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ART

in the garden.  I have been working in our garden.. and look at the wonderful garden bed my sweet husband built for the backyard.  It is amazing!  I have planted carrots, okra and more.  Now just add water and lots of sweet sunshine.

ART

Marley monkey napping.  Now that is true art.

ART

in the studio.  Having FUN doing some new art using a new technique.  I am planning much much more.

ART

Keeping the funky in the garden.  Just always makes me smile.

ART

I was delighted to be commissioned to do the art for our local Strawberry Days t-shirts.

I will have my booth selling my own designs on kitchen towels, etc and lots of my original art.

Looking forward to the FUN.

ART

A local public bench in downtown painted by me and and idea has been launched for more

art benches.  Such a lovely bright and colorful way to art up the town.

I have been remiss in blogging but not remiss in my art.  Lots keeping me busy... and art is still a big part of my daily life.  LIFE IS GOOD.  

ta for now

Weekend art!

I worked a show in Denver for three days and part of the deal for the entry fee was I had to demo my art.

I grabbed a bag of  art supplies and during the lulls, I would work on some art.  It was a wonderful way

to pass the slow times.. and I thoroughly enjoyed working instead of sitting idly between customers.

I have decided this will be a tradition for me when I am doing these shows.  

It was a decent spring show though three days is a bit of a haul.  I met some really wonderful artists and

that is always such a bonus when I do these shows.  And of course, the customers are always so fun to chat with.

One woman in particular, caught my attention.  She was near my age I think, and nearly bald.  In the world of  what many would call beauty, she was not a likely candidate.  But she had such an aura of joy and beauty that she brought tears to my eyes.  She was with a group of her friends and they were laughing and chatting and I was so awe struck by this woman, I had to step out of my booth and approach her.  I told her she was so beautiful that she brought tears to my eyes and I hugged her.  She was surprised but smiled her glorious smile and told me I gave her goosebumps.  There passed between us a sense of heart touching.  I am continually struck at how shallow some people are.. there seems to be a great deal of presentation and little heart.  But here was a woman who had transcended surface beauty and let her inner beauty radiate from her.  

I was so grateful I had spoke to her.  It's one of the perks of getting older I suppose.  And it truly was a moment of encouragement that humans have the ability to be real.  And when they are REAL, their inner

light shines strong and true.

ta.

art time today in the studio

prepping boards for something ART-y to follow!

Flower girl

ready for spring and barefeet.

Silver belt buckle for her head and then a tea stainer for wings.  A heart made out of linoleum

painted red.  The handle of the tea strainer is her body wrapped in blue silk fabric.  Her skirt is

a metal cut-out lampshade and her feet are metal painted.  Her arms are wire jute wrapped in fabric and 

she is holding a wire metal leaf from an old candle holder.  

garden angel

the wings?

two sock stretchers put together

and the hangers are her feet.

Then I attached a deep fry screen?on top 

and wove fabric through the screen for her body.

The handle of the fry screen is her face

and green jute wire for her hair.

She's ready to bless Spring!

Today was SPRING.

Then WINTER.

Then SPRING.

Then WINTER..

let me check....

oh it's

SPRING

again.

ta

New rule for buying paint at Lowes.

CHECK the screw on lids.

I buy these paint samples .. often grab them off the paint sale table for .50 cents each.  These

I bought at regular price of under $3 each. The girl that mixed my green swore she tightened the

lid to which I replied well, obviously not tight enough!  Nearly 1/2 was in the bag!

Thank goodness, this paint only flowed into the plastic bag on the way home and not all over my car seat.

That would of not been pretty.

I still had to take the little eye screws out of the 6 plastic bags, which was quite messy.

lovely.

A few people have asked me what are cradle boards.

They are wooden panels with depth.  Artists have been painting on these

for centuries.  I like the wood surface better than canvas because it allows me to

do a lot more things.. screwing, nailing, wood burning, carving, etc. 

and this is how I do the backs.  I always paint the backs.. just gives it a more

finished look, and I add my labels with my website, blog address, etc.

and my signature.  

have an artfull day!!!!!

ta

More journal art designs coming off my drawing board this morning.

