art junk girl

Out to Junk~

Dear Friends~

I've been out junkin' again...it all starts with a mission. My mission lately is finding more shadow boxes to paint. Ok, let's see if I can "splain" how it all started (or how all my obsessions start). They all start with some hair brained idea, memory or "trigger" if you will. Ok, ok, so let me trace it for the sake of understanding it, or at least just talkin' about it cause I'm sure others are like me. (Don't all raise your hand at once, ok).

I've decided that most of my recent creative obsessions have stemmed from taking the SuziBlu Les Petite Dolls class (which I am still working on, by the way). I started drawing and painting these cute whimsical dolls...so addicting. Then, for some odd reason I ended up drawing one and dressing her like "Alice In wonderland". Ok, so, now, let's see. So far we have Suzi Blu Class + drawing dolls = Alice in wonderland obsession. Alice in wonderland leads to looking for Alice in Wonderland books and images at Antique mall.

Ok, so let's go back a bit more. Last year when MaryAnn visited, I randomly bought 2 shadowbox houses at michaels for us to paint as a project while she visited. We never got around to it since we went to see the CherryBlossoms, etc.
Well, months later (last week to be exact), she is back visiting and we take out the shadowboxes. Of course, MaryAnn, being the whippersnapper that she is, ends up painting/wallpapering/finishing the decorative portion of her house the last day she was here. Of course, (alice in wonderland, here) has only painted her house with 2 coats of acrylic ivory paint and dreaming of Alice in Wonderland, of course. Are you sick of this story yet?...cause it doesn't end. So, as I'm thinking of how to incorporate the said them, I start to play around with putting some of my Wizard of Oz toys on the shelves (I found these junkin' this past summer). Then I decide that it would be really, really, cool to do the Wizard of Oz theme.

Only problem is I only have the cowardly lion and Dorothy. This leads to going to junk shops this week lookin' for some more W of Oz characters. So, so far we have, Suzi Blu class + dolls + painted shadow box = obsession with both Alice in Wonderland books and Dorothy of Oz toys which = trips to junk stores and me standing inside thinkin' (I can't believe I am 40 somethin' years-old-standing-in-a-thrift-store-looking-for-dorothy-and-wizard-of-oz-toys).
So, it doesn't end there. I end up going to flickr and searching for shadow box inspiration ideas and come across this absolutely breathtaking, beautiful red christmas shadowbox made by Kris Hurst.. (whose blog I coincidently read already!) Now I think, I gotta make a shadowbox for Christmas too! So, hence the need to look for more shadow boxes/shelves). My son found 2 for me (yes, I dragged him with me..I figured he could learn something, other than the fact that his mom is a nut). So, this weekend, guess what I did? You are right! I painted shadowboxes! I now have a creme one for my dorothy theme, 2 red one's for christmas and a hot pink one for whatever I will be obsessed with next! I must say, I was pretty happy with how the red one's turned out. I painted some heavy cardboard from a spiral and glued it to the back. It totally looks like it came that way, if I can say so myself. So, that's what I've been up to. Living in wonderland, and making a crapload of shadowboxes for my house. I'll continue to post pic's in my "studio" album above. Just thought I'd let you know a bit of how my looney mind works before I set forth on a project...and NO, I will not make 1000 shadow boxes this year. I promise.

moleskine pages and some junkin' finds~

Dear Friends~
I have a few new pages to share from my current moleskine journal.

I actually forgot to take it with me on our beach trip. I normally "don't leave home without it", but I didn't have it in it's normal location so it got left behind.

I worked on some pages tonight and then took pics of my junkin' finds this weekend. I always stop at the same little antique shop on the way home. Normally it's at the end of the day so I get about 40 minutes (Bruno's tolerance point). I actually hid inside the store when Bruno walked in to find me and the owner happily covered for me. It was quite a hoot. Now, my memory has not always been my strong suit, BUT, I always, somehow remember the layout of any antique store I like. Luckily, once the "junk" is parked in a certain place in these stores, it ain't a-movin!

