'WOYWW - 11/30/11: Blasts from the Past!'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and Welcome,

For WOYWW this week, I thought I'd share some 'vintage' documents I rediscovered while organizing my jewelry studio/dining room/sun parlor. These old books were in my art portfolio, for some illogical reason. I plan to put them in acid free photo albums or page protectors in 3-ring binders.

In second photo are other projects I need to 'tidy up' the table in this multi-purpose room. Which seems to be a never ending task - sometimes I feel like Sisyphus pushing his boulder up the mountain! Setup all the supplies, work on project, put away supplies, and repeat! Argh! Of course, I shouldn't complain - I DO have another art studio, where I can leave stuff setup. But the table is really tiny in that room and there is no 'view' out the window...

Do you keep projects out and ready to go? Or do you have to put stuff away and setup all the time?

Thanks for stopping by - would love for you to become a Follower while you're here. And don't forget to take the POLL in right sidebar! You can visit other artist studios playing in the WOYWW blog hop here.

Peace,
LuLu

'Noonian Soong! - my 1st designer scarf'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes


Howdy and welcome,


For some reason, during the past few weeks, I've had a burning desire to create scarves and shawls.

I really, really wanted to construct and wear my original 'LuLu Too Beaucoup' scarf to Thanksgiving dinner this year. It was all I could think about while working on my textile commission. I've already started an eleaborate woven scarf - which is still in the works, and would not be ready for Thanksgiving. That woven scarf was taking too long so here's what I created late Wednesday night/early Thursday moring. 

Techniques I used were English braiding, crochet and macrame. This skinny scarf  was nice and toasty!

'Noonian Soong' -

handmade scarf, braid, crochet, macrame.

Materials: yarns ( acrylic, novelty, wool)

This scarf is more of an experiment than a finished product, because the patterns are more dramatic than I wanted. Something a bit more suble and monochromatic will be created in the next iteration.

What do you think of this skinny scarf? Do you ever wear fashion scarves? How do you store your ribbon stash.

Thnaks for stopping by. Please visit my Blogoversary for some FREEBIES. Don't forget to vote in the right-sidebar.

Peace,

LuLu

'My 1st Textile Art Commission!'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and Welcome,
Here are W-I-P pix from the textile art commission I completed last Friday. This is the prototype wearable art for fitness dance instuctors.

My approach to this project was to think of it as a quilt sandwich - with top, batting, backing and quilting.

iTop badge - paper test

Left: 12 luxury fabrics - cut into 3" squares, and labled with their placement positions

Right: iTop tool and iTop badge - fabric test

'Sandwich' Layers - squared up for trimming

Sandwich - trimmed and ready for 'hemming'

(Turns out that I did not use the fancy white and gold trim or the travel quilting iron)

Hemmd quilt sandwich - ready for trimming, and my signature on reverse

Supplies List

---------------------------------------

Acrylic paints - various golds, Aluminum repair tape, Baggies,

Basic Grey Notch & Die cutting tool, Die cutting machine (Big Shot),

Brass grommets, Brass Stencil, Cutting mats (Fiskars 2-sided Craft), Olfa Rotary - 36" x 24"),

Embossing folders, Embossing stylus,

Fabrics (Cottons, Emroidered Satin Brocades, Linen, Silk, Velvet),

Fusible web (Steam-a-seam, Stitch Witchery),

Galaxy marker, Glitter, Gold Leaf - faux,

Golden Soft Gel medium (semi-gloss), Gel pens, Heat/craft sheet (Ranger),

Hammer, Iron (Hamilton Beach Professional steam), Iron on hem tape,

 iTop tool, iTop backings, iTop badges,

JoAnns EZView Press cloth, JoAnns Teflon Pressing sheet,

Lighting (OttLite Craft Caddy Light, Magnifying lamp with storage base),

Needle tool, Sakura Pens (Gel, Glitter), Pins, Pin cushion - vintage tomato,

Pinking shears - vintage, Punches - circles,

Quilting rulers, Reading glasses, Recycled clear divided salad plates (Dominicks),

Remote control for iPod docking station/radio, Run 'n Buff - gold,

Rotary cutter, Tassels / napkin rings - gold (Domestications),

Tattered Florals 'Bigz' die (Tim Holtz Alterations), Scissors (Fiskars),

THE FOLDWAY: Portable Cutting and Pressing Station (Omnigrid),

Sharpie marker - black, Water spritzer bottle, Xyron 'X' sticker maker - perm,

Zig silver pigment ink pen

The happy client!

Since 2001, I've been a scrapbooker. So this textile art was a GI-norm-ous stetch for me! I did a lot of problem solving on this commission. It was challenging - and fun to play outside of my comfort zone!


