ad libitum

WORD PEOPLE

About a year and a half ago, I took a couple of classes taught by Karyn Gartel and have used what I learned in a lot of my subsequent work. I made these wall hangings (about 5 to 7 inches tall) for a Holiday Sale at the Kalamazoo Institute of Art (You have to have taken a class within the past year and you can only sell something that you learned in a class; so I'm taking my note cards, digital collages and these Photoshopped pieces from what I learned in my Photoshop class last summer). The sale is November 30 and December 1, so I'm really going to have to get organized after I get back from Thanksgiving in Missouri.

ALTERED CABINET CARDS

I altered some cabinet cards (front and back) for a swap and it turned out to be very difficult for me. I just wasn't sure what to do with these photos. I'm used to altering my photos digitally, but this was working on the actual cards (well, I have to admit that the backs contain digital alterations). It was hard to paint, paste and doodle on "the real thing." Plus, the people in this swap have set the bar very high, so I'm a little intimidated. Oh well, it's done now. They go out in tomorrow's mail. Here they are.

WHEW

Yesterday was one of those golden days that I have put in my memory bank and will withdraw and relive as needed.  Neither of my fears about my first participation in a big sale came true: I actually sold some things and I didn't run out of things to sell. Hey, I took in more money than my booth fee; in fact, I took in a respectable amount. My childhood chum Kate flew in from DC to help me with the sale, my daughters showed up in shifts to help me and friends stopped by. People said nice things about my items and people took my business card. Strangers bought what I made. It was all good.

BLATANT CAPITALISM

I am proud (and slightly nervous) to announce that my web site is up. Please remember it's in the Beta stage (I'm not very technologically savvy, but I know Beta means "fogive me if things get screwed up"). I invite you to visit www.JTHCreations.com The name of my fledgling business is JTH Art, but that domain name was taken; so the web site is JTHCreations. So far, I'm pretty much limited to collage sheets, but I have plans to add other goods. I hope you take a look (frankly, I've been working my butt off on those collage sheets). I made the piece below using one of my collage sheets and Fall photos and scans.