ICYCLES

I love winter….and not very often do we actually get icicles….but I love them.  You can barely see the rainbow of colors in them from the sun….. but it was beautiful and I am sorry I couldn't capture the colors better…..

Jewelry Set

I have a new blouse that is greens and purple splashes so these beads were perfect to make matching jewelry for it…..

I love these nugget spacer beads ….. my new most favorite from Tierra Cast sold at Etsy Shoppe
     DRAGYNSFYRE…..

Falling Into Winter

As fall begins to bring with it that little bit of nip in the air that tells me that winter is on its way, the days are shorter, the nights longer, hot chocolate instead of lemonade, long pants and socks, all signs of what is to come….  I LOVE winter but for some reason I am really looking forward to winter this year.  Just a feeling,,,,intuition,,,,,call it whatever;  I just feel it is going to be an enjoyable few months.  I have books to read, art to do, journaling, my Etsy shoppe, a trip to Maui in January which was a totally unexpected non frugal decision, a spare bedroom to finish,  having fun with some new recipes, some new quick warm knit/crochet items,  and just enjoying being in the NOW of a seasonal event.   The new altered inks have brought mystery and a feeling of joy to what is a new art form for me and I am totally amazed with the process from start to finish.  I love the colors, the matting, the naming…..and hopefully the "selling" which is the dream of all starving artists' of the world.  

So goodby fall, you were a beauty …. and a slide now into the winter end of 2014.

Canvas / Photo Matt Vendor

Whenever I run across a good vendor online be it a website, Etsy,

or Ebay I have to provide them with just a little HURRAY  here on 

my blog.  This time it is an Ebay vendor going by Golden State 

Art.  I have been using them since I began the Altered Inks.   They 

have different sizes of matting, colors, even backings and 

celephone baggies.   Their shipping is FAST and best of all 

(FREE) and all of my orders have been perfect….I don't have one 

complaint….. and I don't have any type of financial affiliation with 

them…..it is just so great to get top of the line quality items, 

quickly…. so check their little shop out ….  you won't be 

disappointed.   More and more I seem to use my online vendors.  I 

save gas and more importantly TIME…. and can browse sitting in 

in my comfy chair….

  

4 new Texture Tile Stamps

I have just added these four stamps to my Etsy shoppe of goodies www.artisticrenderings.etsy.com

Jungle Leaves
Feather Flurry
Pods  (I love this one)
Plant Cells  (I purchased this one because it reminded me more of winter fog.

I may have to use the Jungle Leaves as a background for a giraffe.  

New Jewelry Set

I just finished this set last night….  I love the focal handmade lamp work beads and have them in 4 additional colors….they remind me of frost on a wonderful, sunny, winter day----and I love winter.  I have used some of the oblong Swarowski crystals in clear on both pieces and added a Buddha to the necklace.  The spacers and the Buddha bead are from Tierra Cast sold by my daughter Dragynsfyre on Etsy.

On the necklace I have also used two milky opal crystal beads that add that touch of mystery….

New Jewelry

I have been in the mood for creating some jewelry pieces to add to my pictorial portfolio….  I have had the focal beads for several years and had them saved I guess for The Now….   I love the new Swarowski Crystal oblong beads and used 4 on the red and white bottom necklace….adds just a bit of sparkle.    I am hoping that I can come up with "names" for the pieces.

Jewelry designing seems to be what I enjoy when I need to take my train of thought somewhere other than the outside of myself….

NEW Wood Roller for Clay Embossing / Texture

 This is a new product that has not even been released to wholesalers but what an awesome product.  I used it on the white piece of clay below and it is for a COBBLESTONE effect which is pretty much Perfect in my book.  It is a bit pricier until it goes wholesale.  ($20.00) and I am going to do them by custom orders only.  I am hoping they are released for me to purchase wholesale before the holidays…   There are several different patterns and 2 different lengths.  The smaller ones have a handle that is purchased seperately to hold the roller for easier application to the clay.

The blue piece is a new stamp I just purchased to add to my line and is Double Bubble Embossed which is pretty neat too.

In the next couple of weeks I will be adding more new stamps and items for the holiday season so check my Etsy site often…..

Time to think about CHRISTMAS…….

Altered Ink

I really like this piece for color, dimension, form, shapes, movement, and the ability to really loose yourself within the piece….

This coming week I have to get more matted and framed as that makes such a wonderful difference in the picutes.  I "thnk" I might call this one Peek A Boo.

