Internet Diva Art & Writings

Rubber Stamping Ideas

2011-06-14T06:59:00.000-07:00

Dragon with Crystal Ball

Rubber Stamp

Image Size: 3 1/4 X 2 1/4 INCHES

Mounted $ 10.00

NOW ON SALE! $8.50/$2 shipping

Raccoon Washing Hands Rubber Stamp

Image Size: 3 x 2 inches
Mounted $10.00
ON SALE NOW! $8.50/$2 Shipping

SCENIC ELK Mounted Rubber Stamp

IMAGE SIZE: 3 1/4 X 2 1/2 INCHES

Mounted $ 13.50

SALE PRICE $10.00/$2 Shipping

Geisha Girl with Fans Mounted Rubber Stamp
Image Size: 2 1/2 X 2 1/2 INCHES
Mounted $ 10.00
NOW ON SALE! $8.00/$2 Shipping

You Are The Potter Mounted StampImage Size: 2 x 2 5/8 inches
(Note: Image shown enlarge for detail)
Mounted $ 10.00
ON SALE NOW! $7.00/$2 Shipping
See More Magical Stamps:

ABRACADABRA STAMP MAKERS
http://www.acesoverjacks.com/Abracadabra.html

CNM Author's Reception & Leonardo Magazine

2011-04-17T19:24:00.000-07:00

Author's Reception and Library Exhibit

So my big quest has always been to be published. You know, for my great literary work. This week I attended a reception at the Central New Mexico College Library. The library personnel were gracious enough to sponsor a gallery of published authors. My exhibit, however, was not literary but artistic. I just happened to have a few painting and sculptures laying around. Naturally, I had nothing available to submit as far as published works this year. My bad! Yes! I will be ready and have something at all times. That will learn me!

The reception was an adequate turn out of distinquished authors most in the academia world. You know, professors who have Ph.D's and have published so many works this exhibit was beneath them but there were a few interesting publications that gave me some good ideas. For instance, many authors are writing articles for local papers, which I could easily do by submitting letters to the editor of our local paper. Also, there were a few books published about local interests, like Santa Fe Gardens.

I was very impressed with one book that featured screen shots of the excel program and offered step by step instructions how to use Excel, obviously produced by one of our faculty members who teaches the course.

The keynote speaker was Tony Hillerman's daughter, a published author in her own right.

I submitted about five pieces of art. Ceramic sculpture, paintings, a handmade haiku poetry book and a few other pieces.

Leonardo Fine Arts Magazine

This week my paintings and sculptures are featured in Leonardo Fine Arts Magazine. This is a magazine featuring a combination of stories, poetry, and different mediums of art. The edition is being released this week and I hope to make the release party on Wednesday and get a copy of the magazine as it may be their last publication due to, yes, budget reasons. Unfortunately, we have another engagement to attend and we will be cutting it quite close.

So, my art is circulating various places around the state. Nice, wonderful, and I am complimented, but as formentioned, my dream to have my literary work receive a bit of recognition.

So, step one is, have some literary work ready to submit when invited. I definately cannot promote something if I have nothing which is exactly what I have prepared. So over the next few weeks and months I will be pulling some articles, essays, stories and poetry, revising, editing, submiting and maybe sharing a bit with you.

So without further ado I will share what I had on display at the Author's Reception:

Native Warriors, Acrylic Painting

Jesus, The Christ, Acrylic Painting

Two Feathers, Acrylic Painting

San Miguel Church-Ceramic Sculpture

Haiku Poetry in Handmade Asian Style Book

Life Relection...

2011-01-15T07:12:00.000-08:00

I guess it is normal at this time of year to reflect back on how the past year went. I have been reflecting about the past 20 years actually. How did I get here? If I keep doing what I did will I be in the same place? I don't know. It is all too complex and draining to ponder.

I am a lifetime college student. I do not see any reason to stop learning. Not until I get an instructor that does not belong in a classroom.

As I have been reflecting this past few weeks, I came to realize that one of my greatest professors is not someone you would find in a classroom. Although my History Professor was instrumental in directing me out of a Psycology degree into Professional Writing. My English Professors influenced much of my style. Thanks to Professor Perry you will no longer find my writing wrought with contractions.

It is my Aunt Pat who has been the most influential to me over the past 20 years. Yes. Aunt Pat. She is hard to explain being a complex being as she is. Let me sufice to say she is a "self-taught everything." Printer, Painter, Inventor, Screenprinter, Ceramists, Sculpture, Designer, Woodworker, Carver, Engraver, Sandblaster, Candlemaker, Chief Cook and Bottle Washer and so much more. I mean a lot more!