I always go upstairs to the "doll" ladies booth. She has the coolest stuff. I got dorothy and "Dawn" there, plus the cute doll case. I bought another set from her last year. Who's the greek looking doll amongst the girlie stuff? Well, I found him down in the basement of the shop. He is called an "Evzone" because he is dressed like an Evzone, the elite military guards that stand outside the government palace. This is the traditional greek costume.
So, my greek pride get's the best of me when I find them in these shops. I find it my personal responsibility to rescue them. (I'm only half-kidding). My collection is growing. I think I'm up to 4, since most greek people don't give up their evzones. For one, they are traditionally given as gifts to children from aunts, uncles, or grandparents. Second, they are the only toy some greek kids are allowed to have. I don't understand why everyone says, "huh" when I come home and announce that I've rescued another 'Evzone'.

So, there you have it. Journals and Junk. Over and Out. xo lia

I heart Antique Malls! Friday Finds!

Dear Friends~
I have been a bit behind in sharing on my blog this week as I've had many "life" kind of stuff going on that's kept me away from both the blog and my journal. I have not completed a journal page in almost a week. That is a record for me as I work in it everyday...it's a constant companion to me...a place to rest my thoughts, not to mention some of my favorite papers and images from my little "stash".

Anyhow, where was I? Oh, yeah. The part about "life is what happens when you are busy making other plans"...that one. Now, lucky for me, while life was throwing lots of assignments my way, I luckily found myself in the vicinity of one of my favorite Antique Malls in our area. I have photos up on my flickr of previous jaunts and goodies I've found there. I had about 45 minutes to run in before attending my son's game and boy, oh, boy, did I find some goodies! They were waiting there just for me! I love antique malls and they are really my main stay for junkin'. I usually go "junkin'" in the summer time when we travel. I love the fact that I can take my time and that I don't have to fight over things like at estate sales and such. After all, "I'm a lover, not a fighter". Ha ha...I made a funny! Here are my friday's finds! ...mind you at amazing prices. I will post more later.

I also promise, cross/my/heart that I will be loading up some new journal pages and art soon! I have lots of ideas stored up in my head (you know, la-la land) and I'm sure that once I get out my art stuff, I'll be spilling it all out!
Hope all is well with my creative friends!! Summer is almost here and I'll be able to come out and play in blog land. I've seen so many fabulous blogs crop up as of late. So many talented people out there, so little time to see it all!
Stay tuned, I'll have art junk back on it's regularly scheduled programming soon! xoxoxoxo Have a FABULOUS weekend my dear friends!!!!
xoxox lia

Hunting, Gathering, and Giving...

