arts & crafts cooperative

Hello Etsy - live

2011-09-17T13:52:00.001+01:00

Watch live streaming video from etsy at livestream.com

Hand Embroidery: Graffiti Fragments

2011-08-19T12:39:00.000+01:00

Embroidery floss, acrylic paint on linen

Bad Bunny visits Graffiti Alley, Ann Arbor Michigan

My friend and I are preparing for a jafagirl show in October, which will be highlighting some of our street art represented in stitch,yarn, felt, painting and photography.

Links

Embroidery

Jafabrit's Blog

Modern Artifacts: 2010 Year-end Update

2011-01-04T04:13:00.006Z

A few projects I completed in 2010 were challenging and rewarding. Of interest to the rest include a triptych completed for an art show in Sacramento.

"El Corazon De Sufrimiento" received some nice media notices as well as positive reactions from those at the show.

The link leads to my blog post which contains a few more details about the work. El Corazon de Sufrimiento

Most recently posted are some general instructions on how to make insets for the covers of hand bound books.

The link below will bring you to the page containing the instructions, a few ideas and more photos.

Book Cover Insets

Terry Tyson

Happy New Year!

Reverse painting on Plastic

2010-11-29T13:40:00.000Z

Every now and again I (jafabrit) like to play with acrylic paint and do reverse painting on plastic. It's sort of the adult version of finger painting because the only way to get soft blended colours is to use your fingers. No special prep is needed like you would if using glass, or special paint.

If you're ever in Yellow Springs Ohio check out my work at IN A FRAME, or just enjoy the yarnbombing we (jafagirls) put up :)

"snowflake tree" on Corry Street

Happy Holidays

Mixing Media: Marmite Shrine how to

2010-10-18T13:48:00.000+01:00

I currently have this in my show "stitch gasp", although it's not for sale. It will go in my dining room after the exhibit :) I made the shrine with MDF, collaged on torn pieces of scrapbook stencil paper, painted it black with some red, and then hand rubbed it with goldleaf paint using a rag. The eye piece is from an old bracelet I had that I inset into a found handle or door plate. The doors I stitched on with waxed thread, and used two wood beads for the door handles.

The embroidery is on cotton, and all done by hand using a mixture of satin stitch, long and short and couching, then a light wash over parts of it with acrylic paint. I then stretched it over a piece of mdf covered in felt and anchored it to the back.

Stitched Art Exhibit

2010-09-30T16:48:00.000+01:00

"lead belly"

embroidery and acrylic paint on cotton

Been busy preparing for my (jafabrit) exhibit Stitch Gasp!, framing, last minute details, and put together a little video montage of my mixed media stitched art. Hope you enjoy.

Exhibit at "would you, could you" IN A FRAME.

Opening reception at 113 Corry Street, Yellow Springs, Ohio

October 15th at 6pm until 9pm. Call 767-2962 for more info.

pastel skies seascape

2010-09-15T23:25:00.002+01:00

Skyscape Painting. Violet skyscape pastel color skies. Original seascape painting with multiple layers of orange, pink, beige, blue, aqua, violet, red, peach, tan, beige, and alizarin crimson colors in this amazing skyscape painting. 12 x 16 inches on Arches 140 lb cold pressed archival watercolor paper from France. Painted with the finest Winsor and Newton pigments from London, England. This painting is of the Atlantic Ocean of Satellite Beach Florida. Throughout the year you can see the rocket launches from NASA and at night sea turtles crawl onto the beach to lay their eggs. I really miss the coast, and this painting takes me back to heaven on earth. Available as an original work or a collectible fine art giclee print in the drop down menu below.

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Sizes and Options

Or, send me an email

View more art at my gallery at Skyscape Paintings

Mixed Media Embroidery

2010-09-15T14:14:00.001+01:00

Mr. GobbleHead

20"x 20"

Acrylic on stained muslin, embroidery floss, glass fish eye, button

Been experimenting with integrating embroidery and other media as well as blending paint directly onto the stitching. I used 5 colours for "liar liar pants on fire", but used paint on the white thread on the flower.

This will be going into my exhibit stitch gasp! next month at In a Frame in Yellow Springs, Ohio

Still Life Painting

2010-08-22T16:50:00.000+01:00

""It is nought good a slepyng hound to wake "

oil and resin on gesso board

8" x 8"

available at IN A FRAME in Yellow Springs, Ohio

This is a based on a my sketchbook sitting on my carved wood coffee table. I wanted to do a painting in the traditional masters method so I started out with a grisaille. You can see how the early stages here. Then I slowly built up the layers of glazes to add the colour.

seascape oil painting

2010-08-19T23:44:00.003+01:00

Seascape and Skyscape Oil Painting. Beach with skyscape and surf waves gulf coast soft sandy beaches seascape dark cloudy sunset navy blue seas oil painting nautical coastal art on canvas. Original oil painting on stretched canvas 16 x 20 inches, available as an original or fine art print below.

Sizes and Options

Or, send me an email

View more art at my gallery at Oil Paintings

Upcycling: Acrylic on Vinyl

2010-08-19T17:15:00.000+01:00

"dotty"

by Jafabrit

A little spin art painting on an old vinyl record. I have my own homemade machine that has variable speed and gives me a wee bit control over how the paint spreads.

Vinyl Art Flick Page

Sail boats painting marine art

2010-07-05T21:08:00.002+01:00

Eau Gallie Yacht Basin Marina. Aqua background landscape with Sailboats in a Melbourne FL marina. Nautical seascape fishing boats. Coastal tropical decor art painting of vacation location in Florida. Aquamarine nautical sailing sailor landscapes and seascapes. 10 x 13 inches, Watercolor and pen and ink, available as an original and as a fine art print in different sizes below.

Sizes and Options

Or, send me an email
View more art at my gallery at Paintings of Sailboats

Recycled Art: Crushed Can Painting

2010-07-03T14:07:00.001+01:00

"Matrimoany"

Glued stips of paper on the crushed cans, then painted over it with acrylic paint.

To see more of my work visit Corrine's aka Jafabrit's site at Jafabrit's Art.

Nautical beach home decor

2010-05-09T20:14:00.000+01:00

Nautical beach home decor oil painting - Coastal Decorative wall art, oil beach painting on canvas. This illustration drawing contains a man salt water surf fishing, a long haired blonde woman (my wife Sheila, an umbrella for shade, ice chest full of cold brews and soda. Chilling out on the Golden Isles beaches in the summer time, tropical coastal decor 16 x 20 inches.

Craft Graffiti: Flower Power Project

2010-04-28T15:40:00.000+01:00

Flower Power Pole

located on the corner of Corry St & Xenia Avenue in Yellow Springs Ohio

part of the

Project by the Jafagirls

Jafagirl Fan Page

Mixing Art & Craft: Embroidery

2010-02-10T17:02:00.003Z

"Homage to Frida"
by
Corrine Bayraktaroglu

Embroidery is based on my skull painting series and is done on 100% cotton with embroidery floss and cotton thread for the flesh.

painting1 '09

2009-11-19T11:40:00.002Z

My partner asked for a painting for her birthday this year.

I haven't painted anything in years, so was rather stuck with how to approach it, and decided in the end to go for something abstract.
I chose board rather than canvas and wanted to "loose" the flat surface of the board.

I used quite allot of different materials: acrylic, cement, glue and oils. One effect which I was really interested in was how the different materials shrank at different rates giving rise to "crazing" which often followed the boardes between materials.

After finishing I made a simple frame which helped give it some space to work in and put it up on the wall.
Despite all the nail biting, I had allot of fun doing it and (given time) would like to do some more "painting" in the future. I always have difficulty evaluating my own work, but after formulating the original idea I feel that the result isn't that far away from what I concieved, and it isn't something I am arkward about having on the wall. Success!