I can not even think of one major or drastic decision I have made because of her influence. I guess it has been more in the day to day, quiet and subtle just-being-there words and ways that have shaped my destiny. I tell her everything. She is part Therapist too.

I would said, "...but I am not an artist." She would say, "Oh don't be too sure." I would say, "I don't I think I can..." She would say, "Why not? I think you can..." Do not say, "I am not" or "I can not" around her!

Aunt Pat

Here she is painting something. Probably a cross. More than likely, she sculpted the cross out of clay, made a ceramic mold and then mass produced the crosses. Then she handpaints each one, uniquely individual, so you would never know she has more because the one you buy is so personally yours that no one else will ever have one the same.

Everything she does is this way. She does not even know she is over 70 years old! She does not know she is building a legacy. She is still taking classes. I imagine she teaches them once she gets in the room. If she does teach, she would not be aware of it. It comes so natural.

She makes her own products, hundreds of them. She built her own, highly elaborate website to sell everything she makes. Mostly she specializes in Southwest themed items but the whole operation is unexplainable. Imagine not even turning on a computer until your are well into your 60's.

Yeah. She impresses me. Prepare to be impressed. Look at her website here:

http://www.hlbiznartz.com/

2010-12-31T16:22:00.001-08:00

A Video of Customer created artwork made with our stamps

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xJ6OkHGFMQ

CERAMIC HANDBUILT CHILDREN'S CREATIONS

2010-12-17T18:47:00.000-08:00

C E R A M I C C H I L D R E N ' S C R E A T I O N S by Nancy Diodati

I love making handbuilt teapots. There is no end to the way a teapot can be made. I had a teapot making class over the summer for children. My youngest student, 3 years old at the time, won first place at the county fair for her teapot. Here is a picture:

Frontview

Handbuilt teapot by Aaliyah

Backview-Handbuilt teapot by Alliyah

The children also made handbuilt nativity sets:

and pueblo ornaments:

Almost everything they made took first place.

This is a totem pole with a frog, a mayan man and an owl:

ART SHOWS DEC 3-13TH, 2010

2010-12-03T17:28:00.000-08:00

UP COMING ART FESTIVALS/SHOW IN ALBUQUERQUE/SANTA FE AREA

12/03 to 12/04 2010 - Albuquerque Garden Center Holiday Fair Albuquerque Garden Center - Albuquerque, NM	Get more details

12/03 to 12/05 2010 - Red Rock Balloon Rally Red Rock Park - Gallup, NM	Get more details

12/04 to 12/05 2010 - Winter Spanish Market Santa Fe Convention Center - Santa Fe, NM	Get more details

12/05 to 12/05 2010 - Holiday Ole' Albuquerque Marriott - Albuquerque, NM	Get more details

12/11 to 12/12 2010 - Our Lady of Fatima School Arts and Crafts Show Our Lady of Fatima School Gym - Albuquerque, NM	Get more details

12/13 to 12/13 2010 - Five Star Craft Show Eisenhower Middle School - Albuquerque, NM

CHARCOAL & PASTELS

2010-11-25T08:33:00.000-08:00

C H A R C O A L & P A S T E L S by Nancy Diodati

The first thing I learned in my first drawing class was to draw with charcoals. At first hated it, because charcoal is dirty, messy and it smears everywhere and makes a big mess on the paper. Once you spend something making friends it's not so bad. Just don't wear white. This was my first or second graded assignment. I love studying other cultures and many times it comes out in my artwork.

Native American in Charcoal

Once we became familiar with charcoal it was time to move on to pastels. Pastels are charcoal as well but it they are colored so it is called pastel not chalk. I liked working with pastels on colored paper for an added dimension. This image was done on black paper. Once the image is completed I sealed the image by spraying a little hair spray to keep it from smearing.

Asian Girl Pastel on Black Cardstock

The following image was done in pastel drawn on green cardstock

King Ferdinand on Green Cardstock

Finally, this image was done on plain white paper.

Native American Warrior in Pastel

I have learned a new appreciation for charcoal and pastels. Working in thise medium is not as easy as they look. It is one form of art that I will continue to practice. Often I go on location and take a board and a little charcoal with me. I get the basics of the landscape down and then take it home and spend of time bringing in the details at my leisure.

