ZNE Design Team Challenge

The ZNE design team challenge was to create two tags with stars and butterflies to be made into collage sheets and then embellish them or incorporate them into a piece of art. I've done the stars, the butterflies will come soon. Right now, I like simple designs without much visual clutter. This could change tomorrow, of course! That's what's great about the artistic journey. I'm always learning, growing, changing and I know what I'm doing today will be different than what I'm doing next year.

As for me and my house...

But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.
Week 4 Joshua 24:15

In this chapter of Joshua, The people had to decide whether they would obey the Lord, who had proven his trustworthiness, or obey the local gods, which were only man-made idols. It’s easy to slip into a quiet rebellion – going about life in our own way. But the time comes when you have to choose who or what will control you. The choice is yours. Will it be God, your own limited personality, or another imperfect substitute? Once you have chosen to be controlled by God’s Spirit, reaffirm your choice every day. The way we live shows others the strength of our commitment to serving God.

Home is a recurrent theme in my art. In the safety of these four walls, my family is nurtured, grow in their walk with the Lord, enjoy each other’s company, share tears and laughter, and are free to be themselves. The theme for Art and Soul in Portland this Fall is at Home with art and soul. Many swaps have been formed around the theme of home causing many people to explore what home means to them, different types of homes and the place of home in our society. God has not left us to define how our homes should look and operate. In His Word are many verses concerning this important concept.

What does this verse mean to you? Is your home different from nonbelievers? How? When you have a visitor can they tell your home is a Christian home? Do your relationships in your home reflect Christ’s love? How has the faith (or lack of faith) of your ancestors affected your home life?

This piece was created for a fat page book.

A Celebration Feast!

My Yahoo group, Art in the Word, has Isaiah 25 as the inspirational prompt this week.

6 On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine-the best of meats and finest of wines.

7 On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations;

8 he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces, he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The Lord has spoken.

9 In that day they will say, "Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation."

If you are interested in joining like minded Christian artists in expressing your faith artistically in the community of other Christian artists, than click on the Yahoo!Groups link to the left and check out our group today!

Lennea

The stuff of nightmares

Another antique from my mom's collection. Did I mention I have a slight clown phobia???

Oh, you beautiful Doll!

My parents have the greatest stuff at their house. My mom's a packrat and loves antiques. I decided to post some of the fun stuff around the house this week while I'm visiting. Are these doll great or what?

Art in the Word prompt #2

This weeks inspirational prompt for Art in the Word is "Saved by Grace"

Romans 3:23-25 (New International Version)
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement,[a] through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—

Grace. Such an amazing concept. In most other religions, you only receive your eternal reward for the works you have done. This is what sets Christianity apart from other religions. God gave us His son to be the perfect sacrifice of atonement for our sins. All we have to do to receive God’s mercy and grace is to repent of our sins, accept Jesus’ sacrifice as our own and ask Jesus to be our Lord and to come into our hearts . Once we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are marked as one of His own and have the privilege of spending all of eternity in His presence in Heaven!!!

Dictionary definition of grace:
8.
Theology.
a.
the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God.

b.
the influence or spirit of God operating in humans to regenerate or strengthen them.

c.
a virtue or excellence of divine origin: the Christian graces.

d.
Also called state of grace. the condition of being in God's favor or one of the elect.

New Yahoo! Group for Christian Artists!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/artintheword/. I have started a new Yahoo! group for Christian visual artists of all mediums and experience. We will have a weekly challenge using a bible verse or Christian theme for our muse. Drawings for Prizes! The first challenge starts July 25th! Join Today!

Lennea

Amazing photo collage

My husband loves photography and subscribes to Shutterbug. On the front cover of this month's issue is the greatest photo collage by jerry Uelsmann. He does the collage old school - without the computer. His collages really draw me in and invoke a visceral, emotional response. Take a look at his website: http://www.uelsmann.net/

Art in the Word challenge week 1

The challenge for the week is to meditate and create a piece of art inspired by Psalm 23:2 "He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside still waters."

