Traditions

A Fresh Start for 2020

2020-01-18T13:20:00.000-07:00

2020

New Beginnings

New Motivation

New Resolve

New Adventures

Fresh Creativity

The last few years have been seriously lacking in motivation and

creativity for me, but 2020 has me taking a fresh look

at my creative journey.

I have so many ideas that I want to implement and no better time to start than NOW!

One of my favorite designing geniuses, Tim Holtz, has a saying,

*BELIEVE IN THE NOW *

I am a lifelong procrastinator, much to my dismay. Turning 70 last year

was a rude awakening. I seriously felt that my time to be creative or

follow my dreams was over and I had snoozed right

through it. Since then, I have seen so many women in their later

years being creative every day and believing in their now. They

are an inspiration to me, especially one very creative 98-year-old in

an online class I'm taking. So, now it is.

Now is the time to share my ideas, practice my creativity and make art

just for me. Now is the time to create my website. Now is the time to

pour my heart into what I love instead of lamenting what I haven't done or

accomplished. I will never be a trailblazer, but I can be a creative.

This will be my place to share thoughts and ideas. I hope you'll follow

me on my journey.

Hugs to all,

Kathleen

It's been a long time...

2018-04-10T11:49:00.001-06:00

Two years to be exact.

The road has been a long one,

but I'm ready to dive back into my creative life.

After a stroke early in 2017, I struggled to

regain my footing. In more ways than one.

I'm in a much better place now and

dipping my toes into creative waters seems

like the right thing to do.

I've been busy creating inspiration kits for
my Etsy shop. Kits filled with new and vintage items
to be used in textile arts, fabric collage, junk journals, mixed media,
everywhere a little embellishment might be needed.
Etsy.com/shop/traditions1949

I've been creating for others:

And beginning to tell my story in mixed media collage:

Wherever you are, I hope you are finding your creative footing

Hugs,

Kathleen

2016-03-29T11:36:00.000-06:00

The Table

My husband is a woodworker, a refurbisher, a recycler/upcycler, a refinisher and all around creative guy. As a result, people are always giving him things that he might be able to "do something with."

A dear friend recently moved from Colorado to Maryland and took on the immense task of downsizing. During the process, she gave my husband "The Table." He planned to refinish it one day and possibly sell it, because we really didn't have room for it. It was shuffled around the garage/workshop before eventually ending up in our storage unit. Then came my epiphany.

I am fortunate enough to have two creative spaces. My basement is divided right down the middle with one side being the fabric, lace, buttons, ribbons, fiber and needlework space:

and the other being the mixed media (and all that entails) space:

This space has always felt as if something was missing. I realized that my favorite spaces that I would come across in magazines, blogs and Pinterest, had one thing in common, a fabulous wood work table. The warmth of wood has always appealed to me and I could envision myself working at any one of these tables. That's what my space was missing. Warmth! Hence, the epiphany. MY table was sitting in a lonely storage unit just waiting to be brought back to life and what I loved most were the imperfections; the scars, dents and stains that make you realize that someone else used this table to create and daydream. It's now in my space, as is, and I'm drawn to it every single day. I like to believe I am bringing as much life to it as it's bringing to me.

I wish you all a warm, creative space,

Kathleen

A Creative Card Swap

2016-02-07T14:01:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, my sister found a card swap online called "Inspirational Card Swap" hosted by Jessica Brogan. The theme was "Nature" and we used just a standard card deck and created a piece of art on one side. My absolute favorite thing to do is to create 'fabric paper' using a method described by Beryl Taylor in her book "Mixed Media Explorations." She is one of my favorite textile artists.

I started with a few basic supplies: muslin, diluted white glue and tissue paper. I decided to use a patterned paper this time. I then added paints and inks until I liked the overall design. My finished piece was probably 18" by 30" give or take an inch or two. When it was dry I turned it over and used soft gel medium to adhere the 52 cards. I weighted them down and it does take some time to dry. When dry I cut out the 52 cards and voila!

Fifty-two cards ready for mailing!

