. Swap hostess Jan Roberts, also published herself in 1000 Artist Trading Cards, was kind enough to send me some bonus copies of other pages since I am new to the group and only had one page for my book so far. Those are shown also. They are highly embellished copies and quite nice. I also came home with some great new reading with hot-off-the-press issues of Somerset Workshop, Sew Somerset and Somerset Memories- all eye candy for sure.

A couple more Halloween ATCs

Here are a couple new Halloween artist trading cards I made last night for gifts in my ebay and blog swaps. I am in a Sweet and Sinister swap (see logo at right) which requires something sweet and something sinister (duh!), something handmade and a home decor item, all in shades of black, white and Halloween colors.

The skull card was made by using bleach and a rubber stamp, to stamp an image on black art paper (construction paper does not work). I used various amounts of bleach to get varying degrees of spooky images. I first saw this done in either Somerset Studio or Cloth, Paper, Scissors, two excellent magazines. The examples used an egg stamp and went further by using a brush and paint to add some color to the bleached images- have to try that!

I am also in an Art and Scent swap for my ATC and ACEO Enthusiasts group on ebay and a Secret Swap for Respect: Artists who Love Art, AWLA, on ebay.

I have tons more fall clip art to use, plus I just got 48 new Lyra Aquacolors, so I really need to get back to my journal and start drawing more new stuff. Making these ATCs is addicting. I have to laugh, because only a month ago when I was buying some stuff from Kris H at Retro Cafe Art Gallery on ebay, I asked her how she could stand to do such tiny work- ha!