Set up post

Hiding old posts and starting fresh.

I sure wish I could log in to the original Black Door Studio blog. blogger keeps telling me I'm not the real owner of it. Hmmmm.

Blog neglect and little time to craft

Well, here it is January already!

I was able to squeeze in a bit of crafting over the holidays to keep my swap commitments. Few photos to show for it (I refuse to open a package I've just sealed). Between Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year, family, guests and Craft Shows every weekend it was tough.  

PLUS,

I  took on a Gi-normous (for me) project. Four, yes 4,  fleece capes for the kiddos. 

I don't sew. I don't know how to sew. I don't even pretend to know how to sew. I finished them though! 2 black fleece superhero capes and 2 pink fleece princess capes. Did I mention there were collars!?! and trim!?! scary, scary project.  The kids love them, wear them all the time and in fact, I had to do some fancy negotiating on New Year's Day to get one off the kid and into the washer. I think the Man-boy took photos but I've yet to see them. Those kids just don't hold still. I have a few shots of pink and black blurs :)

Here are a few of my crafts over the holiday and craft show season:

another spoon mirror

 

a whimsey pocket from a paper towel roll, old wallpaper and trims

 

an altered mini-composition book

 

a book thong for the mini comp book

 

another altered Rolo (they are my new addiction)

 

another 30 collage bracelets for the Holiday Craft Markets. I only have 6 left! yay!

 

a butterfly charm. These will be available in my juliajae.etsy.com shop soon

 

yep, more Rolo's

There were at least this many things that didn't get photographed. Still, not much for almost 2 months. 

I hope you all had a wonderful Holiday Season and Happy New Year!

a momentary addiction / obsession

So, somehow

I ended up making an altered Rolodex card for someone.  I pulled the blank card from my sad and abandoned rotary Rolodex holder.

 Instead of the few old business cards and contacts from the past (that were never transferred to the PDA, then the Computer and now the Smart Phone),

I imagined it filled with 

beautiful little works of art and inspiration !

I knew it would be a process to fill it up 

but though it might be a fun way to be constantly inspired by art on my desk.

So, I've started creating and swapping them!

Here are a few of my more recent pieces. As usual, I remember to take pictures of about half of the pieces that get packages and go out the door.

 

a few for an ongoing alphabet series:

       D for Down under

C for cello

                   E for eaves

I have about a dozen in my file now. It's going to take more than that to make it look even a little filled but it will be a fun, ongoing project. Even the Grandson Dylan made me one when he was over to spend the night!

Oh No!

"Put the glue stick down, 

and step away from the paper"

So, I just can't stop making paper "things". I'm not sure why. I do know that I have enough ephemera and paper bits that I could continue making those "things" every day for the rest of my life.

What I really need to do is keep making new assemblage jewelry and listing it in my etsy shop. In fact, I need to list in ALL of my etsy shops. But the paper. It calls my name from across the room.

Meanwhile, here is a small portion of my current paper obsession.

ATC's

Chunky Book 4x4 pages:

 

I won't even show you the Art Tags and Altered Rolodex cards...

time at the Studio

So, this week is the 1st official time that I'll be back at the Studio since moving into the new building. I've spent a lot of time there doing other projects, in meetings and helping with little things here and there but I haven't really had Guests. 

I'm hosting a Girls Night Out this week. We will be catching up with each other, eating treats and making Open Top Terrariums. I'm looking forward to it. I've really missed the girls. I'll be sure to take pictures ;-)

Meanwhile, I've been working on little crafts here and there to keep me going. Lots of ATC's, most of which I forget to scan or take photos of,  but a few other things as well:

This little white bag with a pleated bottom was sent through the printer as a test. I think it came out great! I was so surprised. I did have problems with one that was black ink. It smeared across the folds. I think a bag that doesn't have a pleated bottom would work better.

My 1st Altered Domino. I decided to keep it simple and just made it a magnet.

I've made quite a few more altered spoons (mirror) I keep getting requests for them. I'm not very good at remembering to take pictures.

I stumbled across a swap for altered Rolodex Cards and I remembered that I have a big rotary flip file stashed in a box. I dug it out and joined a few of the swaps and I love it! I can hardly wait until my card file fills up. What fun to have a rolodex full of art inspiration sitting right on my desk!

A couple of Halloween things:

can't get enough of these little charms:

another Rolodex card:

Halloween ATC

I need to get better at taking photos. 
I usually remember just after I've finished packaging to mail :-/

Trying...

...to get back in the swing of things 

since foot surgery, packing, moving, unpacking and physical therapy. 

Life is settling a bit and I miss my arting and crafting.

I've made and sent off quite a few things over the past few months but photos have taken a back, back, far back seat. Only a few were sitting out when I stumbled across the camera over the past couple of months.

I'll get back on track with this photo and posting thing. I just need a little re-training :)

Quick post, nothing special

Lots has been going on and I've just been squeezing in a little crafty time here and there to fulfill swap promises and obligations.

a couple of charms:

a pocket booklet:

a whimsey pocket stuffed with goodies:

some altered clothespins:

altered BINGO card:

another altered spoon, Spoon Mirror:

a bunch of ATC's, many with no picture but here a just a few:

A little all over the map but that's part of what makes them fun. 
Even us ADD types can finish them  ;o)