Thursday 9 November 2017

I'm on a roll...

... or maybe I'm just rolling over.  This purge has me alternating between howls of laughter, amazement and pure unadulterated stunnery (is there such a word?).

I've been working like a fiend to cut papers down to a size small enough to fit into a file folder.  I now have more than a yard of folders, crammed full of colour lusciousness.
 

Apparently, I'm still not done;  I keep finding more and this stack of heavy texture is a case in point.


Years of teaching means that I've a huge stash of material to go through.  At the risk of you thinking I'm absolutely crackers (and truthfully, at this point how could you not?), I have to show you what I found this week - a box crammed full with bags of painted mats, conveniently chopped into odd shapes and sizes.


Obviously, at some point, I decided I had waaaaaay too many painted matboards (done for background demos in workshops) and chopped them just for fun.  I say that because I've no idea now what the end game was, and my mind is whirling with 'what the hecks?'.

At any rate, I have to show you some close-ups of the mouth-watering colour!




  
I hope you can give me some suggestions in your comments below because there must be near 1000 pieces here, and the colour is so good it would be a shame to throw them away.  If I had a wood panel big enough (yup, they're all gone now), I'd be doing something wild and wonderful, but I'm hoping you've got a ton of ideas for me instead.

To end this post on a truly joyous note (apart from the colour, of course) I'd like you to meet our eagerly-awaited first-born grandchild who arrived this week. 
Linkin Nathan Christensen, born Nov. 6/17  6 lbs. 13 oz...welcome home!
May your week have been filled with as much joy and laughter as has ours. 





30 comments:

  1. Wow! finally a grandma! Adorable of course - congrats. Beside that wonderful news you have had a real colour explosion which I am sure delighted you too. I have no suggestions for all that colour but I am sure you will come up with something unique Win - good luck!

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    1. We are surely delighted about the addition to the family, Val. Such a treat!

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  2. CONGRATS!!!! What a lovely grandchild. I wish for you & your family all you wish for yourselves! About the colour...thanks for adding some life to our dreary day here. They are luscious!!! YUM!

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    1. Many thanks Shelby - we are so pumped! As for the colour, we're in the same boat here - it's whiteout all the way as the winter snowstorms settle in!

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  3. What wonderful news, Win. He's precious! You must be so thrilled.
    :)))))

    But as to the mat board cuts. My weird mind thought, "Mosaic!" They can be cut even smaller. Black, white, or grey mat board substrate (or what will you in the way of color). Mount colorful painted mat board "shards" however you choose thereon. Leave spaces between. Lay entire thing flat once dry. Run artist low tack tape around edges, leaving upright "lip" all the way round. Make sure all is level. Pour liquid acrylic Pouring Medium over all (but not too much), allow to dry and become clear. This will act as a clear "grout" and top glaze, as it were. Or something like this....Voila! Mat board mosaic!
    Anyway, so much for my weirdness. I love what appears to be some colorful cheese cloth (?). Inspiring goodies. Must be a bit like unearthing some hidden treasures.
    :)

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    1. We're feeling very fortunate right now, Rose, so thanks!! Funny, I was thinking the same thing about the mosaic angle, although not as clearly thought out as you. Great outline, and super thanks for the idea. Now if I could just create a dozen 12 x 16's in a month with them I'd be halfway there!

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  4. First, congratulations to the family on this beautiful new addition! Then, I write seeking an invitation to come shopping at your house! Wow! (Thanks you for all the visits to my blog! Means a lot, especially since I have been keeping a very low profile and not visiting others' blogs!)

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    1. Many thanks, Kay...I'm beyond excited about our new little guy! And you can come shopping at my house any time in the next couple of months - TONS of freebies! :D

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  5. Congrats on this amazing little boy - so lovely - fantastic to be grandma! CONGRATS! And oh my gosh that are for sure the most perfect colors and that is more than yummie to find such treasures again -- that is the same here and I am not teaching...lol.. but I get old and my fading memory looks a bit like your wonderful colored stack of heavy texture I guess! But always little surprises - that's the benefit of a fading memory!
    I would suggest to make kind of mosaic backgrounds on wood panels..... if another idea come to mind I will tell it...

    Happy weekend ahead grandma Win Dinn!

    oxo Susi

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    1. Many thanks, Susi...we're so excited. I'm excited to be spending the next couple of weeks with mom and grandson as my son is back to work in the oilfields Monday. Mega bonding time! Maybe I'll take some of those matboards with me! :D

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  6. I drool over your luscious art papers and mat board and your grand baby!! Such fun ahead with both! hugs, patty

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    1. Oh, I agree, Patty - these next few months are going to be a treat in oh so many ways!