This was really fun to do and we came into it a little bit later than others which actually kept me motivated to finish. Jessica then does all the sorting and mailing and we, the lucky recipients, receive 52 different pieces of art from the U.S. and abroad. Hopefully this will encourage you to do something similar. It's exciting to see how other artists interpret a theme.

Happy creating,

Kathleen

A New Day

2015-08-27T18:19:00.000-06:00

     Ever since I was a young girl, I've loved the promise of a new day. It always meant a time to stat over with a clean slate with all the troubles and cobwebs from the day before having been swept away.

     This new day has been three years in the making. It's been filled with everything other than what I truly wanted to be doing. A full-time job that was, at times, unbelievably stressful, buying a house and moving. It also had moments of pure joy: Two new granddaughters (bringing the total number of grandchildren up to six) and the beautiful wedding of my only daughter.

     Through it all, the good, the bad and the amazing, all I wanted to do was create. I have lovely, wonderful creative friends and two great creative spaces, but just couldn't find the time, the energy or the creative spark that I needed. Mostly it was the creative spark that was missing. Even after retiring for a second time at the end of March, it has taken me five months to find myself and that spark. What ignited the spark was taking a couple of classes from the amazing Finnabair, aka Anna Dabrowska, an extraordinary mixed media artist and teacher. The photo above represents one of the pieces I did in class.

This is a piece I created for my lovely and talented sister in honor of her birthday, to put in her art studio.

I have always loved mixed media & collage work, especially working with textiles and embellishments of all sorts, so with that in mind I will be supplying my poor neglected Etsy shop with packages of lovely things for others to enjoy.

A dear friend suggested I call them Bundles of Beautiful, which I quite like. I love beautiful, vintage things so stay tuned for updates on that little endeavor.

Having moved, my creative space has changed quite a bit. Here are a few pictures:

Can't forget the coffee bar!

My wish for all of you, is that you have found your

creative spark.

Hugs,

Kathleen

Living in a Crayola World...

2012-07-19T10:54:00.000-06:00

I am a grown woman.

Almost 63 years grown.

I still adore crayons.

One can never have too many crayons.

And what a happy girl I was when I discovered

all things Crayola.

Years ago I spotted this calculator at Macy's and I

really, REALLY wanted it for Christmas.

So I told all my kids and my husband that this

was what I wanted. It was only $7.98

Truly, I would have been happy with this!

Did I get it? No.

I had to find it a few years later at

a flea market and paid over twice as much for it.

All my crayons have been packed away for a couple

of years and yesterday I took most of them

out and put them in my studio.

I keep the door closed at night because

Mr. Kitty loves bling and tries to eat it all.

This morning I opened the door and it

smelled like a new box of crayons.

I was six again.

I really do live in a Crayola world.

Hugs,

Kathleen

Where Bloggers Create

2012-07-14T00:00:00.000-06:00

Today is Where Bloggers Create day presented by

Karen Valentine at My Desert Cottage.

A couple of blog posts earlier I posted pictures of my studio and

I will share two of them here. The one above

and this one:

These are actually two different rooms in my house.

In this post I will share some of my

favorite things.

Button Box contents:

Beads:

Beautiful trims:

Wooden Spools:

I'm very fortunate to have a very supportive husband who loves to

build all the little shelves and cubbies I could

possibly use. This unit wraps around three sides

of a work table:

So that I can do what I love best:

Have fun!

Hugs,

Kathleen

A Word About Art

2012-07-09T14:55:00.001-06:00

Because I can't draw, I have never considered myself an artist. Now before you start charging me a quarter for being negative, just hear me out.

As a six-year-old budding artist, I loved to draw and one day I drew a very rudimentary self-portrait, complete with oval body and nipples. (I had advanced from strictly stick figures, you see.) Being quite pleased with myself, I showed it to my mom and my mom, being slightly appalled by it, struggled with her words. They came out as "Well, I've seen better." What I heard was, "you're not good enough." My little six-year-old artistic soul was crushed. Then came elementary school art class. Even though I was deliriously happy playing with finger paints, crayons, paper, scissors and library paste (which I surreptitiously licked off my fingers), my projects were "graded." I never quite measured up to my teacher's standards. My grades reflected the fact that I wasn't "good enough." By high school my six-year-old artistic soul was quashed for good.

