Monday, May 28, 2012

From Hidden Vintage Studio - Dude, Where's My Pants?

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A new group of wonderfully colored young children with those kodak moment expressions - just released today from Tracey and Melissa  via Hidden Vintage Studios at DeviantScrap.  Here's my contribution - 

For You  
 8 x 8 digital illustration
Copyright 2012 TwoDressesStudio
All Rights Reserved
Image Credits thanks to HVS- Dude Where's My Pants (for figure) Holliewood Studios - vase, zebra, flowers - Beasts of Burden and Finecrafted Design - Alice in Zettiland (background)


I was so impressed when I printed the above that I decided it was begging for a companion - so here's a little guy to keep her company ! 

For You Two
8x8 digital illustration
Copyright 2012 TwoDressesStudio
All Rights Reserved
Image Credits with thanks to Hidden Vintage Studios - Dude (figure)
Holliewood Studios - toys, and giraffe (Little Prince and Beasts of Burden)
and Finecrafted Designs (Alice in Zettiland) for the background




Don't they make a nice couple?  Here they are framed -







I will add these to my shop at Etsy when I get a moment, but if you are interested in purchasing either or both, please email me at twodressesstudio@shaw.ca  I promise you the quality and clarity of the prints are second to none!!!

Thanks again to the 4 designers who create these images (Hollie, Evelyn, Tracey and Melissa) and who let me 'play' with their wonderful images and thanks as well  for your visit and comments!


Saturday, May 26, 2012

Teasers are Us and The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread!

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A couple of weeks ago now, I received an email from a manufacturer  who had seen my work via Cloth Paper Scissors.

 He wanted to introduce me to a new product that will hit the press in July 2012.  We eventually arranged a teleconference and I agreed to test the product for them.

I've tested product in the past, but THIS has me  excited!  

A few of you may recall my Eleanor Series (see last image below) I began 3-4 years ago. My fascination with combining and collaging images like that old series has never waned. AND, this product was exactly what I wished I would have had way back then!  

I don't usually create posts with 'teasers' - but right now, I have no choice but to just give you this sneak preview - including my new blog header.

So stay tuned and over the next few weeks, as I'll be sharing more information about this tremendous new product!  In the meantime, comments with feedback are appreciated and will be entered into a draw for another giveaway!


 


"Middle Maycee"
Mixed Media Collage 
 Gallery Wrapped Canvas - 8 x 8 x 2 inches
 Copyright 2012 TwoDressesStudio
All Rights Reserved
Immage Credits - Tumble Fish Studio and
one of my own photographs







          "Memories of "Eleanor"
            Digital Illustration 8 x 8 inches
           Copyright 2012 TwoDressesStudio
        All Rights Reserved
         Image Credits with thanks to: 
         Holliewood Studios, Iktupilli and my own privately owned images






The Many Faces of Eleanor (2007-2009?)
Copyright 2012 TwoDressesStudio
All Rights Reserved 

Saturday, May 19, 2012

May Long Weekend - Time to shop for those bedding plants? No way.

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Muse on The Run
Copyright 2012 TwoDressesStudio
All Rights Reserved
Image Credits - Tumble Fish Studio and Holliewood Studios (Head Dress and Earring)

When I was creating this I wasn't thinking at all about shopping this weekend for bedding plants because it is the busiest weekend of the year and I'd rather wait until next week...obviously my thoughts surfaced via my muse who thought differently!

and of course, 'the moo!'

Copyright 2012 TwoDressesStudio
All Rights Reserved

Friday, May 18, 2012

Marion's Annual ATC Project

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Every year, Marion, a fellow mixed media friend, hosts an exceptional Artist Trading Card Exchange that I always participate in.  It's really the only time now that I make ATC's, so I look forward to it!   This year's theme is  "My Body is a Cage."

At the same time she announced this year's exchange, I was creating "My Zetti Self" for part of of a challenge via my  creative team work at Tumble Fish Studio and another digital collage (pictured below).   It seemed like a perfect opportunity to combine these with Marion's theme.  


