#15 DADA's Moley Round #2

[DADAology]

DADA's Moley Round #2

THIS SWAP IS FULL
GENERAL INFORMATION:
Withdrawals not allowed after 16 Sept (The Cyber Police will not allow anyone to drop, you will be stalked for life)
First mail date 19 Sept 2011, subsequent mail by dates will be the 19th of each month, if that falls on a Sunday then the 20th. Moley’s due back to owner
April 2012.
Materials required: APPROX. 3.5”” x 5.5” Japanese pocket Moley (accordian)
Themes: I need ASAP by Sept 6, 2011. If you aren’t sure about your theme we can discuss it in the thread if you like.

YOU are responsible for:
• Choosing, defining and explaining your theme clearly.
• Each Moley owner will decorate and fill out: the back of the cover and the first page with your name, address and travel plan (I will provide the travel plan soon), turn the first page and the back of that page and the next two fold out pages gives you your 3 pages to decorate and set the mood for others to follow.
• All participating artist will start on the third pullout page and create on 4 pages. “Owner” please indicate to your artist if you want their art work to overlap or not. You might even "pencil" in their names so there will be no confusion.
• You should let the artist know if you want them to decorate horizonal or verticle or if you don't have a preference let themn know that too.
• Shipping to the next artist participant on time is so very IMPORTANT.
• If “life” happens and you are going to be late mailing please let the artist expecting to receive the book and me know what’s going on. We must be in contact at all times.
• Paying for First Class mail and MANDATORY tracking/Delivery Confirmation.
• Theme: Artist Choice. Each artist may choose “No Theme” if they want participants to “follow their own muse.” Remember to be very clear if you want them to follow a theme.
• Let your artist know if you want drawing only, mixed media, college etc.
• Page elements should be mostly flat.
• A lot of time and effort will be put into these works of art so please be diligent in caring for them. (Putting a retainer down on the firing squad next week, should they become essential for completion of the swap).
• “Mailing” Either priority flat rate envelope or small box with delivery confirmation. Bubble envies would be okay too....what ever is #1 best protection #2 cheapest tracking.
• PM your intended artist the book is on the way and “artist” please let the thread know it has arrived. I will keep track of mailing dates etc.
• One Moley per person is the way we want and need to keep the swap going.
• I need each person’s mailing addresses, phone numbers and email addresses throughout the process. I will give mine to each of you as well.
AGAIN remember communication is key.
• If you have ANY questions about your artist’s theme contact him or her BEFORE you start working in it.
• What does everyone think about including a photo and business card (if you have one) in the end pocket so we can see who has created wonderful art in our books. Or you could attach them to the back of your pages.

THEMES: (Borrowed from Kat)

Jewels: Escher & his art
Rubyyot: Persian artwork (carpets & miniatures) + Weaveworld
Els: Dragons of the 4 Elements (fire, water, air, earth)
AnnD: odd little girls & their odd little dolls
Kat: Prehistoric Times
ArtsyLady: Children at Play
Midnitecreations: Tea Parties (no teddy bears or dolls)
DADAology: Iluustrated Journal Pages


[WE SHOULD BE ON OUR 7th rotation START DATE 19 MAR


Prior to
19 Sept - JEWELS BOOK - OWNER -- Michigan
19-Sep - RUBYYOT - finished
19-Oct - ELS - finished
19-Nov - ANND -finished
19-Dec - KAT - finished
19-Jan - ARTSYLADY - finished
19-Feb - MIDNITECREATIONS - finished
19-Mar - DADAOLOGY - finished
19-Apr - RETURN HOME -

Prior to
19 Sept - RUBYYOT OWNER -- Texas
19-Sep - ELS - finished
19-Oct - ANND - finished
19-Nov - KAT - finished
19-Dec - ARTSYLADY - finished
19-Jan - MIDNITECREATIONS - finished
19-Feb - DADAOLOGY -- finished
19-Mar- JEWELS finished
19-Apr - RETURN HOME

Prior to
19 Sept - ELS - OWNER -- Washington
19-Sep - ANND - finished
19-Oct - KAT - finished
19-Nov - ARTSYLADY - finished
19-Dec - MIDNITECREATIONS - finished
19-Jan - DADAOLOGY - finished
19-Feb - JEWELS - finished
19-Mar - RUBYYOT - working
19-Apr - RETURN HOME

Prior to
19 Sept - ANND - OWNER -- Indianapolis
19-Sep - KAT - finished
19-Oct - ARTSYLADY - finished
19-Nov - MIDNITECREATIONS - finished
19-Dec - DADAOLOGY - finish
19-Jan - JEWELS - finished
19-Feb - RUBYYOT - finsihed
19-Mar - ELS - working
19-Apr - RETURN HOME

Prior to
19 Sept - KAT - OWNER -- North Carolina
19-Sep - ARTSYLADY - finished
19-Oct - MIDNITECREATIONS - finished
19-Nov - DADAOLOGY - finished
19-Dec - JEWELS finished -
19-Jan - RUBYYOT - arrived 9 April
19-Feb- ELS - finished
19-Mar - ANND - finished
19-Apr - RETURN HOME


Prior to
19 Sept - ARTSYLADY - OWNER -- Florida
19-Sep - MIDNITECREATIONS - finished
19-Oct - DADAOLOGY - finished
19-Nov - JEWELS - finished
19-Dec - RUBYYOT - finished
19-Jan - ELS - finished
19-Feb - ANND - finished
19-Mar - KAT - finsihed and mailed home
19-Apr - RETURN HOME

Prior to
19 Sept - MIDNITECREATIONS - OWNER -- Maryland
19-Sep - DADAOLOGY - finished
19-Oct - JEWELS - finished
19-Nov - RUBYYOT - finished
19-Dec - ELS - finished
19-Jan - ANND - finished
19-Feb -KAT finished
19-Mar - ARTSYLADY received 25 Feb
19-Apr - RETURN HOME

Prior to
19 Sept - DADAOLOGY - OWNER -- Oklahoma
19-Sep - JEWELS - finished
19-Oct - RUBYYOT - finished
19-Nov - ELS - finished
19-Dec - ANND - finished
19-Jan - KAT - finished
19-Feb - ARTSYLADY - finished
19-Mar - MIDNITECREATIONS - received 25 Mar
19-Apr - RETURN HOME

[midnitecreations]

I'd love to join this group. I tried to send back a pm to you, but it gives me an error message saying your mailbox if full. I am a journal novice, so if that's ok with you and the group, then Yes, I would be thrilled to join.

[DADAology]

Yeah, I just cleaned it out....great we have a group.

[burningthirteen]

Awesome, just got my moley in the mail via amazon. Toying with the theme. Thinking of something Mucha or fantasy and / or dark in a Mucha style but have not yet made a final decision.

[burningthirteen]

Also, this is my first moley so I am excited to be working in the new format.

[DADAology]

Great, my last swap was my first and most of the people in it were first timers too, I think there will be a few in this one too. But that is great, I tried and tried to get in one before I decided to do my own. They are hard to get into. We will have a great piece of art at the end and I didn't realize how fast the time goes....Welcome aboard. As soon as every one sign in i will send out a game plan for our books. I did choose state side artist, not ready to venture out yet, it's hard enough to keep up in the states.

[Jewels]

It's my first Moley too. I got mine a couple of days ago from the Moleskine website. I've been toying with the idea of MC Escher style and works as a theme. Does that sound interesting?

[DADAology]

sounds great, hard (ha) but great.

[ArtsyLady]

I've been toying with the idea of MC Escher style and works as a theme.
His metamorphosis art would be perfect for the moley pages...

[ArtsyLady]

Thinking of something Mucha
love his style

[ArtsyLady]

Toying with the theme.

Speaking of toys...I'm thinking about children @ play...(yes Ann, they can be zombie children)

[AnnD]

Hey all! This is my 2nd moley. I picked "nonsensical nudes" as my theme last time around (i.e. nude people in situations in which it makes no sense for someone to be that way - at McDonald's, on the space shuttle, and so on), and I was rewarded with some hilarious, brilliant, amazing art. I'm likely to pick something equally cheeky and strange this time, so please pretend it's just delightful to you and swear freely in the privacy of your own home. ;)

[Jewels]

So you don't think Escher is too hard? I wasn't thinking solely drawing. Collage, montages and mixed media would be welcome. Also I thought his style could easily be tied into Zentangling or Optical art. It could also be colorized, expanded out beyond the original, changed into something of your own, spoofed etc.