Abracadabra Stamp Makers-Customer Samples

2010-11-20T23:56:00.000-08:00

VARIOUS ASIAN STYLE CARDS MADE WITH ABRACADABRA STAMP MAKERS STAMPS

www.acesoverjacks.com/Abracadabra.html

Peacock with Flowers Rubber Stamp

Image Size: 2 1/2 X 2 INCHES

Mounted $ 7.50

NOW ON SALE! $6.50

Unmounted $4.00
NOW ON SALE! $3.50

Chinaman with Dragon Rubber Stamp
Image Size: 2 3/4 x 2 1/2 inches
Mounted $ 10.00
NOW ON SALE! $8.50

Unmounted $7.00

White Bengal Tiger-Frontview
Image Size: 3 1/4 x 2 inches
Mounted $ 10.00 ON SALE NOW! $8.00

Unmounted $5.50

Asian Crouching Tiger

Image Size: 2 1/2 X 3 1/4 INCHES
Mounted $9.00
NOW ON SALE! $8.00 Unmounted $6.00 NOW ON SALE! $5.00

Dragon with Flared Wings

Rubber Stamp
Image Size: 2 x 2 3/8 inches
Mounted $9.00
NOW ON SALE! $7.50
Unmounted $6.50

Asian Cat-Right
ubber Stamp
Image Size: 2 X 2 1/8 INCHES
Mounted $ 7.50
NOW ON SALE! $6.50
Unmounted $4.00
NOW ON SALE! $3.50

Asian Style Ducks Rubber Stamp
Image Size: 2" Dia.
Mounted $ 6.50
NOW ON SALE! $5.50

Unmounted $3.50
NOW ON SALE! $3.00

NOW ON SALE! $3.50

Asian Cherry Blossom Vase

Rubber Stamp

Image Size: 2 X 2 1/4 INCHES

Mounted $ 8.50

NOW ON SALE! $7.50

Unmounted $4.50

NOW ON SALE! $3.50

REFLECTIONS OF BLOGGER

2010-11-13T09:00:00.000-08:00

R E F L E C T I O N S by Nancy Diodati

Why am I here? What do I have to offer? What is the purpose of my blogging? Where am I going with this?

I had to reflect on these deep serious questions to give honest answers about where I am taking my blog.

Basically, I have been posting week by week what I do art wise and a little about those who create and interact with me and my products.

I'm here by assignment yes, but the question now is, will I continue when the assignment is over?

Am I more than an artist? Yes, of course. What else am I? What am I doing with my professional writing degree? How has posting my blog changed what I will do next?

HERE ARE MY BLOG GOALS

Teach creative ideas (for personal and professional development)-allowing my blog to include written text, images and video. This is something that can remain personal or it might be shared with peers in a spirit of collaborative learning.

Share knowledge with peers, customers, etc about innovative creations, new sources of information, new supplies and suppliers, research other creative bloggers to link with, etc.

Collaborative and Guest blogging with peers, through building up of a body of knowledgable professionals in the artworld locally & nationally and reflecting on that knowledge by linking with other artisic bloggers.

Announce and post events attended, giving others the ability attend various events via video, image posts, specifically traveling art shows, Craft events (like WEEMS, etc.), Museum exhibits, Gallery shows, etc.

I started working on the these goals this week by listing some new links to local art galleries, and asking some artists to guest post on my blog. I will continue to add links and content. I have also customeized my blog with a new background and layout that is more condusive to my artistic nature.
Now I will concentrate on adding followers to by tweeting, and adding my blog links to my website, facebook and other places I would like to advertise it. Up until now, I have not made this page public to anyone except my classmates.

STAMPED PROJECT IDEAS AND REFLECTIONS

2010-11-06T10:21:00.000-07:00

R E F L E C T I O N S
Looking back at my blog over the last few months, to reflect on what I have done, where I have been, what I would like to do next…

I realized that I have a very diverse art studio. I have shared quite a bit of what I do and still have a lot going on that I haven't shared. I only talked about art. Never once have I shared my love of writing and what I do with it. I see writing is an art. I design custom books. I would like to show how I develop ideas and built them from scratch. I would also like to open my blog to others to post guest articles. Maybe I will even announce art shows in the Albuquerque area and show gallery and museum exhibits I attend, especially traveling Smithonian exhibits. My other love is history and Art History, which is a pictorical reflection of history anyway. I have lots of ideas and I think I will continue to post at least weekly. I very much enjoyed viewing my classmates blogs and some I have linked to and will continue to follow. I may even ask a few to co-write with me.

S T A M P E D P R O J E C T I D E A S by Nancy Diodati

Last week I talked about customer creations made with our rubber stamps. Often I have to design my own projects that we display in our newsletters to teach customer how to make things with stamps. So I thought I would share a few of those ideas this time.

