Ideas and Inspiration

I have lots of new and exciting ideas. Mostly art inspiration, but I have some great plans upcoming on Facebook.

Starting today, and to follow on future Thursdays, I will put select pieces of my art on "auction" within my Facebook page. These auctions will run for 24 hours. All you have to do it comment "SOLD" name your price, and include your Paypal address. The highest bidder at the end of 24 hours will receive and invoice via Paypal and will have an additional 24 hours to pay it.

That's just one of my new ideas/plans.

- - -

Also, I'm working on some series' in upcoming mini-mixed media art. One of which is inspired by ad advertisement for Big Beach! Here's the ad, I saw it on Red Pineapple's Instagram.

I am so anxious to get my ideas into fruition. I hope you are too.

A Hui Hou!

Julie

Coming Back

Aloha everyone, E Komo Mai (Welcome),

I know it has been a while since I posted anything here, and that last post- a recipe, so random.

I am going to try to come back on a regular basis. I want to talk about everything from my art, my cooking adventures, and life.

I'm so excited to have my HonuHoni Web Store up, and gradually getting things up and listed for sale. I thank Square for the time I had my store up there.

So, life... there's another tropical storm headed our way, it could become a hurricane, it could hit out island, or it could miss Maui all together and whack Kauai out of shape.

We were scheduled to have a Pop-Up shop at the Haku Baldwin Center in Makawao this Sunday. They cancelled the event in the case of bad weather or worse. We were scheduled to do Pop-up shop tomorrow in Makawao at their town party also, but it has been cancelled too. Saturday is our usual Pop-up shop location at the Maui Swap Meet, but we are waiting to see if they are cancelling too, my guess is yes. So... I am going to offer FREE SHIPPING for the weekend starting tomorrow (Friday) as soon as I wake up and set it up. That will last through Sunday at midnight Hawaii Time:)

I just added the Micro Mixed Media necklaces this week too!
Here is one of my favorites!



A Hui Hou (Until next time)
~Julie

Random Recipe :)

Bay Flavored Wild and Brown Rice

1/2 teaspoon salt; to taste
1 teaspoon butter
3 bay leaves
1/4 cup shallots; minced finely
2 1/4 cups chicken stock
1 cup long grain rice; brown
3 tablespoons wild rice

Preparation:

Saute shallots in butter until lightly browned. Add rice, chicken stock, and bay leaves. If stock is unsalted, add salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat andsimmer, covered for 45 minutes. When 45 minutes are up, remove cover and fluff rice with a fork. If any liquid remains, stir and continue to cook for about 5 minutes more. Serves 3.

Serves: 3

Work in Progress

I don't have a new finished piece to show you yet. So sorry.

It has been a real work in progress. I started it the other day, I kind of knew where I was going with it but I had some research and work to do. So it isn't quite done.

But I did get the clear coat on the "Great Undertakings" piece and learned in that process that my doodle pen is not the right one for the job, for it bleeds and smears when reactivated with water-based sealers like Mod Podge. So do not use Pilot Precise v7 for doodling if you plan to coat your work. So with more research I learned it is either Christy Tomlinson's Scarlet Lime Pen or Sharpies new 'pen' which is not felt tip like their other products, but a roller ball as I understand it, that's permanent. So I ordered a 2-pack.

So today's project is partially waiting on those pens.

I can tell you today's project involves organic circles as flowers, and I coated each circles before using it with Mod Podge on both sides to kind of plasticize them so they would stand out in a true 3d manner.

I can't wait to finish it and show you. But we will just have to wait...

Great Undertakings

That kind of says it all.

"Self-Confidence is the first requisite to great undertakings."

I forget who this quote comes from but to me it says it all about our move to Hawaii. 

The imagery of the sail boat is from my new everyday life here. Is sail boats at sea everyday, it's amazing to me. I don't think I'll ever get over the wonderful view(s) I'm blessed with.

I took the picture before putting on a clear coat to avoid a glare in the camera. But otherwise I think it's done.