Do you sew with a machine - or by hand? Have you ever made art from fabric? Have you ever made art journals with fabric? Lace? Have you attempted Quilts? I aspire to making Crazy Quilt tops someday....


Thanks for stopping by. Would love for you to comment and please become a Follower while you're here. Spread the word about my 2nd Blogoversary Freebies and - please come back again soon!


Peace,
LuLu

Giveaway! LuLu's 2nd Blogoversary Freebies!!!

'WOYWW - 11/23/11 - Weaving My Way with a Web!'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and Welcome,

This  week, after completing my 1st Textile Art Commission (yeah! photos coming soon), I was so jazzed and inspired that I decided to WEAVE a scarf! Mind you, I have only ever woven some paper strips on a scrapbook layout. Have never even woven a potholder!

But I want a new scarf for the holidays, and decided that I can make a scarf. How hard can it be? I haven't crocheted or knitted in over 4 decades, and decided to use a combination of macrame, crochet chains and weaving.

After days of researching looms, terms, yarns and weaving supplies on the 'net, I designed a modified plain-weave structure to create a 'freeform'' extreme style woven scarf using a 'cobbled together' loom and a custom 'web/net/mesh'! I'm using wool, eyelash, novelty yarns and a handspun yarn made by my artist friend Meredith B!

My design is inspired by a fantabulous piece of handmade art paper, found at this artist blog - click here for Renate Kirkpatrick.

  Top of my 'cobbled together' door loom

Yarns and ribbons

Have you ever made a scarf? What technique did you use - weaving, crochet, knitting or other?

Come back soon to see how the finished scarf turns out! Meanwhile check out other artists studios at WOYWW!

Peace,
LuLu

'Racine, WI - Day Trip Back in Time!'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and Welcome,

Hubby and I spent a wonderful Saturday exploring the town of Racine WI - just 2 hours from our house. We drove around after visiting the Racine Art Museum's polymer clay exhibit Terra Nova - which was intoxicatingly inspirational!

We found a couple of mansions for sale that we aspire to - ha! ha! Plus we discovered this antique complex - now a sprawling retreat center and art school. I hope to teach some art journal workshops here next summer! In it's heyday, it was the Racine College campus, where rumor has it, President Linclon's son was to have attended.

Photos courtesy D. C. Daruszka for  Creative Media Wizards

c 2011

What do you think of this vintage architecture? I think it's breathtaking!

Please check out my 2nd Blogoversary freebies - and spread the word. Thanks for stopping by and please come back soon!

Peace,
LuLu

'WOYWW - 11-16-11: My First Ever Textile Art Commission!'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and welcome!

For WOYWW this week, I'm working on my very first textile art commission!

Stay tuned for textile project details when it's completed. After I finish this commission, my next project is a fiber art piece -I can't wait to finish it. I can't sleep, I'm so excited thinking about it!

Have you ever worked or played with textiles? What's your fave luxury fabric? Do you ever use exotic/novelty yarns in your work? any ribbons? Nowadays, I am loving ribbons!

Don't forget to see my 2nd Blogoversary FREEBIES post! See more artist studios here at WOYWW.

Thanks for stopping by - and please come back soon.

Peace,

LuLu

'Freebies! Celebrating 2nd Blogoversary & 11,000+ Visitors with Freebie Backgrounds/Textures!'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and Welcome!

To celebrate my 2nd anniversary of blogging and over 11,000 visitors to my mixed- media blog, I'm hosting a giveaway. Well it's sort of a Giveaway, because there are no requirements - everybody wins!

• Your're not required to be a Follower, but it would be nice if you do become a Follower.
• You're not required to comment on this post, but it would be nice if you do comment.
• You're not required to vote on the poll in the right sidebar, but it would be nice if you vote.

To celebrate, I'm giving away permission to use 6 of my original mixed-media textures below. They would make wonderful backgrounds or layers. You have my permission to use any or all of these 6 textures in your non-commercial artwork. Please credit me
'www.LuLu-Too-Beaucoup.blogspot.com' if you do use my textures in your artwork - enjoy!


I'm looking forward to another year of creating artwork, and sharing my work with you all - my wonderful followers and visitors in the blogosphere!

Thanks for stopping by to visit.
Please spread the word about my freebie celebration - and come back again soon!

