simply me

collage monday

with a brown paper lunch bag, i kinda whipped this one out quick this morning, i have been excitedly getting the studio classroom ready and prepping all the fun for this upcoming weekends INSPIRED event. i'm so anxious! {dont forget, tonight at midnight EST registration opens for christy + me INSPIRED event in FEB!}

sometimes i really believe working off the cuff makes me way more creative, i am really happy with the finished piece.

i just got some of the new jenni bowlin vintage numbered cards and dina wakley's awesome new rubber stamps...i had been itching to use them so those were the first things i took out to play with.

the tape with the small holes is drywall tape from the hardware store..been hoarding that forever!

and the postcard is random from one of my trips to paris, i finally put it to use!

Weekend Winners!

As I've said before, I have the BEST sponsors! And to prove it, I get to announce the winners of TWO great giveaways!

The first winner, of Scrapbooking From the Inside Out's "Achievement" kit, is Cindy Reimer, who was comment #12. She wrote:

I am all signed up for the newsletter!! I think these craft workshops are such an amazing way to get in touch with our creative spirits.
Love all of your work Donna!!
Cindy

The second winner, who will receive the "Here Comes Christmas" Junk Book Kit from REDlead Paperworks, is Monika Wright! Monika was comment #49, and she wrote:

Mini books are my favorite way to document our stories!

Ladies, please email Lotti@donnadowney.com with your address info. to claim your prize.

Congratulations to both ladies and thanks to all my readers who left comments. Thanks, too, to my generous sponsors who inspire me with their amazingly creative ideas!

whats in my bag?

i call this my "ARTIST on the GO" case. essentially it always remains packed and with the exception of swapping a few things in and out of it depending on my mood or what i am working on it essentially is always "READY TO GO!"

it is a small vintage suitcase from the 70's...i love it, it has personality. the uglier the better!

everything in my case is also airport security/flight approved. i have traveled across the globe with these supplies and have yet to have anything confiscated, however, twice i have been asked to "prove" i was an artist going through security having to actually show the journals i work in on the plane. it always ends well and the conversation is fun!

right now inside my ARTIST on the GO bag is the following...

i have been traveling lately with my collage journal. many of you email me to do videos for the collage journal, but the true purpose of the journal for me is to be able to create on the fly with whatever scraps you can find and a glue stick. keeping it simple.

under the journal is where i keep "the color".

you can fit 10-1 oz. golden fluid acrylics in a quart size baggie. when i go through security instead of carrying on shampoo and toothpaste, i check those items and place my baggie of paint in the bin. usually no one even looks twice...at least i haven't noticed.

i always travel with a brush roll filled with pens, water soluble graphite pencils, charcoal pencils, waterbrushes, regular brushes and a scissor. the brush roll serves several purposes.

1. it allows me to see and access all my tools in a cramped airplane seat without them rolling off my tray table.
2. the canvas flap gives me a place to wipe my brushes as i paint.
3. it is extremely flexible depending on the space i have to work in.

NOTE: people always ask me how i get scissors on the plane, but the TSA allows up to a 4" sharp on the plane. the cutterbee scissors are the perfect traveling scissor for that!

i always bring my travel palette of winsor & newton watercolors...perfectly sized and easy to paint within a small space.

a black stazon + a few new or favorite stamps at the time...this changes and sometimes i buy a stamp to play with on the road.

masking tapes...I LOVE MASKING TAPE!

i also have in there now some gelatos, because they are super easy to create with on the go,

bubble wrap because it is FUN to brush some paint onto and stamp,

and a glue stick...i try to find a super-sized one for my travel bag because it is always deceiving how little glue is truly in a normal sized glue stick.

in the front zipper pocket i keep any scraps i have cut/collected from magazines, bits of travel maps, brochures, business cards, anything collage worthy really.  i also have a few stencils tucked in there as well, they are thin and perfect for travel.

so why the case and not a bag you may ask? great question!

the case is flat so i can open it up on my tray table, access everything without digging around in the bottom of a bag and i can actually close it up and work on top of it on the plane without needing a whole lot of room. sometimes i get lucky and i have an empty seat(s) next to me and i can really spread out!

