sannasartmind

Working on some new canvases!

2012-01-28T00:20:00.001-05:00

This latest canvas is titled " Pray with an Open Heart!" It's still in progress though -plus I notice now she has a stupid spot on her forhead I have to fix! I made her with Pencil, tissue paper and water colour on canvas.

Some eight inch Valentines that go out in tomorrows mail!

2012-01-23T23:34:00.000-05:00

I made most of these for a swap I was so sweetly asked to play in by my friend Kelly! These are paper but with fabric centers. I pulled all the edges that are fringe after I sewed them together. I tried to make each one sweet and unique and something to make the other players feel special and loved with! Happy Valentines day everybody!

Some Phatt book pages for Red, silver and black.

2012-01-17T12:11:00.000-05:00

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-11T12:58:00.000-05:00

And here are my completed whole Snow Women. One is for Auntie Nancy and one for moi! They are alspo paper macheed and lace added!

Finished my paper machee snowman heads!

2011-11-25T00:00:00.001-05:00

Don't they look like fun all hanging out together on these branches!!!! I gave six away on Thanksgiving day to my family members and our familys closest friends. Everybody loved getting one!

I made some for a couple of friends I am swapping ornaments with over on the Stampmajic group.

Here's my youngest he loved himself in this picture of his latest creation "ROBOT BOY"!

The heads are paper machee as are the hats, the underneath part of the head is a Styrofoam ball and the hat is shaped cardboard as is the nose.All paper macheed over with flour and glue and newspaper and then some clay paper for smoothing after which I sanded and sanded. Then I painted and made some polymer bits, the mouth is red and white rolled and cut, and the eyes are a glistening black to make coal shapes, those are glued down before the glitter is applied to the snowball part, had to go extra thick with the glue around the eyes and mouths. I used a special tweed like material for the hat belts, am waiting for cabochons I ordered as a pias de la resistance.

I found the nests at AC MOORES as well as the birds which came 6 in a box there was only one box of each color left so I got them both!

In between the hat and nest I carefully stuffed a synthetic moss I purchased at the local dollhouse store. I could call this a seven layered snowman ornament! But don't eat it!

Lastly I went into our woods and chose the twigs I thought might look best the arms kind of make them Cookey because the arms come out of the head and integrate the nest nicely with the twigs and bring these little gems together well. I got my original idea from Gena Boon Curtis, she made the neatest snowball heads last year. I have more I want to make but need to see Gena's again!

I had these black on white scratch art cards and finally decided it was time to use some...

2011-11-20T09:17:00.002-05:00

Cabin in the Wood

This one has some paint over lay it's titled, Color in Darkness

This one is, Goodnight Oldman.

Tis is an ink sketch of a combination of cats, I started with Grayson and had to finish with Mokey. Sometimes furry models don't hold still for long.

Negative Spaces

Moments of Insanity

Scratching at the Moon

Woodland Path at Night

FetalFlower

This is an acrylic painting of one of the neighborhood right after the Halloween storm, for fun I added some glitter. Titled it Glistening Bog.

Well I took my painting to the Clubhouse!

2011-11-15T20:00:00.000-05:00

I was a little nervous they might find my wrapped canvas too creepy or frightening to hang but after I read my spiel to them what it was about and revealed my piece they actually loved it!!!

It was a joyful relief to have my art excepted and really be liked. Even more so for some reason then some sales. Maybe because this piece is such a piece of who I am

who we are mankind and his dilemma to seek acceptance of an unconditional kind.

I know I have Gods' love and unconditional acceptance but have rarely felt it from the human race.

Funny and yet wonderful that these people who I thought might be most turned off by my art were actually the most accepting.

Life is full of happy surprises. I showed it to some art friends online a barely got a boo about this heartfelt piece of heart. Which made me even more nervous but still I did love what I created. I don't always like what I make but this time I do, and I knew I would no matter who liked it.Which is why I am selling it for ten grand.

If no one ever buys it, it's stay hung at the clubhouse until whenever....

but if someone does purchase this piece I will tithe one tenth of my sale to the Clubhouse.

Anna who is in charge there said they benefit either way, she's so sweet I gave her a huge hug!

I believe this particular piece is museum quality. The lines are all three dimensional as I swirled modelling paste like frosting on a cake. You just want to touch this marvel in person. The faces are made with what I call the ultimate smooch and goosh technique. A mixture of gel medium tar gel and tissue paper, white , the top layer of the napkins I used around the faces and in the blocks. I used the colors in the tissue in the colors of the faces to integrate this work. Read the below entry to learn more about this artwork.

Here's my latest wrapped canvas painting.

2011-11-13T10:18:00.002-05:00

This piece is 24x48"'s and was made especially for the Granite Pathways Clubhouse, which is a place in Manchester NH. where people with disabilities can go to search for work, find support and an environment of acceptance. I wanted it to be about perception to help people understand what it might be like to have a mental health challenge. I myself have been diagnosed with bipolar two and ADHD, as well as dyslexia, and PTSD, some depression and anxiety.

Although I like who I am and wouldn't want to be anyone else sometimes just being me has been difficult.

Like when I was in college one time I didn't drink or smoke drugs but I wanted to go to a party with other artists so I went alone to make friends. When I got there they were of coarse smoking pot and drinking. I didn't care I just wanted to hang out and be with like minded people. Then a song came on by "THE Doors". You know the one about people are strangers when you're a stranger. Well this guy who up until then I thought was very cute named "Mark" began to sing to song rather loudly right into my face.

I tried not to show any emotion but it was hard because he made me feel so embarrassed and out of place. Finally his girlfriend told him to leave me alone, and he stopped. I waited a few minutes and then I slunk away to my own dorm to my own room where I sat all night crying wondering what I had done wrong -what had I done to deserve to have that song sung loudly into my face? (Mark later flunked out and I graduated) Albeit still feeling very lonely and out of place.

When I got older I had worse depression and had to be hospitalized after several severe traumas. I never hallucinated but I met a gal in the hospital who had. She was such a nice person she had been a nurse her entire life and suddenly she herself became ill.

She had schizophrenia a most serious illness where the mind splits into it's own realm and one has no control over it like a bad trip. So I asked her what it was like.

She told me she sometimes sees things she doesn't want to see/ scary things. I asked her like what and she said faces, faces everywhere.

So as I was making this painting/collage I decided since it is for the mental health clubhouse I would dedicate it to all those who have felt strange,left out, different from the rest of a crowd or alone in the world because of illness. I want it to reach out though to both groups, the people who have never had these issues but wish to understand them and those who wish to be loved and understood in spite of how they suffer in or through this life.

If we only knew how other people felt we would be more kind, more gentle, and more creative in our approach to reach out to others.

No matter what their race or creed or color, no matter what their strengths or weaknesses.

Some of the best artists, scientists,poets, song writers and dancers have had mental illness. Some of us like some of you are good mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters, and we were children just like you. We need to belong, be loved and be utilized as productive members of our society.

If you give others a chance you might find some amazing friendships of loyalty and compassion you never knew you could have.

Also remember this, the mind is fragile, today you may have strength and grace and tomorrow well you never know. If not for the Grace of God there go I.

So if you have a mental illness remember you are important and have wonderful things to offer the world. If you don't have any illness remember where much is given much is expected, try to look outside your own greatness and into the hearts of others.

Titled "Faces In The Rain"
Asking sale price for this piece is $10,000.00.

Welcome Fall, Candy corns,and all things fun and spooky!

2011-10-20T15:03:00.001-04:00

Here's my family room and some pictures of things I saw on my walk this week! Not to mention mybeautiful Haunted Houses that my friends and I from the Artchix sister site made for one another!

Little 4x6" Haunted Houses!

2011-10-17T13:30:00.000-04:00

These were for the Artchix sister site so they had to have pieces of Helgas' collages on them of some sort. I sent Helga a sweet surprise from the swap and Helga sent everyone in our swap awesome free goodies! Hope Helga likes her surprise!!!

I was hosting a Haunted Houses swap, these are little cut outs we each made ourselves and designed ourselves and then we trade em around the world for home decorations durings different Holidays. This holiday is creepy Halloween or even All Saint Day the day before. Here are the ones I made!

This week has been a mixed bag...

2011-09-25T19:45:00.009-04:00

This is the piece I made a couple of years ago I finally got stretched onto a frame. I will be selling this piece rather inexspensiveluy because it's a modge podeg of smaller pieces sewn together before I did my pressed flower techique.

This is the entire piece shown I may add something like antique laces to cover the stitch lines?

This is the underbelly of the mushroom cap.

Last rose of the summer.

Both of my pieces sold at the Inspiring Recovery show, but I got pretty sick on Saturday night so I couldn't teach my ATC class on Sundy been sick eversince. I am having MRI'S and other proceedures this week, hope I can lay still long enough without caughing to get them done. Gonna swig that niquel!

I am working on making some Halloween houses for a swap and have sketched out a picture I intend to paint for my friend Jane. I will not post Janes' picture until it's finished. Plus since both pieces sold in last weeks show I now have to make two new ones for the gallery show whenever thatgets schedualled but since I am never sure have to have them onhand.
I went for my walk today but almost died doing it even my dog felt sorry for me. My head was killing and everytime I CAUGHED IT FELT WORSE. Hard to breath and this humidity isn't making things any better. Below is a sketch I started for a larger work I was inspired to do from a much smaller atc. So many idea so little time.

a simple sketch
I did start thisd sketch based on an atc I made recently but niot anywhere near finished.

Oh wait I also finally stretched a piece I did a few years ago onto some stretchers, I will post that as well.

My most recent artwork.

2011-09-10T23:11:00.002-04:00

Here's Marybug with her winnings!

