Thursday, June 27, 2013

Out Of Chaos...

  What a week it's been..like being on a roller coaster ride at the top and then plunging down, desperately waiting to go back up. (The art part is below this if you want to skip down).

   It began mid Sunday when I suddenly got the worst stomach pains and spasms I had ever had. Then I got so cold (mind you it was a hot, humid 90 degrees F here) I was in sweats and wrapped in a fleece blanket all day and eve. Barely sipped on some Gatorade. That continued thru Tues AM. But, on Mon. I attempted to do some laundry. Uh oh-something doesn't sound right. Got to the basement to an awful smell and smoke. Oh  #%&*!! Flipped off the  laundry machine both literally and figuratively, unplugged, looked around, then ran up to get hubby (who had only an hour before gone to sleep after working the night shift). Frantically we both went around checking to be sure there was no fire. Opened basement doors and put on some fans. Def. came from machine. Rung everything out and hung outdoors. Kept checking in basement just to be sure. Hubby gets up and prepares to make toast. Oh #%&*- the toaster went!! The clip that holds down the knob you press to toast broke. Tues. still only eating saltines but had to meet at Mom's with insurance rep. Came home and decided I needed to make some art.

  On Wed. AM Bill replaced the belt on the machine which was bad. Started to run a mini load to test. So far so good. But then at spin time the smoke began....Holy  #%&*!! Flipped off the  laundry machine both literally and figuratively then unplugged it. Actually felt good enough for coffee and some light food today (even tho stomach muscles feel like they went thru 3 sets of 150 sit ups) so off I went for a new washer and toaster. Good news!!! Picked out a high efficiency Maytag I really liked. It was on sale, delivered free and the old one hauled away free. And would you believe-still manufactured, made and assembled in the US of A!! Off to another place. I really wanted a Cuisinart toaster-love their products. Bingo! New model coming out soon so this one went from $75 to $34. And it matched the appliances I have- done deal :)

  On to art challenges :) First up are some more CAS cards :

 I'm linking this one to Inspiration Avenue where the theme this week is "outfits for all occasions" and to Simon Says Stamp and Show where the theme is "stripes", and the  Simon Says Stamp Challenge-"anything goes".
 Products used: white note card; patterned papers-DCWV Matt Stack Classic Prints; vintage image-Top Hat Designs; topstitch ribbon-Offray; red card stock; blue pigment ink-Colorbox; antique brass jewelry findings.

 I'm also linking the following two cards to SSS&S and SSSC:


  Products used for both: white note card; patterned papers (source unknown); VersaFine Onyx Black ink (Tsukineko); UM Clear Stamps(Inkadinkado-Just Saying Set); 2 1/2" and 2 3/4" punch (Paper Shapers).

  It's week 3 at Kristin's (Twinkle,Twinkle) Summer of Color Challenge and the color combo that had the most votes this week was Lime Green and Purple. Here's my project:

   This is a 5" x 7" canvas. Music paper (Paper Studio) was glued to substrate. Excess trimmed and edges were sanded. Dry brushed African Jade Silks Acrylic then added a bit of Ocean Wave twinking H2Os. Dry brushed some white acrylic paint over that. Sharpie paint pens were used to doodle the border frame after using sequin waste and Staz-On Mustard ink (Tsukineko) in the background. Live your Dreams stamp (Hero Arts) stamped on tissue paper then glued in place. Lastly I used Golden's heavy matte gel medium to secure the butterflies. It just so happened I had a baggie of these butterflies I was going to put away since I had them for so long and was rearranging some space in a drawer. Good thing I hadn't done it yet :)

  Lastly I have a new calendar spread to share for Kate Crane's (the Kathryn Wheel) Calendar project. July is just around the corner!

  Red, Med Blue acrylic paints were brushed over the pages with a foam brush. White dots were added with Dylusions Dotted Flower stencil and Snow Cap Adirondack Acrylic Dauber. Stamped letters with white gesso and harlequin with balck gesso (stamps-Dylusions Basic Backgrounds). Circles added with a bottle cap and gesso.

  And here is my calendar spread ready to go:


  Sticker letters(Me and My Big Ideas), numbers (Making Memories rub-ons). Stars punched from white card stock, edges sponged with Memories Midnight Blue dye ink and glued in place. Added days of week (Magenta set of foam stamps). Finished with a Dylusions stamp image colored with markers, sticker circles and metallic star stickers.

  Linking up to Art Journal Every Day, Creative Every day, Kate Crane's Calendar Project, Summer of Color and of course, Paint Party Friday!

  Here's to a happy,sunny,creative and fun weekend !

                    "A degree of chaos can be liberating to the creative spirit." Anonymous

 

53 comments:

  1. love your butterflies, they are decorative :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. You have managed some great artwork in spite of all the obstacles this week. Hope life will get quieter for you! Valerie

    ReplyDelete
  3. New appliances are always exciting!! Makes our lives easier. Glad there wasn't actually a fire to put out!! I hope you are feeling better now, dear Linda.

