Squiggle ACEO's

Lemon Lime Squiggles ACEO

© 2009 Tracy Borders

This is my first attempt at creating a series of ACEO's. Generally, I'll create one or two but this time I made over 17 Squiggle ACEO's of different colors. (I think the Lemon Lime ACEO, might be my favorite, with the Metallic Silver following right behind it.)

Metallic Silver ACEO

© 2009 Tracy Borders

Each of these ACEO's were hand painted with Lumiere Paint on cotton muslin & then rubber stamped.

Cherry Red Squiggles, ACEO

© 2009 Tracy Borders

I then added layers of irridescent Angelina Fibers, which unfortunately do not photograph well (so I enclosed a closeup so you could see them.)

Grape Squiggles, ACEO

© 2009 Tracy Borders

closeup of Angelina Fibers

I then added different colored metal "squiggles" as embellishments.

Dark Chocolate Squiggles, ACEO

© 2009 Tracy Borders

I normally don't work in browns, so I was unsure of both brown ACEO's, but the feedback I've been receiving seems to be positive.

Milk Chocolate Squiggles, ACEO

© 2009 Tracy Borders

Neon Green ACEO

© 2009 Tracy Borders

I had a lot of fun making these & although, I'm questionable about the brown ACEO's & the Cherry Red ACEO (red is another color I normally don't work in), I'm happy with how they turned out.

One More Time!!

I need your help ONE more time with the Artisans Challenge.

All three of my pieces won the first week, which wouldn't have been possible without all your votes, which are VERY much appreciated!! Now is the weekly challenge where all of those that won last week are to go up against each other. Not only am I competing against others that were picked, I’m also competing against myself. (I also JUST noticed that my favorite ACEO was chosen for Miniature Category & one of my Squiggle Scarves made it into the Clothing Category!!) :)

So if you'd consider voting for me one more time, I’d really appreciate it & thanks so much for your help!! http://blockheadradiolive.com/artisanschallenge

And, if you're curious of the three pieces, my Dragonfly Recycled Journal got the most votes of all three. (It received over 82 votes in it's category!!) thank you!!

You can cast your vote once in each category on the left. The Weekly Challenge is the category of those that won last week & the rest of the categories are this week's new entries for the Challenge.

Time to Vote!

I need your help! The Artisan's Challenge is now in full swing & three of my pieces was chosen to be in the challenge!!

I am SO excited that these three pieces of mine were chosen to go up against other artists' work.

found under miniature

category

found under paper crafts category

located under 2D category

If you click on this link: Artisan's Challenge it will take you to where you can vote. Pick the category on the left & it will show you the work, on the right, that was chosen & then it's up to you to vote for your favorite. I'm hoping you'll consider me when making your choice!! Voting will close for this weeks Challenge at 9:10 am Monday, March 30th.

Thanks so much for your help!! :)

Collage for FFAC

© 2009 Tracy Borders

I am very happy to donate "Green Woven Squiggles" to the Fiberart For A Cause auction & I'm even happier with myself that I got it done before deadline, which is April 1st. (I'm such a procrastinator!!)

Green Woven Squiggles is made from hand dyed bamboo & cheesecloth, with Angelina Fibers, (that don't like to show themselves in photographs) machine stitching & lumiere paint that was then hand woven together & embellished with painted metal squiggles. I hope that someone is as excited about making a donation for this piece as I was in making it!!

Those that know my work, know that this is the true color of the piece & that the photo hasn't been overexposed :)

Green Woven Squiggles has been donated in memory of my Uncle that passed away due to lung cancer.

Happy St Patty's Day!!!

Top 'O the Morning to Ya!! Happy St. Patrick's to all of you!!

This is the day that I get to wear my MOST favorite shoes. Not that I need a special day to wear these since I wear them all the time (of course!!)

