:::End of Summer:::

Our theme for our final week at WordPress is “End of Summer” which was selected by our hostess Nancy Dooren. Nancy made this beautiful arch paying tribute to the last warm and carefree days!
What do you think of with the end of summer drawing near? We want to see it here in gothic arch form!

A bit about our hostess:
I am Nancy Dooren. I live in Enschede, The Netherlands, with my hubby Wilfred and cat Sylvester. I am a dental assistant for a lot of years now. But, when I am at home, I love to be in my stamping room, making some art. This is a way of life for me! I love to be a host on Gothic Arches!

You may see more of Nancy’s beautiful work on her blog:
http://nancydooren.blogspot.com

:::Black, White and a hint of Red:::

Our theme this week is “Black,White and a hint of Red” which was selected by our hostess Chrissy Rollins. She made this beautiful arch to inspire you. What do you think of with this theme? We wish to see it here at Gothic Arches this week!

A bit about our hostess:

I run an artist trading club whose members take on a monthly challenge and swap their Artist Trading Cards with other members and guests it can be checked out here:
http://chriss-rollins.blogspot.com

I am part of a crafting duo who put together an art and craft page each month for a local magazine encouraging the local community to get invoved with their creative side.

I have this fantastic stamp in my collection….’Don’t much care for reality I prefer ART’ and that just about sums me up. LOL

I am truely honoured to be hosting this weeks GA challenge thank you Nancy.

I have chosen the theme… ”Black, White and a hint of Red” Hope you like it have fun with your arches. I would like to wish GA and Nancy a Happy 1st Birthday.

You may see more of Chrissy’s beautiful artwork on her blog:

http://thepapergirls.blogspot.com

:::Renaissance:::

Our hostess this week is Tami Roth who has selected the theme of “Renaissance” as our challenge this week. Isn’t her arch just beautiful!? What do you think of when the word “Renaissance” comes to mind? We want to see it here this week in gothic form!

About our hostess:

Renaissance marks the period of European history at the close of the Middle Ages and the rise of the Modern world. It represents a cultural rebirth from the 14th through the middle of the 17th centuries. Early Renaissance, mostly in Italy, bridges the art period during the fifteenth century, between the Middle Ages and the High Renaissance in Italy. It is generally known that Renaissance matured in Northen Europe later, in 16th century.

The term renaissance means rebirth and is used to mark an era of broad cultural achievement as a result of renewed interest in the classical art and ideas of Ancient Greece and Rome. The main idea of rebirth lies at the belief that through the study of the intellectual and artistic treasures of the Greco-Roman antiquity, inspired by Humanism, can be reached the artistic greatness, wisdom and enlightenment.

Thank you, Nancy, for the opportunity to be hostess for the gothic arch challenge this week! I chose this theme because of my love for the art and images from that time. “Venus” by Sandro Botticelli is probably my most favorite painting. I think of Botticelli, daVinci, Michelangelo, Vermeer, etc. I love the colors the artists used-so deep and rich. Renaissance means “rebirth” but can have so many meanings to different people that I hope everyone can go with their first instinct of what this means for them and have fun with it!

You may see more of Tami’s beautiful work here:
Tami Roth Picture Trail

:::Royalty/Crowns:::

This weeks theme is “Royalty/Crowns” which was selected by our hostess Kris Dickinson. Isn’t her arch just beautiful! What comes to your mind when you think of Royalty/Crowns? Kings and Queens? Fairy Tales? We want to see it here this week in gothic arch style!

A bit about our hostess:
Thank you Nancy for choosing me to host the Gothic Arch Challenge this week. I chose the theme Royalty/Crowns as I’ve always been fascinated with the kings and queens of Europe. In particular, The Romanovs of Russia. Such a beautiful and tragic family. I have chosen Nicholas II and Alexandra of Russia as my subject for my arch. For this challenge, please do not limit yourselves to just actual royalty. Alter a little king or queen or crown a bird, etc…I can’t wait to see what you create!

Kris Dickinson resides in Parker, CO and has been creating collage’ and mixed media pieces for many years. She is married and has a 9 year old daughter.

You can see more of her beautiful work at:
http://nostalgiccollage.blogspot.com/

:::Shades of White:::

Our hostess this week is Hermine Koster who has selected the theme “Shades of White.” She created this beautiful arch using white as her hue. What do you invision when “white” comes to mind in your artwork. We would love to see it here in gothic arch form!

