art junk girl

Completed Canvas Collage

Completed Collage: "Bes is getting married" by artjunkgrl, originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

Well, here "she" is! I finished up the canvas today with a few details and sprayed some matte finish on it. I absolutely loved working on this. I usually don't like to work on canvas, but guess I'm ready to try this out! I learned alot. I'm also liking the move to a bigger canvas....I have always worked small, but now I want to expand my scraps and glue junk...I guess I am collecting more stuff to art with or getting more confident in experimenting....I threw lots of stuff down and started painting on it, but I want a smoother surface in the future. It's a little goopy. Tried to scan as best I could so that it would look like original so suggestions are welcome. I want to do a big huge canvas. Those that know me.....you can picture me working on this while sitting on the floor, right. (my preferred work area) ... eegads, I'm getting chiropractic suggestions on my flickr comments...lol....I am always experimenting with art, so I don't really get that afraid anymore. I'm having fun, but I do secretly wish I could sit at a desk and do everything. my art stuff is taking over the house. ok, well perhaps I'll work on disciplining myself more this year. well, I'm rambling on, so I'll get back to work. I'm now finishing up my spread in a round robin. I adore the work of this artist that sent the book. It really blows me away. Well, with back to school coming up for the kids, I've got my hands full. Life is good though! I'm trying to enjoy the moments. That's what it's all about.
regards, Lia

"Bes is getting married", collage on canvas by artjunkgrl

I've been wanting to take my scraps and glue to canvas for a while, but always shy away as I don't know which glues to use, etc. I decided to just wing it and not worry about it and I made this collage this afternoon while sitting outside. Time got away from us....Bruno came home to find me, my little one, and my art junk all over the patio table. I bought one of those dollar store tablecloths to protect it and it worked beautifully, plus I always put waxpaper underneath where I'm working. So here it is. It's not quite done as I want to add "one more thing" and prob. put a matte finish on. It was way fun "playing" on canvas.

p.s. I was VERY inspired by the collage on canvas that I saw on Hanna's flickr and blog that I decided to go ahead and take a collage leap onto canvas. I LOVED her recent collage. I did not do an image transfer, not that fancy yet, just glued down a copy. the rest of the stuff is magazine ephemera, some fabric, paint and bits as always! so many scraps, so little time, lol!

my regards to you, and thanks for the inspiration Hanna! Go see Hanna's collage at http://www.ihanna.nu/blog/?cat=41 !

:) Lia

More Thrifty Finds!

When I spotted this tray (part of a set of 3 for $8!), I thought it would be PERFECT for my mom's apartment as she is still in walking cast and has to have stuff close by. She was using her sewing bench to put stuff on next to the couch! As soon she saw it, she put her sewing bench back in place! lol!
Anyhow, I kept one and gave her set of two! My hubby said they had similar one's when he was a kid! These trays are sturdier than my "nice" black ones!

I'll use this one by TV for my art junk and stuff. It matches with my decor too!! Regards, Lia

P.s. guess what hubby is watching! I like it too.

Thrifty Finds...

Thrifty Art Junk~ I scored 5 baggies of art stuff at a Thrift "super store" on my way home from eye doc! I had to drive about 40 minutes away to find a "cornea" specialist. The good news is that my eye is injury is "receding" and the great news is that I found 2 great thrift shops on the way home! yippee. they were like flea markets. now I can flea-tique in the winter too! lol! more to come on Thrifty Thursday and Friday Finds!!! Oh, and I was nice and shared my "stash" with my younger daughters...lol....p.s. I got some GREAT colored pencils! woo hoo, My oldest daughter bought me a moleskine journal for my bday. Here I come! Have art junk, will travel...

cabinet organizing-art junk

cabinet organizing-art junk, originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

I worked on organizing some of my growing collection of projects, ephemera, fabrics, beads and bits.....

I feel better getting some stuff put away. As I've said, I tote things around to work on. It's hard for me to sit in one room and create. Of course my hubby always says "get it all in one space!" I have about 3-4 spaces I like to work in at home...

Yesterday I cleared out space in this bedroom cabinet to put my "travelling totes" on the right that I had stacked in my bedroom. The clear desk file was there before and old books/magazines and videos that I don't often access. I told hubby that I was going to "work with my habits" and keep things close to the spaces I work in so that I don't leave it out in the totes. He said, "sounds good", which means, "let's see how long that lasts...".
So anyway, this is working for me for now, I know I need to do something because my art junk is taking over my spaces! Anyway, I started working on my Round robin spread after this (a benefit of organizing is seeing what you have and pulling things out for collages and projects!)

I also did a quick collage with paper bits I'd put aside on my desk while sorting through stuff.

So, that's what I've been up to. Now I'm off for school supplies today for the kids.....these places are terrible for an art mom, I end up buying supplies for me too. I'm the biggest kid, lol!!!
regards, Lia