If you would enjoy a community of Christian artists, weekly challenges, swaps and round robins, please request to join the Yahoo! group Art in the Word ( just click on the link to the left).

Mail Art challenge

I LOVE mail art! It's so much fun to get a piece of decorated mail. It doesn't even matter what's inside! And it's fun to decorate envelopes too! I'm much freer with my art when it's going thru the mail. I can pull out stamps that rarely get used, and use colors I don't normally use and just go with the flow! My whimsical side seems to come out and play. Why don't you give it a try?? pull out those markers and stamps and crayons and decorate your mail. It will surely put a smile on the recipient's face!

Beach Baby Wondr

See http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290140985793 my new altered spool art doll. For sale on ebay. 3 day sale only.

Design Team Challenge

Here are 2 ATC's I made for the ZNE design team challenge. Made from the collage sheet " A Stitch In Time Saves Nine". Go to http://www.znestore.com/ to view and download some awesome collage sheets!

What to do with a china doll leg

Make a pendant of course!!!! For sale on my Etsy shop.

Hearts Desire pendant

This unique pendant was made from a vintage silver tin that opens like a locket. It has been altered with an antique photo reproduction, and 5 silver charms. For more information and sale please visit www.scatteredmomentos.etsy.com.

Nest Fairy art doll

For sale on Etsy. Antique china head spool art doll! Nest Fairy. More details on my Etsy listing.

http://www.scatteredmomentos.etsy.com/

Meet Stiffanie

Stiffanie's been in the family a couple of years now. She wears a great vintage dress and models my jewelry. She never whines, asks for anything and never makes a mess! She's the PERFECT houseguest.

New Cupcake Fairy mixed media art.

Two more in my series of cupcake fairies.

Happy 4th of July!!!!

Wishing you a happy 4th of July.

CELEBRATE SHABBY CHIC BANNER

So, last night, I was looking around my very messy house and thinking that I should really start cleaning up. So I gathered some of my art supplies which had accumulated on the kitchen table and took them to my studio. I'm not really sure what happened next, but a few hours later, I emerged from my studio with this really fun shabby chic banner. Unfortunately, when I woke up this morning the house was still a mess! Where are those cleaning fairies when you need them!

Anyway, I got to play with some of my favorite materials: antique glass glitter, vintage inspired paper, vintage fabric and lace, and beautiful ribbon.

The banner reads CELEBRATE and would look lovely in any shabby chic room, and is perfect for any girl or woman's birthday or to welcome a baby girl or for a baby shower! Or I might just decide to keep it and hang it in my studio.

I need to decorate a beautiful hat box to put it in, and then I'll probably list it on ETSY. If I don't decide to keep it...

NOW FOR SALE

NOW FOR SALE - VERY LIMITED (only 5 will be sold) EDITION framed prints. AVAILABLE at http://www.scatteredmomentos.etsy.com/.

What a great weekend! Art, great food, old and new friends, chocolate flan, no kids, no husbands, fun swaps.... I'm happily exhausted. Here's a couple of pieces I made in Karyn Gartel's "A colorful Past" workshop. I love how they turned out! Such a fun class. I'll post more later, but for now I must reconnect with the real world:(.

Photos used in the above collages were taken from my SCATTERED MOMENTOS COLLAGE SHEETS - "Cutie Patooties" and " Sugar and Spice".

Check this website out!

I discovered this great website yesterday. This site supports indie artisans and craftsmen. They get 1800 views per day. One of my pins was featured on their "daily ditties" feature from my Etsy shop. Go to www.wickedlychic.com. Support the independent artists and craftsmen!

New items on Etsy

I have a new batch of items listed on Etsy with more to come. My scanner is finally working again!

Enjoy.

See! I TOLD you I'm Funny!

As a SAHM, accolades are few and far between - I feel like a pretty good mom on Mother's Day.
Aside from that, there's always that nagging feeling that I'm not a good enough mom. I should be more fun, cook more nutritious meals, volunteer for more field trips, keep a cleaner home (not to mention van!), plan more educational outings....

