Wednesday, December 28, 2011

The best gift...

was spending time with the little ones...
Tyler
Hannah

Brandon Lewis
Gabriel
Graylee
Madelyn
Emma
Aubrey
Our six grandchildren and two neices.
We had a wonderful Christmas, lots of family, too much food and great fellowship and fun. We received the exciting news that my youngest brother and his wife are expecting and due in August.
Now that our busy time is behind us, I'm spending as much time as I can in my studio working on a variety of projects. I have a hefty list of goals for 2012 and will share more on that later.
I hope your holiday season has been filled with peace and joy.
Have a very happy and safe New Year.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Joy to the World

Created this tag for the Winter Green Tag Challenge at PDA...
Joy to the World
The photo is not very good and scanning the tag was worse. If you click on the image and zoom you will see more detail.
I used a Martha Stewart punch for the tree and added white paint to the tips of the branches. The star is an old button. The wire holding the beads or ornaments, wraps around the tag. I added a spritzing of Glimmer Mist.
Hope all is going well this holiday season, we have been extremely busy and I just took another order this morning that has to be ready by Friday. Shopping still to be done and Christmas Eve day will be spent listening to Christmas music and wrapping gifts. Hard to believe it's almost here.
Have a very Merry Christmas.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Tag Booklet Swap...

As busy as I am right now, sometimes I just need to take time and create.
Mistletoe Market was fabulous again this past Saturday and I spent all day
Sunday in my studio, it was a very productive weekend.
Signed up to participate in a Tag Booklet Swap at PDA and have been working
on my tags. The theme is Shabby Chic, Vintage, Victorian using pinks, sage and cream and each tag had to include a stick pin or a charm. There are nine of us participating. Here are a few photos...
Putting them together.
My first ever stick pins.
All done and ready to go. I secured the tags to
black chipboard with a brad because the are going in the mail.
A close up.
We will each send one tag to the other 8 participants and once all tags are received we can put them together to make the booklet. Super excited to see all the tags. I will share them once they have all arrived.
Hope you are enjoying a wonderful holiday season.

Tuesday, December 06, 2011

Very little time...

My Photography Art is keeping me extremely busy right now and not much time to play.
Many orders to fill before this weekend and hoping to have another great day at Mistletoe Market.
I try to get to my table for at least a few minutes each evening.
Artist Trading Cards are the perfect art when I am short on time.
Here are a few completed pieces...
Art Colors Life
PDA ATC Challenge & Swap #25
Hope
I Can Fly
Bloom
Hope you are enjoying your holiday season...no decorations here yet, it's that time thing that keeps it from happening.
Hope you have a fantastic day.

Friday, December 02, 2011

Christmas spirit...

Listening to Christmas carols and working on cards.
This is one I created last weekend.
Poinsettia image courtesy of Paper Digital Art & Images by Kim.
Are you in the Christmas spirit?
Hope you are having a wonderful evening.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Love these colors...

The best and most beautiful things in the world
cannot be seen or even touched
-they must be felt with the heart.
Helen Keller
10 x 8 on canvas
I've had this quote on my mind for a while,
waiting for just the right piece to use it in.
Then I came across this image online and knew this was it.
A few of my favorite colors plus bits and pieces and it all came together.
A beautiful quote...what an amazing woman.
Hope you are having a great day.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Shimmery, glittery gold...

Star of Bethlehem ornament.
I created this for the Shimmery,
Glittery Gold challenge at Paper & Digital Art.
Found the tutorial and template at Art Studio.
I hope you had a fantastic Thanksgiving.
Have a wonderful week.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

A little bird...

Enjoy the Journey
6 x 6 canvas
Game spinners and the enjoy the journey stamp are from Tim Holtz.
Working on 4 of these, all with birds but each one different, lots of bright colors.
Trying to get a handle on all that needs to get done over the next week and beyond. Orders to fill from the show, projects to complete, challenges to do and the list goes on and on. I was hoping to get my daughter's wedding album done by Christmas but it's looking like it will be an anniversary gift instead. She understands, thank goodness.
Off to get busy...have a great evening.

Friday, November 18, 2011

Tag...you're it...

This is the tag I made for the Crete Paper Tag Challenge at Tag! You're It! This is one of the groups I belong to at Paper Digital Art and Images by Kim (aka PDA). This is a great site for images, challenges, swaps, making friends and getting inspired.
Dance
PDA is one of my favorite sites, wonderful selection of images and there always seems to be something creative going on. Great group of people!
Off in a few hours to Winter Market...a bit nervous since it's the first show that will include my mixed media art. Oh my.
Have a fantastic weekend.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Something to think about...

May you live every day of your life. Jonathan Swift
10 x 8 on canvas

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Friends...

hold a true friend with both your hands
Image courtesy of Pringle Hill Studio
I've had a number of close friends over the years but only one true, best friend. Not only was she my best friend, she was the sister I never had and she was my stepmom. We became even closer in 1998 when she and my father relocated here and we saw each other almost every day. Next month is the 3 year anniversary of her passing, she was only 54 and I still miss her very much. If you have a special friend in your life, make sure they know how wonderful they are.
Have an opportunity to have my mixed media work in a new gallery that is opening in Bedford and in my spare time have been working on several pieces on canvas. Also, played a bit with watercolor last night and have a long list of challenges that I'm working on. Never a dull moment!