Francesca Vitali

2009-11-12T19:09:00.003Z

INSERTO long: Recycled paper interwoven into oxidized and textured sterling silver.
Always liked Francesca Vitali's work

Where's Mr.Plato

2009-10-07T20:44:00.004+01:00

Mr.Plato by the Jafagirls

Mr.Plato is a full size resuscitation doll covered in a mosaic of felt and is hiding out in different spots each month around the village of Yellow Springs, Ohio.
This month he is enjoying a bit entertainment.

Scatterling© - available for purchase

2009-09-28T05:46:00.001+01:00

Scatterlings© is a collection of self-directed enchantment art which combines actual foliage with watercolor and color pencil mediums. Hidden among the actual and rendered foliage are an enchanted assortment of Scatterlings; mythical animals and fairies.
These one-of-a-kind folk art pieces take up to a year to complete as flowers and leaves are collected, pressed, preserved and finally hidden within a vision that evolves continually. (Mixed Media; Pressed Foliage, Watercolor, Colored Pencil, Pen and Ink on Handmade Paper.

With the advent of Giclee (zhee-clay) the art of fine art printing has become even more precise. Because no screens are used, the prints have a higher apparent resolution than lithographs. The dynamic color range is greater than serigraphy. In the Giclee process, a fine stream of ink -- more than four million droplets per second -- is sprayed onto archival art paper or canvas. The effect is similar to an air brush technique but much finer.

Choose from: Stretched/Mounted CANVAS Giclee 24"w x 18"h. Ready to hang. Shipping & Handling Included! or Giclee Enhanced Archival PRINT also available in 24"w x 18"h Suitable for framing. Shipping & Handling included!

Some originals are available.

See thumbs, info and price list here!

Jacquelyn L. Berl (also known under the artistic monicker “Ascender“, see more works on her website and blog) is a versatile and prolific artist with a strong drive towards finding an original signature style. She creates art with a seemingly unlimited assortment of media, fusing various schools and trends into a conglomerate body of work. I would categorize her style as gravitating towards the surreal, often with fabulous qualities; it characterizes in various degrees her mixed media works, collages, ink, watercolor and oil paintings. To my mind Berl achieves best results with the more combinative efforts, and while the more traditional artwork exhibits engaging pristine and figurative qualities, it is in the more complex and “dirty” pieces that her creative potential finds a unique outlet.
Viewing the “Scatterlings (c),” which, according to the artist, “combine actual foliage with watercolor and color pencil mediums” is a rich and magical experience — not surprising considering the “mythical animals and fairies” populating these pieces. In a way it replicates the ritual of reading a fairy tale to a child: each night the infant would ask for another reading of the same story and each time the story would sound different. It is possible to see each scatterling as a meta-illustration of a fairy-tale, existing or not. Perhaps even more radically, each piece is indeed a fairy tale, only of a visual kind. This would make sense considering the arduous process, taking up to a year, of making (”writing”) them.
Technically they may be seen as Pollock’s logical continuation: he painted while putting the canvas on the floor, letting gravity participate in the process, and Jaqueline similarly alludes to gravity, which forces the leaves and the plants she uses down to earth. Thus she may be proposing an idealized artistic view of the physical world around us, everyday objects being the media and the ground they rest upon the surface. But even without this allegory, her artwork bears a purely visual resemblance to abstract expressionism, all the while retaining the concrete form of the inserted magical characters (visit her blog for close ups) — the result is a fascinating surreal mishmash.
Clever use of perspective, compositional rhythm and color toning, combined with actual flora creates a bewitching effect of three-dimensionality. I cannot decide whether the artist panders to the younger audience by incorporating real objects, seeking to emulate depth with actual depth on the paper, but it certainly appeals to the child in me, evoking an inner smile. I also think that it is this kind of works of art that more than usual encourages children to want to become artists — it could be the appeal of using objects found in nature, something every playful kid does as a matter of fact anyway.
Elijah at Art & Critique

Mixing Art and Craft

2009-08-29T20:20:00.004+01:00

"cat scan"

embroidery, acrylic and embossed metal on muslin
Corrine Bayraktaroglu

Translation from left hand drawing and painting in my sketchbook to textile art.

In Search of a Miracle; Scatterlings©

2009-07-24T16:14:00.001+01:00

Small detail of In Search of a Miracle; Scatterlings© Mixed Media; Pressed Foliage, Watercolor, Colored Pencil, Pen and Ink on Handmade Paper

"In Search of a Miracle"© Original now available for sale at the Tiburon Art Festival being held on August 22nd and 23rd. Art Size 30"w x 20"h; Matted and Framed: 40"w x 28"h. See more of this "In Search of a Miracle"© here, here and here

Previously I have offered prints. This is the first time I have offered the entire collection of original pieces for purchase.

Scatterlings© is a collection of self-directed enchantment art combining actual foliage with watercolor and color pencil mediums. Hidden among the actual and rendered foliage are an enchanted assortment of Scatterlings©; mythical animals and fairies. These one-of-a-kind folk art pieces take up to a year to complete as flowers and leaves are collected, pressed, preserved and finally hidden within a vision which evolves continually. These Scatterlings are constructed in the frame to keep them protected. Humidity levels play an important role in the longevity of your Scatterlings. Behind each are packets of silica to eliminate humidity inside the frames. (Mixed Media; Pressed Foliage, Watercolor, Colored Pencil, Pen and Ink on Handmade Paper)

Jacquelyn L. Berl (also known under the artistic monicker “Ascender“, see more works on her website and blog) is a versatile and prolific artist with a strong drive towards finding an original signature style. She creates art with a seemingly unlimited assortment of media, fusing various schools and trends into a conglomerate body of work. I would categorize her style as gravitating towards the surreal, often with fabulous qualities; it characterizes in various degrees her mixed media works, collages, ink, watercolor and oil paintings. To my mind Berl achieves best results with the more combinative efforts, and while the more traditional artwork exhibits engaging pristine and figurative qualities, it is in the more complex and “dirty” pieces that her creative potential finds a unique outlet.

Viewing the “Scatterlings (c),” which, according to the artist, “combine actual foliage with watercolor and color pencil mediums” is a rich and magical experience — not surprising considering the “mythical animals and fairies” populating these pieces. In a way it replicates the ritual of reading a fairy tale to a child: each night the infant would ask for another reading of the same story and each time the story would sound different. It is possible to see each scatterling as a meta-illustration of a fairy-tale, existing or not. Perhaps even more radically, each piece is indeed a fairy tale, only of a visual kind. This would make sense considering the arduous process, taking up to a year, of making (”writing”) them... (read full review) Elijah at Art and Critique

http://ascenderrisesabove.com/

Crochet carpentry

2009-07-17T11:32:00.002+01:00

I used to have chairs that looked like this when I was a student.

Lolafalk

2009-06-23T10:28:00.003+01:00

From the Art & Craft Co-operative pool on Flickr
View the pool slide-show on this site.

Twenty minute Simple Skirt Tutorial AND GIVEAWAY!!!!

2009-06-19T12:26:00.000+01:00

Twenty minute Simple Skirt Tutorial AND GIVEAWAY!!!!

Contemporary Embroidery

2009-06-08T13:50:00.003+01:00

“the prick who came to dinner”

he was a guest

Dog-ma-tic

made him erratic

as his rants & lectures raged

Unleashed

not bound to his dunghill

the cock crowed

the audience woke up from their stained dinner

departed

once again

he was left alone

to wallow in his own shit

ignorant ideology

Tea stained muslin, black floss, satin stitch, couching stitch, custom frame

copyright c.bayrak 09

To be exhibited in The Eclipse Gallery exhibit 50 Artists, 50 States, 50 Mediums Sept 12 2009

Flowers In The Windows; Perspective Rendering, Acrylics

2009-06-05T16:16:00.002+01:00

Flowers In The Windows; Perspective Rendering, Watercolor
From the new “Fresh Perspective” collection
30″x 24" - framed and ready to hang. Purchase.

