My first attempt at painting "Marie"

How exciting to be learning new things! I took a class with Suzi Blu on drawing doll like girls. I really enjoyed that. So when Suzi announced her Marie Antoinette painting class I joined right in.
I have been learning about drawing and shading and layering. This photo shows the painting about half way done (It is 12 x 24"). It has gone through many changes already and will go through even more, since it needs much more shabbiness (birds and a basket too).
I will post again when I finish it. If you double click on the pic you can see it better. Thank you for coming to see : )

Halloween Royal Treat Bag

This photo didn't fit in the post before....so here it is!

Halloween Creativitiy

Here are some photos of items I have just finished for swaps.

The Royal Treat Art Bag is full of things for the crafty witch to create with. Bits n Bobs (embellishments), This and that (paper ephemera) A treasure box to dig in.... and lots of other surprises for my partner Catherine over at Marie Antoinette Mail Art. I had so much fun working on this one! I hope Catherine loves it : )

The Act cards are for another swap at MAMA. I did fuss with these! There is a bit of story on the back of the cards to go with some of the fronts.

Just in case you were wondering....

You may come over for a visit and see a different looking blog. I am looking around the internet for an upgrade to the simple banner that my son and I made. It has been fun trying on new backgrounds. The Background Fairy has some beautiful pages. The one I am sporting now comes from there. It is not exactly what I was looking for, but the best I have found so far that does not clash with my header. I love her work, but I need a certain green and gold to match mine.
I have a picture in my mind of old text paper background.
And for now, my site might change on and off as I try on new looks! I might even try a new header. It is so much fun to play!
The pic is from my new camera. I am learning how to use it and very happy with the results!
In the mean time, I am working on about a dozen different projects that I hope to post about this week.
See you soon!

Friends at the Flea Market

Yesterday I was able to go to the flea market at the state fairgrounds. I love poking around this and that and finding unusual bargains. This trip did not disappoint me at all. I found more than a wonderful place to get vintage buttons, I found some new friends!
Above is a pic of a small chest of draws that was just full of gorgeous old buttons and other interesting odds and ends. While I was sorting through all the treasures I talked with a few others there and the woman that was selling the goods. We were all talking about what we did with our finds. Sandra, the owner, was getting advice on selling in an Etsy shop. Two women gave me their cards so I could go to their web sites and blogs and see their art. (I do not have cards to share as of yet, but I am hoping to soon) We all had a lovely time looking around and chatting.
It was a joy to meet these creative women, and when I got a look at their sites I was amazed at their incredible talent! What a treat!

Feeling Better!

This evening I was feeling well enough to make this inchie that I put on a piece of metal to create this necklace. It felt really good to make something! This weeks Inchies and Twinchies challenge was "Vintage Sweetness".

Healing Space

To everything there is a season....
A time to rest....
I have been recovering this week and have not had the pleasure of creating art. I am dreaming of all I will do as soon as I have healed. It is amazing all the ideas that dance through my mind!
I leave you with this photo in place of where my Theme Thursday art would be. It is such a lovely heart and such a healing green color! Nature's Art.

Challenges

I do love doing the weekly challenges offered online! I find that I become inspired by the theme or prompt and also by seeing what other artists are making. I end up making something I would have not thought of before! Go look on the site at all the amazingly creative art that has been posted already.

This necklace idea just came to me as I was contemplating what I could make that is "round" which is today's "Mixed Media Mondays" theme. I look around my art room at all kinds of stuff until I happened upon this old rhinestone buckle. Then I chose the ribbon, and the vintage pearl drops. The hardest part was picking out what would go in the center, until I finally decided on the old topaz button. I really enjoyed making this. It is not quite finished as it has taken quite a bit of time today and I need a vintage clasp. I will post another photo when the back is properly done.

Buttons Twinchies

Here is a little book I made for Small World Of Inchies and Twinchies. This week's theme is "buttons". Each page is 2x2 inches. The book starts with "old button, new button, yellow button, blue....cute as a button.....(the little girl is from Paperwhimsy)

Theme Thursday

Vintage Ladies is this weeks Theme Thursday. I took a little time off from my big project to do this. I have always wanted to do something with this image. It is from Digital Collage Sheets to Go. I also have a Inchies and Twinchies entry waiting in the wings. Maybe I will get it out later. It was great fun too!

I don't always know if I aught to....

I am 50.
A halfway mark? Maybe.
Life can be very long, and its a good thing too, because it has taken me all these years to grow into who I really am. Someone who loves to make things, all kinds of things!

I am currently working on an art piece 12 x24 inches, by far the largest thing I have made in mixed media. At first I was scared of the size...and my lack of experience...and then I heard a little encouraging voice whisper...
"so what....do it anyways".
And I immediately thought, "yeah, so what, what's the worst thing that could happen?"

I realized that just doing it, just taking the steps to do it would teach me so much that I could never learn just thinking about doing it, or reading books or watching others do it....

So, I am doing it, this huge painting of "Marie". And I am learning so much! And I am feeling so good as I do it, I know I am in the right place.

I am posting this wonderful video about loving art, and having doubts about living the artist you are. I hope you enjoy it as well.

It is a good day!

Happy Monday Everyone. What a fab day it is too. There is the smell of autumn in the air. It is overcast here, but in a lovely way that the heavy clouds cushions all around... there is a cleansing wind as well. I suddenly want to take a walk in the woods and drink in the beauty and stillness. Today feels like a sacred day, a day of new fresh beginnings.

This is just what I needed today after a night of tossing thoughts around instead of sleeping. Today I choose to clean out my thoughts and embrace beauty. Let go of worries and concerns and focus on all the incredible possibilities and goodness that abounds in my life. I am thankful for the creativity that I am able to recognize and enjoy. I am thankful for the love that is all around me.

Theme Thursday.....I love it!

I love waking up Thursday morning knowing there is a new challenge a foot! How fun!
So today's challenge is a "halloween" ATC and here is my entry. I found this little girl on Etsy at Cassi's Creations.