Blatant post-building topic

[skyescrapz]

Ok, this is a blatant attempt to up my posts. I know. Bad. But at least I'm not in denial about it, right? Very healthy to own up to one's actions.

So I'm going to pose a question for de quirkers: when quirking, do you find yourself drawn to a certain type of image repeatedly, or do you find that your mood dictates what you end up using?

I'm not sure I'm posing my question well. I find I am drawn to antique photos and anything retro (say 30s-50s, especially pop culture type stuff or those brightly colored kids in children's books of the 50s... or like **** and Jane type drawings). But I don't always wanna use that stuff when I sit down to quirk, necessarily. So I think the "vibe of the day" ends up dictating what images I end up using.

[Ursula]

Well, I think I like the retro stuff too, but I don't have a lot of it and haven't found too much that I want to use, and....I have thousands of family photo's that I need to use. So, I use them alot. Lately, alot of stuff is about others which my DH thinks odd. I'm having fun using celebrity photos. I'm not a big celeb fan, but I've found some great shots that I like the feel of, so I use them.

I do tend to do something different every day. I can't focus on one thing for long.

[Vania16]

I think my mood definitely plays into what I use and frankly, I just go through phases with things. Sometimes I'm in love with old office-supply looking stuff and other times more Asian-inspired and then I'll get hooked on the more retro-vibe look.

[Vania16]

P.S. Thanks for the blatant post-building thread :)

[skyescrapz]

P.S. Thanks for the blatant post-building thread :)

You're welcome Lisa!

[skyescrapz]

Ok, now, notice the skill here, folks, I replied to Lisa and here I am again... REPLYING TO LISA! Am I good or am I good?

Anyway, I was going to comment that I too love office supplies. Stuff like cool old papers, cool clips, rulers, anything notebook-paper-like or especially vintage office-y stuff. Love that.

[skyescrapz]

especially vintage office-y stuff. Love that.

Wow, I'm getting so good I'm REPLYING TO MYSELF! I was just going to say that I got Kathryn Balint's My Old Office kit because I like old-time office-y stuff so much. No Kathryn isn't paying me to promote her. I just dig her kits greatly. I have to quirk with her vintage alpha kit I got a while back too.

[skyescrapz]

Ok, now, notice the skill here, folks, I replied to Lisa and here I am again... REPLYING TO LISA! Am I good, or am I good?

AND, also you will note that I did this in my "blatant post-building" topic. I'm so proud of myself. Feel free to jump in and post-build with me at any time.

[Vania16]

ROFL! That was an excellent post-building run :) I'll have to check out the Kathryn Balint stuff. I also have plans to hit this discount office supply store that I discovered - they sell used stuff too, so they have lots of odd old things. Last time I came up dry, but I've found some cool stuff there from time to time.

[skyescrapz]

Lisa, thanks for post-building with me. We must stick together in our quest for the magic 500. You are much closer to reaching it that I am. That office place near you sounds way cool. I am going garage sale hopping with a friend tomorrow. I'm hoping to find some cool stuff!!!! Fingers crossed.

[Nevermore]

Wow, I'm getting so good I'm REPLYING TO MYSELF! I was just going to say that I got Kathryn Balint's My Old Office kit because I like old-time office-y stuff so much. No Kathryn isn't paying me to promote her. I just dig her kits greatly. I have to quirk with her vintage alpha kit I got a while back too.
Okay, I am breaking up a little here. Family calls so I have to dodge the rest of this madness. I guess there are no victims, only volunteers and admin did set up this crazy challenge! I can't help but feel it is skewing things slightly--are are you all truly as crazy as this? This is simply my mature objective intelligent opinion.

[skyescrapz]

This is simply my mature objective intelligent opinion.

We're supposed to be mature and intelligent??? Dang, I missed that memo.

[Nevermore]

I hope I don't boast too much when I say that I am mature, intelligent and objective naturally and without effort.

[skyescrapz]

I hope I don't boast too much when I say that I am mature, intelligent and objective naturally and without effort.

No, that is not boasting at all. It's quite impressive, actually. I think I have too many blonde moments to be considered either mature OR intelligent. LOLOLOL.

[Nevermore]

Krista, I sincerely hope you are being funny. Cuz I was. I have the emotional maturity of a two year old and I am far too wracked by passions to be objective. I dare say I am intelligent but that is hardly an accomplishment.