[midnitecreations]

Speaking of toys...I'm thinking about children @ play...(yes Ann, they can be zombie children)

OMG, that was one of themes I was thinking. Now because of my loss of power, trying to think of a theme around what to do when power goes out..or when fairies come out to play

[AnnD]

Yay zombie children! :jiggy:

[DADAology]

oh I didn't mean to scare you off, I was just saying "for me" it would be a challenge, but that's what makes art so fun...you need to push yourself. You do it if you want to.......





So you don't think Escher is too hard? I wasn't thinking solely drawing. Collage, montages and mixed media would be welcome. Also I thought his style could easily be tied into Zentangling or Optical art. It could also be colorized, expanded out beyond the original, changed into something of your own, spoofed etc.

[burningthirteen]

Escher would be awesome, I used to sit and stare at his stuff as a kid. My parents had a puzzle of the square one with the stairs in all directions, I think it was called relativity? That puzzle drove me nuts. He was my favorite artist before I came across Dali and Mucha.

[DADAology]

And I don't see why you can't have the same theme....the books are individually owned and we can like the same theme.....wouldn't bother me....

I will get the travel plan posted this weekend. Remember each book belongs to you so you can have it anyway you want it. I'd just be careful with any big bulky embelishments only because of the added cost of mailing it. But some will not hurt at all.

[burningthirteen]

Hey all! This is my 2nd moley. I picked "nonsensical nudes" as my theme last time around (i.e. nude people in situations in which it makes no sense for someone to be that way - at McDonald's, on the space shuttle, and so on), and I was rewarded with some hilarious, brilliant, amazing art. I'm likely to pick something equally cheeky and strange this time, so please pretend it's just delightful to you and swear freely in the privacy of your own home. ;)

So we don't get nudes in space? :(

Maybe historical vs mythical figure grudge matches? Like Napoleon vs. a Yeti or Queen Victoria vs. a Chupacabra?

[DADAology]

oh by the way I have 3 inchie swaps just starting. I will up load examples for those this weekend too. Take a look at those too. :>)

[burningthirteen]

What is a three inchie?

[DADAology]

Ha ruby, long live the Queen ha

[burningthirteen]

Lmao!

[Jewels]

I had a question. Are we supposed to do something on the outside of the Moley? Or not.

[AnnD]

Maybe historical vs mythical figure grudge matches? Like Napoleon vs. a Yeti or Queen Victoria vs. a Chupacabra?

*Thud*

That might be the most brilliant theme idea EVER.

[AnnD]

What is a three inchie?

I think she is hosting three (separate) inchie swaps. An inchie is just an inch-square canvas. Tiny, tiny. Of course, she might also be hosting a thrinchie swap, which would be a 3x3. Tell us, Dada! What are you doing? :D

[ArtsyLady]

Hosting We the People inchie swap.
Hosting Halloween Mini Me inchie swap.
Hosting My Bleeding Heart inchie swap.


me thinks three separate...or could be she wants mini people with bleeding hearts...

[burningthirteen]

Insert political joke here

[kat]

This is my first moley, too. I'm pondering themes. I can already tell this is going to be a challenge for me.

[DADAology]

Some have asked why chatty couldn't join, nothing bad, per the powers that be she hasn't completed her first moley yet which by the rules she isn't eligible.

[kat]

Oh, that makes sense. They take such a long time to make the rounds.

[DADAology]

All
I have added the book schedules to the intro and a list of things you need to consider when providing your instructions. I also need for each of you to send me your user name, real name, address, mailing address if different than your home address, phone number etc.

You need to go ahead and decorate your cover if you are going to. Remember when you open the hard cover the back and the page with the preprinted place for you name is your intro pages. You should put your name and the names of the people that will be working in your book. For some ideas just do a search for moley's in our card gallery and you will see lots of different ideas.

Turn that page, the back of it is your first page and the first two accordian pages (making 3 total) are your pages to work on, then the next 28 pages are your artists, giving them 4 pages each to work on. You can pencil lightly on each page their name if you like. If you do that and they do not have 4 each then you might go back and recount. I've had to do that.....

If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask.
Annette

Also since this year we will be together during the holidays would you like to do an exchange? Maybe we could do a 4 X 6 for each player or say 3 ATCs or if you have any ideas post it and we can figure it out.....

annette

[Jewels]

So I'll always be sending to Rubyyot in Texas? Well, that makes it easy.

[DADAology]

Yea that is the easy part....you always send to the same person.

[joes lines]

I am posting in this thread so that it always shows up in my user CP as a subscribed thread, which means that I can lurk on all of your awesome art....

...and daily kick myself for passing on joining this moley swap :(

Dada is a great hostess, disorderly moley wrangler, and patient shepherd of perpetually late, internationally jet-setting artists. You are in awesome hands!

[ArtsyLady]

Hey Joe, did you know that you can subscribe to the thread in the Thread tools

(next to search this thread)....not that I mind you posting such very nice things about our new Moley hostess, just thought it might make lurking easier in the future...especially when you want to be anonymous

[DADAology]

Hey Joe you are so more than welcome to lurk, heres one better, if you can round another awesome artist such as yourself, you two could join that would mean 10 of us would have 3 pages instead of 8 of us having 4 pages. Let me know.....Or if any of you ladies know of another awesome artist, now that is only if Joe wants to join us.

[DADAology]

oh and by the way thank you for all the kind words....it really wasn't that bad.

[joes lines]

Sorry, I really wasn't fishing for an invite, and I still am going to have to pass. But, I will be rending my garments and tearing my hair while you all rock on.

[kat]

My theme is “Prehistoric Times”, creating a landscape with animals, plants, fossils, cavemen/women. You may slip in an occasional alien if you believe that’s how humans learned to harness fire and create the wheel. Think beauty first & humor second.

I want artists to be true to their own styles; however, I plan to share this with my grandchildren. Please keep you entries upbeat & child-friendly.

The format is a landscape with all images horizontal.

I prefer some overlap, so the entries seem to blend together into a single panoramic landscape. The scale can be altered by moving objects into the foreground if you prefer to include a close-up. For example, a Neanderthal may decide to look out at the artist from the page while the landscape recedes to the background.

No embellishments, please

I want hand-drawn/hand-painted entries. Artists may use any or all of the following: watercolor, colored pencils, acid-free pens, acid-free markers (thus, no Sharpies, except their acid-free fine pens), & acrylics. PM me if you would like permission to include another media. Please do not include collage or words.

Please cover the background, too.

Let me know if there are other details I should include.

[AnnD]

Great theme, kat!

I know you said to PM you about other media, but I'll ask this in the thread in case others are interested in the answer. How do you feel about white Signo Uni-ball gel pens? I often outline people in black, then the white gel pen, a technique I picked up from Amerasu. The ink is acid-free (I just checked), and the result looks like this. (Don't mind the scanner goo on the text. It didn't hurt the text, and I have since cleaned the bed.)

[midnitecreations]

lol Ann. Love that Jedi Ad. Great technique and a great question. I use white gel pen a lot too.

[AnnD]

LOL! Thank you! I'm glad the answer will apply to more than one of us! :D

[kat]

Yes, any acid-free pens are fine. I use gel pens, too, though not as often as the others so they slipped my mind. I'll amend my directions that will travel with the moley. Thanks.
BTW, that's a might fine Jedi!! Did he find his mate?

[DADAology]

You guys can use what ever you want, most things we use will last longer than i will...ha...what ever you like and looks good, that wont' eat your art or turn yellow for at least 10 years I think we are good....:>)

[DADAology]

Looks great by the way AnnD

[DADAology]

Kat sounds like a fun theme....

[AnnD]

BTW, that's a might fine Jedi!! Did he find his mate?


Hahaha! I'm told not yet - but he remains optimistic! ;)

Thanks for the prompt answer!

