Alchemy Studios

Art Journal Page, "I Want To"

2009-06-17T16:30:00.000-07:00

What happens when I play

2009-05-31T10:21:00.000-07:00

As promised, I got out my art journal just to play. I ended up working--I mean, playing on a page I really couldn't stand. I like it better with the circles. I like circles just about anywhere.

Living the Handmade Life

2009-05-30T13:29:00.000-07:00

There's two ways to live the handmade life.

You can spend your days making things by hand. This is a pretty awesome way to live a handmade life, especially if your greatest source of pleasure and inspiration is making stuff.

The other way to live handmade is to actually create your life itself--day by day, choice by deliberate choice. This is my favorite way to live. Since I quit my Serious Job almost two years ago, living a handmade life has been my modus operandi--and I have never been happier.

Today it was a gorgeous Saturday morning. Eighty degrees, light blue-sky breeze, smell of cut grass. The kids and I took a walk down to the library but the hours had changed and it was closed. Instead we went to the Farmer's Market, where Maya got her face painted, Jordan got a balloon animal shaped like a dog on a leash, and I got two pounds of local asparagus. As we wandered back home, ducking under the low-hanging leaves hanging over the sidewalks, it occurred to me that when I was still living the Serious Life--a well-paid, well-insured life with funded retirement plans--then Saturdays like this were pressured and intense. Back then, I had better by-God enjoy this sliver of life, because who knew when I'd get another chance?

But in my handmade life, a life that is supported with a cleaning business and energetic healing and artwork--a life that strikes an easy balance between parenting and self-care, between earning money and serving the world, between growing and playing--I don't have to panic about a Saturday morning. I can just wander in it. And I've found it's the very freedom to stop and smell the roses that allows them to bloom.

Artwork Vs ArtPLAY

2009-05-28T23:42:00.001-07:00

I am a very lucky person. Not only does my life usually kick some serious ass in the fun department, but I am surrounded by great people. Evidence: the new Artist's Way group I'm glad to be part of. For the next 12 weeks, we're going to go through the chapters of Julia Cameron's book The Artist's Way. And we're going to do it together.

Tonight we ended up talking about the idea of play. Now, I just told you my life is seriously fun (and it is), yet I discovered in the course of conversation that I'm not always much for playing. Even when I mess around in my art journals, I call it working. I work in the garden. I work on my writing projects. I work at my sewing machine, trying to finish an art quilt before a submission deadline.

Where's the play, here? Is it just my Puritan roots? Must I kid myself that everything I'm doing is industrious? No wonder I get stressed out over things like ATC swaps.

I think I will give play just a little tiny try. Maybe for an hour or so. I think I'll get out my art journals and just goof off with some paint. See what happens. If I don't upload a picture, it's cause it was particularly serious crap. Is that okay? I hope so.

My best zine review ever

2009-05-17T19:24:00.001-07:00

What's this? You haven't picked up your copy of A Handmade Life Issue 4 yet? Well, just ask Pattie why you'll love it!

Read Pattie's review here. Need I say she made my day?

To take a look-see at HL Ish 4, please click on my Etsy shop window in the sidebar. You would extra super duper make my day if you did.

A Handmade Life Ish 4 is HERE!

2009-05-12T21:38:00.000-07:00

Yes, my friends, after many long months of hard work and anticipation, A Handmade Life Issue 4 is here! And what with the amazing artwork and essays by Pattie Mosca, Amanda Jolley, and Dawn Rice and poetry by Jim Dubois, I gotta say, Ish 4 ROX.

If you are looking for just the thing to catapult your creativity, look no further! Click on my Etsy shop in the sidebar and take home your very own copy! The Handmade Life awaits you!

Time to Show Off Your Stitching Chops!

2009-04-26T08:51:00.000-07:00

Okay, now I've done it.

After months of innocently swapping on Swap-Bot, I decided the time has come to actually create my very own swap!

I'm kicking off my hosting career with the Embroidered ATC Swap. That's right, one ATC per partner...embroidered. Or, more accurately, done in any kind of needlework. You can use one of those little cross-stitch patterns you have...do some free-form embroidering...break out the punch needle kit...draw a picture and satin stitch it...or do what I plan to do, which is finally break out one of those Sublime Stitching patterns I have and stitch away.

ATCs must be mounted on heavy interfacing or light cardstock so that they're not, you know, all floppy.

This is going to be the coolest swap EVER. Ever!! Believe it. Click on it. Join it.

