Artistic Renderings

Altered Journal

I am really enjoying altering journals. I love this one with the wheat drawer pull which I incorporated into the design... unique and different. I feel that you if you have a "personal handmade journal" you will WANT to write in it....It is special, for special thoughts, poems, ideas, or just a day to day journal of life. This one was sold before I got a photo of it.....so now I am working on another as a gift then I need to do one for me....before the year passes me by. I know I will love writing in mine...now to find that special PEN.....

The one I am finishing is called "LIGHT".... that is it; simply Light so will try to get photos soon to post. It is a black, blank page wire bound type sketching journal....or for someone who doesn't want the restriction of lines.....

Meet: Miss Betsy {1 of 1) Wire Sculpture

This week I have been working on a "create something" for a class I go to on Thursday nights. A while back I did a swap on one of the Yahoo Groups that was to be an altered art spoon and I did one similar to the one below....but yet different. I like one of a kind items vs someone who has/does only one thing. Just my personal preference and I am sure there are those who think differently.... I really enjoy working with wire, twisting and turning...embellishing, trying some new "things", gathering bits and pieces, and then the actual putting it together, rearrainging, changing ones' mind, a mistake that ends up being a neat thing when worked into the design. I already know there will be another....

Wicker base: Frame from thrift store
Mirror: ?? Check out a department type store for the beveled endged bases that I think can be found in the candle section.
Wire: Different Guages (Loews)
Crystal flatback sequins: JoAnnes
Head and body of dragonfly and the bee on the headpin in the water and within the rocks: Buttons I sell on Etsy
Flat etched sea glass: (Waterfall/pond) Joannes in the artifical flower area.
Base: Vintage Teaspoon (Etsy Vendor)
Glue: E6000 Glass and Jewelry Glue (Works GREAT)
Wings: The pale purple wings are done with Gallery Glass (I LOVE this stuff) in purple and White Frost (I wish I would have used just the plain Clear with a little bit of purple) and spread onto an acrylic texture tile that I believe is called Frost (I haven't seen this item in years).... Once dry I glued pieces onto the tops of the winds as tightly as I could and let dry. Then I went back with small sharp sissors and cut around the wings...this is the easy way to achieve a clean perfect fit.

DON'T FORGET TO CHECK YOUR LOCAL DOLLAR STORES FOR A FRAME, MIRROR,
WIRE, SEA GLASS, ETC. I have seen these items there but soemtimes it is hit and miss with their items and they are not regular stock...

I pick up items when I see them and it could be months or years before I use them.... I especially pick up things I haven't seen before, or I might pick by color or shape and broken doesn't even bother me because if it intrigues me I will make it work somewhere along the line....

The wire I am using is 18 guage tin/copper....and I have NO IDEA where I bought it but I am out so if I find a source....I will come back and add it. This gauge works well because you can bend it with your fingers...and if you warm the wire with your fingers you can gets some nice rounded curves if this is the effect you are looking for. I have also found it is a pretty substantial base for the size pieces I have been doing to give a good foundation for the "freeform" when you begin to create....just start and the rest ... just seems to fall into place believe it or not.

Tonight I started another sculpture (out of wire) and I used an inexpensive teaspoon for the base and I pretty much covered the spoon with wire and then created forms.....I am not sure where I want to go next so I have put it down to rest and look at...... I just saw that I have some clear wire out to look at for this piece so I kinda/sorta think I know where this one is going...but we will see.

As for tools I would sugges a big pair of toenail clippers, flat nose jewelry pliers, round jewelry pliers,
jewelry snips for cutting wire, and once you get going on YOUR piece you will be finding your own little special tools.....

Go to Pinterest and put in Wire Sculptures .... so MANY ideas will pop forth to inspire your own pieces..... one of a kind art....Kinda neat after tracing others work.....this is fun to art my own stuff....

I wonder what my next one will look like...or maybe it won't even BE a dragonfly...

So gather your supplies and make yourself one, or as a gift for a special friend.

MEET MISS BETSY:

Shabby Chic Kitchen Set for Two (BEFORE) / Denim Vest

New Thrift Store Purchase.....