I did not, however, give up buying art supplies. I have crayons, watercolors, acrylics, oil pastels, watercolor crayons, oil sticks, brushes, inks, dyes, papers, etc., etc., etc. My mother taught me to sew and embellish fabric with buttons and beads and to be creative with textiles. As a result I have a fabulous collection of fabric, fibers, buttons and beads.

About 10 years ago I discovered collage and altered arts and I've been creating and using everything I've learned over the years and so grateful I have my collections of "stuff." My six-year-old artistic soul came alive.

AND THEN IT HAPPENED.

I read a comment online made by an artist who was incensed that anyone who did not have a fine arts degree and had committed themselves to years of study would dare call themselves artists.

Now, you're probably thinking, "Uh-oh, she's retreated back to her devastated six-year-old artistic soul." Wrong. This time I was just angry so I said, "Shame. On. You."

I don't know what Webster's says, but my definition of art is a creative expression coming from our very heart and souls. It can be dark, light, happy, sad, vulnerable, realistic, abstract, impressionistic, satirical and the list goes on and on.

The point being there are as many different ways of expressing art as there are artists. Your techniques may be different than mine, but that doesn't make mine any less artistic.

Not once has it occurred to me to ask

an artist if they had a

fine arts degree before determining whether

their art spoke to me.

I listen only with my heart.

Hugs,

Kathleen

Big Day...

2012-05-16T11:01:00.002-06:00

Today is a BIG day for us.

We're going to sign a lease for this building:

It's an old building that is listed as an historical building in

Larimer County.

This will be the new home of Traditions, Ltd.,

Jerry's shop for doing what he loves best.

He'll be creating custom and one of a kind furniture,

built-ins, display and reproduction pieces, studio design and

whatever else his customers can dream up. If it's made of wood he

can build it. He's been without a workshop for over two years.

He's so creative and passionate about what he does

that he deserves to be able to follow his dreams.

Especially since I've taken over

half the house.

aka the dining room:

spare bedroom:

He's been an integral part of my dreams for years and my daily

encouragement to pursue those dreams of being a mixed

media artist and if I needed something, he just built it.

storage for my buttons:

And so a new adventure beings.

Hugs,

Kathleen

p.s. A new website will be coming this summer.

You can reach Jerry at 970-397-7859 if

you have any woodworking dreams that

you need interpreted.

Something Different...

2012-04-07T09:22:00.000-06:00

Bottle of Truth

I'm participating in an artful round robin swap through

Timeless Creations in Ft. Collins.

The rules are simple. Each participating artist (there are

14 of us) was to create a box in her chosen theme and the boxes would then

circulate, round robin style, and each artist would then

create a piece of art in her chosen medium that would reflect

the theme of the box. The first box I received was created

by my friend Kelly with the theme being

"Aunt Tilly's Tinctures, Tonics and Tiny Things Tasty."

I used a very, very old bottle, decoupaged the outside with some

fabulous tissue, hand dyed and painted the lace bits. Added some beads,

bling and velvet ribbon along with a vintage knob for the top.

The little scroll holds the following poem that inspired me:

Truth will ever Soothe

Truth will never die

It is patiently waiting

to come out one day

to be seen by all of us.

It may now lose a deal,

but it is calculating

to strike at the right time.

Its power, none can fathom.

When truth is spoken,

there Angels surround

and bless the soul

that fights for truth.

Truth will at last triumph.

It seems it has now lost,

but that is an illusion.

Truth will one day win.

So speak the truth always.

Uttering lie invites disgrace.

Whenever truth is suppressed

it, at the right time, erupts.

Mailrangam Visvanathan Venkataraman

A view of the back:

It doesn't really look this bright in real life, but the morning sun

(yay morning sun!) brightened it right up for the photo.

