Fighting Fear Fridays – May 4th

Posted on May 4, 2012 by lindakaysart

and let it go

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!

I have been blogging about my “Fighting Fear Fridays” for nearly 2 months now. I think it is time for another Fear Release!

So, on Wednesday, May 16th, I will be holding a “Fear Release Celebration!”

Waiting for THE hour.

Won’t you join me?

Circle this date!

Mark it on your calendar! Save the date!

Plan your celebration and be sure to let me know if you are joining in.

I know that I sure need it! I have had some pretty big fears building up in me lately. I know I could use a release, some lightening of the load I carry on my shoulders and a pair of shoes that have caused me a lot of fear, pain and unwelcome change of routine. (Hint: these shoes will play a big part in my “Fear Release Celebration”!)

The culprit!

There are lots of ways you can participate. Here are a few suggestions:

1. ~ Write your fears on a piece of paper and release it to the wind. (We tried that the first time with mixed results).

2. ~ Write your fear on a piece of paper and tie it to a helium balloon and release that. (Mine was only somewhat successful and I worried about it littering the forest preserve near my home. (more fears)).

3. ~ Write it on a piece of paper with lemon juice. Only you will know what it really says and burn it.

4. ~ Write it out on a canvas, cover it with gesso and paint and create something beautiful our of your fears.

5. ~ Use some wish paper, light it and watch it  gently float away! Click here for a link to the Flying Wish Paper website .

6. ~ Create a prayer flag with your fears written on it and tie it onto a tree, fence or clothes line outside and let the wind take your fears away and the sun will fade them ever so slowly. Click on this link from “How to Make Your Own Prayer Flag” on E-How.com. Here is another link to click on if you want to see some examples of really pretty ones. Prayer Flags at Idllywild. Scroll down a bit on this link to see the amazing photos!

If you come up with a unique idea, please share that here. You might just be an inspiration to someone who really needs it.

Have a great weekend!

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Mixed Media Mondays ~ April 30th

Posted on April 30, 2012 by lindakaysart

Mixed Media Collage "Straight of Spades"

Recently, I read an on-line friend’s blog about how she connects with her artistic community in her neighborhood. She is fortunate to be able to have several locations that support independent artist and creative people in her city. She live in an area where the population is much smaller than were I live. It got me to thinking, being in the Chicago suburbs, there have got to be a multitude of possibilities here.

A felted patch for my friend Sara

Before I started roaming aimlessly, I thought I would do a little on-line research. I know of several second hand shops in my neighborhood, but I want to save those for a future field trip like post. So, I thought I would go for the Big Dogs of art ~ a couple of our wonderful art museums.

We have one of the best art museums in the world right in down town Chicago, the Art Institute of Chicago. I could spend whole days lingering over their vast collections. My favorite section is the Impressionist collection, popular with most everyone. It is always a busy gallery. Just one day I would like to have it to myself so I could ponder the thoughts behind the artists’ visions.

Collaged Butterfly necklace set

Currently the Art Institute has an interesting exhibit called “Fashioning the Object: Bless, Boudicca and Sandra Blacklund“. It is an exhibit of some very outstanding fashion designers and their work. Why include them in Mixed Media Mondays? Because of their use of everyday materials and their influence of culture, fashion and everyday people. It looks like an outstanding exhibit, one I hope to visit very soon.

Two Swans

Another gem of a museum here in Chicago, it the Museum of Contemporary Art. It is located in the Magnificent Mile area, just a few blocks from the hustle and bustle of high end shopping near Water Tower Place. This modern museum is full of mixed media art! I was there last fall to see the exhibit “Pandora’s Box: Joseph Cornell Unlocks the MCA Collection“. Joseph Cornell is a big influence in my own art and it was a rare opportunity to see up close some of his many shadow boxes compared to other modern artists’s work. It was an impressive display of mixed media art, and one I keep recalling vividly.