Someone has already distressed this piece and my present thought is that I need to do a couple of repairs to the piece before I do anything and that is a good thing cause it gives me some "thought time..... Do I go shabby chic colors and roses....or do I do something on the other end of things and
do something "french chic" and go with black and white. Decisions....decisions.... I already have a couple of sticky notes on the chairs for an idea I had for them... I need to "visualize" it in different ways.....sheeeeeesh......

The other thing I am working on is a denim vest. I love soft denim....well, anything soft really but jeans/skirts, etc. It started out as a Jacket.... I cut the sleeves out, and then removed the cuffs which I will use to make bracelets. In a group session I belong to; our homework was to create something this week. I may not finish the vest in time so I think I had best work on a bracelet first to match the jacket....for just a small verison of the vest design wise..

Sewing is NOT my forte so I am going to be doing handsewing which I prefer anyway. Since I have been working on the jacket for two evenings I have a portion finished ..... and it is in a "sit, waiting for the "next" step to spring forth.....lol...... I want it 65ish but a bit updated ..... but I also KNOW that it NEVER works out this way.... I with I had thought about getting a before photo but didn't so there will be only a finished vest and everyone will have to "see" just an ordinary jean jacket (but this one has a gorgeous PLEAT in the back, the vest will be a bit longer than normal vests which helps the "big hip" syndrome....It buttons but I don't like buttoned up vests so I utilized the button area with buttons but in a different manner.. (I have been raiding my Etsy jewelry button bins for buttons to use on the jacket...Tierra Cast items for some neat charms....a decision on "color" and looks like the accent color will be red (based on lady bug buttons and A red flower for in the hair (from a talented Etsy vendor) on the jacket instead. I don't wear flowers in my hair but it was so pretty I knew I would use the flower somewhere.... I am using silver buttons because the bronze/brass ones blend into the jacket and don't show the detailed work of the the buttons like I want them to. (What better way to advertise my button business....and FREE).

Knit Sweater by Maria and Steampunk Buttons

I love to see what people do with the Buttons or the Rubber Stamps that they purchase from my Etsy site. I was delighted when Maria agreed to send me photos of her finished knit sweater....and believe me it is awesomely beautiful.....this woman can REALLY knit.... I don't think I could ever knit anything this gorgeous. So enjoy.... the design, color, and buttons she used. The back of this sweater also has a continuous pattern of decorative stitches which are just gorgeous and looks very similar to the front..... The mechanism steampunk buttons come in 3 different sizes in bronze brass, silver and copper. I believe Maria used the copper ones on this sweater.

Snow Storm January 11, 2014

I love the snow and especially first snows so it is awesome outside. It has been snowing on and off all day...sometimes so hard we couldn't see our neighbors across the street. Big, sparkly, wet flakes of snow.... I am hoping to get some photos tomorrow.

My foot told me Thursday and yesterday that we were in for something a bit more than the "usual".... although nothing but light rain was predicted....so I was not a bit surprised when it started "coming down".

Enjoy....

Minature Sculpture / Polymer Clay

I really enjoy sculpting with polymer clay....this is my second attempt at a face and I used a couple of new tools I purchased as well as my old stand-by acrylic painting "berry makers".... they are just pefect for the end result of "soft" and "smooth" that some things call for and they "push" the clay perfectly.

My preference, at least at this stage of development, is the Sculpty III and I have used beige on this piece.

Just recently I purchased some "eyes" from Lisa Pavelkas line of polymer clay items. They are glass and handmade but I think from here on in I will
bribe my daughter somehow to make the lampwork eyes for me.... With the size faces I will be working with I need them all to be the smallest in the package of 5 assorted sizes.

Male or female? Animal or human? Not sure actually.... This went together in an evening of listening to tv and I love that I ended up with a partial body/base but is NOT sculptured as...which is how I think I will make others....

