News-EZineWinter 2007

Welcome to the Bmuse New Year 2007 Issue.

I believe each New Year offers us a gift: Time to reflect on the year past, give gratitude for its gifts and lessons and to focus on that which we wish bring with us into the new year and what leave behind us. I want to say thank you to all my customers and online friends for their ever present support, inspiration and kindness. Hardly a day goes by for me without an email from one of you that has art to share, a compliment on the products or website. I want you to know just how much these are appreciated and thank you for subscribing.

The IMPORTANT special note: If You DO NOT wish to receive your Bmuse NewsEZine (which will now contain Special OFFERS:)) simply use the link contained in your email to unsubscribe. There is also a link at the bottom of this page, but as the list has grown to several thousand it has become necessary to divide the list up into several smaller lists so to ensure that you are removed it is important that you use the link in the email rather than the subscribe/unsubscribe link on the web pages.

Still HERE? Great!!

To a wonderful New Year!!!

Create, mixed media collage by Vickie "mack".

Stamp credits: Create - Art Impressions, Confetti - Posh Impressions. Images: Vintage Ad poster - French Art Deco Posters, background frame - Art Deco Backgrounds #3

Bmuse has MOVED!!

Keeping to the New Year theme here, the biggest change for Bmuse in 2007 is SPACE!! Yes we have moved, upward, literally to a wonderful large upstairs flat - I feel like I am living in a giant tree house. I started Bmuse in late 1999 in the small apartment which I lived. But as the business grew and expanded so did the space it required. below are a couple pics of the NEW! Bmuse. Still a work in progress - and lots of room for new stuff! - Note all web addresses and email remain the same.

 

Art from the Bmuse Yahoo Group

The website keeps me pretty busy and I miss much of the wonderful art that is uploaded on an almost daily basis, so before putting together each NewsEZine I sneak into the files and photos to see what they have been up to. The hardest part is choosing a few pieces from so many.

Altered Coaster by Pam Jones

This little treasure was a real find, hard to believe that this elegant little wall hanging was once a coaster.

"Secrets" Artist Trading Card by Kimberly Moore

I choose this particular ATC because of the amazing detail and complexity Kimberly incorporated into a 2.5 x 3.5 inch canvas. Beautiful!

Altered Cabinet Card by Sauna

Sauna has been wowing all of us in the Bmuse Yahoo group for months with her Altered Cab Cards - here is an example of one of her more whimsical pieces.

"Ladies in Blue Series" by Rosalie Ackerson

The ladies fashion images used on these cards are from the Paris Fashions collage sheets series.

4x4 Mermaid Collage by Francine Domschine-Hill

Beautiful soft, nostalgic piece, dreams of times gone by.

Artist Trading Card by Kerrie Guinane

I LOVE all the color Kerrie has on this piece and all the wonderful pieces that fit together so perfectly.

Mack's New Personal Gallery Page

I decided that it was time to have my very own personal art gallery page. So bookmark this link to check on what I am up too:) Here is a sampling of what is new.

Click on image for a larger view

"Fairy Square" 4x4 Art square on matt board. I first covered the matt board using the wrapped background technique with the green floral scrapbook paper then using deckle edge scissors I cut a strip from another scrapbook paper than had the fancy writing, glued that down and added the image from the Vintage Opera cards collage sheet and the wing from the Black on Tan wings #2 transparency sheet. I edged the 4x4 piece with cording. I then took the same script paper and covered a 5x5 masonite board and mounted the 4x4 on it.

Happy Valentines Day

Artist Trading Card, using a bit from a decorator magazine and the cupid image from the new Cupids Valentine Collage Sheet

Will this New Year get your creative juices flowing?

The Many Benefits of Making Art a Part of Your Life

by Sylma Fine, M.A., Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Board Certified Art Therapist

 

Georgia O'Keeffe once said:   "I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way--things I had no words for". Other artists have echoed her sentiments, knowing that emotional expression using color transcends all language barriers and serves as a vehicle when there are no words.

