Ode to a Muse

New and in the DeviantScrap store right now is the stunning new kit 'Ode to a Muse' by Holliewood Studios and Finecrafted Designs.  This fantastic kit is a homage to the great Maggie Taylor.

I'm downloading right now and can't wait to play.

Altered Hearts Fall 2010

At long last the Altered Hearts fall 2010 issue is in the DeviantScrap store!

Happy reading!

Karen

Something Fishy Going On?

I've been kinda quiet around digiland.  So what's been going on?  What's been taking up all my time?  Shall I start at the beginning?

Back in August I was packing to go on a family vacation - five days in Mexico by the sea.  I was thrilled at the thought of getting away for a few days.  But ScrapArtist was closing.  What was I going to do to keep my creative brain occupied.  The day before we were due to leave for Mexico I was browsing the web when I came across Suzi Blu's site and a new class starting up - La Sierena.  It was to be a four month mixed media affair creating mermeaids. It appealed to me immediately and I signed up on the spot.  As much as I love digi art I had been wanting to get my hands dirty with physical paint for some time but with mixed media being such a big subject I didn't know where to begin.  This seemed to be the perfect opportunity to give it a try, but did I have it in me?  What if I couldn't do it?  What if I made mistakes?  This had always stopped me in the past.  As soon as I make a mistake I would abandon the piece or throw it away.  All during the vacation my head was filled with mermaid thoughts and once I got home I was keen to start.  I wanted to prove to myself that I could do this.

Through a series of videos and pdf handouts Suzi went through the basics of drawing a face, creating a layered background and briefly touched on colour theory.  But don't let colour theory scare you away.  It's delivered with Suzi's unique spin and it was one of the most enjoyable lessons mostly because it all started to make sense.  Suzi also has a few other tricks up her sleeve to help you get your drawing onto the canvas.  The word mistake doesn't seem to come into Suzi's vocabulary - it's all art.  In theory I like this idea.  I love other people's mistakes in art, but could I live with my own mistakes?  Could I live with wonky eyes, smudge paint and wonky pencil lines?

Six weeks after signing up for the class I have three finished paintings.  I'm pretty pleased with them.  Not because they are fine examples of art.  They were mostly a learning experience, such as an acrylic wash isn't a good substitute for distressing ink and covering a picture with wax ins't as easy as Suzi makes it look.  BUT they are all my own work and they are completed - warts and all. 

It's not a great photo but as you can probably tell I'm eager to share.  I'll try and take a better photo at the weekend.

Thank you for looking! :-)

Where the Fiddlette is Christine?

If you haven't heard by now the very talented Christine Honsinger aka Fiddlette is debuting today at CatScrap!

It's such a joy to see her yummy designs in the store along side all the other wonderful designers. You'll find a whole bunch of familiar faces over there including Adelaide & Amelia, The Four Seasons, Frida, The Flitter Sweets and Steampunk Sue and Lulu too!

I am delighted for an excuse to spend more time over there. If you head off to the store right now you will find 20% off all Christine's designs and 25% off the delicious CatWalk Collection! I hope to see you there.

Have a happy day.


Karen


xxx

Transformation Deck Prompt: October

I've just posted October's Transformation Deck Prompt - Release the Reins!

You can find all the details HERE.

I hope this month's prompt inspires you.

Here's my card using 'It's All Greek to Me ATC Kit' by Finecrafted Designs available at Deviant Scrap.

Natty Cat!

Natalie's Story.

Did I mention we were getting a cat?

I first saw her at the rescue center back in April. I fell in love with her then, but we weren't really ready for a cat so we left the store without her, but she kept playing on my mind. She had a beautiful face and sat so calmly in her little box. I popped into the store on my way home from work to have another look at her. My heart dropped when I saw her cage was empty. There was no one from the rescue center to ask so I left presuming the little white and tabby cat had found a new home.

Then two weeks ago Joshua and I were passing the time of day in the pet store. We looked at the yapping dogs and then the snakes and then Joshua wanted to see the fish. As we walked past the cat rescue center there was the little white and tabby cat!!! The same one? Yes, yes, that was definately the same cat! I asked Kim the rescue center how long she had been there and she said a long time probably since April or May. Yes, it was the same cat! Of course, I took it as a sign! lol I called Carl and took lots of pictures with my phone and told Kim I would be back for her in two weeks.

We went on vacation to Mexico and our dinner conversation was always about Natalie and how we would look after her.

So finally the big day comes and we go off to the pet store to collect Natalie. When I ask if there is anything I need to know I was surprised when Mike told me she was a spitfire and regularly takes swipes and she needed a firm hand! Were we talking about the same cat? The calm, elegant cat I saw through the perspex glass? The rescue center told me not to expect too much from her for the first two weeks. That she'd probably sit under the sofa for the first couple of weeks only coming out for food. Joshua heard all of this and still wanted to take her home - so we did.

As I'm typing this the next morning Natalie is playing with Joshua on the rug in front of me after sleeping most of the night on Carl's head. Yep, I know we said she wouldn't let her in the bedrooms... lol

At the moment she is the cutest, most loving cat anyone could ask for...