The drawing tomorrow for the beautiful dichroic-glass pendant to benefit breast cancer research will be tomorrow and there are only TWO names in the hat!!

You could have a really good chance to win it! Just leave a comment and the name will be drawn tomorrow.

BTW: Art Now For Autism is over and raised more than $4,000 for the cause. Claudine Intner did a wonderful job of organizing the auction and I would like to thank her for the opportunity to contribute to the cause in some small way.

I'm getting ready for a benefit auction on Saturday for the Mental Health Association here in Fort Wayne. 27 artists have committed to creating pieces on site during the day. The pieces will be auctioned at a gala event in the evening. I'm so blessed to be able to contribute in this way!! Stay tuned; background tests are being conducted today, the focus composition is complete, and a test print has been made. Can't wait to see it all come together!

Padfolio Instructions

The padfolio instructions have not been published yet on either C&T's blog or The Quilt Show's newsletter. So many of you have asked about them, I'm including a link to a pdf file with instructions and photos.

http://www.quilterskeeplearning.com/beth/Funky%20Padfolio-1.pdf

If it doesn't appear as a link, copy the URL and paste it into your browser window. The download starts automatically.

If you make one (or several), please send a photo. I'd love to see what you do with the displacement maps and the instructions!

Enjoy!

Are you enjoying the displacement maps? Aren't they fun?

This delightful altered zinnia is from Gigi Kandler. Gigi and I met in an online class two years ago. Two photos of her altered-photo quilts are included in my new book Next Steps in Altered Photo Artistry.

Gigi surprised me this morning with a photo of a zinnia she altered using the displacement map feature in Photoshop Elements.

If you'd like to share your photos altered with displacement maps, please send a copy of the original and the altered version. It's so much fun to see the before and after!

There is a link in yesterday's post that will take you to a video showing where to find displacement maps (don't worry, few know where to find them) and how to apply them to a photo. Hope you enjoy!

Displacement Map Video!!!

Yes! Yes! I know I'm suppose to be working on taxes, but the thought of making a video about using displacement maps has been flooding my head and I just couldn't wait any longer!!

Here is a link to a Jing video I just made, showing where to find and how to apply displacement maps in Photoshop Elements and Photoshop.
http://screencast.com/t/lxrsFDBXzO
The image in the video is the same one used for the padfolio in the photo from yesterday's posting.

Just click on the link, or copy it and paste it into your browser, and it will take you to Screencast, where the video is stored. Click on the arrow and you should have audio as well as video. If you're on dial-up, there may be occasional pauses as the file is accessed slower than if you're on cable or DSL.

There have been so many comments on C&T Publishing's blog, on this one, and questions from various discussion groups about the displacement maps, I just HAD to share this with you! Displacement maps don't seem to be a popular feature in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements. Even some graphic designers don't know about them, let alone use them.

Hope you enjoy the video. Let me know if you have questions!

I am now the proud owner of a bright and colorful padfolio. Step-by-step instructions are available in the newest newsletter from The Quilt Show with Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims AND on C&T Publishing's blog this weekend. This is to celebrate the release of my new book Next Steps In Altered Photo Artistry.



The padfolio outside features an altered photo (what else?), printed on fabric, and heavily stitched with free-motion stitching, using lots of glorious threads. Inside is a 5" x 8" junior legal pad. The whole padfolio fits neatly into my purse!

The photo is altered using one of our exclusive displacement maps that are on the CD inside the back cover of the book. In my opinion, displacement maps are the best-kept secret of Photoshop and Photoshop Elements! This alteration included multiple applications of the same displacement map, until the image was quite abstract. The final touch was applied with an artistic filter to define the edges.

By the time the image was wrapped around the notepad, the effect is quite abstract—just what I was going for!


This is the photo before altering. I took it in the garden next to the courthouse in my home town this spring and have been saving it for something special. Since I won't be traveling to Houston for the book's release at Quilt Market, this cheers me up and helps me focus on paperwork this weekend.


Inside is a pocket for pens (on the left), the notepad in the center, and the flap on the right. Because of the shape of the flap, it required two Velcro dots to keep it flat while closed.

Inside the padfolio rust-dyed fabrics add depth, interest, and variety. You can see the pocket on the left has a scripture verse printed on the fabric.

Three examples of techniques we’ll explore in the Tattoo Your Style! workshop at SOZO Gallery in Kendallville, Indiana on October 24th, from 1:00–4:00.


For more information, contact Peggy at Sozo Art Studio (260) 347-5000. I hope to see YOU there!

Isn't this dichroic glass necklace beautiful? It is the work of glass artist Phyllis Crawley from South Bend, Indiana. She sells each piece for $16, with $10 of the sale going to the Susan Komen Foundation for breast cancer research!

Personally, I can't imagine how that even covers the cost of the materials to make the piece and present it in a beautiful black jewelry box.

Phyllis and I reconnected at the Syracuse Art Festival two weeks ago and she gave this necklace to me to share with you. That's right, it's a giveaway!! Just become a follower, leave a comment here between now and Friday, October 17 and this beautiful dichroic piece could be yours. I'll pay shipping within the US; you pay shipping outside the 50 US states.

Please visit Phyllis' Etsy shop to purchase one of the ribbon necklaces (great holiday gift for someone special!)—or any of her other beautiful dichroic pieces. http://www.redbuddesigns.etsy.com

If you have trouble leaving messages on Blogspot, please contact me directly and I'll put your name into the drawing!