My Fresh Perspectives pieces combine years of experience painting perspective renderings with techniques acquired working in other mediums (Acrylics, Watercolor, Colored Pencil).

Fused Plastic Grocery Bags - Necklace

2009-06-04T21:12:00.006+01:00

Multi use Fused plastic Necklace
Originally uploaded by Cynthia Del Giudice

Fused plastic grocery bags turned into beautiful delicate flowerlike shapes and combined with cultured pearls and sterling silver make this elegant necklace.

This necklace is a custom order for a bride-to-be. She wanted a necklace she could also wear after the wedding as a casual accessory. She said she liked the handmade organic links, but also loved my fused plastic pieces, and thought pearls were a nice touch for a bride.

With all this information I started drawing ideas, and decided to make a multi-function necklace with the option of taking the fused plastic pieces if desired. This necklace may be worn long, double as a choker, with the fused plastic pieces, without them, and the extension chain can even be worn as a bracelet with the plastic pieces.

Global art jewelry conversation

2009-06-03T10:38:00.004+01:00

This is a global conversation about contemporary art jewellery.
You need to sign into the gadget itself to take part.

Feel free to embed this gadget in your jewellery related site, so that you and other people can take part in this conversation from your site! There is a "one-click-install" button here.
You can move it to where you want to use it by dragging the gadget around on you blogger layout page.

Opa & Oma

2009-05-19T17:54:00.002+01:00

My partner and son went south today to visit the Grandparents.

The last time we visited was a few weeks ago when it was Grandpa's Birthday.
Here is a light-shade that my four year old drew as a present for "Opa's" Birthday.
Opa still plays tennis regularly

Designer Frühling

2009-05-18T15:05:00.002+01:00

Had a good day at "Designer Früling" on Saturday.
It was my first attempt a a craft show and building up to it was rather stressful.
the day ended with more sales than I expected so it was worth all that hair loss after all!

HCJ on Facebook

2009-05-08T09:51:00.004+01:00

The Handmade Contemporary Jewellery Project, is a multi armed web based project powered by jewellery artists from around the world.

On place where you can find join in is on our Facebook page.
There you can start or join in discussions, post images of your work or just give us a pat on the back by becoming a "fan".

You can also follow the project on Twitter!

3 daisies wildflower art

2009-05-07T17:08:00.002+01:00

3 daisies watercolor whimsical impressionistic modern floral still life original art watercolor painting for your home or business, 129 dollars. 11 x 15 inches

View more art at my gallery at
http://www.derekmccrea.50megs.com

visit my art blog at http://watercolorpaintingart.blogspot.com

Art by Derek McCrea
Columbus, GA, USA

still life 5 kitchen cuisinary art

2009-05-07T00:35:00.002+01:00

Fruit basket still life 5 kitchen food cuisinary art original large watercolor painting on arches 140 lb archival watercolor paper. The still life realistic modern art contains bananas, apples, lemons, cantaloupes, pineapple, pears, and oranges. 18 x 24 inches 259 dollars.

View more art at my gallery at
http://www.derekmccrea.50megs.com

or view my blog at http://watercolorpaintingart.blogspot.com

birch tree modern art painting

2009-05-05T23:10:00.003+01:00

Birch tree modern art painting watercolor medium realistic abstract original art 11 x 15 inches nature winter landscape scene, colors are brilliant and would look magnificaent framed in a home or work office. The bright colors are peach, yellow, orange, white, brown, gray, black and tan. Purchase this original for 159 dollars plus 7 for shipping using the below secure payment option.

View more art at my gallery at
http://www.derekmccrea.50megs.com

or visit my blog at http://watercolorpaintingart.blogspot.com

Wake up artist call

2009-04-24T21:41:00.002+01:00

This site seems to have gone to sleep some what ....

.. it's time to wake it up! Join the site and make some noise, comment, give it a shake up!

If I like the stuff in your profile, I'll send you an invite and you can post your own stuff on the site.

Robert

image credit: aknacer

How to make a zippered wristlet pouch for yourself, your friends or your shop

2009-04-24T10:20:00.003+01:00

Perfect solution for the busy, beginner sewer who needs needs in making a simple and easy zippered wristlet.

There are many purposes for these handy zippered wristlets.
You can use 1 just for groceries shopping, 1 for your lunch break, 1 for taking your kid(s) or pet to the park, 1 for exercising at the gym, 1 while window shopping and so on… The list is endless… With the strap, the wristlet can be counted as one of men’s’ (or should I say women’s’) greatest creations of all. You have complete use of your hands for all your big and small shopping bags by simply hooking the wristlet into your wrist.

They are lined for a neat appearance, interfaced for a sturdy feel and stress points are triple-stitched to ensure that they last. Plus, they make great gifts!! They are pretty and totally functional for your recipients! With this little handmade touch, your recipients would feel totally honored that you spent this amount of precious time making it just for them. And, if you want to sell them, go ahead!!

Go to http://djstoreroom.etsy.com/ or http://artfire.com/users/djstoreroom for more information...

2009-04-13T01:38:00.004+01:00

After being prompted to present some work by a dear art friend, Jill Allyn Stafford (who is a wonderful collage artist, btw)at an artist's co-op show. VOX Sacramento is a group of dedicated artists in a variety of mediums who put on regular gallery showings in the Sacramento area. Their "GREEN" show seemed a perfect theme for my work using old bottles and other discarded ephemera.

However, merely showing an altered bottle wasn't quite up to the standards I imagined they anticipated, so I knew I had to step up my game a bit. The result was a unique way to display the altered bottles on a shelf-like background as seen in these photos.

After these first few were completed, my creative juices began to flow a bit and I think I can improve on these first attempts even more. However, I am pleased with the results and believe that these assemblage works are just the beginning.

The upper piece is called "Leap of Faith," and incorporates the use of tape transfers, soldering, a painted and stenciled background as well as the micro slice "charm" which dominates the work.

The lower work is called "Mother Nature's Son" and like the other one, utilizes micro slides to even more advantage due to the collages that appear within the slides.

There are other things on the work that you cannot see from the photos, but make it even more personally significant.

Oh yeah, if you're interested, these are for sale. Email me with any inquiries you may have.

I guess it's time to get one of those Etsy shops. All the cool kids are doing it, right?

Shake up

2009-04-05T08:50:00.005+01:00

Changed to layout of the site slightly.
I have Moved the members gadget into a post, because that gives it more room and people don't understand that it is not the "followers" gadget.
I'm hoping it'll help people to understand and prompt them to fill out their profile. This is important because you don't show up as recently signed in unless you have at least added an image.

Also I am so f*cked off with people not understanding how labels work and am fed up having to clean it up all the whole time, so I've got rid of the label cloud and added a few generic categories instead.

I'd still recommend adding your name to each of your posts, so if people like YOUR stuff there is an easy way for them to see only YOUR posts, but I've given up the notion that everyone is bright enough to apply appropriate tags. Go ahead add one tag to one of your posts for "strawberry jam" or some such other rubbish, it won't now affect any efforts to organise content.

Site friends / members

2009-04-05T08:26:00.005+01:00

Join using friend connect to comment / show your profile.

Felt Art

2009-03-15T15:47:00.004Z

copyright Corrine Bayraktaroglu

I was thinking how I used to enjoy a ciggie now and again and how it sucks that it is such an unhealthy filthy habit. I used to love puffing away while driving into DC and the music blaring, sitting in the studio drinking a cup of tea, in the pubs of Annapolis with my pals. Puff! puff! puff! and then I had to quit cold turkey. Not that I was a heavy smoker or even a consistent one, but one day I spat up a spec of blood (proved to be unrelated to smoking).