2011-09-06T16:50:00.002-04:00

Mary said she liked her box of goodies I sent to her along with her prize winning crayon picture. I did this giveaway about six blog entries ago, and sent some extras just for good measure! Love ya Marybug!

PS: Isn't Mary glam in her new multi coloured boa!!!

I have more exciting news. My published piece may be on Oprahs Own network show on 9/11/2011!

2011-09-05T12:28:00.011-04:00

That's right I was published in the book called" Who Moved the Sun", by Ron McKenzie. The piece I made and had sent to my friend Pam McKenzie is on the last written page of their book! The book is about twins who have lost their twins through death and the struggles they go through while morning. We can almost all relate to one level or another though not only because we all knw a twin or two but because to loose someone very close is so difficult. If you have never experienced this then sadly you will or someone else will about you. If you would like to learn more about this book or how to purchase it go here:

http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=256716834361630&id=1082119616#!/photo.php?fbid=274299612596016&set=a.217388738287104.71458.179419175417394&type=1&theater

Here's my finished Homage to Freda Kahlo

2011-09-04T02:57:00.003-04:00

Here's my completed piece I call it Freda Dear Freda, because in this painting she is holding her pet fawn. Did you all know she had a pet Fawn? Well she did and I may be the first to have drawn it in her arms. Not sure if she ever held it like this but in my mind she must have wanted to they are so cute!

I had to capture some of the other things she loved as well... like her monkeys, Parrots and Diego her husband.

Here it is from the top looking down you can see from this perspective I painted the wrapped canvas edges so that there's no need to frame this piece it stands alone. It's 16x20" 's and 1 & 3/4 inches deep.

I also included a Paradise flower which she also painted and to add a sense of balance to the piece the curled monkey tail.

Not sure if Diego ever wore striped twill pants but in my painting he does. I thought of adding a cumerbun which he did wear at times but decided my painting was already detailed enough!!! You can see Fredas' ciggerette dwindling smoke and she really did smoke. Back then noone knew how bad it was but she died from her own sufferrings anyways so the smoke is not what killed Dear Freda.

Just a closer view.

Closer still, sometimes Freda painted men unshaven or with their five O'clock shadows. I didn't see any of Diego like that so not sure he had to shave much. He seemed cleaner shaven then Freda did to me. LOL! I love Fredas' unibrow and her mustash though she though she was ugly at least at times. I alsop love her bright colors and her rings and elaborate Mexican way of dressing.

My inspiration to paint Freda came from going to an art show.There were two women selling paintings at rock bottom prices from a man named Carlo Ripaldi. He died last year and so I bought one of his paintings called "4 Faces", ot sure who all the faces were but am sure one was Freda. I also won a raffle for a dollar and the raffle was a limited print one of 25 also by Carlo. Very exciting and inspiring. I carried the painting around that I bought while I looked at all the art and many people commented on what a nice man Carlo was. How he would have cavases fopr young people to paint with right there at the shows. How he loved to go out to eat with other artists and how he had this one smock he always paitned in, his daughter tressure that painting as it has paint brush mark remnants from every paintig he ever did! How cool it that!

I love Freda and the story of her life and how she struggled back in the early part of last century through surgery after surgery on her back from a tragic bus/ train accident she suffered from at a young age,eventually she even had to get her leg amputated. Her last show was from a four post canopy bed where people went around looking at her paintings and visited her at her bedside. She died shortly afterwards.

My newest painting...

2011-08-20T23:04:00.001-04:00

This is a ten by ten inch wrapped canvas, ready to hang no need to frame.

This is just a close up some of the colors are better though.

I will be doing a series of smaller canvases for less expensive sales, eventually I will be selling them on Etsy and in shows. My goal is to have 25 done and then I begin, so far I am up to 19 canvases. So unless some sell before I start it wont be long now.

Some ATC's I made for a little house swap!

2011-08-19T00:48:00.004-04:00

American Goth Gone Zetti! For this ATC I drew the house but copied the people and then added some collage bits from Artchix, the hats, wand and some transparent wings.

This is a copy of a painting VanGogh did, hand drawn and sketched by me.

Here I have a card titled "House of Shingles" because me and a friend had shingles at the same time, at least I think mine were shingles might a been poison ivy for me.

The one beside it is a hand drawn and painted copy of a Matisse.

This is simply a house with the scrunchie technique, which is tissue paper squished into a piece with gel medium. That's how I added demension to the rose vines.

Some pictures I took on my walk,

2011-08-15T00:50:00.010-04:00

Lace and Grace is what I see when I realize more then me.

Just a big old tree with some missing bark and some bug eatten holes.

Some growing cones on another neighbor tree of some kind I thought were just so pretty!

I love Queen Anns' Lace. It's really a weed but quite beautiful... will make a wonderful drawing study. So much art so little time.

Below is a pretty bog common to our local area here in NH. Notice the unusual bright red wild Salvia though isn't it pretty!

I have been eyeing this paper wasp nest for days. I knew the owner of the yard had sprayed it one day and so I was thinking and thinking this might be nice to make art with. I finally went to the neighbor and asked him if I could have it? He gladly gave it to me even helped me cut it down. I asked him for a plastic bag stood on the stone wall with him and I bagged it while he cut the branch holding it down. My friends Deb and Linda both noticed it has a sad face! Poor wasps but better them then us.

The winner of my blog giveaway below was

2011-08-11T19:21:00.002-04:00

MaryBug! I tried to leave a comment on Marybugs blog but was unable to do so. She has an adoreable blog though! So MaryBug if you contact me at arttage@yahoo.com with your mailing address and the fact that you are Marybug, I will gladly send you your prize! Sanna
ps: I love the story of how you became MaryBug!

Blog Giveaway! Lately!

2011-08-02T20:21:00.004-04:00

Just a quick drawing for fun on bristol board paper. I will draw the names of everyone who leaves a comment on random.org on the Wenseday after tomorrow which will be the date of August 10th 2011. I drew this because my life has been good lately but also because it barely rains here either and even worse in other parts of the country. Please join in! Sanna

I drew this neat picture with some of my little boys latest crayolas. They are twistable slick stix. Ultra bright colours go on so vivid fat tips make for excellent coverage on a larger piece of paper great smudge ability with fingers too and fast drying afterwards.
PS; Be sure to leave your email incase you win so I can inform you of your winnings otherwise I will have to draw another name. The frame is not included.

My latest fatbook pages, blue , orange and brown for ArtChix.

2011-08-02T15:00:00.010-04:00

Do you see where you're going?

Do you look where you've been?

Just Be Joy

Odd Fish Ladies

Just for you!

The doctor loved my painting!!!! Happy Day!

2011-07-20T16:32:00.006-04:00

I took the painting into the oral surgeon today because this was the day Daniel got his wisdom teeth out. Danny did well and is resting on my bed watching game shows in my AC room.
When I took the painting in I had it covered with a sheet so the doctor would be the first to see it, the desk women begged but I didn't budge much. Showed them a corner is all. After the doctor saw it I showed it to the others.
Before revealing the painting "Systema Naturae" I informed him if it wasn't to his taste or liking I would pay the cash instead. Dr Moavenian really loved it because he had a big happy grin. He said it was at least ten times better then anything he had exspected. It filled my heart with joy. I had told him while I was painting it another man offerred to purchase it and he said "MY PAINTING!".
Then he said he was a genius, because tomorrow was his tenth wedding anniversary and he was going to give it to his wife as a romantic anniversary gift. He said all he got her so far was an espresso maker and this seemed much more romantic! He's so cute and his wife and kids are adorable too. What a nice family. I'm not sure but somehow his wife came right to the office even before he pulled out Dans' teeth. He told her "Happy Anniversary" and gave it to her right then. She loved it too, so I am even more elated. I said;"well she wouldn't have said she didn't like it since it was a gift from you", and he said after ten years they were past fake niceties! That she really liked it enough to hang it in their newly remodelled home at the lake!
I told him next time I owed him money I would be willing to stay at his lake and paint a picture of that for him and all he had to do was feed me lobster all week long! LOL! He actually acted like he liked that idea, the part about me painting his lake home not the lobster eating! Wouldn't that be neat if he commissioned me for more art, or if I got other patrons from people he knows seeing this piece!!!!! A girl can hope!!!!

My latest large wrapped canvas painting, not quite finished yet but here it is...

2011-07-16T02:20:00.016-04:00

OK so here's the finished piece, dead tree and all... "Systema Naturae"

This is the finished piece I cropped to be square. The rectangle looks great in person though.

love this next bit of text all about the artist and the watchers who gape over our shoulders. It's so true as I paint whenever I paint outside the people love to watch onward and make their comments. Most are nice but some are rude either way the aertist must ignore them and paint on less we get discouraged or swelled headed.
This was an accident and what were the odds? He was raised as a moslem and I a Christian and this speaks of truth and has both in the paragraph.Leading to sum up nature to me as a beauty that unites all beleivers to understand Gods' love and truth.

I added some more vines and shadows thought I was finished but now I see a few more needs. I may add the dead tree that lies across the pond tomorrow.

I call it Systema Naturae. Because the doctor I am making it for asked for any painting with nature. Soooooooo this is a place right up the road. I took my easel and went to paint. People were stopping and telling me they thought it was beautiful One guy wanted to buy it but I need to give it to the doctor. He's an American, Canadian, Iranian. If you could see the word you would see how perfect they are for him, something about The bible and the Koran and Platos and Aristotle. Doctors and nature and the center reading is about mking a picture of nature while those looker ons gap and comment. It's really cool. I got the pages from an antique book about nature. He's not exspecting mixed media but I could resist it's just more fun. I hope he's going to like it. I would appreciate all comments honestly be honest!

