For a long time I've been thinking it was time to move to my art blog. Why? Because I think over the years this blog has gotten convuluted with too many ideas and things that relate more to my jewelry.

As of today I will no longer be actively be posting to this blog. From time to time I may come here to post something but if you want to see what is happening please come visit me on my art blog at www.amysteinberg.blogspot.com

See you soon!
Amy

I'm officially done with the #MailArt project from Twitter. These are the last two pieces to be mailed out. One is going to Alabama and the other here in California.

I'm having so much fun with this project that I am going to continue to work on this acrylic for other projects. Maybe make boxes? Books? Who knows.....

I have been avoiding my blog. Why? Because I don't know where my art is going nor do I know what the next chapter in my career is going to be. So, instead of just writing a bunch of rubbish I decided to wait until I had something to say.

I don't really have much to say now but I have been working on a new project called #MailArt on Twitter. A group of 50 artists were corralled together and broke in to two lists. We each are responsible for creating postcard size original pieces of art to send to each other. The piece must be original and must be mailed "as is". This is one of mine which still needs to be addressed and posted.

Created on acrylic sheet, painted with acrylic paint, ink, glimmer mist and water pencil from Stabilo. I then sealed the one side with a layer of gel medium and added the hardware eyelets.

Each postcard has a different "purely human" trait on it. Religion, faith, loving, hate, addiction and more that are in process. It's been fun.

I can only hope we are moving web design to a more fluid format. Where navigation isn't necessarily a navigation bar but something new and different. I've run across three websites recently that offer a glimmer of hope for the next generation of web site design. Unfortunately one I can't remember BUT the other two are here.


The first image is a screen shot from Mis-Printed Type. Please visit this lovely little site, it is very interesting and the design is spectacular.

This second site is for artist Arleigh. Go visit her site. Yes, there is the navigation thing going on but I find the mouse over intriguing.

My point of all this is I am looking for a "floaty" web page. Something less structured and open to exploring more. Gives me ideas......

I made a fun new video with my art work. If I could figure out how to embed the video here I would. I need more time...perfect example of not prioritizing, etc.


See the video HERE

I love this collage sheet. Check out the tattoo lady! Ha! If you want a hi-res version shoot me an email and I'll send it to you.

Swoon!

Definition: A water-soluble pencil that will mark clearly, densely and legibly on any surface including acetate, paper, glass, metal, photo and film. Wipes off with a damp cloth on smooth surfaces and erases on paper.

Can also be used on the skin for making temporary tattoos, creating sketches for Mehndi designs or when you are feeling really brave drawing something across your forehead. My personal favorite is the giant tattoos my daughter draws on my back. Fish, people, dogs....just about anything. AND, during your next shower it rinses away. No soap required. HA!

Why even bring up this pencil? Because it is one of my new favorite mixed media implements. I have also been turned on to the Stabilo "Woody" 3 in 1. Definition: A chunky pencil that comes in 18 colors including the perfect black. It is a coloring pencil, watercolor pencil and wax crayon. Can be used for inventive applications in mixed media, encaustic art applications and can color alternative surfaces such as glass.

I have a project idea involving acetate, Woody and possibly a two part epoxy resin.

Two weeks ago, just as I was leaving for vacation a big heavy box showed up on my front doorstep. In my rush to pack and everything I quickly popped it open to find a small, non-descript note and FIVE brand new crafty books. The note said, "Congratulations! You won our CRAFTSIDE-MAKERFAIRE raffle. Enclosed you will find 5 of our newest craft books just ecause you stopped by our booth. We hope that you enjoy them."

I swear you could have knocked me over with a feather. I never win anything and to win something that encompasses to of my favorite things, books and craft....well it was almost as good as winning the lottery. Here are the five books I won and I can only say that I am slowly making my way through the first one with the other four patiently waiting.

I recommend checking them out and check out the Craftside blog. Lots of wonderful things to read and the blog is completely dedicated to covering crafty books. :-)

Here is a little Amazon widget of the books I currently have in my studio and either reading or getting ready to read. My list is always long.....*sigh*.

This is the Colorless Chartpak Blender Marker. What is that you say? It is a clear marker that you use to transfer anything printed via photocopy or laser jet (must be toner based) on to a surface/substrate. As you can see from the photograph we have a white piece of paper printed on the opposite side (face down) on a canvas.

Rub the marker on the area you want to transfer and it makes the paper wet. When you pull the paper up you then have a reverse image on the substrate. Does that make sense?

Quick tutorial:

1) Take a photocopy or laser print of your image, a subsrate, spoon or bone folder, and the Chartpak colorless blender.

2) Put your image face down on paper or fabric. The right side of the paper and the right side of the fabric should be touching. Cover the entire area of the image with your pen until it is completely wet and you can see your image through the paper.

3) Now use the spoon or bone folder to press firmly on the image as you would with a rub-on.

That's it. You're done. You now have a fancy transfer to use in your art. You may consider heat setting with an iron on fabric or a heat gun on paper.

*Contains Xylene® for blending colors, transferring images, and other special effects.

The first time I ever layed eyes on Steampunk jewelry I was skeptical. I've grown to appreciate it more and more. I very much like this whole idea of Steampunk. I have flashes of Bram Stoker's Dracula when I think Steampunk. Enjoy the video and if you want the jewelry check out http://www.steampunkcellar.etsy.com

Last week I ran across a cute and informative site called Paperclipping. The site focuses on scrapbooking and teaching all kinds of techniques to scrapbookers. But, let me just say that if you are a mixed media artist and think scrapbooking is NOT something you would EVER do let me ask you to think again. Scrapbooking and mixed media art is really a blurred line. From the mediums and media used the scrapbook and mixed media world are converging. Mixed media artists can learn a lot and find a lot of products to utilize in the scrapbook world. Forget your sisters scrapbooking, seriously there are amazing artists in the scrapbook world. Case in point, Noell Hyman at Paperclipping. Check out her site, check out her videos and see what she is doing. It really is very interesting.

Then if you are looking for interesting mixed media products visit Scraplovers with open eyes and an open mind.

I haven't spent as much time on 1000 Markets as I'd like and I am actually thinking of opening a store on it. Anyone with positive or negative comments are appreciated as it relates to their experience.

So, today I was cruising the site to see what I could see and came across these pretty little things. Check them out when you get a chance.

Leather and metal cuffs from Michelle Mverbeeck