What's Been Going On

Same old, same old.....making a mess on my work table and having fun making things.
I decided to give blogging a little rest.
Did anyone miss me?

I've had fun going to Scrap and finding some old books and rubber stamps and various things to create with....as if I need any more....

I had a most pleasant gelli printing day and made lots of pages for my various altered books. I love using paper with tabs (found at Scrap).

I printed book pages, tags, envelopes, cards, paper bags....once I get into something I'm all in....

I like the thick texture of the gelli printed pages...

An altered book page for my favorite little Texas gal....and a road map envelope too...

My very talented pal Monica (you know, the Artful Recrafter...) showed me how to make little books without using any glue/staples or sewing...just my type...so I got busy making a bunch of them with collaged pages...

Very true.

Wouldn't you like this? I know I sure would...forgot going into business -- I just want to make myself lots and lots of rubber stamps...

Making up some sweet little folders with treasures tucked inside...

These books were in the FREE bin at Scrap. You know I will think of something good to do with these old beauties...

I am kinda thinking I will spend less time blogging and more time just making...
When I started the blog I was really hoping for more of a dialogue -- you know, some back and forth -- so I'd know what you all are making and thinking and enjoying (or not) about the blog.
It is hard to keep going without that.
I took a little break and we'll see how it goes.
Hope you enjoy seeing what I've been up to. I'd like to hear what you have been up to too.

I Like My Messy Work Table

No matter how many times I clean up my work table and studio, it ends up a mess by the end of the day. And, you know what?, I like it that way.
I love the random connections I make when I am sifting through all the ephemera I have cluttering up my table.
Random Connections....a good title for a book....

Sometimes just seeing two things near each other gives me a great idea....an idea I wouldn't think of if I were neat.
(OK, sometimes I can't find things in all the mess but that's just a part of the whole process).

A good frined of mine gave me a big bag of cancelled, old stamps and they are sitting in piles all over my studio....They have been giving me hours of pleasure and so many ideas for projects...

Another friend sent this little ad (because she knows I have a thing for typewriters) . I've been wanting to make some more series of ACT's and seeing this little typewriter ad gave me an idea to use all the various little ads I have collected on the ATC's along with corresponding rubber stamp images and bits of paper....(I do wish there were more postage stamps with typewriters on them).

Right now I would give anything to have some of those plastic boxes with the small compartments so I could organize my stamps...but it is pouring rain and I am too cozy at home to go out and try to buy them...plus there are too many holiday shoppers out there.....the organizing will have to wait.

I added some stamps (rubber & postage) to my outgoing mail........

Put a Bird on it!

See what I mean? Back to messy again....

Ok, I found pages from a bird book and bird stamps in the mess on my desk so what do you get? ACT's with a bird theme. These are still in progress but they are coming along...

I did have more to show you but this is one of those crazy times that Blogger is NUTS and not working right so I think I will give up and go back to sorting stamps.....much more relaxing than having my photos disappear from the post....

Playing in my studio all day for two very rainy days has been my reward for getting all my shopping/making/wrapping/baking all done.
I have had paint and glue all over my hands and it has been so wonderful.
I hope you guys are seeing the calm at the end of the (seasonal) storm and you are all going to enjoy the rest of this week.....

Merry Christmas (to those who celebrate).
and
HAPPY MAIL to all and to all a good night!

Another Kind of Desktop

Budapest

I can work almost anywhere -- which is good since my studio is still all torn up. I have a plan for setting up my Gelli block in my kitchen in Saturday and letting those paints fly...or drip..or whatever.
Here are some desktops where I've worked during the last year or so....
I like the way they look.

Portland, OR

A cappuccino or coffee is always nice to have on hand. And paper ephemera. Lots of ephemera.

Prague

I actually don't pack up much to bring with me on my travels about town (or far away). I like to tear paper rather than cut and mostly I bring glue sticks and double stick tape....and madly pick up stuff as I move through the day....

Santa Barbara

St Petersburg, Russia

There wasn't as much paper around to pick up in Russia...but what I did find was super cool since I loved the way the Cyrillic writing looked.

Portland

Istanbul, Turkey

The Turkish writing is very cool too. And so was writing while listening to the Call to Prayer coming in through the open windows.....

Washington, DC

Los Angeles, CA

Palma, Italy
Sitting and writing by the fireplace in Parma was wonderful until the bug bit me!

Boston, MA

New York City

Seattle, WA

Pasadena, CA

Milan, Italy

You can always get coffee in Italy --  Grazia Dio!

Budapest, Hungary

I like taking it on the road. Packing my mail art kit is a lot more fun than packing clothes. And I love picking up every scrap of ephemera I find and tearing it up and pasting it in to my travel journals, collages and postcards.
I love the look of a happily messy desktop while on the road.

Am I alone on this?
How many of you cut and paste while traveling?
Keep a travel journal?
Make mail art?
Set up a work table in every hotel room?
Anybody taking a trip?

Tell me what your desktops look like!

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