Last Update Before Posting to the Auction Site

Thank goodness for extensions ... and Friday's off ...

here's where I am at:



the interior of the box (all four sides) have been slathered w/gel medium and "tiled" with these really cool beads rescued from a not so cool necklace with a few random alternate beads. Prior to the gel medium drying, copious amounts of glitter was dumped to enhance the "grout" (top half of sides & top in a dark blue extra fine glitter, a teal glitter break line and bottom in a darker teal glitter)



trying to share various angles



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and a couple of close ups as well

...



sometimes it's not so great having a terrific camera ... these were taking during the "setting" stage (right now as I type) and have not yet been brushed of loose glitter, etc. ... next step ... once again, your guess is likely as good as mine (some might argue even better) ... but the muse is ordering me to bed ... said she'd be back in the morning and promises to help me have this finished and posted on the auction site well before midnight tomorrow!

Remember to go check out the auction preview.

Auction goes live April 17th and items will be up for bid thru the 24th.


please note: I won't be near a computer from Sat-Mon, so if you send questions during that time, please know that I won't be able to respond until Monday night.

KittyFish Ready to Swim ...

That's right ...



she's got beads added to the crown of her head



sequins & seed beads decorate each side



and last but not least, KittyFish got her face

all that's left is sending this little critter to her new home

wishing safe travels & happiness to her new caretaker

Anyone curious?

About whatever happened to the umbrella painting for the Red Art Project?

Did you think I forgot?

... I did set it aside for a time, but there was that looming deadline, sooooo

.

.

.

TADA!

... and here's a detail ...

and don't forget about:

If you are seeing this piece for the first time and are interested in seeing the progress, click HERE, HERE and HERE.

Pink and Sparkly

Update 07/19: After I added the jump ring, I wanted to try one more thing ... I added two coats of my diamond top coat polish and voila ... Fini! This is a shot of the completed charm (charm is smaller than pictured - it's 1" -including the jump ring - X 5/4"):

Steps 2 and 3 of the "alternate" pink charms complete:

This was supposed to be the back up to the paper cranes charms that I wanted to do, but I'll be honest, I really, really like these a lot - they are super girly in their uber-sparkly pinkness. After the pink glitter dried/set, I put about 4 coats of high gloss varnish over the glitter. Once the last coat of varnish dried, I threaded the beads ... a pink (doesn't really look it in the photo) faceted glass bead between two tiny Swarovsky bicone crystals and made the loop for the jump ring. All I have to do to finish these is add the jump ring. Pretty cool.

The paper crane charms have me in a little bit of a snit ... I'm thrilled to report that the setting agent actually does work ... the only issue I am having is that I do lose just a touch of the crispness ... my anal retentive self might not be able to get past this - uber spouse thinks I need to ... there's a little bit more time, so I just might try another batch ... fingers (and toes) crossed, please.

Beaded God's Eye

Last night I worked on the beaded God's Eye for the spouses challenge. I'd hate to admit how much time I actually put into this - way longer than I should have - but ultimately, I think it was worth it. I used 11/0 glass seed beads on super strong thread ... check out the results:

The first image is of the front and the second is the back.

I would like to revisit this idea in the future and just might try using something like a 24 gage wire instead of thread ... we'll see.

On a side note, we're 8 days into the birthday month and wouldn't you know it ... the fam decided to surprise me with lunch today - sushi (eel) and seaweed salad - YUM! yep, I like it when I'm spoiled.

Hope everyone is enjoying a wonderful week. :)

Updates

It was a really good weekend (if not a day or six too short for my liking). I was able to spend some serious time working on a number of projects. Some are coming along better than others, but I will allow myself an "E" for effort. :) First up ...

I don't know if you recall Karla and her Great Aunt Caroline ... Caroline is about to turn 100 and Karla came up with the BEST idea ... in a nutshell, she wants to give her auntie 100 home made birthday cards (contributions to be made by anyone willing to "create for the cause") ... how lovely is that?!? Of course I was in (even though card making is seriously not my forte) ... here's what I'll be sending:

I could seriously benefit from a class or two (something that makes texture mixes and color combo's click), but I have to admit that the knot itself is pretty cool. I used origami paper. The top part of the knot is from a cloth like paper that has wonderfully intricate designs and the bottom is bright red foil. Like I told Karla, it may not be a masterpiece, but it sure had a lot of love poured into it. I'm not sure if she's reached her goal, so if you are interested feel free to visit her at Karla's Cottage. I'm sure this is one of those more-is-better situations. :)

Next ...

I worked a little more on the Black and White charms - I added the elephants and a couple of coats of high gloss varnish:

Now that I'm at the more than half-way point I am wondering if I should have just cut the images (paper and all) the size of the tiles and just put the high gloss varnish over that (without painting each side) and painting the edges with the silver paint. I just might have to try a couple that way in the future ...

