Illustration Friday ~ LESSON

One thing I have learned as the mother of three boys, is that every day spent with them is a LESSON learned. Sometimes you just have to trust your gut, sometimes you just have to trust them. But however you slice it, I know that I have learned as much, if not more, from my boys as they have learned from me.

I encourage you to visit the Illustration Friday website, follow the links and find all of the wonderful artwork and blogs.

© Nancy Lefko

Ephemera A-Plenty!

My friend Carol Berger, of Queen Be and What Remains Etsy shops, hosted a generous giveaway recently. With an overabundance of vintage finds and ephemera, she generously shared her bounty with commenters at her blog.


I was a lucky recipient and boy, did I receive! I was astounded when a large box arrived in my mailbox yesterday. I was expecting a few little bits of ephemera, but opened the box to find vintage photos, an old suede photo album filled with pictures, a ledger, textbook, framed vintage photograph, frozen Charlotte and watchmaker's vial. WOW! My muse went into hyperdrive! Now, to find the time to play with all of these marvelous treats.


If you haven't visited Carol's mixed media shop, vintage finds shop or blog, I encourage you to do so. She is a talented artist with a wonderful eye for creating beautiful treasures. And her vintage shop has all the goodies you'll need to create treasures of your own.

Thanks so much, Carol!

Somerset Studio May/June

My copy of Somerset Studio arrived in the mail yesterday. It is always a welcome sight, but even more so when my art and article are published!


The article, A Colorful Canvas, describes my feelings as we approach the onset of spring and details one of my favorite mixed media techniques.


When you pick up a copy of this wonderful magazine, you'll see page after page of luscious artwork and engaging articles. As always, I am honored to have been published...many thanks to the editors at Somerset Studio!

Images © Stampington, Inc. and Nancy Lefko

"Art Is...You" Interview

My interview for the "Faculty Spotlight" at the "Art Is...You" blog is posted here. I'm looking forward to this wonderful retreat in October, the great workshops and all the fabulous artists that I'll meet there. Hope to see you in Danbury, CT on Columbus Day weekend!

Illustration Friday ~ BOTTLED

Kitty at the Crow Bar has the solution to problems of the BOTTLED variety.

I encourage you to visit the Illustration Friday website, follow the links and find all of the wonderful artwork and blogs.

Collage, which was created with a Collage Play with Crowabout collage sheet, is available in my Etsy shop.

©Nancy Lefko

"Mix it Up with Melange" Challenge ~ UMBRELLA

This month's challenge over at the Melange Team Blog is UMBRELLA. My submission features Edith aka HOT STUFF..."she wore high heels and tossed her bottom around."

Head on over to the Melange Team Blog and take part in the challenge. It's open to all mixed media artists...you needn't be a team member nor a seller on Etsy. Hope to see you there!

© Nancy Lefko

Journal Fodder Junkies Challenge #5: RANDOM WORDS

Challenge #5 at Journal Fodder Junkies is RANDOM WORDS and the directions are as follows:

"Grab a book or dictionary that you have close at hand, and open to a random page and point to a random word. Don’t like that word? Pick another. Not ready to be completely random? Pick a random page, and choose a word to which you are drawn."

Near my art desk I keep a collection of books that I use for the vintage text on my collages. Among them is a vintage dictionary. I randomly opened the tome and put my finger on the word...ORDERLY. Okay, that'll work. I like to maintain an orderly life; I do not like, nor do I function well in chaos. I like to know what to expect and stay one step ahead of things. I can journal about ORDERLY.

I approached the journal page by recognizing the ORDERLY ways of nature. Although we are all impatient for the coming of Spring, nature knows what it's doing and all will be revealed in time. "To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose, under Heaven."

A different approach for me this time around was in using magazine cut-outs. I happened to have a couple of magazines I had finished reading that were on their way to the recycle bin. I scooped them out and set to work.

Why not join in with the Journal Fodder Junkies...give yourself some time to play.

© Nancy Lefko
Quote from The Bible, book of Ecclesiastes

An Art-Filled Weekend

With a three day weekend on the horizon (thanks to a Friday snowstorm!) I was determined to give myself some time to create in my studio. Beginning with backgrounds one day...


...and then returning the next two days to finish up these collages.


I always feel good when I have accomplished something artful in the midst of all the other things that this wife and mother needs to get done!



Collages available in my Etsy shop.

© Nancy Lefko

And....it's done!

The piece that I had shown progressing (see posts below) is now done and ready to hang! Thanks to an unexpected snow-day and some uninterrupted studio time, I was able to finish this off today. The text reads, "mothers of boys have the trickiest of channels to sail. They must be strong--but not overpowering." You can probably guess from the finished piece that I have three sons, one of whom has flown from the nest...aka 'he's away at college.'


The song lyric on the sheet music at the top of the piece reads, "And tho' I sing a song, it's hard not to cry--" That sums up my feelings about having my boys grow up and begin their own lives. It's bittersweet--on the one hand I'm so proud, but on the other hand I could cry.

© Nancy Lefko