Category Archives: Linkity linkity link

Linkity linkity link, Reading, Reviewettes

Linkity thinks +20F/-6.7C feels like a heat wave now

8 Comments

Congrats to Yvette, who won Yesterday by to Mickie B Ashling!  Yesterday is being released today by Dreamspinner Press.

Bookity

Do, Make, Think, Learn

Cookity

Gluten Free

Artsy Crafty

Cool

Cool or Wha…?

Wha…?

LOL

Teh Cute

Reading Update
Alphabetica: An A-Z Creativity Guide for Collage and Book Artists by Lynne Perrella. I was hoping this would be inspiring, but mostly it was annoying. The first part of the book showcased various pages from the collaborative art journal project, in no discernible order, but definitely not in alphabetical order: letters were used multiple times (and possibly not at all – I couldn’t be bothered to confirm this bit). The second part of the book featured very short descriptions from each artist about how they worked on their parts.

“…zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…” -Chaos

How can he breathe?!

Linkity linkity link, Reading, Reviewettes

Linkity thinks it was a very bad week to be a famous 69-year old British man :(

10 Comments

Bookity

Think, Make, Learn, Do

Cookity

Gluten Free

Artsy Crafty

Cool

Cool or Wha…?

Wha…?

LOL

Teh Cute

Reading Update
Carve Stamp Play: Designing and Creating Custom Stamps by Julie Fei Balzer. If you’ve never carved your own stamps, this is a good resource to get you started.
Card to Canvas: Mixed-Media Techniques for Paper Crafts by Colleen Schaan. Skimmed. Too much brand name dropping for me.

“…zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…” -Chaos and Mayhem

Linkity linkity link, Reading, Reviewettes

Linkity celebrates the first cold of 2016 *cough cough cough*

10 Comments

Contest(s)

Bookity

Think, Do, Make, Learn

Cookity

Gluten Free

Artsy Crafty

Cool

Cool or Wha…?

Wha…?

LOL

Teh Cute

Reading Update
Stamp Stencil Paint: Making Extraordinary Patterned Projects by Hand by Anna Joyce. Ok look at embellishing decorative items by carving your own stamps, cutting your own stencils, and painting. I skimmed a lot of this one – I was hoping to pick up some tips on stamp carving or stencil making, but didn’t really.
The Art of Mistakes: Unexpected Painting Techniques and the Practice of Creative Thinking by Melanie Rothschild. Very good thoughts about creativity and the importance of playing and feeling free to make mistakes to the creative process. The section of art projects to help develop techniques for creative artistic play and experimentation felt like the weakest part of the book to me – I think the section could’ve been better integrated so its purpose was much more clear. That bit notwithstanding, this is one I’ll pick up used so I can reread and highlight all the quotes I jotted down during my first read. 🙂

*all the judging* -Chaos and Mayhem

Linkity linkity link, Reading, Reviewettes

Linkity for a new year

8 Comments

Happy New Year, everyone! 🙂

Bookity

Do, Make, Learn, Think

Cookity

Gluten Free

Artsy Crafty

Cool

Cool or Wha…?

Wha…?

LOL

Teh Cute

Reading Update
Gelli Plate Printing: Mixed-Media Monoprinting Without a Press by Joan Bess. Good instructional and inspirational book about Gelli plate monoprinting. I’ll be picking up a used copy as reference for some of the more complicated techniques.
Art Journal Freedom: How to Journal Creatively with Color and Composition by Dina Wakley. Good overview of basic artistic principles such as color theory, contrast, and composition in the context of art journaling. Although I’m not a fan of aspects of the author’s style, I do like how she puts together backgrounds.

“Wha…?” -Chaos

Linkity linkity link, Reading, Reviewettes

Linkity thinks the gift guide thing is a little out of hand

10 Comments

No linkity next week! Hopefully there’s enough here to sustain you. 🙂

Bookity

‘Tis the Season of Gift Guides

Think, Learn, Make, Do

Cookity

Gluten Free

Artsy Crafty

Cool

Cool or Wha…?

Wha…?

