magnetic scripture/saying holder

For my project this month, I made a present for my mom.  She loves camping. I found fun stickers and then made cards with different saying and Bible verses that I hope she will like!

Letter Press | Burlap Cross

I was in MN recently for a high school reunion.  I had a chance to meet up with my blogging buddy, Nancy, and we did a creative activity of letter pressing!  We made a miniature book.  If you are ever in the Minneapolis area check out Minnesota Center for Book Arts.(Click here for link.)

Showing off my skills

Single page book

Letter press

I also made a burlap cross and gave it to my blogging buddy.  The craft store had this fall theme strip of burlap.  Once I brought it home I researched on burlap crafts and found many examples of burlap crosses.  ~ JM

Burlap Cross

Baby Cookies

I wan't to make some appreciation gifts for my kids teachers and bus driver. I also had been wanting to find a chocolate chip cookie recipe that tasted like sweet martha cookies at the fair.  I found this recipe and it worked for both! I was able to make bags for the neighbors too and sample plenty because 1 batch made soooooo many!

Felt Crafts

With left-over felt sitting around from an earlier project I wanted to make a pouch for my e-reader.  With some embroidery thread I quickly made some triangular designs and put a few stitches on the edges. If I had just a bit more material I would have made a flap with a botton to fastened it shut.  I also made a heart-shape bookmark which opens at the top so it fits the corner of the page. I saw this idea on Pinterest. The bookmark would have worked better if I had thinner felt material and  I should have put the closing stitches closer to the edge.  ~JM

Next time I will practice more and hope to do stiches like the ones below that I found on Pinterest.

Street Art

Graffiti is "controversial and expressive form that’s been conveying messages and transforming walls from ancient Rome to today. Rooted in social and political dissent and laced with a sense of danger, modern graffiti has exploded both as a raw and powerful street medium and in works that have made their way into galleries and museums" (Smithsonian).  

Ted-Ed describes the history on graffiti seen here.  The video asks is it art or is it vandalism? 

I visited Wynwood Walls when I was in Miami. It is a neighborhood filled with street art. 
(Click here for Wynwood Walls Info)

Wynwood Walls

I drew my initials in a street art style on paper.  I used this website for instructions on "how to draw graffiti names".  Some tips I learned:

• write your name in pencil or chalk
• turn the letters in blocks or bubbles
• connect some of the letters
• add feet and arrows
• create a 3-D effect
• blacken your sketch line
• add color
• set it against contrasting background

  -jm

Rock Art

While in Central Park, NY City this summer, I saw an artist who made beautiful pictures with rocks.  I found these rocks on the beach and made a family portrait with them.

Photographs (Part 2)

As previously mentioned I took a class called "Exhibiting and Selling Your Photographs".   It was really informative and it was wonderful to hear the experiences of the instructor and other class participants who had showed and sold their works.  Here are some methods to get your art seen and sold:

• Juried Exhibitions
• www.photoreview.org/wordpressindex/publications/newsletter/
• Coffee Shops/Restaurants
• Easy way to start
• Just ask the manager
• Art Festivals
• Art Leagues
• Resident Artist Programs
• Artist Cooperatives
• Galleries
• Rental Space
• Your own website/Social Media
• www.squarespace.com
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter
• Register the copyright of your image
• http://copyright.gov/forms/formva.pdf

I am excited to take additional classes this Fall that will stir my creative mind.  There's a great line-up: basket weaving, children's book illustration, self-publication and more!  I will post updates on what I learned.  - JM