Early Morning Thoughts

Loving these collage sheets...

This is a piece that I did for Moss Hill Studios.  As I wrote in a previous post about being on the dream team for Moss Hill Studios, we were sent 2 collage sheets to create from.  I chose Vivi's dress #0001-3 and Favorite things F-0001.  From these sheets we could create whatever our heart desires.  I had a ton of fun creating this piece...

As you can see, I created a theme surrounding a dress for sale.  I love the nest with eggs sitting on top of the hanger. 

How many of us, growing up had to hang their clothes on a clothes line outside (totally embarrassing, I have to say)?  Well, I can remember seeing birds creating their nest on the post. 

The sign behind the canvas, "Special Today" came from the favorite things sheet.

This is just one of the many collage dress sheets that I used, you can see all of the designs at, Moss Hill Studio. 

Well, I am off to see what else I can come up with.

What's a girl to do...

I found that I have a few of these vintage german bisque dolls on hand and thought...what's a girl to do with them? So, this is what I came up with the other night...

This is a vintage box that I found at a local antique show.  I took a vintage german bisque doll and transformed her into a guardian angel doll.  I hand stamped the words "on the wings of an angel".  I purposely stamped the letter "e" sideways.

Isn't these just the cutest things...I made the same doll that I did for my vintage box, but instead, added a jump ring and now it is ready to attach to a book, art piece, card, etc.

I listed these in my etsy shop, check them out.

Artist travel case

Have you ever had a project that you are working on and it seems that you will never get it done.  I have been working on this for some time now...each time that I would try to finish it, I would be distracted by something else.  So, yesterday I decided to finish it.

Ok, the cover is made from a vintage feed sack and I sewed a piece of vintage lace across the middle.  I sewed a large vintage button on the flap and attached fibers, old bottle and charms.

The inside cover was done the same way with vintage feed sack.

Every child is an artist.  The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.

I wish that I could get better lighting on this one, I used canvas for the pockets and then transfered images onto the pockets.

The folder behind the mica is filled with watercolor paper. 

Well, I haven't decided what to do with this piece yet, I will either take it down to the local shop, list it on etsy or I have been debating about doing a local art show...

Exciting news...

Ok, I am not one known for bragging, especially about myself, but I just had to share this news.  I was asked by Joanna Pierotti of Moss Hill Studios to be part of her design team... 

 

Now how cool is that, not only is she an amazing person, but a talented artist too and she asked me along with 5 others to be part of her team.  She has come out with collage sheets that she is now selling and the design team will be making samples to help promote them along with giving inspiration to others.  You can check out her website at Moss Hill Studio.  I look forward to this new adventure, along with working with the 5 other talented artist.

Ye Guardian Spirits altered book

I forgot to show my other piece of art that I just got done and listed on etsy...

This was a gospel hymn book from the 1800's that the inside pages were no longer intact, so I replaced them with watercolor signature pages, 6 in total.  What I love about this book is it's size, it is only 3 x 4 3/4. 

Thy Wing and I have found a friend...

Well, don't we all wish that we could have a wing to fly anytime that we felt like it or be blessed everyday in finding a new friend... I guess it's in all how we look at life.  Most of us everyday are presented with opportunities to take a leap of faith and fly, but sometimes we listen to what others say and talk ourselves out of it.  The same could be said for making new friends, we get so busy in our everyday lives that we are trying to keep up with the Jones' or we are so overprotective in making sure that we are not taking advantage of, that we miss opportunities in meeting someone that turns out to be our next new friend.  Just like everyone else, I work with myself to slow down and smell the roses, take a deep breath of fresh air and enjoy the view that God has put before me... In doing this, I decided to create these two new pieces....

Well, I am not one for drawing, so I did one that was more whimsical and one that was more realistic.

I have listed both of these in my etsy...

Awesome weekend

Well, I am back from an awesome weekend in Arizona after taking a collaborative class with DJ Pettitt and Deryn Mentock.  I arrived in Arizona on Friday to 113 degrees.  Wow, intense heat, but I loved it!!!  I did some site seeing and shopping at a huge bead shop, Bead Galore.  A must if you are in Tempe, Arizona.  Our first class was Saturday at 9:30 a.m. with DJ.  We painted on a 6 x 6 canvas board and due to the intense heat, we struggled with our paints drying as quick as we laid them down, but I think everyone's turned our awesome.  Check out DJ's blog to view all of the students work. DJ Pettitt    Our second day was with Deryn Mentock, we did the wire work on the piece.  What an awesome person and instructor.  I am totally loving the wire... Here is my piece that I did in DJ's class:

This is a piece that I did last year in DJ's class at Art and Soul in Portland.

I highly recommend taking a class from either of these ladies... Not only are they well informed, but great artist too.

Thoughtful gift

I forgot to show everyone what my friend Lori, brought for me from her garden the other day when we had our play day.  Thanks Lori...

Everyone needs a play day...

As much as I am one of those artist that likes working in my studio with only the birds chirping outside and my copper waterfall running right outside of my studio doors and don't forget the music playing in the background, it sure is nice to set aside a day and have girlfriends over to play and create art...

It probably would of looked better if I had the water running...ooops!

Well, anyways... Lori came over with a friend of hers, Jackie, who I just adore!!! I love making new friends and she is a hoot.  We each brought something for us to make and after a day of laughing until we had tears in our eyes, this is what we made:

This is what Jackie brought for each of us to make...way cool!  I love the way that it turned out, it is hard to see that on the bottom of the jar, we created a ocean scene with sea shells, water, pearls, etc.   

This is what Lori brought for each of us to make...I just love these.  Each year at Christmas time, our family makes 3 homemade ornaments and put them on the tree.  You guessed it, my whole tree is homemade ornaments.  Then as each child grows up and starts their own family, we will give them an ornament from each year to hang on their tree.  Now, you ask, why the third ornament...as each of their kids grows up, we will give them a few ornaments that their parents made to hang on their tree. 

Ok, I was asked if I would show them how to paint a journal, so I chose my most recent one that I had made and this is what we made.

Now, to top the whole day off, Lori and Jackie brought food not only for the 3 of us to eat, but for my whole family...what awesome friends I have...Thanks girls!!! 

I also, received this gift from Jackie...

Now, this is a real bird's nest...how cool is that!  Don't worry, no birds were hurt or removed to make this project.  This is an abandoned nest that she found in her yard.  She then filled it up and created this piece for me...Oh, how lucky can a girl get...Thank you Jackie!!!!

Well, that is my show and tell... I sometimes get so busy in my everyday life with things that I do forget to stop and have a play date with friends, so thanks for reminding me Lori and Jackie, you made my day!!!

Awesome dolls

I am offering a few of my dolls in my etsy... I purchase a number of these babies for an upcoming class and thought I would part with a few.  I love the tiny size of these.  The measure 1 1/2" long and shoulder to shoulder 1/2".  They work great in jewelry or altered art.