Sew Saturday

2009-04-26T08:00:00.002-07:00

Fable, 9x12 inches

Yesterday was a cold, nasty, blowy day. I put in my required outdoor time by spending an hour clearing one of the last flower gardens in the back yard, and escorting my kids in a bike ride around the block. Then it was sewing time!

I have been tinkering with this mini art quilt for a while now...and finally, yesterday, the last components came together and I called it a victory. My husband said it would really look cool if it was a full-sized quilt. I gave him a dirty look.

House, 1x3 inches

Meanwhile, my 7-year-old son Jordan decided it was time to learn how to sew. I thought he meant sew like sew on a button, but actually he wanted to take on embroidery. This house is his very first project. He conceived the idea, designed the house, picked the colors and spent two almost-quiet hours with me in my sewing room working on it. Several times he said, "You know, I'm actually pretty good at this!" He actually is. I would never have considered trying to turn him on to embroidery, but it was the most peaceful Saturday afternoon in recent memory.Moms, give this one a try.

Crusade No 30: Lettering

2009-04-12T08:20:00.000-07:00

I guess we all know by now I'm bonkers for Michelle Ward's Street Team and the righteous challenges she comes up with. This month: adding words to journal pages. Come on! How in was I! With rare exceptions, I don't consider a page finished until it has words. This challenge was the perfect excuse to experiment with different ways to do lettering.

White Posca pen outlined with blue fine-tip pen.

Letters stamped on 1 inch squares courtesy of a Swap-Bot swap.

Straight-up letter stamping.

A layer of handwritten text under paint; large letters stamped with Gesso.

Art Journal Page, "Less is More"

2009-04-06T09:13:00.000-07:00

Crusade No 29: Brush Effects

2009-03-17T16:27:00.000-07:00

Oh, Michelle . You always get me playing. This time she challenged her faithful Street Team followers to get out there and play with paintbrushes! This just happens to be a technique I love to do anyhow, but for the occasion, I thought I'd really get in there and make a mess.

These two images are art journal pages. The first used a resist technique at the end to make those circles, of which I am very fond. The second page uses gesso resist, hand-carved stamps, and collage before I went wild with dry brushing. I can thank Michelle for introducing me to the gesso and the hand carving.

I used a Sharpie pen to draw the flowers and a Posca paint marker for the white lettering. I had good luck with both of these drawing over acrylic paint. Voila!

Things to Do with a Cone of Yellow Cotton Yarn

2009-03-07T16:33:00.000-08:00

Way back when, I picked up this mad huge cone of cotton yarn, ostensibly for crocheting dish towels. I quickly learned that this cone would yield about eight hundred dish towels, a project that quickly fades in interest. So, on the marathon ride home from MA to WA, I started playing around with my yarn. After two more dishcloths, I made a soap envelope (thanks Christine for the idea), and then I decided to whip me a up a funky crocheted bag. This is my fave. It is currently stuffed with some dolls I picked up from Monica Magness for beading...but I think this bag will have a long history. And it was way more fun than making another towel.

Art Journal Page, "Path to Joy"

2009-03-03T11:13:00.000-08:00

Most of this page was created in bliss while visiting my wonderful friend Christine, but while half-asleep on the plane I realized it needed another layer of acrylic paint and lettering. And voila!

Communal Art Time

2009-02-28T13:12:00.000-08:00

I don't know why, but it is exponentially more fun--and productive--to make art with a friend. In this case, my friend Christine and I spent a happy afternoon making art books with sheets of watercolor paper she was able to pick up super cheap. With such a tempting pile of paper, all it took was some waxed linen thread and a box of painting supplies to get wild and crazy.

This picture shows the front cover of Christine's book, top row on the left. She spent her afternoon making one layered, rich cover. I, on the other hand, plowed through making five books, but without anywhere near as much detail. We are both very pleased.

Zig Zag the Zine

2009-02-13T13:32:00.000-08:00

Just the other day I finished a brand-new, just-for-kicks zine I call Zig Zag. It's got funky collage art, some nifty articles, and it's just right for stuffing in a bag or purse for reading in waiting rooms (really, do you need to catch up with last September's Newsweek?), on the bus or, if you're really clever, at work (prop between pages of tech manual and you are all set).

After much deliberation, I printed it in black and white to keep it ultra cheap. So go ahead! Spoil yourself! Throw a little Zig Zag into your day!

