New Year's Greetings to All!

2016 was a challenging and stressful year in some ways, yet it was a good year too.  We had many interesting swaps, exchanged delightful mail-art and forged new friendships, all of which make this an amazing group, 

and MMSA a one-of-a-kind site.

When Karen Isaacson stepped down from her administrator position last fall, she left some "large shoes to fill."  I appreciate the patience and encouragement of those who participate in the "formal" group swaps, 

since I am still learning as I go.

I am also thankful for members who offer 

to guest-host swaps from time to time.

My hope for 2017 is that we will continue to enjoy the inspiration and camaraderie we share, always finding ways to inspire each other 

to explore our creativity through art.

There are many, many new group swap themes planned already. 

I  wish for everyone to be safe, healthy and blessed 

throughout 2017.  

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

Honi

P. S. For those who are interested, 

please refresh your listing on the Informal Exchange page 

at your convenience.  Thanks. 

For The Love Of Chocolate Zine Swap - Send by February 21

There is something so charming 
about small booklets, 

especially when they are hand-made and filled 

with delightful images or words, or both.

For this swap we will explore the universal

appeal of chocolate in many forms.

You may draw, paint, collage or
use rubber stamps to illustrate the theme.
I  have put together two tutorials about 
ZINE design (see links below)
for those who are unfamiliar with this art form.

I'm posting this early in case you might want to save the wrappers from your Christmas or Valentine's Day candy 
(if you get any) 

as potential collage materials for this Zine Swap.

How To Make A Zine - Part 1

shows directions starting from scratch
with a blank form (without art).
How To Make A Zine - Part 2

shows directions using actual Zines I have made.
Click on this link to view
Karen Isaacson's Zine-construction tutorial

For this swap, we will define a Zine as a

folded booklet starting with an 8+1/2" x 11+1/2" 

piece of paper, folded four times to make eight equal pages

including a title page and a back page.

If you are looking at the unfolded piece of paper,

only one side of the paper will be decorated.

You have a choice of drawing, painting, rubber stamping, 

collage, digital or a combination of any media to illustrate the theme,

using the swap title as your Zine title.
Please somewhere on (or inside) your Zine 
write "MMSA" and include your name and contact information

If you want to make multiples of one design,

reproductions of your original are acceptable for this swap.

(See second link for suggestions.) 

THEME: Love of Chocolate
TECHNIQUE:  Using swap title for your title page, decorate other seven pages with chocolate images and/or sayings, make four folds, make one cut

MEDIA:  Collage, paint, ink, rubber stamped images, mixed media; digital is also allowed

SIZE PARAMETERS:  approximately 2+3/4" x 4+1/4" folded

CHECKLIST:  1 - 4 Zines, self-addressed envelope with your return-address labeland postage affixed

NOTE:  

Sturdy paper that folds well is recommended.  Cardstock is NOT the best choice, as it is too bulky to fold neatly.

If you mail your ZINES to me partly unfolded, your postage rate may be less than if they are folded shut and therefore thicker.

Finger Painting Technique Swap - Part 2

Two from Patti:

Finger-Painting Technique Swap - Part 1

It seems that many of the swap participants found using this technique rather challenging.  Good!  (How long it has been since kindergarten art...)  Who needs paint brushes anyway?  If there is ever a world-wide shortage of paint brushes, you will still be able to make art.  Right?

Two from Beau:

Four from Ellen:

Three from Honi:

Two from Joyce:

Three from Kathie:

One from Laurie:

Three from Leah:

Four from Lynn:

Four the same from Susan:

Opposites Attract (Post Card Swap) - Send to host by January 17th

For this Post Card Swap we will use a pair of Complementary, 
or Opposite, colors.  Here is a rough color wheel I put together with fabric during my quilt-making days:  

When complementary colors (those opposite each other on the color wheel) are placed next to each other, the effect is a strong contrast.  Referring to the color wheel, you might decide to use RED & CYAN, GREEN & MAGENTA, BLUE & YELLOW; or perhaps RED & GREEN, YELLOW & VIOLET, or BLUE & ORANGE.   (Let's save BLACK & WHITE for different swap.)

Each post card (1 - 4) will feature one combination, one set of colors which are opposite each other.  (If you make more than one, each card may have a different color combination.) 

Any medium is allowed. 

My examples seem to gravitate toward blue + orange 
(with nature following suit), or purple + orange, 

but make your own choices. 

THEME:  Pairing opposite colors

TECHNIQUE:  Use only two colors (opposite each other on the color wheel) for each card you make. 

MEDIA:  Collage, paint, ink, mixed, etc.

SIZE PARAMETERS:  Post Card 4+1/4" x 6"

CHECK LIST:  waxed paper between cards, self-address labels, postage

Autumn 2016

 

Make A Snowman - Part 1

Four from Andrea:

One from Laurie:

Four from Leah:

Three from Marsha:

Four from Wanda:

Ring In The New Year - Part 3

Four from Andrea:

Three from Debra: