I am so honored to be a small part of this:

$2,800 was raised in one week. Please watch this gorgeous video about the successful ZNE Auction for Hope Sees a Star memorial project for the Oakland Zoo in honor of two lives lost and two lives forever cherished.

For A Very Good Cause

Want to acquire a piece of beautiful, one-of-a-kind artwork and contribute to a very meaningful memorial at the same time? Nationally-known artists (as well as un-nationally known like Lilly*s of London*ish) have contributed outstanding items for an auction this week only through Sunday at http://www.HopeSeesaStar.com/.
You will see gorgeous quilts, collages, jewelry, art dolls and more- over 80 items donated to help fund a mosaic at the Oakland (CA) Zoo in honor of the late daughters of two of my fellow ZNE art members. You can read more about it and view the items for sale by visiting the site above. Consider gift-shopping, and please spread the word.

My Hope Sees a Star Donation

I was so thrilled to complete this project today. I have been working on it for several days to donate to the fund-raising auction of my ZNE group, entitled "Hope Sees A Star."

In a news release, Chelise Hery, founder of explained: "ZNE is an international group of independent artists and crafts persons working in conjunction with the Oakland Zoo to create a permanent installation in memory of two teenage girls – Stevie McMoyler and Brianna Grant - whose lives were lost earlier this year in April and June, respectively.

Gina Gabriell and Iva Wilcox both of California, are two artists who share a tragic connection. Both women’s daughters were diagnosed with fatal diseases in late 2006. In April of this year, Gina’s daughter Stevie McMoyler died from a brain tumor at the age of 19. In June, Iva Wilcox’s daughter, Brianna Grant, was only 17 years old when she died from a rare disease ~ MDS (myelodysplastic syndrome).

When ZNE group members found out about the two deaths, they wanted to go beyond extending traditional condolences to Gina and Iva, given the magnitude of their loss.

In January of 2008, Laurel True, a world renowned mosaic artist, will begin designing a permanent mosaic art installation in memory of the two girls. The installation is scheduled to be installed in the Butterfly Conservation Garden at The Oakland Zoo in May of 2008. The memorial will incorporate the sentiment: “In Memory of Stevie and Brianna – forever loved daughters of the creative community.” In conjunction with the installation, a $5,000 donation will be made to the Zoo. Staff at the Oakland Zoo have indicated that they hope to use the funds to support an intern who will be a caretaker for the garden.

ZNE is holding an online sale and auction October 1 – October 15, to raise the funds needed for the memorial project. More information on the Hope Sees a Star website, http://www.hopeseesastar.com/, or email Chelise Stroud Hery at info@ZNEart.com.

My canvas is a 10 x 10 handpainted, stamped, collaged 3D project with removeable inlaid-turquoise antique pendant.

New Halloween Trading Cards

I can't believe how many hours I just spent to make 10 Artist Trading Cards! It was over an hour per card. Then it took me another hour to photograph, upload, list on ebay, list in my groups, and now here I am! While listing them on ebay I realized my listing fees were more than my asking price! Talk about a smart business move! But in truth, I make them for fun, and I am amazed every time someone buys one. All the cutting, pasting, gluing and decorating are all just like playing to me. (The subject of our CaaT blog this week). They are listed under hpsgsmith on ebay, or click my link at right. Sorry, I can't bear to part with the "Little Witch." I raided my own vintage photos for that one, and by that I really mean MY own. So, I know it's a vintage photo of over 40 years old-ouch!

I Saw A Spirit - collage

Here is a little collage I did for my ZNE Book Club assignment this week. We are to create a mixed media collage one step at a time, by drawing random tasks from a bowl and performing them in order. Mine were: write, use Twinkling H2Os, sandpaper, sand again, stamp with bleach, distress in some way, use water color crayons, paint, distress, apply a photo, scratch, apply a transparency, apply magazine bits, apply background paper bits, apply text, overstamp, seal.

I made this copy, and also a sepia one, before sealing as I think I will coat it with beeswax or maybe spooky beeswax drips, I haven't decided.

Next up is a numbers theme ATC for my ATC/ACEO Enthusiasts group on ebay, and the collage will also serve for the August month-end collage challenge for CaaT. I am continually amazed by all the talented people on ebay! It would be so great to do nothing but create, post, sell, buy, read beautiful blogs, rinse and repeat all day long!

Tonight I picked up some more art supplies. I am going to try my hand at acrylics, so I got some paint, brushes and thick little fat canvases (5x5). I also got a bunch of paint swatches (Lowe's) and will be collecting wallpaper swatches for my next endeavor.

Finally, I am awaiting some domino-size tiles in the mail from my BkNq (book-nique) group, out of which I am supposed to make a tiny book. Not sure what my subject will be! I have gotten lots of suggestions at home for verrrry short books, such as "Guide to Safe Hunting," by Dick Cheney and so on...you get the idea...and I don't want a political blog!

Watercolor Backgrounds for ATC ACEO Dare

Here are some water color back grounds I created in response to the ebay ATC ACEO Enthusiasts' Group Dare #100: Interpret "Star Chamber." I so wanted to create a rock star outhouse or some private quarters of Mick Jagger, but I was limited to 2.5 x 3.5 inches. So, these backgrounds are kind of the easy way out. I did four seasons in watercolor on watercolor paper and four seasons on glossy paper.

I also learned a Star Chamber was a secret 10th century English court with stars painted on the ceiling (allegedly).

Anyway, they are listed in case any eager bidders are reading along...

More Friday ATCs

Here are some new ATCs I created to list on ebay. Also got my dare for ATC/ACEO Enthusiasts on ebay: Interpret "Star Chamber." This happens to have a 10th century England definition (which I certainly did not know!). But I can interpret it anyway I want to.....think I might be able to add this to the "Rock" theme for AWLA......brain working......

More Artist Trading Cards!

I can't believe I finally made some ATCs. I have been resisting for months. I love seeing everyone else's. The talented people on ebay, ZNE, and in some of the published books, such as by Bernie Berlin, are amazing. I didn't think I could work that small, but I am pretty happy with how these turned out. I want to list them on ebay just to gauge a reaction, but I kind of don't want to part with them. I think the lady at the scanner place thought I was weird when she saw these, but I am hoping fellow ATC artists will think I am pretty O.K. The first one below is called "Free Bird."

My First Artist Trading Cards