It's done

After more fumbling and guessing and stewing I finally have my site up. I decided to change the address to http://www.victoria-rees.com. Like most people I bought several domaine names, but, I'm going to use the one above for my primary. I figured a .com is better than a .net. What do you think?Check it out when you have a moment. It's really been a fun journey for me learning html... wait a minute. Did I say... "fun!?" Yes, it's true. I must be a real nerd at heart because although it is very irritating when you can't figure something out, it's also very interesting learning what makes the web tick.

In the last few days I also managed to create a couple of rolodex cards. One for Stuart in the UK who always cracks me up with his gentlemanly humor and stage directions in his thread replies. They go something like this... *getting up to run to the door and trips over sleeping dog*. While considering an appropriate image for his rolodex, this image came to mind and wouldn't be quiet until I painted it. He got it today and really seems to like it. Ahhh, the warm fuzzies.

This other one is for a woman in Georgia named Greer. For some reason I seemed to be drawn to drawing feet. She seems like a toe ring kinda gal and commented after I posted it that she liked that about it. Funny how that happens.

I used irridescent paint on this one, so the photo doesn't come close to showing it off properly. I just liked the simplicity of the composition.

Spring is just around the corner. Can't wait. I'm done with the cold weather.

Mixed Media Hearts

I just finished these art cards for a mixed media heart swap. I really enjoy creating images that incorporate love and hearts etc. While laying in bed yesterday morning I decided to use foil or metal on all of them. It's so much fun to get a brainstorm, kick into high gear and just whip out my vision. I've always loved the tin ornaments and retablos of the hispanic people of the southwest, so I thought I would work with some remotely similar images.

This one's called "Uncontrollable Love." We've all been there at least once. Now you know you have. Even if the other person isn't really reciprocating, it still counts.

This one is "Retablo Heart." I did a little research and found out that a true retablo must tell a story of thanks and have an image of the person in the story. Even though it doesn't follow those guidelines, I still like the similarity it shares with traditional hispanic tin art. My heart was made with metal aluminum duct tape.

I think this is a good rule of thumb for just about everyone to follow.

"Can't Buy Me Love"

This was made with a recycled playing card and the foil that comes on the chocolate coins at Chanuka. We're not Jewish, but, my kids love those chocolates and we always put some in our advent calender during the holidays as a treat. Yeah, well, okay... I like the chocolate too.

Finally, My New Website Under Construction

Over New Years we traveled to Houston to meet our new niece Leah (I think I spelled her name right) and to visit with Con and Mary. What a relaxing "retreat" for us. The calm of the trip was a bit unexpected since the kids were with us most of the time. During that time I began a dialogue with Mary about her website, http://www.maryrees.com/ which promotes and supports her work as a prayer and meditation teacher/guide. She completely inspired me to take the leap and start working on a site for my art work. Upon returning home, I set to work. Amazingly after only four days of reading and fumbling my way around my computer and the web, I finally set one up today. It is, of course, still under construction technically, but, I am so excited to simply post a page with the address for this blog and my etsy store. VERY EXCITED!! Now I just need to figure out the design and execute that piece of the puzzle which I am concerned will be the piece of the puzzle that really kicks me in the butt. I'm determined though to accomplish it with a little help from my "Learning Web Design" Book.

I took most of December off from ATC land, but, managed to bang out some rolos for trade which are posted below. Next up is my first ever chunky book swap and a mixed media valentine swap. I love hearts and valentines, so that one should be a very joyful experience. I'm also determined to finish my parents long awaited 50th anniversary album, which they have patiently been awaiting since March of 2007. Sorry Mom and Dad! I am working on it and hope to have it done in time for your 51st. **big cheesy grin** I'll post some of those pages too as I go. They are fun so far.

Until next time then...

Oh... and by the way, my new site address is http://www.victoriarees.net/

"Show Us Your Little Girl Shoes" and "House Swap II"

Loraine's Mary Jane

My Keds

If I Had a Daughter

Easter Shoes

Patty's House

mY aRT hOUSE

Jake's House

Do you know what "Jimmies" are? My friend Wendy told me that they are the little sprinkles you put on ice cream or cakes back east. They just don't call them sprinkles. There is even a page on Wikipedia about them. Funny!

I just finished these cards this week for a woman named Judithann Illingworth. She is the "host" for the swaps and really does a great job with them. I'll be hosting a swap too in the near future, but, I haven't decided what it will be about yet. The ones that seem to really get great returns are the collage or "medium" specific ones, like drawn or painted only Zettis. I was thinking about maybe "belly button myths -- hand drawn and painted only". If nothing else it would be very interesting to see what kind of returns people come up with.

Watercolors Discovered in Archeological Dig

Just kidding...

Some people like to clean in the spring. It seems I am not one of them. The studio is going through a major facelift and in my travels through this chaotic mess, I found some pieces that I thought I would post. These are all a bit old, but, I like them none the less.

The weather is turning cooler now. The leaves are turning and I get cold feet when I wear flip flops. Not sure how I feel about that. Sporting flip flops is one of my favorite parts of the summer.

Thanks for checking out my blog.

Here is another variation of my floral rolo. This one is called "Floweras for Mike," named thusly because my older brother always put an "a" sound on the end of the word flower. He also said "showera". Go figure, but, it's pretty cute that he said it like that. Mom and Dad get this ATC. This is ink, watercolor and pastels.

"Night Sky in the Colorado Mountains"
Ink, watercolor, pearlescent inks and a bit of glitter. It really didn't scan well.

"Leaves of Time"

Altered Rolos

I thought I would try my hand at a "Zetti" style card, which for all I can figure mean non-sensical kinda like Cirque Del Sol-ish. You know, fantasy-ish where many of the subjects wear pointy hats and stripped tights.






One of the other ATCers (orinj) at atcards.com has been using extremely fine ink lines with color overlays. She inspired me to use that style on the rolo above. After all, ATCs are all about experimentation.

I seem to keep coming back to the foil and acrylic mixed media techniques too. They tend to flow out and evolve as I work on them. I really like this rolo, so I'm going to hang on to it for a bit I think.