Art Junk Girl~

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day!, originally uploaded by artjunkgirl.

I made this quiltie a few years back. This is a picture of my mom at her sewing machine at a very young age. She is in Greece right now and I miss her! Happy Mother's Day to all Mother's around the world!
xo Lia

Interview with MaryAnn of FollowYourBliss and Founder of Friday Finds! today!

Follow Your Bliss Designs~, originally uploaded by artjunkgirl.

Itty-Bitty Book MaryAnn made for me with her wonderful signature touches!!

Dear Friends,
I am very excited about my "blogtalkradio" show today at 1:30 p.m. EST. I will be interviewing MaryAnn of FollowYourBliss Designs and Blog. MaryAnn is also the founder of the flickr group, "Friday Finds", so in her honor, I will share some of my finds for this week!
Hope you can tune in to the interview!

My favorite "find" of the week is the little silver tin's that Target carries in their dollar bin. These are super handy (and I'm a containerizing fool) so I can't resist buying just a few more of these when they have them in stock!
You can see more photos and join fridayfinds on flickr by going here.

Have a fabulous weekend everyone!!! Hope to "see" you on chat during the radio show!!
xoxox lia

BlogTalkRadio Share Next Show: 5/9/08 Interview with MaryAnn McKeating!

One day until the next *live* ArtJunkTalk Radio show! Check out MaryAnn's website, Follow Your Bliss Designs. You can visit blogtalkradio by going to their direct website here.

you saw it here first...

you saw it here first..., originally uploaded by artjunkgirl.

it's official....my dining room table is cleared off...news at 11.

studio update soon.

L.

Favorite Supplies?

wip's...., originally uploaded by artjunkgirl.

Email states~

Hi Lia,

I love your artwork! Can you please in an upcoming post talk more about your favorite art supplies? I specifically want to know more about what kinds of pens and glue you use. Maybe you can do a blog post on the contents of your messenger bag?

-w.
*********
Answer:
Thank you for writing.

Short answer (the babble free version):

Glue sticks (3M scotchbrand is fave)

Pens:
gel pens, micron .05 pens, sharpie poster markers, paint pens, ball-point pens

Lots of scrappy paper of the leftover variety. I keep little bins and boxes of them and then grab them when I'm ready to work.

watercolor paper, 140 lb. cold press

cheap acrylics: I do like the apple barrel kind alot

GESSO for thin pages

What's in my messenger bag:
~one or two art magazines
~a spiral notebook for notes
~glue sticks
~scissors.
~an envelope of scrap paper for journalling on the road
~my moleskine
~pen pouch with my minimum supplies: pencil/pen and gel pens
~starbucks card

Longer answer:
to be continued.....

Show and Tell Sundays!

Dear Friends,
We are going to talk "junkin'" again today! I decided to participate in Show and Tell Sunday's theme this week, entitled, "show us your favorite antique/fleamarket, etc. shop". Technically, the challenge this week from one of the group leaders, the lovely Cerri of LittlePInkStudio was to go on a "fieldtrip" there. Well, I just happened to be there a few weeks ago. I don't get to go but twice as year as it's not near my home. It has been, however, my fave place to go "junk huntin'". I looove Antique Malls, especially this one. The reason is that I know the booths quite well, and they have been, for the most part, usually the same trusty and wonderful vendors.

For instance, I always b-line it straight to "the pin lady's" booth. No one is there usually, so I don't know her name, but I do know she has a collection of junk jewelry and I love purusing through it each time I go. For a while, she carried these crown pins. I only have one left. I bought one for each of my bestest friends here in town and they all have a different one. I didn't see any this last jaunt, so I suppose they've become more sought after in the last few years or she has exhausted what seem to be, a never ending supply of them!

Emmitsburg Antique Mall

Now, I don't have lots of pics of the inside of the mall, as I often feel awkward taking pictures and am usually too shy to ask...so I only have a few pics of the outside sign. Click on the above link to see their website/pictures of the shop!

Here are a pics of a few more finds I go this week. I love these barbie cases, and this one was a steal.

I also can always find boxes of vintage cards here for a steal. You can check my "summer junkin' trails" photo album on flickr to see more shops I've visited. Summer is usually the only time I have to go huntin' and I am pretty well stocked right now..but I'm sure I have a trip or two in me this summer and I will share it with you here!

xo lia

Scrappy Jessi's Favorite Childhood Toys Party!*Updated* post

toy party, originally uploaded by scrappyjessi.

Hello dear friends!!
I will be posting later today for this fabulous meme!! You must go to scrappyjessi's blog right NOW and check out the one's that are already up or click on this photo and it will take you to her flickr and you can start there!!!!
xo lia

p.s. stop giving me a hard time for being late with my "homework" Mar's!!!
:)

************** Ok, I just came up for "air". I totally love doing meme's like this as it always makes me happy to travel down memory lane. Especially vintage toy lane! For those who don't know my work well, much of it comes from my love for vintage imagery and nostalgia. I grew up surrounded by it as my parents had kids later in life. My Dad, a WWII vet, used to walk around saying, "I've been around since speak-easy's"! LOL. He was a hoot. He has since passed away and doing my art is a way I stay close to him...putting all those fun little bits into my inchies and such. Although I don't talk about it alot, many of the collages I've made are about my Dad, my chilldhood moments or things I loved growing up. I also surround myself with many childhood books, cards, and toys in my studio.
So, without further ado, I will give you my top favorites (it was, ahem, very hard to narrow down!)