See my Etsy shop in the sidebar if you'd like to take a closer look. Thanks!

Portion Control

2009-02-11T11:03:00.000-08:00

Only Michelle Ward and her righteous Street Team Challenges could get me to try portion control. Ha!

Inspired by her gorgeous tutorial on portion control--that is, partially covering and layering over shapes to bring out interest--I applied her visual ideas to my favorite Valentine's Day card of the season.

Now the problem is I don't want to give this Valentine away!

A Handmade Life Issue 4 Is Coming Together

2009-02-11T10:58:00.001-08:00

I am really getting excited about Issue 4. Thus far we have a passel of fantastic artists and writers chipping in to create a fabulous new Handmade Life... and it is gonna be a great one!

Just a friendly reminder to all you procrastinators out there that if you want to get in on this incredible, vibrant, inspiring publication, it's time to send me whatcha got!

If you'd like to take a closer look at Ish 2 and 3, click on the Etsy icon on the right sidebar and you can see pictures and excerpts. Issue 3 has traveled to the UK and Australia, as well as all over the US. Be a part of it!

To send submissions or for more info, please email me at robinomayberry (at) yahoo (dot) com.

Because you're worth it!

V-Day Card Party

2009-02-08T20:16:00.001-08:00

This is the ultimate in collaboration: 6 friends, a table full of art materials, and more than a dozen cards to show for it. We had a total blast playing with rubber stamps, paint and funky papers. The best part was the fabulous support we gave each other, loving every card as it was finished and held up for the ooohing and aahing.

This made for a practically perfect pre-Valentine's. Now all I need is a box of chocolates.

Crazy for Swap-Bot!

2009-02-01T10:31:00.000-08:00

Some of you observant readers may notice the new icon on the sidebar for the Swap-Bot blog. Why is Swap-Bot getting such prime real estate? Because Swap-Bot Rox!

See, I am wild for snail mail. I check the mail every day thinking there might be something fun in there. It's like Christmas six days a week. Because I love little packages so much, I have the bad habit of ordering little this-and-thats from Etsy or eBay or Amazon, just to keep the fun going. This is how my space has become overrun and my finances have become challenged.

But ah! to swap! I get something, I give something away. All it costs is postage. I get to meet cool folks, share my stuff, AND look forward to thrills in the mailbox!

Swap-Bot! Rox!

Crazy Fabric Art, "Spiral Dance"

2009-01-29T17:53:00.001-08:00

I made this piece for Michelle Ward's Street Team Challenge, Shape Up, which requires playing with a favorite shape for a while to see where things go. I thought I'd mess around with circles, because I love circles, but before I knew it my circle had become a spiral, and I was having a ball with it.

Spiral Dance was constructed from snips of fabric and lots of wacky beads on painted canvas. I had to give in to a fabric art compulsion after spending lots of time with Alma Stoller's zines. So in a way, this lil honey is a tribute to two of my fave artistes!

Now Accepting Submissions for A Handmade Life Ish 4

2009-01-08T08:33:00.000-08:00

Hello my friends!

I know you are all wildly talented and for that reason, I would like to invite you to contribute to the excellent zine (if I dare say so myself!) A Handmade Life.

This issue will be focusing on the theme of Collaboration and Community.

A Handmade Life is a zine dedicated to living creatively--both by actually engaging in creative activities, and by living life in a way that feels authentic and worthwhile. I would love to see written material about:

Experiences with swaps
Co-ops and other community projects
Freecycling
Creativity groups
Collaborative art projects
Guerrila art
Or whatever collaboration and community means to you.

Also! HL would not be the righteous zine that it is without the awesome eye candy that previous contributors have tossed in the pot. Truly there has been some great work featured in the past, and I expect Issue 4 to be better than ever!

A Handmade Life is laser-printed, saddle-stitched and gorgeous. It runs around 44 pages. Issue 3 has traveled the globe, finding homes as far away as the UK and Australia! To see more of previous issues, please click on the Etsy link in the sidebar.

All contributors will receive three contributor copies, plus a small gift from me for joining the fun.

Please email contributions to me at robinomayberry (at) yahoo (dot) com. If you prefer snail mail then please contact me for a mailing address.

Date due: February 14th, 2009.

Come collaborate with me!

Art Journal Page, "Courage"

2009-01-06T08:13:00.001-08:00

More Soldering Fun (plus tutorial!)

