Marie: Painting in Stages

This is a painting that I've been working on as I'm trying to transition my style from somewhat realistic to more figurative and expressive. I'm terribly excited about getting her to look how I imagined in my head.

I'm not going to write much more as I hope the feeling, expression and the time in Marie Antoinette's life comes through from the art as opposed to just me jabbering about it :-)

I took pictures of each stage and am quite surprised how sharp a turn it took between picture three and picture four. As you can see, my starting point was the dimensional paste hair. Don't you just love that stuff? It adds so much to a piece!

Thanks so much for visiting :-)

P.S. There is a sale in my Etsy shop through Thursday. Use the code TURKEY20:

Motivational Beaded Spoons

Years ago I read the Spoon Theory and thought it was an excellent metaphor to explain what life is like dealing with chronic pain and managing your energy and abilities for any given day.

That inspired me to make some decorated spoons to give to loved ones as a friendly 'extra spoon' for days when they needed one.

*SOLD*

And then I was hooked. Suddenly spoons didn't just seem to be something to give to 'Spoonies' but to anyone who needed a little inspirational reminder. 

Something you could hang in a window, in your car, on the tree… and read the message on it whenever you needed encouragement.

Available on Etsy

The more I thought about spoons, the more it became clear that spoons are one of our first memories of nourishment and of being cared for.

Available on Etsy

Available on Etsy 

Available on Etsy

I hope you enjoy these spoons and you pass one on to those you care about.

Warmly,

~~~~Nicole

Mysterious Art Journal Page

The Monday Challenge this week at Simon Says Stamp blog is, It's a Mystery:

From Nancy Drew books to techniques that are hard to figure out just from looking at a finished project, DT member Andrea and her father inspire us this week with the challenge of “mystery”. Will you embrace your inner Sherlock Holmes? Mystify us with your technique prowess? Or perhaps your project ties into this week’s theme by simply mysteriously being unclear on how exactly it fits! However you choose to interpret the theme, we can’t wait to see your creations!

I decided to embrace the theme on several levels, the first is that I've been reading a lot about the unconscious mind, the subconscious mind and the mind-body connection.

Few things in my opinion are more a mystery than how our unconscious minds work.

And since in dreams and symbols the person's psyche is usually represented by a house, I thought this page was a good representation of this mystery I've been so curious about.

Apparently my psyche is a techno-color, neon, jubilant, riot, party.

From a techniques perspective I tried a new supply - Liquitex acrylic ink. It was a total mystery to me regarding how it was going to act and react and OMG, I'm in love. It spreads and mixes like a champ, has rich, deeply saturated hues and then dries permanent. That's bliss in a bottle, folks.

I added the hymn paper with Mod Podge and not a speck of color came up. Awesome!

This is also linked up with Julie Balzer's Art Journal Everyday post.

Altered Spoons

Way back on November 29, 2011 the kids and I decided to kick off the year's Christmas crafts with altering some spoons. 

(I can't get over how little Brayden was! Twelve is a lot younger than nearly fifteen!)

So we made all these beauties

We got a good start on it and then I set them aside. 

Then we got distracted making spool garland and forgot about the spoons.

I put them away with our Christmas ornaments and the next year pulled them out, intending to make use of them but we'd just lost Chris's Dad and Christmas wasn't very crafty.

Come New Year, instead of putting them away, I decided they weren't really Christmas specific and I mixed them in with my craft supplies. And ignored them. Then, late this summer I moved them onto my desk so they'd be in the way and I'd work on them.

Well folks, work on them I did. 

Altered spoons are almost as fun as altered playing cards. You can use up all your bits and pieces and make something marvelous! I think I have a new obsession.

This one has wings made with a Gelli printed Manilla tag.

For this spoon I used a hand made paper bead rolled from one of my collage prints. The wings are Gelli printed card stock.

Thanks for visiting.

Dream a New Dream Mixed Media Hot Air Balloons

Good morning, world!

I'm going to keep the commentary short today as I have terrible laryngitis and while it effects my typing not at all, I've sort of lost my juice, my flare, my mojo that je ne sais quoi that helps propel me through the day.

Right now, any propelling results in coughing, asthma and suffering. Ick.

Okay. Whining done. 

Look what I made!

This is all created with the remaining Gelli-prints from my last post (painty hands, castle… go look)

I'm crushing on it hard. 

And apparently my hubby is too as he asked if he could have it for his office.

Which is always equal parts flattering and, 'hey, why don't you like my other stuff?"

So what do you think? I've been branching out and puttting my own spin on things, melding ideas and trying to Steal Like an Artist
You like?

P.S. The free shipping sale in my Society6 expires on the 17th. It's a great deal if you're looking for prints of iPhone cases :-)

Be Bold Mixed Media Castle

One of the things I love about making Gelli Prints is that I can't help but cut into these beauties pretty much as soon as they're dry. With purchased paper I always felt I needed to save it for a worthy project and then I'd hold onto it until it bored me. With homemade patterns I just go for it knowing full well there is more where that came from.

I also think Gelli printing is a sort of meditation. Your hands are busy, your creative juices are flowing but it's low-stress so your mind can uncurl a bit and take a breather. 

Yeah, I love it. Tons. 

So, as soon as the above papers dried I set myself to making a castle. I've seen a lot of wonky houses but no castles. 

And with all those bright feminine colors it seemed like the perfect opportunity to make a girly piece, something I've been wanting to do lately.

With three boys I just don't pink all that often.

Love the rhinestone doorknobs and the bricks - this made me happy :-)

It's so rewarding making your own patterned paper for your art and it gives everything you create a more personal look. 

This is my entry into the "houses" challenge  at Inspiration Avenue.

Also, I just wanted to mention that there is free shipping right now on my prints at Society6 

HERE'S THE LINK

Thanks so much for visiting.

Warmly,

~~~Nicole

Make It Monday: Stamped Square Frames

Here's my take on the Capture the Moment Make it Monday Challenge 139: Stamped Square Frames

Create a project utilizing your take on the challenge. Your project must use at least one Papertrey product and a square frame created with Papertrey Ink stamps. 

 This was really fun as I haven't used my flourished borders as a frame before. 

Tip: cover the other side of the stamp with washi tape so you don't get confused. I got confused and forgot which one I had inked and made a big mess.

The stamps I used are:

Boutique Borders: Birthday Mini Stamp Set

Live Love Life Stamp Set

The cute little lizard hand carved. I found the image in the book Stamp It!

I LOVE him. So perfectly imperfect.

I think this stamp is great for boy/guy cards so I made a bunch of simple, very low-key cards that are easily mailable (not lumpy). 

They also make a great little gift set when you add matching envelopes.

And then I was playing around in my log book and my art journal. 

Yeah, I think I'm a little obsessed. 

Time to carve a new stamp :-)

Thanks so much for visiting.

Warmly,

~~~~Nicole