I am in the "get it done" mode for the upcoming show in Salt Lake next Saturday March 9th.

It will be a 6 hour drive (more or less) but the weather looks good and I can head out early Friday morning

and thankfully going down in elevation means easy peasy until I get into the mtns in Utah which will be later morning so no problems.  My trusty Subaru Forester ( and I do LOVE that car) will be loaded to the hilt for my one day show.  I was so blessed to hook up with a FB art friend who has graciously invited me to stay at her house!!!  We have only met online and are both looking forward to meeting in person.  I love FB for the connections.  I joined FB with the intention of promoting my art and it works over and over again.  

Then an even bigger show in April - a 3 day show in Denver.  That one will be amazing and I was so

fortunate to get in. And side attraction..I can stay with my mom who is happy to have me.. thanks mom! Having the big spring shows is wonderful because I usually am not doing shows in the spring.   So I am thrilled to have these on the calendar.  

My goal for this year is to create more flow with production and get my name out more.  I was so busy 

working last year, that I did little in the way of promoting.  I have several new ideas for products and at these spring shows I can test their sellability -- if that is even a word!

The studio is being used at it's max with extra tables holding WIP that I am working on daily. And I am happy to conquer the to do list everyday with a smile and and song in my heart.  

ta for now

Journal art that I pull into photoshop and

create a new design.

I love the assurance of this saying

because we all have our struggles and concerns.

Worry can be such a monster in our lives.

I think it's good remind ourselves to

breathe and trust. 

ta

I am CRANKIN' out these tiles.  It's exciting to do these.. I have to revamp my designs that are all 8.5 x 11 that I use on my kitchen towels, aprons, etc.  These tiles are 6 x 6 so I have had to jump on my computer to re-size these to fit.  Which is just plain fun in photoshop.  I want to sell these locally at shops and fairs to

see if they will be successful enough to invest in some new equipment to produce these much easier and faster.  But this "cottage industry process" is doing great with production here in my little studio!

I also have a stockpile of cradle boards to do more on.  Originally bought them from Blicks, but found a much better deal from Cheap Joe's Art Stuff.  These take more time because I have to paint them.. so they will be selling for more.  

And I got to spend some quality time with my little chickapea Emalie this weekend.

She loves to hang out with me here in the studio..  while I am working she's playing dragon games on my kindle.  And smiling her sweet toothless grin.  I  so love this kid to the moon and back.  

okay MONDAY

I am jumping into my busy day!

ta

My husband is a car nut.   His cars is to him, as my art is to me.  The beauty of this, is we let each other be what we want to be.  Cars in the driveway, I lose count sometimes.  Some actually are driveable, others

are "projects".  Come into my studio, and I have plenty of my own "projects" parked around my studio.

So we are a good match.. we get it.

So when I saw this picture, I thought THERE WE ARE!!!!  We could incorporate a little of his car parts into

yard art.. and serve as a mailbox receptacle to boot.  The best of both worlds!!!!

I have been working fast and furiously with my books.  Bookkeeping isn't something I love doing.

I avoid it and now I am paying the price!  Catching up..  my brain is now properly fried.  Tedious.  I so appreciate anyone who does this for a living.  Because it rattles my brain after too many hours.  

So closing down the studio for the day, spruce up the house a bit, get dinner in the works and ease into the evening.  Tomorrow is MONDAY and I have a heavy duty week ahead.  Getting ready for a show in early March and doing a lot of new products in addition to the kitchen towels.  

But must show this cool picture to Dan.  Plus it has rock work to boot.  Another passion of his.

How can he possibly resist!?

ta now..

VALENTINE ANNIVERSARY ART

 HAPPY ANNIVERSARY ART

I finished this gift of art for my daughter and her husband.  Today is their 8th wedding anniversary. and it's Valentine's Day.  Romantic, yes?

I used a piece of scrap wood from the local cabinet shop.  I prefer working on wood, and love when I can

pick up free wood and save it from being discarded.  This piece measures appox 12 x 8 and is an inch thick.

I painted the background with a navy paint ( a 50 cent  8 ounce sample interior acrylic paint at Lowe's from their paint sale table) and started painting the back ground with some white.. in a nice painterly fashion.