However, whenever I get those Mother's Day cards telling me why I'm such a great mom, my kids always say I'm funny. (then again, two of my kids ( the boys) think bodily noise humor is HILARIOUS.)

So, I was really excited when I received the news that I am a finalist in the Columbus Dispatch caption writing contest. FINALLY, something tangible that reinforces my belief that I am indeed the funniest mom in the entire universe. AFTER ALL, a PROFESSIONAL funny guy chose my caption out of over a thousand entries to be one of 11 finalists.

Anyhoo, if you would like to see my entry and decide for yourself, then go to www.dispatch.com/caption. I'm Lennea Truesdell, age 40 for those of you who only know me as Once Upon a Cottage.

3.75 days of quiet left

Every year it catches me by surprise. THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL. I mean, I know it's coming - and yet, as the day approaches, I find myself going through the stages of grief. Ya know: denial, anger, something, something... I usually make it to acceptance about 2 days before school starts again in August.

I don't know if the last day of school is on the "list of life stressors" ( you know the one, death of a spouse = 10 pts., moving= 9 pts, marriage = 9 pts, etc. etc.) but it should be. I'd give it 8 pts. - only because it doesn't require a funeral or a moving van. It does send me into a state of shock and panic for several weeks.

I admit there are some good things about summer break- sleeping late, no homework to oversee, no daily trips to the school, no rushing to find school shoes in the am. And I really DO like my kids - they're great. I just like them MORE in smaller doses. Does that make me a bad mother? sighhh....

It's just that I really like solitude. I like quiet. I like hours of uninterrupted - whatever.

But, ready or not here it comes. Teenagers draped on the couch or attached to the computer, 8 year old boys running amok thru the house. Food disappearing at alarming rates. Dirty Dishes ALWAYS in the sink. Someone ALWAYS hungry.

As usual, I put all my hope for sanity into church camps, summer gym and sleepovers AT OTHER KIDS HOUSES.

Happy summer, mother's everywhere! May God Bless you and Keep you...
Lennea

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!

I saw this art doll kit from www.artgirlz.com and just had to have it! I've been getting a little too serious with my art lately and this was just the thing to have fun with and lighten up! I had so much fun making this whimsical doll. I don't usually use these bright colors in my art - so it was fun to play with new colors. When I was done, my 12 year old daughter asked if she could have it ( she never wants anything I make!) so I was thrilled. Then her 14 year old sister wanted one, so I have another kit ordered. It was so much fun making something that my teenage daughters appreciate ( i.e. something funky).

Have a creative Day!

Muwahahahaha!

I tag
Kecia
Shakey Sister
Jay
Valerie
Crystal
Karyn
Kim

You must write 7 random things about yourself and then tag 7 other people to visit your blog for instructions to write 7 random things about themselves and tag 7 more people! If you don't comply, the blog police will shut down your blog and take away your computer;)

SEVEN RANDOM THINGS ABOUT ME!

Ok... I've been tagged by Krissy and Laurie (and no, Laurie, I do NOT have to write 14 things!) I am the Queen of my Blog and make my own rules :)! ANYWAY...

7 Random Things about me...

1) I was adopted as a newborn. One of the greatest gifts anyone has given me is the gift of a stable family by my birth mother.

2) I NEVER thought I'd live in a small town. Now, I live in a town of 1200 people. Proof that God has a sense of humor!

3) Tomorrow is a day of mourning for my family. It is the last episode of Gilmore Girls. First Cosby, then Cheers, Seinfeld, Frasier, Friends, Everwood and now this. Oy, with the poodles, Already! ( if you are a fellow Gimore Girls fan, you will get this - if not, you missed out on one of the wittiest, fast talking, best shows ever on tv!)

4) I dream of spending a month alone on a private island. I need a chef and a housekeeper, my books, a ton of art supplies, my Bible and a collection of my favorite cd's. I really love solitude and never have enough of it. When I was a kid, I could spend hours up in my favorite tree, reading or just thinking and dreaming.