I hope my little artful piece will inspire you to

"Speak the truth always."

Hugs,

Kathleen

Remembering...

2012-01-19T09:37:00.000-07:00

It was a tough weekend.

My youngest sister passed away a year ago

and

I wanted to DO something, anything, that would honor

her.

I decided to create an art piece using a piece of her jewelry as a focal

point.

She loved all things vintage, especially art deco, so I started out with this:

a piece of 3 3/4 x 5 inch plastic and a 5 x 7 canvas.

I transformed the plastic into this:

using alcohol inks, crackle medium and distress inks.

I then applied it to the canvas and built up the layers with

molding paste, acrylic paints, glaze and embellishments. The

flower was die cut from fabric paper I made using Beryl Taylor's

techniques.

I love how it turned out and she would have, too.

Hugs,

Kathleen

A new beginning

2012-01-07T09:02:00.000-07:00

A New Year...

always means new beginnings to me.

A time to start fresh.

A fresh start for all those things unfinished and

all those things I've been 'meaning' to do.

Reviving my blog is the first step in that 'fresh start.'

This is my first little art piece for the new year.

I must take baby steps.

Hugs to you all...

$5.00 Fabric Storage

2011-08-21T19:20:00.000-06:00

     It's been a couple of months since I've blogged due to cataract surgery and I'm really anxious to get going again. My left eye still doesn't see as well as my right eye and I will still need glasses for distance. Distance being anything beyond three feet away. My surgeon wants to give my left eye some more time before getting new glasses. That being said, now that my left eye has been done, I can see the computer, sew, do needlework and read clearly. However, I just couldn't wait to share my new fabric storage piece, or, I should say, pieces. I just had to wing it on the photography since I couldn't bring the camera into focus.

     The bottom piece was solid maple and came complete with the little brass label holders. Hubby added the bun feet. This piece was free!

     The top piece was painted a dark brown and cost $5.00 at Goodwill (it was broken). Hubby sanded it back and added fluted molding to the bottom and then painted both pieces Navajo White (my very favorite white).

     I have very limited space so this allowed me to bring in some of my favorite fabrics from the storage cabinets in the garage.

I think it's just perfect!

A Gorgeous Giveaway

2011-06-27T12:05:00.000-06:00

There is a beautiful giveaway over at Lilly's Lace. This is a girl after my own heart!

Art Night at Studio Vino

2011-06-10T11:22:00.004-06:00

First and foremost, let me just say I am not a painter. I use paints in mixed media, collage and textile art, but I can't draw so this was going to be a challenge for me.

My friend Dee invited me to attend an evening at Studio Vino in Loveland.

Studio Vino is a "you paint it" type of entertainment. And it IS entertaining. It's led by an "Artertainer" that changes depending on the artwork. It's geared to all levels of artists, even beginners. You're taken step by step through the process to produce a finished piece of art.

Music, appetizers, a free glass of wine, all your supplies and a getting-to-know-you time before getting to work.

Then we were given our palette of paint, the colors of which were completely outside my comfort zone. PRIMARY COLORS!?! What in the world am I going to do with those?

This is the original piece:

And this is my feeble attempt at replication:

Despite my earlier apprehension, I ended up having a great time!

Hugs to you all,

Kathleen

Inspiration Kits

2011-06-03T16:32:00.006-06:00

Something else I've been busy with lately is

putting together what I call, "Inspiration Kits."

They will soon be in my Etsy shop.

One of the questions I'm asked most often, is

"What do I do with this?"

The short answer is, "whatever you want."

The long answer is, they can be used in textile collage,

altered books, mixed media art, journal pages,

ATCs....etc.

They are a mix of fabric, tags, buttons, beads, ribbons,

trim, flowers, fibers, threads, a little bit of bling,

and ephemera.

Not all of these elements are in every kit and

each kit is different.

I've used one of my favorite kits (pictured above)

in this short tutorial.

This kit contains four different fabrics, one

of which is a piece of chiffon.