After it dried, I took some dictionary paper and sketched the tree and then applied it on to the surface

using Mod Podge.  After that dried I used a graphite pencil (my favorite is Kimberly 525 9xxb) to sketch in more of the details of the tree bark.  This pencil by Kimberly is nice and soft and will draw on a lot of different surfaces.. I use it often.  Next I painted the 8 red hearts ( from another sample paint pot I had)  and then decided the texture of the pattern stamp would add a nice romantic look.  

Then I dug out my trusty old wood burning tool and where I had sketched the hearts and initials, I burned

into the wood.. to give it an authentic carved wood look.  I added a smaller heart under their heart with

their daughter's initial.  It now makes it a family tree.. and I smiled.  I was happy with the finished project.

To put a "hanger" on the back, this is what I do.  I simply take the hanger wire, coil the end then 

with my electric stapler, I staple a few times to attach the wire and then the same on the other end.

It creates a nice hanger.. fairly inexpensive. And I always put a sticker on the bottom with my 

name, website, etc. info.  I paint the backs of my wood pieces.. or cradle board pieces because

it gives a nice finished look.

I am planning on writing a note on the back with a white paint pen.. a personal message for them.

A nice project and I think they will be pleased!

ta for now..

This has been fun working on wooden wall prints for Lunar Designs.  I am experimenting on trying new

products for wholesale.  Here's a few of my pieces.

These are ceramic tiles .. trivets.. that I am working on techniques for.

I am setting my booth tomorrow in El Jebel at the Winter's Farmer's Market

at Eagle Crest Nursery and will be selling these for the first time!  I 

am really pleased the way they are turning out!

A beautiful sunrise this morning!

I took this standing at our front door.  The colors are pale

in the photo compared to the real thing.  But

so gorgeous to start out my busy day.

I was still in my robe sipping coffee and watching the

sky just go vivid.  Snow storm on the way.  

"Red sky in the morning, sailor take warning...."

ta for now

BUSY day ahead of me!

CHARLIE'S GARDEN

A mixed media assemblage of found objects.  I have been wanting to do a "recycled garden" for a long time.  I have a nice pile of collected things..  been saving odd bits and pieces for years.  Yes, it piles up.  Yes, I should clear it out.  But being an artist who loves to repurpose it just is hard to get rid of the treasures.  In my dreams, I would love to spend a week sorting and categorizing everything.  Then store in clear containers clearly labeled.  But then I wouldn't always experience the serendipitous discovery of reaching for an element (not knowing what I was looking for) and ta-da there it is. 

 Perfect!  

This is done on a cradle board.  I painted the background then started compiling the flowers.   I have a lot of the old molds that I have collected from thrift shops and garage sales.  I hammered these flat, snipping some 

to allow the bowl shape to spread out... which added a petal look.  Old spoons were hammered as well and I had a nice stash of red bottle caps to pop a little color on the spoon flowers.  An old zipper, an old

electric cloth covered cord, some carpenter's rulers and wire created the stems.  I decided I needed some dimension at the base of the flowers and found an old purse at the thrift shop that was green with printed

xoxo's  and hearts.  So I cut out strips and nailed them to the board creating the depth I was looking for.

The one flower with the red bullseye is special to me.  And it does stand out prominently.  The red disk was something I found in my husband's garage trash.. he had cut it out of metal.  The center white is a big old washer from my dad's stash that I gleaned from his garage after he passed away.  He was a tinker and had boxes of goodies that I have been rationing into my art.  The blue and yellow pieces of tin are from a windmill that Dad had made.  He made several of these.  When I got them, the little motors no longer worked, but I knew I would find a use of the propellers someday.  The leaves on this flower are old screen

from some old screen door with lovely old paint and rust.  So after I was done with this piece, I decided to

call it Charlie's Garden.. for my Dad.  He loved to garden after he retired.  

I have a show coming up in a few week with some very fun talented ladies: Whimsical Women of the West.  It's our Spring Show..and I need to pump out as much fun art as I can.

wish me luck..

I need TIME to create.  And that is not always an abundant commodity for me!!!!!