Uber-spouse gave me another extension on his challenge (he's a seriously good egg). I had God's eye stuck in my head, so ... I decided to try my hand at a beaded God's eye ... here's how it's coming along (please remember that this is a first attempt ... I have a feeling it won't be my last - don't be surprised if I suddenly have an Etsy shop one of these fine days). I used two small skewers, heavy duty thread and glass seed beads:

you know ... I think I just might like the back better than the front ...

I started playing around with papers and things for Karla and Beths Birds and Bonnets Vintage Workshop Swap - there's no photo's to share just yet, but I am hopeful ... feels like the creative juices are a sloshin ...

OK, this last item is just for fun ... when I got home from work today, there was a card from my father-in-law (seriously - my FATHER-IN-LAW - if you knew him, this would be even funnier) ... well, I think it's a riot, so I thought I'd share it:

Ciao bella's! ~M~

My Charm Entries

4/24 - Woohooo! Looks like the elephant charm won out. Time to get-a-making. :)

I just emailed Amber Dawn with my two attempts for her Black and White Charm Swap - the entries are juried, so there's a definite possibility that my attempts will not be accepted. I am so totally OK with that and no matter the outcome, I am really happy that I worked on these. The first is a beaded doll. The head is a black Swarovski crystal and the rest are glass beads:

This second option took two of the ideas I originally had and morphed it into this:

As you can see, it's a reversable charm. This (being the first attempt) isn't as refined as future versions will be - I plan on much smoother coats of paint, a little finer sanding of the wooden pieces and a little more border of the silver painted edge. If you click on the pictures to see a larger view, don't be surprised by the grainy looking elephant - the photo's are much larger than actual size as this charm measures 3/4 inch x 3/4 inch. I will keep everyone posted on if either of my submissions are accepted. Wish me luck!

For the latest Art Doll update, check out the newest photo's here.

A Challenge or Two

I have been working on my submissions to the Black and White Charm Swap. I just put the first coat of gloss on one attempt - it's a small two sided wooden piece. One side is painted white and the other is black. I reduced the elephant pic and did a negative of the same image - one for each side. I painted the edge in silver (airplane paint) ... I still need to add another coat of the gloss prior to photographing it, but I am close. The other little piece is a little beaded doll that makes me grin. I should be able to take pics of both day after tomorrow and will post them after I email pics to Amber Dawn. I honestly can't say if she'll accept them and if she does which she'll pick, but I do have to admit that I am glad that I made an attempt. :)

I have another challenge facing me, too. The spouse just challenged me to complete a piece by this Sunday at 6:00 pm. He said part has to be painted, part beaded and part found object and that it should be designed to be suspended ... I am at a complete loss. The more I think about it, the more my brain hurts. lol.

I did a little more beading on the artsy doll. I'll likely take a snap of it tomorrow after work. On that note, I'm wiped out and still have dishes to finish, so Ciao Bella's! ~M~

One Marvelous Little Treasure

Doesn't everyone get a little thrilled when they grab the mail and there's an envelope that is obviously from a friend? I was lucky enough to have one of those moments earlier today ... and just look at what was inside:

My lovely friend over at Mice and Moonbeams recently made a decision about not selling her art. To celebrate she decided to give away some pins that she made ... I was lucky enough to be the recipient of this absolutely wonderful, exquisitely detailed fun little fish pin and I love, love, love it! ... and I feel inspired ... her creative nature, generous heart and kindness have deeply touched me; I feel blessed to know her.

Mandala

In case you're curious, here's a close up view of my profile pic:

I have a girlfriend in Phoenix that was redecorating her bedroom (this was actually about two years ago). She mentioned that she was looking for a print of a Mandala and I thought ... hmmm ... I can paint one! So, I did. This was the first one that I had ever attempted and I was really happy with the results ... she was too as it is still hanging on her bedroom wall.

This was one of those paintings that I really enjoyed working on. I broke out my ruler and a sharpened pencil to lay down the design - it started with the eight point star in the center and radiated out from there. I used acrylics on an 18"X18" canvas. Shortly after I finished this one, I painted another that's 12"X 12". I'm not as fond of the second as I am of the first (go figure, I still have the second hanging in the house). It's got a simpler design and the colors don't appeal to me as much ... but, I have been thinking about painting another one. I would like to revisit the first design again - or something similar to it. I just need to figure out the colors that I want to use ...