I chose an image to transfer onto the

chiffon using TAP (Transfer Artist Paper)

I LOVE this product.

It's the brain child of Lesley Riley.

http://www.lesleyriley.com/

You can check out her website for more information on how to

use this product.

I then took some of the lace included in the kit

and stitched it along the sides of the image.

I then found a couple of pieces of

companion fabrics from my stash

(which is quite extensive, I admit).

I stitched those two layers together

and then stitched the velvet piece

from the kit on top of that

and then the image

on top of that.

Then the fun began.

Using elements from the kit and

extra elements that I had on hand, I

embellished the piece.

Not all elements from the kit were used in

this piece. You can use all

of the kit or just part of it. The creativity comes

from you.

I just provide the inspiration.

Have a creative day,

Kathleen

p.s. I'm having a giveaway on my facebook page. If you "like" my page, I will be giving away one of my kits when I reach 50 'likes.' You can find the link to my facebook page here.

Alecia's Bracelet

2011-05-26T08:14:00.002-06:00

Yesterday was my beautiful

daughter-in-law's birthday and

as promised,

Here are pictures of the piece

I created just for her.

This is a unique and beautiful piece

that matches my

daughter-in-law perfectly.

It's one of a kind and will never be

duplicated.

It's 2 1/2 inches wide,

designed on a vintage muted satin

with vintage lace and

embellished using all black glass

buttons and beads.

Hugs to all,

Kathleen

Tea on Tuesday

2011-05-24T09:41:00.004-06:00

Today is my very first post for

Tea on Tuesday

Kimmie at Art in Red Wagons

is the organizer of Tea on Tuesday so

make sure you stop by and

visit her.

It's a gloomy, overcast Tuesday in

Colorado

so I thought it called for a hearty

English Breakfast Tea

It's just what I need to finish

projects in my studio.

I have a gorgeous

bracelet to finish for my lovely

daughter-in-law.

A gift for her birthday.

I'd show you, but it's a surprise.

I'll post after tomorrow.

So for now, enjoy your cup of tea and

I will see you next Tuesday for Tea.

Kathleen

Mother's Day

2011-05-09T13:55:00.002-06:00

I had a beautiful Mother's Day.

The weather was absolutely gorgeous,

so we decided to go to one of my favorite cities in Colorado,

Boulder.

Pearl Street is unlike any other street so

I thought I would invite you to come along.

Walking out of the parking garage, we were

greeted by this gentleman on the back of

someone's shop.

Walking down Pearl Street there were flowers everywhere!

I did discover though, that one of my favorite stores

is closing its doors, Paper Doll. This little lady has been

outside their door for many years.

I sure hope someone buys her

and a few of her friends.

More flowers.

I found a couple of new favorite places.

This shop was an absolute visual delight:

And still more flowers:

A beautiful shop filled with chandeliers from Europe:

Finally, no post about Boulder would be complete without

a few photos of the entertainment:

Everywhere I looked, I couldn't help but smile.

Thanks for coming along with me.

Etsy shop

2011-05-03T11:52:00.001-06:00

I have finally started my

Etsy shop.

Traditions 1949

The 1949 of course is the

year I was born.

As I've said before, I love

the 20s, 30s and 40s.

And I LOVE

Tradition.

My goal is to keep the tradition

of hand sewing and vintage

things alive.

I absolutely adore

buttons,

beads,

ribbons,

textiles

and

trims.

This is my first piece that I have

listed and there will be lots

more to come.

I just had to share my

success at getting

an item listed.

It seems the older I

get the broader the learning

curve becomes.

Operation Rescrap

2011-04-26T11:05:00.000-06:00

We did a show this past weekend called

"Operation Rescrap"

It was the first of what I hope will be many more shows.

This beautiful display that greeted you as you entered the show

was created by the very talented ladies at

"Cozy Cottage" at Centerra and Flatirons

Our booth

We were very well received and I was very encouraged.

The show was a unique combination of consignment, craft, furniture and

handmade items . I LOVE the concept.

