Let Me Introduce My Friend,...

... Christie, of Sweetbriar Studio here in sultry North Carolina.

She is a purse designer extraordinaire,

has designed fun reversible fabric hats,

and felted pieces for the home.

She has two Etsy shops: one for her purses, hats, and accessories, and one for home accessories.

Christie and I have been friends for years (I've bought and made some of her purse patterns). Periodically, we meet for lunch and a chance to get caught up. Today was our first lunch in several months - time has flown by! During our chattering this afternoon, she let drop that she's started a blog. While you are sitting at your computer, why don't you hippity-hoppity your way over to her corner of Blogland and give her a big Bloglandia welcome?

Christie was one of my "helpers" at my show last November

How To Brighten My Day:

Yesterday was a damp, dark, cold and gloomy day. A good day to stay inside and watch tv with Pooch. So there I was, watching Csi Vegas with The Hound draped over my lap, when the doorbell chimed: "One Ringy-Dingy, Two Ringy-Dingies". Huh!? That means the kitchen door. Only friends use that door, and no one gave me a heads-up that they were dropping by. I went to see what was what... and found this:

The UPS guy did his usual ring-the-bell-and-run routine as he delivered this gargantuan box. A glance at the label told me it was from my Mom. I'd forgotten she told me to expect a package on Weds.

I cut the tape and opened the box, and Wowowow.... inside I found this:

"Easter Morning" by Karen Bannister '08

A combined anniversary and birthday gift from her to me. I'd seen this painting during my October visit with her and declared it "my new favorite" of all her works. How lovely to own it now! This photo doesn't really do it justice as the plexiglass reflected back some light. The background is more a soft buttery yellow and the flowers are a bit more "punched up". It's the perfect answer to a dreary day, so soft and full of light.

You'd hardly know by looking at this gorgeous piece that Mom had never painted a watercolor until 1998. It was after my father's sudden and unexpected death, and she was feeling so lost. A friend who is a painter suggested Mom join her in a lesson, and that's all it took. She was hooked. Newly obsessed, she neglected her gardens (her past obsession), going so far as to hire a gardening service to do that for her so she'd have more time to paint.

She transformed her dining room into a studio, and bought a small drop-leaf table to pull out when she has guests in for a meal. Everyone who knows her even a little understands that she dismantles her studio set-up only for massively special occasions. She's got at least 3-4 paintings going on at a time, switching between them as she waits for layers to dry.

She's had several one-woman shows in her local area, as well as works in group shows, including the Garden State Watercolor Society. I think she's found herself at last.

Thanks, Mom. I love it.

New Drawings

I've been stagnating since before Christmas: mired in a quicksand of cranky mood, an unhealthy amount of self-pity, and no motivation. NOT a nice place to be. So, I have a new resolve to do at least one drawing a week. It doesn't have to be of da Vinci-like quality, just a few minutes of laying graphite on a clean sheet of paper. I'm hoping this will get the creativity flowing again.

Happy, Quiet Holidays

Many thanks to all of you who have wished me feeling better - I am... MUCH better. I still honk like a goose, and have a most unladylike cough but, for the most part, I'm on the mend. And I give all the credit to Marble Man's "special" blend of tea. *wink*

Christmas was very quiet, just Marble Man, me, and the dog. We could barely wait for 12:01 AM to arrive Christmas morning when we began to tear into our presents. The dog was a BIG help there - he just can't stand to see a present all wrapped up. He's gotta tear a corner off the paper on each gift. Everyone was so thoughtful - we thank all of you. One of my favorite gifts came from my Mom, who proved, once again, that she's a great listener!

In 1991, Marble Man and I went to our local museum to view an Alphonse Mucha exhibit.

"Self Portrait"

Oh, how I adore the man's work! (Find more about him here.) When I told Mom about the exhibit, she filed it away in that steel trap she calls a brain. Lo these many years later, imagine my surprise when I opened one of her gifts to find a calendar featuring some of Mucha's pieces. I get to enjoy that all year long!

Mucha is famous for his Art Nouveau posters

"Job"

and lithographs

"Reverie"

"The Moon"

but he was also a gifted jewelry designer,

sculptor,

"La Nature"

and painter.

"Maruska"

I don't make New Year's Resolutions because I rarely keep them past the first week, but this is one I'll actively pursue: I'm going to add more beauty to my life each day. I'll look in the oddest of places for small joys, I'll find them, and hold them close. And I'll start by looking at my closet door each morning...

Happy New Year, Dear Friends!

making gifts

Wow. That was a busy weekend! This year, in lieu of actual tangible gifts, we thought we'd make donations in family members' names to their favorite charities. But, as I wrote out the cards stating the various gifts made, I thought about how the "fun factor" of Christmas would be missing.

