Embroidered Collage

I don't think this is done.  It just feels unbalanced to me.  But I'm pleased with the progress so far.  I did some postcards and a deco page today with some blueprints, 7 gypsies tissue paper, and architecture collage images from Altered Pages.  I put this together at the same time. 

It's an odd size, about 5.5x11.5.  I did the yellow tinting with a transparent acrylic paint and the greenish sections (except on the door) were done by adding a layer of acrylic ink.  I'm thrilled with the way the colors turned out. I like the geometric progression.  It doesn't really have a focal point, which might be what is bothering me.  I'll think on it awhile.

I've set up a new gallery section for the Daily Devotions.  Some of my art-a-day work will end up here in my blog, but not all of it, and I want to have a place where everything can be seen together.  Each mini-series or media grouping will have its own sub-section and I'll note when it's been updated, keeping the most recent near the top of the page.  My goal will be to update once a week.   If you use blogarithm  or a similar service you can set it to check the page for changes, just as if it were a blog.

You might also notice I grouped my gallery pages under "My Art" in the directory on the right.  If you just click on the +/- sign, you'll open a list of clickable destinations without reloading the page.  If you click on the "My Art" it opens up a screen that has descriptions of each gallery.  I just discovered the ability to do this today and think it's pretty cool.  :)

I've removed the sketchbook blog because I wasn't updating it and was having a hard time coming up with the motivation to do so.  I've been working regularly in my sketchbook, but it just keeps getting messier and more personal.  I'd rather spend that computer time uploading Daily Devotions work!  I absolutely adore keeping the sketchbook though and am so glad I was able to get into the habit.

  Here's a first image of what my green man block looks like.  I have pages to make for a nature themed chunky book and was stuck on images with leaves.  Yesterday, I realized a green man would be perfect.   This is one of the in-progress images I stamped into my sketchbook to check the progress of my carving and I think I'm done.  He's also the most intricate carving I've done to date.  I think I'm beginning to get the hang of thinking in the type of lines and shapes needed to create a printed image.  I'll need some green cardstock and green or brown printing ink to do the final pieces. 

 Nicci is running a funky shoes chunky book and I joined in.  I've been having a hard time deciding what to do and finally pushed myself to do SOMETHING.  I knew I wanted to use a relief print as the base, and this is what I came up with.  This particular block was done in Mastercarve and it was very nice to work with.  I deliberately left the carving ridges in order to get a textured background.  I used a stamp pad for this one instead of block printing ink because I wanted the image on level with the paper, something I've having difficulty doing with the printing ink.  I'll keep one page as is for my own collection, but the next step is to embellish those needed for the swap.  I should have a few left over to make a larger collage out of as well, but we'll see.

While away I did very little art, as expected, but I did complete 26 hand-drawn letter V atcs for an alphabet swap.  Here are six of my favorites.

This is my golden accents deco, which somehow ended up sub-themed music.  I made it last night and scanned it this morning and am EXTREMELY glad I did.  I left Gigi's bookmark on the scanner last night and wrapped her book without it, the most important part of the gift.  Gulp.  The gift has now been rewrapped and I'm working on packing and puttering.