Now the next step........absolutely, positively NO IDEA

UPDATE: Since my original post I have done 2 more face sculptures. This last one took a few more hours as it more detailed. I am amazed at how they just seem to "happen".....not complaining mind you.....just inquisitive as to how I seem to just know which way to move the clay, the right tool to use, finger positions, where to start, etc. However, this is just one of the many "popups" of different thoughts, different actions, to what almost seems a bit like a different me in some aspects of the same life. Nothing has changed....but me.

Trash to Treasure

This trash to treasure item (actually $5 yard sale item) is going to be revamped into a display unit.... The bones were good, size is fair but I am hoping it will turn out as a useable piece. I am "thinking" about doing one section of the front left of my studio into a SMALL selling area....by appointment only..... I also have another unit I will be using and as a result this means I have to get rid of some "piles" and keep the room a bit more as it should be but it will ALWAYS look worked in cause it basically is....

How am I going to transform this item? I think I know but it always seems to change so I will just have to reserve judgement till the end.....LOL....

Colorful 3 strand necklace

Jewelry is not the easiest "item" to photograph and do a piece justice. This is the first multi strand piece I have made and there is a lot more to takeinto consideration.
I used seed beads, delicas, charms, jumprings, cat eye beads, handmade lampwork, locket, material and the locket which can open.

This piece was a lot of fun and I enjoyed the process.

Mixed Media Journal

I am working on a mixed media Journal book cover using some of the rubber stamps that I carry. I purchased a PDF tutorial but wasn't real impressed with it per the cost. Just a step by step pictorial....so winging it here as I journey along.... learning as I go. There aren't really any rights or wrongs....they appeal to whom they need to appeal to. There hasn't been a whole lot of "planning" with this one....I have just made a lot of "looking" trips through stash till I find things which might work and try them on. Kinda like going clothes shopping and trying on a blouse for fit, look, color, etc. Mixed media work is personal satisfaction and hoping I can find items that relate to the person it is being made for.....or just to my own eye if there is not a "special" person in mind. Sometimes what I choose and put together may mean nothing to me....but will to the person it is made for, or whom chooses to purchase. Mixed media really comes from deep within and takes into consideration scale, color, balance, theme, elements, etc.

I prefer to NOT use crafty elements or an item totally made from say Tim Holtz products..... I love to use bits and pieces "because",,,, because I do.

Today is the application of a patina color.....and I have to decide what color I want to use and I am learning towards the light mint aqua color taking into consideration the browns, beiges, and neutral palette I have so far....or maybe a mixture of a couple colors?

I also have to complete my dragonfly wings ceramic hot/cold drink container which is a belated Christmas gift...it is already to be "winged".

The designed squares are embossed polymer clay which I will patina before I add the elements which you see....and right now are just "laying" on the journal.

Around the squares is a coppery ball chain which was just the right size.

To the right of the 1st and 2nd squares are picture jasper beads and I can see a mini landscape ...the middle one at the top is a seashell and I can see 3 different faces in the shell...

The mushroom, which I love just came together. The stem is a portion of a deer horn, the top of the mushroom is perfect as a sea shell with holes in it. the base is a rock, and beside it is a bead and the grasses are fall head pins in brass. The words are by Kelly Rae Roberts and I love them...the rest of the elements are jewelry components or buttons that I carry..... To the lower right is a sewing machine part.....

There is a ribbon inside to mark the page but I am going to redo this and add some lampwork beads, etc. for some weight and I may do a page in the book. FUN.......

Will show another photo when it is completely done.

Creative Instinct

As I "mused" today one of my thoughts was " Many times where I think I am going is not where I end up". I find this so true in art... When doing your own designs things change along the way and it is amazing that what you thought you were going to create is no where near what you are holding when finished. I always chuckle at where I "end up" with some pieces be it a painting, jewelry, mixed media, etc. I am learning to not fight "Creative Instinct".

What's Next

I purchased a PDF from an Etsy Vendor on making a clay cover for a journal and the design is totally awesome. Because I don't have the same items (which is fine, and more fun) the main thing I was wanting to learn were techniques and how to's so I could venture into doing my own designs. ---

This is going to be a fun, informative journey....I can already think of how I want to do journals for friends and family personalizing just for the recipient and since 2014 is right around the corner.... maybe making for birthday presents is the way to go. Now to find journals....and one of my favorite places for these are Big Lots.... inexpensive, nice size, ugly covers but good construction and with or without lines.... Somehow I would like to incorporate some crochet into my first journal....now to determine how.

