Family Fun...

My Sweet Darlings...I love you!

"Whaddaya Mean -No More Christmas Cookies!.......OOOOHHHH Lollipops Instead Wa Ha Ha!"

It's All Over Already!?? Are You Kidding Me??

That's my crazy hub on the right, my big bro on the left, and his wife in the middle.

Thanks for visiting you guys! We love you!

Out of the Mouths of Babes.....

So- we're getting ready to visit a friend over the holidays and I begin prepping my four year old son, who is busy rolling his Hot Wheels along the couch. Here's how our conversation went.
Me: "Okay we're going to Debbie's house and I need you to be really good. Don't touch anything, don't run through the house, and remember Please and Thank You. You need to be on your best behavior."
Angelic looking son turns to me and says, "So I shouldn't say Bullshit?"
Me (trying hard to stifle a giggle): "Exactly! No Bullshit."
Hmph, and I thought he wsn't paying attention.
You gotta love kids.

SSSHHHH.....Here Comes Santa!

HAPPY HOLIDAY HUGS TO ALL & MANY BLESSINGS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!!

Holiday Q Fun!

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot Chocolate with Peppermint Schnapps!
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? It's all wrappped up purty.
3. Colored lights or white on tree/house ? White on the tree and house changes yearly.
4. Do you hang mistletoe? When I remember. We do lots of smoochie smoochie anyway!
5. When do you put your decorations up? Two weeks before the big day.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish? If I had my way, it would be sushi!
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child?
Ice Skating at night with my brother at our country house upstate.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I still believe in the magic of it all!
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? My kids get a special Eve Gift.
10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree?
White lights and the most fantastic, colorful ornaments packed with memories. Everything from handblown beauties from Germany to pre-school ghosts go on our tree!
11. Snow… love it or dread it? Love it!
12. Do you know how to ice skate? Yes, tho please don't ask me to twirl or skate circles!
13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
This is very tough. As hokey as it sounds, my faves are the gifts my kids give me that come from their little creative hands and hearts!
14. What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you? Making it magical for my kids and spending time with my brother and his wife, and friends.
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? Don't do dessert.
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Decorating the tree and having magic tree time with my kids.
17. What tops your tree? A handmade star from brown paper bags. You can see more about this on the post below.
18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? Both!
19. Favorite Christmas Song? Chestnuts Roasting by Nat King Cole (tho I don't know if thats the correct name and Let It Snow.
20. Favorite Flavor of Candy Canes? Don't do candy- but I love the colorful ones!

Blog Update....

I have met so many great creative people this year, and I am so behind in linking them up to my blog. Sooooo, I wanted to let you all know, that I will be updating my links after the holiday is over. If you need your link to be updated, or are new here and want to be included on the list, just leave your blog addy in the comments section. Hope everyone is having a merry week!

Digi Camera Inspiration...

Well, it looks like I might be able to get a new digi camera after all. BUT I have to stay around $150.00. Anyone have any reccomendations? I could definately use input!
And I am very psyched about this as I have loved fooling around with photograghy on and off for years. BUT my true inspiration lately comes from this young lady at
http://www.lavenderfunk.blogspot.com/
Please take a look at her blog as I think she has a lot of potential! And don't forget to leave a comment as she is a new blogger!
Ho Ho Ho....it's almost here! Hope everyone is having a great holiday week!

All I want for Christmas.....

Well, here it is...our Christmas Tree full of memories! What fun we had sharing it with the little guy this year. We all have our favorite ornies and I tried to get a close up of just a few of mine.
MY ABSOLUTE FAVES are the felt mittens I made with my two older children some years back. We even used some as gift toppers and they were well received. I also love the moon and my fox dressed in holiday regalia. AND I have a giraffe decked out in a wool coat and carrying a patent leather purse. Okay enuf of the ornies! But I do have to share about our VERY humble tree topper. When we moved to our first house and my children were very small, maybe one and two, we only had one car and my husband worked many hours. Well, that left me decorating our tree, which of course didn't have nearly as many ornaments. After the job was done, I realized we had no tree topper! Soooo....I cut two star
shapes from a brown paper bag, painted them with yellow ochre paint and outlined and swirled with a gold marker and then glued the perimeter together. Voila! And we've kept it ever since. Never once thought about trading it in for something glitzy and glowing.

Now onto the the list for Santy! Tops on my list is....Lavender Therapy Lotion by Crabtree & Evelyn. Ladies, if you have not tried this stuff, by all means do it now! It is the BEST hand lotion you'll ever use and the smell is intoxicating! I use at night before I go to bed and the lavender really is very relaxing. And of course I want new jammies-100% cotton please (just in case Santy happens to be peeking at my blog...lol). OH, and Anne Lamott's latest book, a new copy of Bob Dylan's Blood On the Tracks CD as my old one skips, some art books of course, and most of all...good health, peace and happiness for my friends and family and a better job for the hub.
And if I had one indulgence...I really want a new digi camera, as the old one is getting a little defunkt. But I don't think that will be in the budget. Perhaps there will be a winning lotto ticket in my stocking and I will get it for my birthday at January's end!
So now you must tell me, what is tops on your list for Santy? Ho Ho Ho and Merry Merry all!

BlueJude's Studio

My daughter took these pics of me in my "studio" about a month ago, and I finally had a moment to share. Keep in mind that my studio is actually the dining room table and I'm not usually very good at uploading these things so it looks a little haphazard. (kinda like me!)
And of course at the top is a photo of the photographer herself and her sidekick, her brother!

