GOT ART?: friends

Hi Blogger Buddies! It's been so long (since I returned from the RSC!) since I blogged last, so I will cut to the chase and share my play date I had last Sunday at my friend's home.

Sometimes we call these play dates "Make-n-Steak" because Linda's husband, Bob will bbq steaks for us later in the evening after Linda and I share techniques we've learned either on our own, on-line or at workshops.

First things first . . .

I brought along supplies and some of my pieces to show Linda what I learned in Teesha Moore's workshops . . .

I've been wanting to do some etching on copper and Linda has already done several jewelry pieces using the technique, so when I told her I recently got these really cool book cover rubber stamps by Tim Holtz I wanted to try, she told me to bring them.

Here is my book cover in the making. Stamped and coming out of it's etching bath after about an hour . . .

I thought Alcohol Inks would be cool to color the cover and give it a patina, old world look. I used Lettuce, Butterscotch, Bottle, Caramel, Citrus . . .

This is what I'm going to use (I think) as the back cover. Here's how it looks out of the etching bath with no color added yet. Oops - that's the flash from my cell phone in the lower right hand corner . . .

I really like etching and will definitely be buying the supplies to do some more at home!

Snack time . . .

Show and Tell time. Some of Bob's latest pieces . . .

Then it was play time with Marlena "Marley" . . .

after a swim in the pool . . .

Linda finished up her piece the next day and colored what was a black and white head piece. I just LOVE how it all turned out! . . .

And this is mine . . .

It's always such a fun, relaxing day at The Bucci's. Next time we get together we're going to do shrink art *smiles*.

BC update: I had reconstruction surgery June 27th. Still healing. I think I may have done a little too much a little too soon (the workshops and the rubber stamp convention) or maybe things just take longer to heal than I want them to? I have seen the doctor twice since surgery and will go back on August 18th to discuss the next steps. I'm feeling well and have returned to work. And obviously I'm not going to let the fun stop! *smiles*

Here we go! . . .

Following are some of the photos I took both days at the Rubber Stamp Convention. Let's start off at Stamper's Anonymous with a big smile and wave from the man himself: Tim Holtz . . .