Cake Decorating Winner …. Dirk Luchtmeijer

I competed for the first time ever at Taart & Trends 2014. This is the biggest cake fair in Holland as we know it. This years theme was called “Oriental Sweetness”

I created myself a moodboard by picking all kinds of pictures regarding chinese gardens, dragons, traditional textures, funny oriental related cartoons (because i like to give it a smile)

I got inspirated by your mold to create a steampunk art dragon out of scratch. So no drawings or designs. Just build a skeleton out of sugerpaste and let it dry for almost a week. After that all the small pieces came together like a non excisting jigzaw puzzle. The small gears are made from special lace paste whitch made them realy delicate. You can’t see it but it’s technicaly 100% edible 

After i finished it i gave it a name. Don’t mess with the emperor…. I guess the emperor is having a good time scaring his servant samurai warrior.. so you shouldn’t mess with the emperor.

It was the first time i made a piece with such great detail. I realy enjoyed making it. It took about 100 hours completing the whole piece and a lot of patience and passion.

After sending in my piece they were absolutely stunned by seeing it. It took 2 days to judge all the pieces that where brought in. So at the end of day 2 i heard the results of the jury and won the competition!

I won a trophy and a 300 euro workshop at one of my favorite cakeshops in Holland. It was a very exciting weekend and like to thank you for bringing in a part of my inspiration.

Best regards, Dirk Luchtmeijer from The Netherlands

Dirk sent me the above information after winning the competition (and WOW ,,,  WOW …. WOW

Some of the parts and pieces were made using Lisa Pavelkas Steampunk stamp INNIE …. There are also a couple of others stamps I sell on my Etsy Site which are steampunk related….  Talk about creativity….. this gentleman has it in spades.  

Cake Decorating, Soap decorating….what will be next????

CONGRATULATIONS DIRK….. What's next?

Art for Men

Tonight I was gathering paints together to begin painting some wooden ties with a fishing scene and I was surprised to see that items I have been working on (journals, photo cards,
wooden ties, etc.) that I have unconciously geared towards men…and I think the reason why is it is so HARD to find non feminine cards, gifts, etc. and it is frustrating so maybe I have "hit on something".

I am hoping to be accepted into a very unique Gallery and I am preparing items so I have a portfolio of sorts to "show" my work.

This old car sits in our front yard where my husband has been creative….and I have turned the photo into a greeting card that is matted and could be framed.    I cannot tell you how many men have stopped and wanted to purchase one of my husbands "cars" to transform into a Rat Rod and this is where I got the idea for mens cards as the men are young and old….. and then we have the "picture takers"….. it has been a fun collection of rusted car planters….

Altered Ink "STATIC"

This is one of my most recent altered ink pieces…..as well as my favorite of the batch.  I am going to be matting 2 different sizes of this in photo form ….  I love it when I get images likes this….    I have titled this one "STATIC"….

Our weather has been gorgeous …. beautiful Indian Summer weather so I am hoping to get another batch of prints done tomorrow or Monday…..

PYM II Acrylic Protective Sealant

I purchased this spray awhile ago but never had the occasion, until now; to put it to the test.

My latest work is altered inks on paper and this product said you could use it over paper, newspapers, digial photos etc. as a fast drying, acid free, Injet print safe, water repellant, polymer clay safe, light fast finish spray. 
I am pretty gullible so decided to test it out on a smaller finished ink piece ………and omg it passed with flying colors…. and the finish is between a mat and satin…which is just perfect.  The product has UV protectant and can be used on the items listed above but also for:  laser prints, giclee, crafts, glitter, polymer clay, copic markers, metals, glass and much more…

PYM stands for Preserve your Memories and although the product is upwards of spendy, I have a product I don't have to use as much of as I only required one coat and there is no apparent indication that the item has been sprayed as with other products.  Also I was delighted with no overpowering odor as other brands disspell.    

I spend a lot of time on my pieces and with the majority of what I do one of a kind I need a product I can depend upon to do what I want   With PYM II  also containing UV protection with it is pretty much perfect…and wanting that professional look….. quality is as important as the price.  
I even sprayed my mat with the product for a little extra protection from the suns rays.

There is no one I have found here in my area that carries this spray so I ordered mine (and my reorder tonight for 2 more cans) was directly from their website.  http://www.PYM II.com.  Also check U-tube for some demonstrations on this product.  And no, I don't receive any financial gain from using or endorsing this product.    