• "I create as a means of coping with external forces I feel I need to either understand or confront through a tangible medium." Gabriel Shaffer, American visionary artist

• "People that know me know that much of my past is in my work. In fact it would be safe to say that you can always find me in my work through various characters that represent a certain mood or situation." Marcus Antonius Jansen, American urban artist
• "My paintings don't express concrete situations. They are an attempt to connect with the unreachable, subtle side of being, something that is beyond a verbal vocabulary." Andrei Rabodzeenko,   American contemporary artist

Many of us can relate to this aspect of the art making process - an ancient process, which as far back as prehistoric times, has been used as a form of communication, recreation and healing . Georgia and others came to know instinctively that experimentation with color, line, shape, and texture enabled them to work through problems or difficulties and provided a form of self-knowledge.

However, viewing art as a form of therapy, a tool for self development, and the recognition of the role of the creative process in enhancing recovery and health, is a much more recent phenomenon.   The American Art Therapy Association ( http://www.arttherapy.org ) describes the process as follows:   "Art therapy is an established mental health profession that uses the creative process of art making to improve and enhance the physical, mental and emotional well-being of individuals of all ages. It is based on the belief that the creative process involved in artistic self-expression helps people to resolve conflicts and problems, develop interpersonal skills, manage behavior, reduce stress, increase self-esteem and self-awareness, and achieve insight...Visual expression has been used for healing throughout history, but art therapy did not emerge as a distinct profession until the 1940s".

Here we are once again at the start of a New Year, when many of us turn our attention toward our desire for change.   I am wondering how we 'live out loud' and incorporate activities to fuel our personal creativity into a resolution for the upcoming year.

So grab a piece of paper and your favorite art making instrument and start:

•  Jot down on a piece of paper whatever words or images come to mind when you ask yourself this question -WHAT DO YOU REALLY, REALLY WANT?  

Phrase these words or images to express the positive, not the negative, side of your goals.   Let go of judgments or the need to sound realistic - make it what you really really really want this coming year. Remember that Shoulda-Woulda-Coulda are actually other people's goals, not yours.

• Save this piece of paper for use in a collage or art piece that may turn your stumbling blocks into stepping stones, and you might find yourself opening some doors to creativity and wholeness that expresses your feelings, desires and ideas.

You may find that making art will guide you back to your lost world of creativity - placing emphasis on the creative process and exploration of it rather than finished pieces without the usual pressure. No knowledge or training is needed - just you and your spontaneity.

There is artistry in giving yourself permission to trust yourself and your experience when you find yourself going back and forth between doubt and self-confidence in your work. It could help you make art with greater risk and richness.

Here are some sure-fire ways to get your creative juices flowing and artistic endeavors bursting forth in the New Year:

1. Make art with others; you get far more 'mileage' by being with others who are also creative creatures. For instance,   start a creativity group committed to expanding creative potential   and meet once a month, just like a book club, to make/do some art.
2. Set realistic art-making goals for yourself, and by realistic I mean specific and measurable. If there is no clear finish line, you won't know if you've succeeded. Vague goals create anxiety and drain energy. A good goal looks like this: make all the birthday cards for family members by the end of the month of January.
3. Remember to reward yourself (take a trip to the Bmuse website and shop!) each time you reach a creativity or art-making goal.

May the darkness and restorative powers of the deep winter bring you the incubation of new creative sparks.

Sylma

Sylma Fine, M.A., is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Board Certified Art Therapist in private practice in California.   She works with children, teens and individuals who have hit a rough spot in their lives and want to move past it. Bmuse ezine readers are offered a free 45 minute initial phone or in-person consultation . She can be reached at 650/838-9552 or emailed at sylmafinetx@yahoo.com

 

Ready to try something new? Check out the Projects and Techniques Directory page.

Great Reads and Inspiration!

At long last the first book from the lady who is no stranger to the online art group folks. We have been enjoying her art, generosity and wonderful spirit for many years. Bernie's big heart extends to her students, her art, and to all four legged creatures. As most of you are aware she is the founder of "A Place to Bark" animal rescue. My only question is how she can do so much for so many. Well, that's my input, now for the publishers info on her new book.

Bernadette Berlin is a nationally know mixed media artist and owner of Eggsquisite Creations and The Cre8tive Eye Studio. Bernie has taught ATC techniques and workshops at major art retreats such as Artfest and Art Unraveled. An Artist-on-Call for Stampington, her publication contributions include Somerset Studio, Cloth Paper Scissors, Rubber Stamp Madness, Inspirations and Stampington's Anthology of Artist Trading Cards. She is currently residing in Tennessee with her husband, eight dogs, eleven cats and whatever else needs rescuing at the moment.