In the meantime, I have to set the art doll aside (I have done a little more beading since the last update, but it's dark and I prefer to photograph it in natural light). The more I look at it, the more it reminds me that I really don't know what I am doing. :) That's not really the reason that I am setting it aside ... I recently visited Monica's blog and saw mention of a Black and White charm swap ... I've never made a charm, so I am not sure what possessed me to add my name to the list, but I did. Now I actually have to create something - EEK! I contacted the host and let her know that I would work on something this weekend and would email pics so she can decide if they are acceptable for the swap. Since then, I have been racking my brain trying to figure out what I am going to do ... I have a few ideas:

1) I can "macrame" black and white embroidery thread (love that 100% cotton feel over rough hemp any day of the week - no offense, hemp) over wire, embelish with black and white beads and bend into a heart shape.

2) Make the charms from wood and paint - I'm thinking geometric. I kind of see a half inch square base with a quarter inch square attached (in the center and at an angle) on either side of the base ... i think just paint and no additional embellishment

3) making little frames from sculpy and printing off pictures of the elephant that I did last fall to set (and somehow seal) in the frame ... here's the elephant that I mentioned:

Considering it's Sunday night, I don't really have that much weekend left. I've got to get started. Wish me luck - I could definitely use it right about now. :)

Art Doll - In Progress ... Ever so slowly

4/28 - it's been a few days, so here's the latest:

4/23 - slowly but surely more and more beads are finding their way onto the little critter:

4/21 - I kept hoping that at some point this little creature will lose its goofyness and will suddenly feel like a piece of art. I give up ... maybe she's supposed to be a bit goofy and I should just let her be whatever she ends up being (hmm ... sounds like a good lesson in regards to the human critter known as Sadie). I need to get back to work on the Black/White Charm, but in the meantime, here's the latest:

4/19 update:

added 4/18 - I have been working more on the small doll, so not a lot of progress:

Just in case anyone has been curious as to the size of this lil critter, I've set it next to my ruler (if you ask really nicely, I might even take a snap of just the ruler ... hmmm ... think Mercedez next to a Yugo - both functional and serve their purpose, but you have to admit the Mercedez is off the charts in design and form ...). I don't think I realized just how much time was going to go into this little project. Today (at work) I cut oout two smaller forms - one for me and one for Sadie. I might put this one to the side and work on the tiny one (all of 2 inches), but I'm not sure. OK, I feel myself rambling ... instead, here's my progress photo:

Hope all is well with you and yours.

Much love, ~M~

Art Doll - First Attempt ... sort of

If you saw my "Doll Party ... worse than fashionable late" post, then you will know that about eight years ago I made my first doll, Bubby - she was made from one of Sadie's Winnie the Pooh sleepers and is, well, perhaps not the prettiest doll ever ... but I did make her specifically for my daughter and tons of love (and fiberfill) went into her.

More recently, I became involved in the Pink Artist Community Doll Project for Susan G Komen and was exposed to brilliant artists and creators of exquisite, beautiful and wonderous dolls. I found myself with the itch to try one myself. It's been a number of weeks and I have been busy with other things (family, breathing, work, painting, etc.) so doll making went on the back burner ... this weekend I was a woman possessed! I had to find just the right pattern to start with - finally I came across a handful of free patters from 2002 by Ronda Kivett. I decided to pick what appeared to be the smallest, simplest pattern and a remnant of an old sweater (nylon/spandex mix - weird, but uber-softie) ... drumroll, please ....

The above pictures are front and back of my very first form and as of right now I love, love, love her. :) Next step will be the embellishing ... I'm pretty sure that I'll be beading her from head to toe ... wish me luck!

Happy Heart Day

L

O

V

E

Love quotes to help get your heart feeling soft & fuzzy:

Love is friendship set to music.

~ E. Joseph Crossmann ~

The Time I've lost in wooing,

In watching and pursuing

The light that lies

In women's eyes

Has been my heart's undoing.

~ Thomas Moore ~

Love is an act of endless forgiveness, a tender look which becomes a habit.

~ Peter Ustinov ~

I seem to have loved you in numberless forms, numberless times,in life after life, in age after age forever.

~ Rabindranath Tagore ~

Love is the flower of life, and blossoms unexpectedlyand without law, and must be plucked where it is found,and enjoyed for the brief hour of its duration.

~ D.H.Lawrence ~

What the world really needs is more love and less paperwork.

~ Pearl Bailey ~

Above: 2008 super simple valentine ... glass beads, rice paper,

light pink 60lb card stock & plain copy paper (for card insert)

With so much gratitude & much love, always ... ~M~

Sadie Art

I had a bunch of art supplies out on the coffee table & Sadie (daughter - she's 9) asked if she could try to make a collage or two. Here's what she came up with:

I'm just thrilled that she asked to use the supplies ... much better seeing her want to make something rather than be entrenched in Nintendo DS while Cartoon Network plays re-runs that she's already watched 10 billion times. :)