I won't be using anything but this product from this point on…is has become my preferred protective sealant.  

Super Fish FINISHED

Just when you think you are done…..you find out you're not and you go one step farther….
Now it is done…if "feels" right.   The added pieces acted as eye stoppers for me.  Pathway in
but none out…..  I love the brass corners.   I have NO idea why chopsticks, and the item to the left is a seashell that I purchased along the Oregon coast….  I guess maybe the items "just worked"….
or maybe it will all mean something to the receivers somehow….  I love when that happens….

Altered Ink "SUPER FISH"

This is an altered ink piece I just finshed and it is going to be a fun one.  It is matted (I found a mat that matched the green perfectly) , framed, and the picture of the finished piece is below.  I call it Super fish
and it is a present for my niece who just had her first baby.  I hope they will enjoy….as I really feel that it came out just for them…..  (The baby's room is green and pink).

When the pictures are matted, twisted and turned it is amazing what I see….and what others see.
I love the depth of the pieces as if they were layered….  I've been lucky to get a lot of really nice
pieces out of the last magazine I did thanks to my daughter and a box of free National Geographics.

I have had an 8 x 10 print done of the original and I think it would look great matted a burnt orange…
so that will be next.

Hope and Healing Wraps by Brooke .. New Etsy Shoppe

Brooke has finally finished opening her delightful little Etsy shoppe and has stocked it with some of her
leather, button, and gemstone wrap bracelets.

Each of the gem beads she uses are identififed as well as how they relate to the spiritual side….as well as the beauty side and she co-ordinates them by color and size depending on the length of the bracelet chosen.

There is much more that goes into Brookes' bracelets than what meets the eye and are made from the heart with love…. as well as her personal concept and what she wants to achieve wiht her art.  They are not JUST wrap bracelets….or things…. they have meaning to the wearer.

Give her shop a "look see"…..  I am sure you will like what you see and read.

http://www.hopeandhealingwraps.etsy.com

 

STAPLES

When I was having some printing done at Staples I had time to browse the store,,,which I normally don't seem to have time to do.  Many back to school items were on sale and I found these wonderful zippered bags….zippered on both sides and great roomy areas BUT what was even more fantastic…
was the INSIDE of both pouches are soft;  almost like a worn flannel shirt.  There is a nice,  heavy duty strap for carrying, smooth opening zippers, supple leatherette exterior.

They came in Black, Green, Pink, Beige, and Turquoise …. and I purchased the 6 the Bend store had left; wishing there were more.

Tonight I added large lamp work beads (wire wrapped) to the zipper portion on one side for easy opening.  It dresses the item up, makes it even more unique and special and will use them for Christmas gifts this year.

I chose a Green one and have all of my specialty pens, pencils, erasers, etc. in one and even with all I had I still have plenty of room….

So check out your local Staples and see if they have these available….  Great for jewelry, art supplies, makeup,  small tool kit, shaving bag, pencils/pens etc.

It was just nice to find such a neat, unique, product at a reasonable price…. that I could alter to make it personal…

YEA STAPLES…..

Cookbook Cupboard

 Today was a bit of getting rid of stuff in my studio and rearranging things a bit with the purchase of the vintage chippy cookbook cupboard I bought a couple of weekends ago.  It works perfect for my Mattise Flow and Liquitex acrylic paints then below are my canvas boards that I purchase from an ebay seller who "makes them".  The titled down shelving is perfect….   I "feel" a bit more organized and my claying toaster oven is at eye level which also works great.  Slowly my garage sale grows and I have more "space" so it feels good….and long overdue.

Pretty as a Picture

FLOWERS IN MY DAUGHTER IN LAWS LAWN.  SO SIMPLY PRETTY.

Vintage Cookbook Cupboard

A couple of weeks ago when I went to Camp Sherman for the day/night there was a garage sale and I picked up this little gem, basically because I love storage items, especially when they are old, chippy, and something I have never seen before.  This cupboard; I was told, is  a cookbook cupboard.  The shelves are slatned toward the back of the cupboard.  3 Shelves are missing but since I will be using it for art storage in my little space downstairs that wasn't an issue.  I love the chippy paint.  There was only a cardboard backing on it so my husband ripped that off and we put a new back on it today….  A great $10 find…at least in my book.   I am just not sure what I will store inside….special painting books I won't be able to get rid of at my garage sale the 19th through 21st, or maybe my tube paints that need a home….. hmmmm.