5) I take a nap almost every day. I don't apologize for it anymore.

6) I also no longer apologize for my messy house and van. That's the great thing about turning 40 - I no longer feel like I have to apologize for being the real me.

7) My first husband died when I was 31. My kids were 2 months old, 4yrs and 5 yrs. I have never felt God's presence more than that first year after his death. Everything I had come to rely on of this world had fallen away. I had God and my family and friends. And that was enough. Since then, the worries and distractions of this world have crept back into my life. I sometimes miss that bittersweet time in my life. But, I now know that whatever happens, God's strength and grace is enough.

AMEN!

"With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?" Quote from Jay Leno

Metal Sampler

I made these metal samplers at Artiscape in Cheryl Darrow's class. She's the owner of Ten Seconds studio which sell wonderful tools and materials for creating with sheet metal. It's very addicting! I'm thinking pins, magnets, book covers, ornaments...

I'll Be wearing THIS!

Good day all my Ladies of Charms! Artiscape is just 4 days away!!!!!!! I'll be the one wearing THIS! as per my previous e-mail. It only took me 15 minutes to whip up. well,umm...maybe 30 minutes to whip up. OK! It took me about an hour to make but I must say I do look FABULOUS in it!

ARTISCAPE COUNTDOWN

2 piano lessons

2 track meets

one birthday

send one child to 3 day camp

prepare teenager for Washington D.C. trip next week

3 bills to pay

art supplies to pack

finish swap items

lose 30 pounds!

lose 1 pound???

SEE YOU THERE!

Charm Swap Prizes!!!!!

For all my Ladies of Charms at Artiscape, here is a photo of our door prizes! I spy...optician's lenses, milk caps, pink dress measurement card, antique frozen Charlotte dolls, vintage travel postcards, vintage yellow binding fabric and collage sheets!!!!

You will pick your prize at Artiscape based on the order that you leave comments here! So leave your comment NOW! Remember to sign your name and e-mail i.d. so I know who you are!
Your Most Honorable and Lovely Queen of Charms,
lennea

New Doll photos

My new doll celebratin Moms!

I made a new doll today that I just LOVE! I started with old rusted bedsprings for the base and an antique china doll head. I then added nine charms to the base. Two charms are Sally Jean charms from my old boutique with a photo reproduction of a boy taking a bath and a mom. I also added an old fuse collaged with an old dictionary text word "mother", an old fillagree piece, a chandalier crystal, an old button from Grandma's stash, a silver prayer box, and two silver hearts one which has mom etched on it. I draped an antique lace ribbon around the shoulders and through the body and added an old silver button to the bodice. I finished her with an antique key plate for wings. Every mother should have wings!!!

She is for sale at my website www.scatteredmomentos.com

ORIGINAL Scattered Momentos Collage Sheets

I have 8 new collage sheets on my website www.scatteredmomentos.com

As a collage artist, I`m always looking for unique images to use in my collages. I`ve put together my favorites for you!All collage sheets are printed on high quality photo paper.Collage sheets are printed on an inkjet printer and the images are heat set. Inkjet prints allow you to use a variety of transfer methods in your artwork. Collage sheets are arranged by theme. Use in your collage art, scrapbooking or mixed media art! All images may be digitally altered and resized. I only ask that you use each image only once. I have spent a great deal of time collecting and putting together these collage sheets. For a great transfer technique please go to www.art-e-zine.co.uk/imagepaper.html This technique works wonderfully with our Scattered Momentos Collage sheets. All collage sheets are $5.00 each. There is a 2 sheet minimum.

Check back often as I will be listing the following collage sheets: Vintage Circus, Vintage Ladies, Staircases, windowseats and benches, Vintage Hymnal, Vintage Books, Scripture Verses, a variety of quote sheets, Antique Cars, Old Planes and Trains, Vintage Carousel and MORE!

If you have an idea for a collage sheet you would like me to put together - let me know! I enjoy researching and hunting for great old photos and ephemera!

