As I left for work this morning, I had to grab a lightweight jacket, as the morning air was a little "crispy". I looked into the front lawn and noticed the leaves that had dropped to the ground over night. Yep, fall is here!

I love it! The cooler air, the beautiful colors and the smell of burning leaves make this season a favorite for me. Its almost more of a renewal to my psyche than the coming of Spring. I always feel more inspired when the cooler weather hits, as far as my art and crafting goes.

Take a little bit of this and a little bit of that ~ what do ya get? An Altered Art Collage'! I started this project right before school began, on a muggy August day, then got busy with preparing to go back to work. I put it aside to finish when things slowed down and I could get back to it.

The photo above captures the true colors with actual depth, layering and sheen of the work. Keep in mind that the water was collage using different colors of tissue paper. I employed one of my favorite photo transfer techniques for two vintage photos used and the actual boat scene was a torn up print that I decoupaged into this. The background was paint, my own handwriting and tissue paper, too. The key was to layer, layer, layer! I love the way it turned out. With collage, there are no mistakes ~ you can always "fix" them.

Perhaps I will be able to offer a workshop on all of the techniques I used in this piece, someday. Let me know how you like it!

Here is my entry for this week's challenge over with Jana and Rosemary at the Order of the Opus-Gluei. This week's theme was "National Sewing Month", so sew some seams, I did. (alliteration intended here!)

This is my daughter's Halloween Costume for this year. The pattern is from Simplicity - #3685. Of course we had to substitute fabric, as an exact match wasn't available in our local fabric stores. Once the jacket grommets are in to lace up the red ribbon and she adds a can-can slip under the full circular skirt of the dress, it will hang just right and be so cute!

Beware though - this pattern is NOT for a beginning seamstress. They are very fitted and experienced level of knowledge in sewing would be necessary to complete these garments. Even though I am a very experienced seamstress, the garments took over sixteen hours to complete and that was with my daughter's help on cutting the fabric and pressing seams open.




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Just thinking about how rainy days can bring a person down. I guess I've been spoiled by the beautiful weather we've been experiencing and today has been yukky, weather wise. It makes a difference on a person's attitude and temperament - I do believe.

Despite the weather, I wasn't deterred from my project this week. I've been working on a 16" x 20" Altered Art canvas. On this particular project I have taken a pix of every step along the way so I have a record of the process. Stay tuned, folks. I think it might be finished tomorrow??? I'll post a pix when it's finished and framed.

Happy Autumn, Everyone! In the spirit of a new season's start, I am holding a Fun Fall Giveaway. The winner will receive a handmade altered art piece from me, signed and dated. I will be giving "hints" in the next week as to what is you might win, but I assure you it is a "one-of-a kind" piece that captures the essence of Autumn and Halloween.

All you have to do is be one of my followers and leave a comment below this post. There will be a random number drawing on October 1st. Good luck, everyone!

Just in time for Fall! Two of my mystery games went live over the weekend; the "Mardi Gras Masquerade" and "Mayday, Mayday... Murder". These last two games took most of the summer to complete. I'm hoping to Have "Twisted" finished by October 1st. To read all about these games and see what others are offered check out Red Herring Games...

It seems that I can only put 3 pictures at a time up on the blog.... So enjoy the fruits of my labor. Each tag on the inside front pockets (4) are decorated front and back. Each little piece of candy corn on the niche area were painstakingly cut out individually, varnished, glued and re- varnished for the final effect. This book was a challenge, but a joy that will be treasured for years to come!

After two weeks of work, my Altered Halloween Book is finished! Hands have cramped, fingers are numb, but I really feel I captured the Halloween remembrances from times past and the jovial spirit of Halloween as a child. I have many more pixes, but it's a big hassle to put them all up at once.... Stay tuned - tomorrow even more photos of my be-dazzled, be-stitched, be-ribboned, be tagged Bewitching Book!

I can not begin to explain the amount of work that went into this endeavor. Each piece was precisely thought out and meticulously cut to into place. I struggled with the placement of the handmade beads but decided to include them into the front spine of the book to add a hidden sparkle. Putting them all along the front and back covers was just too "over the top".
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Hello my Friends,

Thought I would give you a glimpse of my altered book. This thing has intensified.... I've done, re-done, re-thought, but it seems to be coming together. There is a lot of intricate hand work involved in this monstrosity, but I think when it's finished it will be something that I will be very satisfied with.

