Haleighanna's Hands: Barnabas Collins and the Most Peaceful Place on Earth

When I was a little girl, one of my earliest memories was watching the original Dark Shadows on television. I remember the thrill of being frightened by the Gothic eeriness of Collinwood while huddled behind my mother's legs as she napped on the couch. Watching the waves hit the Oregon coast, I realized just how much it formed my deep love of a rocky seacoast.

Last week, I travelled to Portland for a very short visit. There is something (besides the reminisces of campy, daytime soap operas with terrible writing and even worse special effects) that fills my soul with peace and serenity. I wanted to share some of this special place with you.

Waves crashing against the rocky coast, just like the opening of Dark Shadows

 

The coast outside of Oceanside, Oregon.

It was a perfect day for flying a kite. I was bundled up against the wind and these girls were barefoot.

 

Grandma and grandson braving the Oregon spring weather.

 

Gulls looking for a little food.

Oregon is really one of my favorite places on earth. What's your favorite place? Where are you the most peaceful? Why is it your favorite place?

 

 

Haleighanna's Hands: Going Where Others have Gone Before

My Saturday morning routine includes a Starbucks coffee and a few hours in a comfy chair at the Barnes and Noble looking at books and magazines and dreaming. Long before I took up a paint brush or scissors, I would look through magazines and dream about making art. Just like a teenage girls read Vogue and dream of being a supermodel, I would read and dream of being an artist (trust me, supermodel was completely out of the question).

I decided to share some of my favorite books and magazines that helped me find the courage to express myself through paper, paint, nails, and leftover cardboard boxes.

Somerset Studio

This was the first magazine that I picked up that showed me the incredible world of mixed media. I was immediately entranced. Somerset Studio provided instructions, ideas and focused on the beauty of writing and lettering. Every couple of months, I look forward to opening the covers and finding beauty and inspiration from some very talented artists. It also taught me about acrylic mediums, image transfers, and working on canvas.

Somerset Studio usually includes artist papers as a free gift.

Cloth Paper Scissors

Packed with lots of ideas and a clean layout, this bi-monthly magazine is a fantastic resource. It focuses a little more on quilting, fabric, and alterative materials such as Citra Solv. The first time that opened the pages, I saw a container made out of used dryer sheets, metallic flakes and other fibers. I was hooked. Cloth Paper Scissors gives clear instructions and is really inviting.

Unfurling

My drawing skills leave a lot to be desired; in fact it's one of the reasons that I chose to express myself through collage and mixed media. Misty Mawn's Unfurling gave me the tools and the push I needed to help me overcome the fear of trying to draw. The book is informative and beautiful to look at. I love how the instructions are written so simply that even I get them each time I pick it up, I am eager to get back to my own work.

 

The Art of Personal Imagery

I started my artistic journey in high school when I began crafting programs for our high school plays. I picked up several years later when someone at my company needed a retirement scrapbook. At that point, scrapbooking was all matted photos and stickers (oh baby have we come a long way). When I got this book and saw that author Corey Moortgat  had actually painted on pictures, I think I gasped. When I recovered from the shock, I thought it was one of the coolest things that I had every seen. I recommend this book if only to jolt you into a new way of seeing possibilities.

Great examples and descriptions of unifying a composition.

Taking Flight

This is a fantastic step-by-step book on how to create layers in your composition. Paper, paint, and modeling medium, are used to create more interesting and textured backgrounds. The book has an encouraging and spiritual bent. Her faces and bodies are exaggerated but I think that's why I love them so much.

As I have said before, I need lots of inspiration. Looking at others' work or trying to deconstruct what they did, helps me solve the problems that I am having in my own work. It's an influence and a kick-start to my own process.

What books or magazines do you read? How do you get your creative juices flowing?

Another Workbench Item from Haleighanna's Hands

I am not what anyone would call a neat freak...especially in my shop. I have purchased a lot of baskets and label makers over the years and sometimes they get used but I am not sure that my version of organized matches anyone else's. I also work at a really long table and usually half is the space I am working on and the other half is the "put it away later" or project drying area.

I felt a bit overwhelmed by the "put it away later" side (i.e., it was starting to list a little under the weight) so I decided to clean it up. At the bottom of the pile was an unused paint stir stick. I have no idea why it was there since I haven't painted anything since November when I lived at my old house. And before you say, "Are you sure it can't be from your last paint project? You know it's been awhile since you've organized your space!," I have moved since that last paint endeavor.

So I starred at it a long time, pondering how it came to be there and where it should go to wait to be useful. Then it hit me. Use up some paper scraps and make a photo/note holder. Here it is!


