More Holiday Blog Candy!

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Here's another candy giveaway at Jozart!

Happy Holidays!

Peace,
LuLu

'Candy Land!"

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Want to win some Promarkers?

Scroll down to see their link in the right sidebar.

Happy Holidays!

Peace,
LuLu

'WOYWW - 12/22 - To Do Wreath'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and Welcome,

Here are a bunch of little projects that need doing. Because I usually work on multiple projects, I'll make a post-it note for each to show what to do next.

1. Embossed metal tape - to paint and sand
2. a) Stencil - to texturize a collages with molding paste and gesso. b) postcard for an art contest to consider entering
3. Homemade blending tools (round velcro dots on corks) for alcohol inks in repurposed alphabet stamps storage container - to find a 'home' until summer when I'll have ventilation
4. Homemade stamps - to develop a tutorial on 'how to make your own stamps'
5. a) original prototype mandala - to create shapes in Photoshop for drawing some digital mandalas. b) wrapping paper - to tear up for collages and store
6. picture of barn - to paste on one of my art journal pages
7. packing list for next scrapbooking crop - to put in my scrapbooking backpack
8. flyer of Tim Holtz techniques - to read and try some new techniques

Sometimes my workspace seems to be more about organizing than about making art. It would be so nice to have more counter space so this workstation could be dedicated exclusively to creating  art - and organizing would be at a different station!

What about you? Is your workstation exclusively dedicated to creating art? Or does yours also get swamped with organizing projects?

I'd love to see your comments about this post - or any of my other posts. Meanwhile, Here are some more workstations for Whats On Your Workstation Wednesday?

Peace,
LuLu

'LIT List It Tuesday - 12/21 - Lefty Lexicon'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and Welcome,

I'm right-handed, and this week I've listed a whopping 8 things that I do with my left hand. Hope to add more activities to my 'lefty lexicon' as I practice more using my left hand.

"LuLu's Lefty Lexicon"

Gel ink, watercolor, acrylic paint, acrylic glaze on scrapbook cardstock -

enhanced in MS Digital Image Editor

Have you ever tried to use your non-dominant hand to do stuff? What was the outcome? Would love to see your comments about this or any of my other posts.

Also, see more lists here at List It Tuesday.

Peace,
LuLu

'LIT - List It Tuesday - 12/14: How to Distract Yourself in 758 Ways!'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and Welcome,

For List IT Tuesday this week, I took inventory of most 'stuff' in our living room. It serves as the 'family room/media room/foyer/copy center/dining room/library/gym/art gallery'.
 

'How to Distract Yourself in 758 Ways'

We have 'zones' - I guess you would call them... Near the front door, we use a 6 ft. tall  Japanese shoji screen as a room divider to visually separate the 'foyer' from the main family room.


Shortly after we moved into our house, one of my antique pianos was even in the corner of this room - which also served as the music studio. But that baby grand took up almost half the room! Decided I didn't really need two pianos in the house! So I soon arranged to have it moved to the home of a friend who was searching for a piano. They have lot more space in their living room, and are taking quite good care of it.


Anyway, this room serves so many functions. Too many! I'm thinking that hubby and I need to do some purging and re-organizing for the new year. It's time to read my Feng Shui books and put them to good use!


Do you have a multi-function room in your residence - a room that's not your kitchen? How do you delineate the room functions? Would love to see your comments.


Meanwhile, here are some more lists for your List It Tuesday viewing pleasure.

Thanks for visiting - and please come back again soon.

Peace,
LuLu

'LIT - Ode to Travelling Light!'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and Welcome,

Yes, I'm a tad late for List It Tuesday - was scrapbooking at our annual holiday potluck crop...Meanwhile, this is a photo with the list of about 100 items of 'stuff' I'm carrying around in my purse...

'6.5 lbs of stuff being lugged around in my bag!'

'Ode to Travelling Light'

by LuLu

I must learn

to travel light -

yeah, right!

Actually I AM working on paring down most of this detritis. For example, do I really need to carry around stuff like my iPod charger when I go shopping or to PT?!

What's in your bag today? I would love to see your comments to this post - or to any of my other posts.

Here are more lists for LIT.

Thanks for visiting - and please come back again soon.

Peace,

LuLu

'Scrap-A-Holics Holiday Crop!'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and Welcome,

Night before last, at our regularly scheduled 1st Tuesday of every month scrapbooking crop, we enjoyed our annual holiday potluck feast. Here's our group photo!