i will admit i always get weird looks, probing questions and a million compliments when i create on the plane. as an only child i secretly like that attention, kinda reaffirms my joy for creating. often times the flight attendants will even bring me an extra cup of water or napkins if they see me dipping into my water cup while i am painting. it REALLY helps pass the time too. it is like creating your own personal in-flight studio 30,000 feet up in the air!

i know many of you have emailed over the past several months about my travel supplies and i hope that answers all your questions...if not feel free to post some of your questions here.

over the past couple of weeks i have been collecting/searching out similiar style cases and putting together "ARTIST on the GO" cases preassembled. these of course are all one of a kind kits because of the vintage cases and i have already sold the ones i put in the shop the other day, but am continuing to be on the lookout and will be adding more of them to the shop next week and as i find the cool cases.

sponsor spotlight: Red Lead Paperworks

I have a special treat to share with you! A Christmas kit giveaway from my good friends at Red Lead Paperworks – let your holiday crafting begin!

 

You are going to love this Here Comes Christmas Junk Book Kit - here's why:

You get a 4" x 4" heavyweight chipboard book that has six 4" x 4" squares and two chipboard tags that are 3-1/2" x 5" bound with silver book rings.  Very easy to take apart and glue in your photos and papers.
24 sheets of vintage-style Christmas papers that are 4" x 4", and 4 papers that are 5" x 7" to cover both sides of the chipboard tags. 

3 glossy red jingle bells, 3 yards each of Christmas Red and Christmas Green ribbon, red and green buttons, 3 sprigs of holly, 24 holly berries, 2 darling Santa clips, 1 brass snowflake charm, 1 brass Christmas bells charm, 1 brass wreath charm, and last but not least 1 paintable Joy chipboard.
Color photos of all 6 pages and 2 tags to guide you with making your Here Comes Christmas, plus your kit is packed in a white box with a clear lid, perfect for gift giving!

The kit does not include the black and white photos, or the stamped holiday sentiments.  The black and white photos and the stamps may be ordered separately.

There are no written instructions with this kit, just follow the enclosed photos for inspiration!

For more inspiration and crafting deals, make sure to follow the REDlead blog, and to “like” REDlead on Facebook.

And as an extra-special treat, one of you can win this great kit simply by leaving a comment on this post before 10a.m. tomorrow! Good Luck!

 

DEAL of the day FRIDAY!

Visit my shop every Friday for the " Deal of the Day ". Each Friday I'm going to feature a product from the shop at a great discount or a shopping special.

 

Today I'm offering 25% off

all my muslin designed Aprons. 

 

These make awesome Christmas presents for your favorite crafter as well as your favorite chef! 

 If you want, I will even personalize any that your purchase by signing them. Just leave a message in the comments section of your order letting me know to who and where!

available only while supplies last today.

 

Also be sure to check out whats new in the shop. 

        

CRAFT: Creating Reflective Art for Transformation

I am excited to share with you this amazing opportunity to get away and participate in a retreat that is more like a creative spa treatment for your soul! Not only is the location – a beach! – amazing, but just check out the instructors and workshops!

Nurture Your Authentic Creative Heart

at

CRAFT: Creating Reflective Art for Transformation

Do you make enough time to care for yourself, to know yourself and
to embrace your unique strengths, struggles and story?

That's what CRAFT is all about: carving out time to nurture your heart and soul in a most special way. You’ll tell your truth, and generate compassion and acceptance of exactly where you are right now. You’ll build on your strengths to gain the skills to keep expressing yourself fully and explore your life as you move into your future.

Creating art about your heart's desires, losses, fears and triumphs is key to bringing self-awareness, comfort and freedom to your world.

Brought to you by

An intimate, luxurious, boutique, multimedia ART and SOUL retreat at the 

Annenberg Beach House

Santa Monica, CA, 

 November 11-13, 2011

You’ll spend a magical weekend focused on embracing who you truly are and gaining the skills, techniques and tools to use our craft to understand yourself more deeply on an ongoing basis.

 

THE INSTRUCTORS:

While you’ll be learning amazing techniques, styles, tips and techniques in every workshop, these are not cookie-cutter sessions – you’ll be challenged to dig deep, learn about yourself & personalize your project to reflect who you are and who you want to be.

  

Amy Tan

American Crafts Design Team and Product Designer
Hambly Screen Prints Design Team 

What Matters Most Workshop

 Amy Tan’s workshop will have you thinking about what matters most in your life, and how to keep those things in focus and balance. She’ll empower you with her effortless approach to creating from your gut.  

