DAY SIX OF ALPHASTAMPS GIVEAWAY

It's day 6 of Alpha Stamps giveaway, and it's time for Valentine's Day already over there....so make sure to sign up!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!

MORE GOOD STUFF

Tracie, over at Life and Times of a 12x12 addict, is having a giveaway that I just thought was way too cute to not tell you about! I just discovered Tracie's blog myself, and she has some incredible work going on! So get a head start on your new year, start expanding your horizons, and check out some new artists, starting with Tracie! These papers here are by Cosmo Cricket. I know because I have been drooling over their papers and products for a while now. This is very generous of her! I think I will be generous next week too, so keep checking back! Let's have a year of giving!

ENOUGH WITH THE FOO FOO

DON'T FORGET APLHA STAMPS DAY 4 GIVEAWAY. CLICK ON ALPHASTAMPS TO ENTER! THEY HAVE SOME FABULOUS PRODUCTS!

My company has gone home, and all the decadent food and gifts galore are pretty much gone or put away, and this is when I start to feel like it's time to get my act cleaned up, organize my supplies and my life a little better, and start simplifying things ! This happens every year, with the best intentions no less, but it doesn't always make it through to the end of the year. I figure trying is better than not. The earrings are the result of this thought process, simplify, break down, to the most minimal and functional elements. Hope to list these on etsy by the weekend, still playing catch up with blogs and projects.

ABBERATIONS

There is still a lot of activity going on here in my house, with family visiting and time off, but I thought I would sneak in a peek of a journal page that I did for a swap, and the theme is found poetry. I used some poetry from my brother's book, and pulled different sentences from different poems together. The lettering in the actual piece is better than it appears here, it is hard to read here, but I think you will get the idea. I have soooo many projects going on right now my head is spinning, but maybe it will make the winter go faster, or at least I hope! I hope everyone had a fantastic holiday as I did, and I look forward to what we will get to share together next!
Also, for anyone who is interested in mixed media, Alphastamps is having a great giveaway.....click on the badge to check it out! They have some awesome products!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

original ATC, copyright sharon borsavage 2009
stamped image from the Artistic Outpost Snowy Woods stamp plate

My best wishes to all my blog friends for a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year! You have made my year the best!

TWINKLE AND WISH

I have had not only the good fortune of being featured in Bead Trends again, but was asked to be the Designer Highlight a while back, and I gladly obliged. I am so honored to have been asked, and the staff at Bead Trends are so wonderful with their photography, and their professionalism, they are really terrific! I scanned a few pages here to show sweet Esther, Vero, and Renate, since they don't have access to this magazine. This is just a bit, since they were generous enough to give me about 17 pages of space! Over the next week or two I plan on listing most of it on etsy....or possibly a giveaway for the New Year!
I really would like to mention that there are soooooo many talented artists in this issue with me, and I have been blessed to know most of them, and they have helped me grow and become a better artist because of the camaraderie we share. I thank all of you, and everyone else who visits, follows, comments, and takes a peek of what goes on in my tiny part of the world. Others in this issue are Cindy Wimmer of Sweet Bead Studio, Debbie Goering of Prairie Emporium, Erin Prais-Hintz of Treasures Found, Susan Kennedy of Sue Beads, Melissa Essenburg of Chinook Jewelry, and Mary Jane Dodd of Mairedodd. Being together with all of these talented women is the best Christmas present I could ask for!

ALTERING THINGS

Don't get any crazy ideas! No, I did not create these altered pages over the weekend!! They were created a while ago, for an altered book exchange that the super talented Lenna Andrews and I are working on. It took me forever, so I finally got it in the mail to her, and I know she received it, so now I feel I can share it with you. This is just the beginning, so I know that this will go on for quite a while, and I'm really happy about that! The theme of my book is, of course, birds. This is a learning experience for me, and it really is fun!
Ok, so I did squeeze in a teeny bit of time to make myself a pair of earrings for Christmas...they were inspired by icicles, so that's what I call them!
Remember to treat yourself too this week, you deserve it!

A LITTLE HUMOR

Just a little zetti humor to maybe make you smile and help you through that final chaotic holiday preparation weekend! I created this for a swap, and the only requirement was it had to be a hand drawn zetti atc. This actually made me very nervous since I have done lots of collage, but not drawing from scratch, at least not recently. It was fun to challenge my brain a little, and it was nice working with colors other than red and green. This makes me smile! Wishing all of you a very happy and productive weekend. Try to remember to stop and smell the flowers....er..... maybe admire the poinsettias!