Instead of posting one project or each projects I will post the link to show you the entire process from start to finish. So, without further ado...here are the projects and their links.

Click on the titles to be taken to the instruction page...

Stamping with Bleach

Stamping with bleach on colored paper is great when you run out of ink.

Candle Stamping

First stamp in black ink on giftwrap tissue paper. Color in some details with marker, then adhered the stamped tissue with a tiny bit of glue. Run a heat gun on low temperature over the candle moving it back and forth. As the candle wax melts it absorbes the tissue and all that is left it a great image!

Custom Luminarias

For New Mexicans this project is hardly rocket science, but to those who have never seen luminarias, they are magic! We use them for Halloween so treaters can find their way to the porch on dark nights. Sometimes we cut out shapes or just stamp Halloween images if time is short.

You have to see out Christmas luminarias! Click on the link above.

Pinwheels

This a great project to help kids make on windy days! ...and who did not love these as kids?

Hand Stamped Giftwrapping Paper

I discovered this idea when I ran out of giftwrap. I was unable to go to the store before the party.

This is the tissue paper which was stamped with gold ink in a random pattern.

(This paper matched the gift.)

See more projects by customers on our

CUSTOMER GALLERY PAGE

Check out our Youtube Video

STAMPED PROJECTS

2010-10-30T11:00:00.000-07:00

C U S T O M E R S T A M P E D P R O J E C T S by Nancy Diodati

One of the most wonderful things about selling rubber stamps is when a customer makes something incredible and sends me back a sample of their creation.

I'm sure you already know people stamp on paper and cardstock and in a later post I will show you handmade cards submitted by customer that will blow your mind. But did you know they use stamps on so many other things for example, coasters, clay, ceramics wear and fabric?

In order to stamp on fabric, customers use fabric ink and then heat set the stamp by warming the image on the reverse side with a warm temperature iron.

Stamping on already made coasters requires permanent ink that is then colored with permanent markers and then heat set with a heat gun.

One customer uses our stamps on her pottery. She stamps the image on the piece after it is made.

Another customer stamps in the clay when it is still wet (leather stage) then bakes it and paints over it and rubs the the paint away leaving a stained impression of just the stamped image. This method can be very simple like the leaf pattern below or very elaborate like the plate that looks like lace.

An additonal way to use rubber stamps in clay is to stamp the image, cut it out and then attach it to another piece of clay as an embellishment. This makes the image look 3D instead of pressing the image into clay.

People make a great deal of tiles, but how many makr tables out of their tiles?

Not only are the book cover clay but notice even the beads and embellishments on the book covers are stamped clay pieces.

Stamping is one of those endless crafts limited only by your boxed in mind. When allowed to roam free there is no telling what you can do with rubber stamps and little time on your hands.

Even if you do not have a kiln for baking ceramic clay you can still stamp on fabric or in self hardening clay and make some nice projects.
For some great ideas check out this blog tutorial called ArtMind

RUBBER STAMPS

2010-10-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

R U B B E R S T A M P S by Nancy Diodati

I make rubber stamps. It is a very old craft that requires ancient equipment. I compare it to baking cookies because the rubber is pressed into a mold. Making the mold requires a great deal of time, effort, imagination and money. I do not take it lightly. It requires manufacturing an expensive metal plates with an engraved image first.

I have been making rubber stamps for over 20 years. I started making them before anyone used anything except the, "For deposit only" or return address stamps. In the early days, I sold word stamps to banks, printshops and mostly businesses. In the back of my mind I always kept a file of art images that I would "someday" make. Once scrapbooking took off as a cultural phenomena, that was the right time to begin my creations. But alas, I've gone too far. Let's start at the beginning...

I first moved to New Mexico in 1986. A little old man in Bernalillo was retiring and wanted to sell his rubber stamp business. My husband coaxed me into "just looking." The businessman was too old to see good anymore and I found myself making corrections to his stamps. He told me, "If you can figure this out that fast you definately need to buy this business." I gave him the money he was asking and we agreed to move this massive equipment that required a forklife and a semi. The equipment was from the 1800's. It didn't look like much and definately nothing someone should buy.

Once I got everything set up and learned what I was doing, I began soliciting businesses. Once I had a few regular accounts that bought word stamps I started experimenting with art stamps. It was a whole different process and required machines I did not have. I put it on the back burned for a while. I tried to generate a market for art stamps before the time was right.

It's been some years, but now I have produced about 1000 images that I sell all over the world. Some are royalty free images and some are my own hand drawings. One of the first sets I made had a magic theme featuring a toad wizard.

