Learning, always learning

Or perhaps I should just bite the bullet and get something like this :) I have been looking and researching. Seems I've been bitten by the photography bug now. LOL. But it would be a needed distraction and a good investment if I can get some quality photos of artwork and jewelry.

Not to mention, just plan fun!

Starting and Stopping

Twisted Sisters Gallery

I don't know. I put effort and money into this website, but now I am kind of at a standstill with it. The person who was helping me with this site is no longer able to, and I've lost contact with them it appears, and I'm not sure of the shelf life of the site now. YIKES! I was trying to help a friend help a friend kind of thing. Lesson learned. Nice to help a friend, but harder to help a friend of a friend, because your never sure when the friend of a friend and the friend will part ways! If any of that makes sense! LOL.

I am finding it a little cumbersome to manipulate the web page. Or rather I have the lack of desire to learn right now how to continue with the web page. Should I really be re-creating this wheel?

I'd rather focus on learning new art technique and perfecting the old!

So I'm at a road crossing of sorts. Continue with the website always unsure of how long it will be up? Start a new blog format that may have a few different bells and whistles for me? Stay with this blog and etsy?

My gut is kind of saying the latter.

I do know for certain, either way I go, I will need to learn a few photo techniques, so I am gearing up for that. I've been googling my way around light boxes and black velvet. I think my camera will be okay as I learn a bit more, but I am seriously thinking of upgrading my current and giving this one to Hazel, who has been pestering me for a digital camera for some time. OH SEE, it would be a win-win to get a new one!

I'm eyeing this Cannon nothing real fancy, but I have read all I really need at this point would be Macro function and white balance :)


http://www.twistedsistersgallery.com/

I'd love to hear what camera and set up your using!

And bend my ear on whether you'd continue with a site or not.

Love ya, Love your art

Judy

Forgiveness quote

"Forgiveness is giving up the hope that the past could have been any different." — Oprah Winfrey

My Love Of Etsy

My love of Etsy. An obsession actually. I find myself drawn here daily. Not only daily, but often throughout the day. It has been the best place for me, the girl who lives in the middle of a corn field in rural, and I mean rural, Michigan, to purchase supplies to feed my mixed-media art frenzy. I am obsessed with many things, some I speak of freely and openly, others are just a twinkle in my eye and a slight smile on my face, but each obsession is intertwined with in my mind, soul, and heart, and eventually flows out of my fingers into a little "La Paix d'Art" which I hope to share with you!

But on with my Etsy obsession.

I am going to start with a store front from Texas that has so many gems, and not only that, so many BeAuTiFuL gems, my hands itch to hold and feel them. I stand at this virtual window with my nose pressed against the glass, and a look of hunger and longing in my eye! Oh how I wish. But I am a reasonable shopper. I want to keep my art affordable! But sssooooo pretty!

Norah62

But of course, I am just as much in love with this place. And WOW. If I could buy one of each here, I would. I may well be on the way to actually doing that too. Great quality, awesome selections, reasonable prices, and again, fast and reliable shipping! Start here if your interested in beads and want to start daubing in creating with them!

GemmeTresor

Tools. OH MY GOSH. I never ever ever ever in my life dreamed I would have a love of tools. I have this wish in my head that my work bench is not complete without them all. But again, I try to be SOMEwhat practical about this. Quality. Quality over quantity really should be my goal. Sometimes I fall a wee bit short of that, but I do strive for it. This shop, well, this is the BEST supply shop out there for tools. Items are of high quality and they are carefully packaged and shipped! Speaking of which, the shipping rates are always within reason here! I have never been disappointed with the quality and service from this shop!

Romazone

The twisty stuff. Wire. I wouldn't know what to do if I didn't have some great 20 gauge wire. I most often work with annealed steel wire, but I do love using brass and copper also. This has been a great resource for me. Beautifully oxidized copper or brass. A great selection of gauges. Also found here are some beautiful beads to work with. But here, I mainly come to wire shop! Love this stuff. Again, shipping is reasonable, carefully packaged, and FAST. I have never been disappointed with a purchase from here!

Solivio

and another favorite wire place!