[skyescrapz]

Krista, I sincerely hope you are being funny. Cuz I was. I have the emotional maturity of a two year old and I am far too wracked by passions to be objective. I dare say I am intelligent but that is hardly an accomplishment.


I'm the queen of sarcasm! :) Take pretty much everything I say and apply a dry wit to it, and that is moi.

When it comes right down to it, I'm a pretty intelligent chickie.

Besides, I find anyone who uses the lovely words you throw into your posts to be very intelligent and also very FUN! :) And no, I'm not being sarcastic either. I'm a huge lover of language and anyone who uses it well impresses me greatly! :)

[Vania16]

Any chance you could file some briefs in my court Nevermore? I would kill for someone, anyone, to use a decent big word in a brief (and use it correctly of course LOL, you can't assume that these days). I swear, I get some that look like they were written by 6th graders! I actually had someone use the phrase "in packs" when they clearly meant "impacts." :eek:

[AmyK]

In a return to the original question, I must say that I have not yet quirked enough to have a true preference for quirking materials.

I am basically on a "grab and glue" run lately and have been doing the projects in about 15 minutes as the mood strikes. I open Picasa and grab the ugliest or the prettiest (usually alternating) elements I can find and then throw them all together. With a primitive extraction of a squirrel for good measure. :rolleyes:

[AmyK]

And I wish I could use large words today, but I seem to have lost my skills somewhere between waking up and getting out of bed. Hey, I think I might actually be in a *mood* today!

[SteinwaysMom]

Any chance you could file some briefs in my court Nevermore? I would kill for someone, anyone, to use a decent big word in a brief (and use it correctly of course LOL, you can't assume that these days). I swear, I get some that look like they were written by 6th graders! I actually had someone use the phrase "in packs" when they clearly meant "impacts." :eek:

No kidding! I work for a school and the teachers can't even spell correctly. The students are abysmal and use a very lame form of instant message speak (can u help me i dont kno wats goig on???...). I looked a report being presented to our Board of Trustees - full of completely embarassing typos.

Seems like nobody cares anymore!

[kygirl]

It's becoming apparent that there must be some sort of connection between love of words and the kind of art we're creating here. My theory is that it has something to do with seeing patterns between art and everyday life.

Any thoughts?

P.S. Thanks for the another opportunity to up the posts. :)

[kygirl]

I want everyone to promise that the posts won't stop when we reach 500. I'm having too much fun with all of you.

[Vania16]

I think we're all too addicted to quit now LOL Really, the post contest is a pretty brilliant idea - you start out just wanting the kit, but now we've all really developed some relationships so we want to post :)

[Nevermore]

about all the comments re my writing style. I can't help it. The joy of words is that they communicate and if I know a word that is best suited to express a nuance, I use it. If scissors are available, shun the axe (this will generate a plethora, tee hee, of posts about the creative uses of an axe in situations, where most people would use scissors, to create interesting imagery. Post away!)

*On that latter point, I am of the school that believes if you can use scissors, then it is okay to use the axe to make your point. But if you are using the axe because you have not trained yourself to use scissors, you are practicing deception. I haven't decided yet if it is better or worse if you are self deceived in those instances.

Back to the main point. If I wrote any differently I would be dumbing down and I can't do that, it is insulting to everyone I am trying to reach. I am not as disheartened as many by the way language evolves and changes--English has always been an unruly, quirky language. But I suspect that some use it the way they do because they are not trained in scissor handling and that is sad. Sad because if there are no words, the idea cannot be expressed. I was always gobsmacked by the Esquimault people (not sure of current politically correct designation) who have over 50 words for snow. Snow is important to them and they must be able to express snow concepts with particularity. I cannot even see 50 kinds of snow but if I were taught those words, it would help me to differentiate. Thus the circle between words expressing ideas and words actually birthing ideas. Those with a truncated vocabulary have less words to express themselves and less ideas to express. Schools in our neck of the woods have actually encouraged this impoverishment of language by claiming anything goes as long as the children are communicating. I think that they have completely missed the point that language is a two way process and having a lot of words goes a long way to having a lot of ideas.

[kygirl]

I love that you use large words. The folks in my family do, too. When I worked, I had to edit my vocabulary, though. I got tired of having to define words for my boss, and I think he got tired of asking. :-) Also, the rule in public relations is to write as if our world is composed of those with sixth grade educations.
So, Nevermore, if you use a word I don't know, I'll look it up and consider it a learning experience. You're so interesting, please don't let us leave you red in the face.