BLANKET

click on the photos for more detail

I call this necklace Blanket. I had in my mind an idea to try some mixed media, nothing here really earth shattering as far as technique, but I just wanted to "compose" a piece that worked all together with different elements. I cut and slightly hammered a piece of copper,and then using matte medium I applied some images and some text that appealed to me. Then I used embossing ink and just a touch of perfect pearls powder dusted over for a hint of color and iridescence. I then added some wrapped wire, a bit of sparkle with the swarovski's, and a tiny bit of fabric that just made all the difference in the world to me. I then sealed it with a light coat of matte medium. I'm not too worried if the medium changes it over time, in fact , yellow or age I would probably embrace. It feels like a blanket, wearing it and creating it, very familiar, warm, wrapped tight, and comfortable. It reminds me of the tiny little flashes of memory I so often have of sweet familiar things of youth and family. I think I have enjoyed making this more than anything so far. I feel that I am getting closer to what I feel, and the word"familiar" has struck a chord with me . Not familiar as in not experimenting or afraid to try something new. Familiar as in the essence of my being, what I am composed of. I am really hoping to do more of these soon, because there are many more familiar things to show you.

WHIMSY ANGEL

Still trying to fit some art in here and there as we are now into the real thick of things as far as Christmas preparations! A little whimsy angel I created for a swap, seemed fitting for the season.....When I looked at her I felt her face said "compassion and love for all". Why not?
Let's do it!

BLINK AND TWINKLE!

I still feel pretty lousy with this cold, but I made these on the weekend and never got them posted. I do get a spurt of energy now and then, and then I start something and say "why am I doing this", because I don't have enough energy to finish. Anyway, I wanted to get these up on etsy, so this is the energy of the day. Hope everyone's week is going well.

available on etsy

HER HIGHNESS

This is a regular envelope made for a swap. The idea was to use at least 3 different rubber stamps, and leave room for an address and a return address. I just loved doing this! The size is the regular 3 & 3/4 " x 6". Lenna is a master of mail art, and I think she has me hooked.
Yes, I've made some more jewelry, but need to photo it, and I'm coming down with a cold ...fast...so I'm off to bed, EARLY.

THE FEATHERED NEST

Dawn at The Feathered Nest is having a great giveaway! If you've never visited, be sure you do to check out all the wonderful tutorials she has, and she is super sweet and generous! She has some of the best ideas ever!

HOLIDAY HOUSE TOUR

Vintage Christmas ornaments from my gram. One of my favorite things in the whole world!


My little Christmas tree, standing on an antique trunk my brother gave me. Yes...I love antiques and primitive. The jug on the floor to the left was found in the basement of my parents house when they bought it from a relative, another favorite thing of mine!

Shelves I decorated in the house. The "peace" blocks I made many years ago out of my brother's old building blocks. The red doll I also made years ago, her eyes have fallen off since then, but I still love her!

My small collection of vintage Christmas trees and paper houses.....and another angel doll I made.


My very overcrowded hutch filled with my gram's dishes, odds and end antiques, and my jadite. The cups and the bowls and a few small plates are antique Fire King, the large plates are reproductions.
So there you have it, a small tour around my house for the holidays! The holidays always start here with one of the few treasures I have from my gram...the vintage ornaments. I have a very small tree any more because our house is so small, but I really like it that way, so I put the ornaments in a large glass vase I have. At least my house is ready....I'm not ready yet though!
Happy new week to everyone!

VARIATIONS ON A THEME

Just been working hard on postcards for friends, and other art projects, jewelry projects , etc....trying like heck to get everything done real soon so I can relax and enjoy the spirit of the season! I'm almost there! Stamped image is from Artistic Outpost collection of stamps called "Snowy Woods".

NEW BRACELETS AND SOMETHING DIFFERENT

A quick post to show you some new bracelets I made.....and the last one is DIFFERENT. Sometimes I feel the need to stitch, even though it's been a long time since I have. There is something very calming and quiet about it. So the last bracelet is a very organic freeform version of my stitching. I learned this technique from an issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry, but don't remember which one, but credit must be given to the wonderful artist who did the tutorial. The nice thing is that each one comes out different, and they feel beautiful next to your skin. As for the other bracelets, I think the elements speak for themselves. You can't argue with the beauty of mother nature's stones ! Also, the second bracelet features a marvelous handmade link that I used as the eye of my clasp, made by the famous Esther....my sweet friend! I think we should all leave her a comment to sell them on etsy...right?!! The first bracelet has me just captivated with the phrenite nuggets....the picture doesn't do them justice...the color is sublime . All are listed on etsy.





And a big thank you to SANDA.. of Sanda's Hobby Blog, for this adorable and sweet award she gave to me! Thank you Sanda!! Go visit her blog to see her outstanding creations....her cards are incredible, and she has some wonderful mixed media!!