Currently, they have a program for teens that I am very impressed with! It is called “Teens Creative Agency“, or TCA for short. I believe that young people need to have art in their lives in order to connect and makes sense of this world. This program reaches out to teens in so many ways, with the hope of creating art leaders and ambassadors. They connect with all the favorite on-line medias, Facebook, Twitter and Tumbler. They offer discussion groups, behind the scenes tours and work days where a teen is paired with a museum colleague to work along side for the day. Pretty powerful stuff! I hope it catches on and other art centers follow their lead.

I am sure there are even more creative arts connections to be found. I think the fun part is finding them. I’ll share more of my treasure hunt as I go along. I would love to hear about your own creative arts connections in your areas. Who knows, maybe I’ll run into you there someday…

Have a wonderful week! Come see me on Friday for an announcement for a Fighting Fear Friday event.

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Fighting Fear Fridays ~ April 27th

Posted on April 27, 2012 by lindakaysart

Spring Phlox in my front yard

I am posting this a bit late today. I hope you won’t be disappointed because today I have something special to share with you.

Catherine Just is one of my class mates in the Hello Soul, Hello Business e-course that I am taking. Catherine is a wonderful photographer, who also offers e-courses on her website, runs retreats and mentors women to live a more Soul Full life. She is a very warm and giving lady!

Recently she wrote a post about “Becoming Fearless” and I naturally had to read it. You see, Catherine too has been facing a lot of fears, a lot bigger than most people face and she has found a very positive way to put a spin on it. Instead of letting fear fill you up, she has learned to replace it with love. I had never thought about this before and found it rather revolutionary. It seems so simple, fill your heart with love and there is no room left over for anything else, let alone fear. Wow! I love that!

Catherine offers us 10 useful tips on how to become fearless. I encourage you to visit her blog and see how you too can become fearless.

Here is a link to her “Becoming Fearless” blog post:  http://www.catherinejust.com/2012/04/qa-thursday-becoming-fearless/

Here is a link to her beautiful photo gallery:  http://www.catherinejust.com/photography/

And a link to her e-course and retreats. I am signed up for her Soul Full Summit that starts later this summer. Maybe you will want to join us too.   http://www.catherinejust.com/e-courses/ It looks like it will be packed full of inspirations, good advice and lots of fun. I am looking forward to it!

Come back next Monday for more Mixed Media Mondays! Have a wonderful weekend!

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Mixed Media Mondays ~ April 23rd

Posted on April 22, 2012 by lindakaysart

Tag Art Collection

I love being able to find new ways of reusing materials in different and unusual ways. About 4 years ago, I needed to find a way to bring people into my art fair booth and decided to demo some collage. I didn’t want to just collage paper bits, that was too common and the wind would have blown the bits and pieces all around. So what I decided on was to use something that everyone had but just hates, … clothing tags.

I can’t stand those things sticking me in the back of my neck, back of my waist or left side! I routinely cut them out of my clothes and sometimes find that they are quite beautiful in their own right. Have you ever noticed? As I had a growing collection of these pesky little tags, I thought they would be great for making something. So, I came up with the idea of using these tags to create fashion statement art work that I could work on and hopefully bring people into my booth. I was just starting my creative arts business, so I wasn’t especially busy, but needed to “look like” I was!

I must tell you it worked like a charm. I prepped a canvas, worked up a design and a plan so it would go smoothly. I needed to be sure I had everything I would need because I couldn’t go home to get more supplies, but I also knew I didn’t have quite enough tags to complete my design. That is when it hit me ~ I could ask visitors to donate their tags!