Some new fat book pages and some photographs;

2011-07-11T21:46:00.024-04:00

First a few pictures I took on my walk today needing to get more in touch with the nature that surrounds me. My son Daniel is having his wisdom teeth out and I am doing another painting for a doctor to pay the bill. These doctors love art! Yeah for me! BUT this doc really loves nature so it's forcing me to do some plain Air realism. I have been resisting that because so many people in NH do this and I wanted to be different. Hope I can do a great job! I did not post the picture of what I am painting but will later. I took a picture and will sketch the initial layout from that but I also got a new easel just to plain air paint. I want to make it as beautiful and realistic as I can in the short time I have been given. I had two great aunts who did this type of art really well. Maybe I have their abilities? Dan's having his teeth out next Wenseday so my time is really limited/ must get right on top of it! Wish me luck!

Below are the four pages I made for the ArtChix sister site Indigo fat book page swap. Marnie is hosting so I made an extra one for her. Come play with us if you think you might enjoy collecting these from other talented people.

God's Finger Print

2011-07-05T18:54:00.017-04:00

Wrapped canvas 30" X 40"'s

I made this piece for my middle son Daniel, our math whiz! I wanted to do a painting for Danny that would be on his level. I began looking into Fibonaccis' Rule, The Golden Rectangle, and law of deminishing numbers. I found several great utubes as well as a few neat books. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmaVqkR0ZXg&feature=related Right now I just want to comment on a few parts of this mixed media piece. I started out by collaging numbers from some Tim Holtz numbered tissue papers I bought from Lisa Bushes site. Then I added some pages from an old computor language book my husband was ready to throw out. I went through it and chose only pages with neat pictures about math or the human mind. Then I collaged those as well. ext I painted and added modelling paste I smeared and smudged and had some fun!I then measured my squares within the rule of the golden rectangle and went from there. The numbers down the sides are the no.'s which are equal to the ratio which remain steady after number thirteen. The Fibonacci numbers go as follows add the first number to the second and then the second to the third: like this: 1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21,34,55,89 and so on!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkGeOWYOFoA&feature=related
This is considered to be pleassureable to the eye in art work and has been used much in architecture as well, like in the Parthenon. Some say as people each have their own finger prints so too does God ad some believe this particular numbered sequence could be Gods' fingerprint. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ibc8sD5sgw&feature=related
It is seen all through nature in the human body in the breaking of a wave in the shells on the shore and even in the swirls of the Milky Way Gallaxy! Some things in this piece are related to Fibonaccis rule and some are just the artists choice. It took forever and was way too mathamatical for me to enjoy making the entire piece but I am very pleased with the outcome. This is a picture of my son Daniel when he was young from my memory. His favorite colour is orange hence the orange pail. I drew some object on 140 lb cold press water colour paper and cut and adhered with gel medium... like the boy and the wave and some of the words. The top and bottom words match because some are stenciled and some are from the left over hollows of the stenciled letters. It's really neat in person to touch and see up close. I even sewed in some beads in the second one inch block. I made the white from the beads lead into God's bright white fingerprint touching Daniels head. I wanted this piece to show Danny how important he was in this world, how God has touched him to do important things. I think everybody is touched by God in some important and special way. Daniel is a math genuis and a good hearted soul so I know God has great plans for him. Like all teens sometimes Danny doesn't see his own value this is to help encourage him onward!

To read about Leonardo see below:
http://www-history.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/Biographies/Fibonacci.html

My eldest son Graduated the 18th of June!

2011-06-27T18:07:00.013-04:00

Here's our dog Molly in front of the Seth Shrine!

Lots of hugging and proud moments for our son Seth and the family!

The day was sunny and happy. Here's a picture of the awning my dad gave us to keep and we used it for the party. Underneath we had the Chinese buffet. Egg rolls, crab ragune, shrimp, and chicken fingers, fried rice, pork strips sesame noodles my sister Kathi made, Chinese salad my mother made,ambrosia's, and cookies, cake and drinks galore! Sure was tasty! Here you see my uncle Brian, Auntie, cousins Heather and Mike. Heads of mom and Danny boy!

Here's cousin Pete( papa Kenny, Seth and Scott), he lives right in Durham where Seth will be attending UNH for Chemistry this coming Fall. Petey is now in Chine selling a new product he and his friend invented, it's a musical tool for healing based on the Pythagorean theory. He and Seth already made plan to go down town for Chinese food once Seth starts college.

Some of the guys on the side lawn enjoying male bonding I guess and some relaxation away from the kids!

Yummmmmmmmmmmm cake! This cake had butter cream frosting and almond vanilla pound cake with three layers and in between the layers were raspberry and fudge fillings. Seth got the chocolate cap on top!

Cousin MaryEllen found her place in the shade and camped there for a while. It was great having her here to enjoy the festivities she's always a blast and a great cook too. She brought desserts, butter almond cookies and two kinds of ambrosia's!

Here's my middle boy Danny, and my mom. They are under the awning enjoying some shade and each others company!

Now my husband was defeated by this umbrella but not my father. He finally got it to stan in a bucket full of mud and rocks!

My youngest son greeted guests with his jeep offering younger guests rides to the main party in the back!

One of my best riends from childhood Kenny brought his two beautiful children Alena and Toma and here they are in the front yard playing basket ball. It was a pleassure to have them here!

This is sweetie Preston soon to be exspecting a little sister this summer. His mom and dad couldn't come because they had an adult birthday party to attend. So glad our wee Preston could be there. We love you Preston!

We had a great time outside during the party enjoying the terrace my husband created for our friends and family last year! Soon to be where our pool is located! Here in this picture are my auntie, brother and cousin Heather!

Our neighbooor Tom did make a cameo appearance. As you can see our dog Molly adores him, he is St Frances of BallHill and Annand! Walks and loves all the dogs! He brought Seth a generous and thoughtful card too! We had a Chinese buffett as it's Seth favorite food. Tom liked it too!

It was a fun time, very sunny day very hot at the graduation. Garrett sat under my feet and I held up grandpas umbrella over him. No friends at the party Seths choice was relatives only.

Of coarse I forgot my camera at the actual graduation so had to make the boy go put back on his cap and gown for pics at the party!

We are so proud of you Seth!

Here are my side by side canvases I made for the museum showing!

2011-06-27T18:03:00.002-04:00

These are affirmation mixed media canvases. One says " I am Worthy" and I titled it "To be loved" , the other says: 'To be Loved" And I titled it "I am Worthy"! It was fun to make these and I hope they are well liked.

Here are my yellow and cream fat book pages

2011-06-27T17:56:00.010-04:00

For the ArtChix SISTER SITE Group!

Here's my first affirmation painting...

2011-06-05T22:45:00.014-04:00

In my life for many reasons I have been through much. Some because I have ADHD, bipolar, anxiety, depression, and some because I am just so sensitive. I was abused and bullied and ostracized in my childhood ,and very misunderstood. Even as an adult I feel as if I don't fit in. Sometimes I want nice things but think I am not worthy. Soooooooooooo I am painting these affirmations, I decided after posting to Kelly Rae that I am worthy. I also think if I paint positive affirmations I will begin to believe them. This particular mixed media painting is titled 'To be loved", and the next one will be titled "I am worthy"! I am doing them hopefully in time for a show the theme for the show is "side by side". The organization putting on the show is the Granite State Pathways a support group for people with disabilities. The place the show will be held is at the Currier art museum here in NH. I am going to work very hard this week to finish the other in time. I hope people will enjoy my affirmations and feel them for themselves as well. So many of us don't feel worthy but we are because God made and loves us all!

Some purple and green fat book pages

2011-05-19T09:37:00.025-04:00

This particular swap is for the ART CHIX SISTER SITE. Sue cervantez was the host this time. We only needed to make three but I did extras!

Four of my latest altered Cabinet Cards

2011-05-06T17:12:00.006-04:00

This first Cabinet card is my favorite. I call it Klimt Imp. I made it for my SIL Marcia because she loves Klimt! Hope she likes it.

This next Cabinet card I altered for a group swap called Lost Art Creations(LAC). My friend Terrie Lightfoot owns that group and she recently had heart surgery. So this could be her! I thought the juxtaposition of the baby and then Adam and God touching were funny.Notice the baby's' hands, and how I painted his hair! You can't tell from the photo here but I used modelling paste for the crack where Adam and God touch to make it more dimensional then added some stains to make the crack appear deeper.

On celebrating the royal wedding couldn't help but name this Prince William and title this card, "Before Kate, Prince William was..." Maybe I should send it to them as a wedding gift?

This last Altered Cab card I titled "Gypsy Clan". The quote I used on it reads as follows: "Be born anywhere, little embryo novelist, but do not be born under the shadow of a great creed, not under the burden of original sin, not under the doom of
salvation. Go out and be born among the gypsies or thieves or among happy
workaday people who live in the sun and do not think about their souls." I
thought it was perfect for this silly cab alter job. On the back of the card I
wrote a story sort of about the people on the front of the card,... it goes like
this: This is the tale of a Gypsy family. The mother is a Luna Moth who plays
the guitar and sings around the night fire to get the camp in the Gypsy spirit.
Her name is Luna Notta! The father( who is the original cab card face), is a
man by day but on a full Moon he becomes a werewolf, his name is Lugaru(which is
french for werewolf). He is a very protective father. The daughter so far is
normal though she has strong Gypsy blood and loves to travel. Her name is
Fullaylay.
For anyone who doesn't yet know what a Cabinet Card is here's my description of one: The cabinet cards were originally used by member of the general public sometimes the wealthy and other times only for a serious event most often the death of a loved one be it child husband or wife. These were taken in the mid 1800's to early 1900's. when most people did not have regular access to photography. On had to sit very still for posing as the flash time was long. So not often do we see smiles, but often the people can be dead, dieing or already deceased. Hence may times babies are seen with eyes painted in or posies in their hands. Other times we see ghost images or props holding people up. Sometimes there are even in caskets or have a mortuary wreath type frame around their head or torso. That being because the picture was taken before hand and now the person is dead so the negative was used and then a memorial was created and mailed to loved one o given out at a funeral. They are fun to collect and some go often for high value. The ones I alter usually have a flaw so I wont feel so badly changing them up to create something fun or interesting.

