Dinner, bedtime, and the early bird gets the art done!

Howz that for a title? I had this crazy vision right about dinner time last night of what I wanted to do with a 20x20 canvas I've had for over 6 months. That's how it works sometimes, and I have to go with it. I saw this quote during the week on something, probably Pinterest. "How does one become a butterfly? You must want to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a caterpillar."

I've been a caterpillar for many years. Stick with what's comfortable and easy. Moving along, as life passes by. Content, but bored. Last year, after taking both Soul Restoration classes from Brave Girls Club 
 I thought, maybe, just maybe I could be a bird, flying high with confidence. Or maybe even a butterfly... Graceful, and confident. And although my house is not shabby chic, I had this collection of paper I thought I'd like to use as my background. And so it began. Not sure if I will end up keeping it or selling  it. Either way, here are a few photos to share:
Here is the first photo:

As it progressed, I just kept adding and adding layers of paint, stamps, paper, ink, etc. I went to bed late, and woke up before 5 am, and my first thought was, "It's quiet and I can work on my canvas!" So I did! 

 and here is the finished canvas. I really enjoyed working with a larger size canvas, and may just have to do that again!

Technique Tuesday...

This canvas collage includes many elements. I tried tea staining some papers I had written messages on, as well as I added burlap, acrylics, watercolors, patterned papers, etc. When I was done layering, I added a layer of mod podge to seal and finish it.

Where the heck have I been?

This blog is like a pile of laundry. It sits, it waits to be worked on, it hopes I will return to it, and yet, I keep passing it by, day after day...until I need it! When I need it, I give it my full attention. So dear blog, I need you back, to help me share my latest projects, techniques, and of course, to keep me sane. Life has been one big ol' rollercoaster around here since 2012 started, but I have managed to escape into my favorite place once in awhile, the studio. It has been a mess, but I find that the messier it is, the better I work. The more inspired I am. So I leave the mess. I walk by it. I tell everyone in the house to ignore it. And they do. Even the 8 year old. It tempts her, I can tell.
So today I vow to get back to the blog, just like I get back to the piles of laundry that call to me...Stay tuned for some photos of what I've been workin' on in the past few months.