I also created my own line of Ink Pads. http://www.acesoverjacks.com/ABRApage39.html

In my next blogspot, I will expain all the wonderful things customers make with my rubber stamps.

For now I'll show you a few more images.

If you are even more curious, you can see my entire line of stamps in my webstore.

Abracadabra Stamp Makers

TIE DYED T SHIRTS

2010-10-16T10:00:00.000-07:00

T I E D Y E D T - S H I R T S by Nancy Diodati

Who hasn't owned or made a tie dyed shirt or other piece of clothing at some time?

During the summer when the days are long and hot, I love making colorful dyed shirts.

A couple of summers ago I needed to dye something. I can not even remember what is was now. I bought the dye. I do remember it was black. I could not put it in my washer because I did not want to stain the tub and end up with all my nice clothes blackened. I set up a station on my picnic table and dyed my project. I had some extra dye and a few white t shirts that I had stained with food or something. I didn't want to throw the dye away. So...

I twisted my shirts with a fork like one would do to a plate of spagetti and rubber banded them and dunked them in the dye leaving them to sit for several minutes. I had so much dye left that I went looking through my husbands clothes and found a few white shirts. Yes. I dunked his too. When we unraveled them. They were incredible starbursts of white and black.

That started it. I had to buy more dye, but now colorful dyes. I found nice white t-shirts. I twisted them and folded them this way and that. Never once did I get two the same. The best part was untieing them. It was magic.

Friends wanted one. Family members wanted one. People who saw me wearing a tie dyed shirt asked where I get my shirt. I decided there may be a market for them. So I made a bunch. I sold them at flea markets, schools, and online. I just like making them. I like finding new ways of folding them to get new patterns I haven't tried before. Peopl also tell me when they use to make them in the 60's or in school as a kid. They bring back great memories or people everytime they see them.

I learned how to fold, tie and make great patterns on ehow.com

http://www.ehow.com/videos-on_5036_tie-dye-shirt-designs.html

THE ORIGIN OF STORYTELLER DOLLS

2010-10-09T17:08:00.000-07:00

S T O R Y T E L L E R D O L L S by Nancy Diodati

Storyteller dolls by Nancy Diodati

I always loved storyteller dolls and being curious about history, when I began to make these little figures myself, I researched the origin of these creations so I would not offend the culture they came from.

I discovered storytellers were first created in Cochiti Pueblo by a woman named Helen Cordero. Her people have always been famous for their destinctive pottery which features black designs painted over white clay. Most of the pottery they made was utilitarian-pots, bowls, etc. Some times they would make figures for ceremonial purposes. One common figure was a mother holding a child, known as the "singing mother." The mother's mouth was open signifiying her singing a lullaby to her baby.

Helen had a grandfather, Santiago Quintana, who was renowned in his own right. He had many grandchildren who would climb all over him begging him to tell them a story. He almost never refused. He told them tales of his pueblo people, and would make up stories as well.

In 1964, Helen made a clay figure representing her grandfather with children on his lap. A folk art collector suggested she add even more children. So Helen made children climbing up grandfather's braids, peaking over his shoulders, and sliding down his arms. The figure was much larger than the children showing his great influence. Helen never called the little ones children. They were "listeners." The listeners were even more important then the grandfather figure because she said, "Wisdom enters the world not by the one speaking, but because it was heard." She left the figures with their mouth open to let out the stories and she left the eyes closed because her storyteller was thinking of the next thing in the story.

Grandfather Storyteller

by Helen Cordera

She made many versions of her grandfather storyteller. Then she began to make grandmother storytellers and later animal storytellers especially turtles. Helen passed away in 1994 and her dolls are now sought by collectors and bring in quite a bit of money. This owl figure is a recent find of Helen's currently available in an Arizona shop for a meer $7,500.

Cochiti Owl Storyteller Pot
by Helen Cordero
6" wide x 8-1/2" high x 6" Deep
This owl pot is in EXCELLENT condition.

$7,500.00

Lots of people, native and otherwise, make storyteller dolls incorporating their own ideas and beliefs. There is a 5th grade class from Fairland Elementary School in Maryland that has been making ceramic dolls a part of their curriculum.

Sometimes I hand make my dolls from clay and sometimes I use ceramic molds with different children. I started teaching children as young as 2 years old to make storytellers dolls. Children are never too young to learn cultural history. I think it helps make people understand each other when they learn traditions of others so young. Each doll has a story to tell and each child has a doll to express their story.

Grandmother Storyteller with 2 Children

by Nancy Diodati

You can see a few of my own storyteller dolls.

