Muse Boxes Oceanside Art Walk October 3rd

 

Hope you can join me at  First Friday
Oceanside Art Walk. 

Friday, October 3rd

6PM - 9PM

 My art will be set up at:

Harcourts Prime Properties

804 Pier View Way #101

Oceanside 92054

 

 

 

 

 

Here are a couple samples from the show.

 

Fairy Muse Box, Mixed Media, Christine Schaffer 2013



Close Up of Fairy Muse Box, Christine Schaffer, 2013

Clockworks Muse Mixed Media, Christine Schaffer 2014

Close Up of Clockworks Muse

Mermaid Muse Mixed Media, Christine Schaffer 2014

Mermaid Muse Close up of Mermaid Puppet

Garden Book Box

My mind has been pulsating with creative energy this week.  I found myself making not just one book box (Bohemian Bazaar), but making a second one yesterday.  I had a sketch for this idea for awhile, but finally have some free time this week.

The box is constructed of chipboard, Bazzil cardstock, &
Graphic 45's French Country patterned papers.

To hold it firmly shut, the book has a sleeve around it .

In addition, a handle is held on with magnets.

Hiding under the sunflower on top, a second paper ribbon is held shut with a magnet.

On one side, there is a waterfall mini-book.

Opposite that, there is a card mini-book.

 There are accordion books attached to two opposite sides.

Now, all I need is the pictures of the garden for the book. 

 

The book can hold so many pictures:

• 24 - 3" x 4.5" photos (accordion books and card mini-books)
• 4 - 3" x 2.5" photos (waterfall mini-book)
• 1 - 6" x 6" photo.

Good thing the plums and peaches are getting ripe...

Bohemain Bazaar Cards Part 2

When working with a palette of bright colors and bold patters, it helps to use small patterns to create the illusion of negative space.  Then, pick a favorite section of the big, bold pattern and use it as a centerpiece.  Although a challenge, I found that once I stretched my creative grey cells, the end result is beautiful.

Here are a few cards I made with these bright and colorful papers.

 

 

 

I like the card within a card on this last one.

 

 

Bohemian Bazaar Cards Part 1

Father's Day A Month Later

Our family is always traveling on our annual family road trip on Father's Day.  My poor husband always seems to be stuck driving endless hours on the day meant to honor him.  Since, I have now realized this, we have started celebrating Father's Day on a different day.  We call it Father's Day Revisited. 

This year I made this card out of Graphic 45's Bohemian Bazaar paper and SU cardstock.  While this line of paper seems very floral and feminine at first, this card is a balance of bright and masculine.

I paper pieced the shirt, stamped the tie and fussy cut a pocket square from the patterned paper.  Folding a collar, cuffs, and  quick pocket finish the shirt.  The pocket square fits neatly in the pocket with the message.

Bohemian Bazaar Book



 

Bohemian Bazaar Book

I have taken a bit of a break from creating and posting.  But I am back with new mojo and a few new projects I cannot wait to share.
First, a book I made with Graphic 45's Bohemian Bazaar.  This paper is a bit challenging to work with.  The bright colors and loud patterns made it difficult for me, too, but something about them reminded me of my youth.  By using the smaller patterns and cardstock, this book is still vibrant, but more restful on my eyes.  I think it turned out pretty beautiful in the end, if I do say so myself.



The book is made from 2,
5" x 5" Heavy Duty Canvases

The book started with two 5" x 5" heavy duty canvases.  I painted them both green and added a bit of ink to add depth to that. 


Canvas is lined with wood making
a neat window in the back of the canvas
 

Check Out the Windows on Each Cover

The book is assembled by sewing three signatures together with the Coptic stitch.  Each signature is two pieces of 4.75" x 9.5" Bazzil cardstock, folded in half and sewn in the middle.

Wallpapering the canvas sides and covering the wood on the interior cover make a fun window for a family photo.  Pictures from our recent road trip will be added soon: a little project for my niece and I to work on over the summer.  Look to future postings to see it fully embellished with photos.



The Binding Is Hidden



 Ribbon Closure

Neat-o Window Inside Each Cover

 

Road Trip 2013 My Favorite Moments

The Play of Light in the Forrest

Ceanothes (Mountain Lilac) that are 20 feet tall

Lupines of every size and shade of purple and blue

Madrone Tree Along the South Fork of the American River

Look at Those Textures!

Boy Love!

Double Dutch Oven Cooking...Delicious Biscuits and Chicken!

A New Family Picture!

Another Family Picture!

This one just makes me giggle every time!

Summer Road Trip Part 3

Mineral King Valley

We took another hike the next day out of Mineral King Valley, Eagle Lake Trail.  It was stunning, but also steep.

Pretty sage covered hills were dotted with butterflies everywhere.

The following day we hiked about 3 miles on the Farewell Gap Trail towards Franklin Lakes. 

This provided beautiful views over the valley.

 

We also forged this stream and followed it up the mountain.
Along the way, gorgeous wildflowers covered the mountain sides. 

Western Columbine

Sulfur Buckwheat, I think

Blue Flax

Indian Paintbrush Mixed with Buckwheat

Scarlett Bugler

Blue-Eyed Grass

Too Many Beautiful Flowers to Name

I will say that Mineral King was originally set out to become a ski resort, developed by Disney. However, this was the first time that the Sierra Club was able to prove that time out in the great outdoors has an intrinsic value. 
Our trip would have been very different if Disney had come into the valley.
I think I like it better now...
Really and truly
America the Beautiful

Where we turned around. The distant V of the trees in the valley, is where we started the hike.