Mr. President...

 "George Washington"

 

No, it's not who you think it is!  I have a funky wood pile.  I pulled out a few pieces and painted some more of our Founding Fathers on it just for fun.  It was fun! Funky & funny!  I apologize for the bad photo.  I wonder if I captured any bits of their colorful personalities...

Some Tasty Tid Bits...

Did you know that Manna from Heaven, spoke of in the Book of Exodus, was a lot like mushrooms but tasted like honey wafers?  Now that is Love!
I painted a few mushrooms on rocks. Yes I did say rocks. Well they turned out cute & will most likely become a gift. I think I should just paint me a garden because of my big purple thumb. haha I had so much fun painting the mushrooms that I had to paint some on paper. 
Here's another Tasty Tid Bit... my favorite mushroom bread recipe.  A friend served this years ago and I begged for the recipe.  I think I will make this for Easter.  Just click on the picture for the recipe. Thanks to BeanTown Baker for sharing the photo & recipe!

Happy President's Day!

"President Lincoln"

 

Daily Devotion

This is a little more pastel than I normally paint. I think my brain is getting a little more used to not painting on a black canvas but it is still hard. 

Promised Demo

"He Lives"

 

As you can tell in the video I had started another, then stopped to video. I left the 1st one to finish later. It's a lot of fun to get into your right brain and just let the paint & spirit flow. It was many coats and the time is severly edited. Layers, layers, & layers.

 I hope you enjoy the video.  Sorry it's shakey in parts, I actually painted with one hand and held the camera in the other...and then the phone rang! Maybe I can get my son to fix it for me.

Have a wonderful Sunday. I hope you let the Spirit move you.

Daily Devotion

 I decided am going to try and do a painting a day as part of my daily devotion. I haven't been able to paint so it feels really good.  I might need a new blow dryer :)  I normally let each coat dry naturally but to finish one in a day there has to be some heat involved.  That's the beauty of acrylic paint; it dries so fast, that is also exactly what I used to hate about acrylic paint. 

Today for my devotional painting I finished an Angel on a wooden cigar box lid that started literally a few years ago. Devotion ... hum... could be stubborness. haha I have painted on this box top several times, never happy with the outcome. There are even reminents of glitter once upon a time, underneath the paint, now adding a little texture. I left the gold clasp on it for a bow or to hang it up by. I left the cigar box label intact on the inside. She's a little different in that she is smiling on both sides of her face.

"Shelter" 

With his feathers he will cover you, under his wings you will find safety.

His truth is your shield and armor. Psalm 91:4

I encourage you to join me in creating a little piece of art as part of your daily devotion & I would love to see your pieces!

Create a great day!

LoVe LoVe LoVe

Happy Valentine's Day!
 

Know you are Loved!

 

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

 ( John 13:34-35) 

This piece is on a 5 x7 canvas panel. I didn't start with a black canvas which is so different for me. Somehow my brain sees inside out when I'm painting, if that makes any sense. The black or outlines on most of my paintings is where I didn't put paint.   I have been having fun experimenting with very thin washes of acrylic paint, using them more like watercolors than oils.  I have tried using watercolors countless times just to destroy a piece of good paper & make a mess.  Using a canvas & acrylic paint, if I mess up or don't like something,  I know I can start all over again, I suppose that's comforting in a way, no pressure.  I am planning to do a new video in the next week or so!

 

Finishing What I Started

"Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled"

"Compassion"

 

6 Months ago I started these 3 little paintings of Jesus.  All 3 left abandoned on my easel. I'd see them/Him as I walked right by. I'd stop and pick at one now & then but haven't been able to really sit down and work on them until now. Using the acrylic paint almost like watercolors, I lost track of how many layers there are.  Things so often turn out different than when I start out. 

My Favorite Face...

His is my favorite face to paint!

 

"Forgiveness"

To The Glory of God

"I Dreamed I was in Fresno Last Night"

There is a quaint little place on the way to L.A. that I insist on stopping at every time go. It has the best produce, cheeses, nuts & a gift shop that has really cool & crafty things. I have to drag myself out to get back on the road. Maybe it's time for another road trip!

Happy New Year Again!

Chinese New Year starts Feb 10th. When I'm not painting I'm sewing or have some kind of needle in my hand. I have so much fabric it's shameful. I decided I better start doing something with it or else... This is the project I just finished and can't wait to start the next one! Some of my next projects may include painted fabric or some of my art printed on fabric.

"Happy New Year"

A beautiful butterfly soars & red Chinese lanterns flutter in the wind over a quaint Chinese village celebrating the New Year.

I was inspired by a piece of designer fabric by Kaufmann, a Chinese Toile.  It started a daydream. The print looks like a rural chinese festival & tea party.

I started with a vintage GUESS George Marciano denim jacket I was lucky to find at the local 2nd hand store.

 

I cut red circles out of fabric then bleached a portion of them for the bottom of the lanterns. Free motion embroidery was used to attach the strings & to complete the lanterns. I added sequins & rhinestones. A pretty blue denim butterfly was on a piece of fabric my sister had sent me that matched perfect! I added it for a little perspective. We are soaring over the festival! I attached  the entire piece as close to the seam as possible with a black machine blanket stitch. The lanterns swing from strings of vintage black velvet that has a glitter print that just twinkles in the light, sequins & diamond like rhinestones top the lanterns.  I used different colored sequins for the strings of the lanterns.  I had put a butterfly at the top of the jacket too but I ended up removing it.  Maybe I will make me one too, I would wear it to San Francisco when we go have Dim Sum!

I hope this inspires you to dive right in & cut something up!

Happy Chinese New Year!

 

Big Studio Sale!

All of a sudden...well...it seems like all of a sudden, I have way too much stuff.  While I was down & out,  it was out of sight, out of mind. Now that I am able to get back to work, all of this stuff is bogging me down.  You know me, in addition to painting I have to try every craft there is and I love to sew so I poppin at the seams.  I sent my sister a picture of my studio just so she would believe me when I said "It looks like a bomb went off in there".  I could tell she was shocked & that was only 1/2 of the view! I think the mess got bigger the more I started organizing!
I am listing lots of ACEOs on Ebay & some things on Etsy that were created as trials for larger pieces, for commissions, or just for fun and for one reason or another I didn't list it or like it. 

Freckles & Florals

I listed these on Ebay with a starting bid of $.99! They were done in acrylic paint but I used the acrylic paints more like a watercolor, very light washes. There are several, you can check them out

or bid if you like by clicking on the picture.

Meet another Happy Soul...

"Lester Lightstringer"

-Nothing shocks him-

I just listed this fun guy on Etsy.

 

This summer my best friend gave me an embroidery sewing machine. I have been having fun with that whenever I have been able. I love making bags & upcycling ready made garments.  I am had so much fun re-constructing this robe...

It started out as a boring but new Jones of NY robe. Big thanks to Carolina at The Empress for her inspiration & lesson.  I plan to do lots more of this it's so much fun. The 50's lady I stamped on the fabric. The angel I printed on the fabric.   The sewing machine will embroider out designs and I am mostly having fun doing free-motion with it! In my recent travels I found a vintage Guess jean jacket that I am working on now. 

Thanks for stopping by! Create A Great Day!