I LOVE my green Chucks!! We visited a Converse store last summer & there they were. It was that type of moment, when you can see nothing else, but what you HAVE to have. I looked at my DH with big eyes & a smile to match (probably like a kid in a candy store) & he did what he often does with me, he shook his head, rolled his eyes & said, go ahead. Woo hoo!!! I'm getting a pair of Chucks in one of my most favorite colors!!! I must have been the happiest girl on the planet at that moment. :)

The young girl at the check out mentioned as I was paying for my shoes that they were selling a shirt in the same color to match my shoes. I thanked her for letting me know but then shared that I already had two in that color to match at home :)

I've been reading up a lot on my trip in May, to Rome & Croatia & have been hearing stories of others who have gone to Rome before me. I've heard things such as women don't wear shorts in Rome & you can tell if you're American if you wear tennis shoes. I can respect the no shorts, it will be May so the weather shouldn't be too hot, but tennis shoes? I'm going to be walking all over that wonderful city & my feet are going to be comfortable, so I don't care if you can tell if I'm American or not, I'm wearing my tennis shoes. Besides, I'm sure I'll probably stick out anyway - I'm thinking there's probably not many blonde Italians that live there? :) (maybe I'm wrong)

Wonder if my green Chucks should explore the Roman streets with me or better yet, the Old Town of Dubrovnik (Croatia)?

Artisan Challenge!!

I love visiting Huckleberry Arts . She has such a wonderful blog!! She creates one of a kind original creations, does custom graphics & also has a freebie page, where she generously offers items like buttons, tags & collage sheets. Please check out her fabulous blog when you get the chance, I think I could just spend the entire day clicking on all of the links that she has on her first page :)

She had this posted on her blog & I wanted to share it with all of you (although, I considered not doing it, therefore weakening my competition) :)

All you Artisans out there make a note of this date:

March 23rd

Some may remember... some may be hearing about it for the first time! Either way there's a bit of construction goin' on over at Blockhead Radio as we prepare to relaunch a cool weekly contest. Seriously, if you head over there you will hear power saws, drills and jack hammer's workin' 24 hours a day. Okay, no you won't but you WILL hear some really great music by indie artists :)

Formerly known as the Etsy Challenge (the name was change to protect the innocent...) and then renamed as the Artisan's Challenge because there are soooo many great venues out there for selling handmade.... and then the whole shebang came crumbling down. It was feared that the challenge would never be heard from again.

Yes, the Artisan's Challenge is being dug up from the depths of the internet graveyard!

For those who may have never heard of the Artisan's Challenge, let me tell ya what it's all about. There are 12 different categories with 60 different artisans every week (5 submissions in each category). The winner's of the categories from the previous week then face off in a weekly challenge!

So head on over, read the rules and enter your submissions now! You'll be notified when it's your week in the challenge. Then its up to you to tell your friends... your family... your neighbors... the people in the checkout line at the grocery store... to go vote for you in the

Artisan's Challenge!

What's in it for you? Besides lots of people seeing your item when they vote?? Besides FREE publicity for your shop??? Besides all the fun????

It just so happens that the winner of the weekly challenge will now win a audio commercial with a banner to play the entire following week on Blockhead Radio! That's even MORE FREE publicity for your shop!

Remember, it's ANY selling venue! Entries are being accepted now so hurry and get your submission in.

Another incentive... blog about it & Let Witchy of The Copper Cauldron know you did! You'll be entered for a chance to win a $15 Gift Certificate to The Copper Cauldron. Visit the Copper Cauldron here!! Last date to enter will be March 22nd. Winner will be selected by a random number generator. One entry per blog.

When does Spring start?

Sorry, no pics to post as of yet. Remember the studio remodel & laying the teak flooring? The last thing to be finished is my work top area. My wonderful DH made the cabinet for me (which I will post photos when all completed) & now he's putting in tons of drawers to hold all of those little things that can easily get lost & big drawers to hold my many clear shoe box containers of dyed cheesecloth, misty fuse, cording & clasps for my journals, etc. I'm going to be so organized, it's going to be scary. To be able to actually find something that I'm looking for & finding it the first time, I can't even imagine.

