A Span Of A Week...

A week ago today I was outside in my sunny,very-warm-for-this-time-of-Spring yard working at the picnic table; painting,sanding and prepping a frame for Violet. I had a request for a framed print of her and I wanted everything to come out just right for the sale of my first print. I absolutely love the way the frame turned out...after much sanding; layers of lavender paint,crackle glaze and white paint...and then layers of Glimmermist over that. Awesome. Violet was pleased w/ her frame and she has gone to a wonderful new home.This week I am prepping for a new arrival of my own. Bailey is getting a new little brother tomorrow. He has been so melancholy since Shelby died. We knew he needed a new little companion and we'd been looking through Petfinder. Luck of luck, last Saturday our town animal shelter posted a picture on Facebook of a little Shih Tzu boy, named Carson, who was in need of a home. I called them the second I saw the picture (which was just seconds after it had been posted), drove over, met him (what a mushy,lovey little sweetie) and put in an application right there. Monday we found out he would be ours. Tomorrow we go and have Bailey meet him and finally bring him home. Carson's had quite a week...he had to get neutered and have some teeth removed but he's getting a new family and a new brother and a humongous yard and home to explore. Hope he's as excited and happy as we are.

Here is the picture that was posted on Facebook. How could I resist that face?

I am a tremendous believer that things happen for a reason and that you can tell when they are meant to be.We had been worrying about adopting through a Shih Tzu Rescue group on Petfinder--we were concerned it would take a very long time because they have an extensive process of approval...understandably. Last Saturday I'd been spring cleaning and had just taken a break for lunch when I popped onto FB and saw Carsons picture. The way the chain of events happened I just knew it was meant to be; I'd had that same feeling when we adopted Bailey and Shelby. And my son, Warren, is home this week. He was home the week Shelby got so sick and had to be put to sleep. I remember driving to the vet and Warren cradling Shelby in his arms and we were both just sobbing our hearts out....so it seems absolutely right and perfect that he gets to be here to welcome this new little family member.
The Universe knows what we need...we just have to have faith in it.

The Gift of Spring

I have been incredibly lax in getting on here and posting. So many things in my life are demanding attention right now.One of my jobs--I work with teen moms in an art and literacy program--has gotten more complex and that has demanded alot more of my time. I have been trying in every spare minute to paint or sew or sculpt or something... Here are two recently finished poppets...they will be going into The Sundial Sisters Etsy shop very soon.

It's the same every Spring...I find a renewed sense of creativity and just need to keep moving and working and getting it out... It's as if my muse spends her winter in a half-slumber and at the first inkling of Spring she stretches and fully awakes.

This little lady is The Duchess of Agony. I began her in the week following the snowstorm... She took alot of concentrated effort. She's sculpted from polymer clay and handpainted; her limbs are attached with satin ribbons. She's painted with acrylics and inks. I hand sewed and trimmed her dress and her headdress. Her hair is washed lambs fleece from a friends farm. She has a black tulle boa and a tulle bustle to her dress. I kind of think she might be a little inspired by Lady Gaga. She has a handpainted corset and stockings too! She's going into the Sundials' shop as well. She has several sisters in various stages of work... One--a Mardi Gras Queen named Talulah-- will be finished in a few days. I'm having so much fun with these new little dolls... I've been doing tons of research on 1920s silent film stars and things like that.

This little jennywren nest was woven into one of the floral wreaths that I hang on my door each Spring. I must have put it away in the attic last fall and never saw the nest. This morning when I went up to get my Spring decorations...there it was. It has a wee little bird skeleton in it...which I find so delicate and beautiful....but also sad. Poor lost baby of last spring or summer. I'm keeping the nest in a pretty little robin-egg blue pot.... I think it's my Gift of this Spring.

Februarys Last Blast

We got socked with major snow last week...lost power for 60+ hours. In spite of the frustration; it was incredibly beautiful. Fairyland to the tenth power. My house looked like a big frosted cake. Some of these photos were taken from my attic window...overlooking my neighborhood. Also got a picture of a snow-befuddled visitor...who bustled off into her thicket after 'posing' for me.

Ondine Makes Her Debut

I first introduced you to this little girl way back in October. Since then she sat, partially completed, on my drawing table. Not for lack of wanting to work on her...but because I was stumped as to how to acchieve the effect I wanted. And I couldn't decide whether to do her in 'straight' pen and ink or to add delicate hints of watercolour to her. Finally...I worked out an arrangement with myself.

Complete her in pen and ink...and then have a copy printed onto watercolour stock paper and add the hints of colour to that. So.... here is Ondine....making her debut:

 I'm absolutely in love with her...and excited to do the watercolour version very soon.

Valentine, My Valentine...

Happy Valentines Day to everyone. And most especially, to my husband Kevin...my best friend, my sweetheart and my rock. Though we are less those two babies in our favourite wedding photo...and more like the couple below...The Weasleys. There is a romance in the comfortableness and familiarity we share. Candy and cards are lovely, but I'm much happier with the everyday blessings you bring to my life.

***I've just changed my comment setting for blog owner approval due to seeing a post on a blog I follow about 'spam comments' and attached viruses etc. I went thru some recent posts and found two comments that may have been something similar. As this is currently, the only computer in my household, I need to take precautionary measures. Thank you in advance for understanding. :) Kelly

Violet

This is Violet... Aside from the possibility of an antique wash to really make her 'shabbiness' pop...she was finished yesterday pre-Super Bowl. Another angel. And again, she was somewhat unexpected... She seems a bit quieter than her sister... more of a shy away from attention kind of girl. Except for those shimmery wings...

Sneak Peeks...

It's Superbowl Sunday and amidst all the football and feasting we should be able to squeeze in a little art. I had promised new paintings at least a week or so ago.Unfortunately, even while I consider my art to be my primary focus and work, so many other things conspire to make it secondary and even-in a few cases-a distant third on my list of jobs. I have been griping about this the last couple weeks...I think this must be the curse of the artist who is also a woman,wife,mother, etc. I know that these are the roles that have afforded me so many blessings in life, but some days I wonder if I would be more prolific and productive in my art if I could be-I don't know- Pablo Picasso or Jackson Pollack....and have Lee Krasner or anyone of a dozen mistresses to make my meals and clean my house and do my laundry for me.

So, here I am on Superbowl Sunday, taking a moment between squeezing in some art-time and needing to make nacho dip and brownies to take to a Superbowl feast,to show you some glimpses of the art I'm working on...so excruciatingly slowly.

My response to the responsibilities and whatnot that won't let me sneak off to the studio for more than a couple hours here and there...is to move the studio into the parts of my life that won't give up. Hence, my kitchen table is completely consumed in decoupage ornament making...and has been for over a week or so.

They are coming along.... They started out with an intent that they would be one thing and when that wasn't 'gelling', I took a day or so to reconsider what I wanted to do. That's the part of being an artist that--to outward appearances--doesn't seem to be actual work. But at the end of those couple days, I knew what I wanted and how to achieve it. And now I'm back on track, getting these little hand drawn and painted ornaments nearer to completion. They're being sealed in beeswax, so that's an entire long process too.

Apparently, even though I truly do strive for simplicity in my life, I'm destined to make things more detailed and complex. Fun.

The topmost picture in this entry is a sneak peek at a painting I only just finished today--about an hour or so ago. As soon as she's dry and moveable I'll get some decent pictures of her and post them.