2nd Blogoversary Freebie Background/Texture 1 -
www.lulu-too-beaucoup.blogspot.com

2nd Blogoversary Freebie Background/Texture 2 -
www.lulu-too-beaucoup.blogspot.com

2nd Blogoversary Freebie Background/Texture 3 -
www.lulu-too-beaucoup.blogspot.com

2nd Blogoversary Freebie Background/Texture 4 -
www.lulu-too-beaucoup.blogspot.com

2nd Blogoversary Freebie Background/Texture 5 -
www.lulu-too-beaucoup.blogspot.com

2nd Blogoversary Freebie Background/Texture 6 -
www.lulu-too-beaucoup.blogspot.com

Peace,
LuLu

'Two Sisters - BFF'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and welcome,

Here's a peek at me and one of my sisters, before she treated me to lunch on my 60th birthday. We had  a fun time together - as usual.

Two Sisters -
Marcy and LuLu - Sep 27, 2011

Thanks for visiting - and please stop by again soon!

Peace,
LuLu

'LuLu's New Digi Slideshow!'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and Welcome,

'Mina - waiting'

Checkout my digital slideshow in the right sidebar. (Hope it's working properly now!) Would love to see your comments about my digital artwork.

Also, coming soon - FREE TEXTURES to celebrate my 2nd blogoversary and 11,000 hits! Stay tuned for details.

Don't forget to add your vote to the poll - 'What do you want to read about in future?'

Thanks for stopping by and please come back again soon.

Peace,
LuLu

'Karen's Giveaway!'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and welcome,
Karen visited from WOYWW and told me about her giveaway! 3 chances to win!

Peace,
LuLu

'WOYWW - 09-28-2011 Zutterized Journal Binding!'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and Welcome,

During my 60th  birthday week celebration dear hubby and I've been under the weather (just my luck) and resting at home. Hubby has been super wonderful though! He even made chicken soup. But I'm keeping busy by playing with my BIA (Bind It All) machine from Zutter. I made 8 wirebound journals in two evenings while watching flicks!

Also I bought a large sheet of handmade artist paper at the Racine Art Museum on a daytrip to Racine, WI on Saturday - on left side of bottom photo below. It's a very crinkly texture so should make nice faux-leather covers for journals or handcrafted books. 

 8 Bound art journals Sep 25 and 26, 2011

From Left to Right, starting in bottom center:

1-small journal 1: glue laminated patterend scrapbooking cardstock, commercially printed transparencies, vellum, Japanes masking tapes  - 20 sheets/40 pages - 3"x6" (acid-free, archival safe)

2-large journal: long recycled junk mail flyers

3-small journal 2: second half of # 1  - 25 sheets/50 pages - 3"x6" (acid-free, archival safe)

4-small journal: textured wallpaper samples (glue laminated) from hardware store

5 & 6-small journals: my postcard collection from trips of family and friends

7 & 8-small journals: recycled junk mail postcards

Two of these journals are for sale - #1 and #3. Ready for your mixed-media and journaling notes!
PRICE: $15 each - or the set of two for $25. (PayPal) Please note that I ship only to addresses in continental USA.
Please contact me if you want to purchase these one-of-a kind wirebound journals.


After I practiced binding a couple journals, it got pretty easy. I used black and silvertone O-wire in 1" and 3/4" diameters, bought at Archivers. My BIA machine is rather small, that I bought used from a TAC rep - now wish I had a larger size. But this size works well enough for my sporadic use of it.

My plan is to use these for art journals with gessos and paint and stuff - except the postcard collection journals, which I'll just use for taking a trip down memory lane...and the acid-free set for sale.

Do you have a binding machine like BIA or the Cinch? Have you tried wire binding with your machine yet?

Would love to see your comments about this post or any of my other posts. Please come back again soon. Thanks for stopping by.

Peace,
LuLu

P.S. Visit some more studios during WOYWW here.

'Deep in the throes...' Thank you, Sting and George Lucas!

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and welcome!

I'm deep in the throes of re-organizing and purging in my 'winter' craft studio. Not much fun, but I'll sure be happy when I can focus on making art. While I'm busy with that task and up to my neck in errant art supplies, here's a spread I created in an altered book art journal - from last fall.

"...growing up is optional!'
Inkjet transfer/transparency, gel medium, Acrylic wash, gel pen,
colored pencil, vellum, rub on, custom embossed foil tape with acrylic paint

My 60th birthday is rapidly approaching and the sentiment on the left page reflects my feeling perfectly this year. (Sting and I are nearly twins - his 60th birthday is a few days after mine! I'm a big Sting fan - and going with another couple to his concert in November. Sting is releasing his 25th anniversay CD collection on my birthday. I'm also a huge Star Wars fan - and George Lucas is releasing his Blu-ray collection of the Star Wars saga on on my birthday. Isn't that so nice of those guys to give such great 60th birthday presents? :-)

The past few weeks I've been assembling a list of 60 items (places to go, things to buy) - one item for each year on planet Earth! I'm also adding ideas to the back half of an altered book art journal that I started in May of this year - to chronicle our 35th wedding anniversary celebration.

