A Thousand Squares

square mosaic

square mosaic, originally uploaded by artjunkgirl.

hang on!

Lia Kent-Batch 02-05-Black.jpg, originally uploaded by artjunkgirl.

lovely~

Lia K.-Batch 03-06-White, originally uploaded by artjunkgirl.

have a lovely day! :) Lk

artjunk inchies for Change!

artjunk inchies for Change!, originally uploaded by artjunkgirl.

big squares...

big squares..., originally uploaded by artjunkgirl.

inchin' along in '08

part of a mail trade~, originally uploaded by artjunkgirl.

My Favorite Image Resources for "Inchies"...

Last year I made a goal to make 1000 1-inch square collages. Below are my favorite image resources. These were my "go-to" places for this project. I highly recommend them for high quality images and reputable service. Each sheet comes printed on high quality paper so the colors are vibrant and the images easier to work with, etc. This way, I did not have to worry about smearing, low resolution, etc.
When working on a surface this small, good image quality is of utmost importance. These vendors also had the images available in smaller format so I did not have to cut off alot of the image to fit it on the square!

TenTwoStudios Tiny Image Sheets

Tuscan Rose "Mini pics"

Altered Abbey Inching Along collage sheets

I also received a fabulous inchie kit from the LittlePinkStudio shop. I am checking to see if those are still available for custom order.

During the project, I also used original ephemera from magazines. In retrospect, this was not the first choice for lasting results as some of the images have faded and become brittle or unglued.

Thank you for visiting my project. I will have postcards available for purchase sometime this summer. Stay tuned!

~Lia K.

inchie closeup (for a swap)

inchie closeup (this last batch), originally uploaded by artjunkgirl.

latest batch of inchies....for a circus theme swap. love circus colors for sure. :)

In memory of 34

In memory of 34, originally uploaded by artjunkgirl.

we miss you.

xoxo forever.

outsider's inchie

outsiders inchie, originally uploaded by artjunkgirl.

I'm workin' on some new inchies....come back and visit soon!! xo lia

1000 squares project is complete!

1000 squares project is complete!, originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

Thank you for following my project this year!! It was a fun year of making fun squares and having square fun! Coming soon...

~a summary of the project
~my fave supplies
~my "cheap" tricks (recycling paper,etc. to make inchies).
~my fave squares
~and more!

Have a wonderful Holiday and Happy New Year!!
Your square friend,
Lia

christmas inchies~975

christmas inchies, originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

I have 25 more to go! Wow, this has been a fun project! I hope to share some thoughts on it all after the new year! Thanks so much for following the project and for all your comments and encouragement!! I love making these little squares and I'm happy that you enjoy viewing them too. That's an extra bonus. :) Lia

1000 square project: inchies album

1000 square project: inchies album, originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

I've organized the squares into panels of 20. They are easier to keep track of that way. I can still make a large mosaic with them. I now have them all in a photo album. It's fun to go through and look!

organizing squares for the final count!!

still counting squares..., originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

....about 40 left to go, so I'm getting all my "squares in a row". I'm trying to decide how/ what to display them in. I can't believe a year has already gone by! As I look through the squares, I remember where I was and what was going on at the time I made certain squares. Many of these were made after dinner, while relaxing and watching tv or movies. It became routine. My kids would even ask me to "make some squares" if they didn't see me making them! My youngest noticed that I hummed while I made them and that she liked that. We also had a lot of "square" jokes circulating around here...especially from my husband...but everyone got involved in poking fun at me, and that's ok! When I first started making them, after hearing/seeing them from a member of AAO (of which I am now a member)...people outside that group thought I was, well, I think the word used was "crazy"...but soon, the inchies caught on like wildfire, and now everyone is making them (even fiber artists have adopted the concept and are making fabulous little works of art!)...... Thanks to Julie, the founder of AAO, for having this wonderful idea and to members sharing their art on flickr..or else I would have never seen them. Ok, well, thanks for following my little project, I will write more later. xo Lia

Getting closer~

Ali square (quote), originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

click on photo to see quote....

his way...

his way..., originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

night inchie: doodled background~ #934

night inchie: doodled background~, originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

