It's my birthday, sort of....

This is the best birthday card ever!
My clever cousin Nicole, searched through
my blog to find photos of my past projects,
and managed to Photoshop them here.
How cool is that....

She included pics of Tim and I,
my mom, boys and cat!

I was born on Leap Day,
so my birthday is really on the 29th,
so technically, I can celebrate it on the
last day of February, or the first day of March.

Looks like the celebration starts now!
Wooooo hoooo!
I'm 13 1/2 years young in case you are wondering!

My first Cloth & Clay Doll

Well here she is.
She was a lot more work than I realized.
I now have a greater appreciation for working
with Creative Paper Clay.

It looks like I'm going to need some practice
to actually make a "pretty" doll....LOL!


My dolls are hanging to dry....


I decided to make little labels
for my dolls, and it took a few applications
of matte medium because of the rounded surface.


I had to work in stages applying the crackle,
and actually experimented with 2 different products.


This is one way I applied crackle medium.


In the meantime, I have been painting the sturdy pages of
children books with gesso, which I intend to journal on.

I currently have 5 little books here, and it takes time
to allow the gesso to dry.....but I'm almost done!

Buford Bunny and Clay dolls in progress

I immediately fell in love with Robin's
Buford Bunny doodle offered on her site
Bird in the Hand Primitives

She is very generous with her doodles,
and offers wonderful prim patterns,
to adapt to applique or needlepunch,
or whatever. Very talented gal!
I love, love, love her style.

I used random colors out of my floss stash,
and punched him with a few penny eggs around the
border, then distressed it with walnut ink,
scented with a wonderful oil,
and stitched him on a wool pillow tuck.

I pinned a brown grosgrain ribbon with
small rusty pins, to hang him,
and added rusty bells on the corners.


I've been slowly working on cloth & clay dolls.
I hope to mold hands and shoes today,
and hopefully paint and crackle tomorrow....
and eventually clothe them (the fun part).


This is my first attempt!
I think a little aging process is in order.

Eye Painting Tutorial

One of my weaknesses in doll making is
painting the eyes.

My friend Brenda of the
Vintage Polka Dot, creates
the most beautiful dolls with incredible
eyes, and she is now offering a tutorial,
"It's all about the eyes".

As you can see, she has had a lot of
practice in this area, and shares
her trade secret in this tutorial.
CLICK HERE to learn more

Dusting off the brushes

I'm trying not to be too critical,
and enjoying the sweet feeling of painting again.


I have this huge roll of canvas, so I cut up
6" x 6" squares to practice on.


I definitely need lots of practice
on proportions and blending, so pleeeeeeeeze
don't look too closely.

It's always nice to display your beginning projects
so you can see your style improve.

I can't decide how to display these gals.
Pillows, pockets in totes, or hung in a row
on a ribbon of some type....hmmmm....

Mom thinks they remind her of "nymphs"...
Huh? She's too funny!

What do you think?

Experimenting...

I am patiently waiting...
for the oil paint to dry,
so I can finish this angel's face.

I have never worked with Shiva artist's paintstiks
before, and this is purely experimental.
I am so inspired by Kelly Rae Roberts,
and this is her technique.
I'm extremely impatient...
so we'll see what happens,
as I wait for the paint to dry.

I'm happy with the way this is coming out.
It's a result of a quirky day yesterday.

I originally set out to paint with acrylics,
and after HOURS of painting
what I think was awful,
and that put me in a sour mood.

I was learning a new style of blending
with paints and mediums I am unfamiliar
with, and no matter how hard I tried,
the results were simply awful.

I walked around my studio in circles
trying to find SOMETHING to do,
to make the day COUNT!

No matter what I picked up,
it simply didn't interest my muse....
UNTIL, I browsed through Kelly's book:
TAKING FLIGHT
looking for inspiration,
(to give my creative spirit wings),

I attempted this angel,
with no direction or plan in mind.

I used the paint I already had out
to base coat it (robin's egg blue), and added bits of
scrapbook papers in pastel colors,
applied with matte medium (great stuff~).

I couldn't wait to try this
Golden Gel Medium
Molding Paste to add testure.
It required several hours of drying,
but I felt better that I was making
progress on SOMETHING!
(This stuff is really cool as well!)

So it was ready for some embellishing
this morning, and I loved the transition
once I added some contrast paint
(bright yellow and black plum)
over the texture.

I painted the wings with clear gesso mixed
with white paint, and top coated
with a layer of sparkle paint and crystals.

I added this special saying:
"People may not remember
what you said or did,
but they will always remember,
how you made them feel."

Doesn't the Charcoal
around the edges just make her pop!
(That's also something new for me)
Now I can't wait to finish her.


Recently I sketched this gal on watercolor paper,
and colored her in with
NEOCOLOR Watersoluable
crayons, and
CONTE pastel pencils.

Oh laa laa!

I LOVE this stuff!
OK, she's blotchy, and I need lots of practice,
but this project was really, really fun!

Well I will attempt to finish conquering my demons,
and practice painting what I tried yesterday,
with a different attitude.
Something tells me it's a going to be good day!

Best wishes that your day is swell!

Zentangle

I discovered a new way to doodle.
When I saw my first images, they looked
complicated, and I doubted my ability
to create one.

My curiousity got the best of me.

In the last few weeks, I have been transforming.
Like a metamorphasis.....

I have joined 3 group workshops
to attempt to learn new skills that
will bring me back to painting again,
and hopefully re-invent myself.

My mom told me I'm "manic"....
That made me chuckle.
I KNOW it's my inner "MUSE" stirring;
calling to me; to allow my creative juices to flow once again.

That is something I don't expect her to understand.
I'm pretty sure I didn't get
my "creating genes" from her.

Anyway, if you want to learn more about
ZENTANGLES, visit this awesome site:
Milliande

This is a place where you can expect
to be in the company of many
with incredible talent.
A site filled with inspiration, resources,
ideas and a vital energy that will
spark your inner MUSE.

My doodle took me about 2 hours to complete,
using a PITT artist pen.


This sketch was done on my lunch hour.
I have attempted to sketch like this
ONLY a half dozen times.

I'm taking a workshop with
Willowing.ning.com
learning how to create Fabulous Faces.

I will be sketching a similar face on
hard pressed watercolor paper, and I will
attempt to add color in a stylistic style.I have only painted with acrylics ever.This is a new skill I will be learning.

I share this only to demonstrate
the potential to really discover new
things about yourself when you give
yourself permission to TRY.

When you listen to your MUSE,
you will release something beautiful.
It's more than the work you create,
it's more about growing and loving yourself.
If that is being "manic",
I say "bring it on"!

I love you mom!
I know you will always be my biggest fan.