So, I spent the weekend finishing some gifts to give as well. Who doesn't love to discover a mysteriously shaped package under the tree with their name on it? I dug out this wonderful book my mother gave me several years ago. I knew I'd use it someday, and that time arrived this week. The projects use a basic salt dough (2 C all purpose flour, 1 C table salt, 1/2 - 1 C warm water), which is kneaded about 10 minutes, shaped, then baked a LONG time - anywhere from 4 - 12 hours. I made several pieces, then madly painted and varnished this weekend to get them in the post today. Mission accomplished!

Because I put my time into making the gifts, I skimped on the wrapping - nothing amazing this time around. Next year, I'll plan better so I have time to do both.

My favorite piece so far: a 9" wreath with little fruits that are about 3/4" wide. So cute (don't worry, the recipient doesn't read this blog so I'm not spoiling the surprise).

I'm completely hooked on this sculpture medium. The trick will be to do it only occasionally so it stays a hobby. My habit, when I learn something new and I really enjoy it, is to do it obsessively, which then sucks all the fun out of it. Therefore, salt dough sculpture is my new "carrot" for getting unpleasant jobs finished - such as the (dreaded) year-end inventory.

Trimming The Tree With Bread Clay Ornaments

My favorite time of this season is when we trim the Christmas tree. Long ago, we decided to forgo the delicious (and expensive!) smell of fresh pine for a fake tree. It was the year we spent $60 for a 5 foot tall fresh pine: the week after Christmas, our tree was at the curb awaiting pickup, and I went to our local hardware store on an errand. They had 7 foot tall fake trees for $70!! So, I bought one, and we haven't regretted it (much). It's easy to store, easy to decorate, easy on the environment, and it paid for itself the first year we had it.

22 years ago, I found a wonderful article in the 1986 December issue of McCall's Needlework & Craft Magazine with instructions for making bread clay tree ornaments. I made some, and one of my joys each Christmas is pulling them out of storage to hang on the tree.

They weren't difficult to make, just took some time and patience. I thought I'd post the instructions here if any one would like to try to make some. (If you want the printed instructions, email me and I'll send them to you.)

Here's what you'll need to make an angel with a rose bouquet:

Materials:
Old Fashioned White Bread (Wonder Bread works great!)
Aleene's Tacky Glue
White watercolor paint
food coloring: red and green
Acrylic paints: metallic gold, light blue, yellow oxide, red
polyurethane varnish

Equipment:
Please note, the collected things in this picture are the tools I've amassed over the years. You don't have to have ALL this stuff!

small mixing bowl and spoon
measuring spoons
plastic wrap
waxed paper or parchment paper
ruler
plastic straws
saucer or palette (for paints)
small and very fine paint brushes
small spool of fine wire (24 or 26 gauge)
wire cutters

Bread clay:
1 slice fresh white bread, crusts removed
2 tsp Aleene's Tacky Glue

1) break the bread into tiny pieces in small bowl
2) add glue
3) mix thoroughly with a spoon
4) knead mixture until it has a smooth and even texture - about 5 minutes.

(Note: it is VERY sticky! You'll have to rinse it off your hands after you start kneading, otherwise it will just keep sticking to itself on your fingers. It will start to behave itself after a minute or so of kneading.)

**Note: This clay dries out super fast, so only mix up enough for what you are doing at the time - the above recipe makes enough clay for one ornament.

Cover your workspace with waxed, or parchment, paper and tape it down.

Break off a small piece, about an inch round, and set it aside, wrapped in plastic wrap.

Now, make a well in the center of the main portion of clay and add about 2 tsp of white watercolor paint. Knead this until the paint is homogenized throughout the clay. This will be a big mess in your hands! Those of you who watched the Fellowship of the Ring movies will immediately start thinking of the "White Hand of Saruman". (I know, that probably makes me a geek!)

Once again, wash your hands and knead the clay against your workspace to evenly distribute the color.

Body:
When the clay is nice and smooth, make a cone of clay 2" long and about 5/8" thick at the base. Flatten out the cone with your hand to a 1/4" thick wedge, and sharply bend up the skinny end to form the upper body:

After the basic shape is done, you can embellish the surface of her gown any way you wish. To make the heart-shaped design, I wrapped one end of a large drinking straw with a rubber band to form the heart shape. You could also use leather stamping tools, or anything else that excites you.

Head and Wings:
Break off a small piece of clay and model an oval about 1/2" long and attach to the neck using the same glue you used to make the clay. For the halo, flatten a pea-sized piece of clay to a circle 1/8" thick and glue to the back of the head.

For the wings, model a pair about 1/8" thick. Attach to body at the waist.

Arms:
Model two arms, about 1" long and 1/4" wide. Pinch at one end to form the hands and bend the hands so they are flat (to hold the bouquet). Add a graceful bend at the elbows. Score horizontal lines on the arms to add texture to the "sleeves" of her gown.

Assembly:
From a 1-1/2" piece of wire, form a loop, spread the ends and insert in between the wings below the waist. Glue the arms at the waist, pinching the hands together at the front.

Form two shoes from 1/8" long pieces of clay and glue behind the hem of her skirt.

Bouquet:

Now's the time for that little piece of clay you set aside at the beginning. Take a small piece and make a well as before. Add A LITTLE red food coloring and mix it well, kneading the color in evenly. Add more food coloring for a darker red.

