I'm back...sort of

We spent four marvelous days in Venice Beach, California, where I drummed on the beach every day and pretty much hung out.  It was wonderful to just let my mind breathe.  But now I need to get busy doing some art.  I'm currently working on an altered book I started quite a while ago, then abandoned.  A passing comment from a friend re-energized me and now I've got some new ideas for it.  Hope to be posting some pictures of new stuff soon!

Three Muses Challenge - Rust

This is my entry for the challenge, "Rust".  I used the glue and alcohol ink technique that Willy mentioned in her post.  Of course, I couldn't find the "rust" colored alcohol ink anywhere, so I used a combination of ginger, latte, caramel, cranberry and gold on a piece of chipboard that I cut using a Sizzix die cutter.  Acrylic paints, stamps and dye inks were used on the background and the word "play" came from a package of words I got on clearance somewhere.  I made this piece as a birthday present for my best friend to remind him that there's more to life than work!
http://thethreemuseschallenge.blogspot.com/2010/07/three-muses-58-tuse.html

Macabre Monday - HDH046

Here is an ATC I did for Macabre Monday's Wacko Jacko challenge.  I used stamps on the background, pumpkin, and moon.  A little glitter glue around the edges and some raffia "cornstalks."  It's hard to get in the autumn spirit when it's 105 degrees outside.  How in the world did I ever end up living in the desert...

http://haunteddesignhouse.blogspot.com/2010/07/hdh046-wacko-jackos.html

Three Muses Challenge - Steampunk

Here is my entry for the Three Muses challenge: Steampunk.  The substrate is corrugated cardboard.  I used various papers, stamps, alcohol inks, acrylic paints, raffia and metal "stuff".  You can see more detail if you click the enlarge button...
http://thethreemuseschallenge.blogspot.com/2010/06/three-muses-challenge-steampunk.html

Grapes!

After 15 years of living in our home and mostly ignoring the grape vines in our courtyard, I decided to give them some attention.  And they have reciprocated.  A small harvest, certainly, but sweet and lovely, with the promise of more to be had in coming years...

No Time...

to do challenges this week.  Ack!  I've missed it.  But I have been busy with fun stuff.  I've gotten back into Middle Eastern dancing (at the request of my daughter, who decided she wanted to learn).  Plus, I've been drumming a lot.  I recently joined Milliande and am participating in a Nature Goddess/Spirit Doll swap, so my creative energy has been focused there.  And it's getting toward the end of the school year, so I've had lots of busy work going on for that.  Hopefully, with this three day weekend, I can get some challenge work done and be back online.  Be safe, everyone...