The Alphabet Queen

Inspired and challenged by nancy B's alphabet sheets I finally decided to do one of my own. However, after cutting out my ABC's I was feeling a bit laxadaisical about doing a background (unusal as I love doing backgrounds!). BUT I had this odd pic laying around that I wasn't to happy with and seemed beyond repair so I decided to use THAT as my background. So nanc, tho I didn't follow protocol exactly (no surprise there!) here she is! The Alphabet Queen Juggling the Letters of Her Mind. Dedicated to the wonderful and talented and crazy lol Nancy Baumiller! Happy Thursday all!

One Line Drawings and more....

These are actually One Line Drawings I did a while back from a life drawing class. Once the drawing was done I went over the original with heavy charcoal to define the lines more. I think in class they called it contour drawing, and I love the surprising results you get.
Anyhoo, I got lots of Christmas shopping done this weekend and am almost done. I also gave the little guy a haircut as everywhere we went people kept thinking he was a girl, poor kid. All long curls and big blue eyes, who could blame them! So now he's a new man-tho I didn't cut it that short as we like long hair. We're a bit unconventional.
And while I was in town shopping I stopped by a new gallery that had opened. It was quite an eye opener and very inspiring- tho not in the way you might think. I don't want to sound pompous or judgemental, as anyone who knows me, knows that I am very humble and insecure about my art and skills. BUT what I saw at this gallery....well, it was really nothing to write home about. And I'm not talking about the genre of art, as there was some abstract, some collage, and some charcoal drawings (which were pretty good) but it was ....hmmmm...how do I put this? Not really good art. Even my husband was going on and on about it on the way home, telling me I should get over my shyness and get my stuff out there. AND I decided he was right.
I'm going to contact the owner and see if I can get in there in Spring or Summer. That will give me enough time to work on the two new series I started.
And now I'm off to see what the UPS man has left at my door and maybe make some paper snowflakes with the little guy. Ho Ho Ho I just love playing Santa to my kids! Cheers all!

Visions of Sugarplums...

Well now that I've made it through Thanksgiving (with a simply faboo turkey I might add!), it's time to get a little jolly, put a little ho ho ho in my step and get into the Christmas groove.! I've been having fun the past couple of days picking out stuff for my 4 year old. Having little ones really makes the holiday special. And four is such a magical age. I'm looking forward to doing holiday cookies and paper chains with him. Oh and snowflakes too!
Of course I still have more shopping to do. (Can't forget the special "Christmas Eve Gifts" for the kids or the stocking stuffers (we try to find really funny ones for dad!)And then there's the tree. That's a really special time for us all. Putting up our Christmas tree. The kids love going through the ornaments that are packed with spectacular memories. We have the very humble pre-school ornaments to the very expensive imported unique. And somehow, (even though my hub says every year, they won't all fit or you don't have to put them ALL on) we give every one a special place on the tree. And after that, we have special nights that are dubbed "magic tree time". Where we turn all the lights down low, put the tree lights on, along with our holiday music and we all sit together and just kind of soak up the magic of Christmas, while reading, drawing or conversing.
OH! And I almost forgot, I have to come up with another creative idea for our holiday cards. Which usually are sent after the holiday and with warm wishes for a blessed New Year. Have a few ideas kicking around in my little head....we'll see which one makes it to fruitition. We like doing something a little out of the ordinary. (No surprise there to those that know us! lol)
So, with mind full of visions of sugarplums and Christmas dreams, my art kind of takes a back seat along with everything else. Which means, my posts will probably be somewhat sporadic and my time on the puter visiting blogs and groups limited. But do check back, as I will share some of our merriment and I will certainly pop in from time to time to see what you all are up to! And on that note, I hope you all have a little ho ho ho in your step and feeling the merriment of the season! Creative blessings to all!

In Honor of the Bird

"BirdWoman" by Darcy Altaville of BlueJude Studio c.2006

To Market....To Market.....

Okay, the bookmarks were great fun and apparently just what I needed. A little relaxing and methodical creativity. So, feeling somewhat refreshed, it was back to painting and collaging last night. Happy to say, that I finally just about finished up two pieces that have been laying around. Not sure if I'm happy with the results...but at least it's progress!
OH, and a friend was telling me about a local craft fair, held at a local church, that apparently is very popular and quite good. I don't usually notice these things, as I have always tended to think of craft fairs as places where they create crocheted tissue caddies and things like that. (And by all means, I don't want to sound like a snob, as I like crochet, and I do use a great deal of tissues!) But I usually don't put much credo into these things as a venue for marketing my own stuff. I think it might be time to change my perspective a bit. I realized I could have set up a little table with my cafe press samples and at least TRIED to gain some customers. Or I could have at least walked around and passed out some wonderful, promotional flyer leading them to my shops. Ahhhh, marketing. I love thinking up marketing ideas, but I guess I'm lazy when it comes to doing the heavy duty legwork. Unfortunately, I think that's it takes to get noticed. At least for some of us. So will have to work on that.
BUT speaking of marketing, I did get a pretty good press release off to the local papers regarding my shop. The guy I sent it to is someone I met at my son's preschool a couple of months ago. And I was actually smart enough (how about that! lol) at the time to mention my art and how I would like to promote it and my shops toward the holidays. So keep your fingers crossed and say your prayers that my little blurb makes it in!
And now I'm off to play Hot Wheels, have some lunch, and hopefully do some more painting.
Big Northeast hugs to all....brrrrr....old man winter is nipping at our heels! Cheers! And don't forget to get your turkey!!

BookMarking Time...