Some blind contour atc's I did on EASTER!

2011-05-06T16:44:00.013-04:00

"What is a blind contour?" you might ask...
Well simply put a blind contour is when the artist draws from her subject while only looking at the subject and never at her paper or canvas. Thus blind the lines can be jumbled and abstract and the outcome is often very interesting. I notice when I do them they are quick and really show the essence of a person or object without having to be at all exact!
Blind Bunny(my sisters shelf)

My sisters dog Taya

Donn(BIL)

Pretty Little Robin(cousin)

My eldest son Seth

Ole Three Fingers(Dad)

Mommy Dearest

Half Blind (Self portrait)
OK now you might ask what the heck is a half blind contour? Well it's when you mostly look upon your subject but are allowed to slightly glace upon your paper or canvas mostly only for position not for rendering. But this pretty much looks just like me maybe with the glasses a little crooked. It's a 2 minute portrait though literally!

I call this " The Christening Day"...

2011-04-21T18:16:00.006-04:00

It's a photo transfer onto canvas that I started well over a year and a half ago in Claudine HelmuthS' class at Artiscope. I also used a Tim Holtz stencil and a smashed paint technique for texture.
This is a photo of my son and our nephew, Garrett and Andrew on the day of their Christening. We dressed them alike as little sailor boys they were so little and cute. These two cousins have a wonderful relationship, they are a little over a year apart and they play great together. Even though we all live in two different states they play like brothers and adore one another.
The scripture I wrote on the picture is Mark 10;16 which says: "And He took them up into His arms, put His hands upon them and blessed them." This Jesus did for the little children, but He died for us all! So on this coming Easter Sunday I am grateful that Jesus died for all young and old, and that He rose again so that we too may live a new life through His forgiveness of our sins.

Here are some atc's I made for a butterfly challenge

2011-04-13T19:39:00.012-04:00

Some I traded on my Fine Arts group...

These ATCs below I made during a class I was teaching at Granite State Pathways(a clubhouse for the mentally ill) a place where I am also a member.

Chicken Sue

2011-04-04T22:51:00.004-04:00

This is a larger wrapped canvas though not as deep as most of my others. I invented the crackle paint on the red barn walls but the white and barn door are Tim Holtz crackle paint. I used real thread on the pockets as well as antique lace. The boot laces and cat whiskers are embroidery thread black. The paint is all acrylic and is sealed with thick matter goldens gel medium.

Here are some ATC's I made for St Patricks Day.

2011-04-02T20:09:00.006-04:00

These are all ATC's but done in fabric. Sorry all already traded.

A SAD MERMAID TALE...

2011-03-19T12:04:00.008-04:00

This painting is a take off from my "Swimming in The Gulf" painting that I based on the oil spill and our reaction to the destruction of sea life. Again I am reacting. The baby dolphin have been dieing in record numbers and I adore dolphins so am saddened by this ending of the purest of sea life in the gulf. The scientists suspect that while the mother dolphins where pregnant they swam through the oils and it hurt the fetuses. So now the new born baby dolphins are dieing off and beaching themselves onshore to let the humans know what we have done. Hence my sad but true mermaid tale. She is crying because her favorite babies are not surviving. I added loads of texture and bright colors as there's hope still for the future if we will just take better care of our planet earth.

Ok it's all done I added the beads!

2011-03-16T16:43:00.011-04:00

But does she need a ring and if so on which finger should it be? Also wondering if I should add prints appearance with tiny flowers stamps all over the fabric... or not?

I decided to paint a beautiful Pakistani woman...

2011-03-14T16:43:00.009-04:00

This Painting is titled "just be beautiful" , because all women everywhere can be beautiful if they only believe that they truely are! It's the inside that makes us appear beautiful on the outside.
I just have to seal this painting and add some real seed beads to it to add a little specialty demension! I love how it came out!

because I went to the dermatologist and had the spider veins lasered off my face. I told the doctor I used to be pretty when I was young and he was so sweet and said "you still are Pretty!" Made me feel beautiful still. It was Valentines day and I asked him if he got any cards or gifts and he said no. I said me neither but I sent out a bunch and I gave my family gifts. He said he did the same so I gave him a hug. The laser surgery was 500.00 dollars and if he missed any it's another 3 to have them done. So I decided to make him this painting and see if he might take it in trade instead. He inspired me because he's from Pakistan and he does plastic surgery. I love his personality though it seemed as if he believes all his patients are already beautiful people. A very genuine man. When I went on line and looked up beautiful Pakistani women I saw a lot of horrible atrocities. Women who have had their faces burned off with acid and other horrible;e things done to them by mad men. I had to wonder if maybe the reason my doctor went into his field was to help women like this?

I am finally caught up peeps!!!! Here's my last spread for a long time!

2011-03-07T20:15:00.007-05:00

Well Rachelle you were the host and my last spread maybe ever. I hope you like it. I tried to learn about the play through questioning knowledgeables like Tristan- Robin Blakemen and reading up on the play. Here below you can see the King in the background with a Paper Whimsey crown. I thought since the King was an onlooker it would be good to have eyes upon his head so this crown was perfect for the job. I hand drew Ophelia and painted her with thinned acrylics. She's mad and peering through the flowers with barefeet... cause everyone knows mad people don't like to wear shoes(I sure don't)! You can also see bits and pieces of the play in the words on the paper I dyed and glued down from the tiny Opera book I had on hand. This was a great challenge. In the begining of creating I dreaded it because I know not much about Shakepear. Both times I have had to do spread about one of his plays I have learned a lot and actually loved what Shakepears makes me think about life and all about what to do about nothing. Oh and everything at the same time! The bird and the flowers bring it to life. Hope it's not too busy!

So since I did comedy and tragedy for my center pages I wrote quotes all around them with either a joy, or sadness theme from Shakespears' different plays. It's so cool in person because I sanded and made it really 3d with special textured paints like a stone wall so the faces appears stone like with indents for the eyes and mouths. It looks simple but took some time for all the details. I hand penned with a calligraphy pen all the words and sanded more and added distressed inks and paints to age it up a bit The edges are distressed Ep's too! Love those distressed Ep's with the inks to match such cool effects. Thanks for that Tim Holtz!

Instead of two pages I did four for Rachelle because I hate the thought of my fronts or backs remaining unfinished for eternity.

Here you see Ophelia has drowned and is still covered in the flowers she had been entertaining her unconsolable mind with earlier. In the background you see the Ghost father and Hamlet looking onward. I used pages from an Opera booklet I had and I was lucky Hamlet was even in there! I also had these pictures I cut from some magazine somewhere along my way they worked out perfect. It looks better in person too because you can see the Utee over Ophelia so she looks submerged in water with splashes. The embellished bird is the one who was talking to her in the play.

Wanting warmer days

2011-03-06T00:28:00.000-05:00

So I put on some calypso music to make us feel the heat!

Here are two quilties I recently finished

2011-02-25T19:14:00.003-05:00

The one directly below is called The Hat , The Cat, and the Crazy Bat(that's me) dancing beside the snowman! I made this a little late but better late then never for my friend Kim Miles. Hope she like it.

This next one is for Mary's Birthday which was yesterday. She has oe child a son who's grown now and one cat named D'Ora! So this is what I think the perfect quilt for her, although the title is" Gingerbread Family Holiday"! Happy Birthday Mary... it's a comin!

The Winners of my OWOH are as follows:

2011-02-17T23:53:00.003-05:00

I sent everyones prizes out at around noon today the 23 of Feb.
Saiskia from Belgium won the 'Heart Full of Love "ATC!
Stampgram won the Holiday ornament!
and finally:
Jamie Haney won my Hat collage!
Congratulations all, I have writen to each and asked for your snail mail addies so that I can send you your prizes!!! Sanna

The winner of my Zetti Valentine swap is....

2011-02-16T16:54:00.007-05:00

This is the winning ATC!!!
The ATC was made by Becky Burdik! I simply love the colors and multi levels of Zetti liciousness of this ATC. All of Beckys' cards were prize worthy.
There were other players who did excellent work as well, but I had to chose only one. You all did recieve a gift and some Valentine treats so hope you're all happy with the returns.

And this is what Becky won! Happy belated Valentines Day Becky and to all the players of our Zetti Valentines Day swap!!!

Hugs, Sanna

Here are my Valentine Chunkies!

2011-02-09T16:59:00.023-05:00

These are ATC sized 3d wooden chunks that can be purchased through ArtChic. They are a lot of fun to make paint sand and collage. I made 13 for my friends and loved ones. One for my sister Kathi, one for my young fried Lucy, one for my friend Marnies Bday, some are for swaps,one is for Helga a mentor of mine,one for me , and several are even surprizes!

My give aways for One World One Heart!

2011-01-31T17:42:00.007-05:00

See two blog posts down for an explanation about how to play one world one heart and a little about myself as an artist. Don't forget to leave your email address when giving a comment so that I can contact you should you win one of my three prize giveawys!

This first prize is a canvas 6x8"'s and is mixed media, titled So many Hats! I made this for Someersets black and white challenge and it was a possible but mailed back and not used. I think it's cool and sure to be liked in your home!