Scrap-A-Holics of Chicagoland
2010 Holiday Potluck Crop

This is our 6th year! Aren't we a beautiful group of scrapping ladies! That's me in the far right of the bottom/front row. I'd love to see your comments about this - or any of my other posts.

Thanks for visiting - and please come back again soon.

Peace,

LuLu

'WOYWW - 12/08'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and Welcome,

I'm just back from the holiday potluck crop of my scrapbooking group last night, the Scrap-A-Holics of Chicagoland. So my workspace just has a few cleanup and organizing projects.

That's my dedicated 'PEACE' scrapbooking backpack in the foreground. The blue/black caddy on the right is an experiment. I'm going to try to use it for my purse contents - just move this back and forth between my purse and my backpack - instead of spending time repacking every time I change bags. I listed all the stuff I carry around - 100 items of detritus! We'll see how long this lasts - it's already too heavy...Would love to see your comments about this post.


It's a scrapbooking tool caddy from Totally Cool - bought it at Archivers with a discount coupon! You can find more desks here at WOYWW.



Thanks for stopping by and please come back soon!

Peace,
LuLu

'Fun with Furry Fringe'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and welcome,

My sister and I are just back from a girl's road trip this weekend. We are SO funny! For a 1-night overgnight trip, to St. Charles/Geneva, IL we each brought 4 bags!!! Will we EVER learn how to pack light?!?!?      :-)

Meanwhile, here's a peek at a 'furry' fringe I made last week from lots of ribbons I bought at the recent Scrap Cabana retreat I attended - made by www.handdyedhobbies.com

These are lovely silk ribbons shot through with gold threads - so pretty! What do you think of this fringe on my art journal? Would love to see your comments about this post - or any of my posts.

Thanks for stopping by and come back soon!

Peace,
LuLu

'WOYWW 12-01: LuLu's WIPs'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and welcome, 
My workstation today ended up with a bunch of stuff to organize or create. Just various little projects that need attention. 


'LuLu's WOYWW Dec 1, 2010
Works In Progress'

Clockwise, from top left: 

1. Two original background stamps made yesterday from: round hardware store sticker finds and foam puzzle stickers and  from foam letter stickers, both painted with gesso and sealed with matte medium adhered to empty VHS tape boxes
2. Liquitex matte medium (my medium of choice)
3. my concoction of matte medium mixed with white gesso (I love measuring and mixing wet supplies, glazes, paints, gessos, etc!) stored in a small plastic Rubbermaid container
4. small leather purse I've never used. Because of it's shape and depth, I'm considering using it as a travel pencil case or travel paint box. It has a handle and a long strap.
5. Four of my flash drives. I try to carry them around the house in my pants pocket, since I sprained my ankle. Can't run up and down the stairs like I used to do when I need to use files between the upstairs desktop PC and downstairs laptop.
6. clear packaging from the iPod shuffle hubby gave last month me. I'm thinking about using it as a shadow box for some little art project.

Would love for you to comment on this post. when you have a moment or 2.

For more workstations visit WOYWW here.

 

Many thanks for popping by - and please come back again soon.

 

Peace,

LuLu

'LIT List It Tuesday 11/30 - Have tools. Will travel!'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes


Howdy and welcome,


While I was reorganizing my small travel tool pouch from last weekend's retreat, I had the brilliant idea to actually list what's in it for today's List It Tuesday!

There have been many iterations, trials and changes, to this little orange pencil case, but this might be the final configuration! It was SO stuffed before the photo, I could not even zip it closed.  The orange color really stands out so I can always grab-n-go really fast! Note: I put non-essential tools in gray pencil case that's still a different color from all my black pencil cases.

How do you store your essential travel tools? Do you use a little pencil case? A toolbox? or a MACK truck?!!! :-)

Would love to see your comments about this post - or any of my other posts.

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


Peace,
LuLu

'Yipeee! I'm Published - again!'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and Welcome,

It's with great pleasure that I announce publication of another of my original poems in the Fall 2010 issue of the 'BAC Street Journal' - which is published by the Beverly Arts Center (BAC) in Chicago, IL! This is the third time my work has been published in the BAC Street Journal. They have previously published both my poetry and my photography! I am so thrilled to be included in this book again.

My poem 'Beneath the Gray Dome' is being published in the BAC Street Journal which will be available at an artist's reception, issue launch and open reading to be held this Sun., Dec. 5, at the BAC!

Woohoo!

