RedDancer-Studio

More handmade books in my Etsy shop

I just finished creating two beautiful cloth handmade books and listed them in my Etsy Shop. Here's the link: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Marrianna.

Each book also comes with a small paper journal of 4 pages folded in half and stitched along the spine. This was done so that the lucky owner of my book could have a special place to write her own notes. I also include one of the special pens that I purchase only at Office Max.

Here are photos of both of the books.
This is the front of book 1.

Inside front cover.

First full page spread

Centerfold spread

Third page spread

Inside back cover.

Back cover.

And here's the 2nd book - just as lovely as the 1st one listed.

Front cover.

Inside front cover.

First full spread.

Second spread/centerfold.

Third page spread.

Inside back cover.

Back cover.

PhotoShop layers and peonies

I'm taking a year-long online workshop with Kim Klassen. We just finished week 1. I learned something new about the layers pallette. Here is the peony I posted last week before the added layer.

And here it is with the soft light layer. Now the peony really pops!

Amazing, simply amazing. Next will be layer masks which I way don't understand.

My first handmade book for sale

I created a wonderful handmade book that is just lovely. Here are a few of the photos to give you a taste of this wonderful work of art. I will be listing this item in my Etsy shop. If you are interested, please contact me directly.

Front cover

The following images are sections of the book. I had a lot of fun making this gem. This is the back side of a piece of crazy quilt that you'll see in another image.

The book measures approximately 5" wide X 7" tall and is 4.5" thick. I've had a lot of fun making the faux crazy quilt hearts and used one for the book.

There's vintage fabrics and laces throughout.

There are 3 signatures of 5 pages each. Here's the piece of crazy quilt that I mentioned above.

Each signature has a vintage cloth wrap. This particular vintage crazy quilt wrap is just wonderful.

The book just invites the viewer to keep looking at all the pages to see what is next.

It could be described as a vintage-type small scrapbook. I could make up a wonderful story to go with the book but I figure it's new owner would like to write her own story.

It's kinda like a wedding album/family album with bits and pieces of vintage fabrics saved from the couple's life together at the turn of the century.

But I don't think they had Tzo Zen tea at the turn of the century.

I think you can tell that I just had so much fun adding laces, trims, rubber stamping, images, etc. It was hard to stop. Reminds me of the Victorian era where too much was not enough.

Here's a look at two of the cloth wraps.

This is the back and spine.

And here is how it looks from the side. Pretty thick.

Bouquet of silk peonies - Pier 1

I have been looking at Joanne's and Michaels for silk peonies. I even tried Target. Finally found one small bouquet of white peonies at Pier 1. Beautiful flowers and the best part? They won't die. Love them. It's pretty difficult to find a peony bush in Flagstaff with our short growing season.

I am so happy I found this bouquet. I can see it being the star of many photography experiments. Thank you, Pier 1.

Gotta love the zoom lens on the Canon 50D DSLR.

I thought the colorful glass stones added to the beauty of the bouquet.

I finally removed the Pier 1 tag after this photo, but for this first attempt at photographing the peonies, it doesn't bother me. The vintage hat found at a church rummage sale adds another touch of romance and elegance. I didn't even have to make any adjustments in PhotoShop.

Easter flowers

When I went to Gilbert with Suzanne, I only had my Blackberry for a camera. Found flowers at Fresh & Easy Market and silk flowers at Michaels. Can you guess which came from where?

This one is a freebie. The daffodils were standing in bundles in a box with no water. Gee, I wonder why they wilted.

Estate sale treasures

I recently visited an estate sale here in Flagstaff and found a few pieces of very inexpensive costume jewelry. Thought I would share. I even found a lovely silverplate bowl to use for photos and a vintage weaving loom spindle.

I wore the green plastic bead necklace to work and it is lovely. The pearls have a gorgeous rhinestone doodad and the green and plastic clip on earrings will be used in an assemblage of some sort.

Fabric collage #1 with crazy quilt heart

While I was sick this past weekend, I didn't realize the doctor wanted me to REST, meaning lying down. I rested by doing some handcrafts and sewing. Oh, well, at least I got some artwork done. This is a fabric collage I made with one of my crazy quilt hearts as the showpiece. Gotta love fabric collage. Learned so much from the wonderful KC Willis of Lipstick Ranch, Longmont, CO.

This is one of my first art journaling fabric collages. I just can't seem to stay with my blank journals that I purchased specifically for art journaling. Maybe I'll print this photo out and paste it into one of my larger art journals and call it good.

Art Journal Every Day - 3rd journal spread

I joined an online Journal Workshop hosted by Christina Zinnia Gallaher of Roses on My Table. This is my January response to the journal prompt: NEW IN MY LIFE. I started this art journal spread with some collage elements then painted over them because I didn't like what I saw. I followed by using Glimmer Mist and Walnut Ink then added more collage elements.

The 4th layer of elements included doodling and journaling.

More doodling completed the art journal spread. I used washi tape for a frame.

More spray inks, white pen, charcoal pen and smudge stick plus doodling and it's finished. It was fun and I'm ready to start a new January response to the journal prompt - NEW IN MY LIFE.

This is something new for me. The first two art journal spreads included doodling on a white page. This time, I experimented with paint and paper elements. I'm not as afraid of the blank white page anymore.

Collectible dolls for Christmas 2011

Thanks to a fantastic daughter-in-law, Eva Jo Morgan, I now have 2 more collectible dolls to add to my beautiful room of dolls. Eva know what I like. Thanks, Bill, for finding her. Love you both.

Tomorrow, I plan to post photos of the International Santas that my son, Troy, gave me.

Handmade Serenity Prayer Book

My BFF and I are creating Serenity Prayer Books for gifts. I got one done before Christmas and will make my other four this week and give as New Year's gifts.

We learned the technique in one of the KC Willis workshops. She gives classes all over the country and she has DVD's for sale. Check her out. She's also on Facebook.