Live Art Bites

Fabulous Birthday Necklace

2008-05-13T08:26:00.000-04:00

I got this fabulous necklace from my friend Caryn for my birthday last month! The pictures really don't do it justice - it's a hex removal and prevention talisman. It was wonderfully wrapped in a decorated altoids box and wrapped in thin text pages from a Chinese book. I love, love, love everything about it and have worn it and received many complements - she has more jewelry in her etsy shop so be sure to check out the top hand etsy shop here.

First Squidoo Article on Creating a Walnut Ink Sample Book

2008-05-12T11:36:00.000-04:00

Wow! It's been forever since I've posted and a lot has happened but I'll spare you the gory details! I've just published my first Squidoo lens. Not sure exactly how the money making side of it works, but all of any meager proceeds that I may have are going to National Public Radio (100%).
The first Squidoo article is an abbreviatied version of the walnut ink sample book found on the Anima Designs website. I hope to be able to create more articles, including some new content also, very soon.

1000 Handmade Greeting Cards - Call for Entries

2008-02-03T09:39:00.000-05:00

This was sent to me and I thought I'd post it here for all interested. You can also see it on the Quarry Books website here

1000 Handmade Greeting Cards -- Call for Entries

12/17/2007
Publishing Opportunity SEEKING ARTISTS AND CONTRIBUTORS

THE SPONSOR

 Rockport Publishers/Quarry Books is an international publisher of high-quality visual and idea books for design professionals and creative enthusiasts--crafters, artists, and designers.
 

THE BOOK

 We are seeking project contributors for an upcoming book tentatively titled

1000 Handmade Greeting Cards

. The book will feature handmade greeting cards using a variety of media and styles. The emphasis is on the handcrafted card--computer-generated cards will not be considered.
 

WHAT IS ELIGIBLE

Watercolors, acrylics or any painted media
Block prints, silkscreens, or stamped cards
Drawing and calligraphy
Paper art and scrapbooking techniques
Photography
Hand-sewn or hand-stitched cards
Collage and mixed media, anything from paper, plastic, and fabric to natural and found objects
The sky’s the limit as long as it's handmade

WHAT TO SEND

 Please email a SMALL jpg photograph (under 1 MB) of your piece to the author listed below.
There is no entry fee, and you may submit multiple designs. Please include your complete contact information in the email and a short description of the techniques used to create each piece. You will be notified if your pieces are selected for final publication at which point you will need to send the actual piece for photography. Professional quality high-res photographs on CD are also acceptable. (Electronic Submission Guidelines will be provided at that time.)
Contributors will be credited on the page their work appears and in the artist directory. Contributors will have the opportunity to purchase copies of the book for 50% discount.
 

RETURN POLICY

 All cards are non-returnable.

FOR SUBMISSIONS AND INFORMATION CONTACT:

laura.mcfadden@rcn.com
 

REQUIREMENTS

 Projects should be original, beautiful, unique, and ingenious. If your entry is selected, it will be printed in full color with a caption.

DEADLINE:

 MARCH 15, 2008 Though selections will begin immediately so don't wait!

Indie Arts DVD and Susan Lewis Storey

2008-02-03T09:20:00.000-05:00

I just found this site for Indie Arts DVD which is apparently issued quarterly. Check out their site for previews of artists interviews and more. While on their site, I found a short video clip for a multi-media artist (her term), Susan Lewis Storey. You can also visit her website and blog. I've already added her to the Anima Designs blogroll

Quilt Art Day of the Dead Challenge

2008-02-03T08:56:00.000-05:00

It's a few years old but check out the art quilts in this day of the dead challenge. You can find it here

What could be better than an ejector office chair?

2008-02-01T10:57:00.000-05:00

What could be better than this ejector chair for your office? (especially for annoying visitors!)

It's genuinely recycled from an airplane and is touted as focused toward the aviation buff, but I think this is a gift for everyone!
Read more about it here

Check out Bovey Lee Paper Cuts from Rice Paper

2008-02-01T01:24:00.000-05:00

These images are hand-cut from rice paper by Bovey Lee, a native of Hong Kong, who know resides in Pittsburgh. See more of this artist's work here and here

Fusing Plastic Bags -- the Ultimate in Recycling!