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

Peace,
LuLu

'1st Blogoversary Winner is ...'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and Welcome,

The winner of the super duper prize package is...

Phoenix Peacock!

Congratulations Phoenix!

I will send you an email to get your mailing address.



Thanks to all who became followers and entered my 1st Blogoversary celebration contest! It is great getting to know you. I look forward to visiting your blogs in the upcoming year.

Please come back to visit again - and be on the lookout for more giveaways in the new year!

Peace,
LuLu

"Giveaway treats: LuLu's and Ink Stains!"

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and welcome,
Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!

Here are a couple of giveaway treats for today's post...

'Dessert from recent vacation in NY state'

1. Reminder! My 1st Blogoversary giveaway ends tonight Nov 27, 2010 at midnight CT! All 6 rules are required to be eligible for this fantastic prize package. Note: A 'Mystery' prize set has just been added to the prize package - it is not shown and not listed. But you will really enjoy these prizes! So don't delay - enter now!!! Click here for link to giveaway thread..
2. Pop on over to Ink Stains for a fun trivia contest with giveaway!
   
   
   Good luck!

I'll be back before midnight CT tomorrow night with the winner's name!!!

Thanks for stopping by, for commenting and also, to all of you who've entered my 1st Blogoversary giveaway!Peace,
LuLu

WOYWW 11/24 - LuLu's Garage Sale Finds!

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and Welcome,

For What's On Your Workstation Wednesday (WOYWW) blog hop this week: I'm sharinging pix of goodies I bought at a 'garage sale' at the scrapbooking retreat I just returned from this past weekend.

 Stamping storage case, alphabet wood mounted rubber stamps,

'Somerset Studio' mag

published by Stampington (I love their mags!)

Stamping storage case with Stampin' Up supplies -

rolling stamper handle, roller stamps and inks.

Can't wait to play with these -

 I've wanted this tool for ages.

Garage Sale finds at The Scrap Cabana retreat -

just $6 - woo - hoo!

Go here to see more workstations in this fun blog hop.

Reminder: Deadline for my 1st Blogoversary Giveaway is midnight Nov 27, 2010!

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

Happy Thanksgiving!

LuLu

'LIT List It Tuesday 11/23 - Top Chick Flick Picks!'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and welcome,

For this week's List It Tuesday challenge, I had to conjure up a quick list due to my weekend retreat and PT on my sprained ankle for Tue and Wed.
You are wlecome to print this list if you have any interest in my movie picks.

My Top Chick Flick Picks - Nov 2010

Digital

Ms Publisher & MS Digital Image Editor

Alphabetical order

1. Elizabeth I
2. Elizabeth The Golden Age
3. Enchanted
4. Kate & Leopold
5. Marie Antoinette
6. The Duchess (warning: true story, tear jerker)
7. The Stepford Wives (new version with Nicole Kidman)
8. The Young Victoria
9. Titanic
10. View from the Top (very positive)
11. Washington Square (warning: tear jerker)

Enjoy!

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

Peace,

LuLu

Scrap Cabana was a blast - and I won prizes, too!

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and Welcome,

I'm back from 'The Scrap Cabana' weekend scrapbooking retreat in Aurora, Illinois! It was fun, in spite of my sprained ankle.

Some of my Scrap-A-Holics members also attended: Becky, Maria and Mary O. We had so much fun - as we always do at Scrap Cabana. This was the 3rd year for me and Mary O. We only attend once a year, in November. Becky and Maria go more often - and we all have our 'buttons' to prove it. The owner gives us a "Scrap Cabana" button every time a cropper attends. You should see ALL the buttons some ladies have on their lanyards!

L - R: Becky, Maria, Mary Lou, Mary O
We're all members of The Midwest Scrap-A-Holics of Chicagoland

Marianne
works in the IT(Information Technology)  field - just like I do!

First floor of hotel -
spacious crop room

Quiet scrappers on first  floor

Goody table with prizes laid out -
and baskets for raffle ticket entries

Owner Michelle -
giving out raffle prizes

My layout contest entry -  1

My layout contrest entry - 2

Layout contest winner

Scrap-A-Holics member Mary O - a BIG winner.
She won a FREE weekend at the Scrap Cabana - dates of her choosing.
Mary was in shock, because she said 'I never win anything!'

Me with my cane for sprained ankle - and guess what?  I won 3 raffle prizes!
Although I declined the 3rd prize - a huge organizing box, becasue I have no room for it in my house.
So it was raffled off again. And my new croppin' buddy, Dawn, won it!