"Keeper Of Words" Darcy Altaville c.2006
TAH DAH! This is what I've been working on most of the week. My "Funky Chunky Bookmarks"! This is just one of the designs. It's funny because I just wanted to do a few bookmarks for my shop, but not sure what I wanted to do. Then I was talking to my daughter one night and I was saying how much I love books, and I love bookmarks but I rarely use 'em cause I laways lose 'em. Well, this is the bookmark that's hard to lose and a delight to use. They will be available at my etsy shop here: http://www.BlueJudeShop.etsy.com
Anyhoo, I became obsessed with making them and still have more designs to go.
And considering that I still have this nasty headcold, they were a bit easier to manage than working on one of my mixed media pieces. Which I think I'm avoiding at the moment, hence the obsession with bookmarks!
AND I can't believe Thanksgiving is a week away!! Why is it that the older you get, the faster time seems to slip away from you? It seems like just yesterday I was making a big Thanksgiving Tree from posterboard for my two children. Over the course of two weeks, they had to paste leaves (that I cut from construction paper) onto the tree with sayings of what they were thankful for. I'll never forget my daughter writing she was "thankful for makeup". She was five!! Too funny.
Wish I could have captured them in a little snowglobe, that I could climb into every now and again. Oh well, guess we just have to settle for the memories of our mind. I hope everyone has a great creative weekend! AND if you have a book lover on your Christmas list, don't forget my "Funky Chunky Bookmarks"!

Monday Blahs....

Well, like Tammy, I woke with the Monday Blahs. I guess it really started yesterday, when I felt a cold? coming on. I don't know why they call it a cold, as it sounds so ...well...tolerable and comfortable, when it is anything but. Ya know, wheezing, stuffy nose, sore throat. Surely there must be a better name. It's worse than a cold, but not really a flu. Whaddaya call somethin' like that? (besides stinkeroo!!)
AND, I think the cuprit was my daughter. I recently found out that she has been using my toothbrush the past week or so. AND guess who's home sick today from school? Yup, that's right, my sweet, darling daughter. The child who makes High Honor Roll but can't seem to remember what color HER toothbrush is!
Sooo, I'm hoping to get some energy at one point today and finish the bookmarks I started over the weekend., for my VAST group. I know- you're probably thinking...how much energy does one need to create a bookmark? Okay, so it's not a high energy project, but my mind feels so clouded that I think it's shortwired my creative sparkplug- if you know what I mean.
But doing these bookmarks, has been fun and somewhat manageable around my four year old which is alway a plus. I will show you some pics when they are all done. (I know, you're hanging on the edge of your seat!)
Okay, I'm off for some Claritin and whatever else I can find. Hope you all are off to a healthy week! OH, and does anyone make a toothbrush that says "Hands Off!"?

Lesson One: Think

"Lesson One: Think" by Darcy Altaville c. 2006
This is a mixed media collage piece that suited the "Red" theme for ArtWords. To see other lessons I'm still learning.....read the post below.

Lesson's Being Learned.....

"Cherish" Altered Postcard By Darcy Altaville c.2006
1. Don't let fear of ruining a piece immobilize you. I find this happening from time to time, and by the time I get over the fear, my initial inspration for the piece is gone.
2. Know thy limits and know when you are limitless! For years, I find myself doing art that always seems to want to grow off the page. I know the obvious solution to this is to work on bigger canvases (something hubby keeps bugging me about) but then I can't fit them in my scanner! (sigh!)
3. Don't bite off more than you can chew...or paint in this instance. I decided last night at the last minute that I would participate in a 4 x 4 collaboration. (Now mind you, this is the gal who just said that her work grows off the page!) Sooo....I cut out my little 4 x 4 square, sat there...with my sinus headache raging and 4 x 4, 4 x 4, 4 x 4, going through my head like a mantra...or like chinese torture! What the heck could I fit into that little square. Then OH!!! A revelation! I'll do FOUR 4 x 4's...one for each season. (And did I mention this is last minute and the project is due, like yesterday!). Needless to say, the sinus headache won out, tho I continued to work till 10:00 I only got halfway through two seasons, and even then, thought I might want to keep them.
Sooo....mission for today is to try and do just ONE 4 x 4!
4. DO NOT fall in love or get too attached to your artwork! Or you'll just end up with a bunch of pieces laying around and wondering why your art doesn't sell!
5. Do not walk into the living room and declare to your husband, "I think I'm slightly crazy!" As he will only give you a sideways glance, and try to keep from bursting into hysterics, and say something like..."You just realized this?"
6. Cherish who you are with all your idiosycricies and accept that you are just another crazy artist.

WIP's

These are my "works in progress". As you can see, they kind of run the gamut a bit. The artist is currently somewhat scatterbrained and all over the place. Some of these were started a couple of months ago, and though they have companion pieces that have been finished....well.....these are waiting for the artist to figure out where she is going with all this! Though there are a couple that may not seem worthwhile to persue to completion, those sometimes are the ones that speak to me most. Funny though, how some are quite restrained and I think you can tell the ones where no restraint was used at all! A few years back, I was very disgruntled with my art and felt that all I could produce was "ugly" pieces. I so wanted to do all that "pretty" stuff that you see so much of. I guess the kind of stuff that might have more universal appeal. Well, I can do that stuff now. And it has it's place. But I also like my raw "ugly" pieces as I have found beauty in them too.
I am learning a lot along this scatterbrained journey. But we'll save that for another post. Just thought I'd share some of these WIP's with you and see if you too have pieces lurking about, waiting to be completed. Or if you too, are in a stage of exploration. What do your WIP's say about you?

I'm BACK.....

