Check out my Project of the Month and Interview on Mind Wide Open

As a member of the design team for Shabby Cottage Studio http://www.shabbycottage%20studio.com/ and owner Gail Schmidt http://shabbycottagestudio.blogspot.com/, I created the "Haunted Mirror" tutorial for the September Project of the Month, over on Gail's interactive and challenge blog, Mind Wide Open http://mind-wideopen.blogspot.com/. You can find the entire project here http://mind-wideopen.blogspot.com/2008/09/tutorial-by-lilys-of-londonish-gina.html.

I am also the featured interview subject on the blog this month. Fellow design team member Sherry Smyth http://www.espritdart.blogspot.com/ interviewed me to go along with the tutorial. As a writer and former reporter and a behind-the-scenes artist, it is kind of fun to have the tables turned every once in awhile. You can read my interview here: http://mind-wideopen.blogspot.com/2008/09/interview-with-gina-m-smith-lillys-of.html.

Blogger To Blogger, Passing on the Love

Receiving a blog award from a friend who is also a fellow artist and a fellow artist who is also a friend is extra special, especially when that award is bestowed by none other than the uber talented Lisa Kettell http://faerieenchantment.blogspot.com/ of The Faerie Zine. Lisa has so many irons sizzling in the art fire, I can barely keep up. And, when the award bestowed is for good blogging, and it comes from a fellow blogger, that is truly a compliment. We may not all compete in the true sense of the word, but certainly we share much of the same audience of readers. Never has a more supportive place been found than that special cyberspace spot where my fellow artists, bloggers, writers and friends gather, hopping from blog to blog. And although we can't and don't get to each and every daily, it is always a welcome stop when we do. So, thanks, Lisa, and in the spirit of the award, I am to pass it on to at least seven inspiring bloggers, so here I go.

1. Linda of Adventures of Molli http://adventuresofmolli.blogspot.com/. She was one of the early bloggers in the Blythe world, and if it weren't for her, I'm not sure I would have found my blogging muse. Her blog is like a Disney movie, so sweet and entertaining, with sneaky adult (not X just grown-up) humor popping up to suprise you.

2. Joanne of Ad Libitum http://joannethiemehuffman.typepad.com/, also of the snarky adult highbrow art humor I love, and she is a faithful visitor and commentor to other's blogs.

3. The Paper Crown Queen Blog http://papercrownqueenblog.blogspot.com/. I don't even know whom this is, and I love it!

4. Art and Blythe friend Maija http://www.maigirlz.typepad.com/, who sent me to #3, so I've got to thank her. We're going to have a Marie A debate any day now.

5. Jo's Labour of Love http://labouroflovex3.blogspot.com/ . This is Mary Ann's http://firstborn.wordpress.com/ sister's new blog, which is off to a fine start.

6. Mica http://garboodles.blogspot.com/ from ZNE and Etsy, with the most incredible work. So glad I found her via Angelahttp://geminiangelsart.blogspot.com/. Mica and I have a swap coming up, and I am so excited!

7. And Gail Schmidt from Shabby Cottage Studio.com http://www.shabbycottagestudio.com/ whose design team I am on, and who has the most wonderful shops and blogs - that's right, plural on both, so here's a plug to her new art challenge (with prizes!) blog at Mind Wide Open http://mind-wideopen.blogspot.com/. Everyone is free to play here!

Did you notice how I snuck 10 in there? Follow these links. You won't be disappointed.

Dreams of Printing Presses Danced in Her Head

7 rms, great view, no BRs, no BTs, piano room, nursery, indoor garden, nice roof, priceless. This lovely little abode, about 18" tall, is the creation of The Seven Shabby Sisters of Shabby Cottage Studio http://www.shabbycottagestudio.com, of which I am one. A Shabby Sister, that is. See that nursery slash laundry room with the three little kittens on the right? That's my room. Hard to see, I know, but I am hoping a combination of pictures will be enticing enough for the publishers from Quarry Books to take a second look.