I will share what is done to the outside cover so far and my plan for the large niche'. There are other surprises to come on the inside; even though its a front cover and one niche". (I decided to only have one niche' and do something with the front inside cover for some "surprise"). I re-did the bead work and removed the beading while working on the inside of the book. I reattached a couple of them for the photos. Enjoy and remember that this is my own creation...please do not copy my ideas.

(Notice the heavy glitter on the background of the niche' piece...sometimes it's frosty on

Halloween!)

This will entail "The Spirit of Halloween" when I'm finished!!!

I made significant progress on my newest endeavor, an altered book. Actually, my hands are cramping from all of the intricate bead work going all around the front and back covers. Having time yesterday to plan exactly how I wanted to do everything was helpful, then a trip to the craft store to buy the supplies and double check my plan of action made it all fall into place when it came time to do the work... helped my brain, but boy do the ol' hands ache this evening.

The base of the book is completed inside with two niche' front and back. My plan is to have hidden pockets within the front cover that hold 4 over sized decorated tags. The book front and back are about half-way completed with the bead work, applied fabric to the spine that overlaps the front and back. It's all here in my head and I can see it as I type, but hard to explain. I'll try to take a quick shot of it tomorrow to share with those who are interested. For now, I must bid ado.

My RHS Ladies Club is back in action today, after our 2 month hiatus for summer. We're having our annual White Elephant Auction! I'm hosting and am ready for a fun afternoon. We wrap up our "goodies", give a starting bid and a cryptic clue as to what it is. No one knows for sure what they're bidding on until it is paid for and unwrapped! It is a lot of fun and it is one of our major fun-raisers for our Chapter's Treasury. Of course everything we spend is eventually spent back for our merry-making on future parties and expenses. Just incase you're wondering, we are not your typical RHS group... Our members range from 26 - 57, we get rowdy and love to have fun. Our motto is "What is said or done in the Chapter, stays in the Chapter".... everyone can be themselves in a bond of "Sisterhood".

I'll let you all in on what I've wrapped up for this afternoon's event. From down in my basement, I found a wooden "country" cat and a 2 liter "Hardees" thermos. Then from my attic, I dug around and found the most wonderful item, ever...a never opened plug-in Carbon Monixide tester and just what every gal might need: An emergency kit for when you have a fight with your spouse - all in a can...again-never opened. The unopened things are my "high" ticket items!!!!! Starting bid $2 and $3 .....LOL

The Auctioneer can make or break sales and one of our members volunteers every year to do it. She is the best and makes the most of every item! Usually on this deal we make enough to fund our Halloween Party w/spouses, our November meeting and December Christmas Party.

Oops, better get going...almost ime to get my snacks ready. The gals should start arriving in about 1/2 an hour. Cheers!

There is one good thing about going back to work after a three day weekend.... you have that Monday feeling on a Tuesday! That means when you are eating lunch on the next day, the work week is half in!!!!!

Started a "new" project today...another altered book. This one will only have two pages, one of which will be a deep niche' for a very embellished 3-D element. I'll keep you posted on the progress, but I don't want to give away any "spoilers". The only hint I'll give out right now is that the main colors will be black and orange.

My progress on the "Transylvanian Twist" mystery script has been slow but sure. I managed to spend a few hours over the weekend doing some edits and have advanced on into the next two characters. It is my goal to have the main body of work completed by the middle of next week. I hope to have it out in time for Halloween sales.

Lots going on, here, so stayed tuned for further developments!!!!

It is my hope that I will get back on track with this blog! After a very busy summer hiatus from Craftola and my new position at work, I am feeling refreshed, ready to get back into my blogging.

This week I finished an altered art book. What started with a "bind your own book" kit, this evolved into a Gypsy's Journal. Maybe because from my travels this summer and feeling free to roam? Who knows, but it was a fun project for me.

I used some techniques in this journal I've never tried before, including hand sewing a sound element with the bells and matte medium transfer with heat. I was very pleased with the quality of most of the transfers. My Gypsy journal is not only pretty, it has the sound of a tambourine when you pick it up.

Here are some pixes from my "Gypsy" book. I am going to also post these to O.G. in this week's challenge. Enjoy!