It's been a hectic week but certainly a productive one! I have been working with the most wonderful women on a new endeavor, which is our VAST newsletter.
VAST is the Visual Artists Street Team for etsy whose goal is to promote the Visual Artists trying to sell their wares on etsy. SO...."VAST eye" (Keeping An Eye On The Visual Artists Of Etsy)was born and I think we have done a magnificent job in pulling together a newsletter that is stylish, yet informative and sales- oriented. ALL IN 7 DAYS!! We are just tweaking now and hopefully it will be ready for print by Thursday. It will be available as a printout for VAST etsy members to distribute in the shops and restaurants in their area, in hopes of boosting our holiday sales! Hence, the zero time budget we gave ourselves.
So I have not been art-ing very much though I have to say...I have been reflecting on my art and where it's going. (I know, that's no news here! lol)
I know I am DEFINATELY in some kind of transition period. And as you all know I have been experimenting with different artist's techniques. (Just wait till you see some of the pics that I hope to get uploaded today or tomorrow- talk about running the gamut!)
BUT I realized, I am still trying to fit into "a box". And I am restraining myself, to some degree by doing this. And I can tell you one thing I know about myself...RESTRAINT and BlueJude are RARELY synonymous! I kind of like to work from raw emotion, getting down and dirty with my paint and colors and letting it rip and flow. Something I haven't done in a while. But I am finding out that there are nights when I want to do something very thoughtful and nice, and well...a little more restrained. So I can only say, that I hope through all this exploring and experimentation, I will come out with a happy medium that is truly of BlueJude style, and not some pre-ordained categorized, nicely boxed in, mixed media art.
OH and one more thing! I just received my copy of Vickie Enkoff's Zine "Creative Choices" whre she gave me a wonderful full-page color spread! The zine is quite impressive and informative and definately worthwhile. Even, my daughter insists we subscribe! So please...check out all the wonderful things this insightful woman has to offer by going to...http://www.vickieenkoff.com
Hope everyone is off to great creative week!

Me...? Weird...?

Okay, having been tagged by Nancy B. to write nine weird things about me....here I go!
1. I have driving neurosis. Don't drive on major highways, heavy snow or rain, or night.
2. I like my dishwasher loaded a particular way...all the time!
3. I hate cooking.
4. I kept my first son out of the supermarket for the first year of his life, for fear that something would fall on his little baby head!
5. I don't like weddings.
6. I MUST watch the Weather Channel every morning with my coffee. The hub will ask me an hour later what the weather is going to be and sometimes I don't have a clue! lol
7. I don't like summer.
8. I don't like sweets.
9. I am prone to anxiety attacks.
10. I could probably list more weird things!
And there you have it! Hope everyone has a weirdly good day!

What Would You Call It?

Untitled....Darcy Altaville c.2006
This is just something I finished up over the weekend. Though I still feel like it's missing something. Anyhooo, maybe that's why I am having a hard time giving it a title. So.....my bloggy friends....what would you call it?
Okay, I'm off now to get ready to spook things up around here. Thanks for your input! Happy Monday to all!

Kids and Quotes

Sometimes my kids just blow me away! So I thought I'd share some pics of my wonderful, creative, smart, talented children and some of the wonderful things they say. This pic of my sons was taken almost two years ago, but is still one of my favorites. Here are a couple of things that my older son shared with me recently.

"Speaking to you guys (meaning, us, his parents) is like fishing in a pond with all the fish in the world. You never know what you're going to come out with."

Then just last night, he told me this: "True gratification comes from making everyone else happy. Temporary gratification comes from just trying to make yourself happy."

The other pic is of my daughter on last year's Halloween when she was a "Fallen Angel".

She is an avid writer and like me, uses words in her art, and often impresses me with her own original quotes. Here is a recent one: "I am as deep and twisted as a willow tree but as bright and free as a bird's song." (I am definately using that one in one of my art pieces! Hey I have rights! After all I am the mom or King Muter as she calls me (Tho I don't know if that is the right German spelling for Mother)

And my little rock n roller up there on the left, well that was two years ago also, but he's still as cute as ever. Those blonde curls and big blue eyes, save us all from wanting to clobber him at times, as he is quite mischeivous. Some of his favorite sayings are "Time is down." (I guess because he hears "time is up" so often.) And when referring to the past he says "Just like on the other yesterday" which cracks my daughter up. "I'm outta here" that's when his patience has run out. And the best one is "Ghostie Lukas did it!!" This is reserved for all the times when he does something he shouldn't have, which is quite often so we hear this a lot. lol The kid is obsessed with ghosties and pumpkins, and I mean all year long. Sooo...ghostie Lukas is his imaginary friend. And lately, he's taken to belting out God Bless America at the top of his lungs! That is, when he's not singing the Green Day songs he hears his brother and sister playing.

Yup, those are my kids. My moon and stars, my sunshine, and my rainbow. I love em to death. Now if only they came with a maid! Cheers all!

That's Me!

Yes, another journal page. This one reads: "Crazy Mixed-Up Wonderful Me" (And yes I know that my wonderful has two L's-it was intentional.) Why I don't know. Perhaps I was feeling FULL of wonderfullness! And I must say, that today I am still feeling crazy and mixed up but not too wonderful at the moment.
But this too shall pass.
Is it my calling to be a successful artist? Or is it just wishful thinking? These are thoughts that have been floating around in my little mixed up head. Anyone else feel this way? And what conclusions have you come to?

Journal Page

This is a recent journal page that pretty much sums up how I am feeling about being an artist these days.
It reads: "Trying To Fly" and in the lower right corner it says, "Learning".
Trying and Learning. That's me! And kind of teeter tottering while I do so!
Perhaps I will put up an inexpensive print on etsy just for those who might be feeling the same way.
Happy Monday All!