[DADAology]

Ha I'm slow today, i looked at the picture but didn't read it,,,,how can that be you say? Guess I was star struck by his saber...ha.

[kat]

I've already got two generation of artists comin' up through the ranks behind me. I'd like my art to be available to their grandkids:rolleyes: Acid-free!!! BTW, my friend who is an art restorer in a museum says that glues that are not animal-based survive well. Ex: rabbit-skin glue is a big no-no. Ex: Mod-Podge is apt to have better lasting power than any animal-based product even tho' it doesn't claim to be archival or acid-free.

[AnnD]

Guess I was star struck by his saber...ha.

LMAO! That's exactly what he was hoping for! ;)

[DADAology]

okay Joe, you just keep on lurking, we don't mind.

[midnitecreations]

I've got themes running through my head, but I think I'm going to pick "A Tea Party". I love a good cup of hot tea brewed from tea leaves and it was hillarious that while the power was out for a week due to Hurricane Irene, my husband was making me a cup on the grill! A party for me would be at least two people or characters. I don't want a dolls or teddy bears having a tea party. I prefer living characters. They don't have to be from earth and can even be animals. It can be wild and zany or a very proper english/japanese tea. Please don't leave the background blank. I prefer hand drawn pages, no collage, however words are fine. (I'm editing this to say mixed media backgrounds are fine if they don't overpower the main drawing). My boys and nieces will be going through these pages, so please no art that I can't share with them. However, Ann if you want to do a zombie tea party, my oldest DS will want to come hang out with you! If you can overlap the page, great. If not, that's ok too. Hopefully, this explains everything. If I've missed anything, let me know.

[chatty]

Some have asked why chatty couldn't join, nothing bad, per the powers that be she hasn't completed her first moley yet which by the rules she isn't eligible.

..giggle..now isn't that a bummer! Hopefully I can join the next one I was so looking forward to being with you all...*smile*...already had my theme picked too ..giggle.. I'll save it for next time.

[Jewels]

Jewels' Theme

My Theme is goiong to be MC Escher and similar styles/ ideas. This could include recreating an existing work/works (drawing or painting), a collage or Montage of different pieces, tinting or painting over a collaged in piece, expanding an existing work out beyond the original by drawing, changing or modifying an existing work somehow (includes spoofs), coloring and enhancing, developing your own Escher-like creation or tessellation. For the writer's out there, a small bit of history/biography might be interesting (combined with art of course). I also thought that Optical Art and Zentangling would fit in with this theme.

I would love there to be some overlap. The Format can be Horizontal or Vertical but it should somehow blend in the the preceding artist's work.

Any media is welcome and feel free to be very creative on this. Colors can be wild and crazy or subdued and monotone. I woud ask that you try to not repeat the works that the preceding artists have already chosen. Escher produced over 400 pieces so there should be plenty to choose from.
Did I miss anything?

[DADAology]

looks god but if something was missed someone will catch it...:>)

[DADAology]

chatty we do miss you.....and yes next time for sure.

[DADAology]

Typical old man, perv! ha


LMAO! That's exactly what he was hoping for! ;)

[AnnD]

More great themes! I do love a good zombie tea party! ;)

[DADAology]

If I were going political it would be blatant, ha you wouldn't have to guess....;)



Insert political joke here

[AnnD]

Okay, I've settled on my theme, too.

I'd like everyone to draw odd little girls with their odd little dolls. Please make the girls as creepy and weird and sideshow as you like, because I do love dark art, but I have one request. Lizzie Borden as a little girl with her creepy doll? Fantastic. Lizzie Borden as a girl in the middle of bashing her father's skull in? I'd prefer not.

Acts of murder aside, please go where your muse takes you. And feel free to make a whole gaggle of odd girls in your spread. (PT Barnum's Finishing School for Young Ladies of Unusual Quality? Excuse me, but I might have to faint. And then write you a 14-page love letter. And then resume fainting.)

As for the dolls, you can construe that as broadly as you like: A voodoo doll, a half-broken baby doll, a rag doll, an unhappy Rotweiler in a dress, a toaster with a face painted on it.

If you want to do some mixed media work for the background, go for it, but please hand draw the odd girl(s) and the odd doll(s).

I would prefer landscape orientation only. You don't need to blend your work with the work of other artists, although you're welcome to do so if it makes you happy. :)

[midnitecreations]

OOh cool Ann. I know what I want to do. Now if I can put on paper what my mind sees!

[DADAology]

AnnD sounds GREAT FUN......

[AnnD]

Yay! I hope it will be! I just got my Moleskine today from Amazon, so I am eager to get in there and start working (although it will be several days before that can happen).

[kat]

My journal arrived yesterday, so instead of studying for my upcoming Calculus test or packing for my weekend trip, I started my entry.

I have a question: Some media techniques might bleed through to the back side of the accordion pages. Do you just ignore that or... do finish the back side off after the journal is complete or... do you avoid media that bleeds through?

[Jewels]

I used my PITT pens on my moley yesterday and it didn't come through.

[ArtsyLady]

I don't worry about it...I often use Copics and they tend to bleed through...the reverse image can be very interesting

[kat]

Thanks. Here's my beginning:
http://www.atcsforall.com/forum/gallery/images/786/small/1_kat_s_moley_1.jpg

[Jewels]

That's a great beginning Kat. Did you want us to stick strictly with neolithic (stone age) times and the age of mammals or were you thinking dinosaurs too.

[midnitecreations]

That's so cool Kat. Love it.

[Jewels]

I've been working on the cover and first 2 pages today. I thought the cover turned our particularily nice. I was going to use actual puzzle pieces but decided that it was too bulky and that it might come off too easily so I drew this on cardstock, attached it with some matte medium and then sprayed it with fixative. Anyways that took quite a while. My inside pages aren't as neat as Kat's. Just some collage and a cool 3-D octagonal form livened up with some color.

[DADAology]

I probably wont do anything with the back of mine just leave it like it is.




My journal arrived yesterday, so instead of studying for my upcoming Calculus test or packing for my weekend trip, I started my entry.

I have a question: Some media techniques might bleed through to the back side of the accordion pages. Do you just ignore that or... do finish the back side off after the journal is complete or... do you avoid media that bleeds through?

[DADAology]

Jewels great cover...I need to drag out some of his books I have somewhere.

[DADAology]

kat your book looks great too.

[kat]

Dinosaurs are okay. Any prehistoric era.

Jewels, terrific cover. I especially like the sun shining through some of the birds.

[Jewels]

Question: Should there be a write-up of our theme that travels with the Moley? Or do we just check with a Master list here when the next book arrives? Or do we record each theme as it's stated on our own and keep a list ourselves?

[Els]

I was born in the year of the Water Dragon., 2012 marks the first Water Dragon year since. In celebration of this portentous date, my theme is Dragons of the Four Elements (Fire, Water, Air, & Earth).

I am usually a fan of Western dragons, but feel free to take your inspiration from any of the dozens of cultures that have revered dragons through the centuries. One of many websites you can use for inspiration/information is http://www.draconika.com/what.php - but this is merely a jumping off point.

Although my work is primarily hand drawn/painted, I appreciate some of the more layered/detailed/intricately worked collage pieces and those using other media as well. I hope it's obvious that cutting out photos from a magazine and pasting them to the page, or just using stickers and other embellishments isn't cool. ADDENDUM: I very much like AnnD's idea of hand drawn central (themed) elements, with the possibility of mixed media in the background, so that is my preference as well. Put some soul into your work, I promise I will be doing the same on your page.

I love the idea of a an entire spread over the length of the pages, but if you're inspired otherwise, that's okay, too. And I have ZERO preference on horizontal or vertical orientation; whatever floats your boat. If you have questions, please don't hesitate to drop me a note. BTW, I very much like the idea of blending one artist's work into the previous/next, but only do it if it really works. Could be there's simply no way to make it work between sets, and that's okay, too.

Please leave the covers without decoration…I will do that myself.

I prefer everyone leave a business card or photo or a Signature Artist Card in the back of the book rather than attempting to attach same to the back of your page. I will create a place for your cards in the back of the book. What's a "Signature Artist Card"? Feature a Self-Portrait or something that creatively defines you, and on the back include fun details about yourself. Some people prefer a more straightforward data set such as location, etc., and others like a more humorous approach. I wrote a small personal blurb on mine, and used my AFA avatar for the picture.