[skyescrapz]

about all the comments re my writing style. I can't help it. The joy of words is that they communicate and if I know a word that is best suited to express a nuance, I use it.

Forgive me for chopping down your lovely post, but in the interest of not quoting the entire thing... LOLOL... I had to use my AXE and chop chop chop. I love your writing style. I have a tendency to use a lot of big words myself, and people sometimes find that offputting. My dad, who is also a lover of language and words, and I have an ongoing thing where we'll praise each other for especially great word choice/word use when we are chatting.

And I think it was Donna who said that she was seeing a theme here with those of us who like to quirk also liking language and words. It stands to reason. Writers are just a different sort of artist, really, if you think about it. They craft with words rather than images.

[skyescrapz]

And one of my favorite classes in college was linguistics. I'm fascinated by words. Fascinated.

[AmyK]

Raven, I certainly hope it wasn't any of my posts that made you red. I adore your writing style, and always get a kick out of seeing what you will be coming out with next. I have been in a sarcastic mood the last few days, so please know that I never mean offense. And if I do say something, you can just tell me to shut up.

I used to be able to write well, before I had kids. I am now on year 3 of sleep deprivation, and it significantly prohibits my ability to communicate.

At least no one here uses teenage forum speak. I hate getting into forums where people are saying, "i no u want to say sumthing but i dont get it. any1?"

[Nevermore]

Dear Amy, I meant red as in embarassed, not mad. Just don't want anyone to think I am pompous twit. Twit I can well understand, but pompous would kill me~! I do tend to rant at the drop of a cap because I am horribly opinionated. All I can say in defence of that is that I am work very hard to keep an open mind and can be persuaded that I am wrong. I often am and have come to accept that. Sigh. Too bad, eh? I always loved that Mellencamp line, ya gotta stand for something or you're gonna fall for anything. On the other hand, Yeats claims the worst are full of passionate intensity. I have often pondered that line because, at first blush, I find passionate intensity a virtue. Hmmm, any input from the posting gallery?

I think Donna is right and I dare say it could be stretched further--love of visual imagery, words, music, etcetera.

[Faded Magnolia]

Ok.. jumping in here! I only have a few measley posts so I could use the help! hehe

I love the old office supply stuff too... I have a place in town that sells stuff that looks like it came out of a vault! Old typewriter keys, envelopes, the weirdest brads and all these cool old stamps. I think I need to hit that place today!!!

I definately go through phases. I do the bold graphic look for a while, then swing into vintage... I'm *SO* into retro images right now. Old cameras, typewriters, televisions, radios... I could go on and on.

[kygirl]

Oh, I'd love it if we had something like that in town. Instead, I hit the local antique malls looking for old letters, stamps, games, etc. I love the fact that with digital I can scan the tiems and use them over and over again.
Like you, I bounce around from style to style, trying to find my own way. Right now, I'm really into the vintage look, but that may change tomorrow. :)

[Vania16]

I was just thinking that I should hit some antique stores too - try to scare up some good stuff :)

[skyescrapz]

Two towns near us had townwide garage sales on Saturday. I got a book to alter and a Funk & Wagnalls dictionary from 1927 which I'll end up taking apart and using the definitions from for stuff. How cool is that? They were a dollar each.

[CathyRose]

I am entirely indiscriminate, something new may appeal to me practically everyday. The only thing that seems to stay the same is that I am drawn to black as an accent in many things.

[AmyK]

Oh my goodness, I totally just realized that I have an encyclopedia from the 1960s with some of the coolest images in it! I need to get altering that baby.

[jessica b]

Hey! This is another one of those seemingly non-sensical threads with quite the insightful conversation in its midst. It makes me realize how much I miss you guys and this place. I'm eager to catch up on various commitments so I can hang out here more often. I don't know how I'm ever going to accumulate 500 posts though. eeek!

To answer the OP - I am another office supply whore. I love things that feel real to me. I also love vintage art, texture, and anything that adds a bit of dimension. I'm drawn to heritage photos and/or advertisements displaying woman/children and enjoy using those in my artwork - almost as much as I enjoy working with my own family and personal photos.

As far as feeling intellectual goes... I feel like I am suffering from a long-term case of mommy-brain. It is a lame excuse, but when nearly every waking thought is interrupted I

[SteinwaysMom]

I do tend to rant at the drop of a cap because I am horribly opinionated.