Tag Art T-Shirt

It was so much fun explaining to people my process and show them how I went about collaging, and when they lingered a bit, I asked them if they would like to donate to my collage. Most everyone said “YES”! I snipped off their tags and glued them onto my canvas right then and there! Now they were part of my art! What a hoot! They were pleased and sent others to come see what I was doing with tags.

sorted tags

pretty tags

Now I gladly accept clean clothing tags to incorporate into my work. I have 3 small containers that I sort them into by color. I have a customer named Susan, who resells used clothing and we meet once a year to exchange goodies at a coffee shop. I get her tags and she gets a thank you gift! Win ~ Win! We both are quite giddy as we sort and talk about the stories behind these tags, pick out especially colorful ones and laugh at ourselves. It is fun to connect with Susan in this way.

Susan's donation

Recently, I came across another artist who also uses clothing tags in her work, but in a much different way. Helena is from Portugal, loves beautiful fabrics and makes the sweetest little hand bags.   She uses clothing tags to make darling little purses that she stitches together, embroiders and embellishes. I find them so charming and am delighted to be able to share them here with you.

Here is a link to her shop: http://en.dawanda.com/shop/microbio?order=best_rated&page=1#products

Here are her 2 clothing tag bags she currently has listed in her shop: http://en.dawanda.com/product/23778589-Upcycled-Cloth-Labels-Pouch-Flea-collection

and: http://en.dawanda.com/product/23778765-Upcycled-Cloth-Labels-Pouch-Flea-collection

And here is her blog: http://microbio-noar.blogspot.com/

I love connection with artist who understand my obsession of tags!

Que linda! Obrigada Helena para a partilha!

Marie in pink

I started a series of smaller canvases last year that was inspired by the movie “Marie Antoinette” by Sofia Coppola. This movie is a candy-like feast for the eyes. If you haven’t seen it, I encourage you to gather your BFFs, some great noshing goodies and maybe even some champagne and enjoy! Some of my little treasures are on display and for sale at the Arts in Bartlett Creative Arts Center. One was even in a small exhibit with some of the members of Arts in Bartlett last month.

I hope you enjoyed my little bits of inspiration today. Have a great week & come back next Monday for something new!

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Fighting Fear Friday ~ April 20th

Posted on April 19, 2012 by lindakaysart

Fly Tribe Necklace

Everyone has fears. They are an unavoidable part of life. How we deal with these fears is totally up to each of us. We can hide our heads in the sand, learn to live with it or act with quiet grace.

My friend Renee Burke of Happily Ever After by Renee Burke, LLC.,  has chosen the later. She lives her life with compassion, honesty and grace. She chooses to treat fear in the same manner. When life gets throws her a curve ball, she gracefully catches it and releases it with love in her heart. That’s one of the many reasons I like Renee so much.

Fly Tribe Necklace

I met Renee through my “Flying Lessons” course and she is one of my “Fly Tribe Girlfriends”. Renee creates mixed media art and hand stamped jewelry and hopes to inspire others with her thoughtful work. (Renee made the Fly Tribe necklace in the photo above.) She endeavors to  treat others with kindness and integrity. She finds strength by connecting with others.

Here is a link to her website. I am sure she would be thrilled if you paid her a visit.

http://happilyeverafterbyreneeburke.wordpress.com/

Recently she added an especially pretty necklace to her Etsy shop. It really caught my eye and inspired my post today. She named it “Fear Less. Love More”. I think it is a fitting way to live life and find your soulful way. I can really learn a lesson from Renee here by filling in those dark, empty fearful places with more love.

Here is a link to her Etsy shop. Read what she wrote about this piece.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/97806689/fear-lesslove-more-hand-stamped-necklace?ref=v1_other_1

I hope it fills your day with love, like it has mine!

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Mixed Media Mondays ~ April 16th

Posted on April 16, 2012 by lindakaysart

Monday’s can be so difficult for many of us. Back to the daily grind, schedules to keep, errands to run, meetings to make, it’s no wonder Mondays are hard to look forward to! Well, I am hoping to remedy that a tiny bit by posting some Mixed Media love and inspiration here each Monday. A place where I can share a project I have been working on, some creative art work from one of my artistic friends or on-line inspirations I have stumbled across. It will be a fun spot to come and visit, so settle back with your favorite cup of caffeine and feast your eyes for a bit.

