Back to the Workbench

Getting back to the bench is always tough for me after a hiatus. I was ready for the holidays early (this is a first) and had all my pieces out in stores, and my online Etsy store stocked well. That gave me time to concentrate, on the house, the guests coming to visit, the cooking, working and last minute everything that I had put off to make jewelry :)

This year, I have decided to get back into shows and festivals, and my first one is Feb 1, 2014!!! Right around the corner! I am really excited. I have ordered my Square, a new banner and  new displays. I am one step closer. I need to buckle down, get a booth idea sketched out and get new items rolling out. Now sitting back at my workbench, ideas are there, I am just slow to produce them. My mind seems to be elsewhere.

To combat this, I put on music and randomly string. I do not commit the design, I just string, unstring, string, unstrings. Next thing you know, I have some ideas that actually are working for me, and I am excited to start on a new creations.

Here is a bit of a preview of what I am working on! 

I hope this new year takes you on many magical adventures!

"Conversations with Zeus" Acrylic Painting

9x12 Acrylic on Canvas board.


Zeus - yes the same Zeus in the Because of Zeus Fund. He haunts me still, and most likely will for a long time. It isn't a bad haunt - although I will admit, sometimes when I fell asleep in my recliner, I did jump awake, I could feel him staring at me, with his big eyes wide open, and ready to pounce.

It is a good haunt, and we have invited him to do so in the house. I see a shadow run across my peripheral vision, and when I turn to look nothing is there. I respond with "Hi Zeus". Something will be moved from my work bench, and I KNOW right where I left it (especially if it was in a plastic baggie) and I will find the baggie on the floor, or in another room. I respond with "Damnit Zeus" so yeah, I invite his playfulness still.

It is a way of me working thru my grief even after a year of having him put to sleep due to his sickness.

I painted for him. A painting I will frame and keep for myself. An odd sized canvas, that I had no ideas I even had,  that no frame fits, and I have to have it custom framed. A bit of Zeus - you bet :)

It is in his colors, oranges, yellows, dark browns, creams and of course the crimsons.


I went round and round with myself while he was living in my house. Round and round with how do I deal with a feral cat? How do I deal with a cat who suffers from so much brain damage? How do I keep this cat in the house and trust him? Do I put him out and let him become feral again? Will that be what is best for him? All of that torture I wrestled with daily is represented by the circles.

I used water on the painting, causing it to run - representing my tears

Oh and the crimson, yes that is the blood that was shed so many times due to that cat, and his freak outs he would have. He would snap, like cats do, and go from zero to sixty in an instant .I was always in the way when that happened, and I always suffered from it.

I had made a promise to keep him safe, and I did, until the end.

I miss you buddy

Layers of an Acrylic Painting "De-Stressing Distress"

I am in awe of how artists can create a painting in one sitting.

Mine take days and days of layers and layers. Sometimes the suspense is overwhelming, I can't wait to see what it will look like.

I never know where I am going to go with the color or the texture. It changes with each layer.

Here is how I started

It is a lot to take in, it screams at you. It makes me feel like I am driving on the interstate, hell bent on getting to work, so much traffic, my knuckles are white on the wheel. I hate that feeling. There is A lot of color, A LOT of paint. So thick took 5 days to dry. In the thickness of the paint I scrawled in words and shapes. Kept it positive. I NEED that positive. Kinda like my mantra I guess.

Now it is dry, lets add more color!

I mixed three colors to get this one. Slapped it on, and then with a damp towel and a wet paint brush, removed color in patches. Removed that screaming - I was nearly deaf!

Let it dry.

How bout some more color!!

This was a bit much. I really scared myself. Thought I had went to far. The screaming started again. Same process, used a damp towel, wet brush, and A LOT of water to remove this paint in areas of the work area, and to lighten the over all color.

Finally I did a coat of white - (forgot to take a picture) the coat of white was really watered down. I had to stop the screaming. I applied it with a wet washcloth. It had a white wash look to it, made the painting very opaque. Didn't have the look I wanted yet. So I kept rubbing, and wetting, and rubbing. Even rubbed the paint off in one spot, but I liked the look of it and kept going. Finally - with the white wash just right, and still wet, I went over it with a high gloss glaze.

PERFECT!!! 

The glaze reacted with the white washing and gave a great look to the final painting. I am in love.

I have named it "De-Stressing Distress".