I started another canvas but don't think I'll get to work on it again until Wednesday.

I need to get a box of tacks so I can hang these babies up in my condo.

Mahalo!

finished is relative

Hey everyone!

I finished the two mixed media canvases I've been working on. OK yes, finished is a relative term in mixed media but I think I'm finished.

I'm battling over which one to show you and tell you about first....

 Live joyfully.

I was able to order canvases that were already pretreated with gesso, so that was a step I didn't have to worry about doing.

I used random scraps of blue papers and collaged a sky like area first. Then I did the same in green, but with narrow strips in a vertical way to represent grass. Once that was dry it got white washed.
I stamped with the bubble wrap and acrylic paints for depth and texture.
I had some awesome die cut leaves that I embellished with clock hands some doodling and gelatos. I cut the hearts and stems by hand. I assembled the pieces into flowers. I embellished with sew stampers and buttons and doodling and tiny clock faces.
I textured the whole thing with TP roll stamping, rubons, more paint and gelatos.
I embellished with the butterfly and a faux postage stamp (from washi tape), before adding the words. Then it was time for a coat of Mod Podge.

Dare to be Different.

I was all over the place with this one.

I started with all blues of 1-inch squares, darker closer to the bottom and light toward the top right.

I white washed it.

I hand cut a bunch of fishies and seaweed. I used tiny brads for the fish eyes. I tore strips of chip board to go along the bottom to represent sand, then intermingled the seaweed bases so some look closer than others. I shaded the fish and seaweed with gelatos. I had this little weaved rope thingy and put it in the sand. 

I did a tiny bit of doodling. I used an asterisk shaped brad to stamp tiny star fish.

I cut out tiny hearts to match the fishes, then I cut off the pointy part and made fins for the fish.

I stamped with TP roll and bubble wrap.

I embellished with the bubbles and rubons.

I found some sewing pattern tissue and crinkled little pieces up as part of the sand.

I tore long narrow strips of yellow tissue to play like more seaweeds.

I decided on a saying and choose to spell it out mostly in silver letter stickers, which I doodled around with an aqua sharpie, my doodle pen, gelatos and white paint.

I wasn't sure I'd like this one but now I think I do like it.

Mahalo!

Canvas Collage Play

The canvases I ordered of Amazon finally showed up yesterday. I couldn't wait to get up today and have an artful day.

I had been tossing ideas around my mind with what to do first. I go to a point in the creative process where it needed to dry. I decided to start another on in the meanwhile. So I was going back and forth with 2 canvases most of the morning.

At lunch time it occurred to me I better make a market run. So I left my art to dry and headed out. By the time I got home, and everything out away there wasn't quite enough daylight time left to get back to my art. I set the projects against the wall to wait for my next artful opportunity.

No sneak peaks of unfinished work. You'll just have to wait and see.

In also becoming quickly obsessed with Tim Holtz Configuration boxes. I wasn't too do an Aloha themed box. So I guess I'll keep my eyes out for trinkets around the island. If it goes well maybe I'll do more. I have already got myself a couple pieces of sea glass and coral. Maybe a star fish, some cool shells. I'm afraid if I make a list of things u wasn't too put in them I'll never find them so I'll just see what finds me.

ATC Day

No canvases yet. I was hoping they would come today since the Amazon tracking says estimated delivery date was today... But you learn to hold that with a grain of salt, living on an island.

But my creative juices were flowing and I needed to make something.

So I decided to make some random ATCs.

That's just 2 of the 7 ATCs from today.

Then I was playing with my Gelatos on watercolor paper, I had some interesting effects turn out. In still learning. So I set out to learn more via YouTube which seemed not to be a good day to do that. Every video I wanted to watch was on a lag and buffering. I hate that! I'm guessing servers are too blame.

So I finally gave up on that and just started watching Netflix instead.

A Shop Visit and DIY Experiment.

Last time I took the bus to Kahului I saw an advertisement for a shop called ISLAND PAPERIE. I made a mental note, by snapping a pic with my phone, to visit it another time.