1. Dolly's, of course. I loved doll babies most. I still do, but now they are mostly of the "rag dolls" variety, oh and real life babies, of course! I've always had a strong nuturing instinct. The photo above is of me tucking in my little baby doll. Oh, how I wish I still had that little carriage!!

Now, here's the one of me (on left) holding "Sharon". The only prooooblem was, that, "Sharon" was NOT my baby dolly. No. She was my sissy's (seen here obviously allowing me to hold her, as, if, it looks like I was ever going to let go). You see, "Sharon" was given to my sister by her Godmother (which, by the way, always gave her the coolest gifts). I remember her being so cuddly, more than any of the "other" dolls we would get. I think my sissy still has "Sharon"! I will have to check. I guess she eventually pulled her out of my hands somehow.

2. Kaleidoscopes.

I remember always being fascinated with these Kaleidoscope cones. I distinctly remember twirling it round and round and being mesmerized for the longest time. I loved how the colors mixed and twirled. I still love lots and lots of color. I remember these were always plentiful when I was a kid, although I don't have one now. In fact, I only have one of my actual childhood toys (I think), as I believe my Mom got rid of them early on. Not quite sure why! She held on to almost everything else!

3. My baby lamb.

I have this one in my studio now. (seen here in my play pen) I don't know how it made it through. I'm sure there is a story. I am told by my kids that the eyes, "freak them out", but I love my little lamb!

4. Viewfinders.

I remember spending hour upon hours clicking this toy viewfinder. I wonder why I had this as we were of modest means. Again, I don't know what happened to it, but I remember the slides well and be fascinated with the mystery of it all.

I guess my tastes have not changed much as I still love all these things! Thank you for travelling down memory lane with me again! What was your favorite toy? Do you still have it? xo lia

her sweet escape~ new moleskine entry

her sweet escape~ new moleskine entry, originally uploaded by artjunkgirl.

...I'll be back soon my friends.

xo lia

So inspired!

inspiration board (updated), originally uploaded by artjunkgirl.

Dear Friends~
I could not remember whether or not I had shared this inspiration board board with you from my studio. Last month, whilst organizing, I decided to revamp this old bulletin board. I started by attaching recycled wallpaper scraps as the background, then tacking many of the wonderful cards I've received from blog and flickr friends (some of whom I've been lucky enough to meet in person!) It's really wonderful to see this when I walk into my studio area downstairs. It's so bright and colorful and I feel instantly connected to all the wonderful artists i've met online and in person. So many talented ladies, so generous and caring! I am truly blessed.
Well, I have more inspirational bits to share with you today! Here are a few of the pics I took of other things that inspire me.

Occasionally someone will write and ask me who and what I am inspired by. Well, for one, lots of color and old black & white images have mesmerized me since my childhood. I was definitely a daydreamer. I still am. I still surround myself with little things from my childhood, and the vary photos that held promises for me...promises of a great big world, filled with color, wonder and love.

I did not have the most wondrous of childhoods, but I can tell you that living in my own little colorful world opened my eyes to the hope and possibilty that I felt was just waiting for me to discover. I'm so glad that I finally came back to the things that gave me that hope and feeling of safety. I won't let it go again. Each card above is indication to me that when you leap, there others will be to support, care and share your dreams.

Thank you my friends. xo lia

I heart Antique Malls! Friday Finds!

Dear Friends~
I have been a bit behind in sharing on my blog this week as I've had many "life" kind of stuff going on that's kept me away from both the blog and my journal. I have not completed a journal page in almost a week. That is a record for me as I work in it everyday...it's a constant companion to me...a place to rest my thoughts, not to mention some of my favorite papers and images from my little "stash".

Anyhow, where was I? Oh, yeah. The part about "life is what happens when you are busy making other plans"...that one. Now, lucky for me, while life was throwing lots of assignments my way, I luckily found myself in the vicinity of one of my favorite Antique Malls in our area. I have photos up on my flickr of previous jaunts and goodies I've found there. I had about 45 minutes to run in before attending my son's game and boy, oh, boy, did I find some goodies! They were waiting there just for me! I love antique malls and they are really my main stay for junkin'. I usually go "junkin'" in the summer time when we travel. I love the fact that I can take my time and that I don't have to fight over things like at estate sales and such. After all, "I'm a lover, not a fighter". Ha ha...I made a funny! Here are my friday's finds! ...mind you at amazing prices. I will post more later.

I also promise, cross/my/heart that I will be loading up some new journal pages and art soon! I have lots of ideas stored up in my head (you know, la-la land) and I'm sure that once I get out my art stuff, I'll be spilling it all out!
Hope all is well with my creative friends!! Summer is almost here and I'll be able to come out and play in blog land. I've seen so many fabulous blogs crop up as of late. So many talented people out there, so little time to see it all!
Stay tuned, I'll have art junk back on it's regularly scheduled programming soon! xoxoxoxo Have a FABULOUS weekend my dear friends!!!!
xoxox lia