Paint Stick Note/Photo Holder. A low cost way to use up scraps!

I used a few things I had lying around:

The paint stir stick
Ruler
Craft knife
Distressing ink
Acrylic paint
Sandpaper
A scrap of paper large enough to fit the stir stick
A scrap of fabric
A couple of left over paper flowers from another project
Three clothes pins (a pile of which I found in the "put it away pile")
Wall hangers
E6000 (my favorite glue)
Mod Podge Matte

Step 1: Cut the stir stick. I used my craft knife and ruler to score the wood just before the little curve starts in the handle. I kept scoring it until I had cut through about half. I broke it apart and cleaned up the edges with the sandpaper and craft knife. Don't worry about if it breaks a little because Step 2 will cover up any issues.

Step 2: Use the scrap paper to cover the stir stick. I used Mod Podge to glue the paper to the wood.

Step 3: Distress the edges of the stick (if desired)

Step 4: Paint the clothes pins (if desired)

Step 5: Glue the fabric, flowers, and clothes pins to the stick with the E6000

Step 6: Glue the hangers to the back with the E6000

In the end, I had a charming and super cheap piece that I could hang pictures from and an excuse not to finish the my initial task of cleaning. Such is life...

Clothes pins from the Dollar Store

 

What do you do with your scraps?


Haleighanna's Hands: What's on the Workbench

Last week, Sheila graciously agreed to share her cork board upcycles. I was so inspired that I had to run to Hobby Lobby (right after I got off the plane from South by Southwest) and
get some supplies. Here's how my project turned out.

I bought a 4x6 resin frame that was on sale ($7.50). I couldn't find a fabric that I liked for a price I liked so I found a pillow cover that I could use a coupon on. So I am up to about $11.00. The most expensive thing I had to buy was the cork board because I was in a hurry and my selection was very limited. I found the pinheads on the clearance aisle. They are meant for jewelry but they were pretty, so...



Turquoise paint with black metallic distressing

My first step was to paint the frame in my favorite color. It took several coats but it turned out great. The next step was to distress it. I used some Anita's Metallic Black paint and mixed it with glaze. Then I swooshed it all around and then wiped it off with a paper towel. Lastly, I put a couple of high gloss acrylic varnish over the frame.

I took the hanger/stand piece out of the frame and used it for a template for the cork board. I cut the board with a craft knife. I wanted the cork board to have a "puffy" feel so I used some batting I had lying around and cut a piece large enough that I could fold it over. I took apart the pillow cover so I could keep the really cool flower that was on the front and the cut my fabric out. Since no one but me would see the backside, I hot glued the fabric to the cork board.

Pinheads from the Michael's clearance aisle

I then used my clippers and cut the pinheads at a angle so they could stick into the cork board.

I was inspired by the Plum Doodles blog that I had to do this...I am sure you know the feeling. What have you done recently that you really couldn't rest until you did it?

Guest Blogger: SheilaG of Plum Doodles

I subscribe to a lot of blogs because I love all the ideas that are out there. Plus, I need a lot of inspiration!

Sheila is the author of Plum Doodles blog. I love her style and wanted to share one of her latest posts with you. I think you will find her cork boards as inspiring as I did. (As in I really need to do a thrift store run for frames and really don't need sleep!)

DIY Fabric Covered Memo Boards Three Ways

Posted: 05 Mar 2013 05:45 AM PST

Howdy, doodlers! What’s up? Today, I thought I’d show you three ways to pretty up your memo boards. The least expensive way to make one is to buy a cork board and a frame from a thrift store and cut the cork board down to fit the frame. The cork is pretty easy to cut... (Read more)

Using Collections to Decorate Your Home

Last week, when I was in Tampa, I saw this beautiful collection of sea shells on a wall. I thought it was so lovely, I wanted to share it with you. This first one is a nod to "specimen art." I love the symmetry of this display.

Of course, collections don't have to be this regulated. Below is a collection of plates in an arch published by mmmcrafts.

mmmcrafts blog

 

Then, there's the approach of random placement. What I love about this is the pops of color amoung the white plates. This is from sugarderby.com

 

 

Lastly, I love the idea of taking different, but related items and using them to create a collection. Take a look at this beautiful example from balancinghome.com.

 



How have you used collections in your home decorating?

Sometimes my Job has its Perks

I won't say that my job is without its stresses. Last week, I was one of several hundreds of people who had to stay downtown for Storm Q. But this week I am in Tampa for a meeting.

So I thought I would send you pictures of some of the flowers that are all around here. Just remember that it may still be winter, Spring is on the way.