[kat]

Jewels, I think we should include our directions with our moleys.

I'm getting excited about the themes. I've been working on some tessellations, too.

[1 Art Lady]

Hi everyone! You all are coming up with such great themes..... sure wish that I could have played along with all of you, but still am finishing off my first moley group! The themes, the themes.... wow! It will be such fun to watch!
Kat, Great start!
Jewels, Wonderful!
Els, I Love love your theme!
I'll be lurking and watching!

[Els]

Pitts and other water-based pens won't bleed through, Copics, Prismacolors, Sharpies and other alcohol-based WILL. An important point is to use a backing paper (I use a lightweight plastic) when coloring with alcohol pens to keep them from staining the NEXT set of pages.

For light-fastness, Pitts excel - no other pens hold their colour the way theirs do. ANY dye-based (Copic, Prismacolor, etc.) will fade when exposed to light, even artificial. Just some extra info for those of you concerned about such things. Outside of the large pieces for which I charge a lot, I am not particularly interested in archival quality materials. I mean, who really needs all of my work around in a hundred years? No kids, etc., so aside from my fine art work, I continue to embrace my love of impermanence. :-)

[Els]

I believe including our directions with the books would be most helpful.

[Jewels]

Thanks for the info about the various pens Els. I've only tried the PITTs so far.

All this talk about bleed-through got me to count out the pages and at 3 for me and 4 for everyone else that works out right to the end of my Moley with nobody on the backsides. Are we suppose to do something with the backsides of our own pages? More art? Cover them at least? Or are they supposed to be left alone?

You'll have to pardon all the silly questions, I'm new to Moleys.

[Jewels]

Oh, And I'd had the thought of adding a 'Flip-Up' piece of cardstock to a page with somthing hidden underneath. Is that um... legal? As long as the book still closes okay?

[Els]

Both good questions, Jewel, and not silly in the least. Here's one of my own - I plan to decorate/embellish/.etc. the outside-facing covers, but since my book is making a long journey and being handled, etc. for awhile, I had planned on doing the final decorative work at the end. Are there any objections to that? I will of course post photos of the finished piece...

[Jewels]

Actually, it's probably a good idea to do it at the end. Silly me. I just had this cool idea and ran with it. I did spray it with a fixative. I'll just have keep my fingers crossed that it survives it's journeys intact.

[Els]

LOVE the idea of an exchange, Annette! Count me in...

[DADAology]

No there are not really any requirements for the backsides. Most pens do bleed through but doesn't really present a problem to the book. And yes each artist has 4 pages EXCEPT for the book owner and they only have 3 but they also have the two first pages that are used for theme and travel plan.



Thanks for the info about the various pens Els. I've only tried the PITTs so far.

All this talk about bleed-through got me to count out the pages and at 3 for me and 4 for everyone else that works out right to the end of my Moley with nobody on the backsides. Are we suppose to do something with the backsides of our own pages? More art? Cover them at least? Or are they supposed to be left alone?

You'll have to pardon all the silly questions, I'm new to Moleys.

[DADAology]

Perfectly legal. It's your book. people also include moving parts and fold out pieces in theirs as well as the ones they are working in.




Oh, And I'd had the thought of adding a 'Flip-Up' piece of cardstock to a page with somthing hidden underneath. Is that um... legal? As long as the book still closes okay?

[DADAology]

A lot of people do just that. It does make it easier. Besure and put YOUR name in the book too.




I believe including our directions with the books would be most helpful.

[AnnD]

Actually, it's probably a good idea to do it at the end. Silly me. I just had this cool idea and ran with it. I did spray it with a fixative. I'll just have keep my fingers crossed that it survives it's journeys intact.


Jewels, don't feel silly! Some people do them in the beginning so that they wear over the course of the journey. At the end, you have a visual record of travel, time, and touch, all part of the process of doing a moley swap. Personally, it's my preferred look. :)

[DADAology]

Good idea when working on books. Something to warn you about for all new moley members, You may find it scary to work as you get into the books because they are a bit difficult to manipulate around. You do a lot of twisting and turning trying to find a "just right" way to work in it. But it gets easier. You will need a table big enough to fold out your pages flat and have some extra room to move it around. If you use acrylic you might want to have some wax paper on hand to place inbetween so they won't stick during their journey.




Pitts and other water-based pens won't bleed through, Copics, Prismacolors, Sharpies and other alcohol-based WILL. An important point is to use a backing paper (I use a lightweight plastic) when coloring with alcohol pens to keep them from staining the NEXT set of pages.

For light-fastness, Pitts excel - no other pens hold their colour the way theirs do. ANY dye-based (Copic, Prismacolor, etc.) will fade when exposed to light, even artificial. Just some extra info for those of you concerned about such things. Outside of the large pieces for which I charge a lot, I am not particularly interested in archival quality materials. I mean, who really needs all of my work around in a hundred years? No kids, etc., so aside from my fine art work, I continue to embrace my love of impermanence. :-)

[DADAology]

As soon as I receive all the personal info I will PM Mailing addresses to each of you. So be sure and get that too me pretty soon. I will need the following for me.
User Name
Real Name
Mailing address
Phone #
email address

[Jewels]

Thanks AnnD. It reassuring to know that I'm not doing things ass-backward. Grin.

[DADAology]

Only need Novasmem's info. thanks.

[burningthirteen]

I've done it! I have picked a theme. You can see a full write up of it on my blog (http://burningthirteen.com/2011/09/themes-carpets-and-magic/), but in essence there are two inspirations for it. The first is Persian artwork, primarily carpets be the styles of miniatures and paintings or even architecture is welcome as well. The second inspiration that I am asking you to weave in is the book Weaveworld by Clive Barker which centers around a carpet that was created through magic and itself contains a magical world that is in hiding. When the carpet unravels, it releases the magical reality which spills over and out into our own. If you haven't read the book that is fine, it's the concept of a carpet that contains it's own existence that I am most interested in.

I would like all artists to do hand drawn or painted work only. Bleeding over into each others work is fine and even preferred as long as each person's work stays intact. In other words there is no need for a straight line separating each artists work. Enjoy and I hope you like the theme.

[kat]

Instead of studying for my upcoming test, I worked on the next section of my moley. You can see it better in my gallery.
http://www.atcsforall.com/forum/gallery/images/786/small/1_moley-2.jpg

[AnnD]

kat, this spread is fabulous! I love the expression on the poor bird who is faced with the ENORMOUS dragon fly!

rubyyot, just read the blog entry. I love the idea for the theme, and I think you just picked the next book on my list. Can you also settle a discussion in my house? From whence does your use name derive? (Hubs has one theory; I have another.) ;)

[burningthirteen]

Can you also settle a discussion in my house? From whence does your use name derive? (Hubs has one theory; I have another.) ;)

Well there are two sources really. The first is the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubaiyat_of_Omar_Khayyam) which is an ancient poem/story written by an amazing Persian man named Omar Khayyam. While most famous for the Rubaiyat, he was in addition to being a poet, also a philosopher, astronomer and mathematician. Rubyyot is a mis-spelling of his famous poem. This misspelling, and the second source is because at the time I came up with it, I was working with the programming language called Ruby (http://www.ruby-lang.org/en/).

[AnnD]

Dammit! Hubs is right. He totally nailed the poem. *Grumble, grumble* ;)

I thought maybe you had a daughter named Ruby.

[midnitecreations]

Kat I love your page, especially the staring contest between the dragonfly and the bird!

[kat]

Thanks to those of you who enjoyed the staring contest b/w the bird & dragonfly. When I noticed their relative size in prehistoric times, I did imagine that they could intimidate one another.

I'm trying to keep track of everyone's theme. Please let me know if I've missed something. So far, I have the following:
Me: Prehistoric Times
Novasmem: Children at Play?
Jewels: Escher & his art
Rubyyot: Persian artwork (carpets & miniatures) + Weaveworld
DADAology: ?????
AnnD: odd little girls & their odd little dolls
Midnitecreations: Tea Parties (no teddy bears or dolls)
Els: Dragons of the 4 Elements (fire, water, air, earth)

[midnitecreations]

kat, thanks for making the list. that makes it easy for me too!