    I love all of your artwork this week. The canvas for SOC is GORGEOUS! And the cards and calendar are great, too.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Some days...right?! Ugh! But, on the bright side, things have to keep getting better, and you created beautiful art! I love your SOC lime green and purple piece. Gorgeous butterflies and border. Have a great rest of the week, Linda! Kathy

    ReplyDelete
  5. A degree of chaos may be good, but I think you got an overdose this week! Good to hear all's well that ends well, and some beautiful art also came out of it. Glad you're feelin better.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh dear poor you! What a week.... Hope you are feeling completely better now.

    Your art is gorgeous.... the first piece is so stunning. I just love the stars and stripes and the stitching, the image is so sweet.

    Beautiful butterflies for SOC... I struggled with these colours!

    Hope you have a great weekend

    Karen x

    Fantastic calendar pages... great colours again and stars... love the funky girl!

    ReplyDelete
  7. You've created some beautiful work and now you have a new toaster and washer. But watch that pain. You should see the doc! xx

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh my goodness, I hope you feel better! I'm so impressed you made art while everything was so sloppy! I think I would have just curled up in a ball. And what lovely art work you've done!

    Happy PPF.
    Feel better!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I can't believe how much gorgeous art you created while feeling and recovering from feeling so sick. Glad you're better. Enjoy your new toaster and washer!! Happy PPF!

    ReplyDelete
  10. All is well that ends well, amazingly! Glad you survived! Beautiful collection of art for us to enjoy as well!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Wow Linda what a week you had! So glad you are feeling better and you found what was causing all the smoke. Big HUGS!

    ReplyDelete
  12. You've been busy, Linda! I like them all, but my absolute favorite is the beautiful canvas with the brightly colored butterflies. Blessings, my friend!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Wow Linda! For all the problems you encounted, you sure did manage to get out some wonderful work. Very nice work. Glad you got a Maytag, that's what I have and also Cuisinart lives in my home too.:) Happy PPF!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Loving all of your great projects Linda and am hoping next week is a lot better for you. Happy PPF, Annette x

    http://nettysartadventures.blogspot.co.uk/

    ReplyDelete
  15. Wow, you have had quite a week! I'm glad that you were able to make some art in amidst the chaos. 'Love your charming green and purple piece.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Beautiful designs with great colors! Exquisite butterflies!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Lovely work, you have a wonderful eye for design! Really beautiful cards and the Soc mixed media is breathtaking! <3

    ReplyDelete
  18. Wow! Great art ~ despite life's challenges ~ sometimes it just how 'it goes' ~ Glad you got washer replaced and a good deal and made in the USA !

    Thanks for visiting ^_^

    ReplyDelete
  19. Linda, I hope you have fully recovered from your physical ailment and I hope it is not the recurring kind. Your various machine troubles would have the calmest person alive in a stew. Wow! Poor dh having zero sleep and having to think clearly about all the potential fire breakouts. How wonderful to have a new washer! Mine is now 13 years old and still going strong. The dryer has been squealing for about 10 of those years. I just watch it carefully and NEVER leave it on when I am asleep or gone.

    Your SOC butterfly art is so gorgeous. I love that color combination.

    ReplyDelete
  20. The kids in the sailor suits are so perfect for our upcoming 4th of July celebrations. The background you created with the stars and stripes are a wonderful adornment. I'm glad your hectic week allowed for some art.

    ReplyDelete
  21. These all are great, but The buterflies draw me in. Amazing that you able to create such lovely art amonst the chaos!

    ReplyDelete
  22. hope you feel better now..its been a tough week for me too..happy ppf

    ReplyDelete
  23. Oh Linda I sure hope you feel better, what a week you've had. Life seems to happen in spurts like that, but its all up hill from now on!! I love Cuisinart too...I had food processor in the 80's and the bowl wore out before the motor...they call it Mercedes of kitchen appliances!! I have a few products in that brand!!
    Lovely artwork!!

    Hugs Giggles

    ReplyDelete
  24. OOOer...hope you are OK now. Obviously nothing will interfere with your creativity.

    ReplyDelete
  25. What stunning creations! So much to see, you've been really busy! Love them all! But maybe the first card the most. So very patriotic! Thank you so much for joining us at Simon Says Stamp and Show. Hugs, Sandra

    ReplyDelete
  26. Wow! So wonderful that you created so much art with the health and appliances trouble! Love all the work, and the green and purple butterflies look ready to fly off and live their dreams!
    Thank you for dropping by, commenting. The Indian dress you saw is called 'salwar Kameez'.