Origin of the phrase Cold Turkey

“The expression originates from the goose bumps and palor which accompany withdrawal from narcotics or tobacco. One’s skin resembles that of a plucked, cold turkey….”

I don’t recall getting goose bumps though Lol!

This is all hand sewn using tea stained felt for the bronchial tubes, yellow stain on the embroidered teeth, and I filled with lungs with fag ash and ciggie butts.

looking rabbit

2009-02-26T14:40:00.001Z

We've just had "Karneval" where I'm living so this seemed appropriate to post.

Bushfire Bunnies

2009-02-17T00:34:00.002Z

Bushfire Bunnies will be donated to the children who lost all of their toys as a result of the Victorian bushfires in Australia. You can sponsor a bushfire bunny here.

Bushfire Bunnies are an original edward and lilly design.

For other handmade ways to help the bushfire victims check out Handmade Help.

The Art of Using scraps

2009-02-16T00:45:00.004Z

The JafaGirls made this for the Tecumseh Land Trust anniversary auction and celebration of Whitehall Farm coming up Feb 21 (calendar info can be found at the Chamber of Commerce site). As with a lot of our projects, most of the pieces are recycled from other projects ( from the Knit Knot Tree or Textile Totems). Nothing ever goes to waste in our studio's it seems, not even old neglected watering cans in the garage LOL!

Soft Jewellery

2009-02-11T09:43:00.004Z

view on Flickr

I'm seeing quite allot of "soft jewellery" popping up.
Do you think it's a new trend?

HCJ Project Concept

2009-02-05T17:14:00.002Z

I made this short slideshow this morning which hopefully helps to break down the information barrier which still seems to prevail.
I explains how the project works and that there are different aspects to it which people can join

Teapot | Jon M Ryan

2009-02-05T17:02:00.002Z

I like Jon's work.I recently bent his arm into joining the HCJ project, but I think he'll learn to live with it!

Cunjevoi Garden

2009-02-02T21:50:00.004Z

Hello!

2009-01-28T17:23:00.002Z

Cheeky craft snap.
liked it.

New craft studio

2009-01-27T22:23:00.000Z

Not mine unfortunately. Mine would be much less tidy and no where near as fantastically POP!
Do YOU create in a mess? ... or does "it" only happen once you've cleaned up?!

Pick a colour ....

2009-01-25T22:56:00.002Z

Any colour ....

Liked the way they jump out at you...
...and wanted to knock the "edit your friend connect profile" post off the top spot.
Found on Flickr.

Your Friend Connect profile: add your details

2009-01-24T11:29:00.011Z

Google Friend Connect is not yet perfect, but it is allot more interesting and powerful than allot of people give it credit.
If you join a GFC enabled site (like this one) but don't know what GFC is, then there is a danger you will leave your GFC profile untouched (like the image right).

To edit your profile click the "Settings" link when logged in and explore from there. If you want more info I have written a help page on the HCJ project, but it applies to any GFC site.

What info can you show on your GFC profile?
1. Your basic GFC profile info: image, name and text.
2. Your activity you have chosen to show on GFC sites.
Note: that you have to choose to activate this under "settings" for each site. You can see in the example how Robert has made friends with someone on a different GFC enabled site else ware. His activity on that site is shown in the example, because he had opted to show his activity on that site.
When this screenshot was taken, the profile was being viewed by the logged in profile owner: see that each "activity" can be removed from your activity stream by clicking the small bin or trash icon. This removes that activity from your GFC activity stream, but does not remove the activity (e.g. a comment) on the site where it was made.
3. Links you have added to your GFC profile. If you add more than five links they are shown on a new profile page from the "More >" link on the right of the links section of your profile.
4. Sites you have joined with GFC. You can choose not to show a site you have joined from the settings link when logged in on that site.
5. Friends: this is a term which some people have a problem with. You should think of "friends" as a contact you have met on a site rather than a "buddy". If you have made "friends" with someone then you will "see" them listed as a friend on other GFC sites you both join. Being friends will also be useful to cut down the "noise" on a busy comment wall gadget, as you can click to "show only friends" comments in canvas (full gadget view) mode.

If you need any help with setting up your profile or want to know why you should be thinking about using GFC on your site. Then just ask.

CYBER FYBER at Gallery 80808/Vista Studios

2009-01-05T19:50:00.003Z

The show is up and runs January 8 - 20, 2009. It's also an online exhibition. Info about future competitions are here as well. Here's the main page: Cyber Fyber at Gallery 80.

Cyber-FYber Online Exhibition Now Available

2008-12-26T03:25:00.004Z

CYBER FYBER is an exhibition of international fiber art focusing on the supportive, global Internet connected community of textile artists. The exhibition will include 250+ fiber postcards, 160+ fiber ATCs, and the work of nineteen international fiber artists. Got this notice from Susan Lenz and could not get the entire graphic to save as it was sent, so I'm posting it in bits for those of you interested. There is a deadline involved with participation.

Please visit the CYBER FYBER site !

For Strong Women Everywhere; Two-Sided Tag

2008-12-23T15:21:00.000Z

For Strong Women Everywhere (detail)
Two-Sided Tag, Collage, Mixed Media. Purchase SOLD
Remaining unsold two-sided tags here.

"I could... I would...
Look up and be guided by the star of joy"
words for, and about, strong women everywhere

Ascender Rises Above blog
Original Scatterlings© here. Matted and Framed.
Original Acrylics 3.5 feet by 2.5 feet and under here.
Pointillism/Stippling Prints here. Critique of Ascender’s Poinitillism/Stippling
Remaining Illuminated Tiles here.
Remaining one-of-a-kind ACEOs here

Inspiration in Miniature

2008-12-16T20:35:00.004Z

Peaseblossom's Boots, Mixed Media by Annette Emms

I just finished an interview on my blog, Deepwater Journal, on fiber artist Annette Emms from Britain. Take a peek at her works and then visit her site for more inspiration through her incredible photographs of her travels.

The shoes above are only 3" long, part of a series that she builds and teaches about through the Embroiderers Guild of England.

And some of my own work direction:

Brass and stone tiara, mixed, 11-02-08, Dina Kerik

Tiara of pressed acrylic flowers, vintage glass leaves, crystals wires tiara 12-02-08 Dina Kerik

I have spent a fortune on beads and gems these past months! I'm consumed with them and love adorning every bit of lint that leaves my studio with them. I've listed two Goddess Gowns on my Etsy shop that are ablaze with beaded motifs as well as tiaras.

Here's blessings to all of you through this holiday season. May the new year bring you prosperity, peace and a ton of new creative muses!

Where have all the followers gone?

2008-12-10T16:21:00.004Z

If you are wondering where the "followers" gadget has gone...

Well it's been removed. Why?

Well Google friend connect is now integrated into this blog and it does the same thing but MORE!

As well as "following" the blog it allows you to show a profile (with information about yourself, and links etc), to connect with other people, and to take that ONE profile with you to any other friend connect enabled site you may choose to join across the net.

Friend connect is new; it went live just the other day, so it may als seem a bit pointless currently, but it will all make sense over time.
Try it out! You can always hide your details, unjoin etc, what have you got to loose?

50 Artists, 50 States, 50 Mediums Exhibition

2008-12-05T16:53:00.005Z

Hi there! I've been a member of this blog for awhile, but haven't posted much. So if you don't know me, I want to share some news--I am opening The Eclipse Gallery in June 2009, and have am currently organizing an exhibition: 50 Artists, 50 States, 50 Mediums.