I am also wanting to sit and play with a few of the rubber stamps that I sell on Etsy so this is going to be a perfect opportunity to do that. I will probably use 5 different stamps rather than just one so I need to go through my personal stash and begin my "pile" of items of possibility..... charms, beads, buttons, material, stamps, determine colors, etc. so that I will have nearly everything "together" for when I start.
Sometimes this takes a couple of weeks, months, and at other times if I have a direction my gathering is done in just a few hours. I just never know....and have learned to "just go with the flow".....

Cigar Box Personalized Art

Now that my husbands' family have opened their gifts...I can post photos of the cigar box pieces that they received which I tried to tailor personally for each one of them. They were so much fun to create and remarkably they made it from OR to PA with only a couple of small issues.....

The first one was for my step son and the license plate on the back is his name done with scrabble tiles and the tail lights are large jingle bells. The inside (as are all the boxes) are lined with felt and some of the lids have been embellished as well.

The second box was for our 16 year old grandson who likes skeletons and skulls. The last photo shows the inside of his box as it is a photo I took of a skeleton that hangs in our garage and then I painted around it matching the paints to the background of the picture. The legs of his are minature bowling pins as he is an accomplished Junior bowler in the local area and state of PA.

The 3rd photo is of our daughter in laws box which is vintage feminine. The legs on this box are vintage spools.

Most of the items came from thrift stores, garage sales, antique stores, swap meets, auctions etc..... I guess you could say I am one of those "creative collectors".... gathering bits and pieces to use in art pieces.

Fun to make and definite learning experiences only learned from the experience of doing. No real mistakes can be made....

The Gentlemans' Abstracted Rooster

The past couple of days I have been working on this piece for some neighbors up the street for Christmas. It was done using a stencil, acrylic paints, 3 mats, a green feather, 3 hinges, some bb pellets, vintage buttons, painted on a 5 x 7" portrait grade canvas board. and a thrift store frame/with glass for $5.00 that I spray painted. ( I did a smaller one for myself a few months ago but was the rooster only without the elements of mixed media. I like them both. )

After the painting was done I used the Glamour Dust Paints in Green, Black, Red, Orange, Yellow, Gold, and Blue to add some bling as well as glazeing the GD paints over the rooster for some mottleing. I used the Ice Crystal GD paint for the entired backgrouind. I felt that the bb pellets and hinges gave it a bit more of a masculine look......

The Gentlemans Coffee Table

I am frantically trying to finish my "Christmas handmade gifts" and thank goodness, with the help of my husband this has gone together quickly and easily....

Once again this is a "tie" item and I have titled it "The Gentlemans' Coffee Table". My son in law drinks coffee so I am hoping he will use this "somewhere"..... and it was so much fun putting it together. I used a level for the tables "leg" and that is where it "started" and then I just went where tings seemed to go and I am delighted with the finished piece..... When I do these people will either like them or hate them. The tie on this one is a favorite of mine that I picked up at Goodwill....they had several beautiful ones the day I got this one......and I ended up purchasing them all cause I KNEW they would work their way into my art....

Everything has been doweled, glued and screwed...... and those chopsticks fit perfectly in the grooves of the plaque wooden base.... not to even mention how well the colors "worked". I purchased these from a Chinese wholesaler on the internet. So neat to be able to purchase "things" without running all over----with no luck...

I may do one called "The Gentlemans Brew Table".... hmmmmmm..... very in- ter- est- ing....

Just when you think you are done

You're not....LOL...

This piece I have posted a couple of times now...always thinking I am done....and keep it easeled and boom I add something else....lol.

REALLY Done....and a bit more mixed media and male. I have been "thinking" about a series called
The Gentlemans Series..... This one is called a Gentlemans' Christmas.....