2008-12-07T19:38:00.000-08:00

After all the fun I was having with the ornaments, I just couldn't stop. My next trick was to make little 2x2 collages and solder me up some keychains.

I don't usually do the tutorial thing, but in the interest of the upcoming holiday I will. I have to say these little ditties are quick, easy and--if I dare say--adorable.

The biggest expense involved is the soldering iron. You can use the soldering irons found in hardware stores (or the closest manly woodshop), but if you can spare it, spring for one in the craft store with a flat tip, like a screwdriver. Mine is Simply Swank brand and yes, I just got the whole dang kit.

Other than the soldering iron, you need:

metallic tape
solder
flux
clamps
two 2x2 pieces of glass (I used Memory Keepers)
collage images
cardstock cut in 2x2 squares

1. Collage images on cardstock. Don't worry too much about using heavy-duty adhesive as the glass will hold the collage in place.

2. Sandwich collage between the glass pieces. If necessary, trim the collage so that no paper goes outside the glass.

3. Use the metallic tape to completely tape around all four sides of your glass sandwich, trying to keep it even between the front and the back.

4. Fold down and burnish the tape on the front and back of the glass. At the corners, tuck the tape in like you would wrapping paper and fold under. Smooth the tape and trim with a craft knife if necessary.

5. Heat up the soldering iron.

6. Use your clamp to set the piece up perpendicular to your work surface. You want the edge to be level when you work.

7. Paint the area you are about to solder with flux. (If you forget to use the flux, your solder will not flow smoothly. Even after soldering, you can repaint the area with flux and run the iron over the surface again.)

8. Starting at one corner, touch the solder to the metallic tape and melt off a drop with the soldering iron. Run the soldering iron along the edge of the tape to create a smooth line of solder. It dries within a second or two.

9. Small amounts of solder should drip along the sides. Using the clamp, turn your piece on its side (again, keep it level while working) and run the soldering iron along each side to cover the metallic tape with solder.

10. Carefully remove the clamp (glass may be hot), turn the piece so the next side is up, and repeat.

11. Be generous with the flux! When you've finished, if anything looks lumpy or thin, just repaint with flux and run over it again.

12. Now the tricky part: the jump ring. Clamp the piece so that it's upright. Paint top edge with flux. Drop one drop of solder along the edge. Paint with flux again. Using pliers or hemostats grasp the jump ring with one hand and touch the soldering iron to the solder. As it melts, press the jump ring into the melted solder. It's quick and might take one or two tries. If your jump ring ends up crooked or in the wrong place, just melt it back off. The soldering iron will not melt the metal in the jump ring.

13. For a chain, I used Tim Holtz's swivel chains which were pretty darn perfect, but you could use ball chains or whatever else strikes your fancy.

These keychains were really really fun. I hope someone else wants to give it a try! If you do, I hope you'll leave a comment or even better a picture on your blog. Give it a whirl!

Gesso Sprout

2008-11-29T21:29:00.000-08:00

This is an experiment with using gesso both under and over paint. First I painted a page with watercolor, then stamped with gesso, dried the gesso and painted over it all with a contrasting watercolor color.

When the whole thing was dry I painted the sprout.

I do find myself moving away from cut-and-paste collage and into the scary world of painting or drawing my own images. There's something raw and vital about making up my own pictures, even when they aren't as cool or detailed or colorful as something I could cut from a collage sheet. I'm not ready to completely lay down the scissors just yet, but "Sprout" is a member of this new generation of Robin-originals.

This piece courtesy of Michelle Ward and her latest challenge : playing with gesso in new ways.

My newest obession

2008-11-23T19:48:00.000-08:00

Last week my friend Stacy invited me over to solder ornaments with her. Being an altered art fiend, I happily accepted--and now look. A new craze. I had to go right down to the craft store and get my soldering iron, flux, collage sheets and pre-cut glass. I got a glass cutter, too, but that's currently over my head.

This soldering thing is truly cool, I must say. Perfect for those small-yet-thoughtful Christmas gifts that are always in short supply. It's totally addictive to be running the solder around trying to get it just so. I told myself I would only do it after the kids were in bed (can I trust them anywhere near a soldering iron?) but this morning I heated up the soldering iron while the coffee pot was running. I couldn't help myself.

These ornaments have not been beaded yet. I'll hang beads from the bottom and string ribbon on the top, and viola! a righteous ornament.

Thanks, Stacy. I love a fresh new craft for Christmas.

These