[DADAology]

hey me too!! and yeah I see those big red ??? ha I still have no idea and time is all but out...but I'll make it....

[ArtsyLady]

Definitely going with children @ Play...am still thinking of discriptives..

[Jewels]

I finished pages 3-5 as well as a flip up. It seems to work pretty good. The second pict shows the flip up section under page 5. I've been wanting to try a tesselation and have always thought the birds were cool. I'm still debating whether to color in the middle section with the drawn hands. I don't know... They do contrast well with the other pages. Any opinions?

[DADAology]

Ok I guess I will go with “Illustrated Journal” Pages. I would like my pages to be a day, or 4 days in the life of: You, someone made up, a famous person, an animal. Just fill the page/pages with text and drawings and thoughts and whatever strikes you’re fancy as a journal entry for your “person”.
Please don’t just write a couple of big words and call it done. Draw and doodle and add text, a concert ticket (you can draw this), a scrap of paper found that you found interesting, some mixed media okay but 75% should be drawing/text. Add windows, flip out, flip ups, just lots of cool stuff…..
If I can figure out how to add links I will add some.

[DADAology]

Jewels great job.....I love your idea....

[DADAology]

I stole Kat's theme list and added to first page.

[kat]

DADAology -- I'm already inspired by your idea.

Jewels -- You did Escher proud!

[Jewels]

Thank you Kat and Dadaology's theme sounds great. Ideas are bubbling. I think I get yours first.
Hmm... by 'Windows' Do you mean something that opens and closes?

[Jewels]

Oh and I was going to ask AnnD whether her 'Odd Little Girls' were more like little Monsters girls with one eye or tentacles and stuff or more like Wednesday from the Adams Family.

[AnnD]

I was imagining more like Wednesday Addams. :)

[midnitecreations]

Great start Jewels. Love your flip page.

[ArtsyLady]

Hey guys, just want to bring it to your attention that I changed my user name...(didn't want you to think someone else had jumped in here)...my daughter didn't like that some called me by the name Nova....(who happens to be my granddaughter) I am her Memere..hence the name NovasMem...I have been trying to come up with another name for a while now...saw this really cute stamp...Artsy Lady it is...

[AnnD]

Well hi, ArtsyLady!

[DADAology]

Yep, if thats what you want. doors too.....just go with it. Turning wheels what ever your heart desires.....:jiggy::jiggy:



Thank you Kat and Dadaology's theme sounds great. Ideas are bubbling. I think I get yours first.
Hmm... by 'Windows' Do you mean something that opens and closes?

[DADAology]

yea!! I'm getting excited....




DADAology -- I'm already inspired by your idea.

Jewels -- You did Escher proud!

[DADAology]

ArtsyLady, makes me want to say it like the ole song,,,,,"Foxy Lady" :jiggy:

[Jewels]

Reminds me of the Kenny Rogers song...
So, didn't someone say we were supposed to include a small card/or picture in the back pocket of each journal as we work on them?

[DADAology]

We don't "Have" to, but it would be fun if you wanted to. How about a picture card:>)

[Jewels]

It does sound like a neat idea. I'll have to figure something out. The 19th is acoming, isn't it?

[AnnD]

Yes, it is a-coming!

Just to let you know, I am usually a beat-the-deadline kind of girl, but for the past MONTH, I have been working on the workbook for my class, which goes live Monday (eep!). I just realized this morning that I am also registered to do a Plein Air on Saturday - at which I may very well be working on my moley instead of Pleining. Or breathing the Air.

[kat]

I was going to make copies of my signature card from this summer's AFA. But like everyone else, I'm swamped with stuff & life. I hope I catch up soon.

[DADAology]

while we don't want to get too far off track don't stress about the 19th, one or two days won't make or break any of us. Just keep the group in the know if you are running a little late. I've been there and funny how "LIFE" butts in isn't it? Ha.

[DADAology]

But again don't stress about the card....that is just extra....

[kat]

Since we will be putting the card in the moley we receive this month, we have... A MONTH... to create the 1st one!!! Yeah! I can do that.

BTW, I used my moley & a practice piece of art inspired by DADAology in my psychology class today. Fun!

[Jewels]

Well, Hurrah for you Kat. Spread that art around.

[AnnD]

while we don't want to get too far off track don't stress about the 19th, one or two days won't make or break any of us.

OMG, I could kiss you for saying that! I have had more stress and deadlines in the last month than I have in the last 7 years. Even one more day this time around would make a big difference to my sanity!

[burningthirteen]

Holy Moley! Life has been kicking my head in this week. I have some work on mine done but am nowhere near finished. Hopefully I will be caught up after the weekend.

[ArtsyLady]

My Moley has been on display at the library all month...will scoot up there today so I can finish it this weekend and mail on Monday...

[DADAology]

wow how cool is that......WHAT WERE YOU TEACHING AND WHAT DID YOU USE?




Since we will be putting the card in the moley we receive this month, we have... A MONTH... to create the 1st one!!! Yeah! I can do that.

BTW, I used my moley & a practice piece of art inspired by DADAology in my psychology class today. Fun!

[DADAology]

Glad it took some pressure off....I want this to be fun - no stress



OMG, I could kiss you for saying that! I have had more stress and deadlines in the last month than I have in the last 7 years. Even one more day this time around would make a big difference to my sanity!

[kat]

I was teaching general psychology. The students are required by the PSY department to write an essay on their personality. I used the idea of an illustrated journal entry & wrote a mini personality essay on a watercolor sketch. I was just trying to get them to think outside the box. We'll see in November if it worked. Some of them act as if they just met themselves yesterday. LOL

[DADAology]

Ha, some may have....
Part of me misses teaching and the other part does not....LOL

[kat]

ArstyLady -- I just sent my moley to you. I must have been tramatized because I misspelled your name. :swoon:

[Els]

Until last night, I froze in a bad case of Blank Page Syndrome, and couldn't start marking up my pretty little book. But after vacuuming and cleaning and cooking the Sunday Roast Beast, I no longer had a distraction that could claim to be more important, so I sat down and got to work. The basic spread is done, now I just have to finish some detail work before packing her up for travel! I anticipate my little book leaving the building this afternoon. Thing is, if it was scary marking up MY book, what's it gonna be like marking up y'all's?!? One page at a time, one page at a time, she murmured, mantra-like.

[AnnD]

It gets way less frightening after you do the first few books - or at least, that was my experience. :)

[ArtsyLady]

Renu...Moley heading your way...

[kat]

Els -- I know just how you feel. I'm afraid I'll mess up someone else's beloved moley. I've been making preliminary sketches (which really isn't me). Also, I have found that "dealing" with errors can frequently introduce a new challenge, but I haven't gotten in enough of a comfort zone with moleys yet to relax & let the art happen.

I hope you're right, AnnD.

[Jewels]

Mine went postal today. Rubyyot, she's on her way.
I know what you gals mean. I've been trying to gather up some ideas for the different themes and biting my nails about whether what I come up with is good enough. Does this strange nervousness go away? Maybe when the next book arrives? I hope.

[kat]

I've started a RAK for my mother. I've put a link in my signature ---- as if we didn't have enough to do.

[burningthirteen]

Eek! Am I the only one who epicly failed to get my moley out on time? I have my inside cover done and three pages inked. Starting with color on them. Still plan to have it out in the next day or two though.

[midnitecreations]

No Ruby, you aren't the only one. Because I joined in the group so late, I just got my moley a few days ago in the mail. I too have all my drawings done and inked, just need to color them. I'll overnight it if necessary in the next day or two!

[AnnD]

I failed, too, but since DADAology kindly told us we could have an extra day or two, I think we're actually okay. :)

Here's my travel plan; I'll finish and post the rest tomorrow.

[Jewels]

She's great AnnD. Rather sweet.

[midnitecreations]

Great page Ann

[AnnD]

Thanks, Jewels and midnitecreations! She seems sweet to me, too. The doll doesn't necessarily like playing in the graveyard in the middle of the night, but she likes it a lot. :)

[chatty]

Aw she is precious AnnD....wish I was able to play you all this round, next time ..giggle..