About our hostess:

Thank you Nancy for asking me to host again. I have choose this theme because I really like to work ton-sur-ton, in white as well as in colour. Love to stretch a colour to the max. Made this arch using crackle medium and gesso for the background, sponged a little with distress antique linen to match this gorgeous vintage image. Then played around with some tyvek, really love the structure and the fact that you never know what you end up with, every time it is a surprise. Finally added some paper flowers and buttons as a finishing touch. Hope you like this theme as much as I do and looking forward to your artwork.

You may see more of Hermine’s beautiful artwork on her blog:
http://herminesplace.wordpress.com/

:::For The Birds:::

Our theme this week is “For The Birds” which was selected by our hostess Mary-Beth. She made this beautiful arch which includes items found in nature. What do you invision with the theme “For the Birds”? We wish to see it here in gothic arch form this week.

A bit about our hostess:
I was so happy that Nancy asked me once again to host G.A.. I love doing these arches and have fallen behind in the fun.

Lately I have become much more interested in photography, mainly taking landscape shots to use in my art and picking up fallen treasure from the ground especially after rain storms. These twigs came in handy for my arch this week and actually inspired it.

I can’t wait to see how everyone interprets the theme of “For the Birds” this week. Have fun!!!!!!!

You can see more of Mary-Beth’s beautiful artwork on her blog:
http://myjourneyintoart.blogspot.com/

:::Handwriting:::

This week our theme is “Handwriting” which was selected by our hostess Dymphie.
Dymphie has created this beautiful arch using her own handwriting…and states:Use your own handwriting on the arch, paint a few letters, calligraph a quote (i would looooove to see that). I don’t like my own handwriting very much, but i like to use it in my art-work, it seems more my own when i do so.

The haiku on her arch reads “without you here, they are to deep, to large, these dark woods.”

We want to see your handwriting on your arches this week!

You can see more of Dymphie’s beautiful artwork on her blog:
http://papierenavonturen.blogspot.com/

:::Cats:::

This weeks theme is “Cats” and we want to see what makes your furry feline friend so special?
Cats love to pounce, purr, snuggle, and meow. Maybe you invision three little kittens, cats sleeping in a favorite chair, or prowling on an outdoor fence…whatever the vision may be…we want to see it here in Gothic Arch form.

A bit about our hostess:

I have always loved cats. There are two in my household…Baxter an overly affectionate black/white male and Sophie Lou the shy calico. Each has such a unique personaility but they each add so much to my home. Baxter adores my boxer dog Hailey and they will snuggle together, take naps, and wash each other – not often seen with a dog and cat. I would love to see your precious art using our furry friends!

You can see more of Nancy’s artwork on her blog:

http://vintagepapers.blogspot.com

:::Patriotism:::

Our hostess this week is Louise Granlund who selected the theme “Patriotism” and made this beautiful arch.

I chose the theme of Patriotism because we are celebrating the 4th of July this weekend in the United States. Our neighborhood will be filled with flags waving from front porches. We will go to the parade our community puts on every 4th of July and young and old will be waving flags as the parade passes by. I always cry when the various veterans groups walk by and eveyone stands and applauds them. At night we’ll watch the fireworks display at the local high school.

Patriotism is a universal theme — love of one’s country. Or maybe it’s a country you’ve visited and have a close affinity to. Whatever the case, share your gothic arches saluting a country close to your heart.

You may see more of Louise’s beautiful artwork on her blog:

http://kardkrazy.blogspot.com/

:::Mermaids:::

Our hostess this week is Caryl Hoobler who created this beautiful gothic arch using the theme “Mermaids” which she selected. What do you think of with this theme? Sea maidens? Sirens?
Merpeople or Merfolk? Whatever the vision may be we wish to see it here in gothic form!

A bit about our hostess:

I love the freedom of mixed media art and I love the tiny canvas of a
Gothic Arch. I tend to throw unexpected elements into my pieces, but
there is a thought process behind what items I use in a piece. I tend to
draw upon life experiences when creating and look for items that may
bring back a certain memory from any given time or place. I’ve chose
Mermaids as the theme this week as Mermaids are so magical and can live
in wildly colorful settings! I can’t wait to see where your Mermaids
live!

You may see more of Caryl’s beautiful work on her blog:

http://carylsrealm.blogspot.com/

:::Clowns:::

Our theme this week is “Clowns” which was selected by our hostess Nancy Maxwell James.
What do you think of when clowns comes to mind? Happy faces? Children? Bozo? Whatever you invision we wish to see it here in gothic style!

A bit about our hostess:
Nancy is a mixed media artist, stamper and scrapbooker living in Michigan with her husband Steve. She has 3 children, and currently has a son deployed in Iraq. Nancy enjoys working with vintage images in all sorts of media forms. She loves genealogy and enjoys making scrapbook pages documenting her family history.