The fun is the "find" and then comes "for what"….  and constant enjoyment.  One of those items I touch lovingly often.

Japanese Red Maple

Our Japanese Red Maple has NEVER been this red….or this early and it seemed to happen overnight....  I hope we have a LONG Indian Summer… and NOT an early winter…..I am just not ready for winter this year…..or am I?

Wrap Bracelets by Brooke

These are the 3 photos of the bracelets Brooke made for me using colors I had requested and buttons that I sent…. Awesome…I love them both.

Photo #1 and #2 is the one I have chosen for ME… MYSELF and I.

Photo #3 is a Christmas present for someone whom I hope will like it…. and it is another beauty.

I have deer buttons, elk, bear and squirrel paws,
steampunk, cat, moon, and some for the other side ….elegance.  

                                                                                               THANKS BROOKE.

FALL

Metolious Camp Sherman

The Metolious calls…….again.

There are so many "things" about the Metolious and Camp Sherman that draw me back….from the calmness of the river to the robust white water and the music each make.

Fall is beginning and instead of flowers it is berry time and I am sure to come will be mushrooms.  The
evening was really chilly and the seasoned firewood snapped,  was warming and the smell was heavenly…..almost like an incense.

Pru (photo #2)  would much rather lay down than Walk the Walks…..as they are normally at least 2 hours long…  She has slept since we got home.

The waterfalls are coming from within the side of the hilly section and not from the top….and as you can see …. more BLUE blue water…… no camera enhancements need to be made on ANY of the Metolious photos…..

There will be one more "trip" in the fall….probably the 1st week of October…..

Had the best sandwitch from the little deli / store (Turkey, lettuce, onions and cranberry sauce on marbled rye bread….and strawberry/watermelon juice to drink….and eating it beside the river….life doesn't get a whole much better.

Even was able to get a couple of Christmas gifts and there was a garage sale where I picked up a
cookbook cupboard for $10.00 with green chippy paint…..It is needing a new "back" as there is just cardboard on it now….but that is an EASY fix …….  Laaarrrryyyyyy.  I have never seen a cupboard like this with many angled shelves inside….. I loved it…..and although I am not sure just where it will end up in the house and with what "in it" I have several good ideas….and will have my mind made up by the time it has been repaired….

My goal for September is to live in the NOW….. I have lost site of that and am entertained with the
anticipation of change……

Enjoy the photos…..

Buddha Jewelry Set

 Today I got beads together to work on some Buddha jewelry with the "heads" I received over the weekend.  This one is done with various turquoise and off white beads along with Tierra Cast Clasps, Wings, and Floral barrel beads which my daughter sells on her Dragynsfyre Etsy site.

I also finished another Buddha set in purple which I will take photos of tomorrow when I have totally completed the set.  I have yet another one to do in "greens" and may just order soome more focals for additional sets.   Each one, although the focal bead is the same, will be different.  I am not sure just which one I will claim as mine…..so will need to wait until all are completely finished.

My Buttons … Artisan Wrap Bracelets

One of my "button" customers  (Brooke G.)  is in the process of opening her own Etsy shoppe and will be making wrap bracelets using a lot of the buttons I sell as well as others, beads, charms, etc.   Photo #1  is one of her 2 daughters modeling one of the longer lengths.  SWEET.

#2.  One of the celtic buttons I sell with a single wrap.                                                                        

#3. A small orbital button with a single wrap

#4.  Steampunk Wrap


I have been wanting a purple bracelet so I have asked for a multiple wrap using the steampunk button in photo #4 with purple beads.  The button I believe is brass (but it also comes in copper).  I love jewelry that is handmade, unique, one of a kind,  and fun to wear.  These wraps are perfect.


s
                   
As soon as she gets her shoppe up and running I will post a photo of my purple one along with her new shoppe name.   If there is a button you like from my Etsy shoppe you can request a custom bracelet.

Life Cycle

 Early this spring one of our weeping pine trees was the fruitful recipient of beautiful small red and beige pinecones…. progressing on to the bright green and then into the really pretty finished brown shade.
It has been neat to watch the progress as to color, shade, shape, texture etc. as is normal and typical of human life also….the stages
we all go through….and we don't need to do a thing,  it just happens….magical, mystical,  and weathering the storms.

I have a distressed cream colored 3 opening picture frame so I think I am going to use these three photos…  and hang in my Etsy office….

Have a great week everyone…

diana