The house was created for an art call for collaborative efforts to be including in an upcoming book, organized by published artist L.K. Ludwig http://www.gryphonsfeather.typepad.com. Our house was organized by SCS owner and shopkeeper and house-assembler Gail Schmidt http://shabbycottagestudio.blogspot.com. Gail finished the overall house exterior, the intricately-shingled roof and the trims as well as cutting all our rooms to fit exactly after we mailed them to her. That required a lot of engineering. We will hold our collective breath regarding publication.

Meanwhile, my two recent Marie Antoinette pages are for the same book and another collaborative effort, that one organized by Lisa Kettell http://faerieenchantment.blogspot.com. Tonight I got to "know" one of the other five contributors to that a little better by writing about her.

You can check out my interview with the cheery Ann-Denise Anderson over at ZNE Dollz http://www.znedolls.com and see her springy works there and on her blog Whimsical Fancy at http://whimandfancydesigns.blogspot.com. Can't wait to see her Marie pages now that I've seen her work! Wish us luck on publication.

Want to See Where I Live?

So, you DO want to see where I live, huh? Well, you'll just have to buy the book! Okay, so perhaps I am getting ahead of things here; let me explain. The Seven Shabby Sisters (plus or minus one) of the Shabby Cottage Studio Design Team http://www.shabbycottagestudio.com/store/WsAncillary.asp?ID=7 have combined to create our own little shabby abode to submit for possible publication in a compilation of group art efforts by L.K. Ludwig http://gryphonsfeather.typepad.com/gryphons_feather_studio/call-for-art.html.

The rooms were randomly assigned and are about four inches by four inches. No square footage here! You just try decorating a room on that scale and no budget to boot! Anyway, here is my room. Stay tuned to Shabby Cottage Studio http://www.shabbycottagestudio.com for the unveiling of the entire house. And cross your fingers for us that we get it published. I can't wait to see the whole thing either, and thanks to SCS owner and house manager Gail Schmidt http://shabbycottagestudio.blogspot.com/, formerly of Indiana, too!

By the way, my room is the nursery with the Three Little Kittens and their mittens on the line, better to see in person. The people are actually from a vintage family photograph, although I have never known what relatives they are. Background paper from SCS, German scrap kitties from Blythe-lover Moline on etsy http://www.moline.etsy.com/ and blocks image from http://sandraevertson.blogspot.com/ Sandra Evertson's Instant Memories Babies, which allows free non-commercial use without permission.

Check out My Latest Review

Check out my latest book review pf Kaari Meng's French-Inspired Jewelry at http://www.vintageindie.com or click the headline above to go straight to the review (hint: I liked this book!). The author has also written The French-Inspired Home which I will be reviewing soon. Vintage indie has tons of great ideas, links to sites and just a lot of good eye candy.

I also interviewed ZNE Art Dolls group founder, artist and collector Judy Keefe here http://chelise.typepad.com/zne_dollz/2008/03/zne-art-dolls-g.html. You can check out my article as well as many other artists' profiles. Be sure to click on the links within the interview because Judy has some way cool doll photos and art.

So what's on tap for my weekend? I have some ATCs due in a couple of swaps: Sugar Skulls and WWBD (What would Barbie do?), both for ATC World on Yahoo! I have bits and pieces of jewelry findings spread out all over, having hit La Beada Loca today in Valparaiso, and needing to make 32 charms before April 1. I also got my watercolor paper cut for my Art & Soul pages, so now I just need to paint 44 pages front and back, so they can get dry and be ready for embellishing. Finally, I want to take some Blythe photos for the Blythe in America beauty pageant, and I need to make a 3D fairytale vignette box and get it shipped off.

Please someone make a staying awake pill that lasts 48 hours! Oh, did I mention I have a canvas due for my book club, um, tonight, actually, and chipboard thingies due for Shabby Cottage Studio design team and something tulip-y due for the Cottage Style Street Team campaign on Etsy? Must. back. away. from. computer. now.