An Artful Birth...An Artful Journey

I am very excited! I have just given an artful birth to....... Okay....ready.....DRUMROLL please.........Unique, Artists Papers by Darcy Altaville of BlueJude Studio.
That's not officially what they're called, but hey... it sounds so good now that it must be so!
Yeah, I know, I'm way behind....people have been doing this for years. But well...it is my blog....so I am insisting on the drumroll.
Plus, I am extra happy.... (how awful does that sound...extra happy?.....who am I? ...where did I go?....)... anyhooo, I am feelin' good about my latest art journal and the fact that I got to update my website today, because my two older kids are at a Halloween party. So, if you want to take a peek....go to http://www.bluejudestudio.com and check out the last Gallery with new stuff.
AND if you want to see my "Uber Cool Dreamscapes" (now THAT- I know- came from my daughter!) go to http://www.BlueJudeShop.etsy.com
They are great for collaging, scrapboooking, art journaling, and more!
AND I have to say yay to art journaling. It is the most inspiring, informative, growing process you can do. SO....keep at it....and I hope everyone is having such an inspired Sunday!

ATTENTION: ALL Artists !!

There is a brand new group of wonderful people who are trying to promote the unique talents of visual artists on Etsy. They are called the Visual Artists Street Team! So, if you have an etsy shop I urge you to join this group and become part of the movement now! As etsy is planning a big televised promo as well as great updated changes for the future.
If you work in any of the following mediums, you must check this out! Collage, Mixed Media, Painting, Drawing, Printmaking, Alteres Arts, Art Dolls, 3D, Photography, Fabric or Fiber Arts. and Fine Folk Art.
You can check out the yahoo group here: http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/VASTforEtsy/
Or you can go their site at:
http://www.finefolkartfrenzy.com/VAST.html
This can only benefit you and your sales at etsy so be sure to check out VAST (Visual Artists Street Team) and become a member now!

Amazing Grace

I finally finished up another "orphan" piece and am hoping that she will find a good home! I am counting on the good graces of God this Winter to light the way for a more prosperous Spring. I have many creative endeavors I wish to accomplish and I am hoping they will bring in some desperately needed income, or at least pave the way to another enlightened road.
Since my hub got laid off in Spring things have been very tight and we are just about keeping food on the table. But the good in all this is that you learn more about what's really important.
You learn that there are a lot of extras you CAN do without. You learn to focus more on being thankful for what you do have now.
And you are reminded, not to take all those good things for granted.
So I have a beautiful Fall day, two very kind and creative teens, a goofy and very original four year old, a good husband, a very loyal watchdog, wonderful, over the top friends, art supplies and books and a strong faith in God that this will all work out for good. I think with all of that I'm ready to face the winter and whatever storms it may bring. As I know that it is only when you "go through" the storms, that you find that you are actually "going to" something, another place, perhaps where you were meant to be. If you let the storms immoblize you, you will never see what awaits you on the other side. So cheers to Fall, cheers to Winter, and cheers to the Amazing Grace of God!
And should you wish to purchase "Amazing Grace" by Darcy Altaville c.2006 simply go here:
http://www.BlueJudeShop.etsy.com

I LOVE My Journal!!

And I hate it!! Yes, it CAN be a love hate relationship. But isn't that what it's all about? (No, not the Hokey Pokey! lol)
There has been a lot of talk lately about journaling. Visual Journaling is the journey of the artist. And like all journeys....there will be clear skies, and easy sailing. And there will also be detours and times of getting lost. There will be love and laughter, pain and confusion. And this my friends, is WHY we journal. To give voice to the journey.
A Visual Journal is like a portal to a passage of time in an artists life. And as we are afflicted and affected by all that life has to offer us during that time, we express it....conciously or subconciously in our own little private retreat, our visual journal. It is our place of exploration and growth. It is our voice during that passage of time.
And since we all have our own unique voice, and our own journeys, we will all have a different and unique journaling experience.
We may admire the style of other artist's visual journals, but no matter how hard we try, we can not duplicate them. And that in itself would defeat the purpose of your visual journal, as it would not be your true voice and style coming through. It would not be YOUR journey.
Part of the journey is about play and exploration. And so to that end, we certainly can- and should- incorporate certain techniques, color schemes, and the like, of other artists into our journals. It is that play, exploration, and experimentation that allows us to grow as artists and in the end, that will give our journey some destination.
And that is why I LOVE my journal! I can play and explore. Experiment and have fun. AND I notice that if I do it consistently enough (which really is what journaling is...a consistent outpour)it inspires me to other ideas to explore in the future. I find myself jotting down notes everywhere for future projects. Creativity breeds creativity. It is also very therapeutic to create for process, not just for product. Just mindless, fun creating!
But as I said, I also hate my journal. Why? Well, because I am not always happy with the outcome. I know that sounds like a contradiction to my prior statement of creating for process but after all, I am an artist. And like all artists, I can be my harshest critic. And I can also have a hard time silencing those critics in my head. But usually, the pieces I hate most, are the ones I tried too hard with, to be like someone else.
And usually the pieces I hate most, have taught me something. Kind of like a detour in the road. Okay, I say...going down that road didn't work. But lets make a turn here, keep going and see where it takes us. And usually, the road it leads to- is just where I want to be heading! Or need to heading at that time.
When I can accept that whatever I'm working on, is going to just turn out to be what it is; a little piece of me and my own personal expression, then I'm okay with it. I try to look at it as something valid and good, in it's own right, for what it's worth and the purpose it served. It then has merit. Afterall, you can't have "good art" without doing some "bad art". Though the "bad art" is really just a detour in the road, on your artistic journey.
So, let go and let yourself enjoy the ride. YOUR ride through the passage in time in YOUR Visual Journal.