I have had to re~think my process of creativity time lately. I babysit my grand daughter most days and I need to be able to keep a close eye on her, yet I still need a way to remain creative. I’ve come up with a solution that works for us and she enjoys it as much as I do!

Old fabrics from a friend

I am creating fiber & mixed media flower pins/hair clips as thank you gifts for all my friends and customers who bring me materials to include in my work. I collect clothing tag labels both the fabric one from inside your clothes as well as the interesting ones from the price tags. I also collect old, used jewelry, buttons, ribbons, scrap fabrics, zippers, small collectibles and paper ephemera. These are the things that make my heart beat faster. The little things that are often overlooked or thrown out. To show my appreciation for these little treasures, I want to have something ready to give in return.

Flower pins are so popular now! I see them everywhere in fashion, magazines and decorations. They are fun to make and extra fun to receive! So, I came up with a way to create flowers by recycling clothing, papers and lots of other materials to make fun and playful designs. My granddaughter likes playing with the cut out pieces while I piece them together. Something we can both play with!

Old shirt

cutting it apart

I start by cutting apart old clothing or linens that have seen better days, yet still have some beauty to them. I cut off any seams, ribbing or bulky parts that I can not use. I then cut out flower shapes and circles in various sizes and shapes until I have a good selection of colors, patterns and textures to choose from.

Now comes the fun part! I pick and choose which pieces out of my piles to place together. I try to come up with unusual combinations to keep them interesting. When I come up with a pleasing stack, I clip them together with a clothes pin to keep them together. I do this until I have either used up most of my parts or until my box is full.

lots of cut out flowers

Then, in the quiet of the evening, I begin to hand sew them together a few layers at a time. Some times I feel the need to add more layers and sometimes I need to add some reinforcing stiffening. This is easily done by adding a paper ephemera layer or two or some felt. When I have all the layers sewn together, then it is time to add the hair clip and a tiny safety pin.

Finished flowers!

I have made a bunch of these pins over the last year. I keep coming across more ideas for up~cycling items like junk mail, metallic helium balloons, onion bags, etc. I have quite the eclectic collection building up. Now, if I could just find more time to work on these little beauties!

Hope you have an inspired Monday!

Linda Kay

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Fighting Fear Fridays – April 13th

Posted on April 13, 2012 by lindakaysart

Happy Friday the 13th everyone!

Some of us can be superstitious and be afraid of Friday the 13th, but not me. I have always liked Friday the 13th, it has an excitement about it for me. Good things always happen on Friday the 13th for me. One of the best things was the birth of my first child 20 years ago today! She has brought lots of exciting things to my life and changed it forever as I knew it.

This week was a very slow, quite week for me. I’ve had to face a fear that I simply didn’t want to face. I’ve had to face my fear of getting older and having to depend on others for my daily needs. At first I tried to do everything myself. I am not accustomed to sitting still for more than a few minutes at a time. So I would hop up and get something to do, hop up and get something to keep me warmer, hop up and get something for the grand daughter, etc… eventually all that hopping up got me a whole lot of pain and back to where I was over a week ago in my recovery. I’ve had to learn my lesson the hard way. Had to really know my limitations. Had to face my fear (or was it pride?) to learn to ask for my family to take care of me. Those of you who are care takers know what I’m talking about. It’s a tough one, but one I had to get through. I now know I can’t be too demanding, I have to plan ahead and I have to be so nice to my caretakers, cause they have hectic lives just like I do. Thank God for my children, grand child and husband!

I also want to share a blog post by my friend Janet Forrest who writes in her blog “Tattered ‘n Worn“. She is a friend and fellow class mate of Flying Lessons and Hello Soul, Hello Business. She is a Facebook group friend and we keep in constant contact nearly every day, multiple times. I don’t know what I would do without my close network of creative artist friends. They keep me grounded and also help me fly.