This is a framed tiny ornament. I painted the outside edges in Holiday Christmas color and inside I pieced collage items and the words Happy Holidays to you! It can hang or stand on its' own, as it has a ribbon and an easle type stand on the backing.

This last piece is a 2.5x3.5" Fabric artist trading card, I hand painting the picture of me with the heart onto canvas and machine stitched the word Heart Full Of Love, then vbeaded some edging and the heart. The back is signed. Please state which of the three items you preferr to win or the order in which you preferr to win them so I can be sure my winners get thier preference. Good luck and thaks for looking!! Sanna

An Act of God

2011-01-30T18:35:00.009-05:00

I call this painting "An Act of God" for several reasons. One I wanted to paint the face of God but to me clearly this is not His face. However it is still about God. It took an act of God to get me to do it too as I have been in bed or weeks unable to do too much because I was bogged down with swaps I owed. Well I think it was God who told me it would be OK if I took a break and let my muse be happy for a while. It was so freeing this painting just flowed out of me though it had been on my mind for quite some time. Anyways if you look closely you can see a curtain behind/ beside the face. It's mostly pinks because I love pink curtains and I felt like a nice pastel canvas this time. I also drew the white picket fence to make your eyes move across the canvas as well as around it though the consecutive circles. It's about God's act of nature. Now I may do a few more acts if God so leads me. Like the "Swimming in the Gulf" painting,but more on natural disasters. Just with a twist a Sanna twist. Hope you enjoy this painting it's on sale for 500.00 dollar plus shipping and handling. It's a large painting so shipping will run around 140.00. This is not expensive I am making it less expensive then normal because it came so easily for me.

One World One heart blog giveaway!

2011-01-30T01:40:00.002-05:00

Hi all, my name is Susan Burgess but online and in my art script I go by Sanna! I am an artist of passion humor and depth. I love mixed media and fineart of all types. I have an in home studio as I'm a mother of three young boys, four cats and a dog. Husband of 23 years. I own several sites where we trade mail art especially ATC's(ARTIST TRADING CARDS),these sites are Fine art, fabric art and ArtChix collage art.
To be a part of this world wide giveaway all you need is a blog and to leave a comment on any of the blogs playing with your email incase you should win. You do not need to be giving anything away to play yourself. If you don't leave a comment and your email I will not be able to contact you if you do win so please be sure to leave that information. The drawing for the prizes will be on the 17th of February 2011. Be sure to go around and leave comments on as many blogs as you please it's a way to make world wide friends and see what creativity is out there. It's a lot of fun! I look forward to hearing your comments and to visiting your blogs.
I will be having a few giveaways.
The first one is a christmas ornament.
The seocnd one is a canvas.
The third prize is an ATC! Good luck all around! Sanna

Here are my Steam Punk altered watch pendant shells

2011-01-25T22:37:00.009-05:00

This first altered watch pendant is titled Cellestial, pretty self explanitory,shoulda known it would be Marnies favorite!

I call this one Grandmas attic watch parts on grandpaws chain! The inside isn't completely dried under the inner glass but hopefully in time it will be.

This altered watch shell is Freda Kahlo,and some things that reminded me of her. Her face is hard to see but I tried to layer it twice these atches are difficult to finagel.

Here are some Christmas ornaments I made for a few friends

2011-01-15T20:49:00.009-05:00

Better late then never...
So far Peggy G got the snow flake, Corrinne got the star and Judy C got the wreath with the two angel girls on the front!

Here's my sketch bookproject my theme is In Flight.

2011-01-08T22:50:00.081-05:00

I only have one more spread and a biography and this thang sales to the museum!!! I'll be so happy to send it off!!!! I like it better now with the release of the birds. See my new pages if you already looked once there are at least four new spreads!

I am not finished yet as I have things to add and change and at least 8 more spreads to do before the 15th. That's the due date for this time consuming project. I fear my pages aren't as great as my counterparts as many of them have done more elaborate spreads with detailed collage or more detailed drawings but remember I got this very late in the game and was rushed. Plus I have three kids and a little bit of a life. Not much but some of one! I hope you enjoy and leave some comments for me though! Hugs, Sanna

Danny turned 16 today

2010-12-30T23:21:00.006-05:00

So per Daniels request I made red velvet cupcakes and minnie breads. I know I am a sad mom we had no little candles so I used a giant one! Danny thought it was funy. My husband asked me why bother with a candle at all but I say everyone deserves a wish on his birthday! Dan agreed and gave a layed back chukkle!

The picture below is a bit blurry but I wanted my old friend Cindy to see how red the velvet was!

Last painting for the year 2010... I think

2010-12-28T19:44:00.009-05:00

First a picture of my family wishing the best for you and yours!!!!

This is a wrapped canvas which means it has deep edges and wont need to be framed as all the sides are painted. I made this canvas from an atc idea I had earlier this year. Hopefully there will be more in the series.

The painting is titled "Green Eyed Lady", and is very large 23&3/4"sx 36"s. It's done in acrylic and will be sealed with gel medium and dorlands wax. I am asking 1200.00$ that will include packing and shipping. If you are interested please email me at arttage@yahoo.net hope you all enjoy! Sanna

I call this series of ATC'S " The Gift"!

2010-12-17T20:09:00.009-05:00

I made this special series of five for my friend Billie Miller because she is always so sweet and kind to me! Merry Christmas Billie hope you likey!

Some Christmas houses and some ornaments I made

2010-12-07T00:20:00.005-05:00

How does an artist do it? Fullfill her obligations and stay true to herself?

2010-11-21T09:58:00.004-05:00

Here's the little tag I made for the spread. See it says Zee Bull which goes with the second page of my spread. Plus the Asparagus behind the bull. I hope Christy gets my sense of humor and attempt at integrity to my own belief system. I love playing with other artists themes even if they aren't exactly what I would chose for myself.

I was a teen during the 70's, so what's your sign baby was a line I heard once too often. I really did give this answer too! I would say asparagus and the guy would usually look all baffled and perplexed. I don't believe in following the stars as a means of understanding my world so always felt it was a bit of hooey or even against what God wanted for me. Coarse I wasn't always where I should have been either like a place where men would ask such sillyness. Anyways some would know right away I was playing around and others who had no idea what the signs were even all about would just go along with it. Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! If they asked me more I would have an opening to talk about what my belief system really was, that usually scared em away fast! Or sometimes not. So I looked up Asparagus and found out quite a bit about this vegitable. Was surprised to find out that Ben Frankiln wrote about it too!

While keeping a sense of humor and pleasing the person she's sending her art of to. Is it even possible this day and age to be A Christian and still play well with others? Well I'm not sure but I do my best. Hence this spread.

I had to do my horoscope sign for a rr journal.

2010-11-14T22:15:00.003-05:00

So this is what I did. It's a self portrait. I will do the opther half soon as I can. I have never believed or followed a horoscope but I must admit as I am a Tuarus sometimes I am full of bolognia!

I made this SteamPunk bottle for my friend Marnie

2010-11-13T09:28:00.017-05:00

M is for Marnie!

This is the bottom of the bottle. Showing two angel friends both Marnie and myself! I made sure when I wire wrapped this bottle that I did it so the bottom would stand firm and balanced. The wire wrapping has several purposes. One was aesthetic, it looks steam punk, two it makes the charms easy to attach and three it reinforces the bottle so if Marnie does try to crack it on her yacht it wont be easy!

This side of the bottle is all about romance and love, spunky danger.Forever love and what"s more steam punk!!! He really could dance what a charmer!!!!! I wonder if Marnie's husband dances????

So she's an abolitionist drunk! That's Steam punk BABY!

This side of my bottle is all about Marnie, she looks just like that gal in the tub...at least her face does anyways! Those are the eyes of a sober woman and the gal in the tub is bathing in bubbly. Bright eyes that shine are the eyes of a sober gal and so you can see the juxtaposition and dichotomy of a women in any day and age. I added the neat steam punk charms here as well. The repetitive circles makes your eyes travel the entire side. It's a plethora of cool images and textures, fun stuff to look at.

Just a neat closeup to give you a better feel of my steam punk effect and all the neat images and charms!

Here you can see the top of my bottle, and how the glass knob sparkles! I have ArtChix collage pieces all over the thang. The word Superior made me think I am,(we are, people who make art and love art)the superior people in this case women of intelligence. It fit so well into the theme.

This is a nice clear picture of the Industrial Chic I got at Micheal's. I love this line of charms and cool metallic pieces. This was the perfect item to use some of it on. Now I have to go purchase replacements! I also had a neat red light symbol I bought elsewhere. It's on the same side of the bottle as ArtChix words:"give me diamonds" so I added the colored crystals to the street light and put it appropriately next to the antique replica car! A little bit of red made this bottle pop!

Here you can see a close up of where the bottle itself threatens the buyer not to reuses or resale "federal law prohibits". So I guess that makes me naughty! Whoever owns this bottle ~well Marnie you're taking your chances! hahahaha I painted the background lightly and then applied my stamp pad to the top of the word to make them legible. This is repeated on the bottles bottom as well. I loved this bottle the moment I found it at that garage sale!

My bottle is all about women and their strength during the turn of last century. How involved we were with the right to vote as well as being flappers and abolitionists. Yes we were well behaved and very naughty. What ever side we chose we did it as always with strength and perseverance.

Here's the bottle top. I bought the knob at home depot,after trimming the cork... I screwed the screw right through it and now it's securely attached and will not break when removing cork to look inside or put something sneaky in there.. Before I screwed the screw into the cork I took a tool and poked out a small hole in the center. I did not want to crack the cork when screwing it, nor did I want the cork to expand and no longer fit into the bottle. I though about decorating the cork itself but leaving the cork plain fits the steam punk theme best.