 I started with this.....



Then went "Zetti" with this......






..... came up with this.....





and finished with these.   They  are 3.5 x 2.5 inches (cut and paste)  and have 14 pieces each.

ATC Fronts "The Caged Bird"
Copyright 2012 for all above images TwoDressesStudio
All Rights Reserved
Image Credits with thanks to Tumble Fish Studio and Holliewood Studios




 Back of ATC



The partial quote on the ATC is from Mayo Angelou and the entire poem reads:

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings

The free bird leaps
on the back of the win
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wings
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings
with fearful trill
of the things unknown
but longed for still
and is tune is heard
on the distant hillfor the caged bird
sings of freedom

The free bird thinks of another breeze
an the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn
and he names the sky his own.

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing

The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.

Happy Weekend and to my Canadian friends Happy May Long!!!




Monday, May 14, 2012

What a surprise!

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This was an unexpected surprise this sunny Monday morning! 

 I was going through my emails and saw a headline titled:  "How to make a collage using the computer, or not" in the Cloth Paper Scissors Today column by Cate Prado  and thought "Hmmm, that might be interesting."  I followed the link and voila - it was about two articles I have written, one that I am just wrapping up this week.  They will be published in the July/August Cloth Paper Scissors magazine and Part Two in September/October 2012.

I received my draft proof for the article mentioned below last Wednesday and was so impressed by the  amazing design/background they created for the layout!   You can see a little bit of it in this article (the sand and sea shells behind the collage).  

The rest of the article of course has to remain under wrap until the magazine hits the newstands in July!  The cloth collages I made for Part Two of the article are different from the first you see below.  I think it's ok to give you just  a little sneak peak of what's in store -




And to see Cate's review, just double click  on the image below to go directly to the Cloth Paper Scissors Today website






Thank you Cate for your very kind review of the article.  And also a big thank you to Jenn Mason (Editor)  and Barb Delaney  (Assistant Editor) for their professionalism and sense of humor over the past three months - you are both such a pleasure to work with!

Learn more about Cate Prado here



Sunday, May 13, 2012

Today is the Day - Winners Announced!

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Good Mother's Day Sunday to all of you!

First off  Thank You to everyone who took the time to respond to my post asking for help choosing which moo cards I should order!  Your feedback was really appreciated and very helpful!

After tabulating all of the numbers (that was fun) some clear favorites emerged and I placed my order at "Moo" last week.    Between the time I posted the original post and now, I created another 24  NEW moo cards that are now featured on my blog header, including this new collage titled "Stardust"  I recently completed.  I enjoyed hosting this 'contest' and plan to do a repeat with the new cards, once I'm caught up with other projects on the go.

I'd also like to thank those of you who signed up to receive my newsletter which is still under construction and may have to be patient until the gardening seasons ends!


Stardust - 8 x 8 inch digital collage
Copyright 2012 TwoDressesStudio
All Rights Reserved
Image Credits with thanks to Holliewood Studios, Mrs. Inman - Flickr,
Tangie Baxter and Maya


I also had the opportunity to finally read my copy of  The Pulse of Mixed Media by our friend Seth Apter, from cover to cover yesterday during the ten hours I spent in the car driving to my father-in-law's internment.  It really is quite fascinating to see the variety of answers to the questions Seth posed as well as some beautiful artwork. 

But, enough chatting - here are the winners as promised - 

For the three sets of 12 moo card, congratulations to:  

1.  Amy - 4 Corners Design

2.  Tami Roth

3.  Foxy Squirrel - Teddi R. 

And the winner of  The Pulse of Mixed Media by Seth Apter   is 

Teresa "in California" - A Magical Whimsy (Blog)


Here's a peek again at the 'old' moos -


Some of the top favorites were - 



 Thanks again to everyone!  If for some reason you are one of the winners and don't receive my email to you, please make sure to email me your address so I can get the moo cards off to you the moment they arrive~.