Blogger following suddenly drop?

Ok I don’t have a lot of followers so when the count drops by several, I take notice.  “What did I say, or do, or didn’t do?” was my first thought.  Then I read   about changes to Blogger.  Seems that Blogger has changed some followers to private rather than public and when someone follows privately they don’t show up on the list or in the count.  I understand why they did it but it is a little disconcerting to see that number drop suddenly. 

Read the info, if you’ve had a similar drop and didn’t know why: 

tins ::: Rick Klau's weblog

Crossing Paths Again or Stars and Broken Hearts

 

448

How can the fate of one you don’t know
affect you so deeply, so completely?
Not a victim of tragedy,
not a person in need.
Just a personality larger than life
with a lyric, a melody and
voice that fills the room.

What is this hold, this fascination with
the chaotic creativeness that is so mesmerizing?

All I know is that it makes me feel,
it makes me feel.

 

The quote in the journal page belongs to Jason Dean Bennison.

Sunflowers

Gary Reef issued a challenge to draw a sunflower painting and I’m not sure this is what he had in mind. I think it’s a little primitive for his class.  Looking at the art work posted on that site really intimidates me but I posted it anyway because the prize was one on his arts works.  So I took a chance on being embarrassed just to win because his work is that good.    Be sure to stop by his Ning and take a look see. Here is the website:  http://garyreef.ning.com/

 

Happy Valentines Day

I created this ATC a while back but thought it was appropriate for today.

I hope you have a wonderful day that is overflowing with love and passion.

XOXO

Linda

One World One Heart Prize Winners

The One World One Heart event has come to an end and it is time to draw the prize winners.  Drum roll please!!

For the Milagro Heart Journal - the winner is Letha Richardson of This Muse of Mine

And the bookmark goes to: Melinda Cornish of Melinda's fabric fancies

The winners have been emailed and I hope to hear from you by Monday so I don't have to draw other names. Congratulations to you both.  I hope you enjoy your prizes.

Just a Little B-Zar

I was invited to join the Famous Works of Art ATCs flickr group (thanks for the invite artsy fartsy queen) and the challenge this week was to make an ATC using Leonardo da Vinci - Lady with an Ermine in Cracow as inspiration.  This is what I came up with:

Take a look at the other entries by clicking Famous Works of Art ATCs.  Great stuff. 

Altering a Magazine Image

In my last post I wrote about working on altering a magazine image. The project was inspired by an article in the book “Exhibition 36” by Susan Tuttle.   The article, Portraits Reinvented also written by Susan Tuttle, describes the process and immediately piqued my interest.  (By the way, there are 36 artists who contribute to this book.)

 

I’ve altered magazine faces before for an ATC swap at ATCsforall.com but this project was a bit bigger.  This time instead of working atc size I used a 9” X 12” canvas board as my substrate.  I used an image from W fashion magazine, glued it to the canvas board and used a brayer on it so the glue would grab evenly.  Then I cut off the excess portion of the image. 

After the glue was dry, I applied gesso heavily to the image background and lightly to the main focus of the image and let it dry.  I painted the background green and then  added a few more paint layers and muted it with brown and black pastels.

I altered the shape and color of the woman’s dress and hair. Added black pastels and charcoal to create shadows.  The sprayed it with fixative and finally finished with two layers of clear acrylic gloss spray. 

I really enjoyed this project but if I had it to do over again, I would sand the image lightly to remove the magazine glossy finish.  Why because as I added charcoal and pastels, the paint would scrape off if I rubbed too hard.  I had to fix it in a few spots.  The spray finish will protect it so I don’t have to worry about it now.

I highly recommend “Exhibition 36” by Susan Tuttle, if you get a chance pick it up.  It’s a real gem!

New Journal Pages

I haven’t been blogging much because I have been spending a lot of time visiting the various blogs participating in the One World One Heart event.  There are an an impressive number of blogs participating—over 850 blogs to date and possibly even more.   I have to say that I am very impressed by the quality of art being offered as a giveaways.  I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I win one of those lovely prizes. 

In between visiting blogs and working, I have managed to create a couple of new journal pages. 

This page was my inspiration for the image I used on the cover of the journal I created for the OWOH giveaway.  Although I wasn’t too thrilled with how the face came out, I loved how the heart looked.   

The page below came about because I found a magazine image of a stark gray brick room.  I knew as soon as I saw it what I wanted to do with it.  Then it was just a matter of finding the right images and words to go along with it. 

I am also working on another altered magazine image that was inspired by an article in the book Exhibition 36.  Wonderful book.  The article Portraits Reinvented was written by Susan Tuttle as was the book.  I hope to finish the project tomorrow and get it posted day after.  If you get the opportunity to get this book, do it.  I highly recommend it.

Got to go, time to visit blog number 620.  Yes, I’ve already been to 619 blogs and I’m a little bleary eyed but I’m having fun. 

What are you doing when you’re not visiting OWOH blogs?

ONE WORLD-ONE HEART - Participant

Hellooooo  visitors!! 

I want to thank Lisa  Swifka from A Whimsical Bohemian and  ONE WORLD-ONE HEART  for putting together this fun event.   Lisa says “The original idea behind this giveaway event was to bring bloggers together from around the world who may never ordinarily meet. It closes the gap of the blog community and enables us to interact, discover new and wonderful people, and in the process possibly win a prize or many prizes along the way.”  

I think it’s a wonderful idea and even though I’m a  little late getting started I want  to participate. 

The first giveaway is:  It a 6” X 9” handmade journal with 8 pages of watercolor paper for you to paint or draw in.   

 

The second item for this giveaway is a bookmark that was hand painted, then rubberstamped and images outlines with black ink.

 

To enter the giveaway you must leave a message in the comment section of this post.

You must have an active blog or you must leave your email address in your message.  Comments without a blog address/link  or an email address will be removed before the drawing.  

Last time to comment and be considered for the drawing will be 3:00pm, Pacific time,  February 12th.

All winners will be announced on sometime after  Thursday 3:00pm, Pacific time,  February 12th, 2009.

 

Thank you for visiting and good luck.

Linda

Commenting is now closed. I will be contacting the winners very soon.

The Marie Antoinette, Real Person, A Real Award

Anne from Gaal Creative has presented me with this award. Thank you Anne.

 

 

The Marie Antoinette,
Real Person, A Real Award

Here are the rules for the award:

1. Put the picture of Marie Antoinette on your blog.
2. Link to the person from whom you received the award.
3. Nominate at least 7 or more blogs.
4. Link to those blogs from your blog.
5. Leave a comment on their blogs to let them know you've shared the award with them.

 

Here are 7 bloggers whom I haven't nominated before for other blog awards, whose blogs I love because they are so real and down to earth, in no particular order:

Brenda at  http://thecraftychook.blogspot.com/

Teri at http://quinceberry.blogspot.com/

Lee at http://leekre.blogspot.com/

Maryellen at  http://cattycatsmusic.blogspot.com/

Connie at http://alteredroute.blogspot.com/

Susan at http://srhosken.blogspot.com/

Tracy at  http://tracykaufman.blogspot.com/

 

I hope you'll take a moment or two to stop by these blogs (including Anne's!) and leave a nice comment. It takes just a moment and I know they will appreciate it!

Thanks for reading!