CELEBRATING MILESTONES

Hi Everyone!

I'm taking a special trip soon to visit my very best friend! We are celebrating a milestone in her life of 65 years and who better to celebrate it with than family and your very best friend.  We've been friends for 38 years so that makes us family! 

 To surprise her I've been working on these little paintings.  

To Live Simply With Purpose & Gratitude

I've chosen a graphic Spoon (Knife and Fork are on the sides) to represent my friend's gourmet cooking skills. She is self taught and one of the best cooks I know! The graphics are from The Graphics Fairy.  I've included a poem written by Henry Van Dyke "A Mile With Me", you can find it here. My friend and I have walked many "miles" together in our years of friendship. And written in purple is one of my favorite quotes (so sorry, I don't know where I got this from, but if you know this quote, please let me know so I may give credit to the author).

Using the KISS (Keep It Simple Suzy) method and the Less Is More theory to paint the Live Simple design, and Yes, it is simple in design, I collaged scrap papers onto the canvas and textured the papers with random stamping and a dab or two of paint. The flowers are freehand and highlighted with Twinkling H20's to give them depth and sparkle. I love the simplicity of this canvas painting. I think my friend will like it too.  

Live Simple. 

There's a new grandson in her life too! So we are celebrating that too! I've known Brody's father since he was 4 years old and I wanted to make something special for his new baby. The inspiration for this little painting for the baby's nursery came when I saw what Ashley was doing over at Lil Blue Boo. 

You can see the multi-talented Ashley Hackshaw's adorable creations over at  http://www.lilblueboo.com/baby!   I'm also working on a quilt for baby Brody but it isn't quite done yet, I'll post pictures of it next time. 

Bee Creative,
Suzy

Linking to: Paint Party Friday; lilblueboo; Sew Many Ways

GELLI PLATE SPECIAL

Hi Everyone!

Last week my Gelli Arts Printing Plate arrived on the doorstep! I hope you had a chance to check it out, if not just click on the link above and it will take you to the Gelli Art website where you can get the scoop on what this is and how to use it. 

I have to confess right here I jumped up and down, clapped my hands together and squealed with delight when the first print came off the printing plate! Yea, I know, a grown woman and all that...but seriously, it was super fun!!! 

An added bonus to each print is a "ghost" image (below) from paint left on the printing plate.  I also kept a piece of paper handy to clean my brayer on and it can be used for original wrapping paper or in a journal.  

I put some of the gelli prints through my printer and this is the results:

 I used my own black and white photograph of iris over the gelli print. If you look closely you will see lots of texture too. 

 Two photos over two different colored backgrounds. The first is a free download from www.friendlyscrap.blogspot.com. They have lots of free downloads and kits.  I'm sorry I can't remember where I got the flower photo, but if you recognize it, please let me know so that I might give credit to the photographer. 

Here's one of my favorite images of a bird over the gelli print. I love that you can see the textures and peek through colors of aqua and yellow. 

It's been fun experimenting with paint combinations, textures and printing photos too! I hope you enjoy them and will come back to see what other ways I discover to use my Gelli Printing plate.  

Bee Creative! 
Suzy

Linking to:   http://paintpartyfriday.blogspot.com/

New Year 2013

Happy New Year Everyone! 

During the month of December I unintentionally fell off the blog-o-sphere I caught a super bad cold from the grands. Yup, right up until Christmas I was down and out, huddled under blankets  quilts and eating nothing more than soup for days on end. All plans were cancelled (missed our live nativity at church, Christmas caroling, all craft projects went on hold as well) and I just gave myself permission to be sick for once. Enough said! I'm back now feeling well enough to get this post out. 

I'm truly excited about the New Year! Don't you just love the idea of a fresh start and new beginnings? I do! The New Year holds such promises and hope for a brighter future. This year we are expecting our first grandson to be born in April and we'll be traveling to Texas for that blessed event. I look forward to spending time with my grand-daughters each week and of course working  two part-time jobs and continuing with church activities and more art challenges. 

There are quilts to be made for my grand-niece, a family friend and my new grand baby. I found the cutest pattern for baby bibs too, can't wait to sew a few of those up for the wee ones. Also found a cute pattern for a rag doll I want to make for my grand-daughters, they are really into playing with their dollies. The list of projects goes on and on. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about! 


 Check out what Santa and his elves left on my doorstep yesterday! A Geli Plate. It's a fab printing plate for making your very own paper prints!  Seriously, if you love making art journal pages and like your own original design work you gotta get one of these babies! 
I could hardly wait to get the package open this morning and give it a go... It's so simple! There's going to be a whole lotta printmaking going on this weekend in my studio.  

I'll be posting more on Geli Plate printing soon! Stay tuned.

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year filled with promise and bright beginnings!  

Bee Creative! 
Suzy