BlueJude Unfunkifying......

I seem to be getting in these "funks" lately and was really funkified over the weekend. Someone said, tis the rollercoaster ride of an artist. I think they may be right. I also think that ....dare I say the M word?.......okay...that menopausal thing is kicking in. Hey wait a minute....I'm too young for that!! Well, maybe that's what my mind is saying , but my body doesn't seem to agree.
Anyhooo, as fate would have it, I was flipping through a magazine, looking for some stuff for my current cut, paste and play journal....and I came across an article in the Spring Issue of "Women's Faith & Spirit" called Clear Your Clutter, Free Your Soul. The tag line reads..."FlyLady.net founder Marla Cilley has shown thousands of women how to stop feeling inadequate and start living lives of peace and purpose. It all begins with shining the kitchen sink."
Well, I was in no mood to clean my kitchen sink, but I certainly was curious about the rest of it.
I turned the page to do some skimming and saw this...."Whining never changes anything. You have to get off your Franny. That's the woman in us who gets so defeated that she gives up."
Well, enough said. I read the article and found it to be very inspiring. It basically goes on to say that clearing your house of clutter, helps to clear your soul. And then some. I could not do this woman justice, just by posting here all she had to say.
As you know, I had been lamenting about my unfinished art pieces haunting me as they littered the house in various spots. And I must confess, that it's no wonder. As they have cheerleaders! Yes, my house is in DIRE need of de-cluttering. A task that I have put off for a good year or so. You see, it's the smallest house we ever lived in, and so I have boxes in the basement of unused antiques and collectibles. Books everywhere you turn. Closets full of toys and clothes the kids have outgrown, and well....I think you get the picture!
So not only did she inspire me to start decluttering BUT these little pearls of wisdom were in the article as well as she speaks of something her husband Robert once told her. "He explained that when you stop whining and pleading for what you want in life, and instead just put up your sails, God Breezes will take you where you're supposed to go...."
That just blew me away! How wonderfully and beautifully put. How profound!
Soooo....today is another day....and I'm ready to set sail!
To find out more about this wonderful woman and her endeavors just go to
http://www.FlyLady.net
Happy Day all!

"Cottage Garden Sprite"

This "Cottage Garden Sprite" is a my latest piece up on etsy. I like this one so much, I almost didn't want to sell it! It is a very charming piece and actually has a thin blue satin ribbon attached to the back for an instant wall hanging. You can read more about it or purchase it here: http://www.BlueJudeShop.etsy.com
Image is the Copyright Darcy Altaville 2006

Changing Violet

There is a wonderful new production happening in Manhattan, NYC and for all of you women in the tri-state area, this is a must see!!
It is called "Changing Violet" and is written by and starring Deborah Louise Ortiz of Dangerous Curves Productions, and it is directed by Terri Muuss.
Here is just a small blurb about the show:
Changing Violet is a moving one-woman piece that takes the audience on a rollercoaster ride through the life of Violet, a young girl from the Bronx. Witness the awkward shifting of a young woman struggling with the painful realities of physical, sexual, and mental abuse, and her own abuse of alcohol and drugs as a means of coping. As Violet’s life changes, so do her attitude, her loves, her experiences, and her clothing.
Unfortunately, it does not mention the extremely cool music that so aptly portrays the times and struggles of this woman. Music by Tom Petty and many other cover tunes that you will all relate to your own experiences.
This is an incredible, moving production. Definately worth checking out! So for all of you in the tri-state area simply go to http://www.changingviolet.com for dates, locale and ticket information. I believe it will be running until December, so that gives you plenty of time to pick a date, round up your friends, and have a memorable night out!!

Dance To The Beat Of Life

Just another journal page I thought I'd share for your viewing pleasure. HeeeHeee! Yes another BlueJude oddity! I kinda like this one though. Of course, the background is really more of an orange color...but you know how that goes.
Anyhoooo....just trying to "Dance To The Beat Of Life" over here as best I can.
And tonite I will be doing even more dancing as my hub is playing his Thursday gig at the local pub. Sure to be a get down and get funky evening. It's kind of a country/rock/bluegrass kind of thing and usually tons of fun. If nothing else, I escape the chaos of kiddies for a while. Okay I'm off now...cha...cha...cha and boogie shoooo!

Journal Ponderings...Releasing Possibilities....

Okay, here is another journal page from my "cut, paste, and play" journal or shortly put...Fall 2006 Journal! This one says..."Let Your Imagination Release Your Possibilities" which is exactly what I am trying to do. Not worry about the end product, which as you all know is not an easy task.

While scanning it into Adobe and trying to adjust to get it close to the original (again, not an easy task...at least not with my scanner!) I started fiddling around with hue and saturation. I found that I almost liked the digitally altered page better. Though it is a little pink, for my taste. But I started wondering, that if we had an original piece of art, and then digitally altered it, is the digitalized piece a lesser art form? And what does it say about the original? What does it say about the artist? And would you sell a digitally altered piece of YOUR art? Hmmm....What do you think? .....a pondering bluejude, off to play some more and hoping to find some direction while releasing my possibilities.

FIVE THOUGHTS......