I suffer from this malady (ranting) as well, although I am a right winger and I suspect you lean more to the left. Scrapping is nice cause it doesn't push my buttons (unlike reading the news).

I like your writing style. Somebody has to carry the standard for literacy (the vast majority seems to have given up on even trying to spell). Of course I used to study the dictionary when I was a teen and take the 'advanced' vocabulary tests just for fun so I'm kind of a word nerd myself. Living in Central Ohio I find myself speaking this down home dialect so my spoken grammar stinks but at least I know better!

[happyrobyn]

I am drawn to really old heritage stuff!

[AmyK]

As far as feeling intellectual goes... I feel like I am suffering from a long-term case of mommy-brain. It is a lame excuse, but when nearly every waking thought is interrupted I

Jessica, you are stinking hilarious!! I hope my mommy-brain doesn't end up being long-term although everyone tells me it usually is. I know that I used to study Plato and Aristotle and Nietszche, so I know at one point in my life I could be considered "smart." Maybe I just need to destroy the evidence so I don't feel so bad about feeling so dumb.

Anyway, did you plan to finish your thought??? :D

[kygirl]

Have to revise Amy's Paul Gardner quote here, "A great thought is never finished -- it simply stops in interesting places." (See above);)

[CathyRose]

Okay, so Donna, that means if I lose my train of thought before I finish my sentence, I am not having a "senior moment" of forgetfulness, I am simply stopping at an interesting place. :D

[skyescrapz]

Okay, so Donna, that means if I lose my train of thought before I finish my sentence, I am not having a "senior moment" of forgetfulness, I am simply stopping at an interesting place. :D

Oh, definitely. It's a thought-gathering pause... perfectly acceptable.

[skyescrapz]

Oh my goodness, I totally just realized that I have an encyclopedia from the 1960s with some of the coolest images in it! I need to get altering that baby.

Oh, heck yeah! I can't wait to take apart some cookbooks I have from the 50s. :) Alter and SHARE, please!

[skyescrapz]

Of course I used to study the dictionary when I was a teen and take the 'advanced' vocabulary tests just for fun so I'm kind of a word nerd myself. Living in Central Ohio I find myself speaking this down home dialect so my spoken grammar stinks but at least I know better!

Ah, I know that all too well. If people heard me speak or even read some of my quickly-written email missives, they'd think I was completely lying when I said I was a wordsmith. I think it's perfectly acceptable to speak ungrammatically sometimes if you know better. It's the people who don't know better that bug me. I sound like a word and language snob, huh?

[Nevermore]

Max and I started to do altered books. Started. We picked out two of his board books and sanded the front and painted them. But the paint all cracked and fell off. We deduced from that that we had been a little light on the sanding. That was about 5 weeks ago. It is hard to do non cyber stuff. I figure it will wait until it gets warm enough to work outside and then I don't have to worry about the mess we make. My office was out of sorts for a week and I am still finding the odd paint chip. Don't really mind but the dust from the sanding is probably playing havoc with all my tender computer bits.

[Fiddlette]

I love vintage images, retro stuff, old hollywood...heritage...anything with age seems to be what I'm especially drawn to....and then there is another side of me that is drawn to something for no apparent reason, and there is no explanation!! lol!!

[Cre8tvlyYrs]

AND, also you will note that I did this in my "blatant post-building" topic. I'm so proud of myself. Feel free to jump in and post-build with me at any time.

Wow...your the queen of 'blatant post-building'!!

[Cre8tvlyYrs]

Wow, I'm getting so good I'm REPLYING TO MYSELF! I was just going to say that I got Kathryn Balint's My Old Office kit because I like old-time office-y stuff so much. No Kathryn isn't paying me to promote her. I just dig her kits greatly. I have to quirk with her vintage alpha kit I got a while back too.

That kit sounds awesome!!

[Cre8tvlyYrs]

I do tend to do something different every day. I can't focus on one thing for long.

That's what happens to me too! I'm embarrassed to say this but I've got sooo many unfinished projects (yes, it's another ADHD thing for me).