Here are three pages I made for Jill Noblitt's book

2010-11-10T16:23:00.007-05:00

So the dopplegangers are paper whimsie and the pumpkin head were given to me by a friend. The cat head was part of my newest collage series that Cindy McMath used in her Halloween arch. I just think he so creepy retro. Ok so I did some felting and layers, sewing and paiting. I sent it out today and got a new one five minutes later!

Below is the spook couture dolla I made for a signature...

Her book had a Halloween theme, and I got it the week after Halloween. A little hard to get motivated at first ut then it came easy! Sanna

Here's my sons first grade Halloween parade!

2010-11-01T23:36:00.019-04:00

The class starts the outside marching from the school!

This little guy was having a great time being SpongeBob, everybody loves that cartoon charactert!

I think here Garrett waa copying the camera man(me), I usually shut one eye and snarl then shoot? Some kind of instinct. He doesn't even remember making this face but I am sure it was a mimic! LOL!

One of the twins Garret is friends with the other is a few down she was the artistocrat!

Here are two of Garretts newest buddies from class.

Our dog Molly with a Halloween Spider on her head!

This is the school principal he's a funny guy!

All the teachers were Dalmations and the Principal and his secretary were Mrs and Mr Cruella Deville!
This is Garrett's class with his three teachers. I love each of them they are all very sweet peeps!

Here are some photos of the arches from the ArtChix Sister site

2010-11-01T23:29:00.003-04:00

I will be leaving this decoration up at least until ThanksGiving is over. Not sure what I'll be putting up after that! ARen't they all so full of whimsey though!

Below is the triptich Marnie Blum sent me it's adorable and very Zetti!Can't believe this was Marnies first try at being a Zetti gal!

Garretts Halloween Costume

2010-10-26T22:15:00.005-04:00

I bought a black sweatshirt and cut the sides open. I made these felt bat wings and sewed them right into the seems. Then I also attatched the center orange belly. Garrett wanted some bat buttons and a bow tie so viola!
For the hat and ears I attatched them with stiffener and covered them with black felt as well. I sewed buttons into the ends of the meterial and nmade button holes in the back so I could make the hat a tight fit.
Today I added new pics including the orange ascot and the booties. He wont be wearing those to trick or treat but in the house he can. Got a great shot of him jumping it looks like he is flying! LOL

A snowman atc I made for a friend!

2010-10-14T00:12:00.003-04:00

This atc is felted machine base and then hand done on the details, I added glass black beads for the eyes and buttons. Embroidered red knots for the smile. I tied a piece of hemp for the arms. Used a tweed like fabric for the scarf and hand sewed that down. Then I sewed tiny glass snow beads all over. Making thicker lines where the top of the surfaces would be, ie: the hat brims and top of snow! Machine sewed the edges gingerly so as not to break any of the glass snowflakes! Hope you like it Melissa!

Tamie Davis (raevenmaniac) sent this pretty Zetti queen to me!

2010-10-06T15:51:00.004-04:00

Isn't she a doll! Thank you Tami! I love her! Oh and all the sweet goodies she came with too!

Some Halloween Gothic Arches I made for an ArtChix sister site swap!

2010-10-04T08:43:00.022-04:00

Recently I feel God is trying to do a work in my life and I actually felt a little guilty making these Halloween arches. Even though I think it's fun to be festive. So I decided one of my arches would have a bible verse in it warning against what God has to say about such things.
Yes I guess this makes me a hypocrite because then I indulge in the gore and candy. Guess that's one big reason I need Jesus I am a hypcrite who needed forgiveness. I just want my foloowers to know who I serve in my heart! The one true living God Jesus Christ! Please forgive my hypocracies!

This is a good cause so please check it out! Plus a blog Giveaway!!!!

2010-09-25T16:50:00.007-04:00

The cause is Women's Heart Health, the calendar is beautiful. If you'll just go and purchase one of these beauties for the cause, I will enter you into my blog giveaway to receive my original work. Its very nicely done,my work in the calendar has images from LAC (LOST ART CREATIONS, if you go to the ETSY address you will see the store there),Collage sheets and fibers with flowers of silk and brads of different yellow hues, a neat brass bird, some netting, bubbles that pop almost right off the page, I have machine sewn the edges and there's both German turquoise scrap fish as well as German scrap edges too! The back has my signature and is a wonderful piece for framing year round. My month is the month of August. Purchasing one of these calendars not only gives your support for the cause of womens heart health but you could also be the owner of this calendar and win this Sanna original! So be sure to go here:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/lacgored
place your order come back and leave a comment to win this piece of artwork too!

It's for Women's Heart Health and the money goes towards that cause! I am also one of the artists posted in this Calendar. Here's the link to purchase one:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/lacgored
I will do the drawing for the prize of Dec. 31st! Sanna

Bex left this comment:Hey, Sanna...

I looked up your blog and saw the information about the calendar. I think I've said I'm 56 and have been an insulin-dependent diabetic (maybe I haven't said this part) for 22 or 23 years. About six months ago I was feeling odd after heavy cleaning and my doctor decided to be on the safe side and send me for a cardiac stress test. Holy cow! I could not finish it. Because of this I looked up some information about heart attacks and symptoms of impending heart attacks in women. I need a 2011 calendar, too. Between the cause and the beauty of the calendar...sold! I think I am getting more oblivious and impatient as I age: I couldn't figure out how to leave a comment on your blog. Would you enter me in the drawing for your art? I offer the forwarded message as confirmation :) As I can I hope to buy one or two more calendars for select friends for holiday presents...again because of the cause and their intrinsic beauty.

.

bex

Dear oldonutlady54,

Congratulations on your Etsy order! Here's more information:

Here's a 6x8" quiltie I made for my friend Babs!

2010-09-21T17:15:00.005-04:00

My friend Babs made me a beautiful glass bottle covered in pretty things like paper machine fibers a wonderful image and some charms. The top is so cool too with a cork and bobbles on top of that stick into the cork with a pretty pearlized stick pin. I LIKED IT SO MUCH WE ARE DOING A SWAP ON THE ARTCHIX SISTER SITE WITH THE SAME IDEAS.
Any ways in return for her bottle Babs requested a romantic type Victorian quiltie. So this is what she's getting. This was a Lost art Image of the month for the month of August I believe. Initially I was going to do a kissing couple but liked this much more. I used fabric from Joann's I thought was Victorian and romantic and bought some very pretty fibers to match. While I was at Walmart I was speaking with the sales lady and she showed me this fabric that you can pull apart and put laced ribbon through so I got some on sale. I have never done this before and it took some time but I threaded fibers that matched all through it tied it off at the ends and let the ends just stay as is but tied extra to that. I used some no fray on all the ribboon ends to be sure it should stay nice a long time for BABS!
I also used some Tap to transfer my image to some muslin. I painted some pretty daisies with pink centers to match one of my ribbons. I like the way they go together and bind this piece nicely. I also sewed these roses to the tops of them but they are not perfect. I figured out how to do It as I went along. The key is to sew from the outside to the inside and not visa versa. I sewed a pretty handle and on the back a picture of Jesus and his mom. With a little special memo! Hope Babs like this!

Something I made for my Nieces wedding shower.

2010-09-13T16:42:00.012-04:00

I got some nice flowers dried flowers today to place in the cone. Some great soothing smelling lavender, some white paper flower roses that I wire wrapped and placed in the bouquette with the brown and white other type of dried flowers. Her colors are blue so the lavender should mix well with that. Plus I just love lavender.

The initial picture Sarah sent to us.

Close up of the victorian lace cone I made.

This one shows more details

The handle and cone have vintage and antique buttons and lace and beads sewn into sheers. All the muslin and cheesecloth is dyed with walnut spray and then washed and heat set. I used a Tap image to make the picture digitally in sepia.

I will be adding dried flowers in blue her color of choice tomorrow then mailing it off as the shower is a bit far away to attend.

I got the idea and how to from the book I am reading and going along with in an online class. It's called The Latest trends in Mixed Media , Vol 11.
This particular item is a Victorian Lace cone. I used an image the couple sent to us on an informal invitation to make the picture and turned it into sepia and then followed the books directions. I love how it looks in person.

The eyes are upon you ATC's!

2010-09-09T19:07:00.021-04:00

Something I made for my friend.

2010-08-31T00:44:00.022-04:00

I started this piece when I was in Claudine Hellmuth"s class a year ago. I knew when I was putting it together as it evolved that this was meant for my friend Tristan.

I call it Bubble Gum Men and Lolly Pop Dreams!

I added some really neat retro adds about Singer Sewing Machines and some retro ladies as well. Then using another old magazine from WW2 I found some other very neat Men. I also added some men from ArtChix and other collage sales places.

One man imparticular is on the inside cover. He is circled in white because he was a Jewish man who pretended to be a Nazi so that he could escape alive. It worked and because he was such a good actor he was the only Jew at this particular place and time to survive a death camp. I added this because it was a neat picture and also because I personally love the Jewish people. I feel we should never forget how badly they were treated. So that history never need repeat.

Now my friend Tristan is a very well known quilter, which is another reason I thought he would love this piece. I too love to sew but compared to Tristan I am just a sewing Hack! I really admire his ability and creative tallent.

A funny thing is that Tristan recently repainted his studio which made it into a magazine in a similar color of green. Tristan I hope you like pink too, real men always like pink.

While I was working on this piece the pink naturally fell into place and made me think of one of my own favorite thing Bubble Gum! So I made the handsome man on the back blowing a giant bubble. Little known fact about me... when I was in Kindergarten I won a bubble gum blowing contest. What did I win, you ask???? Well a giant box of Bazooka Bubble Gum of coarse. Riding the little Kindergartner's bus home that day I blew a bubble bigger then my own face, and it popped all over my glasses. All the kids who were so jealous of me for winning the prized gum were laughing their heads off on the bus that day, whilst I hurriedly tried to peel the gum off of my glasses!

