What You Do: Modern Girl Collage

*SOLD*

The difference between who you are 

and who you want to be 

is what you do.

So sassy!

Isn't she just the peachy keenest?

Other originals and prints available on Etsy

A Collage for a Dear Friend

I made this for a dear friend whose husband will soon be deployed.

When I think of the strength army wives must have to manage raising their kids alone while worrying about the person they love most in the world it just breaks my heart. I hate being without my husband for even a day and I'm sure they do to. But they're willing to, for the greater good. 

It's a level of sacrifice that I am humbled and speechless in the face of.

I tried to capture the carefree sweetness and beauty of my friend and hope that this gift let's her know how much we value the incredible sacrifice her family is making.

Love you guys, and I'll be praying for you every single day!

Mixed Media Cigar Box

I was inspired by the painted cigar box that I purchased last month to try making one of my own. 

Houses often symbolize yourself and when people have house dreams - like someone coming over and seeing how messy it is - it usually is interpreted to be a person's fears about others finding out about the "messy" parts of you.

You may have noticed that houses are a recurring motif in art - they are something we all relate too instinctively.

These houses though are intended to bring cheerful, happy silliness into your life. To add some color and some funky joyful abandon.

The value of having an art piece that is a box is that you can write your dreams or your worries down and put them in the box. Then the box can carry them for you and you can move boldly forward.

I'll be listing it on Etsy once I'm feeling a little stronger.

Thanks, Kathi for the cigar boxes.

Which house pictured is most like you?

Trip to the ER and a New Collage

Yesterday was a bit of a long day.

I think my heart was trying out for Dancing with the Stars:

first the tango, *stop*, then the Paso Doble, *stop*... wait for the judges... waltz!

It was pretty darn scary. Paddles were mentioned. Double-scary. 

I was totally like, " ixnay on the addles-pay!"

Anyhow, things calmed and nothing life-threatening occurred and now I'm waling around with a 24 hour EKG to keep an eye on my ticker.

Looks like a white cami from a distance.

Not so much up close. I see all the special heart guys on Monday and we'll figure it out. 

What a day.

But then the mail came and look at the pretty I got. It was like getting a hug from my Mom-in-law on a day I really, really needed it. Thanks, Mom!

But enough about me, here's some pics of a collage I made:

It has lots of gorgeous texture:

Available on Etsy

New Originals and Prints: Shop Update

I have some new originals in my Etsy shop:

Be Better Than Yesterday

Stylish Motivational Collage

And new prints, mounted on MDF and edged with black paint, $18.00 each:

Art Prints

I'll be introducing each of the new pieces on my blog in the days ahead.

Expectant Mom Collage with Proverbs Blessing

She is clothed in strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.

I love when I start work on a project and someone comes to mind so strongly that I can't help but make my Modern Girl version of the person. This is Ashley. She is so beautiful on the outside and on the inside too.

And she's stylish.

With incredibly cute hair.

This is my wish, blessing, verse for her.

*SOLD*

Hope she loves it.

BTW, did you see I've added a Gallery page to my blog? It's up there at the top next to "Home". Now if you want to see all my collages you can click there and see them all in one place.

You Are Only Confined By the Walls You Build Yourself

You are only confined by the walls you build yourself.

What a powerful statement. Lately I've been thinking a lot about what I'm able to do and what I can not and then I've been asking,

 what walls am I building around myself? 

Turns out there is a lot more that I can do then I think I can if I don't let fear or ego hold me back. 

I love the interplay between the purple, the flowers and the spray paint here. Had to share a close up.

This is my first Modern Girl who's wearing pants. I wanted to make someone that really represented how real women look on a normal average day. For me, that would be jeans, a cute t-shirt and haphazard hair. 

I hope you enjoyed the little chances I took with her. It was fun making something quite different from the others.

Available on Etsy

Think Happy. Be Happy. Collage

Think Happy. Be Happy.

This vivacious modern girl is as at home under a tree in a busy city park as she is picking apples in an organic orchard. 

Don't you just love her boots?

I modelled her after my friend, Rachael. It's so much fun for me to make these with someone specific in mind.

I did a big shop update this morning so if you want a sneak peek of what's coming up on the blog you can CLICK HERE

What's Up With Me :-)

Hey everyone,

Are you getting tired of seeing collages? I've been worrying about that and thought I'd just ask. Right now, I've been making a ton-o collages so that's been the bulk of my posts. But if you're bored, please speak up. I have thick skin :-) Okay, I don't, really. But I can handle it :-)

The last six weeks have been so busy and crazy! Wow! So I thought I'd give you all a highlight reel.

There was a forest fire! It was close enough that this is the view from my front door. Scary! The authorities had us pack but not evacuate. Fortunately no homes burned and all was well in the end.

My oldest turned 16!

I had my make-up done at MAC and tried false eyelashes for the first time. Haven't since, they are dirty looking things... any tips on cleaning them. Every time I pick them up I think, well there's an eye infection waiting to happen!

I also met an artist whose work I fell madly in love with and bought the piece that spoke to my heart:

And I've had three different big bad health things happen. *grumble* So I've taken my health in my own hands - temporarily until surgeons can Mr Fix-it the rest. A big part of that is no sugar. 

*GASP*

Which is why you've seen a lot less baking on this blog.

But I do have a backlog of cake posts needing to be written up so there still will be cake. I just feel weird sharing sugar-rich recipes when I'm convinced it's just not good for people. 

In the battle of ethics vs yummy-tummy which will win?

said in my best ready to rumble announcers voice

But, if you're jonesing for some dessert awesomeness from Casa Maki, my youngest son, Brayden, has started a blog that mostly features Mug Cakes. Mix in a mug. Cook in the mic. Easy, done. Portion-controlled. I approve.

Boy Who Cooks

And, as I'm sure you've noticed, I started an Etsy shop and it's been constantly sold out. Nearly every piece has sold in under two hours and I've been waking up most days to custom orders. It's been a wild, invigorating, unexpected, WONDERFUL experience and I want to thank all of you who have been a part of it.