When I am creating art...I usually am inspired by thoughts and ideas for future pieces, of which I am always jotting down in various notebooks.
And then again, sometimes I just have this little inner dialogue going, with random thoughts - that sometimes get spoken aloud...to the dog mostly, who is always underfoot and quite a good listener.
I jotted some down the other night, why I don't know. But then I thought it would be very cool to hear what goes through the minds of other artists while doing their art.
Sooo.....on that note, if you are reading this...consider yourself officially TAGGED for...
"Five Thoughts I Had While Creating Last Night" (here's mine)
1. WOW, this sucks!!
2. Okay, what now?
3. My backgrounds are AWESOME!!
4. Need more blue and yellows paint and pastels...sh*&!
5. Switch the Witch and the Cat? Naahhhh.

So as you see, they don't have to be profound...lol. Just your random thoughts. You might be wondering why I didn't share a pic of what I ws working on. Well, I was working on more than one thing. But feel free to add a pic to your own blog. OKay GO For It! When you're creating today, or tonite, or tomorrow, just jot down your 5 thoughts as you go. And then share! I can't wait to see the results!

Etsy.com Theme Blog A New Theme Each Month!

Etsy.com Theme Blog

A New Theme Each Month!

Funky Pumpkin

Okay, I sooo love Halloween but have just been unable to get into the spirit. So a friend suggested I do some fun funky Halloween cards to help me along. And so Funky Pumkin came about. He's not a card but is a 5 x 7 size and as you can see, a total departure from my usual. And of couse, being me...I couldn't stop at just one. But if you visit my etsy shop, I will have the others up there this week! Just go to http://www.BlueJudeShop.etsy.com
Happy Funky Punky Day!

"Such A Little Girl"

"Such A Little Girl With Such A Colorful Past" by Darcy Altaville c.2006 is a mixed media collage on canvas and can be purchased here
http://www.BlueJudeShop.etsy.com

Submissions, Zines & Inspirations.....

Be sure to take a peek at the upcoming e-artella, where I will have two of my ATC's for the Creative Twist Challenge. It's a very cool e-zine! http://www.artellawordsandart.com
AND I will also have a piece in the upcoming ARTitude Zine. Another cool publication which you can find more info about here: http://www.artitudezine.com
I am finding some of these zines to be very inspiring. They seem to offer something that some of the more mainstream publications lack at times.
And if you haven't heard about INDIE ARTS yet, well, you should definately check it out! ! It is a brand new publication that is in DVD format!!! How creative and cool is that!
http://www.indiearts.com
That's it for now. I'm off to do chores so I can then finish up some of those cut, paste and play pieces I've been working on!!
Have an inspiring day!

Cut, Play, and Paste.....

Soooooo....this is what became of my cut, play and paste session with the journal orphan from the previous post.
It says, "Don't hate me just because I am different." Boy do I know that feeling!
Okay so he's not a masterpiece but this was all about play - remember.
And the lesson learned was that those pearly crayons really do not scan very well. lol
Okay, off to the next piece.
After all, he needs some companions, don't ya think?
Can't wait to see what they turn out to be!

"Baby Believe"

"Baby believe" Altered Postcard Art by Darcy Altaville c.2006

Sometimes it's the small, miniature things in life that teach us the biggest lessons!

A Work In Progress......

" Zetti Meets BlueJude...kind of..."
Okay, as I explained in the previous post...there will be no laughing! So get up off the floor and pull yourself together!
After all, it is still a work in progress - so there! And I'm quite pleased with the other three....so far. This guy? girl? just seems to have too many parts...kind of wack a doo. Well, we'll just have to wait and see what becomes of this poor orphan journal page. I know, you'll check back again...just for a good giggle!
Happy Wach A Doo Monday!

New Series...New Beginnings...

"Untitled" by Darcy Altaville c.2006

Well, it's been a long exhausting weekend, but a constructive one I think. The piece above is from a new series that began a couple of weeks ago. There are others, but this is the only one near completion. Don't know if she's done or not. I would like to give her some words and a proper title. I thought of Queen of Hearts, but that just seems so....well...unoriginal. Any ideas? Does she need words? So that is one series I have going in the workds.
Then, being inspired by Nancy Baumiller, I got back into my Journal Play mode.
I forgot how much fun that can be! Using some of her technique ideas, I now have four pieces in the works.
I worried along the way, about copying her style. However, I realized that it would be purely impossible. I think as artists, we are influenced or turned on to certain techniques; but BECAUSE we are artists we all have our own visual voice and so therefore we can only execute those techniques and ideas in our own way. When I was experimenting with Cluadine Hellmuth's backgrounds, I was turned on to a new series. Do they look like the works of Claudine? No, not at all.
Nancy is a pro at doing the Zetti style. Something I truly admire. BUT I know that I can't do Zetti....well, in a total Zetti way. So my journal pieces are more like BlueJude Meets Zetti. And if you promise not to laugh...I will share one that is in progress.
It's not one of the better of the four, at least in my opinion, but hey....who knows what it will turn into? And this is all about PLAY, right? Okay no giggling, and no falling off your chair laughing! Are you ready? Here it is......
Okay....well, maybe not. Apparently blogger does not want to let me upload. Perhaps it's having a good laugh of it's own! I will try one more time.......Nope. Not happening. Guess we'll have to save the giggling for later.
So I'm on to two new series, and I want to continue with my altered postcard art.
Which was also inspired by experimenting with another technique, inkjet transfers. So you see, how inspiration can lead us in a new direction, while we find our way and infuse it with our own style.
I also have a germ of an idea thta's been brewing in my head on and off for a year. I'm hoping over the next few months that too, will come to fruition.
AND my winter project.....well, that's a secret right now, but it will definately incorporate my writing with my art.
So I'm off to new beginnings...at my very favorite time of year...the one that inspires a fresh start with my art.
Cheers to Nancy Baumiller and artists everywhere that inspire!