A few more artisans:

We had a great time and have plans to this show again

and hopefully many others. It's the perfect time in our lives to do this and

my husband Jerry is, hands down, the best person to

do a show with. I couldn't and wouldn't want to, do it by myself.

So thank you honey, for being the best part of me.

"Pink"

2011-04-08T12:13:00.000-06:00

"I love the color pink.

The softest blush of pink,

baby girl pink

bubblegum pink of the 1930s

hot pink of the 60s.

For me, pink represents calmness, sweetness, softness, whimsy,

all things girly and the persevering strength

of women."

These words are written on the inside cover of my altered book

titled "Pink" pictured above.

I collect things that are pink.

Inside the pink drawer of the button box:

And I have a thing for the 1930s and 40s. I was born in 1949

and somehow those eras became part of my heart

and soul.

Pink makes me feel pretty.

When I was about 12, I had a pair of pink ballet flats

that I wore until they fell off my feet.

I put cardboard on the inside when the holes in the

soles appeared and painted them with pink

shoe polish so the cracks in the leather

didn't show as badly.

I'm on a mission to find another pair.

One day my mother gave me a pink and black dress that she had

worn, I'm sure to play dress-up in, and to her horror

I wore it to the park wearing it with my pink ballet flats.

A boy I went to school with looked at me and said,

"Why are you wearing such an old-fashioned dress?"

I looked down at my dress and said

"Because it makes me feel pretty."

It still does.

The Magic Garden

2011-03-19T11:58:00.001-06:00

My Grandmother had a magic garden.

No, really.

It was filled with pansies, daisies,

Pink Lady Slippers, hollyhocks and

the most gorgeous apricot-colored climbing roses

you've ever seen.

It was the same garden my mother grew up in. Even though she

was more inclined to be swinging in the trees playing Tarzan

when she was a child,

it is here that she and my grandmother taught me to

make flower ladies.

Flower Ladies with big Pink Lady Slipper dresses and

hollyhock hats. And they could dance and dance

and dance.

My latest designs were inspired by "The Garden."

I spent hours and hours there in the shade

of a great big tree creating my

"magic" friends, wearing my

daisy chain crown that my mother taught me how to make.

I can't tell you how many daisy chains wilted

on my head in the warm California summer sun.

I created this design with a nod to my french grandmother

in whose garden I spent so many

enchanted hours.

Merci

Beading Bliss

2011-03-03T09:02:00.003-07:00

One of my favorite ways to create is to take a piece of ribbon and turn it into something even more beautiful. I'm inspired by the beautiful work of Helen Gibb, ribbon work designer extraordinaire!
This one has a base of vintage ribbon, silk trims, vintage button, glass leaves and lots and lots of beads.
In my next post I'll share my creative process.

Have a lovely, creative day.

In Memory of ....

2011-02-15T12:05:00.001-07:00

     Up until January 14, 2011, the worst day of my life was the day my mother died. And then I lost my youngest sister. Younger by 10 years. This just wasn't the way it was supposed to be.

     I've had a very difficult time wrapping my head around this, never mind my heart. It's hard for a heart to absorb things when there is a great big hole in it.

     Linn had a great capacity to love, trust and accept and you always knew where you stood with her. If you had problems, they were her problems. If you were hurt, she was hurt. She just had a great big heart.

     She knew more about music than anyone I've ever known. In fact, she was my 'phone a friend' should the need ever arise. She always knew who sang what and when and all the lyrics.

     And then there was ..."The Voice." An expressive and soulful voice that could bring me to tears. A lack of self-confidence and debilitating stage fright left the rest of the world unaware of that voice. We have a few recordings of her and I wanted to share one here, but I'm woefully inadequate when it comes to computer literacy. Maybe I will figure it out one day because I would love to share her with you.

     She was eclectic, colorful, fun, funny and "Auntie Mame" to my children. She would not want me to be so sad, but sometimes I just can't help myself.

Rest peacefully my sweet sister.

I love you

and

will miss you forever.