On My Drawing Table

The Country Living Fair in Rhinebeck NY will be in a few short weeks. Last

year had a conflict of interest for me and I couldn't do it but I'm busy getting 

new art ready for this year.

I will have new designs in my prints in different sizes.

New series and sizes for my wearable art pendants.

 

I will keep you updated as we get closer and I get more photos done.

 

Fingers crossed for beautiful weather!

 

Preparations for the Northern Virginia Christmas Market

I set up an additional table to hold projects in the works.....

My Curiosity Boxes in various stages of completion.

The bigger the mess, the more creativity going on.

And Yet Another Snowy Day!

Here we go again.....

 The visibility really is this bad.

 I always do a wonderful business at the bird feeder during a storm. The birds

use up so much energy during this kind of weather so I went out last 

night to restock before the snow came in.

 Rocky is a 90 pound Chocolate Lab and he is having so much trouble

moving around in this snow.

Thank you for getting me back in mommy! I don't like it out there.

 

 

My dear husband is overwhelmed with the snow, he is running

out of room to put it! (and for health reasons the doctor said

no snow shoveling for me, so he is on his own ...)

 

 

But the cavalry showed up.....

 Thank you neighbor Ted!

 

 

On another subject, I had a 50% off coupon for Michaels and treated

myself to yet another glass dome. I'm thinking spring display, maybe

a small nest with eggs....spring can't be too far away, I hope!

Bell Jars and Curiosity Boxes and How Much I Love to Use Glass!

I have discovered that I do like to put things either under, in or behind glass. I think that doing so gives it

a sense of being curated as something special, something to stop and take your time and really look at.

In the picture above I put one of the snowmen from my collection under a bell jar as part of my Christmas decorations.

 Next it is being used as a nature arrangement along with Valentines Day decorating. This lovely little Queen of Hearts doll has been purchased.

The twig tree, pine cone, rock, feathers and one of my paper clay birdies all work together beautifully in my humble opinion. I made the fabric hearts many years ago out of old quilt squares.

A grouping of found feathers in a recycled jar.

My little curiosity boxes were looked at and admired by many people, but no one committed to owning one until I covered the recycled cigar box with glass.....

.....and that is just what the missing element was all along.

Continuing with the same idea, my small 3x3 art prints create an instant touch of finished art just about anywhere and would not be the same without the glass bevel covering it.

Lastly, this original wearable artwork done on a wee little piece of vintage ledger paper from 1895. Sandwiched between two pieces of glass it becomes a curated link between the past and present.

Thanks for spending time with me today!

I Am Having Too Much Fun Building Inventory!

 

 

Last year I started playing around with collage work. I used prints of my art that just weren't good enough on their own, but added in with vintage papers and embellishments, additional painting and some quotes from very clever people unique artwork is born.

 

Each one of these canvases are different works of art that

 

although seemingly mass produced,

 

are thoughtfully and delightfully created.

Bits of ephemera, fabric, prints of artwork all join together with acrylic paint.

Finished off with varnish and all set to hang!

Catching Up!!

It was a very busy fall and holiday season this past year. I committed to too many fairs and shops, it overwhelmed me to say the least! However, I met some lovely people along the way and was able to focus in on my product lines better. I did quite a few small paintings for the craft fairs, they are easier to tote!

My prints and art bevels were a big success, I plan on expanding those selections this coming year.


The gingerbread houses got assembled and nibbled as usual this year….

It is very serious construction…..

each house is unique and lovely!

But not as lovely as my nieces!

On my drawing table: Author Portraits

I have wanted to do a series of author portraits.
Since I have a 'thing' for crows, blackbirds and ravens, the first portrait just had to be Poe!

The idea is to make them look sort of vintage, but with a playful, whimsical touch.

Shakespere was next, but he needs more work and I have a better idea now of what to do,
instead of the comedy/tradgedy masks.

And considering the time of year and following a customer suggestion, Washington Irving is being worked on right now.....

The finished product, printed on a vintage dictionary page. I will be listing on etsy sometime this week.

Newest Collage Work

A bit of a mess going on here, but what fun!

I have been working my way through a wonderful book entitled "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron. It is a 12 week process that will probably take me longer because I do want to get the most out of it and not have it turn into another time stresser.

I have been finding myself to be less afraid of making messes. After all I am from the 'old school' Commercial Art trained, nothing messy, no ink blots, smudges, etc. This experiment of mine is to give myself the freedom to make a mistake and turn that into art that is pleasing to me.

In the process of printing up my water color and ink paintings, there are a lot of prints that cannot be sold until I get the setting right on the printer. So using the seconds and some vintage papers and ephemera, acrylics, stamps and other found items I had a good old time!

A New Idea

My new Art Bevels!

Working in softer colors and getting back to my favorite watercolors and pen and ink.

These little pieces of art can fit just about anywhere!

They are now listed on ETSY with more to come.

Happy Valentine's Day!

A peek at the Valentines Day decorations that I placed around the house.
The mantle in my living room decorated with some heart shapes and a vintage card.

I loved these two snowy owls at Christmas time and just couldn't put them away.

Owl always love this little twig tree!!

Another vintage card with some of my art.

Hope you have a lovely day!