I ordered a "lot" of mens ties when I saw them cause I had a couple of different ideas for them...but not this.... Or I could call it the "Tie Series"

Glass Lockets

I have seen these lockets at different sites but never seemed to have the extra few dollars to spend, but with Christmas coming up I could justify the purchase a bit easier. They came yesterday in the mail and I was anxious to try a couple of things with them and I am delighted with the sizes, shapes and quality.

The lace ones are vintage, and the picture one is a vintage photo I purchased in an antique store that HAD to be shared. It is easy to make up a story to go with this piece. She reminds me of my mothers mother who was German and came to the US by boat..... the vintage warmth, the staunchness, and the look of sorrow and a haunting in her eyes. It is one of my favorite "items".

I am going to work on a brass and lace one for me with a really pretty brass chain I purchased at Michaels ..... a 40% off item. It has a sturdy linkage with small little brass daisies between the links. Just have to find the lace I want to use.... Drat I hate when I can't remember what I did with something.

These will be used as gifts...and what I don't need will end up on Etsy.

Done

I am frantic trying to get Christmas presents finished up..... This is going to my grandson for his new apartment. I am not sure if he is going to have a tree so I think this is masculine enought that he "might" hang it..... If you scroll down a bit on my blog you will see more information on the piece.

I decided I wanted to mat it and frame so this is the finished piece..... Now I just have to "find" the glass and I will be set plus a little sparkle on the frame.....

Mt. Shasta, CA

Mt Shasta ...always awesome no matter when you are in her shadow. This is the first time we have been by at this time of year so it is just beginning to frost and get some snow...

I made my husband take a road up to a viewpoint....and then I walked 1/4 mile to the top and got the last 2 photos zooming in a bit with the lens until I had what I felt would be good shots. The top one is marred with lights but with no effort at all and with using a bit of artistic license when painting......these will just "not exsist".... I love trying to match the colors.....or not. No matter what you want to do with a brush is possible .....

Cold Mystery

This is one of the occassions when I walked the dog outside in the cold for her nightly routine and was confronted with this awesome night magic seen through a hole in the trees.

Using different settings, zooming in and out this became my favorite shot....seemed as if I either got the moon, the trees or the fog but with this one I captured it all and I love the lacey look of the trees.... It is one of those special, cold, mystical, moon lit, winter nights and a feeling of capturing a moment of it...is nothing less that magical.

This very well may turn into a painting....

Last night I painted (using artistic license) a canvas using this photo as a reference AND inspiration... Right now I have it "set up" to MAYBE become a mixed media painting. I am working on it for a friend of ours and never having been inside his house I am not sure of his decor...or non decor....style, etc. so I am finding it hard to know how to proceed... This is the hardest .... handmaking a gift for a friend or acquaintance.

These are the times I really miss an truthful, artistically oriented friend....

IF I do this as laid out we have burlap ribbon to the left and on top some metal rustic stars...the crooked branch I would paint black. The 3 chopsticks which are rustic in nature and color wise "goes", would be left as is.... On the right side is a gold lame material I picked up somewhere and some stiff startched like snow netting to go over the lame to tone it down just a bit.... The painting has been done on a long thin canvas....I added the wood cobweb because I "thought" something was needed there...but now that I look at it this photo I will no doubt leave it to be used on another project....lol....... The main substrate is a large canvas.... IF...I do this as a mixed media piece I will place the canvas painting down level with the substrate beneath...instead of above it. Taking photos of what you want to do, or have done will help you to make changes, get different ideas, placement changes, etc. I also have to put a matte finish on the canvas and then I will use the Decoart Glamour dust paints in the foggy area of the painting....in the area of the painting name and if I use the snowflake stiff material I will add a stylus drop of this same paint in the center of some of the snowflakes....not much...just a little.

2014 ORCHID

I just read that the "color" for 2014 is going to be Orchid.....so I guess maybe my Christmas tree just might be at the forefront in Purple and pastels.....