LOL

Teh Cute

Reading Update
Printmaking+Mixed Media: Simple Techniques and Projects for Paper and Fabric by Dorit Elisha. Good overview of all sorts of different types of printmaking, from monoprinting to screen printing and more. Definitely found some things I’m going to try out in my art journaling. This is one I’ll be picking up used for reference.
Stencil Girl: Mixed-Media Techniques for Making and Using Stencils by Mary Beth Shaw. I did get some ideas for using stencils in my art journaling, but I wasn’t particularly interested in the sections on woodburning, metalwork, cake decorating, or encaustic.
Dreaming from the Journal Place: Transforming the Sketchbook to Art by Melanie Testa. This one didn’t really work for me. It covers a lot of ground – from drawing and painting to carving rubber stamps to extremely detailed instructions for dyeing fabric. And it felt like the journal bit was more of an afterthought than anything else.
Sidney Crosby: A Hockey Story (Revised and Updated) by Paul Arseneault and Paul Hollingsworth. So-so young adult hockey biography covering the years 2002 through the end of the 2007 season (the season before the Pittsburgh Penguins lost in the Stanley Cup Final to Detroit). This was of the very “rah rah” sorts of YA books – it didn’t touch on the vitriol Crosby faced from parents and players alike, nor did it mention any of the injuries incurred along the way.

“I wish the birds would come back.” -Mayhem

Linkity linkity link, Reading, Reviewettes

Linkity from rainy Minneapolis

7 Comments

Congrats to diannakay, who won Nice and Snow (With a Kick #1.1) by Clare London!

Congrats to Calila, who won A Pint of Beer, a Bag of Chips, and Thou by JL Merrow! A Pint of Beer, a Bag of Chips, and Thou will be released by JMS Books on December 14.

Contest(s)

Bookity

‘Tis the Season of Gift Guides

Think, Do, Make, Learn

Cookity

Gluten Free

Artsy Crafty

Cool

Cool or Wha…?

Wha…?

LOL

Teh Cute

Reading Update
Journal Bliss: Creative Prompts to Unleash Your Inner Eccentric by Violette. Ok art journaling how-to book. A bit light on content and a bit too new agey for me.
101 Mixed Media Techniques: Master the Fundamental Concepts of Mixed Media Art by Walter Foster Creative Team. Good overview of a wide variety of mixed media art techniques. Unfortunately, the techniques are all presented quite briefly and you’d probably need to find more detailed instructions elsewhere.

“No one understands how I suffer.” -Chaos

Linkity linkity link, Reading, Reviewettes

Linkity tries to catch up

6 Comments

Congrats to Liz, who won Boys in Brief by Clare London!

Contest(s)

Bookity

Think, Do, Make, Learn

‘Tis the Season for All the Gift Guides

Cookity

Gluten Free

Artsy Crafty

Cool

Cool or Wha…?

Wha…?

LOL

Teh Cute

Reading Update
Print & Stamp Lab: 52 Ideas for Handmade, Upcycled Print Tools by Traci Bunkers. Good book about using things from around the house and (mostly) inexpensive items from the dollar store for art mark making.
Re-Bound: Creating Handmade Books from Recycled and Repurposed Materials by Jeannine Stein. Extremely creative projects for making books from unusual things (such as hot water bottles, felted sweaters, window screens, and bath rugs). I’m beginning to suspect (from both my bookmaking class and reading books such as this) that I am not nearly as precise and detail-oriented as most bookmaking requires…
Printmaking Unleashed: More Than 50 Techniques for Expressive Mark Making by Traci Bautista. Ok look at many different ways to make stencils, stamps, and other mark making tools. I found the instructions to be confusing frequently, with too many references to self-branded products.
The Artist Unique: Inspiration and Techniques to Discover Your Creative Signature by Carmen Torbus. Good look at how different mixed-media artists find their inspiration, along with some of their favorite techniques. This quote sums up how most of the artists dealt with inspiration: “One of the most important things I’ve learned about my own creativity is that I don’t need to wait for inspiration to hit before I begin working on my art. If I simply show up and begin creating, the inspiration will come.” -Leah Piken Kolidas
Pretending to Be Normal: Living with Asperger’s Syndrome (Autism Spectrum Disorder) (Expanded Edition) by Liane Holliday Willey. I really wanted to love this book, but I didn’t. It was kind of interesting to read Willey’s experience growing up as an undiagnosed Aspie, but I never felt invested in her story – it all felt very distant. Reading this felt similar to how reading Temple Grandin feels to me – I always retain (or am kept at?) an academic distance. Cynthia Kim‘s Nerdy, Shy, and Socially Inappropriate: A User Guide to an Asperger Life was much more my speed. YMMV.