Bunnies and Chicks and Eggs, Oh My!

This really isn't a hodge podge. It makes perfect sense to me anyway. I'll call it a visual chronicle of my weekend. You don't see any eating or sleeping pictured here, do you? First off, we have Ma Bunny and her baby bunlets paper mache'd into an egg for The Shabby Cottage Studio Design Team February project. You can find the lovely papers and collage images here http://www.shabbycottagestudio.com/ as well as projects from my Seven Shabby Sisters. Congrats to Shabby Sister Carole Dawn Brinkley http://cdsartisticendeavors.blogspot.com/, who just found out she is to be in the next Artful Blogging magazine by Somerset/Stampington http://www.stampington.com/ and Shabby 'Mom' Gail Schmidt, owner of SCS, will be featured in Stampington's Digital issue coming out any minute. Stars*Go*Blue's Debora Lockard http://www.artbydebora.etsy.com/ will also be featured.

Vintage Vavoom by the editors of Romantic Homes magazine is pictured because I am in the process of reading and reviewing it for my new gig on http://www.vintageindie.com/, run by the fabulous Gabreial, whom I met on the Cottage Style Street Team for Etsy. Search by the acronym CSST on http://www.etsy.com/ for wonderful treasures. I'll also be writing about great little vintage indie shops found along the way in my travels, and reviewing other books and mags.

Next up is the darling chickie box I received from Vivian Neroni http://vivs-whimsy.blogspot.com/ in our own little swap. The chick is hand sculpted paper clay, and the inside of the box bears a treasure. I just love it!

Finally, here is the handmade journal for the ZNE Artists and Poets group journal swap. My assignment was to make a journal for Allison Berringer http://musingsofnosilla.blogspot.com/ of Canada. I chose handmade paper for the cover and inside, stamped birds and feathers on the cover, and a feather motif on the inside pages. Then, I embellished the cover with paper flowers, brads, glitter and feathers. I bound this myself with my new Zutter binder. Never you mind that I assembled it with the cover upside down the first go-'round. To complete the journal, I added fibers and beads to the spine, and put two poems inside. One was Trees by Joyce Kilmer for nature-lover Allison, and one was to be a favorite of mine, which I will leave you with here, by e. e. cummings.

anyone lived in a pretty how town

by E. E. Cummings

anyone lived in a pretty how town

(with up so floating many bells down)

spring summer autumn winter

he sang his didn't he danced his did

Women and men (both little and small)

cared for anyone not at all

they sowed their isn't they reaped their same

sun moon stars rain

children guessed (but only a few

and down they forgot as up they grew

autumn winter spring summer)

that no-one loved him more by more

when by now and tree by leaf

she laughed his joy she cried his grief

bird by snow and stir by still

anyone's any was all to her

someones married their everyones

laughed their cryings and did their dance

(sleep wake hope and then) they

said their nevers they slept their dream

stars rain sun moon

(and only the snow can begin to explain

how children are apt to forget to remember

with up so floating many bells down)

one day anyone died i guess

(and noone stooped to kiss his face)

busy folk buried them side by side

little by little and was by was

all by all and deep by deep

and more by more they dream their sleep

no one and anyone earth by april

wish by spirit and if by yes.

Women and men(both dong and ding)

summer autumn winter spring

reaped their sowing and went their came

sun moon stars rain

Valentine's Swapping Busy-ness

Valentine's Day is such a perfect time for swapping with art friends! First of all, so many of us like pink, glitter, foo-foo, frou-frou, lace, sequins and anything else girly and over-the-top, and for this event we can really pile it on. Victorian images are also appropriate, as are children, animals, fairies, hearts, angels and more.

