Open House

I'm having another open house this weekend with my sister and daughter. Sister Della makes the silver jewellery and daughter Cory makes the fashion accessories. I've designed cards to go with the asian theme that sister Della has used for her pendants and charms. Each card uses a collage that I've created in various colour schemes. On top are various asian designs - asian vectors filled with the same colours.


To make each card unique, I've added to each card a 1-inch pin with either an asian design or asian character, echoing the colour theme background.

Silhouette Die Cut Cards

Back in June I purchased a Silhouette SD machine, but never got around to playing with it.

I have a Cricut machine, but was unhappy with the fact that I had to buy cartridges for any new designs or fonts I wanted. With the Silhouette you can use any font on your computer. As a collage artist and computer graphic person, I have collected thousands of fonts and dingbats as well as images. The software was pretty straightfoward and I figured out how to convert files for use in the Silhouette, so the possibilities are endless.

First, I bought a couple of the designs from their online store and started experimenting with the cutting machine. Not wanting too get to elaborate with the print and cut function, I printed paper patterns onto cardstock on a laser printer and then cut the image files using the printed paper. Because I have tons of small scrap collage pieces, I laid a piece on the inside back of the card. With the collage scraps all being different, each card is unique.


I then attempted to create designs in the software to make similar die cut cards. I'm getting a feel for what works and doesn't work. I'm pretty pleased with the results.

Vintage Paper Dolls

I came across these fun vintage paper dolls! I know there aren't too many paper dolls around anymore but I bet little girls would love to play with these. It's so fun to look at the outfits from the fifties and sixties.

These are quality images that you can print for free. Fun thing to do on a rainy (or hot) afternoon!




Betsy McCalls First Ten Years

Jani Hile's Betsy McCall link

Terri's Paper Doll links

Free Paper Dolls and Paper Doll Outfits

Lucinda Cunningham's Paper Dolls

Open House

A couple of weekends ago I hosted an open house for jewelery and accessories artists. I made some pendants too and we invited all our friends. It was great to see faces we haven't seen in years. We did sell some of our pieces. We'll have to do it again in the fall.

One World One Heart

February 15th update:
Congratulations Sue of SueFitz #834 on the magic carpet ride
I'll be in touch with you by email to swap info

With 2010, the One Heart One Wold blog event returns. I participated last year and actually won a prize. It's a great way for art bloggers to meet fellow bloggers. To find out more about this event with links to all the bloggers, click on the logo below.

My prize this year is a set of my flower cards with coordinating 1-inch buttons.

In order to qualify, you must have an active blog of your own. All you have to do is leave a comment to this post with a way that I can contact you should you be chosen. Good luck on your magic carpet ride.

Indian Summer Art Show

3 of my images from the "Every Leaf Has A Story" series have been selected for th 2009 Indian Summer Art Show at the ARtisans Galleria, presented by the Community Arts Council of Richmond. Over 70 new works by artists vrom Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island will be exhibited from August 19 to September 30. There will be an Opening reception on Saturday August 22 from 1 to 3 pm. Click on the image to visit the Richmond Arts Council website.

Every Leaf Has A Story

On the weekend I took part in Art In The Garden, an exhibition that I have organized off and on since 1999 in my own private garden. In 2009 the event moved to the UBC Botanical Gardens. All artwork was either inspired by the garden, made for the garden, or from the garden. For the show I developed a new series of digital collages, Every Leaf Has A Story. All insects were photographed at the UBC Spencer Entymological Museum.

Framed 16"x20''s are available for $200. Unframed 24"x36" giclee prints available for $400 (available in glossy, satin and matte fine art papers, as well as satin or matte canvas).

Blue Lotus Lagoon - featuring magnolia leaf with other collage elements

Lemon Tiger Tail - featuring maple leaf and tiger moths

Tangerine Hilltop Aerie - featuring magnolia leaf with other collage elements


Ivory Knight's Quarter - featuring Garry oak leaf with other collage elements


Golden Sugar Bush - featuring various maple leaves


Indigo Scarab Moonlight - featuring laurel leaf and scarab beetle with other collaged elements


Hidden in Apollo's Wings - featuring maple leaves with Apollo butterfly wings


Red Violin Case - featuring bamboo leaf with other collage elements

Green Textile Alley - with oak leaf with other dye and textile collage elements

Urban Umber Awakening - featuring leaves with other collage elements

Rose Garden Secret - feature fern with other collage elements