My new croppin' buddy, Tammy.
She and Dawn were so nice. The three of us all stayed later to crop even more
 after the 'official' retreat ending time. Beacuse of my gimpy sprained ankle,
they helped my load up all my gear on the hotel's luggage cart -
 and then Tammy loaded stuff in my van for me!
How NICE was that?!!!

Scrapbookers are THE NICEST PEOPLE you will ever meet - and so much fun, too!

Would love for you to comment on this post - or any of my other posts, when you have a moment or 2.

And if you do art journaling, crazy quilting, collage or mixed-media art, please stop by my Give-A-Way post. Deadline is Nov 27, 2010! And also check out the additional prizes addendum posted on Nov 14!

Thanks for stopping by - and please come back to visit again real soon.

Peace,
LuLu

WOYWW - 11/17

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and welcome,

For What's On Your Worstation Wednesday, I've got supplies ready to pack up for this weekend's annual scrapbooking retreat at The Scrap Cabana in Illinois. Trying to travel light - ha! ha! ha! - because of my sprained ankle...We shall see.

Once every year, in November, I attend this fun Scrap Cabana retreat with a bunch of my fellow Scrap-A-Holics. Click here to see other artist Wednesday workstations!

Thanks for visiting - and please stop by again soon!

Peace,
LuLu
Celebrating my 1st Blogoversary with a Give-a-Way!
http://www.lulu-too-beaucoup.blogspot.com/

LIT- List It Tuesday 11/16!

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and Welcome,
Here's this week's entry for LIT- List IT Tuesday. See the contents of this list on my Give-A-Way post.

'News Flash!'

Digital

c   mlh1  2010

TECHNIQUE:
This piece started with a scan of one of my original collages - made from a cut up workstation desk blotter. It had lots of random media, colors and organic shapes. Using PSE and DIE, I tweaked saturation, lighting, and added transparent shapes. Finally, I inverted a handwritten list and pasted it on top of 'frame'.

I really enjoy the texture of handwriting used in mixed media pieces. Here I'm going for the texture more than for legibility - although if you look closely, you can make out a few words!

I'd love your comments on this piece. What do you think of all the layers?

Check out all the other neat lists here at LIT.

Thanks for stopping by - and don't forget to check out my Give-A-Way!

Peace,
LuLu

NEWS FLASH! More prizes for Give-A-Way!

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and Welcome,

News flash - more prizes have just been added for my 1st Blogoversary Give-A-Way! Check out  these prizes, which are in addition to the 26 prizes in the give-away announcement post!

1. 2 new pairs of vinyl gloves
2. plastic gems (Clearly Mosaics - The Beadery) - assorted colors
3. 1 clear glass spice jar
4. several mint tins containing: corks, puzzle pieces, mini-computer board, crystal beads 'soup, bottle caps, vintage m-o-p buttons, goldtone cord
5. games pieces: letter cubes
6. 2 new rubber headbands - to use asgiant rubber bands, great for holding journals closed
7. 2 Ranger Vintage Ink aromatherapy scented ink pads - lovely ink colors from the stash of mixed-media artist Tracy Miser
8. 2 plastic toy insects - these are fun
9. 10 foam puzzle pieces with adhesive backs
10. wallpaper sample swatches - great for ATC backgrounds
11. many commercially printed small cardboards - great for ATC bases or mixed-media substrates
12. 15 mini-Loteria cards (Mexican lottery game) - great collage focal points
13. 1 vintage ca. 1970's holiday cookie tin
14. 10 vintage bingo cards
15. 1 vintage French mint tin
16. vintage poker chips
17. 1 vintage ca. 1955 cigar box
18. match books
19. 1 matchbox - great for a little drawer in an altered book!
20. 10 sheets deli paper - great for inkjet printer image transfers!
21. 1 plastic fork  - great for texturing gesso, paint, etc - per Julie Fei Fan Balzer
22. 2 skeins acrylic yarn: 6 oz. and 8 oz.
23. 1 plastic card - great for applying glazes and paints to journal pages
24. Fabric Grab Bag (not shown) - scrap stash of polyester bridal gown fabrics donated by www.bridalchateauinc.com! If you emroider CQ tops, this stash will make you drool
25. 1 'starter' altered book -  spiral 'wish' book of designer luxury home plans: partially prepped by me with glue laminated pages, gessoed front cover and partially gessoed inside back cover). Lies flat! ready for your altering, painting, journaling and embellishements

Please click => October announcement for complete rules and to enter. Note: you must be a Follower to be eligible for the prizes...