Good Morning, Friends! I am still fighting this cantankerous cold. I feel pretty decent other than the fact that I get tired after doing like 25% less than I normally do. I have also been *perish the super-mom thought", napping on the couch in the, get this...middle of the afternoon. So, I digress......since I haven't been able to do as much art as usual, I've been using the "down time" to do my "hunting and gathering". Now, if you are a collage, crafty person, quilter, etc., you know that there is a great amount of hunting and gathering involved in making what we do. We....erm...kinda, sorta, have an issue with hoarding stuff (well, some of us, not me, not you, just some of us). But anyhoo, I have learned over time to keep only what I like and pass other things along. Now, since being part of the art community here I've been able to swap fun things with other art friends. I recently swapped with an artist I really admire, Nicola. She sent me this beautiful ephemera pack. She was so nice to include little cards with the letter's spelling ARTJUNKGIRL (see above)! I just looooove all the goodies she sent me, exactly the things I like! I hope she likes what I sent her as well. It's so much fun putting these little packs together. Sometimes I like doing that almost as much as collaging! Anyhow, as I was saying, I've been hunting and gathering as of late. I put in a few orders for new images for my little squares (in which I am running very, very low!), and I also bid on a few vintage magazines on ebay. Hopefully by the time this comes in I will be raring to go! I also wanted to share what I got on a recent trip to the used book store inside a local library. How can you beat buying wonderful vintage books and helping "friends of the library!" The volunteers that work there are also so pleasant, wonderful, helpful and fellow book lovers! I was just explaining "altered books" to a friend the other day and explained that it is "legal" to alter a book and that I know so being that I am a self-professed book-lover, I checked it out first! I even found that there is a "society" of Altered Book Artists. A wonderful, non-profit site, check it out here. So, where was I? Oh, yeah, I went in search of a poetry book for a class I am taking at Art and Soul. I know it is going to be here before I know it so I am starting to get my supply list together now. I hunted and hunted for the "right" book. I couldn't find one. Finally, after purchasing a few other craft books (for a grand total of 6 dollars), I found the "one" as I was leaving. I opened up this book to find dried roses inside! How lovely is that! The book seemed loved and special so this is the one I will use for my class. I also found this cool pattern there (they had a whole box but mostly newer stuff and I way like 50's-60's). I also found this fab 3 volumes called "Needlecraft". They have sewing, crochet, and many other projects inside with great pictures~) I was excited to find these and I will surely refer to them this year as I delve into some other projects on my new years creative goal list. Speaking of new year's resolutions...remember the "un-resolutions" I made? I may have to "eat my words" on the weigh-in one. I may be driving myself to the "weigh-in place" after my cold is over. I like gathering, but not in my mid section, and that has got to go!!! Ok, well, enough ramblings for today. Hope to get myself back together soon and share more art with you. In the meantime, I'll be storing up some inspiration to share. xo Lia Don't you love this square-tastic page! Hmmm...a square quilt collage with fabric, or even a purse.......I must be feeling better now...

square biz and a day in the life of artjunkgrl...

Hello Friends! First I want to thank you all for your comments. I do appreciate every one of you that visits me and take the time to say hello and write! I don't always get around quickly to all the blogs, but I will as soon as I can. I had a little mishap late nite, really not major, but I hurt both of my wrists while trying to tighten the screws on a wobbly tray table that I was unfolding to sit next to my hubby and work on my 1" squares. As some of you know, I sit with my hubby at night in our family room and do some of my collaging on my lap desk. Well, I wanted to use the tray table last night instead, and being the way I am, I got sidetracked and decided to fix the wobble. Well, I layed the tray table down, went to tight the screw and "SNAP' the tray (which is heavy formica like material) smacked down on the top of my wrists instantly bruising me. They still hurt like no other but I can move fine, etc. I know I need to take something today because it's still bothering me, especially when I type, argh! So anyway, my wings are a little bent and bruised but I had to write today to share a few things with you all. Last nite I made 9 1" squares. Oh, it's so much fun. I am going to play more with them this weekend and I want to do some in a Christmas theme. As I said before, by next week I'd like to have them together on something, probably a frame. The other thing I wanted to mention, ofcourse, is that it's the end of Art Everyday Month! I cannot believe it. Thank you SO much to Leah (Kat) for encouraging me to join and for being so instrumental in gathering groups of art friends together in which great things always happen! It's been an awesome month. Thank you for encouraging me and many others. Now, as promised, I have some pics to share of some fantastic finds at an antique mall earlier this week. You can see all of my finds in my flickr album. They includes vintage christmas cards (gorgeous one's, $3 for a bag! I scored big!), ephemera including old postcards and letters, some stamps, lots of junk to create with this month!Plus a few nice holders for art junk in my little "studio". I just love creating with old things. I am working on my first little shrine/assemblage/box, whatever you call it. It's basically a little open box I'm collaging. I will share with you as soon as I'm done! I don't know what my art plans will be this month, but I know it will involve squares!!! lol! I wish you all another productive month where you let your creativity flourish and you share the beauty of it with others. Every day can be artful and fulfilling. It is ultimately up to us to listen to our muse, follow our bliss and make our worlds a bit more colorful, a bit more creative and a whole lot happier! xxoo Lia