2008-01-31T17:31:00.000-05:00

I found these instructions on etsy today for fusing grocery bags to make material to use in other items -- like cool totes, etc.

http://etsylabs.blogspot.com/2007/05/long-overdue-fusing-plastic-bag.html

The instructions seem pretty straight forward. Perhaps I'll give it a whirl this weekend.

For more "high fashion" from this material, check this out:

You can find an article about this here (SLiK Nonwovens
Textiles made from recycled plastic bags. - it's a few years old but still cool.)

Earrings & Grandmothers - Not Necessarily in that Order

2008-01-26T09:27:00.000-05:00

This is a photo of some fabulous earrings that my friend Caryn made and sent to me. Sorry that they're so blurry but it isn't easy taking a picture of your own ear on an imac webcam! The center portion is a screw and the gemstone briolette is laboradorite, a really beautiful and subtle stone used for protection.

I woke up this morning very much missing my grandmother who has been gone since the 70's. It's funny how memory works. I don't have any pictures of her on the imac. I'll have to dig them out and scan one and post it here.

I was reading the glass doorknob blog and she's talking about good movies that she's seen -- this was one of the best ones that I saw in 2007:

It was also one of the saddest so if you get to see it, bring kleenex. It's visually stunning and heartbreaking -- it's called Water. It centers around the residents of one of India's widow houses, a practice that survives today. It is an unforgettable film.

Now I think I need coffee -- I don't drink it that often but I got Peet's last night at the grocery store. (Since Caryn turned me on to it, this is my little tribute to her.)

Have a great weekend!

Just in Time for the Valentine's Day

2008-01-25T15:41:00.000-05:00

Wow! I know it's been a while since I've posted to Live Art Bites (more frequent updates to the Anima Designs blog!) but Martha seems to have an irresistible project for Valentine's Day that looks simple and easy to create

Crayon hearts -- be sure to see the instructions here

I've found a wonderful website with all sorts of handcrafty goodness called Whip-Ups. Be sure to read their manifesto. Lots of their projects feature recycled items.

The Glass Doorknob has been sponsoring a winter white photo shoot this week. Too late to participate but be sure to visit the flickr set for some really cool winter photos.

I've spent the better part of the last two days, reorganizing my home computer room/studio (not much space for that at present, however). I did manage to get my all in one printer/scanner hooked up to the imac. It's pretty speedy but I don't think it will do 3-D stuff that well. Still, I was able to get some mags up for my 99 cent ebay auction in record time!

More later!

More Photobooth

2007-11-30T09:42:00.000-05:00

Check out (and participate in) the Photobooth Friday flickr group:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/photoboothfriday/pool/

Upside Down Christmas Tree

2007-11-30T09:33:00.000-05:00

I've seen this on quite a few blogs and seems to me that I saw this last year also. It's a cool idea . . . thinking outside of the box and all.

Great book arts site leading to artist's websites

2007-11-29T10:19:00.000-05:00

This website was given to me recently by Lily in our book arts group.

In particular, check out links to Judith Hoffman. She has lots of great books and art and a great blog.

http://www.cecilia-letteringart.com/artistbooks/artistbookgallery.html

Motionbox offers Motionbooks!

2007-11-15T23:17:00.000-05:00

Motionbox is offering a way to convert your favorite videos into flip books for a very reasonable price. These cute pocket-sized flip books would make great stocking stuffers. See here for more info. No affiliation -- I just think they're cool.

Moo/Flickr Holiday Card Competition

2007-11-09T16:47:00.000-05:00

See this message below from Moo:

Visit the card competition --- funds raised are shared with one of my favorite charities: Doctors Without Borders!

Share your images, buy cards, win prizes! (Competition is now through December 1st)

The holidays are all about sharing, so we’ve developed the People-Powered Holiday Card Store, so the whole community can share their favorite Holiday-themed images and make amazing Holiday Cards that are truly one of a kind.

