Recycled Art

My youngest sister is a fantastic artist....but I think she went over the top with this piece!!!  We had a recycle art contest here in Canon City and when I saw her entry - I knew it was a winner.  And it took 3rd place!!!

Click on any photo to enlarge.  She took the actual keys off a piano and put them on the board!  The background is all recycled paper.  She cut up used wood to make the black musical notes.  The frame she picked up at a thrift store.  She took all kinds of old charms that I had, painted them black and put them around the piece.

It was too cute that the ribbons were made by recycling the comic pages from the newspaper.

Here's what she wrote:

I know the keys don't look right
And the notes don't look right
But even when some things don't look right
We can still see something wonderful an inspirational.
The same is true with our lives.
Sometimes you have to see beyond
What looks right in others
To find something truly amazing, wonderful
And inspiring.

I think this should inspire all of us took at what we are going to toss out and see what we can do with it.  Imagine - piano keys!!!

Making Friendly Plastic Music

or.....Friendly Plastic is Music to my ears.....

Friendly Plastic...the music in my day.....

No matter how you look at it....Linda Petereson is here and TWO whole weeks of Friendly Plastic play is here!!!

So I wanted to make a piano keyboard......that is over 12" long.....on a curve.....

first up, we cut strips of black Friendly Plastic, laid them out on THREE silpat sheets and let them melt together - turn the griddle to about 180 degrees. If the pieces start to pull apart, just tap them back together. I took Amaco's acrylic roller and rolled it all nice and flat......

Next, I trimmed it to the shape that I wanted, then cut pieces of white Friendly Plastic to look like keys and laid them out on top. Yes, I had to cut them at angles......but it's the exact look that I wanted!


Then I added the half notes. OK.....you will need tweezers to do this!!! And I had this all on the griddle (turned off) as I wanted everything in place before it started to melt and fuse together. It did take a little bit of time to construct this!

I turned the griddle back up to 180 degrees and sat there and babysat this as it started to melt and fuse. Used Amaco's needle tool to move stuff that melted too far and too fast (keep it covered in vasoline) and I really love the end results! It's on a 12x12 piece of scrapbook paper.

Having Linda here is music to my soul for sure! I'm so excited as we start the process of creating and designing. I can hardly wait for each hour to pass....just to see what we can come up with. After "building" a keyboard....I think we need to go 3D and see just what we can do!

The music of art.

Art is like the music in the video below. We each create just one tiny piece and when it's all put together....we have a great chorus to view. 5 minutes and 18 seconds is all it will take to watch this video....I think it's pretty amazing. Not the song....but the technology used to join musicians from all over the world into one song in unison.



I've been busy this week designing and creating tiny little pieces of art that I will teach next month in San Diego. But when I have a class filled with creative men and women.....that's the chorus that I love the most. To see a technique that I teach turn into something even more wonderful than I could imagine - that's my true joy!

But we're going to add some technology to our art while I'm out in San Diego. Linda Peterson is going to skype into Scrapbook Your Life! and teach us one of her amazing techniques via the internet. So while we sit in San Diego, Linda will be with us (via live video feed) and we can see what she's doing and she can see what we make....a true interactive video class. The technology to join artists from all over the world into one song in unison.

Add to that my ability to take photos of my laptop screen where Linda is showing me her latest "finds" so I can rush out and purchase just the same thing!



OK, these are jewelry pieces from Michaels - I needed a good closeup so I'd know what I was looking for. Took the photo and printed it out and ran to the store (Oh! What a great enabler that girl is!!!)



And then, if you want to see what she did with these....you just watch this video:



Doesn't she do a great job with her videos? And isn't it amazing that I can embed them here? But you can also watch them direct on youtube just search Linda Peterson Designs.

OK, I'm back to "work" - must finish up my class samples and get them in the mail. I'm giving myself til Friday to get them all done!!! So even more of my students and friends can enjoy the chorus we create from the art we design. Ah! Music to my ears!!!

Near to the heart of God

There is a place of quiet rest,
Near to the heart of God,
A place where sin cannot molest,
Near to the heart of God.

O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
Sent from the heart of God,
Hold us who wait before Thee
Near to the heart of God.

There is a place of comfort sweet,
Near to the heart of God,
A place where we our Saviour meet,
Near to the heart of God.

O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
Sent from the heart of God,
Hold us who wait before Thee
Near to the heart of God.


(just hit the arrow to start the music) (it's an old church hymn, lyrics and music by Cleland B. McAfee)

When I visit my place by the sea, I know that I am nearer to the heart of God. If you know Him, you know what I mean.

The music is keyboard being played by my good friend Terry Hendricks who is one of the most amazing artists I have ever had the great honor of knowing. His music inspires me to draw myself near to the heart of God in so many ways. It is music that can give me cold chills. It can bring tears to my eyes in a second.

