Deborah Velásquez

Friday, December 23, 2011

Word Paths • Our Words

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Everyone has a word path. One word leads to another.

Word Paths, a Friday feature showcasing possibilities in written words, creative process and artistic pieces.

My goal is to present three to five words or three to five lines.

I may go to seven words or seven lines but probably not often, only if needed.

I plan to work the Word Paths out artistically and process them to share with you here.

You can go here, to my first post on this project and see how it all started.

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Since day one my Word Path words have been my own, but for today's post I thought I would use our words. I decided as always to make art with what comes to mind. For whatever reason these words kept dancing in my thoughts. I find Peace, Love and Joy to be gorgeous words. They sit on a page so well and so sure. These words I find, we share most often during the holidays to define our wishes and our hopes as we head in the new year.
Have a loving, peaceful and joyous holiday.

Here is my word path for today

Peace Love Joy

Happy Weekend • Peace, Love and Joy • Enjoy the Language of Words

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Tuesday, December 20, 2011

A Tree with Nature's Help

Found ourselves still threading ornaments this morning. My oldest son helped as he is off from school for the holidays. We played some Christmas music and got into the spirit. The two year old on the other hand could care less about the goings on. Last night before dark with pruners in hand we gathered our branches from a fallen birch tree. We have had many fallen trees here from our many storms this past year, so this was an easy task.

Voilà! All done and ready for display.

Now we wait patiently for Santa to arrive.
Have a Happy, Merry and Joyous Holiday.

Please do not use anything without permission or without making note of the origin on your blog or website.

Monday, December 19, 2011

Ornaments with Paper and Words

Circles with words to make Christmas ornaments.

I wrote words with acrylic ink and my trusty sumi brush on thick off-white watercolor paper.

No specific order or reason, I just went with what came to mind for words.

I cut the circles using Marvy Uchida paper punch tools. I thought I would just have a word tree but then decided to add patterned black and patterned red paper for accent. I used scrap booking paper. Because the ornaments may twirl I added a color on the back of each piece of either solid red or black paper. I did not glue the solid piece, I just hole punched the same size pieces, one solid, one decorative before threading the embroidery floss to be used for hanging the paper ornament.

I am off to finish making more ornaments. Christmas Handmade continues.

Thank you for stopping by.

Please do not use anything without permission or without making note of the origin on your blog or website.

Friday, December 16, 2011

Word Path • Words Replayed

Everyone has a word path. One word leads to another.

Word Paths, a Friday feature showcasing possibilities in written words, creative process and artistic pieces.

My goal is to present three to five words or three to five lines.

I may go to seven words or seven lines but probably not often, only if needed.

I plan to work the Word Paths out artistically and process them to share with you here.

You can go here, to my first post on this project and see how it all started.

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It has been about four months since starting my blog and I must say it has been a great experience. I meet new readers each day and my online friendships have grown immensely. From an artist stand point it has given me the push to make art everyday. Blogs give your art a stage to present your work and no one made it clearer than Holly Becker of Decor8. I took an online class called Blogging Your Way offered by Holly Becker, of Decor8, and Leslie Shewring of a creative mint. .
I learned that an online presence is important. I am happy to be finding my place in this online world.
Thank you Holly and Leslie. Not enough adjectives to describe how brilliant this course is.

For today's Word Path I am revisiting words I have made into an art piece, hence the title Word Replay. This Life is Now piece is a favorite of mine and I wanted it included in my Word Path Gallery sort to speak. I am sharing it here for those who are new to the blog and starting to get familiar with my work. It was created before the series became a Friday feature on my blog. The words are powerful, beautiful and true. We loose sight of "the moments" in the rush of everyday life. Those moments as I tell my son need to be appreciated. I always remind him and myself to pause in the moment. If we pause then we can then we can reflect and give those moments meaning. We make memories in our picture book of life. As 2011 comes to a close, it is time to look back and put perspective in your path for 2012. Yesterday is past but it gives today.

Here is my word path for today

Your past, your history, your yesterday gives you now.

Happy Weekend • Pause in the Moment • Enjoy the Language of Words

Please do not use anything without permission or without making note of the origin on your blog or website.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Feeling Crafty with Glass Magnets

Finished Glass Magnets

Feeling the spirit of the season and I am making small holiday gifts.

Picked up 1/2 glass beads from the local craft store.

The same ones used in a vase for flowers.

These are not perfectly round and have natural markings in them. I am going for a more organic look.

If you would like clear and perfectly round half glass beads you can find resources on Etsy.

Pick the glass beads you are going to use for your project.

Put a dot of Mod Podge on the bead and place it on your choice of paper, scrap booking has a nice thickness to it. You can cut things out of books, magazines or just use a piece of your own art. I cut some stock from my cards and used scrap booking paper for my magnets.The Mod Podge goes on white but dries clear. As you place the glued bead on the paper it spreads to cover the back of the bead. Give the Mod Podge enough time to dry before the next step.

Next cut paper with your scissors close to the edge, twirl the bead as you hold it with your thumb and index finger as you cut.

Next place the magnet back (also found at your local craft store) with the Mod Podge.

A dot will do.

I used a to and from stamp on plain paper to personalize each gift.

Packaged and ready to go.

Do you make gifts for the holidays?

Please share if you do.

Thank you for stopping by.

Please do not use anything without permission or without making note of the origin on your blog or website.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Lots to Do

Happy Wednesday! Gave myself an extra long weekend. The holiday season is busy on many fronts. Making gifts for friends, family and teachers. Lots of work going out to shops that carry my work. Here is my car full of work to be delivered. As an artist, much time is spent alone creating but getting out to meet customers and shop owners alike is so fun. I love making those connections. I pick up lots information in those conversations. I am able to see what is trending, what customers are attracted to, and what sells. Many times I get request from shop owners for different color combinations I may not have thought of.

Their perspective is so valuable and much appreciated.

Started working with a new motif, created from a rubber block stamp. I have been looking at a lot of surface and pattern design for research in my Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design e-course. Module One has just come to a close with Module Two starting up at the end of January. I feel as if my brain is in pattern design mode. I have always been influenced by design from the Fifties through the Seventies. Simplicity of line just lights me up and so much from those periods has that look.

Some of my favorite designers from the past:

Vera, Lucienne Day, Jacqueline Groag, and Sonia Delaunay.

Who are some your favorite artists or designers, currently or from the past?

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