Blue Starfish

Sometimes I get a kick on things and I just can't stop. From blue crabs, I have ventured to blue starfish. Same idea. 

Products with this design can be found at "shop crabulous!"

T-shirts, bags, mugs, housewares, kids

Blue Crab

Of course it had to happen! Crab meets Tangy Zoodle! A crabulous new crab just in time for summer. Available on T-shirts, coffee mugs, coasters, BBQ aprons and many other items as well. It's all in "shop crabulous!"

You can click here to see other styles

You can click here to see shirts in all styles for all sizes and genders

Lot's of cute bags to see by clicking here

New Burlap Throw Pillow

"Sea Stars" Burlap Throw Pillow
Available at shop crabulous!

I've designed this pillow with me in mind, but of course I want to share it with everyone!

Tweaking

Because I can't seem to leave well enough alone, I took the photo I found yesterday and created an even closer close-up and enhanced it a bit. Personally, I love the results!

"Delaware Seashore Detail" - enhanced digital  photo

Below is the original photo.

Memories

I still have a fondness for the Delaware seashore. I truly believe its beauty cannot be matched. Rummaging through my old photos in the wee small hours, I came across this close-up, a detail really, of the beach. I snapped this in September of 2011.

Throw Pillows

I've been having a lot of fun with the new and improved Cafe Press lately and I've discovered that they now have a throw pillow whose look I love! At least, from the photos. I have yet to see one in real life, but I intend to. I'm dying to order one with one of my designs. 

Anyway, these are the pillows I've created to date. And this is the link for all my home products:

Crabulous Fun For Your Home

Tidal Pool

At long last... another new collage! I'm going for more of a textural feel right now, so there's modeling paste involved.

"Tidal Pool" - 6x6 - Mixed Media Collage available on Etsy

Budding Artists

"The Rain" - illustrated poem by Georgia May Copland

I am blessed with a baker's dozen of nieces. Two generations of them, actually. And all are beautiful and talented each in their own way. Among the youngest of them are two budding artists; Autumn and Georgia, and from time to time they send me samples of their artwork. I recently had the opportunity to spend the weekend with Georgia (who's 8, almost 9) and we drew and colored for hours on end. Then the other day in the mail I received the masterpiece above, which she created.

When I was the age of these two young girls, I was humiliated by my teacher for what she perceived as a lack of imagination and talent. From that point on I struggled in my art classes until I was in the eighth grade an no longer required to take it. I never took an art class again (except for art history and art appreciation) until I was 39.

I've since come to realize that there are just two requirements to being an artist. 

 1. a desire to create

 2. the joy of making a mark on a piece of paper or canvas

That's it! That's all that's required. Now I can't tell you what makes an artist successful. I don't think anyone knows the answer to that. 

But I highly encourage anyone consumed with the desire to create to go out and do just that. We were created to create. I firmly believe that. And we truly are not happy unless we're creating. So, today; now, even. Go make something. Bake a cake, write a poem; know the satisfaction of being a creator.

Sea Critters!

I've added two more collages to my Seashore Series. I hope you enjoy. Notice the use of zentangle design in these pieces. It's taken over my life! :-D

"Seahorse" - 5x7 - Mixed Media Collage

"Coral Crabs" - 5x7 - Mixed Media Collage

Down By The Seashore

Of course, by now, you know how much I love the sea and I felt drawn to create (haha! "drawn" to create) more sea themed works and incorporating a little of what I've learned through the art of Zentangle. 

"Sea Stars" - 5x7 - Mixed Media Collage

I know you can spot the lines of Zentangle right away. It was a lot of fun creating this starfish that way. I also had a lot of fun working on the background. I took a canvas, wrapped it in an old dress pattern, melted and swirled crayons over that and then wrapped the whole thing in cheese cloth. Why, you may ask? Why not!

This is the canvas after it was prepped. The melted crayons are so much fun to use and they add a nice texture to the piece.

II also couldn't resist adding some sparkles of vintage glass glitter to my sea pieces. This is an item that I stumbled across in my favorite store, The Paris Market & Brocante.

This is the prepped canvas for the second piece in the series which I finished last week. Once again, old dress pattern, melted crayons and cheesecloth.

"Little Red Sea Star" - 5x7 - Mixed Media Collage

Cottage No. 17 - Tybee Island Cottage Tour

TYBEE TIDES - 1212 VENETIAN AVENUE - TYBEE ISLAND

This is the final cottage on the tour.  It was a fabulously fun day getting to glimpse these wonderful beach cottages and dreaming of future vacations!

Gorgeous view from the spacious front screened porch!

Living, dining and kitchen are all part of one beautiful great room! Ideal for large groups.

All cottages on tour decorated by Jane Coslick.

Rentals arranged through Mermaid Cottages and Tybee Cottages.

Cottage No. 16 - Tybee Island Cottage Tour

FISH CAMP COTTAGE - 1213 SIXTH AVENUE - TYBEE ISLAND

I love this candid shot my friend, Deb, took of my mother and me. I have no idea what we're talking about, but clearly we're engrossed! :-D

All tour cottages decorated by Jane Coslick.

Rental information provided by Mermaid Cottages and Tybee Cottages.