If you would like to know more about THProductions here in San Diego, just email me and I will put you in contact with this incredible artist. Just imagine - you could have him playing the piano or keyboard in your home for your holiday event! Yes, I've done just that and it's worth every penny - it was the best party I have ever hosted and people are still talking about that night. You could have him direct your production or event, wedding, open house....the list is endless. He can play all types of music, but when he plays this type, my heart really does sing!



His music transcends life and I have been more than blessed these few short years that I have known Terry. And I just want to share part of that blessing with each of you. I hope you will always remain near to the heart of God

Where has that little girl gone?

As a little girl, I took piano lessons. I would sing along with the music and my teacher, Mrs. Bishop, asked mom if I could sing in her choir. In exchange, she said she would give me free voice lessons. I received a clarinet for Christmas in the 4th grade and played in the band shortly after that (small school...they needed everyone!) The 4 of us girls sang in church from almost as early as I can remember. Mom played the piano and we sang at home all the time. So music was a huge part of my childhood.

I believe it was the spring of 1964 when there was a vocal competition at Ball State Teachers College in Muncie IN. I don't remember the specifics...I just knew that we were going to the college and I was going to sing a very long song. Oh! I practiced for months with Mrs. Bishop. I still have the sheet music. "I walked today where Jesus walked" She would make notes on the music where I was supposed to hold my breath, or be loud or soft.

I memorized every line (OK, I still have the song memorized!) and I'm sure I wore my Sunday best.



I just remember being scared to death. Probably gave my voice loads of vibrato!

I won first place. I still have the blue medal!

So what happened? Why am I not some famous singer today? Why do I so rarely sing for anyone except me?

When I went to Bob Jones University, I took vocal the first semester. It was a semi-private class with just 4 students. I remember being horrified when the professor told me to sing to the students outside the window as they were walking by. He made me lay on my back with an orange on my stomach and breathe so it wouldn't roll off. I went to a lab and practiced 2 hours every single day that first semester. He made it so much work. He took away all the fun and joy of singing. At the end of the term, the professor told me I couldn't sing and that it would take years of coaching for me to ever sing.

I could have stopped there and blamed it on him, but I moved to Colorado and my sisters and I took up guitar and continued to sing. But you know, somewhere in the back of my head was this little voice that kept telling me "you can't sing...you need years of coaching".

Kerry bought me a keyboard a few weeks ago and I found the music to the song I sang in 8th grade. I can still play it. And I sang it today. How fun was that! But it made me wonder...where did that little girl go? The one who got up in front of an audience and sang her heart out and came home with a blue medal?



I'm hoping I can find her again and spend some time playing....and singing. I think it will be fun!

ART IS LIKE DANCING....

Art is like dancing
there is a beat
there are steps and moves
and you create
a new form of music
for the world to hear.
It has the passion
of a great orchestra
and it has the quiet sound
of a single piano key
it takes you places
you never knew existedp
It can make you feel
right at home.

Well, when I have my moments, the poetry and writing just seems to flow from me.  I truly believe that my art is inspired a lot by my childhood memories of music.  We didn't have a whole lot.  But when I was 10, I received a clarinet for my Christmas present.  Mom & Dad were just so smart!   I could "buy" the clarinet by earning 50 cents for each half hour that I practiced.  Even in the early 60s, it took me hours and hours to "own" it!  But I did learn how to play it, so well, that I played First Chair for a few years in band.  There were also piano lessons and private voice lessons.  I even managed to take first place with a solo "Jesus Wept" at an all state contest held at Ball State University.  I still have the blue medal somewhere.

So, music was a huge part of my childhood.  The 4 Moore girls sang as a quartet at church probably from the time the youngest sister could stand up.  I have no idea how many songs are embedded in my brain and on some days, I just start to sing them for no reason at all.  Other than they make me happy.

This week, my hubby surprised me with the gift of a new digital (musical) keyboard.  So expect to hear more about that as I learn how to digitally make music.

I turned the poem above into a rubber stamp available thru After Midnight Stamps.

And today, I'm playing with Spellbinder's "flying Beauties" die and the Paisley Nestabilities die.



I'm working on a tutorial for this as well, but wanted to showcase these dies.  I used Stamping Up paper.  
I believe it's the "Outlaw" package.

I used the Stencil Collection's pastel chalks.  I happen to have the 48 set and use them all the time...wait til you see the tutorial!!!



And I'm using real Swarovski crystals to add some bling to the cards! They came from Scrapbook Your LIfe! in San Diego....one of my fav places to shop!

The swirly stamps are by Autumn Leaves.

And here's the paisley die....embossed with a Sizzix texture plate.  Nothing like mixing it up with competing companies!  LOL!  But what a gorgeous effect I get!