The concept behind the show is--one artist or designer from each state in the USA will represent a different medium, bridging the gap between the traditional fine art world and other arts disciplines, including craft, design, architecture, performance art, etc. I am interested in these intersections and how they translate into everyday life. This show will not only represent the importance of all art disciplines, but will also stress the importance of all working artists regardless of their location.

I am looking for artists, crafters, makers, and designers working in unique mediums!
Examples: Knitting, Jewelry, Metals, Found Object, Glass, Plastic, Photography, Crochet, Quilting, Felt, Wearables, Architecture (such as models, plans, photos), Graphic Design, Film/Time Based, Installation, Furniture, Baskets, Typography, Performance, Music, Spoken-Word, Text, Artist Books, Zines, Mail Art, Encaustic, Watercolor, Sewing, Mosaic, Graffiti, Illustration, Product Design, Wallpaper, Textiles, Etc.
Deadline: April 15th, 2009
Click here for more information.

Note: The following states and mediums are already taken
AL, NY, NJ, MI, WI, CA, VA, PA, TX
Pastel, Mixed Media, Paper, Silkscreen, Lighting-design, Book arts, Ceramics

Thanks, and I hope to hear from you soon :)

Friends: In the sidebar!!

2008-12-04T22:37:00.003Z

Those with a keen eye will have noticed that there are a couple of new elements in the sidebar (at the top!).

You can now "join" the site, probably using one of the logins you already have!
This possible because I have befriended a number of magic elves, or through the wonders of "open social" application interfaces depending on your viewpoint or preference.

Anyway the short of it is you are welcome to "follow / befriend" the site and can then interact somewhat with other people (if you choose).

If you are one of the people already "following" the blog please join, as it offers more functionality and I will eventually remove the "followers" gadget to clear some space come the spring.

A Painting A Day

2008-11-23T23:22:00.003Z

I wanted to stop in and invite you to join me as I post A Painting A Day on my blog at http://www.amulti-coloredlife.blogspot.com/ My goal is to post a new painting every day or so. I am working primarily in oils and offer the finished paintings for sale either through my web site at http://www.suesteiner.com/ or at my art studio in Canton, Ohio. For my blog followers and visitors to my art studio every First Friday I will have a drawing for the chance to win one of the previous month's 'daily' painting. Above is pictured the original oil painting I gave away last month. Blog followers can participate by leaving a comment on my blog.

I am an animal and equine artist but also vary the subjects for my daily paintings. I am available for pet portraits and can be contacted at artbysue@hotmail.com .

Thank you!

Sue Steiner

Humpty Dumpty was Pushed

2008-11-14T19:25:00.005Z

That is what I wrote on the back of the felt fried egg I made and left on the sidewalk for free art friday in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Free Art Friday is a fairly new art movement where artists all over the world leave art for people to find and take home. ~~To see an international set of images please visit the FAF flickr group pool.~~
Some of the work is just stunning, fun, and original.

EDIT: added a slideshow from the Flickr group. Hope that's Ok?!

Global Trunk Show - Thursday November 13 - 7pm

2008-11-11T13:04:00.002Z

Come join The {NewNew} for a one hour on-line trunk show where you can meet and chat with the designers of handmade goods from the New York Metro area, while enjoying a nice SALE and coupons for further sales from these participating artists's.

The sale starts at exactly 7pm, so mark your calendars to log in to your etsy account to enjoy an hour of savings and chat!

www.adornmentsnyc.etsy.com
www.bshorr.etsy.com
www.dirtylovesclean.etsy.com
www.fubabee.etsy.com
www.karensmonsters.etsy.com
www.kimmchi.etsy.com
www.linguanigra.etsy.com
www.mayluk.etsy.com
www.naturemaniuplated.etsy.com
www.redbridgestudio.etsy.com

Key West Paintings, Continued

2008-11-10T18:42:00.003Z

I've been working on a series of small paintings for the Key West Art Bar in Key West, Florida. But I love creating these little paintings and welcome an excuse to do them.

"Key West V" - Acrylic on Canvas
4 x 4 x 1.5"

This one has a feeling of sea and sky and all things Tropical. These little paintings are best collected in groupings. The more the merrier!

You can also see a collection of these small works in my Etsy shop.

crafts for halloween

2008-10-29T19:10:00.004Z

Scented felt skull brooches by Jafabrit
available in the Nolaa Gallery Yellow Springs, Ohio

In the cold evenings while I watch a movie on telly I like to sit and knit or sew and I came up with these lavender scented skull brooches. I made a little skull template out of cardboard, and used buttons, embroidery floss, glitter and acrylic paint.

FREE Sock Monkey Workshop at Etsy Labs

2008-10-24T00:21:00.002+01:00

Join us for an afternoon of creating original sock monkeys for Fresh Art's sock monkey program. Fresh Art is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing expanded artistic, personal development, and entrepreneurial opportunities to New York City artists with special needs. The sock monkeys we create this afternoon will be sold to raise funds to support fresh art's programs. All skill levels are welcome, though basic hand sewing skills are helpful.

Saturday, October 25, 2008; 10am-3pm
325 Gold St, 3rd floor, Brooklyn, NY 11222
Ages 12 & up are welcome.
Please RSVP at rsvp@etsy.com for this free workshop.

Hosted by Fresh Art, the NewNew York Team , and Etsy Labs.

-Kimm
KimmChi.etsy.com

How to Make Purple Trading Tags

2008-09-30T09:25:00.000+01:00

1) obsessively collect paper and fabric for over 20 years
2) obsess about the color purple so much that you paint the inside and the outside of the house purple

3) let your studio become a complete disaster
4) finally sort everything and set aside all purple papers and images as you sort
5) sew together all these scraps on your mother's old singer sewing machine in crazy quilt style.

6) add ribbon and other fabric elements where they fit
7) run out of papers you like and decide to make more
8) create more purple papers
~8a) get white and off-white papers with images and writing and texture
~8b) scribble over with purple and magenta water soluable oil pastels
~8c) blend with water and silver paint
~8d) hang on your cool corkboard room border to dry

9) create other "elements"
~9a) get old browned paper letter stencils
~9b) scribble over with purple and magenta water soluable oil pastels
~9c) blend with water and silver paint

10) keep backing papers of both experiments of parts 8 and 9 and add stamped/stencil letters in dark purple rubber stamp ink

11) sew new papers together
12) when satisfied with a "quilt" cut out card stock tags of proper size and sew to quilt. then cut out each tag.

13) attempt to be satisfied and not continue messing with it or you will ruin it!

(These tags were created for an ArtErratica swap)

The art of craft

2008-09-29T14:21:00.005+01:00

Knit Graffiti in Graffiti Alley, Ann Arbor, Michigan
"alley cat" doll and photo by jafabrit

A lot of people equate graffiti with those ugly gang tags, but graffiti has come a long way.
No longer the purview of the rebellious youth or gangs with a spray can.
NO! knitters have been adding their part and there is a revolution going on.
Gangs of grannies (well young men and women too) with knitting needles have been yarn bombing and tagging anything standing still for 5 minutes. How delightful to see knitting used in so many new ways.
Incogknito, Knitta, Flickr Knit Graffiti Pool,
"Political protest turns to the radical art of knitting" Guardian
History of Guerilla Knitting

The Ann Arbor Chronicle asks about the graffiti in the alley, "Is it art?" I answer the question on my blog, jafabrit's art.

Sleeping Beauty Gown Coming Together

2008-09-27T16:26:00.003+01:00

Starting to look purty. The frontispiece is piped and set in with the side fronts. Picture above shows one lower sleeve cape together and basted at the top. The other side shows the velvet sleeve cape lining with bias piping basted on ready for the fashion fabric.