Something I must apologize for is Tristan like me has diabetes, and that's how I knew he too would like sugar so I stuffed the box full to go with my theme of Lolly Pops and Bubble gum! Tristan be sure to share so you don't eat it all and get sick.

Tristan and I have several things in common. We have both had similar surgeries, we both love sewing, and mixed media art, and we both love to sculpt. Though I haven't done too much of it lately.

During this dream box swap Tristan sent me the neatest Dia Del Morto piece of art that he made just for me. I love it, hope he loves my stuff too.

I don't buy a lot of art but once I did buy a Gypsy sculpture from Tristan and I gave it to my friend Caryl for her bday. She adores gypsies!

Tristan is special to me for many reasons, but one main reason is that he reminds me of my brother who passed away at age 28. My brother lived in Cal. when he died and he was into all kinds of musical instruments where Tristan does more theatre. They both have had long blond hair too. They both like doing nature things and studied Wiccan. Also they both are Christian.

Another thing about Tristan and my brother is they were both gay. I have struggled in my life to understand why someone might be or is gay because of my own Christian faith I have struggled. The things is it doesn''t matter at all to me because if Tristan is as much like my brother as I imagine he is then I would love and hug him if we ever meet.

I added funny men and handsome men and retro men to my box to show more of an exceptance for Tristan and my brothers choices. I played with it a bit and poked loving fun at it too. This is an honest piece. I think Tristan will completely understand it, and know it came right from the inside of my heart.

I asked Tristan to come up with some words that describe he and his friends and he did! So all the word or most of them came from his mind about his friends himself and people that he loves. I added Theatrical, and Tristan though that was funny. Coarse that was before he saw my piece sure hope he still likes it when he see what it was all about.

I had to add the brothers in arms because I was in the military and so were many gay people. This during a time when it wasn't allowed. I figured Tristan and my brother also felt the support and love when they are around people who think the same as them and maybe act as silly sometimes. Thus the man with the fish in his hands instead of a rifle.

Sometimes I take risks and I feel good about the things I make this is one of those times. I think my brother Drew would have loved my piece, and I hope Tristan does too!!! I have grown alot since my brother died 13 years ago. I have become more tollerant, more spiritual and real.

A spread I made for a dream book rr.

2010-08-26T16:54:00.009-04:00

I chose to paint this particular image because I really do give flying lessons in my dreams. In my dreams I have been flying since I was five. First when I was young and began to dram about flying it was to get away from the scary monsters in my dreams. The lions or what have you would almost get my toes. However as time went on and I grew older in my wake life I was better able to control my dream world. So getting away from the scaries became easier and easier. I would soar higher and higher. I would visit places I have never even been like the diamond shores of Africa, I would soar quickly over sea and dale. It's an amazing experience to fly like this at night. Another challenge at first was where I got my power from~ I would have to flap like a bird, and sometimes my concentration wasn't strong enough and I would frightfully loose altitude. Skimming my feet along the ocean waves or practically being caught by witches on brooms. Not any more though I have become quite proficient in my dreams now. Flying high and at will where ever whenever I want. Becoming so good at this stunt which brings me immense joy and freedom at night so much so that some dream police or someone somewhere gave me the privilege to teach others how to fly too!!!
It's almost exactly like my painting. WE all go on top of a building and one by one I train others how not to be afraid. Where the power comes from is faith and not in body it's the freedom of the spirit that allows one to fly in her dreams. First when my hatching's take off they are fearful like I was. Always looking down trying to use my strength instead of their own. I teach them how to trust their faith look to God and let go, they begin to soar. It's a great time watching others gain this marvelous freedom. I love my night job!

The theme for this particular journal was dreams. I sure hope Cindy likes it. She said she did but then I added a few bobbles.

Some collaged ATC's!

2010-08-23T08:07:00.005-04:00

This first ATC is titled "Lady of The Lake", because she is ghostly. This is A Freda Kahlo collage bit and she is framed inside a nice metal charm frame. Underneath which I have sewn A piece OF a crumbling very old book binding, worn leather. Underneath that are bits of ephemera one book page piece has Lady written upon is and another says "wont rust", kind of a fun irony! The back ground tree I believe is an ArtChix microscope slide collage piece and the Frieda is from Collage Stuff !

This next piece is a fun one I titled "Hellooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Kitty", I had an extra doll head from my ArtChix collage and a really neat Crackerjacks paper surprise I put her inside of giving it a 3 dimensional appearance I added some postage and a love ticket, some German scrap and a blue bird along with other ephemera. And that silly Hello kitty sticker. I thought it was a perfect touch because the doll face seems to be peeking through a face window hence Hello!

Below is an ATC that was inspired by an orange popped balloon that my son Daniel had drawn a face upon. I sewed and glued it down to the paper and then added orange things and old book pages. Some old uncancelled stamps an ArChix lion centerpiece and some orange German scrap from Lisa Bush's site. On top of the balloon mans eyes I placed some glass eye balls to make it pop and it's very coolio. How many atcs have you seen with popped balloon faces? The words from the book have Plato and Frankly written on them so I decided to call this piece Plato Speaks Frankly. HEHEHHE If Plato could see it do you think he might be insulted the balloon is him!

My last Dream Box and a stamp board atc...

2010-08-21T13:24:00.013-04:00

I made this Steam Punk box for my friend Cindy McMath. To me Steampunk is all about the industrial revolution and age of Heratio Alger. All about a time when there were still so many meaningful inventions and vehicals to discover. When in a time where poverty prevailed success could happen if you listened to the advice of a wise person.

I asked Cindy what her secret to success was and she said "Hard work and perseverance", I wanted my piece to be about travel and flight, about making it to high places! So I added the part about practice and jumping to spread our wings and fly!

I added gadgets and bobbles and some ArtChix bits and collage pieces. I also added a few other nifty items. Everything is very well anchored so should not fall apart. It took me a while to adhere everything. I think I even glued my fingers to this piece a couple of times! Metal glue works really well! Now my problem is reopening the glue tube!!!

The perpeller really goes around,The door opens, and the keys rattle around, so I guess there are three moveable parts. It's held together with brads and wires so I also paper macheed the back to make it pretty from behind as well.

Inside my piece I have a small CDC card of a man with a moustach with his hand on a pedistal. T attacthed a love hand which is open towards the typerwriter gal! That's like Cindy as she works a lot of the time! Hope she likes her pilot lover? Or perhaps she is the pilot lover! I took a ticket too and chopped it up throughout the inside window. Notice the pair of matchbox tires from one of the many cars my 6 yr older destroys! There are laods of gears and even a metal airplane. You can also see two corner pieces one on the outside of the glass and one on the inside. When the door is closed they sort of corner off the CDC. When opened they make a nice decoration and a descent for the eye to travel up through the inner window.

On the inside of the glass door itself I adhered a neat piece of vellum clear with a design of circles and two letters well one letter one part letter. Just to add interest to the piece! Sure hope Cindy likes it!

This last piece an ATC I made because my friend Phyllis Terrell sent me some stamp boards. I had wanted to try my hand at this technique but was feeling a bit intimidated. Apparently Phyllis did too so she sent me her boards and since I already had the tools I figured I had to try it at least one time. It's pretty tricky stuff, though I just love everything Phyllis makes. She likes my stuff too for some reason so maybe she'll make another trade with me when she see this one. I hope!!!!! I titled it "Kissing Birds"

My Fairy Dream Box for Stacey!

2010-08-11T20:22:00.005-04:00

I sure hope Stacey Edwards likes this dream box! She wanted fairy like and so this is what I concocted. I started by painting the entire Art Chix winged Dream box exterior and interior with a purple color. Next I painted the front exterior with Tim Holzt crackle paint. I wanted my fairy to be somewhat shabby chic. I love colors and glitz but nothing that makes me puke!!! I did add a sparkling purple embossing powder over black ink to her wings edges! Hard to see on the scan!
Next I made her legs. I rolled up some muslin cloth and glued it together with fabric tac, then painted them with white gesso. Next I painted black stocking stripes all around , up and down both legs. To finish off my legs I stuck a wire into the top down through the bottom strung it through the hole in my Art Chix fairy bootee and back up the leg, then both strands of wire through the bottom of the exterior into the interior of the dream box window, and through two- two hole buttons.
Next I chose an inchie fairy bit with a blue heart and red and yellow background to stick into the off center of my inner window, to make the hand in the inchie my fairies left hand! I then painted the background to match my inchie and when that was dry glued down buttons of childlike colors all the way around the inner edges!Lastly to finish off my dream box interior I looked through all my word collage sheets and found the saying that suited her best. I had to make it smaller to fit the window but it works really well!"She turned her scars into stars!" El perfecto for an old doll faced fairy!
My next step was to make a hand that would go around the outer lever that opens the dream box, I made the hand so it's covering that notch but also looks like she is holding the seven gypsies wand I bought from Lisa Bush! I made the hand and thumb separately out of polymer clay, so it when I glued them down the hand would appear to be holding her wand and purse. I put the purse through the wand showing purse side out then ut the wand through the hole in her hand inside the notch lever! Aren't I smart? Say yes! !The purse is also an ArtChix art bit! One that matches her shoes as no fairy would be seen mismatched... or would she?
Now onto her head! I used a little inchie doll head also from ArtChix, I think that is currently my favorite sheet by the way! I tried different faces but the one with the glasses seemed to suit her best. Maybe because she is the one who absolutely looks the most like me when I was a child. I attached this head to cardboard x 2 layers. then adhered her to the dream box. After which I attached hair and a crown. Then I sewed beads all through her locks! One onto the tip of her crown of coarse!
I thought I was finished but then realized she looked too leggy and half naked. So I made her a skirt by cutting thin strips of muslin to stay shabby chicish onto purple pieces of ribbon bits then onto the perfectly purple fairy glitzy fabric. I always add love when ever I used fabric as I am a very slow seamstress. I also gave her strips on her ankles and tiny bits of strips in her hair. Then I sewed 5-7 beads at the end of each tiny strip. Also onto her anklets! She is much better in person Stacey! Hope you'll love her.