It reminds me of an old pair of blue jeans. Soft, and torn. When you pull them on, they button just right and  you sigh with comfort. You can trace your finger around the stains on the thigh and remember the party where you danced and danced, and spilled your drink. How about the rip in the knee. The memory of bending down to pick up your child at the park, and they ripped, and smile. The hole in the pocket where all your change drops thru, and you silently cuss, because you keep meaning to mend it. Deep in the threads of these jeans hold the secrets of your happiness and when you pull them on nothing else matters.

Like the painting, if you look, the words and shapes can be seen, words like love and passion, words that are so important to us, and we tend to forget in our busy lives.

I want you to get lost in this painting, and feel the comfort it gives.

Earrings! Earrings! Earrings!

I had about 15 minutes to myself this weekend and took advantage of the moment and made a few pairs of earrings!



Classic glass pearl dangle

Cluster of light blue beads left over from the re purpose project for my Mom

Cute blackstone earrings - perfect for everyday, and needed in any accessory collection just like that little black dress!

Did you get to create this weekend? What did you do?

From Christmas to Sunflowers - Acrylic Paining

I love the process.

I love the unknown of where I am going, just following my paint brush blindly knowing I will arrive somewhere fantastic.

This is how it started. Reminded me of somewhat of a dark Christmas. Christmas Eve, the family is over, someone had a bit too much to drink, and maybe pulled some family ghosts out of the closet and hung them right over the top of the dinning room table. The evening started beautiful, and then suddenly got dark.

You know that Christmas?

Then 6 months later, summer is in full bloom, and that same family is together, and the sun is shining, and the day is full of laughter, food, hugs and love.

National Clerihew Day and Free Earrings!!!!

Did you know that today is National Clerihew Day? I LOVE clerihews - they are right up there with limericks with me.

I thought it would be fun to put your creative talents to the test!  Write a clerihew (altho not biographical)  about your most favorite of my designs and you could win a pair of earrings!!!!

You can find all of my designs on my Facebook Fan Page or you can see what I have for sale at my Etsy Shop!!

Heres mine -

"Keep" My Heart
Copper chain for the most part
Your eyes are drawn to the copper wire swirls
And the perfect length to show off the girls!



Your Turn!!!

Go!!!

Acrylic Painting - Cosmic Chrysanthemum

I do love working with these colors! And I do have an obvious theme, I am inspired by the universe. In many many ways.

This was a fun project. I had some old cabinet doors in the shed. That got me to thinking.....

Tape off the door - now I have a canvas, and a built in frame.

Gesso, and lots of it - give it texture

Layers

Layers

Layers!!!!

I beat the outside of the door with a hammer, schmered on some black paint, wiped it off, and instant art in an instant frame!!!

Acrylic Painting - Twnkle Daycare

I really have a color pallet that I like to use when I paint. These rich colors really do move me. After adding layers and layers of color, I filled my brush with water and flung it on the painting. I love the trails of water, dragging the paint down with it. It had a very nebula look, a somewhere deep in the universe look. I watered down some white paint, loaded the brush, and flung it on the painting. Stars!!!!!!

Adventures in Acrylic Paint

I suffer from the "I want to do it alls" and I dabble in many different forms of expressions. Painting has become a real passion as of late.

I paint in layers, so it takes several days to complete a painting. A real test in patience!

What I love about the layers, is as each one drys, that gives me time to really meditate on what I am doing, really get lost in the project, and express something from very deep inside.

Sometimes as in the project, I may never know when to stop. I keep going with the layers. This one actually started out as a patch of flowers on a grassy hillside by a rock overlooking the ocean. Well, it still is, but the image is not as obvious :)

Fresh Water Pearl Cluster

Everywhere I look I see this color combination, I blame it on Vera Bradley :)

I am still so in love with these clusters, and something about pearls, whether fresh water or cultured, just gives class! This one makes me fell all dressed up and special.

Did you know pearls give purity and promote faith, charity, and integrity, truth and loyalty. They especially enhance personal integrity.

Off to the work table to make more! What color combinations would you use?

"Karma Clusters" Keeping the Design Simple

While I do like my jewerly to make a statement all on its own, I am finding a new appreciation for the simplicity of a design as well.

I love these small clusters on a simple chain. They don't over do it, and the colors I am using are not bold. This is the versatile choice - perfect for dressing up, to the office, or everyday.

This one is made up of rhodonite, amethyst, fluorite, rose quartz and coral. Peace and Love - who wouldn't want this with them everyday!

DIY Wrapping Paper - Reuse, Recycle!

I am a big fan of recycling. i haven't bought wrapping paper in years. It is too much fun to make it myself.

This is our local newspaper and a bit of paint. Quick and easy - AND my present wrapped in this will get the most attention - guaranteed :)

More wrapping paper ideas tomorrow!

What do you do to recycle?