Get over it. You must always baste velvet if you don't want to drive yourself to an early happy hour. Piping is a real boon when sewing a pile or nap fabric to a smooth surface fashion cloth. The basted on piping wont let the smooth fabric walk or travel because both smooth surfaces are together rather than velvet to smooth. The basting keeps your piping in place. After you've sewn your two pieces together, the piping helps you turn a super crisp edge.

Here's the sleeve cape with the gold soutache braid hand stitched in place. Why by hand? No sewing lines show on your exposed lining. The bodice is stitched to the backs at shoulders and one one side. As this is a lace up gown and a piece used for theatre, I'm adding a side seam zipper for ease of getting it on and off. Even though there's no quick changes, lacing a bazillion holes is not a quick closure and you need help with it.

Today I finish the bodice back darts and put the sleeve cap and lower sleeve together to ready them for the lower sleeve capes. The lining is together and ready for boning.

How "Cooperative" are you?

2008-09-26T09:20:00.007+01:00

I put allot of work into this site, though the bulk of it was admittedly awhile ago: I'm no stranger to collaborative projects.
Meeting people (at least virtually) within whom I find the same enthusiasm as I have, for "working together", for "building something bigger than one can create by oneself".... ...is, if I'm honest, still something that I have yet to experience.

Shake up:
This project isn't "dead". There are in fact a few* members who are active: but the bulk of the people who are listed as "Authors" haven't shown up in quite a while.
So it's time I think for a shake up!!

This is "The Art & Craft Co-operative!"

The original idea was (and still is) that as a multi-author space it, by definition, offers more content and more variety than ones' own blog.
It is more engaging to be a part of than ones' solitary space.
Members are proud to be a part: and cooperate by showing it! A link to the blog is all we ask from our members; well that, and that they "turn up" occasionally!
Members who try deserve better from the ones who don't. It's as simple as that: so the ones who don't will be removed as authors in the near future.

People who want to take part are still very welcome.
It's just time to clean out the cupboards a little.

*83 people are currently "Authors" on this blog. Shouldn't that make for a more lively interactive site?
Who's active and who's not? Well if you use Google's advanced search to search for an authors username you can see how many times they have posted and commented on the site. My username for example gives around 104 results. Then, there is the question of "cooperation": linking to the site.

Paintings on Raw Canvas

2008-09-23T14:07:00.003+01:00

I am painting on raw canvas today. These pieces -- or possibly portions of them -- could be mounted to other canvases or to panels, should they turn out to be anything worth pursuing. In the meantime, it keeps me working. I'm actually enjoying this!

This piece is 8/12 by 24 inches, give or take, with some irregularity in the cutting, making those measurements variable.

These four pieces are each approximately 17" square. If any one of them turns out to be a basis for a painting, then they will fit nicely on my 16" panels.

I wasn't sure if I could control these just by working flat on a drop cloth, but once some paint started to build up on them, they were stiffer and easier to handle.There's a certain freedom in working this way. I think it has possibilities for my current series.

Check out my abstracts in my Etsy shop.

Also, please visit my new art blog on Wordpress. Have a great day!

Followers Gadget : Follow us!!

2008-09-15T08:02:00.004+01:00

Today I added a new gadget to the sidebar: the "Followers" gadget shows small profile images (like the image shown here) from people who have chosen to follow the blog.
If you are a member it's a great (lazy) way of keeping up with what's going on; following adds a neat discrete tab in your blogger dashboard which when clicked, shows the latest posts right there in your dashboard.

If you aren't a member it's still a great way of keeping an eye on what's being posted and it also shows your support for the project.

So if you like the principles behind the Art & Craft Co-operative do please follow us !!

Is Your Art Still Fun????

2008-09-03T16:59:00.016+01:00

You know how it is...some days you have so much to do, you think you'll never get it all done! And a lot of it is "have to" not "want to". When I'm particularly jammed up, my husband often asks, "are you still having fun?" Fun? FUN???? What's that?

The truth is, though it was an adventure, turned hobby, turned business...sometimes I forget that I am the person in control. I can slow down, ramp up, walk away....and I am the person who needs to make sure I take the time for all the important things in life, as well as my art. Yes, sometimes I have so many custom orders, I think there will never be time for anything else. I guess that's good news/bad news.
Lately, I have realized that I really do love what I do. I am living a dream I have had since college, and got diverted along the way, only to find myself many years later, back where I always thought I belonged.....expressing myself through my art. I've gotten more involved in my own art community through gallery activities....some pieces in a show now...big show coming up in December...and I've helped to organize a group of artists who create wearable art in any media that meets once a month. I've also met some wonderful artists through my shop on Etsy, artists that I think I can call friends. A few of them have put some of the fun back into my art by challenging me to collaborate or create designs that are outside my little box. So I'm grateful for that,too!
I hope that all of you reading this take the time to have fun with your art, and not go chasing the commercial side so much. I know that's easier to say than do...but as we approach the Christmas shopping period...it's going to be really important. I'm just saying......
Here's some pictures of a couple of fun things I've played with lately. And I've included a couple of pics from Patty Lakinsmith, who has found the time to play with her torch too!!! Check out her shop. Also, if you haven't seen Studio Marcy's bobbleheads, you're in for a treat! Now these are fun!
So....take the time to try something "out of the box"....play with your art a little more... find some"playmates", like fellow artists......I'm just saying.....

And here's some creations from Patty Lakinsmith @ http://www.pattylakinsmith.etsy.com/

And here's my favorite Bobblehead from Studio Marcy at http://www.studiomarcy.etsy.com/

Ladies and germs....Elvis is in the building! (or his impersonator is, anyway..) See? We girls just want to have fun...I'm just saying....

recycled art

2008-09-03T03:21:00.003+01:00

by Corrine Bayraktaroglu
Oil Painting on a crushed beer can
This is the submission I sent to Painting Cans

The Handmade Cavalcade Rides into Beacon

2008-08-24T12:04:00.002+01:00

The Handmade Cavalcade Rides into Beacon

New York–Area Etsy Vendors Throw an Indie Craft Fair

(Beacon, NY) The {NewNew} York Etsy Street Team—a group of sellers from Etsy.com, the online marketplace for handmade goods—is leaving the city for a day and heading up to Dutchess County to set up shop in Beacon, New York. The craft fair will take place from 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm, and will coincide with Beacon's Second Saturday Art Walk (see http://www.beaconarts.org/ for more info).

The Handmade Cavalcade fair will be located at the corner of Main Street and North Cedar, right in the middle of town. Shop through 20 booths for one-of-a-kind items, all handmade by the hippest DIYers around. You’ll find smashing jewelry, paper goods, hand-screened clothing and accessories, unique artwork and items for the home, yummy soaps and body butters, and much much more. Meet the artists and crafters who made the stunning wares for sale, and be sure to grab a souvenir.

You can sample free refreshments throughout the day while you’re taking it all in. For more information, please see http://www.handmadecavalcade.com/. For more information on the {NewNew}, please see http://www.thenewnew.blogspot.com/.

EVENT: Handmade Cavalcade
WHEN: Saturday, September 13th, 1pm-8pm
WHERE: The corner of Main St. and North Cedar, Beacon, NY
WHAT: 20 art and craft vendors, free admission, free refreshments, indoors

For more information and to be added to our email list, please contact us at handmadecavalcade@gmail.com or visit http://handmadecavalcade.com/

macro sunflower watercolor painting

2008-08-10T20:15:00.000+01:00

Macro sunflower original flower watercolor painting sunflowers are one of my favorite subjects to paint. This one has numerous layers of colors throughout the flower. Original watercolor painting 12 x 16 inches 159 dollars.

