Mixed Media Monthly Challenge for August

I always have a blast working on mixed media pieces for the Mixed Media Challenge Blog. This month's challenge is to use text in your project. I LOVE using text in my projects.

 If you are new to the challenge - please join in! Go to the homepage for the place to post the link of your project.

Here's my project.

"Swamp Tours" is 28" x 30" on stretched canvas. I used papers, burlap, gold leafing, seed beads, cardstock tag, fabric alphabets, cardstock stickers and paint. The surface was sealed with a layer of resin.

Here's a closeup of the alphabet before I poured the resin.

We can't wait to see what you come up with for the challenge. Here are the rules:

Please follow these rules to be eligible for placements and prizes. 

* You must use our challenge graphic in your challenge post.
* You must comment on at least 3 design team member's blogs. 

* Your post must link back to the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge post
* Add a link to your direct post, not your entire blog, a YouTube Video or a Pinterest Board
* You can combine with up to 4 other challenges. 
* No Backlinking allowed! Any back-linked entries will be deleted.
* You can enter up to 5 times, create whatever you want, and HAVE FUN!

Thanks for stopping by!

Scratch That off my Bucket List

If I actually DID have a bucket list and it had a "see in concert" section, the top of that section would be The Eagles. So I got wind of them coming to "a city near me" in March and low and behold my sweet hubby got seats as soon as they went on sale. I had no idea HOW BADLY I wanted to go until a few days before the concert. Two nights before I couldn't sleep and went on Instagram and saw photos and video from that night's concert in Little Rock. I also found out that they didn't want anyone taking video or photos. Most of the concerts I attend allow non SLR camera's and I have a great zoom on my point and shoot and my photos are fabulous. I read why the band had the rule - so people will ENJOY the concert without distractions. They also asked that people remain seated. I really liked that. So I was free to enjoy the concert without worrying about getting the "perfect" shot.

This is hubby and me riding in our friend's van on the way to Bossier City to eat dinner before the concert.

And the image on the video screen before it started.

They played 27 songs. They opened with "Saturday Night" (one of my favorites, but if you never listened to their entire albums, you wouldn't know it). People behind me were talking. Did they realize that this was NOT an opening act? Come on. Next was "Train Leaves Here This Morning". I wasn't familiar with this song until the morning of the concert. I read the song list and it was the only one I didn't know - so I listened to it before the concert. The fifth song was Doolin' Dalton and during the "history" video telling about how the song and "Desperado" album came about,  the loud talker started up again. I missed most of the video because I actually turned around and asked him to "please" . Please was all I said with a praying hand motion. He stopped for most of the concert. Folks, please educate your friends and children about concert (and theater) etiquette. People are paying for their seat to hear the music, singers and/or performers. It's not a ballgame. It's not an outdoor festival. You sit down and shut up. I'm seriously considering starting a social media sight and post photos of all the venue loudmouths that I'm seated around. Please don't be on that sight.

So, at some point during the first few songs - I had a "moment" of awe that brought tears to my eyes. Wow is all I can say. Watching the members, hearing the history. Just wow. And I broke the rules. I had to have a photo. A photo to remind myself that it was real. That I was there. That they were there.

From far left to right: Bernie Leadon, Timothy B. Schmidt, Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh, Stuart Smith (guitarist..not from orignal band), and in the back on drums, Don Henley.

Our seats were on the 2nd level, so my photo isn't very good, but there is my memory.

The encore songs were Hotel California, Take It Easy, Rocky Mountain Way, then Desperado. They took their final (and not only was this their final "History of the Eagles" tour, but who knows if it is their last as a band - every) bow of the night, walked to each side of the stage with house lights up and waved, and waved ... walked and waved.... and the last set of tears streamed down my face. The crowd left their seats and lined up to get out of the very crowded Centurytel Center in Bossier and me and my husband sat in our seats and just let it soak in what we just spend three hours listening to.
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and... because I had absolutely no room on my phone - my husband broke a few rules. He recorded a couple of the encore songs for me. Out of respect to my favorite band, I won't post it here, but I have the file - for myself - to replay and remember.

Good night.