Christ is Risen

Inspired by Easter. He is Risen! Hallelujah. This piece may be purchased on my website www.scatteredmomentos.com

My Faith Looks Up to Thee

I created this for the ZNE style try- chic and shabby style. One of my favorite styles! - lovely pastels, vintage images, antiqued, well loved.

This piece was created on an 8x10 wrapped canvas. I created this using a vintage photo transfer, layers of acrylic paints and inks, a lovely vintage blue satin ribbon, an old button from Grandma's stash, Text from an old hymnal and a hanger made with lots of old buttons. The main colors are sea blue, taupe, cream. You may purchase this piece on ebay!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290102577139

ZNE DESIGN TEAM!!!!!

WOOHOO! I am sooooo excited I may wet myself :). I have been chosen to be a member of the first ever ZNE DESIGN TEAM! Those of you not familiar with ZNE - it is the BEST website for mixed media, collage and outsider artists. Members of the zne design team will be creating art using collage pages from the ZNE STORE. www.znestore.com/designteam.html

My new online store is open!!!!!!

YEAH!!!! My new online store is open! Click on Scattered Momentos to the left to visit. There you'll find my creations for sale. Every item is one of a kind from jewelry to art dolls, assemblages, collages, etc. A Great place for one of a kind, handcrafted gifts.

Artwords ~minimalism~

This week's artword - minimalism. I must admit I'm not a big fan of minimalism or contemporary art. I especially don't like bold, primary colors. When I'm 100 and they do the "Lennea Retrospective" they'll call it my "earthy period". heehee. I like sepia, mocha, sage, burgandy, straw - all those nice, calm, muddy colors. These colors suit my personality - laid back, calm, serene. I seek experiences that invoke peacefulness and serenity. I enjoy an occasional splash of color - a yellow rose, an orange sunset, a bright lime - but I live in the calmer colors. So, I knew I wouldn't enjoy using traditional minimalist primary colors. I decided to do minimalism with minimal use of color. I started layering a variety of mocha and straw colored tissue papers. Pretty for a background, but not too exciting. I like to be calm but not in a coma! So, I had to add some gold and amber beads and bits, then decided a bit of mica would look beautiful. I was about to leave it alone when I discovered this piece of old leather stamped with the word treasure. It was just the right shade of brown - so on it went. So here is my entry - not minimalist in the traditional sense of the word perhaps, but minimal in the use of color...and it looks great on my bedroom walls.

Artwords ~Secret~

THis weeks artword~Secrets. I think it's just human nature to be curious about other people's lives. Do those perfectly manicured, thin, put together women have secret lives of chin hairs and dust bunnies? I choose to think they do (makes feel better about myself)! For this challenge I used vintage images of women and their lives from a 1930's women's magazine collaged on 4x4" sturdy matboard and tied together with vintage ribbon.These magazines always crack me up in the same way "Leave it to Beaver" and " the Brady Bunch" cracks me up. These women are waaaaay too happy about doing the laundry. So what are some of the secrets of Perfect Women? Glad you asked...

1. serves meals to family on paper plates
2.washed child's hair with dog shampoo
3. plucks stray chin hairs
4. doesn't separate colors
5.has drawer full of skin firming creams
6. counts running thru sprinklers as bathtime
7.counts ketchup as a vegetable group
8. alters clothes with safety pins and staples
9. packed school lunch of pop tart and tic tacs

Of course, these aren't MY secrets...I,uh just made them up....really....

This set of cards is for sale on ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7422580935&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&rd=1

artwords - Play

So this week's artword is play. As an artist, I get to play nearly everyday! I Play with color, ephemera, shapes, texture, words, brushes, inks, stamps... and this has given me my joy back. I had forgotten how to play - how to abandon myself to playing. When I forgot to play, I forgot a big part of what God created me for. God is pleased when a dog is being a dog, a flower a flower and when I am being me. When I am doing those things that make my heart sing, my soul soar and time stand still - I am being the authentic me and I believe God is pleased.