[Cre8tvlyYrs]

I think we're all too addicted to quit now LOL Really, the post contest is a pretty brilliant idea - you start out just wanting the kit, but now we've all really developed some relationships so we want to post :)

I agree!! It feels good to actually be among others who feel, think, and do very similar ways about art! :)

[Cre8tvlyYrs]

about all the comments re my writing style. I can't help it. The joy of words is that they communicate and if I know a word that is best suited to express a nuance, I use it. If scissors are available, shun the axe (this will generate a plethora, tee hee, of posts about the creative uses of an axe in situations, where most people would use scissors, to create interesting imagery. Post away!)

*On that latter point, I am of the school that believes if you can use scissors, then it is okay to use the axe to make your point. But if you are using the axe because you have not trained yourself to use scissors, you are practicing deception. I haven't decided yet if it is better or worse if you are self deceived in those instances.

Back to the main point. If I wrote any differently I would be dumbing down and I can't do that, it is insulting to everyone I am trying to reach. I am not as disheartened as many by the way language evolves and changes--English has always been an unruly, quirky language. But I suspect that some use it the way they do because they are not trained in scissor handling and that is sad. Sad because if there are no words, the idea cannot be expressed. I was always gobsmacked by the Esquimault people (not sure of current politically correct designation) who have over 50 words for snow. Snow is important to them and they must be able to express snow concepts with particularity. I cannot even see 50 kinds of snow but if I were taught those words, it would help me to differentiate. Thus the circle between words expressing ideas and words actually birthing ideas. Those with a truncated vocabulary have less words to express themselves and less ideas to express. Schools in our neck of the woods have actually encouraged this impoverishment of language by claiming anything goes as long as the children are communicating. I think that they have completely missed the point that language is a two way process and having a lot of words goes a long way to having a lot of ideas.

OMgoodness...you blow me away!! I really like reading your posts because of this!!

[Cre8tvlyYrs]

At least no one here uses teenage forum speak. I hate getting into forums where people are saying, "i no u want to say sumthing but i dont get it. any1?"

ROTFL!!! Too funny!! Oh... 2 FnE?!:p

[Cre8tvlyYrs]

Okay...now that I've gotten about 10 posts from this thread I will answer the OQ! My favorites for quirking is also vintage postcards or photos, also anything that looks a little shabby as that's the way I normally do my paper crafting (lo's, cards, tags or any other altered item).

[Cre8tvlyYrs]

The more I'm around this group...the more I'm amazed of all our similarities of interests!!

[Cre8tvlyYrs]

As for the intellectual conversation of language and words I am semi intelligent. I am naturally good at writing and often surprise many people...I guess I don't appear to be intelligent...:o I do enjoy a conversation where I can speak in depth of something however, my dh doesn't always appreciate it! lol! I do feel that I need to go back to College and get refreshed as I do feel a bit rusty with my writing skills!

[skyescrapz]

Wow...your the queen of 'blatant post-building'!!

Maybe I should give myself a crown on my avatar (which I still need to animate one of these days).

[CathyRose]

Oh Krista, a crown or pointed hat is absolutely essential!

[skyescrapz]

Oh Krista, a crown or pointed hat is absolutely essential!

Oh, darn, I forgot you had the crown already, Cathy. I shan't usurp your position of royalty at DAQ. I will have to come up with another suitable head decoration of sorts. Maybe a beret. Or a cowboy hat... LOL.

[AmyK]

I think Krista needs a dunce cap! :D

[CathyRose]

No, no Krista, there is room for many crowned heads in Quirkdom!

[skyescrapz]

I think Krista needs a dunce cap! :D

Oh, I feel like the kid who wouldn't get picked for a team on the playground. A Dunce Cap. Only if I can have one with a propeller. It'll keep me cool in the summer.

[Ursula]

A dunce cap? I want a dunce cap too!

I love in depth conversation too. I tend to look at things on a level that goes in a different direction from most folks. I won't say deeper, (though I think that may be it) But I often talk about things and people begin looking at me as though I have 10 heads. I love to know what makes people work. What makes them tick and so on.

[Cre8tvlyYrs]

I love in depth conversation too. I tend to look at things on a level that goes in a different direction from most folks. I won't say deeper, (though I think that may be it) But I often talk about things and people begin looking at me as though I have 10 heads. I love to know what makes people work. What makes them tick and so on.

LOL!! I totally know what you mean!!

[magmuso]

just testing to see if my blinkie works

[Nevermore]

It does! Can you please help me? http://www.digitalartquirks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=216

[happyrobyn]

Blinkies are lookin' GOOD!