Candles... and coffee mugs... and bedsheets... oh my! Well, I guess everybody knows me because
I got so many awesome cupcake-themed presents this Christmas. And all from different people! Mom got me this awesome sprinkle-topped candle that looks yummy enough to eat! My brother's girlfriend got me the oh-so-true coffee mug... in my favorite color! And Mary—a very good longtime friend of the family—got me these ridiculously cute bed sheets! Who knew?
I hope that on Christmas morning... you awake to find just what you wanted under the Christmas tree! Enjoy your time with family, friends, and furry ones!
A Major Nor'easter dropped about 2 feet of snow here at the Jersey Shore this weekend... with snowdrifts up to 6 feet high! So, leaving my Christmas shopping till the last minute... not such a good idea. But I know not to mess with (fight) Mother Nature. So instead I stayed home and enjoyed the beautiful scenery...
Little "snowdrifts" were on all the windows.
Me digging out the car!
Mom and I took a walk down to the beach. Here's a shot off the Ocean Grove pier.
And... the Bed & Breakfasts just look even prettier with snowfall all around... don't they?
For a couple of days I was on a press check at Holly Label Company. What does that mean? It means I was on-site for a print run of several labels being created for my employer—Ranger. Now... I can't tell you what they were for, because it's top secret! But we'll be introducing this product at the Winter CHA Trade Show this January... so stay tuned!
Holly Label is a little off the beaten path... on top of a very, very large hill in Nicholson, Pennsylvania. This is the afternoon view from atop that very large hill... gorgeous, huh?
Upon my arrival... everyone made me feel right at home. I really felt like a member of the Holly "family". They are a fun, close knit group!
is the owner of Holly Label. A savvy businessman, he always puts the customer first and even meets our impossible deadlines! I used to call him a Saint... but he professed that he would rather be a Sir... as Saints are people who have passed! Did I mention he was a funny guy?
Okay, so it's a little late for Halloween... but I finally finished my Kitty Kat Petite Doll collage. I made the background dark so the girl and the moon would stand out and really pop. I wasn't sure if having just the tree on the left made that side too plain... so I was debating whether or not to add an owl on the bottom branch.
With the holiday (happy belated Thanksgiving!) this past week... I decided to take the entire week off for some much needed rest and relaxation (Romeo is taking my lead). I wanted to take some time to make art... but there was also a lot to do around the house. So I took a new approach and alternated "play" days and "work" days. I cleaned the entire house... put away most everything that wasn't tied down... did a little shoe shopping... which means a new "bed" for Juliet...
Had a few yummy meals out... changed some lightbulbs... a visit to Home Depot... some clothes
shopping... lots of Suzi Blu style drawing (my new favorite is the one on the bottom right!)... a visit to the craft store... a little Christmas shopping... laundry, laundry, laundry... sweeping, vacuuming and dusting... oil and filter change for the car... lots of crafty painting... kitty kat petting and brushing... visiting family and friends... get the car inspected... and all that stuff. It was a really great week and I feel well rested and properly nested... for the coming winter months!
Went to the Innovative Beads Expo this weekend with my mom. She's retired and makes
jewelry on the side... so she's a good one to have along. Mom has been to this show so many times that she's an expert on who to buy what from. With my newfound inspiration from the Fall classes I took at Squam... I had a strong desire for lots and lots of pearls. Aren't they beautiful?! Love the robin's-egg blue...
Played around a little more with my Petit Dolls I learned to draw with Suzi Blu. Even though it's past Halloween... I really wanted to try drawing costumes... and I pleasantly surprised myself. I liked it so much I even gave her a little companion mousey...
A 50-minute massage... a good meal at a favorite restaurant... and some White Zinfandel (with a side of gummy cherries)... This is how I spent my Friday night. Sometimes you just have to take yourself out and show yourself a good time. I deserve it! Relaxing, rejuvenating and restful. Ahhhhh......
Bringing clarity to the eyes. I originally had them as a teal green... but wanted more of an ethereal look. So I chose this soft, seafoam green. and added some Stickles glitter glue... because Suzi Blu said to make the eyes sparkle...
Added some delicate lace to the bottom of the dress. And pink striped stockings... of course!
And a little tiny pair of red shoes. Gotta have red shoes!
