Holy Smokes!

It's been awhile since my last post but I've been busy getting ready for a craft fair. My first in a couple of years. Making new things, repricing some old ones. I finally got a nice roly cart to haul things and a friend's teen is going to help me out a bit. As life would have it, I got more quilt tops come in to be done for Christmas. It's all good. I'm feeling happy for a change and I plan on working to keep that vibe throughout the new year. I also made a swap ornament for an online group I'm in. It's a Krampus but he isn't very scary.

 
I added another painting to my sketchbook and I don't know if I'll get anymore filled by the end of the month.

And then there have been the holiday parties I went to. Not as many as I was invited to but the group Mary's Mavens had their party last night which was amazing. The food was wonderful and the energy of all the women there was wonderful. I made some new friends, saw some old ones, and had a tarot card reading which was pretty much on point. A tarot reading is different from a psychic reading because you don't tell anything to the person doing it. She reads things through the cards and she hit several things right on the head. As far as things that I am pursuing as far as career and what I want out of life and the things that are standing in my way. But I am on a good track. That part was really cool to hear and it has empowered me to forge full speed ahead.

Here are ornaments I finished yesterday. Today I work on tiny table toppers and finish pricing things, pick up a table from a friend to use at the fair. I'm excited but starting to run on fumes. My apartment is a wreck and it will take a week to get things back together for the next big project.

So Far

It's been a good day. Even with grocery shopping in the morning. Running errands usually wears me out and I'm not productive at all for the rest of the day but I was determined to work on several things. I finally got back to some clay work. My new medium is Creative Paper Clay. And yes, I'm terrified. Afraid that things won't look right. But who cares? I'm doing something new and it takes practice to get things looking appropriate. I've got the heads started on three small dolls, two ornaments, one 'make it suck' piece, three box heads, and three cupcakes. Oh, I also covered the head for another doll and she's hanging up somewhere to dry. I started another two pages in my Cosmic Smashbook, and another face in my sketchbook.

#sketchbook #watercolor #inktensepaints #creativelpaperclay

Still Going

Still working on my sketchbook. I may just get this one filled by the end of the year. I'm practicing my watercolor and still getting used to my new Ink Tense paints. I'm really loving pen and ink and black markers.

I also finished up my little knitted stocking. This will be for Mesmer. I have enough yarn to make him a scarf and hat. I'll get some tiny candy canes to put inside and wrap some boxes for him. My tiny way of decorating for the holidays. The stocking is about 4 1/2 inches tall.

The Adventure Continues

Yes, it continues and evolves. Life still wants to throw things at me and some things I can't control. So I work on things I can control. My artwork and my writing. I am ready to do NaNoWriMo this year, starting at midnight November 1st. I will probably meet with my local group for the kickoff. I've missed Halloween again. So I've decided that it is truly a year round thing and will continue making things and figure out an outfit for next year. I'm still working on turning around this year. Working on my own break. Scared to death about it but the end has not been written and I want it to be different than what I've got now. So here's what I've been doing.

I took a Cosmic Smashbook workshop and it's like a journal making class but for personal development. It was fun, like being in kindergarden again. Lots of paint and glue. In the center of the journal, we wrote what we wanted to accomplish, our dreams, etc and then painted our hands over to protect those dreams. We can add photos, poems, pictures from magazines, anything that will help us reach our goals.

My goofy pic. I will work more on my cover. Yes, that's a pirate. That's how I see my adventure.

My first page will be one of fear and good feel arrows being shot into it. To get rid of the fear that is holding me back. The fear of failure, success, just being.

Here is the center of my journal where I wrote my dreams and goals. I traced and painted my hands over those dreams and goals.

This is an in progress project. Just like I'm a work in progress. This whole process is interesting and I will update as often as I can.

New Halloween Project

I had started this project some time ago but it wasn't working the way I'd wanted it to. Good thing I didn't throw the pieces away because I've come up with another idea. I cut the foam board today and found five square wood bases.

Day 1

I was using today as the first day to break out of my comfort zone. The first part didn't go so well. I didn't get started until about five PM. But I got started and finished the first part of a new project. That's what I told myself that I would do today. The first step. The other project to work on is my writing which I will do that after I post this. I have no idea how this will turn out. It's something totally new. So we'll see.

Grateful

I'm so grateful I live in an area that boasts many things to do. I went to a free gelli print demo at Enchanted Cottage yesterday. Very cool. But I had to hold back. I can't do everything, even though I'd like to. I really like the Copic markers and will save up for more of those. I will be going to the local art museum soon to see an Ansel Adams exhibit. There's a small fee for that one but that's okay. I'm planning on not missing that.