COLD....Bitter Cold

We are at -13 degrees tonight and I have to say this is the coldest weather I have experienced since leaving Pennsylvania over 30 years ago. I had forgotten how "crunchy" the sound of snow can be...
The birds are in their winter homes....none out playing today....these are from the day I got the woodpeckers' picture.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

Yes, it is snowing pretty good here in Bend, Oregon down in the woods..... it is going down to 3 degrees tonight, and a good day or so to just stay inside and hit the paint, sissors, glue, etc.

This is our resident wood pecker.....he is so pretty...... I had birds galore and they are so much fun to watch as they fly in and out with no major "wrecks" ..... and just having so much fun playing and concorting at the feeders..

I got groceries earlier in the week so we are pretty set.... If the electric goes off we have propane gas fireplace....plenty to eat and drink, entertainment via birds, and there is never a time I can't find SOMETHING to do to keep busy. I cannot tell you when I just sat on the couch and LOOKED at a magazine....really looked at and studied the artists work....

Handpainted Porcelain Box

This was a FUN piece. I wanted to do the box first because the design is going to go on another porcelain surface and be given as a Christmas present. This was kinda my "test piece". I am going to make some changes here and there...... ie: Background will cats eye blue, the cat basecoat will be darker, wiskers a bit different (thinner) , lighter color for nose, more shading, etc. I am not big on painting the same thing over and over but even though I will be painting this design 2 more times.....each one will be different... as if they are different animals. I prefer giving handmade items that are one of a kind..

I will sign and date ... add some of the Ice Crystal Glamour Dust Paint in the white areas of the
eye to add the sparkle I like and the other fun thing that happens when you use this paint in an eye is it gives the illusion that the eye meets yours, and looks directly at you....even if you move. Just ads a bit of life to the piece.

Yesterday I showed the basecoat I did for this box...(see below) and I didn't change anything with the background color. Just sketched in the profile and began painting.

Basecoating Ceramic/Porcelain

Today I had a couple of hours where I could go downstairs and get a couple of items ready for the "fun"..... The blue, pink and purple travel mug is going to have a dragonfly design and the Raw Sienna pieces will have a kitty cat design.

All pieces were sprayed first with Frosted Glass to give the
piece some tooth so the paint doesn't slide all over....and I used Liquitex paints in the colors I chose and Soft White to
get a mottled effect of lights, darks and in betweens. The colors have phased out to white on the back side using just the Soft White paint and working it into the color areas.... there should be no line of start/stop. (Liquitex Paint) I used a 3/4 angle brush (Dynasty FM Black Gold).

NOW the fun begins....

Glitter / Snow / Painting

Fresh, new fallen, virgin snow....we got about an inch of the feathery white stuff today but I took this picture for painting reasons..

My personal preference for "glittering" an item is "less is more". I love the hologram glitter of snow but as you can see from the white spots (snow sparkles) you can almost count them......and this is the way I really like to do my winter snow landscapes for a touch of realism. The Glamour Dust paints are fantastic for adding just a touch......and the dry glitter which I sometimes use has been put in a pepper shaker so that I have more control of the "flow".... which I have been sprinkling on this way for years.

Also you can see from this picture the reason I prefer Paynes Grey for my underpainting of snow. Here in Oregon snow has more of a grey blue cast vs the snow on the East Coast (specifically PA) where the snow has more of a blue than gray "cast" and see the little "mounds" which are slightly umbrella shaped.

Just little things to think about when adding those final, important elements to a painting... Pure White IE: Titanium White is the LAST highlight(s) to add. Work up to this stark white starting with Soft White,,,then add Titanium White in varying amounts...dirty brush... I don't ever wash my brush for this step....I use a towel to wipe off excess...and to "test" colors....

Mirror Tile Christmas Ornaments

These are my mirror mosaic tile ornaments for this year.

Supplies:
Rayon/nylon crochet thread. Color of choice.

2 mosaic mirror squares per ornament, E6000 glue, crochet cotton cut to the length desired. I want mine to be short as I want to use one of the traditional wire hangers to hang on my tree limbs.

Put a 1/4" globbet of E6000 in the middle of one of the mirror squares..lay down the crochet ccotton into the glue, then lay another mirror square on top and squeeze together. Lay aside to dry and continue making your additional mirror ornaments..