I worked on a few more inchies this weekend and did a thorough inventory. I have made 934 inchies that I have in my possession (copied) and accounted for, although I have given some inchies away as raks, etc., but for simplicity purposes, I'm going with what I can account for! Didn't know counting squares could be so complicated. lol. Anyhow, I am likening the end of this project as reading the last chapter of a good novel you don't want to finish! I've really had fun making these throughout the year. In a way, they are all a little diary of thoughts and fragments in my mind. I've enjoyed sharing these little collages with you. :) Lia

Thank you for your square mail!

square mail this year~, originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

Thank you so much for your generosity. Click on the photo to go see some of the mail I received this year to support my square making project. I really appreciate these wonderful gifts and random-acts-of-(square)-kindness!!
Everything was Fabulous and I used all of it throughout the project!!
:) LK

square collage in progress...

square collage in progress..., originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

One of several mini squares I'm working on this weekend. It's sitting on top of one of my square-ganizers....a necessity for anyone dealing with little scraps like this! It's kept me organized all year and I can take it with me anywhere. :)

1000 squares progress~

squareventory.11, originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

This photo displays my copied inventory of my collaged 1" squares. On the right are 75 new squares (waiting for finishing touches). I am now at a total of 914 uniquely made inchies. 86 to my goal of 1000 in 2007!

"David" collage inchie

"David" collage inchie, originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

new squares ~ artjunkgrl

new squares ~ artjunkgrl, originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

getting closer!! lk

sneak peak

squarepeek2, originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

here's a little sneak peak from a new batch of 36 squares I worked on this week. I'm still putting on finishing touches....more coming soon...stay tuned!! l.

1000 squares Project still going!

1000 squares Project, originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

I will have an update on my totals so far on November 1, 2007.

For those of you that have inquired about the 1000 squares goal, yes, I am personally making 1000 1" squares of my own for this personal project.

I have, however, been the very humbled to receive random acts of kindness from many artists whom have sent me both their own inchie creations as well as supplies to reach my goal. I am so thankful for your thoughtfulness. It's really touched my heart. I plan to post all the inchies I've received at the end of the year on this blog when I wrap up the project. I have them all together in my special square vault. hee hee.

Thanks again for visiting my my little world of squares. xo Lia

new inchie~

new inchie~, originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

A Square Deal!

A Square Deal!, originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

Thank you to Suz, publisher of the renowned ARTitude zine for publishing this article on what the "square deal" is with me and my inchies! It's in the Summer 2007 issue which can be ordered online at the ARTitude zine site. The zine has many fantastic, diverse and informative art articles in it, as well as a gallery of vivid color art photos and a page of free clip art images.

p.s. I promise to update with more inchies soon!

~LK

new inchie!

new inchie!, originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

Business has been slow. Square production will increase shortly. Thanks for visiting!!

9/11 inchies

today's inchies, originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

added detail to inchies from yesterday

added detail to inchies from yesterday, originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

got my square mojo back

got my square mojo back, originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

recent inchies

recent inchies, originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

set of new squares (722)

set of new squares (722), originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

722 and counting~

I'm getting some Postcards printed up soon! Stay tuned. Thanks for following my project. I'm going to post all the squares I've received in the mail soon. Thank you SO much to all of you that have done so! I will be sending you a fresh new postcard when I get them printed up!
:) Lia

Square Count~713

colorful squares, originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

I've officially inventoried/photocopied my one inch squares and I have, to date 713 squares (accounted for). I've swapped out a few here and there, and made a few for swap gifts, but I'm going with what I have photos of (you'd be suprised how it can be hard to keep track of these, even though I have them organized!) Anyhoo, I will continue to photo copy them hence forth so that I will keep count for the next 287.
I project that I will be done sooner than the Dec. 31st goal I made for myself. I will post more info in the future on what I will do with them all as well as an inchie "faq".

Square on!
LK

Squares for Cha...