What A Difference A Day Makes.....

"Life Is Short, Enjoy The Ride!" by Darcy Altaville c.2006
Prints available at http://www.BlueJudeShop.etsy.com/
LIFE IS GOOD! GOD IS GREAT! CHILDREN ARE A BLESSING! I am so excited... (can you tell?) I think I'm on to another series. How far will it go? No clue.
But I see a thread with some of the newer pieces I've been working on. And I'm pretty pleased with how they are coming along. Of course, being the slow process artist I am ....I'm letting them guide me and I'm sure it will be some before they are completed. So that's exciting.
And as you know creativity breeds inspiration, so I also came up with a few ideas for some future endeavors, regarding my past work. Now hopefully I will find the time to keep it all together and progress with my ideas and bring them to fruitition.
Apparently, my lovely ,creative daughter was also inspired last night. While I was working on my art we were talking about faces. I mentioned how I would love to experiment more with my vintage faces and how I also wanted to try and have some fun with faces with a Zetti slant. But the problem with teh Zetti thing is....well, I just can't seem to get it. Well, my daughter disappeared for a bit; then about twenty minutes later she came back downstairs with 5 Zetti type faces that she constructed from magazines. "I did these for you,mom," she said. I was blown away!! Now, I know my kid is artistically gifted, but.... what I pondered about for like a year...this kid just whipped together in twenty minutes!! YOu would be proud Ms. Nancy B!!
After all my gushing, the kid looked at me and said "Wow, mom....you just do this, this and this and there you have it." I was like gee, I never thought of that!
Then I made her glue them down for me, giving her a brand new glue stick, more gushing and I said..."Maybe I should leave you alone to do this..so you can focus"
Again, the child looks at me, like I'm more insane than she ever really knew and said..."Mom, it's just gluing...I learned this in preschool. Get hold of yourself!"
So we had a lot of laughs and a fun creative time together. AND...now I have some new faces to play with!
So...LIFE IS GOOD! GOD IS GREAT! CHILDREN ARE A BLESSING! And like the mixed media piece above says...."LIFE IS SHORT, ENJOY THE RIDE!"
Hope YOU all Enjoy YOUR Ride Today! Blessings...bluejude

Handle Me With Care

"Handle me With Care" by Darcy Altaville c.2006
Print available at http://www.BlueJudeShop.etsy.com

This pretty much sums up how I've been feeling the past few days. Kind of lost, sad, and in a funk. Like Dorothy who got caught up in the twister and then just set down in a very odd place. But I know this too shall pass.
My daughter turns 14 tomorrow and it seems like just yesterday, her and her brother were like this tiny tot, bringing me home handprints from preschool. Time passes us by and takes us through twists and turns. But I will try and remember what the Bible says..."I can do all things through God, who gives me strength." So today, I will take life easy and know that the Divine is watching over me and I will just try and enjoy the beauty of the day and not worry about tomorrow. See I'm feeling better already, just by blogging it down! Happy Day to all and remember all things work for good in the end!

I DIDN'T DO IT !!

"The Struggle To Juggle Art & Life"
by Darcy Altaville c.2006 all rights reserved

I must confess....I didn't do it! As for my aforementioned vow, to finish up my orphaned pieces...by Sunday....well, it just couldn't be done. I tried, and I think they know that, as they are not staring me down today - but life just got in the way. I did make some great progress and got one completed AND I must say that I finally got my supplies reorganized, so there!! I did accomplish something constructive. And the supply thing was so getting out of hand. Papers, magazines, canvases, odds and ends, everywhere! Maybe that's why my little orphans were haunting me so. To be left alone in all that arty muck! But now I am organized and on my way! Look forward to more pieces coming on http://www.BlueJudeShop.etsy.com soon, as I continue the struggle to juggle art and life! Hope everyone is off to a great creative week, whatever your endeavor may be!

Angel Needed Please...

Okay I finally opened my etsy shop! Now all I need is an angel to help me along with my sales!
This is one of the pieces you can find there, though at the moment it is only being offered as a print. Some folks have told me that it is very hard to sell prints of your art. I don't quite understand this, as I would think that it offers the consumer a great way to add art to their life and their homes without breaking their budget. Sooooo, I have offered some originals along with my prints. Now all I need is my angel! Blessings to all who support a living artist!
You can visit my etsy shop by going to
http://www.BlueJudeShop.etsy.com

Works In Progress....

This is just one of many works in progress I have going right now. These pieces hover over me from various nooks, and stare at me throughout the day, whispering thoughts of neglect. Like a broken doll, waiting to me mended and whole, they complain and cry out to be complete.

They have already told me what it is they need...what it is they are missing, but unfortunately what I'm missing, is about six extra hours to a day.
"I know, I know", I say, as I pass them by, "but just look at those dust demons (they are beyond bunnies at this point!) and that laundry there that has to be folded. You think this is easy?"

They just stare back and I know what they're thinking. You foolish woman, if only you would organize your time more. Work at a faster pace. Spend more time with us. Why do you think we come to haunt you in your dreams? You know you are GUILTY!

I just sigh and wonder which chore to conquer next. And then I think about that winning lottery ticket that I need so that I can have someone else do the dirty work and I can spend my days with my creations, guilt free. And spend entire evenings with my children, guilt free.

But a struggling artist must learn to juggle. And so I hop from one thing to the next, amidst a house of littered chaos.

A deadline, I thought today. That's what I need. A deadline. So I have sworn and vowed to myself that these poor orphan pieces, will be complete...FINITO!...by Sunday.

Now hopefully tonight, I can sleep guilt free and dream of new creations to come! Sweet Dreams All!