[burningthirteen]

Wrapping up pages 2 and 3 now. With a little luck it will be done tonight and in the mail tomorrow. If any one doubts my determination to get this done, I wil have you know that Gears of War 3 came out today and I have yet to pick up a copy. lol

[AnnD]

Hahaha! Your determination is duly noted, rubyyot!

[burningthirteen]

Alright! I finished working on it. My inside cover (http://www.atcsforall.com/forum/gallery/index.php?n=255020) and my first three pages (http://www.atcsforall.com/forum/gallery/index.php?n=255021) are done! If all goes well, I'll be dropping it in the mail tomorrow.

[Els]

I'm not worrying too much about painting the inside covers, but even without that, I'm late getting my little book out. I finished up my three page spread today, so tomorrow it ships. Here's my dragon scene...looks better f2f, but then each and every one of you can be the judge of that yourselves!

[Els]

Ann...that's an oddly cute little girl...

[Els]

Y'know, I don't think the nerves every really die down, and maybe that's a good thing, all in all. Like Kat, I find "mistakes" often end up being interesting challenges or even that most blessed of events, the happy accident. I made a few "mistakes" in my own spread, but I've learned over the years that, just as with a messy house, people generally don't notice the problem unless you point it out by apologizing. Wow, epiphany: I actually HAVE learned to keep my mouth shut about something! Cowabunga! I will do my level best to make art each of you will enjoy and be glad to have as part of your book, and I know everyone else here functions from that same intent. I feel like a member of a VERY exclusive little club here!

[Els]

Rubyyot...your spread is glorious! I hope I can do it justice with the next four pages...

[Jewels]

It is sort of like an oath taken by little kids in a secret club, isn't it?

I know what you mean about apologizing for all the mistakes I always see in my own art. And other people tell me they don't even notice half the time. Until I point it out, of course.

[midnitecreations]

Wow you guys. Love both of your spreads Ruby and Els. Makes one excited and scared at the same time thinking of following these pages. It's a good thing we had to do our own moley's first. Kind of breaks the ice!

[DADAology]

Wow you guys are awesome.....and yep scary it is, but that's the beauty of the challenge....it keeps us pushing forward and I need that. and you are all right in what you say about your art. Our own is never good enough for us, speaking for my self I have favorite artist here and out there, that I love their work and because mine isn't like theres I feel I've fallen short and to a great extent that is true, but there is always someone that likes your art and your style. Those are the little tresures that keep me going. If someone can tell me how to link mine to our thread I will. Other wise they have been posted in my gallery.

[kat]

The more I see of everyone's art, the more excited (& scared) I get.

DADAology -- I'm not so good at links or thumbnails, but here are your pages:
http://www.atcsforall.com/forum/gallery/images/223/small/1_100_0585.JPG http://www.atcsforall.com/forum/gallery/images/223/small/1_100_0583.JPG

I'm looking forward to reading your journal since I recognize New Orleans.

[Jewels]

Umm... I go down to the bottom and type in the quick reply box. Then hit the 'Go Advanced' Button. Then you scroll down past all the hoopla and hit 'Manage Attachments'. A window pops up with a 'Browse' your computer option. You find the right file and hit upload. (You can do it several times for multiple picts.) Close the window after you've upload everything and hit 'Submit Message'. And that's it.
I found this method in one of the Sticky Notes somewhere.

[kat]

Thanks, Jewels, I'll try that next time.

[Jewels]

Oh Kat. I love how you've put tabs to each artist. That's a great idea. I just penciled in the names.

[Els]

Linking thumbnails is easy-peasy. Write your text in the box, then click on "Go Advanced." Next click on the little paperclip icon in the top row above the dialog box. A separate window will pop up titled "Manage Attachments." Using that window, you can upload your pics either from your computer or from a url (say you post pics on Flickr, for example). I generally post directly from my computer, so I click Browse, select the pic I want from the pop up window and click Open, then click Upload on the Manage Attachments window, scroll down and click on Close This Window, and now the thumbnail is in the main window dialog box (where your message typing is done), though you can't see it there. If you're concerned about how it looks, you can now click on Preview Post, or you can simply Submit Reply. If you do use Preview, btw, you can edit your window from there. I just went through all these steps whilst writing this, so I could be sure I got it right. The thumbnails I've attached is a chunky page I did for someone....

[kat]

Jewels: those are DADAology's. I agree; it's a clever idea.

Thanks, Els. BTW, loving that dragon!
Here's the mini personality essay that I mentioned earlier:

[midnitecreations]

Annette love your pages. So much to look at and the tabs is such a great idea!

[DADAology]

thank you ma'am


The more I see of everyone's art, the more excited (& scared) I get.

DADAology -- I'm not so good at links or thumbnails, but here are your pages:
http://www.atcsforall.com/forum/gallery/images/223/small/1_100_0585.JPG http://www.atcsforall.com/forum/gallery/images/223/small/1_100_0583.JPG

I'm looking forward to reading your journal since I recognize New Orleans.

[DADAology]

It really isn't a journal per say, I recently reconneected with my childhood sweetheart we met when we were 15, married when we were 19 and divorced. We
have a daughter. As they say you never forget or stop loving your first love and he is that. He is in an unhappy marriage but stuck. they have been together for 27 years and he wants to leave and has for the past several years but he's in a rut. I don't know what our future holds for us, but I hope we get back together. I've seen him a few times and so funny how you just pick up where you left off. So the journal is mostly songs that remind me of him really couldn't bring myself to write what I was really wanting to...


The more I see of everyone's art, the more excited (& scared) I get.

DADAology -- I'm not so good at links or thumbnails, but here are your pages:
http://www.atcsforall.com/forum/gallery/images/223/small/1_100_0585.JPG http://www.atcsforall.com/forum/gallery/images/223/small/1_100_0583.JPG

I'm looking forward to reading your journal since I recognize New Orleans.

[AnnD]

Wow, wow, WOW! rubyyot, Els, and DADAology, your books look amazing! This is going to be so much fun!

Annette, I hope things work out for you! I haven't been in that exact situation, but I can empathize. It's SO hard when you want to be with someone and can't (yet) . . .

[kat]

DADAology -- Thanks for sharing with us. Jewels may be right: "It is sort of like an oath taken by little kids in a secret club, isn't it?" But guess what... WE ARE ON THE INTERNET! Protect yourselves. A safer option is to PM just the 7 other members of this group. Even then you're not truely safe, but someone would have to realllllly care about our flaws to track us down there.

As an instructor of psychology, I am very aware of the need to share our closest secrets with people who will support us. We just have to be careful about the forum we choose. Every year I have a student (or two or three or....) who raises his/her hand to annouce... "I have bipolar disorder, and...." or "I'm interested in a behavior that is destructive, but it attracts the worst kinds of people...." Etc. Gack! Please be careful.

Beam & Pigs (to be explained later) --- translated "love"
kat

[kat]

When my older daughter was in her early teens, she became enamored with pigs. Go figure? Later in her life, she would send her affection to us with the expression, "Pigs" meaning "love". I'm not sure of the evolution to "Beams & Pigs", but "beams" refers to "Love Beams" that flow from us, glow from us, that are God's love.

This beloved daughter is now a minister. If she knew I was writing you, she would send each of you BEAMS & PIGS!!!
(In other words -- God's Love & my love)

[midnitecreations]

Wise words Kat. The internet is not a safe place. Annette I hope things work out for you the way you want. Love the saying your daughter has too. How wonderful.
Artsylady, I received your journal today. WOW. That is one beautiful girl you drew!

[ArtsyLady]

Artsylady, I received your journal today. WOW. That is one beautiful girl you drew! Glad it arrived...so quickly too..

To clarify...yes that is an amazing spread...but I didn't create it...it was done by Hollyrea who participated in a moley exchange with me...I wanted to continue with the same theme for this group, so I used the moley we had started...I added several pages to the end of the book so there will be adequate space for all...

I rec'd Kat's today also...going to be hard act to follow....love the color..already have an idea for blending the pages together...