What do you do on your milestone birthdays? Do you plan to do anything special to celebrate your milestone birthdays? I'd love to hear what you've done for your milestone birthdays.

Thanks for stopping by. Please take some time to look around my blog - there are all sorts of neat things to see - and come back again soon.

Peace,
LuLu 

'Summer Slips Slip Slipping....'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and welcome,

I'm back for a hot minute. This summer has turned out to be busy, with ups, lots of downs - and some fun too.

One of my recent activities was our annual family reunion. My father and I are co-coordinators every year. We had a huge turnout this year at the picnic. And I actually had help at the checkin/registration table. Dear hubby was off work so he came and took lots of photos. This is one of Daddy and me!

 'Daddy and LuLu  - Family Picnic'

August 2011

Chicago, IL

Hope to be back here soon with more artwork and posts - probably after my 60th birthday in late September!

Peace,
LuLu

'...Still Life...'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and Welcome,

In case you're wondering, I've been on vacation with hubby, went to my baby brother's last minute wedding, then spent most of the July 4th holiday week with my sister and her kids in Wisconsin. Just a 3 hour drive from our house - easy, peasy.

Next weekend my other sister and I are taking a road trip to visit my niece/her daughter before she goes into military training - she joined the reserves...

Earlier this week a severe storm socked my area of Illinois. Hundreds of thousands of households were out of power all week - many tens of thousands still are out of power. But our house managed to squeek through unscathed - just a couple of flickers. I'm so grateful we didn't get hit. We're still cleaning up from the June 9th rain storm!

I need to get back to working on my Sep 17, 2011 art gallery show - which is rapidly approaching! But I want to see Harry Potter: 7b flick tomorrow night...

Original photos of still life

(heirloom glass, metal, embroidered fabrics, fruit, heirloom pottery, stone, heirloom silver, laminated paper)

tweaked with Microsoft Digital Image Editor

What do you think of these still lifes? I had great fun gathering the elements from around the house on Dec 27, 2007. These photos were some of the photos entered in a contest. Another view of this photo won! Would love for you to leave a comment.

Thanks for stopping by - please come back again soon.

Peace,
LuLu

'35th Anniversary - hard to believe!'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and Welcome!

I've haven't posted for a while - but I am keeping busy. Since June 12, 2011, hubby and I are on vacation - and celebrating our 35th wedding anniversary.

I rarely post photos - prefering to show my artwork. But here' a photo from our wedding day in my grandmother's rose garden, 1976. Granny was the original family historian - and a scrapbooker!

I designed my wedding gown! My other grandmother's seamstress made the dress. I knew nothing about weddings or sewing. The fabric was too heavy - I was boiling hot. But very happy!

Thanks for stopping by and please come back again!

Peace,
LuLu

P.S. We just bought my first modern sewing machine - a Brother, on sale! There's an antique Singer treadle sewing machine in the basement - but that doesn't count. I still don't sew, but now at least I have a machine so I can try to realize my designs...

'WOYWW - 6/1/11 - Art Journal and Stamping!"

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and Welcome,

I've been on vacation, making art and doing (dreaded) chores. Haven't been playing in WOYWW for a month (or longer?) This week there are 2 main projects on my work table I thought I'd share. Managed to take some quick photos last night before I got too sleepy.

1) I'm painting in a little art journal (after glue laminating pages and collaging pages).

2) Also I'm stamping on my own custom decorative tapes. Customizing tapes is loads of fun! I use my custom tapes in art journals and altered books  - in addition to using tapes from 7gypsies (great stickiness!) and tissue tapes from Ranger/Tim Holtz. Ladies at the scrapbook stores love my tapes and said I should be selling them and teaching workshops. We shall see about that...Meanwhile,

Art journal and supplies

Stamping supplies for custom decorative tape making (upper right)

Have you ever made your own custom decorative tapes?
Would you be interested in a tutorial on how to make your own customized masking tape?
Please comment here to answer these questions.

Also, whether you comment or not, please take a moment and complete the fun poll in upper right sidebar! I'm wondering what folks would like to see more of in my blog?

Thanks for stopping by - and hope you come back again soon.

Peace,
LuLu

'We're dreaming of beautiful Paris, France - City of Lights!'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes
Howdy and Welcome,

Hubby and are will be celebrating our 35th wedding anniversary in June! (I was a teen in college when we met...)