OTHER OPTIONS FOR THE Hanger:
Whatever you choose must be thin and flat or you will have too much space between the mirrors and you will not have "Holding Power" from the glue so keep this in mind when looking.....
narrow thin ribbon
crochet thread
thin lace
jewelry bale
large Jump Ring
picture hanger
rubber band
fishing line (will give the illusion that the mirror is floating)

OTHER OPTIONS FOR THE MOSAIC MIRRORS:
you could spray with frosted glass for a frosted mirror
lay down a stencil and spray with frosted glass (ie: snowflake)
because I want mirrored images I will leave mine as you see in the photo
for the rest of my mirror ornaments I am going to use green thread so it gives the illusion that the mirors are floating....(the thread will blend with the green of the tree)You learn so much by doing and then critiquing what you have done.....other options, etc. New ideas just flow.
gallery glass faux stained glass .... use this as your "stencil" paint

If I were to make more of these mosaic mirrors ..... say, to maybe sell a dozen finished ones I think I would use the round mirrors and would stencil just a portion of a snowflake on the mirror.... That would be so elegant....I am looking more for "effect" than "pretty".....

Another neat item would be the flat back stones used for artifical plants as they come in colors and one could mix and match.....

Santas' Workshop

Unfortunately, or fortunately....depending on the day and circumstances. this photo realistically shows the "condition" of my creating space with projects set up all over and added to as inspiration hits. A DEFINATE hazard zone, but I have pretty much learned how to navigate around. It is SO nice to have this space separate from the house where I can shut the door and no one sees the construction or destruction zone..... HOWEVER, I WILL be glad when Christmas has come and gone along with a lot of the supplies...

I like when I am making gifts and enjoying the comfort that creating provides to me. I even enjoy the cleaning and discovery of long put away items that become new again.

I hope that a lot of you who stop by to see what is going on here on my blog are also in "Create Mode".....

Domino Snowflake Ornaments

These will be some of the ornaments on my tree this year. Not everything will be hand made but enough that it will be my tree...... The domino snowflake collages were purchased from a fellow Etsy Vendor. The necklace bales that I used for the "hanger" was also an Etsy vendor purchase. LOVE Etsy.

Steps:
Glue collage design to either the front or back of the dominos. (the ones I used were picked up in a thrift store and were the larger white dominos with the colored dots) Normally I do not like these but for this particular project they were perfect. I glued the collage design to the Dotted Side of the dominos because I wanted the back side just the white...no dots.) When I am making jewelry, on the other hand, I glue the design image to the empty side of the domino. Just depends on what I am doing, and what I want when finished.

After gluing the images on I let them sit for about 12-14 hours.

3. Using a larger emery board (purchased at a Beauty Supply Store) I sand all the edges of the image and round the corners. Different grits of nail files are nice to have.

4. Apply a Matte or Satin Clear Coat over your image and let dry.

5. Glue the jewelry bail to the domino, lay design down, and leave for about 12-14 hours to allow the glue to set and adhere.

6. Holding the ornaments by the bail I applied the colored Glamour Dust paints in a corresponding color to the snowflake design collage.

I will hang using the normal wire shaped hangers...they will be perfect for these.

NEXT: Mirror Tile Ornaments
Supplies:
Handmade but cut bagged Mosaic mirror tiles which I have seen in Michaels, WalMart, and JoAnne retail stores. Our stores carry square, round and oval in a couple of different sizes depending upon brand. I chose to use the square ones and they are probably "inchies"....... since my balls are round, and the dominos rectangular. Also needed is glue (I use the E 6000 and I only buy the large tubes as they work better, and the glue runs freer because the nozzle hole is larger. Amazing what you learn along the way. I do have a small tube for small items but the glue is a pain to get "running". Next time I am going to have to try setting it in a cup of hot water and see if that helps) ; some crochet thread, cording, ribbon (narrow) maybe even a thin lace....all depending on the look you want to achieve to be used as the hanging element for the ornament. I have some very narrow cording that I will be using in a shade of color to match my bulbs. My lights are going to be clear ... no color....and my Christmas tree is a type of Blue Spruce, about 3 1/2" tall, live; which will get planted somewhere this spring.