Pantina Queen

Then of course, there is more to creating than just supplies. Hey, a girl has to eat. A little sugar buzz helps to calm the savage soul. Or is that music? I never could keep that straight! But look at all the yummies! Kind of makes that little stash of chocolate granola bars pale in comparison. I think I may actually drool when I look at the caramel here.

YYYuuuummmiiiieeeee

I have many more favorites, and I will try to remember to slip them into future posts. But for now, thank you for taking the time to view a little into my world!

La Paix

Judy

Of Towers and Turrets

I am so thrilled! Starting Friday, I will be having my first official mixed-media art class! An Art Class!!! I haven't taken such a thing since my freshman year in high school!!!!!! And in honor of this I am using and abusing the explanation point to no end :)

The Class, Of Towers and Turrets, http://allnorahsart.ning.com/, is presented on-line via All Norah'S Art and is a joint venture by Sharon Tomlinson http://allnorahsart.blogspot.com/ and Deryn Mentock http://somethingsublime.typepad.com/ . Both are very creative and talented artists.

Oh my heart! What an opportunity for me, who lives in the middle of the mitten in the middle of a corn field! My traveling to take a class, as much as I would love to, not really much of a reality at this time!

The banner had me hooked immediately! Then my excitment grew even more as I read on. The dates? WOW! For some reason, some time ago, I had planned to take time off, on those very dates. Don't remember why now, but hey, fate has planned I have a little "stay-retreat" right at home! Who am I to argue with fate? I pushed that paypal button immediately when I came to it.

I've been gleaning what I can from Deryn's blog for some time. I consider her my mentor in the wire arts, her work amazes and inspires me. Her sharing of tips and techniques on her blog are generous and have been an indispensable resource for me.

I wasn't as familiar with Sharon's work, but the moment my eye caught her beautiful faces on the banner for this class, I was hooked! Their color and style appeal to my eye and made my fingers itch to grab a brush and begin backgrounds for a collage. I have since been a regular visitor to her blog.

So forgive me my explanation points! They are very needed. Along with this very big grin as I think of the opportunity to pick up brush and spread paint. To cut images and spread gel medium. To learn to cut metal and shape it and solder with a torch.

I am ready for the journey. Won't you join me?!

Love ya, Love your art,

Judy

Building a page of inspiration . . .

Right now it's short . . . but I've gotten it started . . . inspiration page at Twisted Sisters Gallery . . . I'm starting by adding most of the links found on this blog page . . . if you'd be so kind as to add the www.twistedsistersgallery.com link to your blogs and sites I'd greatly appreciate it! . . . I've been up and at things since early dawn, so it's time for me to retire right now . . . tomorrow the page will grow more . . . light at the end of the tunnel . . . with your support, this website has become a reality for me . . . . thank you all so much!

Love ya, Love your art!

Ja-who-dee

It's Not Twisted . . . It's Art

After a long absence from the art world I'm back! I am rested, rejuvenated, back in the saddle, whatever you want to call it, I'm coming back full force! I hope you will join me as I develop my new website, Twisted Sisters Gallery http://www.twistedsistersgallery.com/ , where I hope to bring you not only some of my art, but art from many wonderful artist throughout the globe, perhaps a little tutorial, along with maybe a little something to be used in your own art! But most of all, I hope to bring you peace, love, and friendship!

If you are interested in linking up with me, please I'd love to add your link to my inspiration page . . . . . your website, blog, twitter, picturetrail, flickr . . . where ever you share your art!!!! And I would love for you to add my link to yours!!!

Give me a email!

judy@twistedsistersgallery.com

Love ya, Love your Art!

Ja-who-dee

Alzheimer's . . .

My middle sister sent me a link to HBO specials on Alzheimer's. I haven't had a chance to view them myself, but did do a quick peek to the link. Looks interesting.

I know many of you share the same journey with a loved one that we are, so I thought I would pass it on to you.

http://www.alz.org/news_and_events_16202.asp

or just click on the title to this blog post . . . it should get ya there!

Hope you are all doing well! I hope to be updating better soon :*)

love and kisses and hugs . . .

ja'Who?Dee*