[Els]

Sorry...had a bit of an emergency here today that took me away from home AND the post office. Everything is calm again now, and tomorrow many packages go out, including my book...

[kat]

Ohhh! Artsygirl, I'm so excited that you received the moley. I wish I had had time to include a more personal note. Mother's 95th birthday & teaching psychology again are eating up my personal time these days. Nevertheless, I feel sure whatever you create will suit me "down to the ground."

[DADAology]

I forgot to post I had mailed mine too. Starting next month we need to start insuring our books. We can use that number to track if we don't get them. What about insuring $50.00 per artist. So when we mail in Oct we will insure for $100.00 and $150.00 the next time etc. I've never been told the rule of thumb Or we can insure it for the max we are allowed for this size package each time. What do you guys think? I can't remember what the max is.

[1 Art Lady]

Hi everyone, just popping in to see the awesome starts for this one! I had so wanted to play along with you, but have not completed my first moley yet.... wraps up this month, and I am really excited about that! You are all off to wonderful starts, and the themes are so interesting! I will be popping by to drool some more! Thanks for sharing you wonderful art!

[Els]

Let me warn you about insurance with the Post Office. To make a claim, you have to PROVE the value claimed. I had a doll insured that would have cost well over $300 to replace (and this was a commercial item, not something made by an artist). Of course it was broken in transit, and when I went to the post office, I was told I had to have the original receipt for the doll in order to prove the value. Tough to do, since I'd had the doll for awhile and it was a gift, but I went home and "magically" found a receipt. In otherwords, I managed to finagle my way into getting the $200 for which I had insured the doll. Even the P.O personnel, some of whom are friends (hey, it's a small town and I go to the post office a LOT) told me their insurance wasn't a good idea, and that it bordered on the miraculous that I had gotten money from them. I can't see any way that these beautiful little books can be insured through the post office in such a way as to be able to make a claim if necessary. Using the delivery confirmation and some good juju said over the package as it leaves is about all we can reasonably do, I believe.

[Jewels]

I know my brother has a huge horror story about UPS and a beautiful woodburned cedar-chest that he tried to ship to us for storage when he went overseas. Someone(presumeably at UPS) stole the chest and just threw all the stuff that was inside it into the box. Naturally the glass stuff broke. And UPS refuse to pay the insurance value because we couldn't prove the chest had been in the box or how much it was worth. My father and I had made the chest ourselves so we didn't have a receipt or anything. They never found the chest either. Or maybe they didn't look very hard, I don't know.
Point is, proving the value of art is very difficult.
How much does this mythical insurance cost extra anyway?

[AnnD]

My moley is postal! Sorry about the delay this first time out. My life is not normally this nuts. :D

[burningthirteen]

Mine is postal as well. My life is generally nuts, but sorry for the delay anyway. :)

[burningthirteen]

as far as insurance goes, I don't need anyone to pay it for mine. delivery confirmation and a little trust on chaos is good for me. lol.

[DADAology]

what ever works is fine with me and I agree about the insurance, just doing what has been done before. The only thing about confirmation. I live in a very small town and the post offices closes about 30 minutes before i ever get home....so it is a great hassel for me to sign for anything. One reason I would insure mine, is it does have a confirmation number. i will go with the flow, but would rather have an alternative way for me to receive mine, it could take several days before I could finally get to the post office.

[Els]

Gone postal...on its way to AnnD...

[Els]

Does Delivery Confirmation require a sig? I know Return Receipt on Registered items does, but I thought Del. Conf. was just so one had proof of delivery via the tracking number on the green label. That's how I've been using it with my biz, anyway.

[Els]

Just went to USPS and checked - Delivery Confirmation does not require (or even ask for) a signature, but one CAN pay extra to have a signature option added.

[burningthirteen]

Jewels, got your awesomely Escher moley in the mail today.

[Jewels]

So glad it got there safely. Have fun. Still waiting for the next one myself. Dadaology's, I think. I'm looking forward to it.

[kat]

I agree with everyone. I have a postal insurance nigthmare story, too. Also, I once had a piece of my art damaged in the mail on its way back from a show in California. The insurance paid off, but it did not comfort me. How can we put a value on these treasures we are creating?

Delivery confirmation does not require a signature, and it helps to track the package. I "watched" my moley's travel to ArtsLady. It went from Louisburg to Raleigh to Jacksonville to Orange Park to Fleming Island. Maybe when it arrives safely home, I'll decorate the cover with "luggage tags."

[DADAology]

Hopefully it will arrive today.....




So glad it got there safely. Have fun. Still waiting for the next one myself. Dadaology's, I think. I'm looking forward to it.

[DADAology]

Delivery confirmation sounds good then.

[Jewels]

Dadaology's Moley has arrived. Guess I need to figure out what to put in it, eh?

[midnitecreations]

My Moley is finished and headed on its way to Dadalogy. Here's what I did in mine, including the cover, inside page and my 3 page spread.

[AnnD]

That spread is lovely, Renu!

[midnitecreations]

Thanks AnnD! Once I got over my nervousness about working on a Blank Permanent book, it was a lot of fun. I could keep adding details, but I was already late sending it to Annette.

[AnnD]

That's so funny! I felt the exact same way!

[midnitecreations]

That's why you're my BFF

[Els]

Me, too...and I suspect most of us here. I honestly don't know why working in that little book was so daunting, as I've worked in MUCH bigger books...I have one of those oversized atlases that is an ongoing art project, and have filled MANY other hardbound books with sketches, writing, etc. Maybe it's because I know it's going off to be seen by others. No matter, it's gone now, and there's no turning back! I have spent a good part of today researching Persian art in anticipation of Rubyot's book...and everyoone else's themes are swilling about, cooking into what I hope will be a lovely stew of ideas and their realisation.

[midnitecreations]

I agree Els. We've done so many swaps, that it really is an interesting reaction to working in this moley. I've worked in my own journals, and never hesitated once. Oh well, I guess now that've we're no longer Moley Virgins, it should be easier from now ons!

[Els]

:yes::laugh::yes::biglaugh: Man, I just keep LOSING my virginity...I gotta find a better place to store it!

[AnnD]

LMAO!

[Jewels]

Snort. So you can pull it out when you need it? LOL

[DADAology]

Well alas I can't wear white anymore....lost mine already can't wait until I'm an out right whore and have tons of these little books....ha

[AnnD]

Hahahaha! At that point, I do hope you will change your user tag line to "Unrepentant Moley Whore." ;)

[kat]

Y'all gave me the first laugh of the day!

[ArtsyLady]

this little song started running through my head..not sure what it says about the state of my mind..."" a whoring we will go..a whoring we will go...Hi ho the Moley'o..a whoring we will go...(haven't had coffee yet) Maybe that explains it..

[Els]

Hey, don't laugh - I became a virgin again after ten years sans sex! And climbing back ON that horse was SO much harder than the first time! Turns out I still know how to ride, though. *snort*

[kat]

AnnD -- Your moley has arrived safely!!! Your little girls are adorable despite being odd;)

[Els]

Rubyot - your lovely Persian artwork book has arrived and I am inspired by your start!

[AnnD]

Oh Kat, that's great news! Els, your book is here and looks wonderful!

[Jewels]

Started to work on Dadaology's book. Nowhere near done but the backgound is coming along nicely.

[Els]

So we should post our pages here as we finish them? Or do we wait until the original owner gets the book back next year? I'm still building my design for Persian art, and haven't begun to put pencil/pen to paper yet. Hey Rubyot...what kind of marker/ink did you use on your part?

[burningthirteen]

Hi Els, glad to hear that you have started. I haven't started on Jewels' book yet, but plan on it once I get caught up on my swaps. For the three page spread I used Prismacolors and Noodler's Cactus Fruit ink for the line work. The Noodlers is water soluable, but I hit it with a lot of fixative when I was done. The first of the three pages is Prismacolor pencil as I had some marker bleed through from the flip side. I didn't want it to bleed back through. The second two pages of the three are Prismacolor marker.

[kat]

Els -- I hope we post our creations as we go. The final recipient will get the panoramic view and will see the art first-hand. There are so many details that can be appreciated more that way, so I don't think a preview will spoil the surprise.