Summer Theme for Mixed Media Monthly Challenge Blog

If you just stumbled on this blog post - this post is about mixed media art. Every month, I post a new mixed media project in conjunction with the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge Blog, and for those that participate - there are prizes involved via a random drawing.

So - the theme for this month's mixed media project is "Summer Days".

We're SO excited to announce our July sponsor and prize! Our sponsor is the awesome online store Butterfly Reflections Ink .  They are offering an amazing mixed media prize package for our lucky random winner.

Here's my creation. It's 12" x 12" on birch wood. It's mostly patterned papers, but I also used acrylic paint, Faber Castell Big Brush Pens (India ink), waterproof black pen (Millenium or Pitt) and even cardboard.

I started out by putting various patterned papers on wood with matte medium.

Next, I cut out my shapes (water, sun, tree, van) and played around to see where I wanted everything. I had a pencil sketch of my idea, and used it for reference. The most time consuming part is choosing the papers. I outlined most of the shapes with brush pens and black fine tip ink. I toned down the beach "sand" with tan paint so the patterned paper wasn't too distracting.

I love the summer and what better "dream" to have but a retro VW van and the beach.

In order to participate in this challenge - we have the following rules

1. You must use our challenge graphic in your challenge post. 
2. You must comment on at least 3 design team members blogs
3. You may combine with up to 4 more challenges

So, get busy creating and link your image up at the July Challenge post at the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge Blog. 

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!!

New Orleans, Music and June

The calendar pages just keep turning faster than I can catch my breath.

(Warning - long post with lots of photos!!)

 I'm still filling orders from before summer started and trying to keep up with art for the galleries. The month started off teaching and art class to a great group of young artists. We studied Van Gogh.

Then one night my hubby wisked me away to Boston! (Not the city - the BAND!)

 I still can't believe we got to hear them in person. This was in Jackson, Mississippi.

The next week, we sent my daughter to camp. Hubby and I packed the dog and our two bicycles and went to New Orleans for a week. We stayed in an adorable shotgun house on Dauphine in the Marigny District that we found on www.vrbo.com.

It was about 8 blocks from the French Quarter, where we rode our bikes to every day. We walked to Frenchmen Street (4 blocks) every evening to stroll from one Jazz club to the next to enjoy the best music in a very artsy, bohemian setting. We couldn't wait until Thursday when the Frenchmen Street Art Market opened. We have always loved that place.

One night our friends from Covington drove down and took us to the Carousel Bar at the Hotel Monteleone on Royal. We took photos in the carousel mirror and saw strange images in the reflection. (haunted??? hmmmmm) Then we strolled a few doors down and heard Washboard Chaz  - you just really never know who you will see and hear when in the Big Easy.

We visited the French Market one morning and almost rode our bikes into the live shooting of a new HBO show called "Quarry". It's set in the 70's - so our modern bicycles would have been out of place in that scene. I still can't believe when I heard a man's voice say "Can you stop?", that I actually replied "Why?".... when normally I would have peddled faster. He replied "Because they are shooting.." and I turned and said "Like....bang...bang??" lol. We toured the inside of the St. Louis Cathedral (yes, air conditioning!) and ate breakfast on cute bistro tables on street corners.

We met this book author at the French Market.

Hubby hired this street poet to write a poem to me on her non-electric typewriter. What a teasure!

Sandra and her daughter that own Cajun Corral Farm at the Frenchmen Street Art Market. I bought the nicest goatmilk tropical scented lotion from her.

We had a romantic dinner at Adolfo's next to the Frenchmen Street Art Market on our last night. Then headed home the next day to pick up our daughter from camp!!

 She was there with several friends from the youth theater, but she met several new friends as well.

She was awarded a Craft Award from her craft teacher, Missy Robertson (yes, the one from Duck Dynasty), and her other teacher was Mrs. Howard (Korie's mom)

My Happy Camper!!

One wonderful summer month - almost over. Ready for the next adventure. Thanks for stopping by. Be sure to follow me at Melanie Douthit Art Studio on facebook - or on Instagram at DouthitArt

Have a great day.

June Mixed Media Monthly Challenge

It's been one year since the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge Blog started. I'm honored to have been asked to stay on as one of the designers. It's so much fun to "play" with mixed media creations, and fun to inspire others.We are celebrating our one year "birthday" with guest designers and great prizes!