    ReplyDelete
  27. What a week, glad you are feeling better and those appliance stories, whoa, the smoking thing would have freaked me out.....glad it is all resolved and you had time to make some wonderful cards. Love your July calendar, that is so graphic and bold. Happy PPF xox

    ReplyDelete
  28. what a week you've had and you still managed to make all of this beautiful art! Glad you are feeling better!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Oh Linda, what a week you had, I hope all is well and better now. but your art is lovely as usual, so big well done. I wish peaceful, happy and creative week. big hugs to you.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Lots of great art to look at. I came over from IA and really like the piece you created to meed the challenge there.

    Darla

    ReplyDelete
  31. Wonderful how you've created so much despite your roller coaster week. Great pieces.

    ReplyDelete
  32. What a week! So great that you managed to get all this done not with standing, I love that butterfly piece, gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Wow love your cards and calendar!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Oh, Linda .. I do hope you're feeling better soon. I'm in awe, looking at all these gorgeous art, done when you're under the weather :). LOVE your July calendar & those happy butterflies!

    ReplyDelete
  35. I love the lovely holiday theme!

    ReplyDelete
  36. You sound exhausted from your week!! so glad you managed to create some lovely treasures, your butterflies are especially yummy :)

    ReplyDelete
  37. Oh Linda you are so wonderfully ecclectic! My g-d what a horror story!!! My mom told me she knows of a few people who had house fires from their dryers and now won't run hers if she is out of the house!!! I never thought of it. I am so glad you got all these new purchases. And all this with a temp and fluish symptoms. And I agree - Cruisinart is the bomb! Way to go. I LOVE your art - all of it and all the styles!!! I so enjoy coming over to here and seeing what you are up to. Thanks for that. Love and hugs.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Love your cards and other projects. I especially love the calendar journal pages. So fun, and perfect for July. Also the stars and stripes card...I've always loved little sailor suits for kids!

    ReplyDelete
  39. You have had quite a week! I hope you are feeling better and although your washer and toaster went its always a good feeling to get a good deal on new products. Despite all this going on you has managed to create some beautiful art work, I love how your calendar turned out

    ReplyDelete
  40. I love it great work Linda!
    ManonX

    ReplyDelete
  41. Wow, what a week you had! Poor you! And you still managed to make such lovely art! Those cards are wonderful, and I love your SOC-piece ♥

    ReplyDelete
  42. Great cards you made, Linda! I really like the first one, the image looks so pretty! And the layout on the other 2 cards are very nice! I also love the stamps you used for the sentiments!

    Thanks for joining us at the Simon Says Stamp Challenge Blog! :)
    Laura

    ReplyDelete
  43. One of those weeks! Glad you have mainly sorted everything out now. Good on you for managing to be so creative in the midst of everything else. Love your use of the colours for your Summer of Color piece. :)

    ReplyDelete
  44. Gorgeous cards and a beautiful art journal page, too!

    ReplyDelete
  45. A great collect of art despite the set backs! My eldest child had a fever this weekend past - the poor thing was miserable + your added troubles! Hope this week is better! x

    ReplyDelete
  46. Sounds like a terrible week - I'm glad it turned out well in the end.
    Your sailor girl and boy are just right for the Outfits for all Occasions on Inspiration Avenue,
    and I love your purple and lime green butterflies for SOC. Lovely work.

    ReplyDelete
  47. You really have been a GREAT BUSY BEE! So many works!!! They are all so gorgeous! Loved each one of them...'Live your Dreams' is awesome! The font is so cool! Everything looks so perfect :)
    Great Art Linda!
    Deepa
    http://deepazworld.blogspot.in/

    ReplyDelete
  48. Oh man, what a week you've had! Looks like the art was good recovery and therapy after all that:-) Beautiful pieces.

    ReplyDelete
  49. Happy to read and find all is well dear Linda ...
    when it rains it pours!!!
    Thank you for your warm and sweet welcome home...what a wonderful time we had in the UK!
    It's lovely to come to visit and enjoy so much creativity and seeing you enjoy your favorite gorgeous poppies. Thank you for sharing and inspiring again and again.
    Oh and it's so lovely that your pretty cup was done by the talented Tracey...she is amazing isn't she!
    Happy Summertime Dear One
    oxo

    ReplyDelete
  50. Wow so much to see some amazing card but I have to say the journaling is my fave makes me think of the American Flag (guess because July 4th) great calendar Dxx

    ReplyDelete
  51. When it rains it pours. I hope you're feeling better. And what a good bargain! Beautiful pages. I love the Stars and Stripes theme. Those white stars just pop.

    ReplyDelete
  52. Hi Linda: I did write earlier, but I've been thinking of you and hoping that you are feeling better. I wish you good health, (less chaos with the appliances lol) and be very well. In my tradition - chicken soup!!!! lol Lovies, Samara

    ReplyDelete
  53. LOVE your calendar page. The red/blue background is great, especially against the white :-) Thanks for being a part of this challenge!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for your comments; it's a pleasure to connect with you!