Today turned out to be that time, after a whole lot of bus riding. Curiosity peeked? Go read my not artful blog post for today.

So the place is tiny thing. And everything is Hawaii themed or at least island/tropical. I think they specialize in laser cut shapes. Of which I bought a couple... Hibiscus, Plumeria, and of course Honu. And they seem to have their own paper line. It's a scrapbook store and they don't branch out to mixed media. They don't have the space to have more even if they wanted to.

After I got home and settled in I remembered watching YouTube videos on making my own color sprays. I made a turquoise one and a pink one.

Then I tested them both on a sheet of watercolor paper. They seem to work well. I'm pleased with my results.

On that same piece of paper I then decided to add some texture to it and I bubble wrap stamped in grey all over it, smeared the grey around the edges for a distressed look and stamped my signature TP circles all over it in white paint.

I figure I can incorporate it into my canvas projects or ATCs.

Post Craft Fair Creativity

When I got home from the craft fair and settled in my juices were flowing. Something about being around all of those local artist and crafters, I'm feeling inspired. I didn't know what to do with myself. I had a friend who wanted a Maui whales ATC, so I came up with something for her. And in the process learned about the whales that come here, we get humpbacks. I can hardly wait to see them. They'll start coming around the same time as the hubby. Good timing, we can go watch them together!

So I decided to browse etsy and add a bunch's goodies to my wish list, and finding hard to not just add things to my cart!

So I went back to my stash. I had to do something. I found a smallish piece of card board, maybe 5x7" and pretended it was a canvas. Here's what I came up with. Inspired by Christy Tomlinson. Cute and silly.

I wish it was on canvas because I think it's super cute. I used a dictionary page and colored it yellow with gelatos. And then all the other typical mediums... To make this cute mixed media collage.

Mixed media canvas #2

So the first canvas I got is not the first one I finished.

When I got my first canvas started I had hardly anything to work with and hit a creative wall.

Here's what I did to it before I hit that wall.
Covered it in gesso.
Used matte medium to cover it in town news paper (only text parts)
White washed it in gesso
Various vertical strips of green polka dot tissue paper along the bottom with mod podge
Stencil with punchinella and light blue paint
-------creative wall-------

So after I finished canvas number 2, I started to have an idea what to do with #1.

I had gotten a package in the mail with a bunch of fun stuff. And much of it belonged on canvas #1.

There was a die cut word 'happy' and I decided to come up with a saying to incorporate that. Things fell into place with it yesterday. I used my new Gelato paints and all sorts of found stuff.

The rope for the stem, I found at work. The petals are cut from a handmade envelope that was full of goodies. A bookplate, pearl flat-backs, pearl letters (that I painted grey), chipboard circles, distress ink (Concord grape), doodles, bubble wrap and the tp roll center for 'stamping' dots n circles.. The tp circles might become my trademark... Love the look of them.

So I ordered a box load of canvases on amazon, 10 canvases are on their way to me to keep me going.

I got a small package in the mail today from a crafty friend who sent me some more 1-inch squares to play with. I can hardly wait to do another. And another...

Friends of the Library

Today, I found a used book store run by the Maui Friends of the Library.

This place is great! I stopped in during a break today and found some mixed media material. I grabbed a medical dictionary, a French-English dictionary, and a couple books with quotes and sayings. The dictionaries ought to make good collage backgrounds while the quotes books provide snippets to add to them similar to the Live Your Dreams on yesterday's piece.

My new craft supplies

The best part is I snagged all 4 books for a grand total of $5!

If you're looking for old books to use in your projects, find your local friends of the library. I think every city has one. Some, like the ones here, maintain stores away from the library itself. Some, like the one in Indiana, hold monthly or quarterly sales in the actual library. All of the sales help fund the library, which is a great thing.

I have ideas for my new books but I need more canvas. Ace Hardware carries them but I want to price shop on Amazon first and see which has the best deal...

Mail call!

