Recipe for making things rusty

If you don't have rusty items, you can make them with this recipe:

2 parts bleach + 1 part vinegar

Put mixture into a plastic bucket, throw in metal objects that are not coated.  If they are coated, you can sand the coating off.  Put the bucket outside and wait until they start rusting.

Making Rust Printed Paper

Here's something fun to do with old rusty things - make handmade paper - and it's free! ♥  Raided my neighbor Laurie's backyard because it's loaded with charm and fun.  Here is a pic of rusty things I borrowed:

Spray the rusty object with a simple solution of 50% water and 50% vinegar.  Wrap in strong paper towels (I use Viva) that have also been sprayed with the same solution.  Press the damp paper towels so that they make contact with the surface.  Spray again.  Wrap in some cotton fabric and spray again.  Let sit overnight.  Wala - here's what I got.  Aren't the beautiful?

Beautiful words from T.S. Elliott

I felt these words deeply on Saturday while attending the funeral of a woman I so loved and admired.  Betty Lucero, such a sweet soul and kindred creative spirit.  The funeral was held at All Souls Catholic Church, ironically the same place where I attended elementary school and went through the confirmation classes that began my alienation from the Catholic Church 50 years ago:

And the end of all our exploring

Will be to arrive where we started

And to know the place for the first time.......

God Bless and Keep you Betty.  It was such a privilege to bear witness to your goodness and light.

Art Trading Cards

Finished!  Joined the FlyGirls Artist Trading Card Group and made my first ever trading card.  The theme is "Taking Flight" in honor of the Kelly Ray Roberts e-course on making your art business soar.  They are 3 1/2" x 2 1/2 inch in size.  Started with 10 and got 5 decent ones to trade.  First time to try the image transfer technique.

 

Great Tip on what to do with leftover paint

I love browsing artist blogs and you-tube.  I learn something new almost every day!  This tip came from Lisa Cyr's blog on what she does with leftover paint.  Make your own art paper!  I love the idea because 1) it saves your money in paint and 2) it's fun to do! and most importantly 3) it's so much more green not to rinse unused, toxic paint down the drain.

All you have to do is wad up some tracing paper or light copy paper and have fun painting it.  I made all these beautiful papers today from leftover paint.  Another thing I discovered today - Antiquing gel.  It works great to add depth.

Finished Quilt for Baby Hudson

Hudson's dad is a sport enthusiast.  This is a quilt that I designed by blowing up and altering rubber stamps. It came out so cute!  One of my dreams is to  make a quilt using my own artwork.  I think I better start with small art quilts and work my way up ♥

Why I ♥ Art

Because art ignores boundaries and artists ignore limitations.
Politics may get dirty and economics may be grim but artists 
continue to create and live in hope, and the art community flourishes, 
even if only in spirit.    ♥♥♥ Dale Copeland