I call this " My Dark Thoughts"

2010-08-07T10:01:00.002-04:00

Because this week there were so many of them. My teens weren't easy, and someone I thought respected my gifts was even worse. Long story but here's what I created for it all. It's just an small acrylic but it says how I felt.

Some charms I made for....

2010-07-27T22:22:00.006-04:00

a tiny people charm swap.

I finished one of three dreamboxes!

2010-07-25T13:44:00.005-04:00

This is the first in a series of three dream Boxes I will be making for the Art Chix Sister site. I made this one for my friend Tristan Robin Blakeman, he's a very talented artists! I wanted him to have something special. His theme was French and Can can girls so the Moulan Rouge just had to be done. I also felt this particular dreambox was perfect and destined tto become a minnie Moulan. So I made these windmill arms with german scrap and some paint and sanding onto of chipbpoards I hand cut. I used alcohol inks and paint which I grunged up a bit to make the building look old and a bit vintage. I got some really neat medallions with the letters" P.A.R.I.S" engraphed onto them. I also stained them with alcohol inks and the backs I added some distressed embossing powers so they appears as dirty red coins. On the outside of the box I alos used little black german scrap windows with Artchix minnie faces in them. I had to cut one window in half to make them fit along the edges. I painted the edges black to make them meld as I did with the Moulan Rouge Minnie poster. I cut the minnie Moulan rouge poster down the middle with pinking sheres so they would look like one word when the doors were closed,I think it works! I used a flowery brad with a bit of silver as the madallion are silver I sanded the fronts after I alcohol inked them so the letters would shine through well. On the inside I also have a tiny little silver table and chairs. Only two to make the stage look really personal and to give my Moulan Rouge ambience. I have two proper ladies from back in the change of the 17-1800's coming to see the show. The minnie table and chairs are their reserved seating. I got the chairs from a doll house store in our local area and I made the table out of paper painted with silver metalic paint. The table is delicate, so no touching! In behind the ladies entering the show are french words from an old french magazine I bought from Lisa Bush's shoppe. I thought the words gave it an extra Ooh lala! Then I made a stage out of layers chip board painted that brown and glued itinto and on top of the can can girls. Just took a darker brown and edged them up a bit to give further demension. Next I made what else red curtains out of some nice rich satin like fabric and I didn't even need to sew. I did double them up and use fabric tac though. I added some bling for the curtain tassles,and I love how it came out! Lastly I added the words Yes Yes we Can Can, because I know Tristan is a democrat and likes/ed Obahma. His slogan Yes we can fitted perfectly here with just an extra Can for a play on words. Perfect for a piece of combined old and modern day history. I knew Tristan loved theatre so I thought this would be perfect for him. I also have something else I am sedning to Triosytan along with this dreambox! I wonder if Tristan has ever bneen to the real Moulan Rouge? I wanted to go when I was there but you need to make reservations ahead of time and I did not. Another reason to go back to Paris one day!

Made a few special atcs this week.

2010-07-10T11:33:00.008-04:00

The card below is my favorite for the week. I call him the Peddlar! He's musical and whimsical and even has a friend on his back!

Happy 80th Birthday Ruth! I hope you get a little birthday chuckkle from my card! Many happy returns indeedy!

This is for a sweet 90 yr old friend of mine who has just had her fourth heart attack. She is a generous amazing lady and I certainly hope she recovers and is back to her regular arting amazing self soon!

I made this card for Donna as she has two lotto months and I am late with the first. I was telling my mom about my latest art and she just goggled and said " what do you do, sit there and think what weird thing can I possibly draw next?" Ya right mom, actually it just comes natural. She should know that about me by now, MOM!

The card below is titled Frog under Glass. I made it for the finearts lotto of the month of July card also for Donna. Hope you like it Donna!

It was too hot to do much of anything else. Other then draw and color a little bit. Oh and I also shopped for my dream boxes. I am making three. One is steam punk , the second is French, and the third is fairylike, So shopping has been fun bow the hard work must ensue!

The winner of my blog give away is....

2010-07-04T12:31:00.002-04:00

Donn! Congratulations Donn. I used random.org and your number was 4 and so you win! Hugs. Sanna

I finished a piece I am very happy with!

2010-06-26T19:56:00.014-04:00

Leave a comment and get a chance at winning the sketch I used to make this painting. Below is the ATC you could win! Please leave critisism or comment.

I will be drawing a lucky winner for the atc on the 4th of July!

My latest piece is abstract but to me a moving work as your eyes go around in a circle. I would however appreciate critisism and comments. So much so that I am having a blog giveaway. I will give the winner at random the sketched out ATC I did as a preliminary to this painting. Some day it could be valuable. I intend on doing a few shows soon.
Ok about this painting: I call it "Swimming in the Gulf", it's all abut my perspective of the oil explosion and thereafter sufferings of the earth. So here you'll see me... the girl with the giant jugs and long legs and beautiful blond hair(LOL,IF ONLY)but with a sad face. Inside her arms is the ever errupting oil well, around her is all the devastation she has caused and now sees for building something she could not controll(MAn could not).The three fish are swimming upside down and frowning, The baby seal(who was made cute on purpose) as I used to work for Green Peace and whenever we went around from door to door there was this one picture of a baby seal we would show people to get them to donate... thus the cute dipiction, I wanted to grab your hearts. The Pelican too is covered in oil, misserable and dieing just as we all have been seeing on television.
Everytime I see the sea creatures dieing and covered in this oily suffocating death trap I feel the deapths of sadness. It moved me to a new awareness while painting this piece.
I went to the Boston Museum of fine arts and saw some Picassos" and some of Matisses' work very abstract and beautiful. I also saw a depiction of Nepoleon touching the people who were fighting for him. They were dieing from the black plague and other affirmaties and war wounds. He touched them as if he was concerned like he was their savoir ,then walked away and had them all poisoned to death. He was unable and unwilling to heal them due to their critical medical needs and the weight the war placed on him and the province.
My husband asked me what the focal point of this piece was and I jokingly said: "her giant ass"! He said: "Really because it is...", I said: "Yes as we so fat sit in our houses unaffected by this terrible atrosity."
Soon enough it will however effect our childrens children and even people of our own generation will be without the fish and a living. For now though it's the sea and all the living creatures that are suffering as BP tries to pay people off.

My dad bought me these magic magic markers!

2010-06-25T01:59:00.009-04:00

... so I made these ATC's with them. They came with a bleach pen and a black one and pens that change color when you combine them with other colors. I sure hope people like to trade for them because drawing with them is like a Zanny Zen experience!

I went to the Boston Museum of fine arts yesterday.

2010-06-18T12:06:00.012-04:00

This is my cat Grayson with a new kitten named Mokey! Mokey came to us as Smokey but we gave him a nice bath and got all the ciggerette smell off of him so now he isn't smokey anymore he's just Mokey! He wedged his way into Graysons bed and face everyday until Grayson excepted him as his own. I think Grayson needs a special card this year for Fathers Day!

I finished my quiltie for Rachel!

2010-06-08T22:18:00.013-04:00

What I wrote to Rachel:
Rachel I hope you like my quiltie I made for you. I wanted to make it extra special because you made two for me, and you are always so obliging. But I'm afraid I might be dissapointing you somewhat in that it's more natural then contrast colors. Plus has a cute little girl with a doll which wasn't something you had mentioned as a like. However I liked the base of this piece so much I was initially saving it for myself or for selling purposes. It one of my original flower pressing techniques pieces. Then on top of that loads of antique lace, machine fancy stitches, beads, antique buttons, some silver trims and gadgets including half a snap! It's weird because I have added two different colored metals the silver and the copperish antique. I think it actually works but tell me if you don't think so. I hand sewed all the edges and added hemp and yarn and tied those into knots and attatched a specially chosen twigf I went and cut myself which I wrapped inside of more antique lace and then wove some leaf ribbon around the outside. I am going to add one more perfect button to finish it off but that will have to be a surprize in the mail. Hugs, Sanna
What Rachel wrote back:

ARE YOU KIDDING??!! I LOVE THE QUILTIE YOU MADE!!!! This is such a beautiful
peice, it will receive an honored place on my wall. Sanna, you outdid yourself!
I really love it. All the attention to every detail (did I mention I love the
antique silver and copper together?) and such a sweet picture in the middle, (I
have a soft spot for dolls, by the way! How funny is that!!!) It is beautiful.
Thank you for thinking of me to make something so precious. That's what I adore
about each person's work here, the thought and care and variety that goes into
each one to make them such special pieces of art. Thanks so much!!!! I am
beside myself with excitement to see it in person. Rachel McCollough

This week I have an assignment from one of my groups to take my camera everywhere!

2010-06-08T21:46:00.023-04:00

So I have been and what a wild few days it's been!

A birthday Card I got from Pam!

2010-05-28T20:04:00.005-04:00

Isn't this the neatest birthday Zetti card a girl could ever get! I absolutely love it, thank you my friend Pam McKenzie! You always make me feel so special. I just love my online friends they know what an art chic wants for her birthday! Seriously birthdays were never this good until I met my online art friends! Thanks sooooooo much Pam!