So, with that said, I haven't been able to finish any of the 3 pieces that are in progress right now. I have plans to send one of my pieces off to Virginia for the Fiberart for a Cause, Collage Mania. Just a little hint, I'm using my funky green, dyed on bamboo & there will be squiggles involved :)

As I posted the question at the beginning, "When does Spring start?" We have had some of the strangest weather here the last 3 days. It seemed as if every time I looked out the window, this weekend, something different was happening. We had light snow, then sun, then sleet & then sun again. Later in the day, it was raining snow, I can't think of any better way to explain it. It was coming down fast like rain drops, but was actually snow & all of this happening with the weather being around 42 degrees.

Saturday evening, while barbecuing (one of the wonderful things we can do year round here) it was snowing & we saw lightning. Sadly, we don't get to see very much lightning, so this was quite odd. While at work yesterday, round three - snow, sleet, sun, hail, blizzard-like conditions & thunder (all within about 2.5 hours). Yes, snow thunder. I didn't think it was possible.

You say "global warming" & some people roll their eyes, but in the 12 years that I've lived in the Pacific NW, I think the climate has really gone through some changes. The summers are getting hotter & the winters are getting a lot colder. We never used to see temps below 38 or above 78. The last couple of winters we've had quite a few days hovering around the mid-20's & the last couple of summers has seen quite a few days around the upper 80's & lower 90's. Today, while waiting for my bus, in 24 degree weather, to get to work, I would have happily embraced one of those upper 80 degree days :)

Adriana considers hand modeling

Before I get to Adriana's short lived career of hand modeling, I would like to share with you what Michele from EyEmbellishments made for me, isn't it just fabulous?!

She made this beautiful little dish of squiggles & ocean colors to commemorate my sailing trip while in Croatia this May. All it's missing is the artichoke spread, a few crackers & a bottle of wine :) Thanks Michele, I just LOVE it!!!

I have a huge respect for pottery artists!! It's just something that my hands can't do, which is probably a good thing since I'd have vessels ALL over my home & have some of the most funkiest serving dishes.

And now for Adriana's short lived career as a hand model.

She was all excited about the possibility of earning a few dollars to help support mom & her art "habit", then sadly realized, she didn't have hands. She said she didn't feel too upset, since she was concerned about being on her feet all day, under those hot lights of the photographer & what those hot lights might do to her painted body. She said that she'll have to think of something else to do so she can help contribute to the family

Look we match!!

Um, these pearls are a little heavy.

Which color do you

think goes best with

my coloring?

A journal for Michelle

Michelle, if you're reading this, look away, don't go any further. It will spoil your surprise. I knew you wouldn't listen to me :) Actually, Michelle knew she was getting this, she just didn't know what it would look like.

© 2009 Tracy Borders

I was hostess of Bingo in our Dyehard_Runoff group, where everyone was to pick 12 words that you think of when you here the word, Spring & Michelle won. So, Michelle's prize is this journal.

LOVE that dragonfly button :)!! I used black elastic cord that wrapped around the journal & then the button to keep the journal closed. I would have preferred using brown or turquoise instead, but I looked all over heaven & earth & could only find colors of black, white, metallic red, silver, gold & green. Maybe I'm not using the proper words to search online? I know that florists use other colors, but I just cannot seem to locate those sources. If anyone has any other ideas where to look, please feel free to let me know!!

This journal was made of hand dyed bamboo & turquoise eyelash yarn & inside, there is removable notepad (which I made, have to use up those 500 binding combs!) I'm really starting to like this style of journals. When the notepad runs out, you add another & NO signatures to sew in. My stitches never seem to line up very nicely on the outside, if I could hide them so you couldn't see those stitches on the outside, I'd consider going back to sewing them in.

Michelle was my guinea pig with these new labels. I had these made from an artist who has a shop on Etsy. (You might have to click on the photo to see them better.) I've been wanting a label with my Etsy shop's name & website on it so I can add it to the items I have for sale. This label can be ironed or stitched on.

Hope Michelle will be happy with this journal!!