Just over a week ago... I could not even draw a face. And now... I can't stop myself! I find that when I have little snippets of time... I'm practicing eyes and mouths and such. Although I excitedly managed to draw an entire doll and begin shading. I forgot how much I love pencil shading!
Then it was on to layering papers and paints to create a collaged background. I got so excited, that I neglected to take progressive photos... but here I am seeing how the doll works in the near final composition.
I was going to leave it at that... but of course I couldn't help myself... I had to start coloring the dress and more! I'm addicted. Painting select areas of the doll... more collage... and beeswax come next... can't wait!
So, I finally broke down and said... "I'm gonna do it!" and signed up for Suzi Blu's Les Petit Academy. I'm learning how to draw faces which will later be shaded and colored... put on cute little bodies... and then collaged into a marvelous mixed media background. I'm having a lot of fun so far and am really proud of the results! I've always had trouble with faces and was seriously intimidated. Now... I can't wait to draw tons and tons of them! Taking the leap...
Wow, what a fun day I had at work on Friday. I love it when people get dressed up. We have a
little mid-morning photo shoot... once everyone's makeup is done... wigs are on straight... and costumes are complete...
Tis the season for beautiful, colorful flowers against a backdrop of fading leaves and darker skies. Boy do they pop!
Ever feel like your in a constant conundrum? Well, so does Cookie... this amazingly adorable
sock creature made just for me! While attending the Squam Art Workshops, one of my fellow Squammies—Carol Sullivan—had created a Mr. Rabbit sock creature for our teacher, Nina. I gushed over it for hours, and upon my return to NJ, Carol informed me that she made a little guy for me. How lucky am I? The generosity of the people I met at the retreat is just awe inspiring.
A few weeks ago I took a class on block printing... where I got to carve my own design and make a few prints from it. This was my first attempt at such a technique (except for the "potato printing" as a child!)... and so I went with one of my favorite subjects... Tillie. I threw together this quick collage when a friend gave me a 6" x 6" canvas and I realized he fit right in with the tickets! Love it when things come together like that!
Inspired by my Squam art retreat smack dab in the middle of nature... I had the need to create these speckled paper clay
eggs. Most likely to incorporate into some jewelry pieces. I have always had a penchant for birds, nests and eggs... and so this just seemed very organic. They look a little too "pretty" for me though. I need to "dirty" them up a bit. Maybe some burnt umber? Maybe silver, since they're ultimate residence will be on a silver necklace? Not sure yet. I'll have to play some more.
How does an artist leave a note for the kitty sitter? Like this, of course!
This weekend I went to my hometown's Harvest Festival and an Antiques & Collectibles Show
with friends Jackie and Patti. I found lots of great vintage beads for my jewelry stuff... an old Disney circus story magazine from 1944... two agate geode necklaces and an ice cream cone necklace. But my favorite purchase was this nifty crocheted hat. I stopped by The Mod Hatter booth and had seen this really cool hat, but it was in a child's size. I asked the crotchet-er—Lisa Bloch—if she could make me an adult-sized one. She just happened to have the yarn, so she made it for me while we walked around! How's that for instant fashionication? Thanks Lisa!
These are some 4 inch square mixed media canvasses I had been working on before my vacation. This format is fun to work with, as it is small enough to not get tied up with "overthinking"...
Your opportunities for creativity are really endless as far as themes and color schemes...
And sometimes... while just playing around... magic happens...
I'm still riding high on the creative wave I caught at the Squam Art Workshop... and I am loving every minute of it! My mind races with thoughtful ideas in multiple mediums. Jewelry... paper clay... collage... and so much more. I made a second necklace, based on several of the techniques I learned at the art retreat. I used shells found on the beaches of my home town of Ocean Grove. The focal point of the piece was this gorgeous blue oyster shell. Sidenote: the beautiful lampwork bead on the left below was given to me by Anne Lichtenstein...one of my classmates (she made it!). Thanks Anne!
I added a sea snail shell... and a compass... so I wouldn't lose my way...
And my little crabby (a gift from my mom) anchored to the rock (given to me by yet another generous classmate...Carol Belliveau. Thanks for sharing!).
My mind is running wild with even more ideas using seashells! Yay creativity. And yay for sharing, caring people!
