Back to Black...

...Painting my little women; starting with a black canvas and letting them come to life with out drawing or planning, like my Aura Angels in the past, is as comforting as a hot bowl of Chickin' & Dumplin's and a lot less calories & carbs.  I almost felt like my old self today painting these, then felt a little lost.  Since I haven't been able to paint much the past 2 years, maybe I've been forcing it when I sit down to paint, maybe I've been drawing too much, maybe thinking too much, maybe getting too squirreled by new things.... I look at the pieces I did today and they make me feel good. It looks like they are doing all the thinking for me. hahaha They are a little wonky, scratchily scrubbed, rough brushed (my brushes are in desperate shape & calling me all kinds of names).  They were soothing yet exciting, in an unwrapping a present really slow kind of way. Well not too slowly because I didn't spend a lot of time on them or fret over them. They are all small. 2 ACEOs, 4 x 4" & 6 x 5".  A few I like better than others but each one was a journey.  I actually started a few more with different colored backgrounds who knows how many I will do.

Actually all my drawing/doodling wasn't in vain because I came up with an easy method of drawing/painting faces using circles.  It fires up my right brain and I start seeing people's faces in circles, ovals, oblongs, soft squares, etc...  hahaha I think it's might be good for a beginner portrait artist or experienced artist who just want to have fun and try something new.  I plan to start working on a tutorial for that as soon as I find out how to properly do a tutorial.  I have seen many Artist selling their tutorials or classes, however, I have never purchased a tutorial from anyone so I don't know if they use pictures or videos. 

 

 

Create a great day!

Chop Chop Chop...

... I love chopping it's the best thing about cooking. Oh I love to slice & dice too. That's why I was so excited to see the huge bag of garlic my hubby brought home. I chopped & chopped & peeled & peeled! I keep a little bowl of water to dip my fingers in when they become too sticky.  I decided to make him some potato salad which he loves with lots of garlic & black olives, a little reward.  

I chopped until my heart was content!

 

Garlic Olive Potato Salad

6 boiled potatoes cubed

3 large cloves of garlic

1/2 Fresh Parsley - I used curly type

3/4 C Mayo

2 small red Bell Peppers

1 small White Onion

2 Stalks of Celery

I can of Jumbo Black Olives sliced

1 tbsp. dried basil

Salt & Pepper to taste

 

Hubby was happy! He loves garlic.  The whole house smelled like a wonderful garlic garden. 

I input the recipe into SparkPeople's Recipe Calculator and for 1/2 Cup Serving it has 152 calories. 

I put some whole cloves into olive oil & placed in the frig to use later and I will be using that oil when all the cloves are gone.

I decided to keep some unpeeled cloves in my cute garlic holder. It's so full when you lift the top they tumble out.  Doesn't it look like it's smiling? :)

 

So inspired by this gift of delicious stinky garlic; & my love of  chopping, slicing & dicing; I had to go paint this little ACEO...

"Love Stinks"

(To purchase this piece just click on the painting)

 

It may even smell like garlic! hahaha 

 

Finished Clowning Around...

...I just finished a commission for newlywed performers. It is to be a wedding gift for two fun & talented people! He is a professional clown and she is a professional dancer in Las Vegas.  I had so much fun clowning around with them! It's an honor to be a part of the beginning of their life together.

 

 

I also listed a couple of ACEOs in my Etsy shop today.

 "Dunkin' Darla". 

Darla's her name, Dunk Tank's her Game!

I love her & had fun creating her.

Never stop clowning around & have a great Sunday!

Blessings!

"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!

And Away We Go...

...Tomorrow Hubby is taking me to a fabric warehouse in Reno, NV that is over 10,000 sq ft.! I'm so excited. I'm packing my walking shoes!! After he drags me out of there, perhaps peeling my fingers off the door handle, we are off for 2 days for Lake Tahoe and a great big tub.   I'll probably be daydreaming about the fabric store and pinning for my sewing machine the whole time! hahaha  

"Fishermen"

Have a whimsical week!

Still Playing With Dolls

More Angel Kokeshi Dolls!

Misawa & Me

Some of my most treasured & most terrifying childhood memories were made in Misawa, Japan. The good far out weights the bad. The Japanese people were such kind & gentle people and the experience was so enriching that it somewhat etched me into who I am today. As I say in some of my profiles, it was there that ignited a lifelong quest of crafting and a determined search for the perfect craft. (Those of you that know me, I know are taking a moment to laugh like hell, coz you know, go ahead! lol) It was there that I learned needlework, it there I was baptized, it was there I realized, we are all one, no matter our differences, and it was there I it really sank in that life is fragile, we really aren't in control, and it can be gone in an instant. These are a few photos of the 1968 8.2 earthquake that I went through while I lived there. I know the helplessness & terror that they feel with the earthquakes, however, I know that I can not fully comprehend the horror and uncertainty they are going through with the tsunami and nuclear situation. My heart is bleeding for the Japanese people. I am praying for them all and all of the families of the kind people and their families that touched my life in past.
I have listed these 2 Angels on Ebay and 50% of the proceeds will go to the American Red Cross.