Hope your week is going great!

Monday, November 14, 2011

Photograpy Art...

Faith
In addition to mixed media art, I also dabble in photography. I prefer black and white and have always been a big fan of Ansel Adams' work. This idea came about in 2007 while trying to come up with a gift for someone. A lot of folks are doing these now and there are many online companies offering this service. My art is unique in that I take all my photos locally. I currently have 20 different words and also accept customer orders. This is why I am so busy this time of year...this is the art that pays for me to play with my other art.
Have a great week.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Imagination...

Is more important than knowledge.
6 x 9 on watercolor paper
I am quite fond of the colors I used for this piece. Layers and layers of paint & ink. I even added a few rub ons to this one.
Look closely at her crown.
We have frames and photographs scattered across our living room and kitchen...a day of assembly ahead.
Hope you have a beautiful day.

Wednesday, November 09, 2011

Creating a background...

I am often asked about my process for creating backgrounds. I wish it was that easy, my process is always changing as I love learning and trying new things.
So, I thought I would share one of my favorite methods. If I'm ready to create and find myself at a loss for where to start, this process never fails...
I begin by choosing my colors, normally 3. I usually end up adding a 4th color or black at some point later in the process. This was done a 9 x 12 watercolor paper.
Several drops of acrylic.
Spread acrylic, I used a dry brush. Let dry.
Added water to acrylic and splattered.
Spread using an old gift card. Let dry.
More splatter. Let dry.
Stamped acrylic using a variety of items and several shades of color.
Bubblewrap.
Foam stamp.

Rubber stamp with ink.
Plastic cap with acrylic.
Repeat, repeat, repeat. Let dry between colors and mediums.

Once complete, I cut this piece into 6 pieces for ATC's and 1 6 x 9 (not shown)
Here are 3 of the ATC's I created using this background...

I stamped a tree on each piece...

I cut houses from vintage & patterned papers...

Added a few embellishments...
Home Sweet Home

Happy creating...

Monday, November 07, 2011

Although I'm in the middle of my busiest time, I decided to participate in a challenge swap at Paper & Digital Art. I was so intrigued by the challenge which is to alter a large match box. This is a first for me...it turned to be a lot of fun.
Here it is...

I chose a non-traditional color scheme for this Christmas box honoring Jolly Old St. Nicholas. I covered the outside with music from a vintage songbook and it was printed in blue so I picked blue and silver as my main colors. Image on front is a stamped image using a Tim Holtz stamp.

I strayed from the assignment just a bit. Rather than filling the box with goodies, I created a little dimentional scene.

A close-up of the inside.
I learned a few things and will do them differently next time. By covering the inside box it made it a bit too tight for sliding in and out, next time I'll paint the inside. I added a long ribbon at the top so that it could be hung as an ornament. Also, I used a box I had on hand and it wasn't very sturdy, maybe a new box next time.
I know it's a little early for Christmas but I wanted to share before it's sent off to it's new  home.
Have a great evening.

All of our dreams...

6 x 8 on watercolor paper
Great quote, how true it is.
Off to my first show of the season in the morning. All packed and ready to go. A bit scary that I'm ready with time to spare but great because I can relax and enjoy my evening...I'll worry all evening that I've forgotten something! Headed downtown this evening to participate in First Friday's. It's an evening all about art, the galleries are open along with other businesses and the Lynchburg Museum offers free admission for this event. Should be fun.
Hope you have a fantastic weekend and if you are in the area, come on out to Bedford tomorrow. Details are on the sidebar.

Vintage image courtesy of Pringle Hill Studio.

Monday, October 31, 2011

Happy Halloween

Have fun and please be safe.

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Happy home...

10 x 8 canvas
This canvas was inspired by a tray, created by Tracy Nuskey-Dodson, featured in the Summer 2011 issue of Somerset Studio Gallery (page 55).
A fun piece to create...and it sold today.
Quite cold here this weekend, much below normal and our autumn is quickly fading due to lots of wind and rain. A good day to stay indoors...going to watch a bit of college football and create.
Have a great weekend!

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Beauty...

let the beauty of what you love be what you do
I love this piece, the quote, the colors, the texture...it's waiting to be framed and then it will be hung in my studio. It's funny that I fell so much in love with this one because it's not at all what I had started out to create. I originally planned on it being a piece for Halloween, which is why I had chosen the colors orange, purple and black, the touches of green came later. While working on this piece, I came across this quote and Halloween was forgotten. It's rare that I keep a piece for myself but I love looking at this one.
I have my first show of the season the first weekend in November and have been working long hours to prepare, not doing much else. It's hectic but I love the challenge.
Hope you are having a great week.

Friday, October 14, 2011

Change is good...

If nothing in the world ever changed there wouldn't be butterflies.
A beautiful time of year for change, what would Autumn be without the beauty of the changing leaves. It's been a week of rain but the trees are still gorgeous.
We are headed out this weekend, to Washington DC, for the ALS Walk on Sunday. We are walking in honor of my brother in law that was diagnosed 4 years ago. Go Team Steadman!
Hope you have a fanastic weekend!