To launch the store we’re staging a Super-Duper Holiday Card competition and every entry to the competition will be added to the store. So, you’ll not only be in with a chance of winning a cool $2,000, you’ll also be contributing to an awesome world-first community card store.

In addition, MOO will donate $1 to Médecins Sans Frontières for every pack of Holiday Cards sold.

Saving Gocco - NY Times Article

2007-11-06T07:04:00.000-05:00

Wow! It's been a while since I've posted -- lots of family and health issues to deal with so this one is just a tiny bit old. Ever since Riso announced that it was discontinuing one of my all time favorite art tools, the gocco printer, there has been an internet movement underfoot to SAVE GOCCO.
The NY Times recently published an article on the Cult of Gocco. It hasn't been revived yet but according to the article, “The market uproar has caused us to re-evaluate the product,” Murphy (of Riso) says cautiously. “It’s not dead, and it’s not alive. It’s in something of a contemplation stage.” The Save Gocco crowd hasn’t won yet, then, but it has certainly made a comatose technology seem healthier than it has been in years."

Check the news on the SAVE Gocco website. It seems that subsequent to the NY Times article, production of some machines has resumed in Japan and the wet paint website reports that it has plenty of the PG-5 machines and supplies in stock!

Note that the illustration on the left is Peter Arkle

Check out Diigo!

2007-10-14T10:03:00.000-04:00

There's a beta test of a new bookmarking and tagging site out: www.diigo.com Similar to del.icio.us but with a lot of great features, diigo lets you add sticky notes to any page, highlight passages of text or blog your clippings and notes with just a couple of clicks. I've signed up for a free account and will share some of the results as soon as I get a little further into it.

love, love, love, love, love.......

2007-10-08T14:20:00.001-04:00

love, love, love, love, love.......
Originally uploaded by alteredimagery

Karen Michel is now doing this altered arts images. Be sure to see more on her flickr account and visit her weblog also!

Everything's Coming up Halloween!

2007-10-08T13:59:00.000-04:00

I love all things Halloweenie so here's a discovery for today. Melissa Cobb Hubbell has a Halloween-focused issue of her Erraticus Zine on sale at Etsy. I'm ordering mine today!

Be sure to check out her blog too!

Susan Lenart Kazmer's New Book

2007-10-02T18:18:00.001-04:00

If you're not familiar with her work, go immediately to www.susanlenartkazmer.net

Susan is a fabulous jewelry and mixed media artist. Her new book, which will be out in January 2008 is available for presale on her website (I think you save $8.00 by preordering). She now has a store with some cool jewelry-making supplies also!

Day of the Dead Resources

2007-09-28T13:05:00.000-04:00

As the celebration for the Mexican day of the dead (Dia de los Muertos) approaches, we thought we'd assemble some resources for you to use. For those unfamiliar, this is a celebration of life, regeneration and ancestral honor.

Maria Fowler at azcentral.com has assembled an extensive collection of resources at their site including videos, slideshows, photos, craft projects and more (including a video on building your own day of the dead altar) You can spend some time reviewing these resources here

Claudine Helmuth was on Martha!

2007-09-27T19:02:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite artists (and people) was on Martha Stewart on September 15th making her "sitting pretties" project. You can see the video and instructions here.

Squidoo --- Easily Make Your Own Page on Any Topic!

2007-09-25T09:26:00.000-04:00

I was doing some internet research on shrines for a upcoming project in our mixed media group when I discovered squidoo (see my original link on squidoo shrines here.

Squidoo is a way of sharing your knowledge with the world . . . looks easy to do and it's free. I may be posting some of the tutorials that I've created here. Looks like a great resource.

Stella Waitzkin: Resin Book Sculptures

2007-09-25T08:59:00.000-04:00

Stella Waitzkin creates her book sculptures from polyester resin. See more of her work on her site here

Sterling Memorial Library - pop-up artist book

2007-09-25T08:56:00.001-04:00

Sterling Memorial Library

Originally uploaded by

chiffonade

An artist book from the collection at the Sterling Memorial Library in New Haven CT. Their collection of artists books looks like its worthwhile visiting!