Preparing for ArtFest (pant pant)

The clock is ticking. ArtFest starts tomorrow and I'm not ready . . . but my trades are! I finished them up yesterday - they are bagged and tagged and ready to be handed out. If you're not familiar with trades at an art retreat, it basically involves each artist making a batch of something (it could be an Artist Trading Card, a small piece of art, or even a package of ephemera or fibers) and then sharing it with other traders. I decided I would make bottle cap magnets; I took cork-lined bottle caps, inserted an image (the theme for ArtFest this year is fairy tales, that's why some of my images are sorta creepy, that and the fact that I like creepy images), added a ring of glitter, filled the cap with DG3 (a resin like glue), then slapped a magnet on the back. Presto - a mini piece of art. 63 of them.







I'm pretty sure 63 magnets should be enough, but just to be safe, I also bagged some pre-assembled Scrabble words (34 bags of words). I had purchased these last year from my friend Jami and decided this would be a perfect use for them. I can even let people decide if they want a magnet or a word.


Because I didn't have time (or the energy) to make up a batch of business cards -- my usual card involves a mini collage and paint -- I printed up what I needed and stamped a vibrant red bird on a branch.


Now I only need to finish a swap project, pull together my art supplies, and pack my personal stuff. Plenty of time . . . ha! I leave at 5:00 a.m. on Wednesday morning. Tory, I promise I'll be ready.

Dayna Collins does . . . an art exchange!

Several weeks ago I was invited by one of my arty blog friends, Kim of Merlin's Musings (Kim lives in Australia!) to join in a mail art exchange. Well, I thought she meant mail art would be swapped around between artists, so I said yes. Lo and behold, it was actually a chain letter kind of affair. You know the kind. You receive a letter with two names and you send something to the person at the top of the list, then you move the second person's name to the top and invite six friends to join in. This swap was no different, but I figured I could find six friends who would want to play. So, I sent a little art piece to a woman who lives in Portland, moved Kim's name to the top, and invited six friends to join in (warning them in advance that it was really an artistic chain letter). If all went according to plan, I would receive 36 pieces of art. Well, I haven't received 36, but I have received more than I expected!

I thought it would be fun if I shared some of the things I have received (besides what I've pictured here, I also received some handmade greeting cards, a Christmas towel, and a lovely silken potpourri pouch).

From Barb Pearson in Canada, I received this adorable card and a pin she titled O, Canada.


From Candace (who I've been in an altered book swap with in the past), I received this very cool mandalaesque collage, which is mounted on wood and ready to hang.


My friend Bobbie sent the invitation letter to one of her relatives in South Dakota, who cross-stitched this sweet little Christmas ornament, although I like the idea of celebrating PEACE year round, so I've hung it in my studio as a gentle reminder.



Kathyanne White of Arizona sent this fabulous little hand bound journal with painted pages and beads galore.


Chris Bolmeier, of Omaha (where my son now lives!), sent several goodies in her package. Including this cool collage . . .


. . . . a pile of her colorful business cards . . .


. . . . and a couple of her personal cards.



This creative use of leather? vinyl? leatherette? pleather? was created by Deborah from Florida.


And last, but not least, I received an original poster, AN ORIGINAL, from Mary Anne Radmacher. If you aren't familiar with Mary Ann, well, you should be. This gift was kinda like getting something from a rock star!



It sure is fun getting mail these days.

Art and Soul: Rock On!

One of the benefits of attending an art retreat is the side trades that go on outside of the workshops. This is how it works: artists make multiple little art pieces with their name and website and/or blog information attached, either on the back of the art, on an attached tag, or on what is known as a moo card, which is basically a slim, pretty, artful business card. Artists just have to say, "Are you doing trades?" and anyone who is swarms over to the person who asked, with others also gathering around. Everyone whips out what they have made and the transaction is completed, usually with lots of oohs and ahhs.

Since the theme for this year's Art and Soul was rock 'n roll, I made some of my Bingo Babes using rock stars (yes, men can be babes) and a liberal sprinkling of glitter.





My friend Destree was also making trades, so she came over to the studio and we played together! Here is beautiful Destree with her art trades, Itty Bitty Rock Stars, in process.



Not knowing how many people would be trading, I also brought along some of the magnets I made for ArtFest for just in case; they were still a hit when given a choice between a metal magnet creation and a glittery rock legend!


Here is my booty from trading at Art and Soul this year, not nearly as much as last year, but a fun assortment of little pretties.


NOTE: The pretty posie at the top of this post was from one of my trades, but the artist didn't sign the back or attach a tag so I can't give her credit. I thought it was so pretty I wanted to use it as the intro to this post!

Tradeapalooza!

Finally. In the midst of being sick, I finally finished a batch of trades for Artfest. Artfest doesn't actually start until next week, but we're leaving in the morning for a road trip, meandering our way to Port Townsend and with a final destination of Fort Worden, the site of the art retreat. I wanted to be part of the trading frenzy, so I needed to get my trades together. I decided to make some more of the metal gauge magnets that I had made for Art and Soul last year because those that received them thought they were pretty cool. So I made another batch.

I'm also taking some fat book pages I had done for the Art and Soul swap last year and some sea-themed Inchies I made.

Finally, I've been wanting to play around with old Bingo cards for quite some time and I used the upcoming trades as an opportunity to put something together. So, using Bingo cards, old photographs, words, and a few embellishments, I have made a batch of my "Bingo Beauties."

Anybody wanna trade?