You may see more of Nancy’s work on her blog:
http://vintagepapers.blogspot.com

:::Spain:::

Our theme this week is “Spain” and our hostess Martine (Filetta) created this beautiful gothic arch.
What do you invision when “Spain” comes to mind? We want to see it here in gothic arch form.

A bit about our hostess:

My name is Martine, I am soon 50 years old, 2 big children and an adorable husband for 30 years. I live in a small French island in the Mediterranean Sea, Corsica, in a magnificent island: a mountain in the sea ! I practice the scrapbooking recently of time, since October, 2007. It is my daughter who made me discover this leisure ! I began in our return of a journey in Senegal and since I do not stop any more ! It is one spends time who fascinates me!

You may see more of Martine’s beautiful work on her blog:
http://filetta.canalblog.com/

:::Flourishes:::

Our hostess this week is Kelly Burton who has made this beautiful arch using the theme she selected “Flourishes”…what do you think of when using this as a theme? We would love to see it in gothic arch form this week! 🙂

A bit about our hostess:

Kelly is a self-taught artist who loves collage, rubber stamping, and mixed media! She finds nothing more rewarding that turning a blank piece of paper into a piece of art!

Kelly lives on an island off the west coast of Canada and loves to spend time at the beach
when not doing art.

You may see more of Kelly’s beautiful art on her blog:
http://artsyvisions.blogspot.com/

Viva la France

Our theme this week is “Viva la France” which was selected by our hostess Frieda Oxenham. Frieda made this beautiful arch for our challenge this week. We want to see your celebration of all things French in gothic arch form.

A bit about our hostess:

I’m an award winning quilt artist whose work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally and has won many prizes;. I’ve also become known for my ATCs and mixed media work, winning Best of Show for my Enduring, Unending ATC in the House of Cards exhition, Columbus, Ohio, 2005. My mixed media work has been published in Somerset Studio, Somerset Gallery and Sew Somerset . I also work for Alphastamps as part of their Design Team. From ATCs I’m progressed to Inchies, Itty Bitties and now Gothic Arches, which are becoming a real obsession for me!

The theme this week is Vive la France. I have an abiding love for France and the French language. France was the first country in Europe to draw up a Human Rights Declaration in 1789 during the French Revolution, based partly on the American one. It had a huge influence on human rights in the rest of Europe as well. The first line is part of my arch and translated reads: Men are born and remain free and equal in rights. Notice however that women are not yet mentioned despite the fact that they played their part during the Revolution too, which is why I have featured a woman on my arch!

You may see more of Frieda’s beautiful work on her blog:
http://friedaquilter.blogspot.com

:::Chair:::

Our hostess this week is Audrey who has created this beautiful arch using the theme she selected “Chair”…
“A chair is a piece of furniture we all have and need to sit on it and rest or work. So I thought it was a great idea to use this as the centre of your arch. I’m curious to see all your arches with chairs!”

A bit about our hostess:
Hello, I’m Audrey from the Netherlands. I’m a mom of 3 boys and I’m married.
I discovered stamping about 5 or 6 years ago. I wanted to make some different Christmas-
cards so I went to an unknown store in my town. I attended my first workshop there and was
addicted right away. I didn’t have my own space in our house and had to use the dining table,
but that didn’t work. So 1.5 year ago I bought a table of 1x1m and I’m much more productive
since.

I started my own blog on July 2007 and I’m enjoying it every minute of the day.
I love to stamp and scrap, so I love mixed media. I work a lot with stamps, paper,ink,
fabric, paint and grungeboard. I’m a fan of Paper Whimsey images as you can see
on my arch. But I also search the net to find all kinds of images and I’m very grateful for all
the freebies.

You may see more of Audrey’s beautiful artwork on her blog:
http://www.audreyart.blogspot.com

:::Garden Fairies:::

Our hostess this week is Debby Harriettha who has made this beautiful arch for our challenge. Debby selected the theme “Garden Fairies” for our inspiration. What comes to mind when garden fairies is mentioned? We want to see your art this week in gothic form.

A bit about the hostess:

I started the mixed media craze with a rubber stamp, about 5 years ago. I became a wandering lost soul after I lost my parents which led me into my local stamp/scrap store. I was amazed when I walked in and saw what they had to offer. I immediately signed up for a stamping class and I was hooked. One thing led to another and the stamps do not come out all that often anymore. I am totally hooked on mixed media today and I have a real passion for doing altered book round robins.