View more art at my gallery at
http://www.derekmccrea.50megs.com

yellow coneflower watercolor painting

2008-08-10T15:39:00.001+01:00

Yellow coneflower watercolor painting original flower art cone flower also called echinacea. 159 dollars

View more art at my gallery at
http://www.derekmccrea.50megs.com

heath aster flower watercolor painting

2008-08-10T15:37:00.000+01:00

Heath aster flower watercolor painting modern botanical still life art 12 x 16 inches 189 dollars

View more art at my gallery at
http://www.derekmccrea.50megs.com

Art World Project in Berlin, Germany Art for Charity

2008-08-07T02:28:00.005+01:00

This is my first post to the Arts and Crafts Coop Blog. I wanted to invite any other artists out there to submit works for the 2008 Art World Project in Berlin Germany. My work that is on the collaberation is below and a link to the project. I had a sponsor pay for my spot on the huge mural, I think it was like 10 dollars. And you can select how much you want to go to charity if your work sells. It is an annual global event that I have been invited to for many years now but finally said ok.

11 x 15 inches original nautical Anchorage Yacht Basin Indian Harbour Florida; Marina Boat painting, coastal seascape, watercolor realistic painting, 299 dollars, 89 of which goes to charity for the 2008 Art World Project being held in Berlin, Germany. Already with the emergence of this project idea it was clear, that they will donate all net profits from this project to child aid programs.

See more details athttp://www.artworldproject.com/index.php?option=com_user&task=showProfil&ow=true&Itemid=143

View more art at my gallery at
http://www.derekmccrea.50megs.com

Culture Eclipse Gallery

2008-08-05T14:44:00.004+01:00

Hi there, I've been a member of this blog for awhile, but haven't posted yet because I haven't been exactly sure what to post! I didn't want my first post to be so self-promotional, but on the other hand, this also might help some of you out...

After dreaming of owning an art gallery since I was nine years old, and after much hard work, I am taking the plunge and opening Culture Eclipse next summer. Our new building is located in beautiful Algoma, Wisconsin, which is just a few miles south of Door County. The building has two different storefronts with separate entrances, but the two sides are also connected. One side will be dedicated to a fine art gallery, as I have a passion for challenging, contemporary art. The other side will focus on exclusively handmade, original design--including ceramics, textiles, jewelry, glass, craft, functional items--I tend to prefer the quirky/funky side of art objects.

The point is, I already have many contacts with artists who paint, sculpt, etc. I do not know as many people who create the more functional art objects. So I am looking for artists/artisans/craftspeople who are interested in selling their work in my gallery. Please visit this link for more information on how my submission process works, and if you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me. I would like to work with artists from all over the world, so that I can bring some originality to my area. There are so many galleries in NE Wisconsin that focus on local artists, and while I welcome local artists, I also want to represent a wide range of people and places.

It may seem too early to get started on this, since I am not opening until next summer. But I thought I would give artists as much notice as possible, and myself enough time to go through the submissions and get an idea of exactly what I am going to have in the gallery/design store. I can pre-select artists now, put you on my list, and then send you a reminder e-mail next Spring.

Note that my website is nowhere near done, this is just a first draft so to speak. Thanks!

My first jewellery course

2008-08-05T13:38:00.004+01:00

I hadn't anticipated running any jewellery courses until I have finished all the renovation and fitting that is needed in my new workshop: but some friends from Berlin were very keen to "have a go" over last weekend, so I accepted and ran a "ginnie-pig course" at a reduced rate. It was actually really helpful for me, giving me some feedback, as to how I need to change the layout a little for better ergonomics, what tools I need to have more of and how to set up and run a course (we all have to start somewhere).

Ulla was very happy with how her earrings turned out.

Things are still a little lonely on the jewellery blog, so I thought I'd let her show off her talents here too!

First Work of Good Earth Series

2008-07-11T20:33:00.004+01:00

Finally finished the edges and final details on Geode. I will put it on the back of a cradle board with Velcro before it goes in a gallery show or sells. I also decided that Velcro will help it be hung in any orientation as is pleasing.

You can tell the progression from the progress picture I posted. The binding/backing is a silk linen weave with a heavy slub that reminds me of the texture on the outside of geodes. The little pocket on the side was an afterthought that turned out well. I like the idea that it can be in the process of growing.

I'm really pleased how it turned out. There are multiple amethyst gemstones including light pink Cape Amethyst, grape amethyst cabochon, faceted amethyst beads, loose diamonds and a diamond tennis bracelet, druzy, quartz, tourmaline, tanzanite, fluorite, some lapis, fiber optic cat's eye, glass beads, vintage rose montees, opal, fire opal and opal glass, leather from a fashion belt, vintage beads from my stash of 1800s jet and rocailles, vintage sequins, hologram sequins, carnival beads, mirror, Swarovski crystal, hand dyed brocade from Cindy's stripper costume, square bent silver wire, ivory salt water, gray and peacock fresh water pearls, iridescent blue rhinestones from a 1950s cocktail dress, and a lead crystal cube.

Farm House Decor

2008-07-11T12:27:00.004+01:00

Stop by my web site at http://www.suesteiner.com/ to see my chicken and farm animal art, perfect for Farmhouse Decor! This is framed with Amish made rustic barn siding.

Crow Series

2008-06-25T01:00:00.005+01:00

Not too many people know that my guilty pleasure is collage! I'm primarily known as an abstract painter. But I have an etsy shop dedicated just to my collages.

I've been working on a "Crows" series. Hope you like these. Here is a look at the series which is available in my Etsy shop:

And the series continues. Stay tuned! The shop for my collages is brushwithimagination.

And as always, my shop for original abstract paintings is colorpoetry.

New contemporary jewellery & silver site [feedback request]

2008-06-24T12:23:00.005+01:00

Hello All,
I don't generally use this blog a place to bang on about my work: but I am coming towards the end of setting up a rather large project, and could do with some feedback before I start any promotion.

If you could take a look at my new site and let me know what you think here I would be very grateful. The site aims to become a portal for professionals involved jewellery and silverware, where they can present themselves and promote their work. There are also some Forums, which are open to everybody.
It's all looking a bit empty / lonely at the moment, but I'm hoping that will change once the word gets around.
If you are interested in jewellery or silverware do please join the "Forums" (forum info) and help start some interaction!

Please leave any feedback here as a comment.
Many Thanks.
Robert

Broken Beads = Beautiful Pendants

2008-06-10T02:03:00.009+01:00

About a year ago I made of bunch of beads that suffered thermal shock. That means they cracked...which was very sad.

However, they cracked exactly in half, and I always saved them thinking I could do something with them. I've had my kiln for some time, but didn't have any sheets of fusing glass that was compatible with them until last weekend. So I got busy cutting out squares and rectangles, placed the cracked beads on top and they melted into these magical pendants! I'd be lying if I said I wasn't jumping up and down at the results.

My Pop Art Chickens

2008-06-08T01:40:00.003+01:00

This is the third in my ongoing series of 'Pop Art Chickens'. I am calling this one Gangsta Chicken. Or 'Real Men Wear Pastel' :) I plan to add to this series more farm animal art so visit my blog at http://www.amulti-coloredlife.blogspot.com/ and sign up for my newsletter. This design is also offered on my CafePress Shop along with other designs that can be made into tee shirts, mugs, decorative tiles and more. Visit my web site at http://www.amish-art.com/ to see equine and amish art.

Thanks for stopping by!

Sue Steiner

earth laughs in flowers

2008-06-08T00:35:00.004+01:00

earth laughs in flowers is a mixed media collage on a 20" x 16" x 3/4" gallery wrapped canvas. i covered the background with torn pieces of ephemera like an old indiana math book from the early 1900's, a french vocabulary book, a vintage music book and an old copy of wuthering heights. i added a multi-color watercolor wash and then used torn sprapbook paper to add the flowers, the bird and the bird house. embellishments of rubber stamp ink, oil pastels and pastel chalks were added to give depth and dimension. it is available to purchase from my etsy shop.

nylon and fine silver rings

2008-05-27T12:38:00.004+01:00

I have been having fun developing a range of rings in fine silver and nylon.