Artist Trading Cards Workshop, by Bernie Berlin can be purchased thru Amazon .com and they have great preview pages available so that you can get a quick peek inside - GREAT STUFF!! If you local Craft or stamp store does not have this book, tell them the MUST carry it. Artists support Artists.

 

New Ephemera on the Bmuse Website

2 NEW Collage Ephemera Collage Packs!

I Believe this is the BEST Asian collage pack to date. I made a great haul in China Town this year and found things I had never seen before - I guess it pays to go early:) and the Asian collage Ephemera page has been completely restocked! And, there is a new collage sheet of vintage children's book illustrations with Chinese and Japanese Children.

Vintage Office and Business Ephemera Collage Pack

I have been gathering materials for this pack for over a year! Finally found enough pieces to put it together. This picture is only half the package - Check out the full details of this unique, fun ephemera pack on the Collage Packs page. And a great companion collage sheet is the Vintage Desk Accessories sheet found on the Backgrounds, Borders and Misc. page - its near the bottom of the page so keep scrolling:)

NOTE: Both the above Collage Packs are all original ephemera - that means when they are gone that's it!

Great NEW stuff to embellish your art projects include: Skeleton Keys - TINY Brass Hinges - Library Cards - Super Size Manila Tags - More Art Fibers - Vintage Slide Mounts and much more.

The Bmuse complete line of Artist Trading Card Supplies and 4x4 Chunky Art canvases 7 styles and weights of ATC/ACEO canvases, slightly oversized, self-sealing plastic sleeves for heavier weight and embellished ATCs, 9-pocket binder pages....NEW Masonite Art Boards in 2 sizes

Be sure to check out the NEW Art Fibers by the Yard page - over 30 fibers to choose from.

and there is MORE...and keep reading we haven't gotten to the Special OFFER yet:))

Fabrik-Paper Collage Sheets...a Bmuse Exclusive

and what is that??

Fabrik-Paper Collage Sheets are nearly tear proof, with the texture and pliability of linen, lightweight, slightly translucent, the soft natural white of this media gives the images the softer, printed on fabric look without losing the detail of the images or the color saturation. Sew it, glue it... perfect for paper and fabric collage, art dolls, mini quilts, and collage on canvas...sorry it is not machine washable but can be gently hand washed without soap and it doesn't ravel!...AND it is half the price of most fabric collage sheets.

21 New Bmuse Collage Sheets!!

Silent Lovers	Italian Valentine Scrap 1	Italian Valentine Scrap 2
Italian Valentines	Italian Valentines	Cherubs - Italian Valentine Scrap
Mardi Gras #3	French Soap Wrappers	Silent Beauties
Children of China & Japan	Classic Midwest Architecture	Classic Midwest Architecture

To locate the page where each collage sheet is found simply click on the image or the title below it to take to you the page where it is sold and most have art samples too...

Children Vintage Photos #2	Children Vintage Photos #3	Carousel Animals
Carousel Horses	Vintage Circus Posters #1	Vintage Circus Posters #2
Fancy Dress Party	Vintage Science Fiction	French Seed Packets

To locate the page where each collage sheet is found simply click on the image or the title below it to take to you the page where it is sold and most have art samples too...

and now for .....

NewsEZine Only Special!!

for a limited time only this sheet is offered at 40% off the regular price

Note: the above collage sheet is available at a 40 percent discount only for the duration of this newsEZine issue and can only be purchased using the cart buttons above, once the next issue of the Bmuse NewsEZine is online this collage sheet will be moved to the regular collage sheet pages and will be available at the regular prices.

Prefer to order via snail mail? Have questions about how and when your order will ship? International shipping? See the ordering and shipping information page

FREE SAMPLES!!

Try Bmuse Ultra-Fine Detail Embossing Powders FREE!!

There are 49 colors and 3 pages of embossing powders go to the Embossing Powder Directory Page. and pick your colors!

Get 3 FREE Embossing Powder Samples-AND...1 ATC Mini Altar Card plus a sample collage sheet image on Fabrik Paper by just sending me a self addressed envelope with 63 cents in postage. Please, do not send cash, simply address a standard envelope to yourself put .63 in stamps on it and send it to me along with your choice of colors.

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NewsEZine Archive Links

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