I used the same palette for both pieces. Thalo Blue, Viridian, Crimson, Yellow Ochre, Cad Yellow, Titanium White, and Payne's Gray. I painted the mermaid 1st, using only very little yellow, then painted the sunflower Angel with the same under painting and palette using very little viridian & thalo blue. I think these combinations of colors muted & melded into each other making the pieces moody instead of super bright. About 15 years ago I began making my own perfumes. Most store bought perfumes give me headaches, whether worn by me or someone else. Making my own and removing all the chemicals make it possible for me to wear more scents, there are a few that don't bother me as long as I don't put too much on. So a few years ago, on the weekends, I created a small line of perfumes. Like a little chemist, I was measuring, mixing and smelling, adding, subtracting, reading everything I could find, smelling everything to try & guess what was in it, trying to develop something that was natural, different, yet sophisticated. Not just a combination of a few oils. My guys put up with all "reek-age" leaked in the atmosphere and were generally willing give their opinions which was really sweet. Opening a new shipment of oils were exciting times. Oh what mystery smells that were about to be unleashed into the mix! So exciting! *P.S. Tomato essential oil does not smell like a tomato bush, the scent I was hoping for. I have no clue what it would be good in! P U* I spent innumerable hours in study, learning what makes good top notes, middle notes, bottom notes, mixed endless combinations of oils, designed the packaging, did profit figures and came up with some marketing strategies only to be left to occupy a little corner of my studio. It was impossible to start that business and work at such a stressful job at the same time, but I thought one day.... One day still hasn't arrived, however, I made the most wonderful jojoba lotion bar last night with some of those supplies. I love it so much I may make some to sell in my Shenanagans shop and on this blog just so other people will have to chance to have some. I need to tweek the recipe a little bit but it turned out much better than I expected for first try. We'll see. I'm still trying to find balance with all the other things I have on my plate. Oh but it's so creamy and smells so good. I used a green Irish smelling scent, which is really a unisex scent. I made all the guys put it on their elbows, and I think it made all the wrinkles on my face disappear! hahaha! just kidding. Don't you wish?!
A Big Shout Out & Thank You goes to these fabulous shops for featuring my art in their wonderful collections! Please click on their names to visit their shops. SmallImpressions, BirgittasBridal, AnnaLela, OrangiesAttic, WhatsHerName, AprilCJohnson, MyDreamGarden, and GreyGirlDesigns - Thank you so much!

A Broken Record...

...that was my brain. Stuck in a groove. Black & White. Black & White. Black & White. I had to do it. I had to run go & get linoleum. My husband doesn't even fight it anymore. hahaha I got home and couldn't wait to carve into it. I set up a tv tray, taped a paper bag to hang off the edge so that I could sweep off the waste lino right into the bag (it is a little messy). Then went & grabbed his leather garden glove for my left hand, just in case I slip with the tool. It wasn't long before I was smiling & patting myself on the back for my brilliance after what could have been a few bloody messes. Hubby kicked back in his leather recliner with his football games & remote control. Me, my lino, tools & tv tray. Happy as 2 clams at high tide.

Here are the small pieces I did. They are 3"x 3.75", a little bigger than an ACEO. I have enough lino to make 8 more small pieces but I might try a little bigger piece. I'm ordering more lino through Dick Blick today. It's a surprise to me how much I love doing this type of work. Lost In Lino! The world is whittled away.

Hubby made me watch this video someone sent him this morning. He warned me my stomach may flip flop. He was right. During the video, with my fingers almost covering my eyes, I screamed out "Where are their mothers?! Are they orphans?!" Yiiiiikes! I guess to do amazing things, no matter what it is, you have to take a chance & just run with it!

On My Easel

Cirques Acts are now listed on Ebay. Click here to bid!

Little Swimmer's are now listed on Etsy. Click here to purchase!


Dreamy Angels are now listed on Ebay. Click here to bid!

I can't put the oil pastels down! I'm having so much fun with them. Here's a few ACEOs I've been working on. The "Little Swimmers" are currently listed in my Etsy Shop. I've had the circus in my head this summer & going to the Cirques du Soleil show only made it worse. I guess I am facing my fears of Clowns in my Cirques collection which is fun and a little creepy! Clowns scare me. I'm scaring myself! LOL

It Wasn't Just Santa...

...that kept me "being good", it was the rides! When I was a little girl living in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina my Mom would promise to takes us to the Pavillions & let us ride the carnival rides if we were good almost every weekend. I love these memories. This is a little ACEO just listed in my Etsy Shop.

A Little Word On Wednesday

For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all they ways.
Psalm 91:11

A Choir of Angels

This little choir of blue-eyed angel ACEOs are now listed for sale on Ebay. You don't see many sets for sale but I couldn't bare to separate them! I did white backgrounds on all of these instead of lots of color. I suppose I'm in a winter mood. Click here to see listing and low starting bid.

I had fun at the galleries last night. Both galleries had musicians playing and wonderful art. There was a lot of fantastic Christian art at the Cafe Refugio where I was showing. As usual I forgot my camera! I believe my pieces will be up for a month there. A few people were fasinated by the way my angel's eyes followed them and how one side of the face shows one emotion and the other side another. The Marco Fuoco gallery's next show is 10 pieces, 8 x 10s, from 10 artist and I may show in that one.

A Little Word on Wednesday

He is like a tree planted by streams of water,

which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither.

Whatever he does prospers.
Psalm 1:3