The mail carrier brought me some fat mail today. I opened up the package to finally find the gelato paints I've been waiting for. Super excited! I need to watch some more YouTube videos of people using these so I can refresh my memory with proper technique and so forth.

My new gelato paints

In addition to the gelato paints, I received a low-end travel-sized hair dryer I plan to use for helping to dry layers of paint and mediums on my projects. I also got a mini hot glue gun that will help me attach some 3D elements when needed.

It feels almost like a normal studio! I have supplies. I have tools. Of course, I still have only a small 20" x 15" TV tray on which to work, and a bed on which to sit. Still, crafting almost feels normal with all my new stuff.

I pulled out the 11x14 canvas I've been working with. Up to this point, I'd only laid down 1" squares of paper under a matte gel medium - 154 pieces of 1" square pieces of paper, to be exact. With my new supplies, I thought I was ready to finish up this project.

I used my new gelato paints - the grey, in particular, makes a great shape medium. I also used a few upcycled crafting tools like the cardboard tube from the inside of a toilet paper roll...and bubble wrap! Who doesn't like bubble wrap? Both "tools" make some amazing effects when used like stamps. My fingers turned out to be great painting tools as well.

When finished, I stood back to see what I had created. I love the way this turned out. I can't wait to do some more with these paints.

I'm back

I started mixing pleasure with pleasure. Ironic, yeah? If you read my other blog, Maui Honu Honi, you know what I mean. If you don't, go read, come back. You must forgive me for any repeated thoughts, though. This idea of organizing my thoughts is new for me. Being messy just sometimes works better for me.

So, you may know that my good friend Debra got me interested in making ATCs again. I adopted a totally different style this time around, though. I like the mixed media styles, collage work especially. I obsess over the styles created by Christy Tomlinson, using her YouTube videos as a source of inspiration.

I especially like working with canvas. Unfortunately, I lack all of the supplies I need to finish many of the canvas projects I have in mind. I started one a couple weeks ago, involving tons of tiny 1-inch pieces of paper, but I need to wait until my studio arrives in a month or so before I can finish it. I posted a request for people to send me 1-inch scraps of paper, though, and I received the first of those from Christina in Indiana.

As soon as I got home after work, I changed into my crafting clothes. I reserved special raggedy clothes for working on my projects because I get messy at times - wouldn't want to get paint or glue on my new favorite Maika'i Ola shirt!

My "studio" these days consists of a TV tray that I set up bedside so I have somewhere to sit while I work. My supplies live in a battered cardboard box that might not last through the end of the month. My only light to work with consists of the natural light I get when the sun shines in the window. The cardboard box goes on the floor next to the TV tray, I take my spot on the edge of the bed, and I get to work.

Today, I worked on a canvas project using my just received 1-inch paper squares. When I reached a stopping point at which I would be able to pick things up again tomorrow, I moved everything aside. The supplies return to their cardboard box. The cardboard box gets stashed on the sad little window shelf/desk/thing. The TV tray becomes my nightstand, holding all of the electronics that need charged while I sleep.

I can't wait until my real studio gets here, until I have loads of supplies to work with...and ArtBin containers to keep everything neat so The Hubby doesn't have a breakdown!

The Bracelet Board

Let's face it, I have made a lot of bracelets, I wear them, I sell them, I even give them away as gifts. And for a while I couldn't stop making them. I've been all over Pinterest and Google looking for a way to hang them up for display and easy access. I finally decided on a cork board. I picked up a  17" x 23" one at the craft store about a week ago. I finally got Hubby to hang it up today for me. I picked up a jar of colorful push pins at the office supply store and pinned away hanging as I pinned so i could manage the space well. Then I ran out of space. and I have a LOT more left. I think I will get back to listing them for sale on line (Etsy, probably). Here is a pic of the board all filled up.

Finishing Projects

Back, 2 posts ago, I mentioned Some handmade crocheted cuff bracelets my grandma made me. Well I found the right buttons for the white one.

Even tho I didn't make the cuff, Grandma is a piece of me so I'm going to show it to you...