“…zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…” -Chaos & Mayhem

Linkity linkity link, Reading, Reviewettes

Linkity’s looking forward to a Thanksgiving break

5 Comments

Congrats to Susan W, who won Telltale by Clare London!

Congrats to Is, who won Celebrate (Avian Shifters #1.5) and Magpie (2nd ed) (Avian Shifters #2) (and optionally Duck (Avian Shifters #1) (2nd ed)) by Kim Dare!

No linkity next Friday, November 27! 🙂

Contest(s)

Bookity

Do, Learn, Think, Make

Cookity

Gluten Free

Artsy Craftsy

Cool

Cool or Wha…?

Wha…?

LOL

Teh Cute

Reading Update
Art Before Breakfast: A Zillion Ways To Be More Creative No Matter How Busy You Are by Danny Gregory. That I started this in early July and just finished it last week should tell you something – comfortable writing style, fun drawings, and yet I just wasn’t drawn in.
Journal Fodder 365: Daily Doses of Inspiration for the Art Addict by Eric M Scott and David R Modler. There’s a lot of information in this book; I think it might be best for someone just starting to art journal who is trying to figure out their own style and habits. What I liked about this book were some of the ideas for how to integrate an art journal into your life and not just work on it during “studio time” (which I have a tendency to do).

“…zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…” -Chaos and Mayhem

(Maybe kitties do hibernate for the winter…)

Linkity linkity link, Reading, Reviewettes

Linkity’s taking a long birthday weekend! :)

10 Comments

Congrats to Ilona F, who won the freshly released m/m romance Heartsville series, courtesy of Piper Vaughn!

Congrats to Claudia, who won Prickly by Nature (Portland Pack Chronicles #2) by Piper Vaughn! Prickly by Nature will be released by Dreamspinner Press on November 16.

Contest(s)

Bookity

Think, Make, Learn, Do

Cookity

Gluten Free

Artsy Crafty

Cool

Cool or Wha…?

Wha…?

LOL

Teh Cute

Reading Update
Artful Collage from Found Objects by Ellen Spector Platt. Ok book about using what you have on hand to make mixed media collages. I enjoyed looking at some of the projects in the book, even though they weren’t art journal relevant.
The Art Journal Workshop: Break Through, Explore, and Make It Your Own by Traci Bunkers. Good overview of materials and techniques for art journaling – I’d think this would be particularly useful for someone just starting to art journal. (FYI – I checked this book out from the library without the DVD, so my review is only for the book.)

“…zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…” -Chaos

You can’t really tell from this picture, but he started to stretch and fell asleep in the middle of doing so…

Linkity linkity link, Reading, Reviewettes

Linkity saw snowflakes last week and +71F/21.7C this week…

7 Comments

Don’t forget to enter the contest for Burning Bright (Seize the Fire #1) by KD Sarge! Closes Monday, November 16, 5:30 pm CST

Bookity

Think, Make, Do, Learn

Cookity

Gluten Free

Artsy Crafty

Cool

Cool or Wha…?

Wha…?

LOL

Teh Cute

Reading Update
King of Russia: A Year in the Russian Super League by Dave King with Eric Duhatschek. Pretty good look at coaching Magnitogorsk Metallurg in the Russian Super League (RSL), which preceded the current Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). King started out basically spouting the crap most Westerners seem to about Eastern European hockey players (lazy, enigmatic, etc), but that mellowed/improved as the book progressed, fortunately. 98% of the reason I read this book was for the glimpses of baby!Evgeni Malkin during the 2005-2006 hockey season, including a bit about Malkin “defecting” to the NHL at the beginning of the 2006-2007 season.

*blankly happy and derpy* -Chaos