chipboard fun

So, for a class at Scrapper's Cove, in Milltown NJ, I wanted to do a technique class on altering

chipboard with Ranger products, but I also wanted the students to end up with some sort of finished project - then I found a very cool wall hanging in a catalog, called "Alphabet for Life" by artist Renee Stewart. I thought it was the perfect idea for showing off 26 different altered letters. Here is my own take.

remember

I created my first altered canvas using a picture of me and my grandmother taken on my first birthday, at Easter, 1972. The piece of jewelry on the bottom of the canvas is a pin that my grandfather made for my grandmother out of the earrings she wore on her wedding day. Its one of the only things I have of my grandmothers - its too special and fragile to wear, so I made this canvas so that I could have it out where I could see it everyday.

My grandmother never liked having her picture taken, and so this is one of the only pictures I have with the two of us - Some I lost in the flood during Hurricane Floyd so this is really one of only handful of pcitures I have of her at all. . I find myself hiding my face in pictures with my son, or always being the one behind the camera in order to avoid being photographed. This picture, besides being precious to me, is a reminder that in years to come, my children and grandchildren will (hopefully) consider photos of their family precious as well, and won't know that I thought I looked fat that day, or hated my smile - they'll just know that they have only a handful of pictures. So, I try remember this photograph, and remind myself to smile and be present in the moment when someone wants to take a picture - its not about perfection, because honestly, who can achieve that anyway? Its about memories and love and family.

Rules For Actors

Found this on a message board for Nj community theater groups.

* Hold for all laughs---real, expected, or imagined! If you don't get one, face front and repeat the line louder. Failing this, laugh at it yourself.
* Cultivate an attitude of hostility. Tension gets results---on stage and off.
* A good performance, like concrete, should be molded quickly and then forever set.
* Your first responsibility as an actor is to find your light.
* Do not listen to your fellow actors on stage. It will only throw you. Do not look at them either---you may not like what you see.
* Always be specific---point to what you're talking about.
* If a line isn't working for you, change it.
* Stage Managers are NOT actors---ignore them.
* Never be afraid to ad-lib to get attention, especially if the leads aren't very entertaining.
* Mistakes are never your fault.
* Always find something to b*tch about, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant. Your fellow actors will respect your professional attention to detail.
* Never carry make-up---someone will have what you need.
* If you can't be heard, it's not your fault. Any decent theatre should have body mikes.
* Never, never help understudies (They secretly hate you and want your job).
* Do help your fellow actors by giving them notes whenever you feel necessary. And give the notes immediately before they go on---it will be fresher that way.
* Speak your lines as if the audience had difficulty understanding the language.
* Keep other performers on their toes by ridiculing their performances, and never let them know what you're going to do next.
* Play the reality---always be aware of the audience and whether you think they like the show, then gauge your performance accordingly. Why knock yourself out for ungrateful a--holes?
* The only difference between an amateur and a pro is that the pro does exactly the same thing for money.
* Need a character? Get a costume.
* Never change anything that is working, no matter how wrong or phony it may seem.
* Even if a piece of "shtick" doesn't work, keep using it. The important thing is for you to have fun and feel good about yourself

Welcome!

So, my husband suggested I start a blog - I suspect because he imagines I'll get all my rants out of my system here, and *he'll* get some peace and quiet. poor guy - he has no idea the depth of my capacity for ranting. ;)

Oh, and I figured I can use this blog as place to post some scrapbook layouts for contests and such, since I don't participate in the galleries on 2peas and CK.

So, here is a layout that was inspired by a sketch at pagemaps.com.

I love Becky Fleck and her site!