[Els]

Kat - makes perfect sense to me, I just wanted to check with the group before posting. This isn't a gift or secret type swap, so there's no reason NOT to post unless someone prefers we don't so they can be surprised. I want to see and drool over other's artwork!

[DADAology]

BUT OF COURSE...lol



Hahahaha! At that point, I do hope you will change your user tag line to "Unrepentant Moley Whore." ;)

[DADAology]

Our them song has manifested all on it's own...



this little song started running through my head..not sure what it says about the state of my mind..."" a whoring we will go..a whoring we will go...Hi ho the Moley'o..a whoring we will go...(haven't had coffee yet) Maybe that explains it..

[DADAology]

A mer toddler, I hadn't been on a horse in almost 18, oddly enough it was much better as I recall....oh my don't get me started,,,I make my 42 year old daughter blush...ha for all you youngins, it only gets better....LOL


Hey, don't laugh - I became a virgin again after ten years sans sex! And climbing back ON that horse was SO much harder than the first time! Turns out I still know how to ride, though. *snort*

[DADAology]

Please post as you go.....we get needy for inspiration......

[DADAology]

ha just thought my new theme song is, "Like a Virgin"

[DADAology]

please post as soon as you can after receiving the books and I will keep our first page up to date as to where the books are.

[kat]

AnnD -- I just completed your journal. I thought with my New Orleanian background that Marie Laveau, the Voodoo Queen, as a child would suit. I hope you like her. When I scanned the pictures and tried to send them to my photo managing program, the monitor started flashing and the pictures refused to load. When I straightened that out and prepared to post them, my computer crashed. Now, that my computer's up & running again, when I attached the pictures, the order was reversed. I hope you aren't superstitious. :swoon:

[AnnD]

Oh kat! It's wonderful! I love her little doll (and the dead chicken!!!). My husband and I went to New Orleans for our honeymoon, during which we spent lots of time learning about Marie Laveau, so that's fantastic! Thank you so much!

[kat]

If you've been to New Orleans, then I don't have to explain about the Mardi Gras beads in the cemetery. Did you go to Marie Laveau's grave?

[DADAology]

Kat that is wonderful!! tell all about Marie Laveau and the beads.

[midnitecreations]

Kat, that's fantastic. I love all the little hidden things that you and Ann are telling like the chicken and the beads. Please tell more.

[kat]

Most of what is known about Marie Laveau (the first-- one of her children was also Marie Laveau) is myth & legend. Two cemeteries claim to have her grave, but most New Orleanians believe that St. Louis Cemetery I is the right one. As a teenager, I used to take tourists there to make a wish (good gris gris) at her grave. That's what the 3 exes are related to and why there are broken pieces of brick & chalk on the ledge of her tomb. I wouldn't do that now because of my religious beliefs, but as a child it seemed harmless.

When I was growing up, our backyard was across the fence from Metairie Cemetery. Wikipedia does a pretty good job of explaining how it went from being a racetrack to a cemetery. The kids in our neighborhood played in the cemetery regularly. There was a small Egyptian pyramid and other fascinating tombs. Back then, there were two lagoons with minnows, turtles, and snakes that had the unfortunate luck to be viewed as pets.

In the older cemeteries in New Orleans, graves are as likely to be decorated with Mardi Gras beads and dubloons as flowers.

A historical novel about Marie Laveau tell a story about her marriage hitting a rough patch when she put a dead chicken under the bed to help her fertility.

[Jewels]

Very nice, Kat. Love the attention to detail. And so fast.

[midnitecreations]

Cool Kat. Though, kid or no kid, I don't think I could play in the cemetry! I'm definitely on the scardy side

[kat]

Metairie Cemetery is 150 acres & has over 7,000 graves. That makes it bigger than the historic district of my little town in NC. It mostly seemed like a huge park with dead people. It's probably not very safe to go into the cemeteries now compared to my childhood, but it's not the ghosts that you need to fear.

[Els]

You were clearly inspired, Kat, both to create what you did and so QUICKly! As for graveyards, as a Jr/Sr High Schooler (64-70), I used to hang out in the cemetery and sleep on the graves. I found it most peaceful, and that's something my life was sorely lacking. Yep, I was definitely a Goth before Goths were a fad...

[AnnD]

Did you go to Marie Laveau's grave?


Absolutely!

In case this is not self-evident, my husband and I are sort of geeky. While we were dating, we played a computer game called "Gabriel Knight," the first installment of which transpires in New Orleans. (It's a fun game that basically behaves like an interactive murder mystery novel, in which you have to figure out where to send Gabriel - and what to make him do - in order to solve the crime.) At any rate, we first heard about Marie Laveau while playing that game, so once we got to New Orleans, you'd better believe we a) went to her grave; b) went to the voodoo museum; c) took 14,000 pictures there; and d) bought a book about her.

You couldn't have made a better choice, kat! :)

[Els]

Gabriel Knight! OMG! Yep, Geeks R Us...

[AnnD]

Hahaha! We play Magic, too. I would say we're complete geeks, but we have a complete suite of social skills, so I don't really know where that leaves us!

[DADAology]

Renu's book is here....great cover and inside pages "midnite" I have some ideas but will do a few sketches before getting started....

[midnitecreations]

So glad the book made its first journey safely. I don't know if you noticed or not, but in the pocket in the back, I put a small note!

[DADAology]

Renu I did see it, what a nice hubby you have...When I lived in Germany I drank hot tea all the time but got away from it when I returned home...miss it, i too used cream...hmmmm may have to have a cup...

[burningthirteen]

I did some sketches today, working with perspective for Jewels' Escher journal. I think that I may be about ready to start.

[DADAology]

I'm doing 3 different panels in Midnite's book, one panel the middle two are one and the 4th is one. Surprised myself that I got the forst 3 panels done except for just a few last minute touches, haven't really decided what I'm going to do on the last panel. I'm pleased so far....will scan when finished.

by the way I'm assuming everyone has their book to work in, I may have over looked your confirming you received your book. Check the first page and if I don't have it noted please let me know so I can keep track of everyones books....thanks all.

[Jewels]

Argh! I was trying to upload picts from my camera and the computer is refusing. So flustrating. Well, maybe later.

[Jewels]

Haha! I used the scanner. My camera's still on the fritz. Not sure what the problem is but the computer wouldn't recognize it was there. Anyways, here's the pages for Dadaology's book. Hope you like them. I really enjoyed doing this rather open theme. (may have to try it as a journal theme myself sometime.)

[DADAology]

I've finished Midnite's book, I will scan it and load it tomorrow. One thing I didn't think about in the guidelines is when we mail the finished books. I will make a pole and we can vote on it. I will agree to what ever everyone else wants to do.
Annette

[Jewels]

I don't really have a problem with mailing early. My only worry would be Moleys piling up on someone who's working at a slower pace.

[kat]

I voted for "Wait until all have finished and mail at the same time." My reasoning was this: we all seem to be excited & finishing early, but it would be unfair to pressure anyone who counted on the full month to complete her entry. As we get into the holiday season, we will probably have less time (& space) to create art.

Jewels-- I love your entry in DADAology's moley!!! So many lilttle details. That tube of paint has so much personality. The falling leaves are beautiful, and the pop-up is delightful, too!

[DADAology]

Jewels, all I can say is WOW, I LOVE IT, Can't wait until I get it back! it is absolutely perfect too.....I too love the little pull out - THANK YOU.....

[Jewels]

Thanks. I'm so glad you like it. Yeah, there's a pocket for the pullout tab on the back of the third page. A nice little surprise I thought.

[DADAology]

Thank you again....

[kat]

Looking at the poll: We are a well-balanced but diverse group. LOL!!

[Jewels]

We got 2 more to go? Maybe they'll break the tie.

[ArtsyLady]

Sorry for my absence this week...A new student has just pushed me to the limit...hope he settles in soon...I miss my art time...I voted, but I too would be fine with any decision.
Jewels it is so cute...I find myself doing more in my art journal than creating ATC's...I'm enjoying the freedom of a larger space..have sketched out some in Kat's, that's as far as Iv'e gotten

[Jewels]

I really like the extra space as well. Ooh, your new Avatar is great, Artsylady. (At least I think it's new.)