Into another small piece, mix in some green food coloring.

The Base:
With a tiny piece of green, make a very thin circle of clay, about 1/4" in diameter.

Leaves:
Again with tiny pieces of the green clay, make 4 small, flat triangular pieces to form leaves. glue them to the edge of the base, and curve them to add dimension.

Flowers:
With the pink clay, roll out a small piece to be about 1/16" wide and then flatten it to a narrow ribbon shape. Start at one end and roll up the ribbon until your flower is the size you like, and cut off the excess. Make 4 roses, and attach to the base above the leaves. Dry separately from the angel and glue on later.

Now you have to be patient and wait for her to dry completely, about 48 hours. Set her aside in a warm, dry place, and periodically turn her to expose all surfaces to the air. You can speed up the process a little by keeping her in a slow oven, about 200-250 degrees. Keep checking on her to make sure all her parts dry completely.

When dry, it's time to embellish with paints. For the face: Using a very sharp pencil, or a fine tipped pen, draw fine lines for the nose and eyebrows. With a fine brush, paint the eyes blue, mouth and cheeks pale pink (dilute the paints for the face with a little water to make the colors translucent). Paint the hair yellow oxide, and add fine metallic gold dots to the halo.

Paint the wings metallic gold, and the shoes red or pink.

Finally, glue the bouquet to the hands. Brush on two light coats of varnish, allowing it to dry thoroughly between coats. Then, hang her on the tree, step back, and admire! Congratulations!

I have to say, I really enjoyed revisiting this project. It's nice to be reminded of how much fun it is to do something completely different. I'm sure I'll be doing more with it.

What do YOU do to get in the Christmas mood?

I'm "It"! I've Been Tagged

Last week I was "tagged" by Terri at Originals by Terri, sorry it's taken me this long to get around to it. The rules of the game are:

1) Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog
2) Share 7 facts about yourself, some random, some weird
3) Tag 7 more people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs
4) Let them know they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blogs

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7 things about me:

1) I was born into an artistic family. My dad built harpsichords for a living, as well as played them.

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My mother used to be an organist, and is a fabulous painter.

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My brother is an artist and graphic designer (I can't believe I don't have any of his work to show you!).

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I have an art degree in printmaking. I used to play harpsichord and classical guitar... not so much, anymore.

"Moonlight", etching



"Untitled", Hand-colored Dry Point Etching

2) I watch way too much tv. (You mean, there's an "off" button on this thing?!?)

3) I'm fanatic about watching Dancing With the Stars. I like to pretend it's me out there on the dance floor. While in real life, if I tried to dance, I'd look like the dancing hippos in Disney's "Fantasia" - if they were on crack!

4) I'm a collector: demitasse cups, beads, Victorian sewing toys, stamps, whatever. It drives Marble Man insane.

However, I do regularly clear things out so there's not so much STUFF around... or I try to anyway.

5) I love to cook, which is in direct conflict with my weight-loss struggle.

6) I have a crazy fascination for shoes. Stilettos, boots, funky, beautiful - I can't seem to get enough.

7) I love dirty jokes. Clever, funny ones, not gross. And bodily noises make me laugh like a maniacal hyena.

Here are the people I'm tagging:

3rd Eye Muse
Arterial Excursions
A Whimsical Bohemian
Boxing Day
Jewelori
No Side Up
Rhinestone Armadillo

I Know A Magical Place...

…it’s a place of peace and beauty where playful creatures live and shy faeries hide amongst the greenery of wise trees. Ssshhh! Tiptoe with me into the World of James Browne and meet some of his creatures. (Click on the images to see details, including stories written for them.)

There are dragons

"Rich in Love"

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and faeries

"First Kiss"

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wise old trees


"Old Wisebark"

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charming forest critters

"The Nutcracker"

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fairy tales come to life

"Moonsitting"

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and mermaids

"Allure"

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I first encountered Browne’s world at a street show in New Hope, PA in early October of 2001. My mother, Marble Man, and I wandered down Main Street, ducking in and out of booths. We entered Browne’s space and found ourselves in a place of rich color and texture. Mom and I immediately got the Galloping Greedy Gimme’s and gathered up several prints to take home.

My special treasure (seen above), titled “Allure”, features a wistful mermaid sitting on the shores of her Land of Arches. Every morning she greets me with that same dreamy expression, and to this day I wonder what she is thinking. It wasn’t only the mermaid’s mood that drew me into this painting. Browne’s sensitive treatment of rocks and water is stunning. AND, he signed the back for me with a little drawing:

This fella's imagination really comes to life in his paintings. He says he has “studio elves and faeries that keep his brushes clean and leave footprints on his palette”. Here, he plays with his first faery, discovered after Sunday school:

"First Encounter"

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As you can see, his portrayal of children is amazing.

"Given to Fly"

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So, if you have some time, head on over to James' place of wonder and step back into childhood fantasy.

Note: images were used with written permission of James Browne.