Funky Art Queen

Desiderata I just felt the need to revisit this poem today.  I first heard it years ago when I worked in Activity Therapy at the State Hospital.  One of the teachers that trained me to teach classes was wheelchair bound and one of the most positive people I have ever met.  His name was Jim Potter....I wonder where he is now?  I was always amazed at how positive he was all the time in spite of his disability.  He could have been so negative and sorry for himself....instead he was an inspiration to every one around him, including the patients and employees at Big Spring State Hospital.   This poem was a part of his curriculum for the Stress Management Class for the patients. He read it with the greatest emotion and feeling and then the group would discuss the meaning of the poem. It touched me so and I have revisited it so many times.  I used it in my son's graduation from high-school scrapbook.  I have hung it in many places to remind me to...

Some how, I always come back to my little Funky Art Blog.  I know, I keep leaving and coming back.  I know I am fickle like a pickle-you don't have to tell me.  Life is cool like that though....we are ever changing, learning and growing.  We do have constants though...things, people, places, feelings and drives that are constant and ever there for us.  Funky Art Queen has long been my saving grace-she is who I lean on when times are tough.  I can remember when I first created her....was it 2006? There was so much going on in life, so much to cope with.....she saved me and helped me through that period in life.  She was where I went to escape.  All the friends I made through her and this blog, all the things I poured myself in to provided me with comfort and helped rekindle my passion for creating funky and colorful things.  JOY!  Here I am again, kind of going through a little thing.  Change in job, husbands upcoming retirement, ...

Craig and I picked up some little outfits for the grandson (Caden) today to send him for Easter.  Not Easter clothes just some Easter presents.  We also got him a cute little stuffed bunny.  I wanted to make him an Easter card so I got out the cards, glue stamp, bunny stamp and glitter.  This is what I came up with.  We are going to send Cody and Patsy a treat too!  Since we can't be together these are the things we do until we are together again!

OK, it has been a few weeks since I got the Kesley Excelsior Type O vintage printing press that I proudly bought off of ebay!  I have to be honest though and admit that I do have thoughts of what in the world was I thinking?!!! Still, I'm intrigued by everything I have to learn in order to print anything.....even one small Christmas card for 2011! I think that is exactly what I love.....the challenge.  SO.....I finally ordered the new rollers from a merchant on Etsy.  The came all the way from the UK so they must be brilliant right?  They were on my doorstep today when I got home.  I could not wait to open them. I'm just a little confused about all of the different ways I could go to create my christmas card.  Do I just do a linocut?  Or maybe a photopolymer design? I don't have any furniture for the type that I just bought.  Can you just make your own furniture with wood?  If I do photopolymer with boxcar press, do I still need furniture? ...

OMG!  What a great shot! I took this picture last week of our Goldie/Lord Sebastian and I did not realize that the background of the Project Runway judges would show up like this.  It looks like he is in front of the stage and he is not happy with the discussion!  LOL I love that show!  I love the creativity and the pressure to create within budget limits and theme oriented boundaries. I noticed....during the commercials that there is a new show coming called something about accessories.  I want to do that.  Hmmmm......could I stand the pressure?  Could I work with the crazies that they bring to the show?  I don't know....but it is so exciting to watch these wonderful young and sometimes not so young people step into action and create! It's just lovely to watch.  Bravo to all of them....my heart breaks when they get voted off....I scream with joy when they win!  I'm so proud of the artists/designers for putting themselves out there! ...

So here is a funny story.  From the moment I decided I wanted a printing press, I decided my first project would be our family Christmas card for this year.  I wanted to keep focused on something to get me going on this new adventure.  I looked and looked for the right price and a nice little tabletop press.  I found "Kelsey" on ebay and got it last week. Here is the interesting part.  Kelsey came with some extras.  One of the extras was a (linocut stamp-I believe) that is a Christmas card that someone made.  It just gave me chills...to think that someone-maybe like me....decided she wanted a printing press and made her own Christmas cards.  Here is the linocut print that I could not wait to do by hand so I could better see the impression. I don't really get the ship but it is well carved and still lovely.  I think it would have print better on paper better suited for this purpose but I just had to see it now.  Anyway, on the back of...

Woohoo! Here we go! I got my Kelsey Excelsior 5x8 Type O Vintage Tabletop Printing press off ebay last week and it arrived.  I still have to get new rollers but I found several dealers on ebay and Etsy so that does not appear to be a problem.  I think this old art form appeals to my love for Typography.  Or, it just appeals to my obsession with creating and cracking a new code.  I get bored easy-Attention Deficit Disorder maybe?  Anyway, I'm so pumped about this!!!! Slow down there Cowgirl!  There is a huge learning curve I will have to tackle.  Don't worry, I will document as much as I can in case any other crazy newbies like me come along.  I'm going to keep my journal on this blog and they will all be tagged "Kesley 5x8" so you can filter through all my other rants to get to the meat of the matter! Also, in the future, I will refer to my printing press as "Kelsey" so don't think I'm talking about someone! LOL Here is a list of links that I hav...