My quilt guild's guest quilter was Judy Lilly. Oh my! What a wonderful lady and quilter. She does landscape quilts that look like paintings. Some of her pieces were painted and then stitched. Truly amazing. I didn't attend her workshop but I was able to ask her questions and she was kind enough to answer them. She said that she could see the wheels turning in my head. I had to laugh. These are the best pics.

Close up of pic below.

This one, the flowers were painted and then stitched around. Judy told me what paint she used, Pro Fab fabric paint from Pro Chemical Company. I will have to check them out.

I liked her story. She started out as a painter and also was a quilter. She was looking at a painting she had begun, then all the fabric that she had and wondered why she didn't make a painting with the fabric. She said she never finished that painting. Wow! And she's very prolific. She said it can take from one month up to three to do a quilt. And they are wall hanging size.  http://www.judylillyartquilts.com/

#artquilt #landscapequilt #judylilly

Progress

I’ve gotten a bit further on my Halfsies. They have been fully covered with Rigid Wrap. I like using that before I use Creative Paperclay because the Rigid Wrap gives the piece a bit more strength. It’s just me. The process is not written in stone. But it saves on using tons of CP. I also started some bunner ornaments and although part of me wants them to be traditional bunnies, that little weird streak in me is saying, ‘creep them up’ a bit. We shall see. Right now everything is drying and I’ll turn my attention to the rats. See ya soon.

More on My Table

I’m still working on my rats but I’m also working on some scarecrows and other Halloween pieces. So here they are.

1- Columbian Doll

I finally finished her. My first Gail Wilson doll kit is done. It was interesting putting her together. Learned some new techniques and what I won’t be doing again. I’m looking forward to the next kit.

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12-29 Faces

Yes, I'm behind, again. So what's new right? I was finally able to get out of my apartment yesterday and today to go to the grocery store. Cabin fever hit something fierce. I have been getting things done, like working on two more aliens.  So here's my Rag Doll Lady or maybe she's a lady scarecrow.

Me thinks I will have to start playing with some photo retouching sites.

11-29 Faces

I painted this face on my Columbian Doll from Gail Wilson's kit. I'm not sure I like it but it's not done. A little sanding and then some antiquing. I want to have her done by the end of the month. Ha, ha!

10-29 Faces

This is washed out looking because I used a gloss medium on it. I forgot not to use that particular kind. Oh well, here she is. I finished her today.

6 & 7 -29 Faces

I'm up-to-date with these two. Bika and Bana in their bunner gear.

5-29 Faces

Working hard to keep abreast of this challenge of a face a day.  Here is Bunnie and her Bunners.

Being a little silly here. You have to find your happy moments, you know?

Hello February!

Where did January go? It was a bit sad, so maybe it's a good thing it has been put into the archives. I got really sick towards the end and now I'm a bit behind my schedule. The good thing about schedules is that they can be changed. I did manage to get some new work done, yesterday and they are ready for the Small Art/Big Heart show and sale at Hampton House Art & Framing. The artwork has to be 12" or smaller and they rarely have 3D pieces, so I had to do something. I'm sure you might remember these guys, or at least two of them.

Larz and Juno.

Mixed media, polymer clay, cloth, wire armature, felt and self standing. That's the part I really like.

This is what they looked like before the paint job. Now I've got to finish the other two and get to some Halloween things. Have a great month.

More Soft Sculpture Pics

Here are a few more pics I took of Lisa's work. The pics are mine, the work is hers, so please respect that and no copying without permission. Thank you.

This is Lisa's very first soft sculpture. Her art teacher at the time told her during an entire art session how bad it was and how she would never be an artist.

This is one of her latest pieces. Angel of Destruction. And those are real turkey feathers. She even made the sword out of paper clay.

Soft Sculpture Workshop Pics

I was going to do this post yesterday but friends invited me over for a bonfire and snacks.  So I went.  It was wonderful being with friends, making new friends, and hanging out with my soon-to-be eight month old niece.  She's a stitch.  It was a little warm for October in North Carolina but the evening sky was clear and the stars were amazing.

Lisa allowed us to take pics of her work.  The pics are mine, the figures are hers.  She does fantabulous work and is continuing her soft sculpture classes the rest of the year and scheduling for next year.

A close up of a head Lisa was working on to show the stitches of the eyebrows.

Jump.  She's so cute and playful.

The hands have plastic mittens on them because Lisa said the finger tips get dirty fast and the dirt shows up when covered with the panty hose.  A good tip to know.

You can just make out the stitches in the torso and thighs.

Some of Lisa's earlier characters.

This old gents eyes are painted to have cataracts.

Love this biker dude.  The hair on his chest is thread.

A cute little baby.  I'm going to have to learn how to make an open mouth.  We did get a quick tutorial.