JUST LIKE ME

Finished this new one.. so much fun creating a whimsical gathering of birds.  I love doing birds.. something 

so sweet and comical about the little birds in the spring.  Hopping around, busily looking for yummies to eat.

I hang a bird feeder outside all winter and it's a little sad to pull it down in the spring.  Bears love feeders.  So the birds on are their own for food.. thankfully  there is more to eat now.

I have a great local outlet for my art... a friend's shop in the downtown area who loves my art and let's me hang as much as I want to bring in.  She only charges me a minimum fee for sold work and it's fun for her to hang up the art.  She likes the quirky and colorful which is my favorite choice to do!!!  

And I have another hanging in June at a great popular breakfast place in Carbondale for the month of June.  So I have a lot of art to do.. plus with shows and markets coming up this summer, I want to build my inventory as much as possible.   

I have been neglecting my morning art time.. which has been sorely missed.  Always seeming to find "more important things to do" and duh... my daily art time is really critical for me.  So having a lot of commitments for my art will get me back in the groove.  It's magical to come into my studio and sit at my art desk with my birds chirping over my head and immerse myself in my art.  

This year I am determined to create at a steady flow.. for many reasons least of all my SELF.  I will be posting here more often and hope to soon restock my empty etsy store.  tsk tsk.  

Funny how I become more stagnant in the winter and when spring rolls around, a time when I have a ton of chores in the garden, I wake up with wanting to do art all the time!!!!!  But I do a lot more reading in the winter..  which is lovely.  

so that's my game plan...

plus my kids are moving back to our valley in a few weeks.  and I am giddy with excitement.....

ta

NEW ART

This was a new fun art for me.   Such great FUN!!!

I started out with a multi wash of color.

I love watercolor so working on this wood using very wet acrylics

is as much fun for me as doing watercolors.

After this dried,

I started adding some wispy plant designs.. again with a wet brush dipped in

watered down acrylics, but with enough color to show up.

Drying time again.  Sometimes I speed this up with my heat gun.

Next I stamped some designs with paint.. for added elements.

And then took an old plastic dollie and used it as a stencil to spray paint over.

This really gives a nice lacy garden feel.

Next came the blackbird and the branch.  And lastly,

the collaged dictionary pages for the poppies.

Lastly the berries.. which I loved.

Now my artistic juices are flowing,

and I want to do MORE!

ta for now

WORK IN PROGRESS

Favorite jeans... slowly evolving into an art project.

Happy jeans.  Happy me.

Work in Progress. 

Funky chicken.  Using boards cast off from local cabinet shop.  I like the feel of

the wood and especially when there are knots and rough edges.  

And, finally, I think this piece is done.

Using a child's chalkboard easel works great for me.

I just kept playing with colors until

I was happy with the outcome.

Feels good to be doing art again.

It's been a long time for me.

ta

PINTEREST

I usually come around.

Eventually.

A little bird told me about Pinterest.

I have been seeing it around.

So I finally looked into it..

found it fun.

Though it can be a time sucker.

and that....

I.  don't.  need.

but will start slipping some fun things onto my boards...

fun.

can't so no.

ta

EMBRACING ART IN TINY INCREMENTS

Gave myself 2 minutes to play!

January was basically a write off for me.

Sick nearly the entire month.

THANKFULLY

what I was being told was a serious chronic illness

WAS NOT!

So art, business, life in general

was very minimal for me.

But I am RALLYING!

Wearing my pink Born flats this morning

scored at the local Thrift Shop yesterday.

Made me a healthy smoothie this morning

and decided I needed to not only attend to my health

but my ART as well.

Even if it means only a couple of minutes of art time...

I am taking January and shoving it aside.

The good part that came out of all this

is a renewed sense of JOY 

in my life and of course

GRATITUDE.

LIFE

is

a 

GIFT.

My

art 

is 

a 

gift.

and I am using both to my best advantage.

NEW WORD FOR 2012?

EMBRACE.

GETTING IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE

LOVE IT.

Now the real story of this design..

First came the lips/leaves.. like 8 years ago?

then last year I added the heart background.

liked the combo, but it wasn't IT.

Then I was working on backgrounds for my kitchen rules designs.