We were hoping to go to Paris, France this summer - but no such luck. It would be hubby's first visit to Paris - and my second.

Paris France Photo - from Free Cities Photos

Meanwhile, I've been doing a lot of art. Including experiments in designing my own decorative tapes. Although I really like 7gypies' and Rangers Tim Holtz tissue tapes, mine look fabulous - so far! I'll post a tutorial when testing is done. 

Have you ever traveled to Paris, France? Which arr. did you stay in? Do you have photos to share? I'd love for you to leave a comment about your adventures in this romantic City of Lights.

Thanks for visiting - and please come back again soon!

Peace,

LuLu



'A Dream for LuLu!'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and welcome,

I've been spending a lot of time working on art journals and altered books. I'll be sharing some soon.

Meanwhile, I dream of hubby and I buying this lovely brick home. We saw it last September 2010 - and it's still for sale!

Thanks for stopping by - and please come back again soon!

Peace,
LuLu

'100th Post GIVEAWAY - Fave Tutorial RESULTS and WINNER!"

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and Welcome!

Now for the moment you've all been waiting for...ok, at least SOME of you have been waiting for..the results and winner of my 100th Post Giveaway are now to be revealed!

FAVE TUTORIALS
Your top three favorite tutorials by LuLu are:

• Image Transfer using Contact Paper
• Drunken Scotch Technique
• Embossed Metal Flags

Checkout these favorite tutorials and - please send me a link to YOUR results!

and the WINNER of my 100th Post GIVEAWAY is...drumroll please...

peggy aplseeds

Winner must contact me via email before midnight May 8, 2011 CT with their email address and postal address to claim prizes. If winner does not contact me via email by midnight May 8, 2011 CT, they forfeit the prizes - and I will select and announce online another blogger to win the prizes.


Congratulations, peggy aplseeds!

Click here for the prize list

Thanks to all of you for visiting, for commenting, for following and for playing. You are all a great inspiration to me. Please come back again soon.

Peace,
LuLu

'STAR WARS DAY: May The 4th Be WIth You!'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and Welcome,

From one Star Wars fan-atic to all the others out there in the blogosphere, 'Happy STAR WARS Day'!

'Self-protrait - Galena, IL 2009'

Don't have any Star Wars photos handy, so here is one of my photos.

The STARS WARS SAGA blu-rays come out on my birthday this year: Sep 27, 2011. What a FAB-U-LOUS birthday present from George Lucas! How did he know?!

More info at theses sites:
maythe4th.starwars.com
May the force be with you - May 4th!

Peace,
LuLu

P.S. Giveaway results and winner announcement coming very soon!

'100th Post Giveaway - ends May 1st!

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and Welcome,

Hope you had a great weekend.

Please enter my 100th Post Giveaway soon - if you haven't already done so. Ends midnight May 1, 2011. CLick here for details.

Peace,

LuLu

'WOYWW 4-20-11 TODO'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and Welcome,

For WOYWW this week (see more WOYWWs here) thought I'd show you my TO DO list book. I'm woefully behind schedule on writing out my to do list. I've been trying to get my To Do list organized since January 2010 (that's right - I said 2010) - including my new year's resolutions.

My TO DO list is a book!
 Your typical black and white composition book!



Composition book -
covers painted with acrylic paints, clear gesso, white glaze pen, black sharpie



About as far as I got with my TO DO list book was to draw a 'Nix TV' icon!

I admit it - I'm a procrastinator, trying to give up TV. Wish me luck...

While you're here, please check out my 100th Post Giveaway! Thanks for visiting. Please come back soon!

Peace,
LuLu

'Giveaway prize photos - Art Journal!'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and Welcome,

Here are the photos of the blank wire-bound art journal I've prepped for the winner of the 100th Post Giveaway. This prepped art journal is just one of the yummy prizes one lucky Follower will win!

Prize prepped AJ - top page fan

Prize prepped AJ - front page fan

  

Prize prepped AJ - back cover

Would love for you to enter my 100th Post Giveaway - click here!

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to leave a comment.

Peace,

LuLu

'Giveaway Prize List - Giveaway Update News!'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and Welcome,



Click above to enlarge free goodies prize list!



100th POST GIVEAWAY NEWS!

• Eligibility update - global Folllowers are now eligible! Anyone, anywhere can play!
• Prize list is now a jpeg file - so you can print the free goodies prize list!
• Anyone can promote - you do not need to play to promote this Giveaway. Just link to this post on your blog sidebar!

 Click here for details and to ENTER LuLu's 100th Post GIVEAWAY!

Hope you will play - thanks for visiting and please come back again soon!

Peace,
LuLu