FUSED GLASS PENDANTS

2010-10-01T18:57:00.000-07:00

F U S E D G L A S S by Nancy Diodati

I had a little time to kill one day while I was in Las Vegas, Neveda and there was a glass show going on at the convention center next door to my hotel. So I talked my husband into going. We ended up blowing off the other planned event, and stayed all day and even went back to the glass show the following day.

I was amazed with the artists, the live demonstrations, and booth after booth of the most beautiful colored glass creations I had ever had the opportunity to be in the same room with.

I stopped at one booth and a lady asked me if I wanted to try it. I did not have a clue what to do so she gave me some scrap glass and told me to stack it with a little bit of glue between each piece. She took my pieces and told me come back after lunch and she would have them fused and cooled.

When I returned and saw what I had assembled I was hooked. I went to another booth and bought the bail. (a piece to attach to the glass for making a necklace.) and I bought other glass making supplies.

As soon as I returned home to New Mexico, I visited all the glass shops in Albuquerque and talked to all the store owners and sales people asking questions and techniques. I bought special glass (COE 90) used for fusing (also called warming glass) and turned my kiln into a glass fusing machine. Glass is heated to a low temperature, much lower than clay.

Some glass, called dichoric glass, has metal in it and it is used for decorative purposes.

If a piece is removed before the glass is completely fused it gives the glass a 3D effect.

I have done a great deal of experimenting over the last 2-3 years of making glass and yes I have ruined a few pieces of expensive glass, but it is always a wonderful surprise very time I open the kiln and see what comes out.

The little pendants I make are nothing compared to the vast amount of wall art, plates, bowls, sinks and other glass art made all over the world. Even though I am no means a pro at it. People buy my products!

Wow! Who would have ever dreamed that a little time to kill would develop into a sellable product one day.

See glass plates by Phlox Gardens Art Glass Studio

MAKING HANDMADE SOAPS

2010-09-24T19:49:00.000-07:00

H A N D M A D E A R O M A T H E R A P Y S O A P S by Nancy Diodati

One of the most rewarding endeavors I do is to make my own soap. I gradually got into a full blown soap making factory when my children kept asking for more soap as gifts every Christmas.

At first, it was just a novelty with clever labels that meant things to people. Then I discovered everyone really loved the soap, the smell, the lack of residue and the nice soft skin they got. Commerical soaps leave your skin dried out. My soaps put moisture in.

To create my handmade soap, I purchased palm, coconut, olive, sunflower and corn oils that I slowly warmed on the stove and blended with fabulous cocoa and shea butters before being hand mixed with the alkali solution. (Alkali is lye which used to be easy to purchase anywhere but since 9-11, it is restricted to certain suppliers and very well monitored by the government as it is a component of bomb making.)

I add carefully prepared flower and herb decoctions and infusions, plant extracts, fine oils, dried herbs or spices and then of course our deliciously expensive pure essential oils to fragrance and impart their natural beneficial properties. Each soap has its own distinct smell. Some scents are suited more for men. Some
I only use for babies.

I pour the warmed soap liquid into rectangle wooden boxes. Then it goes on a shelf to harden and cure for 30 days. The lye in soap used before 30 days will burn your skin, so it is very important soap is marked with the manufaturing date and given a long enough curing time.

Once the soap has cured it is ready to be handled with bare hands. I dump the long loaf out of the mold and cut it with a special knife into the familiar little bars we are use to using. Then the bar is placed in the center of a computer generated label with its name and all the ingredients listed on the side. Once wrapped in the label the soap is ready for distribution for sale or as gift for friends and family.

MY HANDMADE SOAPS PAGE - HOMESPUN NATURALS

WATERCOLOR PAINTING

2010-09-19T11:26:00.000-07:00

W A T E R C O L O R P A I N T I N G by Nancy Diodati

I was in the Valencia UNM Library one day and I noticed they had a gallery display featuring some of the art of instructors who taught classes on campus. The watercolors intrigued me and I went home and signed up immediately to take the watercolor class.

I could not wait for class to begin. I was pretty excited about this new medium I was going to be working with and I expected to paint like the instructor by the time the class ended in 8 weeks! That is just like expecting to dance like Michael Jackson after 16 one hour lessons.

Well, I was horrible at waterpainting. Everything I did, just like the instructor, came out wrong. I worked even harder than the other students. I did twice the amount of assignments. I tried to watercolor the way I painted with acrylics. It was all wrong. My watercolor paint was too strong. I didn't wet the paper properly and I used a slew of other incorrect methods. Finally near the end of the class, after weeks of frustration, I began to develop my own watercolor style and method. It did not come easy to me like all the other art mediums I worked with. I definately was not a natural watercolor artist!