Give-a-way ends Nov 27, 2010 at midnight!
Good Luck!

As always, I'd love to see your comments about this post - or any of my other posts on this blog. Don't be shy - tell me what you think.

Thanks for visiting, and please come back again soon.

Peace,
LuLu
http://www.lulu-too-beaucoup.blogspot.com/

Poppy White - and my tools for Digital Image editing!

Howdy and Welcome,

"'Poppy White's Passport to Europe - to sing bass in the new opera 'Porgy and Bess'"
Mixed media - Collage of inherited antique objects, Digital Montage
c mlh1 2009 - 2010

 

Would you be interested in the tools I use to accomplish my digital artwork? The following software products are in my digital toolbox. And also listed is my quick review of each product. These are loaded on the desktop PC I use in my upstairs 'office'. The top 2 are my most often used Faves, and these 2 are also loaded on my amateur photographer hubby's laptop PC in our living room. We both share the laptop for scanning:

MY DIGITAL TOOLBOX 

1. - Adobe Photoshop Elements (PSE) - opens slowly, huge learning curve, need to play with this almost daily - it has so much stuff to learn
2. - Microsoft Digital Image Suite Anniversary Edition Editor (DIE) - easy, very intuitive
3. - Corel Painter Essentials - easy borders
4. - HP Photosmart Essential - I prefer the old version for it's canned collage templates
5. - Microsoft Image Composer - easy effects but rarely use, limited functions
6. - Microsoft Paint - opens fast for quick check of images
7. - Microsoft Publisher - used for it's word art
8. - Microsoft Word - easy text
9. - Creating Keepsakes Creative clips and fonts for boys - rarely used, needs more variety
10. - Creating Keepsakes Digital Quick Pages by Ali Edwards - never used, but I want to!

COMING SOON

• I expect to be using my Wacom tablet and pen soon - I've only had them connected on the desktop for 4 years! :-) Isn't it about time I use them?!!!

WISH LIST SOFTWARE

• Would love to get 3D Studio Max, Bryce, Adobe Illustrator and Maya, too!

MORE ABOUT POPPY WHITE

 

What do you think of this image of my maternal grandfather, Lewis Victor White? My family all called him 'Poppy'. He was an English teacher in the Chicago Public Schools for over 20 years. 'By night' he and my grandmother were opera singers! He sang bass, she sang soprano. I inherited one of the record albums that he made - although I've never tried to play it...He sang in the opera 'Porgy and Bess' in NY and Europe when it first opened!!! Also he sang on WGN radio and in the chorus at the Civic Opera House here in Chicago! He sang in several languages. The first year I went to college at IIT was when he passed away. I remember him as a very quiet, gentle man with a good sense of humor. Just recenly I found out that he was an adventurer! Before the Great Depression, Poppy White 'rode the rails' for the experience.

 

HOW DID I DO IT?

 

This image combines scans of his passport, his record album, one of my original collages and some vintage advertising. I used transparencies, layers, erasing and gradients back and forth between Adobe PSE, MS Publisher and Microsoft DIE.

 

COMMENTS WELCOME!

I'd love your comments about this post - or any other post on my blog.

 

CHECKOUT MY GIVE-A-WAY

Also, I'm hosting a giveaway on my blog - to celebrate my 1st year blogoversary - yippee! If you are a mixed media artist or collage artist you don't want to miss this give-a-way! Ends Nov 27, 2010.

 

Thanks for stopping by - would love for you to come back for a visit - often!

Peace,
LuLu
Celebrating my 1st year Blogoversary with a give-a-way!
http://www.lulu-too-beaucoup.blogspot.com/2010/10/giveaway-giveaway-lulus-1st.html

Virtual Fall Studio Tour!

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and welcome,

Here are shots of the inside art studio that I will be using now (Autumn 2010) through Spring 2011. Then I'll move everything BACK to the Summer studio on the front porch - that's about 6 months from now...

Northwest view

My workstation - the size of a desk blotter!

 You can just make out my 'Apprentice' organizer in the left foreground.

I love this shot of the northern exposure with diffused sunlight -

 so you get to see it twice, too!

Thanks for stopping by - and don't forget to checkout my give-a-way post below!

Peace,
LuLu
Celebrating my 1st year Blogoversary with a give-a-way!
http://lulu-too-beaucoup.blogspot.com/2010/10/giveaway-giveaway-lulus-1st.htm