For the June 2015 challenge - we are letting you choose which technique to use. Choose from any of these:

Since it's summer, I'm in the beach frame of mind. Our sponsor this month is Maya Road. I fell in love with Maya Road years ago when I was heavily involved in the paper craft industry.

Maya Road was founded in order to offer unique scrapbook embellishments to scrapbookers, and since I transitioned in to mixed media, I find their products the perfect fit. I used wooden tokens, polka dot fabric tape and some twine. The technique I used was Number 5 - ribbon, twine and fibers.

I painted the wooden token with a light coat of acrylic paint (making sure not to coat the cute image in the token). It was a perfect center for the sun. I cut the fabric tape in to slender strips to make my fence, and used the twine for the fence wire. I went through my stash of words and letters for the quote, and found some rather older beach die cuts that were perfect for the surf boards. I outlined with a black Pitt pen with a fine nib.  The surface for this is a 5.5" wood board (1.5" deep). They are the perfect size for gifts and easy to work with.

Be sure to go to the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge blog to participate in this month's challenge and read up on all the rules to qualify. Some of the rules are:
1. You must use our challenge graphic in your challenge post. 
2. You must comment on at least 3 design team members blogs
3. You may combine with up to 4 more challenges

Link up your image to the link in the main blog.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!

Northeast Louisiana's Blend of the Bayou

I was invited again to participate as one of the artist's at the Northeast Louisiana Art's Council's yearly event "Blend of the Bayou. It's a fundraiser for the arts council that involved local businessmen cooking, and as people enjoy their afternoon, stroll through the outside art gallery. It's always lots of fun. This is my fourth year to participate. The setting is the beautiful home of Dr. and Mrs. Waltor Sartor.

The weather was perfect for this fun afternoon. The temps were just right for May in Louisiana. (Last year it was chilly - we were wearing jackets and sweaters)

Me with Leah Reitzell, one of my partners at the Sugar Art Gallery. 

Portrait Artist Ricky Sikes painted live.

Some of the great food by local businessmen.

Art by local artist / architect Doug Breckenridge.

I had Doug Breckenridge take a photo of me with my art.

I had a wonderful day. I took 10 paintings and came home with three. I'm working hard trying to build back my inventory as well as finish commissions. If you haven't been to this event, start looking for tickets to go on sale in April 2016 for the next event.

Thanks for stopping by. Have a great week!

Last week's Taylor Swift 1989 World Tour Concert in Bossier City Louisiana

Last week my daughter and I went to the Taylor Swift 1989 World Tour concert in Bossier City, Louisiana. It as the first US city for the tour. How exciting. We met up with some friend's outside and took some pics with the tour truck in the background. There were lots of folks taking pics like this.

We were soooo lucky to have gotten tickets. They sold out in seconds the first day. It was in November, so I gave them to by daughter as a Christmas gift. Our seats were very high in the second tier and for some reason, this is the only concert I have attended and sat up high that people stood up. and never sat back down........ ever. Some did, but if people in front of you stand - you can't see. The second tier is at such a slope that standing for prolonged periods of time is uncomfortable. Plus if you have a purse - you have to stand AND hold it? When Taylor was talking about her personal struggles.... there were two ladies behind us talking - quite loudly.... I almost videoed them to post - so people could be shocked... but I didn't want to be THAT mean. So I told me daughter to follow me. We went to the lower level and found two seats - asked if anyone was sitting there - and (shock) they were free. A sold out concert..... and empty seats. Yeah for us. The people on this level were all sitting and we enjoyed the show. Her platform that raised and extended was right in front of us. So nice. Here are a few pics.

She only sang two songs from previous albums. This is my fourth time to see her, my daughter's third. I do miss the older style, but she's a fabulous entertainer, and as an artist, I understand changing and exploring. I mean, we would have been there three more hours if she covered all her songs. It was great. She went to Baton Rouge, Louisiana two days later and I enjoyed seeing more of my friends post photos from that concert.

Thanks for stopping by! I am so sorry I have neglected my blog. Please follow my facebook page at Melanie Douthit Art Studio for more current news.