Janet recently wrote about here fears and how she comes to terms with them. Here is her blog entry entitled “Ignoring The Negative Tapes“. I hope you enjoy it and leave her a comment.

Come back soon. I’ve started a new blog series called “Mixed Media Mondays” where I show you what I’ve been working on, things that inspire me or artist that I love. Hope to see you soon! Have a very exciting Friday the 13th!

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Announcement

Posted on April 10, 2012 by lindakaysart

I wanted to let you know that one of my shadow boxes has been donated to Friends of Pioneer’s Park Nature Center in Lincoln, NE. Why a nature center in Lincoln, NE? My cousin Nancy, sent me a notice about it and I was hoping to help support a cause she was interested in. Seemed like a nice place and hopefully, I will be able to visit it some day soon.

Live Richly Shadowbox

The Nature’s Market auction takes place on Saturday, April 21, 2012, from 9 am to 2 pm. Money raised in their auction of birdhouses will benefit school hikes, and scholarships for students to attend nature camps. This year’s Nature Market will celebrate birdhouse both functional and decorative, of which mine is the latter. I sure hope someone goes home with my little shadowbox and enjoys it!

Here is a PDF file list of some of the participants and their creations.

Birdhouse locations and pictures (1)

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Mixed Media Mondays – April 9th

Posted on April 9, 2012 by lindakaysart

I am beginning a new posting subject ~ Mixed Media Mondays. I googled so many Monday sayings trying to come up with something unique that started or had an “M” in it, but found nothing usable. I tried Mused Mondays, Monkey business Mondays, Monday Macumba…. these just didn’t fit. So, I am sticking with Mixed Media Mondays which fit my intentions perfectly. I am a mixed media artist and why re-create the wheel?

Mixed media backgrounds

I will be posting photos of mixed media work I have been working on the week prior. Or I might post an inspiration  I came across or share the work of an artist friend, I have a lot of both of these! I hope you will join me and come back and visit. What better way to start your week off than with a little bit of whimsical inspiration?

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Fighting Fear Friday – April 6th

Posted on April 5, 2012 by lindakaysart

Fear: According to Dictionary.com, it is an apprehension of something real or imagined, dangerous, evil or painful. A foreboding, consternation or trepidation…

I have all of the above this week, in large amounts. You see, I took a serious fall last Thursday and managed to break one foot and badly bang up the knee on the other leg. It has stopped me in my tracks … literally!

20120405-222655.jpg

Nothing like a large black boot brace and a set of crutches to slow you down. Not to mention that I have to keep off of my legs for the next two weeks. This is impossible! I have tons of things to do, places to go, commitments to complete… everything is on hold.

20120405-222835.jpg

While I wait to heal, I have plenty of time to think about things. This has been a mixed blessing. I am able to sort through the goals I want to complete this next few months, I can see where I want to take my creative art business by this time next year and I have a good sense that I can achieve these goals with some hard work and dedication. Then, the fear starts to creep in… slowly… quietly. Fear is sneaky like that. Comes in uninvited and sneaks around the shadows hiding itself until it can settle in right beside you. Gotta watch out for that one!

20120405-222943.jpg

So, as I am making plans and hashing out ideas, my fears of inability to work on these things begins to take hold. Normally, I would be able to jump right up and get to work on something,… not now. Normally, I would get out my calendar and enter in dates, appointments and schedule in my work,… not now. Normally, I would not be tied down to a recliner with both feet propped up.

So, this morning I have decided to not only give my legs a “break” (pun intended ; )), I am also giving my fears a break! A “time out”, a “recess”, a “holiday”. If I have to take time to heal, then so do my fears. I am not going to let them take over the parts of me that can’t act now. I am not going to let them settle-in and get cozy with me in my recliner, there just isn’t enough room for the both of us.

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