 

Ly T. Le

Mixed Media Designer
Copic Certified Designer

Free Your Heart Workshop

Ly T. Le’s mixed media project will give you the opportunity to create a piece of highly dimensional art that will explore what makes you feel free, and how to access more of that feeling.

 

Linda Barber

Creating Keepsakes Dream Team 2011
Lily Bee Design Team
Jillibean Soup Design Team 

Double Agent Workshop

This innovative folder project - a file of thoughts, ideas, hopes, and wishes - with Linda Barber will let you explore the faces you show the world, and the ones you don't. Who are you now and who would you like to be? And how do the two coincide?

 

 

Paige Evans

Copy/Creative Editor for Northridge Publishing
American Crafts Blog Hostess/Design Team

3D Vision Workshop

Paige Evans’ workshop will help you process an important life experience by looking at it from the vantage points of before it occurred, while it was happening, and after it was over. You’ll gain clarity, perspective and inner vision in this most enjoyable workshop.

 

  

Stacy Cohen

Creating Keepsakes Dream Team
2011 Prima Design Team 

Bridging the Gap Workshop

Stacy Cohen’s project will prompt you to look at a past accomplishment and apply the skills you developed in reaching your goal to a future dream, bridging the gap from past to future.

 

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? REGISTER NOW.

 

WHAT’S INCLUDED: 

• 6 emotion-focused, technique-teaching personal workshops in CRAFT’s ocean-view, beautifully styled, creative space

• 4 special Art and Soul experiences

• Scrumptious breakfasts and lunches from Hollywood hot spot Urth Caffe on Friday, Saturday and Sunday

• Sweets, treats and beverages all day long

• Transportation from The Ambrose Hotel to and from the Annenberg Beach House for all workshops and activities via the CRAFTy Cab

• Oodles of workshop supplies (you’ll just need to bring your basic tool kit – checklist to be provided later)

• A fabulous welcome gift, a CRAFTy tote filled with goodies, valuable giveaways and fun prizes 

*Lots more details on girls’ night out dinners, airport transportation, location, hotel and event venue and more available HERE.

 

There’s still more.............

To top off this great event, YOU can win this fabulous “Achievement” kit simply by signing up for the CRAFT Newsletter found on the right sidebar of their blog. Then, leave a comment on this post letting me know you’ve done so, and that’s it! You’re entered! You have until 10am tomorrow to leave your comment, Good Luck to all.

 

 

inspiration wednesday + video

 

i made it to the final page of another journal, it always feels like a small milestone! this was fun, quick and a great way to get the mojo going for the day!

watch the video.

 

supplies used:

• inspiration journal
• GOLDEN cobalt teal fluid acrylic
• GOLDEN transparent yellow iron oxide fluid acrylic
• GOLDEN phthalo turquoise fluid acrylic
  
• needle tip applicator bottles
• shipping tag
• book text
• helmar 450 quick dry
• scotch glue stick
• heat gun
• dr martins black india ink
• masking tape
• nib + pen
• black stazon
• tiny attacher
• date stamp

making art today!

making art makes me happy!

i have been DVRing & watching the Oprah's life class and i totally get it...i walk away inspired!

last night i watched the one about inner voice and stopping to listen to the whispers.

my inner voice has been telling me to stop "planning" art for classes or workshops or product and just create art...art that makes you happy, art that you would hang in your house. so today i am just letting the voice lead me...i like where it is going!

collage monday

got back last night around 11pm from SPARK.

what an amazing event filled with open minded creatives...was a great experience and well margie is to say the least and glittery, glam first class hostess!

i actually made this weeks collage monday on the plane from charlotte to Phoenix...i had bought a Veranda magazine to read and there was an article featuring these dress forms layered in fabrics...well it spoke to me and i started cutting. then i went through and cut out as many lines of text and titles i could find and of course the lone red anemone. glued it all down and went around the edges with acrylic paint!

( FYI...i am planning on doing a post this week on my travel art supplies, most likely thursday)

DEAL of the day FRIDAY!!!

 

 

Here is a deal you dont want to miss!!!

40% off

all Punches

today only while supplies last!

be sure to check out whats new in the shop.

{no coupon needed}