There will be other shape and colour options for the nylon to come in the future, but for now I'm just playing around with shape / form.

When I've finalized the ideas they'll appear on my new web site only.

fanciful flowers

2008-05-04T15:08:00.003+01:00

"fanciful flowers" is my latest mixed media collage. i combined watercolors, torn paper, pastel chalks, ink and oil pastels on a gallery wrapped 20" x 16" x 1 1/2" canvas. it looks beautiful hanging in my art room which is painted a wonderful shade of apple green. i'm going to keep it there to encourage me to keep plugging away at this art gig. "fanciful flowers" was inspired by (and loosely based on) a piece titled "melted colors collage" that i saw on someone's blog. i'd love to give her credit and thank her for the inspiration but i failed to bookmark the blog. i simply carried away the very strong image in my mind of her beautiful piece. have a wonderful sunday!

April Showers Bring May Flowers

2008-05-04T06:11:00.001+01:00

Here are some of my newest creations. I've just figured out how to make these neat flowers and leaves to go with them! The petals are formed by actually cutting the molten glass with scissors. My "Get Happy" beads are in the bottom left corner and in the top left corner is a fused pendant. Most of all I'm in love with the soothing color combination of ivory, lavender and sage that I used to create the necklace at the top.

Veils - Acrylic and pencil on 140 lb. Arches paper

2008-05-01T20:44:00.002+01:00

This little 5 x 7" abstract is titled "Veils" and is acrylic on 140-lb. Arches paper. Layers and layers of thin washes and gestural brush strokes make this a painting with a lot of movement. It has a generous border of approximately one inch. It's available in my Etsy shop.

pussy willow vase

2008-04-27T20:09:00.003+01:00

i am new to the art & craft cooperative and this is my first post! i am excited to be a part of this blog!

the photo is of my latest original mixed media torn paper collage, a commission titled "pussy willow vase". it is a 12" X 24" gallery wrapped canvas completely covered with little pieces of torn paper. there is no paint! i added oil pastel and pastel chalk embellishments to give depth and dimension. this piece was created to coordinate with my "blue flowers serenade" original 14" x 14" canvas. they will hang together in the buyer's living room.

my additional original art can be viewed at my etsy shop or on my blog. thanks for checking out my work!

Full Moon

2008-04-25T04:34:00.003+01:00

I loved melting these colors together. It sure has been a while, but I finally got back to my torch. This organic, disc-shaped bead is entirely made of soft glass - like all of my beads - in hues of milky white, lavender, pale blue and indigo.

Silver handmade rocket brooches

2008-04-24T22:56:00.002+01:00

These were on the one hand fun to make: they are slightly better looking than the one which was on the old site, and change always brings a little freshness. On the other hand I did sand thru the end of my thumb and sufferer several other cuts and bruises. Must creation be a painful process!?

Stripper's Costume Diary from Deepwater Journal

2008-04-24T00:17:00.006+01:00

Thanks for the invitation Robert! My first contribution to the Cooperative is a selection from an online diary for a stripper's costume for the Tessie Tura character in 'Gypsy'. The photo above shows a padded bra covered with fiber reactive over-dyed metallic brocade on my blog, Deepwater Journal.

I gave some instruction on the methods I use as a costumer to cover a bra for a belly dancer or stripper as well as the other pieces of the costume. Coming up will be a diary entry of making stand alone appliqués, making gauntlets and headpiece and airbrushing butterfly wings.

I hope to have up some of my textile art pieces soon.

New to This Blog

2008-04-18T13:09:00.005+01:00

Thank you, Robert, for inviting me to join the Arts & Crafts Cooperative blog. I am honored to be in such talented company! Here's a new small abstract.

"Island" - Acrylic and pencil on 140 lb. Arches paper

Image size is 5 x 7," border is 78" wide Available in my Etsy shop.

I thought of the title because this little painting reminds me of water, reflections, mist, space, sunlight, windows, and trees.

That's my contribution for today. Thanks again for looking.

Indie New York Celebrate Earth Day

2008-04-16T13:40:00.005+01:00

THE {NEWNEW} OFFERS TIPS FOR EARTHDAY
Products and Projects That are Easy on the Environment

The NYC-based {NewNew} Etsy Street Team will be using their blog during the entire month of April to celebrate Spring and Earth Day by highlighting projects, products and organizations that help you live a greener life.

Throughout the month they will feature products from various New York and tri-state artist's who use recycled and vintage materials to create new pieces, be it it re-purposing secondhand fabric or glass into unique housewares, turning vintage scarves and neckties into meaningful accessories, or creating jewelry from vintage beads and unusual found objects..

They will bring their DIY resourcefulness to tutorials on projects ranging from refashioning your old tee shirts, reviving broken jewelry, making paper from old magazines and junk mail, to using old bottle caps to create new funky magnets–all in the efforts to help you green it up!

Along with projects and products, they will also feature organizations that help you recycle unwanted art supplies and just about everything else!

Artwork will be featured on themes related to nature that celebrate the Spring season and rebirth. The beauty of Spring brings to mind the reasons why environmental friendliness is all-important.

Bookmark http://thenewnew.blogspot.com/ to keep track of all these green ideas during the month of April, and to keep an eye on a wide variety of artistic and crafty happenings in and around the NY Metro area during any month.

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The {NewNew} Etsy Street Team represents an eclectic group of independent Etsy artists in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut who have come together to promote and support each other. We share the vast opportunities and resources of NYC in the spirit of cooperation, camaraderie, craftsmanship, and artistry.

PARTICIPATING ARTIST'S:

http://artbyiris.etsy.com
http://brooklynbutterfly.etsy.com
http://cakehouse.etsy.com
http://hamsacustomcrafts.etsy.com
http://honorata.etsy.com
http://joannetracydesigns.etsy.com
http://kimmchi.etsy.com

PRODUCT FEATURES:

http://cakehouse.etsy.com
http://YoursTrulyxoxo.etsy.com

Amish Work Horse Mural

2008-04-11T01:29:00.003+01:00

I am in the process of painting the finishing touches on to the harness of this life sized team of Amish Work horses at Lehman's in Kidron, Ohio. In addition to the horses I will paint a hitching post and a sign. The mural is part of a series of farm animal murals I have painted outdoors in the store's cafe area and in their 'Buggy Barn'. The Buggy Barn is an authentic century old buggy barn that was dismantled and reconstructed in this store that caters to the non-electric needs of the Amish community. To see work in progress pics you can go to http://www.amulti-coloredlife.blogspot.com/ or to see more equine and amish themed art go to http://www.amish-art.com/ To contact the artist e-mail artbysue@hotmail.com

2008-04-04T16:04:00.003+01:00

Just wanted to put the word out about a U.K. based online shop for artistic work of all types.

http://www.creativecafesalesrooms.com is a new venue encouraging artists to show and sell their art creations. I would like to encourage buyers and artists to pop over, take a look and see if you think we are worth encouraging. It ain't no Etsy but everyone begins somewhere and deserves a little bit of encouragement.

Thanks in advance for your support.

Tree Sweater

2008-03-04T14:34:00.003Z

Several of us in our art group started a tree sweater in Yellow Springs Ohio. We have the story and slide show about it on our Jafagirlart Website. Some people don't get it, some people don't like it, some worry it will hurt the tree, some think knitting should be put to a better use,some people wonder why! It is not a new concept, been done quite a few times, but what makes ours a little different is that is really has become a fun community project. People have come and added their own knitting, added jokes and poems for the pockets, donated knitting. Whatever some may think the bottom line is that people are laughing and enjoying it, touching it, exploring it, finding out about the tree (a bradley pear). Now that isn't a bad thing eh!