This being said it has brought much happiness to my life and I have met so many friends online.
I have chosen Garden Fairies for my theme this week. Have fun!!! Looking forward to all the great garden fairies..

Debby Harriettha

You may see more of Debby’s beautiful creations on her blog:
http://innerreflections.typepad.com

:::My Doll and Me:::

Our hostess this week is Mandy who has selected the theme “My Doll and Me”…isn’t her arch just darling?! What do you invision with this theme? A favorite childhood doll? teaparties with little girls and porcelin babies? We want to see your creations in gothic form!

A bit about our hostess:

This weeks theme of ‘My doll and me’ was chosen by me because I have a fascination of vintage dolls… they intrigue me and yet are quite scary too. I have a little collection of images which I have been dying to use so I thought being the hostess this week on Gothic Arches would be the ideal opportunity to use one of them and to also see what everyone else comes up with. I cant wait to what you create!

Theme chosen by Mandy who is a full-time mum and lover of art 😀
see my blog at http://mandysmagicalworldofart.blogspot.com

:::We’ll Always Have Paris:::

The theme for this week’s challenge is: “We’ll Always Have Paris” presented by Keron Lee (aka The Colourguru) from Melbourne, Australia. You cannot visit Paris & remain unmoved. No book can describe it. Each door you go through, every coffee you drink, beckons you, wooing your soul like a secret lover…….then it ensnares your heart like a vine.

I must confess, I ignorantly & blissfully lived down under for what I expect to be about half my adult life, before I experienced the ache that comes from leaving it behind. My first trip to Paris was in November 2000; my 40th year.

They say life begins at 40, it’s true. The constraints & strivings of youth have evolved into life experiences that, to some extent define you. You are ready to embrace new ideas & romanticize about possibilities the future may hold. You are more deliberate about things & more (in my case, but less in others) willing to take a risk, give something a shot, go out on a limb. I hope you have fun with this theme – you are welcome to interpret it with photos, maps, memoribilia, or commercially available materials.

A bit about our hostess:

My arch is made up with a combination of all of these things – plus memories & feelings of loss….. You see, this morning I was supposed to be enjoying church in Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. My trip to Europe (scheduled for April/May) has been postponed due to a knee injury, & I would have arrived there yesterday. On the back is a photo our daughter took of my hubby & I the evening we arrived in Paris for the first time from the top of Arch d’Triomphe, & a map from an old Beaddekkers travel guide. The line drawings on the front (Notre Dame) & the Back (Sacre Coeur) are from a calendar I bought in Paris. Nancy & I cooked up this theme in November last year & I was going to give you a report from an internet café, but alas, not to be this time, so, from my art studio to your special place, lets celebrate a place that invades your soul & possesses you from the moment you arrive.
When I hosted the arch last year, I spoke about what everyone was doing with their arches. If you look on my blog later in the week, you will see my revolving book of arches, it’s a lovely treasure.…………what’s everyone else doing with their stash of gorgeous arches????

You may see more of Keron’s beautiful art on her blog:
www.thecolourguru.typepad.com
 

:::By The Sea:::

The theme this week is “By The Sea” and our hostess this week is Nellie van Leeuwen who came up with this beautiful arch and challenge. What comes to your mind when the sea is mentioned? Bathing along the beach? Lighthouses? Nautical? Whatever the vision may be we want to see it here in gothic form.

A bit about our hostess:

I love sea as a theme in my artwork and I definity love the beach chair stamp I used for this arch. It’s from Oxford Impressions. But of course I love the sea in real too. Especially when it’s a bit windy. I love to stroll along the beach with our dogs, hearing the sound of the waves. I don’t live near the sea so have to travel quite a way to experience that special feeling.

Groetjes, Nellie

You may visit Nellie’s blog to see more of her beautiful artwork:

http://dutchstamptramp.wordpress.com

:::Asian:::

Linda M. is our hostess this week and she selected the theme “Asian” as our challenge. Linda created this beautiful arch to share and inspire us all. What comes to your artistic mind when you think of Asian….geisha girls? temples? beautiful costumes? Whatever it may be – we want to see it here in arch form this week!

A bit about our hostess:

I’m Linda (redplaid3) and I live in Bear, Delaware, where I am a SAHM and artist. I enjoy making cards, ATCs, and little books and altering puzzle pieces. I love patterned paper and buttons also. Lately, I’ve been trying my hand at digital cards and layouts. It’s been fun, but nothing beats the look of a piece with all handmade elements. Have fun trying this Asian theme. I’ll be away on vacation most of this week, but I’ll catch up when I get back.

You may visit Linda’s beautiful blog here:
http://redplaid3.blogspot.com