Squares for Cha..., originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

An "Official" Count! 685

THE birds~, originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

I've officially counted/copied and accounted for all the 1" square collages I've made thus far. I know it is a higher number that what I am stating, as I have chosen to go with what I have in my possession as well as I've counted the 25 from a swap earlier this year as I have a good picture of it and they are all unique.
I currently have 660 squares in my possession, counted, copied and collated (so that I don't have to keep taking them out of the squareganizer)!
In addition, I've given away a few squares here and there but did not keep track exactly. It's in the neighborhood of 20 squares traded out.
So, I would like to start with an official count today of 685. That will count the 660
I have in my possession and the 25 that can be seen in the Angela Haviland swap on art-e-zine. So, drumroll, please.....I am officially at 685 unique 1" squares made by yours truly.
I am, however, collecting the squares that dear readers and friends have sent me and I will complile those into one mosaic as well and present it at the time of my big "1000 square reveal". I'm not quite sure what I will do yet, but it will be a mosaic of some sort I think.
Stay tuned!
Thanks for your enthusiasm, comments, and encouragement. I'm so excited that you all enjoy following this project and see fun and beauty in this little bits of art.
p.s. I will post again when I reach 700 (which should be soon). 300 to go by Dec. 31, 2007.
xoxo Lia

my favorite square photo~my sweet Dad

my favorite square photo~my sweet Dad. Happy birthday Dad.

inchie fun

inchie fun, originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

I love the way these turned out! I made them while punching some inchies with a "scalloped" 1" puncher from the new Martha Stewart craft line. I started out with a base 1 inch square and simply layed the smaller scalloped square on top. Fun. Fun. Fun!

squared away!

new inchies~, originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

I made over 25 new one's a few days ago and still pluggin' away. I've added words on a few of these and left the others as is. I still love making inchies! There are just so many possibilities! As far as what to do with them, well, I'm still working on that. Right now I'm just concentrating on completing my goal. Luckily they don't take up a lot of space! I have them organized into postcards and in a little photo album. I also have a little "squareganizer" bin that you can get in stamp collecting isle or jewelry section of your craft store. Oh, forgot to say that I will be selling some inchie kits soon in my etsy shop. Stay tuned! ~Lia

My FAve Inchies

My FAve Inchies, originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

making postcard mosaics

making postcard mosaics, originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

Latest Inchie Mosaic (appox. count is 650 total)

Latest Inchie Mosaic (appox. count is 650 total), originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

inchies on bazzil chips

inchies on bazzil chips, originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

new inchies I made while at camp..

new inchies I made while at camp.., originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

I know I'm due for a serious square-ganizing square count soon. I have officially lost track! I made these at camp. I realized that part of making squares (for me at least) involves a relaxing environment, a sweet beverage close by and tivo. I love my hobby and missed it while I was gone! I tried to think of ways to use my inchies in larger projects and in a "useful" way. If you have any ideas or links, feel free to share in the comments. Lk

new squares

new squares, originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

...mades these on cardstock that I painted day the day before for another project...

inchies in progress

inchies in progress, originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

inchie mania

inchie mania, originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

I added some detail to the top left one done in last post. Then I made 3 others...I used a gel pen with these. I found some mini one's somewhere that are quite fabulous! They were either in the Target (pronounced Tar-jay) dollar bin or at the register of a fave mall store of my girls (the one with all the junk jewelry and hair stuff..).
LK

new inchies series using inchie backgrounds from Pamela

new inchies series using inchie backgrounds from Pamela, originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

Thank you Pamela H. for sending me the square backgrounds! I've been "showered with squares" as of late! Thank you to all you generous souls!!! I'm having loads of fun creating with these....I can't get over how generous this creative community is!!! xo Lia

more square-zies...

more square-zies..., originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

I finished up the one's below adding words and here are a few more that I did over the last few nights. I'm not working with a theme really, I'm just doing whatever floats my boat at the moment. lol. Half of these images are from TuscanRose image sheets (mini's) ..a source for many of my collage images, both big and small. :) Lk

new squares in progress

new squares in progress, originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

College Squares (inchies)

College Squares (inchies), originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

My son asked me to make some "VMI" inchies~ the college he will attend this fall. I made them from one of their brochure booklets. I learned alot too in the process about the school (little facts and names of buildings and such). I will put these all on a picture frame when I'm done.