So it was no stretch to complete a dozen valentine ATCs for ATC World on Yahoo! There are six 'My Funny Valentine' cards and six "Vintage Valentine Collage' cards. Then, I made three embellished dresses for The Faerie Zine Vintage Valentine Swap, and the jar fairy is my January contribution to the Shabby Cottage Studio Design Team assignment http://www.shabbycottagestudio.com, using a collage sheet from SCS for the clown/cupid/fairy inside. Everyone needs at least one captured fairy. Don't worry; they don't mind being captured. Some images above by me and thanks to the following for other images: Shabby Cottage Studio, Paula's Kit Club, Sea Dream Studio, Stampington templates, spark*your*imagination, and the late Murphy L. Smith. Can't wait to get my swap exchanges back!

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!

The End of the Weekend

I finished these doodle cat ATCs last night during Desperate Housewives and Brothers & Sisters. It's hard for me to "just" watch television. I like to be doing something, because, let's face it, one really doesn't 'have to concentrate' on those shows, as good as they are.

Had a hard time falling asleep, so I started recounting all the things that went on over the four-day weekend. When I reflect it always makes me feel like the days lasted a little longer, because they always seem to go so fast otherwise. Then for some reason, I woke up at 4 a.m. raring to go, whatever raring means.

So I did email, ate some Raisin Nut Bran, read my favorite blogs, looked at Flickr, and finally at 7 a.m. decided to take pictures of these cards. I found a "doodle" that works for me, and now I cannot stop doodling these cards. I'd given the previous cats all away, so I thought I'd make some for me. These are watercolor crayons and gel pens on heavy journal pages, cut out and mounted on various background papers, some from Shabby Cottage Studio http://shabbycottagestudio.com where I am on the Design Team: The Seven Shabby Sisters. Watch for our next project of an altered paper house/hanger-upper-thingy.

I already was asked by the lovely Jade to swap a card I posted on Flickr last night, so they don't last too long! I'm hoping she will send me a Zentangle in trade. I am just learning about these here: http://www.zentangle.com and haven't tried one yet. Need to get a good pen- it is key.

Looking forward to today's mail arrival. With all of my swaps now sent out, it is fun to just sit back and see what comes. That's the benefit of getting done on time or early, I guess. Forgot to take a picture of the snowman swap I sent to Mary Isabella, but I guess that's a good thing because she's one of my regular blog visitors. So, no sneak peek for you, Mary! Ho, ho, ho.

Newest Flickr Faves-Such Talent!

Love, love, love all the artists from my various groups, and my latest obsession, Blythe (more on that later). Go here for more info on these photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/12448123@N07/favorites/

Happy Flickr Foto Fun Friday!

Beautiful eye candy from talented artists in my groups, more info by clicking here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/12448123@N07/1827190983/

Can't Wait To Start My New Assignment

I am so thrilled to accept an appointment to Gail Schmidt's Tennessee-based Shabby Cottage Studio's Design Team (see nifty little badge at right that will take you to the shop!). Gail http://shabbycottagestudio.blogspot.com/ and I became e-friends through ebay art groups first and then ZNE, and in the process we discovered she used to live in the town of Warsaw, near where I live now and where I also lived.

But those connections didn't get me in; we had to apply to be on the design team, and I am excited to be one of those selected. Our main function will be to make fabulous (hopefully) art using supplies from Gail's store at http://www.shabbycottagestudio.com/. Projects will be posted to inspire and educate Shabby Cottage's customers. We will also brainstorm as a team for Gail and work with specific direction as well as on our own creations. Read all about the Design Team here: http://www.shabbycottagestudio.com/store/WsAncillary.asp?ID=7.

Can't wait to get started. Gail has fabu-licious supplies on her site now, and you must head on over. Let's synchronize our watches. See you there!

Art to Go; Art to Share

Here's a neat image from Gail Schmidt at Shabby Cottage Studio http://shabbycottagestudio.blogspot.com/. She shares a vintage image every Friday on her blog. Check out her Etsy store,too! http://www.etsy.com/. That's where I found her great and colorful Halloween backgrounds in fiery reds and oranges for my Halloween ATCs.