Music and art.  I am so blessed!  And when I allow.....they can take me places I never knew existed....they can make me feel right at home.

Barbra sang.....

Do you ever sit and listen to the words of a song and get your inspiration from it? I do. I think songwriters are beyond amazing! In one of Barbra Streisands songs, the lyrics read:

"I say we each choose roads to call our own but none of us is traveling through this universe alone. And this circle just goes on and on, it began before us...it will be here when we've gone. And this circle goes on and on connecting our humanity, joining me to you and you to me. Seasons keep spinning on the wheel of time, we stand, we fall, we struggle up the mountains we must climb. Different dreams may colour what we see ahead but our lives are strong together, on a common thread, and this circle just goes on and on."

I pick the songs I like based on their words. And from my favorite songs often come some of my favorite projects. One of my first projects was an album titled "The Closets of My Life". It's been shown on PBS Scrapbooking & Memories as well as on DIY. I picked a closet from each decade of my life, reconstructed it, filled it with memories and just giggled the entire time!




In 1958, we were still living in our little house on the corner of my Great Great Grandpa House's farm. Very plain closet. But I made little pockets around the door that open and contain all kinds of memories of my childhood. Candy that dad brought home in his lunchbox, boardgames that we played....fun little things!



On the back of the closet door, my journaling reads: "My Sister's Closet...Just one tiny closet, and one tiny bedroom, shared by all 4 of us. Not many clothes, but a whole lot of games and books. Not many things, but our Bibles, our Bible study lessons, and our Sunday hats and shoes. My memories have faded over time. But when I look at these pictures I can still feel that summer day when we created phones out of tin cans, we buried our dolls in the sand, and tickled our cats tails. I can still see the swingset that dad built and hear our laughter and our screams when we swang too high. I remember playing with Grandma's jewelry on her bed, swimming in the horse trough and wading in the creek. Our lives were rich with love, with family, and blessings from our Lord. Most of all, we had each other!!! Where has time gone? If I am left with nothing but the memories of my youth, then I will cherish my thoughts of those summer days, playing with you, the innocence of our youth, and all those wonderful memories that I have of growing up with you in our little house on the corner of our Great Great Grandfather's farm."



And then inside the closet, tiny paper-pieced outfits that spin on a wheel, dressing a photo of me in the style of that generation.



The seasons of my life keep spinning on the wheel of time.....this circle...just goes on and on... connecting our humanity, joining me to you and you to me.

6 Degrees

It is said that we all know someone who knows someone who knows someone...and by the 6th degree...it comes back to knowing the first person.

Today, my sister met a young man from Israel, Ran Damari. I've not met him, but I have met his music and I think he is amazing. You can hear it on his myspace site, be sure to listen to the 4th song "tal song". Wow! What talent!!!

It brought back memories of my trip to Israel with 2 of my sisters in 2005. When I visited the children's holocaust memorial, I was inspired to write this poem:

Longing for Israel
(the children’s memorial in Jerusalem)
©Jen Lowe 2006

This is where my heart is
Where my soul lives today
A place I never knew before
Just listen as I pray

A million shining stars
In the firmament around me
A million flickering lights
Dancing everywhere I see

Infinitely dark and somber
A shofar blows a tune
A child’s name rings out
My tears come too soon

All the Jewish children
Who died for no just reason
I bow my head in shame
For it cannot be undone

A generation before me
Took a million lives and more
But I still have to question
What was it all for?

Why do you hate the Jews
My heart seems to scream
They did not kill your Saviour
It was the Romans great scheme

Israel is where my heart is
And I long to return
A place I never knew before
I have so much to learn.

and to write the words below to go with one of mom's paintings:



A few months later, I wrote this song of praise as I was once again, looking at the photos of the Sea of Galilee.

Jehovah Y’shua Messiah
I worship you today
I am Your humble servant
In every possible way

Jehovah Y’shua Messiah
My heart sings out to You
Feed me with Your Holy Word
I hunger for more, it’s true

Jehovah Y’shua Messiah
You are my only light
The Menorah is but a symbol
Of my earthly plight

Jehovah Y’shua Messiah
Star of David as my shield
One day soon the truth
Will surely be revealed

Jehovah Y’shua Messiah
Bring Your Kingdom to earth, I pray
Bless Israel and all of Her people
Let their hearts be softened today

Jehovah Y’shua Messiah
Hear my song of praise to You
Thank you for letting me believe
Each thing the way that I do.

My dream is to one day live by the side of the Sea of Galilee.

This trip also inspired new art that will be published in an upcoming book by F&W Pubs called "Flip, Spin and Play"...to be released shortly. And continues to inspire the jewelry that I create:


So there..I have just discussed 6 things and am hoping that you will share with someone who will share with someone who will share.....until it comes back around to me!

That's 6 degrees of art!