Unusual Girl Studios

I'd like to introduce you to a friend of mine, Catherine Constance.  She's a wonderful gal I met  through her blog which I have been following for a year or so, now.  And over that time I have been introduced to many new phrases that, well, just tickle my fancy to no end!  For instance- there is no other place I can find phrases such as- "Toodle Pip, Darlings!" "I'm off to watch princess stories on the goggle box!" nor have I ever described my pre- summer swimsuit body as... a "Flabby Tabby" or "Flobbally Bits" Seriously- I love that stuff, love it like tea and crumpets, love it!  By the way, she lives in FRANCE.  Much more exciting than Michigan. So why did I finally decide to share her wonderful-ness with the rest of you?    Well, because she's a kind soul who took pity on my non- life- threatening- but-really makes- me- whiny- physical- maladies- of late.  She sent me these ladies!  They are paper

So much better at this than book making!  I want to make books though, I do!! This is..well, I've been calling her buggish because I really can't decide what she is!  I like her though- do you?   She has some rather fantastical butterfly wings on the back and are those antennae or horns? I tried to integrate, for better or for worse and I thought 'worse' a lot of times- decoupage.  My problem with decoupage and mixed media is that I hate, hate the edges that show.  I want the 'work' to disappear but then that's hardly what mixed media is about, is it?   I went over the wings again and again with different finishes but they looked plastic-y.  And if you think I hate edges- well, sisters and brothers- I hate plastic!!!! But I love resin.  So I poured resin over the wings and then added some metal trinkets- for better or for worse and many was the moment that I thought- worse, definitely worse, I think I'll go make some art pape

Remember the art papers that I went insane over?  This was the idea in my head behind all that.  I have a secret fetish for books and for cut out cardboard shapes.  I've been wanting to make books out of them thinking how nice and sturdy they would be as a substrate for mixed media.  Well, I'm glad I took those pictures because that was a week ago and I have long since overworked the pages, murdered the pages, ruined the pages.   Whatever fresh appeal these bright colors had- long gone. See- I have issues with edges.  I like to layer 'skins' over other papers but can't seem to romance myself into enjoying those edges.  I'm better if they are torn vs. straight cut by scissors but really- I want them flat.  I want them to melt right into the other surface all neat and tidy.  My answer to that is to make the paper and scan it into the computer.  Or- to scan the design and print it on to the art paper- a two step process.  See- the problem there is

when I am so very obsessed with making my very own art papers???  Seriously?  Its not that I'm fickle (oh, yes I am...) its that i got this idea that wouldn't leave me alone.  It was like a pesky mosquito buzzing around my head and finally I just gave in to the urge to mess around with the tissue paper I've had stored away.  I layered several pieces together and clipped them with a pant hanger.  Then I hung them in the bath tub and squirted them with water.  This stuff was the really good tissue paper from the art supply store.  It was laden with dye which immediately started dripping out everywhere.  Then I freaked out that I was ruining the tub ad my hubbie would kill me so I got the bleach to clean up the dye.  Which lead to me then spraying it directly on the paper as well to see that would do.  I might have been just a little insane by then but I was having sooo much fun.   Finally I got smart and folded up the paper so the dye wouldn't all run off.

Its that time again....where I have cravings.....today I want a metal cutting machine.  And to paint on Burlap.  And in general....to buy things.......artsy things and maybe some shoes.  Argh!!! But in the meantime- meet this little lady!!! She's teeny.  She's tiny.  She's teenytiny, itty bitty. Know why she's so small?  She has to fit up the stem of my buggish sculpture.  She can be no more than 1/2" round in any direction.   Is she a butterfly?  A fairy emerging from a cocoon? I don't even know her age- is she youngish?  After all she is 'emerging' right?  Well, what ever age or species- she's cute!  And tiny.  Now, back to wanting things.....