Arc de Triomphe

I found out I had to stick with certain subjects. I was good with buildings like the ones I modeled in clay. I could watercolor animals and people like I did in acrylic painting, but when I tried landscapes, boat scenes, and flowers like the instructor and the other students in my class I would end up with a big mess.

After sometime, I began to relax and let the paint run more instead of trying to make the paint stay and go where I wanted it. Water runs. I let the paint move around by moving the paper not the paint. That was all new to me. Watercolor painting is a medium that takes a great deal of trial and error. When I paint with acrylic paints I just begin painting. The paint stays where I put it. When I begin watercolor painting I had learned to sketch an outline and start with a pencil drawing underneath my paint.

Learning the paper, for one is important. Not all watercolor paper gives the same effect. Some paper absorbs more water. Some paper is very textured and is great for trees and adobe walls. It took a little time, but I have kept practicing for a whole year now. You will notice my drawing outlines. It gave my watercolors more defination. Not all water colorist do this but for me it seems to work. Sometimes I go back and add a little pastel chalk to my work, just to get a brilliant color that I can't get with water paints. I like vibrate colors. Not all paints are the same. I had a real pastel set of paint and was not getting the bright colors I was used to with acrylics.

I also found a great website that offered lessons by online video that has been very helpful to me as a new watercolor artist: http://www.watercolorpainting.com/

These are some of my favorite watercolors.

CERAMIC SCULPTURE - PRAYER TOWERS

2010-09-11T20:22:00.000-07:00

C E R A M I C S C U L P T I N G by Nancy Diodati

Sculpting something out of nothing has been with me since my earliest memories. Of course I worked mostly in mud to begin with. My parents could not relate in the slightest so I was contantly being punished for playing in the mud as a child. Little did I know that my hidden talent was trying to come forth even then.

My aunt introduced me to sculping in clay some years back and it's just been something I find enjoyable, relaxing and rewarding if my creation does not burst in the kiln.

Mostly I make architectural structures, such as buildings, churches, houses, bird houses, light towers, etc. Most recently I have been making prayer towers. My prayers towers are interesting structures usually 2 feet tall with lots of windows hollowed out. The windows are hollowed out for two reasons. One, to put pieces of rolled up paper in the holes with prayers handwritten on them or so the night light I place in the bottom of the tower causes reflects out the windows. These are some of the very first prayer towers I made.

I discovered that almost all countries have real life-sized prayer towers. Some towers look like churches, others are just a round tower, like you would find in a castle with nothing but a door and lots of windows.

As I progressed with my prayer towers I started making churches. Churches are a huge object of affection in New Mexico. The church pictured below represents San Miguel Mission Church in Socorro. It is a well over 100 years old and the real church has been restructured many times over. Perhaps you heard the story on the news of how part of this church collapsed just a few months ago. I happened to be making this replica church just when that happened.

This church features my own custom designed glaze as well.

Handbuilt Ceramic replica of San Miguel Church, Socorro, New Mexico by Nancy Diodati

Handbuilt structures are very difficult to make since the moisture in the clay causes the clay to move while baking in the kiln because the moisture is baked out of the clay and often the clay twists and turns. Often this helps adds to the look of the structure being very old. I have made many prayer towers and usually add a night light that sits in a stand and allows the structure to light up. These structures are nice indoors or in an outdoor garden as well.

SEE MORE PRAYER TOWERS HERE!

VELVET STAMPING

2010-09-06T16:40:00.000-07:00

V E L V E T S T A M P I N G by Nancy Diodati

Velvet Stamping is one of the easiest projects to do. Especially if someone is not very good with traditional inking and stamping. I simply iron the velvet fabric facedown over a bold style rubber stamp. First I wet the fabric a little. Since there is no ink involved so it is very clean. All I do is mist the the back side of the velvet with water and place velvet side down onto a rubber stamp. I then use a hot iron to iron over the velvet and stamp. This leaves an imprinted image in the nap of the fabric that will never some out. I continue to move the fabric around decorating the entire piece of velvet in this manner.

This was a plain red velvet shirt that I bought from a store. I used a large, bold rose design rubber stamp. (I design and manufacture my own line of rubber art stamps, but I will save all that story for another blog entry.) I moved the fabric around until it was covered with ironed roses front and back.