I created the red polka dot with turquoise blue inset.

and then I worked on heart flowers.  

and then all of a sudden...

(here's where you picture cupid appearing over my creative brain....

and tada...

it all came together

and shot arrows straight through my heart.

I am smiling.

and 

SMOOCHIE MAMA

was born.

another day in my life.

ta

REPURPOSED APRON IS NOW CURTAIN!

My apron.

I have had it hanging around for over a year.

A little too frilly for me.

I don't do ruffles, frills, etc.

Lots of bad memories of my mother dressing me in lace, frills etc.

when all I ever wanted to wear was my jeans and red cowboy boots.

But that's another story!

I decided to make a fun curtain for the kitchen out of the apron.

Day photo..

too much back lighting.

Night photo.

Ahh

this is better...

Now you can see it.

Those triangle ends are the crisscross bib from the apron.

I used only two ruffles because I wanted to keep the curtain short.

The felt balls I added for whimsy.

That chicken in the window?  I bought at a craft art shop.

The chicken is felt and is sitting in a wire nest that is atop an old bed spring.

The child's rubber boot makes a fun planter.

The chicken towel hooks on the side cabinet was originally 

painted dark colors.  I repainted it with the bright colors.  

Fun.

RUN AWAY DAY FINDS

It feels good to run away.

Yesterday, I lured a friend to run away with me.  We went to Grand Junction, a place I know well!

Well, sort of.  I grew up there in the 50's and it was a nice quiet town.  No more.  The traffic is

huge and most places crowded.  Even on a Tuesday!  I won't go there before Christmas because it's CRAZY!

After we stopped in Palisade to check on my one account in town, we had lunch at a great cafe and for "dessert" we visited the local Blue Pig Gallery.  It was wonderful and I was inspired.

Next we went to Hobby Lobby and I found some FABULOUS duck fabric plus I had a 40% coupon (thank to my girlfriend) and bought some yardage for some oh I don't know exactly what yet, but I had to have this fabric.

It's happy happy.. and I loved the way the flowers pop off the black background!

So here's what I have done so far!

I recovered the stool here in the entry way.
This photo shows the true colors best.  I love the turquoise
in the print.
:)

Next....
I had a couple of mix matched cushion/pillows in the little rocker.  And decided
this would look great with these happy new colors.
Note:
The carpet is not black.
here's a better view showing the unusual color of our carpeting.

See the blue in the patch rug?  The one patch with the yellow bird?

It's that blue.. and whenever I try to take photos, the rug turns a strange color.  

I like the blue -- it's different but's a pain to keep clean.  Dark carpeting doesn't show

the dirt, but it shows dog hair, and lint.  BIG time.  I seriously should vacuum every day.

But I don't.  

I also covered a little pillow and tossed it on the couch to carry the new fabric into the room

We also stopped at several thrift shops.  I found this wonderful bamboo cart with wheels for a steal.

I can use this to hold some of my cuttings and new plants that I start.  I sat it here in front of the huge windows in our dining room where morning sun is glorious.  This cart will also work as a side table for dinners both inside and out on the deck.  So I was pretty happy with this find.

So I have discovered that having my new sewing machine makes sewing a LOT MORE FUN!

I think over the years, any sewing I would do, using an old machine, was total frustration.

What a nice change having a machine that zips along, no problems!!!!!

♥have a happy day♥

ta

DAD WOULD BE PROUD

I love these jeans.

I love these sneakers.

They make me smile.

So when I tore these old jeans, I saved them to mend.

And with my NEW sewing machine, yahoo!!!!!

I  just mended these and am now wearing them with a smile on my face.

While I was sewing along, I thought of Dad.

He would take his work jeans and zig zag patch them and 

wear them like NEW!  He was resourceful and saved many things.

I could feel his energy while I sewed these.  

It's comforting to rescue an old friend.

 I am so blessed to work in my art studio here at home.

I can not tell you how wonderful it is to slip on my favorite jeans,

tie up my favorite sneakers and work surrounded by my birds, dog and cat.

It's crispy cold outside, and I have a fire burning in the wood stove here in the studio.

NICE.

Blessed.

Grateful.

Happy.

What a nice way to start my day!

NEXT?

art.

even better!