Good Mail Day!

It's here! Stampington's Somerset Studio arrived in the magic mailbox today! I didn't know they were going to send me a complimentary issue. They usually do when you write an article for them, but I forgot they also do it when they publish your work. I am glad they did-I haven't been able to track one down in stores here yet. (Though certainly not for lack of trying!)

So here's my work between the pages. I posted images of my entire 5x5 submission here, if you'd like to see the whole thing. Seth did a great job on the article, all TEN pages of it! It's really nice that Stampington made so much room in this issue to showcase some of the 110 pieces Seth received for this call. Congratulations Seth! Long live The Pulse! Seth is now working on his second book, which is wonderful news. I can't wait to see it!

Also in the November/December issue is a great artist profile by Rice Freeman-Zachery about my friend DJ Pettit. DJ is one of the nicest people you'll ever meet and she crazy talented. She does amazing work combining her beautiful photographs with paint and textiles. I've taken a class with DJ and the techniques she's developed are like nothing I'd ever seen before. It was great reading this article and seeing how her work has grown over the years. She sent me one of her handmade books years ago and I treasure it. It's so uniquely DJ.

In addition the the magazine, the mail also brought my order from Artchix Studio. When I saw these really cool palmistry wood cuts online and had to order some for myself. (I have a thing for hands!)

Helga always ships things lightening fast and they're always beautifully packaged.

She also includes something a little extra and these were the extras this time. Love them! Yesterday was a good mail day all around! 

Artchix Goodies!

By the Sea Talisman

Awhile back, Helga, owner of Artchix had a giveaway on her blog for some really cool wooden frames. I won! She sent me a trio of house shaped frames and a sheet of Nature Filled Houses transparencies to play with. Things got a little crazy around that time because my best friend was seriously injured in an act of dog and needed my help while she underwent emergency surgery to repair a broken knee. The goodies were set aside, but yesterday I finally got around to making something with them.

I printed four of my favourite sea images from the photography classes I've been taking since the beginning of the year and carefully centered them in the windows. I used gesso to age the house (I was going for a worn beach house look) and added some aqua highlights with watercolour pastel. I added a real tiny starfish and threaded some pretty sari silk through the top to create a talisman. I love little houses!

I still have two smaller houses to do something with, so I'll be working on those over the next couple of days, but I thought I would share the first one in the meantime. I think these would make cool ornies for the tree. You could tie them to the outside of a package as a pretty extra gift or put one at each place setting at your holiday dinner. There are so many ways to use these frames. I can't wait to see what the other winners did with theirs!