I also make velvet scarves and pillows from scrap material. I even made a beautiful bedpread using this technique. Here are some more ideas to get the creative juices flowing:

Velvet Stamping Ideas

Acrylic Painting by Nancy Diodati

2010-09-03T17:49:00.000-07:00

A C R Y L I C P A I N T I N G S . . . by Nancy Diodati

Two Feathers by Nancy Diodati

Deciding on a minor for my degree was difficult. I have a great interest in history, politics and psychology so I tried to squeeze each field in until my advisor seeing i was struggling with an answer, asked me what I spend my free time doing. Most of my freetime related to art endeavors. I enjoy painting the most these days. I tried my hand at oils but cleaning the brushes with smelly chemicals made me dislike painting. A friend introduced me to acrylics and that was the breaking open of the barn door. Mostly, I paint portraits but I do have trouble mixing just the right flesh color so sometimes it is a challenge. Since I declared Art as a minor I have felt a great sense of relief.

Apple painting an apple by Nancy Diodati

I had a very patient and experience painting instructor when I took my painting class and she helped me move to a new dimension by teaching me to use colors I would never choose and techniques not found in books. Thanks to her I was invited to put my work on display as a solo artist at the university art gallery. I sold several pieces and received a great deal of compliments and positive feeedback. I displayed charcoals drawing, graphite drawings, pastels, acrylic paintings, ceramic sculpture, handmade books and fused glass jewelry. They are all interrelated in a way. I hope throughout the semester to show you each of the mediums I work with.

Cleopatra-black & white by Nancy Diodati

Today I am sharing my paintings. It has always been difficult for me to put my art on public display or share it with others unless I plan on selling the items, especially my paintings. They feel too personal as if I am exposing my inner-self or going out in public naked. I have been trying to determine where that idea comes from but I still do not know.

Robed Camel by Nancy Diodati

My paintings are spiritual expressions. No matter the subject they are all showing their spiritual insides. Perhaps that is why I have a hard time letting you in to see them. In addition, I have only been painting for a little more than a year so remember I am no Van Gough.

Lion Couple by Nancy Diodati

Lion Couple, white paint on black gesso background.

Other than the yellow in their eyes the entire painting is done using only white paint. This painting sold before I hung it in the gallery. I had it leaning against the wall and someone bought it.

The Creation of Woman by Nancy Diodati

This was one of my first paintings. I had to defend this painting and the story of its existense is this:

When God created Adam, He scooped up some dirt from the ground and formed it into the image of a man and breathed the breath of life into him and man became a living being, but when God created woman he took a rib from Adam back to His art studio. (You must know God has a bad art studio!) He took his time with the woman. He sculpt clay around the rib bone, building layer upon layer. Letting it dry a little than adding more clay. If you have ever worked in clay sculpture you can understand the difficulty in forming this creation. Once His clay sculpture of this magnitude was completed she was put on a pedestal to dry. I imagined how God must have created Eve with delicate features and since we are made of clay I figured He must have baked her in the kiln for a time so she would not be quite so breakable. This painting is the imagine of Eve being baked in the kiln.

You will find a few more of my original paintings in my webstore. Click on the painting to enlarge the image for a closer look.

Acrylic Paintings by Nancy Diodati

My Hobbies, Interests

2010-08-24T10:40:00.000-07:00

P H O T O G R A P H Y by Nancy Diodati

I started with an interest in photography when I was little more than a teenager. My interest started with slambooks that made their way through middle and high school at the end of each year. I kept my slambooks for a few years and looked at the words people wrote. I wished I had pictures of my classmates to accompany those words so I would not forget the faces that matched the names as the years passed. I would take my camera to school and captured a few photos here and there. Most teenagers are either camera shy or big hams, not much in between. I found people wasted my film making silly faces. It was a pet pive. Developing film was costly and to get back almost half of my photos that were a waste burned my you-know-what! I found animals to be more cooperative and photogenic! I figured I'd end up working as a highly paid photographer someday. Somewhere that dream fell by the wayside, along with my childhood dream of being a professional ice skater. The first time I fell on the ice and ended up with a black eye, I rethought all the hard work it was going to take to pursue the ice skater dream. Photography was a great deal less physically exasperating.

Once I moved to New Mexico my interest in capturing images moved from people to landscapes. Certain locations seemed to have a magic about them. It was as if I was standing on Holy Ground. I chased the morning sunrise and fleeting clouds endlessly as the New Mexico sky is a consistant facination to me. Sunset provides endless mystery I had to capture before the moment was gone forever. Monumentalizing time and places gives me a sense of how big God must be and how very clever!

Even if I did not end up as a highly paid photographer I never lost my love of capturing nature.