I think it's very cool!

And while I'm on the "Finishing Projects" topic...

Last time my Mother-in-law was in town we went to a few quilt shops and I found the coolest pattern for a Chili Pepper table runner. Well I decided to use it as a wall hanging. I started making this in early may before my 2nd knee surgery (on the right knee) then when I went for surgery I could use my right knee quite right for a while so I didn't sew for a while. This week I pulled out the pieces n pattern and finished it up! I really only had the green part left to do. It looks awesome on my Terra Cotta Orange kitchen walls...

Granny's Crochet Needle Roll-up

I got this idea from a crayon roll-up pattern I saw online, I tweeked it to be tall enough for crochet needles and the pockets narrower in most cases also. I left a few pockets wider for the larger needles. Grandma loves it!

Rolled up...

Unrolled...

Close up on needle in a pocket and flap turned up...

Crafters X-mas and Inspiration

Going to my grandmas house is always a treat. I love to visit with her, hear her stories, and learn from her. Plus I almost always leave with at least a grocery sack full of goodies! Some of the goodies are hand made sometimes and other times its supplies. This time it was both! Check it out!

^Oodles of old lace!

coz i wanna make these

^ a bunch of tiny ribbon flowers and bows

 I want to incorporate into the above lace flowers

^ thread cones for my surger she gave me a few months back

Here is a pic of the vintage surger. It is a White Superlock 503:

^ a very old cookie tin - i want MORE!

coz i wanna make these, sans the snowflakes and in a color that suits my home.

^ dozens of crocheted flowers 

she makes these with her yarn/thread scraps, not usually with anything in mind to do with them.

I want to make a bouquet with them, like this:

^ tiny ribbon flowers and bows i will probably incorporate with the lace flowers

^ *swoon* vintage thread spools all wooden!

^ rick-rack... i have quite a collection of rick-rack now from a previous thrift store score, i need some rick-rack craft ideas!

^Crocheted butterflies. something else she does with her scraps. 

Maybe I will make a mobile with them?

Perhaps something like this:

And then there rest... there was some googley eyes, red pompoms, sequin pins and steel silk pins.

There are 2 bracelet-cuffs she crocheted me too I need to get pictured of them on the bracelet model.

Check it out!

Rocky Wrist Bracelets

In the bottom of my bead stash, is a floss box with some sorted drilled rocks.

I had to think how to make these into a bracelet with out the bracelet weighing too much!

I recalled some silver plated aluminum beads, and used them to alternate with the drilled rocks.

I think they turned out interesting!

Less Than Creative in My Free Time

This week, when I am normally creating I've been doing other things.

I've seen 2 movies in the past week. I don't usually go to movies... In fast the last one I saw was True Grit in 2010. (Double Take, this is 2012!) But I went with a gal friend to see Magic Mike Friday. Hubba Hubba! Then last night a hubby, a couple other friends and I went to see Ted. Bother movies were good.

Tonight, its July 4th. A day I dont normally do anything on but work, in the past or stay home with the doggies. We are going to a 51's Baseball Game! Something else we don't normally do- in fact I have not been to a game since I was a kid and mom got Angels n Dodgers tickets from work... But My friend who I went to see Magic Mike with said we should go and so we were all easily persuaded. There will even be post game fireworks. Fireworks are something I have grown out of but whatever...

I made a round of Bento boxes, no pics sorry.
Then when I was grocery shopping I got chicken breasts cheap(er) and came home to follow this link and made 6 varieties of marinaded chicken breasts, threw one in the fridge for thursday, and the other 5 in the freezer as recommended.

I was going to get creative a couple days ago but i stepped on something I couldn't see in my studio and decided to clean it up instead. I never got around to making anything in here tho. I did switch placement of my ironing board with my cutting table. Since I keep some bins and plastic drawers under my cutting table, the bins are moved now too and the room feels a little more open.

Friday Doc said I'm ready to go back to work and gave me a week.  So...How on earth can I make a living from my crafting so that I may ALWAYS craft...