SO STAY TUNED FOR A PICTURE OF THE MIRROR TILE ORNAMENTS FINISHED WITH SIMPLE INSTRUCTIONS AND THEN A FINAL TRIMMED TREE ......

Christmas 2013

As the weather cools down and the 3 degree weather is being experienced (no snow yet, this is last years picture taken from my shoppe area) and with Thanksgiving less than a week away I am ever concious that Christmas is nearly here....

This year I feel like I want some changes....
so my tree will be a bit different. First of all it will be a live tree to plant come spring.... and I am going to make a lot of my ornaments using dominos....another of my favorite artistic surfaces....Tonight I worked on them to the point where they now have to dry before I add the preservation finish and embellishments... The necklace bails are ordered which will get glued on the back of the ceramic domino so that it can be hung from the tree branches... It was really nice when I went down to the shop and pulled out my ribbon, lace, etc. bin and found the color ribbon I was looking for to attach to the bail for the hanging device.

I have made, and am still making, and will be making right up until Christmas day.... a lot more of my gifts this year...just because I think it makes a more personal gift....and I have been exploring the marvelous Etsy vendors for handmade....and I am hoping for a jovial, fun day.

My living room has deep red and sage green walls so it seems as if the Christmas tree has just blended.... Hopefully this year it will make a "statement".... of sorts.

Tomorrow we will go after the tree which is going to go on a table and I can take my time and decorate adding ornaments as I finish and before making/adding more.... It would be nice if at least the tree was done for Thanksgiving but am not holding my breath....

So stay tuned for the "finale"....

Have a great Thanksgiving and week everyone.

Plastic Grid Rolling Frames for Clay

I have wanted to do some clay work but wanted to wait until my grid frames came for rolling out the clay to a specific thickness. They came today as well as white clay so now I am anxious to PLAY...
hopefully this weekend???
I condition my clay in the pasta machine but would prefer to do the final rolling in these frames as I am not looking for a smooth, sleek, shiny clay that the pasta machine gives me so this way I feel "I" will have more control. The frames come in #2, 3, 4 5 and 6 and two can be put together for a thicker size.... I purchased only every other size (#2 ,4, 6) and will add the other two sizes as a later date. They are plastic and I think that they are going to be a "Slick" clay tool.
I also purchased some round metal indenter tools (for lack of correct name, and showing my lack of any type of expertise/clay terminology) that can add some texture that I am anxious to work with too.

I ordered extra and have them for sale on my Etsy site. All 3 sizes for $18.00 plus shipping

Fun Project

This was fun.

Quite a while ago I purchased this white snow flecked open work stiff material in the clearance area of a local stamp store. I had no idea what I would use it for but it was "neat" so it cam home with me.

The small black canvas pieces...the same. I picked them up "somewhere."

My substrate for this piece is an inexpensive 9" x 12" canvas (those that come 3 to a package...these work great for this type of a project). Next I glued down an olive-y green felt squate, and cut the snow flecked material the same size and just laid on top. It is rough enough that it kinda stuck to the felt like velcro and is stiff enough that it just lays in place. Next I have to find a frame....in all the frames that I DO have...None this size... and I want to see how it looks with and without a mat. My grandsone just got his FIRST apartment with a long time buddy of his so I thought this might be a manly Christmas decoration for them. They have several placse they could put it....even on an easel at the front door where there is a window. (I think)..... I used the glitter paints on the Christmas bulbs as well as the Black Glamour Dust for stars, and then the touch of Ice Crystal Glamour Dust for the tree limb. Once it is finished I think it will be a really pretty piece....so watch for a finished update.... I think I have 3 more of the black canvas pieces so maybe I will do another.....

Have a great weekend (ALREADY, AGAIN) everyone....

Earrings

3 more pair of just plain ole' natural feathers with lampwork and crystal....yet sooooo pretty.