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  7. Hi Win. Before I get to the crafty bit just want to welcome little Nathan, he is so sweet. Looking at your post today makes me feel better as I have the same massive stash of stuff. From my teaching days I must have collected huge amounts of all kinds of things and though I am trying to have a clear out I am finding it very difficult to let things go so we shall see. Happy creative week and thanks for the visit to mine, Angela xXx

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    1. Thanks, Angela - now I don't feel so alone in my craziness. I've been purging for weeks, and know I'll have to go through it all again, and then have a big sale...if I can bear to let it go! ;-)

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  8. Holy moly Winn fabulous colors and a brand new grandson too... and the first one to boot. What a banner week and what a handsome little fellow. I hope he lives within 5 min driving so you can get in plenty of snuggle time.
    As far as mat boards go you could always create a very colorful abstract accent wall somewhere...???

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    1. Isn't life grand, Deann? I do wish Link were a five minute drive away, but right now it's more like five hours. His parents are planning on changing that to about an hour and a half, so that would be much better! And yes, I'm thinking a large piece for those matboards...see Rose' (Plush Blossom Studio) above for a concept. Can I get it done before we move? We'll see!!!

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  9. Congratulations! What a cutie :)
    As for all that luscious colour, how about paper mosaics? Though with that amount of stash you could do a Roman villa!
    I'm still gaily throwing things out by the bagful when I'm not using up inks to pattern paper and then binding new journals. I guess the local school or nursing home will be receiving some free art materials in the near future.

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    1. Many thanks, Tracy; he sure is! And I'm in agreement about the paper mosaics AND the Roman villa! :D TAPS and the high school will also get some goodies here, and at the rate I'm finding things, much more than a truckload! Sending you major cleaning/sorting/purging mojo, my friend! xo

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  10. Oh - AWESOME - two weeks of bonding with your precious little fella. There is just nothing like a grandchild. I'm so excited for you Win. It's life changing... that's for sure.

    What wonderful colors of mat board and textures too. I have no doubt AT ALL that you will come up with something wonderful to do. I think you should FIND a big board for them... there has to be one around somewhere!! Sure hope you post your creation when you play!!! Xj.

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    1. Thanks, Joi - it's pure delight in our week. I'll be on the hunt for a board while I'm away, no doubt...those mat bits MUST get used! :D

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  11. Babies are such a joyful addition and you and John will be wonderful grandparents! I can only imagine how hard it is to let go of all these pieces of juicy color.

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    1. We are very much looking forward to the grandparent journey, Laura - weknow we're going to love it, and he's just the sweetest baby imagineable! And yes, this paring down is hard, knowing all that wonderful colour could be put to some good use had only I thirty or forty years in which to do so. :D

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  12. Well, if stunnery is not a word, it darn well should be, especially with the qualifying adjective "unadulterated" in front of it! Lovely bits and pieces all around. My immediate thought when I saw those board pieces you cut up was a large mosaic? I have a thing for squares - then again, I have a thing for circles as well - and come to think of it triangles too - or hexagons! I can just about imagine those off-cuts as part of a large mosaic. Hey, congratulations! Such lovely news about the arrival of your first grandchild! Best wishes for the entire family! xxx

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    1. I'm with you on the mosaic, Zsuzsa - it would make a lovely one! And you are obviously as geometrically-obsessed as am I. :D We are oh-so-pleased about the new baby, and with all doing well, we're anticipating his release from the hospital this weekend...yay.

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  13. Celebrating the safe arrival of your beautiful grandson Win! Welcome to 'Groovy Grannyville' ... you are now all-wise, and a dinosaur at the same time!

    Now, as for the colourful board pile, I'm with Zsuzsa! Needs to be an art installation ... perhaps an arch over Highway 3 as you enter the valley, depicting our agricultural abundance, beautiful vistas, and artful endeavours; welcoming all to the area!

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    1. Great idea on the installation, Linda - I nominate YOU for the honour...have colour, will deliver. :D I love the idea of all-wise and dinosaurousness at the same time...perfect!!!

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  14. Oh my gosh ! I can't believe the amount of beautiful pieces of art & texture you have created and stashed ! If they were sitting here, some would turn into cards and some into mixed media but I think you have more than a life time supply ! :) FABULOUS ! I hope you are doing well, it's been a different year for us, but life will start to settle down ... I think ..... :) xx

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    1. Isn't that the truth, Shirley - and I know you'd make great use of a lot of it! It's truly much more than a lifetime supply, what with all those students contributing to the fun!! xo

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  15. Oh my Win!!!
    Huge happy congratulations to you all on Linkin's arrival!!
    What a gorgeous little baby boy! How wonderful for you!!I am a bit jelli(because my sons are not ready) but I am over the moon thrilled for you dear friend!
    Best wishes to everyone and kisses to your new little grandson!
    love,Jackie xo

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    1. So many thanks, Jackie - I'm out of the stratosphere delighted with it all, and promise to enjoy the next couple of weeks of intense cuddling while I'm visiting his parents!! xoxo

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