Little art, continued...

Just love how these turned out, bright and cheery.

These would be so cute in a child's room!

Next batch will be birds and butterflies. 

Enjoy!

Image transfers...

Playing with several image transfer techniques I learned a few weeks ago...

Be Confident 

Dream Big 

Find Joy 

Find Your Balance 

Focus 

It's All Good 

So Little Time

 

These pieces were all done on canvas.

Enjoy!

A "little" art...

I created some mixed media backgrounds on watercolor paper and then

punched with a 3 inch circle punch. I then added

the little houses and sailboats.

Frames are painted with Maison Blanche Furniture paint.

These would be sweet in a child's room.

Enjoy!

Fun...

My favorite art to create are pieces that are fun, pieces that bring a smile to someone's face, happy, colorful art.

Here's what I've been working on while it's too cold to be outdoors...

These are so much fun!

And here is where I create my art, my

little corner in our home, right between the kitchen and

living room...

We have a spare room that I use as my "studio" but it's really

just a really big closet or storage area as I prefer to be in the

middle of the action while creating.

Enjoy!

Another makeover...

This is my latest furniture makeover...

I had already started removing items when I remembered to take my "before" photo. This is a beautiful piece but it was just too dark. I wanted to display my collection of glass but it just did not show up on the dark wood.

Here it is after being painted with Maison Blache furniture paint, the color is Miel...

I debated for a long time before I painted it, I'm glad I decided to do it.

I love how it turned out and all my aqua glass has a pretty home.

Enjoy!

Trees...

Playing around over the holidays, I created these...

9 x 12-stenciled trees on to a mixed media background 

9 x 12-created the trees with small bits of paper, torn up page from an old book and

the applied light gesso and charcoal pencil to outline.

Enjoy!

A good start...

I have a lot of projects and goals for 2014 and I've gotten off to a good start.

Last year was focused a lot on getting better and finding my wings again.

This year will be focused on spreading my new wings, growing my knowledge and achieving the many goals I've set for myself. I have several lists, some personal but mostly my goals are focused on my art and being creative.

Here are a few of the items on  my list of creative endeavors for 2014...

1. Write and create art for my second storybook

2. Complete the series Family History in Art, a total of 16 pieces (3 pieces complete)

3. Create an Artist Profile

4. 4 x 6 Quote Art Journal

5. Owl series, six mixed media pieces

6. Complete the 2012 Alpha Challenge, I was 7 months into this project

when I had my stroke. I think it's time to get it done.

7. Continue clay bird series, have 9 so far.

Many more but these are the priorities.

I'll keep you posted on how it's going and I certainly hope to have

lots of art to share.

Here are 2 pieces from the series, Family History in Art... 

C C Tabor

My maternal grandfather.

12 x 12 mixed media box including his pins from the US Army Corp of Engineers.

Background features pieces from maps of places he lived.

Hoosier Honey

My maternal grandmother.

12 x 12 mixed media box including 2 milk caps from her family's dairy.

She's wearing heels, what a hoot.

I gave both pieces to my mother for Christmas.

She was thrilled and has actually taken them out and

shown them to other family members. We'll get them

on her wall soon.

Enjoy!

A new year...

Happy New Year!

We rang in 2014, quietly, at home. It has become our tradition.

I spent the evening working in one of my art journals and reflecting on 2013.

It was very good year, a year of healing, a year of growth and a year of accepting that which I cannot change. 

With each new year, rather than making resolutions, I make a plan for the year. I set goals.  My list of goals for this new year is long. I cannot wait to share many of these projects with you.

I started out the new year with a clean, organized studio. I'm ready for another great year.

Here is the last project I finished in 2013, my Christmas journal... 

Front Cover of a 7 x 10 moleskin journal.

I incorporated Christmas cards we received, scraps of wrapping paper, gift tags, photographs and added paint, ink, rub-ons and even a few stickers. Added a bit of stitching and pieces of washi tape throughout.

Currently working in my 2014 art journal and painting a piece of furniture, not wasting any time working on my list.

Enjoy!

Memories in art...

5 years ago today, our family lost an amazing woman.

She loved unconditionally and she was my biggest fan and supporter.

She was my best friend and luckily for me, my stepmom.

She made this world a better place to be.

I miss her and think about her every single day.

I created this little piece of art in her memory...

Our Dancing Queen

Debra List Payne

January 29, 1954 - December 13, 2008

 

Glass on glass...

I love vintage glass Christmas balls and I have gathered quite a collection. This idea came to me as I was putting together my glassware garden art...

A couple of plates, a few glasses, a platter and small bowl, a little adhesive and now I have a pretty display for some of my glass balls. It's especially lovely when the light shines on them through the window. Enjoy!

Decorating on a budget...

If you follow my blog, you have probably figured out that I like doing things simple and inexpensively.

Here is a good example...

Found these glass trees at a thrift store, large one was $2 and the smaller ones were $1 each.
The most expensive part of this project is the spray paint. It's Krylon Looking Glass mirror paint. You can purchase online from Walmart for about $10 per can. Michael's sells it for $11.99 and AC Moore it's $13.99 however both these stores normally have at least a 40% off coupon. One can will last a long time and do many projects, I've used it on over a dozen glass pieces and still have plenty left to do more.
It's very easy...make a mixture of equal parts water and white vinegar and put it in a spray bottle. Spritz the inside of the glass pieces with mixture and then apply a light amount of spray paint. Allow to dry and repeat steps until you are happy with the amount of paint. I kept mine light for this project. I set the finished trees on a mirror I bought at Goodwill for $1.95.
Pretty, yet simple and inexpensive.
Enjoy!

Collecting glass...

I love Pinterest and am constantly inspired by the art and craft ideas I find there. Several months ago I found many pins for Glassware Garden Art and was intrigued. I began collecting assorted glass pieces at thrift shops and Goodwill stores. I wanted to make four pieces to give as gifts.

Here is the assortment of glass, it took me about 2 months to gather. I was looking for color and unique and interesting pieces...

Red and blue are the hardest to find and the greens come in a couple of different shades, I chose the "avocado" shade.

Here are three of the finished pieces... 

This was fun although very time consuming, I only glued one level at a time and allowed 24 hours of drying. If I had chosen different pieces for the top, these could also be used as a candleholder.
Enjoy!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

The decorating is done...

Now to get the shopping and wrapping finished.

Enjoy!